The significance of the cow…
So four seasons into Young Sheldon and I have only realised the significance of the cow in the opening credits. Young Sheldon I set in Texas and Texas is well known for its cattle.
Got it!
Coffee #365photos2022
Movie Advent Calendar #13 – Catch Me If You Can
“I’ll tell you what I am sure of. You’re going to get caught. One way or another. It’s a mathematical fact. It– It’s like Vegas, the House always wins.”
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.
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. There are a few films of his I haven’t see, so not too obsessive! For example, I’ve not seen him in Castaway. It’s probably not too surprising to find though I did quite enjoy Catch Me If You Can.
I didn’t see Catch Me If You Can at the cinema, it was something I eventually saw, well actually I can’t remember. I don’t have it on DVD, so maybe this was a film I saw on the television and then watched again another time on a streaming service.
Catch Me If You Can is a 2002 biographical crime drama film directed by Stephen Spielberg that tells the true story of Frank Abagnale Jr. (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), a young con artist who successfully poses as a doctor, lawyer, and pilot in the 1960s. The film also stars Tom Hanks as Carl Hanratty, the FBI agent tasked with tracking down Abagnale.
One of the standout elements of the film is its strong performances. DiCaprio and Hanks are both excellent in their roles, with DiCaprio in particular delivering a charismatic and engaging performance as the charming and cunning Abagnale.
The supporting cast is also strong, with Christopher Walken and Martin Sheen giving standout performances.
The film is also beautifully shot, with a vibrant and colorful visual style that perfectly captures the glitz and glamour of the 1960s. I think the film really captures the look and feel of the 1960s. The script, by Jeff Nathanson, is also clever and well-written, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the audience engaged.
I enjoyed the BBC’s Hustle series about con artists, and this film which is on a similar topic did catch my eye (as well as the fact it starred Tom Hanks).
Overall, Catch Me If You Can is a highly entertaining and well-made film that is worth watching for the performances alone. It may not be the deepest or most thought-provoking film, but it is definitely a fun ride.
Get Catch Me If You Can at Amazon.
Soldier #365photos2022
Movie Advent Calendar #12 – Love Actually
” There was more than one lobster present at the birth of Jesus?”
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.
Love Actually is a 2003 romantic comedy film that follows the interconnected lives of a group of people in London during the weeks leading up to Christmas. The film has an impressive cast that includes Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, and many others.
I don’t recall watching this film at the cinema, my eldest son was just over a year old at the time, so we weren’t really going to the cinema at that time. So I suspect I got it as a present in 2004. At the time I did enjoy it. Though it never got into our list of regular Christmas films, as there are sections of the film which are not age appropriate.
One of the strengths of the film is its large and interesting cast of characters. Each character has their own unique story and relationships, and the film does a good job of exploring these in a way that is both funny and poignant.
The film also has a great sense of fun and joy, thanks in part to its festive setting and upbeat soundtrack. I really like the opening and closing sections at the airport, which features real people meeting and not actors. Another strength of the film is its clever writing, which is both funny and emotionally resonant. The dialogue is sharp and the characters are well-developed, making it easy to care about what happens to them. Of course if you are not a fan of Richard Curtis’ writing, then this probably isn’t the film for you.
While Love Actually is a popular and beloved film, it has faced its fair share of criticism for its portrayal of love, relationships, and its lack of diversity and its treatment of female characters. One common criticism of Love Actually is that it portrays a very idealised and unrealistic view of love and relationships. Many of the film’s characters are shown to have perfect, happy endings, which some viewers may find unrealistic and overly simplistic.
The film has also been criticised for its lack of diversity, as all of the main characters are white and many of the supporting characters are also white.
The film also portrays its female characters in a stereotypical and objectifying way. Many of the female characters are shown to be in need of a man to complete them, and their primary purpose in the film is to serve as romantic interests for the male characters. This portrayal of women has been criticised as being outdated and offensive.
Overall, Love Actually is a charming and entertaining film that is great for getting into the holiday spirit. It may not be the deepest or most original film, and you can see its flaws, but it is sure to put a smile on your face and warm your heart.
Get Love Actually at Amazon.
Movie Advent Calendar #11 – The Mummy
“Let me get this straight. They ripped out your guts and they stuffed them in jars?”
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 remake of a classic 1932 horror film actually is nothing of the sort. This is not a horror film, this is much more an action adventure film with both comedic and horror aspects thrown into the mix. It is a great pieces of escapism.
I actually do like the film, and I take it at face value, as an action adventure comedy. I think Brendan Fraser does a good performance in the lead role playing the character of Rick O’Connell. Likewise Rachel Weisz’s character Evelyn Carnahan is not the simplistic female characters of the 1930s film. However my favourite character is the bumbling Jonathan Carnahan played by the excellent John Hannah.
The cinematography is really nice and the effects (for 1999) are rather good. One of the standout elements of the film is its sense of fun. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and there are plenty of laughs to be had along the way.
I never watched the 1932 film, but I suspect the 1999 version is nothing like the original.
Overall, The Mummy is a fun and thrilling ride that fans of the genre will definitely enjoy. It may not be a masterpiece, but it’s a great way to spend a couple of hours.
Get The Mummy at Amazon.
Roasting vegetables #365photos2022
Movie Advent Calendar #10 – Contagion
But right now, our best defense has been social distancing. No hand-shaking, staying home when you’re sick washing your hands frequently.
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.
Contagion was released in 2011, this medical thriller had a large cast including Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Elliott Gould, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Bryan Cranston, Jennifer Ehle, Sanaa Lathan, and Marion Cotillard.
The film’s plot concerns the spread of a highly contagious virus transmitted by respiratory droplets. It described the various attempts by medical researchers and public health officials to identify and contain the disease. There is the loss of social order as the virus turns into a worldwide pandemic. The film concludes with the introduction of a vaccine to halt its spread.
I bought Contagion on iTunes back in 2012 and watched it on my iPad. At the time I did compare the film to the 1995 film Outbreak, but did feel Contagion, with it’s global story was better and more realistic. I think I did watch it again later as well.
Of course in 2020 we saw the coronavirus pandemic hit the world. In March 2020 I scared myself silly by watching Contagion again. The film is about a much more lethal virus with a shorter incubation period than coronavirus. So in the interests of accuracy I checked the trivia and goofs sections of IMDB only to read this section in the goofs.
The disease in the film is highly lethal, affects a very large number of people and has a short incubation period. In reality an infectious disease must have a long incubation period and less lethality than in the film to facilitate a sustained transmission. The real case makes tracking much more difficult, which is a central part of the film, therefore the filmmakers had to bend the facts a bit.
Oh…
I still think the film is worth watching. Luckily we didn’t see the breakdown in social order that was seen in the film. However in the film we didn’t see people dismissing the vaccine as some did with the coronavirus vaccine.
I still think this is a powerful film and one that is worth watching and is still relevant.
Get Contagion at Amazon.
Not a cinema #365photos2022
