Movie #248........................."Toy Story 3"

Movie #248 "Toy Story 3" is a wow film!!!!!! from the opening 10 minutes to the very end, it is rip roaring fun ---- maybe better than the first, and if you know me, I have always held the first one in the highest esteem. You read it here first! "Toy Story 3" will be nominated in the best picture category, and for my money, I haven't seen any previous 2010 movie better than this! I don't want to give too much away, but it's fit for every age, shape and form -----highlights include a brief homage to the Great Escape, Stalag 17, and, of course, Cool Hand Luke!!!!!!! There's romance, action adventure, dance, fighting, crying, hugging, pieces of Mr. and Mrs. Potato head strewn about ---- just about everything you can imagine, all rolled into a gift package for 4th of July fun from Pixar!!! Make sure you see this one. And, you know, you don't have to see it in 3D. Not a must, and I liked that, too. Oh, and leave it to Disney/Pixar to come out with a powerful indictment of the partisan way of politics these days (at least that's my take on the short that preceded the feature film) with their short: "Night and Day" (not to be confused with the T. Cruise one out at the same time) And what they say in that film needed to be said, and NEEDS TO BE SAID EVERY DAY until we can work together to come up with solutions to fix what's wrong with our society. But Disney does it so much better than feeble words put down in a blog like this! Go see it. It's a must!





Average rating: 4.531
I gave it 5 stars.
Toy Story 3
(2010) G
In this installment of the hit Pixar animated adventure, toy cowboy Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), his astronaut pal, Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), and their friends cope with their owner's departure for college -- and their new home in a daycare center. Lee Unkrich directs this family film that features the voices of Joan Cusack, John Ratzenberger, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, Ned Beatty, Jodi Benson and Estelle Harris.

Movie #247 ........................."Treeless Mountain"

Movie #247 "Treeless Mountain" concern these two adorable little sisters (the oldest is 6 and very undemonstrative) left alone to fend for themselves. Really, the synopsis from netflix is all it's about ------and although it is poignant in parts, oftentimes the camera is somewhere else from where I wanted to be ----- it was so much a slice of life, that I wanted so much more to the story. The director also edited the film, and I think that was a mistake, because the camera is way too slow. And as adorable these kids are, and how sad their lives are, it doesn't sustain a lot of interest in this watcher. One can see just so many grasshoppers caught, and the eldest daughter is way too quiet for my money. I know it's her major trait, but it gets tedious to watch the same expressions one frame to the next. I saw a movie about Italian kids a while back, who shared shoes so they could go to school, and it was so much better than this.





You rated this movie: 3.0
Treeless Mountain
(2008) NR
Sisters Jin (Hee-yeon Kim) and Bin (Song-hee Kim) must fend for themselves when their mother abruptly packs her things, leaving the girls in the care of their alcoholic aunt (Mi-hyang Kim) without a word as to when she'll return. In a tale of innocence lost, the sisters try to make sense of their mother's absence. But in the meantime, 6-year-old Jin will be forced to mature far beyond her tender years. So Yong Kim writes and directs.

Movie #246........................."Radio"

Movie #246 "Radio" is based on an article for sport illustrated about this guy nicknamed "Radio" in a South Carolina town who blossoms under the guidance of a coach who takes him under his wing. He becomes a mascot for the team, and ends up teaching everyone a lesson in tolerance. It's a bit schmaltzy in parts, but the acting is so good (esp. Ed Harris) that I think it works. I've had this in my Queue from a few years ago, and I'm glad I finally got to it because it is a very inspirational film. It certainly proves that if you believe in someone, he can move mountains. Good soundtrack, too.




Average rating: 3.859
I gave it 4 stars
Radio
(2003) PG
A small-town high school football coach (Ed Harris) befriends a developmentally disabled man (Cuba Gooding Jr.) nicknamed "Radio," who has always been the target of jokes and teasing, in this heartwarming drama based on the real-life experiences of James Robert Kennedy. Although their friendship raises eyebrows at first, Radio's growth under the coach's guidance ultimately inspires the local townsfolk to think differently about being different.

Movie #245........................."Cache" (Hidden)

Movie #245 "Cache" is a very stylish film. It's all about how hidden things in our lives are. So sometimes what you see isn't reality what you see. For example, the opening you are watching a screen with a house on the streets of Paris and two cars parked in front --- we are watching this for about 1 minute or so, then we hear voices of a man and woman asking questions --- and then the screen shows fast forward through the picture to something else............very stylish, because we were actually watching a videotype that was sent through the mail to them. The film is full of moments like these, which make it an intriguing movie to watch. All up until its ambiguous last scene. See what you think ----- and if you ever see, let me know your interp --- should make for interesting conversation with others. I liked this and recommend it, and Julliette Binoche is always fun to watch.



Average rating: 3.142
I rated it 4 stars
Caché
Hidden
(2005) R
Winner of the Cannes Best Director Award, Michael Haneke's psychological thriller centers on wealthy French couple Georges (Daniel Auteuil) and Anne (Juliette Binoche), who begin receiving threatening videotapes and phone calls that threaten to ruin their relationship. Georges realizes who the perpetrator is but refuses to tell Anne. Yet childhood flashbacks reveal the mystery, a story that illuminates France's damaged relations with Algeria.

Movie #244........................."Beyond Belief"

Movie #244 "Beyond Belief" was an excellent documentary (though 30 minutes too long) about these two very different women bonding through grief. What a positive message this film and their Beyond 11th organization sends out ------to help all the widows in afghanistan, of which there are many. It reminded me of the "Three Cups of Tea" and I thought through this film, wouldn't it be amazing if all these groups came together and became a power too big to disregard. That's my wish. If you are interested in what it is like in Afghanistan in 2007 for women, esp., check this film out. Very intriguing.










Average rating: 3.727
I gave it 4 stars
Beyond Belief
(2006) NR
Two strangers, Patti Quigley and Susan Retik, formed a common bond in their grief when both lost their husbands on Sept. 11, 2001. This documentary chronicles how the two coped with their unimaginable loss, traveling to Afghanistan to meet women there who were also widowed by violence. Director Beth Murphy follows Quigley and Retik as they discover that they share a kinship with their Middle Eastern counterparts, even though they're worlds apart.

Movie #243 ........................."A Walk to Beautiful"

Movie #243 "A Walk to Beautiful" was way too long for what it was about, and it was only 53 minutes. Its constant repetition got in the way of what could have been a powerful movie ---- it only followed one woman and not three as the blurb below says, and it got boring because the film kept repeating her rather thin story. The filming of Ethiopa was beautiful and I learned about the topic, but I could have read about it and it would have taken less time. I don't recommend this. I'm not sure why it was in my queue because someone must have recommended it, but I don't.



Average rating: 4.113
I gave this 2 stars.
Our best guess for DONNA: 4.3 stars
Average of 27,690 ratings: 4.1 stars
A Walk to Beautiful
2007NR53 minutes
In Ethiopia, a country with few hospitals and even fewer roads that lead to them, three women are on a journey to rebuild their lives after suffering devastating losses in childbirth. When the women survive but their babies do not, they are summarily shunned by their families. Now, they must make their way to a hospital in Addis Ababa, where they hope to receive treatment for fistula, a condition caused by obstructed labor during childbirth.

Movie #242........................."Ira & Abby"

Movie #242 "Ira & Abby" is a good romantic comedy because it offers something different to the genre -----the art of surprise because just when I thought I knew where it was going, I was surprised. And it made some good statements about the failings of the institution of marriage, and how hard it is to be truthful in this day and age, about love at first sight, the use of marriage counsellors and counselling vs. analyzing, and overall what makes a good marriage. Along with comedy and two very winning main characters, one of which wrote the script. Fred Willare, Frances Conroy, Robert Klein and Judith Light are the two sets of parents, and that added to the worth of the film, as well. Very enjoyable and believable in most of the situations.










Average rating: 3.222
I gave it 4 stars
Ira & Abby
(2006) R
A wry look at the insanity of married life, this offbeat comedy follows the ups and downs of a whirlwind romance between the brilliant yet neurotic Ira Black (Chris Messina) and the free-spirited but flaky Abby Willoughby (Jennifer Westfeldt). Hastily married after knowing each other for only a few short hours, Ira and Abby battle a series of misadventures that forces them to question just how real their love is.

Movie #241........................."A Fork in the Road"

Movie #241 "A Fork in the Road" had a wonderfully l entertaining script. I was never bored watching it --- and there were lots of surprises and laughs. I enjoyed it from beginning to end. I wonder why it wasn't shown in theaters ------the only reason I can see is that the main leads are not that famous, so I guess this is considered an indie film. But the director/writer has been around for a while --- he also wrote another favorite movie of mine: "Stakeout" with Richard Dreyfuss. I can't say too much about this without giving away surprises, but if you're looking for a "Trouble with Harry" kind of film (do you know that reference? It's a Hitchcock film that dealt with constant movement of a dead body by everyone in the film), then this is one to look into. I liked it a lot!!!!

Average rating: 3.058
I gave it 5 stars
A Fork in the Road
(2009) NR
Wrongly accused of a crime, Will Carson (Josh Cooke) seizes his chance to escape when the cop car he's riding in spits him out at a fork in the road. But he really puts his freedom at risk when he agrees to help a woman (Jaime King) he barely knows get rid of a dead body. On the road to redemption, the pair can't help but attract each other -- and more than their fair share of trouble. For starters? The stiff might still be alive.

Movie #240 ........................."Something to Sing About"

Movie #240 "Something to Sing About" was an attempt for jimmy Cagney to beef up a lesser known production company in exchange for allowing him to be a song and dance man, which he felt he was meant to be (rather than the Gangster Warner Brothers made him out to be). Anyway, he makes the part believable, and he's charming in the part, one that supposedly his good friend Fred Astaire helped him with. But this film shows its age ------it's too slow moving from one production number to the other. I could dose off and still not miss the plot (and I do believe I did a few times here). Thin on plot, but interesting revelation on exactly what a publicist did then ---------and one can just imagine what he/she does now to sell the film!



Something to Sing About (1937)
I give it 3 stars

Popular New York band leader Terry Rooney (Cagney) is offered a lucrative film contract out in Hollywood. Rooney and his wife pack up and head for California. Upon arriving, they meet Mr. Regan, the head of the studio, who believes that Rooney's true lack of desire for stardom is arrogance on the band leaders part. When his first film is huge success and hit for the studio, Regan tries to hide the truth from Rooney. Feeling a need to get away from Hollywood, Rooney takes his wife on a South Seas cruise, only to return to the real truth of his fame

Movie #239 .........................."The Machinist"

Movie #239 "The Machinist" reminded me of Memento, but it is more understandable. I really liked this one --- I couldn't believe how bad Christian Bale looks in the film ---- he was down to 115 pounds at one point and his bones are sticking out, and his eyes and face sag as he looks in the mirror at himself. When all of this ties together, it's an ohmygod moment in film that works. I highly recommend this, but it isn't for the faint of heart. It's very scary, and in an old fashioned way --- the music sounds right out of "Twilight Zone" meets "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and the photography looks black and white at times --- this was so scary, I had to watch the end of it in the light of day. I haven't had to do that in a long while. Scary and amazing!



Average rating: 3.485
I gave it 4.5 stars
Our best guess for DONNA: 3.4 stars
Average of 1,000,223 ratings: 3.5 stars
The Machinist
2004R101 minutes
Trevor Reznik (Christian Bale) hasn't slept in a year, and his physical and mental health have eroded. So when cryptic notes pop up in his apartment and he has visions of a co-worker nobody else can see, is it reality -- or just the next level of insomnia? His call-girl girlfriend (Jennifer Jason Leigh) seems to be the only bright spot in Trevor's quickly deteriorating world. And he, too, seems to be breaking down.

Movie #238........................."Please Give"

Movie #238 "Please Give" is very definitely an Indie film ------ one of those slice of life pictures that goes its merry way and you have to guess where the arc of the story is and where the ending kind of just gets there. This is all okay with me if the characters are interesting and complex and if I haven't seen this story before, and I can say that this gem of a film qualifies in all those categories. Dave and I talked about it all the way home, from the use of the title, to the giving too much nature of the Catherine Keener category, to the use of the Oliver Platt character........this film does what films should do, allows us to relate to these characters, to identify some universal themes, and to share some time with these people and their complex relationships --- to get into the heads of some people and study them to come to your own conclusions about what to think. And I'd like to make a special point to say something about the humor ---- it's very funny, esp. the old lady, Millie from the Dick Van Dyke show --- she says exactly what is on her mind, and I find that charming in a dark humor sort of way.





Average rating: 3.783
I gave it 4 stars
Please Give
(2010) R
Life gets knotty when successful Manhattan couple Alex (Oliver Platt) and Kate (Catherine Keener) develop a relationship with the granddaughters of Andra (Ann Morgan Guilbert), the cantankerous elderly woman who owns the apartment next to theirs -- and who must die so they can expand their home. The all-star cast includes Amanda Peet, Rebecca Hall and Lois Smith in this indie feature from writer-director Nicole Holofcener (Friends with Money).

Movie #237........................."Color Me Kubrick"

Movie #237 "Color Me Kubrick" is a satire about how we are so excited when we think we meet famous people that we really don't even question if they are the real thing ------ and it really doesn't matter until the bills need to be paid. I laughed several times at this outlandish con artist, who is able to change accents on a minute's notice. John Malkovich is at his best here playing this guy --------- what guts it takes to play this guy who had equal amount of guts to pose as Stanley Kubrick. Crazy idea and it works. The film is kind of a mocumentary on this con artist, so if you like those, you;ll find this of interest.




Average rating: 2.93
I gave it 3 stars
Color Me Kubrick
Colour Me Kubrick
(2005) NR
Based on a true story, this outlandish comedy stars John Malkovich as Alan Conway, a second-rate con man who successfully passed himself off as legendary director Stanley Kubrick in the late 1990s. Kubrick, a known recluse, was a perfect target for Conway, who used his persona to find fame and fortune. Directed by Brian W. Cook, this verité-style indie satirizes the allure of celebrity in the modern age.

Movie #236........................."Every Little Step"

Movie #236 "Every Little Step" - why wouldn't I like this? It takes you through a remounting/casting process of a show many people hold in high respect --- in fact, there are those (and I'm one of them) that consider "A Chorus Line" to be one of the if not best of the modern musicals. You are rooting for people, evaluating them as they go through the rigorous tryout process, listening to the original reel to reel tape that Michael Bennett used one evening as the basis for this one-of-a-kind show. It was so cool to see some footage of the original show (which I was able to see on a trip to NYC many years back) and Michael Bennett dancing and accepting his tony award. This is truly a gem of a documentary --- dedicated to the dancer, but it's not for everyone. If this sounds at all interesting, if you enjoy watching American Idol or Dancing with the Stars, you might want to check in on this and really see the blood, sweat and tears that goes with the marvelous art of dancing. It's a real treat!






Average rating: 3.821
I gave it 5 stars
Every Little Step
(2008) PG-13
Go backstage for an up-close look at a Broadway production with this entertaining documentary that follows hopeful dancers as they audition for coveted spots in the 2006 revival of "A Chorus Line." Drawing parallels between the interactions of the aspiring actors and the events of the play, filmmakers Adam Del Deo and James D. Stern also intercut interview footage of composer Marvin Hamlisch and dancers from the original Broadway production.

Movie #235 ........................."Sex and the City 2"

Movie #235 "Sex and the City 2" is another fun movie based on the equally fun t.v. show which I finally got to see all of in syndication (since we have never had HBO and never will). I love the characters -----warts and all! Yes, they can be shallow, yes they can be way over the top, yes they can be provocative, but they are always entertaining and fun to watch. I went in thinking I wouldn't like this ---- who wouldn't with the critics naysaying it, but I don't agree with them this time, and I'm glad I went to it. Of course, being surrounded with friends in the theatre who are enjoying it, as well, helps. And the opening hour with the gay wedding, and the costumes (I forgot to count just how many JSP had, and I meant to) , and the trip to the Middle East (Morrocco, actually) halfway through, kept the interest level up for me, too. But what I really like is how relevant the themes/topics were ---- the writing doesn't rest on its previous laurels. It tries to deal with current and real women issues and I welcome that --------and men, it isn't just a female film. The "Sex and the City" franchise deals with relationships, partner to partner, mother to child, and most importantly friend to friend. And in these times, who doesn't want to take time to learn more about that?





Average rating: 3.536
I gave it 4 stars
Sex and the City 2
(2010) R
Set two years after the wedding that almost wasn't, this sequel finds gal pals Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Charlotte (Kristin Davis), Samantha (Kim Cattrall) and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) embarking on a much-needed vacation to exotic Abu Dhabi. They're still the same soul mates despite responsibilities of motherhood and marriage, but a new romance for Samantha and a little thing called Aidan, Carrie's ex, keep things interesting.

Movie #234........................."The Messenger"

Movie #214 "The Messenger" is a very emotional, poignant film, which enlightens civilians on military procedure for informing the families of those who have died in battle. It's sooo sad what they have to do and watching the news be received by the "NOK's" (next of kin) is harder still --- there isn't anything easy to watch in this film, and Ben Foster really shines in a major role here --- I had heard how great Woody Harrelson was in this movie (and he was nominated for an AA), but to me Ben is the central focus, the lynchpin, the glue that makes it come all together. He's in almost every scene. Excellent job all around. I highly recommend it for the strong stomach people out there who want to watch a good solid film and who want to be moved. It's an important film for us, the ones back home, to see.


Average rating: 3.438
I gave it 4 stars
The Messenger
(2009) R
An injured U.S. soldier, Sgt. Will Montgomery (Ben Foster), is paired up with by-the-book Capt. Tony Stone (Oscar nominee Woody Harrelson) to notify families of killed soldiers -- a job that bonds them as they debate different views on serving America. At odds at first, the two find common ground while facing life's variety of battles. Oren Moverman directs this poignant military tale that co-stars Samantha Morton and Jena Malone.

Movie #233........................."Keane"

Movie #233 "Keane" was a very intriguing film. Some might say a bit slow in pace, because for the first 30 minutes you just follow Damian Lewis (a new actor to me, but I guess discovered by Spielburg for his Band of Brothers), as he sleeps off the highway, bathes in a public washroom, talks to himself, and re-enacts some tragedy that occurred (that possibly made him this way?) After a third of the film, little Abigail Breslin and Amy Ryan come cross his path, and you start to wonder how will he react to this? it's like "amber alert" and then you are on pins and needles as you see him interact with the two. The acting is so darn honest that it's like you are watching them and there is no camera. Very real, and at times scary. It had a powerful ending so the pay off at the end worked for me. I'm surprised Netflix thought I'd only give it a 2 because they were wrong this time. The motivates to now begin to check out the ones netflix has dubbed unworthy to watch to see if I don't have the same reaction. I've been going through my queue and streaming the ones that have rated 4 or above. Anyway, this is a wonderful study of mental illness and the life of the homeless (although he rents a motel room on a daily basis when he has the money). It's sad and emotional and very real.





Average rating: 2.482
I gave it 4 stars
Keane
(2004) R
After losing his daughter in a Port Authority bus terminal, distraught New York father William Keane (Damian Lewis) befriends Lynn Bedik (Amy Ryan) and her 7-year-old daughter, Kira (Abigail Breslin) -- but can he really be trusted? Keane uses alcohol and drugs to numb his pain, but Kira helps him break through his haze and open his heart to new possibilities. There's just one catch: Keane's daughter may have never existed at all.

Movie #232........................."Never a Dull Moment"(1950)

Movie #232 "Never a Dull Moment" (1950) is a Fred MacMurray/Irene Dunne comedy based on Kay Swift's autobiography. Here's the plot: Kay Kingsley, a sophisticated and successful songwriter in New York City. falls in love with a widowed rancher, Chris Heyward, she meets at the Madison Square Gardem Rodeo and they get married, and leave for his ranch in the west. Her friends warn her of an early disillusionment with life on a ranch, far away from the glitter and bright lights of Broadway. Kay makes one difficulty adjustment after another, as the ranch is presided over by Chris's kids, and an incident occurs with a neighbor that prompts Kay to return to her glamorous life in New York. But she soon finds her heart is with Chris and his children. That's it in a nutshell. It's a fun pre-"Green Acres" type of film, but I beg to differ with the title ---- it's pretty tame in the laughs department --- I've seen both these actors in much better, funnier stuff. It was fun to see a young Natalie Wood (older than Miracle on 34th street, but younger than Splendor in the Grass), and what made this one just a little different is that the major conflict was NOT that she wanted to go home because she couldn't take the farm life ------ she took to that really well, and she dealt with all the ups and downs as a true trooper. So that was a surprise that the conflict was something else. Otherwise, there are films a lot better on the same subject, like "The Egg and I" and that's with Fred MacMurray, too. I'd give it 3 stars.

Movie #231........................."Nowhere in Africa"

Movie #231 "Nowhere in Africa" makes me want to go back and investigate all the foreign language films that have won the Oscar because I sure missed out on a lot in my working years. This one has all the ingredients that would cinch a recommendation from me: 1) good, realistic acting 2) new culture introduced to the audience 3) beautiful filming techniques (esp. photography and music) --- the film is on location in Nairobi most of the time and 4) it concerns the holocaust. It is a tad long, but it is epic in its storytelling ---- it shows so much of the time period, and what a jew would have gone through in his homeland of mother Germany. This family decides to escape to nowhere in Africa and the conflicts that brings on, esp. for the little girl, Regina, who is forced to grow up a stranger in a strange land. She takes to it much better than her parents, but they are dealing with trying to make ends meet. Then, the big question is what to do after the war? And the film follows the family through the tribulations of that, as well. I highly recommend this film -- it was glorious and epic in scope.





You rated this movie: 4,00
Nowhere in Africa
Nirgendwo in Afrika
(2001) R
Shortly before the outbreak of World War II, a Jewish couple and their young daughter emigrate from Germany to Kenya to escape the Nazis, and are forced to come to terms with a new life on an unfamiliar continent. Not all members of the family are happy with this drastic change -- but going home isn't an option. Based on Stefanie Zweig's autobiographical novel, director Caroline Link's epic drama won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

Movie #230........................."The Father of my Children"

Movie #230 "The Father of My Children" I saw at the Lincoln Center Theatre, and it was a beautifully photographed film. I don't know Mia Hansen-Love, but I plan to catch some of her other films. Evidently, this is in homage to a French film producer who believed in her, and you can tell this is done with delicacy, with love. Real Life father and daugther play father and older daughter, along with a beautiful wife and adorable two little kids round out the family of this artsy film producer ---- he is always looking for money, and his films don't make any, but he spends every hour, other than time with the family, working at his craft. I never really had a handle on what a producer does until I saw this film, and it's an eye-opener. If you are interested in seeing the ins and outs of the business, check this one out ---- but most importantly, if you are interested in seeing the devastation suicide brings to the family involved, this is one of the best portraits of that I have seen. Your heart breaks for this family and friends who try to finish up the work so he has a legacy. And what is really a legacy? That question is answered IN the film and in the making of the film.




Average rating: 3.351
I gave this 4 stars
The Father of My Children
Le Pere de Mes Enfants
(2008) NR
When a man who seemingly has everything takes his own life, the question on everyone's mind is, why? This drama penned and helmed by Mia Hansen-Løve explores that quandary by recounting the weeks before and after a film producer's suicide. With an adoring family, a job that fulfills him completely and a charismatic bearing that masks all woes, producer Grégoire Canvel appears at the top of his game. But underneath the surface, trouble is brewing.

Movie #229........................."Fear"

Movie #229 "Fear" is of the scary genre ------the one I don't like to watch alone, but I did this one because I was lured into ti by the cast. I didn't suspect Reese Witherspoon, William Petersen, Amy Bremnigan and Alyssa Milano and Mark Wahlberg would be in one of these kinds of movies (well, wait, Alyssa Milano does Vampire stuff. There's no doubt the cast moved it up a notch in intrigue and believability. Even the ending, as bloody as it is, seemed worth watching because the ending had a few surprises in it, as well. This movie just goes to prove what good actors can do for a mediocre script. I recommend it for a few good scares. It's creeeeeeeepy.






Average rating: 3.523
I gave it 3.5 stars
Fear
(1996) R
In this dark thriller, 16-year-old "good girl" Nicole (Reese Witherspoon) goes to a party with her best friend and meets David (Mark Wahlberg), a good-looking, enigmatic guy from the wrong side of the tracks. The two fall hard for each other, until Nicole begins to doubt the strength of their relationship. David takes extreme measures toward Nicole and her tight-knit family in a twisted attempt to win her back, but will he succeed?

Movie #228 ......................... "Footlight Parade"

Movie #228 "Footlight Parade" is not much of a film , but with James Cagney whizzing through the dialogue a mile a minute, you probably can't tell much looking at the number of pages of the script. it is just supposed to be a vehicle to show off cagney's hooting ability along with elaborate busby berkley numbers. cagey plays a director of prologues in the 40s. What's that you ask? Prologues were live presentations that performed on the stage to entertain the audience before the movie. I guess they thought people wouldn't go see just film, and they had these great vaudeville theatres and all this live talent, they decided on doing prologues. It is a cool idea, but little wonder they didn't stay around with how elaborate the production number had to be to compete with the movies to follow, not to mention the price it would cost to mount these. To show you just how flimsy the plot was here, each production number took about 10 minutes or so, and finally after the last one that Cagney had to step in due to the lead's injury ( come on, didn't you guess that one?), he taps off, proposes marriage to his secretary Ann Sothern whom he hardly talked to in the film and went back on stage for his curtain call. Gotta love the oldiies!!!!



Average rating: 3.726
I gave it 3.4.
Footlight Parade
(1933) NR
James Cagney channels Busby Berkeley (who choreographs the stunning, kaleidoscopic dance routines) as a Broadway director who comes up with a scheme to break into movies through, well, stunning, kaleidoscopic dance routines. (Cagney even does some hoofing of his own.) Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell co-star in this musical extravaganza that includes such vintage songs as "Honeymoon Hotel," "Shanghai Lil" and "By a Waterfall."

Movie @227........................."The Ninth Gate"

Movie #227 "Ninth Gate" happened to be on AMC today, and we were relaxing before the show tonight (we are in NYC) and it was a Johnny Depp film we hadn't seen yet, so we watched it. There was a good bad guy in it (Frank Langella), a a few cool edits (after all it's a Roman Polanski film), and Johnny Depp played it to the hilt, but other than that, nothing new here. In fact, the music seemed a rip off of Dave Grusin's for "The Firm." It dealt with satanic power and covens and pentagrams, oh my. blah, blah, blah. It's really all about Johnny Deptt, and he's been better.....much better in other stuff.



Average rating: 3.311
I gave it 3.
The Ninth Gate
(1999) R
An all-expenses-paid international search for a rare copy of The Nine Gates of the Shadow Kingdom brings an unscrupulous book dealer (Johnny Depp) deep into a world of murder, double-dealing and satanic worship. Director Roman Polanski (Rosemary's Baby) creates a richly textured gothic mystery where the hunter becomes the hunted and the devil must be paid his due.

Movie #226........................."Since You Went Away"

Movie #226 "Since You Went Away" is a film I have heard about for years, but never got around to watch it. The scope of it is epic because it tries to cover all those emotions that go into the family that is left behind, and all they do to keep on going when they keep hearing bad news about neighbors and neighbors' kids dying in WWII. There are wonderfully sad scenes at the train station, at a canteen party, in a movie house watching a war newsreel, that say so much about what people had to go through who were left behind. It is, indeed, a powerful war film without showing one minute of the war itself. There are signs it was a movie that was made to give hope to those left behind, and for that reason it becomes an excellent history lesson to us all. It reminds us what people are going through now, and it constantly makes me ask: why do we have to do this? why in a world that we have become so technologically skilled, can't we have become more civilized in our thinking about sending our men (and now women) to a war. If we are so smart of a society, why can't we problems solves other ways to solve our world problems. And films like this, should be re-seen by all to remind us that we have to get to the job of making peace and not war! sorry, I'm on a soapbox, but this film just reminds me of all the sacrificing that was done and continually is done in the name of freedom.




Average rating: 3.821
I gave it 4 stars
Since You Went Away
(1944) NR
Anne Hilton (Claudette Colbert) is the wife of a businessman who becomes an officer during WWII. Fighting back her own fears and anxieties, Anne strives to maintain a normal, stable household for the sake of her growing daughters Jane (Jennifer Jones) and Bridget (Shirley Temple). Monty Woolley and Joseph Cotten co-star.

Movie #225........................."Fahrenheit 451"

Movie #225 "Fahrenheit 451" is NOT better than the book ---- doesn't come close, even though it is highly respected with a director Francois Truffaut. Yes, there are some pretty moments, but most of it is so slowly paced, it makes "No Country for Old Man" look faster (yikes!) I guess what I'm saying is, like everything, it shows its age. It's almost laughable the way some parts of it are filmed. There are long passages where single copies of books are burned ---- I wanted to scream at the screen: move on, we've got the idea!!! Julie Christie, though pretty, is so cold is most films I've seen her in (Doctor Zhivago comes to mind), although I think she actually comes across more human and warm in "Heaven Can Wait", so she does nothing to draw the audience in and she plays two parts!~ Oscar Werner is like a stick as he walks around as Montag ------ and where's the guts of Bradbury's book here? the more complex side of the Captain, or Faber or the mechanical dogs? Or the porch discussion by Clarisse ---- actually the guts of Clarisse's character in the book is removed here. Nope, I didn't buy it, even though it's Truffaut's. It no longer deserves to be a classic, but the book does.




You rated this movie: 3.0
Fahrenheit 451
(1966) UR
All printed materials are destroyed and banned, and firemen start fires in this adaptation of author Ray Bradbury's cautionary near-future parable of an oppressive society in which free thought is verboten. Starring Oskar Werner as the conflicted, book-burning Montag and Julie Christie in a dual role, the sci-fi drama was the only English-language film to spring from the mind of French auteur François Truffaut.

Movie #224.........................."Winter Solstice"

Movie #224 "Winter Solstice" was well acted and very real. It was like watching this family through their living room window. Tragedy struck this family 5 years before and they are still reeling ---- possibly therapy for each of them might have put them in a better spot, but then ordinary working citizens can't find the time or the money for that, so they just get through the day. Dad thinks he is doing his best by working his butt off in a landscaping business just to keep his head above water, paying for the kids' food, clothes, etc. As a thanks, the older son wants to leave and the younger one keeps flunking classes in high school. They all seem so sad and lonely ------and the film shows what grief can do to a family. But five years down the road, fences need to start to get mended and life must go on, and that's where we find this family. I liked the movie all the way until the end ---- I felt the ending needed to be more final ------just as the film shows the quiet moments of their lives (there's no wedding, there's no graduation here, baby steps), the film quietly ends. I guess I just wanted more reassurance that these people, whom I got to know and like in the film, would make it. I so wanted them to.




Average rating: 2.592
I gave it 3 stars
Our best guess for DONNA: 3.0 stars
Average of 23,559 ratings: 2.6 stars
Winter Solstice
2004R89 minutes
A previously self-contained widower (Anthony LaPaglia) living in the drab suburbs of New Jersey faces a domestic crisis of sorts when he's forced to confront his younger son's self-destructive behavior and his older son's (Aaron Stanford) decision to assert his adulthood by leaving home. Costars Allison Janney, Ron Livingston, Brendan Sexton III, Michelle Monaghan and Mark Webber. Josh Sternfeld directs.

Cast:Anthony LaPaglia, Aaron Stanford, Mark Webber, Allison Janney, Ron Livingston, Michelle Monaghan, Brendan Sexton III, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Kel O'Neill, Jason Fuchs, Thomas SadoskiDirector:Josh SternfeldGenres:Drama, Indie Dramas, Paramount Home EntertainmentThis movie is:UnderstatedFormat:DVD and streaming

Movie #223........................."Love Me If You Dare"

Movie #223 "Love Me If You Dare" is a cartoon-like fairy-tale, a romantic dark comedy, and a movie I've never seen the likes of before. Truly original and not for everyone. About the games we play in life and in love, this film can be frustrating for some viewers who always want "the happy ending" to every love story. The games start out as mere pranks, as something to help the boy and the girl through tragedies in their early lives, and then they escalate into college and adult life. When the friends come to a crossroads of choosing to go on --------they continue to the detriment of their adult relationships. Most viewers would give up on them because they seem to carry "the game" too far -----but I think these viewers miss the point of the "ride" in this movie. The viewer ultimately has to throw out all of his/her expectations and ask himself if he/she is game. If the answer is yes, this film becomes such a stylishly unique experience! An eye opener. I enjoyed the ride, and I don't usually like roller coasters!!!






You rated this movie: 4.0
Love Me If You Dare
Jeux D'Enfants
(2003) R
Ever since they were kids, Sophie (Marion Cotillard) and Julien (Guillaume Canet) have gotten their kicks out of a game where they continuously attempt to one-up the other with a chain of extreme pranks. When their relationship escalates to romance, the game turns harshly negative, and the two lovers' view of reality grows increasingly skewed.

Movie #222........................."Brief Interviews with Hideous Men"

Movie #222 "Brief Interviews with Hideous Men" tries to tackle the subject: the truth about men. Doesn't that seem a bit too much? I like the idea of the format of the film -----interviews----------I like one or two of the monologues ----- and that's what mostly is here --------but there's not enough here to sustain interest for me. I give it two stars for the effort, but it falls short. The high point (John Krasinski's monologue) is very moving, but after a couple of minutes, I didn't feel its effect. Too Brief.





Average rating: 2.784
I gave it two stars
Brief Interviews with Hideous Men
(2009) NR
Grad student Sara Quinn (Julianne Nicholson) is perplexed by her endless string of romantic failures. Combining work on an anthropological dissertation with her quest for personal answers, Sara interviews an array of men, whose confessions range from banal to bizarre. Actor John Krasinski makes his directorial debut with this quirky comedy based on a collection of short stories by David Foster Wallace.

Movie #221........................."Pirate Radio"

Movie #221 "Pirate Radio" was a lot of fun to watch! Maybe it's my age, or maybe it's because I like Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rhys Ifans (the underwear guy in "NottingHill," and Bill Nighy ("Love Actually") and it was fun watching them have so much fun in this film as radio pirates, or maybe because it was a fun script (penned by Richard Curtis from "Love Actually"), but I found this to be a lot of fun. It's a welcome to find a movie that is actually entertaining and witty (most of my netflix queue is full of documentaries and foreign films) and I embraced it for what it is: a chronicling of antics on a pirate radio ship in the 60's when rock was rock, and we probably had the best of the best of music coming out on a daily basis! These days I'm getting sooooooo tired of talk radio, and I was longing for the days when "just play music" was the chosen way to go. Many times viewing this film, I lamented the fact that I am now in 2010 stuck with so much talk radio! Less Talk, and more Music!!!! and more films like this, that is a delight to watch but also makes a poignant stand along the way! If you like music and are a supporter of freedom of speech, I think you'll enjoy this film!




Average rating: 3.551
I gave it 3.8 (rounded to 4 stars)
Pirate Radio
The Boat That Rocked
(2009) R
In 1966, hard-partying British DJs -- a crew that includes Quentin (Bill Nighy), the Count (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Gavin (Rhys Ifans) and Dave (Nick Frost) -- have the time of their lives running a radio station on a ship in the North Sea, broadcasting generation-defining (but banned) music to millions. But they face getting shut down by Sir Alistair Dormandy (Kenneth Branagh). Richard Curtis (Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral) directs.

Movie #220........................."Palindromes"

Movie #220 "Palindromes" just finished off a rather odd evening for me, theatre/movie watching. It started with William Petersen in Beckett's "Endgame" at the Steppenwolf, followed by "Killer Joe" (with ohs theatre alum Somer Benon) at the Royal George that evening at 7 p.m. and then at the theatre another theatre alum Tiffany Topol mentioned how disturbing "Palindromes" was and asked if I had seen it (she likened it to the play). Not having seen it yet, I figured, why not, so I sat and watched it on my computer Sunday night. Can I say that Todd Solondz always makes an interesting film on subjects that would normally be unwatchable. Here's is yet another uncomfortable film with the main character being played by a whole bunch of actors of varying ages and races (I missed the boy) and talent in acting (many weren't quite there yet in their acting chops0 . I think in his attempt to make a deeper film, he cluttered the story with the number of actors, and made it difficult to watch and understand. It seemed to me to have an agenda (concerning abortion) , too, so it was pretty heavy handed in those scenes, and pretty melodramatic to the point of not being all that believable (Ellen Barkin, whom I have never been a fan of seemed way beyond believability in her scenes with her daughter) However, like I have felt with his other films (namely "Happiness" and "Welcome to the Dollhouse"), there's an audience for his movies ---- there's something about them that keeps you watching --- maybe the guts to tackle some of these hard issues?





Average rating: 2.885
I gave it 2 stars
Palindromes
(2005) NR
In this genre-bending indie from director Todd Solondz, 13-year-old Aviva Victor (played by eight actors of different ages, races and genders) desperately wants to become a mother -- and she comes very close to succeeding. Her sensible parents (Ellen Barkin and Richard Masur) intervene just in the nick of time. But Aviva is still determined to get pregnant, running away and losing herself in a strange new world.