[REVIEWS] Films: Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Aug. 15th, 2010 01:22 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thewlisian_aferSo, after Inception (which I have still neglected to review -- OOPS) teh intartoobz, or at least my corner of it, seems to have become completely and utterly obsessed with Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I'd seen him in a woefully small number of things (10 Things I Hate About You, (500) Days of Summer, a handful of Third Rock episodes) and was never much of a fan. But he took over my Tumblr dashboard, stealing the title of Tumblr King from RDJ, and I realized ... he looks quite a lot like my oldest nephew. I love that kid LIEK WOAH so obviously this endeared JGL to me and I was prompted to check out more of his work. I think this set of reviews has the highest average rating of any set I've ever posted. Apparently, JGL has pretty good taste in his work projects. In my opinion, at least.
Manic (2001)
Filmed in cinema verité style with a handheld camera, Jordan Melamed's unsettling ensemble drama follows teenager Lyle Jensen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) as he's committed to the juvenile ward of a mental institution after brutally beating another boy. There, he encounters a pack of equally lost souls, including a girl who hurts herself (Zooey Deschanel), a 12-year-old child molester (Cody Lightning) and a bipolar teen planning an escape (Michael Bacall).
It always disturbs me a little when I watch movies/TV shows that take place in psych wards because I have this tendency to identify really strongly with multiple characters. But then people point out that crazy is just normal under a microscope and I feel a little better. XD Anyway, I adored everything about this movie and the only reason I didn't give it five stars is because I could never watch it back-to-back. I'd need to at least take a nap between viewings; it's very emotionally draining. But the characters are wonderful -- I felt like I knew them, and I dare you to watch it and not feel the same way -- and their relationships are complex and interesting. It made me actually cry twice and I completely lost count of the times it almost made me cry. I'd like say more but I really can't without going into things that I save for friends-only posts... [Rating: 4.5 stars]
Mysterious Skin (2004)
Gregg Araki's riveting drama, based on a novel by Scott Heim, brings together two unlikely heroes (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Brady Corbet): a young man who makes a living by selling his body on the streets and another who's convinced he was once abducted by aliens. But it seems they have unspeakable tragedy in common as both of them discover they were abused as children. What results is a friendship built on despair but rife with hope.
This was a very hard movie to watch. Not because it wasn't good, but because it was. It's disturbingly realistic. A few times, I found myself leaning away from the screen and I didn't even realize it until I got far enough away that it actually had an effect on my vision. So I recommend this one with a warning. It's very triggering, so know what you're getting into if you decide to watch it. I'm very glad I did, but I'm fairly certain I never will again. One time left a deep enough impression. [Rating: 4 stars]
Brick (2005)
When a secret crush turns up dead and the murderer is anyone's guess, teenage loner Brendan Fry (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is forced to navigate his school's social network through intense interactions with thespians, band geeks and druggies (including a grown-up Lukas Haas). This unconventional film noir marked a promising debut for writer-director Rian Johnson, picking up a Special Jury Prize at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.
HOW MUCH DO I LOVE THIS MOVIE? A LOT. Picture a hardboiled detective story, done noir-style, but set in suburbia and peopled with high school students. And starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. And Lukas Haas (whose ears really deserve separate billing). Oh. Em. Eff. Gee. I can see how some people might not think it's so great, but if any of those genres tickle your fancy, I can't see how you could feel anything less than adoration. I have to mention my favorite part was when Lukas Haas (as a frickin' drug baron for high schoolers) picks up JGL and he's sitting in the back of this ugly conversion van with a hideously 80s table lamp sitting there next to him. I laughed so hard. ♥ [Rating: 4.5 stars]
The Lookout (2007)
Oscar-nominated screenwriter Scott Frank makes his directorial bow in this intelligent crime thriller starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Chris Pratt, a down-and-out janitor with memory problems recruited by bank robbers planning a heist. The ensemble cast includes Jeff Daniels as a blind man who helps Chris remember what's important, with Matthew Goode and Isla Fisher playing the parts of the con artists who exploit him.
I always forget how much I like Jeff Daniels unless I'm actually watching him. I think it's probably because if I just picture him, it's always as Harry in Dumb and Dumber, which ... yeah, NO. Heh. Also, I've seen Matthew Goode in some other stuff, but never noticed how attractive he is. I need to pay better attention. Anyway! I thought this was a pretty great heist film; nice action and tension, good characters, well-written script, tight story... I would like to see Scott Frank do some more directing, I think. [Rating: 4 stars]
Stop-Loss (2008)
After a tour in Iraq, decorated hero Sgt. Brandon King (Ryan Phillippe) returns home to his small Texas town and tries to readjust to civilian life. But when he's called up again as part of the military's controversial stop-loss program, he decides to go AWOL. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Channing Tatum play Brandon's war buddies, and Timothy Olyphant is his stern commanding officer in this poignant antiwar drama from director Kimberly Peirce.
When asked about my favorite movie genres, I never even think to list war movies. And yet almost every time I watch one, I end up really enjoying it. I didn't even realize Kimberly Peirce directed this one until after it was over; I probably would have liked it even more if I'd gone into it knowing that, because I've really liked her work in the past. There were good performances all around, but Channing Tatum was the stand-out for me. Also, it was weird to see Ciaran Hinds playing a Texan. When he showed up on screen, it took me a few seconds to figure out who the hell he was. He doesn't belong that far away from Ireland! XD Also, I rather enjoyed hearing Joseph Gordon-Levitt sing. [Rating: 3.5 stars]
Manic (2001)
Filmed in cinema verité style with a handheld camera, Jordan Melamed's unsettling ensemble drama follows teenager Lyle Jensen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) as he's committed to the juvenile ward of a mental institution after brutally beating another boy. There, he encounters a pack of equally lost souls, including a girl who hurts herself (Zooey Deschanel), a 12-year-old child molester (Cody Lightning) and a bipolar teen planning an escape (Michael Bacall).
It always disturbs me a little when I watch movies/TV shows that take place in psych wards because I have this tendency to identify really strongly with multiple characters. But then people point out that crazy is just normal under a microscope and I feel a little better. XD Anyway, I adored everything about this movie and the only reason I didn't give it five stars is because I could never watch it back-to-back. I'd need to at least take a nap between viewings; it's very emotionally draining. But the characters are wonderful -- I felt like I knew them, and I dare you to watch it and not feel the same way -- and their relationships are complex and interesting. It made me actually cry twice and I completely lost count of the times it almost made me cry. I'd like say more but I really can't without going into things that I save for friends-only posts... [Rating: 4.5 stars]
Mysterious Skin (2004)
Gregg Araki's riveting drama, based on a novel by Scott Heim, brings together two unlikely heroes (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Brady Corbet): a young man who makes a living by selling his body on the streets and another who's convinced he was once abducted by aliens. But it seems they have unspeakable tragedy in common as both of them discover they were abused as children. What results is a friendship built on despair but rife with hope.
This was a very hard movie to watch. Not because it wasn't good, but because it was. It's disturbingly realistic. A few times, I found myself leaning away from the screen and I didn't even realize it until I got far enough away that it actually had an effect on my vision. So I recommend this one with a warning. It's very triggering, so know what you're getting into if you decide to watch it. I'm very glad I did, but I'm fairly certain I never will again. One time left a deep enough impression. [Rating: 4 stars]
Brick (2005)
When a secret crush turns up dead and the murderer is anyone's guess, teenage loner Brendan Fry (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is forced to navigate his school's social network through intense interactions with thespians, band geeks and druggies (including a grown-up Lukas Haas). This unconventional film noir marked a promising debut for writer-director Rian Johnson, picking up a Special Jury Prize at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.
HOW MUCH DO I LOVE THIS MOVIE? A LOT. Picture a hardboiled detective story, done noir-style, but set in suburbia and peopled with high school students. And starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. And Lukas Haas (whose ears really deserve separate billing). Oh. Em. Eff. Gee. I can see how some people might not think it's so great, but if any of those genres tickle your fancy, I can't see how you could feel anything less than adoration. I have to mention my favorite part was when Lukas Haas (as a frickin' drug baron for high schoolers) picks up JGL and he's sitting in the back of this ugly conversion van with a hideously 80s table lamp sitting there next to him. I laughed so hard. ♥ [Rating: 4.5 stars]
The Lookout (2007)
Oscar-nominated screenwriter Scott Frank makes his directorial bow in this intelligent crime thriller starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Chris Pratt, a down-and-out janitor with memory problems recruited by bank robbers planning a heist. The ensemble cast includes Jeff Daniels as a blind man who helps Chris remember what's important, with Matthew Goode and Isla Fisher playing the parts of the con artists who exploit him.
I always forget how much I like Jeff Daniels unless I'm actually watching him. I think it's probably because if I just picture him, it's always as Harry in Dumb and Dumber, which ... yeah, NO. Heh. Also, I've seen Matthew Goode in some other stuff, but never noticed how attractive he is. I need to pay better attention. Anyway! I thought this was a pretty great heist film; nice action and tension, good characters, well-written script, tight story... I would like to see Scott Frank do some more directing, I think. [Rating: 4 stars]
Stop-Loss (2008)
After a tour in Iraq, decorated hero Sgt. Brandon King (Ryan Phillippe) returns home to his small Texas town and tries to readjust to civilian life. But when he's called up again as part of the military's controversial stop-loss program, he decides to go AWOL. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Channing Tatum play Brandon's war buddies, and Timothy Olyphant is his stern commanding officer in this poignant antiwar drama from director Kimberly Peirce.
When asked about my favorite movie genres, I never even think to list war movies. And yet almost every time I watch one, I end up really enjoying it. I didn't even realize Kimberly Peirce directed this one until after it was over; I probably would have liked it even more if I'd gone into it knowing that, because I've really liked her work in the past. There were good performances all around, but Channing Tatum was the stand-out for me. Also, it was weird to see Ciaran Hinds playing a Texan. When he showed up on screen, it took me a few seconds to figure out who the hell he was. He doesn't belong that far away from Ireland! XD Also, I rather enjoyed hearing Joseph Gordon-Levitt sing. [Rating: 3.5 stars]
