The Viewing Files: 365 Movies in 365 Days - Week Fifty

I came for music and stayed for the party.  These -  mostly - represent my teen years so well.  From the music to the clothes to the bad dating choices. I just needed to find a bit of British 80s indie life to make this list complete.  So if you know of any Brit movie like that give me a heads up. 

Everybody Wants Some
Starring: A bunch of guys and a former werewolf
Original release: 2016
Synopsis: The adventures of a group of guys at University in 1980 America.

I knew guys like these.  I even dated one or two.  In fact Finn could pretty much be my 3rd boyfriend right down to the blond hair and mustache.  

The 80s when it was all about muscle cars, music, dancing and smoking whatever took your fancy.

Dazed and Confused
Starring: So many familiar faces
Original release: 1993
Synopsis: The last day of high school in 1976 small town America.

Totally my teenage years even if mine was in the 80s.

Romy and Michele's High School Reunion
Starring: Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow
Original release: 1997
Synopsis: Two party girls attend their high school reunion.

For anyone whose wanted to tell their high school bullies want they really think of them. 

Also Janeane Garofalo is my spirit animal and the music totally rocks in every way.

Grosse Pointe Blank
Starring: John Cusack
Original release: 1997
Synopsis: A hitman decides to get away from it all by going to his high school reunion.

I love this movie so much - great music, great story line and John Cusack at his awesome sarcastic best as a hitman who starts to have a conscience.  One of my all time favourites.

Boogie Nights
Starring: Mark Wahlberg
Original release: 1997
Synopsis: A young man's adventures in the California pornography industry of the late 1970s and early 1980s. 

A porn star's rise and fall.  Kind of depressing but probably realistic.  Of course I really just came for the disco music.

The Nice Guys
Starring: Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe
Original release: 2016
Synopsis: In 1970s Los Angeles, a mismatched pair of private eyes investigate a missing girl and the mysterious death of a porn star. 

A murder mystery bromance movie.  Well you know I'm gonna watch it.

The Viewing Files: 365 Movies in 365 Days - Week Forty Eight/Forty Nine

It's all about real life in my latest batch of movie watching.  Shocking, appalling, amazing stories and lives.

You totally need to check some of them out.

Matewan
Starring: Chris Cooper
Original release: 1987
Synopsis: A mining community are brutally and violently harassed by the mining company who own the mines where all the men work.

Corporations using outlaw tactics in 1920s American.

Somehow I'm not that surprised.

Added bonus of having Chris Cooper and David Strathairn in the same movie.

The Conspirator
Starring: James McAvoy and Robyn Wright
Original release: 2010
Synopsis: A woman is charged as a co-conspirator in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

I had never heard of this woman which just goes to show how much history is left out when taught in schools.   It's a bit dry in places but still an interesting look into a little known piece of history.

Lincoln
Starring: Daniel Day Lewis
Original release: 2012
Synopsis: Lincoln's final months

This is pretty much filled with actor's actors with DDL at the head of this talented bunch..  That he makes you believe he is Lincoln shows how good an actor he was.

Selma
Starring: David Oyelowo
Original release: 2014
Synopsis: The march for civil rights

You just have to watch this movie.

Trumbo
Starring: Bryan Cranston
Original release: 2015
Synopsis: The 1950's Hollywood Blacklist

Witch hunts 1950s America style.

That this even happened is terrible in itself.

Tucker The Man and His Dream
Starring:Jeff Bridges
Original release: 1988
Synopsis: A car designer takes on the automotive industry 

Big boys taking down and destroying the little boy as once again corporations used every tactic they could.

 

The Man Who Knew Infinity
Starring: Jeremy Irons and Dev Patel
Original release: 2015
Synopsis: A maths genius

I've always had a special fondness for geniuses.  The fascinating way they see the world and how their minds work is just... well mind blowing.

There's also a few swoon worthy moments courtesy of Mr Irons but really this movie is all about genius and the price some pay for being different.

North Face
Staring: Crazy German Guys
Original release: 2008
Synopsis: Two men attempt to be the first to climb the North Face of the Eiger.

"Look, there's a mountain.  Let's climb it"  Who would ever think that was good thing except crazy people.  Still you have to admire them for their sheer bravery.

Wonderfully filmed and acted all round.

The Best of Men
Staring: Ray Donovan's TV brother 
Original Release: 2012
Synopsis:  A German neurosurgeon begins to transform the lives of paralysed soldiers during World War 2 

An inspiring story about the work of an amazing man who few people have ever heard of.

I just love these kinds of movies and this one was did not disappoint.

The Viewing Files: 365 Movies in 365 Days - Week Forty Seven

It shows how tired I am when I post a blog post and only realise the next day that it was an unfinished post.

That pretty much tells you my current state right there.

Learning To Drive
Starring: Patricia Clarkson and Ben Kingsley
Original release: 2014
Synopsis: As her marriage collapses a writer takes driving lessons from a Sikh cab driver..

I'd pretty much watch Patricia Clarkson in anything even if it's just learning to drive and yelling at her soon-to-be ex husband.

Sunshine Cleaning
Starring: Amy Adams and Emily Blunt
Original release: 2008
Synopsis: Two sisters start an unusual business - crime scene cleanup.

Amy Adams when she tears up is worth just about any movie.  She's like a puppy dog that has been kicked, you just want to pick her up and take care of her.

The Straight Story
Starring: Richard Farnsworth
Original release: 1999
Synopsis: A man and his lawnmower.

The synopsis tells you all you need to know.  

The rural countryside is kind of pretty which helps at least.

Whip It
Starring: Ellen Page
Original release: 2009
Synopsis: An indie-rock loving misfit finds a way of dealing with her small-town misery after she discovers a roller derby league.

Roller Derby, Beauty Pageants and diners. Small town America slice of life and I am so there.

Precious
Starring: She is so awesome
Original release: 2009
Synopsis: An overweight, abused, illiterate teen who is pregnant with her second child is invited to enroll in an alternative school in hopes that her life can head in a new direction. 

At times it uses a hammer to hit home the point but these are points we need to hear and see and learn from.

Waitress
Starring: Keri Russell and Nathan Fillion
Original release: 2007
Synopsis: Jenna is a pregnant, unhappily married waitress in the deep south.

Pies and Nathan Fillion. 

Lars and the Real Girl
Starring: Ryan Gosling and Patricia Clarkson
Original release: 2007
Synopsis: A young man strikes up an unconventional relationship with a doll he finds on the Internet. 

This is like the ultimate movie on acceptance, tolerance and empathy, and all because a shy awkward man brings home a life size doll as his friend and companion. 

I know.  Sounds weird.

But really it isn't.

Instead it's sweet and sad and lovely.

Lone Star
Starring: Chris Cooper and Matthew McConaughey
Original release: 1996
Synopsis: When the skeleton of his murdered predecessor is found, Sheriff Sam Deeds unearths many other long-buried secrets in his Texas border town. 

Matthew McConaughey in a cowboy hat and carrying a gun.  I pretty much lost focus after that.

As for the movie it's even better than just Matt in a hat and gun.

Turtle Diary
Starring: Glenda Jackson and Ben Kingsley
Original release: 1985
Synopsis: Two lonely people form a bond over sea turtles.

Any movie where there is a turtle heist has got my vote.