#3: Marley and Me

FILMS FOR THOUGHT

By: Alex Holzum

 

I am noticing a slight theme to my first three movie posts: good narration.  In (500) Days of Summer there was some guy with a really nice, deep voice narrating, in The Blind Side Sandra Bullock narrates as her character, Lee Ann Tuohy, and in Marley and Me Owen Wilson narrates as John. Marley and Me also features Jennifer Aniston as Jenny (John's wife).

 

This movie just shows this young couple's journey through life.  It might seem like the main focus of this movie would be the dog, Marley, but really the focus is on John, Jenny, and Marley.  We get to see how they deal with problems with work, family, friends, and their marriage.

 

Some scenes that really stuck in my mind:

 

1.  Every scene where John notices something about Jenny and Marley.

2.  When John and Jenny have their HUGE fight and make up.

3.  The saddest part of the movie...(I can't bring myself to describe it)

4.  The scenes where John is fast-forwarding through life.

 

 

  

#2: The Blind Side

FILMS FOR THOUGHT

By: Alex Holzum

 

 

 

The Blind Side was released in 2009 and was directed by John Lee Hancock.  I remember that I was in 8th grade when I first heard about this movie. My 8th grade teacher, Mrs. Sigears, went on and on for about ten minutes about how amazing this movie is.  I’m glad she wasted so much precious educating time in order to talk to us about it because it really is a fantastic movie.  It is based  off of a true story, which is always cool.

 

There are a few big names in this film including Sandra Bullock who plays Leigh Anne Tuohy and (new actor) Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher.  A basic synopsis of the plot is Leigh Anne Tuohy and her family live a more than comfortable life while Michael Oher is bouncing from house to house in order to stay off of the streets.  Eventually Michael gets admitted into a really nice, private school where the Tuohy children attend.  Michael has the perfect body type to be a very successful athlete, most specifically football.  After a series of events, the Tuohies end of taking in Michael and incorporating him as a member of their family.  The drama comes in when Michael has to deal with things from his troubled past and then also has to start thinking about college football.

 

I like this movie so much because, first of all, I always like sports movies because of the extremely dramatic and exciting game scenes (Bend it Like Beckham, Remember the Titans, to name some other examples). This movie is filled with courageous characters: Collins when she leaves her friends to go study with Michael even though she would be getting some stares, Mr. Tuohy when he puts his name as Michael’s emergency contact, Leigh Ann when she tells of the creepy guy, and the football coach when he sticks up for Michael.  Each of these scenes give me chills every time I watch them.  

 

At times this movie can be cheesy, but I find it highly entertaining and quite inspirational.