Rewatching My 100 Favorite Movies - Update 14

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.
 

46/ 100: Se7en (1995)
This David Fincher directed film is a blood-curdling and original thriller about two detectives who team up to track down a serial killer. They discover that the killer is working off the classic seven deadly sins. I have seen this movie so many times and it still gives me the chills and intrigues me. Such a good thriller, with amazing performances from Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt. Check out the full review HERE
 

47/ 100: The Lion King (1994)
The young lion prince Simba grows up in father Mufasa’s paradise kingdom, dreaming of the day when he will rule the savannah himself. But that’s not counting on Mufasa’s jealous brother Scar, who along with a gang of hyenas plots to get him out of the way. Classic, hand-drawn Disney musical that actually has everything you could want: from adventure to humor, romance, upbeat songs and heartbreaking drama. I remember when I saw this movie for the first time, in theaters and what an impact it had on me. And still has. HERE is the full review.
 

48/ 100: Clue (1985)
The movie is loosely based on the boardgame clue, where you have to find out who killed the victim, in what room and with which weapon. In “Clue” a group of people, who don’t know each other, is invited to a mansion, for unknown reasons. When a murder takes place, the strangers, together with the butler, have to find out who committed the murder. A classic whodunnit, which is the main reason why I love this movie so much. It has good comedy, which gives it a lighter tone, and the way it’s all played out is really fun and original. You can read my full review HERE.
 

49/ 100: In Bruges (2008)
With its mix of witty humor, brutal violence and unexpected drama, “In Bruges” shows the talent of director Martin McDonagh. The story of two Irish contract killers who go into hiding in Bruges after a job gone wrong is cleverly written and stylishly filmed. The movie succeeds because of the three formidable leading actors: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes. HERE is my full review.
 

50/ 100: Spotlight (2015)
Outstanding drama about the Spotlight team of quality newspaper The Boston Globe, which in 2002 publicized in a series of high-profile articles the Catholic Church’s systematic concealment of sexual abuse in Boston parishes. In “Spotlight”, director Tom McCarthy keeps the emotions at bay as much as possible. In this film, no gruesome details of the abuses or images of conciliatory church fathers; McCarthy zooms in on the journalists and their diligent work. And this down-to-earth approach only makes the film more poignant. “Spotlight” won the Academy Award for Best Picture and Screenplay, which is totally deserved. Check out the review HERE.

Still to watch: 50

Stay-at-Home Netflix Must-See Movie List

Since it’s best to stay home now, I browsed through Netflix to create a list of films they stream that everyone just has to see. Because now is the perfect time to catch up on those must-sees. I chose two movies per genre, so there is something on this list for everyone.

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

Edge of Tomorrow (Action)
Cage is a soldier (Tom Cruise) fighting aliens and he gets to relive the same day over and over again, the day restarting every time he dies.

Spotlight (Drama)
The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core.

Room (Drama)
Held captive for 7 years in an enclosed space, a woman (Brie Larsson) and her young son (Jacob Tremblay) finally gain their freedom, allowing the boy to experience the outside world for the first time.

Game Night (Comedy)
A group of friends who meet regularly for game nights find themselves entangled in a real-life mystery when the shady brother of one of them is seemingly kidnapped by dangerous gangsters.

Easy A (Comedy)
Olive (Emma Stone) is a clean-cut high school student who relies on the school’s rumor mill to advance her social ad financial standing.

Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse (Animation)
Teen Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) becomes Spider-Man of his reality, crossing his path with five counterparts from other dimensions to stop threat for all realities.

Spirited Away (Animation)
During her family’s move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches and spirits, and where humans are changed into beasts.

Call Me By Your Name (Romance)
In 1980s Italy, romance blossoms between the 17-year-old Elio (Timothée Chalamet) and the older Oliver (Armie hammer) hired as his father’s research assistant.

Marriage Story (Romance)
A look at the marriage between Nicole (Scarlett Johansson) and Charlie (Adam Driver), breaking up and a family staying together.

A Quiet Place (Horror)
In a post-apocalyptic worl, a family is forced to live in silence while hiding from monsters with ultra-sensitive hearing.

The Conjuring (Horror)
Paranormal investigators Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) work to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in their farmhouse.

Annihilation (Science Fiction)
Lena (Natalie Portman) is a biologist who signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition into a mysterious zone where the laws of nature don’t apply.

Blade Runner 2049 (Science Fiction)
Young Blade Runner “K”’s (Ryan Gosling) discovery of a long-burried secret leads him to track down former Blade Runner Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), who’s been missing for thirty years.

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

Zodiac (Crime)
In the late 1960s/ early 1970s, a San Franciso cartoonist (Jake Gyllenhaal) becomes an amateur detective obsessed with tracking down the Zodiac killer, an unidentified individual who terrorizes Northern California with a killing spree.

Prisoners (Thriller)
When Keller Dover’s (Hugh Jackman) daughter and her friend go missing, he takes matters into his own hands as the police pursue multiple leads and the pressure mounts.

The Gift (Thriller)
A young married couple’s (Rebecca Hall, Jason Bateman) lives are thrown into a harrowing tailspin when an acquaintance from the husband’s past brings mysterious gifts and a horrifying secret to light after more than 20 years.

Fyre (Documentary)
An exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the infamous unraveling of the Fyre Music Festival.

Abducted in Plain Sight (Documentary)
The twisting, turning, stranger-than-fiction true story of the Brobergs, a naïve, church-going Idaho family that fell under the spell of a sociopathic neighbor with the designs on their twelve-year-old daughter.

Matilda (Family)
The story of the wonderful little girl Matilda (Mara Wilson), who happens to be a genius, and her wonderful teacher (Embeth Davidtz) vs. the worst parents ever (Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman) and the worst school principal imaginable.

Annie (Family)
A young orphan girl’s adventure in finding a family that will take her.







I think these will get you through those days, enjoy the watch list!

Top 10: Best Movies I Watched for My 2016 Challenge

The great thing about the 100 Movie Challenge is that I sometimes watch films that I would normally not even pay attention to. It’s a time to rediscover classics or see the movies you missed in the 2000s or 2010s. I watched a bunch of fantastic films, I narrowed it down to this top 10 list. Here are my favorite films I watched for my 2016 challenge.

10. Lars and the Real Girl
This was such a weird story, but it was so heartfelt and honest. And we got Ryan Reynold’s amazing performance to thank for that. He proofs that he doesn’t always have to play the sexy charmer, he can play a lonely geek as well.

9. The Jungle Book
Disney’s uncanny adaptation of their own beloved animation from 1967. It was a blockbuster, it was a technical film. Besides Mowgli, all the sets and characters were computer generated. The visuals are stunning. “The Jungle Book” was one amazing movie experience.

8. The Nice Guys
I already loved Shane Black’s “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang”. Teaming up Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe was probably one of the best ideas of 2016. They are an irresistible pair. Energized by a dry wry cynicism. It’s crime comedy at its best.

7. Arrival
“Arrival” is an unusually intimate science-fiction epic, that takes the story of humankind’s first contact with an alien race and turns it into a downright poetric meditation on fate, time, love and the limitations and essential universalities of communication. Amy Adams gives a fantastic performance, she carries this film. Director Denis Villeneuve has a flawless record so far.

6. Room
Brie Larson earned all the headlines for her role as Joy, her Oscar winning performance is so convincing and heartbreaking. But her movie son Jacob Tremblay very nearly steals the show. It’s through his eyes we experience the traumatic set of events.

5. Spotlight
“Spotlight” is driven purely by the simplicity of its story. A group of journalists exposing a scandal in the Catholic Church. The film had my attention from start to finish, it has great performances and I loved everything about this film. It deserved that Oscar.

4. The Apartment
I discovered Billy Wilder films this year and I came to the conclusion that I really love this director. “The Apartment” is such a fun film, great acting and it’s basically set in only one location.

3. Some Like It Hot
This is the other Billy Wilder film I watched this year, and loved! It was hilarious. It’s such a funny story, two men disguising as women so that they can play music in an all-women’s group. And although it’s clear that they are two men, nobody sees it. This is one fo the best comedies of all time!

2. La La Land
Damien Chazelle’s first film was “Whiplash”, an Academy Award winning film. He’s back with amusic movie of an entirely different variety. “La La Land” is a heart-eyed musical about two lost Los Angelinos who find each other. I’m seriously in love with this film. This one’s for the classic movie fans.

1. The Princess Bride
This movie has everything and know how to combine all those genres in the most perfect way. Adventure, action, romance, comedy, drama, it’s all there. It’s one of the best fairytales ever told, with humor, mockery and heartwarming moments. Definitely a new favorite on my all-time list.


Honorable Mentions: The General, City Lights, Beasts of No Nation, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Little Shop of Horrors, We Bought a Zoo, Mr. Holland’s Opus, The Soloist

Top 5 Thursday: Supporting Females in Drama Films

We always focus on the main man or woman in a film, but today I’m putting the supporting characters in the spotlight. Females in drama films to be exact.

5. Joan Clarke (Keira Knightley in “The Imitation Game”)
A very smart woman standing strong doing a man’s job. Joan Clarke believes in Alan Turing and his ideas, she holds the team together.

4. Pam (Marisa Tomei in “The Wrestler”)
Pam is the highlight in Randy Robinson’s day. A mother by day, a stripper by night. But there is more to her than meets the eye.

3. Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams in “Spotlight”)
Sacha Pfeiffer was one of the people that revealed shocking news about the catholic church. She is working with men, faces people who share with her very disturbing stories. But Sacha stays strong and only wants one thing: to let people know what really happened.

2. Patsey (Lupita Nyong’o in “12 Years a Slave”)
Patsey is a brave woman. She has to go through so much and still manages to keep smiling. And she keeps doing her job as no other, better than the men doing the same job.

1. Celia Foote (Jessica Chastain in “The Help”)
Celia Foote is an outcast, but her enthusiasm, good heart, naïve look at the world and kind intentions should brighten everyone’s day. She is the only woman (besides Skeeter) that really appreciates the help she gets.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Gerda Wegener (Alicia Vikander in “The Danish Girl”), Charlene Fleming (Amy Adams in “The Fighter”), Minny Jackson (Octavia Spencer in “The Help”), Iris (Jodie Foster in “Taxi Driver”), Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air”), Lynn Margareth Bracken (Kim Basinger in “L.A. Confidential”)

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

I have to say, I didn’t see a lot of new movies this month. But I did see some movie that have a chance of ending up on my end year’s list for this challenge or best films of 2016. Here are the five best movies I watched in February for my challenge.

5. Robin Hood

I’ve always been fascinated by the character of Robin Hood and there are so many different versions of this old story. Off course the Kevin Costner version, which holds a special place in my heart. But Disney’s take on the hero is amazing! I loved “Robin Hood”.

 

 

4. Deadpool

It was way funnier than I initially thought it would be and Ryan Reynolds is great in “Deadpool”. I love the self-mockery. It’s a nice variety in the superhero movie universe, it separates itself from the other films in the genre.

 

 

3. Galaxy Quest

I’m so glad I finally got to see “Galaxy Quest”. It was so funny! And I loved Alan Rickman in this film. Such a different role for him, yet so perfect.

 

 

2. The Revenant

Amazing movie. I wanted to see this movie for a long time and it didn’t disappoint. Fantastic cinematography and great acting.

 

 

1. Spotlight

This movie amazed me, shocked me, interested me, grabbed me, gave me chills, captivated me. It did all that! And Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams are very good in it too.

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Grizzly Man, Interstellar, The Age of Adaline

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 24: Spotlight

Director: Tom McCarthy

Genre: Drama/ Thriller

Runtime: 128 minutes

Year: 2015

Starring: Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Live Schreiber, John Slattery, Brian D’Arcy James, Stanley Tucci, Billy Crudup

Description: The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core.

Review: Marty Baron, the new boss at The Boston Globe, is very honest on his first day: he wants to write a story about the sexual abuse by Catholic priests and he wants the whole world to know about it. That’s easy to say for Baron, because not only is he Jewish, he also has no connection to the conservative and close community that is Boston.

The journalist team Spotlight notices that people have looked the other way for many years, when local priest John Geoghan structurally molested children in various parishes. And when they dig deeper, they stumble upon more priests. The church settled with many victims and their parents, but some priest just joined another parish. It’s clear that the church has power.

Director Tom McCarthy isn’t so much attacking the Catholic church with “Spotlight”, but he is raising questions to why no one did anything, when lots of people clearly knew about it. We also learn that many of the victims didn’t want any publicity or were afraid.

“Spotlight” is very detailed, just look at the hundreds of cubicles at The Boston Globe. And the actors had an eye for detail while preparing for their roles. This film is made with a lot of dedication.

Michael Keaton, who already played a convincing editor in “The Paper”, succeeds again in his role as Walter Robinson in “Spotlight”. His most fanatic journalist is Michael Rezendes who focuses on the legal side of everything. He is played by Mark Ruffalo. This is the best performance in the film. Rachel McAdams plays Sacha Pfeiffer. She gets the tough task to interview the victims. Also a very strong performance.

“Spotlight” is a strong biographical drama about investigative journalism, with strong performances and a disturbing story.

Rating: 5/ 5

Oscar Prediction 2016

I'm going to give it a shot again. The nominees for the 88th annual Academy Awards were announced and I've been predicting the winners for a couple of years now. So this year is no different. Some really great nominees this year, but as usual I don't agree with every all the winners. So, here are my prediction on who will win and who I think should win the awards.

Best Motion Picture of the Year

Should Win: "Mad Max: Fury Road"

Would Win: "Spotlight"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Should Win: Leonardo DiCaprio for "The Revenant"

Would Win: Leonardo DiCaprio for "The Revenant"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Should Win: Brie Larson for "Room"

Would Win: Brie Larson for "Room"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Should Win: Sylvester Stallone for “Creed”

Would Win: Mark Rylance for “Bridge of Spies”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Should Win: Rachel McAdams for “Spotlight”

Would Win: Kate Winslet for “Steve Jobs”

Best Achievement in Directing

Should Win: Alejandro González Iñárritu for “The Revenant”

Would Win: Alejandro González Iñárritu for “The Revenant”

Movie Trailer Sunday (220)

This week I will share five trailers of movies I really need to see in 2016. My five most anticipated films of 2016. Okay, some are originally from 2015, but here in The Netherlands they are 2016 releases.

The Hateful Eight

Description: In the dead of a Wyoming winter, a bounty hunter and his prisoner find shelter in a cabin currently inhabited by a collection of nefarious characters.

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russel, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Bruce Dern, Walter Goggins, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Zoë Bell

Trailer: Trailer "The Hateful Eight"

Comment: I'm always looking forward to a Quentin Tarantino, always!

The Revenant

Description: frontiersman named Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) on an fur trade expedition in the 1820s is on a quest for survival after being brutally mauled by a bear.

Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson, Will Poulter

Trailer: Trailer "The Revenant"

Comment: This looks stunning, can't wait to see this probable masterpiece.

Spotlight

Description: The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core.

Director: Tom McCarthy

Starring: Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, John Slattery, Stanley Tucci

Trailer: Trailer "Spotlight"

Comment: Only heard good things about this film and it has a killer cast!

Hail, Caesar!

Description: A Hollywood fixer in the 1950s works to keep the studio's stars in line.

Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

Starring: George Clooney, Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Josh Brolin, Ralph Fiennes, Frances McDormand, Jonah Hill, David Krumholtz, Tilda Swinton, Dolph Lundgren

Trailer: Trailer "Hail, Caesar!"

Comment: I'm always in the mood for a good Coen Brothers film. This looks like loads of fun.

The BFG

Description: A girl named Sophie encounters the Big Friendly Giant who, despite his intimidating appearance, turns out to be a kindhearted soul who is considered an outcast by the other giants because unlike his peers refuses to eat boys and girls.

Director: Steven Spielberg

Starring: Ruby Barnhill, Mark Rylance, Bill Hader, Rebecca Hall, Penelope Wilton

Trailer: Trailer "The BFG"

Comment: Based on a book by my favorite children's book author Roald Dahl. I grew up reading those books and this trailer looks amazing. It's only a teaser, but I'm intrigued.