Movie Worship: March 2020

Mar 31, 2020

Zootopia (2016)

Creative, cute, and clever. Seems geared more toward adults, but kids may like all the furry animals, even if they have no idea what’s going on.

Rating: C+

Mar 28, 2020

Top 30 Favorite Musicals (Musical Films)

Rank	Title	Year	Country	Grade
1	The Sound Of Music	1965	US	A
2	Fiddler On The Roof	1971	US	A
3	The Wizard Of Oz	1939	US	A
4	Dancer In The Dark	2000	US	A
5	Once	2006	Ireland	A-
6	Sing Street	2016	Ireland	A-
7	Mary Poppins	1964	US	B+
8	Across The Universe	2007	US	B+
9	Black Snake Moan	2007	US	B+
10	The Lion King	1994	US	B
11	The Sapphires	2012	Australia	B
12	Hedwig And The Angry Inch	2001	US	B
13	Annie	1982	US	B
14	An American Tail	1986	US	B
15	Walk The Line	2005	US	B
16	Little Shop of Horrors	1986	US	B-
17	Rudderless	2014	US	B-
18	Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains	1982	US	C+
19	Bran Nue Dae	2009	Australia	C+
20	Enchanted	2007	US	C+
21	Pitch Perfect	2012	US	C+
22	The Commitments	1991	Ireland	C+
23	Bohemian Rhapsody	2018	US	C+
24	8 Mile	2002	US	C+
25	A Mighty Wind	2003	US	C+
26	Yentl	1983	US	C+
27	School Of Rock	2003	US	C+
28	Duets	2000	US	C+
29	Prey for Rock & Roll	2003	US	C+
30	Crazy Heart	2009	US	C+

I love indie musical films where bands are formed under unconventional circumstances and songs are written from loss and pain.

Rudderless, the movie, can be rather mopey at times, but Rudderless, the band, helps bring the characters and audience out of the murk. A nice offering from William H. Macy.

Rating: B-

Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky (1991)

Riki-Oh looks like it was filmed in the 70s with a soundtrack from the 80s, but was released in the 90s and supposedly takes place in the 00s? It’s a mystery if the actors were purposefully terrible or if that was some style they were going for. If so, the director, screenwriter, makeup artist, and all the other people working on this film were 100% on board.

I don’t care if films are made poorly in order to be funny--it still has to work. Failed on all counts.

Rating: F

Sing Street (2016)

Recently watched this clever Irish musical for the second time and enjoyed it even more than the first. So many terrific one liners. The songs are catchy and fun. Someone did a masterful job of blending costumes, musical genres, and classic videos in a way that made each collaboration seem fresh and timely.

What really gets me are the genuinely sweet relationships between Conor and other characters. His older brother living vicariously through him. Pining for, and ultimately winning over his dream girl. Fearing and then winning over the school bully. And his trusted songwriting companion who lives for music; and rabbits. It’s no small feat to develop interpersonal relationships like this in under two hours.

Rating: A-

VFW (2019)

Movies like this make you really appreciate what Tarantino and Rodriguez bring to the table when they elevate the grindhouse genre. VFW pits old timers against drug dealers in a bloody one night massacre. No real surprises and not much to like. 90 minutes not well spent.

Rating: D-

Mar 27, 2020

Top 10 Road Trip Movies

Rank	Title	Year	Grade
1	Rain Man	1988	A-
2	Tommy Boy	1995	A-
3	Little Miss Sunshine	2006	B+
4	Go	1999	B+
5	Dumb And Dumber	1994	B+
6	Vacation	1983	B
7	Last Stop For Paul	2006	B
8	Planes, Trains and Automobiles	1987	B-
9	Midnight Run	1988	B-
10	The Straight Story	1999	B-

Mar 23, 2020

Top 10 Martin Scorsese Films

Rank	Title	Year	Grade
1	Gangs Of New York	2002	A-
2	The Departed	2006	B+
3	The Wolf Of Wall Street	2013	B+
4	Cape Fear	1991	B+
5	Hugo	2011	C+
6	The Color Of Money	1986	C+
7	Goodfellas	1990	C+
8	Taxi Driver	1976	C+
9	Raging Bull	1980	C
10	The Irishman	2019	C