Bradley Cooper Movie Recaps
I wasn't kidding when I said I would be watching Bradley Cooper movies for the duration of my Thanksgiving vacation. I have a lot of time on my hands right now and this seems like the best way to waste it, while also making notes about good storytelling and cinematography (and what is not), of course. Here are a few thoughts while watching these Bradley Cooper comedies.
"All About Steve"
This is actually kind of uncomfortable movie to watch, due to Sandra Bullock's super genius character, Mary Horowitz, who says and does some very questionable and awkward things. She is a crossword puzzle maker at a local newspaper. She doesn't have much of a life outside of work and is back at home with her parents. Her parents set her up with the son of their family friend, who is a news photographer. She takes things a little too far at first meeting and he makes up an excuse about work to get her out of the car, and casually mentions that it would be great if she could travel with him. She takes this to heart and thinks he's in love with her. She makes a crossword puzzle all about him, gets fired from her job and spends the entirety of the movie following him around from state to state for breaking news stories. One of the guys in the news crew finds her and tries to talk her into staying and not to listen to Steve when he tells her to go. She makes some friends along the way and turns it into an adventure and what a wacky one it is at that. She falls into a sinkhole at the end of the movie and everyone gathers together for support and works to get her out.
There really isn't much depth to Bradley's character, but they do redeem him from just being the jerk trying to get rid of the girl by making him see how special she is. He feels bad for leading her on and he apologizes. They have a special moment and Sandra Bullock's character is finally okay with being her unique and quirky self. She has her friends and the people who care about her and that's all she needs.
While the comedy was a little silly and out there, it had some great messages. It isn't so much a love story between Steve and Mary, but rather loving yourself just as you are. You don't need a guy, nor do you need to chase him down around the US to be happy. You don't need to impress people or change who you are to fit who they think you should be, you'll find your people just when you need them.
Memorable Quotes:
In life as in crosswords, some days are harder than others, and that’s what keeps your brain alive. To keep surviving those tough days is to pick yourself up, and stay focused on your life’s purpose. For me, that’s imparting the joy of crosswording to all mankind. Ahhh.. crosswording the most spectacular fun a person can have without passing out. -Mary
Words, people, words. There are meaningful words, there are pointless words, and then, there are words that hurt. Mary why can’t you be like every other girl, why do you know all that useless information…why do you wear those stupid, red boots all the time – Mary
Mary, Don’t ever change for anybody. -Steve
New York Times crosswords editor Will Shorts says, “we have a natural compulsion to fill empty spaces.” I like to think he means not just crosswords, but the empty spaces inside of us that come from making your way in a world that doesn’t always embrace unique. I tried to fill my empty spaces with words, and puzzles, and steve. But that wasn’t the answer. Now I know. On the journey of life just find someone as normal as you, if not a whole bunch. -Mary
Moments were laugh out loud funny because of how ridiculous it is and was entertaining for a Sunday afternoon watch. Overall, a 3/5 rating (***/*****).
"Aloha"
I'm a big Emma Stone fan and wanted to see this when it came out, but didn't get around to it. This movie was not exactly what I expected and yet I loved it. It's incredibly slow and the plot felt a bit choppy at points, confusing as to what is actually happening or the point of it all. But, by the end, it comes together.
Bradley's character, Brian Gilcrest, a military contractor and is sent back to Hawaii on an assignment, where he's connected with his old love, Rachel McAdams' Tracy. She's now married to someone in the Air Force (John Krasinski). He spends time with fighter pilot, Allison, played by Emma Stone, who has been assigned to him. While they butt heads at the beginning, they also quickly fall in love. It's also mixed in with him doing the right thing on his mission while back in Hawaii (some of that gets a little confusing) and whose approval of him matters most at the end of the day.
It's the typical story of old love versus new love, but it's not the usual love triangle we're used to. It's about him fully letting someone in and letting your guard down long enough to fall in love, while his old flame also falls in love with her husband again with some other twists and turns along the way, and really even helps Brian find out things about himself. It's about not running away and staying through the rough parts, especially in relationships.
Memorable Quotes:
The future isn't just something that happens. It's a brutal force with a great sense of humor that will steamroll you if you're not watching.
Brian Gilcrest: You know what? I do remember. You said, 'if you don't show up on this vacation, then that's it.' Tracy Woodside: Cause you're a workaholic who creates work to avoid real work. Brian Gilcrest: Well, I'm still working on that but to me, you see, a vacation can't be an ultimatum. How can you relax on an ultimatum vacation? The whole concept is stressful. Tracy Woodside: You just had to show up. I was just looking for a gesture. It didn't have to be bold, just something. I just wanted you to show up. I really loved you.
Tracy Woodside: See, he doesn't speak. Brian Gilcrest: He just said a lot, actually. Tracy Woodside: What did he say? Brian Gilcrest: 'Check out my manliness, dude. I've been working out and I'm a little too handsome to ever see you as a threat, Brian. Good evening' Tracy Woodside: He said that? Brian Gilcrest: He's actually very talkative.
Nobody wants to live where they are. They wanna be in a fantasy. All right?
I'd give this one a ****/*****.
"Burnt"
Similar to "Aloha," this film starts off slow, but the plot is quickly developed in the first few minutes. Bradley's character, Adam Jones, was a chef at one of the top restaurants in Paris, but his drug addiction and anger issues get the best of him and he basically loses everything. Working to get three Michelin stars, he becomes the chef of a hotel restaurant.
He still has a lot of anger issues and screams a lot at the beginning, expecting only the best from the staff...Probably channeling his inner Gordon Ramsey. He is a bit of a lone wolf, not getting close to anyone, but slowly we get to see him gain the trust of the other kitchen staff and he becomes one of them. He even lets Sienna Miller's character, Helene, in and admits that she's on the list of people he's thinking about at 5 a.m. There's romance, lots of food, some action...A bit of a mix.
I was fascinated mostly by the way it was shot - the attention to details/the closeups of food and the ingredients as they put the meals together and I enjoyed the character development in Adam throughout. Not the most interesting plot to keep your attention, but it was a decent movie, and I'm sucker for a storyline based around a restaurant/chef. Plus, there was a bit of a love story with Helene and finding a family/place to belong.
Memorable Quotes:
“There’s strength in needing others, not weakness.”
“You’re better than me. But the rest of us need you to lead us to places we wouldn’t otherwise go.”
Overall, I’d give it a 3/5 (***/*****).
"The Hangover"
"The Hangover" was never really a movie I desired to watch, so I didn't expect to love this movie as much as I did, but here we are. I am also probably one of the last people on the planet to watch it. I love how the storyline starts backwards and works to the beginning as to how their wild night started. It's outrageous and unbelievable, but that's what makes it so entertaining and fun to watch - the perfect escape movie. I actually laughed out loud. Four guys, one wedding and a night in Vegas. What could possibly go wrong? The guys are so hungover that they steal a tiger from Mike Tyson's house, Stu gets married at the little wedding chapel near The Strip...Oh yeah, and they lose their friend who is about to get married. The movie follows their adventures over 48 hours leading up to Doug's wedding.
Each guy is different from the last - Alan is hilarious with so many one-liners throughout about his ridiculous, somewhat mysterious life and clinginess to the other guys. Phil is the more serious family guy, who is also a teacher. And Stu is a bit of a people pleaser with his girlfriend of a few years and he really loves telling people he's a doctor (he's a dentist). Doug is also more on the serious and tends to be the outcast, as he is the friend they've lost before his wedding.
Yes, it's out there, but I think there is even a message to this zany dude movie - friendship and living life...Albeit, a little on the edge, wherever you might be and finding those things (within reason) that make you happy. And sometimes what happens in Vegas, really can stay in Vegas. For the most part.
Memorable Quotes:
Stu: What do tigers dream of, when they take their little tiger snooze. Do they dream of mauling zebra's or Halle Berry in her Catwoman suit? Don't you worry your pretty striped head were gonna get you back to Tyson and your cozy tiger bed and then we're gonna find our best friend Doug. and then we're gonna give him a best friend hug. Doug x9 But if he's been murdered by crystal meth tweakerrrs....well then we're s*&$ outta luck.
Phil: Would you please put some pants on? I feel weird having to ask you twice.
Alan: can I ask you another question?
Lisa: Sure.
Alan: You probably get this a lot. This isn't real Caesars Palace. is it?
Lisa: What do you mean?
Alan: Did ummm, did Caesar live here?
Lisa: Ummm, no.
Alan: I didn't think so.
Alan: Hey, guys, when's the next Halley's Comet?
Stu: I dunno. Not for like, another 80 years.
Alan: But it's not tonight, is it?
Stu: NO.
Alan: You know what? Next week's no good...The Jonas Brothers are in town. But, any week after that is totally fine.
Overall, a 4/5 (****/*****)
"Yes Man"
My friend Brittany has been telling me about this movie since I told her about my Bradley Cooper project, so I thought it was the perfect film to watch on Thanksgiving. While Bradley isn't a "lead" necessarily, he still plays a pivotal role. And it really is a feel good movie. Jim Carrey's character has no problem telling his friends "no." Finally, his friends get onto him for constantly saying 'no' and he misses a really important night for his best friend (Bradley Cooper). The next day, he runs into an old coworker who had attended a seminar about saying 'yes' and it completely changed his life. Carl attends and that night says yes to giving a homeless guy a ride and letting him use his phone. From there, he continues to say yes. He takes flying lessons, he goes out more, he tries new things and he meets a girl (Zooey Deschanel). His life is great. Until saying 'yes' gets him into trouble and it doesn't feel authentic to say. While saying yes has pushed him to a more exciting life, it isn't always practical and makes him reexamine what exactly he's saying yes to. Great lesson for all of us. Sometimes that one yes can lead to the next great thing, but we can't be people pleasers either. There are a lot of spiritual/faith based lessons in there as well. This movie is about living.
Memorable Quotes:
"Allison: The world's a playground. You know that when you are a kid, but somewhere along the way everyone forgets it."
"Terrence Bundley: You can't audit life, my friend."
Friend: So what, you’re going to say “yes” to everything? Carl Allen: Exactly. I wasn’t open to stuff and now I am. Things are changing for me.
Overall rating 4/5 (****/*****)
"The Hangover: Part II"
"I'm sorry, but I am so confused," Alan says. This pretty much describes my entire feeling about this entire movie. If I wasn't so committed, I would not have watched. "The Hangover" is not the franchise type movie. It should've been a standalone.
Stu is getting married in Thailand and Phil is incredibly unhappy about this, which he lets Stu know before they go. Stu's soon-to-be brother-in-law comes along and Alan isn't happy about that, because he isn't part of the "wolf pack." And then they get drunk again, black out, wake up in some strange room in the city and they don't remember what happened (AGAIN). Teddy is missing and is also missing a finger, which they find in a bowl of water. Mr. Chow is also there and starts to tell them what happened the night before, then he dies, but then he later becomes undead and helps them figure out where Teddy is later on.
A bunch of random, unimportant stuff happens as they try to retrace their steps from the night before. Phil gets shot and that's when the truth comes out. And with only 40 minutes left of the movie that's when the real meat of the story unfolds.
"This wasn't part of the plan -- I've said too much already," Alan tells the guys and admits that he drugged Teddy, because then they could actually have some fun that weekend. Phil blows up at him and says they aren't friends anymore.
There's some drug money/bad guys/and a monkey involved. Car chase, trying to get away from the bad guys (who steal the monkey back)... Alan is more concerned about his hats and the monkey than anything else, which again pisses Phil off. They follow Mr. Chow, thinking they've found Teddy, but Mr. Chow gets arrested, and it was all a setup. And then finally, they have to face the music... Until it all clicks for Stu, they go back to the hotel they'd ended up in and there is Teddy in the elevator. And they make it to the wedding just in time (of course). And they lived happily ever after....You know, until the next occasion.
The highlight/funniest part of the movie was Stu's song that he makes up as they float on the river. Otherwise, it's a big waste of time. There weren't even as many zingers or laugh out loud moments. It was a little more serious than last time and just not as funny. Beautiful backdrop, though. Alan basically saves this movie.
Memorable Quotes:
"You're not my friend?"
"Even in America?"
"YES."
A little later on...
"I already told you it was the heat of the moment - We're friends all of the world.
"Even Great Britain?"
"I got shot."
"But did you die?"
"I wish monkeys could Skype...Maybe one day."
"Hey, Phil, you should shave your head too."
"Why would I do that?"
"Because then we could look exactly alike."
Overall rating, 2/5 (**/*****)
I still have a few more to watch as you can see, but I made quite a bit of progress. I'd say it was a productive break all in all.
That's all for now,
Shelby