May 2015 Blindspot: Almost Famous

Almous Famous, 2000
Directed by Cameron Crowe

I'm not 100% sure why I picked Almost Famous for my Blindspot list. Maybe partially because I just wanted to see it. Another because I wanted to see the role that got Kate Hudson Oscar-nominated. And I have always heard pretty good things about Cameron Crowe, and especially about this.

Almost Famous is the story of a young boy who gets a gig writing a story for Rolling Stone, about an up and coming rock band in the 70's, called Stillwater. Rock and roll is supposedly dying at this point, but William Miller is really excited to tour with this band of guys. Before landing said gig, he covers a concert that Stillwater is opening, and meets a mysterious young woman named Penny Lane. A devoted fan (a "Bandaid", but not a groupie), she loves the music and is here for the ride, just like William, as they cross the country with the band.

Honestly, I wasn't overly enthused by Almost Famous. I mean, it was a fine movie, but nothing overly interesting or original about it. The characters are all people I've seen in other movies a million times, and while the story itself is slightly more unique, it still plays out the way I knew that it would.

The trope mysterious girl that Kate Hudson plays is so tiring and overdone. She's older and beautiful and idealized by William, who slowly starts to fall for her. She's so nice to him and they connect. But, predictably, we discover that she's not as happy and carefree as she seems, and in the end, William is the only one who is there for her. It's a little weird seeing Kate on all the posters, and just how much she's been pseudo-sexualized (or just straight up sexualized). This male fantasy of Penny Lane is a distracting in how corny and trope-like it is. I mean, has anyone ever really met anyone like Penny Lane? I know I never have. It's just interesting, because the movie is really about William and the relationship he makes with the band, and also Penny. But you don't see Patrick Fugit on any of the posters. Or even a poster with Stillwater. It's just a sexy Kate Hudson as Penny Lane, who draws in the male audience using this trope male fantasy.

However, Kate Hudson did play the pay to a tee and was perfect for the role. While I'm not sure she really needed an Oscar nomination for this part, she really did nail it.

I know I just ranted a whole bunch about the slightly sexist use of Kate Hudson and the character of Penny, but I honestly did kind of enjoy the movie otherwise. William is not an overly interesting kid, but he's our eyes into the world of rock and roll and the touring life of Stillwater. Stillwater isn't even famous yet but already there are meltdowns and fights, and William (and us) are there to witness it all. A big highlight from the film was the airplane scene. This is where I find the film is actually really well-written and goes into some interesting territory. It's really funny and poignant. The scene is just really well-done in a point in the film where I was feeling kind of meh.

In the end, Almost Famous is a nice movie that's more fun, than anything else, to watch. There's some solid performances, and you get to see various actors in roles before they got famous (Zooey Deschanel, Eric Stonestreet, Jimmy Fallon, etc). It's fun, it's well-written (mostly) and it's just a nice, semi-cliche film. While I get why other people would hold it as a favourite, this isn't a film I would find myself revisiting too soon.

So Fetch Friday: Brooklyn Nine-Nine & Tom Hardy

This past week, ironically, has felt very long. It was a long weekend here in Canada last weekend, but this week at work, even though it was only 4 days, has felt like forever. All I've really wanted to do is go home and watch TV and movies. Because this is essentially all I really do with my life, after all.

As you can see, my husband and I went and saw Mad Max: Fury Road last weekend. Man, what an awesome movie, right? I still can't believe there were some Men's Rights Activits that were "boycotting" this. I mean, I don't really understand. Sure, this movie was about females, but Tom Hardy's Max was the embodiment of a good man, who embodied so many values that even the tough guys strive for. Max was someone who escaped captivity, but also stepped up to assist the women who were also held captive. He protected the women, but also was able to form a solid relationship with them. I don't know, I just don't understand. But having an action movie, especially one as great and awesome as this one, and having it be about women and their fight for freedom, was really refreshing. But you can just read my review instead of me going on about it here :P

And after watching Mad Max, I finally got around to another Tom Hardy film, Bronson. Bronson was kind of bizarre, but Hardy, unsurprisingly, is super awesome. I can't get over how great of an actor he actually is. So serious and so talented. I didn't care for the movie overall (a little too much nudity, thanks) but I'm glad I saw it. I'm hoping to watch Hardy's whole filmography and eventually rank it. Someday!

Okay, is Brooklyn Nine-Nine not like, the best show on TV right now? Also Canadian Netflix is amazing and got the whole of season 2 up less than 24 hours after the season finale. I always try not to binge watch because I like to savour shows and hate waiting forever for them to come out with the next season. So far I'm only about 5 or 6 episodes in, but man, this show is too funny. Andy Samberg is actually really good, and I don't find him annoying at all. Just annoying in kind of a lovable way. Also, just everyone on that show is on top form and are all so hilarious. I'm so glad Netflix was able to snag it so quickly, because I've been excited to catch up with it (Because the husband and I don't have cable/satellite, so we have to wait until out on DVD or Netflix to watch anything). I'm so glad it's coming back for another season.

Movie Roulette Blogathon

Mettel Ray is hosting a super fun Blogathon called Movie Roulette. She has made up several gifs that include hundreds of different films. If you click and drag on the gif, you'll get a screencap of a certain film. I thought this sounded like fun! So below are the rules

1. There are 25 facts, you have to pick 5 or more and for each, you drag out a movie as an answer!

*Click on the gif, hold it and drag out a single movie*

2. You can only drag out one movie for each statement, no do overs, guys!

*If you haven’t seen the movie (or can’t recognize it) you can pick again.

*If you pull out a movie you already dragged out, you can try again until you get a different one.

3. Write down your answers and feel free to comment whether they make sense or not.

4. Link back to this announcement, and link to the Movie Roulette Ultimate Gif Set as well!

*The gif set does have some movie title glitches, apologizes!

5. Last but not least, have fun!

So what I did was picked out the statements I wanted to get "answers" for and then randomly dragged out a gif to answer each statement! So some of these answers are totally random, but that's what makes this fun!

This movie describes my mood in the mornings the best.

-The Sound of Music

Most definitely not! Maria loves her job, loves her life, and loves the family she finds herself caring for. If only I had the positivity of Maria!

This movie inspired me as a teenager.

127 Hours

Admittedly, I was actually a teenager when this came out! And while I wouldn't say it inspired me, personally, but it is a very inspiring story. 

I hate the main character of this movie, but I think he/she is still very hot.

Pretty Woman

Honestly, I don't hate Vivian in this movie (though Richard Gere's character is kind of skeevy-ish). But you can't deny how gorgeous Julia Roberts is! Especially at the end, when she's not dressing as a prostitute anymore and looks like a "proper woman" 

What nobody knows is that this movie is secretly my favorite movie in the world.

Monster Inc

Definitely not a secret, but it definitely is a favourite of mine!

Sometimes I can’t sleep at night thinking about this movie… it’s so good!

Gone With the Wind

I really do enjoy this movie- or at least I did the 1 time I saw it. And while I don't stay up at night thinking about it, it's definitely a great film!

I always wanted to punch this movie’s main character in the face.

Grease

Yes, a thousand times! I always hate how Sandy is so lame and then gives in to pressure to become a bad girl to please Danny. Danny is also just as gross and shallow. This movie is the worst! Can I punch everyone in the face? 

When I think of my childhood, I think of this movie.

ET

I did actually see this film when I was a child. But I think, like most children, it kind of just scared me more than anything. 

My life can be described by the events in this movie.

Back to the Future

Can this really describe anyone's life? Definitely doesn't describe mine!

Every time this movie is on TV, I turn it off and sit in complete silence instead.

Up In the Air

Not true! I enjoyed this movie and it's something I would definitely watch if it were on TV

This movie makes me so emotional I even cried while watching it.

Aladdin

I have not cried while watching this movie! Maybe crying from laughter but even that hasn't happened!

If I ever made a movie, it would be something similar to this movie.

Bruce Almighty

Maybe this isn't quite what I would make, but I would love to make a film that involved God and Christianity and how humans respond to that. Bruce Almighty was always a family favourite, so maybe this isn't a terrible choice. I'd just make a better movie :P 

I’m going to recommend this movie to the next person who asks me to recommend them a movie!

Toy Story

How wouldn't recommend Toy Story?

This is my ultimate favorite movie in the entire world, I want to marry this movie!

Mamma Mia!

This is a movie I've watched in bits in pieces and don't honestly have a desire to stitch altogether and watch in 1 chronological sitting. 

Mad Max: Fury Road

Mad Max: Fury Road
Directed by George Miller

I've never seen a previous Mad Max film. In fact, when the trailers were coming out, I figured this could be a pretty good movie, but didn't really care to see it. I didn't think much of it until the weeks leading up. The buzz was really strong, but I've also become such a Tom Hardy fan girl, so I started keeping an eye on early reviews. And once it landed it's 98% on RottenTomatoes, I knew I very, very much wanted to see this new fantastic Tom Hardy movie.

Mad Max: Fury Road is pretty much one long car chase film. The main plot being about Immortan Joe's five wives, and that they've escaped his clutches. The wives begged Imperator Furiosa, a one-armed woman who has worked her way up to become a war rig driver, to smuggle them out. So when Furiosa gets sent on a trip to collect gasoline and bullets (which are scarce), she goes off path, hoping to deliver these wives (and herself) to freedom. This doesn't go unnoticed, so Immortan Joe sends his war boys out to recapture his wives and stop Furiosa. Enter Max, who has been captured by the war boys and is being used as a blood bag to Nux, a war boy determined to die with a purpose so he can be delivered to the gates of Valhalla. He straps Max to the front of his vehicle so that the blood donation can continue, but Max ultimately finds himself in the company of Furiosa and the wives. While untrusting of each other at first, they come to help each other out so that both can seek freedom from their individual captivities.

Thankfully, you don't have to have seen the previous 3 Mad Max movie (which came out over 30 years ago) in order to truly enjoy this newest installment. I'm sure there are definitely benefits to seeing the previous ones, and I'm sure there were tons of Easter eggs for fans. But Mad Max is hardly about Max, really. Max almost serves as the eyes for the audience, though he does still get to do some awesome fighting sequences. This story is more about Furiosa and the wives she's helping to escape. And you get completely swept up in the simplistic, but expertly executed, story.

The thing I enjoyed most about this movie (and trust me, there is a lot to love here), but I loved that Mad Max never tried to be anything more than it was. George Miller is aware he's making an action movie, and doesn't try to make it anything it isn't. It embraces it's genre and executes it at the absolute best. The story is simple, which is what makes the film so good. The story is enough to satisfy as a film, but it also leaves room for incredible action sequences and plenty of world-building and character development. Rare within the action genre, Miller trusts his audience. Much of the world-building isn't given to us in voice-over explanation (though some is), but a lot of it is simply shown as it's currently operating in Max's world, and doesn't feel the need to explain further. Miller trusts that, if no explanation is given, the audience is smart enough to either figure it out themselves, or leaves it to the imagination. This is the kind of filmmaking that I always appreciate. And because of the trust, the world-building, character development and the incredible action sequences, the film is really amazing. The little things that aided the world building (like the Warboys spray painting their mouths when they're about to become martyrs) is really cool. Attention to detail and just general aesthetic is something that only seems to be half-done in most action movies, but I love how much of it was here. As well, the fact that something like 90% of the effects in the film are live-action, and very little green screen is impressive. I loved finding that out and knowing that so much of what I saw was actually "real" was really cool.

One thing that seemed to be a cause for mild "controversy", is how feminist the film is. Apparently there were even some Men's Rights Activists who called for a boycott. But the thing is, this film isn't so much "feminist" or having some sort of "agenda" as it is a movie that actually has multiple female characters, with actual character development, and is treated with complexity and respect. The camera never sexualizes Furiosa or the 5 wives. Even though they are essentially sex slaves, and are dressed in scant clothing, the wives are never treated as less than a human being. In fact, during much of the action, they are helping fight, determined for survival, and for the survival or Furiosa and Max. They are not fragile damsels in distress. They are damsels in distress who are willing to help fight for their own freedom, and for each others lives. Furiosa, as well, is treated with respect, and as a human being. Miller doesn't try to give  her a reason for being as tough and determined as she is. The closest we get is the branding on her neck, the same one Max is given at the beginning of the film, after being captured by the Warboys. We know she has a past or some sort, but Miller doesn't need to give her a reason to be determined for freedom and redemption. Charlize Theron is just so cool in this movie. She rocks the buzz cut and she even looks so killer with that grease smeared all over her face. Charlize Theron was perfect casting, cause that woman is so awesome! Her performance was great.

And I know this film is really about the women, but I couldn't not talk about the men! Tom Hardy is literally the man. Seriously, he's so awesome. I will watch pretty much anything he does, nowadays and it's pretty much always rewarding. Hardy doesn't have too much to do here, but even when he doesn't have much to do, he always gives it his all. As well, I was really impressed with Nicholas Hoult. Playing the Warboy named Nux, who spends a chunk of the movie attached via chains and blood line to Max, Nux was also given an appropriate and lovely amount of character building when his character could've easily just been a smaller background character. His transformation and story is really solid and I love where Miller went with it.

The production design, costumes, make-up and just the general aesthetic is just so much fun in this film. It's so over the top, but it really adds to the world building and makes it stand out. It's ridiculous and awesome. Also, how could I not mention the huge float-like-vehicle that had several men playing drums on the back, and at the front was some huge stage with enormous amps and a guy on bungy cords playing a flame-throwing guitar, playing the metal riffs for the battle music. So cool! Like, seriously, so much fun. And the score by Junkie XL is also really, really awesome. It reminded me a bit of some of the work Zimmer did for The Dark Knight Rises, but it was like more electronic and cool and fit the movie to a tee. It gave the movie even more intensity and made the stakes feel higher. It really complimented the film and Junkie XL seems to have been a perfect choice.

Anyway, this review has gotten way too long. But there's just so much awesome stuff to say about this movie! While I found the beginning a little tricky to understand where exactly Max had come from and what was happening with him, in the end it didn't matter because the story in front of me just swept me away. The performances, the stunts, the visual effects, the visuals in general were just all so fantastic. Mad Max knew exactly what kind of movie it was, and didn't pretend to be anything else. It didn't try to distract with witty dialogue or have romance story lines. It's an escape film and a car chase action film, and it knew exactly that. And knowing what kind of movie it is and not pretending it was anything else was refreshing and the movie was that much better because of it.

9/10

Top 10 Films of 2014

I know we're already 5 months into 2015, but I think I'm finally, finally, finally ready to make a stance on what my top 10 films of the year were. Keep in mind, there are still several films I have not yet seen, but, at this point, I don't think they'd affect this list.

2014 was a pretty interesting year for film. Some of my favourite films were movies I never expected to love as much as I do, and other films I was highly anticipated turned out to be a bit of letdown (though still good movies). It was the first year I saw all the Best Picture nominees in theatres, plus seeing tons of other films in theatres.

Note that I have not still seen: Obvious Child, the Babadook, Force Majeure, Starred Up, A Most Wanted Man, Mommy, The Judge, The Hobbit.

Honorable Mention

The Lego Movie

The Lego Movie was extremely close to making it in here. Really, it was. And maybe it is "better" than some of the movies on my list, but this list is a definite mixture of personal preference and how well-made a film is. And while Lego Movie is definitely a fun watch, there were still films I would pick over it. Chris Pratt was absolutely perfect to voice Emmett and I sincerely hope that things like Jurassic World and whatever else he's doing won't ruin how awesome he is. As well, Nick Offerman as Metalbeard, plus the plethora of other celebrity voices is so much fun.

X-Men: Days of Future Past

I'm not generally one for superhero films, but the X-Men movies have never felt like superhero films to me! X-Men has always been about outsiders, debating whether they should try to "fit in" or whether to be proud of how they're different; as well as the conflicts the government, and the world, has about their powers. It's never directly about "world domination" but more a threat of extinction or the mutants being treated like animals. DOFP was such an excellent film that you can overlook any of the plot holes (of which there are obviously quite a few. Time travel films just have them). It's such a fun watch, and really builds on First Class, with a memorable cast and great performances. Plus, that Time In A Bottle sequence... has Marvel ever done anything as good as that scene?

Top 10

10. Interstellar

This is a film that didn't initially make the list. After seeing it in theaters, my feeling was that I enjoyed it, but that ending kind of just ruined it. Upon second viewing, I realized how much I really did love the movie. McConaughey is really great, as is Hathaway and Chastain, plus Mackenzie Foy as young Murph. But it's such an emotional film, and it was balanced really well with the science and exploration side of things, never leaving it feeling like it was trying too hard to make you "feel" but it felt like a human story. While I'm still not a fan of the ending (not that I'm sure how I'd end it either. And while the blackhole sequence is too weird, I do enjoy that the actual ending is left somewhat ambigious), and I would've ranked the film higher up had the ending been better, but it's still a solid film that is well shot, scored and acted. Also, I so wish I hadn't known ahead of time that (spoiler) Matt Damon (end spoiler) would be in this. It was meant to be a surprise, but I had heard about it ahead of time, which I wish I hadn't.

9. The F Word

Yes, I do enjoy the odd romantic comedy. And this one certainly is somewhat odd. I've been looking forward to the films of any of the Potter alumni and was very interested once I heard about this film that Daniel Radcliffe would be in. I got even more interested after I watched Ruby Sparks and saw how great Zoe Kazan is. But The F Word is well written and just a fun movie. It definitely treads into some cliche areas, but for the most part, it plays everything well and refreshingly. The dialogue was sharp and witty, but it never felt unrealistically witty (like any of John Green's novels) and Radcliffe was so good that I feel like he was essentially just playing himself for this role, because he just seems so believably witty. Anyway, I know most won't agree with this choice, but this is my list, so ha! This was a movie I enjoyed, and was glad I liked it as much as I did. Maybe not the most critically acclaimed, but it's a fun romantic comedy with some great writing.

8. Locke

Locke is a film I didn't expect to love as much as I do. In fact, I didn't think a lot of it before I saw it. I simply placed a hold on it at my local library, knowing it was Tom Hardy and that I had heard general good buzz. I honestly didn't ever truly know what it was about, and thought it would be more of a thriller. But this film was such a treat. It really secured, in my mind, what an absolute talent that Tom Hardy is. He's absolutely compelling as Ivan Locke, the man driving to I-won't-spoil-where, making phone calls all the way along, to explain to his family why he isn't coming home. While I mainly love it because Hardy gave my favourite performance of the year, it's also such a compelling and moving story. It's been hard to urge others to see it as it boils down to saying "it's about a guy who's driving to somewhere I can't tell you because I won't spoil it and he's making lots of phone calls". Like, it doesn't sound the most interesting. But it was completely absorbing and shows what a chameleon Hardy really is.

7. Boyhood

In all honesty, after the first viewing of Boyhood I thought I would be placing this film a lot higher. This is still a film I truly do love and think it's so authentically made. I love diving into people's lives for a while and just seeing the mundane. The first half of the film is the better half, for me, and should've been explored a little longer, and the second half explored a little less. The scenes of Mason when he's older aren't as interesting as his childhood scenes, but it's easy enough to forgive because all of it is well-executed and is swimming with authenticity. I know most people were talking about Patricia Arquette (for good reason, she was great), but it was Ethan Hawke who really stuck with me. He made it look so natural, and I really believed that he was this father who, initially, didn't try, but ended up with a better life, in the end. And while I would've liked to have ranked this higher, I feel so many of the films before it were just as good in different ways, and films that I became more passionate about. Boyhood is still full of charm and realism and is such a special film.  

6. Birdman (or the Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance)

Similar to Boyhood, I had slightly different views of where this would land in my top 10. And originally, I didn't think this would be included. Birdman was a film I didn't get really into upon first viewing and found myself just sort of shrugging about. I had a lot of respect for it, but that was kind of it. However, second viewing seemed to bring something else. Second viewing allowed me to watch it with the view of knowing how it ends. And the amount of detail that I noticed, and the amount of deliberation was incredible. Every single thing, every line, word, look, and tiniest of the tiny props, all feels very deliberate and planned. And that is what connected with me. Birdman feels very intentional about where exactly it goes, and nothing at all is an accident. It's filled with fantasy moments but also filled with realism. We're never sure what we, the audience, exactly are experiencing, but that's what makes it so fun. Birdman has fantastic performances (and honestly, I feel like Keaton was almost outshined by Emma Stone and Edward Norton), a perfect score and fantastic cinematography (all of which are so deliberate in detail as well!) A deserving, if unconventional, Best Picture win. But we need more unconventional wins. 

5. Snowpiercer

Once I saw the trailer, I immediately knew I wanted to see this movie. And after I saw it, I was sad that not enough other people had seen it. Snowpiercer is fantastic in the sense that it is everything that people love about YA films right now, but it's more violent, explicit and R-rated. It goes darker than most YA films and gives a much different ending than most would expect. Which is exactly why I love it. And it sucks that it didn't get even close to a wide release. I love Chris Evans in this. He plays such a range of emotions, and he's at his best when he's heart-broken and furious at the same time. It's well written and directed and I'm incredibly grateful to Bong Joon-ho for insisting to keep his cut of the film and resisting the severe cuts that Harvey Weinstein wanted. The film is so much better for it.

4. The Grand Budapest Hotel

Wes Anderson has quickly become my favourite filmmaker. His films are quirky and funny and well acted. They are perfectly my sense of humor, being dead-panned with lots of quirky and weird characters. While the Grand Budapest Hotel isn't my favourite film of his, it's definitely a fantastic one still, and he's assembled a great cast. Ralph Fiennes is another one of my years-best performances, and his being left out of the Oscar race was disappoiting. His line delivery is spot-on for Anderson's style and you can tell he's having so much fun. As well, I can't be more glad that Alexandre Desplat, my all-time favourite composer, finally won his 1st Oscar, and it was for this glorious score. Desplat and Anderson go perfectly together, and the score was as much a character of this movie as anyone else. This movie is funny and quirky and straight up my alley.

3. Gone Girl

If Wes Anderson is my favourite filmmarker, David Fincher may just be my second. As I've stated before, it's taken a while to warm up to his style, but man, I love the direction he takes and how much trust he has in his audience. Fincher never treats the audience as stupid and never hands out clues. He operates under the impression that everyone is paying attention (as they should be). Gone Girl was a pretty good book but Fincher turned it into a gripping masterpiece. It is the perfect material for Fincher and he really knocked it out of the park. Even though I knew what was coming, having already read the book, I was still gobsmacked by how well it was all put together. I remember all the naysayers for the casting of Ben Affleck, but I could go on and on about how perfect that casting was. Affleck channels the criticisms he gets for being phony and smug and uses that to give a career-best performance. It's almost like he's embracing the "negative" aspects of himself to produce this great performance.  Ben Affleck was made to play Nick. And while I may not have been as crazy for Rosamund Pike as Amy as others were, she still knocks it out of the park, particularly when the truth is revealed. All around, everyone is on the top of their game, and it's crazy that this essentially got no Oscar recognition.

2. Nightcrawler

Again, a film I didn't expect to become as obsessed with as I did. Literally, I watched Nightcrawler by myself and then got my husband to watch it the next day with me again. It's not often I watch movies two days in a row. Even right after I finished the film I didn't think I would think about it as much as I did. Jake Gylenhaal is so perfect in this movie. He walks the line of inner and outer madness with ease and also gets us to be almost sympathetic to him. The story is just so absorbing and different and interesting, you just really can't stop watching! There's not much more that I can say that hasn't already been said. But, as much as people complain about Oyelowo missing out on a Best Actor Nom for Selma, I think it's really Jake Gyllenhaal who had the most egregious snub of the year. And being left out for Best Picture was also disappointing. Nightcrawler is dark, but never gets too dark, and it's a film I wish more people had seen. 

1. Whiplash

Would it be any other film? Whiplash is perfection. It's well acted, well edited, well shot, well directed. It's everything. Whiplash is pretty basic in story. It's nothing overly different, or even really that original. But it's something that we can all relate to on some level. Maybe we've never had a teacher like Fletcher, but we all have passions, and we've had to make choices about whether being "the best" is truly worth it. Or maybe you haven't been there, but that feeling is something that is not too far to grasp. Miles Teller was under-recognized for his performance as Andrew, the young student. But it's 3 Oscar wins were the best wins of the night. Almost nothing was better than the Academy rightly giving the Editing Oscar to this film. Never have I noticed (in a good way) the editing in a movie as much as this one. It's quick and jazzy and abrupt, snapping you back and forth, as mentioned by the film's title. This film has so much energy and heart, but it's also so human and relateable that I can't imagine anyone actually disliking this movie. Do people who dislike this movie exist? And if they did, did they even understand it? Whiplash is perfection on film, and is a movie I can dive into again and again and again.

So Fetch Friday: More Movie Catch-Up

Sorry that I missed another week but I was kind of busy and just lost track of time. But I'm back for this weeks' posting.

Once again, I had quite a few new movies out from the library, so we've been trying to get through them. We watched Into The Woods, finally, last week. I actually quite enjoyed it, even if it did start to feel a tad long. I like the unconventional directions it ended up taking and the messages it had. Also, Emily Blunt is kind of my favourite right now, so it was great seeing her in something. The music was really great, and Meryl Streep, as always was great. I had thought I heard people say she wasn't in it much or that she was just good, and not nomination worthy. And while I agree it didn't really merit a nomination, she was still really great. It's kind of a shame that Emily Blunt missed on a nomination. Oh well.

Another film that we finally got around to watching was Big Eyes. Honestly, what RottenTomatoes says about it, and it's rating, is pretty much spot on. Big Eyes was a pretty good movie. Nothing amazing about it, but it's not a bad movie at all. It's an interesting story that was told competently. Amy Adams was fine as Margaret Keane, and Christoph Waltz looked like he had a lot of fun being the scumbag. That court room scene at the end was kind of ridiculous, but I kind of really liked it too. I understand why it didn't end up getting much critical acclaim. It was good, not amazing.

As well, my husband and I attempted to watch Exodus: Gods and Kings, but, oh my goodness, what a soap opera that was. Every "character" (and using the word character is definitely a stretch) was so melodramatic. We stopped after the first hour to make dinner and didn't even bother to turn it back on. It felt like it was trying way too hard. I was disappointed we didn't finish, mostly because I wanted to see Aaron Paul, but it honestly wasn't really worth it. It was also kind of appalling that they felt the need to have all the "important" lead characters be white, while they were fine having everyone else be middle Eastern looking. It's sad that Ridley Scott felt that he needed his leads to be white, because that's obviously how he feels.

Anyway, there's not much more going on in my life right now. I go to work everyday (at a pretty terrible job that I'm grateful to have) and spend my free time watching Mad Men (of which we're now in the 3rd season- go us!) and watching Gilmore Girls (such a guilty, guilty pleasure). As well, I'm super pissed that The Mindy Project is cancelled. And I know it's in talks with Hulu, but Mindy Kaling is just too popular of a person right now for this show not to get picked up somewhere. It just better come back soon! I want to see this amazingly dressed half-Indian, half-Italian baby and see the conflicts Mindy and Danny have over parenting (and eventually weddings). Please, come back!

As well, I'm finally, finally, finally in the process of writing my top 10 Films of 2014 list. I just want to rewatch one of them over the weekend to finalize where it'll land on the list, but expect that out soon!