Movie #1166 ........................."The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt"

Movie #1166 "The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt"  was on TCM this a.m., and it piqued my interest so I watched most of it.  It must be a reoccurring character this lone wolf, but I wasn't acquainted with the character at all.  The film was only about 71 minutes long, so it didn't give much time to introduce "the Lone Wolf" so I'm thinking we probably were supposed to know something about him ahead of time (like Andy Hardy serial films, etc.)  Anyway, The female parts of the cast were pretty good with Ida Lupino, who herself would go on and be one of the first substantial women directors in Hollywood, and Rita Hayworth, who doesn't know her?  and Virginia Wiedler (child star, the big mouth little sister in "Philadelphia Story").  The women propelled the interest in the tedious plot for me, because I found the male lead rather drab.  Anyway, there are a lot better spy films from the 1930s, and I'm sure with this one coming out in 1939 (one of the greatest of all time as far as film is concerned), no one probably hardly noticed it.  It was okay, but nothing to write home about.  3 out of 5 stars.

The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt (1939)

Approved |  1h 11min | Adventure, Comedy, Crime | 27 January 1939 (USA)

A group of "spies" is after the plans for an anti-aircraft gun, and the leader uses the opportunity to embroil the Lone Wolf in the plot. Trying to settle an old score, this shady character... See full summary »

Director:

 Peter Godfrey

Writers:

 Jonathan Latimer (screen play),  Louis Joseph Vance (based upon a story by) 

Stars:

 Warren William,  Ida Lupino,  Rita Hayworth 

A group of "spies" is after the plans for an anti-aircraft gun, and the leader uses the opportunity to embroil the Lone Wolf in the plot. Trying to settle an old score, this shady character implicates his old nemesis by forcing him to crack the safe where the plans are stored.

Movie #1165 ........................."Dark Places"

Movie #1165 "Dark Places" is based on my favorite Gillian Flynn novel of the same name.  I had read "Gone Girl" first, and although I respected the "style" of the narrative and recognized it as very creative in its storytelling, I didn't like it nearly as well as this one.  Here's what hooked me into reading the book/seeing the film.  The story concerns the only survivors of a family tragedy.  One is the witness and the youngest member (libby) who was able to get out alive, and the other is in jail, her brother Ben, whom she said did the murders.  Now 30 years later , the fund set up for her when she died has depleted and Libby is told by her lawyer that she will now have to get a job.  A "Killer Club" representative calls her and says he will pay her to come to talk to his club, and she grudgingly acquiesces.  Her experience at the club is a game changer:  By bringing up all the details of the murders and all the questions asked of her, she is repulsed by the "crime solvers" but also her interest is piqued to find out if she was indeed right about blaming her brother.  So she becomes the "detective" in the novel, and I found that a great idea.  The story within the story is of course the tragedy, and it backs up to show the young family up to the night of the murders.  The movie is a lot like the book ---- I had read the book a long time ago, and while watching the film, I kept thinking "oh I remember this", etc.... so I couldn't say what the differences were --- maybe the very ending ---- I thought there was more of a promise of a relationship between Libby and one of the clubbers by the end of the book, but I didn't see that in the movie.  Boy, Charlize Theron puts forth another great performance here, along with Chloe Moritz as Diondra and the guy from House of Cards as her brother Ben.   They saved money on the other casting, but that was fine because Charlize is really the whole movie.  At one point in the film, Ben says she is as imprisoned as he is, and she gets that across very well.  She plays these damaged characters so well, and she is able to go into "dark places" that we fear.   The movie is not for the faint of heart (one scene in particular with animal cruelty), but if you can get past that, it is a very intriguing film, with a good storyline.  (I recommend it and the book)  I give it 4 stars out of 5.

Dark Places

2015 R Rated R113 mins

rated 2.9 stars

2.9

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A quarter-century after Libby Day's mother and sisters were brutally murdered in a crime she believes her brother committed, a group of amateur sleuths begins casting doubt on his guilt. Now, Libby must re-examine details of her painful memories.

Cast: Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Chloë Grace Moretz,

Movie #1164 ........................."Lady in a Van"

Movie #1164 "Lady in a Van" is my kind of film.  While watching the film, it was a delight because I never knew where it was going next.  This is based on a true story about a woman who parked her van in the playwright Alan Bennett's driveway for 15 years, and he decided to write about it.  It doesn't seem like much of a story, but it works because it is strictly character-driven --- that's why I enjoyed it so much.  And Maggie Smith inhabit the character of Mary Shepherd with vigor, with heroic dignity, with contrariness and crassness, and crabbiness ----- and much more.  The unique way the story is told (I don't want to say specifically how because it would ruin the set up)  was a delight as well because it sets the story up on another level, and it further shows the growth in the narrator.  A sidebar that made it particularly amusing to me was that this movie gathered  together for this film a bunch of actors that were on broadway together in Alan Bennett's brilliant play "History Boys" (many were in the film "History Boys," as well) , including Mr. Bennett himself, who makes a cameo appearance toward the end of this film.  Now, I have been raving about the film, but I must say that it is not a film for everyone.  I sensed not all the audience was following the erudite, play-like script due to it being  possibly too fast,  or possibly mumbled in parts (it should have used subtitles, since most of my audience was over 65, and I would think the older agers would be the  main demographic for this particular film) and it doesn't have a lot of big moments ----- it takes a while to get into it and to even like Maggie Smith's character , and it has no car chases, or nude scenes, or CGI and special effects.  Yet, it stands alone as a very entertaining film if you are willing to listen and appreciate the dialogue and the acting.  I would give it 5 stars, and I wonder why it wasn't nominated (at least for Maggie) for any awards in the past season.

The Lady in the Van

2015 PG-13 Rated PG-13

rated 3.5 stars

3.5

In this touching human drama adapted from writer Alan Bennett's bestselling memoir, he befriends the elderly Miss Shepherd, who's living in a van that's been parked in his driveway for 15 years.

Cast: Maggie Smith, Alex Jennings, Jim Broadbent.

Movie #1163 ........................."I Smile Back"

Movie #1163 "I Smile Back" was a story I've seen before:  housewife   with two adorable kids and a husband who seems not to pay a lot of attention to her but seems to try takes cocaine, drinks to excess and embarrasses her husband and kids  (for one reason or another)   until a big scene occurs, so hubby sends her off to rehab,but it isn't as easy as that --- because of the addictions, she has also been sleeping with her best friend's husband --- anyway, she appears to be better, but we all know looks are deceiving........yep, been there, done that, as far as films, but Silverman is tough NOT to watch --- it happens a lot when a comedian takes a dramatic turn and does it well, so we aren't too surprised --- just wish the film offered more --- it's hard to watch her self destructiveness, her deception, her son who seems to have a tick & and who seems to be on  his way to having problems like she had when she was growing up --- it's all so sad, if only there was more to the story........I would give this 3 stars out of 5, but I upped it to 3.5 for the brave ending ---- it ends abruptly and very affecting ---- sure to get a gasp or some kind of reaction of a caring audience member.  That part I liked, but it's the getting there that was uncomfortable, raunchy, oh so familiar, but still sad.

I Smile Back

2015 R Rated R85 mins ------ 3.5 out of 5 stars

rated 2.9 star

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On the surface, Laney Brooks has the life that many covet: two adorable kids, a beautiful home and a successful husband. But behind the façade, she's headed for crisis, tortured by self-doubt and medicating herself heavily with drugs and alcohol.

Cast: Sarah Silverman, Josh Charles, Thomas Sadoski, 

Movie #1162 ........................."Amy"

Movie #1162 "Amy" was just awarded an Oscar fro best documentary for 2016, and I thought, after watching all the documentaries nominated, that it wasn't the best at all.  It was way too long, too repetitive, and so generic that it could have been a lot of people's bio (like Whitney Huston).  Towards the end of the film, Amy tells a friend that she would give anything not to be famous any more, and I think that's why it spoke to the voters, many of whom feel the same thing.  But if they really looked at this documentary, they would see that technically or storywise, it is mediocre.  For the past several years, this particular award has been given to a film about the music industry, so it seems in this category, the Oscars seem to be in a rut.  There were other films nominated that were wider in scope, dealing with very huge problems in our society --- like "Cartel Land" about the border problems we have with the drug cartels by the Mexican border, or "Winter on Fire" about the Ukrainian strike against their government to be heard!  That one was gut wrenching, and technically, it was amazing the footage they got on that subject, and the story as it unfolded was so well told.  One other movie that was nominated was "What Happened, Miss  Simone?" and it was so much better, and if you get a chance to see it, do, because not only does it go through her rollercoaster -of- a- ride life, but it meanwhile covers all the big events of the civil rights movement!  It has her songs threaded throughout the film, but less obviously than the "Amy" film.  All in all, I felt I really didn't need to see this at all, and don't recommend it.  I would give it 2.5 out of 5 stars.

Amy

2015 R Rated R128 mins      I'd give it  2.5 stars out of 5

rated 3.6 stars

3.6

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Though singer Amy Winehouse released only two albums during her brief and stormy career, she left an indelible mark on pop music. This affecting documentary recounts her meteoric rise to fame and the addictions that ended her life at age 27.

Cast: Amy Winehouse