Today I took in a double feature.  Actually, that’s not technically correct because there was a big gap in between.  I liked both of them.

Easy A is an appealing teen pic that pays appropriate homage to all of the iconic 80s films from John Hughes and – my personal favorite – Cameron Crowe’s Say Anything.  (Don’t tell anybody, but I’ve had a crush on Lloyd Dobler since the film came out in 1989.  Yes, I own the DVD, which is significant because I don’t buy many films.)

Emma Stone is appealing (smart and funny) as Olive, a 17-year-old who is branded a trollop after untrue rumors race through her high school.  Since her class is reading The Scarlet Letter (well, the students who aren’t renting the cannibalization of the book in the horrible film starring Demi Moore), she decides to brand her clothing with the A, and curious things start to happen.

I don’t want to give too much away because this is a film that actually picks up steam as it progresses.  What’s not to love about a cute film (in a good way) that references not only The Scarlet Letter and Say Anything but also Huckleberry Finn?  There are so many ways this film could have gone so wrong, but it didn’t.  Strong supporting cast, too…

After my early matinee, I went back for an evening show, the indie Irish film Kisses.  Released in Ireland in 2008, it’s making the rounds here now.  It reminded me a little of  a film I like a lot, L’enfant (2005) by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, but without so much of the hard edge.

That’s not to say that this is not a bleak story.  Two young teens leave their abusive homes at Christmastime and spend a scary night in Dublin.  It’s a small story that unfolds easily and episodically with moments of redemption that offset the violence and trauma.  I’m not sure how long this one will stay with me, but I’m glad I saw it.  It’s an unusual love story.