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| A weekly series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves |
As it's been for the past three months, the month of May too opens with a deadly sins-themed Thursday Movie Picks, envy, a feeling that is probably familiar to all of us as I'm sure at some point in our lives we've been envious of someone, probably for the silliest of reasons too.
Knives Out (2019)
Plot: When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead, detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is mysteriously enlisted to investigate and get to the bottom of the apparent suicide.
Everyone in that family is envious of one other and they all try to pin the murder on the person they hate the most.
Mean Girls (2004)
Plot: Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) is a hit with The Plastics, the A-list girl clique at her new school until she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron Samuels (Jonathan Bennett), the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George (Rachel McAdams).
The whole plot of the film is basically Cady obsessing over Regina both with admiration and envy.
The whole plot of the film is basically Cady obsessing over Regina both with admiration and envy.
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
Plot: New York, 1950s. Tom Ripley (Matt Damon) is working as a lavatory attendant when he borrows a Princeton jacket to play the piano. He ends up pretending to know wealthy Mr. Greenleaf's (James Robhorn) son, Dickie (Jude Law), and he is soon offered one thousand dollars to go to Italy and convince Dickie to return home. But when he gets there, he attaches to Dickie and his girlfriend Marge (Gwyneth Paltrow) and things get out of control pretty soon.
Tom envies Dickie's life so much that he is willing to cross many lines to live his life. Literally.
Tom envies Dickie's life so much that he is willing to cross many lines to live his life. Literally.
I almost chose Talented Mr. Ripley which is an excellent portrayal of someone very disturbed and downright icky. I still need to see Knives Out which I want to very much. One day I have to see Mean Girls who. I se includes 7 of 9.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'll love Knives Out. It is such a smart film!
DeleteAll great choices. I haven't seen The Talented Mr Ripley in ages, but I still remember how tense it was.
ReplyDeleteIt really was!
DeleteI haven't watched The Talented Mr Ripley but I love your first two picks!
ReplyDeleteYou should check it out, it is so good.
DeleteWe match on Mr. Ripley! I love all three of your picks this week.
ReplyDeleteYAY!
DeleteGreat choices!
ReplyDeleteKnives Out was one of my faves from last year. It didn't use all of its cast as effectively as it could have but still did well by them and the look of the film is fantastic.
I thought of Mean Girls too but thought it would be super popular so I moved on to others. Excellent film though, I put off seeing it for years because of what a mess Lohan is but enjoyed it when I finally did.
Talented Mr. Ripley is a terrific film, though Paltrow is a weak link. Damon really twists his clean cut image to the advantage of the character.
We sort of match on your last and my first, just different versions.
Purple Noon (1960)-Tom Ripley (Alain Delon) travels to Europe to visit his friend, wealthy layabout Phillipe Greenleaf (Maurice Ronet) and his fiancée Marge (Marie Lafort). What Phillipe doesn’t know is that Tom is being paid by Phillipe’s father to persuade his son to return home. Arriving in Italy he insinuates himself into their lives but when he is unsuccessful in his mission the father cuts him off. Seeing the lifestyle the pair lead Tom becomes consumed with envy as well as lust for Phillipe which he’s willing to acquire by any means he deems necessary. The basis for Matt Damon’s The Talented Mr. Ripley.
Amadeus (1984)-Child prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce) is a vastly talented composer with the ability to create masterworks with little to no effort but also an immature undisciplined hedonist. He incurs the enmity of Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham) who though he is the Viennese court composer is a middling talent. Consumed with envy Salieri becomes obsessed with Mozart's downfall but his schemes lead to dire consequences for both men. Loaded with great music, set design and performances both men were Oscar nominated with Abraham winning the statue.
Single White Female (1992)-Having just broken her engagement from fiancé Sam (Steven Weber) Allison Jones (Bridget Fonda) advertises for a new roommate when Sam moves out. Mousy Hedra “Hedy” Carlson (Jennifer Jason Leigh) answers the ad, moves in and the young women quickly form a bond. But Allison doesn’t realize that Hedy is unstable and envious of her life which she slowly starts to imitate. When Allison begins to reconsider her engagement Hedy’s grip on reality slips away and Allison has the fight of her life on her hands.
I've seen all your three picks. I barely remember a thing about Amadeus other than enjoying it but I did love Purple Noon and Single White Female is such an underrated erotic thriller. It didn't cross my mind at all but it fits so well.
DeleteI'm so glad I can say I've seen all these movies! Mean Girls is one I haven't seen for YEARS though, I'm well due a rewatch.
ReplyDeleteI want to rewatch it too but I'm busy binge-watching Mad Men now 😅
DeleteI still haven't seen The Talented Mr. Ripley though I did see the original film it was sort of based on in Purple Noon w/ Alain Delon as Ripley.
ReplyDeleteI've seen the original too, and what a terrific film that one is! Mr. Ripley isn't that good but it comes close.
DeleteYes! Knives Out! Hopefully somehow they can start making the sequel soon
ReplyDeleteAnd hopefully it'll be as good as this one.
DeleteYay, I've seen all of your picks and really enjoyed them. When I left the cinema after Knives Out, I immediately wanted to rewatch the film.
ReplyDeleteI know right? I was afraid I'd be disappointed because of the positive reviews but thankfully it did live up to them.
DeleteI don't think I've seen the last one but I love the first two. :D
ReplyDeleteYou really need to see it, it is such a terrific film.
DeleteThe Talented Mr. Ripley is the envy film to me. Great call with that one.
ReplyDeleteIt's the same for me, which is why that's the film I first thought about.
DeleteKnives Out is the only one I haven't seen and one I want to...it looks good.
ReplyDeleteIt really is!
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