Movie #230 - Go

Go
1999 - Rated R - 1 hr 42 min
Director: Doug Liman
Starring: Katie Holmes, Sarah Polley, Desmond Askew, Nathan Bexton, Scott Wolf, Jay Mohr, Timothy Olyphant, William Fichtner, Taye Diggs, Breckin Meyer, James Duval, Jane Krakowski, Melissa McCarthy

Here's a favorite from college. A tale of a would-be drug dealer and her assorted disaster-facing friends.  The cool thing about this movie is the multiple perspective approach, rewinding the film to tell the tale from many points of view.  The would-be drug dealer, the "bait," the drug user (which affords an awesome grocery store dance scene), the actual drug dealer on his Vegas vacation with friends, and a pair of actors who wind up trapped in a sales pitch.  It's weird, it's random, and it's probably better on drugs, but I've always liked this movie for it's unconventionalness. (Is that a word? ... says the writer)

So it may not be intellectual but it will make you laugh. Or possibly scare you that the future of my generation is not a hopeful one.  I think enough time has passed that we've redeemed ourselves from these kind of antics and proven that we're not all on drugs. 

Anyway, a great ensemble cast piece that's just fun to watch... like a train wreck, you just can't look away.

Movie #186 - Equilibrium

Equilibrium
2002 - Rated R - 1 hr 47 min
Director: Kurt Wimmer
Starring: Christian Bale, Sean Bean, Emily Watson, Taye Diggs

Weird futuristic movie.
Evil Taye Diggs.
Sense Crimes.
Dead puppies.

This is what I took away from this movie.  It's impressive to watch, pretty to see, and is one of Christian Bale's more interesting roles.  Although, of all these people, believing that he's the one to fall for a puppy is a bit of a stretch.  And Taye Diggs evil? Never!

I couldn't remember this movie by it's title, which was soon remedied once I put it on. Then I panicked, because I remembered it as "the movie where they shoot the puppies." And it was all downhill from there.

So this one's okay. Not one of my faves. And definitely paints one of the bleaker pictures of human kind's future, so you won't walk away feeling good from this one.

Movie #105 - Chicago

Chicago
Miramax
2002 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 53 min
Director: Rob Marshall
Starring: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, John C. Reilly, Taye Diggs

Movies of musicals... what a refreshing revisit to the early cinematic triumphs of the 30s, 40s, and 50s :)  And Chicago, with all that jazz (pun intended), harkens back to those happier, more care-free, get-away-with-murder days.  But there's something dark about this movie version, dark but very appropriate.  They don't just burst into song, they live the song through repressed fantasies in their heads.  It seems more real this way, less Broadway-y and less Hollywood-y. 

My only regret is that Taye Diggs doesn't sing at all.  Hugely missed opportunity, if you ask me.

Movie #53 - Basic

Basic

Sony Pictures

2003 - Rated R - 1 hr 38 min

Director: John McTiernan

Starring: John Travolta, Connie Nielsen, Samuel L. Jackson, Tim Daly, Giovanni Ribisi, Taye Diggs, Harry Connick Jr.

Ok, I feel like I've been watching a lot of "mindless" entertainment so far, but here's one that will get you thinking for sure. Military intrigue is always a good time, and Basic does not disappoint.

If you haven't seen this one, I don't want to give too much away. I really recommend giving it a peek. Basically, the plot centers around the murder of Samuel L. Jackson and the special ops team that's accused of killing him. From beginning to end there are many twists and turns, and you'll be surprised to find out what's really going on here.

Travolta is great, Jackson is so good you want to punch him yourself, and the supporting cast are spot on. Well done all around. Definitely a favorite!