Starring Ewan McGregor as Fred and Emily Blunt as Harriet, this is a somewhat stereotypical
a middle aged loser meets RomCom.
I might call it a true romantic comedy, between a man and a fish, or perhaps the two men, Fred and Sheik Muhammed (the very handsome Amr Waked). Harriet and her boyfriend Robert are in 3rd place. Harriet and Fred are the least appealing couple ever.
Directed by Lasse Hallstrom, his signature languid and mystical style is apparent throughout.
This was a homework assignment for church so one of the discussion questions is the question of faith, whether you believe in transporting fish to the desert, and not wild fish but farmed fish. Fred starts off very doubtful but the power of the Sheik's money proves a strong incentive for everyone that controls Fred.
What else was sterotypical? The British invasion of the Middle East, the rich sheik who buys whatever he wants, the terrorism, the working woman who can't find love, the middle aged loser, the bossy politico(a) [Kristen Scott Thomas].
The bright point? No bad movie with Emily Blunt in it.
* * * of 5
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
The original 3 Mad Max movies were a little ahead of my time - probably they were rated R. So I was not so keen to hurry and see this 30 years later.
My loss - this was super exciting, like a comic book come alive, not in a Marvel sense, but like a graphic novel. Most of the plot was somewhat derivative of movies I was not familiar with so I just settled in for the ride.
Max is a prisoner of war of Immortan Joe, who controls a kingdom protected by his armies. He has a harem of wives. He tasks Furiosa (Charlize Theron) to take the War Rig from one place to another. But when she goes off track, he finds out that Furiosa has taken his wives to break them out. He sends his armies on wheels to get them back.
Max (Tom Hardy) is taken into battle as a "bloodbag" for the skinheads Nux and Slit, who seeks glory in death in battle. Of course Max escapes, and is picked up in the War Rig which is chased for the rest of the movie.
Incredible stunts, vehicle chases, explosions, etc. make this an exciting chase. Like 1917, its a movie constantly on the move. Good character development makes this a fine watch.
* * * * * (highest)
My loss - this was super exciting, like a comic book come alive, not in a Marvel sense, but like a graphic novel. Most of the plot was somewhat derivative of movies I was not familiar with so I just settled in for the ride.
Max is a prisoner of war of Immortan Joe, who controls a kingdom protected by his armies. He has a harem of wives. He tasks Furiosa (Charlize Theron) to take the War Rig from one place to another. But when she goes off track, he finds out that Furiosa has taken his wives to break them out. He sends his armies on wheels to get them back.
Max (Tom Hardy) is taken into battle as a "bloodbag" for the skinheads Nux and Slit, who seeks glory in death in battle. Of course Max escapes, and is picked up in the War Rig which is chased for the rest of the movie.
Incredible stunts, vehicle chases, explosions, etc. make this an exciting chase. Like 1917, its a movie constantly on the move. Good character development makes this a fine watch.
* * * * * (highest)
Clue (1985)
At our book club my friend Martha said "Clue is my all time favorite movie". So, having not seen it, it was available on Amazon Prime.
Based on the classic board game, we have the familiar characters of Col. Mustard, Professor Plum, Mr. Green, Mrs White, Mrs Peacock and Miss Scarlet. A closed door murder in an old gothic house on a dark and stormy night. The butler Wadsworth summons each person there, giving them an alias. He says they are are related somehow and it turns out they are all being blackmailed to hide a secret and that gives them a motive for murder.
It was an inventive way to turn the game into a movie. In this case people starts dying at the hands of the familiar weapons, the knife, the candlestick, the rope, the pipe, the revolver and the poison. And there are many room and passageways between them to give a number of solutions as to "Whodunnit".
Certainly campy and somewhat slapstick, it was evocative of the comedy of those days - Mel Brooks, Rocky Horror, Monty Python. The casting was done with most characters in upper middle age, a much different look than today. Witty dialogue and rambunctious action made it kind of fun to watch.
Very clever ending.
* * * * of 5
Based on the classic board game, we have the familiar characters of Col. Mustard, Professor Plum, Mr. Green, Mrs White, Mrs Peacock and Miss Scarlet. A closed door murder in an old gothic house on a dark and stormy night. The butler Wadsworth summons each person there, giving them an alias. He says they are are related somehow and it turns out they are all being blackmailed to hide a secret and that gives them a motive for murder.
It was an inventive way to turn the game into a movie. In this case people starts dying at the hands of the familiar weapons, the knife, the candlestick, the rope, the pipe, the revolver and the poison. And there are many room and passageways between them to give a number of solutions as to "Whodunnit".
Certainly campy and somewhat slapstick, it was evocative of the comedy of those days - Mel Brooks, Rocky Horror, Monty Python. The casting was done with most characters in upper middle age, a much different look than today. Witty dialogue and rambunctious action made it kind of fun to watch.
Very clever ending.
* * * * of 5
Knocked Up (2007)
Hard to remember way back when Katherine Heigl was the next "it" star. Here's she takes a romcom turn as the up and coming TV star whose life takes a turn when she gets pregnant from a one-night stand.
This being a movie, Allison decides not to get a "shemsbortion" and keep the baby while trying to make something work with the schlub of a father Seth Rogen (Ben). Allison lives with her sister Debbie (Leslie Mann) and her husband Pete (Paul Rudd) whose life is not quite as good as it appears. Pete and Debbie would late get their own spin-off movie This is 40.
The real stars are Ben's stoner friends who would all go on to bigger things, Jason Segal, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Martin Starr.
Also memorable small performances by future stars Craig Robinson, Ken Jeoug, B.J. Novak.
* * *
Whatever happened to Katherine Heigl?
This being a movie, Allison decides not to get a "shemsbortion" and keep the baby while trying to make something work with the schlub of a father Seth Rogen (Ben). Allison lives with her sister Debbie (Leslie Mann) and her husband Pete (Paul Rudd) whose life is not quite as good as it appears. Pete and Debbie would late get their own spin-off movie This is 40.
The real stars are Ben's stoner friends who would all go on to bigger things, Jason Segal, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Martin Starr.
Also memorable small performances by future stars Craig Robinson, Ken Jeoug, B.J. Novak.
* * *
Whatever happened to Katherine Heigl?
The Perks of Being A Wallflower (2012)
It's a truism that some actors just never seem to be in a bad movie. Add Emma Watson to that list.
She stars with a few other no-names in this coming of age story telling a familiar tale: High school misfit moves to a new school, meets his new crew and comes into his own. Sprinkle with a good dose of sex, drugs and rock 'n roll. Add some bullying, and a few other taboo topics and as they say in the movie "it becomes an after school special".
Logan Lerman is Charlie, a freshman, just returned from the mental hospital. He enters high school and after the obligatory false starts, he meets and is befriended by two seniors Patrick (Ezra Miller) and Sam (Emma Watson). Charlie of course falls for Sam, but they have a brother/sister relationship unlike Charlie's actual sister Candace (Nina Dobrev).
Suffice to say each character has a deep, dark secret that gets revealed as the school year goes by. As noted it is like the After School Specials of the 1970s where the teenagers would be faced with very adult problems and situations.
Set in the 90s, it's got some good music and is kind of old fashioned in a pre-social media world.
* * * * of 5
She stars with a few other no-names in this coming of age story telling a familiar tale: High school misfit moves to a new school, meets his new crew and comes into his own. Sprinkle with a good dose of sex, drugs and rock 'n roll. Add some bullying, and a few other taboo topics and as they say in the movie "it becomes an after school special".
Logan Lerman is Charlie, a freshman, just returned from the mental hospital. He enters high school and after the obligatory false starts, he meets and is befriended by two seniors Patrick (Ezra Miller) and Sam (Emma Watson). Charlie of course falls for Sam, but they have a brother/sister relationship unlike Charlie's actual sister Candace (Nina Dobrev).
Suffice to say each character has a deep, dark secret that gets revealed as the school year goes by. As noted it is like the After School Specials of the 1970s where the teenagers would be faced with very adult problems and situations.
Set in the 90s, it's got some good music and is kind of old fashioned in a pre-social media world.
* * * * of 5
A League of Their Own (1992)
I watched this recently for the first time in a century and was so impressed with it! Five Stars!
Directed by Penny Marshall, it tells the story of Dottie and her sister Kit, who grew up on a farm in Oregon during the 40s. With the men away at war, a baseball team owner had the idea to form a Girl's Baseball League and scouts were sent out to find women for tryouts. Dottie (Geena Davis) and Kit (Lori Petty) were recruited by the weasly Jon Lovitz to tryout and off on the train to Chicago they went.
Four teams form up and the rest of the movie is their coming together, with the skipper a washed up ballplayer Jimmy (Tom Hanks) who eventually comes around to his job and captains the team all the way to the championship. There we have an epic showdown of pitcher v. batter which is well done.
Some great things: the story was told in flashback and it is neat to see the old women together at the end, remembering what they did when they were young. The cinematography is very neat, particularly the photos evoking the old times. And there's just enough drama to keep it interesting while maintaining a PG rating. Certainly an adult story. The music by Hans Zimmer is excellent as well, with original music by Madonna to boot.
Ahead of its time for an all-female cast, female director, strong female lead stories, with the men being interesting but not schlubs. Also starring Madonna, Rosie O'Donnell, Bill Pullman.
* * * * * Loved it!
Directed by Penny Marshall, it tells the story of Dottie and her sister Kit, who grew up on a farm in Oregon during the 40s. With the men away at war, a baseball team owner had the idea to form a Girl's Baseball League and scouts were sent out to find women for tryouts. Dottie (Geena Davis) and Kit (Lori Petty) were recruited by the weasly Jon Lovitz to tryout and off on the train to Chicago they went.
Four teams form up and the rest of the movie is their coming together, with the skipper a washed up ballplayer Jimmy (Tom Hanks) who eventually comes around to his job and captains the team all the way to the championship. There we have an epic showdown of pitcher v. batter which is well done.
Some great things: the story was told in flashback and it is neat to see the old women together at the end, remembering what they did when they were young. The cinematography is very neat, particularly the photos evoking the old times. And there's just enough drama to keep it interesting while maintaining a PG rating. Certainly an adult story. The music by Hans Zimmer is excellent as well, with original music by Madonna to boot.
Ahead of its time for an all-female cast, female director, strong female lead stories, with the men being interesting but not schlubs. Also starring Madonna, Rosie O'Donnell, Bill Pullman.
* * * * * Loved it!
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