Review of Ruby Sparks (2012) by Ray S — 14 Feb 2013

Ruby Sparks is an act of film magic in the sense of how characters can behave and react towards others, even if some are controlled by the one who is deeply in love. And who is desperate to write something. The film demonstrates the complexity of love, which makes it a great film because of the theme. You cant control something that is already natural and impacting. Having the ability to, however, is something bigger and in fact, evil. It's a really good film, I enjoyed it quite a lot. It has a lot of those elements that draws you into the story and to the characters. The main characters are all complex-I'm talking about Calvin and Ruby. Calvin's a writer who made a hit back in high school The success overshadows him, causing him to desperately write another hit. He has written short stories but they aren't like the first book. it causes him to have writer's block and the daily trips to the psychiatrist.

The relationship between him and Ruby heartwarming at first, like any conception of a relationship. It's pretty funny and interesting how she appears little-by-little into reality. Ruby grows as a person rather than a character, she starts to have a complex mind of her own and it slowly diminishes the trust and feelings of Calvin. Zoe Kazan is not only a good writer but a great actor and you'll see what I mean whenever you get to see the film. It's sort of ridiculous of the things she does but one can't help to constantly acknowledge that she is ultimately a character out of Calvin's head and he can do whatever he wants to her. The dark reality does come out in the third act of the film when he reveals everything to her. This is the most heartbreaking scene because we completely see the side of Calvin we'd never want to see and also, never thought we would ever see. It is scary and sad. To do such a thing, to toy with her, it's terrifying. That's what great about Paul Dano, he knows how act beyond an asshole, but a menace to reality. He was great in P.T. Anderson's There Will Be Blood, portraying a cult-like preacher; the dude has range of becoming another person. One thing that struck me about the film is the way it handles Calvin's and Ruby's transformation of their personality. The contrast is there in action and flows into different sequences. I like how Calvin realizes it as well and it hurts him.

I was touched seeing the film not only from my own perspective but as a writer's perspective. I saw how one goes to create a person, not just a character and the process is long and complex. It takes time to know who you are and the characters in the film actually found that, even if one has let somebody else go. It's a pretty inspiring film and it tells you how not everything is set in stone..