HOP - Seven Psychopaths and Argo

WOOT to a successful hop.  I am a bit delayed in writing this, having done the hop a couple weeks ago now, but I do feel that it is important to stress that my procrastination should in no way affect how you view these films.

SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS - This movie was not what I was expecting, and while that initially threw me through a loop it ended up being a good thing.  Several excellent character-actors made up the cast (including Christopher Walken, Sam Rockwell, and Woody Harrelson), and each of them were allowed the freedom to go full steam ahead embracing their crazy personas.  The film came across as slightly disjointed, but looking back I actually think of that as part of the film itself; the way it is a story commenting on the making of a story.

ARGO - Boom goes the dynamite.  Yes, yes I went there.  This is the best movie I have seen in a long time, and that says a lot coming from me, an admitted Hater of Ben Affleck.  I would avoid movies simply because he was in them, and lament his performance in every movie I did see.  But I think this actor has finally hit his stride... this film is really superb.  A blend of action, thriller, and yes some comedy (thanks Alan Arkin and John Goodman!) the movie covers a this-actually-happened topic with grace and surprising suspense (for a film in which you already know the ending).  Kudos Affleck, I will indeed go see your next movie.

Turn Me On, Dammit!

This film from Norway was not what I expected, in a "why is this so boring" sort of way.  How they managed to turn the premise of this racy indie-like film into something I had to physically hold my eyelids open for is beyond me.  I am struggling at the moment to find something redeeming to say... the actors tried really hard and the shots were borderline beautiful.  Oh, and it had a honest heartfelt message it was trying to get across.

The Switch

Yes, going along with my blog credo I admit to watching this movie.  My excuse is Jason Bateman, I really quite enjoy his sarcasm and witty humor.  But I know I know, that is really no excuse at all to subject oneself to such a terrible romcom, and I know that now.  I have learned my lesson - do not follow me following Bateman off the deep end.  Sometimes you just have to say no.

Looper

I really enjoyed this movie.  Any movie that is so entertaining it distracts me from what should be a relatively predictable end scores high in my book.  Throughout the movie there was a sense of "how is this going to resolve itself" which pushed the pace forward keeping the film moving.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt has been around since the early 90s, but it was not until recently that it seems his movie career has really taken off, and I think he has certainly risen to the occasion.  Emily Blunt, Jeff Daniels and Bruce Willis were also pretty good, but the star was the little boy, five-year-old Pierce Gagnon.  This kid was extraordinary.

Anyway, fun times.  You should watch this movie.  Just don't think too hard about the time travel stuff. That always makes my head hurt...

Matador

Normally I am a fan of Pedro Almodovar's unique take in his films, but this one from 1986 was difficult to decipher... some parts were so ridiculous I couldn't tell if it was supposed to be some sort of joke!  Do I read it on the surface and make excuses like "oh, it's a foreign film" or "oh, it's just super dated" or do I attempt to give Almodovar the benefit of the doubt and assume he is making a deeper comment on the flaws in our society?  hmmm...

A film he did a few years later in 1990 - Tie Me Up!  Tie Me Down! (also starring Antonio Banderas) - was very similar to this one; a bit jumpy and disconnected, and thoroughly sexual.  In my opinion his most outstanding work was one of his recent films, the 2011 The Skin I Live In, which had similar themes and the same leading man, and is a fine example of the evolution of a talented director.

Midnight Express

This film was pretty interesting, made even more so by the fact that it was based on a true story about a young American who gets stuck in the Turkish prison system.  Even more so than emphasizing "drug smuggling is bad", movies like this nail home the point that getting caught doing unlawful things in foreign countries where "law" is a flexible word is a not good situation to be in.

A little disturbing.  A little depressing.  But all-in-all while not as dramatic as I expected, the end was pretty priceless.

In the Cold Light of Day

Bad.  Bad Bad Bad.

Went to see this movie because Henry Cavill is incredibly gorgeous, and that fact is literally the only thing this movie had going for it.  And honestly, as hot as that man is I am not sure it is enough to carry the weight of an entirely awful movie.

Just think of something film related, anything at all.  Got it?
Now yes, I can confidently say that whatever you thought of was dreadfully executed in the making of this movie.  Well, unless you said "Cavill's tight shirts" in which case I would say Well Done Wardrobe Department.