The Fault in Our Stars -Shailene Woodley. Just read this book and it is great. What appears to be a boy meets girl with cancer story is much more nuanced. A little Shakespeare, with a lot of thought as to the meaning/length of life. Don't want to give much away but I'll be there the first weekend.
Edge of Tomorrow - Tom Cruise - it's the end of the world ... again - will the world finally end? Or will we need to see the sequel to find out? Directed by Doug Liman.
June 13 - 22 Jump Street - The boys go undercover to college this time. Starring Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill.
June 20 - Jersey Boys - directed by Clint Eastwood. This should be a slam dunk with a proven Broadway story and a gold record, gold plated soundtrack.
And now for a new take on an acknowledged classic.
Surprisingly the Graduate is still fresh even from 1967. The At-Loose-Ends quality of Ben's life, the longing for Mrs. Robinson as well as the longing for Elaine, and the suburban boredom that wires it all together (like it or not) leaves you with a still uncomfortable feeling.
Impressive cinematography of the underwater scenes, the suburban threat and the Hitchcockian camera movements. And of course the classic Simon and Garfunkel soundtrack.
When asked about its long-time popularity, star Katherine Ross told Vanity Fair "The Dude Abides". As the Narrator in the Big Lebowski said in the beginning, "Sometimes there's a man who is just right for his time". Ben (Dustin Hoffman) was just that as in 1967/1968 the Fifties gave way to the Sixties, Vietnam was about to pop along with the Anti-Draft Movement. But none of that had reached this world which was still in the 50s Go to a Hotel, Fix Me a Drink, Silent Suffering state.
The Dude is simply a stoner version of Ben, grown old but not grown up. He asks for little and receives little. Life happens to him, and not the other way around. Both are billed as comedies but have their tragic moments. I can't say I'd like to change places with either.
One of most famous endings in film, as Hoffman rushes to the church. However, I had forgotten the Midnight Cowboy-like ending. Worth a second look.
If there were a sequel to Knocked Up after the baby came and Ben and Alison got married and bought a house, this might be it. It's an I Don't Want to Grow Up type of movie. As a friend loves to say of himself, "I'll grow old but I'll never grow up".
Ben and Alison become Mac (Seth Rogen)and Kelly (Rose Byrne) as the new parents whose lives are thrown for a slight curve when the Delta Psi fraternity moves next door. Part of them want to be responsible parents (Keep It Down) and the other half wants to party with the kids, out drink, out dance, out smoke and out hustle them. But there was a bit more to it: Efron's take on the brotherhood is more thoughtful, at least for a college senior.
Teddy (Zac Efron) and Pete (Dave Franco) are the alpha dogs who will have none of that. Game On. A War of the Roses ensues with increasing consequences. Who will be left standing?
Great debt owed here to the Granddaddy (literally - 36 years ago!) of college party moves, National Lampoon's Animal House: The Dean, The Probation, the Inner Sanctum, the Toga, even the poking fun of black culture [Hootie Hoo!]
Not a bad movie but it has entered Adam Sandler territory with the schlub with the beautiful wife who doesn't want to grow up. Apatow's fingerprints are all over this one - even thought uncredited.
For a college movie, a Gentleman's C is the grade here.
May 13 was Top Gun Day, the day that Top Gun was released in 1986, a Tuesday. Truly an iconic 80s movie. Just perfect timing for that Second Term Reagan, Morning In America, 80s swagger.
It appeared on the scene with Tom Cruise peaking in popularity and did a good job of selling the sizzle: The fighter jets, the volleyball, the Bromance with Goose, the steamy sexy scenes [you know the one!], the motorcycling, and that great fashion statement of the leather jacket, the t shirt and the aviator shades, plus the spiky hair. Generations still strive for that look of coolness.
And while a touchstone, it was alas and remains on review, not a very good movie. [* * 1/2 of 4] Hotshot jet pilot tries to live up to his late father (never seen), recklessly gets his tail gunner buddy killed, and spend the rest of the movie redeeming himself in the eyes of his lovely instructor Kelly McGillis.
But just remember the good times: Maverick and Goose, Need for Speed, She's Lost that Loving Feeling, a fine soundtrack (Danger Zone, Take My Breath Away, Top Gun Anthem - Harold Faltermeyer], Heaven in Your Eyes), Buzzing the Tower, Ice and good old fashioned Soviet Butt-Kicking.
No way this movie would be made in the USA. They'd call it NC-17 even though the characters are classic (North) American 17 year olds. Thankfully, we're south of the border here.
In case you don't know, this movie is (a) in Spanish, set in Mexico and (b) about sex. And moreso, about teenage sex. I know... you're shocked, shocked...that teenagers are having sex. And not just prom night either. If you can't handle that, read no further, and for Heaven's sake, don't even start watching it.
Julio and Tenoch are best buds in an upper middle class Mexican existence. They have girlfriends who are as red-blooded as they are. They drink, smoke weed, and other semi-adult activities. When the GF's go abroad to study, the boys are at loose ends, with not much to do during the summer.
At a wedding they meet an intriguing woman Luisa, maybe 10 years older than them. They flirt with her and invite her to go to the beach. When an unusual life twist hits her, she surprisingly agrees to their road trip. Julio and Tenoch have to hustle to figure out how and where they will go.
Set in the 1980s-early90s? it is before the age of GPS and Google Maps. They load up the old station wagon and head in general direction of the coast, not quite sure where they are going or why. Luisa seems to have not much more of a plan. And without a plan among the 3 of them, anything can happen, right?
No more can be said of the plot. But this movie is perfectly timed, pre-9/11/01. There's a sense of foreboding, that some storm is about to come. The clashes of growing up, entering the adult world, rich urban Mexico v. poor rural Mexico, old customs v. new ways, really come together, keeping the viewer on the edge just slightly.
Billed as a road trip, coming of age, it hits that easy target but continues upward. The actors even look like the age they're supposed to be- again, very unusual for a movie with such a sex-filled topic. For a teenage drama, it's perhaps the most adult take on the topic that I've seen.
If it's a young adult movie, you've got to have the Training Academy section of the movie: Hogwarts, Yoda, Stripes and so forth. Misfit gets thrown into high pressure situation with little preparation. With determination, pride, pluck and a little help from friends, she makes it through only to be confronted with an even bigger challenge.
It's a good premise and that's why it's been successful. Divergent should follow along. Shalaine Woodley plays Tris who is sent to the Dauntless training. In this world, humans are directed into 5 tribes in order to keep the peace and protect from threats from "Outside the Wire". Dauntless are to be the protectors, the military/police. As such, standards are high.
Guess who might not just fit into this round hole? Someone who diverges?
Without giving away too much of the plot (since there are two more movies to come), let's just say that the conflict being set up by the training academy to weed out those not fit in, along with the natural conflict that is bound to emerge with 5 separate and distinct tribes, makes for lots of interesting plot leads.
Kate Winslett plays a nice villainess! And Ashley Judd is back.
