L.A. Confidential, 1997

Director: Curtis Hanson



Stars: Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey, Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito









AWFUL!  I couldn't finish it.  I hated everything I saw.  It's a film noir, so obviously it's all depressing and everyone swears and dies and is naked and corrupt.  I just forgot what "film noir" meant, I guess.

Hud, 1963

Director: Martin Ritt

Stars: Paul Newman, Melvyn Douglas, Patricia Neal

Hud (Newman) can't get along with his father, or anyone else, and when he's drunk, he acts like a complete moron.  Very slow-moving, and depressing, really.  Not worth watching.  Sorry, Paul.

A Good Year, 2006

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION
Albert Finney-- Russell Crowe






Director: Ridley Scott



Stars: Russell Crowe, Albert Finney, Freddie Highmore, Abbie Cornish







Max  (Crowe) is a workaholic in London who hasn't seen his uncle Henry is years.  When he hears of his death, he heads to France to his uncle's vineyard, and the memories of his childhood come flooding back.  Life gets a little interesting when a young woman shows up claiming to be his uncle's daughter.

This one is also one of those slow movies, with lots of beautiful scenery.  Definitely a summer movie.  I love those kinds of movies.

An Unfinished Life, 2005

Director: Lasse Hallstrom



Stars: Robert Redford, Jennifer Lopez, Morgan Freeman, Josh Lucas, Becca Gardner








When her current boyfriend beats her again, Jean (Lopez) takes her daughter Griff (Gardner) and heads for the only family she has left-- her late husband's father Einar (Redford).  Einar lives on a ranch and cares for his friend Mitch (Freeman), who was mauled by a bear and can't care for himself.  Einar never truly recovered from his son Griff's death, but as he gets to know his granddaughter, he finds the healing he needs.

This is one of those slow-moving movies.  And except for a tiny scene that could have just been left out and implied (yeah, it's about sex), I really liked this movie.

The Wedding Planner, 2001

Director: Adam Shankman


Stars: Jennifer Lopez, Matthew McConaughey, Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, Justin Chambers, Judy Greer





Mary (Lopez) is a wedding planner who is about to become a partner in the company- all she has to do is successfully plan the Donolly wedding.  This becomes tricky when the man she recently met and has fallen for actually ends up being the groom of the wedding she is supposed to plan!

Very cute and sweet!  I have always liked this movie, as cheesy as it might be.  Romantic comedies too often go the dirty route, and I'm glad this one didn't.

Erin Brockovich, 2000

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!
Julia Roberts-- Albert Finney






Director: Steven Soderbergh (Ocean's Eleven, Ocean's Twelve, Ocean's Thirteen, The Informant!)


Stars: Julia Roberts, Albert Finney, David Brisbin









Erin Brockovich (Roberts), a legal assistant, discovers that a power company is polluting the area's water supply, and hundreds are getting sick and even dying because of it.  She investigates the situation and tries to take down the guilty company.

All in all, I enjoyed this movie.  I both loved and hated Erin and her harsh and sweet personality.  This is definitely a drama, but the ending is very satisfying.  She does wear very revealing, trashy clothing, and everybody's language is pretty awful, but besides that, good movie!  :)

NOTE: The real Erin Brockovich actually has a cameo- she plays the waitress in the restaurant in the beginning!

Mirror Mirror, 2012

Director: Tarsem Singh

Stars: Lily Collins, Julia Roberts, Armie Hammer, Nathan Lane





A Snow White story, made into a comedy.  Sometimes this was funny, but honestly, the best part about seeing this in the theater was that it was free because it was a gift, and there was a guy in front of me and ,my friends who fell asleep and started snoring.  The choking silent laughter with friends was worth sitting through the whole silly movie.

The Hunger Games, 2012

Director: Gary Ross


Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Stanley Tucci








Each year, one boy and one girl are chosen by lottery from each of the 12 Districts to go to the Capitol and fight to the death in "The Hunger Games".  The games are filmed live and every person in each district is forced to watch them, a way for the Capitol to remind the Districts of who's in control.

When her younger sister is chosen to go, Katniss (Lawrence) steps in to take her place.  She and the boy chosen from her district, Peeta (Hutcherson), she heads to the Capitol to fight in the games.  But things don't always go according to the Capitol's plans.

I would highly recommend reading the book first.  And just know that the book and movie match up very well together!  I was impressed.  The entire time in the movie, I was on the edge of my seat, riveted by what was happening.  And the book was similar, of course.  I sometimes get into the popular novels that everyone is reading, and this is no exception.  But as I got into the 2nd and 3rd books, I found them to be very depressing.  Revolution is not the most fun topic.

My Best Friend's Wedding, 1997

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!
Rupert Everett--Julia Roberts



Director: P.J. Hogan

Stars: Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Rupert Everett, Cameron Diaz




It's almost Julianne's (Roberts) birthday, and she remembers that she and her best friend Michael (Mulroney) once promised each other that if they weren't married by the time they were 30, they'd marry each other.  When he calls her that night, he tells her he's getting married to Kimberly (Diaz), and she suddenly realizes she loves him and wants him for herself.

It's only days before the wedding, and Julianne must act quickly if she wants Michael for herself.  She has her gay friend George (Everett) to pretend he's her boyfriend, just to make Michael jealous.  That makes for some funny stuff.  

I remember watching this one a lot when it was new.  I haven't seen it in years, so maybe it's not exactly what I remember.

Where Angels Fear to Tread, 1991

Director: Charles Sturridge

Stars: Helena Bonham-Carter, Rupert Graves, Helen Mirren, Judy Davis








Yes, the novel by E. M. Forster comes to really horrible and painful life.

I hate hate hate hate hated this movie.  I don't know how you could possibly like it.  These people are ALL crazy.  I would have gone to the police in a moment and had them all committed.

If you like good movies, do not watch.

The Truman Show, 1998

Director: Peter Weir

Stars: Jim Carrey, Ed Harris, Natascha McElhone, Noah Emmerich







Truman (Carrey) lives in the largest television studio in the world, as the star of the most popular reality show of all time-- and he doesn't even know it.

He was adopted by a tv studio for the purpose of putting his entire life on television.  He lives in a controlled environment, and everyone surrounding him is an actor, even his best friend and his mother.  The studio runs his entire life, making sure he never, ever leaves town and that he does exactly what they want him to.

It's very funny in some parts how the studio controls his life.  And it gets emotional near the end, as Truman continues to realize that there is someone out there pulling the strings in his every move.

It's very interesting and makes you think.  What if you were the one trapped in a giant studio with people watching your every move?  How would YOU escape?

Sounds funny, but it's true.

A Midsummer Night's Dream, 1999

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!
Kevin Kline- Rupert Everett

Director: Michael Hoffman

Stars: Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Everett, Stanley Tucci, Calista Flockhart






Shakespeare's play comes to life yet again!

So, this is a romantic comedy about two couples and how their lives are affected by the magic of the creatures in the forest.  It's very cute, though not the cleanest movie- Shakespeare wasn't noted for that, though.  But it's not totally dirty either.  Bottom line, if you like Shakespeare, you'll like it!  Actually, if you like Shakespeare, you've probably already seen it.....

Kevin Kline is hilarious!!!!  Really, he is one of my favorite actors.