A while back I gave my “awards” for the movies Barb and I saw in the first half of 2015. Here is the second half of my movie round-up for this year. Multiple entries are in order of excellence or terribleness.
MOVIE WE WALKED OUT ON (JUST THIS WEEKEND):
THE NIGHT BEFORE
MOVIE WE SHOULD HAVE WALKED OUT ON:
THE TRANSPORTER REFUELED
INTERESTING INDIES:
PHOENIX
BEST OF ENEMIES (documentary)
MOVIES THAT WERE BETTER THAN THEY HAD ANY RIGHT TO BE:
GOOSEBUMPS
THE PEANUTS MOVIE
HITMAN: AGENT 47
MOVIES THAT WERE WORSE THAN THEY HAD ANY RIGHT TO BE:
PIXELS
SICARIO
BEST SEQUEL:
CREED
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE:
INSIDE OUT
BEST MOVIE A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN’T LIKE:
TERMINATOR GENYSIS
BEST SPY FILM EVERYBODY SAW (THAT WASN’T “SPECTRE”):
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – ROGUE NATION
BEST SPY FILM A FEW PEOPLE SAW:
THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
BEST SPY FILM NOBODY SAW:
SPOOKS: THE GREATER GOOD
MOVIES I HATE THAT I WILL NEVER SEE:
RIKKI AND THE FLASH
MAZE RUNNER: THE SCORCH TRIALS
PAN
RIKKI AND THE FLASH
MAGIC MIKE XXL
PITCH PERFECT 2
Did I remember to say RIKKI AND THE FLASH?
BEST BASED-ON-FACT MOVIES:
STEVE JOBS
TRUMBO
BRIDGE OF SPIES
BLACK MASS
BEST SCIENCE-FICTION FILM IN A WHILE:
THE MARTIAN
BEST HORROR-FANTASY IN A WHILE:
CRIMSON PEAKS
MOVIES THAT SHOULD HAVE SUCKED BUT DIDN’T:
KRAMPUS
SELF/LESS (or: REGENERATION WITHOUT ROYALTIES)
NO ESCAPE
BEST ACTION MOVIE SINCE “MAD MAX: FURY ROAD”:
SPECTRE
BEST COMEDY SINCE “SPY” (SURPRISINGLY):
VACATION
For those wondering what I’ve been up to, I spent last week writing a script for the second season of QUARRY. Does that mean the series has been picked up for a second season already? Unfortunately, not – but it’s a very good sign that HBO/Cinemax has ordered up a second season of scripts.
The possible second season is loosely based on QUARRY’S CHOICE, and the formative Quarry (aka Mac Conway) is moving closer to the Quarry of the novels. This makes sense, because the first season is a kind of expanded origin story.
Speaking of Quarry – and this is something I discussed last week – it’s increasingly gratifying if odd to see books I wrote a long time ago being reviewed today. Check out this very nice review in the prestigious PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY for my 1976 novel, QUARRY’S LIST. How I wish they’d noticed me back then!
My buddy (and one of my favorite writers) Ed Gorman has taken a look at SPREE on his blog. I think this is a reworking of an earlier review, but I am pleased to see it. Ed singles out this, the last of the Nolan novels, as a particular favorite of his among my books.
Here’s another review of SPREE that I was happy to read (and a little surprised to see).
I am particularly pleased to see my Mike Hammer collaborations with Mickey getting some space in one of the numerous overviews about the current trend of continuations of classic mystery and spy series. Frankly, we often get left out. What’s fun here is that the great Jon L. Breen (the Anthony Boucher of our time) is not at all a Spillane fan, but still appreciates these continuations. Specifically, he takes a look at KISS HER GOODBYE, and says wonderful things. No idea why he’s about four books behind! Do try to keep up, everybody….
Tags: Kiss Her Goodbye, Mike Hammer, Movie Reviews, Nolan, Quarry, Quarry TV, Quarry's Choice, Quarry's List, Reviews, Spillane, Spree
Well, Max, I suppose it is a good thing that I finally find something on which I disagree with you. I thought that RIKKI AND THE FLASH was terrific for a number of reasons. I’m a Jazz musician, not a Rock & Roller, but I enjoyed the music [all of which was recorded live] thoroughly. The fact that Meryl Streep went to the time and trouble to learn to play and perform on the guitar is just indicative of what a class act she is.
Also, her portrayal of a talented musician who never gets a recording contract and has to work bars and a day job to keep playing is TOTALLY REFLECTIVE
Oops, I hit a wrong button. To continue on:
….TOTALLY REFLECTIVE of the situation I have seen many musicians [especially females of that generation] living in, even down to the decorations in her apartment.
The plot was a plot, no better or worse than the Fred and Ginger movies.
As far as I can see, the only thing missing from the Wedding Reception Scene [and I have played as many as three on a given weekend] was the drunk divorced father of the bride coming up to the band while they are setting up and telling them not to play so damn loud.
But a Mark Twain once said, any time two people agree on everything, one of them is unnecessary.
Tom, since you have seen the movie, your opinion carries a lot more weight than mine. And since I will never see it, you are the winner of this disagreement by default, if nothing else.
My reaction is based on what I thought was a particularly repellant preview that I saw countless times. As somebody who has played a lot of music over the years (since 1965), I sensed RIKKI was an embarrassing vanity project for Meryl Streep to show off her singing and give her daughter a job. (By the way, Streep did a really good job in INTO THE WOODS, although she and everyone else in MAMA MIA should be mightily embarrassed.)
I could be wrong about RIKKI. It’s sounds likely I am. But we will never know, or anyway, I won’t.
My son-in-law and a former community college president have urged me to see TERMINATOR GENYSIS, which they both thought was thoroughly enjoyable. And now you say it’s not bad. I guess I’ll have to see it.
I’m certainly with you on INTO THE WOODS and MAMA MIA.
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