AR(rrr)GO SEE IT

It’s mid October and the Oscar season is under way.  By that I mean the movies that are  more then likely to compete during the upcoming awards season are being released.  The battle to claim the top prize is still a few months away.  

Argo is playing now in theaters and is a must see!!!

A few movies have been released that I think deserve to compete for coveted spot at the top of the awards pyramid.  I can see Beasts of the Southern Wild, Moonrise Kingdom, and The Master all competing for that spot.  Over this past weekend I saw a movie that not only deserves to be in the mix but deserves to be king of the awards season castle.  This movie is Ben Affleck’s latest Argo.  

Not only does Affleck excel as the star of the movie but he directs an ensemble piece with great tension sprinkled with moments of comedic relief.  Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, and John Goodman all excel in there individual roles as well.

The movie is based upon a true story of six americans hiding and in need of rescue after the american embassy is taken over by Iranian revolutionaries.  Affleck plays a CIA man who devises a plan to go into Iran and leave with the group under the cover as a Canadian film crew.  Cranston plays his boss and Goodman and Arkin are on the hollywood side to make give the movie the illusion of authenticity.  

Despite knowing the outcome of the events in advance, being a true story, Affleck creates a great sense of tension and drama surrounding the events.  For this he deserves the recognition of a wall filled with awards nominations and wins.

Alan Arkin and John Goodman also deserve to sit at the table of awards nominees and winners for there supporting performances. Both performers are clearly at the top of there game in this fine movie. 

It was a tense experience to see theatrically as well.  The experience of the events unfolding before my eyes was to gasp and cheer along with a crowd of strangers.  I have not been to a modern day movie where the audience is on pins and needles and then together cheering out loud as the events unfold. Nostalgia screenings of films such as Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window have created such effects but no new release has been able create such an effect.

Come late February when the gathering gets underway for my annual Oscar party Argo will be the movie to beat for best picture.  However it will be hard and up hill battle for any other movie to take down this must see this movie.

As the clock strikes Midnight

It’s a widely known secret that I host opening night movie gatherings.  By opening night I mean 12:01 am Friday morning.  It still counts as opening night because it’s the middle of the night.  Don’t argue with my logic just go with it.

We gather for dinner, prepared by yours truly.  (Cooking seems to be a growing passion of mine).  We eat and enjoy each others company.  Sometimes a dvd is put on in the back ground.  Usually the selection is themed.  For example Bram Stocker’s Dracula was played before we went to see Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter.  We head to the theater about 90 minutes before the movie, earlier depending on the movie, and get settled in.  The movie runs and we go our separate ways.  On occasion we have found our selves sharing breakfast at a 24 hour place after the movie.

The evenings are not about the movie.  Blasphemy I know especially on a blog about movie going. Usually its a big movie (The Hunger Games, The Dark Knight Rises, and the upcoming Skyfall are some of the titles).  A big movie means people are likely to come.  The evenings are about the people.  Though the groups of people seem random at one point or another the regulars that keep going are the ones that become friends.  That’s something that can’t be taken away.  People come in and out of the group as they please but are always welcome.

As I gaze weary eyed on events past the movie does play second fiddle to the time shared with those I am proud to call my friends.

Why do I enjoy giving up a nights sleep for the sport of late night movie viewing?  

Instead of giving a straight forward answer I simply offer a standing invitation.  Come join in the experience of the midnight movie dwellers, the up all nighters, as we race the rising sun home.