Gentleman Broncos (2009) - This movie was so strange, even I was put off. Made by the same people who did Napoleon Dynamite (2004), one should expect it to be a little off the wall, but this was even too much for me. Perhaps if I was able to stomach watching it again, I would be ready for the weirdness, but this seems improbable. You could see how formulaic they tried to be with what they had done for Napoleon when you look at the two friends of the main character. Apparently, you're supposed to have an off-beat white girl who talks weird and a dark-skinned guy who's a little out of touch. I really thought the movie was too out there, even for me. I really enjoyed Napoleon Dynamite the first time I saw it, but this one was trying too hard to be weird. It pokes fun at the creative world, which is okay; I can handle people poking fun at the writing/movie industry, as we can take ourselves too seriously, but this movie was just off.
Paris (2008) - This movie was slow (very French) but wonderful. I love Juliette Binoche and Romain Duris was not too hard on the eyes. The movie tugs at your heartstrings with the situation between these two characters and it makes you appreciate what you have in your life. Any movie that brings death to the forefront will usually get me to tear up a bit. There were many other character story lines in the movie and they were also interesting to watch. This movie is recommendable for any Francophile obviously, but also anyone who wants to see a movie that doesn't glorify the French lifestyle, but does try to show regular people in the midst of their lives.
Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985) - This movie is one of my family's movies for quoting. "Au revoir Pee Wee!" "Au revoir, Simone!" will usually be said when someone is leaving the house. ;) Of course, the movie requires a suspension of disbelief, (but not as great as the first movie listed today) but there is a charm in the bizarre life of Pee Wee Herman. I got to show this movie to my three nephews and it was a joy to watch them laugh at the goofy antics of Pee Wee in search of his bike. Oh, did I mention the 'Tequila' dance and song is always a staple as well? I'll often find myself busting out the song and dance, just for funsies. This movie is a great example of a child-like adult that more or less functions in society. It also has deeper values of enjoying life and not going after what you want. "I'm not leaving here without my bike." "I know you are, but what am I?" Yeah, this movie really is pretty timeless.
Rebecca (1940) - We talked about this movie in my Dialects class so when I found it at the library, I had to grab it. After watching the movie, I couldn't stop saying "We can never go back to Manderlay." This movie is bizarre in the fact that the titled Rebecca never appears in the story, but it makes sense with how everpresent her character is in the movie. After posting that I watched this, one of my friends sent me a spoof video that was awesome after watching the movie. Here is the spoof. Watch only after having seen the movie or you probably won't get it. One can't really hold the classics to the same standards as other movies. All I know is that I would love to find myself in a huge house like that. If the staff kept going on and on about the first wife, I would have relieved them of their duties. ;) Obviously, our lead gal wasn't like that. But it was an intriguing story, even though I had an inkling of what was supposed to happen. Very dramatic for sure, as many of those movies are. But always a pleasure, as many of those movies are. ;)
Water for Elephants (2011) - Since the movie is new-er and some of you may plan on seeing it, I will do my best to not give away storyline. Random thoughts about the movie: 1) It wasn't exactly what I thought from watching the preview, and that's a positive thing. 2) Robert Pattinson wasn't a sparkly vampire, and that's also a good thing, although I don't know that I cared for his performance; it seemed a little flat or dull, I'm assuming like his vampire character. 3) I'm a little torn as to the exposition. I know the story needed to get moving, but I don't know that we got the chance to learn much about his actual character. It's hard to sympathize with him, despite his situation. 4) Reese Witherspoon was way too tan for hair that blonde in that era. They didn't have tanning booths back then and I have a great dislike for palomino people. 5) The film was nice for the fact that the circus era is enchanting in and of itself. Silly how the carny lifestyle can be compared to being on a film set ;) Maybe that's just me though who could watch a movie and think that. 6) The movie was 'okay'. I think we are all well accustomed to the idea of 'falling for the boss's wife'. Christoph Waltz 's character is really quite frightening. I see that there was some depth to it, that he wasn't a flat character, but that was a little murky. Overall, the movie was pretty good. Not great.
Yes Man (2008) - This movie requires a suspension of disbelief as well, but was watchable for the comedy. I love love love Zooey Deschanel almost to a fault. Of course it's a bit frustrating that older men can usually be paired with younger women and it's not an issue. This has happened throughout the ages in the cinema. Becuase God forbid a woman advanced in years is able to have a "joie de vivre" that could bring Jim Carrey's character out of his rut. But that's not the focus of the story of course. Anyway, I like the theme of the movie: being more open to life and all its possibilites and not allowing yourself to get stuck in a rut. It was odd to see Bradley Cooper as a straight man, but nice to see he can do it ;) He kind of reminds me of a Matthew McConaughey for whatever reason. I'm sure I'm not the only one who picks up on that either. Back to suspension of disbelief... of course the main character has to be a banker to have an income high enough to be suitable for just going out and taking guitar, Korean, bungee jumping lessons and hop a flight on "the first plane out of here" (which happened to impossibly be to Lincoln, Nebraska..... 1) flights go to Omaha 2)no direct flights to Omaha from L.A.). Anyhoo... yes it would be nice to have a disposable income so that I could just take a bunch of classes and just live live live. But of course, movies are pretty distant from reality. The idea was nice though and hopefully people are able to take away that idea and incorporate it into their lives. Within reason, of course.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) - Ew. The only thing redeemable about this movie was that it was set in my heart-city of New Orelans. Everything else was just blah. It was a long-ass movie about nothing! I read the short story when the movie came out and this strayed from it greatly, in many ways, the first least offensive being the fact that it wasn't short. This movie was bollocks, bolderdash and boring!!! I really like the concept that F. Scott Fitzgerald came up with, and not to say this take on it was perfect, but this was pretty atrocious. And it really rubs me the wrong way that they set it to conincide with Hurricane Katrina. As if somehow it was so epic of a tale that it was worthy of being set during a horrendous disaster. I won't lie... some parts of the movie did affect me. Actually, one of them being the impending storm because I've witnessed the effect it had on the city. But there were a couple of monologues that Benjamin had at the end that grabbed me even in the midst of the unsatisfying movie.
- Benjamin Button: [Voice over; letter to his daughter] For what it's worth: it's never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.
- Benjamin Button: Some people, were born to sit by a river. Some get struck by lightning. Some have an ear for music. Some are artists. Some swim. Some know buttons. Some know Shakespeare. Some are mothers. And some people, dance.
So there you have it! Seven movies in three weeks. That's okay for a gal with as much going on as I. Anyway, happy Rapture Day!!! See you tomorrow! ;) Peace!
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