Watching 365 Movies in 2017: July
12 min readAug 1, 2017
- Counterpunch — Interesting look at boxing culture in America, from the guy in his prime to the up and coming kid to the guy who appreciates it as a sport and not as a professional. The protagonists were represented as pretty human guys, which I appreciated, but by the end of the movie the only one I really wished greatness for was the sportsman Cam F. Awesome. Great look at the issues of boxing today, would definitely recommend to a sports fan. 3 ½ stars
- Matchbreaker — Cute little indie romcom but nothing special. Lead male isn’t very likeable, lead female is but I just googled her and found out she got murdered last year so jesus christ. 2 ½ stars
- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks — This was pretty solid. An interesting look at how the medical profession used to treat poor black people and how, honestly, it doesn’t look like things have changed too much. Rose Byrne was real solid in this, and Oprah was okay but a bit too much at times. Not the best HBO original movie I’ve seen but the subject matter was fascinating and I’m gonna try and find the book to learn more. 3 ½ stars
- Sister Act — Man oh man the late 80s/early 90s vibes is strong in this one. I remember my dad being into this movie as a kid but never really watching it. I think I was expecting more character actors amongst the nuns but honestly the only two I recognize now are Kathy Najimy and Maggie Smith. The fact that this ends with the pope watching a bunch of nuns sing is beautiful in its own absurdist way. Whoopi is great, but Harvey Keitel seems to be playing almost a parody of the kind of characters he got famous playing, but honestly maybe Keitel just isn’t as great an actor as society has me convinced. Bill Nunn is always good, dude deserved to do more. Anyway decent movie. 3 ½ stars
- The Great Gilly Hopkins — Kind of a sweet movie about a girl from a troubled background living in a foster home, just trying to find her mother. Glenn Close is great, Kathy Bates if good, kind of weird to have Julia Stiles in the movie for only two scenes. Sweet little flick for kids and adult alike, although there is a very surprising fart joke at one point. I would watch Bill Cobbs in anything though. 4 stars
- War Dogs — This is like a less good Lord of War. Not less good, just less as interesting. Still, the idea of these people manipulating different governments to sell guns and ammo is fascinating, and is something I could watch a ton of different movies on. Miles Teller and Jonah Hill are both solid, but Bradley Cooper as the most ominous arms dealer in the world is what really steals it. Surprisingly most of the action from the trailers takes place in the first half, and after that it becomes more of a betrayal drama. I’d watch it again, but I didn’t love it. 3 stars
- The Strange History of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell — Fascinating look at the history of gays serving in the military and the insanity of banning guys and the rough road that was don’t ask, don’t tell. Clearly somewhat dated being from 2011 and but still an interesting look at what the miltary was and what I’m sure some would like it to return to. Patrick Murphy, the Pennsylvania Congressman, is kind of a fascinating guy, I hope he does more. I wasn’t expecting 9/11 footage so that was kind of jarring but the issue of translators being discharged for being gay deserves to be covered. Some amazing statistics looking how much money Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell cost the US government. No surprise, John McCain of course comes off as the doddering old man he’s been since 2008. My favorite moment is Barack talking about signing the repeal into a law, and to the side is Biden awkwardly hugging a woman. Beautiful. Caption screens quality was kinda low tech but still something worth checking out. 3 ½ stars
- The Big Lebowski — This one might catch me some flack, but I’ve never seen a non-TV edit of this movie, and even then not all of it. Walter may be the most sociopathic character that Goodman has ever played, and that includes a serial killer and a klansmen. I honestly had no idea this was a noir. I don’t know what I can say about this that so many people haven’t already. I get why it’s so beloved. 4 stars
- Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press — Man, Hulk Hogan’s lawyer has the most impressive toupee I’ve ever seen. Honestly it’s hard to find someone to root for her, because the first amendment matters but Gawker…Gawker is a bunch of bullies and I don’t miss them. The Peter Thiel stuff and then the Sheldon Adelson stuff are both fascinating enough to be their own movie, but I like that they were combined because it all leads back to billionaires buying the country. Depressing but fascinating. God I dislike the President. 4 stars
- Zodiac — This is one of those movies where literally every actor is knocking it out of the park. Every performance is something worth remembering, something stand out and enjoyable, but that seems like the norm with Fincher. Good story, but honestly gets a little too slow near the end. Like I get that they ran out of connectable murders but they seem to really drum up the drama and suspense with little payoff. Still, good movie, glad I finally watched the whole thing. 4 ½ stars
- Strange Wilderness — I love Steve Zahn and I hate myself so here we go. Oh this is impressively bad. There are legitimately funny people in this but my god everyone must have been having an off day, or they’re all terrible improvisers. Steve Zahn’s dick is inside an angry turkey. I….really don’t want to finish this. The jokes in this are the most childish, ridiculous, terrible things and I don’t want any of the characters to have success. Ernest Borgnine is delightful, so that’s kinda something. 1 star
- Around the World in 80 Days — This is the Jackie Chan version, for those curious. The amount of cameos in this is legitimately surprising, but not in a terrible way, one scene wonders at best typically. Mark Addy is by far my favorite of them, just the most charmingly ridiculous man. This was some dumb fun, forgettable but enjoyable, plus some fun kung fu fights thanks to Jackie. For some reason the end credits contain a version of It’s a Small World sung by the Baha Men so…docking it for that. 3 stars
- Blast From the Past — I guess the theme of this week’s movies are things I wanted to see as a kid but never got a chance to. Oh man, Nathan Fillion looks like a baby in this. Honestly I think I just miss Brendan Fraser. Like he wasn’t amazing, he never knocked me off of my feet, but…there’s just an affableness about the guy that is one of a kind. Dave Foley as the catty gay best friend is also pretty entertaining in its own special way. I have no idea why this movie is nearly two hours though. I also forgot swing dancing had that weird comeback in the 90s, what a terrifying time to be alive that must’ve been. This movie is yet another in a long line of fines. 3 stars
- Gentlemen Prefer Blondes — I guess I should watch some classics when the opportunity presents itself. Jane Russell is my new God, almost everything I would want in a movie heroine, and I could not give a damn for Marilyn Monroe, although she isn’t bad, she just pales in comparison. Elliott Reid as Malone also has some of my favorite dialogue I’ve ever heard in a movie, and also he inspired the name of a Scrubs character so I absolutely love him. The child actor in this is terrible, and it is kind of surprising that there are no songs in the second act. They’re not required, it’s just surprising. Pretty good, and it’s fascinating how far movie making has come. 4 stars
- Baby Driver — Edgar Wright’s latest movie doesn’t feel like an Edgar Wright movie. Gone are the quick cut montages, replaced by choreographed dance numbers into everyday life. Our hero, Baby, Mickey Mouses Fantasia style, moving and driving to the music in a way that is fascinating. The hero himself is fine, Ansel Egort is competent but the role is pretty minimalistic. The real stand-outs are Jamie Foxx as the criminally insane Bats and Jon Hamm as the affably evil Buddy. I’d love to have seen some of their other adventures. 4 stars
- Okja — I loved Snowpiercer, so of course I was going to give this an opportunity. This is ridiculous in a very charming way. Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal and Paul Dano are all doing amazingly ridiculous performances, Dano especially standing out. Steven Yeun also does a good job, but I don’t know if this was really a stretch out of his wheelhouse. This bad boy definitely takes it to GMO corps like Monsanto, but it ends on a surprisingly depressing note. The CGI could’ve been better, and even for me the swearing was a bit excessive, but it was still enjoyable. Great after credits scene, I think I’m gonna stop eating pig. 3 ½ stars
- American Anarchist — I wonder if watching this gets my name on some lists. The guy is fascinating now that he’s grown into an older teacher, he clearly regrets the hand he had in creating the Anarchist Cookbook, but he can’t take it back. I also appreciate that the director doesn’t really give him leeway with the decisions he’s made, calling him out for taking a buyout for letting the book continue to exist. This guy’s life is fascinating, where he ended up, what he’s gone through, and I never would’ve considered him if not for this movie. He died shortly afterwards, unexpectedly. How tragic. 4 stars
- Be Here Now — I never watched Spartacus, but Andy Whitfield seemed like a good guy taken too soon. This whole thing is heartbreaking when you know how it ends. Also the amount of focus given on Eastern medicine isn’t exactly a negative, because it does help mentally, but part of me is just like “please do more actual medicine for the love of god.” This is way too long, and it seems to cover the same points of how tragic it is over and over again, but it’s an interesting look at a family dealing with cancer. 3 stars
- The Man With One Red Shoe — There are very few Tom Hanks movies I haven’t seen, and its even more surprising that Dabney Coleman is involved, but here we are, and music by Thomas Newman doesn’t hurt. I had no idea Carrie Fisher was in this either, cancels out having to deal with Jim Belushi. Lot of weird physical gags throughout, has a Spies Like Us vibe to it but just isn’t as good. Also this dress that the female lead is wearing has a ridiculous amount of ass crack cleavage, how is that appealing? Honestly I can see why I’ve never seen this, the third act is pretty solid but the rest is kinda forgettable. 3 stars
- Southside With You — I guess for the big numbers I gotta watch something that takes place in Chicago. It is kind of jarring that Michelle never seems to use contractions, or maybe she just enunciates super hard, but both actors are solid in their roles. Actually pretty good, all things considered. Not a wower by any stretch but an interesting look at being black in 90s Chicago and how things have and haven’t changed. The ending with the instrumental was a nice touch. 3 ½ stars
- The Big Sick — This is maybe my favorite movie I’ve watched this year. Great cast, good twist on the typical rom com formula, there wasn’t a character I didn’t love, although David Allen Grier was criminally underused. Ray Romano and Bo Burnham were both standouts, but Zoe Kazan and Holly Hunter are also great, just like they are in everything else they’ve done. I loved these, and they really nailed the comedian dialogue. I might go see this again. 5 stars
- Legend — Mobsters, not demons. I remember really wanting to see this after the trailers came out but it not getting a lot of buzz. Ronald is the more interesting of the Kray twins but kudos to Tom Hardy for playing both as truly distinct characters who just happen to be twins. I’m curious how much of this is historically accurate, and it has its moments but its definitely not the strongest gangster movie I’ve ever seen. Still, some really strong performances, lots of actors I definitely want to see more from. 3 1/2 stars
- Search Party — A lot of Thomas Middleditch’s dick in this one. Also comics, but Middledtich’s dick…it’ll stick with you. This plot is insane but the movie has some enjoyable moments, just heavy handed with ridiculousness, but in a way that makes you wonder why am I still watching this. Honestly decent performances but the script is just too much. Just…what a weird movie that doesn’t seem to know what kind of movie it is trying to be. 2 ½ stars
- Shimmer Lake — This is labeled as a drama but its definitely has a lot of black comedy vibes. That said, I don’t like how it seems to be going backward day by day, makes it hard to follow at times, not Momento bad but comparable. Good bit of noir intrigue, and I dig the small town angle of it, but there isn’t much to it overall. Adam Pally and Rob Corddry could’ve had bigger roles. Would’ve been nice to get a big explanation of how everything was going to go down, and the info dump about motivation could’ve been better, but it’s still a decent movie. 3 ½ stars
- The Stanford Prison Experiment — I’m curious how much of this is based on reality, or if it’s just a dramatic retelling. Solid cast, a lot of up and comers plus Billy Crudup leading the gang, a lot of really good performances. Kinda weird that Ezra Miller is the POV character but he still disappears halfway through the movie, not the best choice for a story even if it was historically accurate. Good movie, but mentally draining, and kind of a horrifying look at human nature. I’m curious what the results would be if something similar was done today. 4 stars
- Mission: Impossible — I’ve seen the end of this, so it kinda sucks that that’s spoiled, but the rest is hopefully a treat. For example, I had no idea Emilio Estevez was in this, but he isn’t in any of the other ones so that’s probably not a good sign. The franchise gets so much better after this one. It’s fine as a generic action movie, but the gadgets and the suspense only amps up from here. Also the female lead being overwhelmingly generic was pretty frustrating. I don’t hate it, and maybe if I’d seen it before the others, but here we are. 3 stars
- Starring Adam West — Cute little movie about the history of the guy, but the narrative is split between his past and his present and maybe I would’ve preferred if it just found one angle and stuck with it. It’s perfectly acceptable, and I’m gonna miss the guy, but I doubt I’ll recommend this to others. 3 stars
- Batman: The Killing Joke — I told myself I’d never watch this but honestly I think I’m just looking for something to be angry about. This is impressively violent, but it seems unnecessarily so. Just like the sex scene. Honestly the whole Batgirl segment is frustrating, it takes an interesting dynamic character and makes her reliant on a man’s approval to do her job, seems cruel. I hate the Bat costume in this too, the ears are too much. Honestly Hammill is killing it as the Joker per usual but the rest is…oh boy. Poor Alan Moore. Also pretty sure Batman kills in this, hate that. The ambiguous ending is…something to think about. 1 ½ stars
- Spider-Man: Homecoming — God this movie felt like an eternity. Like even for skipping the typically Spider-Man origin story, it just seems to take forever to get to the good stuff. That said, great performances throughout, especially Michael Keaton, and I think I’m gonna be a fan of this version of MJ, angry art girls are definitely more nerd bait these days. Some solid cameos and winks to Spidey villains that I really enjoyed, but if I watch it again I want it to be with a remote to fast forward through some slower parts. Weird that this was the superhero movie with an invisible plane in it. 3 ½ stars
- Sin City: A Dame To Kill For — Let’s see how long we can keep this super hero streak going. Right away I can tell this…isn’t going to be as good as the first one, just the green screen, the special effects look…sloppier? Less visually pleasing, definitely. The Long Bad Night is the best of these stories, Joseph Gordon Levitt should always be doing more. Also Dennis Haysbert is a good actor but compared to how imposing Michael Clarke Duncan is it just doesn’t compare. Eva Green seems to be too ridiculous to even believe as a seductress, but Brolin is solid. Would’ve been cool if Clive Owen had taken over halfway through. Meanwhile, Stacy Keach in all that make up…words fail me. Powers Boothe is also pretty great. It’s fine but it just doesn’t have much that’ll stick with you. 3 stars
- Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping — Finally, I’ve been trying to see this for months. If I could just watch fake documentaries the rest of the year, that’d be great. The amount of comedians in this is cool. So many cameos damn. I dunno which I prefer, this or Hot Rod, but both are real solid ridiculous comedies. Tim Meadows should do more, and honestly Michael Bolton is never not perfect in this stuff. 4 stars