Number 15 Of My 20 Best

Titanic





Hey stop it!!!!
I know, people eye roll when they hear Titanic these days.
Corny? Maybe.
Too long? Maybe.
But it works.

It is history.
It is a love story with a sad ending yet...a feel good ending.
It has a really good bad guy...yes you are Billy Zane!!
It has action. The action is sooo good...well lets review. You are watching Titanic for say the third time. You see Jack chained to a pipe. He is almost drowning. In comes Rose and she is going to free him with an axe. You want her to rush and save Jack don't you???!!! You pray that she does not cut his hands off don't you???!!! Wait a minute this is your third viewing you know he is getting out. Plus....it is your third viewing he dies at the end any way. Still...on your third viewing you are still vested, you are cheering the two on. That is a sign of a good film. You are all in even though you know the outcome.
Now throw in the big star of the film, the Titanic. James Cameron gave us one the most beautiful looking films in history. Every detail is so gorgeous, to a point you not only feel sad for the people but as the ship sinks you feel for it...it is sad to see something like that disappear. He sucked us in, he put us on the deck of the Titanic. He even put us in the boiler room (Which also looked like the real thing).
Lets not forget the two leads Cameron cast. Both of these actors, DiCaprio and Winslet, are acting their asses off, often in waste high water. They are perfect, think about their chemistry. Without it the film fails.

Lets face it...when it is on TV you have to stop and watch.
So my number 15 out of 20...laugh if you want but it is close to perfect, it is Titanic.
By the way Titanic opened up 10 years ago this month.
Come on Rose slide over and give Jack some more of the board!!!!!!!!

From the shadows as always thanks for your time.

New Film Review: Just Getting Started

JUST GETTING STARTED

Directed by Ron Shelton

Screenplay by Ron Shelton

Starring Rene Russo; Morgan Freeman; and Tommy Lee Jones

This is soooo bad. Like really bad. Bad. Did I say bad?

It is not funny. Now this is not just me....not one laugh in the theater...not one!!!

The story is stupid and made no sense. Worse it is boring.

Oh and the film has a score that sounds like it was in an old Barnaby Jones or Maddox episode. It is stunningly bad and lazy.

All three stars are ridiculous and clearly are here for a money grab.

I got nothing else here to say. Stay away!!!!!!!! Far away!!!! When comes out for home viewing stay away!!!

MY NUMBER ! IS COMING!!!!!!

From the shadows as always thanks for your time.

My Number 16 Of My 20 Best Films

Well if you follow my blog you knew this film would be in my 20.
There is so many ways to look at this film. Is it redemption? Is it a start over? Is it just a reset of life? Is it an adventure? All are true.



How does one deal with loss? How does one push on? Here is the true story of Cheryl Strayed, after the loss of her mother/her best friend (Laura Dern), she spiraled down hill. Heroin, marital affairs, unwanted pregnancy. Her life was heading one place and sadly most likely it was 6 feet under. Then she saw a book about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, and in a rash decision she decided to hike it for 3 months. She had to wherewithal to understand her life was out of control and decided to step away from her life and reset it.

Sounds depressing! Far from it. Yes, sad in parts , but also uplifting, funny, full of discovery.
The movie on its own is fantastic with not only the story, but the acting also:
Laura Dern, is just spot on as Bobbi Cheryl's mother.
Reese Witherspoon is wonderful as Cheryl. It is all her. Her movie. An acting class. A tough personality at the beginning of the hike you see her becoming softer (and thinner) as her hike pushes on. Not only carrying a "monster" backpack but carrying her burdens that at one point even knock Cheryl to her knees.

I had problems at first with the films abrupt ending. I wanted more, like how she made out after the hike. I watched it a second time, and realized after the hike is not what the film is about, it is about what the 3 months and the thousand plus mile hike did to heal her mind and body.

I read one complaint that she looks miserable. Huh? She is hiking for three months losing toe nails! Hello!! Cheryl Strayed just kept hiking forward. A toast with some Snapple and chips to Cheryl.

"How wild it was, to let it be"

"But I got promises to keep...and miles to go before I sleep".

"There is a sunrise and a sunset every day and you can choose to be there for it. You can put yourself in the way of beauty".

My number 16 film out of 20 Wild.

From the shadows as always thanks for your time

Number 17 Of My Top 20

A Christmas Story....I know I know...it has been played over and over and over again.

But break it down, it is a relatable and wonderful  story:
-There is a bully in elementary school (With Yellow Eyes)
-The gift when you are a child that keeps you awake with excitement and hope.
-Dad working the lights on the tree
-The fear and excitement of meeting Santa Claus.
-The snow suit that is so thick you cannot move the arms.

Then throw in funny moments that still make you laugh after many viewings:
-Santa Claus from hell
-The toungue stuck on the post.
-You will shoot your eye out.
-The Bumpuses dogs
-The bunny suit
-The leg lamp
-FUDGE!!!!!!!

Then throw in the emotion:
-The mother after the fight....when dad gets home
-The Red Ryder BB Gun as the last gift to be opened...The Old Man was paying attention all along.

Based on the Jean Shepard short story (He is in this film..he is the irate man in the Santa line). The film does the story justice. With wonderful casting with Peter Billingsley as Ralphie; Melinda Dillon who is sooooo underrated as Mom; and of course Darren McGavinas The Old Man (Yes he had no name.... just Old Man). Then Bob Clark directing this classic coming off Porkys!! Yes Porkys!! Talking about going form one extreme to the other.

Just want to throw in this tidbit.... I was one of the few people who actually saw this in the theater when it first came out. No Shit!!! I saw it in a theater at the Macdade Mall in Holmes Pa. I think there was maybe 6 people in the theater. I loved it but little did I know what it would become.
I mean it opened November 20th 1983...it took in just a litttle over 2 million dollars and it was made for just over 3 million...who would have thought!!!

I leave you with the original trailer:



Number 17 of my 20 A Christmas Story.

New Film Review: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
Direction and Screenplay by Martin McDonagh
Starring Frances McDormand; Woody Harrelson; and Sam Rockwell



This film is getting a lot of buzz. It has its moments. It can be funny. It can be touching. It can make you angry. There are many of those moments in fact.
I don't have to tell you the story because the trailer tells it clearly. Problem with the story is....it is a mess.
-There are holes galore. A person throw another person out a window and does not get arrested. A new boss comes in sent from...."Some people". Huh? That is just a couple example...I am not going to spoil the film but those billboards seem to be reaaaaaaallllyyy strong. An adult hits a student on school grounds but does not get arrested.
-You see good lines in the trailer. However many of the lines you do not see are close to cringe worthy and just odd. No spoilers.
-There are parts that just do not fit and I ask ....why was that in the film? A man walks into the store and throws things and it goes no where. Peter Dinklage's James ....why??? Was he put in this film to make fun of his size? Abbie Cornish....was she hiding her accent or not...I could not figure it out.

There are some good or even great...
McDormand as Mildred is amazing. Best performance of the year so far.
Same goes for the always underrated Rockwell as Dixon well deserving of a Supporting Actor Nom.
It is just to bad the movie could not hold up with the two great performances.

For the those many moments and the two wonderful performances I will give this 2 1/2 out of 5 stars. Not worth the price of a movie ticket but maybe for home viewing.

From the shadows as always thanks for your time.

My 18 Out Of my 20

My 18 out of 20 welcomes Almost Famous!! I was debating because I think Patrick Fugit was...lacking in the acting category. Still it is just a great story of time and place.





A high-school boy, William (Or The Enemy) is given the chance to write a story for Rolling Stone Magazine about an up-and-coming rock band Sweetwater, as he accompanies it on their concert tour he learns a lot about Rock And Roll and life and love.

Okay, if you have not seen it, what are you waiting for????!!!!!
You want stars??
Here you go:
It is a Cameron Crowe film which should be enough!!
BILLY CRUDUP
FRANCES MCDORMAND
KAT HUDSON
ZOOEY DESCHANEL
ANNA PAQUIN
FAIRUZA BALK
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN
JIMMY FALLON
BIJOU PHILLIPS
RAINN WILSON
JAY BARUCHEL
JASON LEE
ERIC STONESTREET
PETER FRAMPTON!!!!


How about some facts!!
-The film is director Cameron Crowe's semi-autobiographical account of life as a young Rolling Stone reporter. The actual group Crowe first toured with was The Allman Brothers Band. Gregg Allman distrusted him, and kept asking if he was a narc. Crowe was in a near-fatal plane crash while traveling with The Who. The character of Russell Hammond is based on Glenn Frey of Eagles. All these stories were part of the movie.

-Stillwater's songs were written by Peter Frampton (who also had a small part in the film), Cameron Crowe, and his wife Nancy Wilson of the rock band Heart, a fact indicated early in the credits. The music acknowledgments credit Russell Hammond and Stillwater as if they were real authors and performers.

-There actually was a band called Stillwater in the 70s though the band depicted here is not them. They agreed to the use of their name after reading the script.

-Penny Lane dancing in the empty, debris-strewn Cleveland auditorium is Cameron Crowe's favorite scene in the movie (MINE ALSO AND THE TINY DANCER SCENE!!!!)



-The scene where Russell gets electrocuted on stage is based on an incident where Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley was severely shocked on stage during a concert on Dec 12th, 1976 at the Lakeland Civic Center in Florida.

-The real life Lester Bangs died of a drug overdose at a fairly young age. Eerily, Philip Seymour Hoffman, who portrays him in this film, would later die of a drug overdose also.



What I cannot figure is how Kate Hudson did not win Best Actress for this role!! Marcia Gay Harden for Pollock??!! Really?
Watch this and I rest my case. It is the perfect combination of Actress and Role. With some Mad Hatter thrown in:






I will leave you with the great Tiny Dancer scene!!!! You Are Home!!!



From the shadows as always thanks for your time.

Number 19 Of My 20

My number 19 is pretty much a classic Christmas film now"
NATIONAL LAMPOONS CHRISTMAS VACATION.
I debated with my son....should this be included...I was voting against; he talked me into it.
Well why?
Why is this worthy of of being in my 20?
1-The script....which clearly touches on the expectations of the holiday season compared to the reality of the holiday season (Yes in a extreme and hilarious way, but we have all been there trying to find the bulb that is out).

2-The characters:
Clark (Chevy Chase) is back from the now dated Vacation film with his crazy eyes.
Ellen (D'Angelo) is back trying to level off Clark.
Cousin Eddie (Quaid) is back, this time with a thing called an RV.
Then throw in a villain next door Margo Chester (Dreyfus) and lets not forget Lewis and Bethany (Who makes a great Jello mold with cat food).

3-The lines!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh Eddie if I woke up woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet I would not be more surprised then I am now.
Shitter was full.
You know that metal plate in my head I had to have it replaced, every time Catherine revved up the microwave I pissed my pants and forgot who I was for a half an hour or so.
Merry Christmas...kiss my ass..kiss his ass...kiss your ass...Happy Hanukkah.
Clark that's the gift that keeps on giving.
It's a bit nipply out.

4-The visual gags!!
Cousin Eddie at the pool
Ellen after the police say FREEZE
The cat under the tree.

Yes it gets out there to an extreme at the end... but it is hilarious, and relatable. You still laugh after watching it many times.
I leave you with the original trailer!!!!!!!
Number 19 of my 20......National Lampoons Christmas Vacation!!!




As always thanks for your time.