10s Movie Review - How Do You Know

Director: James L. Brooks
Genre: Romance/ Comedy/ Drama
Runtime: 121 minutes
Year: 2010
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson, Jack Nicholson, Kathryn Hahn

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2025 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 21: A FILM WITH JACK NICHOLSON

Description: After being cut from the U.S.A. softball team and feeling a bit past her prime, Lisa (Reese Witherspoon) finds herself evaluating her life and in the middle of a love triangle, as a corporate guy (Paul Rudd) in crisis competes with her current, baseball-playing beau (Owen Wilson).

Review: Lisa has just been cut from the U.S.A. softball team and struggling what to do with her life. With that she is also dealing with two men in her life.
 
There is no good reason for this movie to be two hours long. And don’t fall for the excellent cast. A romcom with Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson and Paul Rudd sounds like a great idea. And then Jack Nicholson, working again with director James L. Brooks, as previous in “Terms of Endearment” and “As Good As It Gets”. Well, we got fooled.
 
It took me some time to get into the story, but there isn’t really a story. There is so much going on, there is no focus on a clear plot. It’s verry messy. The actors are doing fine, with what they’re given. But there’s not much to work with.
 
“How Do You Know” is a very forgettable romcom. Already forgotten.
 
Rating: 2/ 5

10s Movie Review - Wonder

Director: Stephen Chbosky
Genre: Drama/ Family
Runtime: 113 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Jacob Tremblay, Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, Izabela Vidovic, Mandy Patinkin, Noah Jupe

Description: The story of August Pullman (Jacob Tremblay), a boy with facial differences who enters the fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 45: A MOVIE WITH A CHIL AS THE LEADING CHARACTER
 
Review: It is not easy to be different. Especially when you look different from others. So different that they stare at you, whisper about you, point at you or don’t even dare to touch you. It is the life of Auggie Pullman as soon as he enters fifth grade. His parents have long kept him at home, but now it’s time for him to learn to be among other kids. And that they learn to look past his appearance.

Aggie Pullman has Treacher Collins syndrome, an extremely rare hereditary condition that makes his face look distorted from birth. In his case, it even required a slew of surgeries to keep him alive. Despite the genetic component, it is possible that no one else in the family has it.

“Wonder” is a typical American family drama, in which children bully each other for being different, but then gradually accept each other once they get to know each other better. A sympathetic feel-good movie that never colors outside the lines, except perhaps for Auggies condition. Jacob Tremblay does an excellent job as Auggie.

What makes “Wonder” so likeable, besides its well-intentioned message about acceptance, is that no one is singled out as the culprit for the main characters’ misfortune. We get to see not only Auggie’s perspective, but also that of his older sister Via who has accepted that the family’s life revolves around her little brother and the she must solve her typical teenage girl problems on her own. We also get to see the perspective of Via’s best friend, who all of a sudden is very popular and is hardly talking to Via anymore. And Auggies first friend Jack, who accepts him at first but then gets into a fight with him when he pretends not to accept him for fear of the class bully. All children have their own problems, fears and motivations.

“Wonder” is predictable, but it’s such a heartwarming film, that you cannot help but smile in the end.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Review - The French Dispatch

Director: Wes Anderson
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 108 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Léa Seydoux, Timothée Chalamet, Christoph Waltz, Saoirse Ronan, Jeffrey Writgh, Anjelica Huston, Adrien Brody, Edward Norton, Willem Dafoe, Tilda Swinton, Elisabeth moss, Benicio Del Toro, Rupert Friend, Frances McDormand, Liev Schreiber, Henry Winkler, Jason Schwartzman, Mathieu Amalric, Bob Balaban

Description: A love letter to journalists set in an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional twentieth century French city that brings to life a collection of stories published in “The French Dispatch Magazine”.

Review: Wes Anderson’s exuberant cinematic world I immediately recognizable to any film lover. With symmetrical compositions, use of color palettes, and ensemble of top actors and extremely detailed sets, Anderson brings somewhat melancholy stories to life in a comical way. This is no different in “The French Dispatch”, with the difference that with even more detail is has become an extremely enjoyable maze of stories and sets. With his latest film, Wes Anderson manages to make at least three full-length feature films in less than two hours. “The French Dispatch” contains an unprecedented wealth of references, styles, locations, details and fun.
With his new film, Anderson simultaneously pays tribute to The New Yorker magazine and his hometown of Paris. In the fictional town of Ennui-sur-Blasé, the editorial staff of The French Dispatch magazine is followed. The film takes the structure of one of the magazine’s issues and the delves into several stories. This magazine contains and obituary, a travel story, and three longer main articles. These articles tell of a student uprising, a painter in prison, and a culinary reviewer who goes to a police station to taste chef Nescaffier’s food.
In “The Grand Budapest Hotel”, Wes Anderson already worked successfully with frame narratives. Once again, the various narrative perspectives flow freely through each other. Yet the whole remains an extremely coherent story. Scenes follow one another at a fast pace, without ever running out of steam. All of these different storylines are also full of humor and extremely interesting stylistic choices.
Everything seems possible again in Anderson’s world. For example, there is a chase scene that takes place entirely in an animation style. In “The Grand Budapest Hotel” there was already a chase made in stop-motion. This break in style does not detract from the film at all. This animation is yet another fantastically thought-out ingredient in this mishmash of influences and styles.  
Wes Anderson not only creates a labyrinth with a multitude of styles and storylines. The sets are also more of a maze than ever. When culinary reporter Roebucj Wright arrives at the police station, it consist of an incredible number of rooms. The camera follows Roebuck through all these rooms with their own identity. In half a minute countless details pass by.
“The French Dispatch” is a declaration of love to cinema from which the passion for the medium shines. It contains everything that makes film such a fantastic art form: complex storylines, a unique visual style and a constant play with light, color, movement and sound. “The French Dispatch” is yet another highlight in Wes Anderson’s already impressive oeuvre and an outstanding form of cinema.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

00s Movie Review - Fantastic Mr. Fox

Director: Wes Anderson
Genre: Animation/ Comedy/ Adventure
Runtime: 87 minutes
Year: 2009
Starring: George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Wallace Wolodarsky, Eric Chase Anderson, Michael Gambon, Willem Dafoe, Owen Wilson, Jarvis Cocker, Wes Anderson, Karen Duffy, Robin Hurlstone, Hugo Guinness, Helen McCrory, Roman Coppola, Juman Malouf, Jeremy Dawson, Garth Jennings, Brian Cox, Tristan Oliver, James Hamilton, Steven M. Rales, Bob Hersov, Jennifer Furches, Allison Abbate, Molly Cooper, Adrien Brody, Mario Batali, Martin Ballard

Description: An urbane fox (George Clooney) cannot resist returning to his farm raiding ways and then must help his community survive the farmers' retaliation.

Review: Obstinate director Wes Anderson brings the famous children’s book “Fantastic Mr. Fox”, written by Roald Dahl, to life. The fable about a fox that is on the run from three mad farmer, has been a personal favorite of Anderson for years. It took him some time to make this film. Reason: Wes Anderson always likes to do things a bit different than others. He decided to go for stop motion animation, which means there are twelve shots for every second of the film. Again Anderson manages to be surprising.
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” is a notable movie that doesn’t have a lot in common with other animations, like modern, computer animated films. All the shots in the movie look like they come straight from a picture book, with off course the infamous color pallet Anderson uses. He gave all the animals faces full of expression and a lively structure of fur. All of the animals have their own character. Take Mr. Fox, a slick and  not so virtuous fox who said goodbye to his life as a thief. His wife is pregnant and he has to be more responsible, so he takes on a job as a columnist. Twelve fox years later, when his son Ash is all grown up, Mr. Fox wants to start stealing again.
Off course we see the structure, the dysfunctional family, Anderson loves that. He gives Roald Dahl’s story an extra, more mature layer, which makes it more fun for adults.
For originality “Fantastic Mr. Fox” is outstanding. It’s very risky to go for this animation method in the world of computer animated films. That makes this movie unique. And Wes Anderson has done a wonderful job telling this beloved story. “Fantastic Mr. Fox” is probably my favorite Anderson movie.

Rating: 5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Midnight in Paris

Director: Woody Allen
Genre: Comedy/ Romance/ Fantasy
Runtime: 94 minutes
Year: 2011
Starring: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Adrien Brody, Michael Sheen, Kathy Bates, Carla Bruni, Tom Hiddleston, Alison Pill, Léa Seydoux, Corey Stoll, Kurt Fuller, Gad Elmaleh, Mimi Kennedy

Description: While on a trip to Paris with his fiancée's family, nostalgic screenwriter Gil (Owen Wilson) finds himself mysteriously going back to the 1920s every day at midnight.

Review: Gil Pender, from Pasadena, may be a successful scriptwriter in Hollywood, but he really wants to be an author of novels. His ambition is big and he wants to get inspiration. Together with his fiancée he travels to Paris.
Gil is a romantic. When clouds gather up above Paris, he takes the opportunity to wander the streets of Paris in the rain. While fiancée Inez and his mother in law open an umbrella. Owen Wilson is perfect for the role of Gil. There is something about that permanent nostalgic amazement of his, like he sees something we don’t see. Wilson drags us into that experience of his. He is also surrounded by an amazing cast, like Rachel McAdams as Inez and Marion Cotillard as Adriana. Two completely different women, who mess with Gil’s head. Or what about Michael Sheen as know it all Paul, who is really obnoxious. Kathy Bates does a wonderful job as Getrude Stein and Corey Stoll is fantastic as Ernest Hemmingway.
Director Woody Allen uses the power of the human desire for the past. “Midnight in Paris” shows the city of Paris at its best and it’s a magical story. I fell in love with this movie and it has become one of my all-time favorites.

Rating: 5/ 5 

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 86: The Big Year

Director: David Frankel
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 96 minutes
Year: 2011
Starring: Owen Wilson, Jack Black, Steve Martin, Rosamund Pike, Kevin Pollack, Joel McHale, Dianne Wiest, Brian Dennehy, June Squibb, Rashida Jones, Tim Blake Nelson, Al Roker, Jim Parsons, Anjelica Huston

Description: Two bird enthusiasts (Jack Black, Steve Martin) try to defeat the cocky, cutthroat world record holder (Owen Wilson) in a year-long bird-spotting competition.

Review: Jack Black, Owen Wilson and Steve Martin. With this cast the film will draw a crowd, but a movie can disappoint with high expectations. I didn’t expect much, but this movie was surprisingly fun. A movie about bird watching or birding.
Kenny Bostick holds the record of spotting the most birds in one year, which the call the big year. Brad Harris and Stu Preissler have the same passion for birds and decide to do a big year themselves. But they have to be one step ahead of cocky Bostick.
Most people are not that positive about “The Big Year” but I found it highly enjoyable and think it deserves a bit more praise. I really like the theme of the film and how it was executed. The cast is fun, all three actors are solid and I always love watching them work.
“The Big Year” is more a feel-good film than a comedy. The film develops slowly, but it never really gets comedic. But that didn’t bother me. The movie could have easily fallen into that ridiculous comedy trend, where everything that can go wrong, goes wrong. I found this really refreshing and I really enjoyed watching it.
“The Big Year” is a good movie, that surprised me.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Favorites: Midnight in Paris

Synopsis: Gil (Owen Wilson) and Inez (Rachel McAdams) travel to Paris as a tag-along vacation on her parents' business trip. Gil is a successful Hollywood writer but is struggling on his first novel. He falls in love with the city and thinks they should move there after they get married, but Inez does not share his romantic notions of the city or the idea that the 1920s was the golden age. When Inez goes off dancing with her friends, Gil takes a walk at midnight and discovers what could be the ultimate source of inspiration for writing. Gil's daily walks at midnight in Paris could take him closer to the heart of the city but further from the woman he's about to marry.

Unique Selling Point: The movie is magical, I fell in love with it right away. It manages to show Paris in the most beautiful way possible. And the perfect leading man was chosen for the role of Gil Pender: Owen Wilson.

Most Valuable Player: Director Woody Allen. His unique way of telling a story, and showing the beauty of a beloved city, worked really well.

Best Moment: At the end, when Gil sees Gabrielle again. He tells her that he’s going to stay in Paris and Gil invites her for a cup of coffee. It starts to rain. Gabrielle tells Gil she doesn’t mind getting wet and that Paris is at its best when it’s raining.

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 163: Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

Director: Shawn Levy

Genre: Comedy/ Adventure/ Fantasy/ Family

Runtime: 98 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Ricky Gervais, Dan Stevens, Rebel Wilson, Rami Malek, Ben Kingsley, Dick van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, Boll Cobbs

Description: Larry (Ben Stiller) spans the globe, uniting favorite and new characters while embarking on an epic quest to save the magic before it is gone forever.

Review: In the newest adventure of night guard Larry Daley, the magical tablet has some malfunction. He has to find a solution to stop the corrosion on the tablet, else the magic of the museum will be gone. This leads him to a London museum, the only place the tablet can be fixed. This brings us some of the old characters we know from the previous two movies, but also some new characters. And the group being chased by yet another dinosaur skeleton isn’t very original.

The most painful jokes come from the Neanderthal Laa, who is the spitting image of Larry. It’s a second character played by Ben Stiller. It’s such a ridiculous role and it’s just not funny at all.

It’s clear that “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb” is targeting a younger audience. It’s much of the same, director Shawn Levy didn’t change the formula. Where “Night at the Museum” was original, refreshing and fun, this third installment clearly isn’t.

Rating: 2/ 5

Movie Moments: "Marley & Me"

This is one of those movie that make me laugh and smile, but cry like a baby at the end. It was supposed to be a comedy! I just love Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston together and this is such a great film. Here are my favorite moments.

Moment # 1: Puppy Marley

When Jennifer starts talking about children, it frightens John. His friend advised him to start with a dog, to take Jenny’s mind of the kids. So John takes Jenny to see puppies.

Moment # 2: The name

While he’s not named yet, puppy Marley is in the car with John. When the radio plays a Bob Marley song, the puppy barks. This gives John the idea of naming him Marley.

Moment # 3: Damages

When it’s thundering outside, John puts Marley in the garage. When Jennifer and John return home, they see what damage Marley has done to the garage. That is just the beginning.

Moment # 4: Training

Jennifer and John decide to take Marley to a dog training class. Soon it’s clear that Marley is hard to train and he humps the trainer.

Moment # 5: Car window

While riding in a car with Marley, John and Jenny think it’s a good idea if Marley can stick his head out of the window. Not a good idea, because Marley wants to get out of the window. It results in John holding him whil Marley is walking besides the car.

Moment # 6: Marley comforts Jennifer

After just finding out that she has lost their first baby, Jennifer is devastated. But then there is Marley to comfort her.

Moment # 7: Vacation

While Jennifer and John are on a vacation in Ireland, they have a house sitter to take care of Marley. She soon finds out Marley is the dog from hell.

Moment # 8: Baby Patrick

Jennifer and John just had their first baby, son Patrick. There comes the moment where Marley meets Patrick.

Moment # 9: Day at the beach

John is taking Marley to the beach. Dogs are allowed there, if they don’t do a number two. He unleashes Marley, who is having the best time ever. Other owners start unleashing their dogs too. But then Marley decides it’s time to go for a... drop.

Moment # 10: Alone time

John takes a walk with Marley, looking back on their time together now Marley is getting old.

Moment # 11: Bye Marley

Marley is old and sick and his time has come. John brings him to the vet and says goodbye to him. Even writing about it makes me ball my eyes out.

 

Favorite Moment: Moment # 6: Marley comforts Jennifer

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 22: Inherent Vice

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Genre: Crime/ Drama/ Comedy

Runtime: 148 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson, Katherine Waterston, Eric Roberts, Benicio Del Toro, Jena Malone, Reese Witherspoon, Maya Rudolph, Martin Short

Description: In 1970, drug-fueled Los Angeles detective Larry "Doc" Sportello (Joaquin Phoenix) investigates the disappearance of a former girlfriend.

Review: When you see the name of director Paul Thomas Anderson on a movie poster, you have certain expectations. He has movies like “Magnolia”, “Boogie Nights” and “There Will Be Blood” on his resume.

With “Inherent Vice” Anderson chose a book to movie adaptation. Books by author Thomas Pynchon are known for its complexity, so it’s not that strange this is the first adaptation.

The seventies have just begun and we join private detective Larry Sportello, better known as Doc. His ex-girlfriend Shasta walks in and starts telling him about a collusion to get her wealthy, married lover into a psychiatric facility. Doc decides to investigate. Before he knows it, he is surrounded by strippers, neo-Nazis, hostile cops and eccentric cults.

“Inherent Vice” makes you feel like that one sober person at a party. The more you try to hold on to a logic story development, the more frustrated you’ll get. And the long duration will also add to that confusion. You really need a ‘go with the flow’ mentality.

When it comes to style and setting, “Inherent Vice” doesn’t disappoint. Like he did in “Boogie Nights”, again he shows us how masterful he can take the audience to a certain time period. And the soundtrack is also worth mentioning.

“Inherent Vice” is not a movie for just everyone, it’s for a selective audience. It’s not one of my favorite Anderson movies, but definitely not bad.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 9: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

Director: Wes Anderson

Genre: Comedy

Runtime: 118 minutes

Year: 2004

Starring: Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Cate Blanchett, Anjelica Huston, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Michael Gambon, Noa Taylor, Bud Cort, Seu Jorge, Robyn Cohen

Description: With a plan to exact revenge on a mythical shark that killed his partner, oceanographer Steve Zissou (Bill Murray) rallies a crew that includes his estranged wife (Anjeica Huston) , a journalist (Cate Blanchett), and a man who may or may not be his son (Owen Wilson).

Review: “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” has a lot of elements: drama, humor, romance, fantasy. But it’s a typical Wes Anderson flick.

The movie doesn’t have any obvious, hilarious jokes. Bill Murray gets room to exploit his dry, cynical humor, which fits Anderson’s style perfectly. It’s an amusing atmosphere, that will make you chuckle at times because of its innovative comedy and look.

An eclectic group of actors. Off course Bill Murray, who is in probably every Wes Anderson movie ever made. Willem Dafoe plays the somewhat simple, manic depressed buddy of Steve Zissou. Owen Wilson plays Zissous son Ned, who has a more neutral role in the movie. His humoristic impulses are tempered, it seems a little bit off. Jeff Goldblum is fun, but not present enough. The same goes for Anjelica Huston. Cate Blanchett is good as journalist Jane, but here role didn’t really add a lot to the story. She has the unfortunate task to be the romantic object.

My favorite part of the movie is where we are introduced to the ship, the Belafonte. Due vertical and horizontal shots we get to see every single room on the ship. I love those shots in Anderson movies.

“The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” is again a pleasure to watch, because of the style, humor and cast. But it’s not one of Anderson’s masterpieces.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 83: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Director: Wes Anderson

Genre: Comedy/ Drama

Runtime: 101 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, Jude Law, Saoirse Ronan, Lé Seydoux, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, F. Murray Abraham, Harvey Keitel, Tom Wilkinson Mathieu Amalric

Description: The adventures of Gustave H (Ralph Fiennes), a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa (Tony Revolori), the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend.

Review: You love his work or you hate it. Where most directors want to be as realistic as possible, Wes Anderson does the opposite and makes everything look artificial. In “The Grand Budapest Hotel” we can again see this and it’s another highlight in his career. A mix of diverse genres leads to a crazy adventure.

“The Grand Budapest Hotel” is a story within a story within a story. The three time fazes are all filmed in different formats and color schemes. We start in the eighties, when we see a girl with a book and a key walk up to a statue of a deceased author. Next we make a leap back in time and we see that same author, talking to the audience, telling us how the story of “The Grand Budapest Hotel” started. Then we jump to the sixties, where we see the young author in that hotel, meeting owner Zero Mustafa. He tells the story and that’s where all the madness starts. At the start of the 1930’s the hotel was hot and happening. Especially rich, elderly ladies love coming there. Does it have anything to do with the charming and charismatic concierge Gustave H.? Through the eyes of the young Zero, who is thought by Gustave, we see how everything works in the hotel. When one of the guests, Madame D, dies under mysterious circumstances, Gustave inherits the pricey painting ‘Boy with Apple’. His fascist son Dmitri isn’t happy about that.

The cast is filled with many great actors. Most only have a small role. Some are common faces in Wes Anderson films, like Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman and Owen Wilson. Ralph Fiennes is the one carrying the film. He does it so well. On one hand he is this super slick charmer, but he can also be vulgar and crafty. And his comedic timing is just perfect.

Besides comedy “The Grand Budapest Hotel” is a mystery, action thriller and a romance. But most of all it’s a tribute to the days gone by. As no one else Wes Anderson mixes reality and fiction together. It’s like a storybook coming to life.The result: a hilarious and unique film, like only Anderson can make, perfected in every detail and filled with great characters.

Rating: 5/ 5

Quotables: "Fantastic Mr. Fox"

How this movie was made is just amazing. I just love Wes Anderson’s style! It’s based on a book by Roald Dahl and I decided to pick my favorite quotes and to share them with you.

Mole: I just want to see... a little sunshine.

Mr. Fox: But you're nocturnal, Phil. Your eyes barely open on a good day.

Mole: I'm sick of your double talk, we have rights!

Coach Skip: Basically, there's three grabbers, three taggers, five twig runners, and a player at Whackbat. Center tagger lights a pine cone and chucks it over the basket and the whack-batter tries to hit the cedar stick off the cross rock. Then the twig runners dash back and forth until the pine cone burns out and the umpire calls hotbox. Finally, you count up however many score-downs it adds up to and divide that by nine.

Mrs. Fox: Why did you lie to me?

Mr. Fox: Because I'm a wild animal.

Mr. Fox: [looking at an electric fence] Huh. This could be difficult.

Squirrel: It's fatal for humans, but we got enough fur to keep the voltage from getting to us. Let's go!

Mrs. Fox: Excuse me? Am I being flirted with by a psychotic rat?

Ash: There's a lot of attitudes going on around here... don't let me get one.

Mr. Fox: They say all foxes are slightly allergic to linoleum, but it's cool to the paw - try it. They say my tail needs to be dry cleaned twice a month, but now it's fully detachable - see? They say our tree may never grow back, but one day, something will. Yes, these crackles are made of synthetic goose and these giblets come from artificial squab and even these apples look fake - but at least they've got stars on them. I guess my point is, we'll eat tonight, and we'll eat together. And even in this not particularly flattering light, you are without a doubt the five and a half most wonderful wild animals I've ever met in my life. So let's raise our boxes - to our survival.

Franklin Bean: What are you singing, Petey?

Petey: Erm... I just kind of made it up as I went along, really.

Franklin Bean: That's just weak songwriting! You wrote a bad song, Petey!

Best & Worst: Owen Wilson

I came up with a new item. I pick the best and the worst of someone/ something. It’ll be about movies and tv most of the time, but maybe I can come up with some other themes.

For me Owen Wilson always had this certain charm I couldn’t go around. I love this dude! I like the calmness in his voice, his subtle and smart humor and how he can win over the audience. Here is my choice for best & worst Owen Wilson movie.

I have stated my love for this movie many times already. Owen Wilson is capable of portraying the likeable and witty daydreamer Gil Pender. This is actually one of the nicest male movie characters. Not everybody likes Woody Allen’s work, but this is simply fantastic!
Honorable mentions: “Marley & Me”, “Fantastic Mr. Fox”, “Shanghai Noon”

I really don’t like this one. I hated it the first time I saw it and swore to myself never to watch it again. I know it’s a movie not to be taken too seriously, but still. It’s awefull!
Dishonorable mentions: “Anaconda”

Quotables: "Midnight in Paris"

I stated my love for this movie many times already. I’m actually in love with this movie, as much as I’m in love with Paris. It’s just a brilliant concept, with a loveable leading man played by Owen Wilson. And full of memorable quotes, that I am going to share with you today in this item.



Inez: You're in love with a fantasy.
Gil: I'm in love with you.

Inez: You always take the side of the help. That's why Daddy says you're a communist.

Ernest Hemingway: No subject is terrible if the story is true, if the prose is clean and honest, and if it affirms courage and grace under pressure.

Gil: They are your friends and I have to admit I'm not quite as taken with them as you are.

Gil: I would like you to read my novel and get your opinion.
Ernest Hemingway: I hate it.
Gil: You haven't even read it yet.
Ernest Hemingway: If it's bad, I'll hate it. If it's good, then I'll be envious and hate it even more. You don't want the opinion of another writer.

Ernest Hemingway: Picasso only thinks that women are to sleep with, or to paint.

Gil: You know how I think better in the shower, get all those positive ions flowing.

Gil: That's what the present is. It's a little unsatisfying because life is unsatisfying.

Gertrude Stein: The artist's job is not to succumb to despair but to find an antidote for the emptiness of existence.

Ernest Hemingway: I believe that love that is true and real, creates a respite from death. All cowardice comes from not loving or not loving well, which is the same thing. And then the man who is brave and true looks death squarely in the face, like some rhino-hunters I know or Belmonte, who is truly brave... It is because they make love with sufficient passion, to push death out of their minds... until it returns, as it does, to all men... and then you must make really good love again.

Helen: We saw a wonderfully funny American film last night.
Inez: Who was in it?
Helen: Oh, I don't know. I forget the name.
Gil: Wonderful but forgettable. It sounds like a film I've seen. I probably wrote it.

Movie Moments: "Midnight in Paris"

I love the city of Paris and I'm madly in love with this Woody Allen movie. Love everything about it. Here are my favorite moments from "Midnight in Paris".

Moment # 1: Opening
We see all the beautiful places in Paris, by day and by night, with sunshine and rain.

Moment # 2: In love with a fantasy
Gil tells Inez how much he loves Paris, how he would want to live here someday. He loves Paris especially in the twenties and when it’s raining. Inez doesn’t understand why Gil loves Paris so much and tells him he’s in love with a fantasy. Gil tells Inez he’s in love with her.

Moment # 3: Arguing with the guide
Gil, Inez, Paul and Carol are listening to a guide who’s telling a story about Rodin.’Inez is fascinated about how much Paul knows. Paul thinks he knows more about Rodin, but the guide correct him. Paul doesn’t agree with the guide and starts arguing with her. Gil backs the guide up and tells Paul she’s right. When he does, Inez isn’t paying attention anymore.

Moment # 4: Gill gets lost
Gil decides to stroll Paris by night, all by himself, but gets lost. All of a sudden a car passes by and the passengers want him to come with them.

Moment # 5: The Fitzgeralds
Gil meets Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. The actual Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. Gil realizes that he's now in 1920’s Paris.

Momemt # 6: Ernest Hemmingway
Gil meets writer Ernest Hemmingway, one of his idols. He asks Hemmingway if he wants to read his novel, but he won’t. He does want Gil to meet Gertrude Stein.

Moment # 7: Adriana
Gil meets Adriana, Picasso’s mistress. He’s speechless when he first sees her and Adriana loves Gil’s writing. They immediately hit it of and start a conversation.

Moment # 8: Gil’s view on Picasso
Inez and Gil are attending an art exhibit with Paul and Carol. Again Paul is showing of his knowledge and starts talking about a Picasso painting. Gil saw that exact painting the night before, when he met Picasso and tells them the real story behind it. It shuts them all up.

Moment # 9: Salvador Dali
Gil meets painter Salvador Dali. He starts talking about a rhinoceros and how he could paint Gil with a melting lip. Gil starts telling him about Inez, that he’s not sure if he loves her or not. And about Adriana, how fantastic she is.

Moment # 10: Gil kisses Adriana
While taking a walk at night, Gil kisses Adriana. He gives her earrings, which she loves and then they take a carriage ride.

Moment # 11: Inez cheated on Gil
Hemmingway read Gil’s novel and he doesn’t understand why the leading character doesn’t see that his fiancées is cheating on him. This makes Gil think about Inez and Paul. He ask Inez and she denies it. Later she admits to have spend a couple of nights with Paul, but Gil just has to get over it. Gil doesn’t want to go back to America with her and decides to stay in Paris.

Moment # 12: Paris in the rain
Gil encounters the girl he met before, when he was listening to a Cole Porter record. He tells the girl, who is named Gabrielle, that he has decided to stay in Paris. When he wants to take her out for a cup of coffee, it starts raining. Gabrielle tells Gil she doesn’t mind getting wet and that Paris is at its best when it’s raining.

Favorite Moment: Moment # 12: Paris in the rain

Top 5 Thursday: Famous Acting Brothers

It's time for Hollywood brothers!! No need to explain it further, here are my favorite acting brothers.

5. Mark Wahlberg & Donnie Wahlberg
Just to be clear, the Wahlbergs as actors! Forget about their singing/ rapping period. Both Mark and Donnie are the living proof that there are singers that can actually act. I really like to watch Mark Wahlberg,especially in "The Fighter" and I'm really looking forward to see "Ted". And Donnie was fantastic in the series "Band of Brothers". Mark is my favorite of the two.

4. Ben Affleck & Casey Affleck
The Affleck brothers are perhaps the best ones on this list. Both of them are very good and I even like Ben a bit more as a director. And I love their collaboration in "Gone Baby Gone" where Ben directed and Casey acted. Fantastic! Casey is my favorite of the two.

3. James Franco & Dave Franco
Everyone knows how much I love James. Don't know much about Dave yet but I enjoyed him in "Fright Night" and "21 Jump Street". I don't need to explain why James is so good, just watch "127 Hours". James is still my favorite of the two.

2. Andrew Wilson, Owen Wilson & Luke Wilson
A threesome! Andrew is the least known of the bunch, but how cool was he in "Whip It"? Owen Wilson is great in anything, but I think my favorite movies are "Midnight in Paris" and "Marley & Me". Luke Wilson is adorable and I loved him in "Old School". My favorite of the three is Owen.

1. Chris Hemsworth & Liam Hemsworth
Only recently discovered by me, but this is one handsome looking family! Chris is gorgeous, Liam is gorgeous. And they are Australian, love that accent. Oh, and they can act as well. Loved Liam in "The Hunger Games" and Chris in "The Avengers" and "Snow White and the Huntsman". Favorite..... hard to say. Hmmm. I'll go with Chris.

They almost made the top 5: Alec, Stephen & William Baldwin, Beau & Jeff Bridges.

In the Picture: The Characters from "Midnight in Paris"

“Midnight in Paris” is a piece of artwork itself. What a beautifully made movie and with such wit and class. I had to select some characters for this item, because we don’t get to know all of them equally as much. Here are some characters from “Midnight in Paris”.

Gil Pender
Played by: Owen Wilson
Gil is a successful Hollywood screenwriter, but he’s also distracted by so many things. He’s struggling to finish his first novel, set in an antique shop. While he and his fiancée Inez are vacationing in Paris, Gil mentions he would want to live in Paris someday. When Gil is walking the streets of Paris by night, he gets lost and than enters the world op Paris in the 1920’s, his favorite era.

Inez
Played by: Rachel McAdams
Inez is engaged to Gil and thought it would be fun to travel along with her wealthy parents. She thinks Gil’s ambition of writing a novel is just a romantic daydream and Inez also doesn’t see the true beauty of Paris. In other words, Gil and Inez have almost nothing in common.

Adriana
Played by: Marion Cotillard
While visiting Pablo Picasso, Gil meets his mistress Adriana. He’s instantly attracted to her. Adriana is a very passionate woman and can find all the beautiful spots in Paris and shows them to Gil.

Paul Bates
Played by: Michael Sheen
Paul is a friend of Inez’ and a real know it all. He has a lot of specialties and Inez is fascinated by him. Off course Gil can’t stand him, because Paul is a very annoying man who brags about his knowledge. He later finds out Inez slept with Paul a couple of times and she thinks Gil shouldn’t make a big deal out of it.

Gertrude Stein
Played by: Kathy Bates
Gertrude agrees on reading Gil’s novel and sees a great story in it. She isn’t only an expert in literature, also in art.

Zelda Fitzgerald
Played by: Alison Pill
Zelda is Scott Fitzgerald’s wife. She isn’t the domestic kind, because she likes a good party and is extremely chaotic. Zelda can overdramatize when something happens, especially when it comes to her husband.

Ernest Hemmingway
Played by: Corey Stoll
Ernest is a very skeptical but genius writer. Gil asks him to read his book, but Ernest declines. He tells him that a writer should never let another writer read his work. Eventually Gertrude tells Gil that Ernest did read his book and loved it.

Salvador Dali
Played by: Adrien Brody
Salvador is as weird as his paintings. He sees art in the strangest places, objects and shapes. Salvador is very interested in Gil though, he would make a great painting.

Favorite Character: Gil Pender