Movie #394 - The Last Unicorn

The Last Unicorn
1982 - Rated G - 1 hr 32 min
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow, Angela Lansbury, Tammy Grimes, Robert Klein, Christopher Lee, Keenan Wynn, Alan Arkin

This movie was always a favorite when I was a kid, but possibly because it was about a unicorn.  I had a unicorn phase, what can I say? I'm a girl!

And now as an adult, I've rediscovered the tragic beauty of this story.  Honestly, the only thing that makes it a "kids" movie is the animation.  Otherwise, it's dark and grim, filled with lots of evil characters and other scary fantastical beasts... all who want to hurt a poor, defenseless unicorn.

Then there's the love story.  I gotta admit, it makes me teary now that I'm all grown up and I understand what happens to this poor unicorn/woman.  To experience human emotions, fall in love, find real happiness... only to have it all taken away.  So sad, so poignant.

It's such a good story that even songs by America can't ruin it.

Movie #316 - Iron Man

Iron Man
2008 - Rated PG-13 - 2 hr 6 min
Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Faran Tahir, Leslie Bibb, Paul Bettany, Jon Favreau, Peter Billingsley

Robert Downey Jr. is Iron Man. No joke.  I think that's his big secret.  No drug or alcohol problems. No rehab. He was secretly off fighting crime in his Iron Man suit. 

Which would make this movie a kind of biography...

Anyway, I don't know a lot about the comic or the character, it's true.  But this is one of the best Marvel comics-to-big-screen franchises there is.  I attribute that to a killer cast, fabulous action sequences, and general kick-assery. 

Also, it's fun to see Jeff Bridges be the bad guy.  And as unlikely a pair as they seem, Paltrow and Downey have fantastic on-screen chemistry.  Still, the best scenes in the entire movie are between Downey and his team of robots as they test the suit again and again.  Priceless.

Movie #285 - How to Lose Friends & Alienate People

How to Lose Friends & Alienate People
2008 - Rated R - 1 hr 50 min
Director: Robert B. Weide
Starring: Simon Pegg, Kirsten Dunst, Megan Fox, Gillian Anderson, Thandie Newton, Jeff Bridges, Danny Huston

Oh, Simon Pegg.  Even when he's being a total jerk, he's so charming.  As a British writer struggling to get it together and climb to the top in New York City, Pegg's easily blinded by celebrity glitz and glamour. For example, Megan Fox.  But as Kirsten Dunst unexpectedly creeps up on his radar screen, things might have to change while his priorities shift.

This movie's nothing amazing, but the ensemble has good chemistry.  I'd never put Pegg and Dunst together, personally, but here they make sense. Weirdly.  Anyway, it's a cute movie, with lots of great Pegg moments, and I think most would enjoy it.

Movie #138 - Crazy Heart

Crazy Heart
Fox Searchlight Pictures
2009 - Rated R - 1 hr 52 min
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell

This was my first viewing of Crazy Heart which we received as a gift, so I wasn't sure what to expect.  It was basically in the same tone as those musician biopics that started coming out with Ray and Walk the Line, but this one isn't as bleak and dark.  It could have been, if it wanted to, but something about Jeff Bridges's performance lets you see the 'realness' without getting bogged down by it.

Maggie Gyllenhaal is my favorite part of this movie - and I feel like she won a Golden Globe or something last year for this role.  If that's true, then it's well deserved. If that's not true, she was robbed.  Her character, a writer and single mom who gets tangled up in Bad Blake's (Bridges) insanity, is realistic, guarded, and protective of her only son. When she finally draws a line in the sand, you know she's not kidding.

As "life" movies go, this is a good one.  It's not a favorite, but I definitely enjoyed it.

Movie #71 - The Big Lebowski

The Big Lebowski
Gramercy Pictures
1998 - Rated R - 1 hr 57 min
Directors: Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Starring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tara Reid

Here's a classic film with a solid cult following and a classic plotline that harkens back to Shakespeare. (Which explains the adapted script Two Gentlemen of Lebowski...) Mistaken identities, missing money, weird group of crazies, lovable hero with obvious flaws. And for these reasons, it's really fun to watch.

Something about the supreme loserness of these guys is compelling. They really, really believe they're in control of this situation at some points... well, mostly John Goodman does. Still, it's endearing, not annoying as you'd think. I also have to add that never before has bowling been so epic.

The quirky characters and great performances in this movie sell it. It really is just enjoyable to watch The Dude and company in action.