Movie Spotlight: Broken Flowers (2005)

I watched Dead Man a couple of months back, and I noticed that Jim Jarmusch is an artsy director, and usually I like artsy. I wasn't a huge fan of Dead Man though. It was good, and I liked the uniqueness, but I couldn't think of a time I would ever watch it again. I saw that Jarmusch is coming out with another movie this month, Only Lovers Left Alive, that stars Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton. I have to say I'm very excited for the movie, but the best way to know what to expect is to watch more movies from this director, and then I happened upon Broken Flowers.

Summary: Don Johnston is a serial bachelor who hasn't ever wanted to commit to anyone long term. After his last girlfriend leaves him in frustration he gets a note left for him from one of his past girlfriends disclosing that he has a son who is now on a road trip. Don isn't interesting in exploring this any further, or is he? With the encouragement and pressure from his friend, Winston, Don is set up with a map, rental, and plane tickets to find out who is the mother who sent the letter.

Movie Spotlight: Tabloid (2010)

I'm a bit behind on this as I just got married and spent a week honeymooning, and then returned home to only find my internet was out. To catch up though, famed Errol Morris released a documentary a couple of weeks ago, The Unknown Known. Now this documentary film maker seems to like to cover controversial and interesting figures. In Tabloid he doesn't fail to find the bizarre, and made the subject, Joyce McKinney file a lawsuit against him she was so upset with his portrayal.

Summary: Joyce McKinney was Miss Wyoming in the 70's, and she seemed like a sweet nature and innocent girl, that is until she found herself in the midst of a tabloid scandal. She was dating a Mormon man who she fell for, and was planning to marry. She says once he disappeared though she went looking for him, and thought he become the victim of a cult, though he had just joined as a missionary. McKinney kidnapped him though she claims it was just to rescue him. Now Morris interviews McKinney and gets her side of the story alon with those who were around her at the time.

Movie Spotlight: End of Watch (2012)

Here is another new blog segment I will be trying out from time to time where I focus on a director, or an actor (depending on which is more accessible in my movie database), who is releasing a movie this weekend. Well you're probably why I chose to focus on a movie from David Ayer this weekend instead of Darren Aronofosky who is releasing Noah. That is because I will be reviewing Pi sometime next week, and it's on the list. Anyways, Ayer is releasing Sabotage, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger this weekend, which seems like a far cry from the work he did on End of Watch. Actually, I was shocked by how good End of Watch was.

Summary: Brian and Mike are two young LAPD officers working the tough streets. They seem to have a lot of success catching bad guys, which honestly makes them feel pretty confident. Just as their personal lives are transitioning completely into adulthood, and they are beginning their own families, they find themselves getting mixed into crime that is above and beyond the street gangs they are acquainted with.