Sunday, 29 April 2018

The Viewing Files: 365 Movies In 365 Days - Week One

I use to be a big movie goer.  A really big movie goer.

One of those people who went to the movies pretty much every week and who had been known to see not only a double feature but a triple feature and even a quad feature.  Yeah that's right, I once saw 4 movies in a row at the movie theatre and it was awesome. 

Watching a movie was always one of those feel good things for me. Yet weirdly enough I've noticed over the last few years that I've been watching less and less movies each year. 

Life, of course, is mostly to blame.  Priorities shift and change and watching a movie somehow moved lower and lower down on the list.  But it wasn't the only reason. So in an effort to get back in touch with what I loved about movies I'd decided on this project - 365 Movies in 365 Days.

It's a crazy thing to do especially when it's not even on my list of 101 in 1001 Days plans.  But as they say why do things in half when you can go all in.  

I'm keeping it pretty flexible which should help.  I can watch a movie a day but if I skip a day then I have to catch up and watch 2 movies the following day.  All that matters is that I watch 365 movies in 365 Days.  If I end up watching more... well... well done me, though somehow I think I have set myself a pretty big target in trying to watch 365 movies.

As for the kind of movies, anything and everything is on the agenda though I probably won't be watching many, if any, horror films as they just can't my thing.  I'm hoping to mix it up as much as I can and as always I'm open to any recommendations.  Believe me, I'm probably going to need them if I want to reach my goal.

So here's this weeks viewing. 

Brubaker
Starring: Robert Redford 
Original release: 1980
Synopsis: One man tries to clean up a corrupt and violent penal system.

I know.  Probably the weirdest film to pick as my very first choice to watch, especially when I had originally planned on watching The Princess Bride for the umpteenth hundred time, and if you have to ask why then you seriously need to watch The Princess Bride right now.

As for this unexpected first choice well it was a totally random one supported by my Other Half and the fact that it had Robert Redford it in.  Not that I'm a big fan but he can usually be relied on to do a pretty decent job when needed.

And actually the movie was pretty good.  It's brutal and shocking but also really gripping.  Robert Redford's hair also looked amazingly good as it did back in the 70s and 80s.
Viceroy's House
Starring: Hugh Bonneville and Gillian Anderson
Original Release: 2017
Synopsis: The final Viceroy of India, Lord Mountbatten, is tasked with overseeing the transition of British India to independence, but meets with conflict as different sides clash in the face of monumental change.

I knew very little about this time in India's history so found it really interesting and a bit of an eye-opener.  The acting was also good all even if Hugh B doesn't look anything like Mountbatten.  But as most of us probably don't know what Mountbatten looked it anyway it's pretty inconsequential.
Ferdinand
Starring: John Cena
Original Release: 2017
Synopsis: Ferdinand is not like other bulls.  He hates to fight and loves flowers.  But when he is forced into the bullfighting ring he may have to do the very thing he hates.

You can pretty much never go wrong with a kids animated film and this movie was no exception.  It's cute and funny and feel-good so a perfect movie to sit back and be a big kid.
Hostiles 
Starring: Christian Bale and Rosamund Pike
Original Release: 2017
Synopsis: An army captain escorts an Indian chief and his family through dangerous territory.

I'd read a review of this one and being a lover of good westerns I opted to watched this hoping it would be as good as the review said and I wasn't disappointed.  Brutal (again) and shocking (also again) and totally riveting.  A movie that shows both sides of the conflict between Indians and White Men and how prejudice can led to terrible things and how a little understanding and humanity can heal old wounds.
Eating You Alive
Starring: na
Original Release: 2018
Synopsis: How and why what we eat is the cause of the chronic diseases that are killing us, and changing what we eat can save our lives one bite at a time.

I wanted to like this documentary.  I really did.  And for the first 20 minutes or so it was quite interesting.  After that it kind of went down hill really fast.  Any way of life that claims it can not only prevent cancer but cure it too has definitely not got my vote. I couldn't even finish it in the end.  

A big no from me.  But if you are interesting in becoming a Vegan then you might find it interesting.  Just be prepared for some of their claims.
Village of the Damned 
Starring: George Sanders
Original Release: 1960
Synopsis: In an English village the inexplicable happens when everyone falls into a deep, mysterious sleep.

A cult classic which I finally watched for the very first time.  Creepy as children doing very bad things.  I loved it.  I also loved the very serious facial acting that went on and the women's eyebrows.  One of those movies you can totally pick to pieces and still enjoy it.
The Guernsey Literary and Potatoe Peel Pie Society 
Starring: Lily James and other Downton Abbey actors
Original Release: 2018
Synopsis: A writer forms an unexpected bond with some of the residents of Guernsey Island shortly after the end of the war.

Beautiful story, beautiful clothes and beautiful scenery.  I now totally want to visit Guernsey Island one day.

1 comment:

  1. I hate creepy children films but I'm gonna check out the Guernsey Literary (title too long to finish typing) film - I love those sorts of movies! Keep up with the reviews :D

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