I See Bad Movies So You Don't Have To!
A weekly look at the movies, both past and present. The name of this blog comes from the fact that I stay until the credits have ended.
Ratings from Best to Worst:
1). I Would Pay to See it Again
2). Full Price
3). Bargain Matinee
4). Cable
5). You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again
My View: A Quiet Place (2018) PG-13 A family of four is forced to live in silence while hiding from horrible creatures that hunt by sound. John Krasinski, who co-wrote the script and directed the film, has brought us one of the best horror films of the past ten years. The film is almost a silent film, as the family mostly communicates with sign language. Krasinski builds the tension throughout, making it far scarier than most jump-out-of-the-dark horror films. I loved the camera work in this movie, as it’s always giving us exciting angles and continually moving. The creatures in the movie are horrific and scary. The whole cast, which includes Krasinski's wife, Emily Blunt, Noah Jupe, Millicent Simmonds and Cade Woodward, are brilliant in this film, with Blunt and Simmonds standing out. At my screening, the crowd was quiet, and one person told me that they didn’t eat their popcorn because they were scared the creatures would get them. Don’t miss out on this unique movie going experience. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again A Quiet Place Website
My View: Blockers (2018) R Three parents (John Cena, Leslie Mann, Ike Barinholtz) will do anything to try to stop their teens from having sex on prom night. The trailer for this film did not do it justice. Now, be warned. Seth Rogan is one of the producers of this movie, and it’s very raunchy, but man, is it funny. There was almost nonstop laughter in the screening that I went to. People, including myself, were laughing so hard, you couldn’t hear some of the lines. John Cena is priceless in his portrayal of the father with a heart of gold. I loved the three young actresses who played the daughters, with Grealdine Viswanathan giving a winning performance as the jock who wants to lose her virginity. There is a sequence in the film that was so funny, I thought the person behind me was going to explode as they were laughing so hard. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again Blockers Website
Indiefest: 1945 (2017) In 1945, two mysterious strangers arrive in a small Hungarian village. The townspeople think that the strangers are there to take back the buildings they took when the Jewish inhabitants were seized by the Germans to the concentration camps. This film is all about guilt and how each townsperson handles it. As the two strangers slowly move through the town, the tension builds as the town worries that these men are going to claim what was once theirs. It’s a powerful film that doesn’t answer the question of what they are doing in the town until the end of the film. My Rating: Full Price 1945 Website
Forgotten Film: The Hit (1984) Willie (Terence Stamp) is an ex-gangster living in Spain because he ratted out his former associates. Two British hitmen (Tim Roth, John Hurt) kidnap Willie to take him back to Paris for execution. On the trip, everything that can go wrong, does. Stamp is mesmerizing, and the dialogue between his character and the two hit men is some of the best of the 80s. This is more of a character study than an action film, but it’s worth checking out. My Rating: Full Price The Hit Info
Weird Credits: From the credits of A Quiet Place: American Sign Language Coach
Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: I Feel Pretty (2018) A woman (Amy Schumer) who works in a crappy job and is insecure, has an accident and hits her head. When she awakens, she believes she is the most beautiful and capable woman on the planet. She begins to live her life to the fullest and fearlessly. I love Amy Schumer and the trailer is hilarious. I Feel Pretty Website
My View:Ready Player One (2018) PG-13 The world in 2045 is a desolate place and, to escape it, people use the virtual reality software OASIS to engage in work and play. While playing in the OASIS world, Wade (Tye Sheridan) discovers a hidden game that promises the winner full ownership of OASIS. Now, Wade and a few allies try to compete in the game and pass all the tasks before someone else does. This film moves at such a quick pace that you don’t notice that it is two hours and twenty minutes in length. There are so many characters from pop culture in this film, like the Iron Giant or the Big Foot monster truck, that you would have to watch this movie a hundred times to see all of them. The action sequences are a blast, and the film is much funnier than I thought it would. I really enjoyed Tye Sheridan’s performance and his on-screen chemistry with Olivia Cooke, who plays a fellow gamer who aids Wade. I loved how vital Cooke’s character, Art3mis, is, right there side-by-side with Wade in fighting the bad guys. Is this one of Steven Spielberg’s best films? No, but it is so much fun to watch. My Rating: Full Price Ready Player One
Indiegest: Isle of Dogs (2018) PG-13 Set in Japan, a young boy goes on a search for his lost dog that has been sent to an island by an evil government official. This film is gorgeous, and the stop-motion animation is brilliant, bringing all the characters to life on the screen. The movie is funny, touching and, at times, a little sad, but the storyline is so perfect you will enjoy every minute of it. This is probably the best voice casted film I have ever seen led by Bryan Cranston, who voices the leader of the pack, Chief. Isle of Dogs is an brilliant film that kids and adults will equally enjoy. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again Isle of Dogs Website
In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I've Only Seen in Trailers But Just Looks Like a Bad Idea):Blockers (2018) R Three parents try to stop their teens from having sex on prom night. I like the cast which includes John Cena and Leslie Mann, but I didn’t laugh once watching the trailer. Blockers Website
Forgotten Film: ‘Buffalo ’66’ (1998) R A recent parolee (Vincent Gallo) kidnaps a dancer (Christina Ricci) and makes her act as his wife in front of his crazy parents (Ben Gazzara, Anjelica Huston). The film, written and directed by Gallo, is funny and slightly romantic. It’s about two people falling in love in spite of themselves. Gallo and Ricci play off each other, which makes their relationship strange but real. My Rating: Full Price Buffalo 66 Info
Weird Credits: From the credits of Ready Player One: Crowd Junior Hair
Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:Lean on Pete (2017) R A troubled teen named, Charley (Charlie Plummer) , starts working for a cantankerous horse trainer (Steve Buscemi). Ray falls in love with a quarterhorse named, Lean on Pete, that, if doesn't start winning, the horse will be sold. I love Steve Buscemi, so count me in. Lean on Pete Info
My View: The Other Woman (2014) PG-13 Carly (Cameron Diaz) discovers that her boyfriend is married when she shows up at his house to surprise him. Kate (Leslie Mann) confronts Carly about the affair, and they soon discover that Kate’s husband (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) is cheating not only on her but Carly, as well with, Amber (Kate Upton). When another affair is discovered, the three women decide to get revenge on the cheating husband and make him pay for his transgressions. This is a fun, and, at times, a little raunchy comedy that never takes itself too seriously. Diaz is enjoyable as the driven Carly, using her knack for physical comedy to the upmost. Upton is beautiful and cute but isn’t asked to do too much on-screen than react to what Diaz and Mann do. Leslie Mann is why you will want to see this movie, as she gives an impressive comedic performance. Kate overreacts to everything, and Mann uses that to make every scene her own. This isn’t a perfect film, as it’s too long and has plot holes, but it’s a fun romp that uses Mann’s comedic talents to full effect. My Rating: Bargain Matinee The Other Woman Website
Indiefest: Hateship Loveship (2014) R Johanna (Kristen Wiig) is a caretaker who seems to be from another era - she dresses as if she were from the 50’s, right down to her laced up shoes. She gets a job to take care of a grandfather (Nick Nolte) and his granddaughter, Sabitha (Hailee Steinfeld), a teenager who seems determined to get into as much trouble as she can. Johanna meets Sabitha’s father, an ex-con drug addict named Ken (Guy Pearce) who lives in another town. When Ken writes Johanna a thank you note, she takes the gesture to heart and writes him back. Sabitha and her best friend, Edith (Sami Gayle), intercept the letter and begin posing as Ken, writing her letters (just to be mean) that get more and more romantically involved. Now Johanna is in a romance with Ken, and he knows nothing about it. Wiig gives the dramatic performance of a lifetime, making us slowly fall in love with Johanna. The script is well written and Wiig doesn’t have a lot of lines, but she gives us all we need to know about Johanna through her body language and facial expressions. The rest of the cast is outstanding, including a low-key performance from Nick Nolte, and the script gives us a plot that keeps us guessing. My Rating: Full Price Hateship Loveship WebsiteFor a full length review of this film click here
My View: Walking with the Enemy (2014) R In Hungary during the final days of World War II, Elek (Jonas Armstrong), son of a Rabbi, helps save thousands of his fellow Jewish countrymen by posing as a Nazi officer. Unfortunately, Elek was too late to save his own family. I found this film, based on a true story, absorbing about a subject that not many people know about and a story of heroism and sacrifice. I enjoyed the performances of Armstrong, who projects a steely backbone as the heroic Elek and Hannah Tointon, who plays Elek’s girlfriend who joins him in the fight to keep as many Jews safe as they can. The film has some splendid action sequences and a plot that is full of tension and surprises. It’s an engaging film about a dark time in our world history. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Walking with the Enemy Website
Forgotten Film: The Opposite of Sex (1998) R DeDee (Christina Ricci) is a fast-talking, smart assof a teenager who, unhappy and pregnant, moves to Indiana to stay with her half-brother named, Bill (Martin Donovan). Bill is gay and lives with Matt (Ivan Sergei). Dedee seduces Matt, convincing him that he is bi-sexual. The film has just about everything, including gunplay, accusations of molestation and double crosses. What sets this film apart is it is funny, at times, mostly due to DeDee being the narrator of the film, where she makes sarcastic comments about what is going on in the story. Ricci is always fun to watch on the screen, and in this film she gives one of her better performances. This film isn’t for everybody, but if you are ready to go on a wild ride with DeDee, then this film is for you. My Rating: Bargain Matinee The Opposite of Sex Info
Weird Credits: From the credits of Walking with the Enemy: German language consultant
Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: God’s Pocket (2014) A man investigates the construction accident of his stepson and gets in way over his head. I don’t need to know any more than it stars the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. God's Pocket Info
My View:Robocop (2014) PG-13 In the near future, the United States is the last country in the world to not use some sort of robotic police force. When Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman), a loving father and good cop, is critically injured in the line of duty, the corporation behind most of the world’s robotic police force, OmniCorp, sees an opportunity. They plan on using what is left of Murphy to create a one-man police force called, Robocop. I enjoyed this film as it attempted to bring something new to the Robocop franchise. The supporting cast is perfect, including Michael Keaton as the slimy CEO of OmniCorp, Samuel L. Jackson as a pro OmniCorp TV host, and Jay Baruchel as a sleazy marketing guru. I didn’t like the action sequences as the PG-13 violence seemed too rooted in video games. I also didn’t like that the film takes way too long for Robocop to hit the streets to kick some bad guy butt. Kinnaman is enjoyable as the Robocop, but I just wish the creators had really upped the action sequences. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Robocop Website
The 50 (A Movie from My Best/Worst Films of All Time) #4 Best Film: The Godfather (1972) R The story of a mafia crime family trying to stay on top is one of most brilliant films of the past 50 years. The cast of Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Cann and Diane Keaton is brilliant in this stirring film directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Every scene in this movie could be studied in a film class, with its perfect framing and lighting. Pacino is magnificent as Michael, a war hero who naively thinks he can leave the family business. Brando dominates every scene he is in, and Keaton is never more appealing. It’s a film that makes you root for the bad guys and feel good about doing it. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again The Godfather Info
Forgotten Film: Outland (1981) R William Neal (Sean Connery) is a Marshall, assigned to a mining colony on Io, one of Jupiter’s moons. When Marshall starts investigating the mysterious deaths of a number of miners, he discovers that a drug trade is responsible for the deaths, and the dealers are out for the Marshall’s death. Now the Marshall must face a gang of ruthless killers, and the population that he has protected is letting him go against them all alone. This is a new take on the western theme of one man against many, like the 1952 film, High Noon. Connery is at his charismatic best, playing the tough-as-nails Marshall who is willing to take on the bad guys. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Outland Info
In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I’ve Only Seen in Trailers But Just Looks Like a Bad Idea): The Other Woman (2014) A wife (Leslie Mann) and her husband’s girlfriend (Cameron Diaz) team up to get revenge on the husband when they discover he is cheating on both of them. Just what we need. A female buddy movie about cheating. The Other Woman Info
In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD/Blu-ray): The Best Man Holiday (2013) R When old college friends get together for the Christmas holidays, they find out just how easy it is to pick right back up where they left off, which is good in the romance department but not so much when dealing with a rival. I thoroughly enjoyed the first film in the series, The Best Man, and while this film isn’t quite as enjoyable as the first one was, it’s still a fun movie with a great message about love and family. My Rating: Bargain Matinee The Best Man Holiday Facebook Page Weird Credits: From the credits of Robocop: Balloon light technician Coming Soon to a Theater Near You: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) Captain America (Chris Evans) is struggling to adapt to the modern world while there is also a new threat from an old foe, a Soviet agent known as the Winter Solder. I really liked the first Captain America film, but I wanted a little humor in it. They say this one will have that humor that I was looking for. Captain America: The Winter Soldier Website
