Movie #50- "Empire Records" (1995)

Independent music stores.  I know I've talked about record shopping in the past, but it is something I truly miss.  Spending hours in a record store, sifting through bins of vinyl, looking for those albums that may have eluded you over the years.  Or maybe spending a couple bucks and taking a chance an album that looked promising (there are several groups I discovered with this premise).  Alas, a natural disaster diminished my collection, leaving me a couple bins of records minus sleeves and covers (on the plus side, I walked away).  Also, record stores are harder to find.
At it's core, "Empire Records" really wants to be a John Hughes film.  Several kids representing a variety of backgrounds and different tastes in music, all working under one roof.  Together, they are able to bond as one, working for a cause in sticking it to the man.  In this case, "the man" is the owner of the record store, who wants to sell out to a chain.  Each character discovers something about themselves and are given the chance to grow, due to the patience of their store manager, the only adult they seem to respect.
If I was younger, I may have enjoyed this movie more.  To me, the strong part of the film is the soundtrack, which features a good cross of genres including the highlight "A Girl Like You" from Edwyn Collins.  Some of the stereotypes are over-the-top, and Liv Tyler does more of her whisper acting.  "Empire Records" might have been a cool place to work, don't know if I'd want to shop there.


Rating: 4/10
Movies I've previously seen: 4
First time viewings: 46

Movie #49- "The Adjustment Bureau" (2011)

I hate to say this, but the main reason I watched this movie is because of the hats.  In the trailer, most of the main characters are wearing hats.  Those cool looking fedoras that once appeared to be a staple in men's fashion back in the day.
The plot is based on a Phillip K. Dick story dealing with a force that handles our fate.  It ponders some interesting questions about fate, if we have a predetermined path, and freewill.  One man tries to change his path over the love of a woman.  Other try to stop him.  And I'm happy that the hats figure into the plot.
Sometimes the simplest explanations are the best.  It was seriously about the hats.

Rating: 6/10
Movies I've previously seen: 4
First time viewings: 45

Movie #48- "Bad Teacher" (2011)

This entry was the result of Movie Channel Roulette.  I didn't have a particular movie in mind, so I flipped on the television and weighed the option of available movies starting within the hour.  The choices were obviously slim that afternoon.
"Bad Teacher" attempts to do to teaching what "Bad Santa" did to Christmas.  It's a partial success. 
On the plus side (Spoiler Alert), the fact that the teacher is question doesn't really seem to learn from her mistakes, and gets away with her scheme.  Sometimes bad people do bad things and don't get caught... it's life.  She also winds up with the Jason Segel character not because she's in love with him, but more because they share personality traits.  I didn't sense a real future between the two.  And there were moments that make me laugh, although the overall movie wasn't as funny as it should have been. 
On the down side, Cameron Diaz has that fun, party girl vibe, but Charlize Theron did a better job pulling off the darker side in "Young Adult".  Then there's Justin Timberlake.  Whenever he hosts Saturday Live Night, the guy is hilarious.  Yet he has not been able to make consistent choices in movie roles.  In "Bad Teacher", he's central to the plot, however the writers didn't seem to have a direction for the character.
I do know that I wouldn't want any of the teachers in this film near my child (if I had a child), and that includes the "good" teacher.  "Bad Teacher" may have to be held back.
 

Rating: 5/10
Movies I've previously seen: 4
First time viewings: 44

January/February Recap

So far, this project has been a great source of fun.  Several movies have reminded me of other movies that I haven't seen.  I think I've had a fair balance of older movies with the newer movies, although I need to get more pre-1970 movies under my belt.
The biggest hurdle for me has been the blogging.  I'm really only a few movies behind my schedule, but I have a number of blog entries currently in my draft folder.  Something to improve on for the month of March.

Movie #47- "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" (2011)

My enjoyment of sushi is rather limited.  California rolls, with the occasional spicy tuna and salmon.  I did try eel once, although it took some time to wrap that concept around my head before I tasted it.  There is something about food that fascinates me.  Not just the simple consumption of food, but also in the preparation.  That drew me to "Jiro Dreams of Sushi."
The story is amazing enough.  Jiro is an 85-year-old sushi master.  His restaurant is located in the basement of a Tokyo office building that seats only 10 people.  He received a three star rating from the Michelin Guide.  Jiro's sushi appears like gorgeous, stunning works of art.  And yet, with all this acclaim and recognition, the man still maintains the drive to produce an even better product on a daily basis.
The documentary not only talks with Jiro, but those around him.  Patrons (a few are fearful of eating the sushi in front of Jiro), food critics, his sons, and even those that supply him with his fish and rice.  You see the pride, the pressure, and the expectations of the people who are part of the process. 
The story is more than just about food.  It's also about the Japanese culture.  Jiro's childhood is examined, and you discover the origin of his work ethic.  While his younger son has moved on to open his own restaurant, you learn of the eldest son and the wait to continue his father's business.
Jiro is a humble man.  He is also a man that always strives for perfection and expects his apprentices to follow.  Recommended for anyone that is a foodie. 
  
Rating: 8/10
Movies I've previously seen: 4
First time viewings: 43

Movie #46- "Pale Rider" (1985)

People weren't exactly clamoring for westerns in the 1980s.  They were still being made, they just weren't raking it in at the box office.  "Pale Rider" is one of the top grossing westerns of the decade, and it barely made the Top 20 in the year it was released (it was number 18 in 1985 at $41 million).
The visuals give you the sense of the open plains, yet the action is rather sparse.  Eastwood directs this film, which begins with the thunder of an approaching mob set against the quiet of a miner's camp.  After the initial clash occurs, Eastwood puts the film on simmer and lets the tension slowly build until the concluding shoot-out.  Plenty of biblical references pepper the script and very little is said about the Preacher's past (Eastwood), begging the question, "Was he real, or a ghost?"  The one sour note happens when a 14-year old girl throws herself at the Preacher, which gave me a creepy vibe.  Eastwood made his name with the western and does nothing to tarnish that reputation here.  A picturesque western with memorable characters.

Rating: 7/10
Movies I've previously seen: 4
First time viewings: 42

Movie #45- "A Good Day To Die Hard" (2013)

"Die Hard" is one of the great action movies of all time... period.  John McClane as the ordinary New York cop just trying to do his job against one of the ultimate movie villains, Hans Gruber.  Each subsequent "Die Hard" expanded the playing field, moving from a building, to an airport, then New York, followed by the eastern seaboard.  With "A Good Day to Die Hard", John McClane travels abroad and takes his explosions to Russia.  If they do one more "Die Hard", I can only assume it will occur in outer space.
This outing feels the least like a "Die Hard" movie.  It's as if they grabbed a random action script, added a few mentions of the franchise, and slapped the phrase "Die Hard" into the title.  I can only point my finger at Bruce Willis for the fact that he said yes to this mess.  He's heroically plows through as John McClane, a character he can play in his sleep.  The problems really stem from the screenplay and directing.   The plot seems leftover from an old Bond movie, some of the action sequences try to replicate the fast-paced editing of the Bourne series, and the villains are insanely weak.  If that's not enough, McClane's suffers more falls than the average Wile E. Coyote cartoon.
We've officially reached the point where the prospect of a new "Die Hard" is better than an actual "Die Hard" movie.  Best advice, watch the trailer and reminisce about past McClane antics.

Rating: 3/10
Movies I've previously seen: 4
First time viewings: 41

Movie #44- "The Conversation" (1974)

Two different days, two different Coppolas, two different style of movies.
I had a roommate in college that listed this film as one of his favorites.  My wife also talks about the quality of this film.  I picked this purely by accident, without the intention of watching the father/daughter directors on back-to-back days.
The 1970s were truly of classic period of film making and Francis Ford Coppola stands as one of the reasons.  Granted, he made bigger films during that era (the two "Godfather" films and "Apocalypse Now").  This may be considered his "quiet" film from that decade, but that doesn't lessen the impact "The Conversation" holds.
Gene Hackman is a surveillance expert.  He has been hired to record a conversation between two people that occurs in a crowded park.  The movie centers around Hackman trying to take the recorded pieces and carefully assemble them to recreate the complete conversation.  He obsessively works on this tape, trying to get every element audible.
While his meticulous work has made him a legend in the field, it has also left him paranoid with a side order a guilt due to a previous job.  He tries to take steps in leading secretive life, although in a couple instances, he fails.  The tension builds as the conversation comes together and what it may imply.
This is a film about language, on how a word or emphasis can change the meaning of a sentence along with context.  I read that the dialogue was recorded multiple times in different ways, which changes the interpretation of the conversation.  Obviously this translates to current times, where a text can be interpreted in multiple ways.
An incredible piece of work that I'm surprised, and thankful, that someone hasn't tried to remake using modern technology as the mode of surveillance.

Rating: 10/10
Movies I've previously seen: 4
First time viewings: 40

Movie #43- "Marie Antoinette" (2006)

The French monarchy presented as high school drama... along with a killer soundtrack.  Sofia Coppola takes a fresh and unique approach to the life of Marie Antoinette, presenting her as a sympathetic figure.  The film opens with Marie plucked from her Austrian home and thrust into the opulence of French royalty.  Her innocence to protocol of French government creates waves amongst the hierarchy, although she also wins a few fans.  While Marie's outsider charm takes her through the first half of the film, the loneliness overcomes her in the second half as she succumbs to the over-indulgence of shopping and parties.  She becomes the scapegoat of France's problems, although other problems are afoot.
Some argue about the accuracy of the material.  Most biographies take liberties with the story, and here, Coppola has created a stylish piece of eye candy full of color, food, and fashion.  "Marie Antoinette" opens with the song "Natural's Not In It" by Gang of Four, which sets the tone for things to come.  Coppola peppers several sequences with modern music.  A few of my favorite scenes include gossip around a lavish dinner complete with complements and backstabbing as well a dance sequence featuring the music of Adam and the Ants.  An historic music video, if the genre exists.

Rating: 7/10
Movies I've previously seen: 4
First time viewings: 39

Movie #42- "Frogs" (1972)

An odd movie choice, but for a reason.  Childhood memories can really stick with you.  Our family was on vacation in Hot Springs, Ark.  I remember walking through the downtown area, when we passed a theater that was playing "Frogs."  Look at the poster.  For some reason, that sight stuck with me through the years.  I don't have any irrational fear of frogs, but something about a frog with a hand sticking out of its mouth.  It just stays in your memory.
The movie itself is cheap, campy fun.  The poster is misleading, as you're lead to believe that the frogs are doing the killing.  They're not.  The frogs appear to have the ability to communicate to all the other animals on this island (snakes, spiders, alligators, and even a turtle) and have them do the killing for them.  Pollution and pesticides are the implied reason for the animals revenge.  Or maybe they don't want this particular family to enjoy a family gathering.
The hardest working people on "Frogs" had to be the frog wranglers and the sound technician.  There are a lot of shots of frogs and frogs tossed into a pile of other frogs.  The film makers try, without much success, to make the frogs look menacing.  Also there are very few points in the film where you don't hear frogs.
Sam Elliott co-stars, without the awesome mustache, along with Joan Van Ark and Oscar winner Ray Milland.  "Jaws" would bring the fear to water a few years later that "Frogs" really wanted to capture.

Rating: 3/10
Movies I've previously seen: 4
First time viewings: 38

Movie #41- "Casablanca" (1941)

Older, classic movies were difficult to find when I was a kid.  Cable television didn't hit our neighborhood until I was in high school and an inexpensive VCR didn't come until later.  Since my father thought paying for television was ridiculous, I didn't have cable or VCR until I got to college.  So unless a movie received a re-release, commercial television was your only option.  The list of pre-1970 films that I haven't seen, in their entirety, is a lengthy one.
I see why people adore "Casablanca".  A classic love story with a brilliant screenplay and great dialogue (and an often misquoted line).  What impressed me was the flow of the film.  There doesn't appear to be a wasted scene in "Casablanca."  The plot is immediately in motion and the film is always moving.  Even with knowledge of the ending, it did not take away from the viewing pleasure.  I should have seen this entry earlier in life.

Rating: 10/10
Movies I've previously seen: 4
First time viewings: 37

Movie #40- "Superman III" (1983)

There is a good movie trapped within "Superman III", frantically trying to claw it's way out.  Clark Kent returning for a high school reunion.  Good Superman vs. Evil Superman.  Superman battles a giant computer (very forward thinking for 1983).  All good ideas, yet it appears that the filmmakers are just throwing plot points at a wall in hopes something will stick.
"Superman" was a good piece of work, and "Superman II" was better.  For some reason, they decide the push the comic tone even stronger, and overall, it's an epic fail.  The early slapstick sequence gives you an idea of what to expect without advancing the plot.  You wait for a payoff that never happens.  And so goes the rest of the film.
The villains are weak.  Lois Lane is around long enough to basically say, "I don't want to be involved with this mess."  But the most embarrassing part is Richard Pryor.  The man was a comic genius, who never really found his footing in movies.  In "Superman III", he's a screw-up and a computer whiz.  He's the comic relief, yet also a perpetrator of the evil deeds.  He also appears to be a screen writer's idea of how Richard Pryor should be funny.  And (Spoiler Alert) after he designs a super computer that has the ability to kill Superman, the Man of Steel just lets him go.
Almost everything wrong that can be done with a superhero movie happens here.  No villain could do as much harm to Superman as "Superman III".  Yet "Superman IV" lurks in the shadows.

Rating: 4/10
Movies I've previously seen: 4
First time viewings: 36

Movie #39- "Bridget Jones's Diary" (2001)

When I first announced this project, my wife jokingly suggested that I watch 365 romcoms in 365 days.  I passed, knowing I couldn't handle too many Meg Ryan/Sarah Jessica Parker/Kate Hudson movies.  I didn't want to see the effect on my life.
However, if I was going to remain true to the project, I needed to dip my toes into this genre.   My wife is not an avid viewer of romcoms, so co-worker to the rescue.  This is one of her favorites and I think for a simple reason... British men.  She loves Hugh Grant.  She loves Colin Firth.  Put them both in the same movie and she's in heaven.
I was amused at times with Bridget Jones.  Since it's based on a book, you get the feeling some characters were short-changed in the transition.  You have to give Renee Zellweger props for gaining the extra weight for the role.  I'm really not that familiar with Colin Firth's work although he has a few other movies that will pop up later in the year.  And Hugh Grant simply does another variation of being Hugh Grant.
My wife did crack a few jokes as I sat down to watch this, saying she had other things to do.  97 minutes, she hadn't left the couch, even admitting her approval.

Rating: 6/10
Movies I've previously seen: 4
First time viewings: 35

Movie #38- "Skyfall" (2012)

One of the best Bond movies I have ever watched.  Need I say more?

Rating: 9/10
Movies I've previously seen: 4
First time viewings: 34

Movie #37- "The Doors" (1991)

Music is another passion that I have in life.   Grade school memories of going to the local drug store and purchasing the latest 45s.  When I got to junior high, I graduated to the LP, with artists like Cheap Trick, Rush, and REO Speedwagon (the first three albums I bought).  Technology has been great for music fans, with so much available at your fingertips.  I do miss the days of combing through bins of records, searching for those rarities.  So naturally, I would gravitate to movies about music.
The Doors are a group I have a split opinion.  A copy of their greatest hits is enough to suffice for me.  I like them musically.  I've even had the pleasure of meeting Ray Manzarek when I was in college (nice guy).  But I was never drawn into the world of Jim Morrison.  I just didn't get his mystic persona or his poetry.
Admittedly, "The Doors" may not be the starting point in trying to understand Jim Morrison. Some truths are buried in the psychedelic illusions that punctuate the film.  Yet "The Doors" does nothing to improve the image of Morrison or change my perception.  I also noticed in the credits that Manzarek did not assist in the film.  I'll give props to Val Kilmer, who gives a stunning portrayal of Morrison.  And I've had "Break On Through" stuck in my head for days.  In the end, this Oliver Stone film fell flat for me.  I still just like the Doors musically.

Rating: 5/10
Movies I've previously seen: 3
First time viewings: 34

Movie #36- "Kramer Vs. Kramer" (1979)

When this movie was released, I was 15 years old (yeah, I'm giving away my age).  Not exactly the demographic for a film about single parenthood and a custody case.  Over the years, while I've wanted to sit down and watch "Kramer Vs. Kramer", I would always find something else I wanted to see.  Not a high priority movie in my world.  So when this popped up as a suggestion, I figured it was about time.
Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep both won Oscars for their performances, and it may be hard to argue especially with Streep's loving, yet seemingly distant mother.  "Kramer Vs. Kramer" also walked away with the Best Picture Oscar, up against "Apocalypse Now", "Norma Rae", "Breaking Away", and "All That Jazz".  A solid group of nominees and I'm sure a debate could be made for each picture. 
True, it's a well acted and scripted film.  Obviously the idea of a single dad is more commonplace today, although dealing with it at a moments notice doesn't lessen the impact.  While I appreciate and respect the quality of the work, it's not a film that requires a second viewing.
 
Rating: 8/10
Movies I've previously seen: 3
First time viewings: 33

Movie #35- "The Hustler" (1961)

Apparently during the 60s, everyone smoked cigarettes and drank coffee for breakfast.  At least until the bars opened at 8.  That may not have been the case, but alcohol is a driving force in "The Hustler".  Alcohol is not used in terms of celebration but rather for drowning the sorrows and miseries of those who refuse to face the reality of life.  "The Hustler" is a film that still resonates to modern times, the story of a talented individual who lacks character.
Here, the talent is pool.  Paul Newman is Fast Eddie, a hustler traveling from pool hall to pool hall, making small scores along the way.  He gets a chance to go up against a great, Minnesota Fats, and while he starts out strong, Fats is able to outlast Fast Eddie, breaking him both financially and emotionally.  Fast Eddie must then pull himself up again, with the help of a lonely alcoholic.  Sacrifices are made along the way.
The pool matches (are they called matches?) between Eddie and Fats are the bookends of the film and work as the highlights.  I've never really been a huge fan of Jackie Gleason, yet his is one of my favorite performances in the film.  Newman is intense as Fast Eddie.  My only issue was Piper Laurie as her performance is a little too Tennessee Williams.  Who knew pool could provide so much tension?

Rating: 9/10
Movies I've previously seen: 3
First time viewings: 32

Movie #34- "Rango" (2011)

Pixar has set the bar high for animation... and even they can't always hit the mark.  Animated films appear to have more complex themes, better story telling, and appeal to adults as well as kids.  The balancing act to attract an audience both young and old is difficult, one that not all animated films can accomplish.
That's where "Rango" caught me off guard.  The plot of a lizard in the Old West struck me with the impression of a kid's movie with a few tossed off jokes for the adults.  Instead, I got a darker story of an individual assuming a different identity while trying to find himself.  You know, the standard philosophical questions for an animated feature.
Kids will still enjoy it as the visuals jump from the screen with some kinetic energy.  But several of the references (including Hunter S. Thompson) will likely be aimed more for the adults along with a couple gunfights that also ensue.
Johnny Depp needs to expand his voice-over universe and Timothy Olyphant nails the voice of a Clint Eastwood like spirit.  A little too long, but proof that not all animation has to be for kids.

Rating: 7/10
Movies I've previously seen: 3
First time viewings: 31

Movie #33- The Queen of Versailles (2012)

The great aspect of the documentary is its unscripted nature.  You can start a film with the conceived notion of where it may take you, then circumstances utterly change your direction.  That's what happens with "The Queen of Versailles", a film that becomes a disturbing train wreck.
David Siegal is a wealthy man.  He owns the Westgate Resorts, one of the biggest timeshare companies in the world.  His wife, Jackie, is a former model, he has several children, and his power extents into politics where he claims to have helped George Bush get elected.  They want a bigger house.  They start planning and planning and when the dust settles, they're looking at building a 90,000 square foot home, the largest single family home in America.  Then, the film takes its turn when the market collapses, and the cheap money is no longer available.
"The Queen of Versailles" takes you on a wild ride as David scrambles to keep his company afloat while he has a half finished monstrosity of a house.  At times you'll feel sympathy towards the family as David did start his company small with some land he owned.  That feeling quickly evaporates with their next action or words.  Jackie is really the main character (although her boobs could be a separate character), a girl who grew up middle class, and now can't control her spending even when their finances are in trouble.  David yells at the family for leaving lights on while Jackie goes on huge shopping sprees and maintains her expensive beauty regimen.  The kids seem to actually have a better handle of the situation than the parents.
If you are compelled to watch train wrecks, this is your kind of film.

Rating: 8/10
Movies I've previously seen: 3
First time viewings: 30

Movie #32- "Hidalgo" (2004)

This one seems like an odd choice.  A co-worker suggested it and lent me his copy.  I don't know if it was actual recommendation or just a movie he happened to own.  My interest in "Hidalgo" was piqued with Viggo Mortensen in the lead role.  Since "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, Mortensen has made some excellent choices.  Although his films haven't been huge box office successes, the results have been solid movies.  "A History of Violence".  "The Road".  "Eastern Promises"... all movies worth watching.
"Hidalgo" pales in comparison to the other movies mentioned.  It's not bad for an action/adventure picture even if it is very predictable.  The centerpiece of the film is a 3,000 endurance horse race, which created some controversy.  Disney was selling this as "based on a true story", but there was some question as to the existence of such a race.  The film takes some time to build to the actual race, then deviates from it a few times including a rescue sequence that doesn't really add.
I see Mortensen's interest in "Hidalgo" as it gave him an opportunity to explore an outsider in a strange land and a chance to headline this genre of film.  I wish the material was stronger even though there is some great scenery and the race sequences well paced.

Rating: 6/10
Movies I've previously seen: 3
First time viewings: 29

Movie #31- "Flight" (2012)

John Goodman must have one hell of an agent.  The last three films I've seen him in ("The Artist", "Argo", and "Flight") have received some kind of Oscar recognition.  He doesn't have a particulary large role in any of these films, yet his characters do get your attention, especially here.
"Flight" had to be a difficult film to market.  You know about the crash that is the center of the film and the question about the pilot's condition during the crash.  However, the focal point of the film is on addiction and the struggles that Denzel Washington's character faces with alcohol and drugs.  Since he can function at his job and pull off the miraculous move that saves several lives, how can he be an addict?  He's a hero that was put in a "broken plane" (that's how he describes it in one scene).  How can he be the bad guy in this situation?
This is the second time I've seen "Flight".  The first was shortly after it arrived in theaters, and I figured Denzel Washington would receive an Oscar nomination.  Director Robert Zemeckis has a great shot toward the end involving a travel size bottle of alcohol that puts an exclamation point on the film.  I feel I really appreciated the film more with the second viewing.  A thoughtful look at addiction, but as strong as Washington's performance is, I still don't think he'll beat Daniel Day Lewis.

Rating: 8/10
Movies I've previously seen: 3
First time viewings: 28

Movie #30- "The Untouchables" (1987)

This is a film that I've seen in portions.  Probably on basic cable, never in it's entirely.  I had a fairly good idea what to expect.  The movie did provide an interesting collaboration between Brian DePalma and David Mamet.  Mamet, who has a very rhythmic flow to his dialogue and DePalma, a director that made several intriguing films in the 80s and 90.  Most of his films were quite violent (the guy did "Scarface") and many of his films owed a nod to Hitchcock.
The nod to Hitchcock isn't as present as other films from this decade, although he exploits it in one death scene that seems a little out of place.  The main homage would be toward Sergei Eisenstein's "Battleship Potemkin", the influential 1925 Russian film (a staple for film history classes).  Even if you aren't familiar with the original, this is a very tense and well executed scene. 
You usually can't go wrong with Robert DeNiro as a bad guy and Sean Connery is a bad ass.  I thought Kevin Costner seemed a little bland in the main role, however DePalma was able to surround him with a solid cast.  "The Untouchables" has a bright, 80s quality to it.  One of the better movies inspired by a television show.

Rating: 8/10
Movies I've previously seen: 2
First time viewings: 28

Movie #29- "The Towering Inferno" (1974)

One of the more entertaining movies trends of the 70s had to be the disaster film.  Cram as many stars as you can in some life threatening situations.  Then try to drown them, blow them up, set them on fire, or throw them through a window.  I remember sitting in the theater for "The Poseidon Adventure" and the thrill of Sensurround with "Earthquake".  Somehow, I missed the excitement of a very tall building on fire.
You have to throw out common sense to get caught up in the fun of these films.  While "Earthquake" featured a plausible situation, "The Towering Inferno" was a man-made scenario requiring lapses of logic and judgement.  Once the fire gets started, let the entertainment begin.
Steve McQueen plays the fire chief, who seems to get around the building (and across the street) with relative ease.  Meanwhile, Paul Newman as the architect, handles the upper half of the building, although we see his struggle to get from floor to floor.  Elevators are used with unsurprising consequences.  Fred Astaire plays a character who may have wondered in from another movie as his plot just fills time.  And O.J. Simpson saves a cat, and slightly opens a door before he bravely kicks it in (I think the film makers thought we wouldn't notice).
At 165 minutes, it's a bit long, yet still a silly piece of fun.

Rating: 6/10
Movies I've previously seen: 2
First time viewings: 27

Movie #28- "Easy Rider" (1969)

I get the appeal Albert Brooks had for the "Easy Rider" lifestyle in "Lost in America."  Hitting the road, with a fair amount of cash, no rush to arrive to your destination and the opportunity to hang with some interesting people.  Of course the irony being that Brooks was traveling in a Winnebago and avoided the hassles of "the man".
I jumped into "Easy Rider" more as a curiosity, expecting it to be a out-dated relic of its time.  Parts of it didn't disappoint in that regard, especially the commune they visit and the acid trip toward the end of the film.  But the content also serves as a time capsule of the time, mirroring the events of the 60s and offering some commentary that is still relevant today.
While not providing much in the way of plot, Dennis Hopper as a director frames a beautiful travelogue of the trip from Los Angeles to New Orleans with some cool tunes to accompany the journey.  He does employ one technique that was distracting, using a flash frame to foreshadow events that are just about to happen (except one moment, which flashes to the end of the film).  However, our fear of "different" culture, whether it be race, religion, sexual preference, or even style, still holds true.  And Jack Nicholson has a great speech about individual freedom vs. a free individual.
This turned out to be one of my biggest surprises from this project so far.

Rating: 7/10
Movies I've previously seen: 2
First time viewings: 26

Movie #27- "The Change-Up" (2011)

I'm not a big fan of the "high concept" comedy.  The reason is generally the same; they're funny for the first half, then everyone has to learn a valuable life lesson and the film loses steam.  "Ted" is the only movie in recent memory that was only able to sustain its laughs throughout.  Apparently it's a difficult balancing act to maintain.
Since this one has been on the movie channels quite a bit lately, I thought I'd give it a shot.  "The Change-Up" uses the concept of the body switch movie yet covers some seemingly new territory.  First, instead of an adult and kid, it's two adult males.  Imagine "The Odd Couple" as a body switch movie (I don't recall such an animal).  Second, with the resurgence of R-rated comedy, this movie charges into raunchy territory when these films are usually PG-13.  Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds do a good job mimicking the characteristics of the other.  It's fun to watch Bateman break from his usual uptight persona, and the scene involving a lorno movie is quite funny.
But again, lessons about family and growing up must be learned, so the comedy fades in the second half (although the scene with them trying to switch back offers some hilarity).  A likable movie.

Rating: 6/10
Movies I've previously seen: 2
First time viewings: 25

Movie #26- "Welcome to the Dollhouse" (1995)

Adolescence sucks.  If asked to go back to any point of my life, my junior high and high school years would rank near the bottom.  And as brutal as those younger years may have been, they are nothing compared to what happens in "Welcome to the Dollhouse".
Heather Matarazzo as Dawn Weiner has to be one of the least popular characters to populate a film about school and growing up.  Not only does she have zero friends at school, but she has zero support from her family.  Her brother is a nerd, accepting his fate and concentrating on his college resume.  He has the best line in the film, "All of junior high school sucks. High school's better; it's closer to college. They'll call you names, but not as much to your face."  Of course Dawn has a younger sister, the blatant favorite of the family.
The awkwardness of the change from childhood to adulthood is on full display, with moments making you cringe at some of the horrible things said to Dawn.  I also applaud director Todd Solondz for a plot twist that you sense occurring, yet most films would shy away from.
For you have a rosy, nostalgic memory of your childhood, you may want to stay away.  If you remember junior high as a sanctuary of cruelness, it's worth a look. 

Rating: 8/10
Movies I've previously viewed: 2
First time viewings: 24

Movie #25- "Silver Linings Playbook" (2012)

I've got mixed feelings about this movie.  On the plus side, it is a wonderfully acted piece of work.  It's rare to see a movie nab an Oscar nomination in all four acting categories and "Silver Linings Playbook" deserved that accomplishment.  Given some of the choices Robert DeNiro has made over the last couple years, it's especially gratifying to see him in a role that requires his acting skill.
On the flip side, when you strip this movie down to its basic components, "Silver Linings Playbook" is nothing more than a romantic dramedy... a rom-dram.  The mental health aspects of the characters give the actors something to work with, but once you come to understand their quirks, the film is very predictable.  As each plot point is revealed, you have a good idea of how it unfolds.
The acting is what will draw you into the film, but I wish the plot took a few more chances.  A solid movie, although a little over hyped.


Rating: 7/10
Movies I've previously seen: 2
First time viewings: 23