Mind Games

** Some wisdom from a talented actor/director/producer Joseph Gordon-Levitt - manipulation of the mind is a serious thing - THINK for yourselves people - decipher what sounds right from what feels right...

Don Jon

“You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”

“You like movies?”

Yes, we do!!! Movies mimic life! 

Who didn’t have a crush on the adorable Joseph Gordon-Levitt while they were growing up? Levitt wrote, directed and starred in this 2013 dramatic comedy/romance, and has been keeping quite busy overall, with film projects flowing from his veins as if he were made up of only good ideas! Don Jon was a successful idea and it not only brought in 3 wins and 7 nominations but also a hefty $24 million USD at the box-office after beginning with a small $6 million USD.

Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore, Tony Danza, and Glenne Headly joined in to make this one memorable and entertaining. Funnily enough I wasn’t thrilled to see this film when I saw the previews because of it’s subject matter - but with a smile like Joseph Gordon-Levitt - it just brought me in! I’m happy it did though because this film is a lot more than meets the eye. It sheds light on a very serious topic and gives the audience a profound message about how to take control of your life and find eternal happiness. 

It was quite funny with the heavy New Jersey accents, wonderfully magnetic with the subject matter, and enormously genuine and sincere with the heavy subject matter of addiction and unrealistic expectations which made viewers feel for our main character ‘Jon’ played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Rated R for strong graphic sexual material and dialogue throughout, nudity, language and some drug-use, so this is not one for the children. But for adults who can handle it, it’ll make you laugh and teary-eyed at the same time. Enjoy & Bravo Levitt on a job well-done!

Inception

"Why couldn't you dream us up on a god-damned beach!?"

Just one of the snazzy lines from this dream within a dream of our subconscious thoughts and ideas from the film 'Inception'. 

I still don't understand why Leonardo DiCaprio hasn't won an Oscar as yet; he's been nominated 3 times, and has been nominated and winner for several other prestigious awards, but still it's the Academies that give him a run for his money! This phenomenal American born, in none-other than Hollywood California; has had a full-time career in the film world, we may remember him first from 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape' and scores of other ground-breaking films like, 'Titanic', 'Blood Diamond', 'Catch Me if You Can', 'Aviator', 'The Departed', and 'Django Un-Chained' to name a few. This 2010's Action-Adventure-Mystery written and directed by English Christopher Nolan also had the pleasure of his savvy acting abilities.

This film was thought-provoking to the max as well as highly entertaining and moving. Think Bond meets Indiana Jones, meets Matrix, with snippets of Jurrassic Park flair. I feel that the story was developed and made sense but I feel that some of the film's characters were under-developed. It was easy to feel for Cobb's character played by Leonardo DiCaprio because enough back-story, explanation and flashbacks were present, however other characters like Arthur and Ariadne played by the cute Joseph Gordon-Levitt (whom you may remember from 500 days of Summer) and (Juno's) Ellen Page respectively, were a bit dull even if when delivering comical lines because the audience didn't get a feel for the character's personality. Although some may know about the Greek mythological story  behind the original Ariadne; if Writer/Director Nolan took time to introduce each character at the beginning like 'Ocean's 11' or 'Amelie'; it would have translated better unto screen and make for a much more solid movie.

With groundbreaking special effects, camera angles, decorated sets, exquisite cinematography and dizzying and trance-like close shots, the film's $160 million USD was put to good use. Besides the tiresome 'what's-going-on' attitude of Canadian Ellen Page, I feel that other actors English Tom Hardy, Japanese Ken Watanabe, Irish Cilian Murphy, and French power-house and beauty Marion Cotillard all delivered something special on set. The soundtrack didn't weigh heavily for this film but Edith Piaf's 'Non, je ne Regrette Rien' set the mood nicely throughout.

Havoc

Havoc is exactly what happens when we try to be someone we’re not. It’s important to be true to yourself and comfortable with who you are. Written by Stephen Gaghan and Directed by Barbara Kopple winner of 2 Oscars and scores of other nominations came together to expose not only the ordinary types of problems teenagers go through, but also a whole different world on the other side of the track.

Life is what you make it. How much realer do you want it than that? Anne Hathaway, Bijou Philips, the adorable Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Mike Vogel and a distinctive yet young Channing Tatum team up in pretending to know more about the gangster, hip-hop lifestyle than their opulent truth will allow. They’re bored and they want to feel something ‘real’ but when reality sets in, sometimes it’s too late and one can only suffer the consequences.

This 2005 Crime-drama has many shocking scenes with people living on the edge and abusing their lives and their bodies. Though a riveting journey of teenagers lives I wouldn’t recommend it for young people as there is strong sexual content, violence, nudity, coarse language as well as drug and alcohol use. The audience experiences the intense obsession and playfulness of the lost and confused but by the end of the film our actors and audience are all soberly awakened to the ugly sides of reality at hand; teaching us the importance of knowing which lines in life are okay to cross.