True Grit (2010)

I'm still surprised how many people do not realize this movie is a remake.  John Wayne played this role originally, in 2 different movies in the late 1960s and early 1970s.  Jeff Bridges does a most worthy job.

Thanks to the genius Cohen brothers, the movies are very different even though the story is the same.  I actually think this new version is better.  Forgive Duke.

Matt Damon and Barry Pepper are almost unrecognizable in their roles here, and both do a great job.  This story has so few characters, each moment on screen is precious.  Everyone did a fantastic job.

This is a dark period comedy indeed, and not everyone will appreciate how things unfold.  But I believe this is a faithful retelling of the story.

Watch it with someone who has a strong sense of justice.

The Fabulous Baker Boys

Here is another excellent movie I recently watched again for the shear pleasure of it.

Dave Grusin is as well known for his movie music as John Williams. But you may not know his name. If you like jazz however, you know the Grusin brothers. And no, this movie is most definitely not about them.

Rather, this movie is about a pair of other brothers who are part of the small-time lounge entertainment scene in Seattle in the late 80s. As their act grows stale they add a female vocalist.

Jeff and Beau Bridges play the brothers, and Michelle Pfeiffer plays the singer. The chemistry or lack thereof between the 3 is very good and often quite funny. This is probably my favorite Pfeiffer movie and one of only 2 times she has been nominated for a best actress Oscar. Supposedly Madonna turned this role down because the scrip was too "mushy".

If this is a romantic comedy, it is a fairly dark one. If it is a musical, it is one with some great dialogue. If this is a drama, it has some very funny bits. Either way, enjoy the music and the ride. It is a no stress PG-13 (lots of f-bombs) date movie.

Watch this with someone who remembers Swedish knit leisure suits. Oh my.

Surf's Up

Like surfing movies? Like "Riding Giants"? Like CG animation? Like penguins? If you said yes to 2 or more of these, you will most likely enjoy this movie. I did.

We don't get many CG mockumentaries. This one sets the bar pretty high. There are some obvious references to one of the best surf documentaries of all time, Riding Giants. There are also enough beach and surf movie cliches to bring back some funny memories. This "cartoon" was good enough to earn an Oscar nom in for Best Animated Picture. Impressed yet?

Shia LaBeouf and Jeff Bridges play the two main characters. This is a very nice paring of voice talent with characters, and both have a unique sound. Zooey Deschanel and Jon Heder play the love interest and comic support perfectly. James Wood plays the Don King of surf promoters. Very funny.

References to other penguin movies of early and often. Both Happy Feet and March of the Penguins are spoofed here.

Watch this with someone who has spent time playing in or riding waves.

Crazy Heart

So many things going on during this movie, taken separately are very good, but together make a memorable movie. The story is not exactly new. Producer and co-star Robert Duvall played a similar character with somewhat similar results a few years ago. This effort is much better.

Here are some things I'm crazy about when it comes to this movie:

The music - well deserving of the Oscar.
The acting - Jeff Bridges certainly earned his too, and Maggie Gyllenhaal deserved her nomination.
The story - good things CAN happen to bad people.
The scenes - what can I say, I like dives.
The unexpected things - like the humble abode our fading country star calls home in Houston.
The photography - this movie makes the dreariest places look pretty good.

Watch this movie with someone who can enjoy all the verses.

Iron Man

Welcome back Robert Downey Jr. Again. His over-the-top performance and self-mockery totally "make" this movie. The whole cast is great fun. More on them later.

Superhero movies are supposed to be fun. This is a very fun superhero movie. I remember the joy of losing myself in a good action comic when I was a kid. This movie brought that all back for me.

Love interest Gwyneth Paltrow and business partner, an almost unrecognizable Jeff Bridges, are perfectly cast for this story. Paltrow is subdued and Bridges is overtly brilliant. How unusual are those performances? Find me another one where the usual performances are so flip-flopped.

We have good guys and pretty girls. You have evil bad guys and stern government agents. Pesky press and super-serious military officers. Oh and the robots are great comic side-kicks.

Watch this movie with a big bowl of popcorn and someone who thinks YOU are a Super Hero.

The Fisher King

As if from current headlines, The Fisher King (1991) is still relevant, touching, and instructive. Monty Python alumnus, Terry Gilliam, spins a haunting tale of guilt and redemption. I wonder why I like these movies so much? Hmmm....

Robin Williams (Moscow on the Hudson, Awakenings, and Patch Adams) plays a man who lost his wife in a New York City night club shooting rampage. His grief drives him to madness and homelessness. Sadly, the shooter was acting on the rants of a self-absorbed shock jock played by Jeff Bridges (Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, Jagged Edge, and The Fabulous Baker Boys).

Guilt from the incident drives Bridges to seek redemption from William's character who leads him on a crusade across Manhattan.

Mercedes Ruehl (Big, Crazy People, and recently part of the Entourage cast) won an Oscar for her role as Bridges long-suffering girlfriend. Between her angst, Bridges guilt and depression, and Williams psychosis, this movie has something everyone can recognize in themselves or someone close to them.

It is an emotional roller coaster. The same scene will have you in fits of laughter and fighting back tears. One of the basics of a good story is that the main character goes through some change over the journey. In this movie, all the main characters go through immense change.

Watch it with someone whom you love just the way they already are.