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- DirectorChristopher McQuarrieStarsTom CruiseRebecca FergusonJeremy RennerEthan and his team take on their most impossible mission yet when they have to eradicate an international rogue organization as highly skilled as they are and committed to destroying the IMF.If I wanted to watch Bond, which I don't, I would watch Bond. This seems to me a complete rip-off. There were some plot twists that kept my attention when I awoke from a mid-movie nap.
- DirectorNeill BlomkampStarsMatt DamonJodie FosterSharlto CopleyIn the year 2154, the very wealthy live on a man-made space station while the rest of the population resides on a ruined Earth. A man takes on a mission that could bring equality to the polarized worlds.Sci Fi worth watching. A story line that is compelling and a future that is imaginative but keeps a connection to what could be real some day.
- DirectorSally PotterStarsElle FanningAlice EnglertAnnette BeningA look at the lives of two teenage girls - inseparable friends Ginger and Rosa -- growing up in 1960s London as the Cuban Missile Crisis looms, and the pivotal event that comes to redefine their relationship.Too many stereotypes for me in this one. I could see that some audiences would like it more that I do.
- DirectorScott RodgersStarsKat FosterScott RodgersTimm SharpRomantic comedy about an actress who stars in a sexually explicit mini-series adaptation of a best-selling erotic chick-lit novel, and her loving but tortured stoner boyfriend is forced to deal with it.Ying meet yang. Reminded of this one by watching Begin Again a few weeks later. Both have a bond that breaks, but this one is more a matter of milking your time while Begin Again is cream rising to the top.
- DirectorTom McCarthyStarsPeter DinklagePatricia ClarksonBobby CannavaleWhen his only friend dies, a man born with dwarfism moves to rural New Jersey to live a life of solitude, only to meet a chatty hot dog vendor and a woman dealing with her own personal loss.A splendid viewing for the introvert in all of us! I believe I could watch this one again. The writing stays true to topic and true to character. Boy! There certainly are some characters in this movie ... just as there are in the world. For more in this genre see:
http://introvertspring.com/movies-inspire-introverts/
Comment there: "... The Station Agent would be a great fit on this list. After a recent viewing, I knew Michaela's Introvert Spring might cover the topic of movies. A simple search found this blog post, and the first comment is what I wanted to share anyway, so now I will reinforce it. Nothing beats Bennie and Joon for entertainment. Wallflower never wavers from its theme. Amelie left me a bit bewildered, but is recommended by many. The Station Agent covers the introvert field with aplomb and is surely worth your time." - DirectorRichard LinklaterStarsJack BlackMike WhiteJoan CusackAfter being kicked out of his rock band, Dewey Finn becomes a substitute teacher of an uptight elementary private school, only to try and turn his class into a rock band.The things you do for family: Like watch a movie about which there is a Broadway musical someone in the clan has seen. As a movie it is fine, but don't expect more than is reasonable. Good to see Joan Cusack still has the acting bug for the quirky role.
- DirectorPete DocterRonnie Del CarmenStarsAmy PoehlerBill HaderLewis BlackAfter young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions - Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness - conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house, and school.It took guts to make this movie and fit an adult topic into a children's format. Surprisingly, it works. One could deeply evaluate this film or make superficial quips. The latter is easier and takes fewer college degrees, so:
1. Some thoughts are just a train wreck waiting to happen;
2. Joy couldn't find meaning in life without sadness. - DirectorJohn CarneyStarsKeira KnightleyMark RuffaloAdam LevineA chance encounter between a down-and-out music business executive, and a young singer songwriter new to Manhattan, turns into a promising collaboration between the two talents.Kiera Knightly is such a fine actress. How did she get paired with Adam Levine? He simply isn't much of an actor. Oh, he tried, but every scene with him was one you couldn't wait to have end. James Corden was better, and I wouldn't have expected such. If you love the creative types, this movie is for you ... and ditto if you loath them! I usually decry the use of stereotypes as characters, but a good movie knows how to make them work on its behalf; this is a good movie.
- DirectorBryan SingerStarsKevin SpaceyGabriel ByrneChazz PalminteriThe sole survivor of a pier shoot-out tells the story of how a notorious criminal influenced the events that began with five criminals meeting in a seemingly random police lineup.The usual Hollywood movie. That is all.
- DirectorJohn CurranStarsNaomi WattsEdward NortonLiev SchreiberDr Walter gets married to the beautiful Kitty but soon finds out that she is cheating on him. Battling his way through problems, he heads to China to fight a dreaded disease spread in a small village.Restful, relaxing, but enough drama to keep my attention. I like the setting in China. I like the evolution of the characters. I felt you could grasp the nature of all the principle subjects.
- DirectorAdam McKayStarsChristian BaleSteve CarellRyan GoslingIn 2006-2007 a group of investors bet against the United States mortgage market. In their research, they discover how flawed and corrupt the market is.A "mockumentary?" My fault for thinking that this movie would truly shed light on the 2008 financial crisis, but it stayed true to the specificity of its name and focused on those who shrewedly, boldly, ridiculously shorted the U.S.A. housing market beginning in 2007. The "mock" element was that it made a mockery of the only persons who understood the reality or realty. Could they all have been so quirky? I have to think this was an attempt to embellish entertainment into a documentary, thus my terminology that this was a "mockumentary."
- DirectorTerry GilliamStarsBruce WillisMadeleine StoweBrad PittIn a future world devastated by disease, a convict is sent back in time to gather information about the man-made virus that wiped out most of the human population on the planet.There are far better time travel movies than this one, especially "Primer." Maybe I have seen too many that deal with the paradox that changing the past will change the current day and the future.
- DirectorAdrienne ShellyStarsKeri RussellNathan FillionJeremy SistoJenna is a pregnant, unhappily married waitress in the deep south. She meets a newcomer to her town and falls into an unlikely relationship as a last attempt at happiness.Weak! Not only did I find the movie lacking, but it virtually destroyed any interest in seeing the play "Waitress" debuting now, in Spring, 2016.
- DirectorDan MirvishStarsJulia StilesMelissa GeorgeTaye DiggsTwo couples reunite over two incendiary evenings where anything can happen in this darkly comedic story of best friends, marriage, love, disappointment and dreams.Just between us, I liked this one while my wife thought it had very little going for it. This is not a movie for the action-seeking viewer, and I'm not that guy. The consensus on IMBD is that people hate the movie or love it, very little in between. I loved it for the engaging dialogue and the excellent acting. Other reviewers thought the dialogue was dull, but generally gave decent marks to the actors.
By coincidence, this is a movie based on a play, while the most recent movie I watched, "Waitress" is being turned into a play as we speak. - DirectorAlan RickmanStarsKate WinsletAlan RickmanStanley TucciTwo talented landscape artists become romantically entangled while building a garden in King Louis XIV's palace at Versailles.Mildly entertaining story as some episodes from the past are leaked to the audience in pieces. Not great character development. Strong woman's role will appeal to many.
- DirectorCurtis BernhardtStarsBette DavisGlenn FordDane ClarkWhen a woman's twin sister is drowned, she assumes her identity in order to be close to the man she feels her sister took from her years before.Good work by Bette Davis. Not so impressed with Glenn Ford despite being told in the movie preview that this was one of two movies (Gilda) that really launched his post-war (1946) career. Seeing a skinny Walter Brennan was interesting, prior to him finding his characteristic voice intonations. Pantsuits were a fashion item in 1946, though secondary to dresses.
- DirectorLonny PriceStarsAudra McDonaldShelton BectonGeorge FarmerIt's 1959 in a seedy bar in Philadelphia, and Billie Holiday is giving one of her last performances interlaced with salty, often humorous, reminiscences to project a riveting portrait of the lady and her music 4 months before her death.Drunk people are not funny. The movie was touching, but slow and quite uneventful. Good that it was only 90 minutes. Maybe Diana Ross in Lady Sings the Blues would be a better Billie Holiday experience.
- DirectorGeorge C. WolfeStarsDiane LaneRichard GereChristopher MeloniA doctor, who is travelling to see his estranged son, sparks with an unhappily married woman at a North Carolina inn."Home!" We didn't expect to see shots from North Topsail Beach, NC, and Snead's Ferry, NC, in the opening few minutes. We recently visited the house in Rodanthe, NC, where this was filmed, so that was a very much expected sighting. The actor portrayals were strong, consistent, and realistic. One of the better romantic comedys.
- DirectorMorten TyldumStarsBenedict CumberbatchKeira KnightleyMatthew GoodeDuring World War II, the English mathematical genius Alan Turing tries to crack the German Enigma code with help from fellow mathematicians while attempting to come to terms with his troubled private life.Very good story with an excellent early sound track. The goodness faded as the movie wore on, but a few twists kept our attention. Overall it left a good impression, and Kiera Knightly is terrific - - particularly in this role. Did Cumberbatch get it right or overplay his acting?
- DirectorGavin HoodStarsHelen MirrenAaron PaulAlan RickmanCol. Katherine Powell, a military officer in command of an operation to capture terrorists in Kenya, sees her mission escalate when a girl enters the kill zone triggering an international dispute over the implications of modern warfare.A lot to like about this one, but still seemed to have weaknesses. It surprisingly sustained a story for two hours centered around one event. I should appreciate that the writers and directors did not feel compelled to revert to flashbacks to make the story broader. There were parallels to business (decision making becomes passing the choice to someone higher in the chain; fudging the data) and insights into human nature (emotion as well as calculation) that were called out well.
- DirectorPierre MorelStarsLiam NeesonMaggie GraceFamke JanssenA retired CIA agent travels across Europe and relies on his old skills to save his estranged daughter, who has been kidnapped while on a trip to Paris.Bill S. recommendation, second by Gar.
Good enough and paced well enough to hold one's attention. The characters were not complex and somewhat predictable. The chase scenes were their usual Hollywood silliness, and the (French) cops were their usual Hollywood idiots. How is that at an American in Paris walks into a room full of Albanians and the entire conversation is conducted in English?
The question left hanging was, "How far would one go for one's child?" Apparently, one would shot a friend/colleague's wife. Is that deep or had we gone too far? - DirectorRick BeyerStarsWesley ClarkPeter CoyoteDuring World War II, a group of American GI's undertook a mission to create a traveling road show of deception on the battlefields of Europe. Their secret mission was kept a secret for nearly 50 years after the war's end.
- DirectorRaymond De FelittaStarsAndy GarciaJulianna MarguliesSteven StraitPrison guard Vince tells Molly from acting class, that one inmate is his 24 y.o. love child. Vince takes him home to stay with his family - straight A son with fat girl fetish, college dropout/stripper daughter and cute wife.Funny family angles all around.
- DirectorTheresa ConnellyStarsClaire DanesGabriel ByrneLena OlinThe film centers on a big Polish family. Jadzia is the mother and the ruler of the Pzoniak family (she has five children). Though she's happily married to Bolek, she is also having a long-time affair with Roman. Her young daughter Hala is having an affair with neighbour cop Russell and becomes pregnant by him. Russell is pressed hard to marry Hala.A mystery, not comedy. What was that? Lena Olin is great in this, even upstaging Claire Danes, which is hard to do. Gabriel Byre does well, too.
- DirectorMick JacksonStarsKevin CostnerWhitney HoustonGary KempA former Secret Service agent takes on the job of bodyguard to an R&B singer, whose lifestyle is most unlike a President's.Whitney Houston was a great performer, and Kevin Costner a pretty good actor. They come together well in this one.
- DirectorStanley DonenStarsCary GrantAudrey HepburnWalter MatthauRomance and suspense ensue in Paris as a woman is pursued by several men who want a fortune her murdered husband had stolen. Whom can she trust?Audrey Hepburn fetish returns in 2016. This is a simple, fun film.
- DirectorCharles FergusonStarsMatt DamonGylfi ZoegaAndri Snær MagnasonTakes a closer look at what brought about the 2008 financial meltdown.I needed to see this film again ... just to get angry! Oh, well, the past is the past until it is repeated, which could happen again soon given the lack of sound changes after the mid-2000s financial crisis. I believe they failed to highlight the actions of Congress that contributed, particularly around mortgage encouragement through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
- DirectorDavid LeanStarsOmar SharifJulie ChristieGeraldine ChaplinThe life of a Russian physician and poet who, although married to another, falls in love with a political activist's wife and experiences hardship during World War I and then the October Revolution.The greatest movie I know.
- DirectorScott SilverStarsClaire DanesOmar EppsGiovanni RibisiThree problem teens sent to jail are offered a deal to work with an undercover cop, uncover an intricate drug ring and are caught in a deadly set-up. With cops on their trail, they have little time to solve the case and clear their names.Brought back memories of the TV show and was true to form.
- DirectorJonathan KaplanStarsClaire DanesKate BeckinsaleBill PullmanTwo women are arrested for smuggling while vacationing in Thailand.Gripping drama throughout.
- DirectorBarry LevinsonStarsRobert RedfordRobert DuvallGlenn CloseA middle-aged unknown comes seemingly out of nowhere to become a legendary baseball player with almost supernatural talent.Simple storytelling.
- DirectorNancy MeyersStarsRobert De NiroAnne HathawayRene RussoSeventy-year-old widower Ben Whittaker has discovered that retirement isn't all it's cracked up to be. Seizing an opportunity to get back in the game, he becomes a senior intern at an online fashion site, founded and run by Jules Ostin.Engaging, though maybe it dragged in the middle. Anne Hathaway is hard to resist.
- DirectorJohn LasseterStarsTom HanksTim AllenDon RicklesA cowboy doll is profoundly threatened and jealous when a new spaceman action figure supplants him as top toy in a boy's bedroom.A modern classic.
- DirectorJames IvoryStarsAnthony HopkinsEmma ThompsonJohn HaycraftA butler who sacrificed body and soul to service in the years leading up to World War II realizes too late how misguided his loyalty was to his lordly employer.Very good storytelling. They don't make many like this, so enjoy it.
- DirectorGuy RitchieStarsHenry CavillArmie HammerAlicia VikanderIn the early 1960s, CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin participate in a joint mission against a mysterious criminal organization, which is working to proliferate nuclear weapons.Did not seem true to the TV series without the same level of interplay between Ilya and Solo. Relied on action scenes instead.
- DirectorRobert RedfordStarsTom CruiseMeryl StreepRobert RedfordInjuries sustained by two Army rangers behind enemy lines in Afghanistan set off a sequence of events involving a congressman, a journalist and a professor.Haven't I seen this before? No, not THIS, but many others like it that say "stick it to the man" and "stand up for what you believe" using different words and images than another of its ilk, but still being of the same cloth.
- DirectorDavid KoeppStarsJoseph Gordon-LevittMichael ShannonDania RamirezIn Manhattan, a bike messenger picks up an envelope that attracts the interest of a dirty cop, who pursues the cyclist throughout the city.I see excellence in a somewhat average film. Excellent crafting of story that kept the viewer intrigued and invigorated by jumping timelines (but always being clear where you stood) and revealing the plot in increments. There was fairly good character discovery, too.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsMatt DamonJessica ChastainKristen WiigAn astronaut becomes stranded on Mars after his team assume him dead, and must rely on his ingenuity to find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive and can survive until a potential rescue.Better than I thought it could be, though none of the acting merited any particular recognition.
- DirectorAlejandro G. IñárrituStarsLeonardo DiCaprioTom HardyWill PoulterA frontiersman on a fur trading expedition in the 1820s fights for survival after being mauled by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team.I'm going way up there to 8 stars on this, but I should lower it a bit. The '8' is recognition of movie making majesty in the setting and bringing the viewer close to all the critical action. Few movies are made that put you "in the scene" like this, especially a difficult scene like this wild no-man's land of the great white north in such rustic times. The story is incredible if somewhat fanciful, such as Glass going from dragging a mutilated ankle to running on that same limb without time for it to be set or heal. I could overlook those warts and appreciate the presentation.