Success with Cinema

I have been on a good streak of movie watching lately (ie two movies) and I'd like to share with you my thoughts.
The first movie I have to recommend is Little Miss Sunshine. I heard good things about this movie back during the Sundance Film Festival and made a mental note to go see it. Suprisingly, my mental note stuck and when I saw previews for the movie, I remembered that I had wanted to see it. It surpassed even my high expectations. Every single one of the characters is spectacular and I think at any given point in the movie I wanted to swoop in a hug at least three of them. Steve Carell's character was both different than any other role I have seen him play, but also just as infectious and odd. I've never really liked Toni Collette, but she really won me over. Alan Arkin is also in this movie. I now know who he is. For years I just assumed when I saw Alan Arkin they really meant to write Alan Alda. I can't remember anything else I have seen Alan Arkin in, but I know I have, and I can't remember liking him as much as I did in this movie. The kids, Duane and Olive (which I happen to think I fantastic names for children, especially Olive) are great and at one point, really nicely show the connection siblings have with one another. I don't want to give too much away, but there is a dance scene at one point and I was literally holding my arms tense to keep them from dancing along. Go see it.

The second movie was Transamerica. I have had this movie from netflix since April, but finally yesterday I had some time to watch it. I heard equally good things about this movie, and always assumed it would be good. But I knew it would be really really good when my father a.) liked it and b.) didn't even know the transexual character was played by a biological woman. I don't watch Desperate Housewives and I can't recall seeing Felicity Huffman in anything else, but I do know that I am now a big fan. I don't know how she got in the headspace of a male to female transexual, but she did and I couldn't have believed her more. Throughout the movie you go from thinking this is the weirdest person ever, to really adoring her. It is sad and funny and wonderful. What made it good was the story showed you a glimpse into the life of a transgendered person without saying, "Here is the life of a transgendered person." It is the cross country adventure and the trepidation of a new relationship(not sexual) that is the lens through which the lifestyle of this character is shown and I think it is marvelous.

So there are two suggestions. Other movies I hope to see in the coming year (some out, some not) are Running with Scissors (I read the book and enjoyed it),Half Nelson, BEERFEST!!!!! (I place it in capitals and exclamation points because that is just how excited I am to see this movie), The Illusionist. . . that's all I can think of, though I know for a fact there are more.