My Thursday Movie Picks journey started this year on August 25th, and it has been a great challenge in so many ways! So I will continue with Thursday Movie Picks in 2017, the amazing list of topics including TV recommendations! is already up, and I’m super excited to join Wandering Through the Shelves for a year-long-journey! But before 2017, there is a few more recommendations left for 2016.
1. AUGUST RUSH, 2007
This is a movie that has mixed reviews, but don’t get discouraged by the negative criticism towards it. Part of me thinks the critics were too wrapped up in their own minds to realise that August Rush is actually a story with magical realism, and tried to take it too seriously. The movie is about an orphaned boy, who believes his parents actually wanted him, and goes to search for them through music. The score is wonderful, it is actually quite an emotional story and it features a pretty skilled cast, including the forever loved Robin Williams.
2. DUE DATE, 2010
I’m not much for comedies these days, and frankly, I haven’t been in a while, but Due Date was a fun experience. Maybe it was Robert Downey Jr. who made it enjoyable for me, maybe it was that I hadn’t seen many roadtrip comedies at that point – now they are everywhere. This one particular is about a soon to be father trying to make it across the country to see his first child being born. Also, pretty much 7 years later, and I still remember one of the funniest lines of the movie uttered by Zach Galifianakis, so that’s something!
3. THE MARTIAN, 2015
So, does this one count as coming home.. I would say it does because it’s one of the most memorable journeys home I could think of except Gravity, and I loved The Martian a lot more. Besides, I’ve read the book the movie’s based on and I think the adaptation aspect of it is brilliant. The casting, perfection! Nobody could have embodied Mark Watney better than Matt Damon. Also, the feeling of “coming home”, I think, despite never actually seeing Mark’s arrival, is still so strong on a more deeper level.
THIS SERIES IS CREATED BY WANDERING THROUGH THE SHELVES
The Martian is such a great pick! I didn’t care much for Due Date, but I only saw it once in theaters. I never saw August Rush but I remember liking thr soundtrack. I should watch it.
To be honest, haven’t watched Due Date more than once either, but I still remember it well so there hasn’t been any need for it. So what it’s worth, it is memorable. August Rush is not for everyone, and there are flaws to it, but it’s something that might end up poking at your emotions just the right way.
Interesting choices though I’ve only seen The Martian. The overall film was okay but would have been nothing without Matt Damon’s totally committed performance. He was fierce and compelling.
I’ve meant to see August Rush for ages but it keeps slipping my mind, so thanks for reminding me I’ve queued it up so I’ll finally correct that soon. I’m not a fan of either present day RDJ nor Zack whatisname so I’ve avoided Due Date since the preview looked like it was the two of them all the time.
This one was a relatively easy week. My first is one of my favorite films so I was delighted I had a chance to use it. The other two are more obscure but not bad films.
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)-Three members of the armed forces strike up a friendship on a return flight to their home town at the end of WWII. The film follows their three stories, Al (Fredric March) an upper middle class banker, Fred (Dana Andrews) a poor but hardworking clerk and Homer (Harold Russell) who has lost his arms during the war, and their difficult readjustment to a life that now seems foreign to them. This is loaded with brilliant performances by the entire cast, especially Myrna Loy as March’s patient wife and was the winner of multiple Oscars including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Russell-he only made a few film appearances but he’ll tear your heart out) and Best Actor (March-though Andrews is the standout male performance). A great film.
The Myth of Fingerprints (1997)-After a three year estrangement four adult children, including Julianne Moore & Noah Wyle, return to the Maine home of their parents for Thanksgiving. Their mother Lena (Blythe Danner) is a gentle soul hoping for a pleasant holiday but their remote, stern father Hal (Roy Scheider) remains closed off and the gathering is fraught with tensions.
Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (1990)-Quirky comedy/drama of a small town preparing for the return of hometown movie star Roxy Carmichael. The person who is most anxious for her return is young orphan Dinky Bossetti (Winona Ryder) who is sure that Roxy is her birth mother and is secretly planning to claim her as her own on her arrival.
Tribute Bonus: With the incredibly sad passing of mother & daughter legends Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher within the last two days I wanted to include at least one of their films in memoriam, I wanted to do Bundle of Joy since Debbie was expecting Carrie when she made it (the ultimate costarring vehicle!) but the subject matter wasn’t right for the theme. This is the only one that really fit…happily it’s both a good film and a charming comedy.
The Pleasure of His Company (1961)-“Pogo” Poole (Fred Astaire), a continental gadabout returns unannounced to San Francisco, his original home, for the wedding of his daughter Jessica (Debbie Reynolds) to cattle rancher Roger Henderson (Tab Hunter). Arriving at the palatial home of his ex-wife Kate (Lilli Palmer) and her present husband Jim Dougherty (Gary Merrill) when no one is home. He basically takes over the joint ensconcing himself in the best room and overtaking their servant Toy (Harold Fong). Kate, knowing what Pogo is like is leery or his return at first but eventually is lulled into letting him stay since Jessica wants him at the wedding so much. Kate’s sly father (Charlie Ruggles-in a highly enjoyable performance) who sees right through Pogo as well as Jim and Roger are less yielding especially when Pogo turns up the charm on Jessica and tries to convince her to take off with him to see the world rather than marry. Many humorous complications ensue capped by a mad dash to the airport. Breezy comedy played by experts.
Well let me know what you think of August Rush when you finally get to it! I’d be interested to see how it holds up compared to your typical taste in movies, as it seems vastly different from mine. Except for Matt Damon’s performance apparently, which I think everyone can attest to was just the right amount of everything in The Martian.
The passing of Fisher and Reynolds is just so unimaginable. They gave so much to so many, and they left behind a legacy that will be remembered for years. It was very nice of you to dedicate a recommendation for them this week.
Hi,
Just a quick drop back to say I did watch August Rush. It was a bit gooey and Robin Williams gave me the major skevvies, which was the point of course, but Freddie Highmore saved it. I won’t go running back to watch it though.
That’s the kind of movie it is in my mind a bit too. Like, I watched it and I remember it, but I don’t know if I will rewatch it.
Due Date was fun. And I loved The Martian (I’m yet to read the book though).
The book is so much more. You really get to know Watney, and I think it gave me a lot more to grab onto in the movie. There is a line in the movie that describes why Watney is so important for the crew that wasn’t utilised in the movie, but it gave me a sense of understanding of the actions and the mutiny the team decided on. I highly recommend it!
I remember seeing August Rush once…it was sweet but I didn’t love it. Due Date is so funny!
The sweetness of it is what linked it to this theme. Coming home for me is a feeling more than an action, so the positive emotion August Rush had with the family reuniting, was what I was going for with that recommendation. Due Date is funny!
I haven’t seen the first 2 but the Martian is a great choice! I love that film and think it is inspired. It’s a great film and so well acted by Damon. I have marked the other 2 down to see.
Thank you, I sort of wanted to include a more known film and The Martian was the first that came to mind. Hopefully you’ll like the other two.. or at least don’t see them as a waste of your time! 😀
LOVE that pick of The Martian! It’s so much fun.
Thank you so much!
I did see August Rush, quite a long time ago now and remember not liking it. I think i found it trying way too hard to be a sweeping magical tale… and definitely over sentimental.