Modeling ‘Tiny Furniture’
Ashley Jo Will

Released on video Feb. 14, 2012, “Tiny Furniture” tells the story of a recent college graduate named Aura. She went to college in Ohio and returns home to New York City, She has just graduated with a degree in film theory and is living with her mother and sister for the time being. In addition to arriving back home, Aura’s relationship of two years has recently ended. Aura is not sure where her life will take her and she tries to figure out the answer in “Tiny Furniture.”

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Feeling ‘Restless’
Ashley Jo Will

Death connects two young people in “Restless”, released on video Jan. 24, 2012. Instead of being a touchy subject, the concept of death is prevalent throughout this film. The audience first meets Enoch on the way to a funeral. He seems out of place since many of the attendees are not in dark colors. Enoch notices a girl about his age. She notices him as well and asks, “Does anybody here know you?” Enoch doesn’t respond which makes the answer clear. The girl, named Annabel, is intrigued by the strange boy and follows him.

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A Night With ‘The Innkeepers’
Ashley Jo Will

I think horror movies are fun to watch but ask anyone who has watched one with me and they will tell you I scare very easily and always jump and become startled at several points during the film. I hadn’t watched a scary movie in awhile so I decided to check out “The Innkeepers”, released on video April 24, 2012. It is about a hotel named the Yankee Pedlar Inn that is going out of business. The hotel is purported to be haunted by a ghost named Madeline O’Malley, who hung herself when her fiance stood her up on their wedding day. She is said to be roaming the halls searching for her lover and perhaps taking up a new one. It is the last weekend the hotel is open and two of the employees decide to find proof that the hotel is truly haunted.

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The Puzzle of  ‘Amador’
Ashley Jo Wil

Hay Library at Western Wyoming Community College has a subscription to the Film Movement Series. Because of this, “Amador” is currently able to be checked out and viewed there, although the film isn’t released to be sold to the public in stores until next week on May 8, 2012. “Amador” is a Spanish film that features a female protagonist named Marcela, who is trying to put together the puzzle pieces of her life. The first scene of the movie showcases a single red flower on the edge of the horizon. Marcela seems to be like this flower, a piece of beauty stuck in her surroundings but unable to leave.

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Discovering  ‘Loves Comes Softly’
Ashley Jo Will

Although released on video nearly a decade ago on Sept. 14, 2004, “Love Comes Softly” was recently released in Redbox kiosks on April 3, 2012. This made-for-TV Hallmark film is based on the book series of the same name, written by Janette Oke. In this family-friendly movie set in the past, Marty and her husband Aaron leave the city in a covered wagon to create a new life for themselves. Marty is a bibliophile and much of the wagon is filled with books, rather than essential supplies. Aaron and Marty find the perfect spot to build a cabin but their joy does not last long.

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Facing ‘Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close’
Ashley Jo Will

Facing an unexpected tragedy is dealt with by various methods. In “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” released on video March 27, 2012, a young boy, named Oskar Schell, is struggling with the abrupt death of his father. The film is based on the novel of the same name, written by Jonathan Safran Foer. Thomas Schell, Oskar’s father, was a jeweler at a meeting in the World Trade Center on 9/11. Oskar isn’t able to give his father a proper goodbye. There isn’t even a body in his father’s coffin at his funeral. After a year of being unable to enter his father’s closet, Oskar discovers a key in a vase and makes it his goal to find what it unlocks.

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The Joy of  ‘Being Elmo’
Ashley Jo Will

Although on Netflix and iTunes sooner, “Being Elmo” was released on video April 3, 2012. This film, which premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, is a documentary about the man behind the infamous Sesame Street character, Elmo. “Being Elmo” follows Kevin Clash to the present from when he was a small child who expressed an interest in becoming a puppeteer. Even if you are not a huge fan of Elmo or any muppets, the journey of Kevin Clash from mentee to mentor is quite inspiring.

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Entering ‘Ocean Heaven’
Ashley Jo Will

The beginning of “Ocean Heaven” contains an ominous tone. A father and son are about to commit suicide together in the ocean. The plan is averted and the audience learns about this troubled family in this Chinese film about love and responsibility, which was released on video Feb. 14, 2012. Wang Xingchang is a single father raising his 21-year-old autistic son named Dafu. When Wang discovers he is in the late stage of liver cancer, he must figure out the best future for his son.

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Spreading ‘Sweet Little Lies’
Ashley Jo Will

Released on video Feb. 21, 2012, “Sweet Little Lies” is a film about a girl from Kansas trying to find the father she barely knows. Knowing nothing about this film, the cover art of two children and a grisly looking man drew my interest. The movie touts itself as “an incredibly original coming of age story.” Its target audience seems to be more for children, especially since the stars of the film are a young boy and a young girl. I enjoy coming of age stories and decided to see for myself if the film is truly incredible.

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Looking Over ‘The Ledge’
Ashley Jo Will

Released on video Sept. 27, 2011, “The Ledge” is a film that is full of suspense. Four lives are affected by an incident that results in a man named Gavin at the edge of a building. Detective Hollis is alerted about the potential jumper and attempts to talk Gavin out of his decision. He finds Gavin at the edge of a very tall building; there is no way he would be safe if he jumped at that height, even if cushioning was at the bottom. Gavin tells the detective he doesn’t want to die but he must. He has until noon until his fate is sealed. Hollis convinces Gavin to explain to him and the audience his predicament.

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