The Lifeguard (2013, written/directed by Liz M. Garcia)

Rating: 7 out of 10

Kristen Bell is cute and vulnerable as a 29 year old reporter that is not happy with her life. She goes back home and starts an ill-advised fling with a 16 year old boy (David Lambert, in a fine performance) who is going through his own bout of confusion for his future. I won't dwell long on the "controversial" subject matter that pertains to such a relationship, mostly because if he were simply two years older, it wouldn't be an issue and is therefore a silly thing to get in a twist about. Other people have their opinions, but that is not the purpose of this story.

I am generally interested in these little movies that have an indie vibe to them. The performances were solid, and Bell is absolutely gorgeous, morphing between sad older woman and smitten girl who's wound back the clock. She also gives an unexpected amount of T&A without it going overboard. We see why this boy is so crazy about her, but remember it is mainly because they care about each other. Stuff happens in life.

Then you move on. Or you will drown.

The emotions in this picture are very real and tug at the heart. Everyone is struggling and fails to see what they are doing wrong. It was an enjoyable look into how people find the courage (often due to other's encouragement) to tackle the future, or sadly surrender to the pain. The community pool setting and outdoor scenes made for plenty of nice visuals and montages. The film is not too long or too short; it feels just right. I was expecting a 'chick flick' but was surprised by the attention that was given to the other characters.

Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (Neil Jordan, 1994)

Rating: 7 out of 10 (Enjoyable)

Admittedly, I did not like the warm color scheme for this adaptation of Anne Rice's novel (who also penned the screenplay). It quickly became apparent that this was a classical vampire story, so immediately I turned down the color on my TV. The undead do relish the dark, living coldly in shadow, so I loved the new murky look. Sapping the color intensified the creepy and dark quality of this film.

Lestat (Tom Cruise) has come to terms with his immortal curse as a vampire. He is demented and thirsty--never convinced that he has sucked enough blood from his victims. One of his victims--although Lestat would disagree--is Louis (Brad Pitt). He has been sired by Lestat and thrust into a new, dark and sunless existence. Louis is a sulky anomaly: A vampire with a conscience! He does not want to join Lestat's round-the-clock bloodsucking feast. No, Louis wants answers to life, some meaning to grasp onto about how he fits in the world as an undead shell. He misses the color of the ocean for he can now only view it at night and the gorgeous beauty of the sun that would scorch him where he sulks. Louis languishes in sorrow, and Lestat gives him no comfort in his torment.

Reborn by caprice, pity and madness is little Claudia (Kirsten Dunst, in an impressive performance). Lestat has broken the vampire code of conduct by siring a child. The undead brat doesn't understand why she will not age and her insatiable thirst for blood startles even Lestat (who dances with corpses from time to time) as Louis tries to play big brother with her, despite the girl's increasing depravity.

Among the undead is a very old vampire, Armand (Antonio Banderas) that is as puzzled about his immortal curse as Louis is, who mistakenly thinks Armand can help him understand it, and conflict ensues due to Santiago's (Stephen Rea) playfully dangerous presence. Louis finds Armand more appealing than Lestat, but Armand is no saint as he and his minions disrobe, humiliate and murder a terrified girl during a stage play in front of an aghast human crowd. Scenes like this are the best of the lot, but they do not prevent a misguided final scene.

The final scene abandons the dark and weary tone of the film, despite taking place after a bittersweet end to Louis' plight as his own evil continues to plague others. An uncharacteristic song begins to play that makes it more jarring and then the credits roll. This bothered me after being so moved by the pathos. Overall, this is still an effective tale about vampires and there is a great deal of lasting and classic imagery that even becomes disturbing at times due to the scary music, content (like people being lit on fire), and well done makeup design. These vampires look beautiful but they are brutal, one way or another.

One Hour Photo (Mark Romanek, 2002)

Sy the Photo Guy is lonely and out of touch with the rest of the world. He is great at developing film, but he also has a creepy collage on his living room wall of all his customers' most precious private moments. Wherever Sy goes, he blends in. If you merely glanced, you might not even see him. This is due to the effective costume design.

Sy is a quiet fellow with a storm of emotion waiting to be unleashed inside of him. His quiet nature is contrasted by an eerie score as Sly tiptoes through the world he does not understand. The subtext is provocative and stirs thoughts once the picture is over. However, the ambiguity is overdone toward the conclusion, which may be an understandable sign of inexperience by first time director Mark Romanek.

Aside from Sy, the characters leave much to be desired. There is the troubled housewife, the thoughtful son and the unfaithful neglectful father. Despite how Sy richly imagines the lives of the people in the photographs, they are merely faces on pictures. Adding to the weak supporting characters is a short story (96 minutes) that has little going on and would become even less interesting upon a second viewing. Sy is merely a sad soul that can easily turn dangerous, despite a memorable performance by a very subdued Robin Williams.