Commando
(1985)
Father & Daughter: Col. John & Jenny Matrix
Truthfully, most of the daddy/daughter stuff is crammed into the opening moments of the movie. However, the whole thing is about our boy Arnie trying to get his little girl back after she's been kidnapped. The things he does to rescue her put Liam Neeson to shame. And he does it all while dropping some of most deliciously cheesy one-liners in cinematic history.-large-picture.jpg)
A Time to Kill
(1996)
Father & Daughter: Carl Lee & Tonya Hailey
Father & Daughter II: Jake & Hannah Brigance
We get another dad standing up for his daughter. This time, in much less spectacular fashion. However, it is far more of an emotional roller coaster. Little Tonya is raped by a couple of drunks. She's 10 years old and black. They're adults and white. This is very key to how the movie plays out. Carl Lee shoots and kills the two guys. He gets white lawyer Jake to try his case, but things don't look too good. Throughout the movie, even though the daughters are really on the sidelines for most of it, Carl Lee's relationship with Tonya inspires Jake both in the courtroom and in his personal life.
Beasts of the Southern Wild
(2012)
Father & Daughter: Wink & Hushpuppy
Admittedly, this is my pick most true to the theme. Wink & Hushpuppy live on a little strip of land off the coast of Louisiana known as The Bathtub. When a major flood washes much of this island away, the two struggle to survive. They go through plenty of ups and down and Hushpuppy has to do some quick growing up. Amazing to think that both our performers, Dwight Henry and itty bitty Quvenzhane Wallis, are first time actors. They were both great. And if Ms. Wallis doesn't melt your heart, you might not have one.
Also check out Brittani's entry into the White Swan, Black Swan Blogathon.
YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES.... all the way on Commando. I would also say yes on the other 2 films.
ReplyDeleteI love Commando. It's too crazy for me not to.
DeleteHaven't seen any of your picks - on the plus side I have new movies to watch. Most excited to watch Beast of the Southern Wild from the list.
ReplyDeleteIt's a wonderful movie that really highlights the father-dynamic. Hope to see your thoughts on it soon.
DeleteThank you for picking A Time To Kill, for me one of the most criminally underrated movies out there, The father-daughter relationships are good but I mostly remember it for the gripping courtroom scenes.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this comment 100%.
DeleteI haven't seen Beasts but those other two choices are terrific. It's been so long since I've seen Commando I forgot the storyline was based on his pursuit of his daughter, a nice off the wall choice. I remember when A Time to Kill came out so much of the focus was on McConaughey's discovery from obscurity that the story of the film was pushed aside but it's a decent film and the pivot is really Jackson's defense of his daughter.
ReplyDeleteDidn't pay much attention to hype surrounding movies back then (still try not to, honestly), but everything I remember hearing about it was about Sandra Bullock who was already a bit of a star. The story never got lost for me as I found it to be powerful. I hope you watch Beasts, ir really is excellent.
DeleteYay Beasts! God, what a beautiful movie. A Time to Kill is a very powerful film, and Commando is fun. Great picks!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Beasts is certainly beautiful. In fact, what you say about all three is spot-on.
DeleteI haven't seen any of these, but ATTK sounds really good. Not something I'd watch on a really good day though, ahha. I'll have to put that on my "movies to watch when I feel like feeling like shit" list.
ReplyDeleteLol. It can be tough. If you're prone to crying over movies, have some tissue handy.
DeleteNever seen Commando, love Beasts of the Southern Wild....but A TIME TO KILL! Yes! That wrecks me, but I would so go all Samuel L. Jackson on those two bastards too! Great pick for the theme.
ReplyDeleteMe too! I could definitely see myself bursting out of that door, guns blazing.
DeleteOH, A Time To Kill, we're all having envy - good thinking that one up! I haven't thought of it in years but of course this relationship is integral to the story, it's the whole story really. Nicely played.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. I've revisited it a number of times over the years so it was one of the first movies I thought of.
DeleteBeasts of the Southern Wild... <3 Utter, utter perfection.
ReplyDeleteAs is that picture of Ah-nuld in his beefcake prime. WOOF!
Beasts is just fantastic. And Arnie...lol.
DeleteOMG! I can't believe I STILL haven't seen A Time to Kill! I really need to see that, I didn't know Sam Jackson is in that film. Great pick w/ Commando too, never thought of that but yeah, Arnie's played some great, bad-ass dads :P
ReplyDeleteIsn't SLJ in every movie? Seriously, though, please check it out.
DeleteYou're too cool for school, brother! Love these picks. I actually haven't seen Commando. But Beasts of the Southern Wild is beautiful! My #2 pick of 2012. I actually brainstormed that one and then forgot about it when I went to to my post.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Beasts really is beautiful. Glad to hear you had it ranked so high. I ranked it in the exact same spot.
DeleteHa ha, great picks! Commando - the bomb. Beasts Of The Southern Wilds was a weird but awesome film, and I'm so glad you picked it!!!
ReplyDeleteCommando is definitely the bomb. Beasts is different, but very much worth it. Thanks!
DeleteHaven't seen your first pick.
ReplyDeleteCan't remember much of A Time to Kill, so long since I've seen it.
Beasts of the Southern Wild was too artsy and weird for me, I was just waiting for it to end.
Awwww...sorry it didn't work for you. I know it's had that effect on a few people. For me, everything about the physical beasts was pure metaphor for the things they were going through and I loved it for that.
DeleteA Time to Kill is a great shout. Really intense film. You don't think of that genre too often.
ReplyDeleteThanks. It is intense right from the start, too.
DeleteWink and Hushpuppy were great. I haven't seen A Time to Kill, but I read the book, and I think it was Grisham's best. So heartbreaking. And having spent time in Mississippi (and having deep roots there) *nothing* I read about racism in that state strikes me as implausible. :-(
ReplyDeleteThat sounds great for Grisham's abilities as a writer and for the movie based on his work, but very sad for Mississippi.
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