Backlog: Watchlist September 2017
UPDATE:
So, September huh? As it turns out I have somewhat swept away from the initial idea to focus on films i've missed out on, and instead watching whatever comes up. I'll try to do better going forward! If there was anything good with this month though, it was that I got to watch some entertaining animation, which was a long time ago. "Zootropolis" and "The Good Dinosaur" were both great.
The "Lifetime"-worthy Sarah Butler thrillers seen at the end of the month was the worst. No question about it.
Basically, I list some films I've missed out on before and really want to see. Then I see them and later rate them. Rated films are listed in the order they've been seen. If you somehow ended up here, feel free to drop any suggestions of titles you think I might like.
I rate as follows
1-3 = Essentially... Don't bother watching
4 = Fail... it's not all bad... but it's definitely far from good
5 = Mediocre... Something that is passable but not good
6 = Okay... Just what it sounds like, an alright picture
7 = Good... A good film, that lacks "that"
8 = Very Good... A good film, that has "that"
9 = Fantastic... But not a...
10 = Masterpiece...
So, September huh? As it turns out I have somewhat swept away from the initial idea to focus on films i've missed out on, and instead watching whatever comes up. I'll try to do better going forward! If there was anything good with this month though, it was that I got to watch some entertaining animation, which was a long time ago. "Zootropolis" and "The Good Dinosaur" were both great.
The "Lifetime"-worthy Sarah Butler thrillers seen at the end of the month was the worst. No question about it.
Basically, I list some films I've missed out on before and really want to see. Then I see them and later rate them. Rated films are listed in the order they've been seen. If you somehow ended up here, feel free to drop any suggestions of titles you think I might like.
I rate as follows
1-3 = Essentially... Don't bother watching
4 = Fail... it's not all bad... but it's definitely far from good
5 = Mediocre... Something that is passable but not good
6 = Okay... Just what it sounds like, an alright picture
7 = Good... A good film, that lacks "that"
8 = Very Good... A good film, that has "that"
9 = Fantastic... But not a...
10 = Masterpiece...
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- DirectorEli CraigStarsEvangeline LillyOwen AtlasAdam ScottGary, who has just married Samantha, the woman of his dreams, discovers that her six-year-old son may be the Antichrist.4.
Once in a while these kind of apocalyptic-kid films show up - so I guess it was just a matter of time before Netflix would throw some money on someone pitching another one of these. I guess there are some potential in the idea itself, but I'm yet to see one that is actually good. Little Evil doesn't change that trend - except for about 1 second in the film where Evangeline Lilly says "That's Creative" the film is unfunny throughout. - DirectorByron HowardRich MooreJared BushStarsGinnifer GoodwinJason BatemanIdris ElbaIn a city of anthropomorphic animals, a rookie bunny cop and a cynical con artist fox must work together to uncover a conspiracy.8.
Didn't actually realize that this was a Disney film until after seeing the film and adding it to this list. I was certain it was one of those other studios that followed in Pixar's foot steeps in recent years. But with the facts at hand I guess it's no surprise that it was really good. Zootropolis offers plenty of witts and charm and is a must see for every kid out there (or every adult wanting to feel like a kid for a few hours again). - DirectorPeter SohnStarsJeffrey WrightFrances McDormandMaleah Nipay-PadillaIn a world where dinosaurs and humans live side-by-side, an Apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend.8.
"Zootropolis" got me interested in more recent animated films that I've missed out on and this was close by. From what I've understand this has been received as one of the weaker films by Pixar - but I gotta say I find it kind underrated if so. This has a lot of heart and was a way better watch for me than some of their films that I've seen before, like Finding Doris and the Cars-films for example. - DirectorGus Van SantStarsMatt DamonFrances McDormandJohn KrasinskiA salesman for a natural gas company experiences life-changing events after arriving in a small town, where his corporation wants to tap into the available resources.8.
Matt Damon does what Matt Damon does best - lowkey human drama. It would have been interesting to see the film if it had been directed by him as initially intended, but I'm sure Gus Van Sant's take isn't thar far off. Promised Land is a refrishingly grounded film that solely focuses on the human story. In a way it makes it rather... everyday like ... but that's also the point, isn't it? - DirectorNicholas StollerDoug SweetlandStarsAndy SambergKatie CrownKelsey GrammerStorks have moved on from delivering babies to packages. But when an order for a baby appears, the best delivery stork must scramble to fix the error by delivering the baby.7.
It's rather obvious from the get go that this is a tidy bit more unserious film than the likes earlier seen this month by Disney and Pixar. But Warner Bros animation team doesn't take it too far, as some films do, instead blending this humor with something that is just a few steps away from actual substance. More people should probably see this film as it is a lot better than being credited for. - DirectorRyan MurphyStarsJulia RobertsJavier BardemRichard JenkinsA married woman realizes how unhappy her marriage really is, and that her life needs to go in a different direction. After a painful divorce, she takes off on a round-the-world journey to "find herself".6.
No real effort seems to have gone into this adaption - although I haven't read the novel it is based on either so perhaps it actually shared more than I think. This "Life is great if you travel to Europe for a while" story however doesn't really kick off and it's sorta ironic how it's trying to tell us this story about good life is but at the same time it's consistently sad. I mean, Julia Roberts laugh from time to time but the rest of the film isn't with her so she just seems "special" when she does it. It's very lowkey and should have needed some more passion, I guess. - DirectorAnthony SilverstonStarsJake T. AustinAdrian RhodesSam RiegelRejected by his superstitious herd, a half-striped zebra embarks on a daring quest to earn his stripes but finds the courage and self-acceptance to save all the animals of the Great Karoo.6.
So I continue to have an interest in some newer animation that I missed out on. Khumba doesn't really seem to be a film many have seen and was probably produced by some smaller company. Although it does have a noteworthy cast - including Liam Neeson as the main antagonist. The film was surprisingly good, seeing that a lot of not-so-good ones are being thrown out of smaller companies all the time. It doesn't live up to how good many animated films are today - but it has some heart that makes up for it. It shows that the filmmakers actually wanted to make a good film. That's not always the case. - DirectorAndrew Jay CohenStarsWill FerrellAmy PoehlerRyan SimpkinsAfter the town takes away their daughter's college scholarship, a couple start an illegal casino in their friend's house to make back the money.6.
Amy Poehler being Amy Poehler. Will Ferrell being Will Ferrell. That still goes a long way. And this is a fun idea - and a fun movie - at times laugh after laugh is delievered. But the film take a few punches along the way and doesn't manage to stay interesting all the way. Still worth a worth though if you want to watch something easy going. - CreatorMichael SchurStarsKristen BellWilliam Jackson HarperJameela JamilFour people and their otherworldly frienemy struggle in the afterlife to define what it means to be good.7.
Season 1.
A surprisingly entertaining show. Or perhaps not so surprising if you know who's behind it (Drew Goddard). But in regards to television landscape at large, not least for the comedies, I didn't expect this to be as good as it was. - DirectorJohannes RobertsStarsMandy MooreClaire HoltMatthew ModineTwo sisters vacationing in Mexico are trapped in a shark cage at the bottom of the ocean. With less than an hour of oxygen left and great white sharks circling nearby, they must fight to survive.5.
45 minutes in until the first shark attack and still no character development to find - half of the movie is pretty much as empty as it's two leading ladies - and you pretty much end up rooting for the sharks to kill them as early as possible as they continuously keep on making stupid decisions and screaming all the time. The shark movie formula is so good in itself that it's still "somewhat" entertaining though if you are into the genre. Looking at how Mandy Moore films generally are I guess you can say that this is the Mandy Moore version of a good shark film. - DirectorWilliam H. MacyStarsKate UptonAlexandra DaddarioMatt BarrTwo friends on a road trip compete for the affections of a handsome man when a hurricane redirects their flight.6.
Another comedy surprise. Despite that the entire film was given away already in the trailer this managed to entertain throughout. Don't get me wrong. It's super dumb, and super shallow. But thanks to Alexandra Daddarios general weirdness it's somehow still works. - DirectorPatrick HughesStarsRyan ReynoldsSamuel L. JacksonGary OldmanMichael Bryce, a protection agent, is tasked with protecting Darius Kincaid, one of the world's most famous assassins5.
This film tried do copy the "Deadpool" marketing with all of the "The Bodyguard" posters and whatnot. But unfortunately this film doesn't deliever on being at all as entertaining. It's actually even rather bad, alarmingly close to getting an even lower score. It's badly shot, badly written and badly acted. The only reason this get's a 5 is because buddycop at it's core is a good concept. The film just miss out on the potential. - DirectorDebra EisenstadtStarsBill DawesSarah ButlerChristine WoodsAfter his wife kicks him out, an anxious comedian is lured in by an intriguing woman with a stalker.7.
Not since i I saw "Ivans XTC" in the early 2000's I've been so suprised by how good a independent low budget drama can be like. There are a lot of low budget films produced and released on a daily basis and most of them are pretty much unwatchable. But this one was actually good. I mean, good, for real. Not just for being low budget. It's a good film. - DirectorJason BourqueStarsSarah ButlerJim ThorburnLindsay MaxwellAfter surviving an attempt on her life, a reclusive mystery author discovers that her nanny has stolen her identity, forcing her to go to extreme lengths to get her children back.2.
After seeing the above "Before the Sun Explodes" I got interested in whatever else Sarah Butler had starred in recently. Unfortunately it turned out that she also stars in some real garbage ... the kind of films I've mentioned just before this. This is something "Lifetime" could have produced. And that's not good. Simply put. - DirectorDavid WinningStarsSarah ButlerMarcus RosnerPeter BensonWith her husband away at work, and her son at school, Laura dreams of a home-renovation project to supplant her restless days. Elliott, her irresistibly hot private contractor, soon fulfills her more forbidden dreams.1.
Even Lifetime would've been ashamed. - StarsJames RhineLauren PhillipsAkira LanePersonal stories reveal how the intersection of sex, technology and intimate relationships is rewiring us in fundamental ways.8.
I saw the previous Hot Girls Wanted series and didn't like it at all. It felt like the filmmakers own agenda/propaganda/whatever shined through and that it portrayed the business in a way that wasn't necessarily true. The material said something, while the filmmakers said something else and it just got weird. But this second series was really good. I liked the different stories and this time the director let the material speak for itself without adding it's own agenda to it. - DirectorMichael BonfiglioStarsJerry SeinfeldJimmy BroganMark SchiffComedian Jerry Seinfeld takes the stage at the comedy club where he began his career to recount his early life.7.
I've always liked Jerry Seinfeld as a person. But I've never seen him as a good entertainer. Seinfeld, the series, of course was innovative as a concept, for it's time, before it came standard for every comedy series out there. But I don't think it was Seinfeld's own acting ability or comedy that made for that. So, surprise, surprise, I didn't laugh watching this stand up special. But I did found it cozy. As Jerry is a cozy person. - DirectorJohn Keith WassonJane WellsStarsDanielle DouglasSlimRainThis character-driven film considers the evolving sex trafficking landscape as seen by the main players: the exploited, the pimps, the johns that fuel the business, and the cops who fight to stop it.6.
Worth a watch for the material itself, but it's flawed, and it shows through that the filmmakers probably haven't done a lot of documentaries before this. That's not really meant in a bad way, as this film shows that they can do good ones, but as said, it's flawed. - DirectorDennis DuganStarsAdam SandlerKatie HolmesAl PacinoFamily guy, Jack Sadelstein, prepares for the annual event he always dreads--the Thanksgiving visit of his fraternal twin sister, the needy, and passive-aggressive Jill, who then refuses to leave.3.
I like Adam Sandler. And not only when he does his rare "serious role" that critics always seems so surprised by despite their being a bunch of them. I think films like Click, The Wedding Singer, to just name a couple, are great comedies and I believe Adam Sandler to be a good performer. But, with that said, this film was complete garbage. He has done a lot of bad movies, of course, but this one is at a whole other level.