Wednesday Movie Night: Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

One of the most talked about movies from 2013 was Dallas Buyers Club. I think I even heard more about it than Best Picture winner, 12 Years a Slave. Perhaps it was because of the dedication of the lead actors though who took their roles to extreme levels by physically preparing themselves for the people they were portraying. Jean - Marc Vallee directs this movie that shows why it was a strong contender in this year awards ceremonies.

Summary: Ron Woodruff is told he has AIDS, and from there his world is changed. With being given only 30 days left to live, Ron isn't just going to die though. The only drugs on the market aren't available for the public yet through doctors, so he begins looking across the globe on a way to obtain drugs to help his health. It isn't so easy though when nothing else is FDA approved, and the only doctor who will help has been banished to work in Mexico. Ron not only will get drugs to help himself though, but other patients who have lost hope finding help as well.

Wednesday Movie Night: Odd Thomas (2013)

It had been a while since I read the Odd Thomas series, but if there was one series to make a movie out of that Dean Koontz has wrote, then I would definitely give this the go ahead. With a great cast though, and even a good story at hand to work with, Stephen Sommers makes this movie one for the fans, but even as a fan you can tell when some areas are hard pressed to be natural. The graphics are okay, and sometimes the score is a little too dramatic. The story though does catch you off guard though, and the cast that was taken on in this movie fits their characters perfectly.

Summary: Odd Thomas is a short order cook who also doubles as a clairvoyant help for the local police department. While serving food one day he foresees some of the worst impending doom to happen in the town yet, but he is struggling to stop it as he can't forget out who will quite be behind the trouble happening. He also wants to protect his girlfriend, Stormy, and he is aware that continuing in this line of work continues to put them both at risk.

Wednesday Movie Night: About Time (2013)

I oddly saw the preview for this movie at The World's End last year, and took an interest in seeing it. The good news is that even if you're a fan of a movie that seems so the opposite this will be appealing too. I was a bit hesitant about how I might like the movie though considering I haven't seen Richard Curtis' other movies, and I had only seen Love Actually, which I didn't enjoy as much as I thought. The good news is that About Time was way better, and a really sweet story. It's one of the better written and more touching stories I've seen in a while. And thank goodness, there is no Hugh Grant cameo.

Summary: Tim finds out from his father at the age of 21 that the men in his family are capable of time travel. Tim instantly puts his new discovery to the test to find that it's true, and his world is instantly complicated. After the loss of what he thought was his true love he meets Mary, but he wants to perfect so many moments with her that he risks losing her. As his life grows more complicated though Tim finds his losses becoming huger, and it puts him in a tough spot knowing he can change time.

Wednesday Movie Night: Bachelorette (2012)

It's true, I'm getting married this weekend. After a rough day I figured I would get into the mood of being married soon by watching Bachelorette. I can't say this movie would have been as funny as it was had I not had that glass of wine though. A lot of the jokes feel very strained, and overall I felt like I walked away from a movie trying very hard to be the female version of The Hangover. There are drugs and sex along with plenty of drinking, plus crazy antics all in the night before the wedding. Instead of the bachelor party going wrong, the bachelorette one does.

Summary: Becky has a skewed view of what her so called friends think of her. While they all seem close their ties seem to be based on partying. Becky though has calmed down, especially since becoming engaged. Regan though is bitter because she thought she would be the one marrying first, and Gena and Katie are living their lives in party mode without any regrets. After the girls decide to get out Becky's dress to look at and rip it they find their night in one big rush to fix it before the morning.

Wednesday Movie Night: The Losers (2010)

I remember when I first saw previews of this when it came out in 2010, I didn't think much of it. My fiance recommended it though, so I checked it out. While the plot is decent the visuals are where the strengths of the movie truly lie. There are many memorable scenes in the movie, and the movie is just going for cool. Sylvain White seemed to be aiming to make a very cool movie and he got that, but he may have lost some other things to focus on along the way.

Summary: Clay, Jensen, Roque, Pooch, and Cougar are apart of a CIA special forces team. When they disobey commands from their superiors though they are left for dead, and now left to fend on their own. The betrayal was instigated by a man named, Max. Now they are planning their own offensive, but when a mysterious woman becomes apart of their team she could hurt or help the offense they are building again him. Not only are they trying to plan a way to get back, but also make it out of the jungle they were left in as well.

Wednesday Movie Night: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Captain America seems like he would be a tough comic character to pull off. You don't want him to be too perfect, especially with a name like Captain America, but you know he has to represent certain attributes perhaps placed with that name. Chris Evans brings to life the character perfectly though making him human and likable, but also what seems to be a nicely intended guy at heart. It's much different from other heroes like Thor or Iron Man in the series. Plus, they made the outfit a lot cooler. The movie does a lot more character development in the first hour than you would think, and then slips into an action fest for the last hour or so.

Summary: Set during World War II in 1942, Steve Rogers is looking to sign up for the military, but he is told he is not fit enough to join. He volunteers instead for research, and after proving to be worthy for that he is transformed into a human that can utilize his body to the maximize human strength. His first task will be a huge one though, and that is to stop Schmidt and Nazi's top secret department, HYDRA.

Wednesday Movie Night: Redemption (2013)

I'll admit I haven't enjoyed many Jason Statham movies. I've only seen a few though including Parker. Redemption was another one of his movies from last year, and it seems that many people missed out on it, perhaps because by this point Statham only sales to a certain crowd. Redemption was a whole lot different than I expected though. While Statham still kicks butt, he also takes his role a lot more seriously in this one, making for a powerful character, but sadly the plot doesn't do him or anyone else justice.

Summary: Joseph Smith is a special forces veteran who has went AWOL. Now he is homeless and a drunk who is tortured about the horrific things he has witnessed. After running from thugs him and his girlfriend are separated, and now he is out to find her. He begins living a life as another man and working for Mr. Choy who has Joseph as an enforcer, and he also befriends a nun who is trying to help him find his girlfriend, Isabelle, but when a girl's body turns up his search now turns into a search for her murderer to extract vengeance.

Wednesday Movie Night: Prince Avalanche (2013)

Prince Avalanche was one of those movies from 2013 I had been anticipating seeing, and I finally took the chance to see it. To be honest it's just as I expected. It's a good story, but nothing memorable, and in a world where a lot of movies like this are released it doesn't have anything that quite pops outside the acting. Emile Hirsch brings one of his better roles to life since Into the Wild though, and Paul Rudd just gives us another slice of what he is capable of.

Summary: Alvin is a highway road worker, and in the summer of 1988 he has agreed to help out his girlfriend's brother, and bring him along for some work as well. While Alvin finds himself trying to be responsible and enjoying the outdoors he works in, Lance is quite the opposite. He's more focused on where the nearest town is so he can get laid, and if he can turn up his radio loud so he can hear his rock music. The two though are going to have some life changing experiences while they are away from the world, and it will be the only other person they can probably confide in.

Wednesday Movie Night: Tommy Boy (1995)

This movie came out in 1995 when I was 6, and not allowed to watch adult movies. It's understandable though. Even though I do believe I would have laughed more then than I did as an adult, as slapstick humor has become less appealing with age. What works though is the friendship between David Spade and Chris Farley who don't ever have to force the humor. For some reason Farley's character seems like a poor schmuck you just feel for.

Summary: Tommy is not too smart, he's immature, and isn't aspiring to much. He's also a heir to an auto part company, but after his father dies he's left having to battle out his relatives who are married into the family. His father has married a woman who's only goal is basically to earn more money from the empire, whether that means selling it and losing it from the family, she doesn't care. Tommy is determined to keep his dad's name alive through the business though, and sets out to keep it alive with the help of the man also working for his dad, Richard.

Wednesday Movie Night: Riddick (2013)

I haven't saw the other Riddick movies, but I was told I didn't need to see the other ones to potentially follow this one, so I jumped in to watch. Now it may be true you can keep up with the basic story just by tuning in with this one, but you maybe lacking some ties to the characters, and how the world or Riddick works if you aren't familiar with the past ones. Obviously it isn't earth, and it's on a foreign planet with different creatures and other threats.

Summary: Riddick is left for dead, and pursued by predators as he tries to survives. His only hope to alert a beacon that brings some trouble with it. Two ships arrive, one that is of mercenaries, and the other that contains the enemy of Riddick. Though he doesn't want to be caught with either teaming up with each other may be their only way of survival as a storm of demons is on the horizon, and looking to prove a threat to anyone no matter who they are. Bad blood though may stand in their way of uniting.

Wednesday Movie Night: Carrie (2013)

So most when they heard a remake of Carrie was being made cringed. The 1976 version is a classic, and even has more notoriety than the book from Stephen King, and well if there was a version to pick between all three it would be the original with Stephen King! Carrie though looks to modernize much of the antics in the 1976 movie. Now there is Youtube to torture Carrie, and a very preppy pretty school. You don't need to be plain like Sissy Spacek's Carrie to be bullied, just less ranking in a pretty school.

Summary: Carrie White is now in school after years of being homeschooled by her strictly, religious mother. Carrie is very sheltered as a teenager, and after embarrassingly getting the arrival of her period at school she finds herself even under more bullies than ever. Something else arrives as well though with womanhood, telekinetic abilities! Carrie though only hopes to fit in though, and break out from under her mom's tight rule. When a boy invites her to senior prom, Carrie thinks this maybe her chance, but instead the full extent of her powers will be revealed in a bloodbath.

Wednesday Movie Night: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

With the recent release of the second movie about Ron Burgundy I figured it was a good idea to check out the first one. I wasn't sure what to expect considering Will Ferrell can be a hit or miss, and that this movie was intended to be a really silly movie. With a good dose of a buzz though, and a nicely timed comedic movie though, this one works to be a comedy hit. I also have had Afternoon Delight stuck in my head since watching the movie.

Summary: Ron Burgundy sits atop the best of San Diego's newsman, but that is about to change. Him and his male-dominated crew are quite rude and crude when Veronica Corningstone arrives at the station. They also all are set on winning a date with her, which Burgundy achieves himself. Things turn ugly though when he discovers that Corningstone won't let their relationship risk her getting to the top of the news station as a newswoman. Now Burgundy's career could be threatened if the crowd loves her more.

Wednesday Movie Night: Runner Runner (2013)

When going to look up Runner Runner online I was a bit shocked with how low the review feedback was. While the movie may not be one breaking the mold on anything it still was entertaining enough, and well acted. There are some things missing from the story like better character development, and the story does feel very rushed, and with this not being an action movie it does lack in something it needs to make the drama aspect work. Otherwise though I thought the actors were compelling in their roles.

Summary: Richie is a poor college student trying to finance his last semester at Stanford. So far he has found success at an online poker game that he has cracked. After believing he has been swindled out of his money though, Richie decides to take a trip to Costa Rica to have a talk with the owner, Ivan. The trip goes unlike he expects though, and not only is Richie reimbursed for his loss but he is also offered a position working for Ivan, but the lifestyle that starts out glamorous ends up being a world of trouble for Richie.

Wednesday Movie Night: Cutie and the Boxer (2013)

If you're looking to check out some movies from this upcoming Oscar season then stop and check out Cutie and the Boxer. It's nothing that spectacular, but it's well shot and I think captures the personality of these two very well. They also go the extra mile to capture the passion and the intertwining story of art happening here. I didn't find this movie to be as inspiring as other documentaries I've seen though, but I was compelled by these two artists who are known, but unknown outside of art fans.

Summary: Noriko and Ushio have been married for forty years, and it has been a crazy romance that centers around their love for art. Ushio is confident and is known for his boxing paintings. He was also big into the avant garde movement. Noriko's work is more like cartoons, and this movie chronicles her growing in confidence in her work without relying on her long relationship with Noriko to give her a place. The two though also have a lot of struggles though with their finances and their alcoholic son, Alex.

Wednesday Movie Night: Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (2013)

I wasn't expecting much from a movie that Jackass was endorsing, but honestly it was way funnier and better than expected. If you haven't enjoyed past Jackass movies then I don't think that will be a determining factor in enjoying this one. Instead this movie goes more in the route of Candid Camera, but with a story. There was a plot that I didn't expect. It isn't about a kid who is just going through different antics with his grandpa, but there is a goal to the movie to watch play through by the end. '

Summary: After Billy is abandon by his druggie mother, he is left with his grandpa who has just lost his wife. Grandpa Irving finds where Billy's father is living though, and contacts him in order to get Billy to him. Now Irving is travelling across country with his grandson to get him there, but along the way he meets a variety of people who seem confused and sometimes upset by the odd treatment of his grandson. Even though grandpa seems a little out of the routine of raising a child he still may be the best fit to raise Billy though.

Wednesday Movie Night: Don Jon (2013)

Don Jon is one of my favorites from 2013. For Joseph Gordon-Levitt it's a great start to setting up his career also being a writer and director as well. Plus it's shows off more of the range he is capable of as the lead who is a player. The movie though delves into some topics and issues that can be appreciated though. With Shame tackling the topic of sex addiction in general, and in a very dark way, Don Jon aims to mix more of humor in, but also depict the realities of how modern porn has warped Jon's view of sex.

Summary: Jon has his priorities straight in life. He's dedicated to family, friends, church, his car, working out, and also porn. He enjoys porn so much so that he enjoys it to real sex. When Jon meets Barbara though he believes he has found true love, but her romantic expectations about their relationship is making him still struggle to enjoy his sex life. Barbara also has caught him watching porn, and is disgusted. Now he feels he must choose between porn and Barbara, but Esther, a woman at his college class, may help him see otherwise.

Wednesday Movie Night: Blue Jasmine (2013)

How people have responded to the movie is quite interesting. Some relate to Jasmine, the lead character, or others just plain hate her. Woody Allen though tells the story in his typical fashion, and it's another one to like in a long line of movies that he has made, and for others it will be a bit of a comeback after To Rome With Love was a flop with audiences and fans. Blue Jasmine though focuses on much of the same things that Allen movies do though including affairs and singleness. This time with a bit of mental instability through in.

Summary: Jasmine is a New York socialite who has arrived at her adopted sister's, Ginger, house to stay until she can get on her feet. With the recent loss of her husband and wealth her life is scrambled and now she is believing that maybe she can fall into the world of designing. Jasmine though has a destructive personality and her panic attacks hit at anytime, especially under deep stress. Ginger wants to help the only person she can call a sister, but she might drag Ginger down with her if she does.

Wednesday Movie Night: Assisted Living (2003)

So I don't know whether I'm still okay with the fact that I watched this. There is a difference between being indie and just low quality. I think the story is nice, but by the end you're lacking of what was really intended by watching the movie. Many have said that the movie even got them to dreading getting older. The movie is also labeled as comedy despite the lack of laughs I felt after watching. Instead I just felt a bit sad.

Summary: Todd is a janitor at an assisted living facility. He doesn't seem to aspire to much, and he is already struggling to keep his job there. He meets an elderly patient, Ms. Pearlman, who begins mistaking him for her son who has abandon her at the assisted living residence. She has hopes of going to Australia, which must be where her son lives. In order to comfort her, Todd pretends to be her son, but this leads to her confusion that he actually is. Todd though may learn something from Ms. Pearlman for the hope he has given her.

Wednesday Movie Night: The Family (2013)

The family is from Luc Besson who has done some critically well received stuff, especially with the mafia. It would be the assumption that The Family might live up to critical expectation, but upon it's relief the reaction was pretty mixed. The cast is great, but the way the movie is shot takes away from the vibe that many mafia classics have had. It's a bit light, and the music a bit too action comedy. The story works though, and it creates some memorable characters otherwise.

Summary: Giovanni Manzoni and his family are living in the witness protection program after Giovanni ratted on the people he worked for to the police. Now Giovanni is living undercover as Fred with his wife Maggie, Belle, and Warren. We never learn the real names of the rest of his family. Now they are living in Normandy, France, and trying to fit in with the locals. The inability to not get into trouble though is causing Robert Stansfield, the guy who is the head of protecting them a huge headache. Now they've drawn attention to themselves, and they are being hunted.

Wednesday Movie Night: The Bling Ring (2013)

With the not so huge successes of Spring Breakers and The Bling Ring it looks like American just doesn't want to watch movies about spoiled teenagers. I think because the movie doesn't have a great screen play it takes away from the great direction of Sofia Coppola. Maybe it's just time to get back to those Lost in Translation days! That seems to be the only well received movie she has directed as Marie Antoinette wasn't too huge either. There is something about the bright, bubblegum vibe of her movies though that do keep me coming to her movies, but The Bling Ring is the weakest in her directing so far.

Summary: Rebecca, Marc, Nicki, Chloe, and Sam are fame obsessed teens. They find a way to get closer to the stars they love after finding ways to break into their houses and steal their clothes and jewelry. Eventually the law will catch on though as they hit up houses that included Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Rachel Bilson, and even Orlando Bloom as they are out of town.