You Belong To Me (1941) Barbara Stanwyke and Henry Fonda in a dreadful rom/com that isn't romantic or funny. Fonda is a drip and is worse than I have ever seen him. Babs is always interesting, but she is defeated here by an incoherent script. 5/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034407/usercomments
I See A Dark Stranger (1946) In the USA this film was released with the title "The Adventuress" and is a droll, tongue in cheek telegraphing on what the film is about that you will see. An Irish girl, Bridey (Deborah Kerr) has been brought up to hate all things English. It's the "troubles" again. Maybe it is my just not "getting it" but I was not amused by Bridey's obstinacy. Trevor Howard is the British Officer who falls for her (why I can't tell from this story) and the supporting cast is most of the reason to stick til "the end." 7/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038289/
The Hucksters (1947) Ava Gardner day and she was at her peak in beauty, and her scenes with Clark Gable sizzle. They were a good team. Story of a big advertising agency and what it took to get clients to sign up for big bucks. Things are still about the same, except it is television instead of radio and billboards the ad agency's are fighting over. Adolph Menjou is the agency's top man; and the great Sidney Greenstreet is priceless as an absolutely disgusting client. Clark is just back from WWII, trying to get back in the game by signing rich, proper war widow Deborah Kerr up as a spokesperson for the product. MGM's great production values and 'look' are in evidence in this black and white film. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039477/
Summertime (1955) Kate Hepburn in the classic romance of a school teachers holiday in Venice. She meets shopkeeper Rosano Brazzi and has an affair. That's it. But with Venice never so beautifully filmed, a great romantic score, this story has made more people plan to visit a city than almost any other. A wonderful summertime film about summertime. 10/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048673/
Stage Struck (1958) A fine remake of the Kate Hepburn film, "Morning Glory." This time Susan Strasburg is Eva Lovelace, and Henry Fonda the producer/cad. Wonderful Herbert Marshall plays her first "friend in the theater," and Christopher Plummer is the playwright who loves her. Filmed in NYC in the theater district, the film has some of the excitement and grittiness of the stage life. It ain't all roses and applause. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052235/
American Gangster (2007) Disc 2 Extras Last week I wrote about the film itself, but the extras are just as interesting and you get to meet the real people - the cop and the gangster. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0765429/
The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) My type of film! Lots of beautiful scenery; great costumes; lovely score; and very interesting story of Mary Boleyn and what happened to her as part of Henry VIIIs court. A sub-theme is the treatment of women as chattel of their male relatives - fathers, brothers, uncles, cousins, all using the youngest and prettiest of their girls to rise as far up the ladder at court as they could. That, in this case, is the ruin of them all. Mary and the young man who she eventually marries, retired to the country as small landowners and lived a fairly long life, quietly away from court and greed.
In the deleted and extra scenes, there is a telling one with Kirsten Scott-Thomas, who says to her husband after Jane and her brother are beheaded, "this is what your ambition has brought us." She had tried all through their rise at court to keep the daughters from harm, but had no power and was brushed aside. Fine film, and for me, I wanted more as the cast list rolled. 9/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0467200/
Soon the fall films will be starting at the theaters. I have my list of films for September to watch on DVD and video. So until next week -----
August 25, 2008
August 18, 2008
Some oldies and goodies-----
---and some newby goodies too. This week I watched:
His Butlers Sister (1943) Deanna Durban is charming as the young step-sister of Pat OBrien, butler to rich theater impresario, Franchot Tone. When she comes to the big city to stay with him she ends up becoming a maid instead of auditioning as she had hoped. All works out as usual for Deanna, and she ends the film singing a magnificent version of Nessun Dorma. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036001/
His Kind Of Woman (1951) Jane Russell and Big Bob Mitchum have fun turning up the heat at a resort in Baja, Ca. Big Raymond Burr is the villian. Having a ball playing an egotistical ham actor is Vincent Price and he steals every scene he is in. Lots of fun from the Golden Era. 9/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043643/
The Fugitive & Extras (1993) 2003 copy. This was and is a favorite film of the 1990's. This transfer is superb. Richard Kimble's (Harrison Ford) flight from the overturned bus, as the train barrels off the tracks down the hill right towards him is still one of the most heart pounding images in film. And in the extras the director and producer talk about the 7 cameras used, and the real train engine used, in a one time only shot. Ford did his own stunt jumping at the last minute and they got a 'classic' of the live and real, baby! Tommy Lee Jones is great in his role of the relentless U. S. Marshall after Kimble. Never tire of this film. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106977/
Apollo 13 (1995) One of the most enjoyable films of astronauts in space. Wonderful cast headed by Tom Hanks. Gary Sinise great as always. How the whole NASA staff worked to get the crew back after the explosion onboard is still interesting and amazing that it all worked out. 9/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112384/
The Notebook (2004) Could not stand it so turned it off. I didn't like any of the characters as their young selves so it was a complete turn off. So I did. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332280/
The Last King Of Scotland (2006) Forrest Whitaker deserved his Oscar. He is riveting as the mad Idi Amin. I was dissapointed in James McAvoy. He seemed way too young to be this character. I just didn't believe it. But the story of what happened to Uganda after Amin took over was very interesting and horrifying. Don't think I'll ever watch it again, but it was well done. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455590/
American Gangster (2007) Denzel Washington is such a presence that I even liked his bloody gangster. Very good telling of the story of the rise of the man who made the drug traffic in NYC become a billion dollar business. Russell Crowe equally good as the relentless honest cop who takes him down. (9/10) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0765429/
The Heartland is having lovely weather for August. So I'm outdoors more, doing some cleanup and trimming. Very pleasant. Our local paper just had their fall preview of upcoming movies and there are some interesting ones coming out. If they make it to the Heartland. One I want to see, of course, is Gerard Butler in RockNRolla. But it may be in limited release according to the latest news. Which makes me a little blue. Love to see this Scotsman up on that big screen. He's the real deal. JMHO.
His Butlers Sister (1943) Deanna Durban is charming as the young step-sister of Pat OBrien, butler to rich theater impresario, Franchot Tone. When she comes to the big city to stay with him she ends up becoming a maid instead of auditioning as she had hoped. All works out as usual for Deanna, and she ends the film singing a magnificent version of Nessun Dorma. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036001/
His Kind Of Woman (1951) Jane Russell and Big Bob Mitchum have fun turning up the heat at a resort in Baja, Ca. Big Raymond Burr is the villian. Having a ball playing an egotistical ham actor is Vincent Price and he steals every scene he is in. Lots of fun from the Golden Era. 9/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043643/
The Fugitive & Extras (1993) 2003 copy. This was and is a favorite film of the 1990's. This transfer is superb. Richard Kimble's (Harrison Ford) flight from the overturned bus, as the train barrels off the tracks down the hill right towards him is still one of the most heart pounding images in film. And in the extras the director and producer talk about the 7 cameras used, and the real train engine used, in a one time only shot. Ford did his own stunt jumping at the last minute and they got a 'classic' of the live and real, baby! Tommy Lee Jones is great in his role of the relentless U. S. Marshall after Kimble. Never tire of this film. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106977/
Apollo 13 (1995) One of the most enjoyable films of astronauts in space. Wonderful cast headed by Tom Hanks. Gary Sinise great as always. How the whole NASA staff worked to get the crew back after the explosion onboard is still interesting and amazing that it all worked out. 9/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112384/
The Notebook (2004) Could not stand it so turned it off. I didn't like any of the characters as their young selves so it was a complete turn off. So I did. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332280/
The Last King Of Scotland (2006) Forrest Whitaker deserved his Oscar. He is riveting as the mad Idi Amin. I was dissapointed in James McAvoy. He seemed way too young to be this character. I just didn't believe it. But the story of what happened to Uganda after Amin took over was very interesting and horrifying. Don't think I'll ever watch it again, but it was well done. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455590/
American Gangster (2007) Denzel Washington is such a presence that I even liked his bloody gangster. Very good telling of the story of the rise of the man who made the drug traffic in NYC become a billion dollar business. Russell Crowe equally good as the relentless honest cop who takes him down. (9/10) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0765429/
The Heartland is having lovely weather for August. So I'm outdoors more, doing some cleanup and trimming. Very pleasant. Our local paper just had their fall preview of upcoming movies and there are some interesting ones coming out. If they make it to the Heartland. One I want to see, of course, is Gerard Butler in RockNRolla. But it may be in limited release according to the latest news. Which makes me a little blue. Love to see this Scotsman up on that big screen. He's the real deal. JMHO.
August 11, 2008
Fast Food
Very interesting dreamlike story of a guy who is returning to his boyhood pals after being away for years. He finds they are still the same drinking, drug taking misfits that he left and he can't fit in anymore. As Benny walks in to the dump his friends still live in, one is bouncing on a huge ball in his bvd's. They are having a brilliant conversation about what character they get in something they are betting on, I think. When Benny picks Princess Diana, they get into a hilarious discussion and argument about the Royal family. I was laughing out loud.
This is funny/sad/violent and better than I thought it would be. The first conversation when the 4 friends compose a song "Benny's Back" to welcome him is very funny. Brilliant song. (I'm kidding!)
Benny's back
Been a long time
but Benny's back.
Night after night we waited;
now Benny's back.
We ate a lot
we drunk some beer;
Benny's back;
Played some records and cards.
Benny's back, Benny's back, Benny's back.
It's funnier because they are so serious.
Gerry Butler as Jacko, shoots the pizza man and matter-of-factly orders another. He is mean and menacing throughout and very much the character.The recurring deal with the pizza delivery is Jacko just using excuses (pineapple!) to get out of paying, IMO. After all, they all dig in and eat the 1st one. Jacko has no trouble hurting people, as the trip through the tunnel shows, as he bashes the guy with his own guitar. So when they order another pizza later in the film - and Jacko sees *fish* he screams "We don't eat fish" and they all go nuts. And Jacko shoots the deliveryman. And orders another pizza. This is what I mean about this film being surreal.
There are no people reporting gunshots. No cops. Nothing happens to these dudes. These dumb and dumber guys decide to get out of their circumstances by robbing the neighborhood candy store which is really a drug money operation.
Their trip to buy guns is very funny. They have a party where Benny is given too much to drink and some drugs and goes into a trance like state. The cover for the gun dealer is his 'Sushi Bar' where the guys are served blue drinks with little umbrellas. In trying out the guns it is obvious they will screw up - they don't know how to use them. Then they all go back and read Gun Magazines. Funny scene.
Benny is so upset with his friends he goes up on the roof and cries. He sees only one outcome and it's bad. Time has passed them by and their dreams are gone. From here on, even more than from the beginning setup shots, I wondered if we are to see this as real or a nightmare. Guns blaze, people are killed, but we see no cops, no other humans in the buildings or on the streets, no traffic, deserted subways; just the main characters and those they deal with. All the segments with the girl Letitia are soft focus, through a haze and too much light. Real or surreal?
When Benny and Letitia are rundown by the car - but in the next frame are up again - real or dream/nightmare? Some funny lines have worked their way into usage "I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you." And "First rule of robbery? Pillage before you burn."
A small film that makes you think - or just turn it off. Take your pick. I liked it a lot. 8/10
As a prelude to seeing Gerard Butler in his latest gangster film, Guy Ritchie's RockNRolla, this is a pretty good effort. I looked up all the cast at IMDb and of the main characters, Gerry has made it the farthest. The female lead has worked steadily but mostly in TV. The actor playing Benny has done lots of stage plays. A few of the others have had lots of TV, Indy film and stage work. But all have worked only in England. Gerry just has, and had, something. It will be fun to see how he has progressed as a comic gangster from Fast Food to RockNRolla.
This is funny/sad/violent and better than I thought it would be. The first conversation when the 4 friends compose a song "Benny's Back" to welcome him is very funny. Brilliant song. (I'm kidding!)
Benny's back
Been a long time
but Benny's back.
Night after night we waited;
now Benny's back.
We ate a lot
we drunk some beer;
Benny's back;
Played some records and cards.
Benny's back, Benny's back, Benny's back.
It's funnier because they are so serious.
Gerry Butler as Jacko, shoots the pizza man and matter-of-factly orders another. He is mean and menacing throughout and very much the character.The recurring deal with the pizza delivery is Jacko just using excuses (pineapple!) to get out of paying, IMO. After all, they all dig in and eat the 1st one. Jacko has no trouble hurting people, as the trip through the tunnel shows, as he bashes the guy with his own guitar. So when they order another pizza later in the film - and Jacko sees *fish* he screams "We don't eat fish" and they all go nuts. And Jacko shoots the deliveryman. And orders another pizza. This is what I mean about this film being surreal.
There are no people reporting gunshots. No cops. Nothing happens to these dudes. These dumb and dumber guys decide to get out of their circumstances by robbing the neighborhood candy store which is really a drug money operation.
Their trip to buy guns is very funny. They have a party where Benny is given too much to drink and some drugs and goes into a trance like state. The cover for the gun dealer is his 'Sushi Bar' where the guys are served blue drinks with little umbrellas. In trying out the guns it is obvious they will screw up - they don't know how to use them. Then they all go back and read Gun Magazines. Funny scene.
Benny is so upset with his friends he goes up on the roof and cries. He sees only one outcome and it's bad. Time has passed them by and their dreams are gone. From here on, even more than from the beginning setup shots, I wondered if we are to see this as real or a nightmare. Guns blaze, people are killed, but we see no cops, no other humans in the buildings or on the streets, no traffic, deserted subways; just the main characters and those they deal with. All the segments with the girl Letitia are soft focus, through a haze and too much light. Real or surreal?
When Benny and Letitia are rundown by the car - but in the next frame are up again - real or dream/nightmare? Some funny lines have worked their way into usage "I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you." And "First rule of robbery? Pillage before you burn."
A small film that makes you think - or just turn it off. Take your pick. I liked it a lot. 8/10
As a prelude to seeing Gerard Butler in his latest gangster film, Guy Ritchie's RockNRolla, this is a pretty good effort. I looked up all the cast at IMDb and of the main characters, Gerry has made it the farthest. The female lead has worked steadily but mostly in TV. The actor playing Benny has done lots of stage plays. A few of the others have had lots of TV, Indy film and stage work. But all have worked only in England. Gerry just has, and had, something. It will be fun to see how he has progressed as a comic gangster from Fast Food to RockNRolla.
Greta Garbo day at TCM plus moderating temps-----
--- meant I spent more time outdoors enjoying the scenery and going out and about. I watched Garbo films and other 'classics', plus a couple of recent films this week.
Dinner At Eight (1933) Repeat viewing. Comments on April 7th Blog. 10/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023948/
Queen Christina (1933) I have watched parts of this Garbo film before, but never the whole thing. She is good, but the supporting cast is, in some cases, hammy. The final scene with her hair blowing in the wind at the bow of the ship, is worth seeing if nothing else. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024481/
Anna Karenina (1935) Garbo as another doomed heroine. She is the wife of a top bureaucrat in Russia but is bored and unhappy. She has a flirtation with Count Vronsky (Fredric March) that turns into a full blown affair, and she gives up everything - home, child, position - in order to run away with him. Turns out, as always, Vronsky wants his cake and eat it too. He convinces her to return from Venice and he goes on with his regiment life with the officers, who take him back in with joy. And he decides to go off to the little war in the Balkans. When he tells Anna, he is impatient with her objections. Anna, however, is shunned; her husband will not let her see her son; he will not give her a divorce; only her family receives her at their home. What is she to do? Walk down the tracks into a train. Garbo is good as poor, stupid Anna. March is not charismatic enough for Vronsky. But women do crazy things for men of all types so guess he is believable enough. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026071/
Camille (1936) Garbo's finest performance for my money. She is luminous, playful, soulful and doomed, as the courtesan, Marguerite. And despite the tomatos thrown at Robert Taylor, he is perfect as the young, rich, spoiled Armand, who persues her until they both are undone. Great production values as only MGM, at the top of it's reign in Hollywood, could deliver. The supporting cast of veteran character actors is superb. The party scenes at Marguerites alone are worth more than some whole movies. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028683/
The Painted Veil (2006) Based on a Somerset Maughm book. A Dr./Scientist, Walter Fane (Ed Norton) marries a rich, spoiled girl - Kitty, (Naomi Watts) who is goaded into getting a husband by her family. That's what women were supposed to do in the 1920's. He has told her that he has a post in China in Singapore. While there, at a party, she meets a handsome government official, Charlie Townsend, and starts an affair. Walter discovers them together and accepts a post in the interior of China where there is a cholera outbreak.
This is a film that takes its' time and shows us what is happening without big scenes or over-the-top acting. The scenery of the trek by carried chair, is horrific. Through the green, green countryside, with mists rising all around, hills all around, it is like being swallowed by a green monster. The gradual thaw by Walter; the trying to do something meaningful with her days; and their acceptance of each other as they really are, is quiet and like real life. The final scene back in England is also purposeful and brings the film full circle. I enjoyed my time with the Fanes. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446755/
The Good German (2006) George Clooney is Jake, a military reporter back in war torn Berlin on assignment to cover the Potsdam conference. He is also looking for his former mistress, Lena (Cate Blanchette). Jake is assigned a driver, Tully (Toby Maguire), a guy who will sell his mistress, who just happens to be Lena, for an hour at a time, or anything else he gets his hands on. He is also mean as a junkyard dog. So he ends up dead. And Jake wants to know why and what he can do to get Lena out of Germany because that is all she is interested in.
I did not like these people so by the end, I was just glad to be rid of them all. I give credit to the director for finding old film of Berlin as the bombed out ruin it was in 1945. And the footage of Stalin, Truman and Churchill sitting down to carve up Europe is great and brought back my classes in school in 1945 when we were learning all about how the world would be as the victors. Little did we know. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0452624/
The new week and more films are on the table by my chair. With a whole week of nice days with less heat and humidity, may go shopping and sightseeing around the area. Then again, a film or two while I rest is also inviting.
Dinner At Eight (1933) Repeat viewing. Comments on April 7th Blog. 10/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023948/
Queen Christina (1933) I have watched parts of this Garbo film before, but never the whole thing. She is good, but the supporting cast is, in some cases, hammy. The final scene with her hair blowing in the wind at the bow of the ship, is worth seeing if nothing else. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024481/
Anna Karenina (1935) Garbo as another doomed heroine. She is the wife of a top bureaucrat in Russia but is bored and unhappy. She has a flirtation with Count Vronsky (Fredric March) that turns into a full blown affair, and she gives up everything - home, child, position - in order to run away with him. Turns out, as always, Vronsky wants his cake and eat it too. He convinces her to return from Venice and he goes on with his regiment life with the officers, who take him back in with joy. And he decides to go off to the little war in the Balkans. When he tells Anna, he is impatient with her objections. Anna, however, is shunned; her husband will not let her see her son; he will not give her a divorce; only her family receives her at their home. What is she to do? Walk down the tracks into a train. Garbo is good as poor, stupid Anna. March is not charismatic enough for Vronsky. But women do crazy things for men of all types so guess he is believable enough. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026071/
Camille (1936) Garbo's finest performance for my money. She is luminous, playful, soulful and doomed, as the courtesan, Marguerite. And despite the tomatos thrown at Robert Taylor, he is perfect as the young, rich, spoiled Armand, who persues her until they both are undone. Great production values as only MGM, at the top of it's reign in Hollywood, could deliver. The supporting cast of veteran character actors is superb. The party scenes at Marguerites alone are worth more than some whole movies. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028683/
The Painted Veil (2006) Based on a Somerset Maughm book. A Dr./Scientist, Walter Fane (Ed Norton) marries a rich, spoiled girl - Kitty, (Naomi Watts) who is goaded into getting a husband by her family. That's what women were supposed to do in the 1920's. He has told her that he has a post in China in Singapore. While there, at a party, she meets a handsome government official, Charlie Townsend, and starts an affair. Walter discovers them together and accepts a post in the interior of China where there is a cholera outbreak.
This is a film that takes its' time and shows us what is happening without big scenes or over-the-top acting. The scenery of the trek by carried chair, is horrific. Through the green, green countryside, with mists rising all around, hills all around, it is like being swallowed by a green monster. The gradual thaw by Walter; the trying to do something meaningful with her days; and their acceptance of each other as they really are, is quiet and like real life. The final scene back in England is also purposeful and brings the film full circle. I enjoyed my time with the Fanes. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446755/
The Good German (2006) George Clooney is Jake, a military reporter back in war torn Berlin on assignment to cover the Potsdam conference. He is also looking for his former mistress, Lena (Cate Blanchette). Jake is assigned a driver, Tully (Toby Maguire), a guy who will sell his mistress, who just happens to be Lena, for an hour at a time, or anything else he gets his hands on. He is also mean as a junkyard dog. So he ends up dead. And Jake wants to know why and what he can do to get Lena out of Germany because that is all she is interested in.
I did not like these people so by the end, I was just glad to be rid of them all. I give credit to the director for finding old film of Berlin as the bombed out ruin it was in 1945. And the footage of Stalin, Truman and Churchill sitting down to carve up Europe is great and brought back my classes in school in 1945 when we were learning all about how the world would be as the victors. Little did we know. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0452624/
The new week and more films are on the table by my chair. With a whole week of nice days with less heat and humidity, may go shopping and sightseeing around the area. Then again, a film or two while I rest is also inviting.
August 04, 2008
A Bruce Willis marathon and more........
------ an Oscar nominee, something new and something silly; this week I watched:
Lars & The Real Girl (2007) Ryan Goslin, very good. Much better than I thought. Really a sweet story of a introverted man who borders on being loony, and his doll. She is a replica of a real person and he treats her like his real girlfriend. His brother and sister-in-law don't know quite what to think. The doctor plays along trying to bring him into reality. But soon the townsfolk and everyone is also playing the game. How it ends is so nice. Ryan Gosling is perfect as Lars. Emily Mortimer is just a fine, fine actress. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0805564/
Bruce Willis Marathon Day:
The Jackal (1997) Remake of original with all the latest weapons and technology. Doesn't make it any better, but Willis is fun to watch. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119395/
Unbreakable (2000) I still don't get the cult following of this film. Interesting, but dare I say it - a tad of a bore. BruceyBaby and Samuel L Jackson are always worth watching though, so for a hot August day, I watched with my brain in neutral. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0217869/
16 Blocks (2006) At first I was very annoyed by the character Willis was supposed to get "16 blocks" to the courthouse from the jail, but by the midway point, and interesting thing happened. I began to pull for Bruce and him to make it, despite all the cops trying to take them out. Mos Def has that kind of voice at first, that is irritating, but he is a good actor and pulls off the innocent in the snake pit. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450232/
Mercury Rising (1998) Another tale of a person who is being persued by killers, this time an autistic boy. Andy Garcia is the Bureau Chief out to destroy the 'collateral damage' this boy can do because he can decipher the elaborate and supposedly unbreakable code for our nuclear arsenal. Or something like that. It's gets a little hard to keep track of since what you really care about is "are Willis and the boy going to get away." Enjoyable on a hot afternoon in the air-conditioning. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120749/
Hostage (2005) This time our hero, Bruce, is a small town sheriff, a former hostage negotiator for the L.A. police, who has some very crazy/bad teens with guns, take over a house out on the mountain. It is a fortress of electronic devices for security - that these kids have no difficulty in invading. Ben Foster, as the craziest of the 3 is really a frightening and compelling character. Very good work. Jimmy Bennett plays the young son of the family, and is really fine. We really want Sheriff Jeff to rescue him and his sister. When he is crawling around the duct work of the house, and you see his make-believe world, he just takes you in. The end 15 minutes goes over the top into explosions, fire, black-clad troopers, etc. More is not always better. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0340163/
The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants (2007) Awful title - and they're doing it again! Four friends from highschool, go their separate ways for the summer. The pants are magically able to fit each girl - from the round to the super skinny, to the tallest to the shortest. That's it. They each have a problem that the pants - ummm - solve. Are you getting this? One is in Mexico. Pretty scenery. One stays at home and works at a Walmart like store. Meets an annoying younger girl; learns a lot! One goes to Greece to her extended family. Gorgeous scenery. One goes to her fathers new family's home somewhere. It is gorgeous too. The family is the pits. The girl is unhappy. The pants come. She is still unhappy. I think. Well it wasn't awful, just the usual annoying sludge that someone thinks females will spend their money seeing. And I guess 'they' are right. (7/10) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0403508/
Swing Vote (2008)
Kevin Costner hasn't been this good and funny in quite a while. As a never-was/hard drinking/screw-up who ends up the vote needed to decide the Presidential election. Taking the importance of every vote to the enth degree, it still comes off as plausible.
Not favoring either philosophy, but showing the state of our politics as being for sale to the highest bidder, with the consultants having their candidate switch easily to a polar opposite of what they started out believing, and the lengths they will go to, it is a thoughtful, and devestating comment on our national politics.
And that may be it's downfall. You have to know how our system works and *care* to get the black humor of some of the dialog.
All in all, in this summer of mindless comic-book, noisy, films for the fanboys and girls, I loved this sly and witty film. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1027862/
Hot and humid and so the iced water & tea, cold beer with fresh lime, cold food and wine, and any film with water, is the order for the next week.
Lars & The Real Girl (2007) Ryan Goslin, very good. Much better than I thought. Really a sweet story of a introverted man who borders on being loony, and his doll. She is a replica of a real person and he treats her like his real girlfriend. His brother and sister-in-law don't know quite what to think. The doctor plays along trying to bring him into reality. But soon the townsfolk and everyone is also playing the game. How it ends is so nice. Ryan Gosling is perfect as Lars. Emily Mortimer is just a fine, fine actress. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0805564/
Bruce Willis Marathon Day:
The Jackal (1997) Remake of original with all the latest weapons and technology. Doesn't make it any better, but Willis is fun to watch. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119395/
Unbreakable (2000) I still don't get the cult following of this film. Interesting, but dare I say it - a tad of a bore. BruceyBaby and Samuel L Jackson are always worth watching though, so for a hot August day, I watched with my brain in neutral. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0217869/
16 Blocks (2006) At first I was very annoyed by the character Willis was supposed to get "16 blocks" to the courthouse from the jail, but by the midway point, and interesting thing happened. I began to pull for Bruce and him to make it, despite all the cops trying to take them out. Mos Def has that kind of voice at first, that is irritating, but he is a good actor and pulls off the innocent in the snake pit. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450232/
Mercury Rising (1998) Another tale of a person who is being persued by killers, this time an autistic boy. Andy Garcia is the Bureau Chief out to destroy the 'collateral damage' this boy can do because he can decipher the elaborate and supposedly unbreakable code for our nuclear arsenal. Or something like that. It's gets a little hard to keep track of since what you really care about is "are Willis and the boy going to get away." Enjoyable on a hot afternoon in the air-conditioning. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120749/
Hostage (2005) This time our hero, Bruce, is a small town sheriff, a former hostage negotiator for the L.A. police, who has some very crazy/bad teens with guns, take over a house out on the mountain. It is a fortress of electronic devices for security - that these kids have no difficulty in invading. Ben Foster, as the craziest of the 3 is really a frightening and compelling character. Very good work. Jimmy Bennett plays the young son of the family, and is really fine. We really want Sheriff Jeff to rescue him and his sister. When he is crawling around the duct work of the house, and you see his make-believe world, he just takes you in. The end 15 minutes goes over the top into explosions, fire, black-clad troopers, etc. More is not always better. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0340163/
The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants (2007) Awful title - and they're doing it again! Four friends from highschool, go their separate ways for the summer. The pants are magically able to fit each girl - from the round to the super skinny, to the tallest to the shortest. That's it. They each have a problem that the pants - ummm - solve. Are you getting this? One is in Mexico. Pretty scenery. One stays at home and works at a Walmart like store. Meets an annoying younger girl; learns a lot! One goes to Greece to her extended family. Gorgeous scenery. One goes to her fathers new family's home somewhere. It is gorgeous too. The family is the pits. The girl is unhappy. The pants come. She is still unhappy. I think. Well it wasn't awful, just the usual annoying sludge that someone thinks females will spend their money seeing. And I guess 'they' are right. (7/10) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0403508/
Swing Vote (2008)
Kevin Costner hasn't been this good and funny in quite a while. As a never-was/hard drinking/screw-up who ends up the vote needed to decide the Presidential election. Taking the importance of every vote to the enth degree, it still comes off as plausible.
Not favoring either philosophy, but showing the state of our politics as being for sale to the highest bidder, with the consultants having their candidate switch easily to a polar opposite of what they started out believing, and the lengths they will go to, it is a thoughtful, and devestating comment on our national politics.
And that may be it's downfall. You have to know how our system works and *care* to get the black humor of some of the dialog.
All in all, in this summer of mindless comic-book, noisy, films for the fanboys and girls, I loved this sly and witty film. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1027862/
Hot and humid and so the iced water & tea, cold beer with fresh lime, cold food and wine, and any film with water, is the order for the next week.
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