Like Crazy (2011)

Director: Drake Doremus


Cast: Anton Yelchin (1), Felicity Jones (2), Jennifer Lawrence (3)

(Watch the trailer)

My favourite quote - 
"I don't feel like I'm a part of your life. I feel like I'm on vacation."

Did you know? - The film won the Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize in 2011 and the film was shot using the Canon EOS 7D. The film's dialogue was also fully improvised. 

Long distance relationships. Some people can survive the distance, some can't. Like Crazy is a very slow moving film. It takes patience, and interest in the subject matter, or in film, to be able to sit through the film from start to finish. However, I have a nagging suspicion that the slow pace of the film was done on purpose. So that the viewer can experience for themselves the frustration the characters in the film felt. All that waiting to see each other again. All that trying to make things work.

I connect with the film because it reminds me of the last relationship I had. And I can empathize with whatever the leads Jacob and Anna, beautifully played by Anton Yelchin and Felicity Jones, are feeling and going through. It isn't easy. It takes a huge toll on the relationship and it is very tough the two people trying to make a long distance relationship work. Trust, communication, understanding, a lot of compromise is needed to sustain a long distance relationship. Something I think Like Crazy very aptly portrays. 

I actually picked up this film more because of its cast rather than the subject matter. I was pretty impressed with Anton Yelchin in Star Trek, Terminator Salvation, as well as in New York, I Love You, so I took a leap of faith and started to get the films he acted in. And I wasn't disappointed. Although I found it jarring to watch him as an adult going through the heartaches of a long distance relationship, I still could connect with his character because of his realistic and heartbreaking performance in the film. Where did the fresh faced 17 year old Chekov from Star Trek go? 

The other lead Felicity Jones I only noticed recently after watching the film Chalet Girl. I am still curious about her and haven't seen her in many films. This is just the second. However, so far, I like her performances. In this film, I am able to see more depth in her performance as Anna. I think being cast alongside such a fantastic actor as Anton Yelchin, she doesn't shine as bright. But still, she's one I would look out for in the future. 

I didn't know X-Men: First Class' Jennifer Lawrence was in this film until I saw her in it. And although it was a small part, I enjoyed watching her in the film. I'd have to get my hands on The Hunger Games and Winter's Bone soon. 

At the start of Like Crazy, I really didn't know what to expect. And now, having watched it. I have no regrets. It is like watching a part of my life being acted by others on the big screen. To those who have never been in a long distance relationship, be an observer to this quiet but meaningful film. Relationships are hard work, whether two people are on the same continent or not. But ultimately, if you really love one another, you'll find a way to make it work. You might make mistakes, meet other people, but at the end of the day, you'll find your way back to each other. 

The film leaves the viewer a little unsure about the future of Jacob and Anna, but that's just it isn't it? Even if the film gave us a happily ever after, if this was real life, after the credits have finished rolling, something bad might happen and they might end up breaking up anyway. All that Jacob and Anna has gone through, if the film did not portray them the way they did, then it would be unrealistic and the typical Hollywood film that gives in to the demand of the happily-ever-after-ending. 

(1) Anton Yelchin has acted in films like Along Came A Spider (2001), Hearts In Atlantis (2001), Charlie Bartlett (2007), New York, I Love You (2009), Star Trek (2009), Terminator Salvation (2009), Memoirs Of A Teenage Amnesiac (2010), Like Crazy (2011), and Fright Night (2011). He also voiced Clumsy Smurf in the film The Smurfs (2011). 

(2) Felicity Jones has acted in films like Brideshead Revisited (2008), Chalet Girl (2011), and Hysteria (2011). 

(3) Jennifer Lawrence has acted in films like Winter's Bone (2010), X-Men: First Class (2011), and The Hunger Games (2012).

The Eclectic Reviewer thinks… Like Crazy makes me remember the times when I was in a long distance relationship. While the ending of my story is different, I connected with the film nonetheless. It makes me sad, it makes me nostalgic, but its okay. Because I know this feeling will pass eventually. (3 of 5)

* Movie Poster from Wikipedia

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Star Trek (2009)

Directed by: J.J. Abrams (1)

Written by: Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (2)

Cast: Chris Pine (3), Zachary Quinto (4), Karl Urban (5), Zoë Saldana (6), Simon Pegg (7), John Cho (8), Anton Yelchin (9), Eric Bana (10), Chris Hemsworth (11)

(Watch the trailer) 

My Favourite Quote: "Spock, you are fully capable of deciding your own destiny. The question you face is - which path will you choose. This is something only you can decide."

Did You Know? - The man who played George Kirk, James T Kirk's father, Chris Hemsworth, also played Thor in the film of the same name and in The Avengers (2012). The mother of James T Kirk is played by Jennifer Morrison, who currently plays Snow White's daughter in the television series Once Upon A Time. 


Fate and destiny. I love the concept of 'what if'. Unfortunately, at present, we cannot prove or disprove that such a thing as destiny or fate exists. However, we humans love to speculate about it. 

Time travel is not a new concept. However, I greatly appreciate the creative and smarts of the producers and writers who have used this concept well in this film. Destiny, to believe that no matter what you choose to do, even if the journey is different, the end point remains the same. What is your stand on this matter? I think that while we may choose paths that steer us from heading towards our destined end path, we will still end up there. As they say, all paths lead to Rome. Though while I believe this, I also like to hope that we are the masters of our own destiny.

Besides having a great interest in the concept of fate and destiny, I realise now that what I enjoy most about the television series I follow is the development of its characters. Star Trek has given us many great characters to love. I like to understand the history of how things came to be. And this film really is about two men and their connected destiny. I think at the heart of it, Star Trek is a 'bromance'. The story of how two men first became friends. Trekkers know of the brotherly bond and close friendship between Kirk and Spock, but none of the previous films or series ever focused on how they came to be friends.

There are plenty of things I love about JJ Abrams' Star Trek. When I first watched the film, I was expecting plenty of heart pumping action and awesome graphics. What I didn't expect when I first watched the film in the cinemas, was to throughly enjoy the humour littered throughout the film. The witty exchange between various actors made me laugh out loud, even now after watching it countless times. The film has a lot of heart on top of being a great action film.

The casting of these beloved characters was also spot on. Chris Pine's James T Kirk was a good combination of charm and confidence. I believe that we are shaped by the things that happen in our lives. And I could see the growth of the character of Kirk and Chris Pine's delivery of that growth was subtle but spot on. I have already seen how great an actor Zachary Quinto is from his performance in the television series Heroes. So his wonderful turn as Spock was no surprise to me.

Although the story revolved around Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto's characters, Star Trek has always been a story about the entire crew of the Enterpirse. The remaining actors featured in the film all played a big part in making this Star Trek a great film. I especially liked Simon Pegg and Karl Urban's great comedic timing in the film. Some of the best lines of the film were delivered by these two actors.

To be honest, there are so many underlying messages in the film that I feel overwhelmed to have to put it all into this one review. One day when I watch the film again, and if something else struck a chord with me, I would add on to the review. But for now, all that's left is to wait patiently for the sequel to be released.

2013, please come sooner. 

(1) Director J.J. Abrams  has directed films like Mission: Impossible III (2006) and Super 8 (2011)

(2)  Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman has written films like The Island (2005), The Legend Of Zorro (2005), Mission: Impossible III (2006), Transformers (2007), Watchmen (2009), and Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen (2009)

(3) Chris Pine has acted in films like The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004), Just My Luck (2006), Blind Dating (2006), Smokin' Aces (2006), Unstoppable (2006), This Means War (2012), and Magic Mike (2012)

(4) Zachary Quinto is well known for the role Syler/Gabriel Gray in the television series Heroes. He also acted in the film What's Your Number? (2011)

(5) Karl Urban has acted in films like The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers (2002), The Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King (2003), The Bourne Supremacy (2004), Dredd (2012), and The Loft (2012). He also acted in the series Xena: Warrior Princess

(6) Zoë Saldana has acted in films like Center Stage (2000), Get Over It (2001), Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl (2003), The Terminal (2004), Avatar (2009), The Losers (2010), Death At A Funeral (2010), Colombiana (2011)

(7) Simon Pegg has acted in films like Shaun Of The Dead (2004), Mission: Impossible III (2006), How To Lose Friends And Alienate People (2008), The Adventures of Tintin (2011), and Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)

(8) John Cho has acted in films like American Pie (1999), American Pie 2 (2001), Evolution (2001), Down To Earth (2001), Big Fat Liar (2002), American Wedding (2003), In Good Company (2004), Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle (2004), Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay (2008), A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (2011), American Reunion (2012) and Total Recall (2012)

(9) Anton Yelchin has acted in films like Along Came A Spider (2001), Hearts In Atlantis (2001), Charlie Bartlett (2007), New York, I Love You (2009), Terminator Salvation (2009), Memoirs Of A Teenage Amnesiac (2010), Like Crazy (2011), and Fright Night (2011). He also voiced Clumsy Smurf in the film The Smurfs (2011)

(10) Eric Bana has acted in films like Black Hawk Down (2001), Hulk (2003), Troy (2004), Munich (2005), Lucky You (2007), The Other Boleyn Girl (2008), The Time Traveller's Wife (2009), Funny People (2009), and Hanna (2011)

(11) Chris Hemsworth has acted in films like Thor (2011), The Avengers (2012), Snow White And The Huntsman (2012), Red Dawn (2012), and Thor 2 (2013)

The Eclectic Reviewer thinks… JJ Abrams' Star Trek strikes a wonderful balance of action, comedy, and drama. And it does so while managing to thrill non-Trekkers, as well as to please those who hold dear to their hearts creator Gene Roddenberry's Trek. There are some seemingly unnecessary lines in the dialogue that I feel would have been best left unsaid and would have been better if relied on the actor's performances. However, those lines are few and do no permanent damage to the overall enjoyment of the film. Now I only hope for the sequel to match its near-perfection or surpass it. (4.8 of 5)

* Movie Poster from Wikipedia

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