The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Journalist Mikael Blomkvist is aided in his search for a woman who has
been missing for forty years by Lisbeth Salander, a young computer
hacker.
Director:
David Fincher
Steven Zaillian (screenplay),
Stieg Larsson (novel)
Stars:
Daniel Craig,
Rooney Mara,
Christopher Plummer |
See full cast and crew »
TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqQe3OrsMKI
Recent addition to S.O.'s collection. Watched with him.
We watched the American version. Although I've been wanting to read the novels and watch the Swedish versions first, I never got around to it, so I agreed to watch what I knew was going to be a good film from all the buzz I've heard. There were parts that were definitely uncomfortable for us to watch. We kept trying to make our guesses at the action. Although some nasty stuff happens to our female character, she is very much in charge of her own sexuality. Yet she still is a vulnerable and tragic character. It was an interesting premise and the character of Lisbeth is most intriguing. How many of us would love to have the photographic/aural memory that she has? Or the computer hacking skills? She's pretty b.a.! If you haven't gotten around to this, (like I hadn't) and you can handle a few intense scenes, then go for it. I'd love to watch the Swedish originals and compare sometime but Rooney Mara was intense and did a great job.
Stars:
TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xulzw3o-7JM
Recent addition to my collection. Watched sola.
I found it for $5 and since I like Alia Shawkat, I thought I'd give it a watch. I did notice that all speaking roles went to women and that was okay/appreciated. Just read this from the IMDB trivia page and it makes a lot of sense now: "The movie is based on writer/actress Kellie Overbey's play Girl Talk." Yes, it's definitely a talky movie so makes sense it was originally a stage play. So, it was a little out there. It wasn't rip-roaringly funny. It wasn't completely man-hatey and in fact showed that yeah, sometimes it's the woman who's to blame. And it even ended with a 'we love men' type thing. In its own way. It attempted to be a comedy of errors. And the whole premise of the title is kind of weak. Based on "Why does it always have to be so hard?" That's What She Said joke. Could have been more clever than that. It did touch well on female friendships and how much shit women take from their closest friends. But that's love. The movie was obviously a labor of love as well. It wasn't my favorite watch. I didn't hate it but I don't know that I'll go back to it. Sorry.
Director:
Writer:
TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg6fovvvgb4
Recent addition to my S.O.'s collection. Watched together.
You know when the checker at Walmart rolls her eyes at your purchase, 1) she is bad at her job aka keeping her negative opinions to herself and not judging customers outloud and 2) the movie is obviously going to be bad. The intent was "so bad it's good". And it was I guess in that category? I found it to be more bad than good, that's for sure. (And I prefer Axe Cop!) WolfCop followed all the tropes to a T. It had some disturbing special effects (when he transitions from human to wolf) and there was general stupidity to be had. This movie isn't amazing and I probably won't watch it again, but I might watch the sequel :P
Stars:
TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqQe3OrsMKI
Recent addition to S.O.'s collection. Watched with him.
We watched the American version. Although I've been wanting to read the novels and watch the Swedish versions first, I never got around to it, so I agreed to watch what I knew was going to be a good film from all the buzz I've heard. There were parts that were definitely uncomfortable for us to watch. We kept trying to make our guesses at the action. Although some nasty stuff happens to our female character, she is very much in charge of her own sexuality. Yet she still is a vulnerable and tragic character. It was an interesting premise and the character of Lisbeth is most intriguing. How many of us would love to have the photographic/aural memory that she has? Or the computer hacking skills? She's pretty b.a.! If you haven't gotten around to this, (like I hadn't) and you can handle a few intense scenes, then go for it. I'd love to watch the Swedish originals and compare sometime but Rooney Mara was intense and did a great job.
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That's What She Said (2012)
Bebe and DeeDee, best friends with different relationship problems,
embark on a New York City misadventure with their new acquaintance,
Clementine.
Director:
Carrie Preston
Writer:Carrie Preston
Stars:
TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xulzw3o-7JM
Recent addition to my collection. Watched sola.
I found it for $5 and since I like Alia Shawkat, I thought I'd give it a watch. I did notice that all speaking roles went to women and that was okay/appreciated. Just read this from the IMDB trivia page and it makes a lot of sense now: "The movie is based on writer/actress Kellie Overbey's play Girl Talk." Yes, it's definitely a talky movie so makes sense it was originally a stage play. So, it was a little out there. It wasn't rip-roaringly funny. It wasn't completely man-hatey and in fact showed that yeah, sometimes it's the woman who's to blame. And it even ended with a 'we love men' type thing. In its own way. It attempted to be a comedy of errors. And the whole premise of the title is kind of weak. Based on "Why does it always have to be so hard?" That's What She Said joke. Could have been more clever than that. It did touch well on female friendships and how much shit women take from their closest friends. But that's love. The movie was obviously a labor of love as well. It wasn't my favorite watch. I didn't hate it but I don't know that I'll go back to it. Sorry.
________________________
WolfCop (2014)
As a series of strange and violent events start happening, an alcoholic
policeman realizes that he has been turned into a werewolf as part of a
larger plan, so he investigates with the help of his partner and his
friend.
Director:
Writer:
Lowell Dean (screenplay)
Stars:TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg6fovvvgb4
Recent addition to my S.O.'s collection. Watched together.
You know when the checker at Walmart rolls her eyes at your purchase, 1) she is bad at her job aka keeping her negative opinions to herself and not judging customers outloud and 2) the movie is obviously going to be bad. The intent was "so bad it's good". And it was I guess in that category? I found it to be more bad than good, that's for sure. (And I prefer Axe Cop!) WolfCop followed all the tropes to a T. It had some disturbing special effects (when he transitions from human to wolf) and there was general stupidity to be had. This movie isn't amazing and I probably won't watch it again, but I might watch the sequel :P
Big city lawyer Hank Palmer returns to his childhood home where his
father, the town's judge, is suspected of murder. Hank sets out to
discover the truth and, along the way, reconnects with his estranged
family.
Director:
David Dobkin
Writers:David Dobkin
Stars:
Robert Downey Jr.,
Robert Duvall,
Vera Farmiga |
See full cast and crew »
TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBvK6ni97W8
Recent addition to my S.O.'s collection. Watched together.
This movie is now in the list of Andy's top favorite movies, among the likes of Dallas Buyers Club. Indeed, this was an excellent movie. The relationships between the characters is what created the drama of the story. The actors worked well with each other and it was believable. It's a father/son story and shows dynamics of families very well. There were some scenes that just encapsulated the underlying issues that family members face, as well as the changing of the guards when children have to care for parents or when parents play a grandparent role with more care than the child received and feels cheated. There are a lot of good moments in here. It does really well with the common father/son and prodigal son returns tropes.
TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBvK6ni97W8
Recent addition to my S.O.'s collection. Watched together.
This movie is now in the list of Andy's top favorite movies, among the likes of Dallas Buyers Club. Indeed, this was an excellent movie. The relationships between the characters is what created the drama of the story. The actors worked well with each other and it was believable. It's a father/son story and shows dynamics of families very well. There were some scenes that just encapsulated the underlying issues that family members face, as well as the changing of the guards when children have to care for parents or when parents play a grandparent role with more care than the child received and feels cheated. There are a lot of good moments in here. It does really well with the common father/son and prodigal son returns tropes.
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So it looks like I only watched 4 movies in March! I've been busy working on re-writing a TV pilot, so that's my excuse. I also introduced Andy to The Heat, which I've reviewed before. He enjoyed that. However, I may still get to a couple more movies in the last couple days of March. I'll try to be quicker about reviewing them more promptly after watching the film.
Let me know if you are now interested (or not) in any of these films, or if you've seen any and agree/disagree with my thoughts.
Let me know if you are now interested (or not) in any of these films, or if you've seen any and agree/disagree with my thoughts.
