Top 5 Thursday: Movies from 2013

It was a pretty good year for movies, 2013. I saw many of them for my 2014 movie challenge, so now I decided to make a top 5 of my favorites from that year. Here it comes.

5. Captain Phillips

Tom Hanks showed us again why he is the best actor in the world. What a fantastic performance, especially that final scene. The movie captivated me from beginning till end.

 

 

4. Rush

Not a fan of Formula 1, but a fan of this movie I am. Great performances by both Daniel Brühl and Chris Hemsworth. And Ron Howard is one of my favorite directors.

 

 

3. Prisoners

A very good movie, not overhyped at all. Because so many people were so positive, I’m always cautious. They didn’t lie, because “Prisoners” is amazing!

 

 

2. The Way Way Back

It’s a movie that probably not a lot of people saw, but I love it. I already saw it many times and I will rewatch this film many times in the future. It’s the kind of movie I love, Indies with a good combo of comedy and drama.

 

 

1. The World’s End

The conclusion in the so-called ‘Cornetto-trilogy’. I still hope that Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost will continue making movies together. “The World’s End” never played in our theatres, because they thought it wouldn’t get enough audience. Well, that proofs that the Netherlands is a weird country. It’s one of the funniest movies ever and the best of the year 2013.

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Warm Bodies, Don Jon, Fruitvale Station, Star Trek Into Darkness, Inside Llewyn Davis, Nebraska, This is the End, Dallas Buyers Club, Enemy, Her, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Marry, Kiss, Cliff - Round 7

Round 7: James Hunt (“Rush”), Bob Rueland (“Return to Me”) and Andy Dufresne (“The Shawshank Redemption”)

Marry: Bob Rueland is a very kind and loving man. He has to deal with losing his wife, which could be troubling, but still.

Kiss: I’m kind of looking past the arrogance here, because James Hunt is great eye candy. That’s why I’m choosing to just kiss him and not marry him.

Cliff: I know Andy Dufresne is innocent and I LOVE Andy, but I don’t think it would be great to date a guy who’s in prison. I am patient, but I don’t know if I can wait 19 years for him to finally break out of Shawshank.

Top 5 Thursday: Ron Howard Movies

Ron Howard is one of my favourite movie directors. Who knew that the Richie from “Happy Days” would be such a magnificent filmmaker? Here are my five favourite Ron Howard directed movies.

5. The Da Vinci Code
I know it was discussed when it came out, I was one of the few people that really loved this film. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I enjoyed every minute of it. I’m actually very sad that Ron Howard isn’t going to direct “The Lost Symbol” which is the next film in the Robert Langdon series.

4. Cinderella Man
One of the best boxing movies and such an amazing story. It’s a movie that people don’t really talk about anymore, but it should never be forgotten.

3. Apollo 13
I’m somehow always intrigued by space and “Apollo 13” is one of the best movies in this genre. Tom Hanks is fantastic as Jim Lovell.

2. Rush
Ron Howard managed to amaze me with this film, even though I don’t like Formula 1 racing. I was drawn into the world and it kept my attention at all times.

1. A Beautiful Mind
This is actually one of my all-time favourite movies. I was so amazed by Russel Crowe’s performance. I just love this movie, it’s so well made.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Frost/ Nixon, The Paper, Ransom, How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Top 5 Thursday: Movies I Watched for My Challenge (February 2014)

February was a great month, I saw some awesome films! Some of them actually made my favorites list. Here are the best movies I saw this month for my challenge.

5. Lincoln
A great biopic by master director Steven Spielberg. The length of the film doesn’t bother me and Daniel Day-Lewis is outstanding as Abraham Lincoln.

4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower
I never thought I would eventually put this on my list. It was different from any other teen movie. This film has so many layers and fabulous acting as well. I should read the book too.

3. Rush
I didn’t think I would like it this much, because I’m not a Formula 1 fan. But Ron Howard, who is also one of my favourite directors, did an awesome job. He’s at his best when he tells someone’s true story. And fantastic acting by Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl.

2. Prisoners
A movie I only heard good things about, so I was pretty sure I was going to like it as well. Well, I loved it. So surprising and such great acting. And that ending…

1. 12 Years a Slave
I was looking forward to seeing this film for such a long time and it was worth every penny. What a fantastic film! It really grabbed me and if you don’t shed a tear, you’re not human.

They Almost Made the Top 5: End of Watch, The Lincoln Lawyer

DVD Collection Update (12)

All the movies I bought recently were movies I haven't seen before. Some relatively new, others just came out. Here they are.

First I got "Don Jon", a movie I wanted to see, but I was the only one. No one in my friend and family circle wanted to join me. And now I'm happy I waited for the DVD, because it's a bit awkward to watch a porn themed film with your brother or best friend. I did love the film, I met my expectations.

I literally bumped into this movie and payed only 3 euros for it. That's practically nothing. In the past I was never a fan of Matthew McConaughey, but I'm starting to like him more and more. It's because his movies get better and he shows me how good of an actor he is. "The Lincoln Lawyer" surprised me, I really enjoyed this film.

I haven't watched "The Descendants" yet, but the day I bought this film, it was also on TV. I decided to wait for the right moment to watch this, but I have high expectations.

Although I'm not into Formula 1 racing, this movie is in my favorites list now. It's an amzing film, with great acting by Daniel Brühl and Chris Hemsworth. And you know how much I love Hemsworth.

The film "Prisoners" is nothing predictable, although it seems in the beginning. It's such a good film ans also on my favorites list now. This movie took my breath away!

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 31: Rush

Director: Ron Howard
Genre: Action/ Drama
Runtime: 123 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Brühl, Olivia Wilde, Alexandra Maria Lara

Description: Based on the true story of a great sporting rivalry between handsome English playboy James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth), and his methodical, brilliant opponent, Austrian driver Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl). The story follows their distinctly different personal styles on and off the track, their loves and the astonishing 1976 season in which both drivers were willing to risk everything to become world champion in a sport with no margin for error: if you make a mistake, you die.

Review: In the 70’s two talented Formula 1 drivers go head to head: the flamboyant James Hunt and the pragmatic Niki Lauda. They both come from wealthy families, but that’s the only resemblance they have. Hunt trusts his gut and intuition, where Lauda leaves nothing to chance.
Ron Howard is at his best when he tells someone’s true story, look at “Apollo 13” and “A Beautiful Mind”. “Rush” belongs in that row, because this movie is anything but forgettable. Even if you’re not into Formula 1 racing, you get dragged into this fascinating world. The cinematography is fantastic and also a big plus for the well written script.
The ones who steal the show are the leading actors Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl, who easily could have gotten an Academy Award nomination. The dynamic between the two is clearly present. The two characters they play have an ongoing rivalry, but because of their sublime performances it’s easy to find sympathy for both drivers. The best thing is that even though they are rivals, they want to get better, they motivate each other and also have a mutual respect.
“Rush” is an engrossing film, with strong acting and a vibrant story. It’s more than your standard film about racing. “Rush” is a winner.

Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Trailer Sunday (81)

Here are this weeks movie trailers.

Man of Steel
Description: A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this Earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind.
Director: Zack Snyder
Starring: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Christopher Meloni, Russell Crowe
Trailer: Trailer "Man of Steel"

Elysium
Description: In the year 2154, two classes of people exist: the very wealthy, who live on a pristine man-made space station called Elysium, and the rest, who live on an overpopulated, ruined planet. The people of Earth are desperate to escape the crime and poverty that is now rampant throughout the land. The only man with the chance to bring equality to these worlds is Max (Matt Damon), an ordinary guy in desperate need to get to Elysium. With his life hanging in the balance, he reluctantly takes on a dangerous mission, one that pits him against Elysium's Secretary Delacourt (Jodie Foster) and her hard-line forces, but if he succeeds, he could save not only his own life, but millions of people on Earth as well.
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Starring: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, Alice Braga, Diego Luna, William Fichtner
Trailer: Trailer "Elysium"
Comment: Highly anticipated, it looks really great.

Filth
Description: Scheming Bruce Robertson (James McAvoy), a bigoted and corrupt policeman, is in line for a promotion and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Enlisted to solve a brutal murder and threatened by the aspirations of his colleagues, including Ray Lennox (Jamie Bell), Bruce sets about ensuring their ruin, right under the nose of unwitting Chief Inspector Toal. As he turns his colleagues against one another by stealing their wives and exposing their secrets, Bruce starts to lose himself in a web of deceit that he can no longer control. His past is slowly catching up with him, and a missing wife, a crippling drug habit and suspicious colleagues start to take their toll on his sanity. The question is: can he keep his grip on reality long enough to disentangle himself from the filth?
Director: Jon S. Baird
Starring: James McAvoy, Jamie Bell, Jim Broadbent, Eddie Marsan, Joanne Froggatt, Imogen Poots
Trailer: Trailer "Filth"
Comment: This is a role of James mcAvoy I haven't seen yet. He really is filthy!

The Way, Way Back
Description: 14-year-old Duncan's (Liam James) is on summer vacation with his mother, Pam (Toni Collette), her overbearing boyfriend, Trent (Steve Carell), and his daughter, Steph (Zoe Levin). Having a rough time fitting in, the introverted Duncan finds an unexpected friend in gregarious Owen (Sam Rockwell), manager of the Water Wizz water park. Through his funny, clandestine friendship with Owen, Duncan slowly opens up to and begins to finally find his place in the world - all during a summer he will never forget.
Director: Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
Starring: Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, AnnaSophia Robb, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, Amanda Peet, Rob Corddry, Liam James
Trailer: Trailer "The Way, Way Back"
Comment: I love coming of age stories.

Rush
Description: Englishman James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and the disciplined Austrian perfectionist Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl), whose clashes on the Grand Prix racetrack epitomized the contrast between these two extraordinary characters, a distinction reflected in their private lives.
Director: Ron Howard
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Brühl, Olivia Wilde, Alexandra Maria Lara, Stephen Mangan, Christian McKay, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Jamie de Courcey, Pierfrancesco Favino, Natalie Dormer
Trailer: Trailer "Rush"
Comment: I'm not a formula 1 fan, but this movie has Chris Hemsworth in it!