AUGUST WATCH PARTY - Shawshank Redemption (1994), Sophie's Choice (1982), Joy Luck Club (1993)
"A banker convicted of uxoricide forms a friendship over a quarter century with a hardened convict, while maintaining his innocence and trying to remain hopeful through simple compassion."
- IMDB
Currently listed as the #1 top rated film of IMDB, this is probably a film we all have heard of if not seen. I've definitely seen bits and pieces over the years and basically knew the whole plot going in but it was very refreshing seeing the whole thing in one viewing.
Good to see a young and spry Clancy Brown. Also always good to see Morgan Freeman. Maybe it's an American thing, but I Morgan Freeman is such a comfort. The voice of God in America for 40 years.
Stephen King's story was brought to life so perfectly. It's hard to pick out anything wrong with it. Well written and executed with great acting. Do I think it's the greatest movie of all time? Greatest movie ever made? Will I watch it a million times more? Probably not. But I enjoyed my time with it and if anything, the film makes me wanna play A Way Out.
My Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆
"Sophie is the survivor of Nazi concentration camps, who has found a reason to live with Nathan, a sparkling if unsteady American Jew obsessed with the Holocaust."
- IMDB
Sometimes you watch an Oscar winning film or performance & you just have to admit that the Academy were really correct in their voting that year. Watching Meryl Streep's Oscar winning performance as Sophie was one of these instances. There are so many films about World War II, but I feel like I can't name any films that take place in the aftermath. We've seen the Holocaust, but what of the survivors? I don't think there are a lot of movies about that so Sophie's Choice was a great exploration of this.
Speaking of Sophie's choice - like the choice the title is named for - that scene...... Truly heartbreaking. Put that in the category of scenes with the ending of Boy in the Striped Pajamas... I love making fun of Nazis. I love seeing crazy Nazis in films. I love seeing them lose in films. But wow.... their cruelty had no bounds. Sophie is a fictional character but I have no doubt what happened to her was real. That makes my slightly ill.
My Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆
"Four Chinese women along with their mothers delve into their past and try to find answers. Slowly, this search helps them to understand the complex relationship they share with each other."
- IMDB
Ming Na Wen brought me here and I was expecting a generational tale like what we've seen in Pixar's films - Turning Red & Elementals. But what I got was a bit more.
This was definitely a film of generational conflicts with immigrant parents - a tale I've seen here and there before. All the moms were immigrants - I want to say all Chinese, I apologize if I'm wrong. Their children were brought up in the "land of opportunity" so their childhood issues were much different. Even though half of the daughters had stable relationships with their moms, the contrast in background still played a part in a conflict that helped them grow closer and know each other better.
All stories all told through each character's narration & inner monologue. We spend quality time with each mother & how they raised their daughters and we see how different they all are. The American girls recalled their past with a huge focus on their mom's role in their life. The mom's recalled their past and..... it got sort of dark.
This film is probably my favorite movie about the Asian American community that I've seen. Joy Luck Club gave great insight to China, Chinese customs & culture, Chinese American immigrants, and what it is like to be raised by immigrant parents. The acting was superb all around. This is a movie I will come back to and I highly recommend it.
My Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆