Julie and Julia, 2009

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!!
Stanley Tucci-- Amy Adams




Director: Nora Ephron

Stars: Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci









Julie (Adams) decides to start a blog going through Julia Child's (Streep) book "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" in one year.  To her surprise, her blog takes off and becomes very popular, soon taking over her life, in a way, and she neglects her husband, among other things.

This movie takes on Julie's story, while going back in time and going through Julia's story as she was writing the cookbook.  It's a very sweet movie, touching at times, and you should definitely have soem good food ready to eat!  You will be hungry.

Swing Vote, 2008

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!!
Kevin Costner-- Stanley Tucci



Director: Joshua Michael Stern

Stars: Kevin Costner, Madeline Carroll, Paula Patton, Kelsey Grammer, Stanley Tucci, Dennis Hopper, Nathan Lane, Judge Reinhold








Bud Johnson (Costner) is an alcoholic factory-worker, whose over-achieving daughter, Molly (Carroll), wants him to get more involved in everything, especially on Election Day.  Bud is supposed to meet her at the polls, but ends up passed out in his truck.  Molly is desperate, and when the volunteer falls asleep, she signs her father's name, takes his ballot, and prepares to cast his vote.  The ballot is in the machine, when it loses power suddenly, and Molly dashes out, the vote incomplete.

It doesn't take long for the authorities to figure out who didn't cast their vote.  And maybe it wouldn't have mattered, except the Presidential election ends up hanging on the electoral votes in New Mexico, in Bud's county, and surprise, surprise-- on Bud's vote.  Yes, it is discovered that Bud Johnson is the man who will pick the next President of the United States! 

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.

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.

Captain America: The First Avenger, 2011

Director: Joe Johnston

Stars: Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Stanley Tucci

I really like what they're doing, making a bunch of movies about superheroes that are separate in themselves, and then at the end of each one, they bring them together as one: the Avengers! At the end of Captain America, after the credits, is a preview for the Avengers, coming out in May 2012. Though superhero movies can be depressing, I am looking forward to this.

It's 1941, and Steve Rogers (Evans) is a short, weak, asthmatic kid from Brooklyn who wants to join the U.S. army, but is rejected multiple times. Then he meets Zola (Tucci), a German doctor who developed a super drug-injection thingy that would basically make you better in every way. He sees the greatness in Rogers, and gives him the injections. Now Rogers is a tall, muscular super-man, and he's ready to fight the Nazis.

Lots of explosions. Lots of action. Lots of army green.

This one was good, and I really enjoyed it, though I can't say I was crazy about the ending. You'll see.

NOTE: Chris Evans also played "The Human Torch" in The Fantastic Four. I guess he likes to be a superhero!

It Could Happen to You, 1994

Director: Andrew Bergman

Stars: Nicholas Cage, Bridget Fonda, Rosie Perez, Stanley Tucci

Nicholas cage stars as Charlie, a cop who plays the lotto with his wife. When he doesn't have money for a tip to leave for waitress Yvonne (Fonda), he promises to split half of what he wins with his current lottery ticket, or he'll come back the next day and give her a tip anyway. Having just filed for bankruptcy that day because of her deadbeat husband, whom she can't afford to divorce, she isn't in the mood to care if he comes back or not. Charlie does come back the next day, with great news. He won $4 million- so she gets a $2 million tip! But his greedy wife Muriel (Perez) isn't thrilled about it.

The ending is sweet. It's worth a watch. Except...... I wanted to reach through the screen and strangle Rosie Perez! Is that her real voice? She gives all Rosies a bad name.