Good films SB is not in much

▪️The Vanishing
▪️Infamous
▪️Bullet Train

#chopsfives #sbwatch

Honourable mentions:

▪️Our Brand Is Crisis
▪️While You Were Sleeping
▪️Two If By Sea
▪️The Thing Called Love

#chopsfives #SBwatch

And that’s the lot. At least, until Pratical Magic 2 comes out later this year. I started this back in December 2019 so it’s taken me longer than expected to get to the end.

There will be a top five soon #SBwatch #chopsfives

Bullet Train (2022) - SB not on screen a great deal. She’s an assassin’s handler so basically voice over until a 60 second cameo at the end of the movie. Film is quite fun, bit of a sub-Tarantino affair, like Kill Bill on a train #SBwatch

The Lost City (2022) - A ropey start but had its moments once it got going. Brad Pitt & Channing Tatum don’t take themselves too seriously. Sandra doesn’t really get out of 2nd gear. I was glad I hadn’t paid to see it in the cinema #SBwatch

I salute your ongoing commitment to the #SBwatch. How many do we have left?!?

The Unforgivable (2021) - Another attempt for SB to play a more gritty role. Plot is quite busy but holds together. I’ve not seen the TV series it’s based on but I think SB does a good job though it’s not a film that has left a lasting impression #SBwatch

Bird Box (2018) - Quite enjoyed this psychological thriller. A similar vibe to A Quiet Place which came out the same year. SB clearly keen to pick less obvious roles now.

I’m on a run of films I watched a while back now (decided to pick a few off when they came out rather stat sequential) #SBwatch

Ocean's Eight (2018) - Heist movie sequel. A cool cast and a fun plot that you can just sit back and enjoy. This is pretty formulaic stuff but SB knows how to get the most out of it #SBwatch

Our Brand Is Crisis (2015) - Comedy-drama based on 2002 Bolivian election. SB is really outstanding as political strategist “Calamity” Jane Bodine who finds herself assisting a candidate who apparently has no chance of winning. Billy Bob Thornton is good fun as her opposite number #SBwatch 7.5

Minions (2015) - Lightweight fun animation with SB playing the super villain the Minions attach themselves too. It’s ok #SBwatch

The Prime Ministers: The Pioneers (2013) - Documentary about Israeli prime ministers and a pretty terrible watch. It lacks any real documentary skill. A dry monologue, spliced with historic news footage and certain speeches voiced by well known actors. SB provides the voice of Golda Meir #SBwatch

Gravity (2013) - In many ways this was the film that got me started on this quest. I’m still annoyed I didn’t go see it in the cinema but some 12 years later I really enjoyed it. There’s very little let up in the action yet it feels quite minimal in many ways #SBwatch

The Heat (2013) - SB & Melissa McCarthy play to type in a Paul Feig film that is very much what you’d expect but does it very well. It made me laugh a lot and felt like one of SBs better comedies #SBwatch

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011) - SB only has a small part in this story of an autistic boy & the aftermath of 9/11. It has its moments but as depiction of autism it feels heavy handed and smacks a bit of Oscar bait. Max von Sydow puts in the best performance in a star studded cast #SBwatch

The Blind Side (2009) - What should be a film about Michael Oher’s journey from tough childhood to NFL starter, instead focuses more on the white family who took him in. It’s a great story but problematic in the telling. A good performance from SB which won her the best Actress Oscar #SBwatch

All About Steve (2009) - Another romcom hot on the heals of The Proposal but with Bradley Cooper instead of Ryan Reynolds. It has terrible reviews which feel a little harsh though this is not her best #SBwatch

I saw 4 “new” films; Fallen Leaves, Lush: A Far From Home Movie (at The Social in London which was the closest I got to a cinema), Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire and Carry On (which was a Christmas thriller watch, and disappointingly not a reboot of the classic British comedy series). I also watched 4 Sandra Bullock movies in my ongoing quest to see all her films. The Proposal was the best of a fairly mediocre batch. Photo: montage of shots from the four new films I saw & the movie poster for The Proposal.

Chops Top5: Films watched in 2024

Actually, for me it’s not a top 5 as I only saw 20 films this year and most of those weren’t new.

Details in the ALT text.

#chopsfives #films2024 #fallenleaves #lushband #ghostbusters #carryonnetflix #sandrabullock #sbwatch

Movie poster for The Proposal.

The Proposal (2009) - Fairly straightforward romcom but an enjoyable watch with SB forming a nice partnership with Ryan Reynolds and some good supplementry cast performances especially Betty White #SBwatch

Movie poster for Premonition

Premonition (2007) - Pretty dreadful psychological thriller that tries to do something similar to Sixth Sense but falls a long way short. SB is still pretty decent though she doesn’t have a lot to work with #SBwatch

Movie poster for Infamous

Infamous (2006) - A stellar cast though not an entirely satisfying film. It puts an interesting spin on the story of Truman Capote writing In Cold Blood but feels a little disjointed. Toby Jones is extravagant as Capote. Sandra adds a bit of balance in as a more grounded Harper Lee #SBwatch

This is as far as I’ve got. A few tricky films to find in the next batch but I’m going try and get cracking again #SBwatch

The Lake House movie poster

The Lake House (2006) - A clunky use of time travel to make what is otherwise a straight Romance film slightly more intriguing. Ultimately it’s the chemistry between SB & KR that saves the film from being a complete dud (but only just) #SBwatch

Miss Congeniality 2 movie poster

Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous (2005) - This is back on more familiar SB ground. IMDb reviews suggested it might be a dud but I really enjoyed this one. Pretty easy Saturday night viewing & just what I needed #SBwatch

Loverboy movie poster

Loverboy (2005) - This was dreadful. Kevin Bacon directs his wife Kyra Sedgwick in a maudlin effort that feels like one of those dodgy TV movies Channel 5 shows in the afternoon. SB only in a brief cameo which made me wasting 90 minutes watching this all the worse #SBwatch

Crash movie poster

Crash (2004) - Not sure how this won the best picture Oscar. It feels like it’s trying a bit too hard & spreads the plot too thin over multiple strands. There are some good performances but SB’s role isn’t huge & doesn’t add much to the story. Disappointing #SBwatch

Two Weeks Notice movie poster

Two Weeks Notice (2002) - SB plays a typical SB role, Hugh Grant does likewise. Both are likeable but the script gives them very little to work with #SBwatch

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood movie poster

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002) - A poor film despite a great cast. The directorial debut of Khouri, best known as writer of Thelma & Louise. There might be a half decent story about mental health but it’s hidden by a confusing timeline & terrible editing #SBwatch

Murder by Numbers movie poster

Murder by Numbers (2002) - SB plays against character as a cop who’s difficult to get on with. There’s a Hitchcock influence on some of the visuals, especially the end. Slightly mixed bag but overall it’s a decent watch #SBwatch

Miss Congeniality movie poster

Miss Congeniality (2000) - Somehow I’ve not seen the whole film before despite definitely watching bits of it many times. Gracie is a role made for SB. A bit cheesy but it made me chuckle. Great supporting turns from Caine, Shatner & Heather Burns as Miss Rhode Island #SBwatch