I Watch Movies (2015)
For fun, I'm keeping track of all the movies I watch this year. (In order) www.MIKEandLEEwatchMOVIES.com
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- DirectorMichaël R. RoskamStarsTom HardyNoomi RapaceJames GandolfiniBob Saginowski finds himself at the center of a robbery gone awry and entwined in an investigation that digs deeply into the neighborhood's past where friends, families, and foes all work together to make a living--no matter the cost.Would I recommend this movie?
-General Recommendation: Yes
-Filmmaking Fan: Yes
My Additional Comments:
-I loved this directors previous film, Bullhead (2011), and I loved this film. I'm looking forward to this directors next film, whatever it might be. - DirectorOliver HirschbiegelStarsLiam NeesonJames NesbittAnamaria MarincaThe story of former UVF member Alistair Little. Twenty-five years after Little killed Joe Griffen's brother, the media arrange an auspicious meeting between the two.Would I recommend this movie?
-General Recommendation: Yes
-Filmmaking Fan: Yes
Additional Comments:
Mike Fogerty got me to watch this movie.
-This movie started out as a cool Irish young gangster movie. And I thought it was going to be about Liam Neeson's rise to be the best gangster in his little town. But it got way more complex and interesting then that. It gave me a specific perspective I don't think I've ever seen exactly like that. Movies like these are the reason we understand each other and can have empathy for people we can not relate to.
-It gets reviews from people like Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter calling it "very good at stating the obvious but fails to bring new insight to this age-old morality tale". Sorry Honey, that's part of the point, we can't relate to "age-old" morality tales as well as we can to a new modern telling with today relevant tools and information. - DirectorTomm MooreNora TwomeyStarsEvan McGuireBrendan GleesonMick LallyA young boy in a remote medieval outpost under siege from barbarian raids is beckoned to adventure when a celebrated master illuminator arrives with an ancient book, brimming with secret wisdom and powers.Would I recommend this movie?
-To A Regular Filmgoer: Yes
-To A Filmmaking Fan: Yes
My Additional Comments:
Oceann and I tried watching this a few years ago, but the art caught us off guard and we turned it off only minutes into it. Our friend Aideen O' Donovan suggestion we watch it, so we went in with different eyes and ended up falling in love with it! - DirectorBobby FarrellyPeter FarrellyStarsJim CarreyJeff DanielsRob Riggle20 years since their first adventure, Lloyd and Harry go on a road trip to find Harry's newly discovered daughter, who was given up for adoption.Would I recommend this movie?
-To A Regular Filmgoer: Yes
-To A Filmmaking Fan: Yes
My Additional Comments:
-Dumb and Dumber To received generally negative reviews from critics. However, who cares! It's a sequel to Dumb and Dumber! YES! And it’s made just like a 90's comedy! But in 2014! I loved all the nostalgic giggles I had while watching. - DirectorRidley ScottStarsChristian BaleJoel EdgertonBen KingsleyThe defiant leader Moses rises up against Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II, setting six hundred thousand slaves on a monumental journey of escape from Egypt and its terrifying cycle of deadly plagues.Would I recommend this movie?
-To A Regular Filmgoer: Yes
-To A Filmmaking Fan: Yes
My Additional Comments:
-Gladiator (2000) + Noah (2014) = Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) - DirectorTodd HaynesStarsChristian BaleCate BlanchettHeath LedgerRuminations on the life of Bob Dylan, where six characters embody a different aspect of the musician's life and work.Would I recommend this movie?
-To A Regular Filmgoer: No
-To A Filmmaking Fan: Yes
My Additional Comments:
-I loved this directors previous movies Safe (1995) and Velvet Goldmine (1998), so I don't know why I waited so long to see this film. But I'm glad I finally did, it's brilliant. I love films I can relate to. I couldn't relate to being a huge superstar, but I could relate to the aspect of continuously becoming different people over the course of my life, and whether or not that being ok with the people around me. - DirectorSydney PollackStarsMeryl StreepRobert RedfordKlaus Maria BrandauerIn 20th-century colonial Kenya, a Danish baroness/plantation owner has a passionate love affair with a free-spirited big-game hunter.My Additional Comments:
-I wouldn't recommend this movie to just anyone because it is dated.
-This was a cool movie to watch since it's set in Nairobi, Africa, and we are living in Nairobi, Africa! Also the main character leaves Denmark for Nairobi, Africa, and then goes back to Denmark, and that's what we're doing! We were told to watch this movie when we first arrived. But I kept procrastinating, thinking it was only suggested because of it geographical relevance. I didn't know it was also an amazing film! Why haven't I heard of this film before? It's cinematography was outstanding. And it had us crying multiple times.
-Judit Horváth suggested we watch this movie. - DirectorRufus NorrisStarsCharlie BootyLily JamesTim RothThree suburban English families' lives intertwine with tragic consequences.This film should be required viewing in every middle school. No joke. It’s an incredible teaching tool. For adults, we watch this movie and see how messed up we were/are/can be. But kids need to see it to see how not to be, what not to become. Ugly film. Beautiful film. Well made film. I’m looking forward to director Rufus Norris next film London Road (2015).
- DirectorAlejandro G. IñárrituStarsMichael KeatonZach GalifianakisEdward NortonA washed-up superhero actor attempts to revive his fading career by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway production.Most movies don’t live up to expectations. This one did, and exceeded them. One very notable thing, that was never mentioned to me, is that the camerawork and editing of Birdman were manipulated to give the appearance that most of the film is one continuous long take! That blew me away, and felt very fitting seeing as the film is based around a live Broadway play (no editing there). The cast had to adapt to director Alejandro González Iñárritu's rigorous shooting style, which required them to perform up to 15 pages of dialogue at a time while hitting precisely choreographed marks. It was shot in less than a month.
- DirectorSpike JonzeStarsJoaquin PhoenixAmy AdamsScarlett JohanssonIn the near future, a lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with an operating system designed to meet his every need.Even though I was told by numerous people, who movie opinion I respect, that this movie was awesome to the max, I still just ignorantly assumed it was going to be boring. Well, it wasn't boring, it turns out it actually was awesome to the max. I heard so many quotes in this movie I wanted to write down!
- DirectorGerard JohnstoneStarsMorgana O'ReillyRima Te WiataGlen-Paul WaruA young woman is forced to return to her childhood home after being placed under house arrest, where she suspects that something evil may be lurking.This is my favourite kind of horror movie, and the hardest to pull off, so even harder to come by. Lots of horror movies try to be scary, and fail. Lots of horror movies (& straight comedies) try to be funny, and fail. New Zealand seems to have the serious horror comedy genre on lockdown. Well, Australia & New Zealand even have just straight good horror movies on lockdown. Sorry America & Japan, the torch has been passed.
- DirectorSacha BennettStarsIan OgilvyAlison DoodyDanny HatchardWhen retired East End villain Charlie Archer is murdered by a feral street gang, his brother Ritchie returns to London from Spain to investigate.It's like:
Wild Hogs (2007) -vs- Attack the Block (2011)
Cute straight to video movie about some British kids who grew up watching to many movies like The Purge (2013). Then their pretend time is interrupted when they inevitable cross the wrong "old" guys. A playful look into growing old as a gangster. A gangster needs to have respect, show respect, and be respectful, to live a long life. Otherwise they're just being a punk kid playing gangster, causing terror to innocent bystanders, and inevitable be "squashed like a cockroach." - DirectorDanny BoyleStarsJames McAvoyRosario DawsonVincent CasselAn art auctioneer mixed up with a group of criminals partners with a hypnotherapist in order to recover a lost painting.Another movie, like Her (2013), in which, made by a great director I love, I still procrastinated watching, because I thought it was going to be different. This movie wasn't at all like I assumed. And I was cheering at the end. But that's not surprising from a Danny Boyle film.
- DirectorShawn LevyStarsJason BatemanTina FeyJane FondaAfter their father passes away, four grown siblings are forced to return to their childhood home and live under the same roof for a week, along with their over-sharing mother and an assortment of spouses, exes, and might-have-beens.This movie was only watchable because of the great cast, just like every other one of director Shawn Levy's movies. Only good because of the cast.
Worth a watch just to see that cast interact. But don't expect to more then giggle, and don't expect to cry. Might be a good film to watch while your washing your dishes, just like all of Shawn Levy's movies. - DirectorJesse Thomas CookStarsJason David BrownMolly DunsworthJulian RichingsA sewage worker gets trapped inside a septic tank during a water contamination crisis and undergoes a hideous transformation.Personal story time: After weeks of off and on diarrhea, I went and had my blood checked and pooped on a spoon. After seeing a doctor, having lab tests, buying medication from the pharmacy, and spending a grand uninsured total of $27USD later (I'm in Kenya, Africa), I left knowing I have a "blood infection" and a "bowel infection" caused by "contaminated food". In one week I should be infection free! So all the time I've been spending with the toilette, this movie seemed appropriate to watch.
At the Austin Fantastic Fest main actor Jason David Brown won "Best Actor" in the Horror Features category. More then half of this movie being a physically gruelling monologue, I think he deserved it.
Not a movie I'd suggest to anyone, but still had some enjoyable parts. The best being the slow birth of another Toxic Avenger, but without the humour.
It defiantly set itself up for a cross over Toxic Avenger VS Septic Man sequel. - DirectorSean AndersStarsJason BatemanJason SudeikisCharlie DayDale, Kurt and Nick decide to start their own business but things don't go as planned because of a slick investor, prompting the trio to pull off a harebrained and misguided kidnapping scheme.This is one of those rare times when you say "This is one of those rare times when a sequel is better then the first." These three friends had me cracking up almost the whole film. And I'll watch basically anything with Jason Bateman in it.
- DirectorGerald McMorrowStarsEva GreenRyan PhillippeSam RileyA portrait of the broken lives of four people (a vigilante detective, a worried parent, an awkward man looking for love and a suicidal artist) as they all struggle to cope in their religiously-dystopian city.Darkman (1990) + Brazil (1985) + Dark City (1998)
I didn't quite care for this film. It did have a lot of visuals and concepts I liked though. - DirectorMichael GlawoggerStarsEmmaNingTohAn examination of the lives, needs, troubles, and hopes of prostitutes in Thailand, Bangladesh, and Mexico.Oceann and I watched this together. Surprisingly at times we found the movie cute. We even found ourselves laughing with the women. But also found ourselves wanting to cry for them, with them. Sometimes the cinematography was so good we would forget the subject matter. Sometimes the women would be so happy we would forget the subject matter. Other times the subject matter would be like getting hit in the face with a brick.
Whores’ Glory is the third and final part in director Michael Glawogger's "globalization-documentaries", the others being Megacities (1998) and Workingman's Death (2005). - DirectorSacha GervasiStarsAnthony HopkinsHelen MirrenScarlett JohanssonThe relationship between Alfred Hitchcock and his wife Alma Reville during the filming of Psycho (1960) in 1959 is explored.The movie Hitchcock centers on the relationship between director Alfred Hitchcock (Anthony Hopkins) and his wife Alma Reville (Helen Mirren) during the making of Psycho. She had soooooo much creative involvement! And I had never head of her until watching this movie!
The movie was pretty weak. But the story was fascinating to me, being into filmmaking, and worth a watch just for the story. - DirectorSergei BodrovStarsBen BarnesJulianne MooreJeff BridgesWhen Mother Malkin, the queen of evil witches, escapes the pit she was imprisoned in by professional monster hunter Spook decades ago and kills his apprentice, he recruits young Tom, the seventh son of the seventh son, to help him.It stars Prince Caspian, The Dude, and Amber Waves. It's the reunion of The Dude and Amber Waves since The Big Lebowski (1998).
Oceann and I went to downtown Nairobi, to the IMAX Theater to see IMAX The Hobbit 3D (like how we watched the last one). But, contradiction to the IMAX Kenya website, The Hobbit was not playing. But we came all this way, the taxi left, we decided to watch, well, the only movie that was playing. So our options were limited. It was in 3D, and the 3D was amazing, and the theater and audio was amazing too. But the movie fell short of anything but eye candy. And this one was so much candy, and nothing else, I felt nauseous. But the saving factor was watching it with a friend so we could make fun of it after! hehehe
Pictured was my favourite part. The Dude just stood there, chest all puffed out like Caesar in Planet of the Apes style, while the dragon epic saliva spiting, blowing his hair back, rawring in his face. But The Dude didn't even flinch. The Dude then challenged him to a fight. Super epic badassness. I just started laughing at its epic badassness because I was so filled with epicness (and badassness). The people around me looked at me like I was weird. - DirectorAsghar FarhadiStarsPayman MaadiLeila HatamiSareh BayatA married couple are faced with a difficult decision - to improve the life of their child by moving to another country or to stay in Iran and look after a deteriorating parent who has Alzheimer's disease.I thought, from the title and cover, this movie was just going to be about a couple that tried to immigrate somewhere, but one was denied for some reason, and it was going to be just dramatic immigration political struggle to be reunited. So I wasn't very excited to see the film, since, as serious of a topic that is, I've see so many films regarding that subject. But oh my, was I wrong. This movie was incredible, and deserved every award it got.
- DirectorMichael GlawoggerA look at the people who live precariously, but with an unusual level of resourcefulness and imagination, in four gigantic urban agglomerations: Mumbai, New York City, Moscow and Mexico City.It is the first of a documentary trilogy: Megacities (1998), Workingman's Death (2005) and Whores' Glory (2011)
This film was sad and beautiful. - DirectorJustin SimienStarsTyler James WilliamsTessa ThompsonKyle GallnerThe lives of four black students at an Ivy League college.The cinematography, acting, directing, and sound design/music was brilliant. Some of the cinematography/shots really blew me away. This movie surprised me on how good it was. Reminded me of Higher Learning (1995).
The filming was completed in only 19 days. - DirectorMichael GlawoggerA documentary on the extremes to which workers will go to earn a living.Just like Michael Glawogger's last movie, this film was also sad and beautiful.
It is the second film in a documentary trilogy: Megacities (1998), Workingman's Death (2005) and Whores' Glory (2011). I have now seen all three.
I just found out, the director, Michael Glawogger, 4 days after incorrectly being diagnosed with typhus, has died from malaria on 22 April 2014 in Monrovia, Liberia during a movie production. I am selfishly sad because his movies were a gift to us. - DirectorChad StahelskiStarsKeanu ReevesMichael NyqvistAlfie AllenAn ex-hitman comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters who killed his dog and stole his car.Directing debut of Chad Stahelski and David Leitch. Stahelski and Leitch directed the film together, though Leitch was uncredited. They previously worked with Keanu Reeves as stunt doubles on The Matrix trilogy.
I was hoping for a movie as good as the Keanu Reeves directed Man of Tai Chi (2013). But I was disappointed. But with the directors ambition and love for good cinema, I'm looking forward to their next film.