IlizaShlesinger – Credits Rolling

Andrea (Iliza Shlesinger) is a comedian who has always put her career above everything else. When she meets Dennis (Ryan Hansen) on a plane, he honestly seems like the perfect guy. He’s smart, he’s nice and respectful, he’s funny and he’s successful. He might just be too good to be true. Andrea can’t help but wonder – do guys like this really exist?

I liked this. It was funny and had me laughing out loud on multiple occasions. It wasn’t your typical rom-com either which I appreciated. I swear I’ve seen them all and nothing surprises me anymore so I am glad that this wasn’t entirely predictable. I didn’t know much about the story going in either which certainly helped in my overall enjoyment. There were various moments where I was caught off guard and that is always a good sign.

I hadn’t seen Iliza Shlesinger in anything before, but I thought she did a great job as the lead protagonist. I liked how relatable she was and her comedic stylings really shone through. As a Veronica Mars fan, I am familiar with Ryan Hansen’s work and have always rooted for him. It was nice seeing him in something new again and I hope that that will only continue more in the future. My favorite though was Margaret Cho. Her portrayal as Andrea’s best friend Margot was absolutely hilarious and she stole every scene she was in.

While I enjoyed Good On Paper, it wasn’t groundbreaking or anything amazing. It was, however, perfect to watch on a Friday night while eating some Chinese take out and sometimes that’s more than enough.

Rating: ♥♥♥

My first review of the new year and I feel like I chose the right movie to kick things off! Pieces of a Woman has been getting a lot of praise since its premiere at the Venice International Film Festival back in September. Despite the heavier nature, I was curious to see what all the fuss was about. I am pleased to say that it really did live up to the hype.

Martha (Vanessa Kirby) and Sean (Shia LaBeouf) are expecting their first child. They couldn’t be more excited and have been waiting for this day for ages. Unfortunately, during the home birth, complications arise and it all ends in an unthinkable tragedy.

What follows is a year of Martha attempting to deal with the aftermath of her loss. Not only will her relationships change, but she must learn how to live with what happened to her so that she can move on.

Though the story was hard to watch at times, I do think it was eye opening. The first half hour alone was heartbreaking and I was holding my breath throughout. I hadn’t seen anything like it before! The performance by Vanessa Kirby was outstanding. I understand why so many are saying that she’ll be nominated for all the awards.

Similarly, Shia LaBeouf as Sean was a pleasant surprise. It had been awhile since I had seen him act in anything, but I do think that he is talented. The side characters including Martha’s mother Elizabeth (Ellen Burstyn), her sister Anita (Iliza Shlesinger), brother in law Chris (Benny Safdie) and cousin Suzanne (Sarah Snook) only helped enrich the story. And who could forget the midwife Eva (Molly Parker) who tried her best to save the baby’s life?

Pieces of a Woman is a raw story of loss, but it is also about finding yourself in the wake of it. I highly recommend the movie!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥