Movies: Mass Post... Part II

A bit more of a serious note today with some heavy dramas that I've seen lately.

We'll start with the amazing Dallas Buyers Club based on the true story of AIDS sufferer Ron Woodroof, set in the 1985. Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey) fought the FDA for years over the illegal drugs he was taking that were actually improving his quality of life as a HIV patient. He goes from being anti-gay to having a transgender best friend and business partner. After his discovery of alternative treatment drugs he starts up the Dallas Buyers Club: a loophole in the laws that allows him to legally sell memberships rather than the drugs themselves. Who knows how many lives he saved / extended with this endeavor. After watching this movie I can see why Jared Leto and McConaughey won Academy Awards for their performances, they were both amazing, especially Leto. Worth a watch.

The Book Thief is an adaption of the book by Markus Zusak, which I haven't read yet but is still on my to-read list after having watched the movie, so that's saying something right? Narrated by Death (Roger Allam), set in 1939 Nazi Germany, we know this movie will have some tense / sad parts, and man does it ever. The story revolves around Liesel (Sophie Nelisse) who just loves to read books in a time when books and knowledge are dangerous things to have. I don't want to give anything away but it's a really lovely story...right until it's not. Also starring Geoffrey Rush, who I just found out was born very close to where I was born. I would watch it again, probably after reading the book.

I had been waiting for 47 Ronin to come out but I hadn't heard anything about it except that it was a samurai movie starring Keanu Reeves (The Matrix). It's based on an old legend about a group of ronin - samurai without a master - who avenge their fallen lord. What I didn't realise about it was that there was going to be such a fantasy element to it, I suppose I should have known better though... The first beast scared the hell out of me purely because I wasn't expecting it. The animations are obvious but the creatures and the art itself is fantastic, as is the film style. I enjoyed it but then again, I enjoy a lot of foreign films... This is pretty Westernised though considering. It didn't do very well according to the box office but it's another movie that I would watch again.

That'll do for today. I have some rather strange movies lined up for tomorrow's post, so stay tuned!

Love Gee
xoxo

Movie: Hachi (2009)

Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009)
Drama, Family

I've had nothing to watch lately so I found this blogpost titled 50 Great Movies You've Never Seen and you know what? I found a crapload of movies I haven't seen! I know, I was shocked too! I started with this one because I'm a sucker for animal stories... yeah, that's right, I liked the dog better than Richard Gere, and really Hachi is the star of the movie, sorry Richo!

You might want to heed this warning, unlike me; Have tissues handy! I was warned and thought, yeah right. I was so, so wrong. I sobbed like a little bitch....and so did my husband. Seriously, I was snotting and everything. What is it about animal films that makes us so vulnerable? The last time I cried this much was during PS. I Love You - such a beautiful movie!

This film is based on a true story, albeit an older true story and situated in Japan which the movie is not. It is also a remake of a 1987 film of the same name. Hachiko is an Akita, a Japanese dog bred specifically for hunting. Somehow Hachi gets lost in transit and is found and adopted by a Professor. Hachi faithfully follows his owner to the train station every morning and is there waiting for him when he returns.

It's a lovely story but there's not a lot to it. It goes exactly as you expect it to, there is no surprises and yet it's  beautifully entertaining. Animal lovers will... love it!

3 out of 5 tears in a bucket...

Movie: Kill The Irishman (2011)

Kill The Irishman (2011)
Biography, Crime, Thriller

This is the true story of an Irish mobster in Cleveland named Danny Greene. It stars Ray Stevenson (Upcoming season of Dexter, Thor) who looks a little like Ray Romano's brother in Everybody Loves Raymond.

You've got to be kidding me Val Kilmer (Batman Forever, Top Gun)! He's popping up everywhere now! He's the cop which is even stranger to me because I always love to hate his characters and this time he's playing the good guy? Damn. And then there's Vincent D'Onofrio (Law and Order; Criminal Intent) and Christopher Walken (Pulp Fiction) who need no introductions and always play the best bad guys. 

I freakin' love Vinnie Jones (Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels). That accent is so dirty - like Brad Pitt in Snatch *reow* - and that quick appearance by Bob Gunton. I swear I've seen him in more than 24 and Royal Pains but I can't think where... and I couldn't get over the fact that his trusty sidekick reminded me of Drew Carey. Love it! Awesome casting, awesome cast.

Basically Greene gets enmeshed in the mob. He borrows a large sum of money to start a restaurant and loses it, and suddenly everyone's trying to kill him.... and they fail, many many times.... It's pretty amusing actually. And then of course, someone finally got him. 

Good movie. 

3 out of 5 assassinations....

Movie Quote - "Badge or no badge I'll cut your heart out with a rusty butter knife and eat it while it's still beating" - Val Kilmer

Movie: Moneyball (2011)

Moneyball (2011)
Biography, Drama, Sport

I'm not a major fan of Brad Pitt (Fight Club, Se7en), at least not recently anyway. It's not that I don't like him, I just don't see what the big deal is about... I'm not a fan of baseball either, it's not a big sport here in Australia. I don't think I've even ever watched a game, but I do understand it.

Still, I thought I'd give this one a go and by now you must have figured out that I will watch pretty much anything!

Everything I needed to know about this film is in the preview and I probably don't need to go through the torture of the long monologues and bartering conversations swapping baseball players I didn't know. But, it seems to be True Story Sunday and I thought I'd stick with the theme.

Billy Beane, coach of a failing baseball team wants more money to get better players to get more money, I get that. There's lots of arguing, lots of talking and I got a bit bored. Then in comes Jonah Hill? Was I the only one a bit confused to see the Jonah who usually stars in comedy dramas like Superbad and 21 Jump Street? Then I realized he plays a nerd. Riiight.

This is a feel-good true story, I probably wouldnt watch it again though... too long and too much talking for my liking.

2 out of 5 Sandlot Kids...

Movie Quote:"Talking, la la la la" - Pitt.

Secret: I wrote this review before I finished watching the movie.... hahaha

Movie: Killer Elite (2011)

Killer Elite (2011)
Action, Crime, Thriller

I freaking love Jason Statham (Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels - One of my fave movies of all time)! Not only does this movie star him - which should give you at least some idea of what kind of film it is - but co-starring are Robert DeNiro (Goodfellas, Casino) and Clive Owen (Children of Men, Sin City - Another couple on my faves list). 

What did surprise me about this one is that its based on a true story! It is a controversial book by Sir Raluph Fiennes and adapted to film. Awesome.

So Statham is the killer elite, obviously. DeNiro is the kidnapped father figure and Owen is the ex SAS agent trying to stop Statham from finishing his job... we all know how that usually turns out don't we? The plot is very typical with the usual twist at the end to make it interesting. Its full of action; gun fights, car chases, ass kickings, etc.

Loved the side story of Statham's time in Australia and the casting of Aussie actress Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck, upcoming season of Dexter) 'cos as you all know, I love Aussies! Though I did half expect her to end up being the young kid in the car at the beginning and betray him or something... kinda disappointed that didn't happen actually.

3 out of 5 Desert Eagles...

Movie: Project X (2012)

Project X (2012)
Comedy, Drama

This movie is loosely based on the several out of control parties, such as one in Melbourne, Australia, thrown by teen Corey at which over 500 people showed up.

I remember this actual event and it was not funny at all, the whole of Australia rolled their eyes.This is what you get when you advertise your party on Facebook... Which doesn't mean that we don't all want to be invited to a party like this! I just wouldn't want to be living anywhere near there or have the job of cleaning up afterwards...

There was on point where the cops showed up and they ushered everyone around the back. No way in hell could they have kept a crowd like that quiet until the cops left. I did have a chuckle when I saw them all sitting out back like grade school kids during story time.

This party is way out of control, it's pretty insane, but at least the movie is entertaining. Once I got over the stupidness of it all, I giggled in quite a few spots.

The reason I don't give it a higher score is that I probably wont watch it again. The documentary style filming, the typical guys hooking up with girls party story line is boring. But that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the film.

3 out 5 laser light shows...

Side note: I normally mention actors in my reviews but this movie was cast entirely of nobodies. They literally put out a call for people with little to no acting experience to come and be a part of this film. Awesome!

Movie: Black Hawk Down (2001)

Black Hawk Down (2001)
Action, Drama, History

Now I'm assuming you have all seen this movie before, unlike me. *gasp* Yes, I know, I should have seen this years ago. I mean its only won two Oscars and however many other awards. The cast is fantastic; Josh Hartnett, Eric Bana (Troy, Hulk), Ewan McGregor (Train Spotting), Kim Coates (Sons of Anarchy), William Fichtner (Armageddon).

How can I not have seen this? *shrugs* No idea...

It's a Ridley Scott (Gladiator) film, based on a book by Mark Bowden, based on the very real events of the Battle of Mogadishu.

Seems to me that someone fucked something up really badly... lots of people got dropped into the middle of a hostile mob with lots of heavy artillery, not only that but they crashed not one but two black hawk helicopters, and then the convoy that was supposed to rescue them all is taking heavy fire and gets freaking lost?!?

Jesus Christ, what a mess!

This movie frustrated me to no end! I was pulling my hair out. My street directions are better than Base camps and I am hopeless at directions. I'm so angry, I feel like going to play Call of Duty just to even out the score a little.

Eric Bana was my favorite part of the whole thing. Not only is he Australian and awesome but the combination of Bana and the character is so kick-ass! If only they had more than one of him...or the team of SEALs from Act of Valor...

2 out of 5 Eric Bana's, cos I wish there was....

Bonus; The soundtrack! Alice in Chains, House of Pain, Faith No More!