Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

 I saw this movie 3-4 times back in senior year at Austin High.  It was a classic of our Gen X era for no good reason, kind of like our whole Gen X existence :)

After going back to the Summer of 1982, I realized "You Can't Go Home Again".  How I ever thought this was a classic is a question I'd have to ask a younger me.  30 years later it was not that funny.  And the quotes not that quotable... "Hey Bud, Let's Party!"

It was still a bit shocking to see the bong hits, the topless scenes of the high school girls, the multiple sex scenes and the abortion clinic.  Those topics have been made off limits in movies.  Perhaps that's why this was a VHS cult classic, before internet porn and such.

* * 1/2

The Princess Bride (1987)

I saw this as part of the Cinemark Classic Series - a movie I had never seen.  It was billed as a cult classic so I thought I should join in.

Upon reflection the biggest thing it had was the dialogue - witty and clean, fast-paced, slightly dry.  I had to read a selection of quotes afterwards to appreciate it.

http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2012/09/25-great-quotes-from-the-princess-bride.html

Buttercup loves Westley, a poor farm boy,  but he is kidnapped by pirates and believed dead.    Later the local prince sends for Buttercup as the fairest maiden for his marriage and sends his three henchmen to find her, an unusual trio of a giant, a swordsman and a nasaly leader.  But they are chased down by a masked man and the princess gets away with the masked man.

The story is told as grandfather (Peter Falk) reading an old story to his grandson (Fred Savage).

Without giving more away, it was a fine movie.  A good addition to the 1987 Collection.

* * * 1/2 of 4

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Ben Stiller's take on an Indie film, based on the famous fictional daydreamer.  Ben plays Walter who is a corporate schub for Life Magazine - at least he is in New York City.  The movie starts with him wearing a Michael Douglas Falling Down outfit.  Hard to tell at first when this is to be set as there is a 60s vibe to everything.  But then the laptop and the eHarmony pop in to bring us to the future.

Walter is a Negative Asset Manager (nice, huh?) and is in charge of the film room with his buddy another schlub.  When Corporate comes in to announce that the last issue is being made, Walte realizes that he has been entrusted with the last cover photo and, very schlub -like, Stiller-esque, he has lost it and must find it.

Here is where the movie blooms.  Walter sets out on a world wide road trip (There's Something About Mary) where he searches for his cool buddy Sean Penn (playing the Owen Wilson part) while enduring many slights (Meet the Parents).  I told you it was a Ben Stiller movie.

The cinematography and costuming make this a good watch.

* * * of 4.  Better than expected.

4 star movies of 2013

Here's the recap of my 4 star movies:

Star Trek Into Darkness

Silver Linings Playbook

Hunger Games:  Catching Fire

(can you tell I'm a Jennifer Lawrence fan?)



But there were others I saw that were worthy:

Lawrence of Arabia

Sunset Boulevard

Searching for Sugar Man

Rushmore

And worst of the year:

Jobs

Saving Mr. Banks

A Disney movie about Walt Disney himself, and P.L. Travers, author of Mary Poppins, has several aspects which make it distinctive:

It's a screwball comedy, about the English lady coming to see the smooth American,

it's a show-business "Making the Movie" story

it's a mystery:  why does she so jealously guard Mary Poppins?,

it's a musical with new songs being written and performed,

it's a epic story of the Australian Outback frontier family.

All of this comes together, although with John Lee Hancock as the director, it can go on for a while - lots to fit in.  Walt Disney wants the rights to film Mary Poppins and has for 20 years.  But Travers guards them closely.

Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson are a good couple and there are stars a plenty.  My favorite of course:  Colin Farrell (again) as Travers Banks, P.L.'s father - who is the one who is part of the Saving.

* * * 1/2 - a good family movie

American Hustle

"Some of this actually happened" is the disclaimer/warning at the beginning of this wannabe 70s movie.  I say, wannabe, because it obviously is trying to catch the Sidney Lumet vibe of many of those great movies.  In the end it is like a copy of a copy of a copy, somewhat faded, but you still can read the outlines.

The movie owes a lot to Argo, a modern movie about a 70s story.    Christian Bale and Amy Adams are Irving and Edith, a pair of small-time swindlers.  When they are busted by FBI agent, Bradley Cooper, they are brought in as bait for larger fish, in this case Mayor of Camden, NJ, Carmine Pilito and the rebirth of Atlantic City.

Director David O. Russell, fresh off the success of Silver Linings Playbook, has brought back his case of Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and even an uncredited Robert DeNiro (wouldn't be a mob movie without him).  Jennifer Lawrence is the modern day female version of Robert Duvall - every movie she is in is good.  She steals the show as Irving's wife as the straw that stirs the drink.  Unfortunately she has more a supporting part - more of her please.

Bradley Cooper plays the same character as always:  the psychotic but charming ass.  It worked in Silver Linings Playbook when he at least has the excuse of mental defect, but as an FBI agent, it is nearly silly:  living with his mom, berating (and more) his boss (Louis C.K.).  The train needs to leave this guy behind.

Christian Bale does a nice job as Irving.  With this ensemble, it's hard to tell who the important characters are.  Amy Adams is excellent as Lady Edith, using her sexuality to get ahead and reinvent herself.  Irving is somewhat conflicted:  he says that the Mayor is his best friend, but he sells him out early on.

In the end, the movie trys too hard to tell a story  that probably didn't happen and ends up somewhat contrived.

* * * of 4

The nostalgia is evident in the costuming, hairstyles and set design.  It is a more serious version of a movie just release but unworthy of a real review:  Anchorman 2 ( 1 1/2 stars).  The mutton chops, the three piece colored suits, the plaids.  It is in both cases a little over the top.

Upcoming reviews

Within the next week, I plan to have reviews for:

Anchorman 2

American Hustle

Hobbit 2:  Desolation of Smaug

Interesting I read of these last two being different various of a heist movie.  Clever!