47 - Running with Scissors

What an outstanding cast!

• Brian Cox played the looney psychiatrist perfectly.
  
• Jill Clayburgh reminded me of Allison Janney's character in American Beauty (though a more vocal one in this movie).
  
• Alec Baldwin had a small role but he came through with such precision that it's one of his many short but memorable performances (like his turn in Glengary Glen Ross).
  
• Evan Rachel Wood, Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Cross, and Joseph Fiennes make up such a crazy bunch and yet clearly represent what I really believe is normal.
  
• Oh, and let's not forget Annette Bening. Damn, she really knows how to breakdown in front of a camera...(but Ellen Burstyn's performance in Requiem for a Dream is still the performance to beat when it comes to self-destruction).
  

It's a dark comedy that really delivers the realities of life and I think there's a lot to agree to in this film.

46 - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

It's happened to most of us, having our heart broken by a relationship we'd rather forget. But really, as time goes on we really don't intend to want to forget everything. All relationships have good and bad memories, and even though we all deny it most of the time, we do indulge ourselves sometimes of the good memories. And why not? It's just like picking a tape or disc from your shelf and playing it for a while...to relive a scene. And once you've had your fill, you place it back in the shelf and go on with your life. Sadly, some people are unable to do that, and the scene continues to play in their head...and soon enough their life is consumed by it. Can you imagine how it would be if the chosen memory was a bad one?

I really hated Elijah Wood's character in the first few scenes that revealed he was capitalizing on Jim Carrey's character and memories to woo Clementine. But alas, life will set things right, and the effort turns out to be a losing one. We have the ability to play other people, but we are only as good as who we are...so as Fi would say...keep with yourself.

Jim Carrey's performance was really good and it's sad to see him be continuously underrated despite his efforts in this film (though some critics have finally taken notice).

The premise of this movie reminds me of a scene from one of the Star Trek movies where Captain Kirk (William Shatner) confronts Spock's half-brother-turned-charismatic-cult-leader who has the ability to release people from their emotional pains. Being the next target for his cause, Kirk fights back, "No! Pain is what makes us who we are! I need my pain!"

The pressure of pain. How does it affect us? Remember in The Devil's Advocate, where Al Pacino's character stressed the effect on Keanu Reeves, "...pressure...some people fold...some focus...."

How does the pressure of pain affect you?

Would you really pay to get some memories removed? Isn't your brain already capable of doing a similar task? I enjoyed Tom Wilkinson's explanation of the procedure when Jim Carrey's Joel Barish asked if it might give him brain damage."Well, the procedure really is some form of brain damage, but rather similar to the effects of a heavy dose of drinking."

45 - Sherrybaby

Sherrybaby is one of those films that you hate to watch because you truly agree with its reality. Maggie Gyllenhaal projected the same intensity she brought to Secretary. She can be frail and emotional on one end and then suddenly burst out like Ellen Ripley when she has to, clearly molded to some extent by the justice system. Danny Trejo played a really good role for a change as somewhat of a cross between a friend and lover to Maggie's character.

44 - Factotum

Midway through this movie I started to recognize the story and sure enough I realized that it was the same story done a long time ago by Mickey Rourke in Barfly. Matt Dillon and Lili Taylor play having a hangover really well....but if you really want to see a drunk....Barfly, my friend :).