Fun and comprehensive entertainment blog feat. movies, TV series, actors, movie-makers, music & books: 1980 - Present
Maybe these movies already came to the theaters in your country or you did have a chance to see them already at an early screening. But for those of you who haven’t, here are 3 movies to anticipate and enjoy in the summer. The article features trailers and info on the movies. You can read it here.
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George Malley (John Travolta) is a nice, sweet guy living in a small town, working as a car mechanic. His best friends are Nate (Forest Whitekar) and the town doctor (Robert Duvall). He is hopelessly in love with Lace (Kyra Sedgwick), a single mom who lives a little outside of the town with her two young children. She has been burnt once before so she is not exactly willing to let George in, no matter how sweet he seems.
George’s ordinary life gets a big challenge at his birthday; in the form of a very bright light. What the hell was that? The problems and complications arise when almost immediately after the incident, all of George’s senses have become a lot more efficient and impossibly good. He was sort of smart before but now he can sense earthquakes before the officials, without any devices, can read tens of books at night (and learn everything in them) and can even learn Spanish on a 30-minute car ride without having been able to speak a word before…His friends are scared. The Doc and Nate do their best to understand. Is something supernatural at work? And will Geroge finally get the happy ending he deserves with Lace?
Phenomenon is wonderfully smart and sweet romantic/ drama with a hint of some fantasy elements. It is impossible not to root for George- whose oldest acquaintances turn their back on him when his actions and talents don’t seem to make sense anymore. Directed by Jon Turteltaub (While You Were Sleeping, National Treasure) and written by Gerald Di Pego. This is one of my favorite Travolta films and I really love the connection and relationship he has with Grace. Wonderfully humane and emotional.
The film also has a very decent soundtrack featuring Sheryl Crowe, Peter Gabriel, Eric Clapton and more. My favorite song from the movie, as it also is used during a very meaningful scene, is Have a Little Faith in me. Rated at 6.3 on IMDB. 8.0 from me.
John Travolta Posts
Pulp Fiction
Actor Musicians and Musician Actors
Favorite Actors to Play Villains
Featuring Kyra Sedgwick
Army Ranger Dunbar (Brian Van Holt) is being interrogated by Captain Julia Osborne (Connie Nielsen). The situation is very serious: Dunbar’s team mates from Special Forces trainees and their sergeant Nathan West (Samuel L. Jackson) are all missing, presumed dead. The only other survivor aside from Dunbar is Kendall (Giovanni Ribisi), and he is lying in a hospital bed, in critical condition. There is a big chance Dunbar is guilty but when he says he will only talk to another ranger like him, Osborne’s supervisor Styles (Tim Daly) decides to call in a favor from his old friend/ex-Ranger Tom Hardy (John Travolta)- despite her objections.
Osborne and Hardy don’t at first get along that well. After all Hardy has left the army, is now a DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) agent. It doesn’t help build her trust that there have been some bribery charges against him and he is sort of suspended.
But when Hardy proves himself as great an interrogator as Styles said he was, Osborne decides to follow his lead. After all, he has gotten both Kendall and Dunbar to talk. The problem is, their stories are contradicting. And even more confusing is the fact that Kendall seems to be showing Dunbar in a guilty light despite the fact that he saved Kendall’s life.
So what is the real story? Did one of the soldiers finally lose it because of how horribly West treated them? Or is it a whole lot more complicated than that?
I loved this movie. In fact, I adored it. I do have a weakness for John Travolta movies- especially thrillers: Do Face Off, Broken Arrow, Swordfish, From Paris with Love, Mad City ring a bell? Yes, there are more but these are my favorites and Basic joined them right away. The difference of Basic, though is that the action doesn’t exactly involve Travolta. We get flashbacks to the awful stormy location where the soldiers were supposed to complete their training. There is great suspense and as many great twists as in a John Grisham novel. I loved how the story surprises and entertains and impresses you at all times. The movie, in my opinion is horribly underrated at 6.3 on IMDB. I think it is a solid 8 but I rated a 9 for the entertainment level and frankly to get the movie closer to the rating it deserves. Written by James Vanderbilt. Directed by John McTiernan.
A very strong drama/thriller with a great cast. Now, that’s my kind of movie .
Posts featuring Travolta:
Actor Musicians and Musician Actors
Favorite Actors to Play Villains
So I kept hearing so much about The Piano all these years. You probably have heard of it, even if you haven’t seen it. Critically acclaimed, Oscar-winner and all that. And I thought it was time I should watch this popular Jane Campion film. Since I was going to watch it, I took the chance to watch Bright Star before. It was directed by Campion as well, rated at 7.2 on IMDB, a period drama starring Ben Whishaw and Abby Cornish. How could they go wrong? Beautiful leads, romantic setting and me- someone belonging exactly to the targeted audience: romantic female with a weakness for period films. My favorite movies include Pride and Prejudice and I have written articles about the period movies to watch (Period Movies: The Costumes, The Settings and The Romance).
But watching to movie, I failed to be intrigued by any character or line. In fact, I hated Mr. Brown and Paul Schnedier’s interpretation of him. The scenes are mostly too long, boring and/or mundane. This is not how an engaging drama should work. The movie did not have one fun moment in its body. And what on earth did they get the talented Thomas Sangster for? His character barely spoke and added nothing to the story. That boy is talented and he is often seen in fun roles- that have lines and action. Remember the kid in Love Actually? And Ceasar in The Last Legion?
You can bet I am a little concerned about watching The Piano now. While I love Harvey Keitel, and the premise sounds very interesting, I am not sure if it will be a worthwhile experience. But of course I will watch it anyway.
The plot? Oh that:
England, 19th century. Young and beautiful Fanny Brawne (Abby Cornish) is fascinated by fashion and clothing and designs and makes all her clothes.
Young poet John Keates is striving to make money with his work and is often working with Mr. Brown. As much as Mr. Brown and Fanny hate each other, a romance eventually blossoms between Fanny and Keats. The fact that he can’t support himself , that he is mostly dependent on Brown as a writing mate and more, complicate things. Love would probably conquer all but then Keats falls terminally ill…
Yes, Keats is a real poet that lived in that period. And his real life couldn’t have been this boring, could it? Yes, there are many who enjoyed this film, hence the 7.2 rating but I am just not one of them. 4-5/10.
