Adam:  A tumor?  Me?  I mean that doesn’t make sense.  I don’t smoke, I don’t drink…I recycle.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as Adam, a young man working for NPR in Seattle.  Due to back pain, Adam goes to see a doctor who delivers unfortunate news in return.  It turns out that Adam has a rare form of cancer and needs to undergo chemotherapy treatment in order to hopefully reduce the size of the tumor.  With a little research, Adam finds that he has about a 50/50 chance of survival.  This news is of course alarming to those around him; including his girlfriend Rachel (Bryce Dallas Howard), his best friend Kyle (Seth Rogen), and his mother Diane (Anjelica Huston).

As Adam begins to go through with his medical treatment, he also starts to see a psychiatrist, who turns out to be a young psychiatrist in training.  This is Katherine (Anna Kendrick), who does what she can to help Adam with his problems, despite her lack of experience.  Also helping Adam deal with the reality of his situation are two other, older men, also going through chemotherapy treatment.  They are Alan (Phillip Baker Hall) and Mitch (Matt Frewer).  As the others in his life do what they can for him, which includes Kyle’s various attempts to get Adam and himself laid out of sympathy, Adam continues to cope with what could be his shortened lifespan.

The film comes from true life inspiration, as screenwriter Will Reiser actually was diagnosed with cancer, while serving as a television writer for Da Ali G Show with Seth Rogen, who actually is his best friend.  Having gotten through it and now in his sixth year of remission, Reiser, Rogen as a producer, and director Jonathon Levine have now managed to make a film out of the experience, which takes a very grounded, swearing-filled approach to the subject.  Cancer definitely sucks and there is no getting around that, but while the film never goes too in depth on how awful things really can get when put under that amount of duress (which would easily eliminate any chance to make much comedy come from the situation), there is a lot of emphasis put on establishing these characters, which goes a long way.

The cast truly shines in this film, making it far more appealing than how the basic setup would suggest.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt, in particular, owns this film through and through.  As much as I appreciated the supporting performances, which I’ll get to, he is understandably the big star here and his work as Adam is superb.  Even as the film lays out the various “stages” that his character is going though, witnessing the various emotional states that Adam is in, seeing how affected he becomes by the various other characters and their actions in his life, as well as the effects of the treatment, and the emotional toll of this whole experience is quite a lot for one person to handle, but Gordon-Levitt excels in the role.  It doesn’t hurt that shaving his head for the sake of this film, on camera, wasn’t the worst thing for him either, as he pulls off the bald look fairly well.

Adam:  Hey, it’s Adam.
Katherine:  Adam, what’s wrong?
Adam:  Oh, just probably having a nervous breakdown.

On the supporting side you have Seth Rogen as Adam’s best friend Kyle.  This is more or less everything one could hope for if you are a fan of Rogen’s, as the role is literally based on the actor as himself.  Rogen does everything that he is good at doing, but even behind the weed smoking and attention grabbing (especially when it concerns his female pursuits), there is a warmth that exists between he and Adam.  This warmth solidifies that relationship and is exemplified by the solid chemistry that exists between Rogen and Gordon-Levitt.  Also effective is the relationship between Kendrick and Gordon-Levitt, which is really the emotional center of the film.  The doctor-patient relationship rules are certainly bent by having such a young psychiatrist work with a young man going through such a huge ordeal, but Kendrick brings an awkward charm in her performance.  The work she does, which is exhibited through her fast-talking, high-strung, yet adorable persona does well to help maintain the film’s balance between its comedic and dramatic sides.

In addition to these two younger characters, the work by the older cast members is also quite good.  Phillip Baker Hall continues to be a great character actor, simply asserting himself as an older man who tells it like it is, with Gordon-Levitt using his low key approach to match.  And Anjelica Huston truly excels at taking what could be a very stock character and bring much more to it.  Huston does not have many scenes in this film, but the way she functions leads to a well thought out way to expand on her character.  The only unfortunate setback is how Bryce Dallas Howard’s character ends up feeling a bit underdeveloped, which seems more due to keeping the film focused and tightly edited in the long scheme of things.

One key factor that truly felt rewarding to me as a viewer is the way this film developed into its final act.  In a lesser film that handles similar subject matter, the comedy would have been very apparent throughout the first two acts, only to have the pacing grind to a halt and let the drama settle in strong, once the third act comes around.  With credit going to the cast and the solid story development, I believe that once the third act arrives, instead of diving head first into darker dramatic territory, enough proper balancing has been done to let each character arrive at an appropriate place within their arcs and the film as a whole still feels authentic enough, without betraying aspects that have come before it.  The comedy does not disappear either, as this film continues to bring great balance to the laughs and emotional resonance featured, but not at the expense of these characters.

50/50 gets the most important things right.  It does not drown the story in melodrama nor does it offset the darker elements of the story by having too many big laughs early on.  It is a confidently made film, which puts its characters above almost everything else in an effort to comfortably rely on the chemistry and relationships seen to build a satisfying story.  The film does not necessarily avoid all of the pitfalls that are also seen in standard heart-warming tearjerkers, but it is still also smart enough to have a grounded sense of humor running throughout, which at least keeps one in a relaxed zone, while going along with these characters.  50/50 certainly beat the odds of being labeled as just another trivial cancer dramedy.

Adam:  Great song.
Girl:  Totally.
Adam:  I have cancer.
Kyle:  I was wrong.  I was wrong.  It’s weird like that.
Adam:  Too soon.
Kyle:  It doesn’t sound cool.

Drive – September 16^th

The story of a Hollywood stuntman who moonlights as a wheelman.  It sounds like a B-movie, but certainly has a lot of A-grade talent involved.  Ryan Gosling headlines an awesome cast that includes Ron Perlman and Albert Brooks as the villains.  This flick is from director Nicholas Winding Refn, who managed to snag the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival this past year, and given that I already dig his directorial style, I can’t wait to see what he brings to his first American film.

Moneyball – September 23^rd

I have been following the production of this film for a while it seems.  It was at one time going to be directed by Steven Soderbergh, but has now been put into the hands of Capote director Bennett Miller.  Based on the true story of Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane, who took a new approach to creating a great baseball team, the film boasts a number of talented individuals, including stars Brad Pitt, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Jonah Hill in a dramatic turn.  Given that it is also scripted by Steve Zallion and Aaron Sorkin, this seems like a pretty solid home run on the way.

50/50 – September 30^th

This upcoming dramedy about a young man who gets cancer has pulled in tons of great buzz already.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen star in this film that promises to deliver both laughs and possibly tears, as they deal with the dilemma of a cancer diagnosis.  Based on the true story of screenwriter Will Reiser’s own personal fight against cancer, this is another film that may seem like it might go too far with its sentimentality, but seems to be winning everyone over thus far.

Immortals – November 11^th

I have previously written a bit about this film in my coverage of its Comic Con panel, located HERE.  Now I will basically re-emphasize the fact that I am quite excited about this film.  In the midst of more serious fare, Immortals looks to be like a big blast of Greek Myth action fun.  With that said, regardless of how serious the material ends up being taken, the visual eye of director Tarsem is certainly the main reason as to why I want to see this film in action.  Having already gotten a taste of the footage this film will have to offer, I am quite excited to see how this epic stylized action/adventure will turn out.

The Artist – November 23^rd

As of now, I know next to nothing about this film, but upon watching the trailer, I became instantly excited.  A black and white silent film may not sound like something that can wow today’s audiences, but the impression I got from just a bit of footage was a very enjoyable one.  The film is set between 1927 and 1931 in Hollywood, and involves the switch over from silent films to talkies.  I am very intrigued by what this film has to offer and hope to see it succeed in handling this very old fashioned approach to filmmaking.

The Muppets – November 23^rd

As you can see thus far, I have not ranked these choices, but The Muppets would be near the top of the list.  Again, I have previously had a chance to write a bit about this film during Disney’s D23 Expo (seen HERE), but suffice it to say that The Muppets looks like it could be one of the most enjoyable films this year.  It will be the return of some of the most lovable characters ever created, along with an assortment of big star cameos, and the presence of stars Amy Adams and Jason Segel who also co-wrote the film.  The flick just looks like a ton of fun that should likely be welcomed by people all over.

A Dangerous Method – November 23^rd

One of my favorite actor/director combinations has become Viggo Mortensen and David Cronenberg, based on just the two films they have made together (A History of Violence and Eastern Promises).  Now the two have re-teamed once again, and decided to bring along Keira Knightley and Michael Fassbender.  This time Cronenberg is dealing with how the intense relationship between Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud gave birth to psychoanalysis.  I am sure that true to form, Cronenberg will still manage to find a way to create a graphic depiction of reality and still make it feel utterly watchable.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – December 9^th

England benefits from getting to see this film much earlier than we do.  An all star British cast, led by Gary Oldman, brings this bestselling novel to life.  Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a spy thriller set during the Cold War, with a retired MI6 agent tasked with uncovering a Soviet agent.  Along with the fantastic cast, the film is from director Tomas Alfredson, the man responsible for the fantastic Swedish vampire film Let the Right One In.  All the right elements seem to be combining in the right kind of ways to build up to one very smart and stylish take on the old fashion espionage thriller.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – December 21^st

While I am already quite the fan of the original Swedish film version of this bestselling novel, in Fincher I trust.  Director David Fincher is at the helm of a film that certainly has a story right up his alley, given his past work on films like Se7en and Zodiac.  The film, for those unfamiliar, is about the work by a journalist (Daniel Craig) to solve a very old missing persons case, with the help of a young computer hacker (Rooney Mara).  This is all material perfectly suited to Fincher’s style and while it is very dark material (especially for a Christmas-time release), I am sure it will no doubt be plenty entertaining, along with brilliantly made.  The added plus is reuniting Fincher with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, who composed the Oscar-winning score for The Social Network.

The Adventures of Tin Tin:  The Secret of the Unicorn/ War Horse – December 23^rd/28^th

Finally, we have the one-two punch that is Steven Spielberg’s end of the year releases.  First you have the 3D motion capture adventure film that is Tintin, which I have covered during Comic Con HERE, and then, less than a week later, you have the war drma War Horse.  Spielberg has proven many times that he works incredibly well under the pressure of two releases in one year – Jurassic Park/Schindler’s List, Minority Report/Catch Me if You Can, and this looks like another ambitious outing for him.  Tintin is certainly the more exciting of the two films, as it definitely breaks The Beard away from his comfort zone, but I would like to think that his handle on heartfelt dramas has not been lost on him either.  It’s exciting times for fans of one of the most celebrated directors of all time.

And that will do it.  Along with an additional list of notable releases below, this is another exciting movie season, with plenty of upcoming features to look forward to.  Feel free to comment below with other thoughts or picks that I may have missed or not even considered.

Other Notable Releases On My Radar

Contagion – September 9^th – Already reviewed HERE
Warrior – September 9^th – Already reviewed HERE
The Ides of March - October 7^th
Real Steel – October 7^th
The Thing – October 14^th
Paranormal Activity 3 – October 21^st
In Time – October 28^th
The Rum Diary – October 28^th
Anonymous – October 28^th
J. Edgar – November 9^th
Hugo – November 23^rd
Piranha 3DD – November 23^rd
The Descendents –November 18^th
The Sitter – December 9^th
Young Adult – December 16^th
Sherlock Holmes 2 – December 16^th
Mission Impossible:  Ghost Protocol – December 21^st
We Bought A Zoo – December 23^rd

Film:

So Hesher is a bizarre sort of story. Our main character is TJ (Devin Brochu), a young boy who is grieving the loss of his recently deceased mother. TJ’s father Paul (Rainn Wilson) sits at home on the couch, staring into a TV, unshaven and detached from the world. They live with TJ’s grandmother (Piper Laurie). With little understanding of how he should deal with his problems, TJ attempts to maintain possession of a damaged car (the history of this car you can work out for yourself), before being pushed away from it. During an angry moment, TJ lashes out at a random, unoccupied building. He throws a rock through the window and out comes Hesher (Joseph Gordon-Levitt).

Hesher is a long-haired, dirty, obscene lover of heavy metal who appears to do whatever he wants. In seeing TJ, he suddenly becomes involved in his life, mostly causing mischief that has an effect on TJ in mostly a negative sense. Hesher acts as a personal tormenter for TJ, eventually taking up residence in his home. Paul has no strength to kick Hesher out, so Hesher with all his rage and tattoos continues to live in the garage.

Meanwhile, TJ has no real joy coming from anywhere in his life. In school he is constantly bullied by one particular menace named Dustin. This eventually leads to a fight in a parking lot, which is broken up by Nicole (Natalie Portman). TJ develops a bit of a crush on Nicole, who continues to sort of hang out with TJ, even as Hesher makes his presence known as well. The film follows various threads, mainly dealing with TJ and his family, with Hesher serving as possibly the worst cure-all for grieving possible.

There was a good twenty minutes of this movie, once Hesher became a known presence, that I was really considering the fact that his character was imaginary. I was wrong; Hesher is completely real and is so much of a larger than life character that it both provides for the best and worst aspects of this film. While I have issues with the movie because of Hesher and how the film utilizes him, it is not due to how Gordon-Levitt plays the character. He is pitch-perfect as this obscene, out-of-control presence that serves to disrupt normality. I only wish this film had more focus.

It becomes incredibly tough to understand what this film is going for. Hesher, at times, is intensely dramatic, darkly comedic, or desperately working to be a heavy metal version of an arthouse indie film. There is a lack of consistency that may be fitting from the point of view for Hesher, but not for me, as a viewer. The various story elements and characters involved in this film do not make for one that is fittingly put together. Dealing with heavy issues like the death of a parent and mixing it with loud guitar riffs, screaming children, and Hesher’s crazy sensibilities is fun to say in an abstract brain storming session, but very difficult to watch as a full-length feature.

Now, with all of that said, I still sort of got into it. I would have to say it is mainly due to the actors involved and some individual sequences that are genuinely great to watch. I have already mentioned Gordon-Levitt, but he is really great at sticking with this character. Equally impressive is young Devin Brochu, who has to go through a great deal of emotions in order to completely sell his role and he does accomplish this quite well. Portman is pretty much a fish-out-of-water here, as it is hard to picture a women like here in a role like this (hey, she has glasses! She must be a loser too!), but still does what she can. Rainn Wilson is another standout. Similar to a role like the one he has in Super, I am really starting to hope Wilson gets more dramatic work to be in. He has that sort of gift as a man generally known for comedic roles that can do a lot with dramatic materials simply by reacting to a situation.

While Hesher is a dark film that bounces all over the place due to its energy, performances, story beats, and overall attitude, it has a lot of elements that make it watchable. Despite its lack of consistency in tone, I got into many moments of it and can overall say that it is an interesting watch. It is unlike a lot of films you will generally see, simply because it takes a very old story and injects a fireball into it to bounce around a lot of mayhem. Watch if you’d like, but beware the high voltage.

Video: 

The Blu-ray disc for Hesher is presented in 1080p widescreen. For a little indie flick, Lionsgate has done a good job at handling the vivid picture presentation for this film. The film is probably spending the majority of time within daylight hours and due to this, the film boasts a lot of solid natural lighting that looks quite good in this format. Indoor and nighttime scenes mostly look great too, with the black levels standing up to the task for the most part. It is a good transfer that puts a nice amount of emphasis on its natural lighting for the sake of nicely scene colors and textures throughout.

Audio:

I guess that given the type of soundtrack this film wanted to have, including the various explosions of guitars at various moments, it is fitting that this Blu-ray comes equipped with a 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track. Along with Hesher exploding on screen at various moments, he does have a tendency to blow things up himself, which is once again served well on this disc, as it sounds great in the surround sound format. The dialogue prominently featured throughout this film (mainly in loud screaming bouts) also comes across very clear throughout. It is a very good mix, which serves the film well as far as getting a great sound experience.

Special Features:

This is a strange set of extras (fitting of the film I guess), because the longest feature is the outtakes, which runs for nearly half an hour. Everything else pales in comparison, but at least it is all presented in HD. Features include:

Deleted Scenes – a few nice extra moments

Outtakes – lots of screaming and blown takes

Behind the Scenes – short, but some insight

Hesher Sketch Gallery

Air Traffic – attempting to film scenes, despite airplanes flying overhead

Teaser Channels

Trailers

Final Thoughts:

I will just take this time to thank my friend Drew for giving me the Calvin and Hobbes analogy. It is a perfect way to describe the strange feelings I have towards this film. Even the recent FX series Wilfred came to mind when thinking about Hesher, given that his presence seems so out of place and larger than life; however he is very much real, which makes it a bit different. Regardless, this is a bizarre kind of movie that has many elements that make it somewhat enjoyable. I just wish it wasn’t so all over the place. At least the disc is quite good in terms of picture and audio. While it is a bit lacking of extras, there is still some stuff to get out of them as well. An interesting flick for sure and one that is not to be taken lightly.

Pick Up Your Copy Here:

As fellow writer Brian White pointed out, it’s difficult to begin with a basic premise of this film without invading some of its privacy and spilling spoilers in the process.  In a nutshell, and without giving too much away, Leonardo DiCaprio’s character is well-versed in the latest crime; theft of your mind.  Through the portal of one’s mental activity and with sleep-induced aid, he can get inside your head and uncover your thoughts and steal your secrets.  In that respect, the film is already thriving on originality of which this attribute seems to grow with rarity in Hollywood.  Along with its clever concept, the film sports an impressive cast including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ken Watanabe and the very cute Ellen Page.  There is no mistaking that writer/director Nolan likes to keep a close-knit group on the set as Batman actors Cillian Murphy and Michael Caine also fit into the mix.

Again, the concept here is mental thievery so DiCaprio and his crew work on creating and executing one very involved mental heist.  What takes place from here is nothing short of what felt like my own personal hell.  This was the movie that would never end.  I don’t know what’s worse; being in an office meeting on an empty-dialogue conference call for one hour or seeing Inception through to the end after two hours.  The film certainly wasn’t repetitive, it just wouldn’t die.  With a 7:00 start time, and don’t forget previews, the film found closure at 9:35.  When I checked the clock, I really expected it was going to say midnight.  One dream gets layered on another dream and then another and so on and when it was all said and done, I would have rather had a tee ball team use my head for batting practice.

Inception is one very involved film and you must stay attuned to the plot, which I proudly did.  The movie begins with a blistering pace that comes and goes throughout the film, but a problem with this is things happen so fast sometimes that there is little offered in the way of explanations.  Like I said a moment ago, you’ve got to be on your toes with the plot here or else this film is going to fly right over your head.  Ironically enough, the occasional sequences of action do not do anything to speed up the movie.  The overall story was just far too drawn out for me to give a rat’s tail, whereas this detachment finally took effect at some point just before the middle of the movie (or should I say the five-hour mark).

The acting talents are great but they are overshadowed by the tremendously tedious script.  Unfortunately, the film’s sloth-like feeling was established early on and was only eased for a brief moment here and there.  Besides, if you’re going to rock out your own dream, go for the gusto!  If you can create and control at least some of what goes on in your sleepy little head, I would have had the Incredible Hulk running through the streets tearing the hell out of everything.  Yes that is my juvenile mind at work, but I must entertain myself somehow after sitting through this movie.  Let’s hope Nolan’s next work (Batman III) doesn’t operate with the same coma-inducing feel that this film carried.

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Let me ask you all a question.  Are you ready for an original thriller so deep and mesmerizing that it will literally blow your mind and rock your world?  If that’s a hell yes, than look no further than Inception, an easy sure-win, thus far, for my movie of the year selection.  You have chosen the red pill.  If you answered no to my question, than Despicable Me may still be playing in 3-D down the hall.  Take the blue pill, go there now and stop reading this!

Inception is Christopher Nolan’s return to the silver screen after his blockbuster hit The Dark Knight in 2008.  My god!  Has it been that long?  The sci-fi action thriller written, produced and directed by Nolan (the man wears all three hats… he is the new King… move over James) stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watannabe, Joseph GordonLevitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Tom Berenger, Dileep Rao, Michael Caine and more.   Interestingly enough, the script was pitched to Warner Bros. in 2001, but they felt he needed experience making larger scale films first, hence Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.  In addition, Nolan finally got the chance to work with DiCaprio, an actor he has been trying to secure for years.  Leo signed on after being intrigued by the script.  See what a good screenplay can do for you folks?  It really can make “dreams” come true.  One other thing to note in this production paragraph is the film’s score.  Once again, Hans Zimmer helms and crafts a powerful soundtrack that will keep you riveted throughout, much like his addictive score in The Dark Knight.  Gotta love this guy!

I don’t believe in spoilers and I debated about this for days.  There really is no good way to deliver the plot here without spoiling some things.  In fact, I remained spoiler free before seeing this feature.  And so should you!  I knew this film would be epic and monumental.  I had my faith in Nolan, but for once in my life I wanted to be surprised and not know anything about the movie.  My expectations were high, and I am happy to say they were pleasantly exceeded.  Overjoyed, is a word that comes to mind right now.

Ever have a dream?  Of course, you did, even my dog dreams.  You know that feeling you have where you are falling and you abruptly wake up?  Well that’s referred to as kicking the chair (or something like that).  Remember that, okay?  Ever think it’s possible to experience a dream happen within a dream?  Well, I can’t ever recall doing so, but I can definitely imagine it happening.  Now, try this one on for size.  Do you think it is possible to have a dream, experience another dream within that original dream and are you okay with me taking it a level deeper? Good.  What about a third dream within the second dream that’s still happening within the first dream?  Sounds complex huh?  Such is the world of Inception.  Not only were my eyes glued to the screen throughout the feature, but also I sat there speechless in thought.  How did Nolan ever craft this on paper?  I have to get my hands on this screenplay.  Study from him I must.  Brilliant man!

So what’s Inception all about?  Let’s just say there are some men that will go to any lengths to steal from you.  You can have as many alarms and bodyguards as money permits, but are you truly ever really safe?  I mean, is your mind safe from thieves?  Think about this for one moment.  What if I was able to go in to your mind and trick you into giving me the combination of the safe behind the painting on the wall?  When you wake up and I am not there you would just think you were having a bad dream, right?  Welcome to the world of Inception.  Now let’s take it one step further before I call it a day.  Ready?  What if I had the ability to go into your dream, your sub-consciousness, and plant an idea in your head that when you wake up you will think you thought of.  Do you think that idea will stick?  You better believe it will.  Again, welcome to the world of Inception.

The Dark Knight is still my favorite Nolan film, but only because of Heath Ledger’s legendary portrayal of the Joker.  Inception is a close second.  I don’t think you will come across a film this year that is more complex than this and still riveting at the same time.  I’m not as foolish as Danny Gilbert to tell you to take that to the bank, but I’m willing to give you good odds against the chance of that happening.  I’m going to recommend you drop everything you are doing today and when that 5 o’clock whistle blows, I want you to run to your local cinema and spend the next 2.5 hours of your life experiencing something that is larger than all of us… Inception.  Have a great weekend at the movies!

*

*

]]> http://whysoblu.com/inception-takes-you-deep-down-the-rabbit-hole/feed/ 4 http://whysoblu.com/women-in-trouble-blu-ray-review/ http://whysoblu.com/women-in-trouble-blu-ray-review/#comments Tue, 16 Feb 2010 09:00:01 +0000 Gregg Senko http://whysoblu.com/?p=6089 Released in theaters in the autumn of 2009, Women in Trouble contains a pretty impressive cast, featuring the likes of Carla Gugino (Spy Kids, Sin City), Adrianne Palicki (Legion), and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (500 Days of Summer) among several others.  Now arriving on Blu-ray, the film brings its cast and story to your home February 16^th.  The film was written and directed by Sebastian Gutierrez (The Eye, Snakes on a Plane) who has another production in the works, connected to Women in Trouble, that will be released this year.  Before we can check out that film, let’s take a glance at how Gutierrez’s 2009 work faired.

Film 

The movie follows an array of characters and their real life troubles and somehow, in a connected turn of events, each turbulent occurrence has a connection to the next.  From a cheating husband and his suicidal mistress to a pregnant porn star stuck in an elevator, this movie is a chick flick through and through.  Some people get offended by that phrase, but what can I say?  Stereotypes happen for a reason and women will relate a lot more to this film than the guys will.  It is what it is.

The acting is performed quite well in this picture so there are no qualms there.  I found the flow somewhat choppy at times though, but if you bear with it, you will come to understand that everything in the movie has its place.  Still, I had a difficult time caring about the characters’ plights.  The development was only surface-deep at best for some of the people, which left me feeling rather unsympathetic toward them.  As for Joseph Gordon-Levitt, I loved this guy’s work in 500 Days of Summer which has come to be one of my favorite films.  As for his duty in Women in Trouble, I honestly cannot comment.  Why?  I checked the credits and found he is connected to the character ‘Bert Rodriguez.’  I have no recollection of his performance or that character in this movie…and I just watched it an hour ago.  Either he is on and off the screen in the blink of an eye or his makeup is done so well that his likeness was unrecognizable. 

The film mostly follows Carla Gugino’s character (Elektra Luxx; look for a sequel this year whose title reflects the character’s namesake) and that of Palicki’s (Holly Rocket), though, as previously mentioned, there are other stories all taking place around the same time, all having an impact on most if not all the characters in a classic case of six degrees of separation.  All in all, this 95-minute production felt more like 120 minutes that just wouldn’t end soon enough.  It has its high points, but this movie lacked punch, and while containing some depth, just didn’t have enough to keep me glued to the screen.

Video 

Coming in with an AVC encode in 1080p, I was a little disappointed that those attributes didn’t deliver a more solid picture.  While I didn’t pick up on a significant amount of grain, there was this gentle haze that prevented full pore-revealing details to be visible throughout the entire movie.  The aspect ratio is shown at 2.35:1, although the visual softness provided enough distraction to keep your eyes from focusing on this attribute.  Other than that, the film’s variety of colors were vibrantly displayed amidst a backdrop of several mood-changing scenes.

Audio 

Arguably the greatest aspect of this disc is the audio.  While it won’t knock your socks off, it is impressive when it needs to be.  This was most prevalent during one sequence when a commotion could be heard downstairs.  The rear speakers brought forth the somewhat mumbled unrest in the lower floor of the home while the two actresses upstairs had dialogue delivered through the front channels.  Ambient sounds are also brilliantly sent through the rear channels, filling the air with noises appropriate for the scene at hand.  As for the subwoofer, expect that piece of equipment to lie rather dormant.

Special Features      

I am happy to report that high def technology is not wasted on the folks that put this disc together.  Each special feature comes to us in at least 720 resolution (the pool teaser), while the rest are in 1080.  Still, there’s not a lot here, nor anything too inspiring.

• Behind the Scenes with Holly Rocket and Elektra Luxx –  Gugino (Luxx) and Palicki (Rocket) take time to do a mock discussion of what Women in Trouble is about.  This did have some fairly decent comedic content, but was way too short (1:48). 
• Pool Teaser Trailer – The actresses of Women in Trouble disrobe down to their underwear in a swimming pool.  Are they hot?  Yes.  Is this entertaining?  Not for long (1:06).
• Deleted Scenes – You will find a total of five missing scenes here, all done in a therapy monologue style, all of which make me want to slam my head against a wall.  These are mock video recordings of real Hollywood personalities (6:42).

Final Thoughts 

In the end, this writer wasn’t entertained much from this production.  I did want to mention the extremely poor color choice used in the disc’s menu.  The fonts are done in white with a selected item appearing in faint pink.  The problem is the two colors are so close that it’s often difficult to decipher what menu option is highlighted and what is not.  I understand their pink went with the color scheme, but it also provided a minor and needless bit of frustration that can be easily removed.  To women I say ‘rent this,’ and to the guys I say ‘pass.’  Since there are more women than men in the world, I probably should base my recommendation off the former instead of the latter.  I just think that there are so many better movies out there than Women in Trouble for any audience, that this may not be the best decision for a rental.  Nevertheless, if your curiosity is peaked, I say have at it. 

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Written and directed by Sebastian Gutierrez (Snakes on a Plane, The Eye), this critically acclaimed film follows a day in the life of a porn star, a flight attendant, a psychiatrist, a masseuse, a bartender and a pair of call girls — all with one thing in common: trouble. While this group of LA women couldn’t be more different, one day will transform their troubles and alter their lives forever. Women in Trouble boasts a knockout ensemble cast including Carla Gugino (Watchmen, American Gangster, Sin City), Emmanuelle Chriqui (You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, Cadillac Records, “Entourage”), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (500 Days of Summer, 10 Things I Hate About You), Connie Britton (“Friday Night Lights”, “Spin City”, The Brothers McMullen), Simon Baker (“The Mentalist”, The Devil Wears Prada), Adrianne Palicki (“Friday Night Lights”, “South Beach”), Elizabeth Berkeley (Any Given Sunday, Showgirls, “Saved by the Bell”) and Marley Shelton (A Perfect Getaway, W., Grindhouse, The Last Kiss).
 
Debuting at the 2009 SXSW Film Festival, Women in Trouble garnered resounding critical acclaim including Playboy hailing the saucy movie as “hilarious, touching and revelatory”. Bonus features on this outrageous comedy include deleted scenes, teaser trailers and Spanish subtitles.