Movies you saw in July

The Counselor (2013) pretty good "drug deal gone bad" crime-suspense action movie staring Michael Fassbender as a lawyer trying to "get out the trap" after he invests in a cocaine shipment from Mexico that gets hijacked and the cartel people think he was involved in the double cross. also stars Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz and Brad Pitt with Rosie Perez, Ruben Blades and Natalie Dormer (played Moriarty in the TV series Elementary). starts off kind of slow but the action picks up esp second half of the movie. Diaz as "Malkina" is a real "black widow" sneaky b*tch BUT her two two pet cheetahs, Raoul and Silvia are way cool. the one detraction (as usual) is Cruz who once again over acts and you can NOT understand half here dialog she enunciates so poorly. fortunately for the movie she doesn't have that many scenes

overall was an entertaining but somewhat convoluted plot with a LOT of "twists". it is kind of hard to figure "who is screwing who?" most of the time because there are NO real "good guys" or "bad guys". everyone seems "bent". plays again on HBO channels Thursday July 3rd, Sunday July 6th and Wednesday July 9th. rate it

Saw 42 the Jackie Robinson story last night. Loved it. Thought Harrison Ford was great.

GREAT movie. somewhat surprised Harrison Ford didn't get a Best Supporting Actor Oscar or Golden Globe nomination as Branch Rickey

The Net (1995) decent but somewhat slow moving mystery-action movie staring Sandra Bullock, Jeremy Northam and Dennis Miller. basic plot about a computer security specialist (Bullock) that finds a "firewall" system is actually a front for hackers to infiltrate government web sites which causes her to become a target. Northam a real "bad baztard" of an assassin. mixed reviews with a 36% "fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes. a number of critics agreed it probably would have been an excellent 90 minute movie instead of it's almost 2 hours. played on Sony Movie channel. rate it

Holy Man (1998) pretty funny comedy staring Eddie Murphy, Jeff Goldblum and Kelly Preston. critics threw rocks with only 12% "fresh" by Rotten Tomatoes, but I thought it was entertaining. worth watching just for the bit with Morgan Fairchild selling a facial skin tightening electric "tens" unit and some of the other "home shopping" sketches. played on Showtime. rate it

Inside Job (2010) this Matt Damon narrated documentary about the 2008-09 global financial meltdown still makes my blood boil. hard to believe that NO major financial executives have EVER gone to prison for all the complete FRAUD that happened in the early 2000's that damn near wrecked the world economy. it is "old news" now BUT still worth watching as a cautionary tale. AND it COULD happen AGAIN as banking and finance is even MORE concentrated in just a few companies NOW than it was when the crash took place. rate it

The straight story      7 out of 10

Film is based on true story of old man journey through Iowa and Wisconsin on his Lawnmower .

I don't usually enjoy those life story telling movie but i came across on this one at yardsale for a buck and i really liked it.

Recommend it if it s under 5 bucks to see it.

Carrie (2013) think this remake of the 1976 psyco-horror classic is excellent. Chloe Grace Moretz ("Hit Girl" in the "Kickazz" movies) is at least as good a Carrie White as Sissy Spacek was in the original while Julianne Moore is even more religious crazy as her mother Margaret than Piper Laurie. great CGI throughout esp the "burning of the prom" scene and Carrie's revenge on both Chris Hargensen, who had "cyber bullied" Carrie, and Chris's thug boyfriend Billy Nolan who comes up with the pig blood prank. plays again on EPIX channels Saturday July 5th @ 3:15 pm, Tuesday July 8th @ 5:00 pm, Wednesday July 9th @ 6:45 am & 1:35 pm and again Saturday July 12th @ 7:15 pm (all times pacific). rate it 

Cadillac Man (1990) "dark comedy" staring Robin Williams as sleazy car salesman Joey O'Brien and Tim Robbins as the cuckold husband Larry who takes the car dealership where O'Brien works hostage. also with Fran Drescher (the most annoying "New York accent" voice since Ethel Merman) as O'Brien's married mistress Joy, Lori Petty as his single mistress as Lila , Pamela Reed as his ex-wife Tina, Annabella Sciorra as Larry's cheating wife Donna and Lauren Tom who is REALLY funny in her small part as "Helen the dim sum girl". Joy's yapping little dog is SO annoying and SUCH a PEST as to be REALLY funny

starts off with a hilarious sketch about a broke down funeral hearse where the sleazy O'Brien ties to sell the funeral director and then the widow a car. then goes kind of "flat" until the hostage scenes which turn into a pure screwball "Dog Day Afternoon" send up. overall enjoyed the movie ex for the 15 minutes or so right after the opening sketch which is used to "set up" that O'Brien is a serial  philanderer and a total sleaze. pretty much a "tour de force" for Robin Williams as O'Brien being quick witted in keeping the crazy Larry calm and juggling his ex-wife and two mistresses. plays again on Encore-Classic again Saturday July 5th @ 12;55 pm and Thursday July 10th @ 8:40 am pacific times. I am pretty much a Robin Williams fan so rate it

Most remakes stink but Carrie was excellent, the acting was superb.

'Old Boy' Spike Lee's version.

I really liked the original version..This one was cool, but it's hard to say how good it is cuz I can't help but compare it to the original.

 

 

 

^ This new version has that sister of the Olsen Twins..I've seen her in three movies and she shows her sweet, sweet  t i t t i e s  in each one.

said in The Net review was an interesting plot BUT just TOO long. probably would have been a good 90 minute movie. I to almost "dumped it" early. action picked up 2nd half of movie

as for Cruz, I said she was decent as the doctor trying to prevent a plague outbreak in Sahara (2005) with Matthew McConaughey in my June review

I personally think 42 was one of the best movies of 2013 and I am surprised it didn't get at least nominated for awards considering some of the "tripe" that was. the movie holds a 79 % "fresh" from Rotten Tomatoes.

was well acted by all involved with Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson, Nicole Beharie as his wife Rachel, and esp Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey. supporting cast was strong with Alan Tudyk as the racist Phillies manager Ben Chapman, Lucas Black as Dodgers shortstop Pee Wee Reese, Max Gail (was the "Wojo" in the old "Barney Miller" NYC cops sitcom years ago) as Dodgers manager Burt Shotton and J C McGinley as Dodgers P-b-P broadcaster Red Barber. Andre Holland was excellent as black baseball scribe Wendell Smith who was kind of "the Jackie Robinson of sports writers" back then. in 1948 he became the first minority member of Baseball Writers Association of America

I've seen a lot of movies in my day.  And I'll sit through and watch just about any movie..good or bad and give an honest review.

42 was terrible.

The entire film felt like a made for TV movie.  Spoon feeding the audience the same scene over and over again.  It was totally bland, I shut it off 3/4 of the way through, which is extremely rare for me.  And I love baseball.  Harrison Ford was the only decent thing about this movie.

4.5/10


Barton Fink - Coen Bros. film featuring John Turturro & John Goodman.  Solid Drama/Mystery.


7.2/10

Primal Fear (1996) "neo-noir" legal-mystery drama staring Richard Gere as self aggrandizing defense attorney Martin Vail and Edward Norton as murder suspect Aaron Stampler with Laura Linney as the woman prosecutor Janet Venable who is also Vail's former lover. Frances McDormand is excellent as the defense psychiatrist Dr Molly Arrington as is Andre Braugher as Vail's "private eye" Tommy Goodman

well acted by all involved BUT for all it's "twists and turns" has a rather transparent plot. anyone who can't figure out the "suprise ending" half way thru doesn't watch many crime-mystery movies. worth watching mostly for Norton's "tour de force" as Aaron/Roy. plays again on EPIX Saturday July 12th and Sunday July 13th. I'm a sucker for legal dramas so rate it


btw, four of the BEST "anti-war" movies EVER play on Turner Classic Movies this weekend. with this being the 100th year anniversary of WWI began on 28 July 1914, TCM has been playing movies about or based on "The Great War" on Friday nights this month. all times are pacific

Friday July 11th

5:00 pm Paths Of Glory (1957) this early work by director Stanley Kubrick stars Kirk Douglas, Adolphe Menjou and George Macready with Ralph Meeker and Wayne Morris. plot is based on an actual incident within the French Army during WWI where four French soldiers serving under General Geraud Reveilhac were executed for mutiny during a battle at Souain-Perthes where Reveilhac ordered his own artillery to fire on his own troops to force them to attack. powerful acting by all involved
 
6:45 pm All Quiet On The Western Front (1930) this film adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque's pacifist novel staring Lew Ayres as Paul Baumer, Louis Wolheim as "Kat" Katczinsky and John Wray as Corporal Himmelstoss is considered by many to be THE best anti-war movie of all time.

I personally think Remarque's book along with William Golding's Lord of the Flies, George Orwell's 1984 and Upton Sinclair's The Jungle should be required reading in every high school world wide

Saturday July 12th

12:00 am  Westfront 1918 (1930) German film directed by Georg Wilhelm Pabst about life and death in the WWI trenches is very similar to All Quiet On The Western Front and many of it's scenes are even more disturbing than in that classic and was also banned by various fascist governments

1:45 am Kameradschaft (aka Comradeship) (1931) another German film directed by Pabst depicts German miners trying to save French miners trapped and in danger from a fire in the French side of a mine seperated by the German-French post WWI border. strong anti-nationalist message that ALL workers need unite to help each other regardless of country

ALL FOUR worth viewing at least once

Hard Eight (1996) neo-noir crime-gambling movie staring Philip Baker Hall as old retired mob hit man and gambler Sydney, John C Reilly as John who Sydney befriends and mentors, Gwyneth Paltrow as John's girl friend and cocktail waitress / part time hooker Clementine and Samuel L Jackson as  John's acquaintance Jimmy a casino security man. early bit part for Philip Seymour Hoffman as an obnoxious young craps player.

interesting story and characters well acted by all involved. kind of suprised that Philip Baker Hall hasn't been offered more top rolls as he is excellent in this movie. he has usually been just a bit player in his career. couple of people mentioned Hard Eight in the Best Gambling movies of All Time thread and I somewhat agree. it is not Rounders, The Gambler or Owning Mahowny BUT it's good. plays again on Sundance movie channel again Tuesday July 15th @ 2:00 pm pacific time. if you want to watch it is best to record as Sundance is over-run with commercials. rate it

Just watched Spike Lee's version of Old Boy, and thought it was very weak compared to the original.

Gravity (2013) excellent space adventure with Sandra Bullock and George Clooney shows the difficulty of working in the vacuum of space with zero gravity although they DID take some liberties with the physics of space flight. has some really "heart stopping" scenes throughout. Best Director Oscar for Alfonso Cuaron, Best Actress nomonation for Sandra Bullock and won just about all the "technical" Oscars for it's outstanding CGI. I have been a "NASA Nut" most of my life so I enjoyed it. plays again on HBO Sunday July 13th, Wednesday July 16th, Thursday July 27th, Friday July 18th and again Sunday July 20th. rate it

Apocalypse Now.

  

If you like AN,you have to see Apocalypse Now Redoux-longer,helps explain some things and is funnier(in a fashion).Personally consider ANRedoux in the top 10 films of L50years.

agree with 666LES 100%

Apocalypse Now Redux definitely a much more complete movie than the original esp the French plantation scenes with the funeral for Clean and the dinner where the French planter Hubert de Marais played by Christian Marquand explains to Willard that the Americans are making the same mistakes they made in fighting the Vietnamese. Aurore Clement as the French widow Roxanne is one sexy gal in her bedroom scene with Willard after the dinner where it is implied they make love.

the scene where Willard steals Kilgore's surf board is pretty funny but doesn't really add the the plot as are the scenes at the "Bunny Base". both are interesting BUT I can understand why Coppola cut them for time reasons. however he should have NEVER cut the French plantation scenes as that fills in a big missing part of the story of what happened to Clean's remains after he is killed.

Agreed on ANR, just a wonderful and compelling film.  I watched AR over the weekend, and it's funny to "see" the stuff you know is missing. 

42 was doo-doo.  It's a great story, but it was a great story before they started to write the screenplay.  It has all the depth and complexity of an afterschool special. 

There's a behind the scenes type movie about the making of Apocalypse Now..

Sheen and Coppola damn near died..Brando was unbelievably difficult to work with.

I don't know the name of it, but it's good.

The Butler (2013) (full title Lee Daniels' The Butler). historical drama film loosely based on the real life of Eugene Allen who served 34-years as a White House butler. really more a story of black communities struggle for Civil Rights movement from the 1950's thru today. stars Forest Whitaker as butler Cecil Gaines (Eugene Allen), Oprah Winfrey as his wife Gloria, Terrence Howard as Howard the Gaines's neighbor who is trying to bed Gloria, David Oyelowo as the Gaines older son Louis who becomes a radical Civil Rights advocate and the lovely actress-model Yaya DaCosta as Lewis's girlfriend Carol with Cuba Gooding, Jr and Lenny Kravitz as Gaines's fellow White House butlers

also had an all star cast of supporting actors with Robin Williams as Dwight Eisenhower, James Marsden as Jack Kennedy, Liev Schreiber as Lyndon Johnson, John Cusack as Richard Nixon, Alan Rickman as Ronald Reagan and Jane Fonda as First Lady Nancy Reagan. for all their makeup those playing the Presidents really didn't look like them (ex for Marsden as Kennedy) although Fonda was a dead ringer for Nancy. Vanessa Redgrave plays the woman plantation owner who trains the young boy Cecil as a butler, Mariah Carey as Cecil's mother Hattie Pearl and Nelsan Ellis as Martin Luther King.

I would put the movie up with excellent mostly black cast movies like The Great Debaters (2007) which is another well acted drama also staring Forest Whitaker. the Mrs and I really enjoyed it and I would recommend it for anyone interested in American history or who just like good drama. my one detraction is that some of the dialog was difficult to understand because they over did it with the background music. plays again on Showtime channels Thursday July 17th, Friday July 18th and Saturday July 19th. rate it

also the epic biographical film Gandhi (1982) plays on the Sony Movies channel Sunday July 20th. definately worth watching-recording this story of the Mahatma's life. won Best Picture, Best Director (Richard Attenboroug) and Best Actor (Ben Kingsley as Gandhi) Oscars. was the movie that really launched the then unknown Kingsley's career. definately rated

Homefront. Another Jason Statham action kicking butt and taking names movie. Enjoyed it very much. Winona Rider looks yummy also.

Wow Summer in New York 

has Jason Statham ever made a BAD action movie? looking forward to seeing this one

No he hasn't! Lol. Watched Parker last night. Good, but not as good as Homefront.