Films and Movies 2023

 I continue to watch films and movies and I am trying to watch as many of the Oscar nominated films and movies before the awards. There will be several that I won't see only because I would like to see them on the big screen. Black Panther Wakanda Forever and Avatar, The Way of Water are two of them. I watched Elvis because it had done well at the Golden Globes. I wasn't sure about it when I first started watching. Tom Hanks is rather creepy as the Colonel, but it is as much a story of the Colonel as it is of Elvis. I am not a fan of films or movies that have narration, but it was getting better as the movie progressed. I am not sure if Tom Hanks is nominated for an Oscar, but he should be. The influences of Elvis are very interesting. I am not a big fan of Elvis, but his music was played in the house, and I did see some of his movies. The actress who plays Rosetta Tharpe has a powerhouse of a voice and this is her first movie. The only thing I don't like with Baz Luhrmann his is incorporation of hip hop music. With the exception of Mouline Rouge, it just doesn't work for me when you are doing a period piece. Other than that, the movie is quite entertaining.

Austin Butler embodies Elvis as does Tom Hanks as Colonel Peters. Alton Mason gives a great performance as Little Richard, I felt there could have been a better job done with the hair. Perhaps they didn't think black people would check out this movie. Kelvin Harrison, Jr plays B.B. King, Gary Clark, Jr is Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup"and Shonkra Dukureh plays Big Momma Thorton. For me it was just as important to see the things that were happening and the influences and those that encouraged Elvis to be himself. It's worth a look.

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do come back again.

Movies and SXSW 2019

I never know if I will get to see any movies during SXSW. It's all based on my schedule and whether I feel like leaving the house if I don't have to work. There were some exceptions, but I was also watching movies that I had gotten from the library.

Captain Phillips - Tom Hanks stars in this true story of a Haitian Pirates taking over a ship. It's intense and very powerful. Great cinematography, made me think of Das Boot a little as some of the film is shot below deck in close quarters.

Her Smell - Elizabeth Moss of Mad Men and The Hand Maid's Tale stars as a singer battling a drug problem. Her Smell is the name of the club where they perform, but it also has a lot to do with why she tries to turn her life around because of her daughter. That was my take away from the movie. There are some unique cinematography techniques that seem to be creating a new trend as far as flash back scenes. The screen gets smaller as if we are watching 8 mm footage for the flashbacks and goes back to full screen for the present scenes.

Boyz in the Wood - This was my absolute favorite. I was just going on a hunch and what I had read on imdb for those of you not familiar, that is the Independent Movie Data Base. Luckily there was a synopsis and it seemed very interesting. The film is set in the Irish hills as four kids who are sort of the misfits are brought to learn about skills of working as a team. The audience has no idea what type of thrill ride they are about to embark on. It is funny, suspenseful, trippy with a great original hip hop sound track. There are some cool visual effects and the scenery in the hills is breath taking. I highly recommend seeing this film if you can.

Extra Ordinary - Another movie set in Ireland that features Will Forte of Last Man on Earth. The movie uses the same technique as Her Smell when we see the flashbacks. It's a comedy about death, witch craft, good and evil. There are many surprises to keep one guessing and laughing. I was also lucky that this was on imdb as well since this was a Buzz Screening which didn't give a title.

Citizen Kane - This is considered a classic. By some it is considered one of the best films ever made. The first time I saw the film I wasn't that impressed. Although now I'm older, I feel its an interesting body of work, but some of it seems dated. The make up isn't the best in some areas. The cinematography is still great. The writing is excellent as well as some good acting for a lot of first timers. It's definitely worth a look for anyone interested in the art of film making.

Jezebel - This movie is based on a true story. You get the impression that you are peeking into someone's life. The story follows two sisters who live in an apartment with a brother and the older sister's boyfriend and daughter. The older sister makes her living via phone sex. Her mother is in the hospital and she passes away leaving everyone to have to seek employment. The younger sister is introduced to the world of Internet sex. Once she is making money she is asked to move out of the small apartment. She seems to enjoy what she is doing especially when she meets a client that is helping her become very popular on the Internet Site. She deals with a few issues that don't become that important. She learns to adjust even though there are some other opportunities that pop up. She manages to get a raise and possibly meet the guy that has really become her meal ticket. Of course we never know how the date goes or if it even happens as the movie ends once she gets dressed.

Thanks for stopping by; keep and open mind and do come back again.

Still watching movies

Thanks to a very good friend I received about four dozen movies over the weekend. Now I can catch up on all of the movies that I missed. I started with The Wolf of Wall Street. The film is based on a true story, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Seth Rogen. I like Leonardo DiCaprio and although he has come great scenes toward the end, I feel Seth Rogen stole the movie. I don’t recall if Seth was nominated for best supporting actor or not, but both of their performances were oscar worthy. Matthew McConaughey has a small role in the film as well. He is just all over the place these days, but that’s what a good actor does. He keeps working. It’s not the size of the part, it’s what the part offers that’s important.
The Wolf of Wall Street is a rags to riches story in an unorthodoxed fashion. Some people will do anything to live the life they never had at any price. I am not sure if the version of the film I have was unrated, but there is a lot of sex, perversion, fowl language and drugs, lots of drugs.

The Wolf of Wall Street - DDDD

Savages - DDDd - this is a film by Oliver Stone. I wanted to see the film because it starred Salma Hayek. You may remember, many many years ago I had met the actress a couple of times at the Seattle International Film festival. A few days ago I caught some of the film on one of the Spanish channels and it seemed interesting. It also stars Blake Lively who I think is pretty, but she’s been playing all of these gritty roles. I guess she’s trying to get away from the image she had on Gossip Girl. It’s an okay film about friends who decide to go into the drug business and when their product infringes on that of another source, conflict begins.
The story is somewhat deceiving as we believe something may or may not be true, but still the ending is not what we are expecting. There are many surprises in the film. Also in the film are Benecio Del Toro, John Travolta, Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson and Emile Hirsch.

Cloud Atlas - DDDd - I am definitely going to have to watch this film again. There is a lot to take in. I found myself trying to figure out which star was playing which role as opposed to paying complete detail to the story. I liked the idea of people being connected from past lives and the interaction of the present and future. That’s why we have what is known as Dejavu. We experience things we feel as if we’ve done them before and we spend out time trying to figure out what will happen next, but we can never do it.
The makeup and cinematography in this film is incredible, as well as the special effects. There are many surprises besides trying to figure out who the actors are, but seeing all the great talent that is a part of this film. Tom Hanks, Halley Berry, Keith David, Susan Sarandon, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Donna Bae, Ben Wishaw, Xun Zhou, Hugh Grant, James D’Arcy, and David Gyasi. The film is based on the book by David Mitchell which I am now interested in reading. We go from the future to the past and present in various intervals in the film. Now that I write this, it makes me think of Inception, but this time it’s stories, within stories as opposed to being inside of someone’s mind. And there are more stories to take in than Inception. I really enjoyed it.

The Rise of the Planet of the Apes - DDD- I had mixed feelings about seeing this film in the theater because of the CGI. The original film franchise was more interesting. The film has its moments. It is original which is what I keep wishing Hollywood would do. Don’t just remake a movie, tell a different story.
The effects are interesting and other than Caesar, the other chimps, gorillas, orangutans look so realistic. Andy Serkis plays Caesar and it looks creepy at times.
The film stars, James Franco, John Lithgow, Frieda Pinto, Brian Cox, David Oyelowo and Tom Felton.





Here is my new rating system. DDDDD highly recommend. DDDD It should be watched. DDD Entertaining DD So, so if you like the stars. D Just out of curiosity watch it.
(I like all movies. Even those that most people don’t like, it makes for great conversation.)


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Tom Hanks Double Feature

I have to be in a certain mood to watch certain movies. There are films that I watch at least once a year and then there are those that I watch every three, four or longer before I see them again. I had been wanting to watch Cast Away, but its such a long film and all I remembered was Tom Hanks being on a deserted island talking to a soccer ball. The only reason I went to see the film was because it was Tom Hanks. I don’t think I would have seen this film if it had been any other actor.

Tom Hanks was on a role and he commands the screen when he does the right film. There were a few comedic roles that I didn’t care to see, but it really didn’t have to do with him. It had more to do with his co star. I was never a big fan of Shelly Long or Meg Ryan. I did however like Bachelor Party, Big, and Forest Gump, but that was mostly Tom Hanks.
There are certain comedies I like and some I don’t. I was also never a big fan of war films.
Watching Cast Away made me think of what I would do. It also reminded me how life sends us a curve ball and some people are forced to make decisions they wouldn’t normally make on their own. It’s important to go with ones heart. If you believe in something make it your cause no matter what anyone else says. I enjoy films that make me think. Of course there are times we want to watch a film to escape our own mundane lives.

The second feature was The Green Mile. Normally, I would stay away from a film based on a Stephen King novel or short story. I was not impressed with Cujo or Pet Cemetery. When the Langoliers made it to television I was disappointed, but the Stand changed my mind on adaptations of his work. I had listen to parts of The Green Mile on cassette when my sister-in-law was listening to it. I wanted to see how it would play out on the big screen and I must say it was done quite well. The cast was excellent. Tom Hanks, David Morse, James Cromwell, Sam Rockwell, Michael Duncan, Bonnie Hunt and Patricia Clarkson to name a few. For me when you wait a long time to watch a film it adds to the excitement of trying to remember what’s going to happen. Remembering the first time you saw the film and whether you shared the experience with someone or if you went alone.

For many years I preferred to go to the movies alone because I liked watching movies and sometimes no one wanted to see what I was interested in viewing. Back then films weren’t coming out on VHS after one week at the movie theater. I made a wise investment in my movie collection. I love movies so its not important that I have Blu- Ray or DVD. Of course if I could afford it I’d probably get it, but I can’t. I still watch VHS tapes from time to time because the film may not be available on DVD or the price is just too high for a film that I can still watch on VHS.

Tom Hanks has given a plethora of films and incredible performances. Cast Away and The Green Mile are excellent, but his body of work shows a broader range and that he isn’t afraid to take on a role that he knows he can breathe life into.

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