Here’s a great example of interesting characters who come together to form an incredibly uninteresting movie. The acting was good, but the plot meandered, and I was bored. I’m also uncertain as to why we needed the 1990s setting, though that time period was nicely recreated.
Cost: $3.00
Where watched: Laurelhurst with S. North.
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2017/landline.html
Heist movies, I like them. Channing Tatum, I’m a fan. This was 118 minutes of fun for me.
Cost: $8.00 (big spender, due to CT)*
Where watched: St. John’s Twin Cinema with Matt, who also enjoyed.
*After coming back from vacation, I discovered I had free admission for two to this movie. I had won a promo. Alas, the movie had already been seen, and I was too busy to see it again.
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2015/trainwreck_ver2.html
“How big is that car?” Asked someone from the IMP peanut gallery. Fair question.
Here’s a trivia item from IMDB.
The film was distributed by cutting out studios, in order to have creative control and make money directly from the film itself. Accordingly, for this atypical distribution, Steven Soderbergh raised the budget by selling off foreign distribution rights, and then sold everything except the movie showing up in a movie theater in order to pay for advertising and prints of the movie (for example, selling post-theatrical rights to the likes of HBO, Netflix, Video-On-Demand, television, and airplanes). By following these two steps, Soderbergh was able to sidestep a Hollywood studio, and had creative control the entire time (for instance, the trailers that dropped earlier this summer were by his design, as was the poster and the entire marketing plan). Also, according to Soderbergh, under this set-up, the box-office bar for success is lower. With nearly everything prepaid, and no hefty distributor fees coming off the top, even a modest fifteen million dollar opening would be a win.
A re-watch for me, the first time for Matt. I found I liked it better this time. It seemed funnier, which might be because I was watching it with someone.
Cost: free from library
Where watched: at home with Matt
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2015/trainwreck_ver2.html
(Is not this poster amazing! This scene wasn’t even in the movie!)
The most surprising thing to me about this movie was how incredible the ghost costume was.* I also really liked this movie for what it had to say about time, and just when I was wondering where we were going with this, the movie took a very interesting turn. That said, it’s probably best watched in a very theater-like environment as its sparse dialog and long tracking shots are best paid attention to when you aren’t thinking about the laundry in your bedroom you haven’t folded, or the fact that its time to feed the cats.
Cost: $5.35
Regal City Center Stadium 12 with S. North.
*There was so much of it–Casey Affleck is not a short man–and it was this rich, thick material that looked great on film.
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2017/ghost_story.html
This was one of those movies where I had to just go with it, because when I started thinking too much, the movie didn’t work.* It’s also one of those movies where I like Keanu Reeves’ acting.** Overall, a lovely night at the Haus-cinema.
Cost: free from library (I had to wait. There were holds)
Where watched: at home.
*That scene from Looper comes to mind: ” I don’t want to talk about time travel, because if we start talking about it then we’re going to be here all day talking about it, making diagrams with straws.”
**God love him, but sometimes his woodenness gets to me.
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2006/lake_house.html
Australian tale of loss, grief and moving on. When Simone’s father dies unexpectedly, she hears him talking to her through a very large tree outside her home. This is a quiet, slow film in all the best ways.
Cost: free from library
Where watched: at home
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/intl/misc/2010/tree_ver2.html
Manages to be both quiet and loud, slow and fast. The triple timeline narrative is brilliant; it kept my mind stitching things together as the stories unfolded. If I’m going to like a war movie, it’s going to be a movie like this one, capturing the stifling boredom, random chance, brutal cruelty and human goodness.
Cost: $15.00
Where watched: Hollywood Theater in 70 millimeter (gorgeous!) with Matt.
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2017/dunkirk.html
As sequels go, this is a good one. Reunites the previous cast, and has more singing/dancing segments. The Bradys are at their earnest best as they travel to Hawaii. A delightful concoction.
Cost: free from libaray
Where watched: at home
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/1996/very_brady_sequel.html
This awkward romance is perfect for the movie screen, providing the laughs, wincing and love that a good romantic comedy requires. Everyone did their thing and was good at doing their thing. There’s something so satisfying about a well-made movie.
Cost: $9.00
Where watched: Regal City Center Stadium 12, with S. North. (Who did not share my enthusiasm. No emotional connection.)
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2017/big_sick.html
There was so much to like about this movie, especially the way it captured a long-standing couple’s frustrations underscored by waning feelings of love. I’m a fan of how-the-band-got-started films and this was that, but also stirred in a rare helping of established couple falling back in love. Written and directed by a woman, it includes plot points I don’t usually see in films.
Cost: $5.00 (plus I opted for a sandwich. The Living Room Theater makes great sandwiches)
Where watched: Living Room Theater
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2017/band_aid.html
