This week I watched:
Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957) Deborah Kerr, Robert Mitchum. A wonderful film about a nun and a marine who end up on a south Pacific Island during WWII, all alone. She, because the priest she was caring for wandered off and died, and she missed the last boat to safety. He, because his ship was blown out from under him and he was the only survivor, when he came up near a life raft. After drifting for days, he ends up on this small island. During the next weeks, the Japanese invade and set up an outpost; leave, come back; and then the American fleet finally arrives and the Marines take the island. They have help from our two unlikely heros, and with Mr. Allison wounded and carried on a stretcher, attended by Sister Angela, the movie ends with the astonished warriors watching as the two come down the hill to be taken to the ship. A two-character study and both actors are marvelous. Pitch perfect in their roles. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050490/
High Crimes (2002) Ashley Judd, Morgan Freeman, James Caviezel. As usual Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd are very good in their roles. She is a successful lawyer and a servicemans wife. Freeman is a former military defense lawyer who was drummed out because of drinking. She hires him to help her through the maze of military rules regarding the court. Trouble is she has been blind sided by the fact that for 15 years her husband has seemed the loving husband and father, and now is accused of a massacre in San Salvadore in a special ops during the drug war. Many twists and turns and by the end we have pretty much figured it out. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0257756/
Defiance (2008) Daniel Craig, Liev Schrieber, Mark Feuerstein. Based on true story that I had never heard before. A group of Jewish villagers in Belarus are given a chance to flee the roundup by German soldiers, by the men and boys in a family of Jewish rogues. One (Tuvia/Craig) wants to save them all if he can. The other (Zus/Schrieber) wants to fight the Germans in hit and run skirmishes. Craig takes the group and starts building shacks to get them through the winter. Zus and Tuvia have a fight about what to do and finally Zus leaves and joins the Russian resistance fighters. This film is life affirming and shows what can be done with a determined leader and cooperation. They continue to live in the forests for 3 years in all. Craig is very good, as is Schrieber. Also in the cast as a Jewish intellectual from the city, who learns how to fight after all, is Mark Feuerstein, lately of Royal Pains on TNT channel. He is a standout in a large cast. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1034303/
Taken (2008) Liam Neeson. I can't believe what a mistaken impression you can get from a preview. I saw the scene of the girl under the bed "taken" about 3 dozen times during its' publicity for the theater opening, and then recently for the DVD release. So, I thought it was a ghost or some kind of zombie flick. I didn't even bother to read about it. Big mistake. This is a terrific thriller about a kidnapping. Neeson is just mesmerizing - and not bad as an ass-kicking, blow 'um all away, former CIA operative. Very enjoyable and had me on pins and needles, and even squealing now and then. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0936501/
I'm about ready to quit watching the news. I'm so mad that the Dems can't get a bill with a public option through congress. If the Doctors and Nurses are for it, and 65 per cent of the voters, it just shows who is being bought and sold in D.C. Arrrrrg! Over and out.
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