Movies Watched In 2018
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- DirectorRob BurnettStarsCraig RobertsPaul RuddSelena GomezA man suffering a family loss enrolls in a class about care-giving that changes his perspective on life.I really like Paul Rudd's screen presence so I was hopeful that the film would be one that I would enjoy. I was wrong. The film tells the story of a deeply grieving man (Paul Rudd as Ben Benjamin) who becomes a caregiver for a disabled young man (Craig Roberts as Trevor). Unfortunately, I did not enjoy the movie as I absolutely loathed Trevor, who was a difficult and obnoxious patient and human being. The movie intends to make some transformative magic in the relationship between Ben and Trevor, but I did not find any redeeming characteristics in Trevor or their burgeoning friendship.
- DirectorAlex GibneyStarsPaul HaggisJason BegheSpanky TaylorA documentary looking at the inner-workings of the Church of Scientology.Going Clear was a very interesting documentary about Scientology, its beliefs, practices, and lies. In my opinion Scientology is a cult and not a religion; this film supported that belief. In conversation with those who had escaped the net of Scientology and its creepy leader, the worst of the cult's abuses are clarified for the viewing public. I don't know what to make of people who join a cult that was founded by a writer of science fiction, which worships alien life forms, and in which the highest levels of knowledge are open only to the fantastically rich. I am left troubled and wanting to know even more than this probing documentary offered.
- DirectorAlex GarlandStarsAlicia VikanderDomhnall GleesonOscar IsaacA young programmer is selected to participate in a ground-breaking experiment in synthetic intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a highly advanced humanoid A.I.Note: I did not finish watching the film.
Ex Machina is the story of Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson), a computer genius, who wins a prize offered by reclusive billionaire computer whiz Nathan (Oscar Isaac). Nathan offers Caleb a chance to interact with Ava (Alicia Vikander), an artificial intelligence in the body of a beautiful woman. I didn't finish the movie because Oscar Isaac played his role too well. His intensity, alcoholism, and borderline insanity terrified me and I had to stop watching, which is a shame, as the film had some really original ideas. - DirectorRichard CurtisStarsDomhnall GleesonRachel McAdamsBill NighyAt the age of 21, Tim discovers he can travel in time and change what happens and has happened in his own life. His decision to make his world a better place by getting a girlfriend turns out not to be as easy as you might think.About Time is one of the films I love best. I watched it once again it to cheer myself up after a hard day. At age 21, Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) is told by his father (Bill Nighy) that all the men in the family can travel back in time. What Tim thinks is a joke is actually true. Tim's relationship with Mary (Rachel McAdams) is carefully nurtured by a series of jumps back in time until he gets his and her romantic ideals exactly right. It's a lovely, romantic, and quirky film with a great soundtrack. Bill Nighy is my very favourite actor and he was just right in his fatherly role. Great supporting acting by Lindsay Graham as Tim's mum, and by Lydia Wilson as Tim's troubled sister.
- DirectorJames MarshStarsEddie RedmayneFelicity JonesTom PriorStephen Hawking gets unprecedented success in the field of physics despite being diagnosed with motor neuron disease at the age of 21. He defeats awful odds as his first wife Jane aids him loyally.This film is the story of Stephen Hawking, the renowned physicist, and his wife Jane. It is the first time I have seen Eddie Redmayne act, and he was astonishing. For most of the film I assumed that it was Hawking in the wheelchair, not an actor; the acting was a gift. The movie itself felt very rushed, and a lot of the details of a very interesting life were left out. I understand time constraints on motion pictures, but the film felt more like a breezy glance at a life and less like a fulfilling bio-pic.
- DirectorNils GaupStarsJakob OftebroKristofer HivjuTorkel Dommersnes SoldalIn the year 1206 Norway is raged by civil war. The King's illegitimate infant son, Håkon Håkonsson, which half the kingdom wants killed off, is guarded in secrecy by two men. A story which changed the course of the country's history.Historical film about the internecine strife in 13th century Norway. The late King Hakon has fathered an illegitimate baby, and when his legitimate heir dies, this infant is hunted down by those who want Norway under their rule. The film was a bit brutal for my liking, but there was real heart in it, as well as gorgeous scenery and Nikolaj Lie Kaas popping up in a small bad guy role. I was fascinated with the ability and ease of these Norwegian actors to manoeuver on skis, downhill and cross-country. Not a great film, but a pleasant enough way to spend a couple of hours.
Norwegian with English subtitles. - DirectorJoachim RønningEspen SandbergStarsPål Sverre HagenAnders BaasmoGustaf SkarsgårdIn 1947, with five loyal friends in tow, explorer Thor Heyerdahl sails a fragile balsa wood raft along an ancient path some 4,300 miles across the Pacific.I have just finished watching Kon-Tiki and was absolutely astounded by the beauty and brilliance of this film. The cinematography was simply stunning; the acting and casting excellent; and the story of Thor Heyerdahl's ground-breaking expedition across 5,000 miles of open ocean on a balsa wood raft to prove a scientific theory no one else gave credence to, although a tale I know well, was told to perfection.
- DirectorAlberto RodríguezStarsJose CoronadoEduard FernándezMiquel García BordaThe story of a man who fooled an entire country. A tale of cheats and impostors, taking its inspiration from true facts and from one of the most intriguing characters of recent decades: the spy Francisco Paesa.Spanish film about Francisco Paesa, a Spanish intelligence officer who variously posed as an arms dealer, arranged the arrest of Spanish politician Luis Roldan while simultaneously stealing his vast fortune, and who faked his own death in Thailand before returning to life and arranging for the overthrow of the dictator of Equatorial Guinea. Although this may sound exciting, the movie wasn't. It was far too subtle, using hints to guide the viewer, and instead confusing and eluding this one. It is likely my doing, as the film has won great critical acclaim and I am not known for my comprehension of spy thrillers. Nevertheless, I found the film dull.
Spanish with English subtitiles. - DirectorRose BoschStarsJean RenoAnna GalienaChloé JouannetLea, Adrian, and their little brother Theo, born deaf, go on holiday in Provence with their grandfather, Paul "Oliveron" they never met because of a family quarrel. Unfortunately, it is not the holidays they dreamed, especially after their father announced that he was leaving the house. In less than 24 hours, it is the clash of generations between the teens and their grandfather.Lovely film about a trio of Parisian youngsters who, after their parents separate, go to stay with their grandparents in Provence. They have never met their grandfather, and he is a surly man who does not welcome their arrival. The slow development of their relationship, first love, the growth of the olive grove, and old friendships renewed fill out this excellent film, and made the time pass slowly and sweetly. Jean Reno and Anna Galiena are perfectly suited to their roles as grandparents. A terrific soundtrack, featuring sounds as varied as Bob Dylan, Coldplay, and flamenco music, adds to the pleasure of this movie. I also very much enjoyed the athleticism of the young men who ran with the bulls, what skill and swiftness they possess!
French with English subtitles. - DirectorRitesh BatraStarsJim BroadbentCharlotte RamplingHarriet WalterA man becomes haunted by his past and is presented with a mysterious legacy that causes him to re-think his current situation in life.Nice movie and excellent cast in this story, based on a book by Julian Barnes, about aging curmudgeon Tony Webster (Jim Broadbent), who receives a letter that opens the door to a Russian nesting doll full of secrets in his past. Harriet Walter plays Tony's long-suffering ex-wife, and Michelle Dockery his pregnant daughter, while Charlotte Rampling has a small role as a character in Tony's past. The interplay between past and present are handled quite masterfully. The film was a bit too slow-paced, I think, but all in all a pleasant way to pass a couple of hours.
- DirectorTom HooperStarsEddie RedmayneAlicia VikanderAmber HeardA fictitious love story loosely inspired by the lives of Danish artists Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener. Lili and Gerda's marriage and work evolve as they navigate Lili's groundbreaking journey as a transgender pioneer.Once again, Eddie Redmayne astonished me with his brilliant acting in this film about the world's first transgender woman, Lili Elbe, a gifted Danish painter who was born as Einar Wagenen and who underwent the first gender reassignment surgery in 1930. Alicia Vikander was very good in the role of Einar's wife Gerda, who literally brought Lili to life on canvas. Gorgeous artistry in the backdrops, sets, costumes, and cinematography made the film a visual treat.
- DirectorWesley ChanPhilip WangStarsAaron YooBrittany IshibashiBrandon Soo HooThe Department of Emotional Integrity (DEI) documents all relationship activity. A 'relationship score' is given to keep people accountable for their choices. The score is public for all to see, and affects various aspects of daily life. Two couples, teenagers and early 30s, face different but intersecting challenges in their relationships within the rules of the DEI.Sweet and intelligent film about a world in which all relationship metrics are scored by the Department of Emotional Integrity, and in which these ratings affect everything - education, job availability, credit, and future relationships. The movie focuses on two Korean couples, one very young, one older, and shows the constraints and a few unexpected freedoms to be found within the system. Well worth watching.
- DirectorJames IvoryStarsAnthony HopkinsEmma ThompsonVanessa RedgraveSet in the early 20th century, class distinctions and troubled relations affect the relationship between two families and the ownership of a cherished British estate known as Howards End.Note: I did not finish watching the film.
Maybe it's the movie, maybe it's that I have the flu, but I watched about half of the film and discovered that I didn't care what happened to the characters. I've never been able to get through the book either. I generally love period pieces, and there were some fine actors in this one, but it dragged and I stopped watching. - DirectorAndy HamiltonGuy JenkinStarsRosamund PikeDavid TennantBilly ConnollyA family of five heads to Granddad's big 75th-birthday party at an uncle's estate in rural Scotland. The parents are separated and hope their three kids won't mention it. The kids love, can talk with, and would do anything for Granddad.Before I get critical, let me say that this film had an excellent cast. It is always a delight to see Billy Connolly on screen; he never fails to exceed my expectations. David Tennant is one of my favourite actors. Kudos to the little girl who played the younger daughter; she made me smile many times. However, the vehicle that was this film was a shoddy one, and even good actors couldn't rescue it, nor could the beauty of the Scottish countryside. The script is one of the most unlikely I've ever encountered, and unfortunately is not rendered sweet or believable by the direction or some of the poorer actors on-set. Barely worth viewing, sadly.
- DirectorAndy SerkisStarsAndrew GarfieldClaire FoyHugh BonnevilleThe inspiring true love story of Robin and Diana Cavendish, an adventurous couple who refuse to give up in the face of a devastating disease.Bio-pic about Robin Cavendish, who was paralyzed from the neck down due to a bout of polio in 1958. The strength and love of Cavendish's wife, Diana, and the resourcefulness of his friend Prof. Teddy Hall allowed him to leave the hospital and live at home, and eventually leave the house and travel in a specially-designed chair that encased the respirator. These pioneering efforts were the inspiration for leaps forward for severely disabled people in Britain and worldwide. The film was co-produced by Cavendish's son, Jonathan. Unfortunately the film was rather soppy, and although I found it absorbing, thought that too much attention was paid to the maudlin side of the story, and too little on the contributions that Cavendish made to the lives of the disabled.
- DirectorJoann SfarStarsFreya MavorBenjamin BiolayElio GermanoA woman must find out about a crime she is implicated, to prove her innocence.I watched this film until halfway through, and then couldn't take it anymore. The story was about a youngish woman, secretary to a miserable executive whom she secretly desires. When he leaves for vacation, she "borrows" his car to take a journey to the sea, which she has never seen. Things get strange when unknown people along the way recognize her and the car. Not enough to hold my interest, nor did I like the blatant sexism in the movie.
Mainly in French with English subtitles, although some English is spoken. - DirectorHans Petter MolandStarsNikolaj Lie KaasFares FaresPål Sverre HagenTwo intertwined cases linking the past with the present require the aid of Department Q to catch an elusive serial killer while time is running out.I watched this film last year and felt like watching it again. The second viewing was even more powerful than the first. Nikolai Lie Kaas stars as Carl Morck, a dour Danish police detective who has had a nervous breakdown from which he has not yet recovered. The kidnapping and disappearance of two children from a strict religious community turn into a hunt for a serial killer who has been killing children quietly for many years. Fares Fares plays an excellent Assad, and Pal Sverre Hagen is chilling as the bad guy. Well worth watching.
Danish with English subtitles. - DirectorMads MatthiesenStarsMaria PalmEd SkreinCharlotte TomaszewskaEmma, an emerging model, struggles to enter the Parisian fashion scene and develops a dangerous obsession for fashion photographer Shane White.The Model is story of a young woman from Denmark (Maria Palm as Emma), who comes to Paris hoping to make her mark in the world of high-fashion modelling. She becomes embroiled in the life and love of photographer Shane (Ed Skrein); her obsession with him leads her to the borders of madness. Her creeping insanity is very well played. Good movie but very creepy and uncomfortable.
Mostly in English, but some French and Danish are spoken (with subtitles). - DirectorBernardo BertolucciStarsJeremy IronsLiv TylerCarlo CecchiAfter her mother commits suicide, a young woman travels to Italy in search of love, truth and a deeper connection with herself.Liv Tyler plays a young woman in search of her biological father; her quest takes her to the villa in Tuscany, an art commune, where her mother conceived her. I think the director should have made more use out of the glorious landscape. Jeremy Irons has a role in the film, sadly, he plays old and decrepit far too well. It is hard to see your idols age. Rather shambling film. I was uncomfortable with the sex scenes in it.
- DirectorNoah BaumbachStarsGreta GerwigMickey SumnerAdam DriverA New York woman apprentices for a dance company and throws herself headlong into her dreams, even as the possibility of realizing them dwindles.Frances Ha marks the first time I have ever watched a mumblecore film, which means (I think), that it's low-budget and deliberately made to show off the low budget. Starring Greta Gerwig, who co-wrote the film, the story is of a young woman who wants to be a dancer, and who struggles with money, love, and friendship. I enjoyed it. Filmed in black and white.
- DirectorCatalina Aguilar MastrettaStarsKarla SouzaJosé María YazpikBen O'TooleA single, successful career woman asks her co-worker to pose as her boyfriend at a family wedding back home in Mexico. Her situation gets complicated when her ex shows up at the ceremony.Rather silly Mexican film about a woman who asks her co-worker to be her date at a wedding, which is going well until her ex-boyfriend and love of her life shows up. It was a pleasant way to spend a couple hours, but it was neither well-scripted nor well-acted.
Some English, but mostly Spanish with English subtitles. - DirectorRebecca MillerStarsGreta GerwigEthan HawkeJulianne MooreMaggie wants to have a baby, raising him on her own, but when she gets romantically involved with John, a married man, things get complicated and all the balance of Maggie's plans may collapse.Rather over-the-top film about a woman, Maggie (Greta Gerwig), who wants a baby but not a relationship. In walks John (Ethan Hawke), a university professor, who is unhappily married to Georgette (Julianne Moore). When Maggie gets pregnant, the lives of all three adults become precarious balancing acts. I liked the three-dimensionality of the characters, but I didn't actually like any of the adults, which soured the film for me while at the same time making it more believable. Also, I couldn't tell whether the movie was pretentious or whether it was taking a humorous poke at academia. A difficult film to like.
- DirectorPedro AlmodóvarStarsEmma SuárezAdriana UgarteDaniel GraoAfter a casual encounter, a brokenhearted woman decides to confront her life and the most important events involving her estranged daughter.Julieta is the story of a woman about to embark on a post-retirement life when she accidentally discovers that her long-missing daughter is still alive. The tale, which meanders through the past and the present, tells the viewer of Julieta's past love, and the reason that Antia, the daughter, disappeared many years back. It was a terrific film, the first I have seen directed and written by Pedro Almodovar, and I was definitely impressed. It was a visual treat as well; the production made beautiful use of primary colours, particularly red, and was shot along the beautiful Spanish coast and against the stately buildings of Madrid. Definitely a film I would recommend.
Spanish with English subtitles. - DirectorJon AvnetStarsKathy BatesJessica TandyMary Stuart MastersonEvelyn, an ordinary housewife, visits a nursing home and befriends the old lady Ninny. Together, they bond over stories from the past about two intrepid women of Whistle Stop Cafe.Enjoyed re-watching Fried Green Tomatoes, although I wish it were more similar to the novel by Fannie Flagg. It's a sweet story woven within another sweet story, but poor acting by a couple of the players really harmed the whole film.
- DirectorTaylor SheridanStarsElizabeth OlsenJeremy RennerGraham GreeneA wildlife officer, who is haunted by a tragedy that happened because of him, teams up with an FBI agent in solving a murder of a young woman on a Wyoming Native American reservation and hopes to get redemption from his past regrets.Terrific film about the murder of a young woman on a Native Reserve in Montana. Although it was a thriller, it was also a statement about the treatment of Natives, a love song to the beauty of the Montana scenery, and a redemptive tale about a tracker (Jeremy Renner), who travels down the road to healing from the grief of the death of his own daughter by helping the FBI solve this crime. Powerful acting and breathtaking scenery made this film even more of a tour de force.