Year: 2015
Director: Jake Schreier

Writer: John Green (author), Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber (screenplay)

Cinematographer: David Lanzenberg

Cast: Nat Wolff, Cara Delevingne, Austin Abrams, Justice Smith, Halston Sage, Jaz Sinclair, 

Country of Origin: USA

Rating: PG-13
Time: 109 mins.

If you know Arshad, you know that he is all about YA novel to film adaptations. So it's no surprise that we are reviewing John Green's latest book to film story, Paper Towns starring Nat Wolff and Cara Delevingne. Fans loved Green's The Fault in our Stars so obviously the studios hurried and planned to make two more films including this film and Looking for Alaska! We will be all well versed in Green's bibliography soon enough! Paper Town follows Quentin, a shy young man who embarks on a journey to find Margo, the rebellious and uninhibited girl next door of his dreams! 

If you watch the trailer, you can definitely pick up some Manic Pixie Dream Girl vibes but make no mistake because John Green apparently wrote the story to dismantle the very detrimental notion that many kids have today. I know that when I was young, I had the same complex but with a boy which ultimately spiraled out of control! So, I am glad that Green didn't try to sugarcoat or feed our love starved fantasies with just another love story. Instead, he strikes our hearts with honesty and sincerity. If only the pacing and overall tone had more energy, the film would've been solid. But regardless, I think it's an important film that should be seen by all teens. 

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Year: 2014
Director: Céline Sciamma
Writer: Céline Sciamma
Cinematographer: Crystel Fournier
Cast: Karidja Touré, Assa Sylla, Lindsay Karamoh, Mariétou Touré
Country of Origin: France
Rating: N/A
Time: 112 min.

Kristen Sales (Sales on Film) and I went to AFI FEST this past month and we were able to catch some of the same films together and so we decided to do the natural thing and record some reviews together. Starting off with Céline Sciamma's Girlhood (Bande de filles)  which is a breathtaking examination of social navigation and identity within Marieme's world as a young woman. Girlhood is booming with ferocious energy and daring performances that is complemented really well with it's cool electronic soundtrack. 

It is probably one of the best coming-of-age stories that is told in the backdrop of lower class Paris neighbors which features an all-Black cast of first-time actors starring with Karidja Touré who plays subdued teen Marieme. Sales and I both really love Sciamma's style and approach to storytelling that truly commands your attention to examine sexuality, identity, and society as seen in her previous works like Water Lilies and Tomboy. I hope you enjoy our review and come back for more reviews from AFI FEST this week!

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Blog // Twitter

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Love It / Hate It is a new segment I'm doing on every Wednesday in the month of Sept where Kristen Sales of Sales on Film and I discuss films we hate or love! 

This week Sales on Film and I discuss James Ponsoldt's The Spectacular Now starring Miles Teller & Shailene Woodley in this coming-of-age story about a hard-partying high school boy name Sutter who starts challenging his life perspective after meeting "nice girl" Amy. 

Once again, I can understand Sales' take on why she disliked the film and initially, I felt the same way but as I reflected more on the characters and the authenticity of the story, I began to appreciate and understand to love this story that isn't actually a love story but more of a coming-of-age story of a troubled and confused kid. If you haven't seen it, please watch and let us know if you loved it or hated it!

I LOVED IT / KRISTEN HATED IT.

Next Episode: Upstream Color (2013)

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http://salesonfilm.tumblr.com // @SalesonFilm

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I recently visited Netflix after not being on it for while and almost fainted when I realized that one of my top films of 2013, Noah Baumbach's Frances Ha was on Netflix Instant! Not even just on Netflix but it is streaming! Amazing. Then naturally, I saw a plethora of other amazing films I've been DYYYYING to see and am elated that Netflix is making my life that much easier. So here's a list of films that were newly released (see list) and some that caught my eye that I think are worth watching.

1. Frances Ha (2013, Noah Baumbach) Streaming & DVD

Surprisingly, this film vlog of mine is the most viewed on my channel and it's no wonder why because this is one of his most accomplished films to date. It resonants on so many levels. A

2. Only God Forgives (2013, Nicholas Winding Refn) Streaming & DVD

I actually enjoyed this one (peep this review) despite that after my first viewing of Drive, I was one of the few that didn't like it as much. Only God Forgives on the other hand, really was like a perfect acid dream. B+ 

3. Europa Report (2013, Sebastian Cordero) Streaming & DVD

Europa Report showed at LAFF '13 and I should have done a review of this but obviously got too lazy (not a good enough reason!). But no doubt, this was one of the best low budget science fiction stories I've seen in a while. It plays on the reality of being in space and all the responsibilities and risks that come with the challenges of venturing in space. I loved it for the sheer fact that it didn't go for cheap tricks but just told the story like it is through found footage. A

4. Pacific Rim (2013, Guillermo del Toro) DVD

Pacific Rim was one of the big blockbusters this past summer that I truly loved (oogle at this review) Despite what other film critics say, this is one film in which the CGI overrides the story content and makes the movie that much better. Definitely worth watching but please watch it on the big screen with a deafening sound system. B+

5. The Heat (2013, Paul Feig) DVD

This estrogen-charged buddy cop film couldn't have been done better than Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy. Even though, they followed a lot of buddy cop genre conventions, it was hilarious and refreshing to see these two unlikely pairs in action. (Gander at this review) B-

6. Blackfish (2013, Gabriela Cowperthwaite) DVD

Blackfish is one of the most important documentaries to come out in 2013. Excruciatingly devastating and potent, it shatters the happy facade of SeaWorld as it unveils the horrid condition and treatment of their killer whales. I did had a little beef with the construction of this film but overall, very effective. (Sob with this review) B+

7. Prince Avalanche (2013, David Gordon Green) DVD

It is humorous and touching but this film didn't fulfill me as a viewer as much as I wanted it to. Great soundtrack from Explosions from the Sky. (Gawk at my review) B-

Other films I've been wanting to see (streaming):

What Maisie Knew (2012, Scott McGehee)

Computer Chess (!!!) (2013, Andrew Bujalski)

Kon-tiki (2012, Joachim Ronning & Espen Sandberg)

V/H/S 2 (2013, Various Filmmakers) 

We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks (2013, Alex Gibney)

A Band Called Death (2012, Mark Christopher Covino & Jeff Howlett)

Haute Cuisine (2012, Christian Vincent)

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The Spectacular Now is out now and I can honestly say that it is one of the best coming-of-age stories out there. There is such a raw and sincerity to the story that I haven't seen in recent films that even at first, I was taken aback by the film and didn't like it very much. After some contemplation, I realized that this film taps into the lives of high schoolers that really hasn't been highlighted before especially the negative side. This film is from the same writers as 500 Days of Summer so the vibe is very much the same. A MUST WATCH!

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Submarine (2010, Richard Ayoade)

Oliver Tate: Her new boyfriend has an incredibly long neck. Just thinking about giraffes makes me angry. 

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