Netflix Friday - Volume 44

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

Action: Salt (2010)
A CIA agent (Angelina Jolie) goes on the run after a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy.
 

Drama: Flight (2012)
An airline pilot (Denzel Washington) saves almost all his passengers on his malfunctioning airliner which eventually crashed, but an investigation into the accident reveals something troubling.
 

Comedy: The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)
Goated by his buddies, a nerdy guy (Steve Carell) who’s never “done the deed” only finds the pressure mounting when he meets a single mother (Catherine Keener).
 

Animation: The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013)
Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo by an old bamboo cutter and his wife, a tiny girl grows rapidly into an exquisite young lady. The mysterious young princess enthralls all who encounter her, but ultimately she must confront her fate, the punishment for her crime.
 

Romance: Love, Rosie (2014)
Rosie (Lily Collins) and Alex (Sam Claflin) have been best friends since they were 5, so they couldn’t possible 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: 47 Meters Down: Uncaged (2019)
Two sisters diving in a ruined underwater city quickly learn they’ve entered the territory of the deadliest shark species in the claustrophobic labyrinth of submerged caves.
 

Science Fiction: Jurassic World (2015)
A new theme park, built on the original site of Jurassic Park, creates a genetically modified hybrid dinosaur, the Indominus Rex, which escapes containment and goes on a killing spree.
 

Crime: Sicario (2015)
An idealistic FBI agent (Emily Blunt) is enlisted by a government task force to aid in the escalating wat against drugs at the border area between the U.S. and Mexico.
 

Thriller: Death Sentence (2007)
Nick Hume (Kevin Bacon) is a mild-mannered executive with a perfect life, util one gruesome night he witnesses something that changes him forever. Transformed by grief, Hume eventually comes to the disturbing conclusion that no length is too great when protecting his family.
 

Documentary: Night Stalker (2021)
This documentary tells the true story of how one of the most notorious serial killers in American history was hunted down and brought to justice.
 

Family: Zathura (2005)
Two young brothers (Jonah Bobo, Josh Hutcherson) are drawn into an intergalactic adventure when their house is hurled through the depths of space by the magical board game they are playing.
 

Marry, Kiss, Cliff - Round 11

Andy Stitzer (“The 40 Year Old Virgin”), Mark (“Love Actually”) and Spock (“Star Trek”)

Marry: Mark is such a sweet guy, who knows how to sweep a girl off her feet. I think he would make a loving and caring husband. (And if a zombie apocalypse would start, he would easily kill them. Yes, that’s the same guy!)

Kiss: Andy Stitzer is the sweetest guy ever. I would easily marry him too, but I most definitely don’t want to push him off a cliff. So I would kiss him instead, because this guy has had all the bad luck one man can handle.

Cliff: Spock is way too serious for me and his haircut is just a no-no!

Top 5 Thursday: Comedies from the 2000s

It’s time for the 2000s and this decades best comedies. Comedy is different here, but not bad at all. Here are my favorite laughs of the 2000s.

5. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

Not that popular when it came out, but it reached a cult status later on. It even got a sequel. That wasn’t as good, but “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” is hilarious. It’s silly, but maybe that’s why I like it so much.

 

 

4. The 40-Year Old Virgin

This movie put Steve Carrel on the map (beside “The Office” off course). His portrayal of virgin Andy is so endearing and you can’t help but like the guy.

 

 

3. Old School

Somehow Will Ferrell always makes me laugh, he is such a funny actor. And his character of Frank the Tank is the best thing about “Old School”. Him singing ‘Dust in the Wind’ or doing gymnastics, if that doesn’t make you laugh.

 

 

2. Shaun of the Dead

It’s a horror comedy and it’s hilarious. “You got red on you”. Edgar Wright directs and Simon Pegg and Nick Frost star in this amazing comedy. Can’t get enough of it.

 

 

1. Hot Fuzz

Off course this is my number one. I stated my love for this movie (and the trio Wright-Pegg-Frost) so many times. It’s actually in my top 10 of all-time favorite movies. It doesn’t get funnier than this.

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Superbad, Meet the Parents, Knocked Up, Wedding Crashers

Top 5 Thursday: Movie Characters That are Impossible to Hate

In almost every movie there is this one character you like the most. That might not be the same for everyone. But these movie characters are probably loved by all viewers, because it's almost impossible to hate them. Here they are.

5. Buddy from “Elf”
Although many people think he’s crazy for telling everyone he’s a real elf, I can’t hate this guy. He’s such a sweet character.

4. Vern Tessio from “Stand By Me”
He might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but he is a great kid and friend. And he has the word loveable written all over him.

3. Amélie Poulain from “Amélie”
Amélie is filled with good deeds. She is the ultimate romantic and a person who takes the term ‘random act of kindness’ very seriously.

2. Andy Stitzer from “The 40-Year Old Virgin”
Andy is the nicest man ever, with a lot of hobbies, friendly to everyone but just very shy when it comes to women. During the movie you can’t help it to root for Andy and sometimes feel very sorry for him whenever he gets into a very painful situation.

1. Marge Gunderson from “Fargo”
She’s a kind cop and very pregnant. But she doesn’t shy away from dangerous situations. Marge is just kick-ass!

They Almost Made the Top 5: Dr. Emmett Brown from “Back to the Future”, Danny Butterman “Hot Fuzz”, Adam Lerner from “50/ 50”

Movie Moments: "The 40 Year-Old Virgin

This movie is so funny and we can thank Steve Carell for that. I don’t think anyone else could have done a better job. Here are my favorite moments from “The 40 Year-Old Virgin”.

Moment # 1: Meet Andy
We meet Andy, who wakes up with a huge boner. He starts working out, making breakfast, talking to his elderly neighbors. Andy is a nice guy with absolutely no social life.

Moment # 2: The guys find out
Andy is invited to a pokergame with his co-worker from Smart Tech. They start talking about sex and when they ask Andy about his sex adventures, they find out he’s still a virgin.

Moment # 3: Andy’s fulfilling life
Andy tries to explain to Dave why he doesn’t need to get laid. He has a very fulfilling life. We see him playing the tuba, painting miniatures, playing videogams, singing karaoke and reading comic books.

Moment # 4: Andy and the drunk lady
Andy picked up a woman in a bar. She had a little to much to drink, but she drives Andy anyway. Seems that she is a very reckless driver and a bit crazy too.

Moment # 5: Waxing
Jay advices Andy to get his chest waxed, so Jay, Dave and Cal join him when Andy goes to a waxing salon. And it hurts like hell.

Moment # 6: Condoms
Andy went on a date with Trish and they end up in her bed. When Trish is going to the bathroom Andy has to put on a condom, but he has no idea how to use them. He uses a lot of them, but it doesn’t work out. And then Trish’ daughter walks in.

Moment # 7: Health clinic
Andy takes Trish’ daughter Marla to a health clinic, to learn about birth control. He sees a model of a vagina and when he picks it up it falls apart and he can’t put it together anymore.

Moment # 8: Heat of the moment
Andy and Trish had a fight and she gets in her car and drives off. Andy follows her on his bike, but Trish is to fast. He takes a shortcut, but when a huge billboard pops out of nowhere he flies trough it.

Moment # 9: Hair medley
After Andy’s big moment, all the characters start singing a medley from the musical Hair.



Favorite Moment: : Moment# 5: Waxing

In the Picture: The Characters from "The 40 Year Old Virgin"

I recently rewatched "The 40 Year Old Virgin" and I decided to give all the characters some individual attention.

Andy Stitzer
Played by: Steve Carell
Andy is 40 years old and still a virgin. He is involuntarily celibate. Andy lives alone and is somewhat childlike. He collects action figures and plays videogames. But Andy is a very kind, shy and loveable man.

David
Played by: Paul Rudd
David is Andy’s co-worker. He really wants a serious relationship, but he is still hung up on his ex-girlfriend. It’s almost disturbing.

Cal
Played by: Seth Rogen
Cal also works at SmartTech and has a perverted sense of humor. He talks about sex a lot, many forms of it.

Jay
Played by: Romany Malco
Another co-worker of Andy. He’s the only one in a serious relationship of the SmartTech group. But he’s whipped. Jay is not aloud to do anything, he’s kinda her bitch.

Trish
Played by: Catherine Keener
Trish is a storeowner across the street of Andy’s work. They hit it of immediately and Andy goes on a date with her. She is really nice and is seriously interested in Andy.

Paula
Played by: Jane Lynch
Paula is the storemanager of SmartTech. She should actually be sued for sexual harassment, because she makes sexual remarks to her colleagues all the time. She even wants to be Andy’s sexbuddy. Strange woman.

Beth
Played by: Elizabeth Banks
Beth is a woman Andy meets at a bookstore, where she works. She seems interested in Andy and she would be perfect for Andy to finally lose his virginity. But Beth’s a bit crazy.

Favorite Character: Andy Stitzer

Me & 3 Catherine Keener Movies

I announced it earlier this week, a new movie item. The first one is with three movies starring Catherine Keener, a fantastic actress that I think deserves more credit.

The 40 Year-Old Virgin
Genre: Comedy
Year: 2005
Director: Judd Apatow
Cast: Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Leslie Mann, Jane Lynch
Description: Goaded by his buddies, the nerdy Andy (Steve Carell) who's never "done the deed" only finds the pressure mounting when he meets a single mother.
Opinion: A great comedy with a very likeable leading man. Judd Apatow brought it with a lot of integrity though with a lot of humour. You just sympathize with Andy and we have Steve Carell to thank for that.
Favorite character: Andy Stitzer (Steve Carell)
Most memorable quote: “I’m a virgin. I always have been” –Andy-
Best scene: The scene where Andy gets his chest hair waxed.

Where the Wild Things Are
Genre: Adventure/ Drama/ Fantasy
Year: 2009
Director: Spike Jonze
Cast: Max Records, Catherine Keener, Mark Ruffalo, James Gandolfini, Chris Cooper, Catherine O’Hara, Paul Dano, Forest Whitaker Description: Max (Max Records) is a disobedient little boy sent to bed without his supper, creates his own world--a forest inhabited by ferocious wild creatures that crown Max as their ruler.
Opinion: I read it as a kid and now, as a teacher I love reading it to my children. It’s so fantastic to see it come to life, just how it was intended. Heart warming and a little tear in the end.
Favorite character: Alexander (Paul Dano)
Most memorable quote: “I have a sadness shield that keeps out all the sadness, and it’s big enough for all of us.” –Max-
Best scene: Max and the wild things are running through the woods and stop on the edge of a cliff ans start howling like wolves. I just wish I was there with them.

Into the Wild
Genre: Drama
Year: 2007
Ditector: Sean Penn
Cast: Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, Catherine Keener, William Hurt, Vince Vaughn, Jena Malone, Kristen Stewart, Hal Holbrook, Zach Galifianakis
Description: After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch) abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters that shape his life.
Opinion: It’s a wonderful movie, an amazing true story and a great journey. Emile Hirsch hives away a great performance, but I should also credit Hal Holbrook and Catherine Keener for their solid supporting roles. Beautifully filmed and a brilliant soundtrack.
Favorite character: Ron Franz (Hal Holbrook)
Most memorable quote: “The freedom and simple beauty is too good to pass up’ –Christopher McCandles-
Best scene: Chris tells Ron he’s a stubborn old man who just sits on his ass. Ron gets up and climbs the hill with Chris.

Favorite of the 3: “Into the Wild”

Movie Tip #7 - The 40 Year Old Virgin

Director: Judd Apatow

Starring: Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul rudd, Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Leslie Mann, Jane Lynch

Description: Andy (Steve Carell) at the age of 40 still hasn't had sex. He lets his secret slip at a poker game with his buds from work. After the revealing all his friends are on a mission to help get him laid. Along the way Andy meets a nice mom: Trish (Catherine Keener) who fall head over heels for each other.

Review: Judd Apatow made a fantastic comedy with a very likeable leading man. I just love the way Apatow told the story about a 40- year old man who's still a virgin. He brought it with a lot of integrity though with a lot of humour. You just sympathize Andy and we have to thank Steve Carell for that. Some scenes are memorable, like the wax- scene (auch!!!). It's not hilarious, but the humour is very constant. And the Hair songs in the end are worth waiting for... Go see!