I think I’ve figured out that watching a Paul Thomas Anderson movie is not like watching a typical verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/chorus-type movie. I was entranced the entire film because the acting is tremendous and yet I felt like nothing had really happened when the movie was over. Instead of watching a story, it seemed like I was on a journey with the characters.
Where watched: Laurlhurst Theater
Cost: $4.00
Here’s what happened with this donut. I paid my money, sat down and bit into it. And it was chewy and substantial and burst with flavor. The donut was a substance in and of itself, not just a carrier for the toppings. And the toppings! The chocolate was rich, the coconut was toasted perfectly. The whole experience was exactly what I’m looking for when I’m in the mood for a donut. At $2.50, this donut wasn’t cheap, but I’ll take one of these over three of the standard donut, any day.
Somewhere along the way, someone created an iconic drawing of people sitting at the counter. The original hangs on the wall of the restaurant, and the drawing has migrated to shirts, including the shirts the staff wears. Today, walking by after they had closed, I caught one of the employees sitting at the counter, wearing the shirt picturing people sitting at the counter. Beautiful.
Sadly, the house went on the market in September and sold pretty quickly. And there are suspicious signs that the huge lot will soon be no more and there will be a tiny house on a tiny lot and a huge new infill house on what was once the rest of the lot.
Phooey.
This is my favorite Channing Tatum movie, as well as a very good movie in general and here is why. I like that no one is the hero, no one is the villain, no one person in the relationship is more right than the other person. It’s probably the most true portrayal of a relationship I’ve seen on screen.
Care to quibble? Use the comment section.
The poster, however, is hideous.
Poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2012/vow.html
This movie was chock full of great acting by Rooney Mara and Jude Law* and a twisty, turn-y plot that I advise you to do your best not to discover any part of before you enter the theater. Immediately after the movie I wasn’t quite sure how I felt due to the many plot twists, but after lively discussion with the movie-going companion of the day, I decided I liked it. I don’t really want to think that Mr. Soderbergh will
really
stop making movies, but if so, this was a good one to end with.
Where watched: Regal City Center Stadium 12
Cost: Free, thanks to the generous folks at Pike Schemes.
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2013/side_effects_ver2.html
*sadly, Mr. Tatum’s performance was awful due to massive amounts of jaw-clenching (he’s regressed, just when he was doing so well) and declaim-off-of-cue-cards-type acting. Catherine Zeta-Jones was also painful to watch. That said, this was still a good movie.
You know when you think you know how a movie is going to go and then it doesn’t and it’s kind of disconcerting and then hard to regain your equilibrium? That was this movie for me. Once I found my footing, I greatly enjoyed it, for it was a pretty movie to look at and a sweet movie to watch.
Cost: free from library
Where watched: at home.
I hadn’t seen this movie, a favorite movie of many fans of the romance genre, and I wondered why. I like both the actors (Rachael McAdams is A-okay in my book, and I like Ryan Gosling just fine) and since I liked Dear John much more than I thought I would and this movie is also based on a Nicholas Sparks book, why not? Well, it turns out I was not a fan, so much so that I wrote 1500 words on why this movie is not romantic, it is creepy.
Where watched: at home
Cost: Free from library.
On second viewing (I brought the boyfriend along this time; he liked it) I can say that I really enjoyed the speeches by Jennifer Lawrence’s character when I could tell she’d been through a lot of therapy: “Let’s talk about that…” I also enjoyed how clearly and succinctly the family dynamics came through. This held up quite well through a second viewing and I can still recommend it.
Where watched: Regal City Center 12.
Cost: Free, thanks to passes.