Sadly, no movies that came to theaters around me this week peaked my interest, so instead I watched some “old” ones!
Mission: Impossible – Fallout
I know this technically only came out last year, so not really old (it’s also the latest MI film). Having not seen any prior MI films, I was hoping this wouldn’t confuse the heck out of me. I may have been missing a few relationship origins, but overall I got the gist of it all. Ethan still loves his ex-wife but also sort of likes the MI6 agent, Ilsa. I would say feelings don’t really get resolved in this film if anyone was hoping for that. Ethan is also trying to recapture and kill a baddie from Rogue One. He gets duped by an agent, played by the always handsome Henry Cavill, so naturally there is a crap load of action. Get your popcorn ready.
The Sisters Brothers
A little bit slow western, a little bit science, gold rush, and four very good actors made The Sisters Brothers rather enjoyable. John C Reilly and Joaquin Phoenix play the titular Sisters brothers who are hired hitmen out to get drifter/scientist, Warm (Riz Ahmed). Jake Gyllenhaal’s John Morris is a contractor who is tracking Warm for the brothers. The two end up forming a really strong bond (friendship or more, I’m unsure). Eventually, the Sisters brothers decide they want out of their current life and help search for gold using Warm’s caustic formula. Occasional laughs and lots of gunfire, combined with excellent chemistry make this a must-watch!
Dumplin
Definitely behind the times on this more recent Netflix film. It was a little too southern and country for my taste, but still pretty cute. Willowdean, “Will” Dicksen (Dumplin to her mother), is an overweight teen living in the shadow of her mother’s (Jennifer Aniston) pageant past, and still reeling from the loss of her aunt Lucy. After coming across an old application from her aunt, Will decides to join the pageant as a “protest in heels.” Other misfits from her school also decide to join. Friendships are tested and she turns down a super cute guy in the process, but eventually she learns to embrace who she is and exude confidence. Average, but nice.
The Dirt
Wow. I apparently didn’t know much about Motley Crue before this film came out…granted, I wasn’t even born when they came to prominence. In a display of what I would call stereotypical rock star behavior, you’ve got the members of Motley Crue drinking more alcohol than water and doing a copious amount of drugs, coupled with basically unlimited sex. It ultimately didn’t really work out for them personally, but their talent and stage presence is what sky rocketed them to the top. Everything about this film was wild, and MGK as Tommy Lee was just freaking wonderful. Definitely watch!
A Private War
A really somber film to round out the weekend was A Private War, about journalist Marie Colvin. In flashbacks leading up to her death in Homs, Syria, you learn that she always wanted to be on the front lines of investigative journalism. A move that cost her an eye back in 2001. Eleven years later she recruits a freelance photographer to help with a story on the city of Homs. The pair get caught in crossfire which ultimately costs Marie her life. This movie did not shy away from bloodshed, and unsurprisingly, Rosamund Pike delivered a great performance.