We took a break from unpacking our house to see another Marvel-superhero blockbuster movie, Captain America. He was never one of my favorite characters, but the movie was really well done. Another Marvel movie with serious actors: Stanley Tucci and Tommy Lee Jones being the most obvious ones. Hugo Weaving is making a career out of comic/sci-fi/fantasy movies!
This movie and the prior well-done release of Thor bode well for next year's Avengers movie...
A Magic Flute
We saw this performance of a minimalist version of Mozart's The Magic Flute. Titled "A Magic Flute", this version by Peter Brook was stunning: I really enjoyed watching it. It was adapted for piano and singers, with a minimal bamboo stage set: I could swear that the opening notes echoed the music from Lost (is it possible that it's vice versa?).
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
We saw this energetic, happy musical today! Act I was so-so at best, but Act II had some great numbers. I was a bit taken aback that most of the score consisted of non-original music (a lot of Madonna songs) in Act I: but it worked better in Act II. The cast was clearly into it, and Nick Adams (the character of Adam/Felicia) was a total blast!
Worcester Art Museum
We stopped at the small (but nice) Worcester Art Museum over the long weekend. They have this gorgeous Roman mosaic, which is better than some we've seen in Italy. They have a couple of lovely Matisse paintings as well. I'm sure I'm not doing the museum justice: if you're ever in the area, it's worth stopping for a few hours.
True Grit
Jeff Bridges delivers another great performance as a crusty old guy. This time with a gun, and with Matt Damon too. The young actress who drives the plot forward was fantastic too!
Gnomeo and Juliet
Fun movie! Lots of great British actors, including the new Charles Xavier, James McAvoy, and a hilarious script. Elton John score too!
X-Men
A really good telling of the origin story: hard to beat with James McAvoy as the young, charismatic Charles Xavier. Kevin Bacon was quite entertaining too!
Midnight in Paris
This film about Paris as a center for artistic expression is a lovely tribute to the city: I wonder what made Woody Allen fall in such love with Paris? All of his earlier movies are all about the beauty of Manhattan, but Paris now seems like his true love. Owen Wilson does surprisingly well as the lead actor, although he isn't required to do much except act befuddled and stunned by meeting such historical figures as Hemingway and Gertrude Stein. Overall, the film is worth watching, but there isn't a lot of substance in it.
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
Wow, what a great film: the last one by Sydney Lumet. Great cast, fantastic writing, compellingly disturbing plot. What's not to like?
Sherlock Holmes
The original Irene Adler story, told well in this adaptation. Not much to say otherwise: Netflix is wonderful for making all of these old TV shows available!
Thor
I took a day off work, and watched this movie as part of enjoying the beautiful weather; or, at least, to avoid my allergies.
Book of Mormon
Wow. Hard to know exactly what to say about this sometimes profane, always irreverent, profoundly hilarious, and wonderfully written and performed musical. It had its South Park moments (especially in the Cartman-esque voiceovers that explain the life of Joseph Smith), of course. And the profanity was extreme enough that it startled me: maybe because when I grew up it would have been unimaginable for such profanity to have been on Broadway. Overall, though, a fantastic production with a great cast.
White House Correspondents' Dinner | C-SPAN
Seth Meyers rags on Donald Trump. The Donald looked mighty pissed...
Easy A
This modern-day "adaptation" (if it could really be called that) of Nathaniel Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter is predictable yet quite charming to watch. Lots of well-known actors in the supporting cast: Thomas Haden Church, Patricia Clarkson, Stanley Tucci, Fred Armisen, Malcolm McDowell. Emma Stone is fun as the protagonist: I give this movie an A!
Wanted
Got around to seeing this, even though I knew it wouldn't be as good as the comic of the same name. And, of course, it wasn't. It had some of the same attitude, though (lots of swearing and killing), and they made the movie somewhat unpredictable, even though the comic already had some surprising plot twists.
Ponyu
A cute little Japanese movie about a boy and his fish. Or maybe a fish and her boy. A little trite, but enjoyable in the spirit in which it was made. Hearing Tina Fey and Matt Damon voice the boy's parents was a bit disconcerting!
Red
This movie (like Expendables, featuring a cast of older actors) is a lot of fun to watch. Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman,, and Brian Cox play a bunch of "retired" spies/assassins who are forced to unretire. Quite the fun film!
The Expendables
My first Blu-Ray movie from Netflix. The picture quality didn't make up for the poor storytelling. At first I thought it might be an action-oriented remake of The Seven Samurai/The Magnificent Seven. That would have made for a fine movie. Oh well, what can you do: bad movies will continue to be made.
Despicable Me
A charming, if somewhat predictable, animated film. I thought this film was cuter (in terms of the kid-friendliness and charm) than Megamind, but the latter was the more entertaining story.
Conversations with Other Women
Two of my favorite actors (Aaron Eckhart and Helena Bonham Carter), and some interesting writing (although disorienting cinematography). I enjoyed it!
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