30 Day Movie Challenge: Day #28

Day 28. Movie With Your Favorite Hero

I’ve used some of my favorite heroes for other categories but here are some others that I really do love.

• Gru in Despicable Me (2010)–When a criminal mastermind uses a trio of orphan girls as pawns for a grand scheme, he finds their love is profoundly changing him for the better. Starring the voices of Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig and Miranda Cosgrove. Besides just loving everything about this movie, Gru is one of my all-time favorite movie characters! He tries so hard to be a bad guy but he just has too big of a heart.

• Gracie Hart in Miss Congeniality (2000)–An FBI agent must go undercover in the Miss United States beauty pageant to prevent a group from bombing the event. Starring Sandra Bullock, Michael Caine and Benjamin Bratt. This movie is too freaking funny! Gracie Hart is a badass chick but in a really fun way. She’s just adorable!

• Slim in Enough (2002)–On the run from an abusive husband, a young mother begins to train herself to fight back. Starring Jennifer Lopez, Billy Campbell, Juliette Lewis and Noah Wyle. Here is a woman that doesn’t take any crap from anyone. She is so strong and really stands up for herself and her daughter.

• Forrest Gump in Forrest Gump (1994)–Forrest Gump, while not intelligent, has accidentally been present at many historic moments, but his true love, Jenny eludes him. Starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise and Sally Field. Even though he doesn’t always do things by thinking them through, Forrest has a great heart and always does things for others. He is an all around good guy.

• Erin Brockovich in Erin Brockovich (2000)–An unemployed single mother becomes a legal assistant and almost single-handedly brings down a California power company accused of polluting a city’s water supply. Directed for Steven Soderbergh. Starring Julia Roberts, Albert Finney and David Brisbin. The epitome of tough woman. She doesn’t let anyone tell her what to do. She stands for what is right even when no one else will.

What’s a movie with your favorite hero??

30 Day Movie Challenge: Day #15

Day 15. Favorite Play Adaption Independent Films

I’ve seen and read a lot of plays but not many that have been made into movies…or good movies worth seeing. I don’t feel like doing this one and I felt that there was a major category missing: indie movies. I’m obsessed with independent films but I have a hard time comparing them to bigger films in each category…they deserve their own. Sorry it’s so many, I just couldn’t cut it down so here goes.

• Bottle Shock (2008)–The story of the early days of California wine making featuring the now infamous, blind Paris wine tasting of 1976 that has come to be known as “Judgment of Paris.” Starring Chris Pine, Alan Rickman and Bill Pullman. Wine, Alan Rickman, Chris Pine with long hair…what more could you ask for in a movie?

• HappyThankYouMorePlease (2010)–Captures a generational moment-young people on the cusp of truly growing up, tiring of their reflexive cynicism, each in their own ways struggling to connect and define what it means to love and be loved.  Josh Radnor writes, directs and stars along side of Malin Akerman, Zoe Kazan and Kate Mara. Josh Radnor is just amazing!! I love Ted Mosby!!

• The Amateurs (2005)–Citizens of a small town, under the influence of a man in the midst of a mid-life crisis, come together to make an adult film. Starring Jeff Bridges, Ted Danson, Joe Pantoliano and Lauren Graham. A hilarious film with extremely quirky characters making a porno…just so freaking funny!!

• Trucker (2008)–A trucker, leading a life free of depth and on the way to nowhere, is forced to make a decision about her aggressive loner 11-year-old son whom she openly deserted ten years previously. Starring Michelle Monaghan, Nathan Fillion and Benjamin Bratt. I seriously love Michelle Monaghan in this movie. She plays a good tough woman.

• Wild Target (2010)–A hitman tries to retire but a beautiful thief may change his plans. Starring Bill Nighy, Emily Blunt and Rupert Grint. A great mixture of comedy and action. Watching the characters figure out what is going on is the highlight of the film.

• Ruby Sparks (2012)–A novelist struggling with writer’s block finds romance in a most unusual way: by creating a female character he thinks will love him, then willing her into existence. Zoe Kazan writes and stars along side of Paul Dano, Chris Messina, Annette Bening and Antonio Banderas. So freaking adorable!! I love knowing that these two (Zoe and Paul) are dating in real life and Zoe wrote it for them to play these roles. It’s a great look at how people are in love with the idea of someone and not that actual person.

• Sleepwalking (2008)–The drama follows a 12-year-old girl’s struggle to come to terms with her mother’s abandonment. Starring Charlize Theron, Nick Stahl, Dennis Hopper, and AnnaSophia Robb. This movie is a bit haunting as a young girl tries to figure out what to do when her mother leaves. She develops a real child/parent relationship with her uncle who really wants to do good by her.

• Win Win (2011)–A struggling lawyer and volunteer wrestling coach’s chicanery comes back to haunt him when the teenage grandson on the client he’s double-crossed comes into his life. Written and directed by Thomas McCarthy. Starring Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Jeffrey Tambor, Melanie Lynskey and Alex Shaffer. There is something so real about getting caught up in doing something bad for a selfish reason and learning to be a better person. It’s a remarkable cast!

• Bachelorette (2012)–Three friends are asked to be bridesmaids at a wedding of a woman they used to ridicule back in high school. Starring Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher, Lizzy Caplan, Rebel Wilson, Adam Scott and James Marsden. It’s a great portrayal of realistic girl friendships…girls seem to have this relationship that is competitive yet they are always there for one another. My favorite part of the whole movie though is the relationship between Lizzy Caplan and Adam Scott’s characters…maybe it’s because I loved them in Party Down but yeah. So fucking funny!!

• Dirty Girl (2010)–It’s 1987 and Danielle, the high school ‘dirty girl’, is running away. With her is chubby, gay Clarke, a bag of flour called Joan and a walkman fill of glorious ’80s tunes. Starring Juno Temple, Jeremy Dozier, Milla Jovovich, Mary Steenburgen, William H. Macy and Tim McGraw. I love this movie! I think that Juno Temple is going to be a huge star!!

What are some of your favorite independent movies??