Last Night

cross between Before Sunset, and Closer

TIME&SETTING: Sunset, a balcony, why can’t people watch movies on rooftops
FOOD&DRINK: wine, appetizers
TYPE OF DATE:  5th date, setting the mood, good for pre-coitus
FACTIOD: Directorial debut for female writer- director  Massy Tadjedin
(Harvard Alumn, Iranian-American Lady)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Do you believe in Monogamy?
In a marriage is at least one person always settling?
Is Kiera Knightly really that hot?


The Jist of it

Following a night where two couple are separated, an each in positions tempting the fidelity of their marriage. The husband, a night with sexy coworker. The wife, running into an ex... but to be honest it is difficult to care about the husbands story line as they are so dry, like mannequins going through the motions. Luckily more time is spent on Keira Knightley, who is charming.  She runs into her ex, the one that never was.  Deviling into her secret pre-marriage single life, you can believe her as a character, she is flawed.  At least through watching her you are left wondering, did she make the right decision, was it her decision to make, is there even such a thing? This is one of those movies I wanted to like more. It wasn’t trying hard enough, if you are going to do still shots of dishes being washed in the sink to show the mundane nature of day to day life. There has to be conviction.  They just didn’t push it far enough, the desire, the angst,  the drive, the emotion.  However, maybe it is the hooking up, but I don’t know what it is about adultery that puts people in the mood,  so a solid date movie

Limitless

An adaptation on what I image would be a good book

TIME&SETTING: Opt for seeing the film in a flashy urban center, anytime will do

FOOD&DRINK: Should be followed or preceded by cocktails and nice chocolates are a must

TYPE OF DATE: Someone who will see anything, and is very agreeable

FACTIOD: The writer of the book and co-author of the screenplay is an Irish Fella, who once was an EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teacher…giving me hope for the future

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Would you take the drug?......this leads to many what would you do questions.

Do you think it is enhancing or altering the main character?

Do you think there are any new ideas?

The Jist of it

That dude from the Hangover that everyone apparently loves, is carrying his own film. I am not sure he has the chops to carry a film, let alone actually act. He passes as a struggling writer, who stumbles on a wonder drug which enhances brain functions, making his potential well…limitless. The drug is not without its costs, as the withdrawals are deadly as is the competition to get your hands on some super drug. This should have been an indie film or a huge blockbuster. Visually it could have been amazing, imagine being taken into a world where all your sense are heightened, your mentally acuity is razor sharp. Really the possibilities in cinematography are limitless.  Given the nature of the premise the plot is wide open… again limitless, but really the main character basically succeeds. There are no great moral questions raised or answered.  With a small sharp role from Deniro as the business mogul, he left me wanting more, much like the whole film.  What I really gained from this film is that if someone offers you a small white pill, Take it!

The Adjustment Bureau

Romance and Thrills oh my

TIME& SETTING: An early night film followed by a nice meal., going to an art house cinema might make the movie seem better

FOOD&SNACK: I’d smuggle in snacks pretzels and beer, followed by a nice steak.

FACTIOD:  The 3^rd time for Damon and director George Knofli to team up previously working together on “The Bourne Ultimatum,” and “Oceans 12”.

TYPE of DATE: Essentially anyone unless they are extremely intellectual or astoundingly stupid.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Do you believe in fate…or even worse God?

Would you want to know you own fate?

Do you think Matt Damon would make a good president?

I wasn’t really expecting much and I my expectations were met. The premise has potential, I mean ‘angels’ or agents of human fate intervene in our life and even better they are dressed like Mad Men, and this case even are with that silver haired fella playing a main agent.  How cool is that.  It is too bad that Matt Damon’s and Emily Blunt’s character are being torn apart by ‘God’, but since they have no chemistry who really cares.  Matt Damon is convincing as an earnest charismatic young politician, as is Blunt as a beautiful exotic ballerina. Yet together nothing zilch.  However , the I film is watchable, and accessible. They even throw in some chase scenes for good measure. You’ve got thrill, luke warm romance, and some level of intrigue. It is not bad to watch beautiful people frolic about for about 90 minutes. If you are on a date it’s easy and even a potential crowd pleaser.  But if he or she really likes it..I’d be concerned.

Devil's Playground

Time and Setting: Night naturally….and an old house if you can find one with a DVD player.

Type of Date: Maybe third date…..must establish that they are not one of those weird people who don’t like scary films

Snacks & Food: I’d opt for spaghetti and meatballs or anything brain and blood like…although these zombies do really eat brains

Factoid:  Mark McQueen won "Best Director" at the British Horror Awards, who knew there were even awards for this. 

Discussion Questions:

What is the best skill to have when encountering zombies?…especially ridiculously fast and ferule ones

What is a zombie these days anyways?

Why has no one on a Zombie movie ever just said oh….biting….virus….attack….., it must be a Zombie apocalypse?

Best quote: “Watch out” well not really but naturally there are no memorable quotes

 It is hard to find a good horror film outside of Asia these days. Although if you are me any horror film is great, the more terrible the funnier.   I don’t think I laughed at all during this……poor production values can be excused by the budget…anyways.  I am not all the keen on the extreme gore Hollywood brings.

Set in modern day London, people have negatively reacted to a clinical drug trial, in which they were testing and energy drug……instead of pep they got organ failure…..and  zombieitis. In this can they can run and jump…..a quality that is really lacking in your ‘thriller zombie’. With all ‘medical’ staff taking a bite quite early on we only have a run of the mill assassin to help us. His mission, find the one woman who didn’t react to the medical trials….the catch he too has been bitten and has less than 18 hours worth of anti-zombie meds.  Maybe he is going to save the world maybe not. There is naturally a backstory, some secondary plot developed, clichéd love story, none of it is of any importance.  There is nothing really special about this film…yet it is alright. Watchabe. If one has no date I highly recommend it as a pre bedtime romp.

Manhattan

Classic First Date RomCom

I am going to start out with my favourite date movie Manhattan. In order to show anyone this film you must first establish their feelings on Woody Allen, as I find they are often quite polarized. Even if the person is seemingly indifferent you must ensure they would not be offended by the fact that the film opens with him dating a 17 year old. FORESHADOWING.  I like to watch it early on as I know if someone doesn’t like this film we might have issues. 

TIME & SETTING: Make it a sunset film, ideally viewed on a wide screen, but almost anything goes

SNACKS AND FOOD: If watching it at home I would highly recommend Chinese takeout, in those perfect white boxes, it screams New York.

TYPE OF DATE: It is borderline film nerd, but if they liked or have heard good things about Annie Hall, its sure to impress.

FACTIOD: Woody hated this film so much he offered to direct his next one for free if Manhattan was shelved

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: What is with the whole young girl thing?

Can we really have faith in people? (loaded question) 

FAVORITE QUOTE: 

"If the four of us are walking home over the bridge and a person was drowning,

would we have the nerve...               
Would one of us have the nerve
to dive into the icy water and save them?            
It's a key question.

l, of course, can't swim,
so I never have to face it"

The jist of it:

Everyone has heard of Annie Hall, and it is easy to see why people might confuse the two. Both are set in Manhattan and involve a romantic entanglement between Allen and Keaton.  Where it differs is mostly on style. Shot in 1979 and entirely in Black and White (if you hate this, trust me you will barely notice and it makes you seem cultured) it is a homage to the beauty of Manhattan.  From start to finish we are consumed by beautiful spanning black and white scenes,  all inspired by Gershwin's music. Love or hate the city this movie makes it impossible to deny its architectural prowess. Oh yeah and there is a plot. Like most of Woody’s films he is neurotic, and his relationships are equally so. Manhattan is a cynical take on the love triangle, Woody meets Diane, dumping the 17yr old high school student he has been dating. He moves in with Diane only to discovers she has been stooping (Joe Guy) his friend. All the classic Woody themes are here and the script is cleverly crafted by Allan and Brickman who first joined to create Annie Hall It’s comedic, visually impressive, and ripe with content for post movie discussion.