Easy A

Directed by: Will Gluck
Release date: 22 Oct 2010 UK / 17 Sept 2010 USA
Starring: Emma Stone, Amanda Bynes, Stanley Tucci, Dan Byrd, Lisa Kudrow, Thomas Hayden Church, Penn Badgley



IMDB Page

He said:

Helen and I were lucky to catch this film on a single night rerelease last week, thanks in large part to Orange's Rising Star Award nominee promotion (where all last week they had a single showing of films released over the last year including but not limited to, Kick Ass, Inception, Easy A and several others that escape me at the moment.)

I'm happy to say that even with a repeat viewing this film still delivered with out feeling tired or dull, I had seen it the first time back in September of last year when it was first released in the States.

Emma Stone in her first leading role is outstanding as Olive, the self confessed typical high school film do-no-wrong nobody. While it is hard to believe that someone as striking and as quick-witted as Emma Stone would ever do anything than standout when surrounded by her "peers", the film glosses over this small inconsistency with all the grace and speed of the less than subtly referenced John Hughes films that came before it.

This film is an every way an homage to the teen film genre that John Hughes made popular in the eighties proving once and for all at least to me the age old idiom "If it ain't broke don't fix it." It is also a modern spin on Nathaniel Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter (hence the title). I really enjoyed this film, I give it {{{4 out of 5}}}

She said:

Unlike James this was my first viewing of Easy A however having heard James' praise for it before, and it has to be said from pretty much everyone who had seen it, I was thrilled to see on the big screen. As James said, this film is a real throw back to those good ol' teen films of the Eighties but even more than that; it was a homage. The filmmakers obviously all loved teen films and really wanted to do this film justice. And they did.

This is the second film I have watched Emma Stone in (the first being Zombieland) and she really shined in a lead role. She gives a smart, witty and charismatic performance. I am excited for the Spider-Man reboot even more now.

I want to give a quick mention to Stanley Tucci and the rest of Stone's on screen family. They had a fantastic chemistry and were hilarious. The only performance that seemed out of place was Lisa Kudrow's but this wasn't her so much as a bit of a lost sub-plot.

I really enjoyed this film. Easy A all together was completely aware of its own ridiculousness, turning it to its own advantage. I give this film {{{4 out of 5}}}

They said: This is one to get on DVD for those evenings where you just want a drink and a giggle. We give this film {{{8 out of 10}}}

QUESTION FOR THE COMMENTS: WHAT IS YOUR FAVE TEEN MOVIE?

The Lovely Bones (Directed by Peter Jackson)

Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Stanley Tucci, Susan Sarandon, Reece Ritchie, Rose McIver, Nikki SooHoo.
Watched: Feb 21st.

He said:

Having just finished reading the Novel by Alice Sebold this Film was based on a mere three days prior to seeing the film the story of the novel was very fresh in my mind. As Helen mentions below there are some differences between the two but the feel and heart of the story remains.
Peter Jackson rarely disappoints as a director with films such as Lord of the Rings and the recent re-imagining of King Kong as well as one of his first forays as a director The Frighteners (starring fan favorite Michael J Fox) This film is no exception it is beautiful and poignant and true to the source material which as far as I am concerned is of major importance.
I truly loved the novel and enjoyed the film. With out hesitation I would recommend this film to friends and family, I give it {{{4.5 out of 5}}}

She said:

When I read the book that the film is adapted from a few years ago I was blown away by the poignancy and originality of the novel. The film matched the standard set by the book but in its own way. There were differences from the book, some bigger that others, but overall I was happy with how Jackson, Boyens and Walsh wrote the screenplay.

If you recognised those three surnames then you will probably know Andrew Lesnie as well. If not they are the people behind the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Lesnie being the incredible director of photography. If there is one thing that stood out in this film it was the beautiful way the film was shot. The special effects which depicted 'the in-between' were stunning and symbolic (provided by WETA Digital also of Lord of the Rings fame), and this was matched in the subtle cinematography in the 'living world'.

In addition to an accomplished crew the actors were very good and have got some very worthy nominations this awards season. The stand out performances were from Saoirse Ronan and Stanley Tucci - the girl and her murderer. They managed to portray their split roles very effectively: Ronan has to act her chatracter not just alive and dead but also tortured and distressed at not being able to reach her family against her need to move on. Tucci of course played friendly neighbour and rapist/murderer with a haunting accuracy.

A brilliant book, a great film. I give it <<<4.5 out of 5>>>

They said:

This film is a different take on the idea of murder and death. It is not an actioned packed mystery. It is about how lives are affected by a trauma - how they come to terms and move past it, including the victim herself. We give it <<<9 out of 10>>>