Actress of the Week: Audrey Hepburn

   This weeks actress of the week appeared in 31 films from 1951 to 1989. Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993) was a British actress who was know for her style and wittiness. Her big breakthrough was in the Academy Award winning film Roman Holiday (1953) were she co-stared with Gregory Peck.

  My favorite Audrey Hepburn movie is Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), which I feel is one of the best acting performances I have ever seen. Now this film does not have the star power that some of her other films had but she is very good in this movie and I suggest everyone watch it at least once. In this film she is funny and is just the life of the movie.
    During her career Hepburn would play alongside some of Hollywood's best. She teamed up with Humpfrey Bogart in the 1954 film Sabrina, as well as co-staring with Cary Grant in the 1963 movie Charade. Hepburn's career was a huge success in all different ways possible. She remains one of few people who have won Academy, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony awards. She was truly one of the great actresses in cinemas "Golden Age".


Sabrina Trailer:

Breakfast at Tiffany's clip:

Top 5 War Movies

   This week is about War movies. I admit I don't watch them often but there are a few that are very good.



5.  Full Metal Jacket (1987)

4.  The Great Dictator (1940)

3.  Glory (1989)

2.  Gone With the Wind (1939)

1. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Actor of the Week: James Dean

   What else can you say about James Dean (1931-1955) besides we will never know how big of a star he could have been. Even though he acted in only about seven movies he was a natural talent. Though he has been gone a long time people still know who James Dean is.

   There are two movies that are classics that James Dean are in, the first one is the 1955 film Rebel Without a Cause. Dean plays a rebellious young man who has had a troubled past, he moves to a new town where he makes friends as well as a few enemies. This film is a must see, one of the best movies I have watched not only in the past year but my entire life.
      Another one of Dean's great performances is the last film he would ever be in Giant (1956). He actually pasted away before the film was edited. He played the part of a oil rich Texan. This film is great as well as Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson star in it as well. It is a long movie but for three and a half hours it keeps you entertained. Never a dull moment in the movie, another great.
    I have become very curious of James Dean ever since I watched Rebel Without a Cause. It is amazing how an actor who was in only a few films is still know well in cinema. I would have loved to see him act in more films and see how he would have been as he got older. Unfortunately he left us too soon and we will never know how big he would have become. As a movie enthusiast I hope his memory lasts forever.

 

Movie Review: The Heat

  Tonight I saw a movie that I was curious to see because the two leading ladies have been know to be very funny and it didn't disappoint. Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock were hilarious in The Heat. These two worked very well together as Sandra Bullock was the quiet witty funny one as Melissa McCarthy is the bull in a china closet but for me it worked.

    My overall thought about this movie is that it is just a laugh. It was decent but it was probably not a movie I would buy or watch over and over again. However, I do think that Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy performed well its just not an instant classic. My advice is for people to go see it because for some it is a great funny movie but for others they will view this as just a funny movie that you watch once in a long while.


Grade: 6/10

Top 5 Superhero Movies

  This week had me thinking about my favorite superhero movies that I have watched growing up. So here is my Top 5 Superhero Movies




5. Iron Man (2008)

4. Spider-Man (2002)

3.  Batman (1989)

2.  Superman (1978)

1. The Dark Knight (2008)

Movie Review: Grown Ups 2

   Tonight I went to see a movie that I have been waiting for since I heard there was going to be a second one. I did make it out to see Grown Ups 2 and while I know critics often think the first film and this film was a waste of time I enjoyed it. Adam Sandler and his cast of best friends are back and this movie was funny from start to finish.

   Now this film is not much of a story so that for some people that might be a negative. The movie is really just a serious of Sandler, Rock, James, and Spade returning to there hometown and goofing around. Overall this was a very funny movie and for me was not a waste of time. It's not a perfect 10 but for me it's a movie I wouldn't mind watching again.



Grade: 7/10 

Actress of the Week: Reese Witherspoon

  This week's Actress of the Week is Reese Witherspoon (1976-cont.). Reese got her first feature role in  The Man on the Moon (1991). Though she would have roles here and there her major break through was the 2001 film Legally Blonde, then she followed that one with a solid performance in the romantic comedy Sweet Home Alabama (2002).

    I believe that Reese Witherspoon is a good actress but what performance made her career take off even farther was in Walk the Line (2005). Witherspoon played the part of Johnny Cash's (Joaquin Phoenix) wife June Carter. It is truly a great movie and the fact that she sang the songs in the movie showed some versatility. It will be interesting where her career is going to take her as she is putting her hand in as a film producer as well as a television producer. Whatever she decides to do next Reese Witherspoon will be around for many more years.

Top 5 Movie Soundtracks

  This week I was thinking of what soundtracks make the hair on my arms stand up. You can have a good story and a great cast but what I feel makes a movie even better is the soundtrack. So here is my Top 5 Movie Soundtracks

5.  Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)

4. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)

3. The Lion King (1994)

2. Titanic (1997)

1. Forrest Gump (1994)

Movie Review: Despicable Me 2

    Today I made it out to see Despicable Me 2. I remember the first one beginning pretty good but this was a very good movie. You wouldn't know that Steve Carell and Russell Brand where in it if it wasn't for credits. They do a great job of getting into the characters. You couldn't cast the voice of Lucy any better than Kristen Wiig who is very funny in this film.

 
   
     From beginning to end this film had me laughing. It's very funny and sweet. I  believe this is a must see for any family looking to have a night out at the movies. Also, this is a good movie for big kids as well. The minions of course where hilarious throughout the movie. Overall this was a very good movie that I wouldn't mind seeing again when it comes out on DVD.


Grade: 8.5/10

Movie Review: Parental Guidance

   Today I watched the Billy Crystal and Bette Midler comedy Parental Guidance (2012). Going into the movie I expected it to be an average movie. Most reviews I have read are not very high on this film. However, I thought it was a decent movie. I laughed a few times and it was a cute movie that you can watch with your family. I was interested to see Billy Crystal and I have to say I thought he was very funny in this movie. Bette Midler was very funny as well and the two worked very well together.

    Overall this movie was enjoyable. It was funny and the children were cast perfectly with Billy Crystal and Bette Midler. This will not be considered an instant classic but it was a decent movie. It's not so much a strong story but a lot of laughs.




Grade: 6.5/10

Actor of the Week: Humphrey Bogart

   This weeks featured actor is arguably the best male star in the history of cinema. Humphrey Bogart (1899-1957) was best know for films such as Casablanca (1942) and  The African Queen (1951). Bogart would appear in over 75 films during is 30 year acting career. Also, from 1920 to 1930 Bogart was involved in Broadway productions.

     My personal favorite of course is his most famous work Casablaca (1942). If you are curious of Humphrey Bogart and you want to watch one of his films this is the one to watch. Not only one of the best performances of all time by an actor, but one of the best films in the history of cinema. Another film that is not know as one of his best but is pretty good is Dead End (1937). In this film you get to see Bogart before his career took off even higher.



Humphrey Bogart Tribute

Dead End Trailer