Beauty and the Briefcase - 2010

 

My Synopsis: Lane is an aspiring fashion journalist who is slowly losing her optimistic view on finding her ‘magic man’. She gets offered an opportunity to write a story for her favourite magazine Cosmopolitan a piece on finding love in the corporate world. Posing as a corporate assistant, she takes on this challenge. As Lane goes through motions of working in the corporate world and dating almost man in the office she dumps a dashing young man on a girls night out who seems to almost tick every criteria on her magic man list, however he is outside of the corporate world, so she comes to a cross road, does she chose a career with a magazine company whom she’s always dreamed about writing for or does she choose her ‘magic man’?!

Director: Gil Junger

Producer(s): Hilary Duff, Richard Fischoff

Writer: Michael Horowitz, and Daniella Brodsky (Based on the novel, Diary of a Working Girl)

Stars: Hilary Duff, Jaime Pressly, Matt Dallas, Chris Carmack, Michael McMillian, Billy Slaughter, Edrick Browne, Kevin Kirkpatrick, Cedric Burton, Grant Case, Gil Junger

Genre: Romantic, Comedy                               

MY PORTRAYAL OF THE MOVIE:

Lane Daniels (Hilary Duff) is a young fashion journalist from New York City, fashion blogs and college newspaper mostly but her dream is to write for her favourite magazine Cosmopolitan. In the pursuit for her dream job she is also in pursuit of her magic man, no man so far on her checklist has come close. Her best friend Joanne who is a fashion photographer has hopelessly tried and failed on several occasions to find her a perfect suit also but no one fits the bill. 

Joanne has managed to get Lane a meeting with Kate White (Jaime Pressly) a fashion editor at Cosmopolitan Magazine. Lane dressed for fashion success heads to the building where her future career may or may not come to provision, she is overwhelmed that she is there, and is eager to meet Kate White. Kate is a strong assertive woman editor from Cosmopolitan Magazine, who means business. The initial pitch for Lane unfortunately wasn’t a success, however as Lane walks out of the interview disheartened and adding a slide remark about going back and cuddling up to her imaginary boyfriend it seems to hit a nerve with Kate she openly concurs with Lane about the man checklist which seems to be demising with every date they go on. So there’s a story in this! Going into the business world to find love, Kate suggests if Lane wants to write for Cosmopolitan she goes undercover in the corporate world downtown to date and find love. Lane assignment is to date all those eligible men in suits and write a story about how to find love.

So her mission begins. She sets off to her first corporate interview, with a completely embellished resume, she blunders her way through the interview and testing process and manages to land a position as administration assistance in Corporate Strategic Planning for Thomas Fulworth, a major investment firm to which she knows nothing about. Her first day on the job and her first impression as she steps out of the elevator into her new job is “Oh my god so many men in suits and I get my pick”, as she walks down the corridor she feels like a kid in a candy store. So far her introduction into the corporate world isn’t too bad. John (Kevin Kilpatrick) a jovial type of man who’s her initiation committee and business associate welcomes her to the team and re-introduces her to Tom Rinehart (Michael McMillian) the managing director and also her new boss. Tom is young, sharp but very much a rigid and systematic type of man, who likes structure and hand signal as a way of communicating. He gives Lane her job description and leaves her to sort herself out on her new desk.

It doesn’t take long before the men in the office notice the young attractive fashion ester in their department and offers come pouring in to take her out for drinks. Lane goes on several dates, lunch date, dinner dates, exhausting her diary with potential magic men dates, though none so far have come close. After several more dates, she has managed to find one slight contender, Seth (Matt Dallas) who she first met in the photocopier room on her first day, she thinks there’s potential in him and considering perusing him for the story.  Lane and Joanne go on a girls night out which turns into something more when she bumps into Liam (Chris Carmack), a handsome, witty, British accent, world traveller, who Lane is instantly smitten with.  She agrees to go on a date with Liam and also with Seth on the same night as it turns out her diary is just so full. It was a juggling act, but she managed to get through it and realises Seth in the end just isn’t Liam. Liam certainly seems to be shaping up to be that magic man Lane has been searching for. There’s just one slight problem he’s not a man from the corporate world and this may pose an issue with Kate long term.

Tom her boss has come to realise that Lanes’ extraordinary resume wasn’t at all factual, in fact it was a big bunch of lies and as disappointing as he was, Tom gives her another chance to get back to work and end the dishonesty. When Lane goes to report to her other boss Kate at Cosmopolitan, Kate isn’t too impressed either, her directive is to stop dating Liam and stick to Seth. Lane takes Kates directive but manipulates the article just a little to fit the requirements, she decides to use Seth name and Liam persona to write her article. That way she can still keep dating Liam secretly and all the while the story will read like she’s been dating Seth.

With this new forward thinking Lane decides to make the most of her time in her position in the corporate world, she takes up more responsibility, working longer hours, and resulting in really enjoy her job that the firm. Lane feels part of a team and is happy to go the extra mile. Her love life with Liam is coming along just great, her article is also on track and everything seems to be going her way. Until one day Tom finds copies of her article for Cosmo on the work printer. He confronts her about this and feels quite deceived, appearing slightly jealous as the article is about some intimate moments with Seth (which we all know is actually Liam) and on top of that Tom is disappointed that after giving Lane the opportunity to handle the ‘visuals’ for the upcoming campaign she had betrayed him once again. After this unfolds Lane feels the jig is up and leave her job in the corporate world.

While out that night with Joanne commiserating her failed corporate career and regretting her deceitful ways she sees Liam waiting on the table at the restaurant her and Joanne are at, and is very confused. Liam said he was in England. She confronts him about this and much to her dismay, his accent along with everything else about him is one big scam. He was no ‘magic man’, just a con artist, just another man making up stories trying to get into a girl pants. She is heartbroken and disappointed.

Much to Lanes surprise the next morning, She receives a phone call from Tom wondering where she is, where are the ‘visuals ‘and is desperate for her to get into the office. Lane hops right to it and get those visual to Tom as soon as possible, all the while slightly confused as to why he has called her back considering she thought he was fired. In any event the meeting was a success, although the boss feels the team needs some structural changes due to financial uncertainties. In a last attempt to save her team Lane suggests Tom pitches the ‘going green’ idea which the boss seems to like the idea of and suggests the team works on this pitch together. There is a huge sigh of relief amongst the team and all thanks go to Tom.

After that turn of events Lane and Tom decide to part ways, the corporate world may not be so much for her. She also realises her ‘magic man’ isn’t about finding true love in the perfect man but it’s about finding and loving the imperfections in that someone that makes that person the special one. Lane feels disappointed that her article doesn’t feel like it fits the bill. She’s been so exhausted by the whole process the article doesn’t even seem like it’s her truth.  Subsequently she decided to write it the way she feels it should be heard and sends it to Kate. With her fingers crossed.

Kate calls her in the next day to discuss the article. Lane thinks for certain she is fired and the article is a complete bust up. To Lane surprise Kate loves her article and has decided to make it the cover story for Cosmopolitan. Kate has always wanted her to write her truth, but she just needed Lane to discover that for herself, with that said Kate also leans in to suggest Lane take a look at Tom, throughout this whole experiment Tom has been that one imperfect man, also the only one Lane was truly herself with, and with everything she did to mislead him Tom still had a soft spot to take her back and push her to succeed. Lane realises how foolish she has been, Tom was that ‘magic man’ all along in all his imperfections he was her perfection. With that realisation she rushes to her old work. Interrupts the board meeting Tom is overseeing and tell him she loves him and to that he says it right back.

So in the end Lane and Tom become a couple. Lane writes a follow up story for Cosmopolitan and helps Tom from time to time with his presentations. All is happy and ends well with this movie.

MY REVIEW:

This movie had its predictable Hilary Duff character in it; a young, flirty, cute and savvy girl. The movie itself has some good scenes, it was cute, entertaining, and predictable and I enjoyed the many quirky outfits Lane wore throughout the movie.  It certainly doesn’t have an in-depth storyline. It is quite a cliché movie but nevertheless a pretty good movie to watch with the girls. I found the ending to be a little silly, but really to be far nothing can be quite serious with Hilly Duff as the main actor. Rating: 4/10.

Regards, S

The Magic of Belle Isle (2012)

My Synopsis: An alcoholic, wheelchair bound once successful writer named Monte (played by Morgan Freeman) who has written many western novels in the past has come to some sort of writers block and in the hope of bringing back his creativity and flare he agrees to housesits for his nephew Henrys’ (Kenan Thompson) friend Dog Dave at a lakeside cabin for the summer in the charming Belle Isle. There he meets his neighbour a single mother with three girls. This family inadvertently shows him a different perspective to living, loving and in due course helps him find his inspiration again, thus forming a great friendship with the family.

Director: Rob Reiner

Producer(s): Salli Newman, David Valdes, Rob Reiner, Alan Greisman, Lori McCreary

Writer: Rob Reiner, Guy Thomas, Andrew Scheinman

Stars: Morgan Freeman, Virginia Madsen, Emma Fuhrmann, Madeline Carroll, Fred Willard, Kenan Thompson, Nicolette Pierini, CJ Wilson, Ash Christian, Debargo Sanyal, Jessica Hecht, Christopher McCann, Kevin Pollak, Robert Boyd Holbrook, Lucas Caleb Rooney, Kevin Pollack

Genre: Drama, Comedy

 MY PORTRAYAL OF THE MOVIE:

Morgan Freeman plays a cowboy hat wearing writer, Monte Wildhorn, who is in the midst of a writer’s block.  Montes’ nephew has a friend, Dog Dave, who has a house and dog in Belle Isle that needs looking after for the summer. Monte is an ornery old man who comes into house and dog sitting half-heartedly. His nephew, Henry, thinks Belle Isle would be the perfect place to inspire Monte to write again. Monte thinks it would be the perfect place to drink the summer away despite his faithful old typewriter accompanying him, from which many of his best stories were born. Monte still insists that the trusty sour mash whiskey will be his only companion. Throughout the movie we are also made aware of a persistent editor named Joe Viola (Kevin Pollak) whom Monte is successfully avoiding. His solitary attitude stems firstly from meeting with an unfortunate car accident involving a drunk driver which left him wheelchair bound and his wifes’ untimely death only a few years back. His lack of enthusiasm when he first arrives to Belle Isle dissolves very quickly when he meets Mrs O’Neill (Virginia Madsen) the beautiful single mother and her lovely girls, Willow (Madeline Carroll), Finnegan (aka Finn played Emma Fuhrmann) and Flora (Nicolette Pierini). Willow, the oldest girl, is noticeably affected by her parents’ relationship breakdown and tends to have a very unfavourable attitude towards her mother and has a huge confidence that her father will come get them soon and take them back to their New York lifestyle. She has the most stand offish persona of the three sisters but this slowly dissolves as the movie progresses.

Montes first of many encounters is with the dog of the house, Ringo. He decides to name him Spot because Ringo isn’t a fitting name for a dog. Though it is a one way conversation between these two, the little chats Monte has with Spot throughout the movie is quite delightful. Carl (Ash Christian), the bunny hopping special needs boy from down the road, quietly brings out the fatherly side to Monte. This is highlighted superbly by Montes’ first interaction with Carl, an interaction that endears Morgan Freeman’s character to you even more. Then we have the fearless, persistent and clever Finn who loves to write but isn’t quite sure what imagination is all about, she asks Monty to help her find where stories comes from, and to be somewhat of a mentor, and she insists on paying him to teach her. Monte accepts this offer to his terms and conditions of course, consequently Finns and Montes ‘professional’ relationship grows in leaps and bounds from this moment.

As Monte settles into his new residence for the summer a dinner invitation is extended to him by Mrs O’Neil to which he accepts. That evening was full of great conversations, and musical expression. You’re not quite sure if it was that night at dinner when Mrs O’Neill played a classical piece of music on her piano or it was  that little something that was mentioned at the dinner table by the youngest member of the O’Neil family, nonetheless, whatever it was it certainly did re- ignite something in Monte. From that night came a very special gift for Flora on her birthday in the coming weeks. The gift not only left an impression on Flora but also her mum.

The relationship that forms between Mrs O’Neill and Monte from that night at dinner purely shows as platonic in the main story but is very different in their imagination. Mrs O’Neill alluring nature inspires Monte to imagine, creative write and produce some fine pieces of work which entertains the likes of Flora but the undertones within his writing shows Mrs O’Neill another side to Montes message.

In the next scene you see Monte typing away on his old but faithful typewriter enjoying a moment of clarity, its night time and he is enjoying the soft classical music coming across from Mrs O’Neill house, until Joe decided to make a surprise appearance on Montes doorstep. The visit didn’t bother Monte so much because he knew sooner or later Joe would catch up to him. But it wasn’t until Joe mentioned he brought along someone, someone that could potentially help alleviate Montes’ financially situation that actually put the thought in the back of his mind. The visitor wanted to acquire the rights to one of his famous western novels. The rights would allow Montes novel to become a big budget movie and potentially make Monte a rich man.  Monte though, is happy with his situation and for the moment declines the initial offer. With that said and their quick exit Monte goes back to listening to Mrs O’Neill playing the piano and enjoying the rest of his night.

In the following scenes you see Mrs O’Neill walking to Montes house in the early morning asking him a favour, to look after the girls for the day while she is in the city finalising some paperwork. Monte is hesitant but accepts the challenge. There are some great moments that take place between the girls and Monte, from supervising their swim at the lake, his chat with Finn, the girls teaching Monte how to use a mobile phone, and at the end of the day all three ending up staying the night at Monte place.

In the final weeks leading up to Montes departure from Belly Isle he realises the things he was so depended on before aren’t so much of a dependence now. As he says his goodbye to all his favourites, Carl the young side-sick, Spot his faithful companion and Mrs O’Neill and her daughters he feels the loss of leaving all of Belle Isle behind.

Over the next few months as life moves forward the house that Monte stayed in for the summer remains vacant. Mrs O’Neill and Monte exchange a few text messages and emails, the girls become a lot closer to their mum and the pumpkins Willow and her mum planted months back are getting bigger for Halloween. The final message sent to Mrs O’Neill from Monte is a great end to the movie even though it was a little predicable, it still doesn’t take away from the story and the story’s ending.

 MY REVIEW:

Morgan Freemans’ character seems to have just the right thing to say at the right time, from his conversation with his dog Spot to his conversations with Mrs O’Neill.  His voice is so smooth and pitch perfect, it so great to listen too. My partner says ‘he can read to me anytime’ (slight worry I must say) but I will admit he does have some truth to that. You will understand what I mean when you watch this movie. He plays his characters brilliantly, only Mr Freeman can take a character that is so reclusive and make him into such a wonderful and lovable man.

I thought all the characters were great in this movie. Virginia Madsen who played Mrs O’Neill played the nurturing, caring and understated attractive single mother really well. Emma Fuhrmann quirkiness in the movie was delightful, she had great facial expressions and it was just really charming to see her and Morgan Freeman characters interact with one another.

It’s a light hearted movie, nothing dramatic nothing too over the top. I really enjoyed this movie!! I hope you enjoy it too.

Regards, S