Your Weekend To-Do: Remember Me or The Runaways?

This week I saw both Remember Me and The Runaways. Super different movies, somewhat similar acting--caliber, that is. Let me just begin by saying this week was one of those weeks that seemed like three rolled in one. I must have had residual exhaustion from my trip to LA the other weekend, but I'm so glad it's over.

So in the wee hours last Sunday morning I notice an email from Amy at MissAmyJoon (former Anxious About RPattz blogger and current go-to girl for Rob graphics requests) that was simply titled: Don't Read Until You've Seen Remember Me. There lay a problem at 1AM, because A. I love getting emails, B. I love getting emails from Amy, and C. I already knew I needed to see Remember Me and I COULD NOT with my schedule.


By the way, that's just one of the many random photos I took strolling around West Hollywood during my trip where Remember Me billboards seemed at every corner. Everytime I saw one, I'd say to Bestie nonchalantly like, "Oh look, it's Robert Pattinson over there again," and she told me to stop saying that because she'd think he was actually there.

It's rare when I'm so busy I can't even squeeze in a time slot to go to the movies, but those are just the kind of days I've been having for the past few weeks. I had just enough time on Monday when I got out of work early so I headed straight the theater around the corner from my office. This is how I found myself, alone at a matinee, buying popcorn and candy (splurge, why not right?) and letting myself melt into one of the plushy recliners at the Regal Cinemas.

I don't actually mind seeing movies myself; sometimes I quite prefer it. Whenever I suggest a movie I have a feeling my guest doesn't want to see, I feel like I'm personally accountable if they don't end up liking it. Then I feel guilty for suggesting it. Even if I suggest a movie and someone isn't receptive to just the idea of it, I'll feel bad. That's me, I'm weird.

Here's the thing I noticed: going to a 2:30PM Monday showing of Remember Me by yourself was like being up to something shady that you didn't want anyone to know about. Because looking around the huge theater, it was practically empty, save for maybe a dozen women--at least women as far as I could make out of their silhouettes--who had all come alone, spread themselves widely throughout the seats, and took comfort in the darkness for concealing their identities. One woman on the complete opposite side of me wore a baseball cap while hugging her large popcorn. Let's face it, these aren't women going to see Remember Me for Pierce Brosnan, or even Emilie de Ravin (who I now have an appreciation for, but more on that later). We're all there to see how he will do in his first theatrical feature after Twilight.

Remember Me was way better than I expected. WAY better. I didn't read many interviews or plot summaries so that helped me have little expectation. Of all things, I was surprised how I totally believed Emilie and Rob's chemistry and the relationship between the two of their characters. Emilie de Ravin was never an actress that popped for me on Lost, but after this, my thoughts have changed.

Here's what I have to say about the movie in random, unrelated thoughts:

The little girl that plays Caroline really won me over as well. I couldn't get over her story--how are kids so cruel?? Honestly. It was like Melinda in Speak all over again.

There was one scene where I was like, okay Robert Pattinson, you are totally and undeniably attractive right now, and it was when he was in the library wearing this white t-shirt. As I've mentioned before, I love a man who looks good in a white shirt. I don't care if you're wearing a $4000 custom-tailored Prada suit, there's just something simple and sexy about a plain white shirt that's perfectly fitted and perfectly loose in all the right places. Thank.you.


Tyler's best friend at one point literally says, "That's why chicks dig you, man." Someone please tell me when was the last time you heard a guy say this. "Chicks"? "Dig"? What is this, Saved by the Bell?

During the scene where Tyler asks Ally out on a date, he starts with, "Listen, can I bother you for a second?" and Ally responds, "You're already bothering me." In all seriousness, if someone came up to me in this way, my reflexive thought would be that I was going to be the butt of some joke and I'd think, Why is this guy making fun of me? I don't know why this is always my first thought when I am approached, but it is. I would be no where quippy enough to respond like Ally.

Near the end of their date, Ally asks Tyler when the hell he was going to tell her what happened to his face. It struck me just then that, oh yeah, his face is still beat up. Question time: Would you actually accept a date to go out with a stranger--albeit a ridiculously attractive stranger in a white shirt--who had cuts and bruises all over his face? Is this not a big flag for concern? Apparently not.

Two days later, I went to an advanced screening of The Runaways. Again, I had little expectation for the movie because I didn't watch any clips or see many stills beforehand. It turned out it was actually exactly as random as I'd thought it would be.

Of course it's supposed to be a biopic so there's only so much you can sensationalize, but I was still wowed by Kristen and Dakota's performances. This definitely wasn't a movie were the actors could just say their lines and pass. This was like, I'm-going-to-get-down-and-really-dirty-and-let-the-spit-fly-when-I-talk-because-I-don't-care-about-looking-pretty kind of delivery. For me, it was good enough to see once to appreciate it for that.

One of the highlights when I watched was when someone in the theater wailed an agonizing "ahhhhhhh!" when the guitar teacher said to Joan, "Girls don't play electric guitar." Everyone laughed.

I am foregoing putting up The Runaways stills, and instead putting up these from the LA premiere because without a doubt, I don't think Kristen has ever looked better on a red carpet. And yes, I'm biased because it's pink, it's frilly, and it's gorgeous.




The Runaways is out today. If you haven't made it to the movies, please get to it!