Tron: Legacy

 

A remake/ sequel that shouldn't have been made

Been watching a lot these past couple days so

 

Mrs Henderson Presents (2005) - By the same director that did Philomena/Florence Foster Jenkins and it had that kind of vibe to it although I vastly preferred this. I was expecting to be a bit more entertained tbh as aside from a few fun moments from Judi Dench, I was kind of bored and checking the time through it which is a shame seeing as it has a fairly short run time. I know it's based on a true story but the war parts kind of dragged it down for me, the show itself was far more interesting :lol: Will Young was kind of annoying too...

 

No Country for Old Men (2007) - Brilliant film, so tense at times and I certainly agree with those that describe Javier Bardem's character as one of the scariest villains of recent times, I was on edge during all of his scenes and he did an excellent job. Josh Brolin was really good too imo and I love how his death was dealt with off-screen. I was kind of sad about the ending though, I just wanted to keep watching :lol:

 

The Wrestler (2008) - Wrestling is not a sport that particularly interests me so I'm glad that the majority of the movie wasnmt about that but even then they managed to make those scenes very brutal but enthralling too. It was surprsingly funny as well (I loved all the scenes of Randy working at the deli counter :lol:). Mickey Rourke was definitely the highlight but I was really impressed by Marisa Tomei too and how she added emotion/personality to the character outside of her work scenes. Another film where I could've easily watched another half an hour!

 

Transamerica (2005) - One of the best female performances I've seen in a long time from Felicity Huffman in this, I don't imagine that it's easy being a woman playing a man that is transitioning into a woman but she was incredibly believable in the role. It was a really interesting story too and I thought the actor who played the son really suited his role too. I was laughing out loud at moments and almost in tears the next, the ending where he shows up at her door got me :') The Dolly Parton song is a nice little tune as well!

The Fault In Our Stars

 

Saw this again yesterday, still a good film but a bit of a slow-burner.

 

The 40-Year Old Virgin

 

A modern comedy classic. One of the funniest films I've seen.

 

 

Fatal Attraction (1987) - Absolutely loved this, I loved how it was directed like a horror film at times and you always felt her presence as if she was going to pop in the back of any shot at any time. Glenn Close was brilliant and utterly terrifying at times but suitably sexy and confident at other times, not hard to see why she helped to make this film a classic. I couldn't believe it when she boiled the bunny!!!1 x_x Anne Archer was really good too so was pleased to see she got an Oscar nomination for it as well!

 

Capote (2005) - I didn't realise what an eccentric character Truman Capote was before watching this but he was very entertaining to watch and it's not hard to see why Philip Seymour Hoffman won the Oscar for this role, it is very showy. The film was very interesting too and I found the scenes preceding Perry's hanging to be very emotional to watch, it's a shame Clifton Collins Jr. didn't get more awards attention for the role. He was far stronger than Catherine Keener in my opinion who was really dull in this, it's a great example for a performance just riding on the coat-tails of a more popular film! She was far more interesting in Get Out this year but she's never going to be in contention for that role :(

 

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) - I've been trying to watch some older Maggie Smith films and it's easy to see why this is one of her most iconic roles. I love how confident and charismatic she is and even the viewers feel like one of the Brodie girls falling under the spell of your teacher. I thought the ending was really interesting too with the betrayal by Sandy and I even felt bad for Miss Brodie despite her clearly not being fit to be a teacher. I thought Celia Johnson was brilliant too, her argumentative one-on-one scenes with Maggie were really thrilling to watch.

 

Gosford Park (2001) - I will say that this movie had a very exciting final half an hour or so but it's a shame that a film about a murder mystery doesn't have a murder in it until way over half of the way through. If it was all more like the ending than I'd have been really entertained but instead I felt like I was just watching boring scenes with not much happening for the first hour and a bit. Maggie Smith was loads of fun and perfectly suited to the role. I was a bit shocked about Helen Mirren's nominations at the awards this year, she's so bland for the entire film apart from one crying scene right at the very end ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Nocturnal Animals again. This honestly could challenge Leap Year for my favourite Amy Adams movie. It's just a perfect film from start to end.

Downloaded the soudntrack last night, criminal how it didn't get a best score nod at the Oscars (we wont go into the snubbage of Amy and Aaron)

 

 

everything about the last section with Susan going to meet Edward is perfect tbh

 

 

 

Some movies I saw in film club

 

Frozen (2013): Quite enjoyed it

Wallace And Gromit: The Wrong Trousers (1992): Not sure if this counts as a movie or a film but more of a short 30 minute film. This was hilarious and eclectic, and is also a childhood favourite of mine. Was glad to revisit this.

The Jungle Book (original 1967 animated version, not the live-action remake from last year): Really enjoyed this film.

California Suite (1978) - I imagine this probably works better in stage form as the four stories are very isolated so it almost feels like four different movies rolled together into one and doesn't flow all that well. Jane Fonda's story is interesting and excellently acted on her behalf but it seems like the odd one out tonally as it is very serious compared to the comedic nature of the other three stories. Walter Matthau's storyline was funny and had me giggling at some moments, a classic comedic story line and there were definitely some good moments. The real highlight of the movie is easily Michael Caine and Maggie Smith's scenes together, the banter is hilarious and I loved the Oscars set up around the characters too, I was laughing out loud loads but it had a real emotional weight to it as well at certain moments. The less said about the Pryor-Cosby scenes, the better. It was like a badly written low-budget TV comedy, ALL the jokes fell flat :///

 

A Beautiful Mind (2001) - I wasn't expecting this to be as thrilling as it but it really had me on the edge of my seat at moments, I loved the scenes where you find out the people aren't real and even then you're still second guessing it like John Nash was. Russell Crowe was brilliant in the main role and I liked Jennifer Connelly a lot too. Perhaps not an Oscar winning performance from her so I can see why her win gets slated sometimes but it was a pretty weak year tbh (not seen Marisa Tomei but the others were hardly amazing or anything). Some great moments too, the baby in the bath had me so anxious!

 

Bullets Over Broadway (1994) - Getting around to watching some older Woody Allen films and this is already one of my favourites that I've seen by him, it just has so much charm but it's also the most I've laughed at a comedy by him yet too, there were some really funny moments. Dianne Wiest especially, I was dying every time she said "don't speak!", such excellent line delivery. I like Jennifer Tilly's character too and thought she was also very funny, I always like Allen's more ditsy characters (e.g Mira Sorvino in Mighty Aphrodite & Sally Hawkins in Blue Jasmine). I loved the dynamics between the Broadway and mobster characters and the final third act had a great pay-off. Hannah and Her Sisters is next on my watch-list now!

 

A Room with a View (1985) - I'm not the biggest on period dramas as they're not really the most engaging but it was definitely a well-made movie. Maggie Smith was my highlight as usual with her character who's decisions in the film I found really interesting. It was nice seeing Helena Bonham Carter in this too and she did a good job, she looked so young though! Her hair was also amazing *-* Daniel Day-Lewis was so annoying though, like a fly that I just wanted to swat... On a side note, lol at multiple cases of male full frontal nudity and homo-erotic nude bathing scenes being in a PG movie in the 80s?!? :lol:

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist

Over three years since I posted on here that I'd have to seek it out :lol: But I've noted down a few movies that are on Netflix and I wouldn't mind checking out and this was one of them. I love Michael Cera and Kat Dennings and they helped to make it likeable enough. I also loved that Norah's best friend was named Caroline :P A decent watch for 90 minutes but not something I'd rush back to, didn't really find any LOL moments, prefer Juno and Scott Pilgrim for Michael Cera movies.

Matilda

 

:wub: one of my fave ever books and a fab movie version. Although it's onyl just clicked that Miss Honey was the same woman from Junebug :drama:

 

Thor

 

Been a while since I last saw this and enjoyed it more than I had before. Loki annoys me though and i'm really fed up of him being in every Marvel movie (or it seems that way) :lol: Wish Josh Dallas stayed on for the second one, he does a better job than Zachary Levi

 

Quartet

 

Such a lovely little movie. So veyr British :lol: and despite being billed as a comedy there were some really heartbreaking moments, mainly with Pauline Collins' character. Billy Connelly was amazing in this.

 

Philomena

 

Again, so british and so lovely. Judi Dench was a dream in this. Steve Coogan too, who I'd never payed attention to before. Story was really well told.

Loki has only been in 3 Marvel movies? :lol:

3 TOO MANY. Tom Hiddleston needs to take his unsymmetrical face and BUGGER OFF.

 

Thor has SO many good enemies, I don't see why they needed him in more than the first one tbh.

Edited May 17, 20178 yr by Regina

Ahh, Quartet has been on my watch-list for a while and I've got it on DVD so I must get around to watching it soon (mainly for Dame Maggie Smith tbh!)

Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) - Not one of my favourite Woody Allen films but I thought it had an interesting storyline. I was hoping it would be a bit funnier but I didn't laugh out loud all that much, instead it was far more dramatic than I was expecting. Michael Caine and Dianne Wiest were definitely the cast highlights although I'm not sure they felt like the Oscar WINNING performances that they ended up being. I far prefer both the Oscar wins that they have for The Cider House Rules & Bullets Over Broadway respectively. Barbara Hershey was also really good in this and under-rated I thought, shame she got no awards attention. It was nice seeing Carrie Fisher pop up too, I wish she had a larger role :(

 

Thelma & Louise (1991) - It's not the tone I was expecting from this movie but I really did love it, both the leading ladies were fabulous and it was so much fun to go on a journey with them. The ending really made me shocked though, I was hoping for a happier one tbh but it really works as the final moment of the film. Sarandon and Davis had great chemistry which made the film work so well.

 

Primal Fear (1996) - I thought this was a very enthralling story, I was hooked from the moment it started pretty much and it was so interesting to see how the court case developed as new evidence came about. Edward Norton was absolutely brilliant and he nailed both personalities, my mouth dropped open at the end. My heart sank when you realize he remembers hurting the lawyer's neck and then the slow clap afterwards. Laura Linney was under-rated in this too, her court room monologue that causes 'Roy' to come out was captivating.

 

Dead Man Walking (1995) - I don't think I've ever felt so bad for a murderer and rapist but I think this film was really interesting in the way that it explored the conflict that Sister Helen faced in not knowing whether to provide support for the criminal or the grieving families. Two powerhouse performances too, the final half an hour was hard to sit through and you really empathise with all of the characters in the film.

 

The Cider House Rules (1999) - What happened to Tobey Maguire? It's a shame he no longer acts very often because he was one of the most likable on-screen faces around tbh, he helped to make the film so warm and it had a lovely little story. He was probably my highlight tbh and I thought Michael Caine was impressive too, I was close to tears in some of the scenes with him raising the children in the orphanage (

especially when Fuzzy died

) :( The ending left me with a big smile on my face which was nice :')

 

 

Getting though my 2009 Oscars contenders :lol:

 

A Single Man (2009) - I did like this but it wasn't as enjoyable as Nocturnal Animals in terms of Tom Ford films for me. It was a little slow at times whereas NA had me on the edge of my seat. Colin Firth was absolutely brilliant though and I liked Julianne Moore too even if her character was a little annoying in this.

 

Invictus (2009) - I did enjoy this but it definitely could have been cut down a bit because I didn't enjoy watching loads of rugby matches in a film (apart from the short shorts *-*) which made it drag a fair bit towards the end. The dialogue scenes were much more interesting and I thought Morgan Freeman nailed the role of Mandela, very impressive!

 

The Lovely Bones (2009) - The definite highlight of this is Stanley Tucci so it's not hard to see why he was singled out for an Oscar nomination for the film, such an unsettling villain... Susan Sarandon was a fun bit of light relief in the film and Rachel Weisz's emotional scenes were very touching. The ending was very harrowing

where all the other victims were revealed!

 

 

Inglourious Basterds (2009) - This is the first time that I've seen a Tarantino film and I must say that I really enjoyed it. It was funny, brutal, intense, witty, intelligent, gorey in all the right places and I had a real hoot watching it. Christoph Waltz was spectacular (five languages !!!!) and it was great to see such an intimidating villain get that sort of treatment right at the end :heehee:

 

Election (1999) - I had high hopes for this due to how great The Descendants & Nebraska are in terms of Alexander Payne films and whilst this wasn't as hilarious or charming, it still was a lot of fun. Reese Witherspoon was the cast highlight with the sort of character you love to hate and I loved the school setting of it too, was lots of fun for the most part :lol: I need to get around to watching Sideways now, I'm expecting good things!

 

Training Day (2001) - Still not the biggest fan of Denzel Washington but this is probably the best role I've seen him in, it's still annoyingly OTT in places but it works the majority of the time due to how unpredictable and unnerving his character is. Ethan Hawke was my highlight though, I always think he's really under-rated and I was on the edge of my seat when they had him in the bath with a gun to his head. There were plenty of twists and turns too so I really enjoyed this on the whole.

 

The Accused (1988) - The plot was very interesting so I'll give this a pass but the dialogue and score and everything about it was just so TV movie which is a shame, it could have been so much better really. The best thing about it was definitely Jodie Foster though so not surprised she won an Oscar for a role like this, it's the perfect balance of vulnerability ans confidence and she pulls it off very well. That rape scene was very, very hard to watch too...

and it was great to see such an intimidating villain get that sort of treatment right at the end :heehee:

 

 

Yeah! That cinema scene at the end is one of the most satisfying villain deaths.

Girl, Interrupted (1999) - I thought this was a really interesting film and it certainly kept me interested with all the antics going on in the ladies section of the hospital, all the characters were either lots of fun or interestingly tragic so I was pretty hooked on seeing how all their storyline progressed. My heart sunk when that girl hanged herself :'( Angelina Jolie is, of course, the massive highlight though, couldn't think of a better fit for the role. It's a shame we don't get to see her act all that much nowadays and when she does, it tends to be in shit like By the Sea :(

 

Terms of Endearment (1983) - I was expecting more really considering it won five Oscars and was made by the writer of The Simpsons. I found the script to be surprisingly lacking in charm and the plot a little on the boring side (and very rushed towards the end, she seemed to find a lump and then be dead 5 minutes later?). The two Oscar acting winners from this were unimpressive too imo. Shirley MacLaine was fine, I guess, but overshadowed by Debra Winger imo who felt much more like a real character. Jack Nicholson winning for this is a bit of a joke though, he didn't do anything impressive to my eyes. I wasn't expecting to have a crush on young Jeff Daniels either before seeing this, he used to be kinda cute tho ?!? :lol:

 

Mildred Pierce (1945) - Aside from the classics like The Wizard of Oz, I think this the furthest back Hollywood movie that I've seen and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Joan Crawford was brilliant and I couldn't stop looking at her when she was on-screen, she really lights up the screen despite being a very normal character (and the film being in black and white :lol:). The daughter was such a bitch too but it made for a great storyline and such a good ending, I was well shocked at the twist, I really wasn't expecting it :o Would love to check out more movies from the Golden Age of Hollywood now!!

Just saw Gran Torino today. Amazing film!

The Manchurian Candidate (1962) - It took a while for me to really understand what was going on at first with the Hydrangeas scene but I got really into it once it got going, the brainwashing scenes were all really interesting and I especially loved the ending, in hindsight I could see it coming but I wasn't expecting it in the moment but it was a great ending. Angela Lansbury was PERFECT as the cold, manipulative and controlling mother and I was really impressed with Frank Sinatra too. Would be really interested in seeing the remake with Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep now!

 

American History X (1998) - That curb stomp is going to be forever in my mind now, so brutal :drama: Edward Norton was fantastic, I was almost in tears at the end with what happens to the brother. I can see why this has become a bit of a classic now though, it's such an interesting story and it has some brilliant moments ( a lot of the dinner table scenes were very interesting too!)

 

The Hurt Locker (2008) - I was sort of dreading watching this as war movies aren't really my thing but I was pleasantly surprised how enthralling this was. I was on the edge of my seat during most of the scenes, you really felt like life was on the line after seeing the opening scene. Jeremy Renner was definitely the cast highlight (my favourite scene being when he finds the young boy dead with the blood all over him) but Anthony Mackie was good too, a shame he was so overlooked at the awards that year.

 

Rachel Getting Married (2008) - Was hoping that I'd enjoyed this but I didn't enjoy it at all. It felt like a total mess tbh, as if there were only five scenes in the script and the rest of the screentime was just watching the cast ad lib boring conversations. The 15 minutes of dull wedding footage in the third act is not my idea of great cinema. At least Anne Hathaway was very good (she had some great scenes, especially those involving talking about her brother) and I thought Debra Winger and Rosemarie DeWitt shone with limited screentime too.

The Hurt Locker is a hard film to wathc but worth it.

 

I liked Rachel Getting Married, for Sebby tho obv.