Movies, Movies, Movies
I seem to be back in the swing of things, at least for August. Viewed lots of movies. Hope some will pique your interest.
MOVIES WATCHED IN AUGUST
Aug 6 - They/Them (2022)
A group of teenagers at an LGBTQ+ conversion camp endures unsettling psychological techniques while being stalked by a mysterious masked killer.
Director: John Logan
Stars: Kevin Bacon, Theo Germaine, Anna Chlumsky
Not as bad as I’d feared; there’s actually some sense to the killings. I can’t say I liked it, but I didn’t hate it.
Aug 10 - Lightyear (2022)
While spending years attempting to return home, marooned Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear encounters an army of ruthless robots commanded by Zurg who are attempting to steal his fuel source.
Director: Angus MacLane
Stars: Chris Evans(voice), Keke Palmer(voice), Peter Sohn(voice), James Brolin (voice)
Highly entertaining, no matter Tim Allen’s sour grapes. This isn’t about the toy, rather it’s the movie that’s the reason the toy was made.
Aug 12 - The Captive (2014)
Eight years after the disappearance of Cassandra, some disturbing incidents seem to indicate that she's still alive. Police, parents and Cassandra herself, will try to unravel the mystery of her disappearance.
Director: Atom Egoyan
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Scott Speedman, Rosario Dawson, Alexia Fast
I don’t understand why this movie didn’t get more publicity, because I really enjoyed it. Intense, and keeps you wondering.
Aug 17 - The Adam Project (2022)
After accidentally crash-landing in 2022, time-traveling fighter pilot Adam Reed teams up with his 12-year-old self for a mission to save the future.
Director: Shawn Levy
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Walker Scobell, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner, Zoe Saldana
I loved this. So sad that it’s not available for purchase. I’m hoping that changes in the future.
Aug 18 - Red Notice (2021)
An Interpol agent successfully tracks down the world's most wanted art thief, with help from a rival thief. But nothing is as it seems, as a series of double-crosses ensue.
Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot, Ritu Arya
About as entertaining as these high-chase, action movies get. But I didn’t like the ending. Really, after all that you’re okay with them?
Aug 19 - Dune (2021)
A noble family becomes embroiled in a war for control over the galaxy's most valuable asset while its heir becomes troubled by visions of a dark future.
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Stars: Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Oscar Iaac, Josh Brolin, Jason Momoa
Very well made. I read the book, and several of its sequels, a long time ago, but from what I remember the movie stays pretty close to it. And it’s so much better than the 1984 adaption. I’m looking forward to the next in the series.
Aug 24 - Thirteen Lives (2022)
A rescue mission is assembled in Thailand where a group of young boys and their soccer coach are trapped in a system of underground caves that are flooding.
Director: Ron Howard
Stars: Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell, Joel Edgerton, Tom Bateman
Even knowing the outcome, the movie kept me on the edge of my seat. Great cast, and really well made.
Aug 26 - The Batman (2022)
When a sadistic serial killer begins murdering key political figures in Gotham, Batman is forced to investigate the city's hidden corruption and question his family's involvement.
Director: Matt Reeves
Stars: Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright, Colin Farrell, Paul Dano
I’m sort of ambivalent about this one. The plot is good, and I liked this “cat woman” a lot better than the one in The Dark Knight Rises. But I had issues with Pattinson’s portrayal. He’s not rugged enough, for one. So the movie is okay, but not great.
Aug 28 - Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022)
Nancy Stokes, a retired school teacher, is yearning for some adventure, and some sex. And she has a plan, which involves hiring a young sex worker named Leo Grande.
Director: Sophie Hyde
Stars: Emma Thompson, Daryl McCormack, Isabella Laughland
Very quirky, but still entertaining. Anything with Emma Thompson in it is usually worth watching.
Aug 31 - Worth (2020)
An attorney in Washington D.C. battles against cynicism, bureaucracy and politics to help the victims of 9/11.
Director: Sara Colangelo
Stars: Michael Keaton, Amy Ryan, Stanley Tucci
Though obviously sad, the movie focuses more on the machinations involved with compensating the survivors rather than their actual stories, though there are a few of those. Engrossing.
MOVIES WATCHED IN AUGUST
Aug 6 - They/Them (2022)
A group of teenagers at an LGBTQ+ conversion camp endures unsettling psychological techniques while being stalked by a mysterious masked killer.
Director: John Logan
Stars: Kevin Bacon, Theo Germaine, Anna Chlumsky
Not as bad as I’d feared; there’s actually some sense to the killings. I can’t say I liked it, but I didn’t hate it.
Aug 10 - Lightyear (2022)
While spending years attempting to return home, marooned Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear encounters an army of ruthless robots commanded by Zurg who are attempting to steal his fuel source.
Director: Angus MacLane
Stars: Chris Evans(voice), Keke Palmer(voice), Peter Sohn(voice), James Brolin (voice)
Highly entertaining, no matter Tim Allen’s sour grapes. This isn’t about the toy, rather it’s the movie that’s the reason the toy was made.
Aug 12 - The Captive (2014)
Eight years after the disappearance of Cassandra, some disturbing incidents seem to indicate that she's still alive. Police, parents and Cassandra herself, will try to unravel the mystery of her disappearance.
Director: Atom Egoyan
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Scott Speedman, Rosario Dawson, Alexia Fast
I don’t understand why this movie didn’t get more publicity, because I really enjoyed it. Intense, and keeps you wondering.
Aug 17 - The Adam Project (2022)
After accidentally crash-landing in 2022, time-traveling fighter pilot Adam Reed teams up with his 12-year-old self for a mission to save the future.
Director: Shawn Levy
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Walker Scobell, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner, Zoe Saldana
I loved this. So sad that it’s not available for purchase. I’m hoping that changes in the future.
Aug 18 - Red Notice (2021)
An Interpol agent successfully tracks down the world's most wanted art thief, with help from a rival thief. But nothing is as it seems, as a series of double-crosses ensue.
Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot, Ritu Arya
About as entertaining as these high-chase, action movies get. But I didn’t like the ending. Really, after all that you’re okay with them?
Aug 19 - Dune (2021)
A noble family becomes embroiled in a war for control over the galaxy's most valuable asset while its heir becomes troubled by visions of a dark future.
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Stars: Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Oscar Iaac, Josh Brolin, Jason Momoa
Very well made. I read the book, and several of its sequels, a long time ago, but from what I remember the movie stays pretty close to it. And it’s so much better than the 1984 adaption. I’m looking forward to the next in the series.
Aug 24 - Thirteen Lives (2022)
A rescue mission is assembled in Thailand where a group of young boys and their soccer coach are trapped in a system of underground caves that are flooding.
Director: Ron Howard
Stars: Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell, Joel Edgerton, Tom Bateman
Even knowing the outcome, the movie kept me on the edge of my seat. Great cast, and really well made.
Aug 26 - The Batman (2022)
When a sadistic serial killer begins murdering key political figures in Gotham, Batman is forced to investigate the city's hidden corruption and question his family's involvement.
Director: Matt Reeves
Stars: Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright, Colin Farrell, Paul Dano
I’m sort of ambivalent about this one. The plot is good, and I liked this “cat woman” a lot better than the one in The Dark Knight Rises. But I had issues with Pattinson’s portrayal. He’s not rugged enough, for one. So the movie is okay, but not great.
Aug 28 - Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022)
Nancy Stokes, a retired school teacher, is yearning for some adventure, and some sex. And she has a plan, which involves hiring a young sex worker named Leo Grande.
Director: Sophie Hyde
Stars: Emma Thompson, Daryl McCormack, Isabella Laughland
Very quirky, but still entertaining. Anything with Emma Thompson in it is usually worth watching.
Aug 31 - Worth (2020)
An attorney in Washington D.C. battles against cynicism, bureaucracy and politics to help the victims of 9/11.
Director: Sara Colangelo
Stars: Michael Keaton, Amy Ryan, Stanley Tucci
Though obviously sad, the movie focuses more on the machinations involved with compensating the survivors rather than their actual stories, though there are a few of those. Engrossing.