2014: Week 32: The Hundred-Foot Journey

The Hundred-Foot Journey

Genre: Drama

Main Players:  Helen Mirren, Om Puri, Manish Dayal, Charlotte La Bon

General Gist: A blossoming chef and his Indian family move to France and open a restaurant across from a highly celebrated French restaurant.

Deb's Take:
First off, the above description of the movie doesn't do this movie justice, but I couldn't figure out a better way to describe this movie in a nutshell.  So, don't judge the movie by it's preview.  That being said, this movie was like reading an excellent novel, and I love to read a good novel.  Seldom does a movie compare, but I love when I find that movie.  The movie that makes me forget I am in a theatre, that I am not standing right next to the characters,  that movie that plays like a book.  This movie was comparable to "The Way" to me, which since we started this blog, has been my all time favorite.  Also falls right along side of "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel", another goodie. 

I have been trying to figure out why this movie was so much better than so many others.  Why this one made me feel "satisfied" with the movie industry.  I think the best way I can describe my feelings, is that this movie hit my soul.  So many movies now a days are about the Hollywood hype, about being "showy" and entertaining without making you think or feel.  This movie was the opposite to me.  It allowed me to think and feel, and I love that!  I liked feeling the emotion.  The crazy thing to me was that the movie subject just seemed like there would be no way a deep emotional story could erupt, I was so wrong.  The movie was about family, passion, love, and heart.

I enjoy watching actors who present themselves so well.  Helen Mirren is amazing, the other three main players were new to me, and I was thrilled with their presentations as well.  Manish Dayal played his part perfectly.  I loved that there was a focus on relationships as well as personal progress and growth.  I just feel this movie was so well done, I can't even put into words how much I liked it.  I would just recommend you go and see it for yourself, if you are a person who likes to see a book unfold on screen and don't want the typical Hollywood Hype. 

Deb's Rate: Opening Night

Tiff's Take:
Agree, agree, agree.  What a wonderful movie!  This was one of those refreshing movies that comes along only every once in awhile.  Quite honestly I don't have much more to add then what Deb already said.  And beings that I'm so behind in my reviews I think I'll just leave it at that.  

Go see this movie!  

Tiff's Rate: Opening Night

Preview: Boyhood

2012: Week 32: Hope Springs

Hope Springs

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Main Players: Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones, Steve Carell

General Gist: A couple, married 30 years, attends a week long counseling get-a-way in hopes of reviving their marriage.

Deb's Take: 

We had it all planned to see Moonrise Kingdom, then we got a  pre-screening invite to “Hope Springs” and decided free is better, (as was the whole timing of the movie) so we ended up at this movie.  I had wanted to see it anyway and it was a pre-release, I like them the best. 

This movie was not necessarily exactly what I thought it was going to be.  I knew the storyline, but for some reason I thought it was going to be funnier.  Even a bad marriage can be funny right?  Well, this movie was much more about the passage of time and what effects it can have on a marriage.  This movie was much more geared towards an older crowd, their marriage was at the 30 year mark, mine is only at 18.  I do know after seeing this movie I really hope my marriage isn’t anything like theirs, but I always find that I am a great “learn by observation” type of gal so I will take this as a lesson.

As far as the acting… Meryl Streep only gets better with age.  I am not a big Tommy Lee Jones fan, yet he did well in this movie.  I think it was his part that was convincing more than his acting though.  Steve Carell was surpising good in a little more serious role.  Really his role was minimal compared to the other two, but good none the less.

I enjoyed the venue a lot and would recommend a stop at the Armour Theatre in the Northland if you ever get a chance to go

Deb's Rate: Matinee

Tiff's Take:
Like Deb said, this movie was more on the serious side.  There were some funny parts but generally speaking it was more of a drama than comedy.  For me, this worked just fine.  I'm not sure I was expecting as much comedy as Deb so it seemed to fit my expectations.

Even though I was a minority in the theater (the average age was probably closer to 50), I have to say I really enjoyed this movie.  Sure it dealt with issues that I can't necessarily relate to at my age but I still appreciated it.  I liked how honest it was and how vulnerable the characters were.  And speaking of characters, Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones were fantastic.  I was very pleasantly surprised with Steve Carell beings that he didn't have really any funny parts and he played it perfectly.  (Unlike his role in Seeking a Friend...in which I did not enjoy.) 

I do have to ask one question though.  Is there really ever a guy who does not want to have sex?  I mean really.     

Tiff's Rate: Friday Night

Preview: Winner of the Giveaway to be announced.  And a bonus review.