Rewatching My 100 Favorite Movies - Update 12

I decided to rewatch my 100 favorite movies of all-time. What those are, you can check HERE. I watch them in random order, there is no rhyme or reason there, just watching those movies I love so much.
 

39/ 100: Gremlins (1984)
Chris Columbus wrote the script of this cult classic. The film has dark humor, not-too-scary horror and an ironic Christmas atmosphere. With that, cinema got the cutest movie creature ever. The film about the little Mogwai, which is not allowed to get wet, be exposed to light and can’t eat after midnight, is my all-time favorite Christmas movie and one I never get tired of. Read my full review HERE
 

40/ 100: Mystic River (2003)
As young boys, Dave, Jimmy and Sean suffered a terrible trauma when one of them was kidnapped and sexually abused. Years later, they are now adults and married, the nineteen-year-old daughter of one of them is found murdered. Dave is one of the suspects, as on the night of the crime he came home in a confused state and with bloodied hands. Soon old wounds are reopened. Strong, somber whodunit, worthwhile mainly because of the character building, excellent direction by Clint Eastwood and performances by Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Marcia Gay Harden and Laura Linney. HERE is my full review.
 

41/ 100: The Big Lebowski (1998)
Bowling and blowing Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski is the laziest man of Los Angeles. Bandits who mistake him an old rich guy with the same name play a prank on him, whereupon The Dude goes to seek redress with the Big Lebowski. The out-of-control situation is splendidly portrayed, with stron, humorous characters, hallucinogenic dream sequences and wonderful dialogue. One of the best film in the impressive oeuvre of the Brother Ethan and Joel Coen. Read my full review HERE
 
Still to watch: 59

00s Movie Review - Mystic River

Director: Clint Eastwood
Genre: Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 137 minutes
Year: 2003
Starring: Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon, Tim Robbins, Laurence Fishburne, Marcia Gay Harden, Laura Linney, Emmy Rossum

Description: With a childhood tragedy that overshadowed their lives, three men (Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon) are reunited by circumstance when one has a family tragedy.

Review: How do you recognize a good movie? A tough question if you ask me. But the people who watched “Mystic River” know that this is an example of a very good movie. The film, directed by Clint Eastwood, managed to win several Academy Awards. It might surprise you, because the story isn’t new and the cast isn’t filled with the biggest Hollywood names. “Mystic River” is a very strong movie that deserves every credit it gets.
The movie starts with three kids, Jimmy, Dave and Sean. They are inseparable and like to hang out together on the streets of Boston. Their bond changes when Dave is taken by a strange man, who pretends he’s a cop. When Dave returns he is traumatized. Years later the three friends reunite, when Jimmy’s daughter is found dead. Jimmy wants revenge and wants to find the person responsible.
Like I stated before, the story doesn’t sound that special. And the main characters don’t seem impressive at first either. Kevin Bacon, as Sean, is a cop trying to have a neutral view on the murder case. And Sean Penn, as Jimmy, plays a man with a temper and a criminal past who has bettered his life. Tim Robbins plays the mysterious looking Dave, who is still trying to deal with his childhood trauma. The way it was all executed is true craftsmanship. Clint Eastwood made this movie with lots of precision, love, intensity and integrity, which center the characters and not the story. The plot is done well, but aren’t the center of our attention. Eastwood focuses especially on the  irreparable friendship and what it once was. And with a cast of talented actors it gives us an anguishing movie experience. 
Eastwood gives his actor room to exploit and bring their characters to life. Sean Penn proofs why he is one of the best, what a great performance. Tim Robbins plays a remarkable role as well. His body language and facial expression sometimes tell us more than the actual words that come out of his mouth. His performance is very believable and even thinking about it gives me goose bumps.  Laura Linney and especially Marcia Gay Harden show us that they can stand tall in a movie filled with strong male actors.
“Mystic River” is a beautiful, sensitive character profile about friendship, pain and human shortcomings. Clint Eastwood deliverd one of his best movies and one of my all-time favorites.

Rating: 5/ 5

Netflix Friday - Volume 59

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

Action: Troy (2004)
An adaptation of Homer’s great epic, the film follows the assault on Troy by the united Greek forces and chronicles the fates of the men involved.
 

Drama: Blow (2001)
The story of how George Jung (Johnny Depp), along with the Meddellín Cartel headed by Pablo Escobar, established the American Cocaine market in the 1970s in the United States.
 

Comedy: Happiest Season (2020)
A holiday romantic comedy that captures the range of emotions tied to wanting your family’s acceptance, being true to yourself, and trying not to ruin Christmas.
 

Animation: Wish Dragon (2021)
Determined teen Din is longing to reconnect with his childhood best friend when he meets a wish-granting dragon who shows him the magic of possibilities.
 

Romance: Love, Rosie (2014)
Rosie (Lily Collins) and Alex (Sam Claflin) have been best friends since they were 5, so they couldn’t possibly be right for one another… or could they? When it comes to love, life and making the right choices, these two are their own worst enemies.
 

Horror: The Ninth Gate (1999)
A rare book dealer (Johnny Depp), while seeking out the last two copies of a demon text, gets drawn into a conspiracy with supernatural overtones.
 

Science Fiction: Space Sweepers (2021)
Set in the year 2092 and follows the crew of a space junk collector ship called The Victory. When they discover a humanoid robot named Dorothy that’s known to be a weapon of mass destruction, they get involved in a risky business deal.
 

Crime: Mystic River (2003)
The lives of three men who were childhood friends are shattered when one of them has a family tragedy.
 

Thriller: Shutter Island (2010)
In 1954, a U.S. Marshal  (Leonardo DiCaprio) investigates the disappearance of a murderer who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane.
 

Documentary: Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet (2021)
David Attenborough and scientist Johan Rockström examine Earth’s biodiversity collapse and how this crisis can still be averted.
 

Family: Finding Ohana (2021)
A summer in rural O’ahu takes an exciting turn for two Brooklyn-raised siblings when a journal pointing to a long-lost treasure sets them on an epic adventure with new friends, and leads them to reconnect with their Hawaiian heritage.

Top 5 Thursday: Clint Eastwood Directed Movies

Clint Eastwood is a great actor, but an even better director. So this list only includes movies that Eastwood directed.

5. Invictus
It’s a very inspiring story and I just love Morgan Freeman in his role as Nelson Mandela. Eastwood did a great job telling this unbelievable story.

4. A Perfect World
I haven’t seen this movie in a while, but it’s a great film. Kevin Costner was a hero of mine back in the days.

3. Million Dollar Baby
I didn’t think this movie would make me cry in the end, it has a very dramatic twist.

2. Mystic River
This is a character study, with interesting people and fabulous acting. Such a gripping story.

1. Gran Torino
I absolutely love this movie, it’s his best. It’s really hard to direct a movie, but he also play its lead character. Such a fantastic film with a heartbreaking ending.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Changeling

Top 5 Thursday: Movies from 2003

The beginning of the years wasn’t great, but later on this year brought us some fantastic films. Some of my favorites. Here are the best movies from 2003.

5. Big Fish
I love this fairytale like film, it just makes me happy every time I watch it. And that field full of daffodils, where is my field of daffodils?

4. Love Actually
Somewhat of a guilty pleasure, the ultimate Christmas feeling for me. All those intertwining love stories, I actually love it!

3. Kill Bill Vol. 1
Although the second film is my favourite of the two, this deserves a place on my list. Tarantino hardly ever disappoints and The Bride is kick-ass!

2. Mystic River
Such great acting and a very good story. Even after watching it a couple of times, the suspense is always there. Perfect casting too.

1. Lost in Translation
One of my all-time favourite movies. Who thought that Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson would be a match made in heaven? I certainly didn’t, but I just love them together.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Old School, Identity, Finding Nemo, 28 Days Later,

In the Picture: The Characters from "Mystic River"

Clint Eastwood is a fine actor, but in my opinion he's an even better director. "Mystic River" is such a great piece of work and an actual character study of the people involved in the story. Here are the most important characters in the film.

Jimmy Markum
Played by: Sean Penn
Jimmy is the beloved father of three daughters. Two of them he had with current wife Annabeth and he had his oldest daughter with his now deceased wife Marita. Jimmy does have a criminal history. He spend two years of his life in prison for a robbery. After they found Jimmy's daughter Katie dead, that old Jimmy turns up again. For him it doesn't matter how, but he's going to find the man who did this to her. And he will pay.

Dave Boyle
Played by: Tim Robbins
Dave is a loving father and a loyal husband to his wife Celeste. As a kid he experienced something horrible and now, twenty years later, he's still traumatized. Dave is very troubled and the image of that incident so many years ago is still haunting him every day. This is also a burden in his relationship with Celeste, his son Michael and his friend Jimmy.

Sean Devine
Played by: Kevin Bacon
Sean used to be friends with both Jimmy and Dave. Nowadays he doesn't have contact with them, although they run into each other from time to time. He is a cop and the one who has to solve the murder of Katie Markum. He tries to handle it as professional as possible. Sean's wife left him six months ago, while she was pregnant. She calls him, but never says anything when he picks up the phone. It looks like it doesn't affect him, but his future with her isn't secure and he just wants her back in his life.

Celeste Boyle
Played by: Marcia Gay Harden
Celeste is Dave's wife. She loves him more then anything, but she doesn't know what to do with her troubled husband. Celeste doesn't know about Dave's traumatic experience as a child. When Dave comes home covered in blood, she doesn't believe his story. After she finds out about Katie Markum's death, Celeste starts doubting her husband and feels really insecure about her life with him.

Annabeth Markum
Played by: Laura Linney
Annabeth is Jimmy's second wife. She accepted Jimmy's oldest daughter, but it's clear that they don't always get along. Unlike Celeste, Annabeth will always stand by her husband and she would never doubt his actions. Even if it's not the right thing to do, according to the law.

Favorite Character: Dave Boyle