Need A Fifty Fix? I found it in Michael Fassbender.

Aloha! I might add this post is not safe for young ones. So, yeah. Find another blog if your are under 18.

With that being said.

It's no surprise that many, many, many new readers have stumbled across the phenomenal "Fifty Shades" and by phenomenal, I mean in the amount of books author E. L. James has sold. I actually read the story years ago when it was a fan fiction story, titled Masters of the Universe and to be frank, it was alright. In the beginning of the story, there was always an element of intrigue as the two characters struggle to be with each other while coping with their own issues and moral inhibitions. But, let's not lie and say the story is not erotic! It definitely has its moments and if men cannot understand why women are so in awe of this book, I can only explain from my own point of view, that women need mental stimulation. It's why the romance novel industry is steady, generating well over a billion in its genre, annually. Now, speaking of erotic, I have read far, far more explicit tales than that of Fifty from authors like Anne Rice's Sleeping Beauty Trilogy to Pauline Réage's Story of O. Erotica and its allure is no stranger to me as a reader.

But what about film? With Fifty Shades of Grey being translated to the big screen, everyone is on edge about who will be cast as Christian and Anastasia. In any case, I can see that readers of such entertainment are willing to see it at the movie theater which kills my theory that women need mental stimulation. It's apparent we are right there with the men, whether we admit it or not.Visual or mental.

Now all this talk of Fifty and erotica leads me to next revelation. Michael Fassbender. I had stumbled across many really good reviews regarding the 2011 film, "Shame", including Roger Ebert's review in which he gave it four stars, his highest rating.

When the dvd finally came, I quickly got schooled with director Steve McQueen; not to be confused with Steve McQueen, the badass actor of 60's and 70's; or Alexander McQueen, the fashion designer. No, this is a different Steve McQueen and an entirely different viewing experience.

Welcome to the world of "Shame".

The film is set in New York and revolves around a young and handsome thirty-something advertising executive, played by Michael Fassbender, that harbors a dark secret. He is a sex addict, and by sex addict, I mean he is debilitated to the point that he is forced to often relieve himself whenever the urge becomes too great.

The opening scene...

is graphic and has frontal nudity right out the gate. However, there is something ominous and haunting in many of these sexual scenes. Raw and unfiltered, it is some of the best acting that I have ever seen on screen.  You are able to sense the pain that often results from Fassbender's character inability to feel satisfied with his afliction. His encounters only temporarily relieve the suffering the disease brings but regardless, it is a situation that does not allow for him to truly have a normal relationship with any woman, nor his own co-workers, for that matter. He is consumed by his desires and it begins to take its toll on him. 

I might add that the film is NC-17, which to those who are not aware of it, replaced the infamous dirty-birdy, X rating. (You might want to close all the windows when watching this at home. Just saying.)

But if the premise of watching a sex addict seems trivial but enticing, I believe what makes the film truly worthy is the acting by Carey Mulligan in contrast to Fassbender. Mulligan plays his sister who shows up out of nowhere after a failed relationship. She too, has her issues and is a wanderer; a gypsy of sorts while her relationship with her brother, complicated. So much so, during many of their altercations, there is a demented sense of vulgarity. You begin to understand something tragic has happened in their early childhood, but what, you never learn. To see the two of them together becomes unbearable at times, but it is her recognition of his disturbing behavior,that finely takes root with him. It is when he finally feels "shame" for his actions.

It seems that the two siblings are, to quote Mr. Grey, "fifty shades of fucked up". Oh, yeah. It does exist. And this movie exudes the pinnacle of that terminology. Fifty ain't got nothing on Fassbender in this film. 

So, if you are in need of a Fifty fix, I highly recommend watching the film, "Shame", but not because it's an erotic film, but because it is one of the best films that I have seen in a long time that seems to radiate the same belief that the soul can be corrupted when it is young, and is translated through the inability to properly love. Yes, there is the sex, but the sex is without self respect. And it takes a strong individual to help break that. "Shame" captures this disease and Fassbender is truly an amazing actor. 

Now onto shameless blessed genetics. Hey! How about Fassbender play Christian Grey?

Movie Review: The Campaign directed by Jay Roach

The Campaign
Rated R
85 mins.

Congressman Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) is caught in a political scandal, when he accidentally leaves a raunchy message meant for his mistress, on a local family’s answering machine. As he points out, “Who still has answering machines?!”

Understanding that Brady’s campaign for re-election is now slim, his financial backers seek a more conservative person to front their hidden agendas and in comes new rival candidate, Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakas). With the assistance of his new campaign manager, Tim Wattley (Dylan McDermott), his entire life is turned upside down and renovated... Republican Style.

The concept behind the film is pretty basic. Two men are running for Congress; one’s an A-hole and the other, naïve. But as Huggins has had enough of being teased when he was little for crapping his pants when he gets tickled, he finally grows a pair and dishes it right back to Brady, winning favor along the way. Essentially, it becomes a very heated and close race.

Seriously, all of this havoc and mayhem makes for some hilarious laughs, especially in the beginning of the film. But at other times, the jokes are not so funny and more like... um, inappropriate. Like hitting a baby. Probably not as funny on camera as it was on paper. Throughout the film, the movie tries very hard to keep a consistent pace of improper gags and uses its slapstick humor to maintain our interest. As I said, in the beginning it definitely worked. But as I find with most Will Ferrell films, there is always that lull period during the middle of the story and this movie is no different. I like to label it as ‘funny, most of the time’. Because, it is. Funny... Most of the time.

But, there are other memorable characters that help out with the story and give contrast to the otherwise, silly antics of Ferrell and Galifianakas. Brady’s campaign manager, Mitch (Jason Sudeikis) is even keel and does his best to be honest, while Huggin’s campaign manager is smoking hot! Alright, I just added that part in because let’s face it, I still have visions of McDermott on American Horror Story dancing in my head.

Did I love The Campaign? No, but I really liked it and had fun watching it.

Book Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Insurgent
Author: Veronica Roth
Genre: YA, dystopian
Hardcover: Second novel to Divergent, 525 pages
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books


To read my first review on Divergent, click here. 


My book review: Generally, I don't like to write reviews on continuing novels of a series because I really think that's subjective. If you loved the first, then you should read the next book. No one should tell you otherwise, because each person's journey with the story is different. But, it has been the book that I have been holding on to for quite some time and what the heck...

I also want to add that I inhaled the first novel, Divergent.

However, when I picked up the second book, I had a hard time with it. For some reason, the main character in the story did not hold as much reverence in my head as she did in the first.

What I don't like with second novels is when the heroine suddenly loses her quirk that she had in the first, and becomes a cold, heartless fighter in the next installment (ok, I hated when they did this with the character in the Mummy 2. And yes, I'm still bitter about it!). And I think that is what I really did not like about Tris. In the second installment, she becomes too driven and sort of loses her humanity. For me, maybe too much, to the point that I could not tolerate the way she treated others and the flip/flop status of her relationship with Tobias. At 525 pages, I really struggled. And it really wasn't the progression of the story that had me disinterested, it truly was the main character, Tris. She bothered me. Period.

But as I got further into the book, Tris begins to almost analyze her own actions and emotions and I believe she learns too, that she has been foolish in her ways. It's not that Tris doesn't have a good heart, it's just that she has just become too fearless, which in turn, makes her close to death on several occasions. But, her miscalculated adventures do prove fruitful and in the end, I admit, I had a little gasp at the ending. Well played, Ms. Roth, well played.

Will I continue on? Not sure. But I do think it's an interesting story. I just found the main character, which the novel is told through, unlikable at times in this installment. But with that ending plot twist, I have to admit I like the book (but not love) overall.

Movie Review: Monsieur Lazhar directed by Philippe Falardeau

Monsieur Lazhar
Canadian-French subtitled in English
PG-13


The Oscar nominated ‘Monsieur Lazhar’ is a 2011 Canadian-French drama film directed by Philippe Falardeau, based off the character, Bashir Lazhar, by Évelyne de la Chenelière. It is the enigmatic story of a classroom stricken by grief from the death of their teacher, and her replacement, Algerian immigrant Mr. Lazhar, who empathetically understands the slow road to recovery after such an event. Witness to atrocities in his own life, his is able to reach the children through his teachings and help them begin the healing process, when no one else in the school can.

The film opens with the suicide of a classroom teacher during school; a boy delivering milk is witness to the horrific act and from there, the story delves into the children trying to make sense of why their beloved teacher died. With the arrival of Algerian refugee, Bachir Lazhar (Mohamed Fellag), his antiquated brazen ways are exactly what the young students are in need of. Through fables and writing, Lazhar is able to help the children express their emotions and it is through their expressions, does the teacher himself begin to deal with his own losses. Essentially, it is about love and understanding and the ability of one person willing to reach out and help another, if for that matter, it is only one.

With such dark subject matter, we were surprised at the tone being very understated but poignant in moments when need be. With the children being at the heart of the story, the director keeps it light enough to make it palatable but it is not to say that a few of the children do not set the direction of the film as well. Especially when one little girl exudes a maturity, articulating exactly how she feels about their former teacher and the violent actions in her tragic passing. It is a maturity that is not often seen in children, yet it is her deep understanding of death that helps Lazar with the other children and their feelings--again, forcing Lazhar to deal with his own heartbreaking past. It is a bond that though short lived, changes both of their lives... And the lives of the entire classroom, we can only presume for the better. 

‘Monsieur Lazhar’ is a film without complex dialogue or convoluted twist and turns. It is however, a story of bereavement and with no real answers given; it is more or less a glimpse into these characters lives as they transition from one chapter to another.