A Late Quartet... And A Couple Other Good Ones... And A Couple Not So Good Ones

We'll start with the worst and work our way to the better ones....



#6. The Dish & The Spoon
I seem to have bad luck when I choose a random movie on Netflix. This was picked by my "leaving it to fate" process of closing my eyes and scrolling through the choices. I had an somewhat optimistic attitude when I started it, and half way through, it was gone. It took a lot for me to get to the end. Something about Greta Gerwig... sometimes I like her, sometimes she's too much, tries to hard. I'm not sure if I know anyone that would truly like this one... pass on it. But if you feel absolutely led to watch this, it's on Netflix Streaming...




#5. Safe
Since Jason Statham went somewhat mainstream 10'ish years ago with The Transporter, he has stared in 25-some action flicks. Some were crazy/insane movies (Crank and Crank 2: High Voltage) and just some normal shoot 'em up movies like Safe. Safe was just OK... I've seen a good amount of his movies and this is just an average one for him. I don't think Statham is to where these guys were popularity wise, but is he the now equivalent of Schwarzenegger, Stallone, Norris, or (I don't want to put this one) Willis?






#4. Pain & Gain

I was a bit surprised by this one. In a lot of ways it had the "Michael Bay'isms" you would expect, but it also had some aspects that were new from a Bay film. I usually can't stand The Rock, but in this, it was manageable to watch him (even a few funny parts on his end). Anthony Mackie wasn't anything special... which made me even more skeptical/nervous knowing that he will be joining the world of Marvel movies as The Falcon in the upcoming Captain America 2 movie... and probably then in Avengers 2. Now for Mark E. Mark... HILARIOUS!! For this role, I can't imagine anyone but Wahlberg doing this... it was perfect for him. This one isn't for everyone, and probably not theater worthy... rent it. 

#3. Mud
Mud is a movie by Jeff Nichols (writer/director of this and Take Shelter and Shotgun Stories). I have not seen his first two, but have read up on them... nothing but good things. The two younger characters come across Matthew McConaughey, living on an island in the middle of a river somewhere in Arkansas. At first you think Mud might just be a vagrant... oh, but the plot thickens. This is one that I would highly recommend, so I'm not going to get into details. One review I read said this is as close of a modern retelling of Huckleberry Finn as possible... I see that. It's definitely an Oscar hopeful for me. Here is the trailer:

There was a two way tie this week (ok, one and half'ish weeks)... since they're both TOTALLY different genres, I couldn't settle on the best one... so its a tie. 


#1 - Tie. A Late Quartet
I'm not sure what movie I last cried at... but this one ousted it from it's place for "Last Movie To Make Me Cry". A Late Quartet is about a world renowned string quartet (Christopher Walken, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, and some Russian) that has been together for 25 years. Here is the Rotten Tomatoes plot description:

When the beloved cellist of a world-renowned string quartet receives a life changing diagnosis, the group's future suddenly hangs in the balance: suppressed emotions, competing egos, and uncontrollable passions threaten to derail years of friendship and collaboration. As they are about to play their 25th anniversary concert, quite possibly their last, only their intimate bond and the power of music can preserve their legacy. Inspired by and structured around Beethoven's Opus 131 String Quartet in C-sharp minor, A LATE QUARTET pays homage to chamber music and the cultural world of New York.

 

I appreciate classical music, but I couldn't tell you one composers music from another... for the most part. The main piece they perform is actually the only completed classical music I have on my iPod. When it was being played, it was a bonus that I recognized it and love it. Like Quartet (from one of my April entries for those of you following along at home) the music during all the scenes is very pleasant at the least. 

Hoffman (or is it Seymour Hoffman) and Walken (especially Walken) had great performances. A lot of us are used to seeing Walken playing someone crazy person... well, someone like Walken. In this movie, he plays a normal person... and he does it perfectly. This is a must see!!!


#1 - Tie. Star Trek Into Darkness - (Double Feature)
So, obviously this is quite different from A Late Quartet... now you can see how it's hard to compare these two.

So I grew up not a Trekkie, never got into it... tried, but no go. I am a huge fan of Sci-Fi, and thinking back, it is weird I never liked Star Trek... must have been too loyal to Star Wars or something. So when the 2009 version came out, I was surprised that I was excited when watching the previews. So it came out, and I loved it. I knew enough to understand some of the jokes and knew the characters. I became a self defined "new-trekkie"... a Trekkie only interested in the J.J. Abram films and on. So of course, I was pumped leading up to Into Darkness. To do it right, I went to the double feature, the 2009 Star Trek at 9PM followed by the new one. After doing that, it occured to me it would have been stupid not to do it that way.

Into Darkness did not disappoint. It was great, very entertaining... a lot less fake lens flare, so that's a bonus. It seemed to be written a lot more to the overall strengths of the characters (taking in consideration the new and old versions of Trek) versus trying to build up this new alternate reality Star Trek universe. It had a bit more comic relief than the first, but it wasn't over the top. I guess my only grip of this was Benedict Cumberbatch... he's a good actor and all, but I really wanted him to tone it down just a level or two. Over acted in this non-critic's opinion... although, it wasn't bad enough though to ruin the movie for me.

I don't think a trailer or Netflix/Rotten Tomato thing is necessary, do you?...

Instead, you tell me (if you're a Star Trek fan), who's your favorite character/cast member from the new Star Trek line up? I'm torn between "Bones" and Scotty... however, Alice Eve made a considerable jump in the standings (ok, not really... but the transporter scene?! I rest my case).


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I think I'll do another "Movie Trailer" edition soon... but also, I think I might put some movie news/article links/photos in there too with my simple take on them. I'll try to avoid spoilers when I can... maybe put a disclaimer at the beginning... well, bye.