Phantom Thread

On Tuesday, January 23, 2018, I went to see the movie Phantom Thread, featuring Daniel Day-Lewis.

He plays the character of Reynolds Woodcock, a highly sophisticated seamstress who makes elegant gowns and dresses for rich clients.  He also follows a very rigid routine on a daily basis.

He goes to the country and meets a waitress by the name of Alma, who later becomes his muse and lover.  There are moments of up and down, but they eventually get married.  But things do not get better.

Though this movie has gotten quite a few highly ranked reviews, I personally think that it is two hours of my life I will never get back.  Dreadfully slow and boring, with a storyline that doesn't make sense.

The best thing about this movie is Daniel Day-Lewis' acting.

Don't bother wasting your time or money with this pompous piece of artsy-fartsy art house movie.  Not even Daniel Day-Lewis' acting could save this train wreck of a movie.

The Shape of Water

On Friday, January 19, 2018, I went to see the movie The Shape of Water, featuring Sally Hawkins and Octavia Spencer.

The movie is about Elisa Esposito, played by Sally Hawkins, who is a mute cleaner at a research facility.  Her best friend at work is Zelda Fuller, played by Octavia Spencer.

While cleaning up a lab in the research facility, Esposito discovers an amphibious creature with whom she forms a bond.  This was directed by Guillermo del Toro.

The acting was fantastic.  The story is also fantastic.  I just had difficulty with some parts of the movie because of the blood etc.

Worthwhile to be seen in the theatres.  Just don't be one of those movie douches who clap at the end of the movies...

Coco

On Tuesday, January 16, 2018, I went to see the movie Coco.  This is the latest Pixar movie featuring the voice acting of Gael Garcia Bael.  The movie is about an aspiring musician, Miguel, who comes from a long century of shoemakers.  However, he clearly does not want to become a shoemaker and wants to pursue music as a career.

The hiccup, is that there is a century long ban on music in the family.  However, unable to deny his passion, he wants to show his family that he is a great musician by competing in a music competition in the plaza.  But, his abuelita breaks the guitar, so Miguel is unable to compete.  He also discovers that the person he idolizes, Ernesto de la Cruz, was his great-great grandfather, so he sneaks into his tomb to steal the guitar for the concert.

What happens?  You'll have to see the movie to find out!

Call Me By Your Name

On Tuesday, January 9,  2018, I went to see the movie Call me By Your Name, featuring Armie Hammer and Timothée Chalamat.  The movie is about Elio, played by Chalamat, who begins a relationship with his father's research assistant, Oliver, played by Armie Hammer.

This story takes place in Northern Italy, where Elio and their family stay during the summer.  The part of Italy where they stay is not really mentioned, but it is a part close to France, since French alternates between the spoken languages of English and Italian.

The acting was phenomenal, especially by Chalamat as Elio and by Hammer as Oliver.