By Jamie44, a Trail Mix Contributor
We are getting to the end of the year. What movies have you actually gone to a theater or on line to see? So far, because we are a movie family, this is the list:
- Logan
- Dunkirk
- The Greatest Showman
- Darkest Hour
- Mudbound
- Florida Project
Of those likely to get Academy nominations I still haven’t seen:
- Three Billboards
- Call Me By Your Name
- Shape of Water
- Get Out
- Lady Bird
Anybody care to put in their two cents worth on what they have seen and loved or not?
[Craig — We saw Darkest Hour over the holiday, great for history buffs. Always good to remember that without Churchill, Hitler might have won. Also, All The Money In The World — You would never know Christopher Plummer was a last minute replacement. He stole the show!]
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Jamie, Plummer in earlier days still stole the show. btw he also sang lead in the musical Cyrano.
Taking the Christopher Plummer thread one step farther, I saw one, just one, movie in a theatre this year – All The Money in The World. As with The Sound of Music, Plummer shone. I also saw Logan. Enjoyed it, and Hugh turned in a solid performance, but I think I’ve seen 1 too many of the X-Men franchise.
The last movie I saw in a theatre was Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? Thank goodness for Turner Classic Movies – love the ’30s & ’40s offerings. Great writers & stories.
The ’70s had great writers & stories too. Not a fan of computer generated stuff, which haunts present day Hollywood.
Listening to Plummer sing in Sound of Music reminds me that two truly fun songs from the stage version were cut for the movie that are actually somewhat appropriate for today’s political scene.
I really enjoyed the Noir version of Logan. It was an excellent film as a stand alone without the whole X-Men series that preceded it and a good final end for the Wolverine. Being a musical freak, The Greatest Showman was good but they obviously had script problems with the story. If it was any thinner, you could use the pages as a window. The song and dance numbers made up for it and both Hugh and Zac were wonderful. If you haven’t seen it, go if you like dancing. Otherwise, buy the soundtrack.
My actual favorite film this year is Mudbound. The ending is somewhat cliched, but the acting and story are excellent juxtaposing two families, two women, and two soldiers to bring a whole post WWII era in the south to life. Mary J. Blythe may get an acting nomination and her song Mighty River is another likely candidate. The other song from the film is Back From The Fire is equally good.
sjwny, even if “oh brother” were the last and only movie one ever got to see in a theatre that would be one of the best. had it all with story (how can you top homer for an author?) music and acting.
Jamie, good catch from original “sound of music” “score re today’s turmoil
whilst we’re already singing on the trail today and whilst it’s the eve of the eve, here’s the age old question
Almost forgot to serve up the annual reminder (written in 2010) of what you need for tomorrow night.
Happy New Year
Haven’t seen a movie since summer… it was the latest Jurassic Park film.
Would like to go see a few on Jamie’s list… but we’ll wait until next week when the kiddies are back at school.
For those like me who avoided the discomfort of movie theaters, a lot of them got the message. Both theaters we went to in Orlando had full on power-operated lazy-boy recliners with head and foot rests, we could lay out flat just like home. Now if they could just figure out a way we could hit pause to go make a sandwich. Oh, and rewind for when you want to see a scene again.
Craig
I don’t think a rewind feature is in the cards, but there are theaters where they bring food and drink to your seat.
Dinner and a Movie
There are several in Florida. Not sure about DC
I was pleasantly surprised that they served beer, hard cider & wine at the theatre where I saw All the Money….and for barely more than bar prices.
I too am one of those who do not do movie theaters. 1977 was the last year for that experience, and even that final time was not for the full length. That said, I did enjoy going to the drive-in’s until those went away.
The enjoyment of movies is something I do have though. Technology has brought us the ability to see the big screen on our small screens, and with enough speakers, to equal the audio of the movie house.
It is from you, Trail Mix hands, that I learn enough to know which movies are on my want to see list. So a big thank you for your remarks.
From the NY Times obituary for Ms Crofton, is the final title of the series, ‘Z is for Zero’, which she never started.
We are watching at home because it is a 3hr roundrip to the nearest movie theater
There are theaters here that serve food and drinks with comfortable seating– we would just fall asleep
Jamie – Craig and I saw Darkest Hour, Dunkirk, and “All the $ in the World” together. I saw 3 Billboards, Get Out, and Lady Bird with other friends and family. All lived up to the hype. A week after seeing Lady Bird, however, I barely remember it – usually when I see a great film, a few scenes or memories remain with me longer than that!
Although I think Gary Oldman delivered an Oscar-worthy performance as Churchill, I’m concerned the award would fuel Trump’s fantasy that he’s a modern Churchill. He’d take credit for the Oscar somehow. Already seeing Trump supporters like Mike Huckabee make the comparison.
Dunkirk was really good, the air battle scenes spectacular but some of the accents so thick I missed a lot of dialogue. Combine it with Darkest Hour and you get both views of Dunkirk, the grunts and the decision makers.
SJWNY – So disappointed to learn Roseanne voted for Trump:
roseanne-barr-threatens-retire-huff-over-twitter-feuding-liberals/991435001/
I remember she was a Tom Harkin supporter, and I used to work for him – so this is a definite downward turn. It is the most disgusted I am by her behavior since her nasty comments during the Tom Arnold divorce. She made fun of his size, but he had a good comeback, saying something like, “Even a 747 looks small in the Grand Canyon.”
SJWNY
Loved a tweet about Roseanne: Who would have thought that Tom Arnold would turn out to be the sane one.
This is the time of the year in 2002 that I was finally accepting I was transgender. I was researching ways to get a prescription of estrogen online so there would not be a trail for anyone to follow just in case I was wrong. You can get anything online from anywhere in the world. Something else I always tell people planning to taking medication not ordered from you doctor, “do not do what I did”. So I did order estrogen, it arrived around January 7, 2003. I took my first dose about 3pm and by 3am I knew I was trans. The rest of my life was set.
Many trans people take on their day of the first dose of hormones as their birthday. This day of birth becomes their first day of their real lives. I do celebrate January 7 as a very special day, but not fully as a birthday. I look at it as more of the first day of puberty, the first run had an undesirable outcome. The second time through is much better.
So here is to out with the old and in with the new!
I went back to the 2017 movie release list to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything, and sure enough I had. We saw Thor: Ragnarok in addition to Murder on the Orient Express and The Last Jedi.
We thought Thor was silly and stupid, but still lots of fun. I don’t have a lot invested in the movies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so I usually just enjoy the big bangs and effects of the offerings. With this third Thor movie, I would have preferred less silly and a little more weight, considering how it ended and what it sets up as far as MCU continuity. But it was still fun.
We thought Orient Express was just a lovely film. We appreciated Kenneth Brannaugh’s take on Hercule Poirot. Poirot has been done well by a number of talented actors, and we thought Brannaugh’s emphasis on a few specific quirks was excellent. The film was stylish, and several outstanding actors made us forget we were watching them perform and simply allowed us to sink into the story that we both knew very well.
As for Last Jedi, bravo Rian Johnson. My favorite part of the film is the part that so many have hated, the so called “Mary Poppins Leia”. I chose to see this scene as a metaphor, whether intended by the film maker or not. Carrie Fisher’s heart gave out on on 23 Dec last year, and she left us four days later. In the film, I choose to believe that the Force preserved Princess Leia after the blast takes out the bridge and the rest of the command crew, until she could be rescued. Carrie hung on so that her family could be with her at the end. The Force preserved Leia so she could have one more moment with her brother, through the Force itself. Intended or not, for me it was an emotional tribute to Our Beloved Princess.
So three movies at the theater in 2017. We do want to see Darkest Hour and The Post, but we’ll probably wait for DVD. Basically, we do blockbusters that we think need to be seen on the big screen. As it stands now, it’s looking like these are candidates for a trip in 2018:
Black Panther
Avengers: Infinity War
Solo: A Star Wars Story
X Men: Dark Phoenix
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
Hmmm. Could be a banner year for theater trips.
The last movie I saw in a theatre was about 10 years ago; Michael Moore’s “Sicko.” One of the few movies that ended with audience applause.
To me, Gary Oldman will always be his character in “ The Fifth Element”. Even when I see the trailers of him as Churchill, I expect him to have that same, inexplicable, Southern drawl.
I have no desire to sit with strangers, their eating noises, their cell phones…nor are there many movies that interest me.
Why would they bring back “Roseanne,” anyway? Don’t they have any new ideas?
I feel lukewarm, at the most, about the new “Will & Grace.” They aired the original series on Cozi the night the new series premiered. The old stuff holds up. The new stuff is pretty hack. Megan Mullaly is the only saving grace. 😉
How weird & uncomfortable will the Oscars be this year? (The clips they air are pretty much the only parts of new movies I will ever see.)
I guess we’ll get a sneak preview at the GGs next month.
SFB as folksy guy – “hope Mueller will be fair” eating in the buffet line at Mal a ego and playing golf with the Coasties. He looks terrible and he must have dressed himself for golf – he looked fat andgreasy
crackers – Yes, Paul Ryan seems soooo happy about killing Social Security, Medicare, etc. Does he realize, or care, that he will b contributing the early demise of tens of thousands of Americans? GoOPerz do not actually believe in God. They could not mistreat folks in exchange for money/power, if they did.
A mall down here is under new ownership & they’ve put up”Jesus’ 10 Commandments.” Never mind that Jesus is NT and the Commandments OT. Never mind that Jesus’ commanded folks to love others as you love yourselves. You’ll never hear that from GoOPerz. Paul Ryan, Huckabee, and the rest of them are CINOs.
CINOs
bid, good one…. hope that epithet has legs. also need one for the metaphor crowd on the order of “all hat and no cattle”
maybe a put-down like “all cross and no carry” riffing from mark 8:34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.”
Or all cross and no follow……
So, taxing the poor to give to the rich, taking healthcare away from anybody and everybody within spitting distance, Medicare and Medicaid soon to go bye bye, and dead aim on social security…..This should spell political death to republicans.
I can only assume that they know they will never have to run for office in a free and fair election again.
All the wars and strife because “Those” people are crazy.
Why can’t they just be cool, like “us”………
Doesn’t help any when those people actually are crazy…..
My nomination for video of the year:
Trump’s Access Hollywood Tape UNCENSORED https://t.co/EGpteaGS7Q
Worth remembering: Nancy O’Dell the Married Woman Donald Trump Bragged About Hitting on in 2005 Video: https://t.co/M3EzyHTb1K
Nothing seems to harm Trump. Unless he tips over, we are stuck with him for the entire term.
The people who voted for trump, stayed home or cast some meaningless vote, must have all been under the impression that the election was a dress rehearsal. It wasn’t!
Somebody clue me in. What is the historic basis for the Trump/ Churchill comparison? I’m missing it.
Republicans have always been a little dumb when it comes to history, and this just proves it.
Hey Trailmix movie fans…. in 30 minutes Cinemax is playing The Blues Brothers… Rick and I will be watching!
That ain’t no Hank Williams song!
Don’t get Cinemax, but know that movie by heart.
“If the shit fits—wear it!
–Donald “Duck”Dunn
Forgot to mention Wonder Woman. Loved the whole first half of the film on the Island of the Amazon. Didn’t particularly care for the last half with all the CGI. Gadot isn’t much of an actress yet, buy she looks pretty bouncing bullets off her bracelets.
Travis
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald with Johnny Depp is a definite on our list of next year’s films. Then there is The Front Runner (Gary Hart’s campaign).
Ha, DaveB & Jamie, Roseanne is only as good as her writers & supporting cast 😉
Let’s face it, John Goodman & Laurie Metcalf are gold. Both can handle any genre effortlessly.
What other shows/movies had supporting casts that were actually better than the star? A gracious plenty, for sure.
Everyone needs a dolly for the New Year
Poke The POTUS
I read that as “everyone needs a doily” & thought well yes of course. Doilies are lovely, practical & a nod to genteel times. Who doesn’t want a doily! Wait …. what …. it’s a dolly? Everyone needs a dolly?
Well then, never mind.
Worth noting: Princeton privileged Bob Mueller served in Viet Nam, awarded Bronze, Purple Heart. Trump dodged service with a bogus sore foot.
Former Watergate prosecutor: ‘Conspiracy,’ not collusion, is main issue in Russia investigation
Nick Ackerman, a former Watergate prosecutor, said Saturday that the big issue in special counsel Robert Mueller investigation is not whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia, but whether it conspired to steal emails from prominent figures in the Democratic Party.
“I think the big enchilada here is the conspiracy to break into the Democratic National Committee in violation of the federal computer crime law and to use those emails to help Donald Trump get elected,” Ackerman said on MSNBC.
“All of that is motive as to why Donald Trump and others were endeavoring to obstruct the investigation, and why Donald Trump told [former FBI Director] James Comey to let the investigation on [former national security adviser Michael] Flynn go,” he added. “All of this is going to come together in 2018.”
[….continues….]
ny times:
How the Russia Inquiry Began: A Campaign Aide, Drinks and Talk of Political Dirt
WASHINGTON — During a night of heavy drinking at an upscale London bar in May 2016, George Papadopoulos, a young foreign policy adviser to the Trump campaign, made a startling revelation to Australia’s top diplomat in Britain: Russia had political dirt on Hillary Clinton.
About three weeks earlier, Mr. Papadopoulos had been told that Moscow had thousands of emails that would embarrass Mrs. Clinton, apparently stolen in an effort to try to damage her campaign.
Exactly how much Mr. Papadopoulos said that night at the Kensington Wine Rooms with the Australian, Alexander Downer, is unclear. But two months later, when leaked Democratic emails began appearing online, Australian officials passed the information about Mr. Papadopoulos to their American counterparts, according to four current and former American and foreign officials with direct knowledge of the Australians’ role.
The hacking and the revelation that a member of the Trump campaign may have had inside information about it were driving factors that led the F.B.I. to open an investigation in July 2016 into Russia’s attempts to disrupt the election and whether any of President Trump’s associates conspired.