In Movie Lines (with Cubs and Cubs fans, Crop Dusting, Non-Violent Violence...and links)

What I've Been Watching

October 23rd - November 4th, 2016

Truth be told, I was glued to the World Series most of last week. Sleep deprived. Sleepy at work. Witnessing history is exhausting. And amazing! So Go Cubs Go! That's the last time I ever say that. 

Re-Watched

I Love You, Man

dir. John Hamburg, 2009

One of the perfect comedies since 2000. Endlessly hilarious, quotable and re-watchable. Paul Rudd is so good as the awkward guy. Jason Segel is so great...period. The crop duster play-by-play scene is one of the truly funniest bits of observational humor I can think of in a modern comedy. 

First-Timers

Captain America: Civil War

dir. Anthony and Joe Russo, 2016

I get it. Marvel makes a better movie than DC. It shows in every aspect. And this is a well-written movie. But that doesn't mean it's not still big and loud and somewhat messy. And I'm so behind. I have only seen one of the precursors to this thing. All this combined = meh. 

Free State of Jones

dir. Gary Ross, 2016

I'm not quite sure what to say about this one. It's sort of odd really. Not at all what I expected. It spends too much time cramming in everything from this man's life, albeit fascinating, and not enough time connecting us to him. It is handsomely made, gritty and detailed. But McConaughey sort of seemed off to me in this role. Playing it with some passion but at whisper level. Every line delivered in the same tone and cadence. Newton Knight's story is worth telling. But this thing just becomes a documentary about the man, which may have been better...barring the first half hour.

Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates

dir. Jake Szymanski, 2016

Now, this one is far funnier than I ever would have expected. It is stupid. Yes. But it goes all out with jokes and gags and lands way more than it doesn't. I horse laughed...often. Adam Devine owns this thing, upstaging the rest of the fun cast easily. And I like that about it. 

Seven Samurai

dir. Akira Kurosawa, 1954

Well, it took me four sittings over several weeks to get through the bonkers run time under my too busy schedule, but I finally can say I actually truly watched Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai. And I get it. It's full of the things we love as movie lovers, many we still see, some we don't. No "action movie" today would take its time like this, helping us know its characters to such a strong degree. The classic nature of this story and how it keeps returning year after year is pretty amazing. It's too long. But it's worth the time. 

Hacksaw Ridge

dir. Mel Gibson, 2016

You know the beginning of Saving Private Ryan? Pick a number and multiply. That is the violence level of the last hour of this thing. A point of contention I know for some critics, as it is about a hero who shuns violence. I think that is value added actually. I pretty much loved it. A touch heavy-handed with its heroic message here and there, but it's solid. The cast delivers great performances all the way through. Full review coming soon...

Links

Rebecca at Almost Ginger lists Films Set on Boats. 

Rhys at Feeling Fuzzier reviewed one of the best of the year, Hell or High Water.  

Allie at Flick Chicks reviewed the weirdly sweet Swiss Army Man. 

Sati at Cinematic Corner spins out her beautiful entertainment news and drops the new T2 Trainspotting trailer. 

Alex at And So It Begins... lists the Top 10 Looks of Parental Pride (and made me cry). 

The Numbers

I've watched 168 movies this year, so far.

Re-Watched - 61

First-Timers - 107

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2016 Releases - 29