carolbielbs Reviews

The Odds (2011)

The Odds are Dark in High School

[8/10 · 12 April 2012]

The Odds has an interesting take on high school students living a double life in a secret, dark gambling world. It starts off with the main characters texting bets to underage bookie Paul (Jaren Brandt Bartlett) on their high school wrestling championships.The depths of character development really added to the plot of the death of Barry over the greed that goes hand in hand into the gambling world (such as the Death of the main characters mother, the evidence that slowly creeps up over Barry, and the main characters father's struggle with his career and grieving over his wife). Davidson possesses a keen eye for filmmaking, instinctively knowing how to build tension without a great deal of unnecessary stylization and filler material. This movie touches on a lot of demographics because of these deeper character profiles and the ending of the long spider-web like connections that developed because of this secret gambling society that made perfect sense at the end of the movie. I loved that this was a Canadian movie also!

Finding Joe (2011)

A Well Made Tribute

[10/10 · 21 December 2011]

As an English Literature major I found Finding Joe a superb documentary. I whole-heartedly agree with the comment about the cinematography as well! It was stunning. Joseph Campbell was an intelligent mythologist as well as writer and he really knew how life was supposed to be lived. Campbell's influence is still very apparent in today's society thus I hope many people discover this film. This documentary showcases the "hero's journey" and the challenges the hero faces. This concept is universal and applies to everyone and all the interviewee's in the documentary share their own stories and adventures. Between the interviews and a group of adorable kids acting out the journey (even fighting bad guys with swords and the like), watching Finding Joe is a great way to discover your true self and the happiness within you.

Trespass (2011)

The actors shine in this intense thriller

[27 September 2011]

When I heard about the new movie "Trespass" the actors were what reeled me in at first. Between Nicole Kidman, Nicolas Cage and Cam Gigandet, I had my hopes set pretty high for a well acted movie; and I was not disappointed in the least. The movie starts off with your typical wealthy family with an angst filled teenage daughter. The marriage of the characters Kyle and Sarah, Nicolas Cage and Nicole Kidman respectively, seems strained at first, with Sarah's needs not being met because of Kyle's being preoccupied with work. When 2 "police officers" come to the house however, terror ensues. A violent hostage situation grips the family and shows how far a father will go for his wife and his daughter. Not only does Nicolas Cage shine as a man with a tortured secret, he embodies how strong a person should be in such a situation. The shocking realism of this movie is bloody, but not too gory, and really thrills you to the last scene. All in all Trespass delivers tenfold and leaves the audience with a final thought: get out, or die trying.