Here's a list of what I watched during my hibernation. Due to the amount of movies I have watched, I will keep my reviews to a few words. If you want more information, leave a comment here or on Facebook and we can discuss further. And thanks for your suggestions! I took some of them, but mainly I watched whatever I could get for free!
Day 1:
Bernie-Jack Black. Based on a true story. What more do you need to know? Seriously, this is dark comedy at its best and lands somewhere along the lines of Grey Gardens. Plus, Shirley MacLaine kind of reprises her role as Ouiser. Watch it!
Butter-I am calling this my favorite movie of the year because it’s hilarious but has a lot of heart. Jennifer Garner, Ty Burrell, Hugh Jackman, Ashley Greene, Alicia Silverstone, Olivia Wilde, and Rob Corddry among others. They are all great, but hearing Jennifer Garner in her Palin-esque personality say the F word so hatefully and frequently is perhaps the funniest thing I’ve heard all year. Do not miss this movie.
Dark Knight Rises-I know, I was late to the game on this one. I liked the movie, it was well done, though kind of long in some parts, but then that’s just Christopher Nolan. Speaking of which, did anyone else feel like they were watching Inception part 2? I mean, he definitely has his favorite actors. My basic thoughts are: Predictable. Not enough banter. Anne Hathaway will never be as mean or as sexy as Michelle Pfeiffer was as Catwoman. Do we have to see a Robin movie or can we just imagine it? And I could use more of Tom Hardy’s beautiful face. I’m glad I saw it, but I’m also glad that trilogy is over.
People Like Us-Predictable but sweet family drama. I kind of love Elizabeth Banks. And the kid in it is adorable. Worth watching.
Day 2:
Your Sister’s Sister-Complex relationship entanglement drama complete with frustrating cliffhanger. Rosemarie Dewitt is great in this, but I wanted more from Emily Blunt. It’s a decent watch.
Requiem For A Dream-Watching people spiral downward can only be more horrible if you feel like you’re spiraling with them. Well done Aronofsky. Depressing. As. Hell. Watch at your own risk.
Sinister-Dear all ladies who are in horror films...by the time you have actually moved into the new house, it’s too late to argue about moving into the new house. Does no one communicate in advance anymore? That argument should have taken place months before boxes were packed. You know I like scary movies, if you do too, watch this one, but keep your expectations in check.
Being Flynn-Based on the book, “Another Bullshit Night in Suck City” by Nick Flynn, this movie is legit. The story is about a distanced father and son who connect (or don’t) over their mutual love and talent for writing. The premise is good, but the movie was slow. DeNiro is wonderful, and I can never say no to Julianne Moore. Great soundtrack. Sidenote...I had no idea that Nick Flynn and Lili Taylor were married. Awesome.
Jeff Who Lives at Home-Best opening ever. Jason Segal is growing on me just because I’ve started watching HIMYM. The movie has very little direction...like Jeff, who lives at home. Susan Sarandon’s storyline is probably the most interesting of them all. I think I just hate seeing movies with potential, not reach it. It’s supposed to build up to the end, but the ending is so meaningful compared to the rest of the movie that it’s like if The Hangover had the ending of Shawshank Redemption or something. I wish you could slap a good ending on a movie and call it a good movie. At least it wasn’t the other way around. That’s the worst! Watch it for the last 20 minutes.
Hick-Chlöe Grace Moretz is quickly becoming one of my favorite actresses. Everything she does, she does brilliantly. And she’s the best part of this movie, though Blake Lively does impress after her Gossip Girl history. This movie is just mediocre. It’s good enough, but nothing really that unique or great happens. And when something does happen, it seems like everyone is too young in the movie for it to be happening to them. Meh.
All Good Things-Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst, who by the way have NO chemistry play a married couple in this movie. Kristen Wiig has like one line though that steals the movie. Because, even though it’s not a comedy at all, ANYTHING Kristen Wiig says is going to be hilarious. Seeing Ryan Gosling play an old person and a woman is more disturbing than the events that take place in this movie. It wants to be The Life of David Gale or Primal Fear, but instead it’s just...old Ryan Gosling! It’s based on a true story, which mostly just proves that Texas is weird.
Day 3:
Midnight in Paris-I’ve seen this one before, but I needed something dialogue driven while I was packing some things, so I put it on. You can’t help but pick up on the Woody Allen in it, but I love the premise and literary references, so I would definitely recommend it.
Jesus Henry Christ-Toni Colette is usually enough to make me love a movie, but this one fell short for me. It had a few cute moments, but it’s like one of those movies that is trying to out-quirk other movies. It really doesn’t ever go anywhere either. It kills me that writers think they can try to put a small little full circle moment at the end of a movie and think we will all swoon and call it brilliant. This is kind of like that.
In The Loop-Aside from the angry British cursing, this was a nice little mockumentary. But in all fairness and honesty, I fell asleep during it. It was drawn out and I wasn’t sure what or who I was supposed to care about. Sorry, I’m not perfect.
The Five Year Engagement-I actually really loved the start of this movie. It feels more honest than a lot of Rom-Coms do. Emily Blunt and Jason Segal actually manage to have some chemistry in this, which is shocking if you think about it. I think it’s totally representative of what a lot of people in this generation go through with relationships, especially once you get into your career. I liked this a lot. It was painful at times, but good with a cute ending. Also Van Morrison songs play throughout the movie, so that’s a win.
Day 4:
Wanderlust-The hippies are the best part of this movie. I’m never that impressed with Jennifer Aniston, and I haven’t loved Paul Rudd since Clueless. This starts off pretty legit, but descends into the usual Paul Rudd movie madness and silliness. If you like old naked people and predictable endings, this one’s for you.
The Words-I love movies about writers. And there are a lot of them. Funny how hard it is to actually make a living as a writer, yet it’s Hollywood’s go to movie profession. This movie is kind of like Inception is that it’s a story within a story within a story. It’s well acted. It’s a solid premise that brings up a few ethical questions about how to live with the choices we make. The ending is rather abrupt and leaves something...anything...to be desired considering the build up.
Skyfall-Meh...James Bond movies are some of my mother’s favorites. And there is something fun about the formulaic, though each movie likes to act like it’s going to be different, it’s going to throw you off course. My favorites are Live and Let Die, Die Another Day, and A View to a Kill. This one is lacking something I love about the others. The bad guy didn’t really have a “lair.” And cyberterrorism is just not that fun or intense to watch on a movie. Not enough gadgets, the bad guy wasn’t bad enough, the Bond girl was really no where around for over half the movie, and honestly, I was a little bored. I liked when he took his jaw out...more of that please. I might have to give this one another shot when I’m in a James Bond mood.
Looper-Futuristic movie about time travel where everyone has a gun and drives like they live in China. BUT aside from Joseph Gordan Levitt’s exaggerated eyebrows, this movie is pretty good. The premise is slightly convoluted, but it’s not even that essential to the plot. That’s probably blasphemy in some Sci-Fi realm, but I’m just telling it like it is. The kid in it is creepy, and Emily Blunt with a backwoods accent is also a little strange. Still, worth watching.
Day 4:
End of Watch-Blair Witch style police movie. Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena are amazing, and I always think Anna Kendrick is adorable. But this movie has impending doom all throughout, so when it finally happens, it’s expected but still sad...and there’s a little surprise in there too that makes it even more tragic. This is a seriously good movie though. Worth watching.
Anonymous-The story explores the idea that maybe Shakespeare didn’t really write what he is believed to have written. It’s obvious that this movie was someone’s darling project that they edited and formed over time before finally being able to flesh it out. And the way it plays out is in broad strokes where it almost seems to BE a Shakespearian play. The thing is, I was hoping for something differently. I was hoping for a mystery surrounding whether or not Shakespeare wrote his plays. This is much more about royalty and romance and murder and betrayal. It’s not too bad, but it’s not what I’d hoped for either. If you like history, the Turdor period especially, then you’ll like it. But if you were hoping for more literature, sorry. Also, WHY do period pieces have to be extra long and have 800 characters in them? Just...focus people.
How To Steal A Million-Audrey Hepburn reading Hitchcock in the movie is perhaps one of my favorite moments in an old movie...almost meta, definitely clever. Peter O’Toole always looks like a woman to me. In short, the movie is about art forgery, an art heist, and romance. But don’t think Thomas Crown Affair. This is just a cute movie with a good plot and some good dialogue, though it goes a little long for the amount of stuff that actually happens. Still, it was a nice break from all the intense modern movies I’ve been watching!
The Kids Are All Right-I’ve been putting this one off for a while because someone gave me some spoilers, but I love Julianne Moore so I figured it’s time. I think what I love about it is that so often our culture sets apart heterosexual couples and homosexual couples, but this movie shows that people are people, relationships are relationships. We can hurt and betray and make mistakes no matter our sexuality...simply because we are human. I’m not gonna lie, this movie made me uncomfortable on several levels, mainly in the way it shows how easily people can be swayed. But I really loved the movie all the same.
Day 5:
Liberal Arts-Ted from HIMYM is 35 and kind of falls for the younger sister of Mary Kate and Ashley Olson, who is really into literature and that’s exciting for him. The story is a good one, but not a new one. Facing the questions...when is it time to grow up, what does that even mean? And is age just a number? My favorite line in this movie revolves around the idea that someone 16 years younger than you could motivate you to growth. People are so often closed minded about younger generations, but I love the idea that we all fit together like a puzzle, and our ages complement each other.
Back to the Future-I mean, I’ve seen it hundreds of times, but it’s been a while. The trilogy was cheap on iTunes and I couldn’t resist. I cannot believe how much this movie has held up over the years. It is just so good at every turn. I watched this today to give my brain a break from all the other deep movies I’ve been watching, and so I could also watch the snow outside of my window and not miss anything major in a movie I haven’t seen. Classic.
Cosmopolis-The premise of this movie is that a rich guy wants a haircut from his preferred barber across town, but with the president and a warning of an assassination attempt on his life, it’s going to take all day for him to get there in his limo. He insists, and we get to watch him as he interacts in his limo with everything from advisors to women to his doctor. The movie seems to have been made to show the ridiculousness of the 1%. But Robert Pattinson is too young to pull off what they were attempting here. His face and mannerisms are refined enough, but it’s hard to imagine that someone that young would navigate the world in that way, even if they are a billionaire. Maybe I’m naive. I hung in there, and parts were fascinating, but overall, this movie was too proud of itself or something. Plus, another non-ending ending makes me frustrated.
Taken 2-I was cynical about this one going in, thinking...really...like his daughter could get taken AGAIN? So I was pleased to find out that the premise was slightly different than the first movie. It was a good old action movie.
Beasts of the Southern Wild-Morgan Freeman might have some competition for narration gigs after this movie. I could listen to this little girl talk all day. And every line she says sounds like the greatest piece of wisdom you’ve ever heard. The movie itself is eye candy, aesthetically pleasing even as it depicts some of the poorest people in the country. This movie will rip your heart out, I’m just warning you.
So listen...I could go on about movies I’ve got on my list, but I pretty much plan on watching more stuff right up to the end of my time here in China (which is just over 24 hours), and this has to publish at some point. If you were on the fence about watching one of these, I hope my “short” reviews helped you make a decision!
