Monday, February 25, 2013

I Me Wed (2007); Dilwale Dulhani Le Jayenge (1995); Scrooged (1988); Om Shanti Om (2007); St. Trinian's (2007); Fish Tales (2007); Here Comes the Boom (2012); The Business of Fancydancing (2002); Smoke Signals (1998); The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia (2013); Holes (2003); Nacho Libre (2006); Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012); Pitch Perfect (2012); Honor Flight (2012); Confine (2012); Pad Yatra: A Green Odyssey (2013); Adam and Steve (2005)

Okay, it's been over two months since I wrote an update. I'm not sure how many movies I've watched since then, since I've been busy writing short screenplays and traveling and such. But here we go. I will probably also include movies I may have reviewed before (to boost my numbers... ha!)
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 I Me Wed (TV 2007)

Director:

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When I was searching around on Hulu and read the synopsis for this movie, I knew it was made for me. I am not sure that marriage is for me and am very much so the woman who is always (happily) single. I once created another Facebook account for myself so I could list myself as married to myself. (I've often been listed as married or engaged to girl-friends on Facebook and am 'engaged' now, so am subject to annoying ads! Curses!) As far as this film went, it was what I expected from a Lifetime movie. Cute, with the necessary complications. I don't have anything to prove, so I don't believe I'll be going through with this. Since *SPOILER ALERT* she ended up marrying the guy anyway, it was kind of lame. It could been bold and shown that a woman CAN live a happy life alone, but that would be anti-Lifetime. In that regard, or with the complication in general, the movie is a contradiction to itself. *END SPOILER ALERT* I thought it was a cute film for anyone who likes to challenge the status-quo, but don't hold your breath.
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Dilwale Dulhani Le Jayenge (1995)


Director:

Writers:
(screenplay), (dialogue)


Stars:
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I was trying to introduce a couple friends to Bollywood and this seemed like a good place to start. SRK is one of my favorites. Some people think he is a little odd-looking, but honestly, if you've seen him play the hero as many times as I (and my good friend) have, it's impossible to not swoon when he appears. He represents every romantic hero you love to love. When watching this film, you will be surprised to see it was filmed in the 90s, when it looks like an 80s film. The appearance of these films often seem to be a decade behind, but that's half the fun. This film is dramatic and of course long. It's a staple in Bollywood history and a lot of movies reference it, so if you are looking to get into Hindi films, this is a great place to start. The soundtrack is quite popular still. Something to note: many Bollywood movies create songs FOR movies instead of the Hollywood norm of adding already popular songs to movies. This means when you hear a song, you instantly think of the movie and the actors. Great marketing, I think. This film has been out for 18 years and SRK and Kajol have had great careers. It spans London and India and you get to experience some of the Indian customs and celebrations, so it's a great chance to learn a bit more about a culture, which is always nice. Until recently, most Indian movies have not shown kissing or implied sex because it was considered very taboo. In modern movies, this sensitivity has been dismissed. (You can search for shortened name DDLJ if you want to look up the movie.)
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Scrooged (1988)


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Ever since we taped it off tv (cough cough), this has been one of my favorite holiday movies. I can be a bit of a Scrooge myself (I prefer Festivus for the Rest of Us), but I LOVE Bill Murray and this movie will always get me feeling great. I love the new twist on the old tale while it pays homage to the original. It's a clever movie and has a lot of fun actors in it. It's a 'yes', all the way.  P.S. The Goonies theme song is playing in the trailer??
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Om Shanti Om (2007)

Director:

Writers:
(story), (screenplay), 2 more credits »


Stars:
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This was the next movie I played to get my friends educated on Bollywood. It was more recent, yet still a decade behind. It was ONE of the first movies I saw and I love it. There are a LOT of cameos in this one, but you'd have to be better-versed than I in Indian Cinema to know them. I remember when friends and I were getting ready to perform a dance routine at an Indian event at our college and the Indians near our table were impressed and delighted when the title song came on and we started freaking out and singing and dancing to it. It's hard not to. Okay, so this film is long and dramatic and requires suspension of disbelief. It's a fun watch and again the songs hold sway. I believe it is actually a remake of another movie, but again, SRK makes me swoon. The trailer doesn't much tell you about it, but if you have a few hours to kill and a need to dance and be taken in by the drama and fun... try it out.
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St. Trinian's (2007)

Directors:
,

Writers:
(screenplay), (additional material), 3 more credits »


Stars:
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I first watched and reviewed this in June 2011 and really enjoyed it. This time I got to watch it with friends before New Year's and it was even more fun. The theme song is catchy and I love the girl power of it all. I really need to watch the second one. Here's what I had to say last time:
While just looking this up on IMDB, I saw there is a sequel!!! Hooray!! This movie was a lot of campy kitsch and I had a blast! The characters were so wild and out there. AND Rupert Everett played a pair of siblings... a brother and sister! I love him and I love drag, so I was sold when I read the DVD cover at the library. Yes, finding this at the public library threw me for a loop! This movie was tons of fun and I even wasn't so put off by Russell Brand as I usually am! ;) This really was an ensemble cast, apparently based off of a cartoon series. I love the movies that are bizarre-o comedies and this one is a new cult fave of mine! :) Highly recommendable for anyone who likes the goofy, larger-than-reality films!
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Fish Tales (2007)

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This movie was 'special'. It's definitely a kid-friendly movie and I'm a little amazed that Billy Zane agreed to be in it. Seems kind of tame for him. Just now, reading up on it, I find that the guy who plays the heavy in the film is also the writer and director and it seems like he has a really crazy life history. It's a movie that has heart and is educational. It's not perfect by any means, but if you like mermaids or Greece, or your children do, it's an okay movie. Thanks, Hulu, for the find.



Full movie here: http://www.hulu.com/watch/359596





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Here Comes the Boom (2012)

Director:

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I'll be honest and say I did want to see this film and was glad when my nephews agreed to go with me. It wasn't as terrible or hokey as I thought it would be. It had heart and the characters were fun. It made me want to get in better shape and learn how to defend myself. I didn't think Kevin James' character was as nice to Henry Winkler's character as he should have been and Winkler didn't get to shine, as much as I love him. has a role and she is a great singer. Check out her bio. I enjoyed this movie and when it finally gets to be $5 at Target, I'll buy it :) 
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The Business of Fancydancing (2002)

Director:

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This film was more experimental in nature, more poetic than just a narrative. It was easy to see it was a low-budget flick but it really had a lot of heart. The sense of culture came across pretty well and there were some powerful songs, prose, and poetry. There were times when the events weren't quite clear because of some the techniques employed, but it was a film for thinking, and should be watched. Definitely not as story driven as the next film I'll discuss (that also preceded this film).
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Smoke Signals (1998)

Director:

Writers:
(book), (screenplay)


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I've seen this film before and it was just as much fun to watch it again. If you like Native humor and well-rounded characters and story-telling, you should definitely purchase this film from Amazon for $5. It's on my list. The actress who was the face and voice of Pocahontas is in the film too. This was a very fun film based on Sherman Alexie's novel. It was very well-done, professionally shot and a very important film in getting Natives and Native stories out in the forefront. Won a lot of awards and nominations. Love this movie. "Hey, Victor!"
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The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia (2013)

Director:

Writer:
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Yes, the name is silly, but that's what studios do sometimes to get repeat viewers. I happen to know the director (and he didn't love the name change, either!). I was a P.A. on a film he edited in my hometown [For Love of Amy (2009)]. I'm not usually into scary movies because I have an overactive imagination, but I took some friends with me and we saw Tom's premiere. It was actually a really nicely done horror film. No gratuitous nudity, no weak female characters waiting for a man to save them. And actually based on a real story. You get to see the actual family members at the end of the film, which is neat. Everything about the film was well-done. The actors, the look, the effects, the scares. I'm glad I went out of my normal comfort zone because it was worth it. It leaves me interested in exploring more of the true story. Good job, Tom! I look forward to seeing more!
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Holes (2003)

Director:

Writers:
(novel), (screenplay)


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I've loved this movie for a long time now. I showed it to my oldest two nephews and they seemed to enjoy it. It's one of those enduring, easily-relatable stories. I have the book and the soundtrack as well. I love the soundtrack. I know all the songs. The film is a safe film for families, but you'll have to explain racism a little bit, for the historical part of the movie. The actors are awesome. Great cast and story.
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Nacho Libre (2006)

Director:

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I've seen this film before in 2007, but got to watch it with my brother, his wife and their three sons (my awesome nephews). Silly movie for sure. If you didn't like Napoleon Dynamite (2004) then you probably should pass on this. I enjoyed both films and Jack Black. And my nephews finally understand the luchador masks I brought them from Mexico this summer :)

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Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)

Director:

Writers:
(screenplay), (screenplay), 1 more credit »


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When I first saw this trailer, I wanted to cry, so I held off on seeing it in the theater. When I did actually see it, I kept my composure, except for a few sniffles at the end. It was a dynamite film. Did a great job of telling a story and giving us lively, unforgettable, unique characters. The young actress did an amazing job! It was a very unique story and it made me think of times when I'd been around chaotic people that were in a world all their own. Very good film. Check it out (with subtitles) and "put your pants on, man!"  ;)
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I'd heard a lot about the movie from people and it was pretty good once I got around to watching it. There were goofy parts to it, and it was pretty predictable, but it was a fun romp with some crazy characters. There was definitely a point in there in which I could hear my screenwriting mentor in my head saying "go for the extremes and they'll pull you back if they need to". Let me just say "making angels". Those of you who have seen it will get it. I guess my problem is there wasn't a lot of diversity in the film, and that's always kind of lame. But there were a lot of roles for females which is nice. It's fun enough to watch if you want to feel like a teenager again. Just watched the trailer again and forgot a bunch of the funny stuff. I love how plays a college student here and then a mom on The Mindy Project (2012) TV show :)
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I got to see this documentary as a preview before it plays at my local Film Festival. I'll admit I was a sobbing mess for almost the entire movie. I had a bag full of used kleenex when I was done. It hit all the right chords on my heartstrings to get me bawling. My grandfathers were/are WWII vets and many people are probably able to relate to that in this country. I'm a pacifist, but can't help but be grateful for the sacrifices of these men. This film is definitely worth watching, if only to pay your respects. Note: I just watched this trailer. There were a couple things not in the actual documentary itself, but I've teared up and my nose is running. See this film and go talk to your vets to thank them and listen to what they have to say.
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I couldn't find a poster for the film, so this screenshot is all I could find. This film wasn't what I expected and I wasn't quite wanting to watch it, but I really found myself enjoying it. It was a suspenseful thriller for sure. Built on characters and situation, this is a film to watch! I got to watch it as a sneak peak to when it plays at my local film festival. I expect great things from these people! If you're at the festival, check this one out!
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Okay, this is the third film I saw as a sneak peak to the Festival. Also the third I'd recommend. It's a documentary that deals with spirituality and ecological responsibility. It was such an intriguing film. I thought the format was very nice. 700 people follow a Buddhist monk 400 miles through the Himalayas to pick up trash and educate the rural population on the dangers of plastic and disconnecting with nature. Don't dismiss this as some green mumbo-jumbo; it's a very intriguing film that helps you understand culture and other lifestyles. I'll probably never join them on a Pad Yatra, but just watching this helped me re-examine my own habits with plastic and with water conservation the very next day. Every step makes a difference. This film is a great reminder of that. The monks and nuns are quite delightful characters/people and it was great to hear of the story told as a narrative by one of the participants. It's quite a breath-taking film, and I do recommend it to everyone, green-minded or not. (Also had a cameo by one of my Bollywood actors Aamir Khan!)
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Adam and Steve (2005)

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Why does 2005 seem like just yesterday? This movie was a Hulu find: watch here. It was pretty stinking adorable and funny. Expect some shocks. I loved the characters. Craig Chester is freaking adorable! It was a fun, kitschy movie with some great names. I totally recommend it, if you can handle 'this type' of movie. Don't watch with kids around... or weak stomachs (just in the first 10 minutes). I had a lot of fun with this one. Laugh out loud.





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Saturday, December 08, 2012

Immigration Tango (2010); Safety Not Guaranteed (2012); No Eres Tú, Soy Yo (2010); The Heart Specialist (2006); Groundhog Day (1993); Hope Springs (2012); Ted (2012); La Flor de Mi Secreto (1995); Carne Trémula (1997); Peepli (Live) (2010); Kaboom (2010); Paranorman (2012); Pardes (1997); Holy Motors (2012); Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012);

Immigration Tango (2010)

Director:
David Burton Morris

Writers:
Martin L. Kelley (screenplay), Martin L. Kelley (story), and 4 more credits »

Stars:
Elika Portnoy, McCaleb Burnett and Carlos Leon | See full cast and crew

This film was pretty contrived. There were loopholes. I wasn't convinced by the characters. I liked the idea, but some of the characters were too stiff to believe in the actions they took. Fun idea though.

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 Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)

Director: Colin Trevorrow


Writer:
Derek Connolly

Stars:
Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass and Jake Johnson | See full cast and crew

I enjoyed this film. I like all of the actors and it was an interesting premise that kept you guessing until the end. My main reason for seeing this movie was Jake Johnson because I love the show New Girl. This was a fun movie.

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No Eres Tú, Soy Yo (2010)

Director:
Alejandro Springall

Writers:
Alejandro Springall, Luis Aura, and 2 more credits »

Stars:
Eugenio Derbez, Martina García and Alejandra Barros | See full cast and crew

This was a fun movie to watch. I liked the characters and the situations. While searching for a trailer, I discovered there is a 2004 Argentinian film of the same premise... "No Sos Vos, Soy Yo"

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The Heart Specialist (2006)

Director:
Dennis Cooper

Writer:
Dennis Cooper

Stars:
Wood Harris, Zoe Saldana and Brian White | See full cast and crew

This was a very nice film. It was well-written, well-cast and a pleasure to watch. It was a very inspiring piece of work that rises above the generic 'black movies' that are doled out. This movie is an intelligent film with heart for any (adult) audience. I loved it and what it aspired to be. I was very interested in the characters and the storyline. There were a few changes I might have made but they were minor and didn't detract much from the overall experience. I would LOVE to see more films like this one! Kudos to those involved.
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 Groundhog Day (1993)

Director:
Harold Ramis

Writers:
Danny Rubin (screenplay), Harold Ramis (screenplay), and 1 more credit »

Stars:
Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell and Chris Elliott | See full cast and crew

How I made it this long without seeing the full movie, I'll never know. Bill Murray has always been one of my favorite actors. Enjoyable movie for sure. If you haven't seen it, you're missing out. I know I was!

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 Hope Springs (2012)

Director:
David Frankel

Writer:
Vanessa Taylor

Stars:
Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones and Steve Carell | See full cast and crew

I kept getting the title confused with the similarly named Hope Floats. This was a nice film. Not as silly as I thought it would be, but more sentimental. It's not just for an older crowd, but is relatable for the rest of us. Supposedly, part of it was based in my hometown, but I know they didn't shoot it here, just hired a taxi. It was a nice, truthful film. The characters were sweetly played.

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 Ted (2012)

Director:
Seth MacFarlane

Writers:
Seth MacFarlane (story), Seth MacFarlane (screenplay), and 2 more credits »

Stars:
Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis and Seth MacFarlane | See full cast and crew

Ridiculous, fun, raunchy, everything you've heard. It was a fun look at an imaginative idea and I loved the cameos.

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  La Flor de mi Secreto (1995)

Director:
Pedro Almodóvar

Writer:
Pedro Almodóvar, and 1 more credit »

Stars:
Marisa Paredes, Juan Echanove and Carme Elias | See full cast and crew

I studied Almodóvar in school so I may have already seen this film. I wasn't too surprised by what I saw, so I think I may have seen it before. I like his films. Not super raunchy or kitschy like some of his earlier work. But a nice part of his collection. Oh, and I loved the reference to the later work Volver! Proves that Almo is quite the auteur!

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 Carne Trémula (1997)

Director:
Pedro Almodóvar

Writers:
Pedro Almodóvar, Jorge Guerricaechevarría, and 2 more credits »

Stars:
Liberto Rabal, Francesca Neri and Javier Bardem | See full cast and crew

YES! This is the Almodóvar I'm used to! Twisted and sensual and dramatic. Very much liked this movie because you never knew who to root for and you felt for all of the characters.

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  Peepli (Live) (2010)

Directors:
Anusha Rizvi, Mahmood Farooqui

Writers:
Sanjeev Sharma (lyrics), Swanand Kirkire (lyrics), and 4 more credits »

Stars:
Omkar Das Manikpuri, Raghuvir Yadav and Shalini Vatsa | See full cast and crew

This was a very nice movie and it was produced by a Bollywood actor Aamir Khan. This was not a typical Bollywood film but a more political look at government and media and rural life in India. Very nice film.

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  Kaboom (2010)

Director:
Gregg Araki

Writer:
Gregg Araki (screenplay)

Stars:
Thomas Dekker, Haley Bennett and Chris Zylka | See full cast and crew

Short Version: Disappointing
SPOILER ALERT: This film was marketed as a gay Donnie Darko but it was quite a letdown. ALL of the action led to a big fat disappointment at the end. In the last 10 minutes, all of the backstory was rattled off AND the main character didn't even have an opportunity to do anything about it. So it was all useless. Why did I waste time learning and caring for the characters only to have them all end in the way it did? And if that one gal knew so much, how did she not piece things together and figure out she was related to a deeper level? I'm disappointed in this movie. Boo.

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Paranorman (2012)

Directors:
Chris Butler, Sam Fell

Writer:
Chris Butler

Stars:
Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick and Christopher Mintz-Plasse | See full cast and crew

I'm always up for a spooky-cute movie and there were fun parts to this film for sure. But it was a bit lacking. It used a lot of white flashes which was distracting because it was an overused feature. And the conclusions/actions were a little weak, ie how the main character used his ability in the end. Not very strong. It wasn't quite what I was hoping for.
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 Pardes (1997)

Director:
Subhash Ghai

Writers:
Subhash Ghai (screenplay), Subhash Ghai (story), and 2 more credits »

Stars:
Shah Rukh Khan, Amrish Puri and Mahima Chaudhry | See full cast and crew

Talk about epic. It's 3 hours long which is typical old school Bollywood. And it deals with themes of Motherland India vs America, upholding Indian traditions of propriety, and honoring parents. It has my dear Shah Rukh Khan in it and he is always swoonworthy. This is one of the films I bought in the Indian equivalent of a Sam Goody store at the mall. I bought it soley based off the fact that SRK is in it... and that he was holding a violin, since I play. The violin was not a prominent feature in the film, but thankfully SRK was.
WATCH FULL FILM ONLINE BELOW!
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 Holy Motors (2012)

Director:
Leos Carax

Writer:
Leos Carax (screenplay)

Stars:
Denis Lavant, Edith Scob and Eva Mendes | See full cast and crew

Ugh. Disappointing. Trailer promised more. But the best part of the film was a gang of accordion players. The film had potential but was mostly just weird without satisfaction.

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Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012)

Director:
Yash Chopra

Writers:
Devika Bhagat (screenplay), Aditya Chopra (screenplay), and 1 more credit »

Stars:
Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma | See full cast and crew

I enjoyed this film, but I'm incredibly biased for anything with Shah Rukh Khan in it. The music was done by AR Rahman, so hooray. I was glad I was the only one in the theater because I was behaving like a maniac... laughing, giggling, dancing and exclaiming at everything. I like how SRK still plays the leading man/young hero even though he is nearly 50. Keep going! You will always be my hero! Meow! P.S. The film title means Until My Last Breath and was the final film from legend Yash Chopra. He died three weeks before its release :(

 
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Monday, October 29, 2012

"Potiche" (2010); "Hollywood, je t'aime" (2009); "Regresa" (2010); "Letters to Juliet" (2010); "Just Go With It" (2011); "500 Days of Summer" (2009); "Por Si No Te Vuelvo a Ver" (1997)

Potiche (Trophy Wife) (2010)

Director:
François Ozon
Writers:
François Ozon (scenario) (adaptation) (dialogue), Pierre Barillet (play), and 1 more credit »
Stars:
Catherine Deneuve, Gérard Depardieu and Fabrice Luchini | See full cast and crew

I definitely enjoyed this one. It was sassy and a nice social commentary. I would recommend it. I want to say it's got a strong message and is feminist, but I don't want to turn off some people... but then again, if they can't handle women with power, they can bugger off! ;) Enjoyable film.
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Hollywood, je t'aime (2009)

Director:
Jason Bushman
Writer:
Jason Bushman
Stars:
Eric Debets, Chad Allen and Jonathan Blanc | See full cast and crew

I was expecting something a bit raunchier (not that I wanted it, but the summary suggested it would be, so I was wary) but am glad with what I got. The writer/director seems to be very familiar with Hollywood culture, but also French culture/cinema. I found the time frame to be a bit frightening on a personal level, as in the character was very brave to have done what he did. He seemed a little naïve but we saw he could hold his own. I liked the attachment issue because it gave the character depth. We like the protagonist.This is a good flick for those of you interested in/comfortable with gay cinema. If not, well, I'm sure I don't have to tell you twice.
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  Regresa (2010)

Director:
Alejandro González Padilla
Writers:
Alejandro González Padilla, Monica Abin
Stars:
Jaime Camil, Blanca Soto and Javier Tolosa | See full cast and crew

It was a nice cast of characters, an interesting premise and an okay watch. I half-expected a different outcome and was happy that didn't happen. Did I like the actual outcome? A little contrived, but if you are looking for a romance, it's nice, I suppose. Would I recommend it? Sure? I know that doesn't sound very enthusiastic, but if you have time to kill and the impulse, go for it. I liked the attention paid to dying languages. That's an important theme/interest for me.
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Letters to Juliet (2010) 

Director:
Gary Winick
Writers:
Jose Rivera, Tim Sullivan
Stars:
Amanda Seyfried, Gael García Bernal and Vanessa Redgrave | See full cast and crew

Yes, I know. Gag me, right? But every once in a while, a fluffy movie is nice. And this is fluff. Complete and utter fluff. And yes it's contrived and predictable to the maximum. And corny and on the nose. But sometimes that's what a person is looking for. Some escapism. The idea of the fairy tale. For everything to work out like in the movies. But the creators knew it was supposed to be that and it fit into its slot with perfection. So, there are no surprises in this movie. It wasn't terrible. I mean, yeah, you may have rolled your eyes and predicted all the events, but the story or the characters or the desire to see it finished... that kept me in until the end. So, if you want a fluffy, feel good movie, this one will do. P.S. I don't even want to watch the trailer again. I've see it too many times before. Oh and I hate that Taylor Swift song. Gag. But I want to go back to Italy!
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Just Go With It (2011)

Director:
Dennis Dugan
Writers:
Allan Loeb (screenplay), Timothy Dowling (screenplay), and 4 more credits »
Stars:
Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston and Brooklyn Decker | See full cast and crew

Another predictable movie. Apparently based on a stage play. BUT, I really liked it. It was a comedy of errors and we KNEW what was going to happen. I was intrigued by the pairing of Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston. I liked it. It was weird but I liked it. Some of the cameos/roles were bizarre! Dave Matthews, Nicole Kidman, Kevin Nealon, Rachel Dratch. But I think that totally made the movie lots of fun. That and the extra tidbits of comedy provided for the viewer.They know the genre of comedy well and delivered a fun movie. I would watch it again. Cute, predictable, but a fun ride.
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500 Days of Summer (2009)

Director:
Marc Webb
Writers:
Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber
Stars:
Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Geoffrey Arend | See full cast and crew

Lots of people had recommended this movie to movie and I was wary about it for sure. Too many recommendations means a lot of hype and that often leads to disappointment. But I survived okay. I wasn't blown away, but I was okay with the film. I've often leaned towards the idea that we see too many love stories and get disillusioned and think that every relationship is gonna be "it", or that every movie will always show the couple getting together. So I was glad to see a movie that followed through on showing a relationship that didn't make it, because that will be the majority of relationships that a person goes through in their lifetime. The format was a clever enough take on it. It did a pretty good job of keeping the story interesting, letting us know where we were going, helping us to experience the story in a more entertaining way than from start to finish. It's not a favorite movie now, but it was bearable. I probably wouldn't see it again. I like Zooey a LOT and JGL is yummy. I had been afraid it was gonna be a lot of dance sequences and stuff which I'm okay with. I think I had seen that in a movie preview or behind the scenes sneak peak, but maybe that was something they shot for a music video? Anyway, only one dance sequence and it fits into the feel of that scene. I suppose if you haven't seen this movie and are okay with seeing a non-relationship movie, give this one a go. Oh, and the ending... kinda predictable/on the nose/cliché. Hope I didn't ruin it for you ;) too bad if I did. There's nothing you can do about it now! HA! P.S. I don't like the vocalization of the song in the trailer. Hope it's not Zooey. boo.
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Por Si No Te Vuelvo a Ver (If I Never See You Again) (1997)

Director:
Juan Pablo Villaseñor
Writer:
Juan Pablo Villaseñor
Stars:
Alfredo Alfonso, Óscar Castañeda and Aurora Cortés | See full cast and crew

There's something adorable about geriatric musicians. You just want to hug them and squeeze them and take care of them. So when they find themselves in predicaments, you want to protect them. This applies to non-musical geriatrics too, I suppose ;) I enjoyed this movie. It gets to you and pulls at your heart strings. You want to reach out and grab the characters. You will definitely have a favorite.  Mine was the one with the crazy beard (and bug-out eyes). I think movies with geriatrics always get at me. WAY more than any baby movie EVER could. There is something so frail about age that returns us to helpless children. Sure, we have the impulse to coddle both, but you never really know the history of an older person. This made most of the men seem harmless and safe and maybe too overly naïve as if they didn't know about the terrible things of the world. I found that hard to believe. But maybe senility was supposed to be the answer to that? Anyway, this was probably the best of the bunch that I watched. That and Potiche. Go figure the foreign movies win. Although the other movies were more or less fluff. Sadly, I'm not able to find a trailer for the film, but have discovered that the IMDB page incorrectly states 2000 when it's actually 1997, so says this. I'm not able to find a trailer of it, but here is a clip. Beware. lol P.S. I got the movie from my library and it says it was remastered from the original 35mm film. Woo!


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Wednesday, October 10, 2012

"Bernie" (2011); "Throw Momma from the Train" (1987); "All Over Town" (1937); "Solo con tu Pareja/Love in the Time of Hysteria" (1991); "Hotel Transylvania" (2012); "Life in a Day" (2011)

Bernie (2011)

Director:
Richard Linklater
Writers:
Richard Linklater (screenplay), Skip Hollandsworth (based on the article in Texas Monthly by), and 1 more credit »
Stars:
Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine and Matthew McConaughey | See full cast and crew

This movie was a lot of fun to watch. Even though it said it was Based on a True Story, that somehow seemed to slip past me. Most of the commentary in the movie is actual people talking about the real situation, so that takes you for a spin.

I first heard about this movie from my local Film Festival because one of the organizers of the festival was a stand-in for Jack Black. The crew liked him so much, they put him on a scene. We were pleased to see he is in the DVD menu!

That aside, it's a fun watch. Done slightly documentary style, slightly story-telling. Definitely can be labeled as a dark comedy. I thought it was well done and would watch it again.

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Throw Momma from the Train (1987)

Director:
Danny DeVito
Writer:
Stu Silver
Stars:
Danny DeVito, Billy Crystal and Kim Greist | See full cast and crew

If you dislike Danny or Billy stay away. If you want to relive the glory days of Danny and Billy, hop on board! It was a fun re-visit to the 80s and a silly story. I love Anne Ramsey. Listen up close to her lines because they are hilarious! They show it on tv every now and again. Fun character study. Remember: A writer writes always. ;)
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All Over Town (1937)

Director:
James W. Horne
Writers:
Jerome Chodorov (screenplay), Richard English (story), and 2 more credits »
Stars:
Ole Olsen, Chic Johnson and Mary Howard | See full cast and crew

Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson are not as well known as Laurel and Hardy or the Three Stooges, but they appeared together a few times as a comedy duo. I'm not sure why the movie carries this name. If you like a bit of a screwball comedy, this one would be a-okay. At the beginning you see the end of vaudeville has really affected performers so these two guys take their pet seal to a haunted theater and try to put on a show. It was a quick enough movie to watch. Loved it nor hated it.
WATCH FULL MOVIE BELOW!
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Solo con tu Pareja or Love in the Time of Hysteria (1991) 

Director:
Alfonso Cuarón
Writers:
Alfonso Cuarón (screenplay), Carlos Cuarón (screenplay)
Stars:
Daniel Giménez Cacho, Claudia Ramírez and Luis de Icaza | See full cast and crew

I really enjoyed this movie! It was one of those ensemble comedies and the characters and situations were spot-on. You cared for the characters and the outcome. Some of you will recognize the Writer/Director for his involvement with Y Tu Mamá También (2001) and Children of Men (2006). I really recommend this movie if you like comedy and Spanish-language humor. Great example of over the top, fun comedy.
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 Hotel Transylvania (2012)

Director:
Genndy Tartakovsky
Writers:
Peter Baynham (screenplay), Robert Smigel (screenplay), and 3 more credits »
Stars:
Adam Sandler, Kevin James and Andy Samberg | See full cast and crew

This movie was cute and fun. Anyone who likes a bit of cute with their spooky will enjoy this movie. It was fun and imaginative. I wasn't in love with it after seeing it, but I enjoyed it and would watch it again.

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Life in a Day (2011)

Directors:
Kevin Macdonald, Natalia Andreadis, and 17 more credits »
Stars:
Cindy Baer, Caryn Waechter and Moica | See full cast and crew

Tagline from IMDB: What do you get when you ask the people of the world to chronicle a single day in their lives? You get 80,000 submissions, 4500 hours of footage, from 192 countries. Kevin Macdonald has taken this raw material, all shot on July 24, 2010, and created a 90-minute paean to what it means to be human in the world today.

That pretty much sums it up. It was done in correlation with National Geographic, YouTube and the Scott brothers. As we remember, Tony Scott recently ended his life, so that made the beginning credits a bit interesting for me.

I can only imagine how they dealt with so much footage! I thought it was poignant, playful, and hard-hitting. Be aware of birthing scenes and animal killings. This movie really makes a person want to explore the world. There are so many ways to live, but the film does a great job of showing how similar our pains and joys really are. I did enjoy this movie quite a bit. It just makes you feel.

WATCH FULL MOVIE HERE!!!!!!!

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