Blu-ray thumbs

[Johann]

THE HURRICANE (1999)


This is destined to be a Norman Jewison classic.
It tells us the ordeal of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, a top-ranked middleweight boxer who was wrongly convicted of murder in the mid-60's. We follow Rubin in prison from 1966 to 1985, when he was freed with love from Canadian fans.
Strong performance from Denzel Washington, oscar nominated and golden globe winner.
Excellent pacing and cinematography. (Roger Deakins)
Highly recommended.

[Johann]

THELMA & LOUISE (1991)


Powerful Ridley Scott film, starring two strong actresses: Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis.
Thelma is a housewife bumpkin, and Louise is a smart waitress.
They go on a vacation of sorts, only to end up on the run.
Thelma almost gets raped in a honky tonk bar parking lot and she's saved by Louise, who ends up shooting her attacker. From then on they are fugitives, and the stakes get higher the further they flee...
Loved the ending. Fist in the air shit.
I was very impressed with Geena Davis' acting-wowza.
Brad Pitt has a memorable small role as "J.D."

[Johann]

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER (2011)


This was a nice surprise, a great coming-of-age tale.
A young man named Charlie is a freshman in high school, and we get all his hang-ups and successes. Emma Watson and Ezra Miller lend great support in showcasing a young man's world and how he reacts to it. Brilliantly directed, shot and edited with a fantastic soundtrack.
There is a lot being juggled in this story, and it never feels forced.
I was rooting for Charlie the whole way.
Big thumbs up.

[Johann]

THE FIGHTER (2010)


Based on a true story, this one is gritty and at times hard to watch.
Mark Wahlberg stars as Mickey, a welterweight boxer overshadowed by his brother Dickey, who once knocked Sugar Ray Leonard down in 1978.
But currently, Dickey is a crack addict, and Mickey is a punching bag for other boxers.
The dynamic with his family is harrowing and very real. They are tight-knit, and they struggle with Mickey and Dickey's ambitions. But there is a happy ending after all...
Amy Adams shines as Dickey's bartender girlfriend.

[Chris Knipp]

I'm glad you're back, I love your thumbnail reviews. You forgot two directors' names - David O. Russell for THE FIGHTER, Stephen Chbosky for WALLFLOWER.

[Johann]

I forgot to mention Christian Bale winning a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for THE FIGHTER too.
Happy to be back.

[Johann]

WAYNE’S WORLD (1992)



Pure nostalgia from high school, directed by Penelope Spheeris.
It’s a silly comedy revolving around a local Illinois cable access tv show.
The show gets picked up and sponsored by Rob Lowe, who exploits it’s stars Wayne & Garth.
This is Mike Myers’s and Dana Carvey’s film debut, they were cast members of Saturday Night Live at the time. Lorne Michaels produced this, and it was a hit. The humour isn’t fall-down funny, but if you have a spliff and a six-pack you’ll have a good time. Cameos from Meatloaf and Alice Cooper!