Hulu recently added North Shore to its list of free movies. In 8th grade, I thought this was the best movie ever made. I've not seen it for years, so I'm not sure how watchable it is for anyone out of junior high. It's the story of an Arizona boy who travels to Hawaii to surf the big waves - a classic coming of age/fish out of water/sports tale. Something for everyone, really. Plus, it's got Gregory Harrison from Trapper John, M.D. (Ok, I dated myself with that. Still ... Gonzo!)
Also worth checking out is The Professional with Natalie Portman and Jean Reno. Directed by Luc Besson, it tells the story of a hitman who takes a young girl under his wing. I admit that I am biased by the presence of Jean Reno whom I adore, but the movie is solidly engaging and the relationship touching and well-portrayed. A must see.
Showing posts with label Movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Movies. Show all posts
The only Thanksgiving movie that comes to mind readily is Home for the Holidays with Holly Hunter. While I found it funny, the cynical tone doesn't exactly get me in the Thanksgiving spirit. More suited to the mood of the holiday is What's Cooking? which tells the story of 4 Thanksgivings in Los Angeles - one Jewish, one Vietnamese, one Latino, and one African-American. Family drama is interspersed with each culture's take on the traditional dinner. The shots of the food are gorgeous (and lingering). Do not see this one on an empty stomach. While the acting is inconsistent and the stories are occasionally predictable, the film is fact-paced and engaging and the characters likable. It was especially nice to see the common elements of the holiday (be it turkey or family drama) that transcend cultural differences.
My rating: 6/10
My rating: 6/10
You can catch full length movies and tv episodes at Fancast and IMDB. Since nothing in life is truly free, you will have to sit through and ad here and there. Still, pretty nifty.
I don't go out to the movies much. I'm happy to take my chances with whatever dvd Blockbuster Online sends my way. After a series of duds (e tu, Indiana Jones?), last night's entry, The Constant Gardener, was a refreshing surprise.
It's the story of a British diplomat in Africa who begins investigating his wife's death and in the process uncovers both the immoral practices of the pharmaceutical industry and the truth about his wife. The film relies heavily on flashbacks to show the love story of Justin and Tessa, a technique that could be confusing or disruptive but was handled with a deft touch and helped to draw me into the mystery. My highest praise for the film is that it works on every level - as a thriller, as a love story, and as social commentary. The cinematography is amazing - gritty and beautiful - a perfect analogue of Africa itself.
My rating: 8.5/10
It's the story of a British diplomat in Africa who begins investigating his wife's death and in the process uncovers both the immoral practices of the pharmaceutical industry and the truth about his wife. The film relies heavily on flashbacks to show the love story of Justin and Tessa, a technique that could be confusing or disruptive but was handled with a deft touch and helped to draw me into the mystery. My highest praise for the film is that it works on every level - as a thriller, as a love story, and as social commentary. The cinematography is amazing - gritty and beautiful - a perfect analogue of Africa itself.
My rating: 8.5/10
I admit it. I love romantic comedies. I've seen pretty much every one made in the last decade, and I'll see every one made in the coming decade. I am that girl.
Last night's offering was Made of Honor with Patrick Dempsey and Michelle Monaghan. Since romantic comedies tend to be formulaic in plot, I've developed a five point rating system to hone in on the elements that separate the classics from the duds.
1) Romantic location: Check
Made of Honor is set in both New York and Scotland. While the NY scenes are fine, their main function is to provide contrast for the green hills, crystal clear lakes, and castles of Scotland. After seeing this movie, you'll want to be on the next flight to Edinburgh.
2) Handsome leading man: Grudging check
I don't get the McDreamy thing, but most women do, so I'll give it a point on this front. That said, his hair is distractingly large in this movie. I missed several lines of dialogue staring at the height and the whirls and wondering how much product it took to defy gravity and mold it into that shape. Of course, if the dialogue were better, this may not have been such a problem. Which brings me to #3 ...
3) Humor: Fail
Patrick Dempsey falls down. Twice. Knocks over a waiter, food flies, the whole deal. Yawn. There's also a basketball player in too short shorts who wears out his welcome within seconds. The best humor in the genre is found in clever dialogue, and that's absent here. Instead, we have over-the-top caricatures and lame attempts at physical comedy. I think I chuckled once, but that may have been at the leading man's hair.
4) Cute hair/clothes: Check
Yes, I said cute hair. Coveting the leading lady's hair and wardrobe is a key part of the escapist experience. It doesn't matter if she could never reasonably afford the clothes. I am happiest when she's stylish and put together in ways most of us can only dream of. Monaghan manages to be the best dressed woman in every scene and sports a nicely layered bob that is always sleek and bouncy and perfectly in place. Fashion highlights were the maroon dress at the bridesmaids' meeting and the Scottish wedding gown (sans tartan sash, of course).
5) Chemistry: Fail
This one will make or break the movie. I can roll with bad clothes, flat hair, an Iowa location, and even a sketchy leading man if I truly believe that these two belong together. In Made of Honor, they had a nice friendship but no spark that made it clear that they were meant to be. To make matters worse, she had better chemistry and a more credible romance with Colin, the Other-Man-She's-Not-Really-Supposed-To-Marry. Whoops! It was a mistake to make his greatest sin bagpipe playing while Dempsey's character is basically a cad who decided, for largely selfish reasons, that he didn't want to lose his best friend. Epic failure on this front.
Final verdict: 4.5/10. You'd be better off renting My Best Friend's Wedding which is essentially the same story told in a much more appealing way. Plus, Cameron Diaz has great hair in that one. Just sayin'.
Last night's offering was Made of Honor with Patrick Dempsey and Michelle Monaghan. Since romantic comedies tend to be formulaic in plot, I've developed a five point rating system to hone in on the elements that separate the classics from the duds.
1) Romantic location: Check
Made of Honor is set in both New York and Scotland. While the NY scenes are fine, their main function is to provide contrast for the green hills, crystal clear lakes, and castles of Scotland. After seeing this movie, you'll want to be on the next flight to Edinburgh.
2) Handsome leading man: Grudging check
I don't get the McDreamy thing, but most women do, so I'll give it a point on this front. That said, his hair is distractingly large in this movie. I missed several lines of dialogue staring at the height and the whirls and wondering how much product it took to defy gravity and mold it into that shape. Of course, if the dialogue were better, this may not have been such a problem. Which brings me to #3 ...
3) Humor: Fail
Patrick Dempsey falls down. Twice. Knocks over a waiter, food flies, the whole deal. Yawn. There's also a basketball player in too short shorts who wears out his welcome within seconds. The best humor in the genre is found in clever dialogue, and that's absent here. Instead, we have over-the-top caricatures and lame attempts at physical comedy. I think I chuckled once, but that may have been at the leading man's hair.
4) Cute hair/clothes: Check
Yes, I said cute hair. Coveting the leading lady's hair and wardrobe is a key part of the escapist experience. It doesn't matter if she could never reasonably afford the clothes. I am happiest when she's stylish and put together in ways most of us can only dream of. Monaghan manages to be the best dressed woman in every scene and sports a nicely layered bob that is always sleek and bouncy and perfectly in place. Fashion highlights were the maroon dress at the bridesmaids' meeting and the Scottish wedding gown (sans tartan sash, of course).
5) Chemistry: Fail
This one will make or break the movie. I can roll with bad clothes, flat hair, an Iowa location, and even a sketchy leading man if I truly believe that these two belong together. In Made of Honor, they had a nice friendship but no spark that made it clear that they were meant to be. To make matters worse, she had better chemistry and a more credible romance with Colin, the Other-Man-She's-Not-Really-Supposed-To-Marry. Whoops! It was a mistake to make his greatest sin bagpipe playing while Dempsey's character is basically a cad who decided, for largely selfish reasons, that he didn't want to lose his best friend. Epic failure on this front.
Final verdict: 4.5/10. You'd be better off renting My Best Friend's Wedding which is essentially the same story told in a much more appealing way. Plus, Cameron Diaz has great hair in that one. Just sayin'.
A couple weeks ago, Kurt and I went to Naperville, IL to see Chris Isaak at the Morton Arboretum. We were blessed with perfect weather, an amazing show, and even front row seats! I have no clue how we scored such great seats since it was open seating and there were tons of people already there when we arrived.
He performed several songs from his new album that is coming out this fall. The high point for me was 'Notice the Ring,' a favorite that I thought was too obscure to ever hear in concert. They even added a fab bongo solo. (#76th Law of the Universe: Everything is better with bongos). I think Kurt enjoyed the free-form jam session the best.
Don't miss Chris if he comes to your town! It's a fun show even if it's not your kind of music. Lots of jokes, lots of silliness, and everyone dancing like idiots and having a great time. This is the third time I've been, and it's become one of my favorite summer traditions. Two thumbs way up.
He performed several songs from his new album that is coming out this fall. The high point for me was 'Notice the Ring,' a favorite that I thought was too obscure to ever hear in concert. They even added a fab bongo solo. (#76th Law of the Universe: Everything is better with bongos). I think Kurt enjoyed the free-form jam session the best.
Don't miss Chris if he comes to your town! It's a fun show even if it's not your kind of music. Lots of jokes, lots of silliness, and everyone dancing like idiots and having a great time. This is the third time I've been, and it's become one of my favorite summer traditions. Two thumbs way up.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
