Superman (1978)

Forty years ago (!) the first big budget superhero movie emerged.  Superman directed by Richard Donner set the stage for the others:  the origin story, the secret identity, the worthy opponent villain.  It also added a bit of the camp:  the underground hideout, the goofy sidekicks, the crazy outfits.

At heart it is quite an old fashioned movie, reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz, Philadelphia Story, the Shop Around the Corner.  Best parts were the chemistry between Clark and Lois as well as the coast to coast story.  A few scenes I remembered:  the car lifting, the flying, the Fortress of Solitude.  But otherwise, it was a pleasant walk down Memory Lane.

* * * * *

Can you believe there was a Superman 2, 3 (starring Richard Pryor) and even 4.

Some of the scenes definitely reminded me of a later Richard Donner movie The Goonies.

Bohemian Rhapsody

The story of the band Queen, which era-wise, was after the Led Zeppelin era and before the MTV heyday, approximately 1975 to 1985.  That just happens to be my heydey as well, so a lot of this was familiar.

Freddy Mercury is the lead performer and he is played by Rami Malik very well.  He's an unlikely front man for this otherwise square band, cut in the mold of Mick Jagger, but with an LGBTQ twist.  They meet up, get discovered, get told that Bohemian Rhapsody will go nowhere, too long for radio.  And guess what, the experts are wrong.

An interesting culmination leading up to Live Aid in 1984, which is the flashback from the opening scene.  Good music of course and nice casting and the look of the era.  Kind of reminded me of Almost Famous but with a real band.

* * * * *  highest rating

The Front Runner

When I told my wife about seeing this movie, she said "What did Gary Hart ever do to warrant a movie"?  Needless to say, I did not take her to see it.

The answer to her question would be, if you have the right viewpoint, he was an idealistic Democratic Presidential candidate at the right time in the 80s, but was brought down by a changing view of what moral compass we expect our politicians to be guided by.  If that sounds a bit fuzzy, its because it is.

Most of the movie looks, sounds and feels like the 70s instead of the 80s.  In fact it reminded me of a Mary Tyler Moore show in some parts.  But we do have obligatory 80s product placements:  TRS-80 computers, landlines, brick cell phones, VHS technology.

The story can't quite go to #MeToo lengths but it tries.  It ultimately doesn't really say or answer much, but tries to get a feel in time.  At best it's the usual American President/West Wing/Definitely Maybe about the wonderful candidate whose close handlers see all the promise but have to swallow the flaws.  At worst its a pat-on-the-back story in search of a politically like-minded backer abou the good old days and what might have been.

Directed by Jason Reitman in the bleak realism of Up in the Air.  Starring Hugh Jackman (a yawner, IMHO), Vera Farmiga, J.K. Simmons, and Alfred Molina as Ben Bradlee and Mahoumou Athie as A.J.

How many movies can we have about the Washington Post/ The Post ?  Perhaps that is the politically like-minded backer....

* * * of 5

Daddy's Home 2 (2017)

While you're not looking, Will Ferrell and Adam McKay as producers are cranking out a lot of pretty decent movies, mainly based on the average white guy (Ferrell) in over his head in the real world.

Case in point:  Daddy's Home 2, where Brad (Will Ferrell) and Dusty (Mark Wahlberg) are 2 men co-parenting children of Sara (Linda Cardellini).   Dusty is divorced from Sara.  Sara is now married to Brad.  Just when they are getting along, more dads show up Don (John Lithgow) and Kurt (Mel Gibson).  Each granddad is a lot alike the son.

A pretty good comedic premise, with a Christmas family theme, quite reminiscent of Christmas Vacation.  John Lithgow steals the show, in my opinion.  And it all end with a Christmas day scene that took a lot of imagination.

* * * * Surprisingly better than expected

The Girl in the Spider's Web

Claire Foy takes a turn as Lisbeth Salander in this new iteration based on "characters created by Stieg Larsson (now dearly departed).  While I expect he would like to see others having a turn, I did try and read this book before and it really couldn't compare to the other 3.

All other 3 Larsson books were made into Swedish language movies and were excellent.  David Fincher's version of Dragon Tattoo was well done.  In fact he returns as Executive Producer here.  Just enough, but it'd be nice to have more.

Lisbeth and Mikael return, this time to recover some state secrets.  But she is robbed by even badder guys and she of course seeks revenge.  The movie reminded me of a female version of Mission Impossible (which is awesome!) but it degenerates into more creative ways to show torture and violence.  Not my favorite big screen shots.

Probably closest in plot to the 3rd book Hornet's Nest which mainly deals with Swedish secret police, SAPO.

Also starring Lakeith Stanfield in a winning performance.

* * * of 5

There's Something About Mary (1998)

This qualifies as a Rewatchable movie, according to Bill Simmons.  That is, one that when it comes on basic cable, you'll happy watch it again and remember why is was good at the time.

Cameron Diaz is Mary, a high school student in Rhode Island.  The boys love her, and when Ted (Ben Stiller) screws up a chance to take her to the prom, he loses track of her, but never forgets her.  So Ted hires a private eye, Pat (Matt Dillon) to find Mary.  Pat goes down to Florida, and is so taken, that he decides to date her himself.  When Ted finds out, he road trips to Florida with his friend Dom (Chris Elliott) to recapture the lost glory days.

Now that's a long description of a movie best remembered for Ben Stiller jacking off before his date with Mary, Ben Stiller getting his "frank and beans" caught in his zipper, Matt Dillon looking through windows as a peeping Tom (peeping Matt), and a general making fun of "retards", old Florida men and women, men who walk with crutches, musicians, and just about everyone else you can think of.

Surprisingly it works.  The characters all have some heart and depth, especially ones who otherwise are made fun of:  Tucker, Magda, Warren.  Perhaps it's the complex plot, with multiple people all eventually meeting in the same room,  like Reservoir Dogs.

Tho whole premise is someone outdated in this Pre-Facebook/Google movie, when it was possible to move to Florida as an adult and everyone in your hometown to lose track of you.  But the discovery of what the person turned out to me makes it a fun and interesting story, with lots of funny gags.  Believe it or not, Cameron Diaz did not want to do the "hair gel" scene and it turned out to be the most iconic of her entire career.

A modern classic:   * * * * *

Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

I watched the movie Dog Day Afternoon on DVD from 1975. I remember reading the parody in Mad Magazine and so the images were familiar. It was very appropriate for that time and place. It said it happened on Aug. 22 so that anniversary is coming up. They did a nice job of the plot reflecting the rising temperature, like in a later good movie Body Heat.

Al Pacino is the lead bank robber, but instead of being a master criminal, he's just kind of a regular guy in a desperate situation.  The heist goes badly of course and he's caught in the trap, surrounded by the police.  As the situation unfolds we see his humanity come through, the good and the bad.

And as word spread, the community starts to watch the event as spectacle, in an early nod to what would become reality TV.  He's realizes this is his time in the sun, his 15 minutes of fame.  But this is not a happy story and the end seems preordained.  Directed by Sidney Lumet

* * * * * (one of the best)