It's Thursday again which only means it's time for another episode of Thursday Movie Picks, the weekly series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves where you share three movies to fit the theme of the week each Thursday.
Are you running from something or someone? Well, this is your week then. I'm talking to fictional characters, just that you know, especially to those from my three picks.
Thelma & Louise (1990)
Two girlfriends with relationship problems decide to take a two-day vacation, jump in the car and hit the road. But then one of the two kills a rapist and the vacation turns into an escape. I love this film and if you ask me, I'll tell you this is Ridley Scott's best. It's got everything, a great story, two fantastic leading ladies, and makes a great statement about freedom.
The Bourne Identity (2002)
A man whose suffering from amnesia tries to rebuild his memory based on clues. He soon realises that he is being hunted and takes off to find out who he is and why he is being hunted. One of the best spy movies made mainly because of the character. Although Jason Bourne is the typical superhuman spy, he also is a vulnerable human being and Matt Damon is perfect in the role.
Les Misérables (2012)
In 19th-century France, Jean Valjean is released from prison and breaks parole to create a new life for himself. But Inspector Javert wouldn't let that go, and Jean Valjean finds himself on a continuous run. Although it took me god only knows how many years to finish the book, I loved it and I loved this musical version of it as well. And I'm not a musical person. And frankly, I don't get all the hate this film got. Also, Anne Hathaway's performance was so heartbreaking.
I love that you went with Les Mis. I never would've thought of that, but it fits perfectly.
ReplyDeleteThanks :)
DeleteThose are all great choices.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteI love the Bourne Identity, I've liked them all until the last installment which I thought was missing much of the zest of the others but this is the best of the lot. T&L is a good film though I don't revisit very frequently, good performances and a breakout Brad Pitt. Sorry I'm one of those who hated this version of Les Miz. I didn't care for the stage show either frankly. I am a big musical fan but prefer the more traditional book musicals where there is dialogue interlaced with the songs not just relentless singing.
ReplyDeleteThis is a genre that I'm very fond of and there are so many that I like and had to leave off but I went with three I love, all on the tense side so I threw in an extra with a comic twist.
The Clouded Yellow (1950)-Fired and seeking tranquility after a case goes wrong British Secret Service agent David Somers (Trevor Howard) retreats to the Fenton country estate and a quiet job cataloging butterflies. Upon his arrival he meets and becomes enamored with the Fenton's niece, the fragile Sophie (Jean Simmons). His peace is short-lived though when Sophie is framed for the murder of menacing handyman Hick. Escaping to London he uses his skills and a network of old friends to evade capture as both the police and the real murderer chase them across Britain as they attempt to flee to safety. Tidy thriller that benefits from location filming throughout England and a superior cast.
Dust Be My Destiny (1939)-Down on his luck but honest Joe Bell (John Garfield) gets into a fight with a crook and is sentenced to a work farm for 90 days. There he falls for Mabel Alden (Priscilla Lane), much to the displeasure of her stepfather Charles Garreth (Stanley Ridges) the farm's foreman. Goaded into a fight Joe knocks Garreth out and the panicked pair flee. To avoid suspicion and hard up for cash the couple endure an audience wedding then learn Garreth has died and Joe is wanted for his murder. Moving from town to town to elude capture they try to build a new life when Joe get a job as a photographer on a newspaper after capturing pictures of fleeing bank robbers but destiny is still on their trail. Solid Warner Bros. social issue drama with two excellent lead performances.
You Only Live Once (1937)-Ex-con Eddie Taylor (Henry Fonda), recently released due to the influence of his fiancée Joan (Sylvia Sidney) the public defender’s secretary, attempts to stay to the straight and narrow after they marry. Things go wrong however when he’s accused and convicted for a bank robbery he didn’t commit in which six people were killed. Sentenced to fry in the electric chair he escapes on the eve of execution with the aid of a smuggled gun, accidentally killing the prison chaplain while fleeing. Taking Joan with him they go on the lam but only tragedy lays ahead. Bleak Fritz Lang directed film, an amalgam of the Bonnie & Clyde legend and Lang’s reaction to his first wife’s embrace of Nazism, is considered the precursor to film noir.
Lighthearted Extra-Midnight Run (1988)-Fun adventure comedy/buddy film of bounty hunter Robert DeNiro taking fugitive mob accountant Charles Grodin cross country to collect his reward and dogged every step of the way by the FBI, Mafia and other bounty hunters all of whom want Grodin for reasons of their own. DeNiro & Grodin have a spiky exasperated chemistry with each other that adds greatly to the comedy of the situation.
I haven't seen any of your picks but I'm interested in seeing You Only Live Once.
DeleteLoving all your pics except for Thelma and Louise. It is a great buddy picture except it's 2 gals but the Geena Davis character I just wanted to slap. I thought she was ....stupid. I also really hated the ending..hated it. I just couldn't get into the bonding moment when the 2 decide to fly off a cliff. Now I really like the other 2. Love the Bourne films and found the well done and intelligent. I just watched Les Mis 3 weeks ago and found it was excellent. The singing was superb and I want to see Hugh Jackman in more regular musicals. I remember all the hate towards Russell Crowe and his singing but I don't know why. He may not have the strongest voice but it was good and much better than Ryan Gosling. I heard him sing from La La and it is very weak and not that effective.
ReplyDeleteI love the film but I agree Geena Davis character is stupid. I agree on Crowe as well, he wasn't that bad.
DeleteOooh didn't think of Les Mis, good call. Yey! T&L - love this film. Not a Bourne fan though.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that, before Jeremy Renner happened the Bourne series was good imo
DeleteSonia, The Bourne movies are great and I'm eager to see the newest film. LesMiserbles is a film I'd like to see. Thelma & Louise does not appeal to me at all. Thanks for sharing and for visiting! Have an awesome weekend!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathy!
DeleteNice picks! I didn't like Les Miserables when I first saw it, but then gave it a year and ended up loving it. The soundtrack is so addictive.
ReplyDeleteI know right. I'm especially in love with Anne Hathaway's I dreamed a dream
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