1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- The Social Network

#1129- The Social Network (2010)
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake
Directed by: David Fincher


Plot Summary: After being dumped by his girlfriend Erica Albright, Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg returns to campus and in a drunken frustration, creates a website called Facemash that crashes Harvard's network. This catches the attention of Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, who along with their colleague Divya Narendra, ask Mark to work with them on a new website called Harvard Connection. While he agrees to help them, he instead uses his free time to work alongside his best friend Eduardo Saverin to create Thefacebook, which would eventually become Facebook. Once the website goes viral, Mark and Eduardo receive an equal amount of popularity and controversy from various sources, including groupies and interns treating them like gods, and Divya and the Winklevoss twins looking for justice. Their biggest challenge comes in the form of Napster founder Sean Parker, who is bankrupt and looking for a new billion-dollar idea to get him back to the top and sees it in Mark, but not necessarily in Eduardo and will go do anything to drive a wedge between the co-founders of Facebook.


As my summer review series comes to a close (regular monthly themes start up again in September), I knew I wanted to end on a high note with one of the best films of the 2010's: The Social Network. Directed by David Fincher, who also directed Seven and Fight Club (two of my earliest reviews that I'm very proud of), the film shows the evolution of his work, since he doesn't suffer from the director tropes that I accused Christopher Nolan suffered from in my previous review of Inception. Rather, the film doesn't have that eerie tone of Seven or the gritty tone of Fight Club. Instead, the film is shot with cinematography that is a spectacle for the eyes, with unique music for the ears, both of which accompany some great character performances from an amazing cast of young actors.

Jesse Eisenberg stars as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. The thing about Eisenberg that works is that his charisma comes from a lack of charisma. He speaks quickly and in the same tone, rarely shows emotion and comes off as a pretentious snob to even his closest of friends. So why should we like him as a character? For me, it's the quickness of his wit and his comebacks that make me fascinated with his character. You can almost imagine the gears turning in his head to make him think so quickly. Not to mention that he has his moments where his true compassion does shine through, even if he doesn't want others to see it. It all adds together to make Mark a complex character that in theory, audiences should despise, but in reality he's quirky enough that we can't help but enjoy him.

My favorite character in the movie is Mark's best friend and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, played by Andrew Garfield. Ignoring the fact that Garfield plays Spider-Man (my favorite superhero), it's easy to see the future star he'd be with his breakthrough role in The Social Network. Without giving too much away, the audience can definitely empathize with Eduardo and see how much patience he actually has for Mark like a best friend would. He gives an amazing (PUN INTENDED) performance at the film's climax when he feels betrayed and can't take anymore. You can truly feel the hurt and betrayal he's been put through and understand how vindicated he feels to finally unleash his anger in a bone-chilling verbal tirade.

Surprisingly, one of the best performances in the film is from Justin Timberlake as Napster founder Sean Parker. The best part of the character, without giving too much away, is that he doesn't sound like he's going to be a bad guy upon his introduction. He's actually introduced in a charming and humorous scene, but gradually grows more greedy and paranoid to the point where he's a completely different character by the end of the film. Now that's a great display of a tragic character, and is more amazing to think that he's played by Justin Timberlake. Seriously, the guy can sing, dance, he's funny, and can do good dramatic work too? What can't he do?!?!?

My appreciation for The Social Network started this previous year with a class project for my Studies in Film course. Within my group, we had to watch the film numerous times, each time focusing on a different aspect of the film. I watched it once all the way through to see the film on its own, then separate times for narrative, cinematography, sound, mise-en-scene, acting, and editing. So in the span of about 2 months, I watched the film at least SEVEN times, creating a love/hate relationship with the film. I wanted to hate that I was watching the film so much, but I couldn't help but love the film more every time I saw it.

That leads me to make this bold statement: in terms of films that we've had so far this decade (meaning 2010-2014), The Social Network has definitely been my favorite to watch. Sure, there have been films I've thoroughly enjoyed like The Avengers and Django Unchained, but what helps with The Social Network is that it's one of most recent films that I've approached with that dissection mentality, in the same way I can find something new to appreciate with each viewing of films like Back to the Future or The Breakfast Club. In fact, when I was re-watching the film for this review, I couldn't help but say over and over again "man, I love this movie."


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Without a doubt, The Social Network is my favorite film on the list from our current decade. The performances, the music, the cinematography, and the story are all fantastic and it's one that should be remembered decades from now. It's a very easy film for me to recommend and definitely worth owning in your DVD collection.

The Social Network and movie images are copyrighted by Columbia Pictures

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- Inception

#1128- Inception (2010)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hardy
Directed by: Christopher Nolan


Plot Summary: Dom Cobb and his business partner Arthur are extractors that go into dreams and perform corporate espionage, with their latest target being Japanese businessman Saito. Impressed by their efforts, Saito hires them to perform inception, the planting of an idea in someone's subconscious, on Robert Fischer, the son of Saito's dying competitor Maurice Fischer. Cobb and Arthur gather a team including a chemist named Yusuf, a forger known as Eames, and newly recruited architect by the name of Ariadne. As incentive to complete their mission, Saito accompanies them in Robert's dreams and promises Cobb that if they succeed, he will use his power to have murder charges against Cobb dropped so he can return home and be with his children. The only thing that stands in their way is a manifestation of Mal, Cobb's deceased wife, living within Cobb's subconscious and sabotaging them from succeeding.


It's been about three years since I had sat down to watch Inception, partially because there's tons of other movies out there to watch and partially because I have needed a break from Christopher Nolan since watching The Dark Knight Rises (putting it lightly: it's one of my biggest film disappointments EVER). Having his style all over Man of Steel (even if he was just a producer) didn't help and it makes me all the more concerned for Interstellar coming out in a few months. I remember that I really enjoyed Inception when it first came out, as did most audiences, so I thought I'd check it out once more with a "less cynical towards Nolan" mindset to see what was good and what was bad. While there's still a lot of good about the film, I started to see a lot of the problems I initially had with it were still there along with some new found problems that were brought out with this viewing.

Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Dom Cobb. I'm not sure if DiCaprio has spent too much time with Martin Scorsese, but this was one of his roles in a long time where I felt I was watching him act instead of becoming the character. Also, there's one major plot hole that I can't stand with Cobb and unfortunately it's the biggest plot point in the movie. I get that the stuff involving his deceased wife Mal, played by Marion Cotillard, is supposed to be the main dramatic point of the film, but it also leaves Cobb completely unprofessional for their mission to the point where he is literally creating ALL the problems that put their mission and their lives in jeopardy. And we are supposed to root for this guy?

The rest of the team is actually comprised of characters I enjoyed. There's Cobb's business partner Arthur, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who spends most of his time informing the audience via exposition about the status quo of going into dreams and has that really cool zero gravity action scene (which drew a lot of comparisons with The Matrix). Mr. Saito, played by Ken Watanabe, is actually a well-acted role that I thoroughly enjoyed once I could figure out what he was saying (it helps to watch the film with English subtitles). Eames, played by Tom Hardy, was my favorite character because of his whit, his charm, his back and forth dynamic with Arthur, and his ability to kick some serious tail in the action sequences. Yusuf, played by Dileep Rao, is the group's chemist who formulates the sedatives strong enough to take them into the multilayered dreams. And rounding off the team is Ariadne, played by Ellen Page, who checks most of her trademark quirky sarcasm at the door and actually offers a surprisingly well-done performance.

Now comes the time where I point out the various "Nolan-isms" that plague this film (and most of Nolan's recent films). The cast itself is a big problem, with Levitt, Hardy, Watanabe, Cotillard, Cillian Murphy (who plays their target, Robert Fischer), and Michael Caine (who plays Stephen Miles, Ariadne's professor and Cobb's father-in-law). With so many Nolan regulars popping up, I thought Batman was going to pop up at any second. On top of that, the movie's cinematography looks eerily similar to some of Nolan's other films (specifically The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, and even Man of Steel) and like usual, Nolan utilizes Hans Zimmer for the film's score (which I'm NOT saying is bad for the record).

The biggest factor this film has going for it is in its concept and effects. Obviously, the concept of going into dreams is unique, but delving deeper into dreams within dreams, building those dreams, and fighting forces in those dreams offer many creative opportunities. The effects, in turn, allow those opportunities to bend the laws of physics and reality to be taken to the next level. I'm of course stating the obvious by saying that the idea is cool and the film was nice to look at. It's the kind of concept and visual style befitting of a science fiction or action film, but not necessarily for the epic drama flick that Nolan was trying to create.

This brings me to my final point with the film: that it might be a tad overrated because Nolan was trying too hard. I would have enjoyed the characters and the concept more if it was a bit less complex. This isn't my way of saying that I "didn't get" the film, but rather that the idea is sound, but the execution is overreaching. Take out the drama with Cobb and Mal, and the film becomes a blockbuster sci-fi action film. Inception should be a fun film, but feels too serious for its own good. Nolan should take direction from The Joker and ask himself "Why so serious?"

Oh, and if you've seen Inception and are wondering what I thought about the ending...

*SPOILERS* I think the totem stopped spinning and Cobb got his happy ending.


Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I understand that at the time Inception seemed groundbreaking, but since its release Christopher Nolan has recycled his filmmaking techniques and his casts to the point where this film's originality hasn't aged well. I still recommend checking this film out a few times, so it might be worth owning in your collection for the large cast, the unique concept of dreams within dreams, and to draw your own conclusions about the ending.

Inception and movie images are copyrighted by Warner Bros.

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- Gladiator

#1005- Gladiator (2000)
Starring: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen
Directed by: Ridley Scott


Plot Summary: Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius leads his army to a victory that ends the war with the Germanic tribes. Winning the favor of the aging Emperor Marcus Aurelius, Maximus is named the successor to the throne. This angers the Emperor's son, Commodus, who kills his father and takes the throne for himself. When Maximus is asked to join Commodus, he declines, causing Commodus to have Maximus's son and wife murdered. Maximus is then captured by a slave trader and is sold to Antonius Proximo, who trains Maximus to be a legendary gladiator under the name Spaniard. Maximus plans to use his skills to reveal himself to Commodus and exact his revenge for his murdered son and wife, and avenge the death of Marcus Aurelius and bring justice to the Roman Empire.


I'm sure a lot of people will be surprised by this, but until maybe 2 days ago, I had never seen Gladiator all the way through. I had heard enough about the film in the last few years thanks to the endless debate in my family on whether or not the film was good (which is usually just my uncle talking about how much he dislikes the movie). The even crazier idea is that for the last 6 or 7 years, I've owned the film on DVD. After brushing the figurative dust off the DVD, I popped it in my laptop and enjoyed a good majority of the film, with the exception of two REALLY important factors in the film: the protagonist and the antagonist.

The film stars Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius. I know it's the role that he's most famous for, but I can only see Russell Crowe in a performance. I never once believed that he became a character, I just always saw Russell Crowe. Not far behind on main characters I disliked is Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix. I get that his character is supposed to be creepy and whiny, but I don't find him to be one of those villains I love to hate, he's just a villain I want to go away. Interestingly, I would have preferred the original casting considerations of Mel Gibson as Maximus and Jude Law as Commodus since there would have been an added element of seasoned army general against a young tyrant.

That doesn't mean there aren't characters I really enjoyed. One of my favorite characters was Emperor Marcus Aurelius, played by Richard Harris. Harris has a great commanding presence despite his age, and the amount of respect his followers have for him really help boosts the legacy and credibility of his character. I also really liked Lucilla, played by Connie Nielsen, who is the sister of Commodus, the daughter of Marcus Aurelius, and she also has a crush on Maximus (I'm not kidding). She's a really well-rounded character with strong knowledge on politics and ruling a kingdom, with her only (historical) disadvantage being that she is a woman. But my favorite character in the entire film is Antonius Proximo, played by Oliver Reed in his final movie role. Proximo is a former gladiator who spends his older years training the next generation of gladiators, including Maximus. The best scenes are when Proximo teaches Maximus how to become a legendary gladiator. Oliver Reed does an amazing job of showing how important being a gladiator was to Proximo and it excites the audience and makes us believe how epic winning over a crowd and becoming a legendary gladiator can be.

For many people, Gladiator can come across as a mindless action film. In some regards I can agree, but I think there is a bit more to the film in terms of telling a story and developing characters. Sure, there are a lot of fun action sequences, but that doesn't mean this film is in the same league as Die Hard or Predator. With that said, the action sequences are very well handled and are actually very suspenseful thanks to how it is shot and the music that accompanies the scenes. You really feel as if you're in a coliseum watching real gladiators fight for their lives (I'm assuming of course).

One thing that blew me away with this movie was in its grand scale of sets, costumes, and music. I'm not even going to try and make a claim of historical accuracy for fear of being torn to shreds by historians, but I will say what is aesthetically pleasing to me. This is going to sound very simple, but I'll keep it short and sweet: Gladiator was a very good film to look at and had a very good score (composed by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard) to listen to.

Like Slumdog Millionaire, I am compelled to ask the question of whether or not Gladiator deserved to win the Oscar for Best Picture. In the year 2000, there was a lot of Oscar worthy movies including Requiem for a Dream, Memento, and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, so I wouldn't say that Gladiator could be the undisputed best film of the year. In reality, that's the fun of having different movies out there: for viewers to generate their opinions and keep the discussions going for years and years after the films were originally released.


Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

While certainly not for everyone, Gladiator should satisfy those who enjoy a fun action movie. The debate can still be made on whether or not this deserved to win Best Picture, but with its grand scale in design and a career defining role for Russell Crowe, I solidly recommend that everyone check out this film once, and for all action fans to own in their DVD collection.

Gladiator and movie images are copyrighted by DreamWorks Pictures

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- Slumdog Millionaire

#1106- Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Starring: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Madhur Mittal
Directed by: Danny Boyle


Plot Summary: Jamal Malik, a young man from the slums of Juhu, is one question away from winning 20 million rupees on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. Before filming the next episode of the game show, he is detained and interrogated by the police, under the suspicion of cheating. Jamal explains to the police that he knows the answers to the questions by luck in that every question pertains to a memory he has had in his life. As he recounts the events of his life, he goes into detail about his estranged relationship with his brother Salim, the loss of his mother, and his never ending search for the woman he loves, Latika. It is because of Latika that he goes on the game show, knowing it's her favorite and hoping that she is watching.


I love when a movie comes out and surprises me by exceeding all of my expectations. In 2008, when the entire world was going crazy about Slumdog Millionaire, I decided to not follow the trend and avoided the movie as much as possible. When it won Best Picture, it didn't help anything and I made sure to abstain from it further, believing that it only earned awards because of it caused a lot of independent buzz and started a trend of India dominating pop culture around the time. So when I sat down to finally check the film out, I was expecting to HATE it, but I too was won over by the film's charm and appreciated Danny Boyle's critically acclaimed contribution to film with a strong collection of characters, an interwoven plot, catchy music, and compelling cinematography.

The film is centered on the life of Jamal Malik, played by Dev Patel. Since the film is mainly told through flashbacks, we are given an early impression of Jamal thanks to his success on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. His development is shown in his loyalty towards two main relationships (which I will get into soon). Patel might come off as a bit bland, but I actually think it adds a bit of charm and uniqueness to the character. For someone who has undergone so much pain and turmoil in such a young life, you could imagine he wouldn't be some jovial happy character, but rather would have a very calm and neutral demeanor and I think Patel does that very well while playing Jamal.

I know a lot of people really enjoy the love story aspect of this film, but it's something I actually think is one of the film's weakest points. The biggest detriment to the love story is through the character of Latika, played by Freida Pinto. Latika's big character flaw is that she doesn't seem to ever think for herself and only has actions based on what others tell her to do (including Jamal). If anything, she's more of an idea or plot point for Jamal than a well-developed love interest.

In fact, the better relationship developed throughout the film is that of Jamal and his brother Salim, played by Madhur Mittal. On the surface, Salim is a completely reprehensible character who does terrible things the entire time. It makes it very difficult to even empathize with Salim if it wasn't for the fact that he is motivated by protecting him AND his brother. As the onion layers of his character are peeled back, you can see a caring brother that is unfortunately motivated by greed as well. I'm sure there were enough viewers who wanted Salim to get his comeuppance in the form of violence, but I personally was rooting for the brothers to reconcile their differences, and in a way the film satisfies by providing both types of resolution.

The best part of Jamal's growth as a character is how it is relevant in all of his questions while he is a contestant on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. Through the game show, we are given the window to Jamal's flashbacks to childhood and adolescence to see how far he has come in his life. Add a very entertaining game show host in the form of Prem Kumar, played by Anil Kapoor, and we've got very amusing scenes of banter between the two while Jamal is in the hot seat. As a fan of the game show, I love the attention to detail that is given to these scenes, particularly in implementing the show's theme music, sets and catchphrases, as it helps give the film an element of authenticity.

When looking at films that have won Best Picture, you can't help but wonder if it deserved the win the award all these years later. With films like The Dark Knight, The Wrestler, Wall-E, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button all receiving critical acclaim and attention, it's arguable that each film would be a credible choice for a nomination alone (only Benjamin Button was nominated however). At first, I thought there was no way Slumdog Millionaire could compete with these films, but it actually holds up really well. It isn't just about Jamal's life or being a contestant on Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, but is more a collective telling of how the two coincide and is handled beautifully. The cinematography and music really help make this film a collective accomplishment in all elements of filmmaking and definitely deserved to the title of Best Picture in 2008.


Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I definitely believe that Slumdog Millionaire is worth watching, but I know it's not going to be for everyone to own in their collection. Still, it's worth seeing at least once, so give it a rental and prepare to have the song "Jai Ho" stuck in your head afterwards.

Comment below to share your thoughts on the movie or to discuss a topic that I left out of my review 

Slumdog Millionaire and movie images are copyrighted by Fox Searchlight Pictures

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- The Matrix

#996- The Matrix (1999)
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss
Directed by: Andy and Larry/Lana Wachowski


Plot Summary: Thomas Anderson is a computer programmer by day and a hacker by the codename "Neo" at night. Another hacker named Trinity tells Neo to find Morpheus, who will tell Neo the meaning of the Matrix. Once Neo decides to believe Morpheus, he takes a red pill and awakens aboard the Nebuchadnezzar many centuries into the future. Neo is told of a 21st century war between humans and the machines they created, that in turn created a simulated world for humans that they are living in that resembles the present day. Morpheus helps unlock Neo's abilities, as he believes Neo is "the One" who will end the war between the humans and the machines. Neo is warned of the dangers of being in the Matrix, including Agents programmed to eliminate potential threats to the Matrix.


I think nearly everyone has that franchise of movies that everyone loves and that you find to just be ok. Not that you absolutely hate the films, but you find them ok and aren't sure what all the fuss was about. When I sat down to watch The Matrix, I was excited based on what I had heard other people say about it, but throughout the film I kept saying to myself that this was going to be one of those movies that I just find to be ok. I'll always give the film credit in terms of its special effects, but I think a lot of my problems with The Matrix can be summarized in my thoughts on the characters. Since it's a character-heavy film with three main protagonists, the film's main task should be to distinguish the three characters as different entities for the audience to latch onto. Instead, their main characteristics are in their fighting abilities and how cool they look in all black clothing while moving around in slow motion.

Keanu Reeves stars as Thomas Anderson, aka Neo. By this point, everyone likes to poke fun at Keanu's lack of acting range, but I think it actually works in a role like this. Neo is the right type of hero that doesn't need a wide variation of emotions and depth. Neo is the role that Keanu Reeves is most known for nowadays, so it's almost bizarre to know that the role was not originally intended for him, but rather for Will Smith (an actor with TOO MUCH personality for the role in my opinion). Call it destiny or luck, but I'm glad that Neo was played by Keanu Reeves for the sake of having a leading man that is comfortable brooding and looking cool behind a leather jacket and a pair of sunglasses.

Speaking of leather jackets and sunglasses, Neo is brought into the world of the Matrix by Morpheus, played by Laurence Fishburne. Something about Fishburne's voice is very soothing and fitting for a mentor figure. However, one of the biggest problems I have with The Matrix is in one little aspect that a character named Cypher, played by Joe Pantoliano, brings up. Morpheus is the one that essentially brought all our main characters out of our world and into the Matrix, so they follow him blindly and trust him fully. There's some serious drinking of the Kool-Aid in the Matrix, and something about that is just off putting to me. I feel if I was in Neo's shoes, I would have taken the blue pill for the sake of actually feeling like I could think for myself and still feel in control of my life.

Carrie-Anne Moss plays Trinity, Neo's main love interest. Sure, Trinity is utilized in the film's iconic opening sequence and she is one of the three main protagonists, but I can best summarize Trinity with three attributes: she loves Neo, can fight really well, and is supposed to look good in leather. Apart from those three things, there isn't much else to Trinity. Like Neo, she falls into the category of characters who don't seem to think for themselves once they've taken the red pill and become one of Morpheus's lackeys.

One thing the film can boast about is that it has an amazing villain in Agent Smith, played by Hugo Weaving. It goes without saying that Hugo Weaving has been one of the best character actors of our time (he's also played Elrond, V, Red Skull, and Megatron), and it's easy to see why with his portrayal of Agent Smith. His still and quiet demeanor proves that less is more, and has one of the best villain catchphrases I've heard by monotonously greeting Neo with "Mr. Anderson." Add the fact that he can appear anywhere and fights with great force and speed, and you've got a truly formidable opponent worthy of taking on Neo, Morpheus and Trinity.

Fifteen years later (WOW!), The Matrix will probably best remembered as one of those movies that was popular because of the way it looked. It can't be denied that the film was revolutionary with special effects, especially with the introduction of bullet time. If anything, I think the effects have been the part of the film that have aged the best. Even as I was sitting there, picking the plot apart and berating the characters for their lack of depth, I couldn't help but give many of the scenes credit by saying "ok, that looked pretty cool," and that's a sign that the film is doing something right.


Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

I'm sure there are enough people out there with nostalgic sci-fi goggles worn whenever discussing The Matrix. While the effects are groundbreaking, a lot of the plot and theologies are trying too hard to be deep and the result feels overreaching and pretentious. A mild recommendation for a weekend rental for all people who have never seen this film. And please...stay FAR away from the sequels.

Comment below to share your thoughts on the movie or to discuss a topic that I left out of my review 

The Matrix and movie images are copyrighted by Warner Bros.

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- Clueless

#932- Clueless (1995)
Starring: Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy
Directed by: Amy Heckerling


Plot Summary: Cher Horowitz is your typical spoiled rich girl living in a mansion in Beverly Hills. Cher and her best friend Dionne Davenport are among the popular crowd at their high school and attempt to make the school a better place according to their standards. From playing match maker, to negotiating with teachers to change grades, all of Cher's "helpfulness" is actually a display of her selfishness. Cher begins to see clearer, however, when she decides to "help" a new student Tai Frasier become popular. Unfortunately for Cher, Tai's popularity becomes so vast that she is completely overshadowed by the monster she has created. While Cher is also trying to match up as many people as possible, she is left completely clueless by the fact that she is falling in love with Josh Lucas, a college student and her ex-stepbrother.


Going back to what I was saying about high school movies, I really wanted to go forward with the genre in the '90s and see Clueless, which is considered one of the best representations of '90s high school culture. Now, I'm in no way saying that it is a 100% accurate depiction, but in the same way that movies like The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink characterized high school in the '80s and Mean Girls characterized high school in the 21st century, Clueless gives the best aesthetic and thematic viewpoint of '90s teenagers (particularly the "Valley girl" crowd). However, I knew going into this that I definitely needed to check my brain at the door or else I was going to be too critical with what was going on. As much as I tried, the task proved to be VERY difficult, as many of the characters (particularly the female characters) still got on my nerves not because of their stereotypes, but rather because of their lack of development and relevance to the plot. So what's salvageable about a film like Clueless if I disliked majority of the characters?

Alicia Silverstone stars as the ditsy protagonist Cher Horowitz. If the title was any indicator, Cher is completely clueless but believes she is some sort of inspirational guru in the high school world. When the real world catches up to her, she understands how dumb she really is. If that sounds brief for her development, it's because it happens to her in various situations throughout the entire film (lather, rinse, repeat...if you will). Cher isn't a "bad" character and to Alicia Silverstone's credit, she did make me believe that she was genuinely stupid (and made me forget that this is the same actress that played Batgirl). Clueless feels like a character centered type of comedy, with her supporting cast filling in the more interesting subplots, with her playing the one to react off them and in that regard, she is a fine enough character.

If you think Cher is annoying, then her best friend Dionne Davenport, played Stacey Dash, will drive you INSANE. Take your pick between her odd fashion choices, her irritating jealousy streak, her nasally voice, or the fact that she seems more clueless than Cher (if that even seemed possible). I'm just thankful that she had less screen time than I thought she would. The female character given the most amount of depth is the new student Tai Frasier, played Brittany Murphy. Tai starts off very down to earth, but is taken under the wings of Cher and Dionne and is made the most popular girl in school. With her new popularity, her attitude becomes more snobby and the audience hopes she can snap out of it because we liked the more ideal "girl next door" kind of character that Tai started off as.

The most fun I had with any of the characters was with the male characters (whom I could latch onto easier for the obvious reasons). The first is Dionne's boyfriend Murray Duvall, played by Donald Faison. The way Murray reacts to things reminds me of one of my best friends and I'll admit I have a minor bias towards Faison since I love him so much as Turk on Scrubs. Breckin Meyer plays Travis Birkenstock, a slacker skater who catches the attention of Tai when she is introduced. He's a lot of fun and his interactions with Tai are pretty "cute," so I had a fun time following his character. Last, but certainly not least, we have Cher's main love interest and former stepbrother (yes, it's as weird as it sounds), Josh Lucas, played by Paul Rudd. I'm not sure if anyone realized the future star that Paul Rudd would be but his appearance in Clueless is fantastic. He uses his trademark sarcasm to give Josh a captivating sense of humor. His talks of psychology and theology are the types of college student stereotypes that are appreciated during any decade and Josh is easily my favorite character in the film.

Not only is Clueless a comedic spin on '90s culture, but would you also believe that it's adapted from Jane Austen's Emma? Yeah, go figure that a film celebrating some of the dumbest film characters in history is loosely based on one of the most celebrated works of one of the most popular British novelists of all time. The combination of the two styles gives the film a very unique vibe, and once things are put into perspective, you realize where the fun in the film is. This isn't a film that takes itself too seriously and gets all of its humor from how self-aware they are about the stupidity taking place on the screen. So with that, the film is harmless and dare I say "smart" on the comedic factor.


Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Since I had only seen this movie for the first time a week ago, I can honestly say my appreciation for Clueless is not based on '90s nostalgia. For a funny time capsule of the '90s, I recommend checking out this film at least once on a DVD rental.

Comment below to share your thoughts on the movie or to discuss a topic that I left out of my review 

Clueless and movie images are copyrighted by Paramount Pictures