Bit of a movie weekend at home...
NOTE: I greatly apologize if this takes up more than desired space on some of your pages...but I've been trying to figure out this damn cut thing and it's kicked my ass and I'm tired of messing with it...So, I'll figure it out eventually...again...sorry...but it's 2 am and I don't care anymore...
Alrighty, so I actually had time to myself this weekend. No nieces, no places to be, just me and my movie collection...uh oh...But of course, I've watched all of those already right? Haha, well I'll watch them until they die, but I felt the need to get out and find some stuff that I'd not seen, both old and new. So BlockBuster was my destination...The first time I went, I snagged American Gangster...Being a loyal Russell Crowe fan and not minding Denzel either, I gave it a try. But in all honesty...I think I enjoyed the last 30 minutes more than the entire movie. It's one that I'll not be buying, but yay, I've seen it. Just too much set up and detail and not enough 'action' and I am not talking fights and gun fire. So I say, if your curious, go for it...but I was not overly impressed...well...maybe Russell's ability to put on an insane New Jersey accent was impressive...but the movie as a whole? Not so much, for me anyway...
The second movie I rented along with Gangster was A Simple Plan. Just walked past it ,and having watched Twister for the first time in literally YEARS, I'd forgotten how much I really liked Bill Paxton. So I noticed his name on it, along with Billy Bob Thornton, so I picked it up and thought it sounded interesting. Set in rural Minnesota, literally out in the middle of nowhere snow lol 3 guys, 2 of them brothers, Jacob and Hank (Thornton and Paxton) stumble upon an abandoned crashed plan...full of 4 million dollars. So, the inevitable occurs, and they decided to leave it with one of them until they are certain no one is looking for it...yeah right...Now I was really impressed by Thornton's character...he plays Jacob, the mentally challenged, harmless but sometimes violent brother who got the short end of the stick while growing up. Thornton really portrayed this well (but then it's him right?) I bought it. I was also please with Paxton's character Hank as the good ol boy, happily married with a little wife and baby on the way. He was also quite believable. So of course no one in their right mind can sleep knowing they have 4 million stashed somewhere...so they are faced with personal and physical challenges that go along with the package: Murder, betrayal, suspicion, cover-up, normalcy and then that question that we all ask: Is it really worth it? So, having rented it with no previous knowledge or having seen a trailer for it, I REALLY enjoyed it. I think I'll pick it up if I ever stumble across it for a decent price...Nothing I'm going to rush to get, but I think it's worth having. I recommend it.
So then I was off to another BlockBuster the next day (ours has a habit of not having a good stock of stuff) to find my other 2 movies. I had wanted to see Martian Child while it was in theatres, but like it always happens, it ended up on DVD before I had time to get away. So I grabbed it and boy I cannot gush enough about it. It was such a wonderful little movie about a child in an adoption center who believes he is from Mars. John Cusack plays the man who decides to adopt him, as it was what he and his wife had planned to do before she died suddenly. He is a science fiction writer, Dennis is a boy who believes he is from space...what a pair eh? So the two learn from each other what is reality and what is fiction and eventually that bad memories can be overshadowed by the good. It was truly a touching movie and I have to say I really love John Cusack...I've not seen him in too many things, though I know he does quite a lot of work, but what I've seen him in recently I've really enjoyed. And seeing him and his sister Joan in this movie actually playing brother and sister kind of sealed the deal. Definitely give this one a try, it is amazing.
My second selection that trip was the very old and never heard of (by me...the vampire lover) vamp film Near Dark. Those of you reading who have loved and followed this movie like a cult since it was released please don't throw stones at me *hides* I swear if I'd known it existed I'd have bought it and loved it way before now! lol Yeah, well it was release in 1987...the year I was born, so I guess not...but anyway lol So this lovely little gem takes place in Oklahoma when a local cowboy (played by the very cute, young, Adrian Pasdar) runs into the equally beautiful Mae. And as these things usually go, they end up "necking" in his truck, only she kind of gives him a bite...bit...lol more than he bargains for. Leaving him to flee for cover before dawn, he tries to scramble back home. But the rising sun shows that there is something VERY wrong. He is intercepted by Mae and her lot before he gets home...and bursts into flames. Now, reason #1 to love this movie: Original. Reason #2: Bill Paxton. I know I know, but those who know me know (wow you confused yet?) that I go off on these little actor runs, but hey, I see movies I never would have seen otherwise...so shoot me. Anyway, he plays psycho/sadistic but loving what he is VERY convincingly. I LOVED his character. Kind of a Buffy's Spike and Anne Rice's Lestat. He was great *see icon* So anyway, our newly turned vampire must learn to feed in order to keep himself alive...otherwise he'll die by starvation or by the hands of his new company. I REALLY enjoyed this film. Old as it is, I did not find anything over done or cheesy. As I said, very original...and some of the best damn lines EVER... mostly by Paxton's character: "It's finger lickin' good!" So if your a vampire fan, I'd definitely say go grab this one. You need to at least see it once so you can compare what they were like then and now. But I think you'll enjoy it.
To go along with my Paxton weekend I picked up another old one that I'd seen when I was younger on TV...but managed to catch it at the same place EVERYTIME! (does that bother the hell out of anyone else?) So this one is called One False Move and it also has Billy Bob Thornton in it. This one was actually nominated for some awards and I can see why. Plot being that 3 people wanted for some gruesome murders in LA turn up in a little town in Arkansas. 2 guys, one being Thornton and a girl named "Fantasia". Paxton plays the overly excited chief in the town who has seen nothing more than drunken fights and light shop lifters his whole 6 years as chief . Hearing that these fugitives are heading his way has him as excited as a puppy about to chase a ball. But what he was not counting on was "Fantasia" being amongst them, and the secret from his, their, past that she brings with her. Pretty good movie...you might be looking for it as something specific your wanting to see, but I thought it was pretty fair. The performances are all great and the story is pretty decent given it's plot.
And finally, this leads me to one of my favorite movies, Color Of Night. Now this is not something I've just recently seen. I own it, but watched for the first time WITH someone and now feel the need to share the love now that it settled well with Parselsmouthmama ;) So, Bruce Willis is Dr. Bill Capa, a psychologist who is now doubting his ability after a patient "takes the plunge" after he breaks and lets his emotion come out in a session. Fleeing to LA he hopes to find some therapy of his own in his friend and collegue, Bob. But when Bob is killed and the 5 patients he had been holding session with are the key suspects, and needing a psychologist, Capa is faced with the challenge of taking over the group. But when he is literally run into by the mysterious Rose (played by the very beautiful Jane March), his life takes another dramatic turn as they start a very heated emotional and physical relationship. Slowly but surely, the group begins to open up, each with their own stories that could add up to Bob's murder...or so we think until members of the group turn up dead. Full of clever twists and turns and unsuspecting moments, this movie just blew me away when I first saw it. I think it is very cleverly written, shot (editing bothers me though...that's my only complaint) and pretty damn well acted. All of the cast is fairly well known and really brought something special to the film as individuals. I really enjoy it...and honestly...if your a Bruce fan...this is one of his better works in my opinion ( sex scenes aside...though a couple of those are nice, not going to lie lol) Maybe I am just a sucker for the boy/girl pshycie thriller movies...but I know a lot of people who are too, so I guess no black mark against me there. So I highly recommend if you like those types of movies...and nudity does not bother you ;)
So there are my movie reviews for the weekend lol Don't know what really compelled me to sit and do this...guess I was just int he mood to type...and why not write about something you love? I love movies, and want people to know that there are some damn good ones out there, hidden under some of this new stuff that is just getting way too glazed anymore. So I hope I enlightened some of you. I'm off to bed now...since it's like 1:30 am and I have work at 8...boy am I a smart cookie? lol
Deuces *kiss kiss*
Mood: Flirty