2023 Movies

 

I keep a list of the movies that I watch since I do so many... Between the library, Prime and my own collection I try to watch at least one movie a day. It was more than that before I started working again. The challenge now is trying to remember what the movies were about. Some stand out and others not so much. I am going to work my way backwards according to the slips from the library and see what I can remember and give a rating and you can judge for yourself. I don't like giving away stories or saying something is bad, but I will say if something is really good. I love films and movies in general. It takes a lot of work to get a project done let alone trying to get distribution. There are many movies that never see the light of day for many reasons. I keep hoping with the Internet things would pop up and then again maybe its best they stay hidden.

 Actor David Tennant

The Guilt Trip stars Seth Rogen and Barbra Striesand, I had seen part of it on television and I decided to see if the library had it since there were some things bleeped out on tv. Sometimes actors just want to work together so they put a project together that sounds good and reads good on paper, but then doesn't always work out. I guess I was expecting it to be funnier. It is an interesting movie and depending on the connection you had with your parents you can definitely relate to the story. Its worth a look.

Nowhere Boy is the story of John Lennon and how the Quarreymen eventually became the Beatles, but the movie doesn't take us that far because it is about John Lennon's up bringing. If you love any of the Beatles you will love this move. The only Beattle we don't get to see if Ringo Starr.

Beast stars Idris Elba, who just seems to be everywhere these days. There had been a lot of people that wanted him to play Bond, but I just feel they can just turn The Take into a franchise and just keep it original. Daniel Craig made Bond rogue and that's Idris' character in The Take. It's full of excitement, but back to the Beast. I was recommending this to someone and it's like Cujo, but better. Idris Elba has to protect his girls and a friend from a lion. The scenes are so realistic. I am hoping the DVD has some special features to explain how they pulled off the sequences. I have seen it twice and now I will watch it a third time since I had put the DVD on hold with the library and had forgotten. It's rare that I watch a movie 3 times is such a short period of time. If you are a fan of Idris Elba I highly recommend the film and that you check out The Take.

The Following is one of the scariest series I had ever seen. It stars Kevin Bacon as an FBI agent trying to put an escaped serial killer back behind bars. Some of the sequences when the series first aired were actually happening. I always worry about how people process what they are seeing, but if a person doesn't know they have a mental health issue they don't really think they are doing anything wrong. I watched all 3 seasons. When it was on television I didn't see every episode probably because of the work schedule or there was something else I was watching and since it was on FOX I don't always remember. If you are a fan of Kevin Bacon you will enjoy the series. If you like psychological thrillers this will keep you interested.

The Mountain Between US, this is part love story, part survival story as Idris Elba stars opposite Kate Winslet. Every actor wants a chance to shine and doing a film or movie with minimal characters allows them to show just how good of an actor they are. I think Tom Hanks did it best in Castaway and James Franco pulled it off in 127 Hours and Leonardo DeCaprio in The Revenant. In The Mountain Between Us Idris and Kate must work together to survive the elements and whatever else comes there way in hopes that they will be rescued after the plane they are on, with Beau Bridges at the wheel crashes. If you love stories of people against the odds or people falling in love, this is definitely the film for you. The camera shots are really great and there are some action moments.

The Power of The Dog, after a comment supposedly made my Sam Elliot I wanted to see the movie for myself, but first I decided I would read the book by Thomas Savage. This book is supposed to be award winning, etc. I wonder sometimes if there is something wrong when I don't see what everyone else sees. I found the book boring. Maybe it was my moof, but I normally read before I go to bed. Perhaps now that I am older I need to try a different approach. When the DVD was ready at the library I just decided to go for it and see if it would be different. The movie is no different. The cinematography is excellent with a lot of wide angle shots, but the characters all who are flawed don't say much. It's all in their demeanor and the way the look at each other. I love many of the actors in the movie and so that made it watchable. It's rare that I will turn something off or walk out of a movie theater. Benedict Cumberbatch, Kristen Dunst, and Jesse Plemons who is her real life husband play opposite each other as husband and wife and Benedict is his smart over masculine brother, who may or may not be hiding a secret. I am curious now to go back and read the book just to see how it deals with certain things. If you like Jane Campion this is different for her as the men are the main focus and the women are in the background. She exploits the men somewhat, but its in a normal way as men would bath and frolic in the lakes and rivers. Kodi-Smith McPhee the tall actor who has been in the industry since age nine gives an interesting performance, but his androgynous features add to that.

Elvis also features Kodi along side rising star Austin Butler who channels Elvis very well, but it is Tom Hanks' performance that really makes the movie. I have talked about this before. It's a long one, but I will watch it again.

Des is a series starring Dr. Who star David Tennant as a serial killer. If you like David Tennant, you will enjoy seeing him in this. Is definitely different then his other roles.

Thanks for stopping by and do come back again as I list more from my viewing experiences. Remember to keep an open mind.

Melencholia

Melencholia - Art comes in many forms, and film presents it in many ways. Just to put together a film is art, but to tell an artistic story, now that’s the beauty of the art. I had never heard of the film Melencholia. While watching the film it made me think about the film festivals I used to be a part of. It allowed me to see films that most people never get a chance to see. Sometimes a film doesn’t get distribution or it goes straight to DVD. There are many reasons a film doesn’t get the appreciation it should get despite what some audiences may think.

Thanks to my friends who love movies as much as I do, they supply me with films I can’t get around to seeing. We trade off movies or they just send me the films they are getting rid of. One such film is Melencholia. The film opens with visuals. I wasn’t sure what to expect. It looked like an experimental film. There were images that were very artsy. They appeared to be stills, but then it looked as if the images were moving in slow motion. I was really getting into it and then there was the fade to black. A title appeared on the screen Part one Justine. The people in the film looked familiar, but I wasn’t sure. The film opens with a bride and groom in a stretch limo trying to maneuver a short curb in a country hillside. There isn’t a lot of dialogue. The story is being told by the facial expressions of the characters. There is joy, sadness, uncertainty and happiness in various moments as everyone in the car takes a turn trying to drive the car around the sharp turn. Who exactly achieves the feat we never know, but the bride and groom are in the back of the limo when it arrives at the top of the hill.

The host is very upset as the bride and groom are two hours late for their own reception. Again, dialogue is not the main aspect of this film. What  little the actors say is brought out by their actions as we get a quick understanding of the relationship between the newlywed couple, Michael and Justine. We meet the family through toasts and little introductions as one would normally have at such an event. We become a part of the wedding reception.
Justine is going through a transition and it not sure if she has made the correct decision.
Michael is the loving husband doing his best to show support.

The audience then gets to understand the opening of the film and what Justine does. She works in advertising and her boss is at the wedding seeking a tag line for a recent ad which he flashes the photograph on the screen at the reception. The pressure is on as Justine’s decision affects several people at the wedding. A newly hired employee, her boss, her husband and herself. We see the dysfunctional family appear right before our very eyes.

A mother who hates weddings because her own marriage didn’t work out. A sister that loves her sister very much, but she doesn’t seem to comprehend the love. A father that seems to be on the verge of dementia and refers to everyone as Betty, even his own daughter.
Parts of the film are shot in an amateur manner and then some parts are so artistic. Its like an artsy reality film. There are many long shots where we can take in the beautiful scenery. The aerial shots are breath taking as we see the characters on several occasions riding the horses. Sometimes through the fog or clouds and other times on a clear day.

Part two Claire centers on the sister and we find out what Melencholia is all about. Melencholia is a planet. Claire’s husband is obsessed with the phenomenon, but we can sense the fear that Claire has. She is afraid to die.

Melencholia is great to watch and there’s something unexpected in almost every scene. The ending certainly was unexpected. The cast is just incredible to watch. There are a few actors I'd not seen in anything for quite some time. The film is directed by Lars Von Trier

The film stars Kirsten Dundst,  Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, Alexander Skarsgard, John Hurt, Charlotte Rampling, Stellan Skarsgard, Brady Corbet, and Udo Kier.