For some reason, I've watched a load of movies this week. I used to watch a lot of movies in high school, decided I missed them, and I've been watching one every other day. Also, in my desire to review or talk about some things other than books, I figured this feature would help me get it out of my system once a week :)
Released: 2013
Starring: Jake Johnson, Olivia Wilde, Anna Kendrick
My Thoughts: Drinking Buddies has been popping up on my Netflix recommended list for ages now, so I finally decided to give it a go. Plus: Jake Johnson! Luke and Kate work together at Revolution Brewery (in Chicago!) and there is constant romantic tension between them. They seem perfect together. The hitch? They're both in pretty darn good relationships. This movie is one where it seems like there isn't a whole lot happening until you get to the end and then it hits you kind of all at once. It's also worth noting that all of the actor's improvised their lines. AKA there was no script, just a loose outline. Which made me appreciate it even more because I never would've guessed. The actors really embodied their characters.
Rating: 4/5
Released: 2013
About: Kathleen Hanna
My Thoughts: Wow wow wow wow wow. After watching this movie I had to sit by myself for several minutes and reflect. Kathleen Hanna was the front woman of Bikini Kill and has become one of the women to spearhead the Riot Grrrl movement. There was a lot of information about Bikini Kill, the movement, and other bands that they came up with. Even if you didn't like Bikini Kill/Le Tigre/Julie Ruin, Kathleen Hanna's views on feminism and living with chronic illness were eye opening and heart breaking and motivating.
Rating: 8/5
Released: 2011
Starring: Juno Temple, Kay Panabaker, Leslie Mann
My Thoughts: I really missed the 'dark' label of this movie on Netflix, because it got real dark real quick and I was very unsuspecting. Lily and Alison are best friends living quite literally in the middle of nowhere. Lily is edgy and dying to leave, Alison is quieter and usually stands in the shadow. One day during a bike ride, they come across an empty pool taken over by skater boys and Lily falls in love with one of the boys. She shoulda taken some advice from Avril and said 'see ya later boy' to the skater boy because she follows them to Los Angeles with Alison and that's when shit gets real.
Rating: 4/5
Released: 2012
Starring: Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner, Adam Driver
My Thoughts: So many mixed feelings! I related to the 'struggle'. Frances Halladay is trying to make it as a dancer, but has more ambition than talent and can't quite figure out how to make the big time. She is frequently broke, and bounces around from apartment to apartment, staying with different friends along the way. She thought she had it made with her best friend and roommate Sophie, but Sophie moves out to live with her rich boyfriend, sending Frances into a tailspin. I loved watching the relationship between Frances and Sophie, their friendship is often described by themselves as 'being the lesbian couple that doesn't sleep together,' and they brought the spirit of New York (or what I imagine the spirit of New York to be like) to life. But where Drinking Buddies seemed scripted but wasn't, Frances Ha was scripted but seemed unscripted. Frances is super awkward in a way that was slightly annoying to watch, she never seems like she knows what to say and after a while I was kinda over it.
Rating: 3/5
Released: 2012
Starring: Kristen Wiig, Darren Criss, Annette Benning
My Thoughts: Imogene was supposed to be successful. She was supposed to be an up and coming playwright and then blew it all. Instead of writing a play with a large grant, she climbs up the social ladder with her friends who are all upper class something or others. Then her live in boyfriend dumps her. Naturally, she stages a suicide, which forces doctor's to put her in care of her slightly crazy mother, and her hermit crab obsessed brother. I saw this in theaters last summer with my sister and enjoyed it then, too, and wanted to watch it again. It's not as funny as you would expect a Kristen Wiig movie to be (especially after Bridesmaids), but Imogene was a character I really rooted for, and it definitely had it's shining moments.
Rating: 4/5
What movies have you watched this week? Any good ones on Netflix right now?
These movies seem really cool! I just have seen the first one, I will put the other ones in my to-watch list :)
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i definitely recommend them! what did you think of Drinking Buddies?
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