TANGLED (2010)
The best Disney animated film of the decade.
Maybe the most underrated.
The look is great. I originally saw this in the theater in 3D and the lanterns were floating all around me! It was the best 3D film I ever have seen.
The story is the classic Rapunzil, with a bit of Disney added. Everything Disney added worked, The bar scene; Flynn Rider; The frying pans; Maximus the horse; even Pascal the chameleon. So Good!
The music!!!
Donna Murphy with Mother Knows Best
I Got A Dream
I see The Light Mandy Moore/Zachary Levi
The ending...just...the ending!!
Tangled is perfect. So underrated.
Tangled is available on Disney+
7
STAR WARS EPISODE 7 THE FORCE AWAKENS (2015)
Director J J Abrams
Screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan; J J Abrams; and Michael Arndt
Based On The Characters by George Lucas
Starring Daisy Ridley; John Boyega; Oscar Isaac; Domhnall Gleason; Adam Driver; Harrison Ford; Carrie Fisher
30 years after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, a new threat rises. The First Order attempts to rule the galaxy and only a ragtag group of Heroes can stop them, along with the help of the Resistance.
Think about it if this failed....nothing comes after....so.....
"Real sets. Practical effects. You have been here before but you do not know this story. Everything has changed but nothing has changed". As the above video noted that was viewed at Comic-Con.
It all starts and ends with J.J. Abrams. He is the master here and it works.
I was worried in the beginning that the story was too familiar with an individual finding a droid. At that point it moves, thankfully, in a different direction.
Did I mention J.J. Abrams? I can write so much about this film but I will stick with J.J.. It is all him.
His casting. Was just spot on:
From Names from past Star Wars films: Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher.
To people we know from other movies:
Adam Driver (Girls)....Deliciously evil as Kylo Ren
Oscar Isaac (Ex Machina).... as the brave fighter Poe Dameron. Who plays the dry straight man here very well.
Domhnall Gleason (Harry Potter films/Brooklyn/ExMachina) Is soooo well cast as the evil General Hux. It is against type because we are so use to seeing him as a stuttering, bumbeling kind of character.
To casting faces we never have seen before:
John Boyega as Finn is fantastic as the every man hero played with dry humor. He becomes us. Tackling certain situations with a hold your breath...I have to do this...with fear and lack of enthusiasm.
Then we come to Daisy Ridley. She is the film. She is the star. This Kierra Knightly look alike carries this film (with BB-8--the cutest thing in movies that year). She is strong. She is funny. She is a ball of emotions. I can not note enough how amazing she was. It is a credit to J.J. by just finding her.
The look.
This film is beautiful. Some scenes are breathtaking. So again credit goes to J.J. for bringing in Cinematogropher Daniel Mindel. There were a couple times in this film where I thought..."Oh that will make a great poster!" I would avoid 3D here to get the scope of the colors and landscapes.
The music:
He brought back John Williams!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean you get chills from the start when the score plays and he sets the tone throughout the film.
Negatives?
The next two films could not live up to this film. We were so excited for the trilogy, it just seemed like they had no plan past this film, and it showed.
It is amazing that it actually lived up to its hype. Great for the whole family.
Now some fun facts to look for:
J.J.'s favorite actor friend is in another of his films....Greg Grunberg. Look for him. In all of J.J.'s film Greg is like where's Waldo.
Listen and look for the stormtrooper who says "I'll tighten those restraints scavenger scum!" That would be Bond James Bond. Yes Daniel Craig is that stormtrooper!!!
From the shadows as always may the force be with you!!!
6
DON'T THINK TWICE (2016)
Directed By Mike Birbiglia
Screenplay by Mike Birbiglia
Starring Mike Birbiglia; Gillian Jacobs; Kate Micucci; Tami Sagher; Kegan Michael Key; and Chris Gethard
One of the best films of the year 2016
There are movies that are made for multi millions of dollars knowing full well it will be a blockbuster film or even a blockbuster failure.
Then there are smaller films that have award season goals. That is not bad. I tend to like those films because they seem to be better written. I also can go the other way with them because they tend to be depressing.
Then there are films like Don't Think Twice, that are low budget, and are so small that it falls under the radar of award season because it does not have the advertisement push and such (See also Sing Street). However they get made because along the way a producer saw a nice funny quiet story.
Here comes Don't Think Twice.
There is not much I could find wrong here I can find wrong here.
Directing and the screenplay and even the acting by Mike Birgbiglia is all spot on and wonderful.
The film follows a small comedy troupe and close nit friends called The Commune. When one member gets the ultimate job to be on Weekend Live, jealousy and egos start to find its way into the troupe but also into the friendships.
The script is funny touching and thought provoking. Mainly because this type of situation does not just happen in acting/comedy, it happens in the real world. When a co-worker/ friend gets a promotion. When friends go in opposite directions. It is real.
The known star here is Key, But he steps back and lets the other actors shine and they do.
They are all great performances however Gillian Jacobs as Samantha shine above them all.
She is amazing here spotlighted by her last performance on the stage for The Commune. Tears and laughter all at the same time. She is great and one of the best female supporting performances of that year. However like noted it was too small for Oscar voters to see.
Small yes. It does not take away from this emotional yet funny fantastic film. I wanted to see more, I did not want it to end.
Don't Think Twice is available on Netflix
Drom the shadows as always thanks for your time.
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