The Kids are Alright (2010)

I enjoyed this movie. The structure, characters and flow felt very traditional and practical, but with the one twist, that the couple are lesbians instead of the run-of-the-mill heterosexual couple added a cool element, but I felt like this really didn't make a difference in how I watched the film. I feel like the film was able to really take this issue and make it very invisible in the narrative. Yes jokes are made about how lesbian couples are not traditional, but I felt like the made draw of this film is about fidelity, and how families deal with it, and how it is important to stick together as a unit.
Good performances by the entire cast. Good pacing of the narrative. Recommend. Even though the formula is very predictable I am glad it is nominated for an Oscar.

I'm Still Here (2010)

This movie really wasn't that good. I was expecting more. I thought maybe this would be a legitimately cool movie. The hype behind the making of the film, and the press being released around the time the film played TIFF and also played in theatres made me think, hmm I really need to check out this film. Instead I found it was pretty lackluster. It did not keep my attention throughout, I had trouble finishing the film for that matter. It felt like Joaquin was acting in a way that made him look contrived. I feel like part of the reason why I didn't like this film is because, because of the hype leading up to the films' release I expected Joaquin to play the character more naturally, but his portrayal felt completely forced, and I didn't believe for a second that he was this guy that just lost it and decided he wanted to be a hip-hop artist.
To give the film at least it's deserved credit, the concept is really cool. I like how everything that was going on in Joaquin's professional life is included in this film. The fact that they didn't have to censor any of this out, and that all of Hollywood kind of went along with it or were at least fooled for a bit. I guess if anything this film was a half-decent prank they tried to pull off. It wasn't worth the 5 bucks I paid to rent it, but I left it feeling at least I made my own opinion.
Scene that did draw my attention is when Joaquin is talking to the spiritual guide, and he is talking about the mountain top water drop. That was a cool speech about taking control of your own life, and knowing that you are responsible for the direction in your life.