Thursday Movie Picks: Intersecting Stories
1) Snatch
It's almost embarrassing how long it took me to finally see this. My husband laughed at me the entire time we were watching this because I was like "This is so good!" and he kept saying "nice if you to arrive in 2012." (when I watched it) The quick pace of this film is fantastic. Boxers, robbers, jewelers, gangsters, and assholes all intertwine here.
2) American Gun
This is a very interesting film about gun culture in the U.S. We follow a high school principle in an inner city school, a mother who had one son who committed a school shooting, and another son who is now a high school student, a woman working at a gun store, and several teenagers.
3) Red, White, and Blue
This is actually one of the most frightening films I've seen in recent memory just for all that it represents. Each person, represented by each color is committing terrible crimes. Which is worse? Are they all equally bad? Whose going too far?
Interesting sounding picks of which I've only seen the first, which I liked quite a lot. The other two sound intense.
ReplyDeleteI tried to stretch mine over various decades of filmmaking to show different approaches taken through time. My three this week:
Vantage Point (2008)-The various stories related to an attempted assassination are told from numerous vantage points. Over plotted but still engrossing film, some story threads are better realized than others. Strong cast includes Sigourney Weaver, Dennis Quaid, Forest Whitaker and Édgar RamÃrez.
Detective Story (1951)-One day in the life of the detective squad of the 21st Precinct. The intersecting story of the various people who pass through their doors includes: a sweet but dotty old lady; an embezzler and his girl; a pair of blustering burglars and a naive shoplifter (Lee Grant). One of the officers, Detective Jim McLeod (Kirk Douglas) is a tough cynical man whose obsessive pursuit of an abortionist could lead to personal disaster. Both Grant and Eleanor Parker as McLeod’s wife scored Oscar nominations.
Grand Hotel (1932)-“Grand Hotel...always the same. People come, people go. Nothing ever happens.” So it seems to the desk clerk of the title building but this tells the tale of many intermingling stories. Creaks a little with age but contains some really fine performances, Joan Crawford’s best early work, the Barrymore brothers, but also some less distinguished ones, Garbo in particular seems stiff in many scenes. The genesis of the all-star picture this holds the distinction of being the only Best Picture winner to do so on a sole nomination.
Oh man, I hated Vantage Point so much. I knew going in what it was about, but it was so repetitive, I thought they'd spice it up a bit. I haven't seen the other two.
DeleteI have wanted to see Snatch for a long time and keep forgetting..on the list it goes. I don't know the other 2 but I think I will pass on the last one
ReplyDeleteYeah, you're not a horror fan, I remember. Best to steer clear of that one. lol
DeleteI've only seen Snatch. That's a great movie. Might be Brad Pitt's best performance. The other two sound intense. Need to see them both.
ReplyDeleteRed, White, and Blue is disturbing on so many levels. American Gun is still so relevant 10 years later as well.
DeleteThe only one of these I've even heard of is Snatch. Is that Amanda Seyfried in American Gun?
ReplyDeleteIt is! She has a really small part, but the film itself has a great cast. Forest Whitaker, Marcia Gay Harden, Chris Marquette, Linda Cardelenni.
DeleteYEEEEEY for Snatch! Still the funniest movie I've ever seen
ReplyDeleteI'm due for a Snatch re-watch for sure.
DeleteI haven't seen any of these. Yes, I'm ashamed to admit that I haven't seen Snatch.... *bows down head in shame*
ReplyDeleteI'm not much better, I saw it for the first time two a few years ago too. I think you'd like it though, if you ever give it a shot.
DeleteGreat list of movies. ANother one that comes to mind is The Dead Girl this one features Toni Collete and Britney Murphy. It's about 4 separate stories that all feature different perspectives on one murder. From the victim to the killer.
ReplyDeleteOhhh yes, that's a great pick! I have that movie, it's been awhile since I've watched it though, but I enjoyed it.
DeleteI haven't seen any of these and I'm feeling ashamed for not seeing Snatch yet.
ReplyDeleteI feel so much better than I'm not the only person that dragged their feet to see Snatch. lol
DeleteSnatch! Yes! I haven't seen the other two.
ReplyDeleteThey're good little films.
DeleteYour last two picks seem interesting. I have yet to finish watching Snatch, only caught the beginning and the end of it.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I hope you get a chance to see them (and finish) Snatch.
DeleteRed, White and Blue definitely tested my f**ked up movie threshold. And I kept worrying about the actress who played the little girl who was tied up with her family. Were her parents really OK with her doing this?? :)
ReplyDeleteThat scene is hands down the most disturbing for me.
DeleteLove the film Snatch - so good! Haven't heard of the other two but the last one on your list, I had a look at the trailer, I think I'll give that one a miss.
ReplyDeleteLol that one is not for everybody.
DeleteOhmyGod, I can't believe you included "Red, White, & Blue!" I'd really like to know what you though of the director's previous film "The Living and the Dead" (one of the most disturbing films I've seen, even though it's much less violent that RW&B. It's just a retarded aristocrat kid having a mental breakdown and devastating the lives of everyone in his path. Anyway, Noah Taylor was terrifying in RW&B. He easily made the movie for me.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen "Snatch" yet. I guess I'd better check that one out. I watched a movie with James Coburn that I THOUGHT was called "American Gun," but upon second glance they don't seem to be the same movie. So now I'm confused :(
I haven't seen The Living and the Dead, I'm going to go see if it's on Netflix. I really like what the director did with RW&B. I think there's two movies called American Gun. The one I'm talking about was made in 2005.
DeleteI haven't heard of your 2nd and 3rd pick.
ReplyDeleteIf you liked Snatch, I think you'd enjoy Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels too.
Yeah, that's another popular Richie one. I'll have to check that out some day.
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