Thursday Triple Features

Welcome to a new weekly feature here at Movies With Abe, Thursday Triple Features. Throughout college, I would often head to the movies for three films in a row on a Friday or Sunday, and I’m excited to recall some of my most memorable experiences. I don’t necessarily advocate that you try this at home, but I’ll explore that as well.

My fifth triple feature extravaganza, like the fourth, kept me in one place for the day, at AMC’s 34th St theatre at 8th Avenue on Halloween day. I was catching up on two films from earlier that month, and seeing Clint Eastwood’s buzz-worthy new film as well. This was the first instance in which all of the films clocked in at over two hours, making this one jam-packed, movie-filled day.

October 31, 2008

Movie #1: Body of Lies
Time of Day: 10:50am
Runtime: 128 minutes
I was pleasantly surprised after the disappointment of Ridley Scott’s previous film, “American Gangster,” to find this action thriller extremely exciting and enthralling. Scott’s third consecutive collaboration with Russell Crowe brought in Leonardo DiCaprio for an adventurous, treacherous trip to the Middle East, where Mark Strong shone in a superb supporting role. I can’t say that I remember much about it now, but it was a blast to see in theatres.

Movie #2: W
Time of Day: 1:15pm
Runtime: 129 minutes
Parodying a sitting president is an awkward thing to do, and this film didn’t know what to do with that, creating a surprisingly uninteresting and comment-free dramatization of George W. Bush’s life. Josh Brolin sure managed to look puzzled as the perpetually perplexed president, and audiences, including myself, weren’t wowed by Oliver Stone’s less than enchanting perspective.

Movie #3: Changeling
Time of Day: 3:30pm
Runtime: 141 minutes
This period tragedy was exquisitely filmed and presented, starring Angelina Jolie in an Oscar-nominated performance as a grieving mother convinced that the child returned to her following his disappearance was not the same one she lost. This is one Clint Eastwood film that isn’t overlong or self-indulgent, and instead is captivating and thoroughly interesting, and particularly well-decorated.

The review: The first was better than expected, the second disappointing, and the third was terrific.
The grades: B, C, A-
A good lineup? Totally. The first film was energizing, the second not so terrible, and the third an absolutely stellar way to end the day. This diverse selection of films with big-name stars was an eclectic and varied assortment worthy of being unconventionally grouped together.

Coming next week: my most thrilling quadruple feature ever!