Back to the Movies!

[gilda_elise]

Saw several more movies with my sister. But then it was time to come home, so there's a break in the viewing. Still managed several more, though.

MOVIES WATCHED IN APRIL

Apr 1 - The Lost City (2022)
A reclusive romance novelist on a book tour with her cover model gets swept up in a kidnapping attempt that lands them both in a cutthroat jungle adventure.
Directors:Aaron Nee, Adam Nee
Stars: Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, Brad Pitt

Lots of action, but still funny. All four main actors do a great job. But I wonder about the portrait Bullock has hid away in her attic!

Apr 2 - Love Actually (2003)
Follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England.
Director; Richard Curtis
Stars: Hugh Grant, Martine McCutcheon, Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Martin Freeman, Keira Knightley, Laura Linney, Alan Rickman

Not quite what I expected. Something of a disappointment, actually (I had to do that.)

Apr 3 - Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Ennis and Jack are two shepherds who develop a sexual and emotional relationship. Their relationship becomes complicated when both of them get married to their respective girlfriends.
Director: Ang Lee
Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams, Randy Quaid, Anne Hathaway

I’ve seen this movie a few times, and every time it’s heartbreaking. Gyllenhaal and Ledger are outstanding.

Apr 8 - Munich: The End of War (2021)
A British diplomat travels to Munich in the run-up to World War II, where a former classmate of his from Oxford is also en route, but is working for the German government.
Director: Christian Schwochow
Stars; George MacKay, Jannis Niewöhner, Jeremy Irons

Intense and interesting movie. Well worth watching.

Apr 16 - West Side Story (2021)
An adaptation of the 1957 musical, West Side Story explores forbidden love and the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds.
Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose, Rita Moreno

I liked it better than the original, but that’s not saying all that much. Saying it’s pleasant is about as far as I will go.

Apr 20 - Nightmare Alley (2021)
A grifter working his way up from low-ranking carnival worker to lauded psychic medium matches wits with a psychiatrist bent on exposing him.
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Stars: Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette, Willem Defoe, Richard Jenkins, Ron Perlman, Mary Steenburgen

Again, better than the original. Darker, with a more realistic ending. Not for the faint hearted.

Apr 21 - Greyhound (2020)
Several months after the U.S. entry into World War II, an inexperienced U.S. Navy commander must lead an Allied convoy being stalked by a German submarine wolf pack.
Director: Aaron Schneider
Stars: Tom Hanks, Elisabeth Shue, Stephen Graham

Even though I knew what would happen, the movie still had me on the edge of my seat. Another intense movie that’s well worth watching.

Apr 25 - Encanto (2021)
A Colombian teenage girl has to face the frustration of being the only member of her family without magical powers.
Directors: Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Charise Castro Smith(co-directed by)
Stars: Stephanie Beatriz(voice), María Cecilia Botero(voice), John Leguizamo(voice)

Charming and funny. Almost as good as Coco. I’m sure I’ll be watching it again.

Apr 26 - Clifford the Big Red Dog (2021)
A young girl's love for a tiny puppy named Clifford makes the dog grow to an enormous size.
Director: Walt Becker
Stars: Darby Camp, Jack Whitehall, Izaac Wang, John Cleese, Paul Rodriguez

Cute, and better than I thought it would be. Clifford is brought to life in all his cuddly glory.

Comments

[tinny]

Wow, I know a lot of (the originals of) these for a change. Probably because my main movie-going years were the early 2000s.

I loved Encanto and haven't seen Coco. That probably means I should check out Coco now.

[gilda_elise]

I was surprised that they redid Nightmare Alley, but I'm glad that they did.

That probably means I should check out Coco now.

It certainly does. :-)

[justjo2u]

I have The Lost City on my list to watch soon. And Clifford.

I really enjoyed Encanto.

[gilda_elise]

All three are really good movies, but in totally different ways. I rarely pass up a Brad Pitt movie, I'm crazy for dogs, and some of Disney's animated movies are superb.