Meek's Cutoff (2010)

There's a good story here, but unfortunately director Kelly Reichardt chooses to ignore it. It's 1845 and three pioneer families are lost in the Oregon wilderness. Their guide is proving to be no help and soon simple survival has moved up to the top of the list of priorities. Enter a lone Native American who they capture and force to lead them to water. And then, well, nothing. The film just ends. All the work building up the drama fades to black. Critics love this shit. But if you actually read the reviews, you'll see they're more about the director than about the film itself. Then again, I didn't like Reichardt's 2006 breakthrough, Old Joy, so what do I know. Talk about a movie about nothing. That one was about two friends going camping. That's it. And it wasn't even as if they spent their time engaged in fascinating conversation. They barely spoke. I don't get it sometimes. Meek's is better. It's a beautiful film with its crisp, big sky vistas. And star Michelle Williams is as good as always. But an ultimate letdown. Sigh. MINUS

Blue Valentine

One day, new film fans are going to seek this out in order to see two of the best actors of this era--Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams--sharing the screen early in their careers. Like watching Nicholson and Streep in Ironweed, only better. Better because I think this is a very good movie--one of the best of 2010. As well it should be, considering director Derek Cianfrance spent over 12 years trying to get it made. The script is very well structured, juxtaposing the rise and fall of a relationship in graphically honest terms. It's a love story, but one that keeps going after the romantic comedy cameras stop rolling. PLUS.

Hold on. I did have one question. How did Gosling's character age so badly in three, four tops, years? Or did he just want to go all actor and look that way? He seems like the type. He also seems like the type that may be hard to stomach in real life. Ok, that's based a little on the fact that he used to date Rachel McAdams, but I don't think I too far off. That's why I want to learn as little about him as a person. We know way too much about actors and athletes, so much that it distracts from the only real reson they should even be factors in our lives. I can't help disliking some douche celebrity and having that trickle down to my professional opinion of them. That's just how people work. Like, I was recently won over by the boxing prowess of Manny Pacquiao. He's undeniably talented and really a wonder to watch. He's also a congressman in the Philippines. And he says stuff like this. TMI. Just box. Just act. And let me judge you when you're dead.