Movie #679 ........................."Jeme Suis Fait Tout Petits"

Movie #679 "Jeme Suis Fait Tout Petits" (I Made Myself Quite Small -- the title refers to a henpecked husband joking of his situation) I had the hardest time finding this one because I only had the French title and didn't know what it meant, since I saw it in French (with English subtitles!) but I found this very enjoyable, very easygoing, funny and humane. I never knew what the next scene would bring. The strength is not in the plot, though, but in the casting --- very engaging people that you can identify with. And I had never seen a movie on the topic ---- I've seen movies where the father reconciles with his child that he never knew he had and he's awkward about it, but this was different. This guy's sister is raising his two daughters who were abandoned by the ex wife --- and now comes along a child that his ex wife had with another man --- He at first doesn't want the little boy to be raised by his sister (who volunteers to take him in) because he resents the heck out of the kid and doesn't want him in his life at all! but then the kid rubs off on him, and that's when the trouble begins, for a guy who doesn't want any attachments. Thus, the title. I read some French reviews of this and the actor who plays the lead I guess is some up and coming young "Robert De Niro" and they expect much more in the future --- it would be fun to see if that all pans out, but for this performance, he was really really good! I gave it 3.5 stars out of 5 There is nothing to keep Yvan in Paris. A 30-something schoolteacher, he is ready to pack up and start a new life somewhere else. It has been five years since his wife left him to live with her new lover in Thailand. Since, he has mooched about, uncertain what to do next with his life. His teenage daughters have left him, preferring to live with his sister Ariane than the miserable, prematurely middle-aged man he has become. Just when Yvan has made up his mind to leave Paris, two people enter his life and arouse him from his emotional slumbers. They are: Léo, the product of his ex-wife’s love affair with another man, and Emmanuelle, a vivacious colleague at the school where he works. Yvan soon discovers he has two reasons to stay and rebuild his life... Credits Director: Cécilia Rouaud Script: Cecilia Rouaud Photo: Renaud Chassaing Cast: Vanessa Paradis (Emmanuelle), Denis Ménochet (Yvan Le Doze), Laurent Lucas (Luc), Louise Grinberg (Elise), Léa Drucker (Ariane), Valérie Karsenti (Claire), Laurent Capelluto (Simon), Grégory Gadebois (Le proviseur), Angèle Garnier (Manon), Jade Samba-Seale (Plume), David Carvalho-Jorge (Léo) Country: France Language: French Runtime: 96 min

Movie #678 .........................Paris-Manhattan

Movie #678 "Paris-Manhattan" -- sitting on the plane, wanting to resee some of the beautiful sightings in Paris, I saw this on the Air France offering screen and had to watch it --- half of it is in subtitles and other half is not. It was very charming --- aside from the beautiful scenery, it constantly quotes Woody Allen lines from his movies. The single woman in the film adores him and has his picture above her bed and she asks him advice. She owns a shop and whenever people come in for advice, she sends them home with Woody Allen movies, specific to their problems. The music is great in the film, too. Everything about it I found charming and so, if you value Woody Allen movies and/or charming films out of the norm with style, why not check this out. It's a cute romantic comedy. A romantic comedy centered on a Woody Allen-obsessed pharmacist (Taglioni) and her would-be lover (Bruel) It's French and I saw it on the plane. It is listed in IMDB but not netflix, so far. It's quite a gem, and it probably is available at your library to rent. It has subtitles. I gave it 5 out of 5 stars, but I love Woody Allen movie, and it is very Woody Allenesque.

Movie #677 .........................."The Five Year Engagement"

Movie #677 "The Five Year Engagement" felt like it lasted as long as their engagement because it dragged and dragged to its ending. Along the way, there were some bright spots, but they were few and far between. Thank god for the casting, because they were at least fun to watch at times ---- Emily Blunt, Jason Segel, Rhys Ifans, and her sister and brother-in-law were entertaining in spurts. That's what I would say about this movie: it was good in spurts, but to sit through it, well, it felt like five years. I wanted to say to the screen, "Move on already!" I gave this 3.5 out of 5 star. The Five-Year Engagement2012R124 minutes Jason Segel and Emily Blunt star in this contemporary romantic comedy as an engaged young couple who discovers that the more they get to know each other, the more unpredictable their commitment to getting married becomes. Cast:Emily Blunt, Jason Segel, Alison Brie, Rhys Ifans, Chris Pratt, Chris Parnell, Mindy Kaling, Brian Posehn, Dakota Johnson, Mimi Kennedy, Adam Campbell, Jim Piddock, David Paymer, Kevin Hart, Jacki Weaver, Michael Ensign, Clement von Franckenstein, Jane Carr, Randall Park, Lauren Weedman Genre:Comedy

Movie #676 .........................."Seeking a Friend for the End of the World"

Movie #676 "Seeking a Friend for the End of the World" is a don't bother film. Oh my, where to begin. Farfetched idea behind a slow paced, boring plot to nowheresville --- Then you have a mismatching of casting with Keira Knightley, who appears to be in a different film than Steve Carell. Why I finished this is a big question. I guess just like I didn't believe an asteroid was hurtling toward earth in this film, I couldn't believe such talent was being wasted by this well respected cast. So this is a don't bother! I gave this 2.5 out of 3 stars. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World2012R94 minutes As an asteroid hurtles toward Earth, a man whose wife has abandoned him spends the planet's final days on a road trip to reunite with his high school sweetheart. But a lovely neighbor who tags along for the ride complicates his plans. Cast:Steve Carell, Keira Knightley, Melanie Lynskey, Connie Britton, Adam Brody, Gillian Jacobs, Patton Oswalt, T.J. Miller, Melinda Dillon, Rob Corddry, Rob Huebel, Amy Schumer Genre:Drama

Movie #675 .........................."Salmon Fishing in Yemen"

Movie #675 "Salmon Fishing in Yemen" is not a film for the action loving film goer. It is very slow, tedious, and one wonders why it was ever made ---- it is somewhat charming, but that is provided mostly by the cast. As far as a love story, I wasn't quite sure why they fell in love, to be honest, except they spent some time together, but their sharing of anything didn't seem to exist in the story --- at least not that much to convince us that she leave her very good looking boyfriend who seems to have little faults, and McGregor is married and granted, he doesn't seem very happy, but the relationship looked like if they worked on it, it just might get better. So, I guess what I am saying is that the love story didn't really work for me. So what is left? The Salmon fishing is such a weird subject matter, it is the only thing that interested me ---- that, and Kristin Scott Thomas, who turns in a great performance here. Other than that, not much here so I wouldn't recommend it much. I gave it 3.2 stars out of 5 Salmon Fishing in the Yemen2011PG-13111 minutes A sheik with a love for the sport hopes to introduce fly-fishing to the Middle East and turns to uptight fisheries expert Fred Jones for help. Buoyed by the sheik's enthusiasm (and his comely English aide), Fred sets out to achieve the impossible. Cast:Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, Amr Waked, Kristin Scott Thomas, Tom Mison, Catherine Steadman, Rachael Stirling, Tom Beard Genre:Romantic Comedies, Romantic Dramas, Dramas Based on Contemporary Literature, Comedy

Movie #674 ........................."Snow White & the Huntsman"

Movie #674 "Snow White and the Huntsman" was an overall boring film for me. I was only interested in the opening, but the rest of the story seemed old hat. Charlize does a good job as the bad guy because she gives some dimension to the character, but Kristen Stewart on the other hand doesn't really deliver. She's good in awkward parts, in standoffish ones, and also in teen angst, but here she is expected to show a goodness, almost a halo on her head, and I didn't feel she pulled it off, so film limps along to the end. Another huge disappointment is the dwarfs ---- they were marginally interesting, not what I wanted them to be. As far as Chris Hemsworth, he was good and not what was wrong with the film. He actually showed some sensitivity that he hadn't shown in Thor so much. Overall, I wouldn't run to the theater or your DVD player to see this one. Not very interesting. I gave it 2.8 out of 5 stars Snow White and the Huntsman2012PG-13127 minutes An updated take on the Snow White tale finds the fair-skinned maiden battling the Evil Queen with skills learned from the huntsman sent to kill her. Meanwhile, a love-struck prince bides his time from afar. Cast:Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, Sam Claflin, Ian McShane, Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone, Nick Frost, Toby Jones Genre:Action & Adventure

Movie #673 ........................."Men in Black 3"

Movie #673 "Men in Black 3" was a refreshing surprise. I saw it on the list of possible movies Air France was providing as we traveled there, but didn't watch it until Dave told me I might like it (coming back) and I did. It had really good special effects (Will Smith fighting with a very lifelike giant fish was amazing!) and good stunts, interesting plot, Bill Hader playing 3 parts, and a star turn for the character Griffin, played by Michael Stuhlberg! I want to see more of that guy. To me, he made the movie for me! I gave it 3.5 stars out of 5 When Earth comes under the threat of an alien attack, Agent J (Will Smith) travels back in time to join forces with a much-younger Agent K (Josh Brolin) and change the course of history. But if they fail, the future of the world is at stake. Cast:Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Jemaine Clement, Michael Stuhlbarg, Emma Thompson Genre:Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Movie #672 ........................."Reservation Road"

Movie #672 "Reservation Road" -- what a wonderful beginning, again, of a movie on Lifetime -- I guess that's their gimmick: hook the viewer in for the first 20 minutes, and all of a sudden I find myself watching a movie at 2 a.m. in the morning so I can see the ending. I always wanted to see this one because I find the three adults (and the Fanning kid) all very capable, and interesting, actors, esp. Mark Ruffalo. I also find the subject matter fascinating --- what would you do if your car accidentally ran over someone --- why would someone run? This film deals with just that. And the grief is overwhelming on Jennifer Connelly and Joaquin Phoenix's side --- tears you apart. The vengeance at the end is tough to watch, but because they are such good actors, they are able to pull it off somewhat. I found it really believable, well, most of it --- so I do somewhat recommend it --- very tense, and very sad. I give it 3.8 stars out of 5 Reservation Road2007R103 minutes The lives of Ethan and his wife, Grace, are thrown into chaos after their 10-year-old son is killed in a hit-and-run accident. When the case stalls, Ethan makes it his mission to hunt down and punish the person responsible. Cast:Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Connelly, Mira Sorvino, Elle Fanning, Sean Curley, Samuel Ryan Finn, Eddie Alderson, Susan Powell, Cordell Clyde Lochin, Antoni Corone, Kevin Herbst, Gary Kohn, John Slattery, John Rothman Genre:Crime Dramas, Dramas Based on Contemporary Literature

Movie #671 ........................."The Pact"

Movie #671 "The Pact" is not very good at all --- I had read the Jodi Piccoult novel and was anxious to see it, so when I saw it on the Lifetime channel the other night, I made sure to watch it. I was trying to remember why I liked the book so much because there seemed to be no information given in the movie --- maybe I missed something, but by the end of the movie we still don't really realize why the girl was so depressed, and what their relationship was really like, why the mother of the son and the father of the daughter were kissing in a scene or two (what was their background) and several other questions --- way too much missing from here, and just focused on the mother of the dead girl and how she hated the other family. That's only one facet of the big story, and really the big story should have focussed on the two kids, in my opinion. Didn't give it a 1 because it had a very good opening --- but that was it. So if you just plan to watch the first 20 minutes, here's the movie! I give it 2 stars out of 5 Cast: Megan Mulally, Juliet Stephenson A pair of young lovers, one depressed, decide to end their lives together in a suicide pact. This movie shows the aftermath for each member of both families, following the suicide and the prosecution of the one survivor of the suicide pact.

Movie #670 ........................."In the Land of Women"

Movie #670 "In the Land of Women" is my kind of film --- easygoing, well acted, has lots of humor in the dialogue, is a great commentary on relationships, never know where it is going because it comes across as "slice of life" --- I look at the plot below, and yes it is basically about that, but there's so much more. This probably was a flop at the box-office because it works better probably on the t.v. because it seems a story about your neighbors, everyday people, dealing with Grandma's senility, dealing with breast cancer, dealing with h.s. drama of dating, dealing with infidelity of a partner, and finally dealing with being in your 20s, brokenhearted, trying to find your way in the world. Yes, most of the cast is full of very capable women, but this Adam Brody is truly a find. I want to see more of his work --- he handles his own in all the scenes. At the end, I wanted to meet him and listen to him talk to me like these women did. I liked this film a lot! But I realize it is very slow-paced for a lot of movie viewers. P.S. it answers the question, where has Meg Ryan been and what is she doing now? and Kristin Stewart is excellent again, and without being a vampire! Gave it 4 stars out of 5 In the Land of Women2006PG-1397 minutes Disillusioned writer Carter Webb heads to the Michigan home of his ailing grandmother with plans to nurse her back to health. But he wasn't counting on assistance from a family of women living across the street. Cast:Elena Anaya, Eric Acsell, Tony Alcantar, Adam Brody, Olympia Dukakis, Clark Gregg, Adrian Hough, Brenda James, Gina Mantegna, Dustin Milligan, Meg Ryan, Lindsay Sloane, Kristen Stewart, Makenzie Vega Genre:Romantic Dramas