The Big Short

Movie: The Big Short
When: 5:15 P.M. on Monday, February 22, 2016
Who With: JL
Movie Count: 16
Snacks: popcorn and pop

Reaction: Man, I am not all that into this movie. Super-hyped, based on the Oscar nominated, and directed by Will Ferrell's writing partner, consulting from Planet Money's Adam Davidson, my expectations were justifiably inflated...just like the housing market. hey now! 

Not sure if such an intense dude-vibe is an inevitable product of the subject. It makes sense that the world of finance would be a boys club but there were only two women characters of any substance in very minor rolls. One was a supportive wife played by the wonderful Marisa Tomei. She shared the most emotional scene of the movie with Steve Carell. The other was mean ol' Kathy, played well by Adepero Oduy, but the role seemed written as the mom stand-in for grown men, tsk-tsking all day.

There were some flashy movie tricks that allowed the story to stay superficial but informative. The celebrity-explainers were majorly influenced by the podcaster and the first one was a major turn off. Oh, you're not making this movie for me? Got it. Heard ya loud and clear. Movie made by dudes, for dudes.

Recommendation: Let’s Go! | Let it come to you  | Let it pass
Next Up: Big Sky Doc Shorts with KC for her bday!

Mustang

Movie: Mustang
When: 5:45 P.M. Saturday February 13
Who With: JL, JG, JG's mom
Movie Count: 14
Snacks: Popcorn with nutrition yeast and masala and a Double Haul

Reaction: This movie about a family of five orphaned girls growing up in rural Turkey with their uncle and grandma is full of spirit, adventure, tragedy and love. The audience feels like the 6th sibling, or perhaps one of their suitors. It's a lovely story with notes of The Virgin Suicides and Room. You rarely see young girls building off each other's power and capacity becoming stronger together. It's up for Best Foreign Language Film at the #WhiteOscars and with two other nominees coming soon to the Roxy, I'll reserve my pick.

We followed this up with an at-home viewing of Jurasic World. We went old school, obtaining it as a Hastings rental. We've built up a few stashes of in-store credit here and at the Book Exchange in our decrapification during the house selling/buying project. Our current relationship with stuff prioritizes access over ownership. Anyway, I was excited for JW in a low-expectations, let's-just-have-fun kind of way but was disappointed. There was something very flat about the whole thing and had the boringest part before anything happens (my favorite part of any movie). I also fell asleep but when JL told me how the movie beats up the lady's assistant to kill her in an exaggeratingly long scene just seems rude and gross. Lady bashing to the extreme, although, like I said, I did not actually see it. JL just told me there were 7 writing credits on this stupid movie. Smells like too many cooks! Bad bad bad movie. Let this one pass.

Recommendation: Let’s Go! | Let it come to you  | Let it pass
Next Up: Probably some Documentary Film Fest movies or those foreign film contenders.