Kramer vs. Kramer

The movie Kramer vs. Kramer came out in 1979 starring Dustin Hoffman as Ted and Meryl Streep as Joanna. Ted has been under the impression that his marriage is just fine so when he comes home one late evening from work, he discovers that his wife Joanna has packed her things and is about to leave him and their 6 year-old son. He now has to adjust to his new life as a single parent and at the same time get over the heartbreak Joanna has caused not only him but Billy as well. Although difficult, Billy and Ted managed to get along and just when things were starting to get better, Joanna comes back and tells Ted she wants Billy to live with her. Ted is furious at this and decides to fight her for custody but he is let go from his job because he can no longer be the workaholic he used to be now that he had become the sole parent for Billy. Ted is able to find another job quickly and proceeds with the costly court battle. After the emotional hearing, the judge ruled that Billy should live with his mother and stay with Ted every other weekend. Ted is heartbroken but doesn't pursue an appeal because his lawyer would have to put Billy on the stand. There is a surprise ending and the actors are superb including little Billy who is played by Justin Henry.

Boys Don't Cry

The first time I ever saw this movie, it freaked me out! After I saw it I felt weird and sad at the same time. Boys Don't Cry was about 20 year-old Brandon Teena who left for Falls City, Nebraska in the early 1990s, one night with some new found friends she met in a bar during a brawl. She left with them to get away from the problems she was having in her town. They all liked him and Brandon started liking one of the group's girls, Lana. It seemed that the only thing these six people were interested in was having a good time and they did but what the group didn't know at first was that their new friend Brandon, played by Hilary Swank, was really female. In a small hick town like Falls City, it was a dangerous thing to be dressing and acting like the opposite sex or being openly gay. Soon, however, Lana and Brandon became an item but Brandon's roommate, Candice, found something that could only belong to a female. She asked Lana about Brandon but Lana insisted she didn't know what she was talking about. Soon the news about Candice's suspicions got around to the whole group and that's when the violent and crazy John and Tom took it upon themselves to literally show Lana what her boyfriend really was. After that, it wasn't enough for John and Tom so they grabbed Brandon as he was leaving Lana's house and beat and raped him near an abandoned building. Brandon managed to escape and ran back to Lana's house. He was taken to the hospital and then questioned by the police. The police were of no help and were cruel to Brandon. Some days later, John and Tom went looking for Brandon and found him in Candice's house where they proceeded to kill her and Brandon. The saddest part about this movie was that it's a true story. This film is very graphic and tells it like it is so I don't recommend it for everybody.

17 Again

I saw 17 Again this weekend and it's the type of movie you watch when you don't want to think too hard or go through an emotional roller coaster but do want to be entertained. I went into the movie theater hoping not to be surrounded by noisy swooning pre-pubescent girls and although there were some, to my delight, the audience consisted of almost every age group which kept the tweeny boppers in check. This movie is about Mike O'Donnell played by the picturesque Zac Efron at age 17 and Matthew Perry at 37. It all began when Mike was a 17 year old star basketball player on his way to getting a scholarship when he found out his girlfreind was pregnant. He decides to leave his basketball career and marry her instead. For many years he has felt disappointed with his life and 20 years later he is on the brink of divorce, his 2 kids think he's a loser, he's been passed over for a promotion at work and he's living with his high school nerd turned billionaire best friend. He is given another chance and is transformed into a 17 year old. He attends his kids' high school in hopes of changing his life for the better this time but instead may lose the best thing that ever happened to him.

Angels With Dirty Faces

Angels with Dirty Faces is a film with one of my favorite ancient actors, James Cagney. This gangster movie came out in 1938 which also starred Humphrey Bogart. It starts off with Rocky (Cagney) and Jerry growing up in the rough side of town. They robbed a train and in the process, Rocky saves Jerry's life by pushing him out of the way of an oncoming train. While they were trying to escape, Rocky gets caught and ends up going to juvenile but only after telling Jerry not to incriminate his own self. Rocky had problems in jail and ends up growing up there and not coming out until several years later. By this time, Rocky has become a notorious gangster and Jerry a priest. Rocky sets out to his old neighborhood where he gets together with Jerry and a girl he knew as kids. He also meets some young hoodlums who remind him of him so he takes them under his wing. Jerry, or Father Jerry, is also trying to get the boys under his wing but they choose Rocky over him because they've adored Rocky even before he got there. Rocky helps in his own corrupt way but doesn't really help them make better decisions the way Father Jerry would like them to. In the midst of all this Rocky is up to his old ways and starts getting into deeper and deeper trouble both with the law and the local gangsters and corrupt officials. In the end, Rocky is caught and is given the death penalty but what he never sees coming is the favor his old pal asks him to do before he dies. Black and white films are awesome! You can watch this movie in its entirety on YouTube.

The Passion of the Christ

I just love Mel Gibson movies! I know all of them tend to be bloody and violent but Gibson makes it look like organized chaos. Anyway, The Passion Of The Christ is an awesome movie about the arrest, trial, torture, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This movie is in Aramaic, Latin and Hebrew and has subtitles. The film came out in 2004 and was one of the highest grossing non-English movies ever. It starts off with Jesus praying in Gethsemane before He's about to be betrayed by Judas Iscariot. As Jesus is praying the devil appears to Him and starts to tempt Him. The portrayal of the devil is great because Gibson made him look something like a young woman but with a man's voice dressed in a black hooded cloak. He's androgynous which adds mystery and creepiness. Later Jesus is betrayed by Judas and is taken away where he is beaten, whipped and humiliated. The governor, Pontius Pilate, doesn't want to crucify Jesus even though the large crowd and the Sanhedrin do so he tells them to take Him to Herod. Herod is from Egyptian royalty where again Gibson does a great job of portraying an Egyptian royal. Herod with thick eyeliner around his eyes, is interrupted from his partying when they bring Jesus in. He tells everyone to shut up as he puts on a disheveled wig and goes over to Jesus in a half jokingly way and asks Him questions. Jesus doesn't answer him and in the end Herod tells them to take Him back to Pilate. Throughout the movie, Jesus and different characters in the film like Mary and Mary Magdalene, think back on Jesus' life. In the end, of course, they crucify Him. After everything is done there is a short scene where you see Him get up from death and walk away.

Deliverance

Some years ago, I worked at Hollywood Video which was a lot of fun because I got to watch any movie I wanted. What I decided to do was to rent movies that I had heard were good or controversial. One of the movies I saw was Deliverance and let me tell you, that was so not what I expected! This movie came out in 1972 and it's about 4 Atlanta businessmen who decide to go canoeing down the fictional Cahulawassee River. Lewis, played by Burt Reynolds, is an experienced outdoorsman and is one of those guys that has to keep proving how macho he is. Ed, played by Angelina Jolie's father Jon Voight, has gone on a few outdoor trips with Lewis but isn't that experienced. Bobby and Drew are new to the whole outdoors trip and to canoeing. What they thought was going to be a great time with the guys turned out to be a nightmare. A couple of "locals" who are depicted as inbred hillbillies, decide they want to rape them and in their attempt to do so one of the hillbillies is killed. The other one flees but keeps taunting and trying to kill the others. One of the cool things about their trip was the banjo playing scene with a young odd looking local. The Dueling Banjos became a big hit and is still recognized today. Although this movie is creepy and weird, it is also a well made movie. It got 3 Academy Awards including Best Picture and 5 Golden Globe Awards. This film, although disturbing, is worth seeing. On a side note, Burt Reynolds and Jon Voight were hot back in the day!

I Love You Man

I saw I Love You Man last night and it was good! It was somewhat of a romantic comedy except it was about a bromance. Peter is a real estate agent who just got engaged to Zooey but when he realizes he doesn't have any friends close enough to ask to be his best man, he begins going on man-dates. Each man-date was either awkward, confusing, ridiculous and/or embarrassing. During one of his house showings, he ends up meeting Sidney who is charming and opinionated. Their bromance starts off as usual, awkward and weird, but soon Peter starts getting the hang of it and starts to really bond with Sidney. At first Zooey is really glad he found a friend but later Peter starts hanging out with Sidney more than with her so it starts to create problems for their relationship. In the end, everyone gets along, the wedding proceeds and Peter gets his bro back.