Reviews: Detention (2011) and Another Earth (2011)

Review Time! Up first We've got Another Earth (2011) and then Detention (2011)
(Yes, note that they are both 2011 movies, I'm a bit behind the times. I know)

Another Earth. Where do I begin? Its a rather melancholy film. A little depressing. However its beautifully put together and the shots just work you know? The story, although very sad, was really compelling. A girl who is so full of guilt and a man so full of grief and a loss of purpose. 

This is not a sci-fi film. If anything the 'other earth' is a metaphor for the characters thoughts and dreams of 'what if?' 

In our world we always question what may have happened if we'd done things differently, in 'Another Earth' that feeling of wonder, the need to know, it tangible. With the other earth looming in the background of the film it acts as a constant reminder that these characters are really wondering 'why is MY life, like this? Is the me over there just as lost as I am?' 

This film is as the accolades suggest 'beautiful and haunting' But I did have one problem with it [Spoilers are happening now people, so head on down to Detention's review if you don't want to know] The romance. I know extreme situations blah blah, ect. But I thought though they needed an expression of intimacy, I didn't believe that a fully fledged romance was really the way to go. It felt off weird. At some points the soundtrack was off too, so it felt like something sinister. Or maybe it was me, as the audience, carrying around all the guilt and hurt of Rhoda, they made me feel icky. I really believed that this film could've done with a simple friendship (Admittedly the age thing was a major factor in the off-putting stuff). 

In all though I did like the ending, how other Rhoda was successful and other dude (his name escapes me at this moment) had his family alive on other earth. I can't say I loved the ending, because ultimately this film wasn't about love, it was about hurt, guilt and forgiveness. So really I think contentment and a weird feeling in my stomach were going to have to suffice.

NB: I really do love the song 'That Home' By The Cinematic Orchestra feat. Patrick Watson in the trailer.

Detention: OMGROFL-ILY

But in all seriousness I adored this movie. It was just so awesome! The sequences, the dialogue, the way it was cut. The utter ridiculous-randomness was so odd it was endearing. I'm going to put this out there: I was not alive in 1992. But I was born in the 90's (just a shout out to the current 'if you remember this then you we're a 90's kid' memes and everyone my age who's liking them; WE WE'RE ALL INFANTS IN THE 90's YOU ONLY BECAME CAPABLE OF BASIC FUNCTION IN THE 2000'S) So there was a lot of 90's nostalgia that I didn't understand. But I still loved it. 

The cast do a great job, I didn't find one character unlikable. Even Sloan, she had a purpose in the movie and since there was a villain already I didn't see the point of hate. In fact I didn't even hate the villain. In fact, to topple that last sentence I was so busy trying to figure out what the hell was going on and laughing my head off, that I don't think I even had time to process emotions. Thats what made this film wonderful, its unclassifiable. But oh my, there was a character I did quite enjoy, just all of his lines seemed like they we're made up in a fountain of gold. Principle Verge. He began by berating someone about teen pregnancy and finished by declaring he was 'too wasted' The dialogue of this show was brilliant. 

Something I also loved was the; so over the top, so terribly 'stereotypical' the characters we're made to seem. And the boring guy! Toby T! They never have boring characters in movies because they're, well, boring. But the fact that the entire time he was just taking it on the chin that everyone in detention wanted him to 'take one for the team' and confess to murder was just downright hilarious, plus his poorly-delayed scream and 'I hate this school' always makes me laugh. Just all the characters, their dialogue, the way they we're played. It was just SO GOOD. SO MUCH GOODNESS. 

Now before I was saying, about the over-the-top stereotypes. All of which I adored; the 'popular kids' Ione, Gord the Canadian, the Coach, the Jock (Billy Nolan), the Goth. So I'm going to leave you with a perfect example of this, which whenever I showed the movie to someone (who just wasn't quite getting into it just then) I had to try and conceal my laughter. Plus I'll leave you with the words: See this movie!!!!