MORE...and we're not talking about Michael.
I've fallen behind! What's a girl to do? I'll just start at the most recent viewings and, if necessary, we can back-track from there. Thanks for your patience!
NEW! Miss Pettigrew Lives For a DAY--FABULOUS! Great performances by Frances McDermot and Amy Adams, as well as the entire cast of characters in this sure-to-be happy ending of a delightful film. I highly recommend it! Housel Rating: 9/10
NEW! Definitely, Maybe is a sweet romantic comedy--I was bored after 20 minutes but the film did pick up my interest again. Love, love lost, love gained, and love lost again, and, gained again--it's an adventure story retold by a recently divorced Manhattan dad, played by Van Wilder (you know who I mean) to his daughter, played by the charming young actress who stole Little Miss Sunshine from the more seasoned actors "starring" in that film. Charming, mostly. I will say this, the film had better writing than more than 90% of the films from the same genre launched in the last five years, heck, the last decade. Housel Rating: 8/10
NEW DVD! HOT ROD, the step-brother of Super Bad, had a heart afterall. Sure, you have to watch the hilarious hijinks of a group of Napoleon-Dynamite-esque townies who widdle away their days performing live stunts, all in the memory of the protagonist's supposed stunt-man father, who, sadly, dies--but thankfully, before the audience gets involved. There is an endearing sub-plot which later becomes the focus, between the protagonist and his step-father--touching moments involving grueling, often brutal, wrestling scenes--but still, endearing. ;) I liked it. Better than Superbad by super-far. I'd recommend you see it if you haven't. It's worth paying Blockbuster or Netflix the $3-$4 price of admission.
Housel Rating: 9/10
The Golden Compass, an adaptation from a novel of the same name by Philip Pullman, was fantabulous! I was enthralled, enchanted, empowered, enlightened, AND entertained! Steep work for a two-hour film. Daniel Craig is terrific, as is his fellow Aussie, Nicole Kidman. The young actress who plays the lead role of Lyra really steals the show though! Housel Rating 10/10!
Super Bad is as the name promises: super-bad! Now, now, take heart you young men between 17 and 27, it is very funny and does portray the classic loser-guy-in-high-school thing well, especially through the character of Seth. However, the real Seth of Knocked Up! and Forty-year Old Virgin fame, who co-wrote the film, seems to be aiming to change his own personal history in this overly-stereotypical, completely sexist, cliche film. Still a pop culture must see--these guys are in it for the long haul. Check out the sneak peek of the Pineapple flick under Special Features. Great Gag Reel moments, too.
Housel Rating: 7/10
Feast of Love, based on the novel by Charlie Baxter of the same name, was mui delicioso! See it, read it, get everything you can from this well-played film and well-written novel--both of which seem to be exceedingly rare these days...wouldn't you agree? I knew you would! (I love one-sided conversations--good for the ego!) Housel Rating: 10/10!
The Bourne Ultimatum: Boston-boy Matt Damon has done it again! Jason Bourne returned to the silver screen, not unlike the Silver Surfer (though he's from a completely different Marvel-verse), with his head stirring like a big bowl of alpha-bet soup. Remembering things is no longer a problem for Bourne but keeping a woman is still a tough one.... The dizzying cinematography and Live Free or DieHard(er)-like cliche action aside, the film had big screen value for the dollars spent on seeing it. Housel Rating: 8/10
Waitress was superb! The writing, the casting, the everything! If only there were MORE films like it! I wouldn't mind paying ten bucks to sit in a dingy theatre, eating stale popcorn, and sitting next to the loneliest guy on earth, who's lonely because he hasn't exactly showered in oh, I'd say at least a week or so. It was GREAT, and better still, made me want pie! Housel Rating: 10/10!!!
Underdog--how could we not see it? You knew it would be sub-par, but the allusion to the beloved animated series of times past was worth the price of admission. I took my two nephews, 8 and 5, and they loved it. Frankly, I kinda liked it, too. But I did check my watch every 20 minutes--so I'd say that a fair rating is 6/10. If you're under age 10, maybe 8/10.
Grindhouse (the original 3-hour version): What's not to like?!?! I was chagrined and deeply saddened when Tarantino/Rodriguez fans did not support their peeps, forcing the once-dynamic duo to split the films into two separate entities, which makes no sense, because it would be like cutting off your own head--oops, that's not a reference to Deathproof.... :) I LOVED this film as a single entity--the intermissions were priceless--the best nod to our popular culture I've seen in years. Hold your pee! If you can sit through LOTR flicks three times, you can sit through this wonderful, kitschy, future classic that is sure to be as iconic as Monty Python and the Holy Grail. So there! Housel Rating: 10/10, and I won't apologize for it--I won't, I won't, I won't!!!
Spoiled rants aside, has anyone seen Jane, I mean, Becoming Jane. It's a lovely flick--good for date nights but without the romantic, Mr. Darcy ending. If you're a fan of Ms. Austen, please do see this movie. Housel Rating: 8.5/10