Currently browsing the "Amy Adams" tag.

The Muppets

It’s time to play the music. It’s time to light the lights… Oh, nostalgia take me away! I grew up with the Muppets and have fond memories of them. So when I heard there was a new Muppet movie coming out after all of these years I was excited to relive a little bit of my childhood. But I was also worried that it wouldn’t live up to my Muppet memories. Let’s face it, most things from our childhoods rarely do. But I am happy to report that The Muppets are just as fun now as they were back then.

The Fighter

Every once in a while a movie comes along that has a little something for everyone. I think The Fighter is one of those movies. In fact, I think it may be my favorite movie of the year. It’s the total package: A really good story (based on a true one), a powerful mix of drama, romance, humor and heart, and stellar performances across the board. You don’t have to be a boxing fan to step into the ring for this one. It’s a chick flick wrapped in a sports drama.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Sunshine Cleaning

I will repeat what I said before; what is the deal with Amy Adams? I don’t get it that she is all over the place, pretty much playing the same role over and over. In Sunshine Cleaning, she is a sweet, well-meaning girl who is not making ends meet and not having the life everyone thought she would when she was a popular cheerleader in high school. Here she is a single mom, with a married boyfriend, barely making a living as a maid. Her kid has some behavior problems in school and they suggest she put him somewhere that can deal with him, i.e. private school she cannot afford. The married boyfriend who is a cop suggests that maybe she could make more money cleaning up after dead people – some homicides, a suicide or two and lots of people who died at home. And so she starts her Sunshine Cleaning business and hires her deadbeat sister to help her.

Junebug

If you are anything like me, you wonder what Amy Adams is doing all over the place. Seems like she is in everything. [I looked her up and sure enough she is one busy little bee. Maybe I exaggerate, but Julie & Julia (2009) Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009) Doubt (2008/I) Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008) Sunshine Cleaning (2008) Charlie Wilson's War (2007) Enchanted (2007) ain't too shabby] She’s been at it since 1999, but apparently the film that kicked her into high gear was Junebug. It was shot in NC, my home state and was on the “most popular” list for people from around these parts on Netflix. She got her first Academy Award nomination for her supporting role in it. So I thought I’d give it a go. Perhaps she stood out because the film is so horrible. She really is the only thing worth seeing it for. And I would not suggest you go out of your way. The story is nearly non-existent. The clichés pummel you senseless. And the camera work and pacing could put me, a confirmed insomniac, to sleep.

Julie & Julia

Meryl Streep has channeled Julia Child. She is marvelous. I love her. Like Julia, I love food and I love cooking, so this movie spoke to me, though I am sure you could be culinarily impaired and still enjoy it on many levels. It is very frequently very funny and just plain fun to watch.