Midnight Runners

190.5/43.5 - Had another physical therapy appt so bolted early to get home, changed and to the hospital. Was a little late but didn't bother Christina none. She's been a great therapist and I'll be sad when my visits end. However, I will be happy when I'm back to 100 percent. I'm still not there yet and have one more PT session to go. It's been a long process healing. I'll say it again; don't ever fracture your ankle.

After my PT session I headed up to AMC Showplace 12, my usual local cinema, for a movie. Midnight Runners, a new Korean film, was screening so I figured I'd take that in even though my moviepass subscription still hasn't updated to unlimited. So I paid the full admission price. Ah well. The movie is fine. It tries hard to be a comedy of two misfits trying to make their way into the police university. After they make it in is when the film starts to get more dire with a few humor beats thrown in to remind us of the comedy and keep it light.

The two leads are good but the action vs brains of the buddy cop team up never materializes. It’s just two recruits that are basically the same with the same interests and whatnot. Movie plays up the humor of this however and sometimes it works despite getting deadly serious when the crime ring unfolds. I don’t want to label as comedy but it tries so hard for half the film to be one then changes tone.

That these two guys have to break up the ring themselves is a odd thing to highlight the problems with process in the police force. I give it a half star bump for the post-credits stinger which affected me more than anything else in the film. Kinda amazing to note that my local cinema currently has three Korean films screening at the moment; Midnight Runners, A Taxi Driver, and The Battleship Island. I wish it was like this all year!

Noir City Chicago - Day 6

190.5/43.5 - Tonight was a Walter Matthau double feature of Charley Varrick and The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974). I had already seen Varrick but have been wanting to see it on the big screen bc it's such a wonderful flick. Has a terrific performance by Joe Don Baker. Taking of Pelham is one that's long been on my watch list and I've been holding off viewing for just such an occasion. Gotta say this was a great way to see it for the first time; the theater was packed and was really into the movie. Didn't realize how funny it would be.

Noir City Chicago - Day 5

191.5/43.5 - Headed back to Noir City Chicago at the Music Box tonight. Double feature is The Brink's Job and Six Bridges to Cross. Both I haven't seen!

193.0/43.5 - Laputa: Castle in the Sky. As far as movie things go, very few things are better than seeing your favorite Miyazaki film on a giant screen.

So happy that Studio Ghibli films are getting a limited run in theaters this year. I skipped both My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service having seen both somewhat recently (probably should've gone anyways). But no way I was missing Laputa. This is a perfect film. Has all the touchpoints and hallmarks of a great Miyazaki story: adventure, fantasy, science fiction, and heart. If this movie was screening every week I'd probably go see it.

Noir City Chicago - Day 3

192.5/43.5 - Four films on the schedule for today at Noir City Chicago 2017. Feel lousy from staying out too late and drinking too many crazy drinks at HO's birthday bash. Was a fun time from what I remember. Need some good noir films in a dark theater today to make me feel better.

Noir City Chicago 2017

192/43.5 - Noir City Chicago 2017 kicked off and today's my first day to attend. Hitting 3 films then a birthday party this evening. My last post about Noir City was 5 years ago. Can't believe this is the 9th Noir City Chicago. Glad to return after skipping last year.

Otto Preminger

195/43.5 - Picked up a couple of Otto Preminger flicks at the library that caught my eye. Figured I'd slide these in before Noir City Chicago 2017 kicks off. Seemed appropriate.