Movie Advent Calendar #21 – Bridge of Spies
“My name’s Donovan. Irish, both sides. Mother and father. I’m Irish and you’re German. But what makes us both Americans? Just one thing. One. Only one. The rule book. We call it the Constitution, and we agree to the rules, and that’s what makes us Americans. That’s all that makes us Americans. So don’t tell me there’s no rule book, and don’t nod at me like that you son of a bitch.”
In 2012 I did a cinematic advent calendar of twenty four films. These were films that I really liked and have enjoyed at the cinema. This year on a similar theme I will be posting a movie advent calendar of twenty four movies.
As I said earlier in the calendar, I have really enjoyed virtually everything Tom Hanks has done, I have seen most of his films and there are a fair few in this movie advent calendar and there was a few in the cinematic advent calendar I did in 2012. So it wasn’t too surprising that I enjoyed Bridge of Spies.
Bridge of Spies is a historical drama film directed by Steven Spielberg and released in 2015. It stars Tom Hanks as James Donovan, a lawyer who is recruited by the CIA to negotiate the release of a pilot, Francis Gary Powers (played by Austin Stowell), who was captured after his plane was shot down over the Soviet Union. The film is based on the real-life events of the 1960 U-2 incident, in which Powers was captured and held as a spy by the Soviet Union. Donovan is tasked with negotiating a prisoner exchange, in which Powers would be released in exchange for Soviet spy Rudolf Abel, who had been arrested in the United States.
The film is set during the height of the Cold War, and it does a great job of capturing the tense political climate of the time. Hanks gives a fantastic performance as Donovan, bringing a sense of intelligence and moral conviction to the character. The supporting cast is also strong, with standout performances from Mark Rylance as Rudolf Abel, the Soviet spy who is at the center of the negotiation, and Amy Ryan as Donovan’s wife, Mary.
I really liked the attention to historical detail. The costumes, sets, and dialogue all feel authentic and help to transport the viewer back in time. The cinematography is also top-notch, with some beautiful shots of Berlin and New York City. I think it is this kind of film that made me really enjoy my recent trip to Berlin. I never though had the time to get to the bridge, maybe next time.
Bridge of Spies is a well-crafted and compelling historical drama that is both informative and entertaining.
Get Bridge of Spies at Amazon.
Hedgehog #365photos2022
Movie Advent Calendar #20 – Never Let Me Go
“The problem is you’ve been told and not told. That’s what I’ve seen while I’ve been here. You’ve been told but none of you really understand. So I’ve decided I’ll talk to you in a way that you will understand.”
In 2012 I did a cinematic advent calendar of twenty four films. These were films that I really liked and have enjoyed at the cinema. This year on a similar theme I will be posting a movie advent calendar of twenty four movies.
One of the reasons I wanted to watch Never Let Me Go was that it was filmed locally in and around North Somerset. I bought it on ITunes and was impressed with the movie.
Never Let Me Go is a 2010 science fiction drama film that is based on the novel of the same name by Kazuo Ishiguro. The film stars Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, and Keira Knightley as three friends who are raised in a mysterious boarding school called Hailsham. s they grow into young adults, they find that they have to come to terms with the strength of the love they feel for each other, while preparing themselves for the haunting reality that awaits them. As they grow older, they come to realise the shocking truth about their lives and the world around them.
The film is also beautifully shot, with a visual style that perfectly captures the eerie, surreal atmosphere of the story. The film is set in an alternate 1980s England with flashbacks to the 1970s.
One cafe scene was shot at The Regent Restaurant and Coffee Lounge in Weston-super-Mare.
They didn’t need to even redress or change the signage for the movie, as the lounge had a 1970s vibe to it. Alas it has now closed which is a pity. Another scene was filmed on Clevedon Pier.
The film has a really strong cast. Mulligan, Garfield, and Knightley deliver powerful performances that are both moving and nuanced. They are ably supported by a talented supporting cast, including Charlotte Rampling and Sally Hawkins. The score, composed by Rachel Portman, is also haunting and evocative.
Never Let Me Go is a thought-provoking and emotionally powerful film, one which makes you think about the ethics of a society.
Get Never Let Me Go at Amazon.
Movie Advent Calendar #19 – Ghostbusters
“Who you gonna call?”
In 2012 I did a cinematic advent calendar of twenty four films. These were films that I really liked and have enjoyed at the cinema. This year on a similar theme I will be posting a movie advent calendar of twenty four movies.
Ghostbusters is a classic 1980s comedy film that follows a group of scientists who start a ghost-catching business in New York City. The movie stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis as the Ghostbusters, and also features Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis in supporting roles.
It is clever blend of comedy and horror, as well as its catchy theme song and iconic ghost-busting equipment. Murray, Aykroyd, and Ramis have great chemistry on screen and their performances are a big part of what makes the movie so entertaining.
In addition to its humor, Ghostbusters also has an engaging story and well-developed characters. The special effects, while dated by today’s standards, still hold up surprisingly well and add to the film’s charm.
Overall, Ghostbusters is a timeless comedy classic, it’s funny, clever, and full of memorable moments that will have you laughing out loud.
Get Ghostbusters at Amazon.
GWM ORA Funky Cat #365photos2022
Movie Advent Calendar #18 – Live. Die. Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow
In 2012 I did a cinematic advent calendar of twenty four films. These were films that I really liked and have enjoyed at the cinema. This year on a similar theme I will be posting a movie advent calendar of twenty four movies.
Live. Die. Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow, also known simply as Edge of Tomorrow, is a thrilling and thought-provoking science fiction film that explores the concept of time travel and the consequences of reliving the same day over and over again.
Tom Cruise stars as Major William Cage, a military public relations officer who is thrust into battle against an alien invasion and quickly finds himself trapped in a time loop, reliving the same day over and over again. With the help of a warrior named Rita Vrataski (played by Emily Blunt), Cage must use his newfound knowledge and skills to try and end the loop and defeat the aliens once and for all.
The film is full of intense action scenes and special effects that make it a visual feast, but it’s the thought-provoking exploration of time travel and the moral dilemmas that it creates that truly sets it apart. Cruise and Blunt have great chemistry on screen, and their performances are top-notch.
Live. Die. Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow is smart, exciting, and will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
Get Live. Die. Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow from Amazon.
The stage is set, the actors are ready… #365photos2022
Movie Advent Calendar #17 – The Martian
“In the face of overwhelming odds, I’m left with only one option. I’m gonna have to science the shit out of this.”
In 2012 I did a cinematic advent calendar of twenty four films. These were films that I really liked and have enjoyed at the cinema. This year on a similar theme I will be posting a movie advent calendar of twenty four movies.
This was a film that I watched on a streaming service. Initially I wasn’t too enamoured with the premise of watching a single astronaut surviving on a barren planet (I felt I had seen this before, many times). However once I started watching I was engaged and hooked into the story.
The Martian is a science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon as astronaut Mark Watney. The film follows Watney as he is stranded on Mars after being separated from his crew during a violent storm.
I really liked the stunning visual effects, which bring the harsh and barren landscape of Mars to life in a way that is both beautiful and convincing. The film also does an excellent job of depicting the scientific challenges faced by Watney as he tries to survive on the planet, and it manages to make these challenges feel both realistic and exciting.
The performances in The Martian are also strong, with Matt Damon delivering an excellent performance as the resourceful and determined Watney. The supporting cast, which includes the likes of Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, is equally impressive and helps to round out the film’s ensemble.
The Martian is a thrilling and visually stunning film that successfully blends science fiction with elements of survival and adventure.
Get The Martian at Amazon.
Theatre in the hut #365photos2022
