Going in Style
A nice ensemble piece with Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Alan Arkin as a group of friend who lost their pensions and seek revenge by robbing the bank who stole their money.
The bank robbery plan reminded me a lot of the scenes in the Dark Knight (similar cars, masks and suits). And in preparation for the robbery, they watch a movie to pysche themselve up: Dog Day Afternoon. "Maybe we shouldn't be watching this".
An interesting little subplot with their respective family members - on one hand they think they have nothing to lose but on the other hand, they do have good relations with others that each of them is putting at risk.
And of course, a lot like another Morgan Freeman movie, the Bucket List. Aging men seeking a few final thrills.
Worth a look * * * of 5
The Siskel to my Ebert, Pat Young was not in agreement
http://www.yourvalleyvoice.com/news/20170412/whats-old-is-still-old
The bank robbery plan reminded me a lot of the scenes in the Dark Knight (similar cars, masks and suits). And in preparation for the robbery, they watch a movie to pysche themselve up: Dog Day Afternoon. "Maybe we shouldn't be watching this".
An interesting little subplot with their respective family members - on one hand they think they have nothing to lose but on the other hand, they do have good relations with others that each of them is putting at risk.
And of course, a lot like another Morgan Freeman movie, the Bucket List. Aging men seeking a few final thrills.
Worth a look * * * of 5
The Siskel to my Ebert, Pat Young was not in agreement
http://www.yourvalleyvoice.com/news/20170412/whats-old-is-still-old
T2 Trainspotting
It's been 20 years - what are the boys up to? An interesting follow up to the quirky Trainspotting. Piecing things together, the original movie was about 4 addicts planning to rob their dealers. At the end, one of the them steals the money from the others and leaves.
Now it is years later and Renton (Ewan McGregor) returns to the hometown of Leith, Scotland to not much of a welcome. Simon (Jonny Lee Miller) is of course still mad and Spud (Ewen Bremmer) is still a bit crazy looking, but thankfully not a junkie. Simon has evolved into a cocaine habit. So lots of drugs still permeate this case. Plus some deviant sex. Definitely R Rated.
The real crazy one Franco, escapes from prison and seeks revenge on Renton for stealing from him. A welcome addition is Veronika (Anjela Nedyalkova) who interchangeably is Renton, Simon and and Spud's girlfriend. The subplot of getting more money again is for her to have her own brothel, which they plan to make in an old building ironically called Sunshine.
A complex plot particularly after not seeing the original movie in some time. If you really like it, a rewatch of the original is in order. Again directed by Danny Boyle and he gives it a fitting look - a bit chopped and stop motion to accent the action and dialogue.
Good music from Blondie and Queen. And a very modern rant on the Wham! t shirt slogan: Choose Life.
**** of 5
Now it is years later and Renton (Ewan McGregor) returns to the hometown of Leith, Scotland to not much of a welcome. Simon (Jonny Lee Miller) is of course still mad and Spud (Ewen Bremmer) is still a bit crazy looking, but thankfully not a junkie. Simon has evolved into a cocaine habit. So lots of drugs still permeate this case. Plus some deviant sex. Definitely R Rated.
The real crazy one Franco, escapes from prison and seeks revenge on Renton for stealing from him. A welcome addition is Veronika (Anjela Nedyalkova) who interchangeably is Renton, Simon and and Spud's girlfriend. The subplot of getting more money again is for her to have her own brothel, which they plan to make in an old building ironically called Sunshine.
A complex plot particularly after not seeing the original movie in some time. If you really like it, a rewatch of the original is in order. Again directed by Danny Boyle and he gives it a fitting look - a bit chopped and stop motion to accent the action and dialogue.
Good music from Blondie and Queen. And a very modern rant on the Wham! t shirt slogan: Choose Life.
**** of 5
Elvis and Nixon
A story, as opposed to "the story" about the famous photo of Elvis Presley in the Oval Office with President Richard Nixon in 1971. The backstory is that while Nixon started recording his meetings in his office, he did not do it until after meeting Elvis. So who knows what they talked about?
This is a fictional story about why Elvis wanted to meet Nixon and how the meeting came about. Some fun touches make it an interesting, if disbelieving story, but who really knows? Both are long deceased and it probably only lasted 10 minutes or so.
Michael Shannon plays the 70s Elvis and Kevin Spacey as the straight man Nixon. Elvis is of course the star.
* * * of 5 (Amazon Prime)
This is a fictional story about why Elvis wanted to meet Nixon and how the meeting came about. Some fun touches make it an interesting, if disbelieving story, but who really knows? Both are long deceased and it probably only lasted 10 minutes or so.
Michael Shannon plays the 70s Elvis and Kevin Spacey as the straight man Nixon. Elvis is of course the star.
* * * of 5 (Amazon Prime)
Superbad (2007)
I've got a list of my top 10 movies. In the second 10 would be Superbad, starring Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Seth Rogen and Bill Hader.
Cut from the cloth of American Pie and Porky's, it's a classic Losing Your Virginity movie, but with a strong helping of Bromance. A couple of hapless nerds try to get drunk and laid all in One Last Night. It's been done before but never so well.
What makes it special? Probably the interaction between the boys and the 2 police who turn out to be like kids themselves. McLovin!
* * * * *
Cut from the cloth of American Pie and Porky's, it's a classic Losing Your Virginity movie, but with a strong helping of Bromance. A couple of hapless nerds try to get drunk and laid all in One Last Night. It's been done before but never so well.
What makes it special? Probably the interaction between the boys and the 2 police who turn out to be like kids themselves. McLovin!
* * * * *
The Blue Room/ La Chambre Bleue (2014)
A selection of the Cannes Film Festival, it is now streaming on Netflix. In French, it is a story of Julien who is married to Ester but having an affair with Delphine. As with most affairs, the fact that they can't have each other fully is pressure on Julien primarily to Do Something. Julien receives a message: You Now.
Most of the movie is done by flashback, as Julien is being investigated by the Magistrate to determine if there is a case against him. The music gives it a Hitchcock feeling. As the movie evolves we see exactly who Julien might be accused of murdering.
A nice, short (1 hour 15 min) crime, suspense story. Written by Stephanie Clere, who also plays Ester.
Most of the movie is done by flashback, as Julien is being investigated by the Magistrate to determine if there is a case against him. The music gives it a Hitchcock feeling. As the movie evolves we see exactly who Julien might be accused of murdering.
A nice, short (1 hour 15 min) crime, suspense story. Written by Stephanie Clere, who also plays Ester.
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