The United States of Leland

Ryan Gosling portrays a a teenager, Leland, that murders his ex-girlfriend's mentally disabled brother. This movie is not what it seems, it makes you think and become sympathetic toward the character you think you would hate. Don Cheadle also stars in this film as a teacher that helps Leland talk through the possible "why" of the crime. The difference between right and wrong is usually black and white but this film makes it complex.

Something Extra: 

Anything Gosling is in I'll watch; he delivers the the goods every time. He is truly a strong actor and makes any movie worth watching in my opinion.

The Hangover

One word: awesome! This film was truly funny, I laughed my ass off and so did everyone in the theater the night I went to see it. The Hangover follows three friends the day after their now missing friend's bachelor party. I've read on Imdb.com that some people wished that the movie showed what happened during the bachelor party but the film wasn't called Bachelor Party (which I find Tom Hanks to be delightful in). It successfully showed the events that happen after a hard night of partying. Strippers, tigers, babies, Oh my! 

Something Extra: 

For all the Zach Galifinakis fans out there, this is a great movie to see him at his best; he really shines and I thought eclipsed the other actors. And for those who aren't familiar with Galifinakis, this movie will make you a fan of his. 

Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters

Set in the late  1800s Tipping the Velvet follows the life of a young lesbian named Nancy Astley. Nancy falls hard  for Kitty Butler, a resident performer at her local theater in a town outside of London. After becoming Kitty's dresser Nancy's life changes forever. Now in the big city, she experiences heart break, change of career and much more. It's a beautifully written book and I commend Waters for writing a book where a gay character isn't questioning their sexuality which seems to happen often in novels dealing with homosexuality. I also loved that it took place in the tale end of the 19th century; it opened up my eyes to a culture I didn't realize was around more than a hundred years ago. 

Something Extra:

This novel gets a little graphic, well, quite graphic. If you can't handle explicit lesbian sex then maybe this isn't for you. 

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead stars Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke as brothers that have robbed their parent's jewelry store and it goes horrible wrong. You would think there would be some bad blood between the parents and their sons, but none of that exists. I wouldn't even call it desperation; the men aren't down and out, but they believe they need the money to further their lives. The story is compelling and it's fascinating how a family can be ripped apart in such an unimaginable way. 

Something Extra:

I live on IMDB.com and someone commented that the father's (Albert Finney) acting wasn't great and I kind of agree. At times I found Finney to be very dramatic, but at other times I found him very believable. 

Maurice by E.M. Forster

I'm taking a course called Gay and Lesbian Literature this semester and our first book is Maurice by E.M. Forster (pronounced mor-is because of the time period). Written and set in the early 1900s, two men meet at Cambridge and fall in love. Homosexuality is presented in a very obtainable way; though not every reader of this novel will be gay, hardships are experienced by all. I am really enjoying this novel and the direction it is taking. It's a bumpy ride, when things are going great they do not stay that way for long. Though the novel begins slowly, by half way through part one it picks up and the plot thickens.

Something extra:

Maurice was written during 1913 and 1914, and published after Forster's death in 1971. This is an interesting commentary on the time; homosexuality wasn't something that was very hush hush I suppose, too risque for the masses.