Contagion

Directed by Steven Soderbergh

2011

Viewed February 2012

This film follows a deadly virus as it ravages the human population. The CDC and World Health Organization research and try to find a way to stop it as well as try to figure out where and how it started and how it was spread. I found it to be really interesting. I don’t know if this is a real picture of how epidemiologists work, but it was really fascinating how they figure out how fast it spreads or how many people one infected person can infect etc. It also said a lot about society and how scared people in large crowds are a force to be reckoned with. The moral of this story is: wash your hands with soap and warm water, don’t touch your face, and anyone anywhere could be carrying a deadly disease and you’ll never know it until they give it to you and you die…. B

True Grit

Rooster Cogburn: Why, by God, girl, that’s a Colt’s Dragoon! You’re no bigger than a corn nubbin, what’re you doing with all this pistol?
Mattie Ross: It belonged to my father, he carried it bravely in the war, and I intend to kill Tom Chaney with it if the law fails to do so.
Rooster Cogburn: Well, this’ll sure get the job done if you can find a fence post to rest it on while you take aim.

Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen

2010

Date Viewed: Sunday December 26, 2010

True Grit is about 14 year old Mattie Ross who hired U.S. Marshall Rooster Cogburn to help track down her father's killer. She tags along to make sure the job is done right. They are also accompanied by Texas Ranger LaBoef. This has probably taken the top spot as my favorite Coen Bros. movie. There's plenty of action and a lot of sharp, witty dialogue. Jeff Bridges is quickly becoming my favorite actor. He's a lot of fun to watch as Rooster Cogburn. I'm not usually a huge Matt Damon fan, but he was great in this as well. The same can be said for Hailee Steinfeld who holds her own against the seasoned actors she works with. This is definitely a must see! A

Hereafter

Directed by Clint Eastwood

2010

Date Viewed: October 30, 2010

This movie follows three people as they face death in different ways. The first is Marie, a French reporter who has a near death experience. She is almost swept away by a tsunami, basically dies and sees the afterlife and then comes back to life and struggles to understand what it all means. The second is a quiet London school boy whose twin brother is killed in a car accident and he goes to psychics and different specialists to try and understand where his brother is now. The third is a blue collar guy from San Fran who, as a result of a botched brain surgery, can speak to the dead. He used to make his living doing readings for people, but couldn't live with the dead anymore and quit. This is an EXTREMELY slow paced movie, but it's also really interesting and brings up a lot of questions about the afterlife/heaven/the hereafter. I already know what I believe about Heaven and what happens when we die, but I can see how this movie could be a great conversation starter for a deep discussion on the subject. This is also a long movie, so be warned. B+