Thursday Movie Picks: The Great Outdoors

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This week's theme from Wandering Through The Shelves is the great outdoors. I love being outdoors in the summer, but today I'm going to celebrate some films where people are absolutely not living their best lives outside at the moment.

 1) Leave No Trace

 Ben Foster plays a father that forces his daughter, played by Thomasin Mackenzie to live off grid. She's fine with this, until she gets a taste of normal living and it causes tension between the two. The acting in this film is extraordinary

 2) 127 Hours

 James Franco plays Aron Rolston, a real life hiker who had to literally cut his own arm off to escape a crevice he fell into. I think this film is wonderful, it's amazingly directed by Danny Boyle, the soundtrack is perfect, and yes, Franco is a real life creep, but he is SO good here.

 3) The River Wild

 Nostalgia pick! I've been in a David Strathairn mood lately so this film has been on my mind. I haven't seen it for years, but being held hostage whilst rafting is intense. 

Comments

  1. joel65913August 1, 2019 at 9:58 AM

    I like being outside in the summer as well but its either been so damn hot or incredibly muggy the last few weeks I haven't gotten out much. Oh well cooler days are ahead.

    The River Wild!! Such an interesting choice for Meryl Streep to do and she does well by it. It takes a little bit to get going but once the tension starts it mounts to a fever pitch. I'm a big David Strathairn fan too!

    I haven't seen the other two though I've heard of both. The Franco film I've shied away from because I know the choice he has to make and it's hard to ever be in the mood for such a thing.

    I had some trouble deciding which way to go with this, camping movies or rugged survival or perhaps beach movies or perhaps something set on the water....they're all outdoors-ARGH! too many choices! So I just did a mix of the first two.

    A Walk in the Woods (2015)-Travel writer Bill Bryson (Robert Redford) decides to hike the Appalachian Trail and since he is no longer a young man at his wife’s (Emma Thompson) urging he is accompanied by his old friend Stephen Katz (Nick Nolte) who proves to be more of a hindrance than help. Based on Bryson’s best seller.

    Alive (1993)-After crashing in the Andes Mountains, the Uruguay's rugby team struggle for survival as their initial hopes of a quick rescue dwindle. As days turn to weeks and their supplies run out they are confronted with grim choices that must be made. Brutal yet compelling and based on an actual event.

    Jeremiah Johnson (1972)-After the Mexican-American War ends veteran soldier Jeremiah Johnson (Robert Redford), heads to the mountains to live in isolation. He meets seasoned mountain man (Will Geer) who takes him under his wing and over the years he carves out a life until he incurs the ire of the Crow Indians.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamAugust 1, 2019 at 11:35 AM

      I highly recommend 127 Hours, even knowing how it ends, the way that film is made is just extraordinary. I've heard of all three of your picks but I haven't seen any of them.

      Delete
  2. BirgitAugust 1, 2019 at 10:05 AM

    I don't know the first film at all but I can just imagine how people would be today if they had no cell phones, IPads, computers etc,.... It would be hilarious to see their panic. I need to see 127 Hours because I have heard only good things about this real life venture although I don't know if I could have cut my arm off. I know about the last movie too and I LOVE David Strathairn and didn't know he was in this film. I am not a huge fan of Meryl but I may check this one out

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    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamAugust 1, 2019 at 11:34 AM

      127 Hours is amazing, it's just so expertly made.

      I freely admit that I could not live without the internet lol. I mean I ~could~ because I did for a decade, but I would in no way want to.

      Delete
  3. Sonia CercaAugust 1, 2019 at 10:20 AM

    We share 127 Hours! That is such a great film. I wasn't a fan of Leave No Trace but it fits very well and I almost picked it myself.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamAugust 1, 2019 at 11:33 AM

      It is. I feel like no one talks about it anymore as that was such a strong year, but it was amazing.

      Delete
  4. thevoid99August 1, 2019 at 2:28 PM

    127 Hours is a great film and I enjoyed the hell out of it. The River Wild is seriously underrated as I'm still waiting for Meryl Streep to take part in an action film franchise. I really think she should join the Fast & Furious franchise as... Paul Walker's mom who fills in for her son.

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    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamAugust 2, 2019 at 6:59 AM

      Omg can you imagine? I'd probably pay to see that.

      Delete
  5. WandererAugust 8, 2019 at 3:25 PM

    Leave No Trace - Haven't seen this but have heard of it.

    The River Wild - I think I may watched it a long time ago...Kevin Bacon is it it right?

    ReplyDelete

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