Wild (2014)

 

Director: Jean-Marc Vallée

An inspirational film about a woman's solo hike in the Pacific Crest Trail as a way to heal from the loss of a close relative and retrieve the former strength.  Determination to regain control of her thoughts, behaviour and life, as it once was, is what drives Cheryl Strayed, and though she is willing to give up after the first couple of miles and initial struggles, Cheryl keeps moving forward using her past memories and experiences she would never want to relive again.

"Wild" is a biographical story the basis of which is a 2012 memoir written by the same Cheryl Strayed. The main idea of the film is to show that no matter where you stand at some point in your life, you can always change its direction and start a new beginning. For some people, it takes a number of in-depth conversations and some time-off to forget the past; for others - a completely new world has to be created. That's what happened to Cheryl. Considering all the catastrophes she had gone through, Cheryl could not deal with her anymore and she could not accept her weak, apathetic self. That is why taking on the Pacific Crest Trail seemed like a great idea to escape from the reality and build a new Cheryl that is a responsible, strong and independent woman.

Boyhood (2014)

Director: Richard Linklater

12 years of filming have resulted in a unique project, an astonishing film that the screen has never experienced before. We have just witnessed the birth of a genie called Richard Linklater. What the Oscar-nominated director did was create a story that is so sincere and honest as if it was a documentary of your neighbour's, cousin's or friend's life from childhood to adolescence. Yes, after watching the film the actors will have grown so close to you that you will want to find out what will happen next, 10 years ahead.

Many films have showed the main characters in various stages of their life cycles, but none of their directors have been so patient to wait and film how the transition occurs naturally. In other words, they have always used different actors, but this time they are the same throughout the whole film. The story begins with Mason being 5 years old and centering his world around games and fun. As time goes by, the boy learns various life lessons when his family moves from one place to another after his mother's unfortunate marriages and puberty kicks in. First love, the first glass of alcohol, the first cigarette, bullying at school, crazy parties - Mason experiences everything a typical teenager does and from a troublesome boy he grows into a man who can take full responsibility of himself and has found his passion and aspiration in life.

Fifty Shades of Grey (2011)

 

Author: Erika Leonard James

Two years. Two years I had stood firm against the world sensation called "Fifty Shades of Grey", I had not read the Twilight sage, nor been the participant of Hunger Games or Games of Thrones. I've always been quite skeptical of works which are their author's first attempt in writing and have received incredible popularity among readers within a short period of time. This time it was different. I saw the trailer of the upcoming film, and I simply had to read the book.

 The story as such is quite predictable though rather unrealistic. How often do you see situations in real life where handsome, sexy millionaire goes crazy for innocent, middle-class girl with no sex appeal and previous experience whatsoever? It's like the modern version of the classic love stories, a mix of Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella, just with more sex, pain and less love and modesty. Without doubt, James has created an interesting story that makes you want to read the next chapter and the one after that as fast as possible, but that's it. From the point of view of emotions and thoughts triggered by the story, most of the things are spread out before you and there's not much to think and left for imagination. Though the author tries to evoke sympathy in the reader by the mysterious and seemingly painful past/ childhood of Grey, it lacks deeper emotions. In places where additional details and a more thorough explanation would be necessary, James crosses them very fast, but then again the bedroom scenes are sometimes more explicit than preferable. Some traits of the other main character, Anastasia Steele, are quite annoying too, for instance, the constant complaining (girl, you chose your fate yourself, nobody forced you, so stop groaning). Her ability to master the art of sex so fast given she had no previous experience is quite unbelievable as well.