Topic: Mini-Marathon: Happy Birthday Hilary Swank!

[addicted2dvd]

Mini-Marathon

Happy Birthday Hilary Swank!

While I wouldn't say I am a big fan... I have liked her in everything I have seen her in to date. So when I saw that today is her 37th birthday I thought I would watch a good 2 to 4 of her movies.

I don't have that big of a collection of her movies. Though I do have a couple that I haven't had the chance to see yet. I really don't know much about her movies... so if there is any must-haves that I am sorely missing from my collection... I would appreciate the suggestions.

My Hilary Swank Collection:
Note: Titles in Bold are movies I have never seen.
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- The Core
- Freedom Writers
- The Gift
- Insomnia
- Million Dollar Baby
- The Next Karate Kid
- The Reaping

If there is something in the list that you would either recommend me seeing or are curious about and would like to see a review... please let me know. I am limited on time. But will try to get to it. Just no promises... OK?

[Tom]

so if there is any must-haves that I am sorely missing from my collection... I would appreciate the suggestions.

I recommend checking out "11:14".

From your list, I would like to see a review of "Freedom Writers".

[Eric]

Freedom Writers is a good movie and although I haven't researched it I would guess that it's historically more accurate than many other Hollywood so called true stories

[addicted2dvd]

Thanks... I will add 11:14 to my wishlist. I didn't realize Freedom Writers was a true story. I will have to check it out. But think I will watch The Gift first.

[RossRoy]

I really liked 11:14, so I'll second that choice.

[Najemikon]

You might be aware she recently starred in The Resident. You may like it because you enjoy thrillers and she's a big part of it. However I must warn you it is so predictable and old fashioned, there is no point to the film overall. Not remotely exciting! So if you stick it on your wishlist, put it low down...

[addicted2dvd]

Thanks Jon!

[addicted2dvd]

I just looked at Netflix Streaming Video... They have The Resident on there streaming... so I could watch that one!

Other choices I could watch...

- Birds of America
- The Black Dahlia
- Boys Don't Cry
- Quiet Days in Hollywood

[addicted2dvd]

The Gift (2000/United States) Paramount Home Video Director: Sam Raimi Writing: Billy Bob Thornton (Writer), Tom Epperson (Writer) Length: 112 min. Rating: R Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, English: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, French: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround Subtitles: English

Stars:
Cate Blanchett as Annie Wilson
Giovanni Ribisi as Buddy Cole
Keanu Reeves as Donnie Barksdale
Katie Holmes as Jessica King
Greg Kinnear as Wayne Collins
Hilary Swank as Valerie Barksdale

Plot:
Oscar®-winner* and Golden Globe Winner** Cate Blanchett leads an incredible all-star cast including Academy Award®-winner*** Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Baby), Keanu Reeves (The Matrix), Katie Holmes (Batman Begins), Giovanni Ribisi (Lost in Translation), and Oscar®-nominee**** Greg Kinnear (As Good As It Gets) in this stylishly filmed mystery that's as eerie as a backwoods swamp with a dark secret beneath its even darker surface.

Widow and mother of three, Annie Wilson (Blanchett), makes her living by foretelling others futures...though her own has become cloudier than even she can see. Threatened by client's violently jealous husband (Reeves) and plagues by visions of a missing town-girl (Holmes), Annie is unwittingly pulled into a thicket of lies and deception in which her extraordinary gift could be used against her...and get her killed.

* Best Supporting Actress, The Aviator (2004)
** Best Actress, Elizabeth (1998)
*** Best Actress, Boys Don't Cry (1999)
**** Best Supporting Actor, As Good As It Gets (1997)

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Feature Trailers
• Featurettes
• Music Videos
• Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:

This is the first time I ever seen this movie. It is one of the many that was given to me in a box of DVDs. And I am really thankful... because I enjoyed this one quite a bit. A good thriller with a slight supernatural twist. This one has a nice selection of big name stars. Definitely worth checking out if you haven't done so yet.

My Rating:
Out of a Possible 5

[Eric]

Granted that I never disliked a movie with Cate Blanchett, I did enjoy The Gift for the movie that it is and not only because of the good actors and actresses in it. 

Having seen this movie also brings another element of interest to "Heaven" where Blanchett & Ribisi meet again but with a completely different relation between their respective characters.

[addicted2dvd]

Thanks to real life getting in the way today... don't look like I will be able to watch any more movies. So looks like I only got to watch the one this time. sorry everyone.