Last Vegas (2013); Hail, Caesar (2016); The White River Kid (1999); Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016); Pee Wee's Big Holiday (2016); Happy Accidents (2000)

I'm getting better about updating a bit more often. Only let a month go by this time. Here we go.

• Last Vegas (2013) Watched on DVD sola. POSSIBLE SPOILER? I had been holding off on watching this one for fear there might be some age-related accident/death near the end, but they didn't rely on that, thank goodness. END POSSIBLE SPOILER. It was a comedy through and through. These are some great actors and it was fun to see them onscreen together, although it did feel like most of them "called it in" and were just having fun. De Niro seemed most dedicated to his role. Of course, it was his stereotypical crotchety old man role, but still, played nicely. Michael Douglas also did a nice job. But like I said, it was mostly like playtime for these actors. I really like Mary Steenburgen so it was great to see her. Especially because her character said how ridiculous it is that older men go for younger girls. Overall, it was a fun film and I would watch it again, if only to see the cast have some fun.
  
• Hail, Caesar (2016) Saw in the theater with my S.O. I generally like the Coen brothers films, and I like old Hollywood classics (lest you forget I was a Film Studies major...), and the trailer looked like cheeky fun, oh, and I like the cast, so yes, I was in for this movie. I had seen an article online that tried to compare the characters to real-life Old Hollywood actors, but the Coen brothers shrugged it off, saying they weren't familiar with Old Hollywood actors (specifically Esther Williams). That has to be a big fat lie, if ever I read one. Not a week later, I went to see Quo Vadis (1951) at a  Robert Taylor event (not reviewed here because I only stayed for half), and there was a scene that "Hail, Caesar" ripped straight from "Quo Vadis", in which our lead man rode a chariot to an overlook of Rome and made a comment about it. The outfits were exactly the same, too. Oddly enough, IMDB doesn't list Quo Vadis as a reference film, so go me! (Thanks J.K., for the R.T. event!) (Okay, "Quo Vadis" was listed in the previous article I linked, and this one on scandals.) Okay, so back to "Hail, Caesar". I liked all the snippets of old Hollywood genres. The narration bothered me... until I saw it done in "Quo Vadis" and understood why it was being utilized. I feel like a person should have a general understanding of old classics and the studio system, and the Red Scare, or they would be scratching their head at this film. It's fun and playful, but also based in reality. I'd watch it again, especially after reading these articles on Hollywood history. It also makes me want to start reading the Old Hollywood gossip books I've picked up at antique stores and garage sales....
  
• The White River Kid (1999) Watched on DVD, sola. I picked up the film probably for Antonio Banderas and a few other names I recognized. It was one of those off-beat films with zany characters, which was what I expected, but it didn't amaze me.. I have it already in my 'sell-back' file, but might consider keeping it. It's hard to know what films I'll enjoy watching again, if ever. Or if it's rare enough to keep. It was a little strange to have all the Randy Travis songs. I wonder how he got involved... The IMDB page didn't mention it, but it did have very divisive reviews. People either loved it or hated it. I'd say it was more of a flop. Glad I watched it, though. They say you learn as much from bad films as you do from good ones.
  
• Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016) Watch
  ed in a theater with a cinephile friend while on vacation. I had thought this movie was supposed to be a comedy, because Tina Fey was in it and because the trailer focused on the funny parts. Luckily, it took the theme a bit more seriously than that. Especially because it's based on a real person's experiences. My overall reaction to the film was that you can't pay me enough to be a journalist that goes there, or to be a person who lives in those war-torn countries. It's upsetting, but does a great job of getting empathy from the audience, an understanding of the situations that go on. You get a good idea of the alternate universes that exist on our own planet, outside of what our understanding of "normal" is. I do recommend this film, especially for pro-war people. It doesn't really make a statement one way or another on "should we be involved", but shows the futility at times - not understanding what the people want, being mistaken for Russians - aka conflict and outside military has been a present force in those places for too long, and the length of time and disinterest at the story once it's been on the airwaves for "too long". It's a film that is both uncomfortable and important. I do recommend it.
  
• Pee Wee's Big Holiday (2016) Watched on Netflix with my S.O. I gotta say, I loved Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985) and the challenge of watching/creating a film following one as old as myself... well, it's quite a challenge. It basically had the same parts to the equation, but it didn't quite add up. You basically have to take what you know about PeeWee's past and put it aside, and take this as a fresh film. There are similarities, nods, and homages, but it's just kind of bland to me. Kind of a bunch of random stories that were less entertaining/engaging than the random stories in the original. There was a mysticism in "Adventure" that was lacking in "Holiday". I'll admit I've yet to see Big Top Pee-wee (1988), so I don't know how THAT stacked up, but I didn't love this one. It was kind of forced and made fun of itself. Also, it looked like Paul Reubens had very bloodshot eyes during some of the scenes.... did he need some assistance from cannabis to get through? :( That also destroys the charm and child-like innocence. To be honest, I had no idea who Joe Manganiello was until it was explained in the film. I'll say, I was disappointed and will stick with my "Adventure". And will probably search out "Big Top" to see how it compares. It's hard to follow an awesome film. For me, the magic and wonderment wasn't there.
  
• Happy Accidents (2000) Watched sola, on DVD. I like Marisa Tomei so that is probably why I picked this up. The camera work was a little disorienting. Seemed a little free-form. Basically, you spend the film wondering if the male character is full of shit (he says he's from the future) or if somehow is telling the truth. By the end, we know. (No spoilers, here don't worry.) I looked up the writer/director Brad Anderson. You may know him from The Machinist (2004). He also directed The Call (2013) which was written in part by Nebraska Native Jon Bokenkamp who has gone on to create hit show The Blacklist (2013). Anderson also directed Stonehearst Asylum, which I'd recommend (based on a short story by Poe). Knowing all this, it makes me want to hold onto Happy Accidents (i.e. take it back out of the "sell-back because it was okay but I probably won't watch it again" pile). Not sure. It's an interesting concept, to be sure. A woman has a hard time finding a man, finds one that says he's from the future, and has to decide if there is the slight possibility he isn't full of shit. It was an okay film. But it's like, once you have the reveal, it takes out the joy of discovery in any re-watches.
  
  So what'd you think? Have you seen any of these films? Want to watch any of them now?