REVIEW: A Better Life

All of us want a better life for ourselves and our loved ones. In these modern times,to some it means living the American dream. We have seen and heard countless stories about people coming to the United States, whatever means possible to leave behind a country they lost hope at and make it in the US.

A Better Life, tells that story, from the Latinos point of view. It's about a father named Carlos Galindo, excellently played by Damian Bichir, who came to California illegally, raising single handedly his only child, his son Luis (Jose Julian). Living as a gardener while trying to get his son out of joining gangs and him being caught by authorities.

Director Chris Weitz (About A Boy and New Moon) created a Los Angeles that we never saw before. It seems like in the movie, LA is a city in Mexico. I was even surprised that there was even a rodeo stadium right in the heart of the city that does not look like LA with sponsors with banners such as Tecate Beer. LA turned into Mexico City right into our very eyes.

Surprisingly unsentimental, A Better Life doesn't fall in the melodramatic found in Spanish Telenovelas. It shows the power of a father's love for his child is universal.

REVIEW: Friends With Benefits

I was fortunate enough to watch a screening of the new film Friends with Benefits starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis exactly a month before it's actual release date here in the US (July 22). My verdict: One funny and highly entertaining and notches above the earlier film released this year about the same premise: No Strings Attached.

Kunis plays a headhunter, who just broke up with her boyfriend, who hooks up with Timberlake's character, a graphic artist who moved to New York City, who also just broke up with his girlfriend.

Traumatized by their failed relationships, the two became friends without commitment. Just sex.

The ending is predictable but the movie's best assets are the cast. Justin Timberlake, after all those famous guestings in SNL is really born to be a comedian. Mila Kunis, who proven herself to make people laugh in That 70's Show and Forgetting Sarah Marshall has perfect comic timing. The two have great chemistry.

They are ably supported by excellent actors: Woody Harrelson, who plays Timberlake's co-worker, Richard Jenkins as his father and Patricia Clarkson as Kunis' promiscuous mom. There is a combined four Oscar nominations between these 3 actors.

Cameo appearances also abound in this film. I won't spoil it for you guys. Good, highly entertaining funny film.