Moonlight 2016

My Quick Thoughts:  Moonlight is a movie told in three parts that chronicles the life of Chiron as he grows up in Miami with a drug addicted mom.  Part one focuses on his life as a kid when he meets a couple from the neighborhood that he quickly befriends in order to escape his home life.  It ends up being revealed that he is questioning his sexuality.  Part two focuses on Chiron's teenage years where he is still dealing with his mom's drug issues and now is also dealing with all that comes along with being a gay teenager in a rough neighborhood.  Finally, part three is Chiron as an adult and him still trying to find his place.

I know some people who absolutely loved this movie, and I read a lot of IMDB reviews of people who absolutely hated it.  It seems to be two extremes, except for with me.  I definitely fall somewhere in the middle.  The story is a unique story that I have never seen in a movie before.  It is raw and emotional, but I feel like it doesn't go far enough.  I know they couldn't show everything in each phase of this person's life or it would have been a 12 hour movie, but I feel there were small holes that left me unsatisfied.  For example, at some point one of his close friends dies.  They don't say why or how and we don't get to see Chiron's feelings about this.  They just briefly mention that there was a funeral.  At the end of the teenage section of the movie something major happens and then they cut to ten years later and a much changed Chiron with no explanation, so once again you are forced to make assumptions.  Having said that, the movie is shot beautifully with interesting camera work.  Do I think this movie was good?  Yes.  Did I think it was perfection? Nah.

Favorite Quote:   "At some point, you gotta decide for yourself who you're going to be. Can't let                           nobody make that decision for you."

                                 

Overall Rating: A-

What I Was Doing That Year:  My nephew was born that year.

Favorite Movie From That Same Year:  Lion

Million Dollar Baby 2004

My Quick Thoughts:  I originally saw this movie when it first came out in 2004.  Watching it over 10 years later, I had the same reaction as I did the first time.  Eh.  I'm not really a Clint Eastwood fan and I'm not really a boxing fan, so I really wasn't the target audience.  I have been known to like sports movies in the past, even though I am not really a big sports fan, but I really wasn't able to connect with this one.  Maybe it's because I don't understand the thrill of boxing or maybe it's because this movie was pretty dark, not having the uplifting feel that many sports movies have. I don't know, I guess what I am saying is that I was underwhelmed.

Favorite Quote:   "You're standing outside of my church comparing God to Rice Krispies?"

                                 

Overall Rating: B-

What I Was Doing That Year:  I was in the zenith of my Harry Potter obsession, and this is also the year The Notebook came out so I was also falling in love with Ryan Gosling.  "Say I'm bird."

Favorite Movie From That Same Year:  Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

12 Years a Slave 2013

My Quick Thoughts:  This is a good movie about a dark time in American history told through the eyes of one man, Solomon Northup.  It was interesting to see all of Solomon's different encounters over his 12 years as a slave.  This movie was difficult to watch because of it's content, and the movie was filled with intense performances that will make you run through a whole gamut of emotions. Definitely worth watching to learn a little bit more about the history of our country.

Favorite Quote:   "I don't want to survive.  I want to live."

                                 

Overall Rating: A-

What I Was Doing That Year:  I was 33 and probably wondering where my 20s went.

Favorite Movie From That Same Year:  The Great Gatsby

Crash 2005

My Quick Thoughts:  My first thought when re-watching this movie for the first time in over 10 years last night was, wow this seems so current!  This movie follows five or six stories that all come together in the end.  Each story has to do with racism through the eyes of different people.  Some of the story lines are more powerful than others.  The movie is very gripping, but some of the stories seemed undeveloped or forced.  Overall it is a good movie, but I thought it would be better if maybe they cut a few of the story lines, and got deeper into the ones that remained. 

Favorite Quote:   "You could fill The Staple Center with what you don't know."

                                 

Overall Rating: B+

What I Was Doing That Year:  I was a senior in college.

Favorite Movie From That Same Year:  Walk the Line

An American in Paris 1951

My Quick Thoughts:  I first saw An American in Paris when I was in high school and first fell in love with Gene Kelly.  Although this movie is good, it is not my favorite Gene Kelly movie.  I much prefer Singing in the Rain and Summer Stock.  Watching this movie now as an adult, I do think I appreciated it more than I did when I was a teenager.  It is an epic romance that gives Gene Kelly's dance moves a chance to shine.  What might not make this my favorite is two things.  In Gene Kelly's other films I love when he spoofs with his goofy sidekick.  There was a little bit in this, but not a lot.  Also, it has always bothered me in musicals when they break out into 15-20 minute dance montage for no apparent reason.  There is a really long one of those in this movie.  I got the purpose of it, to express the emotions the main character was going through, but it was a little too long.  Having said that, it's Gene Kelly and it's hard not to enjoy anything he does and An American in Paris should be on the watch list of anybody into musicals, dance, or simply movie history.

Favorite Quote:   "The more beautiful everything is the more it will hurt without you."

                                 

Overall Rating: A-

What I Was Doing That Year:  I wasn't born yet.

Favorite Movie From That Same Year:  An American in Paris

Spotlight 2015

My Quick Thoughts:  Spotlight is about a four man team of journalists at The Boston Globe who think they are reporting on a story about a couple of priests in the Catholic church who are secretly abusing children, but they end up discovering that it is 90 priests in the Boston area that the church is covering up for.  This movie, based on a true story, is fantastic.  It is what a movie should be.  It is a good story with good acting that doesn't involve any gimmicks or special effects.  The story, no matter how disturbing and how hard to swallow, was good enough to turn into a great movie that will get you thinking, and make you angry.

Favorite Quote:   "I'm not crazy.  I'm not paranoid.  I'm experienced."

                                 

Overall Rating: A

What I Was Doing That Year:  I was in my 10th year of teaching.

Favorite Movie From That Same Year:  Spotlight

Chicago 2002

My Quick Thoughts:  This movie is good, but there is one huge thing that really bothers me.  Back to that in a moment.  The writers of this musical have found away to make a story about murder fun and funny.  The movie is filled with memorable musical numbers, funny moments, and is very clever in its storytelling.  John C. Reilly as the poor sap of a husband is my favorite performance in this movie, and I love how they tie in Taye Diggs' narration as the band leader to the telling of the story.  Now back to that thing I hate.  I think almost everybody has that one actor that they can't stand.  For me that is Renee Zellweger.  She is a fine actor, but there is something about her that drives me nuts.  I would have probably enjoyed this movie a little more had she not been in it.

Favorite Quote:   "I guess you could say we broke up because of artistic differences. He saw himself as alive and I saw him dead."

                                 

Overall Rating: A-

What I Was Doing That Year:  I was 22, going to college, and working at Barnes and Noble.

Favorite Movie From That Same Year:  Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets