From book pages to reality..."Ruby Sparks"

Everyone wants to fall in love and in some cases it just happens, and in others you have to make it happen.

Ruby Sparks is a story of a struggling novelist and literary genius Calvin Weir-Fields (played by Paul Dano, Little Miss Sunshine & Knight and Day) who is trying to get past a writer’s block. And after having a dream about this amazing girl, Ruby Sparks (played by Zoe Kazan who takes on a dual role of writer and actor) Calvin brings the fantasy to life by writing about her, and as a result watching her become real person. Never does one imagine that your “dream girl” fantasy can actually become a reality, but in this case Calvin gets the best of both worlds. The premise of the film is a twist between simple and bizarre. It is simple in the fact that it tells a story of finding love, and bizarre in that an imaginary, driven dream girl is created in order to have this love.

Ruby Sparks is a film that evolves in what one might call a three-part story. First, we learn who Calvin is, next we see his struggle to write another literary masterpiece, and then we meet Ruby, from there the literary fantasy is no longer Calvin’s imagination but a situation that begins to take shape. Ruby Sparks is a quirky, romantic, whimsical story that emanates a sense of desire, charm, pain, and happiness from every direction. With directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris working with newcomer Zoe Kazan they all bring a balance of the reality of life combined with the mythical ingredients created inside of Calvin's impending pages.

First time screenwriter Zoe Kazan (HBO’s “Bored to Death”) should be commended for this film, as she was able to create an original story and have the ability to end it in a way that was not expected. Interestingly, Kazan leaves the movie-goer with some unanswered questions that should be unanswered, so as not to expect the typical romantic comedy ending. Not only has she created a novel film, but Kazan is also particularly charming as the film's title character, showing a range of acting talent that show a lot of promise as a rising star.

Although the film is centered on Dano and Kazan characters, there is definitely an excellent supporting cast that rounds out the film. With roles from Annette Bening (The Kids are All Right) as Calvin's hippy mother ‘Gertrude’, Antonio Banderas (Puss in Boots and Haywire) as her carpenter boyfriend ‘Mort’, some definite comic relief from actors Chris Messina (HBO’s “The Newsroom”) as Calvin’s voice of reason/heckler brother ‘Harry’, and Steve Coogan (The Other Guys) Calvin’s dysfunctional agent, and finally Calvin’s therapist Elliot Gould (Contagion), they each one in their own distinctive way add a great sense of complexity and feel to the film.

In addition to a brilliant cast, the cinematography should be a highlighted as well. Matthew Libatique, who is best known for his work with Jon Favreau, Darren Aronofsky and Spike Lee, brings a certain element of subtle gracefulness to the film. Everything from the scenes in the park to Calvin’s perfect condo provides a beautiful and technical backdrop.

Needless to say, there are some awkward moments during the film between Calvin and his family, his agent, and abrupt run-in with his ex-girlfriend, which may have flowed a little better had they been teased out a bit more. However, this may be due Kazan being a novice screenwriter.

Nonetheless, it’s not often that you find young, bright filmmakers, but Zoe Kazan is definitely on the rise with this introductory film effort. Ruby Sparks is not only a film about finding love, but also finding one’s self in this complex world. Overall, this is a likable film with a unique and innovative story.

Rating: 8 out of 10

"Lola Versus"...What not to do in a break-up!!

Lola Versus is the follow-up to the film Breaking Upwards from writer/director team Daryl Wein and Zoe Lister-Jones. Set in New York City, Lola (Greta Gerwig), plays the eponymous character, who discovers on her 29th birthday not only does she get engaged to get married, but that her life will be rapidly be pulled in every direction. Three weeks before her wedding her fiancé Luke (Joel Kinnaman, (Safe House” & The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) calls off the ceremony, thus leaving her in a state of mourning and disaster.

Lola Versus illustrates one year in the life of a PhD student in literature named Lola (Greta Gerwig, No Strings Attached), beginning with her twenty-ninth birthday. In the beginning of the film, the viewer will encounter this voice-over narration and a dream sequence in which personal belongings such as shoes, handbags, and vibrators wash up by the hundreds on a beach. This scene is a precursor to what is yet to happen in Lola’s life. Everything that seems to make up her personality is washed up to the shore in complete disarray. In essence, her life is like a puzzle that has fallen apart and now she must pick up all the pieces and put them back together. Fast forward, we then move into present-day on Lola’s birthday and the eventual break-off of the wedding.

Now a heartbroken and hopelessly confused Lola must move back to her old apartment, which, in a painful twist of fate, was being sublet by a young woman who recently just got engaged and will now be moving in with her fiancé. Lola must now turn to her best friends Alice (Zoe Lister-Jones) a fringe theater actress and sometimes fling Henry (Hamish Linklater, Battleship) lead singer for an indie rock band for advice and moral support.

The character of Lola can be described as a 29-year old New Yorker, who has some shallow and irritating tendencies, in addition to being promiscuous and completely self-absorbed. To make matters worse, she's also a heavy social drinker mixed with being a weed head. When watching the film, it will be obvious to see how everything is centered on Lola, as a result of this selfishness it causes a rift in her familial and friend relationships. Take note, it becomes very difficult to feel sorry for someone like Lola who consistently sobs because she cannot find love, yet she has what some may say a picture-perfect face and body, a full support group, however she can’t help but sleep with every guy within her New York borough. Without a doubt, every person has their share of troubles and tears, however it’s what the person does to fix these issues so that they do not find themselves repeating the same problems over again.

In “Lola Versus”, we get to see veteran actor Bill Pullman who plays Lola’s nurturing father Lenny (whose last significant work was Rio Sex Comedy and Peacock) and Academy Award-nominated (An Officer and a Gentleman and Terms of Endearment) actress, Debra Winger who plays her somewhat overbearing mother Robin; both of whom seem to be trapped in the 70’s both in their fashion-sense and mentally. Essentially Lola’s parents are a censoriously high father and nagging mother, respectively who really do want the best for their daughter.

As a whole, it's not that Lola Versus is unnatural film, it’s more of another recycled film that looks at the whims of breaking up. I will say that it does add a bit of humor with all the name-dropping entities like Facebook, match.com, and Yelp! (I wonder if they got any commission for that). At moments though it did seem a bit much like the film was trying to add to much sex appeal with the raunchy jokes; and nonetheless trying real hard to be socially cool. Even with the witty lines and creative encounters, it does not bring anything authentic to the screen. Breaking up is a universal experience, but how many more unique and different ways can one person show about this action, and it still be entertaining.

Overall, I must say appreciated the way in which the filmmakers represented New York City. The film could have been easily flooded with cheesy photogenic shots of landmarks and skylines that we're all very familiar with; instead they opted for smaller, more intimate locations in less recognizable parts of the city. The setting and locations of the film give it some depth. Lola Versus is a charming film that if nothing else you will get a good laugh, but don’t expect anything new and original that you have not already seen in a “break-up” type film. If nothing else, there is a basic message that does ring loud and clear in the film, “before you can be happy with someone else, you have to be happy and at peace with yourself.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10 stars

Throwback Thursday: When Harry met Sally

When Harry Met Sally, is a 1989 romantic comedy starring Billy Crystal as Harry and Meg Ryan as Sally. The story follows the title characters from the time they meet just before sharing a cross-country drive, through twelve years or so of chance encounters in New York City. The film raises the question "Can men and women ever just be friends?"


The origins of the film came from director Rob Reiner's return to single life after a divorce. Ephron interviewed Reiner and it provided the basis for Harry. Sally was based on Ephron and some of her friends. Crystal came on board and made his own contributions to the screenplay, making Harry funnier. Ephron supplied the structure of the film with much of the dialogue based on the real-life friendship between Reiner and Crystal.



Over the years, When Harry Met Sally... has become, "the quintessential contemporary feel-good relationship movie that somehow still rings true". (Baltimore Sun) The film has inspired countless romantic comedies, including Brown Sugar, A Lot Like Love, Hum Tum, and Definitely, Maybe. (Cinematical) This movie grows like a good wine. Like all good films coming from this genre, this film thrives most on its witty dialgue and cleverness in not "sentimnetalizing" it too much. It's such relaxed acting and filming that you do nothing but watch these people fall in love, and pretty soon you feel like you're involved as well.

Bride Wars (2009)

Such a cute movie! This is one of those movies that you go with your girls, and just make it a "Girl's Nite" out. This romantic comedy shows the importance of true friendship and that the bond can truly last a lifetime.

Emma (Anne Hathaway) and Liv (Kate Hudson)are best friends since childhood who have pretty much planned every detail of their respective weddings for the month of June. Each bride to be has their set plans to marry their respective husbands to-be, all seems to be going perfectly -- the dates are set, their dresses are beautiful, and the maids of honor, each other, are as joyful as can be. But of course there is that glitch, both weddings have been booked on the SAME day in JUNE, so who is going to budge?!!

Throughout the film, viewers are able to get a sneek peek into the lives of Emma (a school teacher) and Liv (a high power attorney) and see what these friends are really like. Amazing how for pretty much all of their life they have shared everything from drinking, to friends, even to their favorite DJ. If nothing else is gained from this movie its the fact that people come and go, but that best friend is a treasured jewel.

Hathaway and Hudson are cute together and it makes me think of me and my best friend. We may fuss and fight, not talk for awhile, but nothing can take away that "Girl Bond" that we have.

Grade: B