January Popcorn Flicks To Enjoy!

Here we are again, it’s a new year – 2022, so did you make any New Years Resolutions or are you more just aiming to go with the flow?  Personally, I prefer to take off that extra layer of guilt and pressure and just BE.  

We lost plenty more amazing people in the entertainment industry as the ball dropped to welcome 2022. Comedian, Bob Saget, actress and human/fur-itarian Betty White, iconic Sidney Poitier, and a deep sigh, operatic legend, Marvin (also Michael) Lee Aday, aka Meat Loaf.   However, it’s inevitable. Life does not go on forever, but they will surely remain in our hearts.  I’ll be playing the Bat Outta Hell albums, a hell of a lot today. 

Here are a few movies you may want to check out, as we head into some chilly wintery temperatures! 

West Side Story  I absolutely love musicals and so I was quite interested in seeing the Spielberg version of West Side Story that just came out recently.  It didn’t disappoint at all. 

The cinematography by Janusz Kamiński was stunning. The look of the film was beautiful, utilizing different light and shadow techniques. It brought a really ominous feel to the fighting scenes. The choreography was perfect and I loved how they did the song “America” and "Gee, Officer Krupke"  Also the vocal performances were beautifully sung.

“Cool” which is just naturally a really umm...cool song to begin with was envisioned in a completely new, taking place before the rumble, which was an unexpected surprise, but worked well. 

Maria, played by American/Columbian actress, Rachel Zegler and Tony, played by Ansel Elgort (who I may add was phenomenal in Baby Driver) was an interesting pairing. I didn’t feel the love connection right away, but as the movie went on, I could sense a bit more of the romance blooming.  Still...I hate to bring up the original again, BUT the casting of Tony, played by Richard Beymer and Maria, played by actress, Natalie Wood, personally did it for me. Their chemistry exploded on screen. It felt so natural. I believed they were madly in love. 

The only other issues I really had were the placement of “I Feel Pretty” as I didn’t like where it was used in the film. It felt odd.  

Also, the assault scene with Anita was much weaker than expected. I had braced myself for more of a punch (metaphorically speaking) with emotional intensity. I felt like something was being held back throughout the entire scene.

Oh Crappy Day  Written by Jon Lance Bacon and produced by Steven P. Neilson, this is one independent film that I absolutely loved watching.  It hit home on so many levels.

There are many ways that mental health disorders are portrayed in movies and so a fair warning that if you do deal with OCD – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or anything else that is mentioned in the film (I don’t want to really give all that away), this may not be how you are, or it might resonate with you deeply.  

Dating is difficult enough and so searching for love when you are dealing with OCD is even more of a challenge.   We meet Jared, played by Jordan Estes, who is an aspiring film maker. We watch his struggles, his small feats and all the awkward interactions along the way, as there are many!

So things begin to change when he is encouraged to meet a very spirited woman; Katie, played by Jess Barbour, who is looking to meet someone and once disclosed of his rather extreme condition, she’s rather accepting, yet has some secrets to share, but with great hesitancy. This is when the movie just takes off and our hearts are just rooting for them both the whole way, even if they don’t end up together.

I felt so connected to Jared and Katie, both in their dating explorations together, and apart as separate characters. I love the nuanced moments mixed with humour. The acting had a sincerity to it and I just loved the entire film from start to finish.  

The Woman In Red This one was absolutely ridiculous, yet who doesn't love watching Gene Wilder? Sworn that he would never have an affair, Teddy (played by Gene Wilder) becomes absolutely bewitched by a beautiful model (played by Kelly Labrock) that he sees and starts to fantasize about.   This obsession leads to all sorts of schemes that go terribly yet hilariously wrong. Gilda Radner is in this one too, and although her role is small, she gives a great comedic performance.

Bull Durham Definitely a home-run! I haven't seen this in ages. Although the subject is baseball, still well-known today as America’s Pastime, it is far more than that. It’s about everything that goes on off the field, which is the most captivating part when you get such a great cast together. There’s plenty of romance, humour and spirit.  Kevin Costner and Susan Sarandon are sizzling together on-screen.  There is also such a genuine friendship between Nuke, played by Tim Robbins and Crash (Costner). Definitely check out the fantastic soundtrack too.  

💜Drop me a note in the comments, or send me an email using my webform on the side and let me know what you've been watching!

Summer Movie Buffet: Pick and Choose

I hope everyone has been enjoying the summer. Restrictions have started to lift a bit more here in our area of Windsor-Essex County, which has allowed for enjoyment outside the walls of the home. 

Although I haven’t been able to blog as frequently about all the inspiring, strange, and sometimes perplexing flicks that we’ve watched. I’ve tried to compile a bunch of films and a few documentaries with a few special mentions that will probably throw you for a loop. 

Of course, these are not hot new releases, everything is from Tubi and Roku, which we access through our Smart Tv's. You can also access on your chosen movie subscription service as well.

Also, if you are looking for some snacks, try out these Dare planted-based gummies. They are SO good and ideal for movie watching nights. :) 

5 Movies You May Want to Check Out...

Dead End Drive-In I have to say the cover here reminded me of a more mature Robert Pattinson from Twilight (without the sparkles) and a bit of Brandon Lee from the cult classic, The Crow. Also, this eerily looks like a guy I met online who refused to visit me during the daylight hours, but I digress.

Dead-End Drive-In screams Mad Max at the start, but then trails off into survival of the strangest. When two teenagers go to a drive-in, they are faced with not only sudden car troubles, but the reality that they won’t be driving-out any time soon. The main character is named “Crabs” so there’s that. 

The charm of this 80's post-apocalyptic and exploitation flick though is the fact that it’s a low budget Aussie film that has wildly eccentric characters and non-stop action. It has some incredible stunts and leaves plenty to talk about after the credits roll.

Speaking of Australian films, next is Starstruck. Musical dreams are quickly teetering in this quirky Australian musical. Set in 1982, you have big hair, bold clothes and a lot of synth! The songs and the choreographed dance sequences are a little odd, but lyrically, something about them just catches on quick and you’ll be singing “I want to live in a house, with my own litter box” soon enough. The acting is at times, a little over-the-top but there is a sweet story underneath it all and that reaffirming message to shoot for the stars and to follow your dreams, no matter what or who may try to stand in your way. I have watched this twice already!

Rewind This!  A detailed and fascinating cultural and historical look into the world of Betamax and its rival; Video Home Systems, or to many people simply VHS. This documentary was really well-done, showing its impact on the film industry, exploring the artistic nostalgia of many genres of vhs tapes, conversations with hard-core collectors, what a physical-free media might look like and an exploration of some titles that you may want to find for sheer pleasure or pain. This doc probably will make you wish that you didn’t convert your obscure vhs films to dvd or will have you hunting down some of these gems (Devil Ant sounds like a real hoot) during your next yard sale excursion.

My Man Godfrey We’re going back to 1936, and what a wonderful movie! The over-exaggeration of the socialite world is shown in the most chaotic scene as the most wealthy battle over a silly scavenger hunt game that shows society’s obsession with more more more! The acting was superb and there is something so classic about how we just fall more in love with “a forgotten man” Godfrey, played by William Powell, as he teaches a lesson to one socialite family that they’ll never forget and neither will we.

The Trip to Spain is the third movie from director, Michael Winterbottom, and has just enough British flair from Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, so if you enjoy British comedy like I do, you should brew a cup of English Breakfast tea and have a watch on the telly. (I said this in my best English accent – although you cannot hear it clearly, but imagine I am).

The Trip and Trip to Italy are the first two, and I would suggest watching those first because the duo are now on their third adventure together, sampling the culinary delights and sights in Spain! The scenery is breath-taking of course, and these movies wouldn’t be right without numerous hilarious impersonations that they tag-team back and forth, playfully trying to out-do each other which makes dinner conversation rather interesting for the guests around them. This one does have a strong deja-vu feel far more often, so that could make or break you finishing off this one. If you don’t try and impersonate Michael Caine though to a friend at some point, I think you’re missing out.

*Note, there is a 4th and final movie, which I have yet to watch “The Trip to Greece.”

42 was based on the story of baseball legend, Jackie Robinson. He was the first African-American major league baseball player, and although the colour of someone’s skin should never have to do anything with a person’s talents or ability to play a sport, back in the 1940’s, segregation was the name of the game, and in full swing. Although we still have a long way to go in our society in 2021, I hope one day we will never have to set our eyes on a White’s Only” sign on a bathroom door.

This movie was heart-breaking yet gushingly hopeful and courageous. You WILL need kleenex. A true home run for Chadwick Boseman and Harrison Ford.

Wiener Dog Shipped into the arms of one person after the next, this cute as a button dachshund touches the lives of many different characters who are struggling in their every day lives. Inevitably, we are hoping for that story-book ending of finding a forever home, but this movie is a dark satire, and so let me caps the word DARK.

I don’t even know what to say, but I thought with the cast this would be a really profound film and I suppose in some scenes it feels like there is a deeper message, especially Danny DeVito’s saddening monologue, but I think I am reaching for any sanity here. There are also scenes where they are so long and drawn out that you think you’re watching a Tarantino movie! Alas all the issues with this film, morbid curiousity will probably have you watch till the bitter end.

💜Have you watched any of these? If so, leave me a comment or send me an email using my form! I'd love to hear your thoughts.