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A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
Director: Elia Kazan
I'm going to have to admit that in all my years of theater and film, I had never seen this film. I was going to try out for it at the local community theater so figured I may as well at least rent the movie. I watched it with my mother on a Friday evening... after which we went around the house yelling 'STELLA!' and making crazy eyes at each other a la Vivien Leigh. Interesting fact, Leigh suffered from bipolar disorder and later in life was unable to distinguish her life from that of her character Blanche.
SPOILER ALERT: No one gets hit by the streetcar. Honestly, somewhere along the line, I assumed that was the plot point that ended the story. How wrong I was... and it took two hours to find out! I suppose if you want me to recommend the film, you might choose to watch it merely for the 'classic' status of the film. The film is pretty static, built around one location. There are interesting moments. It's a slow-paced film, but interesting to watch the changes in the character. And I will say that I did actually miss a plot point near the end and reading up on the work helped me understand. You would think that my schooling would have helped me a bit better, but we all have our weak moments, I suppose.
P.S. I love movie trailers from the 50's and Marlon Brando is a fox. ;)
Hay Foot (1942)
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Director: Ralph Staub
This film was one of those typical, formulaic comedies from back in the day. The two con men, one wants to turn straight, but they get into a mess first. Joyce Compton was actually kind of funny in the stereotyped dumb blonde assistant role. Looking over her imdb credits, it seems she had a pretty prolific career as a supporting actress. Like most of the other movies from the box set, it appears this film is available to view online (the copyright must be such that these films are easy to release now). It's just under an hour and I recommend it because it's pretty witty and a good look at what films were like back in the day. Enjoy!
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Director:Fred Guiol
A comedy about the underdog and how he can get ahead. Fun, slapstick and only 45 minutes to watch and available online. It's a wartime movie that has very little to do with war. Pretty escapist, to be sure.
Watch online and enjoy! :)
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Director: David Wain
Writers: David Wain,
Ken Marino
I actually really enjoyed this movie. But I also liked the last Paul Rudd movie I saw too. I especially liked that it made fun of everyone (read: all stereotypes) in the film. Sure, it was a bit formulaic, but it a fun way that we haven't really seen before because of the bizarre characters. It actually had some similar characters from the film
Our Idiot Brother which I also liked. There's just something to be said for the stupid, situational, escapist comedies... and that something is "Yes, please!" I also enjoyed this film because it didn't offend my 'childfree' persuasion. Sure there was a placenta scene, but our main characters were never questioned about not having kids at their age, which I thought was great. I'm sure most of you don't care about that, but I'm throwing it out there for those who do, and those who want something to think about... ;O)
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Writer & Director: Thom Eberhardt
Stars: Catherine Mary Stewart, Kelli Maroney and Robert Beltran
Thanks to a week of being sick and LogoTV, I got to see this totally campy sci-fi movie. I enjoyed it and enjoyed the strong female characters that knew how to use guns. Booyah! I also enjoyed the 80s hair and music. It also got me thinking about the end of the world with the cliche.... "If you were the last people on earth...". Pardon me, but I don't think I'd repopulate the planet. No day care! :)P
P.S. I love how upbeat the music is for the trailer. No worries, man! It's only the end of the world!
Thanks to a week of being sick and LogoTV, I got to see this totally campy sci-fi movie. I enjoyed it and enjoyed the strong female characters that knew how to use guns. Booyah! I also enjoyed the 80s hair and music. It also got me thinking about the end of the world with the cliche.... "If you were the last people on earth...". Pardon me, but I don't think I'd repopulate the planet. No day care! :)P
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Writer & Director: Famke Janssen
Stars: Milla Jovovich, Marcia Cross and Bill Pullman
I got to see this movie as part of an early preview through a film festival. It was written and directed by Famke Janssen who you may know as Jean Grey of X-Men and Xenia Onatopp of GoldenEye.
The film was okay. Kind of safe and made for t.v. It was a mother-son movie with lots of homage to Old Hollywood movies and style. I kind of questioned how in love the mom was with her son. Sometimes it seemed a little Oedipal. I really liked the cast, although Jovovich's accent was so strong, it seemed contrived, rather than that of the actual actress (she's from the Ukraine, like the character). This movie is pretty safe to watch with the family, so that's a plus, I suppose. It's a nice first project for Janssen and I'd like to see how her style develops. I am a supporter of women in the industry, although I won't sing false praises and tell you it was the best film ever. It was cute and Janssen had some nice things to say about the inspiration for her film. The story wasn't really up my alley in the first place and there were several cliche situations used to help the plot along. For those of you that like parent-child movies that are safe to watch with the family, this would be one of them.
I got to see this movie as part of an early preview through a film festival. It was written and directed by Famke Janssen who you may know as Jean Grey of X-Men and Xenia Onatopp of GoldenEye.
The film was okay. Kind of safe and made for t.v. It was a mother-son movie with lots of homage to Old Hollywood movies and style. I kind of questioned how in love the mom was with her son. Sometimes it seemed a little Oedipal. I really liked the cast, although Jovovich's accent was so strong, it seemed contrived, rather than that of the actual actress (she's from the Ukraine, like the character). This movie is pretty safe to watch with the family, so that's a plus, I suppose. It's a nice first project for Janssen and I'd like to see how her style develops. I am a supporter of women in the industry, although I won't sing false praises and tell you it was the best film ever. It was cute and Janssen had some nice things to say about the inspiration for her film. The story wasn't really up my alley in the first place and there were several cliche situations used to help the plot along. For those of you that like parent-child movies that are safe to watch with the family, this would be one of them.
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Writer & Director: Bill Muir
This was a kid's adventure movie through and through and was a great example of the genre. I loved how it taught kids good lessons about the strengths and weaknesses of their own personalities and how to recognize that and overcome for a greater common good. Of course it was cliche, but in a cute way, and with wonderful locations. I would have liked to see the main character be a girl because we need stronger female characters at every age, but this was a good start. The story was interesting, as well as the use of the characters and time travel. Pretty nice story. My only regret is that my nephews weren't there to see it with me! It was definitely for a young audience and was pandering in nature, but I liked the innocence of it. It was well-made and a fun adventure for the audience. Formulaic, yes, but nice.
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Writer & Director:
Kurt Kuenne
Stars: T.J. Thyne, Paula Rhodes and Chris Stone
I saw this film in juncture with the other films at the festival and it took my breath away. It was a very interesting concept and very well done. The synopsis provided is: "Lovell Milo suddenly begins to experience his life out of chronological sequence." Naturally, he has to figure out why, how and what he can do to affect the outcome. I really liked this film and this isn't my usual genre. Very recommendable!
I saw this film in juncture with the other films at the festival and it took my breath away. It was a very interesting concept and very well done. The synopsis provided is: "Lovell Milo suddenly begins to experience his life out of chronological sequence." Naturally, he has to figure out why, how and what he can do to affect the outcome. I really liked this film and this isn't my usual genre. Very recommendable!
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Writer & Director: Sam Jaeger
Stars:
Victor Garber, Sam Jaeger and Bree Turner
This was a cute little rom-com featuring a real-life man and wife! Awwwww. Yeah. I wish there was more info on them, but I guess I haven't really gone digging for it.
The premise was interesting too. The idea of taking a New York taxi cross country is pretty fun. Although I'm surprised they didn't write in getting more strange looks from people during their travels. This one is cute and bit more reality-based than a lot of the rom-coms Tinsel Town spits out. I like road trip movies, cuz I like to road trip. What can I say? :)
P.S. I also saw this one as part of the film festival!
This was a cute little rom-com featuring a real-life man and wife! Awwwww. Yeah. I wish there was more info on them, but I guess I haven't really gone digging for it.
The premise was interesting too. The idea of taking a New York taxi cross country is pretty fun. Although I'm surprised they didn't write in getting more strange looks from people during their travels. This one is cute and bit more reality-based than a lot of the rom-coms Tinsel Town spits out. I like road trip movies, cuz I like to road trip. What can I say? :)
P.S. I also saw this one as part of the film festival!
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Director: Nathan Frankowski
Stars: Kat Dennings, Chad Michael Murray and Rupert Friend
Also another film I saw thanks to the film festival. This one was a pretty distinct film. It is based around the 'To Write Love on Her Arms' movement that helps youth deal with addiction, depression and other problems they face. It wasn't your typical movie, either. I really enjoyed the presentation of the film. This film isn't just about addiction and the inner battle, but is also about music. They were able to get a lot of cameos from musicians, and that really added a special touch and made the story different from other 'addiction movies'. I got to meet two of the producers (one had a character based on him) so that was pretty cool to get to hear first-hand about the story behind the movie and the process in making the movie. I think (and hope) that this movie will hit a lot of people and help expand the outreach of the already existing program TWLOHA.
I couldn't find a trailer, but this is direct from the people who made the movie. Enjoy a glimpse!
Whatever Works (2009)
Also another film I saw thanks to the film festival. This one was a pretty distinct film. It is based around the 'To Write Love on Her Arms' movement that helps youth deal with addiction, depression and other problems they face. It wasn't your typical movie, either. I really enjoyed the presentation of the film. This film isn't just about addiction and the inner battle, but is also about music. They were able to get a lot of cameos from musicians, and that really added a special touch and made the story different from other 'addiction movies'. I got to meet two of the producers (one had a character based on him) so that was pretty cool to get to hear first-hand about the story behind the movie and the process in making the movie. I think (and hope) that this movie will hit a lot of people and help expand the outreach of the already existing program TWLOHA.
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Writer & Director: Woody Allen
Stars: Evan Rachel Wood, Larry David and Henry Cavill
Oh, Woody. You made a terribly annoying student film! Usually, I'm okay with Woody Allen and his distinctive voice (both audibly and in his style) but this film was pretty painful to watch for a multitude of reasons. The breaking of the fourth wall and the other characters commenting on it, the premise of the film itself and how nicely it all worked out. I get the premise of the message and how the character was supposed to have a turn-around, but this film required a bit of suspension of disbelief in how easily the characters changed. Too much for my taste. The characters all annoyed me, actually. If you hate Woody Allen, I'm sure you won't even pay any attention to this film, and I KNOW Woody Allen is polarizing. If you really like Woody Allen, you may like this film. But if you are borderline, I'm sure there are better Allen films with which to get acquainted. Yeah, a negative review. But I DID watch the whole thing and I kind of agree with what the film was trying to say... that Whatever Works for you may not work for someone else, but it's all okay.
Yeah, I couldn't even watch the full trailer. The characters are just blech.
Oh, Woody. You made a terribly annoying student film! Usually, I'm okay with Woody Allen and his distinctive voice (both audibly and in his style) but this film was pretty painful to watch for a multitude of reasons. The breaking of the fourth wall and the other characters commenting on it, the premise of the film itself and how nicely it all worked out. I get the premise of the message and how the character was supposed to have a turn-around, but this film required a bit of suspension of disbelief in how easily the characters changed. Too much for my taste. The characters all annoyed me, actually. If you hate Woody Allen, I'm sure you won't even pay any attention to this film, and I KNOW Woody Allen is polarizing. If you really like Woody Allen, you may like this film. But if you are borderline, I'm sure there are better Allen films with which to get acquainted. Yeah, a negative review. But I DID watch the whole thing and I kind of agree with what the film was trying to say... that Whatever Works for you may not work for someone else, but it's all okay.
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Writer & Director: Charlie Kaufman
Stars: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Samantha Morton and Michelle Williams
This film... is pretentious in a non-pretentious way? I don't even know if that makes sense, but this film barely does... but in an okay way. Let me back this up by saying, I watched this film in two parts yesterday. I watched 30-40 minutes and took a break and then came back to it. It's a hard film to watch. You have to suspend disbelief and be okay being uncomfortable, but pay attention to what's going on in the background. This film was very theatrical, but almost pokes fun at itself, but in a serious manner. Okay, I know this is extremely confusing, but this film is not your average flick. I don't fully understand it still, but that's okay. A friend pointed out that the director is Kaufman, the same for other such films as Being John Malkovich (1999), Adaptation. (2002) and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) and suddenly it all made sense. (That last one had really done a number on me mentally when I watched it in college... like I was able to tap into my crazy side, that part I usually avoid! ;) haha) But yeah, this film is for those who can handle the non-normal. Growing up in my family, I guess I qualify for that! Good luck, if you attempt to watch this one!!
This film... is pretentious in a non-pretentious way? I don't even know if that makes sense, but this film barely does... but in an okay way. Let me back this up by saying, I watched this film in two parts yesterday. I watched 30-40 minutes and took a break and then came back to it. It's a hard film to watch. You have to suspend disbelief and be okay being uncomfortable, but pay attention to what's going on in the background. This film was very theatrical, but almost pokes fun at itself, but in a serious manner. Okay, I know this is extremely confusing, but this film is not your average flick. I don't fully understand it still, but that's okay. A friend pointed out that the director is Kaufman, the same for other such films as Being John Malkovich (1999), Adaptation. (2002) and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) and suddenly it all made sense. (That last one had really done a number on me mentally when I watched it in college... like I was able to tap into my crazy side, that part I usually avoid! ;) haha) But yeah, this film is for those who can handle the non-normal. Growing up in my family, I guess I qualify for that! Good luck, if you attempt to watch this one!!
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So there you have the list of the 12 films I've watched since my last update. Phew! It's been 6 weeks, but as I mentioned, I didn't watch a film for the first 2 weeks. So 12 films in 4 weeks. That's (by average only, not actuality) 3 a week. Man, I'm falling down from when I was in college, watching 3 films a day! ;) But life happens. Happy to get in my films when I can!
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