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

June was a pretty good month, I saw some real good movies. Some I actually put on my favourites list. Here are the five best movies I saw for my challenge this month.

5. The Spectacular Now

Not just another boy meet girl movie, really unique and authentic. Enjoyed it and loved Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley.

 

4. The Descendants

George Clooney really surprised me. His performance was amazing, I want to see him more in roles like this.

 

 

 3. The Lego Movie

Who would have thought a movie made out of Legos would be such a hit with me. I think it’s awesome! Oh, and everything about this movie is awesome (the song too).

 

2. Shame

I think I knew beforehand this was going to be a pretty good movie, but I never expected to be so amazed by it. I gave it a five star rating. It’s so beautifully filmed and so well acted by Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan.

 

 

1. The Way Way Back

I just knew that I was going to like it and it didn’t let me down one bit (also a five star rating) . I love this movie to bits. Especially Sam Rockwell stole my heart.

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Blade Runner

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 76: The Spectacular Now

Director: James Ponsoldt

Genre: Drama/ Romance

Runtime: 95 minutes

Year: 2013

Starring: Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Brie Larsson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kyle Chandler

Description: Sutter Keely (Miles Teller) lives in the now. A high school senior, charming and self-possessed, he's the life of the party, loves his job at a men's clothing store, and has no plans for the future. But after being dumped by his girlfriend, Sutter gets drunk and wakes up on a lawn with Aimee Finecky (Shailene Woodley) hovering over him. She's different: the "nice girl" who reads science fiction and doesn't have a boyfriend. While Aimee has dreams of a future, Sutter lives in the impressive delusion of a spectacular now, yet somehow, they're drawn together.

Review: A first love, senior year in high school, a future with never ending prospects. “The Spectacular Now” shows us this exciting yet scary period of someone’s life. Main character Sutter is in this phase, he enjoys life and doesn’t look further then the next second. After his break up with girlfriend Cassidy, he meets Aimee. This boy-meets-girl setup starts a love story that reminds many of us of 80’s movies by John Hughes. But the authenticity makes “The Spectacular Now” excellent and superior.

The scenario by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, is based on the young adult novel by Tim Tharp. It focusses on the characters, that all have a certain depth and is filled with details. Supporting characters like Sutters strict mom and his ex-girlfriend don’t become stereotypical or annoying. It’s a sharp observation. We see the positive influences that Aimee and Sutter have on each other, but we also see their weaknesses. Director James Ponsoldt did a wonderful job, with a great style, beautiful long takes and the nuance and complexity of the characters. But we should also give credit to leading actors Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley. Teller carries the film easily and Woodley steals the show without any frills, but with a lot of warmth, intelligence and fragility.

“The Spectacular Now” can’t avoid all the clichés, but takes a sharp yet tender look at love at the end of our teenage years. A great director, fantastic acting and wonderful visuals make this movie to an authentic and memorable picture.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Trailer Sunday (93)

Here are this weeks trailers.

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
Description: With the 70's behind him, San Diego's top rated newsman, Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell), returns to the news desk. Also back for more are Ron's co-anchor and wife, Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate), weather man Brick Tamland (Steve Carell), man on the street Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd) and sports guy Champ Kind (David Koechner) - All of whom won't make it easy to stay classy, while taking New York's first 24-hour news channel by storm.
Director: Adam McKay
Starring: Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Steve Carell, David Koechner, Paul Rudd, Kristen Wiig, James Marsden, Dylan Baker, Meagan Good, Harrison Ford, Greg Kinnear, Josh Lawson, Vince Vaughn, Luke Wilson, Nicole Kidman
Trailer: Trailer "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues"
Comment: I probably won't see it in theatres, because no one in my social circle sees the humor in this.

The Spectacular Now
Description: This is the tale of Sutter Keely (Miles Teller), a high school senior and effortless charmer, and of how he unexpectedly falls in love with "the good girl" Aimee Finecky (Shailene Woodley). What starts as an unlikely romance becomes a sharp-eyed, straight-up snapshot of the heady confusion and haunting passion of youth - one that doesn't look for tidy truths.
Director: James Ponsoldt
Starring: Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Brie Larson, Kyle Chandler, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Trailer: Trailer "The Spectacular Now"
Comment: The writers of this movie also wrote "(500) Days of Summer" and you know how much I love that movie.

Drinking Buddies
Description: Kate (Olivia Wilde) and Luke (Jake Johnson) work together at a craft brewery. They have one of those friendships that feels like it could be something more. But Kate is with Chris (Ron Livingston), and Luke is with Jill (Anna Kendrick). And Jill wants to know if Luke is ready to talk about marriage. The answer to that question becomes crystal clear when Luke and Kate unexpectedly find themselves alone for a weekend.
Director: Joe Swanberg
Starring: Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick, Ron Livingston
Trailer: Trailer "Drinking Buddies"
Comment: Just the kind of movie I like.

Free Birds
Description: Two turkeys from opposite sides of the tracks must put aside their differences and team up to travel back in time to change the course of history - and get turkey off the Thanksgiving menu for good.
Director: Jimmy Hayward
Starring: Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson, Amy Poehler,
Trailer: Trailer "Free Birds"
Comment: Noting like a good turkey movie.

JOBS
Description: The story of Steve Jobs' ascension from college dropout into one of the most revered creative entrepreneurs of the 20th century.
Director: Joshua Michael Stern
Starring: Ashton Kutcher, Dermot Mulroney, Josh Gad, Lukas Haas, J.K. Simmons, Matthew Modine
Trailer: Trailer "JOBS"
Comment: Not sure what to think of it or if I will like it. The poster is terrible though.