Should be an interesting period piece from 1998 - 30 years ago!
Directed by Jason Reitman who also did Up in the Air
LA Confidential (1997)
A modern attempt at film noir, it's a tale of 1950s Los Angeles police and a clash between the old way of favoritism and a more authoritarian "modern" approach. Starring Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, Kim Basinger as the femme fatale (Best Supporting Actress). Owes a lots to Chinatown, which in my view is not that great of a movie to emulate. Visually interesting, but lacks in dialogue and character development.
* * * of 5
* * * of 5
Fall Movie Preview
A Star is Born - October 5
Venom starring Tom Hardy 10/05
The Girl in the Spider's Web. 11.9 starring Claire Foy
Venom starring Tom Hardy 10/05
The Girl in the Spider's Web. 11.9 starring Claire Foy
Holiday movie preview
Second Act - JLo Rom Com directed by Peter Segal November 21
Green Book - road trip in Segregated South - directed by Peter Farrelly 11.21
Mary Poppins Returns 12/19 starring Emily Blunt
Green Book - road trip in Segregated South - directed by Peter Farrelly 11.21
Mary Poppins Returns 12/19 starring Emily Blunt
Tag
Very similar to Game Night which came out earlier this year, it's about a group of adults who still act a little like kids with their games, presently the game of Tag. This group has been playing an extended game of Tag for 30 years. One person has never been tagged so the group gets together to gang up on him.
Casting was almost like choosing sides in a real kid's game. In Game Night, we choose Jason Bateman for the nerdy leading man. In Tag, Ed Helms. For the wife/alpha female, Rachel McAdams in Game Night, Isla Fisher in Tag. For the straw stirring the drink, Kyle Chandler in Game Night, Jeremy Renner in Tag.
Interesting cinematography, reminiscent of Scott Pilgrim versus the The World and Baby Driver both by Edgar Wright (and both kind of game playing plots as well).
And the mystery of who will win the game keep it interesting.
* * * of 5
Casting was almost like choosing sides in a real kid's game. In Game Night, we choose Jason Bateman for the nerdy leading man. In Tag, Ed Helms. For the wife/alpha female, Rachel McAdams in Game Night, Isla Fisher in Tag. For the straw stirring the drink, Kyle Chandler in Game Night, Jeremy Renner in Tag.
Interesting cinematography, reminiscent of Scott Pilgrim versus the The World and Baby Driver both by Edgar Wright (and both kind of game playing plots as well).
And the mystery of who will win the game keep it interesting.
* * * of 5
Moviepass
The future of movie going will have to wait a bit longer into the future. Moviepass, the subscription based service to see unlimited movies for $10/month has run out of money and is barely afloat. As a result, those who have paid for the year are now limited to 3 movies a month, and not the first few week blockbusters. Heavy users were seeing 2.6 movies a month so they were not really the issue. It appears to be more as to what the theater chains were charging for the ticket.
The way it works is that you have a debit card, which you can use to buy a ticket 30 minutes before. So that charge gets passed back.
Our local chain Cinemark has a similar service but you pay $8.00 for a guest ticket and you get 1 movie a month free. But the best benefits are no online order charge and 20% off concessions. Plus there is a loyalty aspect.
And if you get your buddy to buy it and you're the guest, all the better!
The way it works is that you have a debit card, which you can use to buy a ticket 30 minutes before. So that charge gets passed back.
Our local chain Cinemark has a similar service but you pay $8.00 for a guest ticket and you get 1 movie a month free. But the best benefits are no online order charge and 20% off concessions. Plus there is a loyalty aspect.
And if you get your buddy to buy it and you're the guest, all the better!
Pride of the Yankees (1941)
This was on TCM while I was at dinner last night. An interesting way of telling a story we generally know. Lou Gehrig grows up poor and his mother and father do not want him playing a game. But he gets called in and proves himself quite a player. Also starring Babe Ruth, it has in interesting cinematography and Gary Cooper as the iron jawed Iron Horse is well cast.
The final scene is more descriptive than narrative, but the last line "Today I consider myself the luckiest man in the world" is a fine ending.
The final scene is more descriptive than narrative, but the last line "Today I consider myself the luckiest man in the world" is a fine ending.
Fall Mysteries - coming soon
I like dramas and mysteries, so these look like some solid entrants this fall
October 19 - Serenity - starring Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway
Looks like Body Heat (1981) or maybe Blood Simple
A Simple Favor
November 6 - starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively
Looks Like Gone Girl or Girl on the Train
October 19 - Serenity - starring Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway
Looks like Body Heat (1981) or maybe Blood Simple
A Simple Favor
November 6 - starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively
Looks Like Gone Girl or Girl on the Train
The Spy Who Dumped Me
Not a spoof like I expected but rather an new entrant in the "wrong person winds up living the spy life" a la Date Night. Like Tina Fey in that movie, we also have a Saturday Night Live star here Kate McKinnon alongside a reliable Mila Kunis as two friends who get caught up in international intrigue after Audrey (Kunis) gets dumped by her boyfriend Justin Theroux.
When she threatened to burn all his things he left behind, he shows up unexpectedly and they are chased by a number of bad guys who drive Audrey and Morgan (McKinnon) along.
A lot of dry humor, like in Bridesmaids. The plot follows along with Mission Impossible - Fallout [motorcycles chases, international sights, black tie parties, restaurant shootouts] and the two would make for interesting comparison. They travel all through Europe, Vienna, Prague, Budapest and Berlin. Sam Heughan and Hasan Minhaj play some interesting counter terror operatives and add a few interesting plot twists.
A solid summer movie. I'll be generous and give it ****
When she threatened to burn all his things he left behind, he shows up unexpectedly and they are chased by a number of bad guys who drive Audrey and Morgan (McKinnon) along.
A lot of dry humor, like in Bridesmaids. The plot follows along with Mission Impossible - Fallout [motorcycles chases, international sights, black tie parties, restaurant shootouts] and the two would make for interesting comparison. They travel all through Europe, Vienna, Prague, Budapest and Berlin. Sam Heughan and Hasan Minhaj play some interesting counter terror operatives and add a few interesting plot twists.
A solid summer movie. I'll be generous and give it ****
1997 Movies
As mentioned, there were many movies I did not see in theaters that year due to family and career arcs:
Titanic
Con Air
Face/Off
Good Will Hunting
Austin Powers
Boogie Nights
L.A. Confidential
Scream 2
Grosse Pointe Blank
Selena
Starship Troopers
What I did see that year...
Men in Black
My Best Friend's Wedding ( one of my top 25)
Liar Liar (classic Jim Carrey as a lawyer)
George of the Jungle
As Good as It Gets
The Rainmaker
Devil's Advocate
Vegas Vacation
As noted, I'm a fan of comedies and dramas.
Titanic
Con Air
Face/Off
Good Will Hunting
Austin Powers
Boogie Nights
L.A. Confidential
Scream 2
Grosse Pointe Blank
Selena
Starship Troopers
What I did see that year...
Men in Black
My Best Friend's Wedding ( one of my top 25)
Liar Liar (classic Jim Carrey as a lawyer)
George of the Jungle
As Good as It Gets
The Rainmaker
Devil's Advocate
Vegas Vacation
As noted, I'm a fan of comedies and dramas.
Con Air (1997)
The 90s were a lost decade in some respects. With raising a young daughter and getting started on a career, I did not see a lot of movies then. Case in point: 1997. I have never seen Con Air which was on TV Friday night.
Nicolas Cage is Cameron Poe, just getting released from prison and on the way to see his daughter. He is put aboard a flight full of the worst criminals getting transferred to another prison. When the criminals hijack the plane, Poe has a decision to make: go along with the crime or try and stop it.
Very visually similar to Top Gun, also done by producer Jerry Bruckheimer, the flying and ground scenes as well as the conflict between those on the ground and those in the air are pronounced. Lots of 90s style action scenes, walking away/ outrunning explosions, funny pranks as part of the mayhem, the wrap up scene at the end, made it entertaining.
A good villainous cast: John Malkovich, Ving Rhames, Dave Chappell, Steve Buscemi, Danny Trejo. And an unexpected John Cusack as the government liaison.
Some things didn't age well: the racism, the violence against women and children. But they are "the worst of the worst". All in all, quite better than expected.
* * * * of 5
Nicolas Cage is Cameron Poe, just getting released from prison and on the way to see his daughter. He is put aboard a flight full of the worst criminals getting transferred to another prison. When the criminals hijack the plane, Poe has a decision to make: go along with the crime or try and stop it.
Very visually similar to Top Gun, also done by producer Jerry Bruckheimer, the flying and ground scenes as well as the conflict between those on the ground and those in the air are pronounced. Lots of 90s style action scenes, walking away/ outrunning explosions, funny pranks as part of the mayhem, the wrap up scene at the end, made it entertaining.
A good villainous cast: John Malkovich, Ving Rhames, Dave Chappell, Steve Buscemi, Danny Trejo. And an unexpected John Cusack as the government liaison.
Some things didn't age well: the racism, the violence against women and children. But they are "the worst of the worst". All in all, quite better than expected.
* * * * of 5
Mission Impossible: Fallout
Tom Cruise returns for installment #6, this one also directed and written by Christopher McQuarrie who also did Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation. Here Tom Cruise is back, but has to fight "the Apostles" who have stolen 3 balls of plutonium and plan to sell to the highest bidder.
Henry Cavill appears as a new agent sent to oversee the mission. Lots of one-upmanship between the two. Also starring Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Michelle Monahan.
Another big star is the mid 80s BMW 528i E28 model
Amazing stunts that Tom Cruise trained for: HALO jumps, helicopter dogfights, motorcycle chases, building jumps. And a real cliff hanger at the end, with an Iron Man style battle.
The plot has a Usual Suspects plotline (also written by Christopher McQuarrie) and a double agent/Manchurian Candidate vibe, which is cool but a bit confusing. Perhaps worth a rewatch. Question whether Jack Reacher or Ethan Hunt is the best version of Tom Cruise. He's probably due to transition to Harrison Ford roles, but we shall see. Our Gen X action hero just keeps on going.
* * * * of 5
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