Back to the Movies....finally
Jan. 17th, 2023 09:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gilda_eliseNot a great deal of movies in October and November. I guess I was more in the mood for tv series. More in December, though that was more because of Christmas. I hope to do better in the coming months.
MOVIES WATCHED IN OCTOBER
Oct 5 - Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)
Professor Albus Dumbledore must assist Newt Scamander and his partners as Grindelwald begins to lead an army to eliminate all Muggles.
Director: David Yates
Stars: Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Ezra Miller
A pleasant way to spend a couple of hours, but not a movie I plan on rewatching.
Oct 6 - Free Guy (2021)
A bank teller discovers that he's actually an NPC inside a brutal, open world video game.
Director: Shawn Levy
Stars: Ryan Reynolds,Jodie Comer, Taika Waititi
I liked it more than I thought I would. Funny, entertaining, and, of course, Ryan Reynolds.
Oct 12 - The Little Things (2021)
Kern County Deputy Sheriff Joe Deacon is sent to Los Angeles for what should have been a quick evidence-gathering assignment. Instead, he becomes embroiled in the search for a serial killer who is terrorizing the city.
Director: John Lee Hancock
Stars: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto
It’s amazing how well Leto does crazy. But all three leads are great in their roles. An all-around solid movie.
Oct 21 - Lou (2022)
A storm rages. A young girl is kidnapped. Her mother teams up with the mysterious woman next door to pursue the kidnapper, a journey that tests their limits and exposes shocking secrets from their pasts.
Director: Anna Foerster
Stars: Allison Janney, Jurnee Smollett, Logan Marshall-Green
A little known, but well made movie. Janney is excellent. Thoroughly recommend it.
MOVIES WATCHED IN NOVEMBER
Nov 1-3 - Into the Night (2020 Belgium series)
When radiation from the sun causes a global disaster on Earth, survivors on an overnight flight from Brussels race from city to city trying to stay ahead of the sun's rays by remaining in the cover of night.
Creator: Jason George
Stars: Pauline Etienne, Laurent Capelluto, Mehmet Kurtulus
I’m glad to know that there’s going to be a third season, especially since the second season ended with a cliffhanger. Original, and well acted.
Nov 3-4 - Yakamoz S-245 (2022 Turkish series)
After disaster strikes Earth, a marine biologist on a submarine research mission must fight to survive with the crew as a conspiracy comes to light.
Stars: Kivanç Tatlitug, Ertan Saban, Jerry Hoffmann
Not as good as the series it’s based on, but still well worth watching.
Nov 7 - The Good Nurse (2022)
An infamous caregiver is implicated in the deaths of hundreds of hospital patients.
Director: Tobias Lindholm
Stars: Eddie Redmayne, Jessica Chastain, Denise Pillott
Redmayne is amazing in his role. Based on a true story, it amazed how much the hospitals were complicit in allowing the deaths to continue.
Nov 12 - Where the Crawdads Sing (2022)
A woman who raised herself in the marshes of the Deep South becomes a suspect in the murder of a man with whom she was once involved.
Director: Olivia Newman
Stars: Daisy Edgar-Jones,Taylor John Smith, Harris Dickinson, David Strathairn
I thought, like the book, the movie stretched credibility. The main character was too good to be true. Not the worst movie I’ve watched recently, but definitely not one of the best.
Nov 13-16 - The Silent Sea (2021 South Korean series)
During a perilous 24-hour mission on the moon, space explorers try to retrieve samples from an abandoned research facility steeped in classified secrets.
Stars; Bae Doona, Gong Yoo, Joon Lee
I loved this. It kept me guessing, and totally involved. I would have preferred a slightly different ending, but it was still satisfying.
Nov 19 - Nope (2022)
The residents of a lonely gulch in inland California bear witness to an uncanny and chilling discovery.
Director: Jordan Peele
Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun
Very strange movie. Funny at times, frightening at others. About what I’ve come to expect from Peele.
MOVIES WATCHED IN DECEMBER
Dec 14-15 - Harry and Meghan (2022)
Explores the span of their relationship, from the early days of the couple's courtship to the challenges and controversies that prompted them to step back from the royal family.
Stars: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, David Olusoga, Serena Williams, Abigail Spencer, Tyler Perry
I don’t normally watch stuff about the Royals, but I needed something that I didn’t need to concentrate on, and that wasn’t depressing. Turns out I concentrated on it more than I thought I would. It’s, of course, just one side of story, but I got the impression that no side comes off as completely normal.
Dec 17 - The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
Two lifelong friends find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for both of them.
Director: Martin McDonagh
Stars: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon
A quirky, often depressing movie, but well worth watching. Farrell deserves his award.
Dec 23 - The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari (2022)
Portrays human bravery and resilience after a tragic volcano disaster in New Zealand.
Director: Rory Kennedy
Stars: Mark Inman, Hazel Osborne, Pouroto Ngaropo, Lauren Urey, Matt Urey
I was amazed that any country would allow tourist trips to an island with an active volcano on it, especially a volcano that erupted pretty regularly. Those caught on the island payed an awful price.
Dec 24 - Spirited (2022)
A musical version of Charles Dickens's story of a miserly misanthrope who is taken on a magical journey.
Director: Sean Anders
Stars: Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, Octavia Spencer
I loved this! Funny, with some great songs. Definitely adding it as a Christmas regular.
Dec 25 - A Christmas Story (1983)
In the 1940s, a young boy named Ralphie Parker attempts to convince his parents, teacher, and Santa Claus that a Red Ryder Range 200 Shot BB gun really is the perfect Christmas gift.
Director: Bob Clark
Stars: Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin
What’s Christmas with A Christmas Story? A seasonal favorite. But actually the 1930s, since Ovaltine was replaced as the sponsor on the Little Orphan Annie radio show by Quaker Puffed Wheat in 1940.
Dec 25 - A Christmas Story Christmas (2022)
Follows the now-adult Ralphie as he returns to the house on Cleveland Street to give his kids a magical Christmas like the one he had as a child, reconnecting with childhood friends, and reconciling the passing of his Old Man.
Director: Clay Kaytis
Stars: Peter Billingsley, Erinn Hayes, River Drosche
All the adult characters who were kids in the original movie are played by the same actor, but the magic is pretty much gone. It’s set in 1973, “33 years after the events of A Christmas Story.” And wrong again, again because of the change in sponsor. 1972, maybe? It was filmed in Hungary and Bulgaria, and it shows.
MOVIES WATCHED IN OCTOBER
Oct 5 - Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)
Professor Albus Dumbledore must assist Newt Scamander and his partners as Grindelwald begins to lead an army to eliminate all Muggles.
Director: David Yates
Stars: Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Ezra Miller
A pleasant way to spend a couple of hours, but not a movie I plan on rewatching.
Oct 6 - Free Guy (2021)
A bank teller discovers that he's actually an NPC inside a brutal, open world video game.
Director: Shawn Levy
Stars: Ryan Reynolds,Jodie Comer, Taika Waititi
I liked it more than I thought I would. Funny, entertaining, and, of course, Ryan Reynolds.
Oct 12 - The Little Things (2021)
Kern County Deputy Sheriff Joe Deacon is sent to Los Angeles for what should have been a quick evidence-gathering assignment. Instead, he becomes embroiled in the search for a serial killer who is terrorizing the city.
Director: John Lee Hancock
Stars: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto
It’s amazing how well Leto does crazy. But all three leads are great in their roles. An all-around solid movie.
Oct 21 - Lou (2022)
A storm rages. A young girl is kidnapped. Her mother teams up with the mysterious woman next door to pursue the kidnapper, a journey that tests their limits and exposes shocking secrets from their pasts.
Director: Anna Foerster
Stars: Allison Janney, Jurnee Smollett, Logan Marshall-Green
A little known, but well made movie. Janney is excellent. Thoroughly recommend it.
MOVIES WATCHED IN NOVEMBER
Nov 1-3 - Into the Night (2020 Belgium series)
When radiation from the sun causes a global disaster on Earth, survivors on an overnight flight from Brussels race from city to city trying to stay ahead of the sun's rays by remaining in the cover of night.
Creator: Jason George
Stars: Pauline Etienne, Laurent Capelluto, Mehmet Kurtulus
I’m glad to know that there’s going to be a third season, especially since the second season ended with a cliffhanger. Original, and well acted.
Nov 3-4 - Yakamoz S-245 (2022 Turkish series)
After disaster strikes Earth, a marine biologist on a submarine research mission must fight to survive with the crew as a conspiracy comes to light.
Stars: Kivanç Tatlitug, Ertan Saban, Jerry Hoffmann
Not as good as the series it’s based on, but still well worth watching.
Nov 7 - The Good Nurse (2022)
An infamous caregiver is implicated in the deaths of hundreds of hospital patients.
Director: Tobias Lindholm
Stars: Eddie Redmayne, Jessica Chastain, Denise Pillott
Redmayne is amazing in his role. Based on a true story, it amazed how much the hospitals were complicit in allowing the deaths to continue.
Nov 12 - Where the Crawdads Sing (2022)
A woman who raised herself in the marshes of the Deep South becomes a suspect in the murder of a man with whom she was once involved.
Director: Olivia Newman
Stars: Daisy Edgar-Jones,Taylor John Smith, Harris Dickinson, David Strathairn
I thought, like the book, the movie stretched credibility. The main character was too good to be true. Not the worst movie I’ve watched recently, but definitely not one of the best.
Nov 13-16 - The Silent Sea (2021 South Korean series)
During a perilous 24-hour mission on the moon, space explorers try to retrieve samples from an abandoned research facility steeped in classified secrets.
Stars; Bae Doona, Gong Yoo, Joon Lee
I loved this. It kept me guessing, and totally involved. I would have preferred a slightly different ending, but it was still satisfying.
Nov 19 - Nope (2022)
The residents of a lonely gulch in inland California bear witness to an uncanny and chilling discovery.
Director: Jordan Peele
Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun
Very strange movie. Funny at times, frightening at others. About what I’ve come to expect from Peele.
MOVIES WATCHED IN DECEMBER
Dec 14-15 - Harry and Meghan (2022)
Explores the span of their relationship, from the early days of the couple's courtship to the challenges and controversies that prompted them to step back from the royal family.
Stars: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, David Olusoga, Serena Williams, Abigail Spencer, Tyler Perry
I don’t normally watch stuff about the Royals, but I needed something that I didn’t need to concentrate on, and that wasn’t depressing. Turns out I concentrated on it more than I thought I would. It’s, of course, just one side of story, but I got the impression that no side comes off as completely normal.
Dec 17 - The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
Two lifelong friends find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for both of them.
Director: Martin McDonagh
Stars: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon
A quirky, often depressing movie, but well worth watching. Farrell deserves his award.
Dec 23 - The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari (2022)
Portrays human bravery and resilience after a tragic volcano disaster in New Zealand.
Director: Rory Kennedy
Stars: Mark Inman, Hazel Osborne, Pouroto Ngaropo, Lauren Urey, Matt Urey
I was amazed that any country would allow tourist trips to an island with an active volcano on it, especially a volcano that erupted pretty regularly. Those caught on the island payed an awful price.
Dec 24 - Spirited (2022)
A musical version of Charles Dickens's story of a miserly misanthrope who is taken on a magical journey.
Director: Sean Anders
Stars: Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, Octavia Spencer
I loved this! Funny, with some great songs. Definitely adding it as a Christmas regular.
Dec 25 - A Christmas Story (1983)
In the 1940s, a young boy named Ralphie Parker attempts to convince his parents, teacher, and Santa Claus that a Red Ryder Range 200 Shot BB gun really is the perfect Christmas gift.
Director: Bob Clark
Stars: Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin
What’s Christmas with A Christmas Story? A seasonal favorite. But actually the 1930s, since Ovaltine was replaced as the sponsor on the Little Orphan Annie radio show by Quaker Puffed Wheat in 1940.
Dec 25 - A Christmas Story Christmas (2022)
Follows the now-adult Ralphie as he returns to the house on Cleveland Street to give his kids a magical Christmas like the one he had as a child, reconnecting with childhood friends, and reconciling the passing of his Old Man.
Director: Clay Kaytis
Stars: Peter Billingsley, Erinn Hayes, River Drosche
All the adult characters who were kids in the original movie are played by the same actor, but the magic is pretty much gone. It’s set in 1973, “33 years after the events of A Christmas Story.” And wrong again, again because of the change in sponsor. 1972, maybe? It was filmed in Hungary and Bulgaria, and it shows.
