Beca in "Pitch Perfect" had said she does not like movies and she never gets to the ending because she always can guess what the ending is going to be. Movies I wanna introduce this time are typically cliché ones, Cinderella stories , movies that we all know the main character gonna be successful in the end, and sending messages about "Never Give Up!", if you see the trailer, you'll pretty much get what you're going to expect, but we just love the positive energy in them. I chose some of them from movies I've seen and mainly focused on individuals instead of teams, cause that will be another world.
Coyote Ugly, a 2000 romantic comedy/drama based on the actual Coyote Ugly Saloon, set in New York City. Violet (Piper Perabo) leaves her hometown to pursue her dreams of becoming a songwriter in nearby New York City. She tries unsuccessfully, dozens of times, to get her demo tape noticed by the recording studios. She continues to pursue her dream, performs at an open mic night, and she finally gets a deal with a record label. The movie concludes back at Coyote Ugly with LeAnn Rimes, as a Coyote, singing Violet's song. After so many years, when I hear "Can't Fight the Moonlight", I still think of this movie, music kind of saves this movie, but the movie itself... honestly is sexy but shallow...
Legally Blonde, a 2001 film written by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith, based on the novel of the same name by Amanda Brown. Lutz based the film's sorority culture on her own experiences at James Madison University.The film stars Reese Witherspoon who is a sorority girl and struggles to win back her ex-boyfriend by earning a law degree. First, I believe many people don't know this is a trilogy, there are Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003) and Legally Blondes (2009), I've seen all 3. "Legally Blondes" seems totally irrelevant with first two films. Elle Woods, previously played by Reese Witherspoon, does not appear in the film, but is mentioned several times, and she produced the film. It stars Camilla and Rebecca Rosso as Elle's British twin cousins. In this film, you can enjoy the humor about fashion, hair, shoes, makeup, and self-esteem and be impressed by the adorable Southern California girl & her chihuahua "Bruiser". : )
8 Mile, a 2002 hip-hop drama film starring Eminem and Brittany Murphy. Eminem played Jimmy "B-Rabbit" Smith Jr. who is a young and unhappy blue collar worker, struggling with different aspects of his life. He attempts to launch a rap career in an industry dominated by African Americans. This is basically the real-life story of Eminem
Eminem is a controversial artist, but you couldn't deny his talent for music, he won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Lose Yourself" which was iconic to this film!
Blue Crush, a 2002 surfer film based on the Outside magazine article "Life's Swell" by Susan Orlean. Starring Kate Bosworth, Michelle Rodriguez, Sanoe Lake, and Mika Boorem. I remembered I've seen this movie for countless times, because it kept replaying on HBO. There's a sequel to this film- Blue Crush 2 (2011). They are both about surfing, the sequel is about a girl Dana who decides to leave California, and travel to Jeffreys Bay (South Africa) where her mother always wanted to surf but never did. It's out of Cinderella story, so I'm not gonna talk too much. Blue Crush tells the story of 3 friends who have one passion: living the ultimate dream of surfing on Hawaii's famous North Shore. Kate Bosworth played the main character- Anne Marie who has regained her lost confidence in the competition at the end, she didn't win but more importantly, attracted the notice of sponsors. This movie is less about how Anne Marie succeeded but more about overcoming her fears and obstacles, definitely an inspiring movie.
Cinderella Man, a 2005 drama film by Ron Howard, titled after the nickname of heavyweight boxing champion James J. Braddock and inspired by his life story. When I become some actor/actress fan, I'll start doing "I'm gonna watch all of his/her movies" thing, and Russell Crowe is one of the actors I fanned. The movie title obviously tells the story, the true story of James J. Braddock who is an Irish-American boxer from New Jersey and achieved his greatest success. Renee Zellweger is excellent as a warm loving, and supporting woman who stands behind her man. Love the intense scenes at New York's Madison Square Gardens while their children were listening to the radio broadcast at home. I'm not being selfish for Russell Crowe, this is truly a beautiful and uplifting story, don't miss it! ; )
Little Miss Sunshine, a 2006 comedy-drama road film. Losing in a child beauty pageant is how Olive made it. Before Toddlers & Tiaras and Honey Boo Boo, this film has taught us child beauty pageant is a twisted thing. Sheryl Hoover (Toni Collette) is an overworked mother, her brother Frank (Steve Carell) is a gay scholar, temporarily living at home with the family after a suicide attempt. This family also includes her husband, Richard (Greg Kinnear) and his son Dwayne (Paul Dano) from a previous marriage. Richard's father, Edwin (Alan Arkin), a World War II veteran also lives with them, he is close with his seven-year-old granddaughter, Olive. Olive has qualified for the "Little Miss Sunshine" beauty contest that is being held in California in two days, the entire household all bands together to support Olive and embarks upon the 800-mile road trip in their yellow Volkswagen Microbus. Throughout the road trip, they didn't just solve the mechanical problems, but also every member's, and they've become closer to each other. This movie is warm and outrageously hilarious at the same time. : )
She's the man, a 2006 romantic comedy film inspired by William Shakespeare's play "Twelfth Night". I watched this film in nursing class in high school, I think the teacher who played it for us was teaching gender stereotypes or something. This is the first time I saw Channing Tatum who plays Amanda Bynes' roomate, and I knew he's sexy. ;P Amanda Bynes plays Viola whose soccer team gets cut. She wants to join the boys team, but they do not allow girls. Viola's twin brother, Sebastian, is supposed to enter Illyria as a new student, and since he is instead going to a contest in London with his band, Sebastian asks Viola to cover for him. Viola instead decides to pass herself off as Sebastian and join the boys' soccer team at Illyria. Soccer is her passion and she hopes to beat her school's team and humiliate her cocky and sexist ex-boyfriend. I'm not sure if this movie is in this category, but who would do the risky thing like Viola did? It's not gonna work in real life though. I forgot what reflection I wrote in nursing class, but I realized this is a really good teaching material for teen stereotypes.
Waitress, a 2007 comedy-drama film. Keri Russell plays Jenna. I first saw her in "August Rush". Both movies were released in 2007. She's a waitress and a woman who is trapped in an unhappy marriage with an abusive husband. She works in a Diner where her job includes creating inventive pies with unusual titles inspired by her life, such as the "Bad Baby Pie" she invents after her unwanted pregnancy is confirmed. Isn't this a rare but interesting subject? The main role is gonna participate a pie contest instead of dance or a sport contest! I don't wanna tell too much, you should try this bittersweet pie yourself! ; )
Make It Happen, a 2008 dance film starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead. This is a typical film of this topic, Lauryn (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) leaves her hometown for Chicago to audition for a famous dance school, but she didn't succeeded at first time of course. After she's been through all the fuckupedness, she is given another shot to audition. The story is predictable, but we know this kind of movie is about cool dance moves and music!
Morning Glory, a 2010 comedy film produced by J. J. Abrams. It stars Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford, and Diane Keaton. Rachel McAdams plays Becky who is a hard-working TV producer, and she is fired from a local news program. Stumbling into a job at "Daybreak", Becky decides to revitalize the show by bringing on legendary TV anchor Mike (Harrison Ford). Diane Keaton plays Colleen, a former beauty queen and longtime morning show personality. Becky needs deal with the stubborn Mike and the clash between Mike & Colleen and save her relationship, her reputation, her job and the show itself. Without Harrison Ford & Diane Keaton, this film might got a more rotten tomato, but it's hard to say, in this film, we can see Rachel McAdams keep climbing after the breakthrough in "Mean Girls".
These stories remind us why these formulas are still around, because every now and then, maybe the process is not as pretty as movies, they really do work! :D
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