Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain

35th of 365.

Kevin Hart produced and distributed this movie himself. He is going to make a lot of money off of this production.  I have been told that this should not count towards my movie. Well, I'm running out of things to watch. This makes it no problem.

Kevin Hart is a very good comedian that is not often talked about among my social circles. Everyone enjoys his small roles in movies, most famously as the belligerent customer in 40 Year Old Virgin, but most probably don't know he is a stand up comedian.  

This is was very funny, even if not aimed at my demo, and I would watch it again. 

Judgement: Watch on Instant

What Maisie Knew

6th of 365

There has been a recent string of movies that have relied on young protagonists. Mud, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Super 8, and now What Maisie Knew.

Every scene in the movie contains Maisie. The custody hearing is just the parents coming out of a court room. The parents fighting is only around the corner. The information given is only what Maisie can know. For the first third of the movie, Maisie is the most adult person in the movie. She makes her own sandwich and tries to make everyone feel better. Her parents are more interested in winning than they are caring for their daughter.

Each parent gets remarried to a person who is far more attentive to Maisie's needs. This movie was able to tug at the heart strings even for detestable characters. 

Judgement: Prime/Instant

Frances Ha

4th of 365

A coming of age tale, but she's 27. Frances Ha is about a woman who can't accomplish her dreams. She wants to be a dancer, but she won't make it as a professional dancer. 

The story really comes down as a love story between college best friends. One has a more conventional job with consistent money. The other has a love and passion for art which doesn't pay much when they are successful and nothing when they can't make it. 

Frances isn't a lovable character. She doesn't want to grow up, but she also doesn't get along with others very well. She tries to 'fake' fight with someone taking her in for free. She can't hang in a conversation with people who have successful careers. 

Judgement: Watch on Instant

Mud

2nd of 365

 Matthew McConaughey stars as the titular character in Mud. The movie takes place in Southeast Arkansas around the intersection of the Arkansas and Mississippi rivers. There is a wonderful feel of the movie. There is not quite a small town big city feel, but there is a definite division between the shots right on the river where our protagonist, Ellis, lives and the town in which they sell the day's catch.  

The town is not glitz and glamour, it is teenagers hanging out in parking lots of the piggly wiggly next to worn down hotels. This is the type of small town living that still has a separation. At one point Ellis bemoans the fact he could never be a townie. He only knows life down on the river even though he is in town often throughout the movie.

Love takes center stage in this movie. It is the driving force for the plot and the reason for any actions taken by the characters. However, it displays that Love may not conquer all. 

Judgement: Watch in Theaters