culture is fundamental. Literature saves you. Cinema saves you

I wonder if the AFI or the Academy offer grants to heavy movie watchers? At this rate I will need a subsidy--and a whole lot more storage space!

Wag the Dog (1997) - "Shortly before an election, a spin-doctor and a Hollywood producer join efforts to fabricate a war in order to cover up a Presidential sex scandal."
I watched it because: it might have come recommended, or as a preview on another DVD that I watched? No idea why I bought it, but there it was.
Academy Award nominated:

• Best Actor in a Leading Role--Dustin Hoffman

• Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Published or Produced--Hilary Henkin, David Mamet 

story: 4/5

visuals: 4/5

acting: 5/5--standouts: Denis Leary (Fad King) and Willie Nelson (Johnny Dean)

intangibles: 5/5--smart, silly, relevant, outrageous...

overall: 4.5/5

 

For the Moment (1993) - "The story of airmen training in rural Manitoba in the summer of 1942 to go overseas and become bomber pilots in World War II, as well as the romantic entanglements which overcome them while they contemplate life and love in a world at war."
I watched it because: I'm apparently slowly working my way back through Peter Outerbridge's filmography
story: 4/5
acting: 3.5/5--standout: Christianne Hirt (Lill)
visuals: 5/5
intangibles: 5/5--cinematography (the flight scenes! the explosions!), overall pathos, and just Canada being Canada
overall: 4.375/5. This is a kind of hard movie to watch. Like 1998's The Brylcreem Boys (similar in theme), it has a light face on a dark soul, and sticks with you. It's not the typical Russell Crowe outing, and definitely not an easy couple of hours.

Up (2009) - "Seventy-eight year old Carl Fredricksen travels to Paradise Falls in his home equipped with balloons, inadvertently taking a young stowaway."

I watched it because: I've seen it a couple of times before, and wanted something kind of light and "reliable." I'd forgotten how wrenching it is, and was full-on sobbing (again) within the first 10 minutes.

Academy Award winner:

• Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score--Michael Giacchino 

• Best Animated Feature Film of the Year--Pete Docter Academy Award nominee:

• Best Motion Picture of the Year--Jonas Rivera 

• Best Writing, Original Screenplay--Bob Peterson (screenplay/story), Pete Docter (screenplay/story), Tom McCarthy (story) 

• Best Achievement in Sound Editing--Michael Silvers, Tom Myers 

story: 5/5

acting (i.e. voice acting): 5/5

visuals: 5/5

intangibles: 5/5--any movie that can make me cry every time I see it is a winner.

overall: 5/5

 

The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954) - "Set during the Korean War, a Navy fighter pilot must come to terms with with his own ambivalence towards the war and the fear of having to bomb a set of highly defended bridges. The ending of this grim war drama is all tension."

I watched it because: Grace Kelly. And pretty much any war movie is worth my time.

Academy Award winner: Best Effects, Special Effects 

Academy Award nominee: Best Film Editing--Alma Macrorie 

story: 3/5

acting: 4/5--standout: Mickey Rooney (Mike Forney)

visuals: 5/5

intangibles: 4/5--the aircraft carrier scenes were wonderfully filmed, and everything in Japan was lovely

overall: 4/5

Far from the Madding Crowd (2015) - "In Victorian England, the independent and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene attracts three very different suitors: Gabriel Oak, a sheep farmer; Frank Troy, a reckless Sergeant; and William Boldwood, a prosperous and mature bachelor."
I watched it because: I saw a trailer on YouTube and was intrigued enough to follow up.
[Borrowed it from the library.]
story: 3/5
acting: 5/5--standout: Matthias Schoenaerts (Gabriel Oak)
visuals: 5/5
intangibles: 5/5--period dramas that have been done and done again can be hard to love, but this was wonderful. Fast-paced, tender drama pierced with surprisingly funny moments--and gorgeous scenery.
overall: 4.5/5

Her Tango (2017) - "The story of Her Tango follows Dino, a successful restaurateur. For years, Dino has given everything of himself to make his restaurant a success and to move on from the death of his wife Caroline. After a chance encounter, Dino is drawn to Elena, an elusive tango dancer. While Elena teaches him to dance, Dino discovers that the philosophy of tango is very close to how he dreams of living his life. Filled with the seductive sounds and sights of dance, Her Tango is a film about redemption, seduction and the power of tango."
I watched it because: a very dear friend of mine has a friend named Dino who is in a situation not dissimilar to the main character in this film. When I stumbled across a description of it (God knows how), it struck me, so I sought it out.
[Streamed on Amazon Prime.]
story: 4/5
acting: 4/5--standout: Regen Wilson (Paul)
visuals: 4/5
intangibles: 4/5--I think that "food movies" and "dance movies" can be difficult; each subject tends toward a lot of inside information that the rest of us don't understand, so treatments are either overly facile or too detailed for a layperson. This is just the right mix for both subjects, which is lovely.
overall: 4/5

Here Comes the Boom (2012) - "A high school biology teacher looks to become a successful mixed-martial arts fighter in an effort to raise money to prevent extra-curricular activities from being axed at his cash-strapped school."
I watched it because: I bought a bunch of "modern comedy" DVDs a couple of months ago, as a counter to what was seeming to be an overwhelming catalog of Asian martial arts and dark-dark-dark dramas. This was among them. I knew nothing about it beyond decent reviews and the presence of Salma Hayek, who I love.
story: 5/5
acting: 5/5--standout: Bas Rutten (Niko)
visuals: 4/5
intangibles: 5/5--a truly fun movie that made me bust out laughing more than once and also really got to me. This is one of those films that SO far outdoes its cover.
overall: 4.75/5

[the title quotation is by Léa Seydoux]