Welcome to Café Chaos. Grab a cup of coffee or tea (we prefer coffee) and join us for a chat. Every Saturday we’ll offer recommendations for movie lovers. Feel free to comment on our picks or to throw in a few of your own. We’re listening!
SIS Barb says...
SIS Bren says... It was a rare occassion that we actually got to watch a movie tonight. While flipping through the channels trying to find something entertaining, I decided to see what HBO had On Demand. To my surprise, they had some new titles and one that I had been waiting to see.
My pick of the week: Burn After Reading (2008)
From IMDB: Osbourne Cox, a Balkan expert, is fired at the CIA, so he begins a memoir. His wife wants a divorce and expects her lover, Harry, a philandering State Department marshal, to leave his wife. A diskette falls out of a gym bag at a Georgetown fitness center. Two employees there try to turn it into cash: Linda, who wants money for elective surgery, and Chad, an amiable goof. Information on the disc leads them to Osbourne who rejects their sales pitch; then they visit the Russian embassy. To sweeten the pot, they decide they need more of Osbourne's secrets. Meanwhile, Linda's boss likes her, and Harry's wife leaves for a book tour. All roads lead to Osbourne's house.
Great actors and superb acting. The Coen brothers have strange minds! Loved this movie.
SIS Beth says…
A few week ago Richard suggested we recommend movies with great sound tracks. We’ll definitely do that as a SIS team, but until then, I’ve got a killer rec!
My Pick of the Week: Across the Universe (2007)
Here’s a short summery from IMDB: The music of the Beatles and the Vietnam War form the backdrop for the romance between an upper-class American girl and a poor Liverpudlian artist.
The acting was top notch. The story engaging. The music…. Well, come on. It’s the Beatles! The music was incredible! But what floored me was the imaginative arrangements and the fabulous talent of these young vocalists. Can’t resist. Check this out!
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19 comments:
Well, two out three ain't bad! Sorry, Barb -- maybe it's because I DON'T have kids, but variety/"reality"/competition shows provide only one exercise for me these days --- improving the speed in which I can change the channel! But, I will admit to (thanks to a far previous post) become addicted to "WipeOut" --- WAY funny!
Bren, LOVE The Coens, LOVED "Burn After Reading," TOTALLY blown away and surprised by the Brad Pitt closet scene (hope that's a "spoiler")!!
Beth, I believe "Across The Universe" is one of the best musicals I have seen in AGES! Everyone who likes The Beatles should watch it; all young'uns who are, like, "the WHAT band?" should watch it! And, of course, having my fave comic/actor, Eddie Izzard, in it didn't hurt my feelings a bit!
Along those lines, my suggestion would be 2006's Indie "Once," (tagline: How often do you find the right person?) "A modern-day musical about a busker and an immigrant and their eventful week in Dublin, as they write, rehearse and record songs that tell their love story." The music is GREAT "ethnic" Irish, including the Academy Award winning Best Original Song, "Falling Slowly." The story, a LITTLE over-dramatic at times, I liked mainly due to the VERY believable ending (definitely had a "been there, done that" feel for me).
And, re: Brad Pitt, I meant to say, I hope it WASN'T a spoiler!!!;)
I also find myself turning more to half-n-hour or an hour shows rather than movies. "Two and a Half Men" tops my list among sitcoms, and "Burn Notice" - in action/adventure.
I'm happy to say I've seen all these film choices (well, except SYTYCD, but that's not really a movie is it haha) and I enjoy both of them! Good choices, but Beth, don't spoil the ending next time!!
Richard,
I was equally blown away by the Brad Pitt closet scene! And George Clooney's "invention" cracked me up!
SIS Bren
Barb, I haven't seen SYTYCD, although I'm sure I would probably enjoy it simply for the dancing. LOVE dancing!
Brenda, I love most anything by the Coen Brothers. I was so looking forward to BURN AFTER READING. I did enjoy it, but not as muh as some of their other films. The high point, was Brad Pitt. What an awesome, quirky performance!
Richard, Re: the closet scene in BURN AFTER READING... yup. Total shocker!
As for ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, I was stunned by how truly fabulous that film is. The acting, the story, the music. Astoundingly good.
As for ONCE... Saw it. Loved it. A quiet little Indie film, probably to slow for some people, but not for me. I thought the characters were enchanting. The story, both inspiring and sad. The music... LOVED THE MUSIC!! Bought the sound track. Haunting and inspiring. Great rec! Thanks for sharing!
Olga, I saw a preview for BURN NOTICE not to long ago. Looked intriguing. Thanks for the reminder!
Taylor, good point. Except... ahem... only someone who's seen the movie would know where in the movie that clip falls. Right? ;) P.S. Gues what I'm going to *try* to watch tonight? :)
Have not actually seen any of the movies, well, not all the way through. Have seen some of Across the Universe. Is one of my daughter's favs. Wanted to comment on the Beatles renditions from the movie - did you not love Goldie Hawn's version of Hard Days Night???? So torch songish - awesome. And then there is Jeff Beck's beautiful version of A Day In The Life. Have both on my IPod!!
I second the motion for BURN NOTICE. It's got a lot going for it, including the beautiful Miami scenery. Please give it a "look see" (Who the heck came up with that expression, and why?).
Beth - Let's just hope the movie you 'might' watch makes it to next Saturday's list!!
Olga, et al --- "Burn Notice"!!!!!!!!!! And here I thought I was the only one who LOVED that show (and ditto Brooks C. about the scenery --- beats the HELL out of the unrealistic HEAVY yellow-cast images of that SAD "CSI- MIAMI"!)!!! I don't get to watch it "live" too often, but thanks to my "Free On Demand" I ALWAYS go there to catch up (I was gonna say "first," but on second thought, when I catch up FOD with shows I couldn't watch "live," my FIRST stop is "Rescue Me," with/by Denis Leary on FX --- OMFG, what a GREAT SERIES!!!! THEN I go to "Burn Notice" ... and, excuse me for throwin' this out here on a HEAVILY "XX-Chromo" blog;) -- Gabrielle Anwar has to be one of the HOTTEST Women in cinema/TV in this Millenium! And NOT just because of "BN;" anyone watch "The Tudors" on Showtime? --- WOW! (Overall, and in regards to Ms. Anwar, too!).
"Burn After Reading" is pure Coen. I love them! They never cease to amaze me. Great movie....great pick....great Clooney and great twist! I don't get to see too many movies...but I made time for this one (On Demand, of course...and it took me three sittings to get through it. One sitting for each of my kids, I guess....) and it was well worth it. The Coens are simply brilliant.
Olga, then Richard, then Brooks... Hmmm. Obviously, I have to check out BURN NOTICE! I wonder if I can view it on-line. That's how I mostly watched LIFE ON MARS, an awesome series that they canceled mid-season last year! Bleh.
Richard, I watch THE TUDORS, although I am a whole season behind. I love that show!!
Given all the chat re: TV and cable shows, I'm thinking we need to adjust Movie day to Movie & TV day at Cafe Chaos. So let it be written. So let it be done.
SIS Beth
Sara, I'm with you. The Coen's are brilliant. Twisted but brilliant. THE BIG LEBOWSKI and FARGO are among my faves. But the best?? O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU! So many great scenes. But the schtick with George Clooney's character obssessing on his hair rocked. ;)
SIS Beth
Sherry, it's been awhile since I've watched ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, but I don't remember Goldie Hawn being in it. Is there maybe another movie that I don't know about, highlighting Beatles songs?
SIS Beth
Sherry, ditto Beth -- neither Hawn nor "Hard Day's Night" are in "Across The Universe;" but now I, TOO, wanna know what movie I haven't seen WITH that in it!:)
Beth: We agree again re: Coen Brothers and their movies (and I was SO happy that the music in "OBWAT" got such award-winning notice!). I would have to add my "introduction" to the Coen's, "Raising Arizona." Okay, then!
I also agree on re-making "Movie" day into "Movie and TV" day. Especially these days, they are so interchangeable, not only due to the incredible films being created for Showtime, HBO, et al; but also by virtue of the fact that so many great TV series employ the talents of great cinematic actors ("Saving Grace," "The Closer," and "Two and A Half Men," to name a few).
Richard, totally agree - Gabrielle Anwar is hot. And frankly, you've got to love the girl who can kick a** with such elegance!
Brooks, I love Miami scenery, too. Gorgeous!
Beth, you've got to see it!
Richard, Olga... you said it, I only implied it when I said BN has a lot going for it. I, of course, was including the fabulous Miss Anwar!
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