Review: Wild (2014)

Another day another Oscar nominated movie, although this one for Best Actress which is didn't win but hey ho had to give it a go anyway, I'm a huge Reese Witherspoon fan so what could it hurt. It was pretty neat to be able to watch this on the day of the Oscars, it really got me in the mood!

 

Wild is an adaptation of the true story of Cheryl Strayed (Reese Witherspoon) who after spending years in drunken stupors and the midsts of what can only be described as a sex addiction after the death of her Mother (Laura Dern), decides to walk 1,100 miles over the Pacific Crest Trail.  Bearing the literal scars from her trek and the emotional scars of her past she makes the extensive journey and provides flashbacks to her life before her drastic turn around.

 

 

As a visitor to the great state of California in recent months, it was great to see these amazing sights again and certainly made me want to go back and do some of the Pacific Crest Trail (maybe not the 1,000 that Cheryl did!!).  It's actually a great movie to watch for more than just the views, Reese Witherspoon does an amazing job of keeping you interested when she has nothing to say.  It reminded me a little of 127 hours where I was worried there would be nothing to watch except this one guys face.

It's quite amazing when I reflect back on Wild, because if you take the film in it's most basic form, you're watching a woman take a long walk alone for just under 2 hours. Yet, I was hooked from start to finish and didn't feel bored once, or even close to it.

 

hort cameos throughout the film break up the jaunt (even though you still feel exhausted just watching her trek...) and almost provide comfort for you as a viewer.  I felt tense throughout the whole film worrying that she was going to injure herself, get lost or get attacked so once she was at a trading post or with a nice couple (once you realise the husband wasn't an evil rapist) I felt a huge sense of relief.  That is until she went off on her own again!! There were definitely moments when I wanted to shout 'Noo!' at some of Cheryl's choices, and it made me realise just how untrusting we can be, as I always expected the worst to happen.

 

Definitely worth a watch for yourself, even if it's not your type of film you might just enjoy it.

Wild isn't my usual type of film, but it was an enjoyable experience and I would happily watch it again, or something similar.

Review: The Fault in our Stars (2014)

Hey, yeah, so, funny story.  It seems that I LOVE The Fault in our Stars sooo much that I appear to have reviewed it TWICE!! The italics below are mine and Allie's way of communicating through the blog even though we send daily e-mails, facebook messages, whatsapp messages, normal messages and Twitter - what could one more medium hurt!!

Anyway, we decided between us that I might be funny to post this again (I get the feeling its a laugh at me type situation!) with our messages included - happy reading, again!

You know we've already review this, right? http://flick-chicks.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/review-fault-in-our-stars-2014.html 

FFS - I keep searching to check we haven't already done them and this one I was adamant we hadn't so I didn't check - DAMN IT!!!!!!! I'm not adding pictures this time!

Second review attempt of The Fault in our Stars

I read this book in a day, thats how much I enjoyed it.  I couldn't put it down and ended up sitting on an airport (cold) marble floor, so that I could plug my Kindle in so I could continue reading when my battery died. I think at this point, we all understand how much you loved it!

Hazel Grace (Shailene Woodley) is forced to go to a cancer support group, where she meets Gus (Ansel Elgort) who not only makes the whole experience less rubbish but who she actually falls in love with.  Hazel's lung cancer measn she has to carry an oxygen tank everywhere she goes and Gus shows the pitfalls of surviving cancer with his prosthetic leg. I have such a strange case of deja vu right now...

I knew what was going to happen in this film, obviously having read the book but that didn't take away from it at all.  The characters really came to life from the book and Woodley and Elgort were the perfect choices for these star-crossed teenagers, I don't think anyone could have brought John Green's characters to life so well.  They manage to make it quirky over cringy and heartwarming instead of soppy, which is quite a feat with this subject.

It was pretty emotional to watch, particularly when you know the ending in advance but that doesn't tip my interest, in fact as you well know by now I love a good tear-jerker.  The supporting cast we're great as well, Hazel's parents played by Laura Dern and Sam Trammell, although completely outshone by their younger co-stars, did a great job as the 'grown-ups' trying to convince Hazel and Gus that they will only get hurt in the long run.

It doesn't show the gritty realism of the subject, the way 'My Sisters Keeper' type films have done in the past but sometimes its not all bad to sugar-coat some things.

You know, I'm just glad a second viewing (and reviewing!) hasn't changed your opinion. Do I need to rate this again too?!