Movie Review: Upside Down (2012)

Get up for the down stroke

Adam and Eden live on two worlds which are connected yet remain separated.  They fall in love.  Although the idea of the story is in itself pretty fantastic and although the visuals are a real treat, overall the film only manages to achieve mediocrity at best.  The clumsy dialogue and melodramatic performances weigh this film down horribly.  It was actually difficult to believe that the three big names in this film, Jim Sturgess, Kirsten Dunst, and Timothy Spall, are the same great actors that I've seen in several other great films (Across the Universe, Melancholia, Harry Potter, etc) In general, big budget sci-fi, and other genre films, are rarely very good since they are often dumbed down for a wider audience. 

Upside Down doesn't know which way is up and only gets 2 out of 5 Poblanos!

Director: Juan Solanas
Writer: Juan Solanas
Starring: Jim Sturgess, Kirsten Dunst, Timothy Spall
Rotten Tomatoes: 28%
Metacritic: 43%

Melancholia (2011)

Its the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine)
What if a planet were to collide with Earth?  Of course that would be bring worldwide disaster.  Lars von Trier takes us into the minds of a few people as they anticipate this event.  The wedding of Justine and Michael (Alexander Skarsgård) and later how Claire (her sister) deals with Justine's mental breakdown are the events through which we view this apocalyptic disaster.   Kirsten Dunst as Justine and Charlotte Gainsbourg (The Science of Sleep ) as Claire give equally stunning performances. The emotions conjured up by the actors is convincing to the point of making the viewing experience feel more like an intrusion on some of life's more intimate, painful, and embarrassing moments. And I mean that as a positive aspect of the film.  With Melancholia, von Trier gives us is a stunning viewing experience.  The intro alone is worth the price of admission and could easily stand on its on as a short film.  Lastly, I love Magnolia Pictures!

5 out of 5 Poblanos!

Director: Lars von Trier
Writer: Lars von Trier
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Alexander Skarsgård, John Hurt, Kiefer Sutherland
Rotten Tomatoes: 77%
Metacritic: 81 out of 100