June: Movie Madness!

You guys! This is getting hard! I'm watching too many movies! Well, that's not possible...but it does make it quite hard to keep up with these monthly reviews! It's so long, I honestly don't blame you for not reading it. I guess that's not something a blogger should be saying, but honestly.

(I'm shaking it up a bit, so you can click on the name of the movie to get a full summary and more info via it's IMDb page)

While You Were Sleeping
7.5/10
Netflix

I vaguely remember watching this movie with my mom and my grandma around Christmas time years and years ago, and I remember really liking it at the time, despite the fact that I slept through some of it. What I remembered most was the proposal at the end where the guy drops the ring into the coin slot, and the fact that I didn't find either of the love interests remotely attractive. I stand by that sentiment. The coma guy looks so stuck up and grinchy (I've totally seen him in other stuff too) and the other guy is just like Mr. BlandFace. Wow, this review is not getting off to a great start...it's a really enjoyable movie, as all Sandra Bullock films are. Truly, I always forget how great she is till I see another movie with her in it and then I'm like "Wow, she's so funny! And quirky! She's like a much more down to earth, less annoying Zooey Deschanel!" And if you're looking for a warm, snuggly, comforting Christmas love story, this movie is at least ten times better than your run of the mill Hallmark movie, and that's coming from an avid Hallmark movie lover. The premise is ridiculous, sure, but the characters have so much heart. I would definitely recommend.


La Belle et la Bete
7/10
Netflix


So this movie gets ten out of ten stars for the absolutely sumptuous aesthetics. Like I am telling you, I don't know if I've ever seen such a beautiful, more visually appealing movie in my entire life. It was an exquisite feast for the eyes and so fun to watch. Sometimes I can really hate CGI, but in this movie I was just like "keep it coming, bring it on". And Belle's wardrobe?????? So so so gorgeous. I also really loved how much of this adaptation was based much more closely to the original Beauty and the Beast novel by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, and how it was produced and filmed in French, since that's the original language and origin of the story in the first place. All that being said, the "romance"-- if you can even call it that-- between Belle and the Beast went from zero to one hundred real fast, and there was no reason for it...they had like zero chemistry, they didn't get to know each other at all, the weird flashback dreams Belle has that explain the Prince's background? I think they were supposed to endear Belle and the audience to the Prince but they did not, at all. And he wasn't even attractive!! Ugh. It makes me mad. Because I love the story of Beauty and the Beast and this film is so visually beautiful and had the potential to be so romantically beautiful too, but it just wasn't! It was like they spent all this time and money to make it such a feast for the eyes that when it came time for the story they just slapped some stuff together. I'm pretty bitter about it. Also, the beast wasn't even scary looking. He just looked like a big cat kind of. I think I'm just mad about this movie's wasted potential.

Homecoming King
8.5/10
Netflix

AB recommended this to me and I'm so glad she did! I absolutely love stand-up comedy, but I know it's not for everyone. That being said, this comedy special by Hasan Minhaj is so unique and heartfelt that I really think anyone could love it, even renowned stand-up haters. His flawless mixture of gut-splitting comedy and heart-melting life stories is so different from anything I've seen from other comedians, and it's his sincerity that makes it so great. I think there's a bit of fowl language, but I honestly think that if you can get past that it would be a super fun thing to watch with your whole family because he has so many awesome and relatable things to say about family.

The Other Sister
7/10
Netflix


I'd watched this movie a long time ago but I didn't remember a lot of what happened. Upon the second time watching it, I really enjoyed the dynamic between Carla (the main character and daughter who has special needs) and her mother. I think it's a really accurate portrayal of a family with a special needs member, because there's this desire to make that person feel as mobile and "normal" as possible, but there's also a desire to keep them safe from the danger and ridicule of the world, and I think this movie touched on that spectacularly. I will say it was a much longer movie than I remember, and I think I saw it on TV, so there were some things I did not remember seeing the first time I watched it...At times the actors who portrayed the two special needs characters felt a little stereotypical, and I'm sure it's incredibly difficult to be delicate and truthful when playing the part of someone with a physical or mental disability, so I can't really fault them for that. Overall, The Other Sister is a solid movie that tackles a topic that I don't think is portrayed nearly enough in TV and movies, and I think that's very refreshing.

Paris Is Burning
9/10
Netflix

Dorian Corey

Documentaries are really a hit or miss for me. This film was most assuredly a hit. I loved everything about it. I love that it wasn't trying to be political or make some big statement. It was just showing a culture that so many people don't know about, or may think they know about but don't understand the origin or the humanity behind it. I love the openness and candor of everyone interviewed. I love the thought that the makers of the movie put into it, and the fact that they so obviously cared about the people involved and wanted to show the beauty of the culture to the world, and not just put it on display as a spectacle. I love the way the women and men talk. They’re so interesting and intelligent and thoughtful. It’s like everything they do is art and it’s all intentional. I love that these people who feel like they don't belong in the larger culture have taken it upon themselves to create a safe place for each other, and how colorful and unique it is. And through it all, there’s this dark undercurrent of sadness, of a wanting that can’t be satisfied for the individuals involved. That sadness runs through the entire film, and thereby the entire culture, I assume. This is a film that I think many many more people should be exposed to. It brings a reality and a humanity and a compassion to a community that a lot of people completely reject simply because they don't understand or know enough about it. I learned so so much through this film and I think you would too. Also, there were some seriously quotable parts to it. Here's one of my favorite quotes from the film: “I always had hopes of being a big star. And then I looked—as you get older you aim a little lower. And I just say “well, yeah, you still might make an impression.” Everybody wants to leave something behind them—some impression, some mark upon the world. Then you think, you’ve left a mark on the world if you just get through it and a few people remember your name. Then you left a mark. You don’t have to bend the whole world. I think it’s better to just enjoy it. Pay your dues and enjoy it. If you shoot an arrow and it goes real high, hooray for you.” –Dorian Corey from Paris Is Burning

Also, fun fact, there's an episode of Gilmore Girls called Paris Is Burning, and now I finally know what that's a reference to!!

Suite Francaise
8/10
Netflix

Though this movie felt a little bit like many other movies I have seen, I blame myself for this fault, because I've just happened to see way too many movies, and it makes me picky about certain things that most people wouldn't be. So aside from feeling a little been-there-done-that, this was a beautifully affecting movie that captivated me from beginning to end, which is the case with most period dramas. It was also an instance in which the male lead was unappealing to me in the beginning, but became charming and acceptable by the end, which is something I always love when it happens. I also love Michelle Williams and think she is probably one of the greatest, most sincere actresses of our times, although I'd like to see her in a really happy role one of these days.

Megan Leavey
8/10
In Theaters
(woah, this one's IMDb page is so cool!)


This movie was really good, although not exactly what I was expecting. I really thought it was going to be one of those tear jerkers where the dog dies, but nope! The dog doesn't die and in fact gets a really happy ending! As much as I loved the bits of romance in this movie, however, they didn't really feel all that necessary to the plot, and I have a sneaking feeling they just kind of put them in there so that girls would want to see the movie. And I'm not complaining because the love interest dude was totally cute and perfect.



Wonder Woman
8/10
In Theaters



I'll admit that I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. I am not a fan of superhero films or comic books or whatever. To me they're all the same, and there's way too much pointless action that you know is going to be quickly resolved because obviously the superhero isn't going to die, so the good guy always wins, bla bla bla, whatever. BUT! I actually quite liked this movie! It had a little more personality and stuffing to it than other superhero things that I've seen, and I of course love Chris Pine, and now I totally love Gal Gadot as well. After watching the movie, I went home and watched like every interview she's in because I find her so interesting and down to earth and funny and basically I want to be her best friend now. I mean come on, she was pregnant during some of the shooting!!! How BA is that?? That's what I call Wonder Woman! So in conclusion, I would recommend this film to anyone, even somebody who thinks they don't like superheros.

The Way Way Back
8/10
DVD

I absolutely adore Allison Janney

I think everybody should see this movie at some point in their life because trust me when I say that at least one of the characters will remind you of somebody you know, or some crazy relative you have, or maybe even yourself. It's just so undeniably relatable that it had me laughing from beginning to end and saying to myself "Yep, that's my [aunt/cousin/friend/uncle/etc]."






A Country Called Home
7/10
Netflix

The absolute best character in the whole movie.
In fact, I would watch a whole movie just about
Reno. 

Absolutely stellar performances by Mackenzie Davis, Norman Bennett, and June Squibb. I always love seeing newcomers make a splash on screen, and all three of these actors I had never seen before, but am now thoroughly convinced I want to see again. Aside from those three...the movie felt pretty typical, even if it did give me some pleasant Elizabethtown vibes now and then. The pale romance that they snuck into the film felt wholly unnecessary, and the thoughtlessly shoehorned diversity was glaring and disappointing. I mean are we really not past the point of the only non-white people in a film being mailmen and department store workers? It's just kind of sad to see at this point. The storyline wasn't all that unique either, although the writing of the story made it more interesting than some of it's similarly plotted counterparts. I read a review of this movie that basically said everything I was thinking while I was watching it, so you can read the whole thing here, but if you don't feel like reading it all, here are the most important parts:

" There's exactly one fascinating, original character [Mackenzie Davis' character] in Anna Axster's well-meaning but bland debut feature, "A Country Called Home." Unfortunately, the movie's not about him."

and 

"June Squibb has nice moments as Ellie's grandmother Judy, a kindly woman who fills her calendar with community activities. But the warmer, fresher presence of Judy and Reno only clarifies what's wrong with the rest of "A Country Called Home," a paint-by-numbers indie that barely uses its most vivid hues."

That about says it all. I still think this movie is worth the watch if for Judy and Reno alone, and much of the characterization and dialogue did ring true to the America that I'm familiar with as a small-towner, so that was interesting to see. But overall, not a best effort in my opinion. 

VaughnDL