To the Movies!

[gilda_elise]

What with having visitors, and then taking off to Phoenix for two weeks, March's list is a bit smaller. Still some gems to be had!



Mar 1 - The Prestige (2006)
Two stage magicians engage in competitive one-upmanship in an attempt to create the ultimate stage illusion.
Director: Christopher Nolan
Stars: Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson

I’ve watched this movie several times, and enjoy it every time. It keeps you guessing, and I like that no one is pure good, or pure evil. Seeing Bale and Caine together, outside of the Batman universe, is sort of nice, too.

Mar 4 - 99 Homes (2014)
A recently unemployed single father struggles to get back his foreclosed home by working for the real estate broker who is the source of his frustration.
Director: Ramin Bahrani
Stars: Andrew Garfield, Michael Shannon, Laura Dern

I’m not sure how I’m supposed to feel about this film. Of course you feel bad for anyone who loses their home, but then is it “stupid is as stupid does”? One bad decision follows the other in this ultimately unsatisfying story.

Mar 8 - Everest (2016)
A climbing expedition on Mt. Everest is devastated by a severe snow storm.
Director: Baltasar Kormákur
Stars: Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, Jake Gyllenhaal, Robin Wright, Keira Knightley

Not as good as the book it’s based on, but entertaining, nevertheless. Still don’t understand why anyone would attempt that mountain.

Mar 10 - Jaws (1975)
When a gigantic great white shark begins to menace the small island community of Amity, a police chief, a marine scientist and a grizzled fisherman set out to stop it.
Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss

A classic. After noticing that my grandson was continually watching Sharknado, we insisted he watch a really good shark movie. He loved it…as well he should.

Mar 11 - Bridge of Spies (2015)
During the Cold War, an American lawyer is recruited to defend an arrested Soviet spy in court, and then help the CIA facilitate an exchange of the spy for the Soviet captured American U2 spy plane pilot, Francis Gary Powers.
Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Alan Alda

A good, solid movie, but not necessarily a great one. Tom Hanks is the best part of the movie. Not a bad thing, but I was expecting more.

Mar 12 - The Impossible (2012)
The story of a tourist family in Thailand caught in the destruction and chaotic aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
Director: J.A. Bayona
Stars: Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, Tom Holland

I know this was supposed to show the tragedy of a natural disaster, but I came away with the idea that the biggest enemy of those caught in such a tragedy is bureaucracy, as if any country could have had something in place to effectively take care of everyone at a moment’s notice. Another good, but not great, movie.

Mar 20 - The Big Short (2015)
Four denizens in the world of high-finance predict the credit and housing bubble collapse of the mid-2000s, and decide to take on the big banks for their greed and lack of foresight.
Director: Adam McKay
Stars: Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt

Boy, are we in trouble. I’d followed the Housing Crisis as it played out, but I never say this side of it. Great cast, great film.

Mar 30 - The Lady in the Van (2015)
A man forms an unexpected bond with a transient woman living in her van that's parked in his driveway.
Director: Nicholas Hytner
Stars: Maggie Smith, Alex Jennings, Jim Broadbent

The film keeps you interested as events play out. Well, most of the time. Yet, oddly, I never felt bored, either. Smith was great, of course, but it was Jennings who I thought stole the show. Both funny and sad, it’s really quite a gem of a movie.

Comments

[hsv-fangirl.livejournal.com]

JAWS is still one of my favorites! I agree with you about The Impossible. No country could ever be ready for something like that. I loved The Big Short! I'm a fan of most of Bale's movies anyway.
xx

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Jawsis timeless. Great plot, great actors, what more could you ask for? The Big Short was another movie where plot and acting came together in order to make a really great movie. Of course, it didn't hurt that Christian Bale was in it. A good, solid actor, and not hard on the eyes, either. *g*

[bradygirl_12]

I guess I'm not the explorer type. People who risk their lives (and sometimes lose them) just to climb a mountain mystify me.

I loved Bridge Of Spies! I know a lot of people wanted more but I thought it was just right. Sure, it might not be one of the greats but I'd watch it more than once. :)

P.S. Have seen The Prestige and Jaws on your list. Might someday watch The Big Short just to see Christian! :)

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I know! Why risk life and limb (not to mention that the climb is a living hell,) just to get to the top of a mountain? Dumb.

Just goes to show how each of us pick up something different. At some point I may give Bridge of Spies another go, because I did hear so much good about it.

And who hasn't seen Jaws? I guess I should say who above a certain age, because, since my grandson hadn't seen it, there could be an entire generation who have missed out.

And Bale, who could not what to watch him? *g* Not that The Prestige isn't a good movie. He just makes it better.

[bradygirl_12]

The dumbest!

I would rec watching it again. Not only Tom Hanks nails his part, but Oscar-winning Mark Rylance is fantastic! Their scenes together are great. There's also a lot of rich period detail to enjoy the second time around.

Christian Rocks! :)

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

It's back on my list. :-)

[bradygirl_12]

Yay! :)

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

I'm so out of touch with films that it's a relief to read about films I've actually heard of and one great film I've actually seen (more than once): Jaws. I'm so glad it still holds up and that your grandson enjoyed it.

Bridget of Spies sounds good and reminds me I must watch out for Captain Phillips (? I think it's called) with Tom Hanks. Everest sounds like my cup of tea (adventure/disaster) and The Prestige just for Michael Caine. Thanks so much for this round up.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I have to say, we didn't know which direction my grandson would go. Would he like Jaws, or not? Luckily, he did. How anyone could not is beyond me, but you never know. But it's a movie that has held up very well.

I liked Captain Phillips more than I did Bridge of Spies. More action, I guess, though that's usually not a consideration for me. Everest isn't bad, though I guess I was expecting more. It's another solid movie. And a Michael Caine fan, are you? Then I think you'll really enjoy The Prestige.

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

As well he should, indeed. Jaws did everything right!

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

It did, indeed. Great plot, fantastic actors, even the special effects mostly hold up. Yea for Bruce! *g*

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

TBG's best friend was a tech director for Universal Studios and the stories he would tells us about Bruce for the US theme park ride always had us howling. He was very temperamental at times.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I read quite a few articles where they mentioned the problems they had with Bruce. It's a wonder the movie got made at all!