APRIL WATCH PARTY - Snatch (2000), Seven Psychopaths (2012), Cider House Rules (1999)
"Unscrupulous boxing promoters, violent bookmakers, a Russian gangster, incompetent amateur robbers and supposedly Jewish jewelers fight to track down a priceless stolen diamond."
- IMDB
I believe memes about Brad Pritt brought me here but I stayed for the comedic ingenuity that ended up being the entire movie. Seriously - this movie is one of the funniest movies ever made. British gold for sure. I also really liked the editing. Ironically, as an aspiring film editor, I don't ever really make mental nots about editing. So to make a comment about it means something from me. I definitely want to watch this with friends. Knowing how we were watching Peaky Blinders, no doubt we'll have a ball quoting scenes from this film.
My Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆
"A struggling screenwriter inadvertently becomes entangled in the Los Angeles criminal underworld after his oddball friends kidnap a gangster's beloved Shih Tzu."
- IMDB
Seven Psychopaths is just so much fun. A great script with great dialogue only made better by the great line delivery of this amazing cast. Collin Ferrel and Woody Harrelson are alsways a joy to watch, but it was Christopher Walken and Sam Rockwell making me laugh the most. If you like any of these actors, watch this movie now. This whole plot happened because somebody stole Woody Harrelson's dog. If that isn't a strong enough premise what is? 🤣
My Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆
"During World War II, an orphan grows up under the tutelage of a doctor who runs an orphanage. However, he yearns for freedom and soon decides to leave in order to make a life for himself."
- IMDB
Jumping on the soap box for this one because I can.
This is not a movie or book a Christian pro-lifer can stomach.... which is every reason why they should even watch it.
First of all, American Michael Caine shook me when I first heard his VO. So used to hearing brother speak British, I was just not prepared and I had to take a moment to accept that it was him. Obviously, Michael gives a solid performance here. Professional seasoned British actor could never do wrong.
Princes of Maine, Kings of New England. Best line in the movie. When you are with a group of orphans who feel abandoned and unwanted, it doesn’t take much to make them feel special. The staff members have done such a good job making this orphanage feel like a home. It was a rarity in any timeline.
Tobey was great as Homer. Homer’s story was very important. Obviously, he was the main source of moral conflict as he disagreed with the doctor. Cider House Rules also played out as Homer’s coming of age story. He knew nothing outside the orphanage and took a chance to see more of the world. As much as I support the doctor and his morals, Homer’s view was so narrow. He needed to chill as an apple picker in the countryside of Maine. He had to befriend a lovely couple who willingly went for an abortion. He had to befriend Rose and be present during the most traumatic moment of her life. He saw good, bad, and really ugly, and all in between.
When the doctor died, it was time for him to return home and carry on the legacy – to keep allowing woman the right to choose. To take care of the Princes of Maine, the Kings of New England.
This brings me to my soap box moment.
The topic of abortion is always a difficult conversation to have, but at least it’s talked about. However, I don’t think the topic of orphans and foster care is talked about nearly as much. It's a topic adjacent to abortion, and I argue more important as it correlates to the lives of children actually born, with exposure to the harsh realities of life, coinciding with an understanding of these realities and struggle to deal with it all at such a young age. They need to be heard.
I’m sure it feels morally sound to be pro-life, but it isn’t. Why try to carry a fetus to term just for to give them away so they can feel unwanted their whole lives. Not every orphan can find a family and happy ending. If orphanages were more common, they’d be over run. I have friends that work for the foster care system. They love to talk about how overwhelmed and understaffed they are because there are THOUSANDS of kids to worry about. Now many orphans slash foster kids are there under weird and probably temporary circumstances, but many are not. Many are born and placed immediately in the system, or they suffer at the hands of their unprepared parents until dcf rescues them.
Pro-life people are just pro fetus. They don’t advocate for the health of the mother if it’s a high-risk pregnancy. They don’t care if a child is forced to live a long and depressing life jumping around the foster system hoping to be adopted someday. Pro-lifers are so ignorant, it’s sickening.
Also, banning abortion will just lead to more instances like the teen girl from the beginning of the movie. Not having access to professional and safe abortions will result in underground, unsafe abortions that could lead to the woman’s death. Woman deserve to have full access to their own reproductive rights or it will lead to life threatening results.
Not just life threatening either, but mentally crippling. I understand if Christians want an abortion restriction, but laws like the 6-week limit seem to only punish irresponsible adults. I’ve heard plenty of stories of those in 6-week limit areas that were not granted abortions under the circumstance high risk, life threatening, emergency situations...... and the circumstance of rape and / or incest. This was a situation so serious that even pro-lifer Homer conducted an abortion procedure to help his friend, going against all his own beliefs so Rose could have the choice of whether or not to carry her rapist father’s child.
I am pro-choice. After watching cider house rules, you will be too.
My Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆