Category: Three Sentence Movie Reviews

What is it about these movies that make me incredibly happy?  Plot elements, acting ability, general ridiculousness that would sink any other movie are gleefully enjoyed when it comes to the Fast and the Furious franchise. Jason Statham’s final fight scene was my favorite, but there were many other enjoyable moments in these 136 minutes.

Cost: $6.00
Where watched: St. Johns Twin Cinema (movie #3 on Movie Day)

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2017/fate_of_the_furious.html

I loved the concept of a grieving widow finding a double of her husband.  Both Annette Bening and Ed Harris did their usual steller work.  I also appreciates Jess Weixler’s brief, but memorable scene.*

Cost: free from library
Where watched: at home (movie #2 on Movie Day)

*Probably the best freak-out I’ve seen in the past few years.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2013/face_of_love_ver2.html

This was brilliantly acted with a lot of nuance and great performances.  It’s also a movie that trails off with no ending, which can be interesting and also as if the writer didn’t know how to end their story.  Overall, one of those films I don’t mind that I watched, but am not chomping to return to it.

Cost:  $1.50 from Redbox
Where watched: at home (movie #1 on Movie Day)

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/intl/uk/2015/fourfive_years.html

As a scary movie with lots of interesting commentary about race, this movie delivers.  As a story with a plot that makes sense, this movie stumbles badly.  Combine the two and I had an excellent cinematic experience, followed by several days of, “but, wait.”

Cost: $6.00
Where watched: St. Johns Twin Cinema with S. North

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2017/get_out_ver3.html

I had this calibrated as “funny documentary” and then was confused to find that the story was mostly sad.  Aside from the incorrect packaging* this was an engrossing documentary.  It’s one thing when you sign up for the documentary about your comeback mayoral campaign, but end up in the documentary about your derailed mayoral campaign.

Cost: free from library
Where watched: at home, while cooking.**

This movie is featured with the War Room as part of a Next Picture Show podcast.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2016/weiner.html

*Maybe the ease at which puns can be associated with Anthony Weiner is the reason that two of three quotes on the poster refer to the humor in the film.
**This was an experiment to see if I could watch documentaries while cooking.  The answer is no.

The boyfriend was under the weather, so we had time to watch this movie together.  This time, there were two people laughing together while watching, which is a much better way to watch movies.  Things still felt fresh, even with a second viewing in less than a week.

Cost: free from library
Where watched: at home with the boyfriend

Poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2015/spy_ver7.html

Yet another excellent collaboration by Paul Feig and Melissa McCarthy, this had me laughing uproariously alone in my living room.  I think Feig is perhaps the only man in Hollywood who can tap into the many slights and frustrations of the female experience, a lot of which were on display in this movie.*  All actors were hilarious, making for a perfect movie experience.

Cost: free from library
Where watched: at home.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2015/spy.html

*He’s also really good at writing women characters into his movies.  This film included McCarthy and Rose Byrne, but also Allison Janney as the CIA boss and Miranda Hart as McCarthy’s friend.  Plus a bit part by Morena Baccarin.

This is a great time capsule of 1997 Chicago and the black poetry scene.  It also is a love story of a couple who can’t quite get it together. I rarely see a movie with an all-black cast and that made this movie interesting, though I was confused by character motivations throughout and found that the movie dragged.*

Cost: free from library
Where watched: at home

*I watched this movie because there was an article in the paper about a special showing with Theodore Witcher, the director. He was going to discuss that this was his one and only film.  It’s disappointing that he got one shot and nothing else, because I’ve seen far worse films by directors who go on to make other things.

I was quite impressed that the Multnomah County Library had it in its catalog.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/1997/love_jones.html

One Mr. Adam Kempenaar of the Filmspotting podcast loves this truly and deeply, so much so that he gets mad whenever anyone doesn’t love it as much as him.  He needn’t worry about me, I loved this all the way through every change of persona the band made as they were trying on different music styles.  There wasn’t as much female-forward stuff as in Carney’s Begin Again, but it was delightful and with some great performances.*

Cost: Free from library
Where watched: at home, while painting toenails purple.

*Ferdia Walsh-Peelo carried the film as Conner, and I also enjoyed Mark McKenna as the multi-talented Eamon and Ben Carolan as the manager.  Plus, Jack Reynor continued the charismatic streak he started in A Royal Night Out.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2016/sing_street_ver4.html