Tag: three sentence movies

It’s a boy-centered story about skaters from the 70s directed by a rock star female director.  Thus, a movie that could have been an action bro-fest is still captivating in its execution, but is also overlaid with a depth of feeling I was not at all expecting.   When it was over, I wanted more, so I partook in the rare action of watching ALL of the DVD extras* which were also** fun.***

Cost:  Free from Netflix
Where watched: at home.

*In which Catherine Hardiwicke was described as a “method director,” a description I loved.   The person making the comment talked about how in shooting the surf scenes she was in her wet suit in the water with the actors the whole time.
**Just hearing about how even the skate instructor had to learn on the skinny 70s skateboards was interesting.
***I also spent some time feeling sad for the loss of Heath Ledger.  Man, that guy could disappear into a character.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2005/lords_of_dogtown.html

A perfectly fine illustration of a woman who bought a villa in Tuscany and all the interesting, funny and quirky things that happened there.  Diane Lane was here usual solid self and everything just clipped along in a good and interesting fashion.  Overall, it was the kind of solid Sunday afternoon movie you can watch with your mom and grandmother.

Cost: free from employer-funded Netflix
Where watched: at home.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2003/under_the_tuscan_sun.html

I’ve been having mixed feelings of late about the whole superhero movie thing and so I wasn’t chomping at the bit to see this picture show.  However, the questions within the movie kept me engaged and the pace was masterful–I didn’t even notice it’s 2.5 hour run time. Plus, Tom Holland has me excited about Spider-Man again, something I never thought would happen.

Cost: $5.10
Where watched: Regal City Center Stadium 12 with Matt (who had already watched it on Friday)

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

Wander through a long weekend in the life of a freshman student on his college baseball team.  And I do mean wander, as this movie takes a lot of time to really focus in on things.*  I started out kind of bored,** but eventually realized I had been smiling for the last 20 minutes; so overall, I rated this as fun to look at and an enjoyable film, despite its shortcomings.**

Cost: $9.25
Where watched: Regal Fox Tower with S. North

*The “Rappers Delight” segment goes on for a very long time.  In this clip, they are just getting started.  Similarly, there is a lot of disco dancing, scenes long enough that I spent a goodly amount of time wondering what the sessions looked like when the actors were learning the choreography.
**And had ample time to wonder about the slightly awkward looking good looking people Richard Linklater picks for his stand-ins. (Wiley Wiggins as Mitch in Dazed and Confused, Blake Jenner as Jake in this film.)  Does Richard Linklater think of himself as awkwardly good looking?
***The aforementioned pace.  Plus, the main character’s unending confidence was weird to me. Was he not at all nervous about staring college?  Did he never have second doubts about his choices, any of them?

Also.  The soundtrack–much more varied than Dazed and Confused–was quite interesting.

poster from:
http://www.impawards.com/2016/everybody_wants_some_ver2.htmlhttp://www.impawards.com/2016/everybody_wants_some.html
(I liked this one better, but felt compelled to lead with the one with the people on it.)

I loved the design of this movie, how the animations would sometimes take over the movie itself.  I also thought it accurately captured a lot of the feelings and emotions that occur when young women become sexually active* (though thankfully, most of us aren’t sleeping with our mother’s boyfriends).  There is a general out-of-control feeling, which is uncomfortable, but the total package is a winner.**

Where watched: at home
Cost: free from Netflix

*This is so rare to see on film!
**And I can’t wait to see more of Bel Powley.  I’ll start with that Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret movie.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2015/diary_of_a_teenage_girl_ver2.html

Chock-full of late-90s actresses, this love story of a young woman and a very much older man doesn’t dress up the romance in typical May-December fare.  Which is what happens when a woman writes and directs the May-December romance instead of a man.  Very good acting and felt extremely realistic in its infatuation and dissolution.

Cost: free from work-funded Netflix
Where watched: at home.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/1999/guinevere.html

A day in the life of Maye, a woman grieving her recently departed Aunt Amanda, who was a studio musician drummer.  As she packs up the house, a variety of people stop by  to help or detract from the job.  As usual with DuVerney, watching for the subtle change in emotions is the thing to do.

Cost: free from Netflix
Where watched: at home

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

It was rather unfortunate that I was suddenly called away to the airport with ten minutes of this movie remaining.  Because those last 10 minutes really pack the punch and it took me some time (like a week) to get to watch them.  Overall, very good acting, very sad, but not so terribly sad I was unable to function.

Cost: free from Netflix
Where watched: at home

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

I think this is the first time I watched the tv series followed by the movie, as I’m pretty sure I watched the movie having not watched the show.  I think it works well as a stand-alone, although why anyone would want to only watch the movie when there are fourteen fabulous episodes of quality TV is beyond me.  This is the movie where I learned Joss Whedon never gets overly attached to his characters.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2005/serenity.html
(wow, do I not like this poster.  The other two were not good either.)