The Graduate and The Drunk...

Last night's movie night was one month in the making. It had been an entire month since the group last got together for movie night, and I was like a little kid when Friday finally came. Although we've been doing this movie club thing for just a short time, it's the thing I look forward to the most. Last night I was in charge of dinner - stuffed shells, garlic bread, and salad. I love to cook, and really enjoy cooking for other people, so I had even more reason to be excited. So someone please tell me why I insisted upon drinking way too much wine, causing me to literally pass out during the second movie. I am very disappointed in myself, and I feel awful for crashing movie night. I woke up on the couch at 3:30 in the morning, and battled the usual hangover crap until about 1:30 this afternoon. And the wine wasn't even that good.


We watched The Graduate and The Machinist. I had not seen either, and as it stands now, I need to re-rent The Machinist. On to the reviews...


The Graduate
Picked by: Stacy
Why Picked: A twisted love story with turmoil and confusion. Sounds good to me! Obviously, I need to see the movie that created a label - Mrs. Robinson - for a woman having an affair with a younger man.

Brooke: One thumb up, one thumb down
I was expecting so much more. It was funny when he was so nervous about his first time. I have questions about the plot.

Chuck: One thumb up, one thumb down
For the time the movie was set, it was funny. But I don't get one thing - if you live in California, you don't have tan lines.

Dave: One thumb up, one thumb down
I have no opinion about this movie at all. Just overall strange. Not sure why it is a classic. Although it was nice to see Principle Feeny!

Steph: Two thumbs up!
I liked the movie, but I was expecting so much more. I felt the relationship with the daughter lacked the passion to back up such a dramatic alter scene, but whatever.

Stacy: One thumb up, One thumb down
I enjoyed the movie, taking into consideration that in the 1960's, movies were a little bit different than they are now. It had me chuckling a few times, and it was pretty good overall. But, the soundtrack was quite repetitive, the cinematography left a little to be desired, and the "sexual attraction" between Ben and Mrs. Robinson left A LOT to be desired. There seemed to be zero connection between the two of them, leaving me to wonder why he was partaking in the affair to begin with. Then, he goes on one extremely awkward date with the daughter Robinson, she finds out about him and her mother, and then they plan on getting married? There was a large disconnect between the emotions presented by the characters and the events that resulted from those supposed emotions. It's not one of my favorites, but I am glad that I have seen it now. And dad, your Plastics scene was great (-:


The Machinist
Picked by: Brooke

Brooke: Two thumbs up!
The first time I saw this movie, the end blew me away. I love that is was so dark and the weird music really goes.

Chuck: Two thumbs up!
The idea that you can change reality in your own mind is both amazing and scary. Side note, the way he became the character is incredible.

Dave: Two thumbs up!
Good movie, I liked all the twists and turns that kept you guessing. All came together 5 minutes after it was over. Sweet...nice.

Steph: Two thumbs up!
Great movie. I kinda guessed the plot about halfway through but was still in suspense the entire time. I love all the hidden foreshadowing - and especially his shirt "Justice Brothers Race car Repair". Wow. I think I'll have to watch this one again!


Stacy: Two thumbs up!
Okay, so I did pass out during this movie, but I saw the first 45 minutes or so, and that at least deserves two thumbs up. I actually am very upset that I was unable to see the whole movie. I will be renting it and watching it, probably on my day off next Friday if not this Sunday, and I will write my whole review then. Brooke, I am sorry that I was not coherent during your movie pick and assure you that I will no longer be drinking during movie nights (-:

Movie Withrawal

I'm going through movie withdrawal! We weren't able to get together this past Friday because I had a wedding rehearsal dinner to go to. And we won't be getting together again until March 13th because of Chuck's work schedule. But...I'll get to see two more movies I have never seen, so I guess it should be worth the wait!

Up next...The Graduate and The Machinist

A Change in Plans...

It was Steph's and my turn to pick the movies for last night - Steph picked Primal Fear (with Richard Gere) and I picked The Graduate. I was super excited for this movie night because I have never seen either of the movies. When we popped in the DVD of The Graduate, we discovered it was damaged and would not play. So, my movie pick was replaced with Chuck's pick of Halloween - and The Graduate will have to wait until next time. )-:

Brooke and Chuck made tacos for dinner, and Brooke found awesome Movie Night paper plates to use. And, in the spirit of The Graduate, she rolled and tied the napkins to look like diplomas. She's so creative! Dinner was delicious! On to the reviews...

Primal Fear (with Richard Gere)
Picked by: Stephanie
Why Picked: " I picked this movie because I remembered being completely surprised at the ending. Plus, I like Edward Norton and think that he did a great job in this role. Oh...and a recent Mentalist episode with a similar twist had me thinking about this movie.

Brooke: Two thumbs up!
I have never seen this movie. I really enjoyed it. Edward Norton was awesome and talented. I thought the ending was unexpected.

Chuck: Two thumbs up!
I have seen this move but not for a long time. It's amazing how the end twists.

Steph: Two thumbs up!
Although I have to admit that knowing how the movie ended really sucked the suspense out. Truth be told, I was a little bored, but I did enjoy seeing it again and sharing with with Dave and everyone else.

Dave: Two thumbs up!
I like the movie, it kept my attention well for being a suspense drama. Nice little twist at the end.

Stacy: Two thumbs up!
I enjoyed the movie. Edward Norton did a great job portraying the character. Mmm Mmm Mmm...can't wait for American History X!

Prior to seeing the movie, Stephanie had already told me that there is a twist at the end, and that it plays out very similar to a Mentalist episode we had watched...so I pretty much thought that I wasn't going to be shocked by anything. But I was! There was a twist above and beyond what I had expected! I was pleasantly surprised...I won't ruin it for anyone. It's a good courtroom drama with great acting on everyone's part.

Halloween
Picked by: Chuck

Brooke: One thumb up, one thumb down
A horror classic...but the Rob Zombie version is much scarier.

Chuck: Two thumbs up!
William Shattner makes this movie without starring in it. The mask is his face painted white. The best killers are slow and steady.

Steph:One thumb up, one thumb down
I braced myself for a horror flick...and what I got was zzzzzzzz's. Totally fell asleep for about 1/3 of the movie. Couldn't believe that I was scared to watch. Sorry - ranks with Candyman!

Dave: One thumb up, one thumb down
The tipickle (that's for you Dave) horror film - not that impressed, ranks with Candyman; good before, now sucks my balls!

Stacy: Two thumbs down
Predictable. Not as scary as I was expecting. I was quite bored during the movie. I know it's classic horror, but what kind of idiot just drops the knife at the feet of the killer and walks away? Of course he's not dead. It was kind of neat to see Jamie Lee Curtis so young though- her face looked sooooo long.

The Goonies and Candyman

Even though movie night was filled with interruptions (dinner didn't go as planned, the fire needed refreshed, the cats kept playing with loud toys, the DVD was skipping....) it was still great. We watched The Goonies and Candyman - from one extreme to the next! What's funny is that we all gave the same ratings! Here's the reviews...

The Goonies
Picked by: Brooke
Why Picked: "A great movie from childhood. I watch it now and I can't believe my parents allowed us to watch a movie with so much cussing!"

Brooke: Two thumbs up!
This movie is probably the reason I fell in love with all things pirate. A great adventure with a great cast.

Chuck: Two thumbs up!
A great movie about family and coming together.

Steph: Two thumbs up!
Hey...you...guyyyyss! Great movie! How in the world did I get this far in life without seeing it?

Dave: Two thumbs up!
I am glad that I finally saw this movie. I now know where the Truffle Shuffle came from. And other catch phrases like "Hey you guys"

Stacy: Two thumbs up!
I've seen this movie about six times, but I have never before noticed how loud the kids are the entire time! Still, it's a good movie with lots of funny parts. Stacy love Chunk!


Candyman
Picked by: Dave
Why Picked: "Because it is a true scary movie"

Brooke: One thumb up, one thumb down.
I am not a big fan of scary movies. This one was not as scary as I thought it was going to be.

Chuck: One thumb up, one thumb down.
In my mind this movie was very scary, but in reality not so much. The other thing is the amount of nudity that is not needed at all.

Steph: One thumb up, one thumb down.
Ummm...I remember this move as incredibly scary, but I suppose that in the last 17 years psychological thrillers have come a long way! The fact that we watched this on VHS didn't help with the "convincibility" of the plot. Is convincibility a word?

Dave: One thumb up, one thumb down.
Not as good as I remember, but worth seeing again. Did not have the same effect as 15 years ago in Alex's apartment...Stephanie, Stephanie, Stephanie, Stephanie... St________!

Stacy: One thumb up, one thumb down.
I didn't really care for this movie. It wasn't very scary and, well, I didn't get it.

Okay, so it's all in her head, right? She's the killer. She's so consumed with the urban myth that it begins to control her? Whatever. I gotta say though, for 1992, she's kinda hot. Even with her tapered ankle-length leggings and constant smoking. I know I saw parts of this movie when it was released because I'm pretty sure it caused my intense fear of bees. Unfortunately, it did not give me an intense fear of candy in any way...

Breakfast at Tiffany's & Breakfast Club

Last night was the first movie night! We watched Breakfast at Tiffany's and Breakfast Club. Brooke and Chuck cooked breakfast for dinner - an awesome spread of eggs, bacon, sausage, french toast, and pancakes! Now on to the reviews...

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Brooke: Two Thumbs Up!
I want to have breakfast at Tiffany’s! Not what I remember and now I know why it won so many awards. She is so quirky and funny.

Chuck: Two Thumbs Up!
Holly is lost in a dream between what she wants and what she us running away from. Real life.

Steph: Two Thumbs Up!
Loved it! Can’t believe that I have never seen this movie before. I just loved Holly’s personality and spunk! “A girl can’t read this sort of thing without her lipstick” I just loved that line. And Cat – what can I say about Cat? I just adored that little guy!

Dave: One Thumb Up, One Thumb Down
Did not really watch it, was dreaming of Moon River… (He fell asleep!)

Stacy: Two Thumbs Up!
“No matter where you run to, you just run into yourself.” Loved it! It’s funny and poignant and Audrey Hepburn is a doll!

So…I always assumed this movie was about a girl named Tiffany who hosts breakfast. It’s really about a confused and scared young woman who has no idea who she is, and finds peace with immersing herself in the glamour and beauty of Tiffany’s & Co. Holly Golightly flutters through life, not wanting to be permanent anywhere or with anyone. She keeps running to find the happiness she feels when she’s inside Tiffany’s. She forms a relationship with a young man that helps her discover that she’ll never find happiness anywhere she runs to until she breaks down the walls she has built, and allows herself to actually live. I think it’s a fantastic movie, and it’s got me very excited to share Roman Holiday with everyone!



Breakfast Club

Brooke: Two Thumbs Up!
I have seen it many times before. It’s my dad’s favorite movie. I really enjoy the characters and their issues!

Chuck: Two Thumbs Up!
I have seen this movie before, and I love the characters. I like the way they interact from start to end.

Steph: Two Thumbs Up!
I’d never seen it before – loved it, although I think it should be redone in a more modern setting. You know… like in a Kohl’s commercial! I kept saying “Oh, the commercial!” Can’t believe I lived my life without seeing this movie!

Dave: Two Thumbs Up!
I like this movie. A cult classic that everyone needs to see. I finally got the wife to see it!

Stacy: Two Thumbs Up!
I’ve seen it a few times before – great movie that reminds me of everything I hated about high school.

I don’t have too much to say about this movie…it’s a classic and I think most people can identify with at least one of the characters. On the outside, I fit somewhere between Claire and Allison – I wasn’t ultra popular, but I wasn’t a freak either. On the inside, I think I’m a mixture of everyone except the Jock. I went through periods of feeling invisible, feeling academic pressure, suicidal thoughts and actions, and feeling lost just going along with my friends’ ideas and actions.


Next Movie Night is February 6th - The Goonies and Candyman!

The List

Last night kicked off the movie club. We shared our lists - there were three duplicates and Dave had chosen all three. I matched with one - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Brooke matched with American History X, and Chuck matched with The Jerk. So the four of us put our alternate picks in a mix and drew three from it. Unfortunately, my alternate Shawshank Redemption did not make it. I guess it wasn't meant to be! Here's the complete list of movies:



Dave's Picks
1. The Shining
2. Pulp Fiction
3. Silence of the Lambs
4. Brewsters Millions
5. Candyman
6. Last Boy Scout
7. Fallen
8. Airplane
9. American History X
10. The Jerk


Steph's Picks

1. Baby Face
2. Milk
3. North by Northwest
4. The Manchurian Candidate (the original)
5. Fat Girl
6. Momento
7. Titanic
8. Life is Beautiful
9. Crash
10. Primal Fear (with Ricahrd Gere)

Brooke's Picks
1. The Goonies
2. Unforgiven
3. E.T.
4. Bonnie and Clyde
5. The Machinist
6. The Pianist
7. Big Fish
8. Mississippi Burning
9. The Princess Bride
10. Apocalypse Now

Chuck's Picks
1. Jaws
2. Creep Show
3. Gone Baby Gone
4. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe
5. 50 First Dates
6. Dumb & Dumber
7. Halloween
8. The Replacements
9. Major League
10. Dogma

And just to recap my picks
1. The Godfather
2. The Graduate
3. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
4. Gardenstate
5. Roman Holiday
6. Unfaithful
7. American Beauty
8. The Exorcist
9. Schindler's List
10. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

I am so excited! The anticipation of seeing everyone's list was killing me! I have seen only 13 of the movies, and I'm really looking forward to watching all the new ones! After each movie, I'll post the reviews by everyone and my own thoughts. Keep checking in! We won't be able to get together every Friday, so it will probably take us over a year to finish the list. Who knows...maybe after that we'll start list 2.

My Top 10 Movies

My list is comprised of 7 movies I have never seen and 3 movies that I feel are important to share with the group.

1. Godfather - have not seen it
I don't have an intense desire to see it, however, I feel it's so well-known that I'm a little embarrassed by not knowing anything about it. I have heard that Godfather II and Godfather III are better than the first, but I figure I should start at the beginning and decide whether or not I want to continue.

2. The Exorcist - have not seen it
I enjoy a good horror flick. Problem is, there aren't that many good horror flicks. This one is supposedly pretty good.

3. Gardenstate - I have seen this movie 4 times
I think that most people, whether or not they admit it, go through periods of time when they feel emotionally empty. I can very closely relate to the character played by Zach Braff, so this movie really hits home with me. It's important for me to share this movie because I feel like it gives a little glimpse into my own head sometimes.

4. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - have not seen it
Honestly, I dont know a damn thing about this movie. I have no solid reason for it being on my list, other than it's a classic in it's own right and I know I would never watch it on my own.

5. The Graduate - have not seen it
A twisted love story with turmoil and confusion. Sounds good to me! Obviously, I need to see the movie that created a label - Mrs. Robinson - for a woman having an affair with a younger man.

6. Monty Python and the Holy Grail - have not seen it
There are waaaaaay too many quotes spoken from this movie for me to continue to have no idea what anyone is talking about! It's about time I get in on it.

7. Unfaithful - I have seen this movie 3 times
Diane Lane is extremely sexy in this movie, but that's not the reason it's on my list. The storyline dips deep down into human behavior - no matter how happy we are, we want more, and the excitement that comes from pushing the envelope allows us to block out the damaging consequences that are certain to follow. The perfect family, the perfect marriage, the perfect life, and it's not enough. When I watch the movie, I actually feel the pain they're going through. It's thoroughly gripping and so real. And I just want to scream at her to stop it.

8. Schindler's List - have not seen it
I typically enjoy movies based on real stories, especially movies based on history of human suffering. It reminds me that life can be much, much worse.

9. American Beauty - have not seen it
This movie won 5 oscars and stars Kevin Spacey. I have always meant to see it, just never got around to it.

10. Roman Holiday
I know that when my list gets known to the rest of the group, no one is going to be excited about this one - ESPECIALLY Dave. But that's the whole point of the movie club. This is a black and white classic with Audry Hepburn, set in Rome. It is lighthearted, funny, simply entertaining....and I have been to Rome, so I enjoy the scenery. It takes me back (-:

It's really hard to keep the list to 10. After much back-and-forth, now it's final. The movie watching begins tomorrow night!

Here's the runner-ups: Not Seen- Scarface, Animal House, The Scent of a Woman. Seen- American History X, Forrest Gump, V for Vendetta, Shawshank Redemption.