Like Crazy

Yesterday night I faced my fear of driving through Hollywood (especially the crazy downtown freeway) and went to the Arclight to have a date with myself to see Like Crazy. I've been anticipating this movie since I heard the rave reviews come from those who saw it at Sundance. It's just my kind of movie: independent, heartbreaking, filled with accents, and of course moving cameras. I loved the cinematography of the film more than I loved the plot. The camera was always focused on the main characters, other faces were rarely ever shown to not take away from the importance of what the character was saying. Motion was also a big factor in the film, cameras moved with the characters instead of on balanced cranes so steps that the cameraman was taking could be experienced by the audience. I really love when films do that it gives a certain real world feeling to it. All in all I think the film is the best, most real movie I've seen in a long time. Felicity Jones, who plays Anna, plays her character so well and brought me to tears during her emotional scenes when she was stuck in England saying what every person has felt before in their lives. Once again, it's such a real film. I emphasize that because it's been said by the director that nearly all scenes in the movie were improvised, which is what makes the film great. Next to Anna's emotional phone call the ending was probably the most heartbreaking of the film, the couple, who have loved, broken up, cheated on each other, married, and broken up again, are finally reunited back in Santa Monica trying to make their marriage work. It's awkward, they rarely speak to each other not knowing what to say because both know the other has been seeing their past lovers. Together they take a shower, the feeling between both is so uncomfortable the audience could feel it, and then they embrace and they hold it there. No one says a word and then previous scenes from their first date flash onto the screen. Then Anna walks out and the screen goes black. It's unknown what happens to the couple, does Anna leave and not come back? Or do they work it out? It's left to the imagination of the audience. For me it was a punch in the gut when that black screen came because to me it was a sign that she left.  But it's truly for the individual to decide which fate they choose. As I said before, it's a wonderful film and I hope it's gets more recognition than just a limited release, hopefully it'll get a national one soon.