Tuesday's With Movies: 1/28/14

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2: I know the first film was based on a children's story - that was probably 30 pages long. But, they managed to get a pretty decent film out of it. And, apparently they also got a sequel. I watched the original once and I remember enjoying it - but if I haven't watched it again, it must not have left a lasting impression. But, I will definitely watch this - at least once.

Bad Grandpa: I know there is an audience for these type of films, I mean obviously since it was made and people went to see it. I never got into the Jackass craze, I just don't find it that funny. I don't look up people doing stupid things on youtube either. So, this isn't for me.

Last Vegas: Should be excellent and pretty darn funny, but I have heard it was a bit of a disappointment. Either way, I never listen to what others say, I always wait to give it my own thoughts. And, I will be looking into this.

Rush: The mixture of Ron Howard and Chris Hemsworth is probably the only reason I will check this out. I am not a race fan at all, and even less of an Indy car fan. But, sounds like it might actually have a good story - so I will watch it.

Metallica: Through the Never: I am not sure about this one. I am not the biggest Metallica fan, but I do enjoy some of their songs from time to time. But, is it worth watching an entire movie for that? I don't know. I am still thinking about this.

The Fifth Estate: This film I believe flopped at the box office, which is strange with Benedict Cumberbatch starring - his stock has exploded in the last few years. I actually think I might look in on this.

Ass Backwards: I would probably never think twice about watching this, but Casey Wilson from Happy Endings stars and I really started to enjoy her on that show. It goes against my original feeling, but I might check this out.

Tuesday's With Movies: 1/21/14

Captain Phillips: Tom Hanks is my favorite actor so of course I am going to be watching this. I think I am more interested in Saving Mr. Banks, but I have heard his performance in this is really great.

Blue Jasmine: I really haven't found a Woody Allen film I particularly love. He certainly can march out the stars, though. I might give it a try at some point.

Machete Kills: Machete was certainly a surprise - a film that didn't take itself too seriously, which really made it fun. Hopefully this one is close to the original.

In a World...: A film about a lady that does voice over work - women don't really get too much play in this field. The film explores that and family dysfunction. Have heard great things, and I will definitely check it out.

Charlie Countryman: I actually think that Shia LaBeouf can be a really talented actor. It's a shame that he has totally gone off the deep end of late. I might actually check out this film.

Best Man Down: Can't tell if this is more drama or comedy - it stars two guys usually in a comedy in Justin Long and Tyler Labine. However, the movie is about the death of the best man, so it has the chance of being a bit sad. Guess I will have to check it out.

Tuesday's With Movies: 1/14/14

Yeah, I am late again. But, now you probably expect it. Anyway, today (er, Tuesday) a bunch of films from film festivals seem to be released. A pretty large crop of films coming out at on time. Here you go:

The Butler: My wife said she wants to check this out. On my own I don't think I would look into this, but perhaps we can watch it together.

Riddick: Have yet to watch either Riddick films, but I have both of the first two. With this one coming out I think I will do a marathon watch of all three.

Carrie: Too bad, I like Chloe Moretz. I think Carrie is probably one of those 'horror' films I might be able to take - though I just don't have that much interest in watching either version.

You're Next: A bunch of killers attack a group during a family reunion - but apparently a member of the family is the most skilled killed of the bunch. Can't wait - to not watch this.

Enough Said: Heard some pretty decent things about this one, and it is one of the (if not the) last film of James Gandolfini. Pretty sure I will check it out eventually.

Fruitvale Station: So apparently this Michael B. Jordan guy is going to be the next big thing. I have enjoyed him so far in The Wire and Friday Night Lights. This looks like a pretty good movie - but one of those you may only watch once. But, we shall see.

Spectacular Now: I have been hearing about Shailene Woodley for awhile now, but I have yet to see anything she is in. This might be the first of many this year. I also really enjoyed Miles Teller in his role in the Footloose remake. Looking forward to seeing this.

Short Term 12: A film about a young counselor at a foster-care program for at-risk kids and her life outside of her job. Not really pulling me in.

Blue Caprice: This film is inspired by the beltway sniper attacks that took place in 2002. Probably will look into this one.

A.C.O.D.: Stands for Adult Child of Divorce and stars Adam Scott. Finds out he was unknowingly part of a study on divorced children. Also has Clark Duke in it - could be pretty funny.

Big Sur: The plot from IMDb "A recounting of Jack Kerouac's (here known by the name of his fictional alter-ego Jack Duluoz) three sojourns to the cabin in Big Sur, owned by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti." -- If I have to do that, no way I will be checking it out.

A Single Shot: After a girl dies a hunter finds himself trying to stay alive as others look to hunt him down. Never heard anything about it until last week when I saw it was coming out, but I think I might look in on this.

HOT: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

In the next to last Hanks-O-Thon film before I wrap it up, a film I watched months ago but am just now getting to write about, I watched yet another film that Hanks is a main character, but again barely in.

In Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Hanks plays Thomas Schell a father of a young boy and a man that works in one of the World Trade Center buildings.

Schell and his son Oskar (Thomas Horn) enjoy having missions given to them - such as finding an object from every decade in the past century. Though he loves his mother Linda (Sandra Bullock), Oskar seems to get along much better with his father.

On Sept. 11, 2001, Oskar is let out of school early, though he is not exactly sure why. When he gets home he discovers a few messages on the answering machine - and five of them are from his father who is inside the World Trade Center. As he finishes the fifth message, the phone rings. It's his father who begins to leave a sixth message - which then goes silent. Oskar immediately realizes that his father has died.

After his father's death, Oskar and his mother grow even further apart. He gets comfort from his grandmother (Zoe Caldwell), who lives across the street in another building. He flashes her light from a flashlight whenever he needs to speak to her. In her apartment she is also housing  a man that she calls 'the renter' (Max von Sydow) - which intrigues Oskar,

Oskar finds a vase inside his father's closet, that falls and breaks. Inside the vase is a small envelope with the name Black on it, and inside is a key. Oskar takes it upon himself to find the owner of the key - sort of a last riddle that his father gave him to work on.

When he visits his grandmother she is not there - and he encounters her renter. The renter does not speak - he only writes his answers, and has the words Yes and No on his hands. When asked if he wants to go on the journey with Oskar, he raises the hand Yes.

Together they head out to find the person that belongs to the key, and there are 472 Blacks in the New York phone book.

The film is both sad and a journey to find happiness again. As Oskar goes out on his journey he is forced to speak with other people, and he grows a strong bond with both his grandmother and the renter, who actually has a special place in Oskar's life. And, Oskar's realization that his mother does in fact love him.

Hanks, as I said, is barely in the movie. He is in the beginning, and serves as a bit of a narrator - he is also seen in a few flashbacks.

The stars of the film are easily Horn and von Sydow. Despite not being able to communicate very easily, their chemistry is really good. I really enjoyed von Sydow - Horn is young, and eventually I think he could be a pretty good actor. Here he was decent enough to carry the film - but I feel other child actors might have been able to do better.

It was a good watch, and despite 9/11 now being over 12 years ago, I feel it is still too fresh. I have been able to watch a few of the films about it, and I am glad that I did, but I have only been able to watch them once.

Grade:

Tuesday's With Movies: 1/7/14 (and 12/31/13)

Well, the holidays are over and I missed a Tuesday's With Movies. Never fear, it is back - and I have included the one I missed at the bottom of this one.

Runner Runner: College graduate gets swindled out of money in online poker and decides to track down the owner in Costa Rica. Soon he is stuck between a possible sweet setup of riches, or helping the FBI bring down the man who swindled him. I will definitely check this one out.

Closed Circuit: Two ex-lovers are forced back together to help bring down a terrorism threat, and soon help save each other's lives. Not on my to-watch list as of right now.

Thanks for Sharing: Follows the lives of a handful of people as they struggle to deal with and live with their sex addiction. I will check this one out.

We Are What We Are: A pair of sisters are forced by their father to keep their families customs alive - which seems fine, except this custom is cannibalism. Yeah, think I will skip it.

Big Ass Spider: I don't know why, but I just heard about this and for some reason it has intrigued me. We shall see - maybe a viewing in the future.

12/31/13

Don Jon: Joseph Gordon-Levitt has become a much watch for me, and pretty much most movie goers. He is one of the better actors of his generation. Here, he is the writer, director and the star - so that is a three-peat for me. 

Inappropriate Comedy: I don't even care to say what this is about - it looks completely stupid and I will be staying away.

CBGB: The movie follows the real-life nightclub CBGB, which was considered the birthplace of underground rock n roll and punk.

Sweetwater: A former prostitute tries to make a normal life with her new husband in New Mexico in the late 1800s. However, she soon becomes the focus of a powerful religious leader - and she enlists the help of a renegade sheriff. 

Cassadaga: Let's just say a random horror flick - the plot is crazy but it involved a deaf woman, spirits and marionettes.