Out & About

David Levithan wrote a fabulous novel about a person named A who wakes up every morning in the body of a different person. While the book is from A’s perspective, the movie makes Rihannon–the girl A falls in love with–the focus. Aside from featuring 14 talented up-and-coming actors as A,* this movie is a somewhat magical love story that is also heartbreaking.

Cost: $9.25 (special vacation treat, also I had a gift card, so it was free)
Where watched: Regal Pioneer Place (which I have not been to in a very long time.)

*Fun to spot: Justice Smith who was Radar in Paper Towns; Lucas Jade Zumann, who was Jamie in 20th Century Women; Jacob Batalon who was Ned in Spider-Man: Homecoming, and of course Angourie Rice, who was so very good as the daughter in the Nice Guys.

Random note: As the movie started the production logo of Orion Pictures appeared. “I haven’t seen anything by Orion Pictures in years,” I thought to myself. “I wonder what they’ve been doing?”  I checked the IMDB trivia and learned that this is the first full-length motion picture to be produced and distributed by the revitalized Orion Pictures. I felt very smart.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2018/every_day.html

Given that I’ve written an entire book set on buses, and that I also love poetry, it is no surprise at my great love for this movie. I’m also a fan of movies where not much happens, and there is that too in this film. The scene with the two guys chatting about the girls that are totally into them will probably remain my favorite cinematic public transportation moment of the foreseeable future.

Cost: free from library
Where watched: at home

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2016/paterson_ver2.html

An amusing poster comment from the peanut gallery on the IMP Awards site:
IMP Award for Most Unfortunate Name Placement

(He is referring to Golshifteh Farahani, who plays Adam Driver’s wife, and who looks nothing like the dog sitting on the bench)

With the opening scenes, I steeled myself for yet another film of an insufferable man causing everyone to rotate around him. Thankfully, an underutilized Kristin Scott Thomas set him straight and we could proceed with the events leading up to the evacuation at Dunkirk.* I found the scene in the subway charming, and also annoying as it seemed very much a manufactured-for-the-narrative moment.

Cost: $6.00
Where watched: Living Room Theater, who has changed their menu for the worse.  I had a very sub-par sandwich, and I used to really enjoy their sandwiches.

*This would make a nice double feature with Christopher Nolon’s Dunkirk, also released in 2017.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/intl/uk/2017/darkest_hour.html

So, yes, it’s progressive for its time, which does not keep it from being fairly offensive today.* But still, you get performances from Ethel Waters and Lena Horne, and a really awesome nightclub scene that recycles some tornado footage from the Wizard of Oz. I think it’s worth watching, despite its flaws, because how often do you get a movie with an all-black cast?

Cost: $2.99 via Google Play
Where watched: at home. This is the first film in the Vincente Minnelli Marathon on Filmspotting.

*From the Wikipedia article about the movie: “The script was submitted before production to the NAACP. In a letter to the Editor, a writer of the film said he received a letter “congratulating [them] on the treatment of this black fable, which avoided cliches and racial stereotypes.”  While the NAACP might have been on board with it then, I can say now that watching this movie today I found it rife with cliches and racial stereotypes.

Oh my goodness, when will I learn to bring tissues to Pixar movies? I loved this film, Miguel’s family and the portrayal of the Land of the Dead. The music was also fantastic, with “Remember Me” nestling itself perfectly into the narrative.

Cost: $4.00
Where watched: Kennedy School–which was good, because I could sink down into the couches while crying.

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

If you are down for raunchy humor this movie is hil-ar-i-ous and very fun. Much as Kate McKinnon had her star-making turn in 2016’s Ghostbusters, so does Tiffany Haddish loom large and hilarious in every scene. Overall, a rollicking good time.

Cost: $1.50 from Redbox
Where watched: at home with Matt

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

This was one of those films violent enough I was glad to have knitting to stare at while bloody things were happening. I watched for the Stone/Gosling romance and that was good, as was the story in general. It was fun to see so many different actors bring their best to this narrative.

Cost: free from library
Where watched: at home

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