Sunday, March 15, 2015

The Weekly Movie Watch Volume 34

This week I watched Nightcrawler, Sexy Beast, The Philadelphia Story.

I watch movies every week and then write down my thoughts. Read my previous reviews!
My rating is simple, Watch It, It Depends, Skip it.

Jake Gyllenhaal in Night Crawler
Nightcrawler -A must see film.

Nightcrawler (2014)
Watch Nightcrawler
Written by: Dan Gilroy
Directed by: Dan Gilroy
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton
Rated: R

Plot: 
With few prospects, Lou Bloom delves into crime journalism. Chasing sirens for a potential payday, unscrupulous Lou becomes a successful freelance cameraman.

Review:
Written and directed by Dan Gilroy, his directorial debut, Nightcrawler, is impressive on both accounts. It builds steadily from start to finish with an unrelenting climax, boasting excellent cinematography. Like morbid curiosity, you can't turn away. The protagonist is unpredictable and aloof, played perfectly by Jake Gyllenhaal. It's amazing how Gyllenhaal has taken on a completely different persona from his other films. The movie is riveting, rebuking the news industry and the viewers.
Watch it.
Dodge Challenger from Nightcrawler
Nightcrawler - Riveting from start to finish.


Ben Kingsley in Sexy Beast
Sexy Beast - Ben Kingsley is amazing.
Sexy Beast (2000)
Watch Sexy Beast
Written by: Louis Mellis, David Scinto
Directed by: Jonathan Glazer
Starring: Ray Winstone, Ben Kingsley, Ian McShane
Rated: R

Plot: 
A retired safe cracker returns to the life at the behest of the brutal Don Logan.

Review:
Sharp dialog, accentuated with good editing helps the slow start. While Ben Kingsley does an impeccable job, the juxtaposed editing feels like a way to mask the slow plot. Understated yet solid characters shape an intriguing story.
It depends.


Jimmy Steward, Cary Grant, and Katherine Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story
The Philadelphia Story - A rom-com done right.

The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Watch The Philadelphia Story
Written by: Donald Ogden Stewart (screenplay), Philip Barry (based on the play by), Waldo Salt (contributing writer, uncredited)
Directed by: George Cukor
Starring: Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart
Rated: --

Plot: 
An ex-husband and a tabloid reporter complicate a socialite's impending marriage.

Review:
Similar stories have followed, but none with the charm and talent of this one. I can't help but imagine how classic movies would be portrayed today. It exposes the flaws of modern film. Today, this movie would be raunchy and blatant, robbing it of what makes it endearing. The comedy is actually humorous instead of coarse language and scatological humor that 'sells' today. Grant, Stewart, and Hepburn in one movie would be enough to warrant a watch, but the story is excellent.
Watch it. 

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