Here are 10 more in no particular order. I am going to really bang the rest of these out because my queue of new movies is growing at a rapid pace.
Inside Job FANTASTIC documentary about the 2008 financial meltdown. Chilling.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
Scott Pilgram vs. The World Dorky kid fights new girlfriend's super ex-boyfriends. He wins.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
The Company Men Laid off business man learns blue collar life lessons. Relevant.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
The Illusionist (L'illusionniste) Animated. Poor magician trying to find his place. Enchanting.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
Red Old hit-men get back together for one last mission.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
Another Year A couple ages and watches life change around them.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
Biutiful Bardem supports sweatshops. Loses workers, son, and himself.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
I Love You Phillip Morris Two weirdos lying and cheating to stay together. Oddball love.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
Harry Potter and the Deathy Hallows: Part One You know what it is: Harry Potter. Magic Man.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh (see whenever because anyone even slightly a fan saw this in theatre)
Blue Valentine Love as we make it for ourselves. Emotional and real.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Saturday, August 17, 2013
90 (Way) Past Movie Reviews in 10 words or less. 1/9
I have a serious backlog of movie titles that I have been meaning to review for over a year now. Let's be honest, I am never going to go back and write full reviews on all of these films. So here is what I remember about them all in 10 words or less.
For your drive-by pleasure and in no particular order:
Pirate Radio Illegal broadcast goes to sea. Kid loses virginity on boat.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
Kick Ass Dorky kids fight crime and end up killing people.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
Get Low Premiered at SXSW; I saw Robert Duval. True Story.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
Knight and Day Cruise has a secret identity. Diaz has a secret identity.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
The Fantastic Mr. Fox Animation hurt my eyes. George Clooney is a fox.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
The Expendables Damn, those dudes are old....and awesome.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
The Other Guys Dumb movie about being dumb cops. Ferrell and Wahlberg.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
Made in Dagenham English girl fighting for equal pay. Girl Power.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
All Good Things Gosling and Witherspoon defy daddy.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
Machete Trejo is a badass and gets all the badass babes.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
For your drive-by pleasure and in no particular order:
Pirate Radio Illegal broadcast goes to sea. Kid loses virginity on boat.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
Kick Ass Dorky kids fight crime and end up killing people.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
Get Low Premiered at SXSW; I saw Robert Duval. True Story.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
Knight and Day Cruise has a secret identity. Diaz has a secret identity.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
The Fantastic Mr. Fox Animation hurt my eyes. George Clooney is a fox.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
The Expendables Damn, those dudes are old....and awesome.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
The Other Guys Dumb movie about being dumb cops. Ferrell and Wahlberg.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
Made in Dagenham English girl fighting for equal pay. Girl Power.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
All Good Things Gosling and Witherspoon defy daddy.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
Machete Trejo is a badass and gets all the badass babes.
See NOW|See Whenever|Meh
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Fruitvale Station
Fruitvale Station directed and written by Ryan Coogler
Due to a mix up on another movie time, some friends and I replaced our initial screen plan for Fruitvale Station. Here's to innocent mistakes.
The actual Fruitvale Station shooting of Oscar Grant happened on New Years Day, 2009. Sadly, I don't remember this exact incident even though there was much press around it at the time. Like all other unforgivable news it was put into the mass crime bucket, this one as "another race related shooting."
Fortunately, there are creators like Ryan Coogler who can shove the issue in our faces in such a beautifully, tragic way that we walk out forced to address our own willful ignorance.
Oscar Grant, played by Micheal B. Jordan, was a drug dealer, boyfriend, loving son, ex-con, doting father, and a mere 22 years old at the time of his death. He wasn't perfect, but he wasn't cruel. I fall into that same category along with most of you.
In the beginning hours of January 1st, 2009 he and his friends rode the Bart from San Fran back to Oakland. A fight broke out with some other guys in the same train car that resulted in the Bart Police forcefully detaining Grant and his friends on the platform. As the tensions between the group of guys and the police ran higher and higher so did their physicality to one another. The screaming from the passengers in the stopped train only increased the hysteria of the police as they bring in reinforcements to better restrain the group. First officer on the scene, Caruso (played by Kevin Durand) orders that Grant be arrested. Officer Ingram (played by Chad Michael Murray) turns Jordan on his stomach, cuffs him, and only moments later shoots him in the back. Not even 7 hours later, Jordan dies.
*In the film aliases were used for the 2 lead officers. Real names are Officer Mehserle and Pirone.*
The acting in this film is as hard hitting as the story. Micheal B. Jordan brings the realness to the man, showing his humanity while not shying away from his faults. His subtle expressions bring stress and sympathy in at just the right moments.
Melonie Diaz may not have been a name that was formerly familiar but knods to the casting director on this supporting lady.
Octavia Spencer is definitely keeping up her reputation in the acting world as well. I started to tear just in anticipation of her character's reaction to hearing of her son's death.
Ariana Neal shouldn't go unnoticed for playing Tatiana Grant either. Such a precious little girl that easily pulls the heartstrings with her innocence. Neal and Jordan's closeness was so real that they must have spent significant time together off screen.
If you are curious to learn what happened to the officer and family then please go see this film. Coogler will bring you right where he wants you and leave you there to stew on the injustice; a sad, uncomfortable feeling that I thank him for.
Due to a mix up on another movie time, some friends and I replaced our initial screen plan for Fruitvale Station. Here's to innocent mistakes.
The actual Fruitvale Station shooting of Oscar Grant happened on New Years Day, 2009. Sadly, I don't remember this exact incident even though there was much press around it at the time. Like all other unforgivable news it was put into the mass crime bucket, this one as "another race related shooting."
Fortunately, there are creators like Ryan Coogler who can shove the issue in our faces in such a beautifully, tragic way that we walk out forced to address our own willful ignorance.
Oscar Grant, played by Micheal B. Jordan, was a drug dealer, boyfriend, loving son, ex-con, doting father, and a mere 22 years old at the time of his death. He wasn't perfect, but he wasn't cruel. I fall into that same category along with most of you.
In the beginning hours of January 1st, 2009 he and his friends rode the Bart from San Fran back to Oakland. A fight broke out with some other guys in the same train car that resulted in the Bart Police forcefully detaining Grant and his friends on the platform. As the tensions between the group of guys and the police ran higher and higher so did their physicality to one another. The screaming from the passengers in the stopped train only increased the hysteria of the police as they bring in reinforcements to better restrain the group. First officer on the scene, Caruso (played by Kevin Durand) orders that Grant be arrested. Officer Ingram (played by Chad Michael Murray) turns Jordan on his stomach, cuffs him, and only moments later shoots him in the back. Not even 7 hours later, Jordan dies.
*In the film aliases were used for the 2 lead officers. Real names are Officer Mehserle and Pirone.*
The acting in this film is as hard hitting as the story. Micheal B. Jordan brings the realness to the man, showing his humanity while not shying away from his faults. His subtle expressions bring stress and sympathy in at just the right moments.
Melonie Diaz may not have been a name that was formerly familiar but knods to the casting director on this supporting lady.
Octavia Spencer is definitely keeping up her reputation in the acting world as well. I started to tear just in anticipation of her character's reaction to hearing of her son's death.
Ariana Neal shouldn't go unnoticed for playing Tatiana Grant either. Such a precious little girl that easily pulls the heartstrings with her innocence. Neal and Jordan's closeness was so real that they must have spent significant time together off screen.
If you are curious to learn what happened to the officer and family then please go see this film. Coogler will bring you right where he wants you and leave you there to stew on the injustice; a sad, uncomfortable feeling that I thank him for.
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