Movies-n-Stuff: In Space!

Movies watched:

The Passenger

A Scanner Darkly

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Mans Chest

Action Jackson

Harlan County USA

Stuck on You

The Matador

Movies Rewatched:

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl - I'm a dork.

The Passenger: Jack Nicholson re-released this Michelangelo Antonioni directed movie from 1975 this last year. It describes itself as a forgotten classic. I can see why it was forgotten, Jack Nicholson is kinda hammy, Maria Schneider seems like she's had starch sprayed all over her, and the movie is slow moving. Jack plays a reporter who comes across a dead friend and decides to steal his identity and, of course, he gets more than he bargained for. There's also a lot of sand everywhere. The very last scene of the movie made it worth watching, though. Its a beautiful 10 minute long continuous scene, where stuff happens. I dont really want to give it away. You could watch the first 15 minutes, fast forward, and watch the last 15 minutes.

A Scanner Darkly: Richard Linklater's second foray into animation. This is different than "Waking Life", mainly because there is an actual plot, and, I think that it actually gets in the way. I really enjoyed the movie and its amazing to look at, but I have programmed my brain to appreciate Linklater's rambling dialogue. This movie does have plenty of that, but it has to compete with the plot. Its definitely worth seeing. Go see it. If you're going to take some acid first, you might regret it.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest: The sequel to the little known 1978 original starring Charles Bronson as Captain Jack Sparrow, Burt Reynolds as Will Turner and Marty Feldman as Elizabeth Swann. They have replaced those fine actors with pretty, young people who don't have any body hair. This was a big, fun movie. I had a good time. Leslee had a good time. Johnny Depp melts me like butter.

Action Jackson:

Police Chief: "You nearly tore that boy's arm off!!"

Jericho "Action" Jackson: "So... He had a spare."

Harlan County USA: This is the Oscar winner for best documentary in 1976. When you watch, you can see why. Its incredible. Taking place in Harlan County, Kentucky, which, in the 30's was known as Bloody Harlan, due to the terrible conditions of the mines and the miner's decision to strike. This movie covers the early to mid 70's strikes in Harlan. Most of the footage is on the picket line with the miners. The amazing thing is the determination of these people. Most of them don't have much education or teeth. They live in housing with no electricity or running water and they know that joining the United Mine Workers of America is their best shot at bettering themselves. They'll do anything to get it, but the Brookside Mine Company won't sign their contract if they join. This is good versus evil. Very simple. The music is amazing. Folk songs about mining mostly sung on camera for this movie. Definitely worth a watch.

Stuck on You: I probably laughed more than I should have at this movie.

The Matador: Greg Kinnear, Pierce Brosnan and Hope Davis star in this film about an assassin (Brosnan) on the brink of a collapsing career. Danny (Kinnear) is in Mexico on a business trip and meets a drunk Julian (Brosnan) who immediately starts clinging to him. Julian has realized that he has everything he wants except friends. Hope Davis plays Danny's wife and is kind of wasted in the movie. Her character isn't in the movie much. Julian and Danny eventually become friends and spend some time in Mexico together. Months later Julian gets in some trouble and shows back up in his only friend's life. I enjoyed the darker comedy of the movie. Pierce Brosnan is better in this than anything I've ever seen him in. Theres not much of a story, but there doesn't need to be. Greg Kinnear and Brosnan have a good chemistry together and that makes the movie worth watching. The directing is great too.

Coming up next on the Queueue:

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

The Emperor of the North Pole (1973)

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada

Bio Zombie

North Country

Reno 911 Season 3

Bunny Lake is Missing (1965)