It’s the time of year when it’s too cold/snowy/icy to spend any time outdoors and that makes it the perfect time of year to go to the movies. I’ve seen 5 movies in the last 3 weeks. I think that’s a new record for me. I already told you about Valkyrie and Doubt. Now I’ll tell you about the other three.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
This was great! Brad Pitt is a complete hunka hunka and Cate Blanchett is gorgeous and a wonderful actress. The story is unbelievable, of course, but that’s what makes it so good. This is really one of those all-encompassing movies – the kind where it takes you a while to come back down to earth after you leave the theater. I loved it and would definitely recommend it.
Slumdog Millionaire
Of all the movies I’ve seen these last few weeks this is the one I have thought about the most. It’s uplifting and original and really really good. I thought the subtitles would be annoying but they aren’t at all, some of the movie is in English, in fact. The actors are great and the fact that they are “unknown” makes the movie even more enjoyable. If you go see only one of the movies I have recommended make it be this one.
Revolutionary Road
This was really good but sort of depressing. Or maybe bleak is a better word. The portrayal of life in the suburbs in the 1950s is very good and the set details are terrific. The acting is fantastic and the despair and hopelessness the characters feel is completely believable. You won’t leave the theater feeling uplifted but you will know you’ve seen a great film.
I still want to see Milk, Frost/Nixon and Defiance. How about you? Seen any good movies lately?
I wish I could get myself to the movies. I’d like to see Slumdog and Grand Torino.
Defiance is on the top of my list. Also, I am looking forward to seeing slumdog millionaire.
Milk is amazing – Sean Penn deserves some award for sure.
I have been too cold to even go to the movies, but my daughter wants to go see that silly movie Bride Wars. Looks funny. Maybe we will venture out this weekend…
I haven’t been to the movies recently. I have been doing a lot of reading though. I just finished The Time Travelers Wife and really enjoyed it.
I loved Benjamin Button. I’m still thinking about it.
Jon will probably go see Gran Torino and Frost/Nixon with me but I know I’ll be on my own for the others you have listed…which I want to see very much!!
“Defiance” is in the queue when it gets into general release. It’s hard to get out of the house due to presence of 94 year old Grammie – we have to hire a “sitter.” I will confess to seeing “Marley” with my daughter last weekend – it’s true to the book. Meaning in the end, everyone in the theater is sniffling at least a little bit. We liked it.
Thanks for the recommendations. We see old films. Just saw Mr. Klein, a movie about identity and the occupation of Paris.
The last “new ” movie I saw was “Traitor”, which I found riveting. More thinking than action, but the finish left me breathless because of the tension. I have been staying inside with old favorites like “Master and Commander”, “Hunt for Red October” and “Troy” (just for Brad, of course. Also got out the old favorite books, like “Adam Bede” and “Pride and Prejudice”.
Saw Slumdog a few weeks ago. Brilliant. I really recommend Milk. My honey & I saw Milk last Friday..truly amazing performance. I think it solidly puts Sean Penn in the “great actors of our time” category. It brought back some wierd childhood memories in my case, having grown up in the area. (My great uncle lived in Dan White’s precinct, & I remember the wierdness. Pretty sure that I have been in the church they show as well.)
it’s been so very long since I went to the movies.
I’m enjoying your reviews though.
Thanks for the mini-reviews. We recently saw “Man on Wire” about Philippe Petit. the aerialist who balanced between the World Trade Center Towers. It was amazing. Really worth seeing and finding out how he did it!
Slumdog Millionaire left me sad–good movie, colorful imagery and great soundtrack, but sad. I know I’m almost alone, everyone else thinks it’s uplifting. I don’t want to be a spoiler so I’ll only say the circumstances under which the story unfolds took away the uplift for me. OTOH Milk left me feeling uplifted even though you knew how it ends. Sean Penn=amazing.
Just finished reading Revolutionary Road. Fab. Would love to see it in a theater but those babysitting fees keep me in dvd rentals!
I have not actually gone to the movies in a very long time. Most recently I saw Wall-E on DVD; nice little flick, but it didn’t grab me as it did Grant and a lot of other people.
For some odd reason it seems to be much harder to make a really good comedy than a really good drama, and the most depressing ones often seem to be the best. I’m not big on downer movies or fiction, as I find reality quite sobering enough. I like upbeat love stories, Horatio Alger tales and happy endings, no matter how contrived or improbable.
I’m sorry, but Brad Pitt is no Dale.
I’ve seen Slumdog and Revolutionary Road, and agree with you on those. My favorite was definitely Slumdog.
I’ve also seen Defiance, and thought it was very good, and well acted.
I love Cookie’s comment!
I can’t remember the last movie I saw in the theater. It might have been Wall-E with my daughter and her friends/families.
I hoped to get out last weekend to see Benjamin Button, but it didn’t happen. Maybe this weekend! I read Revolutionary Road and I don’t need to see the movie, no thank you. Too bleak for me, esp this bleak time of year. There is an article on Slate that discusses another Richard Yates novel that they thought was better: Easter Parade. I might try to dig that up.
Thanks for the reviews!
defiance, valkyrie, gran torino, benjamin button, and i wanted to see seven pounds but as this is it’s last night in the theater, i’ll have to wait till it’s out on DVD. our theater plays very random films sometimes – after a slew of them this summer i’ve forgotten to check the listings quite so often and missed some good ones. at least there’s netflix 🙂
Friends of mine recommended Slumdog vociferously. I might just have to go see it (I never go to the movies) or at least get it when it comes out on dvd.
I’d like to see Gran Torino. My son told me it would probably make me cry. I’d like to see Slumdog Millionaire but I don’t think it’s playing here.
I may go to see Milk tomorrow. I have also heard that Doubt is wonderful.
I saw Grand Torino andit was great. Next are Defiance and The Reader
I saw The Reader last night and I’m speechless. It was a hard, painful movie and worth every penny. Highly recommend it!!!! Kate Winslet is breath-taking in her raw-ness.
We don’t really do movies at the theater anymore but I’m appreciating your reviews and taking notes for my Netflix queue! ;o) Right now we have Dutchess and I can’t wait to see it but I have to finish the book first…
i cried the whole way through benjamin button. i LOVED it. i didn’t want to see it at first because i don’t care very much for brad pitt, but i’m so glad i did. i adore cate blanchett. slumdog millionaire and revolutionary road are on my list of must-see movies as well!
I saw Milk and Doubt this week. Milk was amazing – Sean Penn really is a good actor – who would have guessed after Fast Times? Doubt was not so good. I almost walked out in the beginning. It definitely was obviously a play first, because the characters were very one-dimensional and the sets were too. I have no interest in Brad Pitt, so I won’t be seeing his movies anytime soon.
like you I loved Slumdog! Wonderful movie – I want everyone to see it.
Defiance is on my to see list – especially since my son will want to go with me.