So here we go.  The February movie viewing list.

1. Alfie 6/10

Stars: Michael Caine and Shelley Winters

This ‘swinging sixties’ movie was a bit ahead of its time with its promiscuous ladies’ man lead character, played with panache by Michael Caine in one of his early hit roles, and its mention of abortion at a time when such things were whispered about behind closed doors makes it a worth watching.

2. The Usual Suspects  6/10

Stars: Kevin Spacey and Gabriel Byrne

I had been meaning to watch this for some time as so many people had recommended it.  It was okay but not quite up to the expectation I had because of all the hype from my friends.  Spacey was good but I found Pete Postelthwaite’s character, Kiboyashi, appealed to me more.
3. The Impossible  9/10

Stars: Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor

This movie was amazing in its presentation of a family who, against the odds, were reunited after a tragic tsunami that struck South East Asia.  Watts and McGregor were excellent but Tom Holland, who plays Lucas the eldest son, was an absolute standout.  What an amazing young actor he is.

4. Good Will Huntiing   9/10

Stars: Matt Damon Ben Affleck and Robin Williams

This movie always amazes me. The actors are excellent, the script is well written and the storyline is gripping.  The standout scene for me is Will’s monologue about why he shouldn’t accept the job with the large corporation.  Damon and Affleck deservedly won an Oscar for the screenplay and Williams fully deserved his Academy Award for Best Supporting actor.

5. 10 items or less    6/10

Stars: Morgan Freeman and Paz Vega

An unlikely pairing and an unusual road trip as an actor (played by Freeman) and a grocery clerk ()Vega hit the road. They each learn something from the other.  The movie has moments of comedy and of pathos as two completely different people connect with each other.

6. Anonymous  1/10

Stars: Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave

This should have been good, as the premise of the story was good and the cast was good.  I usually enjoy movies related to Shakespeare, however I found the storyline tedious and felt that the cast were over-acting in parts.

7. Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters   6/10

Stars: Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton

This movie was better than I expected.  There was action, humour and a story that moved quickly.  If you expect an Academy Award level movie, this is not the one for you but if you want a bit of fun this meets that criteria well.

8. Toast 7/10

Stars: Helena Bonham-Carter and Freddie Highmore

Another biographical movie, this time about British chef and food critic Nigel Slater.  It’s quite good with sterling performances by Oscar Kennedy as Nigel as a child and Freddy Highmore as Nigel the teenager.  Bonham-Carter gives a strong performance as Slater’s stepmother.

9. Lincoln    9/10

Stars: Daniel Day-Lewis, Tommy Lee Jones and Sally Field

An extraordinary movie with an excellent cast. It had me engaged and interested throughout.  Well-deserving of the awards and accolades it has been receiving. Day-Lewis is impressive as the title character.

10. Country Strong   4/10

Stars: Garrett Hedlund, Gwyneth Paltrow, Leighton Meester

This movie is ok though I would have liked the story to move a bit faster.  Lots of country music that was technically good but even that needed a little more somehow to make it engaging.
11. Crazy Heart    7/10

Stars: Jeff Bridges, Colin Farrell and Maggie Gyllanhaal

A strong cast with a good storyline.  The music was good and Bridges and Farrell performed their songs themselves.  Bridges was very good both dramatically and musically. An enjoyable movie.

12. Young Adam 6/10

Stars: Ewan McGregor, Tilda Swinton

This movie has a good cast but I found it a little slow-moving at times.  Ewan McGregor does a good job as the tortured soul coming to terms with a terrible event while Swinton also gives a good performance.
13. Victor/Victoria  7/10

Stars: Julie Andrews, Robert Preston and James Garner

Julie Andrews shines as the woman pretending to be a man pretending to be a woman.  Preston is excellent as her mentor and Garner is good as the man who is confused by his attraction to Victor (Andrews).
14. Struck by Lightning   6/10

Stars: Chris Colfer and Rebel Wilson

Colfers’ screenwriting debut gives us an entertaining movie which, while not award level, still has moments of merit that make it amusing.  Wilson finds it difficult to sustain her accent but overall an OK movie.

15. Seven Psycopaths 6.5/10

Stars: Colin Farrell, Christopher Walken and Woody Harrelson

Quite a good movie, with moments of dark humour, though not as funny as I had expected from all the hype around it.  Walken was as good as ever.
16. Back to the Beach. 3/10

Stars: Annette Funicello, Frankie Avalon and Lori Loughlin.

This movie is proof that sometimes it is better not to go back, as it lacks the musical merit of the original Annette and Frankie movies.  Demian Slade as the punk son is the best part of this movie. There’s also Bob Denver (Gilligan’s Island) cameo and Don Adams (Get Smart) cameos.

17. Footloose  6/10

Stars: Kenny Wormald, Juliette Hough and Dennis Quaid

This remake doesn’t have the same impact as the original but is still an entertaining couple of hours.  Wormald is ok in the lead role but Quaid as the best part of the movie for me.

18. Agnes of God 8/10

Stars: Jane Fonda, Ann Bancroft and Meg Tilly

The cast of this movie is exceptional. Tilly shines as the naive and almost ethereal Sr Agnes. Bancroft is a stern Mother Superior trying to make sense of a tragic situation and Fonda is wonderful as the determined psychologist. A great classic.

19. The Boyfriend  8/10

Stars: Twiggy, Christopher Gable, Tommy Tune

This Ken Russell movie is a wonderful production. The musical sequences are well choreographed and The cast is strong.  Well worth watching for the memorable music and great dancing.
20. The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill and Came Down a Mountain  7/10

Stars: Hugh Grant, Tara Fitzgerald and Colm Meaney

This story of a village’s tenacity in ensuring that their mountain is not downgraded to a hill has it all, comedy, drama, romance, likeable characters.  Worth watching if you are looking for something light and enjoyable.  Also Welsh accents!
21. Legend  6/10

Stars Tom Cruise, Tim Curry and Mia Sara

Not sure why I didn’t watch this in the 80s. A bit darker than Willow and Labyrinth, more like The Dark Crystal and just as enjoyable. Director Ridley Scott  created a good movie in this, though not the best of the 80s fantasy offerings.

22. Season of the Witch  3/10

Stars: Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman and Christopher Lee

I found this movie lacking in flow and it seemed a little too cheesy with the attempts at humour in the banter between battles between Perlman and Cage.  Not a movie I am likely to view again.
23. We Need to Talk About Kevin  7/10

Stars: Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly

This movie is disturbing and confronting as it explores a difficult relationship between a mother and a child that culminates in a tragic incident.  Swinton is excellent in the role of the mother.  Ezra Miller and Jasper Newell are great as Kevin the teenager and Kevin the child.

24. Gypsy    8/10

Stars: Natalie Wood and Rosalind Russell

Wood is stunning in the title role as burlesque queen Gypsy Rose Lee, while Russell is suitably domineering as the stage mother living out her own dreams of fame  through her daughters.
25. Footy Legends 5/10

Stars: Anh Do, Angus Sampson

While not one of the greats of the inspirational sporting movies sub-genre, it has its moments and is an ok movie for a lazy afternoon.  Do is likeable as the main character. A few stereotypes in this movie.

26. Ladies in Lavender 8/10

Stars: Maggie Smith and Judi Dench

The grand-dames of British theatre shine in this story of two sisters and the stranger they take under their wings.  With their usual elegance and grace Smith and Dench take us on a delightful journey through village life.

27. The Woodsman 8/10

Stars: Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick

This movie is disturbing and confronting with Bacon as the child molester who is released from prison and finds it difficult to settle back into the community.  Bacon plays this part with exceptional skill. Sedgwick is also good as the woman with whom he develops a relationship.

28. Strawberry Summer  3/10

Stars: Julie Mond, Trevor Donovan, Shelley Long

This Hallmark movie is saccharine sweet and is set in a small town in the USA during the annual Strawberry Festival.  Mond and Donovan are ok but given that her character is a music teacher and his is a country and western singer it may have been good to have more music.