Tag: three sentence movies

I’m going on record as saying that I remember my family watching this on VHS in 1987 and finding it hilarious.*  And while it wasn’t knee-slapping funny, I laughed throughout this viewing. If you are amused by two middle-aged men bumbling through the desert, you will quite possibly like this movie, especially if you ignore all the film-critic baggage that has attached itself to this picture.

Cost: $2.99 via Google Play
Where watched: at home on the tablet.  Film 3 of 3 of today’s scheduled Movie Palooza.

*So much so that I can still sing the “Tellin’ the Truth” song from the soundtrack.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/index.html

Eh, it was a little bit too “dramatic novel” and there was a little too much scene chewing by Eva Green.  There were also two abrupt shifts in perspective–one of which explained a key plot point–that were confusing.*  Although this also has a female who is in charge of her sexuality with none of the usual consequences, so that was a plus.**

Cost:  free from library.
Where watched. At home. Film 2 of 3 of today’s scheduled Movie Palooza.

*If 98% of the movie is from the main character’s perspective, and two scenes aren’t, does that mean the main character doesn’t know those scenes have happened and thus doesn’t know that key plot reveal?
**Also, much like Jennifer Lawrence, Shailene Woodley is fun to watch.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/index.html

So my mild infatuation with Oscar Issac continues.*  I was surprised that I hadn’t heard of this movie, as it was quite good–tense in all the right places.  It’s based on a Patricia Highsmith novel, and follows the usual pattern.

Cost: Free from library.
Where watched: at home.  Film 1 of 3 of today’s scheduled Movie Palooza.**

*And who doesn’t like a side of Viggo Mortensen?
**Side note.  When I watched the movie Frank, I was intrigued by the preview for this movie and White Bird in a Blizzard, the next film in today’s Movie Palooza.  I was amused to notice the previews for this movie and the next all played a small game of rotating through each other.  This had Frank and White Bird.  While White Bird had this and Frank.  Magnolia Pictures was pushing all the same movies at the same time.

Unlike the original, this movie fleshed out the back story and pointed me in a direction, so I knew what was supposed to be funny.  There were the usual Farrelly Brothers gratuitous touches* and Ben Stiller did his uncomfortable Ben Stiller thing.**  Not the worst way to spend two hours, but not the best one either.

Cost: free from library
Where watched: at home.

*Older woman in hot tub with breasts the size of basketballs.
**However, it was enjoyable watching the scenes he did with his father.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/index.html

I only got this movie because the preview for Neighbors 2 both attracted and repelled me in a way that was interesting.  And this movie is chock full of uncomfortable situations which beget uncomfortable laughter.  There was much flapping of hands, saying “oh-no!” and looking away, but goodness gracious did I laugh.

Cost: free from library
Where watched: at home with Matt.  After the second-worst work day of my life.*

*I accidentally installed ransom-ware which killed off my computer, took down the server and rendered everyone in the company unable to work for the afternoon.  Everyone was very nice about it and the backup server was restored the next day, but it was still pretty terrible.

poster from http://www.impawards.com/index.html

Overlooked movie alert!*  There’s really good stuff in here, from mother/daughter relationships to fame, and how women are often required to sell their bodies to achieve it.    Great performances all around.

Cost: free from library
Where watched: at home

*Thanks to the hosts of the Next Picture Show Podcast for squealing when this title was mentioned, thus alerting me to its existence.

http://www.impawards.com/2014/beyond_the_lights.html
The above poster was the only one the site had.  However, the poster below was on the front of my DVD and it’s a million times better.

http://www.target.com/p/beyond-the-lights/-/A-16927432?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Entertainment%2BShopping&adgroup=SC_Entertainment&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9032941&gclid=CjwKEAiAgKu2BRDu1OGw3-KXokwSJAB_Yy2QL926H6_3jXftq6Px5exWLb_dQQEBm-cTScTozlrcvBoCrmHw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

We flipped a coin to see which movie we were going to see and Matt won, so we took in this “romantic comedy” on Valentine’s Day.*  Members of the male species seem to really, really like this movie finding it gaspingly funny and wonderfully raunchy.  I found it to be amusing and raunchy and perhaps more proof that I’ve hit my superhero movie quota.**

Cost: $5.10 (somehow the special $5 price has added ten cents to it)
Where watched: Regal City Center Stadium 12 with Matt

*My choice:  Brooklyn.
**Which is a little worrisome.  What if I don’t like the next Thor movie?  Or the next Avengers movie?

There were a number of posters to choose from.  I went with the faux-romantic comedy one, because that’s how Matt was selling it.  But I think the one below is my favorite.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2016/deadpool_ver7.html
http://www.impawards.com/2016/deadpool_ver6.html

I can’t decide if it was because American comedy mores have changed so dramatically since 1972 that I only found this puzzling and frustrating, rather than funny.*  Perhaps it was the subject matter that tanked it for me.**  Overall, I just didn’t understand what the ultimate message I was supposed to take away from this film.***

Cost:  free on YouTube
Where watched: at home, while painting toenails purple.

*But then, again, I found the director’s previous film, A New Leaf, quite amusing.
**Just as in Mikey and Nicky, Elaine May excels at putting women in wrenching scenes. I will always remember the scene in the restaurant with the excellent pecan pie as being incredibly awful to watch.  Poor Jeannie Berlin!  Though I do agree with the sentiments expressed on the poster.
***Thus, I look forward to the Filmspotting discussion.  I’m also curious about the 2007 remake. It looks like an awful movie, but the status of women has changed a bit since 1971, so I’m curious as to the update.  The remake is written by a woman, so perhaps I will watch it, if only to keep the #womenfilmsbywomen going.

poster from:  http://www.impawards.com/1972/heartbreak_kid.html
(I really like the poster.  And you can see the fold marks!)