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
I stayed far away from this movie in 2014, because I didn’t want a favorite childhood book to be ruined by the movie adaptation. However, Paddington 2 was getting such rave reviews from critics* that I decided to check it out. It did the opposite of ruining a childhood favorite; it made it better with a funny sweetness and great acting all around.**
Cost: Netflix subscription
Where watched: at home, with Matt, who had no childhood references to the book and also enjoyed the film.
*When critics are raving about Paddington 2, is something wacky in the world, or is it just that good of film? Time will tell.
**Nicole Kidman=very fun villain. See also: To Die For
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2014/paddington_bear.html
A birdwalk on IMDB involving Grace Van Patten* brought me to this film which is a standard day-in-the-life story, this one involving two people operating right on the edge of criminal behavior. It held my attention, but did not dazzle, and I suspect I’m going to go off on another birdwalk chasing down Callum Turner, who was interesting to watch.
Cost: Netflix subscription
Where watched: at home
*Recently seen by me in the Meyerowitz Stories
poster from: http://www.mrqe.com/movie_reviews/tramps-m100118191
Oh my goodness, Judy Garland is amazing and this movie is completely worth watching, three hour run time be damned.* Who else but Garland could conjure up an entire production number by herself using a “practice record” and items present in her living room? In parts of the movie, Cukor seemed to be experimenting with still photos and voice over which was odd and didn’t work for me, but other than that, this movie was captivating.**
Cost: free from library
Where watched: at home
*Don’t have time for 3 hours? Marinate yourself in “The Man That Got Away”
**So far, I’ve adored both versions of this story. I love how it’s not a story of exploitation, but of mutual love and respect. It’s a tale of love untainted by all the Hollywood stuff we know goes on (and has always gone one). It’s sad and it’s sweet and so very good. I’ve seen the preview for the 1970s version, though, and it looks like it’s going to destroy everything I love about this story, so I’m putting a healthy distance between this version and that one.
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/1954/star_is_born_ver2.html
Oh, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, you’ve been so good in so many films* and I hope you keep working for many years. This is one of those films that could be incredibly so-so, or also could be quietly charming and very good, and I’m happy to say that it was the latter, rather than the former. This was just the bit of “good movie” my Sunday night needed.**
Cost: Netflix subscription fee
Where watched: at home. Matt was half watching it and he also enjoyed it.
*I’m specifically thinking here of Beyond the Lights, but I know also she’s quite good in Belle, which I haven’t seen because the library only had a Blu-Ray copy and I didn’t have a Blu-Ray player when it was released on DVD. Which reminds me. [pause while things happen online] Hold has been placed.
**Random note: Michael Huisman also played the romantic lead in the Age of Adaline. What a difference the subtraction of facial hair and addition of glasses makes. And further investigation has me thinking they also changed his nose. Also, he was Sonny in the show Treme! He’s great in that, too.
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/tv/irreplaceable_you.html
If you are going to see one–and only one–superhero film, this is a good pick, mostly because it’s so well done, but also because this superhero film has put women front and center in a way that none of its predecessors have.* It’s an action-packed, meaningful narrative that handles very well its many plot arcs. That said, I have seen many superhero films and am burned out on the genre, so while I appreciated how good this movie was, I also didn’t love it in the way I would have had I seen it in 2012, instead of 2018.
Cost: $9.00
Where watched: Century 16 Eastport, our first visit to that theater. Movies start early at Century Theaters. Our showing was at 8:45 a.m.
*Except Wonder Woman, but if that movie wasn’t female forward, it would have been a disaster.
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2018/black_panther.html
There are some very good bits in this comedy special.* Chris Rock manages to be funny while taking about the end of his marriage and what he did wrong. Along with the funny parts, there were some on-point observations as when he compared how connected he and his wife were (through social media, cell phones and texting) versus his own parents, who said goodbye to each other in the morning and didn’t speak again until the work day was over.
Cost: Netflix subscription
Where watched: at home with Matt.
*My personal favorite, best thought of in your best Chris Rock voice:
In response to a school orientation where his daughter’s class was told, “You can do anything!” Rock’s reply was, “You can do anything you’re good at, as long as they’re hiring.” Pause for laughter. “And even then, it helps to know someone.”
poster from: https://can.newonnetflix.info/info/80167498
Because I love dance, I was interested in this film about step dancing. I was less interested when I found out the thrust of the narrative was about white sorority girls becoming competent step dancers under the tutelage of Megalyn Echikunwoke. However, the commitment of all actors to their roles eventually won me over.
Cost: Netflix subscription fee
Where watched: at home
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2018/step_sisters.html
There was brilliant acting by all three leads, plus a delicious feast of clothing for the eye. However, I’ve grown tired of entitled men being assholes and arranging their world to revolve around them, so most of this movie was excruciating.* It’s worth watching, though, so you know what people are talking about when they reference “the ending” with befuddled glee and/or confusion.
Cost: $5.35
Where watched: Regal City Center Stadium 12
*I did not find this to be, as the Filmspotting crew termed it, “a love story.”
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2018/phantom_thread.html
A recommend by someone who knows of my love of drummers, this was a bit uneven for a comedy special, but it was full of drummer love. I particularly enjoyed Armisen’s tour of the drum kits through the years. The audience members also had to play drums in order to prove they were drummers to gain entry; the notice on the sign didn’t lie.
Cost: Neflix monthly fee
Where watched: at home
poster from: http://www.slimspresents.com/event/fred-armisen-drummers-only-netflix-special-taping-gamh/
Is this not the best promotional poster you’ve seen in a long time?
