Netflix Movie: Revolutionary Road

Revolutionary Road
DreamWorks
2008 - Rated R - 1 hr 59 min
Director: Sam Mendes
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Kathy Bates

Oh wow.  The DiCaprio/Winslet pairing in this movie comes leaps and bounds from its Titanic roots.  These two are phenomenal together and every interaction is electric.  I hate saying things like that, but my fingers hovered over the keyboard for a few minutes before I could figure out how to word that.  It's true. They're amazing in this movie.

I haven't read the book, but the plight of  this stuck-in-the-50's-suburbs couple is riveting from the first moments of the movie.  You watch them royally screw up and yet you're still cheering for them.  You want them to be happy, even though you can't at all understand what they're going through.  Well, maybe some can.  More than I'd like to admit, Winslet's stay-at-home mom struck a distant chord with me too.

If you haven't seen this and you're looking for a well written, compelling drama, watch this.  And I won't give away the ending but I'll say that they do an amazing job giving you just what you expect while you're wishing they just wouldn't.

Movie #85 - Blues Brothers

Blues Brothers
Universal Pictures
1980 - Rated R - 2 hr 13 min
Director: John Landis
Starring: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Cab Calloway, Carrie Fisher, lots of famous musicians...

I'm going to come right out and say it.  This is a movie from another era, one that can be held on a certain pedastal and withstand the test of time.  It's a classic movie with a loyal band of followers and, to them, it's awesomeness will never waiver.  Like Caddyshack.

But to me, it's not as impressive.  I fully admit that I don't admire it the way that most do, and I know that probably makes me wrong in some way.  The premise is kinda weak, with most of it just an elaborate excuse to string together seemingly unrelated "music videos."  It is funny how seriously the Brothers (and the actors who play them) take themselves.  As a comedy, I can certainly appreciate it's integral part in our society's evolution toward really funny comedies... But a lot of it gets lost on me. Ray Charles shooting at customers in his music shop, however, that's just funny stuff.

I did learn a few things, however, by watching this film.  The first is that my husband learned to dance by copying Elwood Blues.  The second is that Aretha Frankin can NOT dance any better than either of them.  And the third is that there's a lot of musicians I'm expected to know on sight that I just don't know. 

If you're reading this and you love this movie the way it's meant to be loved, I apologize to you.  These classics are supposed to be treasured. I get that. But to me, it just doesn't hold my interest.

Movie #84 - Blood Diamond

Blood Diamond
Warner Bros Pictures
2006 - Rated R - 2 hr 23 min
Director: Edward Zwick
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly

 Watching this movie again was a real treat.  It's one of those movies that simultaneously feels really long but not really that long at all, considering all that takes place.  Leonardo DiCaprio's performance in this is one of my favorite's of his. And his South African accent doesn't really bother me that much, so cheers, Leo.

I don't know much about blood diamonds or illegal mining/trading in South Africa, but after watching this, it's hard not to wonder how true it is. And if so, do I have any diamonds that people were killed over?  Hope not.

All in all, this is a really great movie... but one that you have to be in the mood to sit down and watch.  It's not funny or witting, just very moving.  The journey that Leonardo DiCaprio's character takes is impressive, the story of Djimon Hounson's family quite poignant.  If you have the time to sit and think, and want to appreciate the little luxuries we have in this part of the world, take a peek at this one.

Movie #83 - Blazing Saddles

Blazing Saddles
Warner Bros Pictures
1974 - Rated R - 1 hr 33 min
Director: Mel Brooks
Starring: Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Slim Pickens, Madeline Kahn, Mel Brooks

Oh, Mel Brooks and your curious brand of humor.  There's something about the half-slapstick, half-witty combination of comedy that makes a Mel Brooks movie so unique.  Some of the jokes are cheap and dumb, then others surprise you with their wittiness.

Every actor in this movie, it seems, was told "go big or go home" in rehearsals.  Mel Brooks isn't subtle, ever, and this movie shows it... from the profuse use of racial slurs to the "dirtiest song he ever wrote."

Watching this again, as an adult, I got a few more of the jokes, too.  Another fun movie to watch on my journey across the Wall.

Movie #82 - Blades of Glory

Blades of Glory
Dreamworks
2007 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 33 min
Directors: Josh Gordon, Will Speck
Starring: Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett, Jenna Fischer, Craig T. Nelson, Romany Malco, lots of skating pros

Any time I need a pick-me-up, I turn to a good Will Ferrell comedy.  (You'll notice I said "good," so Semi-Pro is strategically missing from the movie wall.) When I was pregnant with my daughter, this was often found in the DVD player just because it makes me laugh.

For pure entertainment purposes, this movie is fantastic.  The plot is a bit fantastical, but the satire of figure skating is a lot of fun.  A huge list of skating pros appear in this movie, which just makes it that much better.  And how can you not love "Coach" playing their coach? Craig T. Nelson is a quiet tyrant in this movie and it's awesome.  Ferrell is outrageous and Jon Heder is the farthest thing from Napoleon Dynamite that a man can be.  From start to finish, I love these characters and this movie.

Movie #81 - Blade Runner

Blade Runner
Warner Bros Pictures
1982 - Rated R - 1 hr 57 min
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Harrison Ford, Sean Young, Daryl Hannah, Rutger Hauer

This was my second viewing of Blade Runner, something I would consider a "guy classic." But I have to admit that this second time around, I enjoyed it more.  The whole "is he" or "isn't he" debate drives me nuts (if you don't know what I'm talking about, you have to watch the movie... I'm not spoiling this one for you), but I can appreciate the open-ended "conclusion" of the movie.

Harrison Ford is great, especially considering that he was in the midst of Han Solo-ness at the time this movie was made.  This is a distinctly different character while still being very action-oriented and romatic-hero representative.  Sean Young just freaks me out, though.  Really.

To sum it up, great futuristic concept with a believable plotline and an excellent cast.  I kinda wish the shots weren't so dark throughout the movie, but what do I know about cinematography?  All in all, this one's climbing up my list of personal favorites.

Netflix Movie : Grizzly Man

Grizzly Man
Lions Gate Films
2005 - Rated R (for implied bear violence) - 1 hr 43 min
Director: Werner Herzog
Starring: Timothy Treadwell, Amie Huguenard, Wener Herzog, some bears

Here I am making fun of this movie, a post-mortem tribute to a bear-saving activitist who was eaten by a bear. Am I going to hell? Or does this guy deserve it, after trying to live with the bears for 13 years until one of them finally thought he looked tasty?  (You might say they could "bearly" stand him!) Honestly, the phrase "pushing your luck" does not capture the insanity of Timothy Treadwell.

Who apparently did not tread well enough.

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

A highly polarizing figure (the bear puns are just flying now!), Treadwell lived in the most dangerous bear-ridden part of Alaska he could find every summer for 13 years.  The year he was eaten, he'd also brought his girlfriend along to share his fate.  Ironically, she was afraid of the bears... he was trying to show her how gentle they are. Yeah, gentle and friendly with foot-long claws and bone-crunching teeth.  I think we'll stick with the teddy variety in my house.

So some people say, "Wow! He was such a hero! Living with the bears, fighting the hunters, getting in touch with nature." Blah blah blah.  Others say, "He's messing with the bears! They'll get used to humans and it will make them more susceptible to being hunted!"  While the documentary does a good job of presenting both arguments, it's largely skewed in favor of Treadwell and his mission.  I say, when in the hell was he fighting hunters?  During most of his footage, he's just prancing around the forest and giving bears really lame names like Mr. Chocolate.

Perhaps I'm too cynical to see the merit here.  Or maybe I'm right.  Either way, he truly is a fascinating character and this piece on his life is really interesting. The fact that they have audio from the video camera of the two of them getting eaten just proves it.  He's getting attacked by a bear and he turns on the camera.  They assume he just didn't have time to remove the lens cap, but he probably would've if he could've. And I think that's one dedicated bear lover.