Jersey Girl
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Movie Reviews of Jersey Girl
Movie Review: Painfully underrated
Summary: 5 Stars
Jersey Girl is something new for writer/director/star Kevin Smith and, opening to credits, it's his first big-name all-"serious" flick, and it's wonderful. 10/10 material, in this reviewer's opinion. As stated elsewhere, this movie would have been box office gold if not for the media circus surrounding "Bennifer" before its release.
Jersey Girl stars Ben Affleck as Oliver Trinke (Trink-ee), a successful young publicist who falls in love with Jennifer Lopez (er, her character Gertrude Steiney). Tragedy ensues, and not to spoil the moment, but Affleck must raise their daughter as a single parent. Trinke's stress at having to be a single parent drives him to explode at work during a critical press conference, and he loses his job. Now depressed by both the loss of his job and his single parent status, Trinke must find a way to deal with life and love once again as he seeks out a new place for himself in the world.
Liv Tyler makes a splendid performance as a sort of love interest for Ollie, and it's a credit to Smith that Tyler looks so good. Somehow, he made all the makeup artists calm down and just let Tyler look like her natural self- it's a breath of fresh air, and goes a long way to showing how down to earth this movie really is. Look out for Will Smith in a wonderful cameo that's set up perfectly by events in the movie, and George Carlin in the most endearing role I've ever seen him in. There are actually a few near- tearjerker moments delivered by Carlin, a sort of range I've never seen from him before.
But the movie is really about Ollie's (Affleck's) relationship with his child Gertrude ("Gertie")- played by the amazing Raquel Castro. Castro is amazing in her role, and looks perfect as the offspring of Affleck and Lopez- something few movies of this sort ever manage. She's adorable, and she's perfect in her part. Also look out for baby Gertie. I usually HATE this sort of 'chick flick' movie in general, but I was cooing out loud at the wonderfully cute moments in this flick. Again, no spoilers, but there's one scene in particular with baby Gertie and Affleck that won't leave a dry eye in the house, nor fail to put a smile on each and every face. Cinema gold.
Many people will comment that the ideas in this movie are rehashed. A father feels out of place raising kid alone, father tries to get back to his life, conflict arises, ho-hum. But there's something more to that- this story doesn't just recycle ideas, it uses them. Sure, the plot elements have been seen before, but what movie doesn't? You know the action hero's going to get the girl, and you know he'd going to save the day, but you pay for a movie ticket because you want to be entertained on the way there. This movie accomplishes that in spades.
In short: Lots of the performances in this movie should have been Oscar contenders in this reviewer's opinion, even if this flick really is just a light family story in the end (baby Gertie scene!). Affleck demonstrates that his bad name in the press really is undeserved, and Raquel Castro is the perfect daughter to Affleck's Trinke. Marred by Bennifer, and disrespected by former Smith loyals who expected something more crude, this flick may never see the credit that it deserves. Do yourself a favor, round up the kids/spouse/signifigant other, and enjoy this dazzling flick with a box of Kleenex handy. Truly amazing.
Movie Review: Excellent rapport between father and young daughter.
Summary: 5 Stars
JERSEY GIRL stars Ben Affleck, who burst into the public's awareness as a co-star with Matt Damon in GOODWILL HUNTING. JERSEY GIRL also stars George Carlin (famed comedian) as Mr. Affleck's crotchety father, Liv Tyler as the romance interest, and Raquel Castro as Mr. Affleck's 7 year old daughter. Ms.Castro has acted in the films: Jersey Girl, Little Fugitive, Tracks of Color, The Ministers, America, Brooklyn's Finest.
THE PLOT. In brief, the plot is about a successful, highly paid publicist (Mr. Affleck) working in New York City. His wife is pregnant, but the delivery takes a bad turn, and Mr. Affleck winds up a widow with an infant child on his hands. Mr. Affleck continues with his publicist job, perhaps for a month, but then commits career suicide because of a mild emotional outburst. Following this, Mr. Affleck moves in with his father in a New Jersey town, located about a 1-hour drive from Manhattan, and obtains a job driving a street-sweeping truck. Fast-forward 7-years, and we find that Mr. Affleck and his daughter like to rent movies at the corner outlet. At this outlet, Mr. Affleck meets the love interest (Liv Tyler). And so on, and so forth. Happy ending.
Does this sound predictable? Does this sound like SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE? Or like perhaps something from KRAMER V. KRAMER? Yes and no. If the viewer detects any plot elements that have appeared in earlier films, the reason is that these elements are universal, and are worthy of re-telling. The storyline does contain plot elements that are novel and clever. These are easy to detect, for example, the amusing anatomy lesson scene between two children that is mirrored, later on in the film, by the equally amusing anatomy lesson scene between Mr. Affleck and Liv Tyler. Another clever nuance, involving irony, is Mr. Affleck's argument at a town council meeting that the city should go ahead with construction on the main street (but near the end of this film, the construction on the street backfires against Mr. Affleck, and impedes his ability to meet a pressing deadline).
GREAT RAPPORT. JERSEY GIRL depicts father/daughter rapport better than most or perhaps all other films. The nearest runner-up that comes to mind, is Tom Cruise's devotion to Dakota Fanning in WAR OF THE WORLDS. Any father who has been a parent to a pre-teen girl will likely be mesmerized by this movie. (To put things in perspective, this film is not really in the same class as other family films, such as MRS. DOUBTFIRE, or Tom Cruise's version of WAR OF THE WORLDS. The reason is that JERSEY GIRL has lots of mild potty humor.) FIVE STARS to JERSEY GIRL.
Movie Review: Really quite remarkable
Summary: 5 Stars
I suppose I never really had any problem with Ben Affleck because I never paid any attention to his public figure (plus, he's in some of my favorite movies)- or really, to anyone. Jennifer Lopez, though, you can't get away without seeing (at least, at the time); I really don't like her much. As said, she dies very soon, which is a plus.
He really is an excellent actor; while he has, in most of the Kevin Smith films he acts, had a similar feel about him down the the general facial expressions he makes, I believe this is more of a byproduct of Smith's personal desire to link all the films. On the bright side, I like the facial expressions and eye movements he makes; they're usually pretty sarcastic, which sits well with me.
In this movie, he is really very good, reacting to many things the way a real person his age would, not a strictly formulaic on-screen father.
The real star though, of course, is his daughter. Impossibly adorable, very sharp, and, it seems, a bit manipulative, she has an amazing presence. And as mentioned in the editorial, she is a dead ringer for Lopez, which is sort of mind-blowing- of course at the same time, this girl is the kind you really want to see succeed, whereas Lopez you just sort of want to go away. The truly brilliant portion of it is that she actually comes off as highly intelligent and inquisitive; while this is obviously a movie, it's not one of those know-it-all kids with the glasses who you can clearly see doesn't have the faintest idea of what he (or she) is actually saying. She doesn't seem to be just reciting a script, she actually gets it. And that really sets her apart from kids her age.
George Carlin, contrary to his usual sarcastic/screw the children role, plays a loving grandfather, if a bit rough around the edges; this is truly refreshing, because while I do love Carlin, I feel he sometimes needs to be a bit... nicer. He does just that.
Affleck's love interest, as he so aptly puts it is "an incredibly strange woman..." who despite yourself you begin to like (though, really only after having watched it twice).
All in all, a truly compelling performance all around; Kevin Smith showed this movie again last year with some changes at his annual festival, and apparently it was very well-received, even by critics. From looking at the changes and how very minor they are, the real reason this movie was so poorly received, I suspect, has much more to do with the whole "Benniffer" thing. Who came up with that in the first place? And why...
Movie Review: Mr. Smith Goes to Jersey
Summary: 5 Stars
"My Dad says there are two worlds, New Jersey and New York city"-Gertrude Trinke
Kevin Smith has always set his films in New Jersey. As the title would dictate Jersey Girl is no different. The film is however a departure from Smith's Jay and Silent Bob fair, still however Jersey Girl remains his greatest film, a touching, un-cliched film with real heart and amazing performances.
Ollie Trinke (Ben Affleck) had it all. The apartment in Manhattan, a well paid job that he loved doing and the girl of his dreams. His world is shattered when his wife dies in childbirth leaving him to raise his daughter (Raquel Castro), and consequently give up the world he has always known. Living with his father (George Carlin) he must learn to be a father, rather than a talking head. Along the way Ollie meets Mya (Liv Tyler) a woman who appricates who he is, not where he is, and realises his new role.
This is a wonderful and touching film. Smith's beautiful use of dialogue, music and camera work all serve the purpose of the film without being intrusive. In a film like this it would be very easy (and very safe) to fall into cliche, but he chooses not to do this, and it is here Jersey Girl can be set apart from all the rest.
The characters in this film are all so well drawn you feel like you know everyone before they open their mouths. It is here the fantastic screenplay and performances heighten the film. For Affleck this is his forth time collaborating with Smith, but his performance is so fresh it's like looking a rookie actor who isn't too big to take direction. George Carlin delivers an Oscar worthy performance as Pop. The nuances he brings to the role and skill gives allows him to be the warm, loving, funny, alcholic, pain in the neck he is. Great performances from Tyler and newcomer Castro round out the cast who all deliver fantastic performances.
Jersey Girl is a wonderful film, Kevin Smith's sixth film and I believe his finest. The wonderful control of performance, direction and a fantastic script all allow Jersey Girl to shine. It is rare a film is produced without cliche these days, but when they are they're most often jewels. Jersey Girl is this film, one that has no genre, but exists as it is, one of the year's finest films thus far.
Movie Review: Keep an open mind
Summary: 5 Stars
If you are really so closeminded as to believe that Kevin Smith should closet himself into the writing and directing the same type of movies as he has previously made, than do not watch this film. If you are a truly open minded person who believes a person should grow and expand their horizons who is also a Kevin Smith fan, watch away.
This is a great film with a good if somewhat predictable story line. Smith's touches and editorial view are all over this movie and live true to the View Askew philosophy (which is to say taking something and viewing it slightly differently). There are a lot of meatheads out there who are expecting Kevin to stay in the same mode of thought and creation as he has been previously with the exception of Chasing Amy, which i am sure the same critics impunged with magnamous hatred. Open your mind and your view of life. Please. Do you really expect a man as brilliant as Mr. Smith to pigeonhole himself into only one aspect of the widely varying influences he projects into his movies? If your answer is yes, please find a new director to watch.
While I am not the biggest Ben Affleck fan and find his acting rather lacking in many pivotal scenes, I do believe he is a great actor for this leading role. His self-centeredness definitely projects onto the screen and that is the essence of Ollie Trinke. Critics, deal with it.
Raquel Castro is a brilliant young actress with a presence and personality uncommon in children. George Carlin's role may not be what people expect, but in the context of the film as a whole, it is wholly and totally appropriate and keeping with his character. Liv Tyler's role is also not what I believe most people were expecting. She plays a sexually rambunctious college student who is learning the sentimental side of men. Deal with it.
If you have seen any of Smith's movies previously and liked them and you have an open mind or would like to watch a movie with true sentiment, please watch this and enjoy.
If you are expecting Kevin Smith's normal type of film, then snootchy your bootchies somewhere else.