100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 7: Be Kind Rewind

Director: Michel Gondry

Genre: Comedy

Runtime: 98 minutes

Year: 2008

Starring: Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover, Mia Farrow, Melonie Diaz, Sigourney Weaver

Description: Two bumbling store clerks (Jack Black, Mos Def) inadvertently erase the footage from all of the tapes in their video rental store. In order to keep the business running, they re-shoot every film in the store with their own camera, with a budget of zero dollars.

Review: ‘Be Kind, Rewind’, today’s kids don’t even know what that means anymore. The time before movies appeared on shiny discs but were sold on big, black rectangle VHS tapes. And when the person before you didn’t rewind the film, it was very frustrating. The store in “Be Kind Rewind” only sells VHS tapes and off course that’s hopelessly old fashioned. But this is a fun film for people with big imaginations.

Jack Black plays Jerry and believes the factory next door brainwashes people. When he unsuccessfully tries to sabotage it, he gets magnetized. This causes for every VHS tape to erase in the store that his friend Mike works at. Mike is responsible for the store after his boss left in order to save the store. One of their regular costumers really wants to see “Ghostbusters” on video, not DVD. Jerry and Mike decide to recreate the film themselves and it’s such a success that many other movies follow.

It’s very clear that director Michel Gondry had loads of fun making “Be Kind Rewind”. The cheap ways to recreate expensive special effects of some of our favorite movies. Those are the most fun parts of the film, when they are shooting the movies. Sometimes hilarious. And for someone who is creative herself, I can appreciate the creativity behind it all.

Jack Black is very typical Jack Black, Melonie Diaz doesn’t really get much to do and Mos Def is okay. So don’t see this for the acting. This film was made with love and enthusiasm and is very enjoyable.

Rating: 3/ 5

Movie Trailer Sunday (221)

Here are this week's trailers.

Tumbledown

Description: A young woman (Rebecca HallO struggles to move on with her life after the death of her husband, an acclaimed folk singer, when a brash New York writer (Jason Sudeikis) forces her to confront her loss and the ambiguous circumstances of his death.

Director: Sean Memshaw

Starring: Rebecca Hall, Jason Sudeikis, Dianna Agron, Joe Manganiello, Blythe Danner

Trailer: Trailer "Tumbledown"

Comment: A couple I wouldn't pair up, but it looks like they're hitting it off.

Elvis & Nixon

Description: The untold true story behind the meeting between the King of Rock 'n Roll (Michael Shannon) and President Nixon (Kevin Spacey), resulting in this revealing, yet humorous moment immortalized in the most requested photograph in the National Archives.

Director: Liza Johnson

Starring: Kevin Spacey, Michael Shannon, Colin Hanks, Alex Pettyfer, Johnny Knoxville, Tate Donovan, Ashley Benson

Trailer: Trailer "Elvis & Nixon"

Comment: The story behind the photo.

The Conjuring 2

Description: Lorraine and Ed Warren (Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson) travel to north London to help a single mother raising four children alone in a house plagued by malicious spirits.

Director: James Wan

Starring: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Frances O'Connor, SImon McBurney

Trailer: Trailer "The Conjuring 2"

Comment: The first one freaked me out and was really good. Does it need a sequel? Maybe it's good, it has the same director.

Colonia

Description: A young woman's (Emma Watson) desperate search for her abducted boyfriend (Daniel Brühl) that draws her into the infamous Colonia Dignidad, a sect nobody ever escaped from.

Director: Florian Gallenberger

Starring: Emma Watson, Daniel Brühl, Michael Nyqvist

Trailer: Trailer "Colonia"

Comment: I'm really looking forward to this.

Free State of Jones

Description: As civil war divides the nation, a poor farmer (Matthew McConaughey) from Mississippi leads a group of rebels against the Confederate army.

Director: Gary Ross

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Keri Russell, Sean Bridgers

Trailer: Trailer "Free State of Jones"

Comment: Alright....

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 6: Sideways

Director: Alexander Payne

Genre: Drama/ Comedy

Runtime: 124 minutes

Year: 2004

Starring: Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh

Description: Two men reaching middle age (Paul Giamattis, Thomas Hade Church) with not much to show but disappointment, embark on a week long road trip through California's wine country, just as one is about to take a trip down the aisle.

Review: When “Sideways” is released, director Alexander Payne is relatively unknown in Hollywood. He has made praiseworthy films “About Schmidt” and “Election”. “Sideways” is a great follow up. We follow two friends who spend a week in the Californian wine area. It’s a very simple set up, which results and a realistic and convincing film.

Jack is about to get married and takes his buddy Miles on a trip to the Californian wine area. It is his last week as a ‘free man’ and Jack takes that very seriously. The two are very different. Jack is an actor, mostly for commercials, a ladies man and someone who enjoys life to the fullest. Miles is a depressed newly divorced failed writer, who spends his days teaching English and enjoying wine.

As a real wine expert Miles wants to teach Jack to enjoy the perfect Pinot or Cabernet and protects him from cheap Merlot. Miles has it all planned out: a week of wine tasting, fine dining, a little golf and enjoying the nice weather. Off course the weekend goes a little different as planned, because Jack has set a goal to find a nice girl to have some fun with. And he wants Miles to do the same. They meet Maya and her friend Stephanie, both wine lovers as well. Jack and Stephanie have an instant connection, but Miles and Maya’s bond is of a different caliber.

“Sideways” is a beautiful drama, but also a delightful comedy. The balance between these two genres is perfect and none of it is overdone. A film that manages to make you feel for and with the characters for over two hours and you share their happiness and pain. “Sideways” is an endearing and honest film. Because the main characters are people you can relate to, so we’re all rooting for a happy ending. Director Payne manages to avoid certain clichés.

Paul Giamatti is great in “Sideways”. You just want to hug his character and tell him everything is going to be okay. Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh all perform very well.

“Sideways” is in a way a coming of age film, but then with men that are a little bit older. A definite must see.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: Movie Characters of 2015

Although we already a week in 2016, I still wanted to look back on all the awesome movie characters the year 2015 gave us. Here are my five favorites.

5. Rick Ford (Jason Statham in “Spy”)

We all know now that Jason Statham isn’t just an action hero and that he can also be funny. In “Spy” he takes it to another level. He is hilarious and he is the best part of “Spy”.

 

 

4. Baymax (Scott Adsit in “Big Hero 6”)

Disney’s new star, Baymax was the best element of “Big Hero 6”. A perfect combo of best friend, doctor and warrior machine. Fist bump!

 

 

3. Mark Watney (Matt Damon in “The Martian”)

Matt Damon’s enormously likeable Mark Watney has no option but to get on with things. This is exactly the role that shows us why Damon is such a good actor and why we love him too.

 

 

2. Rey (Daisy Ridley in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”)

What a great new character in the “Star Wars” universe. I loved her from the start and I loved everything about her character.

 

 

1. Furiosa (Charlize Theron in “Mad Max: Fury Road”)

Talking about a strong female character. Charlize Theron kicks ass as Furiosa and “Mad Max: Fury Road” is actually her movie, she dominated the film.

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson in “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation”), Ava (Alicia Vikander in “Ex Machina”), Sadness (Phyllis Lapin in “Inside Out”), Harry Hart (Colin Firth in “Kingsman: The Secret Service”), Riggan Thompson (Michael Keaton in “Birdman”)

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 5: He Knows You're Alone

Director: Armand Mastroianni

Genre: Thriller/ Horror

Runtime: 94 minutes

Year: 1980

Starring: Caitlyn O’Heaney, Don Scardino, Elizabeth Kemp, Tom Hanks, Paul Gleason, James Rebhorn, Patsy Pease, Dana Barron

Description: A young bride-to-be is being stalked upon by a serial killer. She gets help from a former lover, but will they manage to escape?

Review: A man killing brides. That’s all you need to know, because that’s all there is to it. Add some uninteresting characters and scenes that have nothing to do with the plot and you have “He Knows You’re Alone”.

Amy is about to get married and her husband to be is going off to an all guys weekend. Amy starts seeing this guy, a guy that seems to be following her. Nobody believes her and say she is just imagining it.

This is just one of those 80s slasher films, fun to watch but not a lot more. It has Tom Hanks in it, in his first ever role. Only a few scenes though.

If you like 80s slasher pulp it’s a fun time, but also forgettable. It will only be remember as Tom Hanks’ first movie.

Rating: 2/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 4: Gravity

Director: Alfonso Cuarón

Genre: Drama/ Thriller

Runtime: 90 minutes

Year: 2013

Starring: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris

Description: A medical engineer (Sandra Bullock) and an astronaut (George Clooney) work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space.

Review: It’s simple: people who end up in a hostile environment with only their own perseverance and the will to survive. It has been done many times. Director Alfonso Cuarón takes it a step further: space. Medical engineer Ryan Stone and astronaut Matt Kowalski have to rely on themselves and each other when they are the only two survivors after their shuttle is destroyed. Without any contact with Earth, they only have each other and the chances of them being saved are minimal.

Over four years it took Cuarón to finish this project and it shows. “Gravity” looks amazing, breathtaking. Not only the visuals of our planet, but the fantastic camera work. Long shots, the opening scene alone takes about fifteen minutes. The camera floats graciously in space and shows us planet Earth and the characters. The way it was filmed, makes you feel you’re weightless. This is one of those films where 3D really adds something extra.

Cuarón pictures space realistically. It’s obvious he paid attention to every detail and what I found the most interesting is the absence of sound. The only sounds you hear are the voices of Stone and Kowalski talking over the radio or their voices muted due to their suits. The silence is scary. From the moment the two astronauts are told to abort their mission, you’re on the edge of your seat.

Sandra Bullock and George Clooney are both very good. There is a huge contrast between the two. Bullock’s Ryan Stone isn’t as comfortable in space as Clooney’s Matt Kowalski. The interaction between the two is sincere. This makes “Gravity” not just a technically difficult film.

“Gravity” is a great move experience.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 3: Wreck-It Ralph

Director: Rich Moore

Genre: Animation/ Comedy/ Family

Runtime: 92 minutes

Year: 2012

Starring: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, jane Lynch, Adam Carolla, Alan Tudyk, Mindy Kaling, Ed O’Neill, Dennis Haysbert, Horation Sanz, Rachael Harris, Skrillex

Description: A video game villain (John C. Reilly) wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives.

Review: Fix-It Felix Jr. is a computer game in an arcade hall. In this game Ralph has to wreck an apartment building every single day. Felix, the hero of the game, has to fix it all. Ralph is the villain in this game. He actually wants to become a hero and he has to win a medal for that. Ralph does something he is not allowed to do: he enters a different video game. He meets many new characters and befriends another outsider: Vanellope. What Ralph doesn’t know is that because of his absence, his game is in danger.

“Wreck-It Ralph” is a party for every gamer. Lots of references from famous games and heroes. Like when Ryu and Ken from Streetfighter II decide to go out for a drink after a long day of work in the arcade classic Tapper. And Q-Bert, Pac-Man and Sonic pass by as well. There were different styles used for this film. From 8-bit figures to a more realistic style of a ‘first person shooter’. It works and is recognizable. And there is a lot of humor too.

Off course there is also an emotional aspect. The friendship between Ralph and Vanellope is just adorable, believable and touching. And the moral is something we can all relate to.

“Wreck-It Ralph” has a good combination of action, tension, humor and heart. A fun Disney film.

Rating: 4/ 5