READY PLAYER ONE
4 1/2 out of 5 stars
Spielberg at his best.
Very different.
Good young actors.
Good bad guy.
A little messy at the end and a little long...still very good!
Again automatic weapons. Was it necessary to make the movie work? Hollywood Hypocrits! Put that is your rider.
3 1/2 out of 5
Well written. Nice story
Well acted, highlighted by Nick Robinson and Katherine Langford
Just needed editing...felt long and could have told the story in an hour and a half.
Watching someone type and do voice overs constantly makes for a slow film.
4 out of 5 stars.
Real fun. Vikander awesome as usual. A lot of Action.
Just ...Automatic weapons..in movies..presenting the norm...Not Good.
Hollywood look in the mirror.
It is Oscar weekend!!
Time for my number 1 favorite film.
Settle down.
I know you are excited!
Remember after this blog I have a big announcement. So just don't runaway after this...
Lets review my 20 favorite:
20-Brooklyn
19-National Lampoons Christmas Vacation
18-Almost Famous
17-A Christmas Story
16-Wild
15-Titanic
14-Richard Linklater's Before Sunset Series
13-Rocky
12-E.T. The Extra Terrestrial
11-Sixteen Candles
10-Cinema Paradiso
9 -Summer Of 42
8 -Jurassic Park
7 -Die hard
6 -Star Wars A New Hope
5 -Raiders Of The Lost Ark
4 -A League Of Their Own
3 -The Dragon Tattoo Millennium Trilogy
2 -The Natural
Yes I reach back to 1942 for my number one favorite film.
Casablanca!!!
Perfectly cast. Perfect script. Perfect Look. Great score.
I have been lucky enough to have seen this a couple times in a movie theater on the big screen and the remastered version, it is gorgeous.
Overtime I think people look at Casablanca as a love story, which is partly true. Do not forget it is a war time thriller also. Rick is cynical and just wants to be left alone, but then Ilsa shows up and rocks his world and now he has to protect her from the Nazis. It also has little touch of comedy in it...that is often so quick that on your first viewing you kind of miss it....My favorite:
CAPTAIN RENAULT: I am shocked, shocked to find gambling is going on in here!
CROUPIER: Your winnings sir.
CAPTAIN RENAULT: Well thank you. Everybody out at once!
Well lets look at the original trailer and then I have some fun and not so fun facts.
Fun And Not So Fun Facts:
-Madonna pushed to make a Casablanca remake starring her and Ashton Kutcher in the early to mid 2000's. It was rejected by every studio. The film is untouchable.
-As a test, the script for the film was sent around to studios under the name "Everybody comes to Ricks"(Which was it's original title) in 2005. Some studios recognized it. However many turned it down saying it was ...too dated...too much dialog...not enough sex...not enough action. YIKES!!
-Bogart had to wear lifts in his shoes to compensate for his height difference with Bergman. Sometimes he stood on a box during scenes.
-The letter of transit did not really exist in Vichy-controlled France. It was just a plot device.
-In 2006 it was named best script of all time by the Writers Guild of America.
-Bergman was paid $25000 for Casablanca.
-Casablanca was originally a play.
-As Time Goes By was number 2 on AFI's greatest movie song list. However it was written years before the movie so it was not eligible for an Oscar.
-In the final scene, a small cardboard plane was used. You just read that right. They also used little people to walk around the plane to make it look bigger.
-Voted number 1 for movie quotes (Gone With The Wind being 2nd):
-LOUIS I THINK THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP
-HERE'S LOOKIN AT YOU KID
-I STICK MY NECK OUT FOR NOBODY
-YOU ENJOY WAR; I ENJOY WOMEN
-WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE PARIS
-PLAY IT SAM, PLAY AS TIME GOES BY
-ROUND UP THE USUAL SUSPECTS
-OF ALL THE GIN JOINTS IN ALL THE TOWNS IN THE WORLD, SHE WALKS INTO MINE.
So...if you get a chance...and it is playing one night in your neighborhood...see it on the big screen. It is beautiful.
Winner of..Best Picture...Best Screenplay...Best Actor...Best Supporting Actor!
My number 1 favorite film is Casablanca!
Now for my big announcement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I started this...grammatically incorrect blog...years ago because I just felt, and still feel, that movie critics are out of touch with the paying movie going audience. They were too busy trying to show you how smart they were; bowing to a director or star; or even more recently afraid to go up against a film because they are afraid it would make them go against a national movement. I just had three things..1-Was I entertained 2-Or, did I learns something I cared about. 3-And following the first two ...is it worth putting your money down? I made it that simple.
This is my 660th movie blog! I know it is crazy. How crazy?
Lets look at just today:
With no blogs today yet:
64 looks in USA
5 in Argentina
5 in Germany
4 in Brazil
4 in Spain
3 in France
2 In Sweden
Again that is just today with no blog posting....kinda crazy!! Word spread on social media!!
Then there has been odd things like Vin Diesel this week liking my post. I know??!! And that was just one of the odd things. Not calling you odd Mr Diesel. YIKES!!
Yes it took off. I appreciate everyone who takes the time. All these looks I am sooo grateful for, because of those looks I do not have to pay for the films...I get sent private screening passes...I met many nice people through the blog who would send me regular passes. I could go on and on....but bottom line I am thankful I do not have to pay for the films I see.
Sadly...this will be my last full blog. I am wanting to spend a little more time on another venture.
I love films and always will, I just cannot spend as much time going to as many films as I have....especially ones I went to that I really did not want to, but felt it needed a review, UGH!! Also it takes time to type these things up. Sadly, again, I will not have that time.
You may have already noticed already on my blog, this year, movies I have seen I just give my stars and maybe one line or a paragraph... I will continue to do that. So if you are going to a film and want to know what I thought...check the blog...it may be there. Also the blog will be there...if you see a film come out for home viewing ...go back and check my review.
I thank you all for reading this goofy blog week after week. The blog may comeback next year but the odds are against it, it depends on the other venture.
As always thanks for your time.
And most important...as said in one of my favorite films this year...Be Kind, For The People You Meet May Be Fighting A Hard Battle.
Oscar night is coming. Usually as a "Movie Person" I am excited. This year not so much. For many reasons. I do not like when agendas make their way into awards night. Why not vote for the best, not for what you should vote for, to be a sheep and vote because what you read on Twitter or rumors...so you go safe and vote how everyone else wants you to vote. It makes Oscar night not enjoyable...just irritating.
So anyway this could look sloppy because I saved myself time by cutting and pasting the nominees from the Oscar site.....but you get the point.
ANIMATED FEATURE
Boss Baby
The Breadwinner
Coco
Ferdinand
Loving Vincent
Will Win and Should Win
Coco
I do not think this was as great as people what people thought. However this is best of the lot. I think the story was strange but it looked beautiful.
Snubbed
Lego Batman
A little sloppy at the end, but all in all it looked great and was well written.
BEST DIRECTION
Dunkirk Christopher Nolan
Get Out Jordan Peele
Lady Bird Greta Gerwig
Phantom Thread Paul Thomas Anderson
Shape Of The Water Guillermo Del Torro
Will Win
Gretta Gerwig I have no problem with Gerwig. In fact I will be happy for her...I have been one of her biggest fans for years. Should Win
Christopher Nolan
I was not as big of a fan of this movie as most people, I thought it lacked character development. However this film was just beautiful and could play out as a silent film. Credit to Nolan. He sadly will be a victim of the Me Too movement. Again do not vote for someone because she is a woman...Gerwig will not want to win that way...and clearly Nolan pulled off a tougher job as a director.
No snubs the academy got this right
ORIGINAL SONG
Mighty River...Mudbound
Mystery Of Love...Call Me By Name
Remember Me ... Coco
Stand Up For Something...Marshall
This Is Me...The Greatest Showman
Will Win And Should Win
This Is Me...From The Greatest Showman
It is timely and an important part of the film. It is the clear cut award winner. But keep an eye on Remember Me. By the way love the video as Hugh Jackman cries LOL!!
Snubbed
How Does A Moment Last Forever from Beauty And The Beast
It is not just something that was thrown in at the end...it was a nice part of the film.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Hans Zimmer... Dunkirk
Johnny Greenwood... Phantom Thread
Alexandre Desplat... The Shape Of The Water
John Williams...Star Wars The Last Jedi
Carter Burwell... Three Billboards
Will Win Hans Zimmer He will win and should win is splitting hairs. Hans Zimmer captured the tone of the film...like noted before this movie could have been a silent film with just Han Zimmer's score.
Should Win
Alexandre Desplat His score captures the magic of The Shape Of The Water. I think that edges Zimmer. However Zimmer has the bigger name. Snubbed Steven Price Baby Driver The songs and score make this wonderful movie and Steven Price is a big part. I would drop Carter Burwell in Three Billboards in a heartbeat for this. SUPPORTING ACTRESS Mary J Blige in Mudbound Allison Janney in I Tonya Laurie Metcalf in Lady Bird Lesley Manville inThe Phantom Thread Octavia Spenser in The Shape Of The Water Will Win and Should Win
Allison Janney for I Tonya
A great performance. Just hilarious and pure evil at the same time.
Snubbed
Holly Hunter in The Big Sick
She is fantastic hear. Often saying so much with a look. I would drop Octavia Spencer, her part was too small.
SUPPORTING ACTOR
William Dafoe in The Florida Project
Woody Harrelson in Three Billboards
Richard Jenkins in Shape Of The Water
Christopher Plummer in All The Money In The World
Sam Rockwell in Three Billboards
Will Win and Should Win
Sam Rockwell Three Billboards
He is more of a lead here. However I will go with it...he is just hard to watch, he is so bad...a jerk.. in a great performance. Snubbed
Idris Elba in Molly's Game
Not only was he snubbed I think he put on an acting clinic in this movie and I think he was even a bit better than Rockwell. I would have left Christopher Plummer off the list.
LEAD ACTRESS
Sally Hawkins in The Shape Of The Water
Frances McDormand in Three Billboards
Margot Robbie in I'Tonya
Saoirse Ronan in Lady Bird
Meryl Streep in The Post
Will Win
Frances McDormand Thre Billboards
It is a big powerful performance..a rollercoaster with extreme sadness...anger...and humor. She pulls it off.
Should Win
Sally Hawkins Shape Of The Water
She pulls you in to this fable without saying a word through the whole film. I think that eclipsed McDormand.
Snubbed
Jessica Chastain
Just watch her in the argument scene with Elba. There you go...get rid of Streep. Enough said.
LEAD ACTOR
Timothee Chalamet in Call Me By Your Name
Daniel Day Lewis in Phantom Thread
Daniel Kaluuya in Get Out
Gary Oldman in Darkest Hours
Denzel Washington in Ramon J Isael Esq
Will Win and Should Win
Gary Oldman The Darkest Hour
Not even close...he is perfect. Snubbed Sam Elliot in The Hero
There was talk when this came out that this was a sure Oscar Nomination and then people forgot him. It is the perfect part for him. I would have knocked out Denzel and put him in.
BEST FILM OF THE YEAR
Call Me By Your Name
Three Billboards.....
Darkest Hour
Dunkirk
Get Out
Lady Bird
Phantom Thread
The Post
Shape Of The Water
Will Win and Should Win
Get Out
You probably already know I am not a fan of all most of these nominees. Everyone here has faults...but Get Out rises above them all.
Going into January Three Billboards had a lead. However the buzz is Get Out has done great with marketing and surpassed Three Billboards.
Snubbed
The Big Sick
Almost a perfect film...I just do not get it. How was this ignored? I can only think not enough voters saw it.
FOR BEST MOVIE BLOG
i would give it to In The Shadows.
Because I always thank you for your time...so thank you for your time....as always!!!!!!!
