Mary Elizabeth Winstead - Blog Posts

Review: 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

Rating: 9.5 of 10

10 Cloverfield Lane is about 3 people, Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Howard (John Goodman), and Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.), who are trapped in a bunker because of some mysterious attacks that poison the air above ground.

If the title sounds a bit familiar, it’s because 10 Cloverfield Lane is named after 2008 film, Cloverfield. But wait! It’s not a sequel or prequel, instead 10 Cloverfield is a “spiritual successor” or “blood relative” of Cloverfield, according to producer JJ Abrams. Honestly, that sounds incredibly confusing and pretentious–usually jargons like those are red flags–but trust me when I say 10 Cloverfield Lane is good. In fact, it’s a great movie and it’s one of the best thrillers I’ve seen in recent years.

I was skeptical when I heard this “Cloverfield 2″ project was happening because while I loved Cloverfield, it had too many gimmicks (the found-footage format, viral marketing, always-on-the-corner-of-your-eye monsters) for it to work the second time. I’m happy to tell you that 10 Cloverfield is nothing like the original Cloverfield. It’s a whole new story and setting, with a set of new characters. So if you wanted a Cloverfield sequel then you need to adjust your expectations, but that also mean those of you who hated 2008′s Cloverfield with a passion (or have never seen that movie and couldn’t care less) can see 10 Cloverfield without reservation.

I WON’T tell you anything about the story in 10 Cloverfield Lane. The best thing you can do is to go in blind, and experience the ride you’re going to have without any spoilers. Don’t read any spoiler-filled review, don’t look up any interview, don’t watch the trailers on Youtube. Just go off the internet and watch this movie as soon as you can. In fact, just in case you need a small taste of the movie to convince you that you need to see this movie (it’s also worth noting that this movie currently sits at 90% in Rotten Tomatoes), I’ll share you this teaser trailer–and only this. Don’t look up any other trailers, because  the other trailers still reveal too much.

10 Cloverfield Lane sets up an unsettling vibe from the very beginning, that you could never quite shake off even when the movie gives you a warm, cuddly scene. In a movie that is set in claustrophobic bunker, the movie never goes to places you expect. There are so many twists and turns, and then there’s the ending. The ending has a MAJOR twist, that frankly, some people might think is too jarring. I, for one, loved the twist. In fact, that’s why I love this movie so much. It gives an excellent dramatic payoff that lines itself quite nicely with the franchise, and it brings an added perspective into an already layered story.

Was the threat chemical? Nuclear? Was it human? Monsters? Aliens? Throughout the movie you’d keep guessing, and the best thing about 10 Cloverfield Lane is that whatever answer you have in your head, you’d still be surprised. 10 Cloverfield Lane also tend to give you hints and not straight answers, and that is one of the reason the movie has so much depth than you’d expect.

TL;DR Crafted with masterful writing, acting, and direction, 10 Cloverfield Lane is an intense thriller that you don’t want to miss.

Review: The Spectacular Now (2013)

Rating: 9.0 of 10

Sutter Keely (Miles Teller) was a party boy who met and fell in love with plain, average girl, Aimee Finicky (Shailene Woodley). The plot just writes itself, really, but it was what happens between them and how they happen that makes the movie shine above others. First and foremost, what makes this movie unique for me was the portrayal of high school that was devoid of the typical high school stereotypes. Cliques weren't in wars against other cliques, people actually treat others nicely, girls don’t get makeovers, the ex weren't an insufferable b*tch, and Sutter—one of the most popular kid in the school—could still be a joke. Basically, the kids were portrayed as human beings. The Spectacular Now has the courage to let story and characters be the drama the movie needs, instead of milking cheap stereotypes.

The Spectacular Now really is not teen movie (it's actually R-rated), rather it's a well-made drama that is incidentally set in the teenage years. While it has an assuring amount of sweet scenes, for me The Spectacular Now is mostly just a coming-of-age story instead of a full-on love story. The film was mostly told from the perspective of Sutter and how his life changed throughout his time with Aimee. We don't really see Aimee's life or her point of view (what's up with the drinking?), and for once I'm actually okay with that. Aimee is definitely not a one-dimensional character though—we certainly have a firm grasp of what her character really is about—we just don't get to see the details of her life and that's okay. This is Sutter's story, and that's enough.

The thing that propels this movie is definitely the rich, sweet chemistry between the actors. Miles Teller's Sutter exudes this good-natured charisma and relatability, with equal amounts of effervescence and anguish, and self-destruction, while Woodley's Aimee was pure, unconditional, and unrestricted—that was actually the bane of their relationship. Even the supporting characters were perfect, giving the right amounts of pathos to each of their characters: Brie Larson, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kyle Chandler, and Bob Odenkirk. They were all understated but memorable, especially Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Sutter's older sister with a mysterious tumultuous past with the family. The movie itself was pretty slow with relatively little drama, but layers and layers of characterization like that makes a worthwhile viewing experience.

TL;DR A teen-focused movie like no other, The Spectacular Now provides lovely, tender antidote to our otherwise cynical lives.

Meet my IT Crowd OC! Name: Imogene Prendergast Height: 135 lbs Weight: 5’4” Eye colour: Brown Age: 26 Occupation: Field Services Engineer for Prophecy Electronics Likes: Windows XP, Doctor Who, Alien, the Hainish Cycle, Metroid Prime, 10,000 Maniacs Dislikes: Windows Vista, The Fifth Element, Grand Theft Auto, any & all sports, going outside Looking for: There are 10 kinds of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don’t.

icon credits: @spreadicons @sugar-violence faceclaim: mary elizabeth winstead

Aves de Rapina: Arlequina e sua Emancipação Fantabulosa  

Looks Fantabulosos     

E aí já assistiram o filme? Qual sua personagem preferida de Aves de Rapina? E qual look você desejaria ter?   

Anyone who hasn’t seen Scott Pilgrim is missing out.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)

Smoking: Jaaayyysss

So this is another favorite. RomCom with a video game feel 😊 I’m not the biggest fan of Michael Cera, but I do like some of the movies he is in. Scott is in a relationship with a girl name Knives, played by Ellen Wong, and falls in love with another girl named Ramona Flowers played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Scott has to battle all of Ramona’s ex’s in order to date her. Collects coins, levels up, acquires skills and objects.

I for one am a fan of the music that is played in the movie. Scott is in a band and I dig their music.

The ever amazing and beautiful Anna Kendrick is in this movie. She plays Scott’s sister, if I’m not mistaken she only shows up in phone calls with Scott. Hmmm, lets watch and find out! Lol! Then Aubrey Plaza, her ever creepy beautiful self, is playing a creepy girl, surprise lol!

Knives and Scott go to an arcade and play this ninja game that is like dance dance revolution games. I wish it was real, or if it is, I wish I lived near it so I could play. It looks like more fun than DDR. But who am I kidding myself, I wouldn’t be able to do those things.

Geeze… Apparently Scott just dates and dates around. I never really realized that before.

He ordered something on amazon and just sits and waits at the door for it to be delivered. We’ve all don’t that lol.

Time for jay 2!

Throughout this whole movie there are different video game type references and I love it! MC was just walking to the bathroom and he had a “Pee Bar” and it was yellow and showing full. Then as he was using it, the bar reduced...

And I was wrong!! AK is at the bar where the battle of the bands is going to be. So not always over the phone.

Now for the first Ex fight. Matthew Patel, played by Satya Bhabha. It’s almost like a version of street fighter. With a story line surrounding 7 Ex-lovers.

One of the Ex-lovers is Chris Evans!

~side note~ I just found a lighter in my jacket pocket. I have no idea why it was in there… but it was.

Back to Chris Evans, he is Ex 2, fight 2!

How funny. I never realized he mentions getting blazed. Guess this was the perfect movie to do my Reefers and Reviews.

Brie Larson plays Scott’s Ex Envy Adams. It was a pretty rough break up. Well for Scott. She ends up coming back into town while everything is going on with Ramona’s exes.

Ex #3 – Todd Ingram, played by Brandon Routh. Who is also dating Envy. He’s super because he is a vegan apparently lol. Says that being vegan makes you better than most people.

Ex #4 – Roxy Richter, played by Mae Whitman. “I’m a little bi-furious!” She’s this like ball of furry and I think she looks so adorable with her pigtails and goth look!

Ex #5 and #6 – The Katayanagi Twins, played by Keita Saitou and Shôta Saitô. Final part of the battle of the bands and Scott’s last battle before he has to face the most recent and evil Ex Gideon. The battle with the twins is my favorite. The music takes on different forms of creatures and they fight that way. Very trippy and cool looking.

Now big Numero 7! Gideon Graves, played by Jason Schwartzman. The last battle. Mano y Mano.

Not gonna lie, Gideon is a douche. But Scott kind of is too…

I love a movie with a katana. Kill Bill should be on my list to review. Love Uma Therman in that.

Once again, trying not to ruin the movie or certain parts. That is it for now!

Thanks for stopping by ❤

-RRR