Finally got around to seeing this. Doesn’t live up to the hype, but I’ve seen more than one person refer to this as the greatest movie of all time, so that’s not fair of me to say… it’s fun tho. It’s hard to hate on a film that is this rote and still manages to be as entertaining as it is.
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Halloween Kills 2021
Finally caught up with this… it had been on my radar since watching and enjoying the first one. Alas, this one falls quite short: far more cliched, exploitative, and on-the-nose than the first. The best aspect was the use of actors/characters from the original Carpenter film, but where the trauma theme of the first film felt significant and appropriate, the vigilante justice theme of this one was a burden. Not sure I’m interested in watching the third film now, but…
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Love and Monsters 2020
Family movie night - I was pleasantly surprised. It’s a “fun” post-apocalyptic movie - very bright, very jaunty, and a fairly simple plot - and tightly crafted. Yet it doesn’t veer too far in the other direction with snark, obnoxious characters and obnoxious violence (looking at you, Zombiland).
This is surprisingly sweet. It earns its emotional moments, and avoids manipulation. The moment with Mav1s was perfectly placed and utilized, setting up another good emotional moment later in the film. Related…
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The Lady Eve 1941
This is such an odd but wonderful comedic pairing - neither are conventional in their humor (it’s really the story and the supporting characters that drive it) and they kind of just slide right into the funny parts. I’m not sure any other screwball (or romantic comedy for that matter) has successfully replicated the mood and movement of this film.
I quite relate to Fonda’s Pike here: very sincere, a people pleaser - to a fault, easily distracted and over-thinking things, but grounded and capable.
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American Underdog 2021
I unapologeticly rate this high for purely sentimental and nostalgic reasons.
Personal note: in 1999, I was a lifelong Buccaneer fan reveling in the Buc’s unimaginable rise to success (after many years of creamsicle disappointment and embarrassment). I was also caught up, though, in the even more unimaginable Kurt Warner story, and so, when the two teams met in the NFC playoffs, I found myself helplessly rooting for both to succeed (despite my best efforts) ——— even more personal note:…
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A Man for All Seasons 1966
Watched as part of a class on Eugon Rosenstock-Huessy’s “Out of Revolution.” One of his theories is that every revolution contains a foundational traumatic event - often the death of a scapegoat - and the execution of Thomas More is seen as the foundational event that eventually leads to the English Revolution a century later.
As for the film itself, it’s a classic. I particularly enjoy the multiple transition shots, which I wonder if they influence - particularly one in particular involving a boat - the more famous transition shot 2 years later in Kubrick’s 2001.
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The Dark Knight Rises 2012
I’ve been watching the Dark Knight trilogy with my older kids. I’ve watched Batman Begins and The Dark Knight a few times over the years - like most of Nolan’s films there are scenes that I love to revisit, surrounded by stuff that bore me - but I had not revisited The Dark Knight Rises since it left a bitter taste in my mouth after seeing it in the theater. I was actually looking forward to this re-watch - again,…
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St. Vincent 2014
A little too formulaic, but a nice showcase for Murray (doing something slightly different), McCarthy (doing something a lot different) and Watts (doing something). Also, that’s the kid from Midnight Special.
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Jackass Forever 2022
Years ago when I was training to be an electrician, I had two bosses: one guy was strict - he was the first one to work and expected you to be early. He praised you when you did a good job, chewed you out when you screwed up. He ate with his employees, cut up with us and genuinely was interested in us. And most importantly, he would never ask us to do something he wasn’t willing to do. When…
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War of the Worlds 2005
Kid’s pick. I don’t find this as re-watchable as other Spielberg flicks - tho if anyone can subdue Tom Cruise’s Tom Cruisiness, it’s Spielberg. He does a good job here. I still find that the film gets too dark and grinding in the middle - especially in the house. But man, that exit from the house into the red vine world is A+ Spielberg. And I always love how Spielberg generates suspense and tension in moments that do not include…