Is there ever an actor that you see in like, a lot of movies, and you think..."he looks familiar" or "I really like him, I wonder what else he's done?" Well the answer lies in his IMDB page...I do my research! He has done a lot acting and some has probably gone under appreciated. If the same formula applied as in the "six degrees of separation" game for Kevin Bacon, let's play with Timothy and let's use Kevin Bacon as the thread:
Timothy Olyphant was in Scream 2 with Liev Schrieber, Liev was in Lee Daniel's the Butler with Forest Whitaker, Forest was in Phone Booth with Kiefer Sutherland, Kiefer was in Flatliners with...Kevin Bacon! That was only 4 degrees! So here is a list of some of my favorite films that include in either a supporting or featured role, Timothy Olyphant:
Go (1999)
Interwoven plots of a drug deal gone wrong. Featuring some heavy hitters in the 90's, can anyone say Scott Wolf? I probably haven't seen this movie since it came out, but I remember him getting it on with Katie Holmes of the Dawson's Creek era, not the Tom Cruise one! It makes me nostalgic for my youth as 1999 was the year before I got married and became a real adult! Timothy plays the dealer who should be scary but isn't because he's so cute!
The Broken Heart's Club (2001)
This movie stars a lot of straight men playing not straight characters. In 2001 gay rights were definitely not at the forefront of politics as they are rightly so now. Shouldn't people have the right to decide who they want to be with and have a family with, without laws against that? Isn't that what our nation was built on, freedom? The movie stars Olyphant as Dennis, a photographer, who tends to be the glue that keeps these softball teammates together as they experience love, laughter, and heartache.
Catch and Release (2006)
I LOVE this movie! It's one that I keep hoping will find it's way to my regular movie channels so I can watch it over and over again. Starring Jennifer Garner and Olyphant as well as Kevin Smith and another soon-to-be blog subject Juliette Lewis. This movie takes place after Garner's characters husband has died. Olyphant plays his playboy best friend who over the course of time becomes his best friend's widow's most important person. Garner is sensational, Olyphant is a great romantic leading man. I may just have to go and see if this is on YouTube or Netflix and watch it tonight.
This is just a sample of some of the film work he has done. If you are more of a small screen connoisseur then you may be familiar with his current show FX's Justified. But he has also been in shows such as Sex in the City, Deadwood, The Office, and most recently one of my favorites the Mindy Project.
So what do you think, is Timothy the next Kevin Bacon? Or don't either of them hold a candle to John C. Reilly...discuss! Until my next story from a video store...
I must admit I've been finding it a struggle to write lately, lots going on at the moment. Don't get me wrong, I still have time to watch movies, just not write about them, but then I watched Saving Mr. Banks. As a child I loved Mary Poppins, I would spend hours in my basement with my childhood best friend recreating scenes. Our favorite part to repeat was "Lime Cordial, delicious!" And I would practice rolling my r's when Mary took a spoonful of her sugar, "Rum Punch!" Ha! And while watching this beautifully done narration of how the film came to be, I thought movie moments...when the screen grabs something inside you and then, BAM, your heart starts beating faster, your eyes start leaking, and you lose yourself in a story, so here are a few of my favorite movie moments.
Saving Mr. Banks
There are actually two moments in this film that I love, since one is the ending, I refuse to give that away because this movie is just too good not to watch. The other features my favorite song from the actually Disney film, P.L. Travers the creator of Mary fights Walt and his entire Disney team about not making a mockery of her beloved Mary Poppins, never ever just Mary, always Mary Poppins! The idea that her pages would turn into a musical frustrates her until she is surprised one day when song writers, the Sherman Brothers start playing Let's go Fly a Kite, and does what Disney musicals do best, put perspective into life's most important lessons and then turns it into a song anyone and everyone can relate to, seriously could watch this one moment all day long so enjoy Emma Thompson's Oscar nominated performance and my favorite moment from this amazing film. Unfortunately, since this is a new movie, and one of the most important parts of the film there are no clips available. However, enjoy this behind the scenes look at the music and go watch the dang movie!
The Impossible
Part of movie magic I feel is not knowing the ins and outs of how they are made. I don't want to see the green screen or the hours between takes, for me it takes away from the authenticity of the story. Not only is this movie amazing but enough was not said about the children in the film. I don't know how directors get emotion from children so young but in this film there is one scene that even brings tears to my eyes thinking about it. Set during the Thailand tsunami a family is separated; mom with her oldest son and dad with the two younger boys. Both sets go through unthinkable situations trying to stay alive and keep their hope that everyone will find each other again. Mom and Dad played by Noami Watts and one of my favorite actors Ewan McGregor actually have different moments where, they too, get separated from the children or child they have been with from the start. The moment comes when the youngest boy has to pee while stuck on a truck that is taking children to a safe location. His brother gets off with him, at the same moment the dad is looking for anyone as he had be split up from everyone and is virtually hopeless. The oldest son had found his mom in the make shift hospital and out of the corner of his eye spots his dad, they are all in the same place and no one knows it. This scene feels like liquid to me, a wave coming in and the going out, like crescendo building up and crashing down, the oldest boy Lucas runs through the crowd finally letting a feral scream of "DAD" out. At this moment the two younger boys look up, shocked, it couldn't be their brother?! They turn, to see it really is him, and shout , "LUCAS" all running, screaming, and crying toward each other, in the same moment the crowd parts, and dad emerges seeing all his sons together, tgen Lucas tells Dad that Mom is alive and also at the hospital. Crying yet? I seriously bawl every time I see that scene and trust me you will too. If you haven't seen the film don't watch the clip and get your butt on your couch and watch one of the most inspiring stories of survival.
Rudy
The true story about Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger whose dream was to go to Notre Dame and play football. Rudy comes from humble beginnings who lacks both the funds and the grades to make it to the fighting Irish. I think all parents should let their kids watch this movie about how you don't have to be the best or the smartest, but if you work hard and have a dream, you can make things possible for yourself. So I am sure you all know the scene...he's finally at Notre Dame, he's made the practice squad, and for years has never been picked to dress for the game. It's Rudy's senior year and the last game yet the coach still doesn't pick him. In walks every player, they turn in their jerseys and roster spots and one after one say, "This is for Rudy." So coach gives in, Rudy takes the team out onto the field with family and friends watching from the stands. The game is winding down 27-3 in Notre Dame's favor. But the offense is on the field, Rudy plays defense. All of a sudden the chant of Rudy...Rudy...Rudy starts around the stadium, offense ignores coach's play, scores a touchdown, and on Rudy goes with the defense to a deafening crowd, he sacks the opposing teams quarterback, his family are crying, his friends are crying, I'm crying, and Rudy gets carried off the field, what a moment.
Sixteen Candles
Ah, Jake Ryan, swoon! Doesn't even just his name sound dreamy! Do kids still past notes in school? Or do they text ? How can you ask someone out these days, text yes or no instead of check the box, give to your friend, who gives it to his friend, to give it to him? So here is Andy sophomore, mildly popular, filling out a confidential questionnaire, the question is "Who Would You Do?" Of course Andy writes in Jake Ryan but instead of slyly passing the note back to her friend it lands in front of Jake! The moment that her love life is about to change. Jake picks it up and spends the whole movie trying to get Andy to go out with him. The dream of every girl to know, yes he is actually into you, willing to break up with his blond, popular, current girlfriend to take a chance on you.
Then the moment comes, Andy is the last one left at the church, she comes out to find all the cars are leaving for the reception, like clouds parting, emerges the Jake Ryan standing in front of his Porsche, waiting for Andy, watch...sigh...swoon, John Hughes really knew how to do this right.
The Journey of Natty Gann
I've looked high and low for the moment that changed my life in this film, realizing it wasn't just one but a collection of many having to do with Natty and her wolf dog. Growing up you hear "man's best friend" and the plot of the film is Natty's journey to find her father but for me , the magic of this movie is her bond with the wolf. How trust is earned through kindness and is repaid with protection until the wolf hears his pack and is conflicted leaving his beloved Natty behind. Natty realizes that he is meant to be free and let's him go ultimately finding her father in the end. This movie began my love affair with dogs so if you have an hour to spare, keep your laptop on and enjoy one of my favorite Disney live action films.
This list just barely covers those amazing moments where the world seems to slip away. So what are some of your favorite movie moments in the magical story from a video store.
Have you ever seen a movie star and think, hmm...they remind of someone. It happened to me recently when I was watching Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. I love this movie and hadn't seen it, in it's entirety for years. I am looking at Harrison Ford's very handsome face and getting this feeling of, you look like someone I know, but who? Then it hit me as well as a list of several other look-a-likes. So what do you think, am I, and many others, on to something here?
Ian Somerhalder/Rob Lowe
photo courtesy of cheeseburger.com
I actually think I heard Rosie O'Donnell first mention this when she and Ian were on a talk show couch together. Wouldn't you love to see Ian in some romantic "dramedy" that becomes an instant cult classic a la St. Elmo's Fire?
Skrillex/Corey Feldman
photo courtesy of 9bytz.com
Can Skrillex even act? Because it would be epic if he was cast as Corey's son in the rumored Goonies sequel!
Zac Efron/Michael J Fox
photo courtesy of cheeseburger.com
Zac has every quality to become America's male sweetheart like Michael J. Fox was in the 80's. I think Zac should look into a Back to the Future-esque multi-film deal.
Garrett Hedlund/Harrison Ford
photo courtesy of geektyrant.com
Garrett has already done the sci-fi thing with starring in Tron. There have been ideas of re-making Indiana Jones, Garrett could totally pass for dorky scholar by day/rugged adventure junkie by night.
James Franco/James Dean
photo courtesy of geekandchic.cl
James Franco has actually already starred in a Dean bio film. I think Franco has also earned himself a similar enigma from creating art, to starring in my favorite soap General Hospital, to comedies, and writing books. I think he'd be great in a western themed drama like Dean's Giant.
Camilla Belle/Elizabeth Taylor
photo courtesy of ohnotheydidn't.livejournal.com
I think I know more about Camilla Belle's dating history than her film work but isn't that very Elizabeth Taylor-ly of her?! Get this girl in a period piece with an equally handsome leading man, and instant hit!
So I guess my secret is out that I would love to moonlight as a casting agent, do I have a chance? What are some other celebrity look-a-likes that you've spotted in this doppelganger story from a video store!
Dorothy said it best, there is no place like home. Do you ever watch a movie and think, "Man, I wished I lived there?" Sometimes the setting, scenery, and location of a movie makes it feel more real. Here are some of my favorite movies where I think the location scout got it just right:
Home Alone
pic courtesy of Huffingtonpost.com
KEVIN!!! Every time I watch this movie it makes me feel all warm inside. Maybe it's because it reminds me of Christmas, maybe it's because this was one of the most popular movies of my childhood, but I always think about the warmth of the house in this film. Even when the family is all together and acting nuts, because isn't that what happens during the holidays, or when Kevin is fighting off the bad guys, it's as if the house is it's own character. The steps, that Kevin booby traps, the den that plays the movie with the gun shot soundtrack, it was Kevin's fortress and kept him safe. Sure a movie can be shot all over the place but a majority of the scenes were shot in one home in Illinois, enjoy the trailer heavily featuring one of the best houses in movie history!
The Family Stone
photo courtesy of hookedonhouses.net
Prodigal son, Everett returns home at Christmastime with his uptight Manhattan girlfriend. As she gets to know the family everyone wonders what they see in this less than endearing woman. The casting in this film is great, (a secret career choice I would love to have!), the writing is great, and it takes the audience on a journey that makes all the emotional turmoil and judgements make sense, have your tissues ready! But again I find myself drawn to the backbone of the film, the house. Particularly the dining room table and kitchen where the storyline unfolds and relationships are tested. This home feels lived in with a history that will hold for generations to come.
The Goonies
photo courtesy of thegoonies.org
How could the Goonies house not be in this list? It's what they are fighting for, their homes!! Set in a landscape that is certainly foreign to me living in Suburban New Jersey, but that's what makes it so magical. Oregon was as far from where I lived as possible but that is what movies do, take you on a journey in a far away land where kids can become heroes, and learn some valuable life lessons along the way. While most of the film was set outside of the house, how can you not remember the Truffle Shuffle. According to recent articles if you go and visit there is a sign outside that says, "Goonies on foot welcome!"
Sleeping With the Enemy
photo courtesy of hookedonhouses.net
There are 2 houses in this movie, one that is so cold it freezes your blood and the other that is so cozy it warms it back up again. You start the film on a beach house in Cape Cod, scary classical music, and a housewife who looks a little tense. Then you realize she lives in a life of fear, getting beaten by her abusive husband. The house matches the vibe: bare, cold, too perfect to really be lived in. However according to Hooked On Houses.net only a facade was built for exterior shots. Cut to Laura (played by Julia Roberts) escaping to Iowa to be closer to her mother, whose in a home, and to be free of her husband who thinks she's dead. Unfortunately he is too smart for that, follows her there, reeks some havoc, and ultimately meets his demise. But her Iowa house is everything the Cape Cod is not, it's country-style, cute, cozy, vintage and breathes life back into the shell of a woman she has become, plus having a cute next door neighbor helps!
Adore
Set in New South Wales Australia and again, brilliantly casted to be believable, this is a provocative movie about mothers and sons. The story is compelling and a little creepy as two best friends fall in love with each other's sons. I won't ruin the film since it's fairly new and I just recently watched it. But the back drop setting in this film is breathtaking and indulgent much like the characters themselves. And the houses each set of families live in aren't in my scope of real-life living but much Adored (Ha...Get it!)
Home is where the heart is right? What are some of your favorite movie houses in this story from a video store!
While I love reliving my youth through film I also love movies for or from a different generation to mine. I wrote an essay once in high school that was about living in a different era. I chose the 60's because my mom and aunt had so many fun stories about growing up in that time and down at the Jersey Shore! I also like to live through other people's experiences whether fictional or real life stories. Here are some of my favorite movies for a different generation:
Defending Your Life
I love the concept of this movie! Written, directed and starring Albert Brooks also featuring the amazing Meryl Streep, this movie takes us to the afterlife. Imagine having to justify your entire life and decisions you have made, to either move on to heaven, or get sent back to earth to figure it all out again? Seeing events on screen and being on trial like skeletons being let out to haunt you even though you are dead. But what if, while in "Judgement City" you meet your soulmate? Only to find out she's practically perfect and you are not. So do they get to go to the after life together or not? Watch and see!
Calendar Girls
This movie is certainly near and dear to my heart since this is the part of England that my husband comes from! It is a true story about a group of women who throw caution to the wind in the name of charity. It stars virtually every British actress, except Dame Judi Dench (she's in this list though, don't worry!) that you should know and love! When one woman's husband dies of Leukemia, her friend has the risque idea to have woman from the Knapely Branch of the Women's Institute pose nude for a calendar to raise funds. Not only do characters Chris (Played by Helen Mirren) and Annie (Played by Julie Walters) have a hard time convincing the women to pose, they have to go up against the entire congregation of the Women's Institute in London to get the calendar produced and distributed. This movie is well written and directed, you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll love Yorkshire, but most importantly you'll be entertained!
Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont
Such an endearing film and again strikes a chord for me since my grandma is now living out her golden years in a wonderful care facility. But I couldn't imagine her not having family there to visit and support her. Well in this movie Mrs. Palfrey has all but been abandoned in a London Retirement Hotel until she takes a tumble outside a young man's apartment. Mrs. Palfrey and the young man, Ludovic Meyer (Played by Rupert Friend) strike up a friendship and find they have more in common with each other than people of their own age. Based on a novel written by Elizabeth Taylor, this movie has stayed with me since I first watched it and continues to be at the top of my suggestion list.
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Set in London prior to World War 2 this film details the life and times of Miss Pettigrew (Played by Frances McDormand), a down-on-her-luck governess who capitalizes on an employment opportunity to be the social secretary for American actress-singer Delysia Lafosse (Played by Amy Adams). Immediately Miss Pettigrew is thrown into Delysia's chaotic love life and experiences some troubles of her own. This movie takes place over the course of 24 hours and has so many plot twist and turns that it will make your head spin, but in a good way. I can't help but watch this movie when I see it's on and get sucked right into a different time when things were both simpler and more complicated, plus the fashion is pretty cool! Also has a pretty awesome soundtrack with many of the stars as featured artists.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
How could I have this list without a Judi Dench film! Well, last but certainly not least, an exotic adventure in India! Being marketed as a premier retirement hotel in India, Sonny (Played by Dev Patel) tries his best to run this dilapidated hotel but with little success. All of the patrons have come here for many different reasons that soon become apparent to the audience. Featuring the amazing Maggie Smith and Penelope Wilton, most loved from Downton Abbey, as well as Bill Nighy, this film speaks to a generation that is not of my own. But is heartfelt, real, and gives a voice to those looking to leave the hustle and bustle of the real world behind. Love, love, loved this film and think you will too!
So whether this appeals to you because you are of a certain age or because you like to watch good movies, these will not disappoint! For the younger set of souls out there, it may just make you appreciate your youth a little longer, and love your mother/fathers, and grandparents a little more! Enjoy this older and sophisticated story from a video store!
Has this ever happened to you? You are at home scrolling through movies and you think, I really wish (Insert Title Here) movie was on, I haven't seen it in a long time...and then BAM, like a gift from above it suddenly appears?! Well that recently happened to me with the 1994 movie Reality Bites. I LOVE this movie! Winona Ryder at her peak, Ethan Hawke in his greasy, grungy, hotness, and a first introduction to Ben Stiller! So on this wintry now snow day when I had nothing more to do and I finished Reality Bites and looked for another movie and saw Speed was on starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, also from released in 1994. And that's when it hit me, could 1994 have been a Golden Year in Film? You are darn right it was, seriously...google it! Films like Pulp Fiction, Forrest Gump, Shawshank Redemption, Lion King, Dumb & Dumber, Four Weddings and a Funeral, True Lies...the list goes on and on. So Happy 20th Anniversary 1994 and please maybe some of these trailers will make you watch something you've never seen before!
It Could Happen to You
A cop, a waitress, and New York City as a backdrop...I'm in. Nicholas Cage plays a cop and Bridget Fonda (remember her?) plays the waitress. When Cage' s character realizes he doesn't have enough money for a tip, he offers Fonda' s character a deal, split his lottery ticket 50/50 if he wins. The waitress thinks, why not? In true romantic comedy fashion, the cop and his wife (played by Rosie Perez) win 4 million dollars and now the honest abe and his wife have to split their winnings with the waitress. The media takes a hold of the story, Cage and Fonda continue to get thrown together in unplanned circumstances, and their love story develops....if it were only that easy! But a cute light hearted film for you ladies looking for a romance injection.
Airheads
Brendan Fraser, Steve Buscemi, and Adam Sandler in a movie together? And they are in a rock band? This movie is a satirical play on rock metal going out of fashion being taken over by pop and this band, The Lone Rangers, have something to say about it. So they devise a plan to hold a radio station hostage using fake guns armed with hot sauce until their song is played on the radio. While I don't think this topic would be as easy to make fun of in our modern era of unspeakable violent tragedies, for me it reminds me of a simpler time when we didn't take ourselves so seriously. It's as 90's as you get, from the hair, to the clothes, and I'll watch it anytime it's on.
The Crow
Starring Brandon Lee, the son of Bruce Lee, this film is a cult classic. Definitely need to be in a "dark" mood for this one. There is also an added sense of creepy since this was Brandon's last film as he accidentally died making this movie. It's about a man resurrected from the dead, brought back to avenge the death of himself and his fiance, who were brutally murdered in a society that discards people at whim. The crow, in this film, is used as a telepathic connection between Lee's character Eric and seeking out those that did him wrong. I am always uneasy watching this movie because it is so far removed from my sense of reality, but I guess that's why we watch then, right? I also find my self in a little bit of deja vu as Brendan looks a lot like Heath Ledger in Batman, though one fights for good but the other fights for evil, maybe it's just the make up, decide for yourself...
PCU
College 90's style...I think this movie resonates with me because my brother graduated from High School in 1994 and was heading off to Penn State University. As a teenager myself, I wanted to live vicariously through this movie and imagine parties with George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic playing at his fraternity! This film is told through the eyes of a "pre-freshman" getting his first taste of the quintessential college experience. Full of drinking, drugs, and partying with maybe a little school on the side and ultimately deciding to pick this school. Starring a young Jeremy Piven and Jon Favreau enjoy this Lampoon-esque college comedy.
SFW
Another cult classic starring Stephen Dorff (Remember him and when he was actually considered a hunk!) and Reese Witherspoon (when she use to do artsy low budget movies) as Cliff and Wendy. They are the only survivors from a long hostage situation in a convenience store that was filmed for the whole world to see. Cliff and Wendy become instant celebrities but have trouble relating to life outside the tragedy and continue to gravitate towards each other. This movie is accompanied by a great 90's soundtrack featuring bands like Nirvana and Soundgarden. It also shows what life was like back then, on the West Coast, in California and has a twist ending. Enjoy this grungy drama-romance.
Do you have favorites from this year? I didn't even mention other movies like Muriel's Wedding (or how I became obsessed with ABBA after watching this movie), Camp Nowhere, White Fang...so take a trip back in time and enjoy this nineties stories from a video store.
My employed years at West Coast Video provided me with a few dating opportunities, while not always ideal prospects, I did get a first boyfriend out of the deal! But little did I know that one football movie would change my life forever. No one would argue that Varsity Blues starring James Van Der Beek, the late Paul Walker, and Oscar Nominee Jon Voight made you want to re-invent yourself or discover the meaning of life. But for me this movie held the key to my future. This was a movie that 4 young men from England, coaching soccer in America, decided they wanted to rent from their local video store. What one of these men didn't know, was that after watching Varsity Blues and going to bed, his roommate decided to watch a porno. So that when said young man wakes up the next morning, presses eject, then closes the box that he thinks he has put Varsity Blues in, he in fact has returned a porn entitled Horny Hispanic Honey's.
Fast forward 2 weeks later and I am behind the counter returning movies customers had just dropped off, restocking shelves, generally making myself busy when in walks a very cute guy. I watch as he browses through the racks of videos eventually deciding on something. I eyeball him as my co-worker is assisting him with his rental when up pops a late fee notice. He questions it, swearing, in one of the cutest accents I have ever heard, that Varsity Blues was returned weeks ago. "Not according to our computers." says my co-worker. At this point my assistant manager takes over and in her hand is the bright yellow box labeled Varsity Blues however inside the box is the now infamous Horny Hispanic Honey's, which she proceeds to say a little too loudly, was returned in it's place. My inner dialogue says, "You have got to be kidding me! The cutest guy I have ever seen, and pretty sure is checking me out too, is the porno guy!" Just my luck....
Cut to a week or two later and porno guy has returned. He is still very cute and comes up to my counter to rent a movie. I proceed with the transaction gaining enough courage to ask where is accent is from. I say, "Are you from Australia?", in which he replies, "No, I'm from England." (I know, really smooth, we've said one sentence to each other and I'm pretty sure I've offended him) He walks around the counter, through the detectors, and leaves. I turn around, to frankly check him out, and I notice that he left his movie on the counter. So I chase him outside, both of us a little red-faced, and hand him his rental.
Maybe a few weeks later a friend and I are in our local diner. It's Friday and midnight, I have just ended my shift at work. As we walk in I notice, in a booth 2 rows down, is my movie guy. I say to my friend, "Oh my god, it's the guy from the video store." He and his friend are talking to some other girls we know and here comes the moment that my life is forever changed. He looks up, we make eye contact, he says something to his friend, they get up and occupy the booth next to us. We chat for a little while, they walk us out to our car, and the movie guys asks me out. My future husband, who to this day swears he did not watch the porn and was an innocent bystander, just trying to return Varsity Blues. So thank you James Van Der Beek for helping me meet the love of my life. And my favorite story from a video store.
I have found over the years that I am definitely a visual and interactive "learner". What I love about Documentaries is that you really have to put down your i-phone, i-pad, or tablet, watch and learn. I know I strive to better myself as a being contributing to the world. It may not be, by my recycling prowess or volunteering, but certainly, when you know better you do better, right? While I may never have kids that doesn't mean I don't want to learn about how the world treats them. I may never be a professional sports athlete but I can certainly discover the dedication, hard work, and sacrifices it takes to be one. I can understand that someones journey may have nothing to do with their destination. Everyone has a story, here are some of my favorites:
Sports Senna
Ayrton Senna was a successful and dedicated Formula One Race Car driver during the 80's & 90's. This documentary depicts his life and death. I knew Formula One was a dangerous sport and this film truly depicts the lengths drivers go to become #1. It's chilling watching him speak up for the safety of the riders, when in a string of accidents over the course of a weekend, takes his life during a live race. It's also interesting to see how cars have evolved over decades. This film won a BAFTA for Best Documentary and can be found, in full, on Netflix and is worth a watch.
Crash Reel
A recent HBO Documentary about Snow Boarding...or is it? Kevin Pearce was at the top of his game and getting ready for his first major Olympics until tragedy strikes and he finds himself recovering from TBI (traumatic brain injury). Not only does this film depict his hard fought recovery but, an in-depth look at how precious your noggin really is. Kevin's entire family also deserve a tremendous amount of credit and left me with a new found respect for x-games athletes and the sacrifices they make for success.
Arts
Mad Hot Ballroom
Ballroom dancing in an inner city and kids? For many this program keeps them off the streets, for others it builds confidence, and for some an appreciation to an underestimated art form. These children care about each other, their community, and their futures. Told from 3 different neighborhoods Washington Heights, Bensonhurst, and Tribeca. I dare you to watch this clip and not smile!
First Position
Another dance documentary featuring children but instead of engaging in something extra curricular these kids revolve their whole lives around being the best at ballet. Set against competing at the Youth American Grand Prix this film revolves around several youths and the work it takes to achieve your dream. I was amazed and a little intimidated at the level of dedication a 9 year old that revolves their world around dance. My favorite kid is Aran you can tell that he does Ballet because he loves it, not because he is forced to do it, and damn is he good!
Children
First Circle
An intimate, informative, and often heartbreaking look at the US Foster Care system told by a woman who went through it herself. The documentary opens up with an arrest at a meth house and an officer taking a young boy to health and welfare. The female investigator is so sweet, I think to myself, she sees this all the time, how do you find hope in dealing with parents who don't do the one thing they are meant to do? My heart breaks for these kids. There is also another side to this film about parents who do the fostering. One story resonated with me of a woman, who at one point had young girls and a teenage boy at the same time, found the boy in the girl's room, and had to call to have him removed. What would it take to make that phone call :( A hard film to watch but I feel important to do so.
Rough Aunties
I think about this HBO documentary often. As I've said I don't see children in my future but that doesn't mean I don't care about how they are treated and cared for. This amazing documentary is about a group of women who treat, care, and rescue abused and neglected children in South Africa. There are traumatized girls who have to touch a teddy bear (Bobbi Bear) to show where there were hurt so they can begin to heal. Children who have to re-tell horrific things done to them and can recount with such chilling and gut-wrenching detail. The women that run the organization have to be tough but the strength they find must come from the faces of these children who have no one else. This is probably one of the most difficult films I have ever seen but so important to take in and have been forever changed by.
Animals
Buck
I have always been fascinated by horses since I was little, I even got to take a few riding lessons as a child. I always knew and had respect for their power and grace. Buck is not a horse, but a man that has a special way with them. People call him the Horse Whisperer. I hesitate to use that term because the "Dog Whisperer" that is popular in America, in my definition, is the exact opposite of Buck. Buck's talent is in understanding horse behavior and using modification techniques I have never seen before. He is kind, gentle, stern, but always fair...a lot different to the treatment of how he grew up. Buck talks about his father's child rearing skills or lack there of and you cannot help but feel a sense of awe in how he chooses to interpret and live life.Heis also the inspiration behind the studio movie the Horse Whisperer, with Robert Redford, Kristen Scott Thomas, and Scarlett Johansson which is great film. Everyone needs a Buck in their life.
An Apology to the Elephants
Another wonderful HBO documentary about the evolution of the treatment of performing elephants. It packs a punch against the cruelty of zoos and circuses and the psychological and physical trauma elephants have endured solely for our entertainment. **Insert soapbox moment** I feel this documentary and others as The Cove & most recent Blackfish open a much bigger conversation about the state of modern day humanity. When people stop seeing dogs as retail, stop supporting roadside zoos, stop wanting animals to "entertain" us. Then change and preservation may really come. Do we not care about the emotional well being of other living creatures? This film makes you look deep and maybe you'll think twice about supporting anything other than organizations like the WWF
Crime
West of Memphis
3 Teens convicted of brutally murdering three 8 year old boys. The "ringleader" Damien Echols sent to Death Row. His fellow convicts Jessie Miskelley and Jason Baldwin sent to life in prison. Why I chose this documentary instead of HBO's Paradise Lost Trilogy is it brings us to present day. The trilogy of films are absolutely worth a watch as it starts from the beginning. This documentary meets us at the end. It's a story of cultural hysteria, criminal injustice, and all the people it took to get these three wrongly accused men out of jail. Produced by Peter Jackson (Yes, Lord of the Rings director) and Damien Echols himself, this film provides a wonderful debate about right and wrong and the pursuit of justice. There will also be a feature filmed called Devil's Knot based on this story starring Reese Witherspoon and Colin Firth. P.S. If you are on Twitter follow @damienechols his daily mantras kick my butt some days into gear.
The Ganja Queen
Did she or didn't she, I still am not sure? The story of Schapelle Corby, an Australian woman convicted of trafficking almost 10lbs of cannabis into Bali. This HBO film takes us through the trial, her conviction, and the devastating outcome. I think this film raises more questions then answers and should be shown in schools about never, ever having illegal substances in foreign countries. I am a big fan of National Geogrpahic's Locked Up Abroad because of Schapelle's story. She is still in prison and makes me very thankful for the life I live...free.
Double Act
World Famous Actor Ewan McGregor and buddy, fellow actor, Charley Boorman take the audience on two very amazing, profound, exhausting, thrilling, sometimes comical motorcycle trips across the world and then down the world. While I'm taking some liberties with this being a documentary since it was a tv series, I have watched both films in one sitting, several times over, so they needed to be on this list. Long Way Round
From London to New York City heading through Western Europe, Asia, Canada, and the US. I really wanted to call them, the Best Bromance, since Ewan and Charley seem to have a true friendship with each other. Along for the ride is a crew of producers, medical experts, and cameraman, featuring the always silly Claudio. We watch them struggle with terrain, miss their families, and discover the world in a way I never could. It's so entertaining and heartfelt that if you don't already love Ewan, you will now!
Long Way Down Charley and Ewan are back!! This time they are driving from Scotland to South Africa, oh my! Same crew, same cameraman Claudio, different journey. They even get to meet the Rwandan President! Africa can be a dangerous place so I found the border crossing and different issues in each country fascinating. In this film I found myself really enjoying Charley's journey. Grab a brew, watch, and enjoy.
So here you go...you'll laugh, you'll cry (ALOT) but my hope is you learn something you didn't know, look at the world and the people that live in it a little differently, in this documented story from a video store.
One of the things I love most about movies is that you get to learn nuances about different countries. Maybe it's countries I've been to, want to go to, will never go to, or on my bucket-list, I am always fascinated about how other people live. The movie industry means many different things in many different places. Some small countries (France comes to mind) produce wonderful films. Bollywood is world-wide phenomenon. Here are some of my personal favorites:
Europe:
Love + Hate
This poster does not due the movie justice. A wonderful hard-to-find independent movie about finding love in a prejudice society, you can watch, in parts, the whole movie on YouTube. A modern day Romeo and Juliet detailing race relations in Britain. Adam and Naseema are youths trying to grow up in a world that pays more attention to preconceived notions of cultures without actually knowing anything about them. Adam and Naseema are drawn to each other in ways that neither of them expect questioning everything they know about life, love, and the pursuit of something greater.
Good Bye Lenin!
A delightful German tragicomedy. Starring Daniel Brühl as Alex, recently know for playing Formula One driver Niki Lauda in Ron Howard's Rush. What if you live in East Berlin, you're mother has a heart-attack and goes into a coma, only to awake and the Berlin wall has fallen, but she cannot endure any physical or mental shock for fear of another heart attack? Keeping up appearances of a communist society when everyone around you experience freedoms for the first time? This film and it's actor won critical acclaim during it's 2003 release and is worth a view.
Rust & Bone
Starring Academy Award winning Marion Cotillard and virtual unknown Matthias Schoenaerts as the leading characters. What drew me to this movie was the fact the Marion's character Stephanie is a killer whale trainer that gets hurt from a freak accident that is very similar to documentary Blackfish and the dangers of working with orcas. Matthias's Ali is a down on his luck single father who needs cash fast. He meet Stephanie at a club, while working as a bouncer, prior to her accident and escorts her home. A depressed Stephanie calls Ali after her accident and the two form an interesting friendship that evolves into something much deeper than they both expected. I love the gritty feel of the film and what strength you can find in the impossible.
Asia:
3-Iron
A Korean movie about a drifter and an abused housewife that doesn't include much dialogue because it frankly doesn't need it. You can feel her pain and their connection. Tae-suk breaks into people's apartments based on take-out menu's being left on door handles. He fixes their broken appliances, washes their clothes until one day he breaks into Sun-hwa's house. Here the tables are turned and she watches him, while he is unaware someone is also in the house. Together while her abusive husband is away on business they begin to break into people's homes. They get into trouble, he goes to jail, gets release from jail and goes to Sun-hwa's house. The rest is too hard and creative to even begin to explain so please just watch. This film will stay with me forever as one of the most imaginative pieces of cinema I have ever seen.
Shall we Dance
I was first introduced to this movie while working at West Coast Video. This is NOT the Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez version, that was made because of this Japanese film. It does not compare to the original. Shohei Sugiyama is a successful married businessman that sees a beautiful forlorn soul looking out from her dance studio. Mai Kishikawa is a well known dancer and Shohei becomes obsessed with her. He has to find out more about her so enrolls in classes at the dance studio. Again, this movie is more about the surprises that life hands you in a way you never thought it could.
Australia:
Strictly Ballroom
I guess I have a dance theme going on but this is a different story about an ugly duckling turned into a beautiful swan by the love of dance and the journey of realizing your true self both inside and out. Fran is an employee in the dance studio that by chance gets to partner with Scott, a destined to be champion, who has gotten jaded in the ballroom world. Together they discover the magic of dance and take on the Australian Dancing Federation at the Pan-Pacific Grand Prix. This is the first of Baz-Lurhmann films that I have seen and as with his other films, uses music for emotion in a way that no one else does, and I am totally bought in. Now with Dancing with the Stars and Strictly Come Dancing people have better appreciation of ballroom and the moves in this film won't disappoint!
Tomorrow When the War Began
I like to equate this film to Australia's version of the Hunger Games or even Red Dawn would be a better example. Twenty somethings off to a camping spot for a weekend of fun only to come home and find their town without power and their parents, neighbors, and loved ones held hostage by a foreign military group. A plan is formed, chaos ensues, bonds are made, broken, and tested. I love a good action film, I love a good teen novel, and I love me some foreign viewing! It's an easy movie to watch and it is supposed to be part of a trilogy. I really hope 2 and 3 are made! One notable actor that American audiences would know is Phoebe Tonkin of the CW shows Vampire Diaries and The Originals.
Bollywood:
Bride or Prejudice
An Bollywood re-telling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice full of India's culture, music, dancing. Starring Martin Henderson, from the Grudge, and Aishwarya Rai, once known as the most beautiful woman in the world! As characters Darcy and Lalita we are once again taken on a romantic roller-coaster of, I love you, I hate you, I love you. As I've said in previous blogs, I am a Jane Austen fanatic so I am willing to watch any movie based on the books. This is fun, a little cheesy, and all things Bollywood! The end credits are really fun and worth watching.
So, here you go...why go outside in this winter weather when you can travel the world from the comforts of your own home in this sometimes subtitled story from a video store!
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