Movie reviews...pictures to come later
So as expected, I've fallen horribly behind with my weekly posts. So here's all the movies I've watched since the last one:
Winged Migration, Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her, Gridiron Gang, Fried Green Tomatoes, Punch-Drunk Love, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Who Killed the the Electric Car?, Conversations with Other Women, The Invisible (SPOILER ALERT), Lucky Number Slevin, To Wong Foo..., and If These Walls Could Talk.
Winged Migration (2001) - Amazing cinematography and gorgeous music fill this documentary-adventure created by French filmmakers Jacques Cluzaud, Michel Debat and Jacques Perrin. Presented with almost no narration and filmed primarily from a bird's perspective, this study of the lives and habits of migrating birds re-creates as nearly as possible the experiences of the birds themselves.
This was beautiful. There were a couple of sad scenes were birds were killed though but there were a lot of cute moments. There were these birds that practically ran on water and I had to rewind and watch that part again because it was so crazy.
Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her (2000) - Writer-director Rodrigo Garcia skillfully weaves together a series of vignettes, exploring the unseen intricacies of modern women in this examination of perception vs. authenticity. From a fortuneteller to a doctor to an unpredictable bag lady, all walks of life are explored. The film boasts an all-star cast that includes Glenn Close, Holly Hunter, Kathy Baker, Cameron Diaz, Calista Flockhart, Amy Brenneman and Penelope Allen.
Another one of those movies with slightly interconnected vignettes of different people's lives. It was okay, a little slow and not very exciting. In fact I don't really remember that much about it thinking back on it now but I don't think watching it was a waste of time.
Gridiron Gang (2006) - When an ambitious probation officer (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) working at a detention camp for juvenile delinquents presents his idea to mold dangerous teenage inmates into a successful high school-level football team, none of his superiors thinks he can do it. But with a spirited co-worker (rapper Xzibit) by his side, he just might prove them wrong. This sports-infused drama is based on an Emmy-winning documentary about a real-life team.
This movie was more for Curtis than me but I enjoyed it. It's definitely a story that's been done before (several times), in sports it's all about the misfits and underdogs I guess.
Fried Green Tomatoes (1991) - In this adaptation of Fanny Flagg's novel, flashbacks reveal the remarkable and mysterious story of soul mates Idgie (Mary Stuart Masterson) and Ruth Jamison (Mary-Louise Parker), whose antics cause an uproar in their rural Southern town during the 1920s. Feisty Ninny Threadgoode (Jessica Tandy) tells the tale to a repressed Alabama housewife (Kathy Bates), who becomes obsessed with Idgie and Ruth, and ultimately finds inspiration in their story.
So I didn't realize I had seen this before until I was about halfway through it. And then I realized that not only had I seen it before, but I had DVRed it so I could watch it a few months ago, oops. But it doesn't matter because it was just as enjoyable the second time around. I love Jessica Tandy, she is so adorable. And I usually don't like Kathy Bates but I think because she plays annoying and or scary characters but she was great in this.
Punch-Drunk Love (2002) - Barry Egan (Adam Sandler) -- a bathroom supply salesman prone to paroxysms of destructive rage -- finds his life refreshed when he meets Lena Leonard (Emily Watson), who falls in unconditional love with him. Meanwhile, Egan tries to escape constant harassment from his seven sisters as well as three thugs who have implicated him in a phone sex extortion scam. Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, There Will Be Blood) writes and directs.
My friend Matt LOVES this movie and he kept telling me to watch it. Well I did, and I didn't like it. I like weird stuff...but this was just too weird for me. I guess I just didn't get it.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005) - Marriage has gotten stale for John and Jane Smith (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie), a husband and wife who don't yet know that they share the same undercover line of work: They're both guns for hire. Hiding their occupations has never been a hardship for either of them … until they discover that their next assignment involves them targeting each other! Can they go through with their respective missions, or will love prevail?
This one was also mostly for Curtis and I had half seen this one before at Youth Focus with the kids and I wasn't impressed then either. It was okay but a pretty forgettable action flick. The dinner scene when they realize what's up was probably the best part of the whole movie.
Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006) - Amid ever-increasing gas prices, this documentary delves into the short life of the GM EV1 electric car -- once all the rage in the mid-1990s and now fallen by the roadside. How could such an efficient, green-friendly vehicle fail to transform our garages and skies? Through interviews with government officials, former GM employees and concerned celebs (such as EV1 driver Mel Gibson), Chris Paine (former EV1 owner) seeks to answer the question.
This was a pretty enjoyable documentary even though it pissed me off. It definitely makes me never want to own a GM vehicle.
Conversations with Other Women (2006) - Sparks fly at a wedding reception when a man (Aaron Eckhart) and woman (Helena Bonham Carter) with an ambiguous connection are reunited in this stylish romantic drama. As the layers of their past relationship gradually peel back, they rekindle a smoldering flame. Unable to contain their desire, they soon slip away to her hotel room -- but will passion give way to regret after the champagne wears off?
I LOVED this movie and I am definitely keeping an eye out so I can buy it. I want to watch it again right now (ooh I can! because it's on instant play on netflix, but I have another movie to watch). If you don't like quirky independent movies with few characters then you probably won't like this. And it is shot in split screen which is really cool and leads to one of the more interesting/cool sex scenes that I've ever seen in a movie.
The Invisible (2007) - After high schooler Nick (Justin Chatwin) is brutally attacked and left for dead, he regains consciousness and then discovers that he's invisible to everyone -- except for a troubled young girl (Margarita Levieva) running from the authorities. An unsettling glimpse at one man's nightmarish limbo, this supernatural thriller from the producers of The Sixth Sense explores the elusive place between the world of the living and the land of the dead.
SPOILER ALERT - This was utterly forgettable. Another one of those "thrillers" that wasn't very thrilling. And there were a lot of dumb moments. The girl who is running from the authorities sure is good at eluding them. And at one point there is a body in some water that is going to get flooded when the dam opens in 15 minutes...and the police know this. So why do they wait until the dam opens before they tell the people to shut it off? And the end was just ridiculous. Like a grieving mother is going to let an injured girl (who put her son into the condition that he's in) crawl into the hospital bed with him in order to save him. wtf?
Lucky Number Slevin (2005) - An identity mix-up places an innocent man in the middle of a mob war in this noir crime thriller. While checking out his missing friend Nick's apartment, Slevin (Josh Hartnett) is mistaken for Nick by thugs. Just how much trouble is Nick really in? Slevin finds out when he's forced to participate in a high-profile murder for a powerful crime boss. The top-notch cast includes Lucy Liu, Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsley and Bruce Willis.
A good action/thriller. You may know I love me some Bruce Willis! A good mix of comedy, drama, and action. I would recommend it if you don't mind some blood.
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995) - In this wacky comedy, three New York drag queens (Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze and John Leguizamo) on their way to Hollywood for a beauty pageant get stranded in a small Midwestern town for the entire weekend when their car breaks down. While waiting for parts for their Cadillac convertible, the flamboyant trio shows the local homophobic rednecks that appearing different doesn't mean they don't have humanity in common.
You'd think with my fascination with drag queens I would have seen this movie ages ago. Well I was kinda disappointed by it. And let me tell you, Patrick Swayze is like the worst drag queen ever! His "accent" or drag queen voice or whatever was terrible. It was okay but it was a little slow at times, I can definitely see the cult classic appeal though. John Leguizamo really did look like a woman most of the time, but his character wore foundation that was way too light.
If These Walls Could Talk (1996) - A house holds the stories of three women -- and a glimpse at the evolution of abortion rights in America. A 1950s widow (Demi Moore) seeks an illegal abortion after a one-night stand. A 1970s mother of four (Sissy Spacek) must choose between having a child and starting a career. And in the 1990s, a student (Anne Heche) clashes with anti-abortion activists en route to seek an abortion from her doctor (Cher). Cher co-directs with Nancy Savoca.
So for some reason I thought this one was about lesbians, but that's the sequel. So I wasn't really in the mood for a movie about abortion. It was very graphic and 2 out of 3 of the stories were depressing. I enjoyed it as much as it's possible to enjoy a movie about abortion and why women should have the choice.
School started this week and I'm just ready for it to be over and done with.
Winged Migration, Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her, Gridiron Gang, Fried Green Tomatoes, Punch-Drunk Love, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Who Killed the the Electric Car?, Conversations with Other Women, The Invisible (SPOILER ALERT), Lucky Number Slevin, To Wong Foo..., and If These Walls Could Talk.
Winged Migration (2001) - Amazing cinematography and gorgeous music fill this documentary-adventure created by French filmmakers Jacques Cluzaud, Michel Debat and Jacques Perrin. Presented with almost no narration and filmed primarily from a bird's perspective, this study of the lives and habits of migrating birds re-creates as nearly as possible the experiences of the birds themselves.
This was beautiful. There were a couple of sad scenes were birds were killed though but there were a lot of cute moments. There were these birds that practically ran on water and I had to rewind and watch that part again because it was so crazy.
Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her (2000) - Writer-director Rodrigo Garcia skillfully weaves together a series of vignettes, exploring the unseen intricacies of modern women in this examination of perception vs. authenticity. From a fortuneteller to a doctor to an unpredictable bag lady, all walks of life are explored. The film boasts an all-star cast that includes Glenn Close, Holly Hunter, Kathy Baker, Cameron Diaz, Calista Flockhart, Amy Brenneman and Penelope Allen.
Another one of those movies with slightly interconnected vignettes of different people's lives. It was okay, a little slow and not very exciting. In fact I don't really remember that much about it thinking back on it now but I don't think watching it was a waste of time.
Gridiron Gang (2006) - When an ambitious probation officer (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) working at a detention camp for juvenile delinquents presents his idea to mold dangerous teenage inmates into a successful high school-level football team, none of his superiors thinks he can do it. But with a spirited co-worker (rapper Xzibit) by his side, he just might prove them wrong. This sports-infused drama is based on an Emmy-winning documentary about a real-life team.
This movie was more for Curtis than me but I enjoyed it. It's definitely a story that's been done before (several times), in sports it's all about the misfits and underdogs I guess.
Fried Green Tomatoes (1991) - In this adaptation of Fanny Flagg's novel, flashbacks reveal the remarkable and mysterious story of soul mates Idgie (Mary Stuart Masterson) and Ruth Jamison (Mary-Louise Parker), whose antics cause an uproar in their rural Southern town during the 1920s. Feisty Ninny Threadgoode (Jessica Tandy) tells the tale to a repressed Alabama housewife (Kathy Bates), who becomes obsessed with Idgie and Ruth, and ultimately finds inspiration in their story.
So I didn't realize I had seen this before until I was about halfway through it. And then I realized that not only had I seen it before, but I had DVRed it so I could watch it a few months ago, oops. But it doesn't matter because it was just as enjoyable the second time around. I love Jessica Tandy, she is so adorable. And I usually don't like Kathy Bates but I think because she plays annoying and or scary characters but she was great in this.
Punch-Drunk Love (2002) - Barry Egan (Adam Sandler) -- a bathroom supply salesman prone to paroxysms of destructive rage -- finds his life refreshed when he meets Lena Leonard (Emily Watson), who falls in unconditional love with him. Meanwhile, Egan tries to escape constant harassment from his seven sisters as well as three thugs who have implicated him in a phone sex extortion scam. Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, There Will Be Blood) writes and directs.
My friend Matt LOVES this movie and he kept telling me to watch it. Well I did, and I didn't like it. I like weird stuff...but this was just too weird for me. I guess I just didn't get it.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005) - Marriage has gotten stale for John and Jane Smith (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie), a husband and wife who don't yet know that they share the same undercover line of work: They're both guns for hire. Hiding their occupations has never been a hardship for either of them … until they discover that their next assignment involves them targeting each other! Can they go through with their respective missions, or will love prevail?
This one was also mostly for Curtis and I had half seen this one before at Youth Focus with the kids and I wasn't impressed then either. It was okay but a pretty forgettable action flick. The dinner scene when they realize what's up was probably the best part of the whole movie.
Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006) - Amid ever-increasing gas prices, this documentary delves into the short life of the GM EV1 electric car -- once all the rage in the mid-1990s and now fallen by the roadside. How could such an efficient, green-friendly vehicle fail to transform our garages and skies? Through interviews with government officials, former GM employees and concerned celebs (such as EV1 driver Mel Gibson), Chris Paine (former EV1 owner) seeks to answer the question.
This was a pretty enjoyable documentary even though it pissed me off. It definitely makes me never want to own a GM vehicle.
Conversations with Other Women (2006) - Sparks fly at a wedding reception when a man (Aaron Eckhart) and woman (Helena Bonham Carter) with an ambiguous connection are reunited in this stylish romantic drama. As the layers of their past relationship gradually peel back, they rekindle a smoldering flame. Unable to contain their desire, they soon slip away to her hotel room -- but will passion give way to regret after the champagne wears off?
I LOVED this movie and I am definitely keeping an eye out so I can buy it. I want to watch it again right now (ooh I can! because it's on instant play on netflix, but I have another movie to watch). If you don't like quirky independent movies with few characters then you probably won't like this. And it is shot in split screen which is really cool and leads to one of the more interesting/cool sex scenes that I've ever seen in a movie.
The Invisible (2007) - After high schooler Nick (Justin Chatwin) is brutally attacked and left for dead, he regains consciousness and then discovers that he's invisible to everyone -- except for a troubled young girl (Margarita Levieva) running from the authorities. An unsettling glimpse at one man's nightmarish limbo, this supernatural thriller from the producers of The Sixth Sense explores the elusive place between the world of the living and the land of the dead.
SPOILER ALERT - This was utterly forgettable. Another one of those "thrillers" that wasn't very thrilling. And there were a lot of dumb moments. The girl who is running from the authorities sure is good at eluding them. And at one point there is a body in some water that is going to get flooded when the dam opens in 15 minutes...and the police know this. So why do they wait until the dam opens before they tell the people to shut it off? And the end was just ridiculous. Like a grieving mother is going to let an injured girl (who put her son into the condition that he's in) crawl into the hospital bed with him in order to save him. wtf?
Lucky Number Slevin (2005) - An identity mix-up places an innocent man in the middle of a mob war in this noir crime thriller. While checking out his missing friend Nick's apartment, Slevin (Josh Hartnett) is mistaken for Nick by thugs. Just how much trouble is Nick really in? Slevin finds out when he's forced to participate in a high-profile murder for a powerful crime boss. The top-notch cast includes Lucy Liu, Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsley and Bruce Willis.
A good action/thriller. You may know I love me some Bruce Willis! A good mix of comedy, drama, and action. I would recommend it if you don't mind some blood.
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995) - In this wacky comedy, three New York drag queens (Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze and John Leguizamo) on their way to Hollywood for a beauty pageant get stranded in a small Midwestern town for the entire weekend when their car breaks down. While waiting for parts for their Cadillac convertible, the flamboyant trio shows the local homophobic rednecks that appearing different doesn't mean they don't have humanity in common.
You'd think with my fascination with drag queens I would have seen this movie ages ago. Well I was kinda disappointed by it. And let me tell you, Patrick Swayze is like the worst drag queen ever! His "accent" or drag queen voice or whatever was terrible. It was okay but it was a little slow at times, I can definitely see the cult classic appeal though. John Leguizamo really did look like a woman most of the time, but his character wore foundation that was way too light.
If These Walls Could Talk (1996) - A house holds the stories of three women -- and a glimpse at the evolution of abortion rights in America. A 1950s widow (Demi Moore) seeks an illegal abortion after a one-night stand. A 1970s mother of four (Sissy Spacek) must choose between having a child and starting a career. And in the 1990s, a student (Anne Heche) clashes with anti-abortion activists en route to seek an abortion from her doctor (Cher). Cher co-directs with Nancy Savoca.
So for some reason I thought this one was about lesbians, but that's the sequel. So I wasn't really in the mood for a movie about abortion. It was very graphic and 2 out of 3 of the stories were depressing. I enjoyed it as much as it's possible to enjoy a movie about abortion and why women should have the choice.
School started this week and I'm just ready for it to be over and done with.