It Came From Letterboxd (09/03/2017)

Remember when I posted a few mini reviews of movies both new and old about a month ago? Well, I'm doing that again. Enjoy!

THE HITMAN'S BODYGUARD

The Hitman's Bodyguard joins the ranks of The Other Guys in the pantheon of flicks that FX likes to keep in their back catalogue of late Saturday afternoon fodder. Doesn't really hit the ground running until halfway through the runtime (also, Gary Oldman is completely wasted as the bad guy); but, the chemistry between the two leads manages to carry the film through the many dry spots. Overall, a disposable (albeit intermittently fun) excuse for Sam Jackson gleefully throw around his very favorite word a few hundred times.

[RATING: 3 out of 5]

SKYFALL

Almost five years old and I'm still convinced that this is one of the best Bond movies ever. Aside from the iconic action sequences and memorable character moments, there's a lot of other stuff to recommend. The story is layered in all the right way and Javier Bardem is a fantastic villain. Plus, I do love me some Deakins photography (especially when it involves 007 and neon lighting). Stone-cold spy stunner that's aged like a fine wine and will continue to do so for years to come.
[RATING: 5 out of 5]

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND

I honestly feel lucky that I was able to experience one of Spielberg'a masterworks on the big screen. Fantastically mysterious  buildup to a cryptic yet optimistic payoff. Immaculate cinematography of late-70s Americana paired with great performances (especially from Dreyfuss and Truffaut) and one of the all-time great music cues. One of the great classics from the wizard of whimsy.

[RATING: 4 & 1/2 out of 5]

ROCK N' ROLL HIGH SCHOOL

A wonderfully bizarre, punk-fueled teen comedy (presumably from a strange alternate dimension where things go by the logic of a MAD Magazine sketch). Even after a few minutes of seeing it, I'm going to say this is one of the best high school movies ever made. Partially for the awesome music from the Ramones, one of the all-time greats in the pantheon of punk rock bands; but, mostly because of how utterly deranged it is. To list all of the insanity that goes down here would not only be redundant, it would ruin a lot of the fun. Definitely saving this for whenever a party gets too boring and I need something to liven things up.

[RATING: 4 out of 5]