I was going to do another ‘what’s on our televisions‘ post but I realized that I’d have to confess that I’ve only been watching American Idol, Battlestar Galactica, and Survivor for WEEKS now. How . . . lame.
So, how about we dish movie-talk instead? We rarely get out to the theater any more (although I did see Iron Man, which had a Fun Factor of at least eleven) but we rent DVDs on a fairly frequent basis. Here’s what we’ve checked out recently:
Cloverfield. I enjoyed this movie enough to see it in the theater AND rent it, and if you avoided the theater experience because you heard all the camera movement was making people hurl, watching it on your TV is much less disorienting. Totally fun monster movie, with nail-biting moments galore and some truly spectacular special effects. I rarely say this, but the DVD extras are actually worth watching afterwards, just to see what all went into the production.
Juno. You saw this, right? I think everyone saw this. Well, if you somehow missed it, I recommend you go ahead and slap it in your Netflix queue because it’s just as funny, quirky, and heartwarming as everyone says it is.
American Gangster. I knew in the first three minutes of this movie that the pacing was going to be all wrong for me: I found it slow, dull, un-engaging, and way the hell too long. I didn’t care about the characters, I didn’t believe any of the characters, and not even Denzel’s fine-ass self could save this for me.
Gone Baby Gone. Another dud as far as I’m concerned. Maybe it’s that I’ve never liked Casey Affleck, maybe it’s that the storyline was ridiculous, maybe it was the laughable dialogue, either way: BOO.
Michael Clayton. Now, as you may have heard this was supposed to be a good movie, and I was glad to discover that for me it lived up to its reputation. It wasn’t exactly action-packed, but it’s interesting, unfolds nicely, and features a pitch-perfect performance by Mr. Clooney. Two thumbs up!
Lars and the Real Girl. Here’s the little-known title of the bunch, and my absolute favorite. I am not even going to try and describe what this is about, and if you go read the synopsis you will think it sounds downright crazy and maybe pornographic, but I will say that it’s the sweetest, most charming, entirely feel-goodish movie I think I’ve about ever seen. There!
What movies have you been renting lately? Got any must-sees or must-avoids to share?
Oh, my heart HURTS reading your Gone Baby Gone blurb. It was my favorite movie of 2007. But, I am renting Lars and the Real Girl now after enough people have said it’s just THAT GOOD.
She Likes Purple | May 16th, 2008 at 5:59 am
Your rental queue looks like ours! And we just saw Iron Man as well, which I totally loved!!!
I’m sad to hear that American Gangster wasn’t very good. I might still watch it.
While in the store recently, I saw Lars and the Real Girl and knew I totally had to rent it. Next time!
I have Sicko at home right now - I’m a bit behind the times on that one. I’ll probably watch that tonight.
Pam | May 16th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Waitress, Jane Austen Book Club and The Departed were all really good. No Country For Old Men was a huge disappointment.
Oh! And King of Kong was fabulous! But I think you were the one that recommended that here. If so, you were sooo right!
Mia | May 16th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
We disagree on *Gone Baby Gone,* but I loved *Lars,* too. I thought it was going to be one of those hopelessly quirky movies, but it has such lovely things to say about small towns and community support, things that usually get a bad rap in movies.
I was disappointed by Robert Redford’s *Lions for Lambs,* which was as preachy and lecturey as that post-9/11 episode of *The West Wing.*
Leslie | May 16th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I haven’t been renting many movies lately, so I didn’t realize that Lars and the Real Girl was out on dvd yet. I just may have to run to the video store later!
We did, however, watch Dan In Real Life in on demand last week. Between that and last night’s season finale of The Office I am now a little bit in love with Steve Carell.
fairydogmother | May 16th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
We definitely disagree on Cloverfield - gah! I hated it more than I’ve ever hated anything before (and I hated War of the Worlds a lot!). I guess this is ok since up until now, I’ve agreed 100% with everything you’ve said….but really? Cloverfield? It just seemed way too Gen Y, bad acting, too jiggly, icky. (this is why I don’t write a blog - can’t quite get my point across!).
I did like No Country for Old Men. that was good. and Juno was fun.
Am wanting to see that Sarah Marshall movie too. Husband wants to see Ironman. big time.
Sarah | May 16th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
You’ve convinced me to add Lars & The Real Girl to our queue.
Some favorites of ours in the past few months:
Right At Your Door
Enchanted
Once (thank God I saw this before I lost my hearing — the music is fantastic)
A few that were much better than we expected them to be:
Death at a Funeral (We loved it)
Stardust
The Namesake
And one that got rave reviews from critics and we couldn’t stand:
Margot at the Wedding
We did really like Gone Baby Gone, although my husband figured out the ending about halfway through the movie. He’s good at that.
Wendi | May 16th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
We’ve been watching:
The Savages (liked it)
Eagle vs.Shark (pretty good, B-)
Right at Your Door
Cloverfield
28 Weeks Later
I’ve been on an apocalypse kick.
I concur on Lars and American Gangster. I had to laugh at how many times a phone call disrupted Russell Crowe in bed with some babe. Whatev.
sooboo | May 16th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Oh, crushing! I loved Gone Baby Gone and HATED Juno. The snappy dialogue killed me there, ironically. Killed me dead.
I liked the story of American Gangster, but agree on the pacing. Where was it going? Would it end? DEAR GOD LET IT END.
I haven’t seen anything at all lately, so have nothing to contribute except that I can’t stop watching Lost and I’m PISSED PISSED PISSED at The Office finale last night. If they turn Jim and Pam into Ross and Rachel, I will KILL KILL KILL.
jonniker | May 16th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
I did like Gone Baby Gone, in a “what the fuck” kind of way. What I really liked was the moral quesiton it left me with. Which was better? WHICH???
Juno- Loved.
Putting Lars on my que right now…
Marie Green | May 16th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Jonniker: THANK YOU for saying that about The Office - I’ve been pissed about it all day and had to watch the last fifteen minutes twice to make sure I didn’t miss something…gahhhh!
I really recommend the first season of Flight of the Conchords. Quirky, weird and moments of pure genius. Am so jealous b/c I just found out Chiara has seen them perform live. TWICE.
Kim | May 16th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Gone Baby Gone caused my husband and I to get into a really heavy debate about the moral dilemma. I have a thing for sort of hard boiled detective books, so I’d read a lot of Dennis Lehane’s stuff, but not BGB. So, I enjoyed it.
As for other movies, we have seen hardly any with our Netflix subscription, instead we’ve been watching all four seasons of The Wire available on DVD so far. It’s a large time commitment, but it’s an incredible, amazing show. No time for movies, must watch The Wire until we are finished.
MRW | May 19th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
I don’t have a movie recommendation, per say, but you will need a DVD player. So that counts? Right?
I LOVE the show Doctor Who on BBC. The reincarnated series started in 2005 (originally created in the sixties) and I’ve been addicted ever since. The first season starred Christopher Eccleston (http://tinyurl.com/5kwf5r). The following seasons have starred David Tennant who I positively ADORE.
It’s sci fi which I don’t normally enjoy, but I really think you’ll like it. It’s fun, snappy, sometimes dramatic, just… fantastic.
(Also: It’s the only tv series I watch regularly besides Lost, The Office, and Battlestar Galactica)
Taryn | May 19th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
I LOVED Gone Baby Gone. Maybe the dialogue was crappy and sure, it was unbelievable, but I just remember the INTENSE DISCUSSION my husband and I had afterwards, and how we were both on the opposite side of what we should have been/everyone would expect us to be/etc. And I’ve been berating my mother to watch it already, because she worked in the Department of Children & Family Services for almost 20 years and I’m dying to hear her take on it.
BRash | May 21st, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Don’t miss: The Orphanage. I think it was up for Best Foreign Film or something, but more important than any awards it might have won, it’s just plain fantastic. I can’t think of anything else lately that has been this good. (Watched it the same night as Juno, which bugged the crapola out of me.) Get this movie NOW; you won’t be disappointed.
p.s. It’s scary.
Leah | May 22nd, 2008 at 1:12 am