Was able to see Life of Pi and Silver Linings Playbook this weekend. Both were exceptional, but for different reasons. I read Life of Pi in college, and remember reading it quickly, becoming completely engrossed in it. It was quite good, a great, modern-day adventure. Basically, Pi Patel survives a ship sinking in the pacific and spends 200+ days on a lifeboat with a bengal tiger. Questions of spirituality and self-discovery ensue.
There had been rumors of the book being turned into a film since it was published, but nothing ever really came of it. Apparently, Hollywood thought it was un-filmable. In comes Ang Lee (of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Brokeback Mountain fame) and blows everyone away. The previews made it look pretty intense, but that doesn't even begin to prepare you for the entire film. Shot with the skillful (and completely unobtrusive) use of 3D, stunning images jump off the screen. One quiet moment in particular, when Pi puts a note in a can in hopes that it will wash ashore and someone will find him, is particularly stunning. It's not special effects heavy, but the way it was filmed was incredible. The movie itself was a little slow getting going, but one it gets to the shipwreck and Pi and Richard Parker on the boat, the film takes off and doesn't let up. Some will say that it's a little gimmicky, but I fell for it hook, line and sinker.
Silver Linings Playbook was a pleasant surprise. It had gotten pretty good buzz coming out of the Toronto Film Festival (it won the people's choice award, which Slumdog Millionaire (a recent absolute favorite of mine) and The King's Speech (an absolute abhorrence of mine) picked up on their ultimate journey to the Oscar for Best Picture), but I was still skeptical, especially of Bradley Cooper. Thanks to The Hangover, I've placed him mostly as that ass-hole sidekick friend. Thanks for proving me wrong. He was an absolute revelation here, and, if he wasn't already a movie star, would be giving a star making performance. The fact that he was surrounded by an excellent ensemble didn't hurt either. Jennifer Lawrence was excellent as always, and Robert De Niro heads an excellent supporting cast and gives his best performance since Casino. David O. Russell has directed a great ensemble film. Highly recommended.
The study is going well, and I'll be finishing up here on PEI next week. I'll head back to Boston for two weeks to write the final report, come back up here to present it on December 21, and then home for Christmas for a while. Back to PEI to (hopefully) begin the campaign in January 2013. It snowed a little bit here today, and Charlottetown loves their Christmas decorations (and not ugly, tacky ones), so everything looks really pretty. So come visit!
Also, not sure if anyone still watches Survivor, but for some reason I got sucked into this season. It's beyond infuriating that Abi is still in the game, and I'm convinced it's rigged. I guess they need to keep her in, because she's the only semblance of a villain, but she still sucks. I hope she's gone next week /end rant.
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