9.3 ~ #15

"Citizen Kane" (1941)

From Netflix: "Orson Welles reinvented movies at the age of 26 with this audacious biography of newspaper baron Charles Foster Kane, which, in essence, was a thinly veiled portrait of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst. Welles's complex and technically stunning film chronicles Kane's rise from poverty to become one of America's most influential men -- and it's considered one of the best movies ever made."

Great movie.

It probably would have been better if I hadn't already know what Rosebud was before I watched it, or maybe it would have been a huge letdown if I found out when I was supposed to. Yes, I think so.

The movie had a wonderful cast, no one I had ever seen or heard of before, but wonderful because all movies of this time were driven on plotlines and delivery rather than pyrotechnics and CGI. I particularly liked the actor that played the title character, though he must not be any big name because he doesn't even appear on Netflix's description of the movie. (Scratch that. Apparently he doesn't appear as the star because he appears as the director...the film was directed by and starred Orson Welles. I'm going to have to find out more about this dude...)

Very good film, definitely one to watch at least once. Teaches a lot about perception...




Next up: "Apocalypse Now" (finally lol)



(EDIT: how COOL! Orson Welles died THE DAY BEFORE I was born. Maybe I was put on this earth to replace him LOL)

9.2 ~ #14

"Chocolat" (2000)

From Netflix: "Blown in by the north wind, an iconoclastic single mother (Oscar nominee Juliette Binoche) and her young daughter move into a peaceful French village and open an uncommon chocolate shop during the height of Lent -- directly across the street from a church. At first, the shop's rich, sensuous desserts scandalize the town. But the villagers (including Judi Dench, Lena Olin and Johnny Depp) soon learn to savor the sweetness."

So, I love Judi Dench. If you didn't know this about me, know you do. :)

Also, I love France, I feel close to it...my name is French, and when I was little I imagined that I was born in the wrong place, as I was obviously supposed to be European...I learned to count to ten in French, and then took a class in college, but I have yet to visit my "homeland"...

This film is very clever, and very funny...I actually laughed out loud on several occasions, my husband thought I was crazy listening to me watch it. I love movies that are funny on the basis of wit, and not because of vulgarities, etc...although those movies have their place as well ;)

The cast is incredible...Judi Dench, of course, but also Juliette Binoche, Alfred Molina (LOVE him!), Johnny Depp...every role in this film is exceptionally played. I definitely would recommend you watch this movie when you want something light-hearted and kind of chick flick-y.

:)

9.1 ~ Documentary of the Week

"Maxed Out" (2006)

From Netflix: "With sobering facts and black humor, this thought-provoking documentary unveils the consequences of our collective addiction to debt -- including its contribution to the vanishing act of a once-robust American middle class. Investigating both Americans' personal debt and the government's growing national debt, the film explores the staggering financial burden we live with every day and sheds light on the contemporary financial industry."

The review of this movie will be short and sweet: the film itself is rather slow, but I URGE everyone to watch this movie and PAY ATTENTION. There is very important information in this movie that every American should know, especially in this time of economic hardship.

Nothing else to say, really. The movie speaks for itself.

7.3 ~ #11

"Back to the Future" (1985)

From Netflix: "In this classic sci-fi adventure from director Robert Zemeckis, eccentric inventor Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) turns a DeLorean into a time machine that inadvertently sends his young friend, Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), 30 years into the past. While stuck in the 1950s, Marty disrupts his parents' destiny and risks throwing the time-space continuum completely out of whack. The only way back to 1985 now is to get mom and dad to pucker up."

so, I'm finally back! I was met with apprehension when I told my family I'd be doing this project, everyone told me I wouldn't have time..."it's just three movies a week!" said I. "Who doesn't have time to watch three movies in a week?!"

Well, apparently I don't.

Between birthdays, funerals, a full time job, a husband, a room remodel, and running my own business...three movies a week is hard work! Especially considering that most of them are over 2 hours long, or even double-disc sets!

In any case, I am armed with a list of ten movies I need to watch ASAP in order to get back on schedule, and here I go, aiming to watch at least one a day till I'm on track again.

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Back to the Future is a classic. I don't think I know ANYONE that hasn't seen the original at least once. Even the now defunct ride at Universal Studios kicked ass! We own it on VHS, I remember buying it at Burger King when I was a kid, some sort of promotion I guess...

This is movie is all sorts of funny, the soundtrack kicks ass (I love Huey Lewis and the News, and I LOVE that Huey has a cameo early in the film), and the movie really makes you think about and appreciate all the things that had to fall into place just so that your life would be at the place it is now...

Christopher Lloyd is always brilliant, but I think this might have been his best role yet, and Micheal J. Fox could pretty much do no wrong in my eyes (up until Spin City) so he, of course, is awesome in this as well.

Definitely one of those movies that you can watch over and over again, to the point of being able to recite the movie word-for-word (like I and a lot of people I know can) and still be totally cool with watching it again!

NOTE: Tomorrow would be the 54th anniversary of the date Doc Brown discovered the secret of time-travel, the flux-capacitor.

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So, here's the list of movies I have to watch in order to get up to speed...

Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State
Braveheart
Casablanca
Maxed Out
Chocolat
Citizen Kane
Indie Sex
Clerks
Clockwork Orange

PLUS I'm still waiting on Netflix to send me Apocalypse Now, which has been available for a couple of weeks, yet for some reason they keep skipping it in my queue and sending me the rest of the movies on my list...

Thanks for being patient with me, and I'll be back VERY soon!