Crazy/Beautiful

This movie should just be called "He is crazy beautiful, or Jay is crazy beautiful", because Jay Hernandez is just that. He plays the character Carlos, a young, good looking (lol!) teenager who decides to take a chance on the girl he loves.

It's definitely my kind of movie- an all for love kind of movie- but more comes of it, as each character develops further.

I was glued to the television because of Carlos (Jay). Wow! I couldn't stop staring. Hernandez is definitely one of my new favourite actors. And Kirsten Dunst, playing the role of Nicole, does an amazing job as the out of control teenager who no one seems to know how to handle. But then Jay shows up, showing her real love. Ironically, it seems that it is Nicole's love for Carlos that spurs on his belief in her, and the realization of his own feelings.

Bruce Davison, who plays Tom, Nicole's father, performs in some very touching scenes in which his character grows and becomes more sensitive and understanding. He loves his daughter, but starts off not knowing how to show it, or what to do with her. But by the end of the movie, Tom realizes he just needs to show her his love, that Nicole just needs love.

A great movie about family relationships, about believing in someone, about having the ability to turn things around despite mistakes and past pain, and about accepting someone, faults and all and still loving them for who they really are.

"There are millions of people out there, but in the end, it all really comes down to one," says Nicole.

She keeps one photo of Jay with her all the time. Yah, I would keep photos of him as well! That beautiful boy made my night!

Jay Hernandez, those dimples, that smile.... ahhhhh....

A related article I found on the internet about the unfortunate circumstances surrounding Hernandez and the movie:
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Jay Hernandez's Secret Heartache
16 July 2001
Hunky Latin actor Jay Hernandez movie success is tinged with sorrow because the man who guided his career died just as their dream was coming true. As his film Crazy/Beautiful was premiering in Hollywood, his manager and mentor Howard Tyner suddenly collapsed from a heart attack. He fell into a coma and died two weeks later, leaving Hernandez heartbroken. The 21-year-old star explains, "There are so many things going through my head. I keep hearing his words. He has been more than my manager - he's like a part of my family." Tyner discovered the Mexican-American actor three years ago in an elevator. He enrolled Hernandez into acting school and sent his pictures to casting agents. Then Hernandez hit success with his role opposite Kirsten Dunst. Now he faces the future without his friend to show him the way. But he is remaining positive and staying focused on his own real-life goals - especially making Tyner proud. He says, "It's all about doing the right films and choosing the right roles."

(copies from website http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0250224/news#ni0066892)

Into The Wild

Initially, this movie stirred an excitement in me because of the main character Chris' determination to live in ultimate freedom and truth. But as his adventures continue, and Chris makes his way to his destination-Alaska, the truths that Chris is running from are slowly revealed

I was kept on edge in this movie, not only because of the risks Chris takes and his courage to persevere, but also because I wondered what was to come of the relationship between him and his family waiting back home.

I felt saddened at the realization that if more truths were shared between the family- things could have turned out so differently for all of them.

Chris decides not to let his family in on his pain and anger, as they kept secrets hidden from him and themselves as well.

I was touched by his sister Carine's ability to let him go, to let him tell the story that she knew he needed to tell. She remains supportive of him and his decisions throughout. Her narration of this deep and powerful story kept Chris linked to the past he was determined to get away from. But also, the closeness between the siblings, despite the distance Chris puts between them physically, becomes very apparent by Carine's sensitive comments. She truly understands her brother's drive, his adventurousness, but also his pain and frustration and needing to get away from all of it.

Chris could see that others around him were not truly living their lives, so he goes out to live his, as truly as he possibly can. And on the way, he meets people who are forever changed by Chris, but who also teach Chris what it really means to live. His notes and journal entries kept me intrigued throughout the movie as they let us in on what Chris perceived to be worth recording.

It wasn't until the end of the movie that I realized this was all based on a true story. It really was amazing the way it was put together, but more amazing was the thought of this actually taking place in the real world. It demonstrates both the strength and the weakness that dreams, but also fear and pain can bring about, and what drives different individuals to different places and experiences. Human beings are so complicated and sensitive to how they are brought up and what surrounds them. This movie was just a reminder into these complexities of the human spirit.