Netflix Friday - Volume 92

Some Netflix film tips for the weekend! And there is something for everyone, since I picked a movie for all the different genres.
 

Action: Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
Ethan Hunt and his IMF team, along with some familiar allies, race against time after a mission gone wrong.
 

Drama: Rocketman (2019)
A musical fatasy about the fantastical human story of Elton John’s (Taron Edgerton) breakthrough.
 

Comedy: Paddleton (2019)
An unlikely friendschip between two misfit neighbors (Mark Duplass, Ray Romano) becomes an unexpectedly emotional journey when the younger man is diagnose with terminal cancer.
 

Animation: Shrek (2001)
A mean lord exiles fairytale creatures to the swamp of a grumpy ogre (Mike Myers), who must go on a quest and rescue a princess (Cameron Diaz) for the lord in order to get his land back.
 

Romance: Bride Wars (2009)
Two best friends (Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway) become rivals when they schedule their respective weddings on the same day.
 

Horror: Final Destination 3 (2006)
Six years after students cheated death, another teen (Mary Elizabeth Winstead has a premonition she and her friends will be involved in an accident. When the vision proves true, the students and survivors deal with the repercussions of cheating the Grim Reaper.
 

Science Fiction: Gravity (2013)
Two astronauts (Sandra Bullock, George Clooney) work together to survive after an accident leaves them stranded in space.
 

Crime: Goodfellas (1990)
The story of Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) and his life in the mob, covering his relationship with his wife Karen Hill (Lorraine Bracco) and his mob partners Jimmy Conway (Robert De Niro) and Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci) in the Italian-American crime syndicate.
 

Thriller: Nocturnal Animals (2016)
A wealthy art gallery owner (Amy Adams) is haunted by her ex-husband’s (Jake Gyllenhaal) novel, a violent thriller she interprets as a symbolic revenge tale.
 

Documentary: Punk in London (1977)
A contemporary documentary covering the Great British punk rock explosion of 1977.
 

Family: Mijn Beste Vriendin Anne Frank (2021)
This story is based on the memoirs of Anne Frank’s friend Hannah Goslar.

Netflix Friday - Volume 32

Some Netflix film tips for the weekend! And there is something for everyone, since I picked a movie for all the different genres.
 

Action: Colombiana (2011)
A young woman (Zoe Saldana), after witnessing her parents’ murder as child in Bogota, grows up to be a stone-cold assassin.
 

Drama: To the Bone (2017)
A young woman (Lily Collins), dealing with anorexia, meets and unconventional doctor (Keanu Reeves) who challenges her to face her condition and embrace life.
 

Comedy: Ted (2012)
John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg), a man whose childhoof wish of bringin his teddy bear to life came true, now must decided between keeping the relationship with the bear Ted (Seth McFarlane) or his girlfriend Lori (Mila Kunis).
 

Animation: Animal Crackers (2017)
A family must use a magical box of Animal Crackers to save a run-down circus from being taken over by their evil uncle Horatio P. Huntington (Ian McKellen)
 

Romance: Before We Go (2014)
Two strangers (Chris Evans, Alive Eve) stuck in Manhattan for the night grow into each other’s most trusted confidants when an evening of unexpected adventure forces them to confront their fears and take control of their lives.
 

Horror: The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
Five friends go for a break at a remote cabin, there they get more than they bargained for, discovering the truth behind the cabin in the woods.
 

Science Fiction: Gravity (2013)
Two astronauts (Sandra Bullock, George Clooney) work together to survive after and accident leaves them stranded in space.
 

Crime: Brooklyn’s Finest (2009)
Three unconnected Brooklyn cops wind up at the same deadly location after enduring vastly different career paths.
 

Thriller: Identity (2003)
Stranded at a desolate Nevada motel during a nasty rain storm, ten strangers become acquainted with each other when they realize that they’re being killed off one by one.
 

Documentary: The Last Dance (2020)
Charting the rise of the 1990s Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, one of the most notable dynasties in sports history.
 

Family: Nanny McPhee (2005)
A governess (Emma Thompson) uses magic to rein the behavior of seven ne’er-do-well children in her charge.
 

Netflix Friday - Volume 4

Some Netflix film tips for the weekend! And there is something for everyone, since I picked a movie for all the different genres.

Action: Ready Player One (2018)
When the creator of a virtual reality called the OASIS dies, he makes a posthumous challenge to all OASIS users to find his Easter Egg, which will give the finder hos fortune and control of his world.

Drama: Birdman (2014)
A washed-up superhero actor (Michael Keaton) attempts to revive his fading career by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway production.

Comedy: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
A high school wise guy (Matthew Broderick) is determined to have a day off from school, despite what the Principal (Jeffrey Jones) thinks of that.

Animation: Bee Movie (2007)
Barry B. Benson (Jerry Seinfeld), a bee just graduated from college, is disillusioned at his lone career choice: making honey. On a special trip outside the hive, Barry’s live is saved by Vanessa (Renee Zellweger), a florist in New York City. As their relationship blossoms, he discovers humans actually eat honey, and subsequently decides to sue them.

Romance: Destination Wedding (2018)
The story of two miserable and unpleasant wedding guests, Lindsay (Winona Ryder) and Frank (Keanu Reeves), who develop a mutual affection despite themselves.

Horror: The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
Five friends go for a break at a remote cabin, where they get more than they bargained for, discovering the truth behind the cabin in the woods.

Science Fiction: Gravity (2013)
Two astronauts (Sandra Bullock, George Clooney) work together to survive after an accident leaves them stranded in space.

Crime: Molly’s Game
The true story of Molly Bloom (Jessica Chastain), an Olympic-class skier who ran the world’s most exclusive high-stakes poker game and became and FBI target.

Thriller: The Prestige (2006)
After a tragic accident, two stage magicians (Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale) engage in a battle to create the ultimate illusion while sacrificing everything they have to outwit each other.

Documentary: Becoming (2020)
Join former first lady Michelle Obama in an intimate documentary looking at her life, hopes and connection with others during her 2019 book tour ‘Becoming’.

Family: Babe (1995)
Babe, a pig raised by sheepdogs, learns to her sheep with a little help from Farmer Hodgett (James Cromwell)

Top 5 Thursday: Movies I Watched for My Challenge (January 2016)

The start of a new year, the start of a new challenge. To kick it off I did see some good movies, but also some real stinkers. What about “Neighbors”, the Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi movie, “The Lone Ranger”, and the terrible “I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer”. But we are not here to talk about shitty movies, I’m going to show you my five favorites for my movie challenge for the month of January.

5. The Informant!

The movie was better than I expected it to be and Matt Damon was hilarious. His character was so full of shit, the lies started to pile up and he stuck to his story anyway. Underrated and overlooked Matt Damon film.

 

 

4. The Hateful Eight

It’s not one of my favorite Quentin Tarantino movies, but I knew it was going to be good. It was “Reservoir Dogs” meets “Clue”, set in the wild west. Great performances and off course sharp dialogues.

 

 

3. Wreck-It-Ralph

Can Disney ever do something completely terrible? I don’t think so. “Wreck-It-Ralph” was such a heart-warming story, great animation, loved it. I just want to hug Ralph.

 

 

2. Sideways

I happen to love Alexander Payne movies. I liked “About Schmidt”, “Nebraska” and “The Descendants” and now I can add “Sideways” to that list. Who thought a film about wine tasting could be so interesting, funny and overwhelming?

 

 

1. Gravity

I never like it when people overhype films. That makes me NOT want to see a film. Like I did with “Avatar”, which is now one of my favorites and I still regret not seeing it in theaters. “Gravity” is also one of those film. People were raving about it and I didn’t see it in the cinema. Now I regret that, because this film was amazing. And it would be a ten times better on the big screen and with the full experience.

 

 

They almost made the top 5: The Croods, Princess Mononoke

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 4: Gravity

Director: Alfonso Cuarón

Genre: Drama/ Thriller

Runtime: 90 minutes

Year: 2013

Starring: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris

Description: A medical engineer (Sandra Bullock) and an astronaut (George Clooney) work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space.

Review: It’s simple: people who end up in a hostile environment with only their own perseverance and the will to survive. It has been done many times. Director Alfonso Cuarón takes it a step further: space. Medical engineer Ryan Stone and astronaut Matt Kowalski have to rely on themselves and each other when they are the only two survivors after their shuttle is destroyed. Without any contact with Earth, they only have each other and the chances of them being saved are minimal.

Over four years it took Cuarón to finish this project and it shows. “Gravity” looks amazing, breathtaking. Not only the visuals of our planet, but the fantastic camera work. Long shots, the opening scene alone takes about fifteen minutes. The camera floats graciously in space and shows us planet Earth and the characters. The way it was filmed, makes you feel you’re weightless. This is one of those films where 3D really adds something extra.

Cuarón pictures space realistically. It’s obvious he paid attention to every detail and what I found the most interesting is the absence of sound. The only sounds you hear are the voices of Stone and Kowalski talking over the radio or their voices muted due to their suits. The silence is scary. From the moment the two astronauts are told to abort their mission, you’re on the edge of your seat.

Sandra Bullock and George Clooney are both very good. There is a huge contrast between the two. Bullock’s Ryan Stone isn’t as comfortable in space as Clooney’s Matt Kowalski. The interaction between the two is sincere. This makes “Gravity” not just a technically difficult film.

“Gravity” is a great move experience.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Oscar Predictions 2014

I'm going to predict the winners for this years Oscars again. I have no idea! I'm super excited about Ellen Degeneres hosting, she amakes me laugh. Here is my list of who should and would win.

Best Motion Picture of the Year
Should Win: "12 Years a Slave"
Would Win: "American Hustle"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Should Win: Bruce Dern for "Nebraska" (actually Tom Hanks for "Captain Phillips", but no nomination!
Would Win: Matthew McConaughey for "Dallas Buyers Club"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Should Win: Amy Adams for "American Hustle"
Would Win: Cate Blanchett for "Blue Jasmin"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Should Win: Michael Fassbender for "12 Years a Slave"
Would Win: Jared Leto for "Dallas Buyers Club"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Should Win: Lupita Nyong'o for "12 Years a Slave"
Would Win: Lupita Nyong'o for "12 Years a Slave"

Best Achievement in Directing
Should Win: Alexander Payne for "Nebraska"
Would Win: Alfonso Cuarón for "Gravity"

Movie Trailer Sunday (87)

Here are this weeks trailers.

The Butler
Description: We follow the story of a White House butler who served eight American presidents over three decades.
Director: Lee Daniels
Starring: Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey, John Cusack, Jane Fonda, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Terrence Howard, Minka Kelly, Lenny Kravitz, Melissa Leo, James Marsden, David Oyelowo, Alex Pettyfer, Vanessa Redgrave, Alan Rickman, Liev Schreiber, Robin Williams
Trailer: Trailer "The Butler"
Comment: This movie reminded me of "The Help". The trailer already made me tear up a bit and the cast is amazing. Looking forward to seeing this.

Ender's Game
Description: In the near future, a hostile alien race called the Formics have attacked Earth. If not for the legendary heroics of International Fleet Commander Mazer Rackham (Ben Kingsley), all would have been lost. In preparation for the next attack, the highly esteemed Colonel Hyrum Graff (Harrison Ford) and the International Military are training only the best young minds to find the future Mazer. Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield), a shy but strategically brilliant boy, is recruited to join the elite. Arriving at Battle School, Ender quickly and easily masters increasingly difficult challenges and simulations, distinguishing himself and winning respect amongst his peers. Ender is soon ordained by Graff as the military�s next great hope, resulting in his promotion to Command School. Once there, he�s trained by Mazer Rackham himself to lead his fellow soldiers into an epic battle that will determine the future of Earth and save the human race.
Director: Gavin Hood
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Ben Kingsley, Harrison Ford, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin, Viola Davis
Trailer: Trailer "Ender's Game"

The World's End
Description: Five childhood friends reunite when one of them becomes hellbent on trying the drinking marathon again. They are convinced to stage an encore by Gary King (Simon Pegg), a 40-year-old man trapped at the cigarette end of his teens, who drags his reluctant pals to their hometown and once again attempts to reach the fabled pub: The World's End. As they attempt to reconcile the past and present, they realize the real struggle is for the future, not just theirs but humankind's. Reaching The World's End is the least of their worries.
Director: Edgar Wright
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Martin Freeman, Eddie Marsan, Rosamund Pike, Paddy Considine
Trailer: Trailer "The World's End"
Comment: I loved "Hot Fuzz" and "Shaun of the Dead" so I'm super excited about this movie. Can't wait.

Captain Phillips
Description: This is the true story of Captain Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks) and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years
Director: Paul Greengras
Starring: Tom Hanks, Catherine Keener, Max Martini, Yul Vazquez, Michael Chernus, Chris Mulkey, Corey Johnson, David Warshofsky, John Magaro, Angus MacInnes
Trailer: Trailer "Captain Phillips"
Comment: Finally another Tom Hanks movie. He's my man and this looks like something he's never done before.

Gravity
Description: Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney) in command of his last flight before retiring. But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalsky completely alone, tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the blackness. The deafening silence tells them they have lost any link to Earth... and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left. But the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space.
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Starring: sandra Bullock, George Clooney
Trailer: Trailer "Gravity"
Comment: I've always been fascinated by space somehow. This movie looks good and it has a good couple of leading actors in it.