Easy "A"....9 out of 10

So last Friday, Lu and I did a double feature movie. That doesn't happen very often, what with the cost of seeing a movie what it is and all, but we were so torn by what we wanted to see, we decide what the hell? And I'm so glad we did. It was a night of good movies. I've already reviewed M. Night Shyamalan's "Devil" and now we move on to "Easy A".

"Easy A" is a story about consequences. It's a story of how sometimes even something you do with the best of intentions can go horribly wrong. What's that saying? Oh yeah. "Oh what a tangled web we weave, when we practice to deceive." Emma Stone plays Olive, a girl who's practically invisible at her high school. She gets good grades, stays out of trouble, and secretly crushes on the same boy since 8th grade. But things go horribly awry when she pretends to have sex with a friend in order to help his reputation. The one lie leads to more and the situation soon spirals out of her control.

It's an absolutely hilarious movie. The dialogue is witty and sarcastic. The themes are handled well. It's not your typical teenage movie ala "Superbad" (although, I did laugh my butt off at that one too). It's got much more depth and a moral to the story.

Excellent performances by a host of funny characters. Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson are laugh out loud funny as Olive's parents. And Thomas Hayden Church plays a fantastic English teacher. Personally, I think he's totally under utilized by Hollywood. Love that guy.

All in all...9 out of 10 stars. If you're looking for a film to go see to get your mind off of your troubles, this is it. Or if you just like films with great one-liners, again, you're in luck. Whatever the reason...just go see it! You won't be sorry.

♥Spot

Devil 9 out of 10

Lu and I saw this movie opening night. I will fully admit up front that I am an M. Night Shyamalan fan. I think the man is brilliant. Okay, not all of the films are winners for me. I did not really like Unbreakable. And The Village was not my favorite either. But for original ideas, taut psychological drama and films that make you think...I give him high marks. I know he has his critics and that some of the general movie going public may not necessarily understand all his films, but so what? I like him. That said, I always go to his films with my fingers crossed. I mean, no one makes a winner every time. This time, I was rewarded.

Devil is about the actual Devil. One of the characters, a catholic security guard narrates part of the movie with a story his mother told him about the devil. It sets the background for the story nicely. Then, 5 strangers are trapped in an elevator together. Each has something to hide. And each are targeted for death by the Devil, who wants their souls. It could have been cheesy. But it's not. It's a tight drama filled with jumps and twists. It's a scary movie with a moral. In the end it's about salvation, redemption and forgiveness.

It's a good scary movie that will make you jump, leave you with that "creeped out" feeling, and give you something to think about for days to come. That adds up in my book to 9 out of 10 stars.

♥Spot