Movie #1563 ........................."Meet Me in Las Vegas"

Movie #1563 "Meet Me in Las Vegas" was a TCM offering the other day while I was cleaning the house , and I had it on in the background ---- I had never seen it so I was anxious to see Cyd Charisse with someone other than Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire.  However, the two (Cyd and Dan Dailey)  didn't do a number together until more than halfway through the film --- it was a cute number (the girl with the yellow shoes) but I'm not sure it was well worth the wait.  The movie is pretty basic fare --- the life of a ballerina in conflict with a life as a rancher's wife........Cyd is the lead ballerina for a broadway show, and this gambler/rancher big mouth decides that when he holds Cyd's hand and bets, he always wins ---- until he falls in love with her..........the film is full of other people performing, like Sammy Davis Jr, and  lena horne , and there's a strange number with Dan Dailey &  a little japanese girl that is not a  part of the main plot so it  seemed stuck in there --- that makes the film a bit disjointed.  But it's fun to see Cyd dance and dance and dance, which there is a lot of here, esp. a cute number where she tries to prove that a ballerina can do any kind of dancing, even a striptease.  I'd give it 3.5 stars out of 5.

Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956)

Not Rated | 1h 52min | Comedy, Romance, Musical | 9 March 1956 (USA)

In 1950s Las Vegas, a gambling rancher and a ballerina discover that some people have luck at cards while others have luck at love.

Director:

 Roy Rowland

Writers:

 Isobel Lennart (screen story), Isobel Lennart(screenplay) 

Stars:

 Dan Dailey, Cyd Charisse, Agnes Moorehead

Movie #1562 ........................."Absentia"

Movie #1562 "Absentia" Season 1 --- it's a t.v. show starring "Castle" actress ( Beckett) Stana Katic.  That's actually why I looked this one up and watched it.  I noticed that Castle is having his new show debuting in the fall , and I wondered what Miss Katic was up to after "Castle" and found this show.  I watched the whole thing (10 episodes, hour long each) in a couple of nights and really enjoyed it.  Her acting pushes the show along, as she tries to put pieces back together after being an government agent who is kidnapped and disappears.  When she returns, it was intriguing to me  to see how she  deals with a child who has gone from 2 years old to 8 and has another mom, how she deals with a husband who has remarried, & how she deals with a life turned upside down and she is now being blamed for the murder of her possible kidnapper.  The show is tense every minute & thus  tough to watch so it isn't for everyone.  What I esp. liked about it is the turns it takes in the story line, and I'm not sure how the writers did it, but they managed to end every episode up in the air so you wanted to continue to the next one in 25 seconds..... In that way, it reminded me of the early Castle episodes which I always marveled at because I would try to be guessing who the murderer was and the twists and turns made me change my mind or continually be surprised as one piece of evidence covers up the importance of the previous one.  There's stuff I didn't like --- like the previous husband --- he mumbled a lot ---some of the secondary people (like the cop heavy on her tracks) needed stronger acting chops, and the ending could have been more satisfactory --- some of the tie ins seemed stretched, but the balancing act they were trying to do without was pretty good.  I recommend it, but not for the faint of heart.  I wonder if there will be a season 2.  Oh, and another cool thing is that it was filmed in Bulgaria (which according to this show hardly ever sees the light of day) and the cast and crew are quite diverse in cultures.

"ABSENTIA"    t.v.   season 1             4 out of 5 stars

After being declared dead in absentia, an FBI agent must reclaim her family, identity and innocence when she finds herself the prime suspect in a string of murders.

Creators:

 Matthew Cirulnick, Gaia Violo

Stars:

 Stana Katic, Patrick Heusinger, Cara Theobold 

Movie #1561 ........................."The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society"

Movie #1561 "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" --- Finally, a 5 out of 5 film that I got to watch this week --- what a gem it is.  This is a movie I want to own and cherish and show to others because it is that good!  I'm not surprised at all because the book is one of my favorites.  How can I not like a book (and now film)  that shows the power of reading, takes place during WWII, and has a great love story included?  Well, the film does the book justice --- it is character driven, it is cast supremely well (with a reunion of 3 "Downton Abbey" actors), and it cuts out the brutal parts of Ravensbruck that the book covered extensively. I was so glad it kept in the wonderful characters that were introduced so well in the book, and it followed the story really well, even though the book is all letters....... the film tried to shake that part up a bit so that you wouldn't even notice that it was done in letters.......I was ecstatic to be able to see Guernsey (never even hearing about this place before I read the book), to see a portrayal of a sensitive, nice German soldier, to watch people with strength dealing with grief, and so much more.  I wholeheartedly recommend this book and film, but you can enjoy the film just by watching that, if you choose.  And make sure you watch through the credits; the film does something wonderful there, too.  5 out of 5 stars.

"THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY"   2 hrs & 3 mins

A London writer bonds with the colorful residents of Guernsey as she learns about the book club they formed during WWII German occupation to deal with the tragedy of  the war.

Starring:  Lily James (Rose from Downton), Penelope Wilton (Matthew's Mom in DT), Michael Huismann (from Treme), Jessica Brown Findlay (Sybil from DT)

this can be streamed through netflix

Movie #1560 ........................."Crazy Rich Asians"

Movie #1560 "Crazy Rich Asians"  has been getting high scores from the critics, and equally high scores from audiences.  I thought it was good, but it takes steps back in the genre of rom-coms. This is the main genre I watch, and the genre has been changing and evolving, as love between two people has changed quite a bit.  Yet this film deals with same old, same old  --- ie. guy meets girl and in several months has not introduced her to his family (who live in Singapore) so he takes her back for a wedding, without telling her very much about them --- esp. how rich they (and he) are.  And they expect him to come back and run the business some day..soon!  Conflict is with bull-headed mother ----- sound familiar?  it should.  Yes,  the story and conflict look familiar, but  what makes it an important film this year is that it introduces us to the Asian culture in Singapore.   Movies haven't showcased this culture  ever in this way so the "stars" aren't the names in hollywood, but we've seen the cast members here in a host of shows, usually not lead roles because, well, hollywood tends to cast white (until recently). Aside from it being important to see, there's a lot to like:    costumes, lavishness of the houses and rest of the sets (a la Great Gatsby), just being able to see Singapore was a treat ---learning about the culture, the food, the customs, was very intriguing, but because they are mostly rich and flaunt their richness, they weren't very endearing to the audience......just the lovebirds.   The lead girl (the american chinese, as the guy's mom refers to her) is very natural, and thank god for that because everyone else seems to be pushy and  over the top characters, characters you wouldn't want to be around.  There were nicer people as part of her family, but they seemed to be quiet, & in the background. Her friend is a treat, but her character seemed to go in and out. But that's the major problem with this film --- it is uneven.  We have a nice scene with grandma, but then a few scenes later, grandma doesn't seem to be the same woman.  She is used to further the conflict, so she's changed from when we first got to know her.....that happens with a lot of the characters.....the bride to be seems nice and natural when we first meet her, not nice when she has all these friends who treat her "new friend" badly, and then a  romantic, gentle  bride on her wedding day.   Maybe  that's the "crazy" part the title refers to, but for a film that is introducing us to a new culture, why does it show so many mean aspects of it?  And the ending doesn't make sense to me ----- just to get to the rom com expected ending, it doesn't ring true.  I do like two aspects besides the costumes/sets mentioned above.  One is the main couple -- they are the ones capable of acting , and they come across as natural and caring and principled.  The other part I liked is the choice the lead makes toward the end of the film --- it takes place during a backgammon game (I wish I knew how to play it because I think I would have really gotten more meaning out of the "Play") Two strong females, fighting over the boy, both clearly loving him, but someone has to give him up --- a well-played scene.  Otherwise, the film is uneven filled with a lot of silliness (why is Eddie in there?).   However, I would recommend the film  for the introduction of the culture, its strength of the two female characters, and what it says about money!   Maybe if we get several more asian films (that get better and better) , we'll see less all white casts and see more diversity that includes asians in major roles  in our films in the future!

one more maybe?  Maybe someone can speak on the book (because I didn't read it) and tell us if the script does the book justice (?)

I give it  3.5 out of 5


"CRAZY RICH ASIANS"    2018      PG-13

When economics professor Rachel Chu joins beau Nick Young for his best friend's nuptials in Singapore, she's shocked to discover that Nick is the heir to an enormous fortune -- making him the target of every woman in the country.

Cast: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Gemma Chan

Movie #1559 ........................."Wonderstruck"

Movie #1559 "Wonderstruck" I had heard wonderful things about this film before seeing it, so I was expecting it to be much better than it turned out to be --- in fact, it was a disappointment to me.  Yes, it has a good ending ( but one that many people could figure out before seeing it, as I did) , but the getting there is drawn out, slowly paced, and not very smooth from one timeline to the next.  Hats off to some of the edits being quite creative and smooth, but they were few and far between.  When I think back to this film, I remember long discussions with characters  taking time to write out most of the dialogue that is being told from one person to the next ---- I totally understand why, but I kept thinking, isn't there another way? ---  do BOTH characters have to be hard of hearing? Yes, it makes the film stand out more, since it is more a silent film than a "talkie."  And  yes it ties the two kids together even though they live in two timelines, but I really don't think that having the boy hard of hearing was a necessity  because it slowed down the story so much --- and it took away from the deaf girl's story, to me.  I could be alone in this attitude, but that's how I felt.  Now, it also could be because I am truly an audial person --- even when watching t.v. or some films, I rely on the spoken word, the sounds in the film, the music,    Because this film does not rely on those elements, it  didn't grab me at the beginning --- I thought the acting was weak and the script clunky in opening; in fact, I spent my time  watching the great Michelle Williams trying to get this character across in a short amount of time and  with very little dialogue to help her  -- add to that,  a rather weak delivery from her counterpart in the scene, the little boy.  So the film didn't pull me in from the get go --- the story I really followed moreso is the little deaf girl --- her point of view, the subjective camera on what SHE sees and how she interprets the world was very intriguing to me, but that story kept getting interrupted by the other one, so it was hard to keep engaged ---- anyway, I wouldn't recommend this film (critics liked it better than audiences according to some websites) --- it is pretty, it tries to be different by depending on sound & visuals rather than dialogue, but the story drags --- the pay off is good, and the sets and costumes (NYC 1927 and 1977) are nifty, and those are what I enjoyed a lot as the story slogged along.  3 out of 5 stars

"WONDERSTRUCK"    1 HOUR AND 57 MINS       2017       PG

Based on the novel of the same name, this period drama unspools two tales that play out 50 years apart. In 1927, a girl runs away to New York City to meet the actress she idolizes, while in 1977, a boy travels to the Big Apple find his long-lost dad.

Cast: Oakes Fegley, Julianne Moore, Michelle Williams

Movie #1558 ........................."Trevor Noah: Afraid of the Dark"

Movie #1558 "Trevor Noah:  Afraid of the Dark" --- streamed this on netflix the other night, and it was a lot of fun.  He does what I would term "smart" comedy --- i.e., he's pretty witty with his take on things --- he's a great listener and observer , and he shows that in this show, which only lasts about 60 minutes.  I hardly ever watch standup comedy, but he's an exception.  I watch him daily on his show, and no matter how bad the news is, he manages to make me laugh.  Here, he touches on new yorkers, and he does several other bits about traveling that I really enjoyed. (esp. this man from India's disc with a tourist).  I'd give it 4 stars out of 5.

"TREVOR NOAH:  AFRAID OF THE DARK"      2017       1 HOUR     not for kids

the host of "The Daily Show" ponders the period of naming countries, how traffic lights turn New Yorkers invincible and why you shouldn't drink in Scotland.

17. Trevor Noah – "Afraid of the Dark"

“The Daily Show” host’s latest stand-up special isn’t as political as you might expect. But he shares stories of how, in the wake of a Trump presidency, even white people are asking Noah about moving to South Africa. One highlight is his extended conversation between a native of India and the first British colonizer17. Trevor Noah – "Afraid of the Dark"

“The Daily Show” host’s latest stand-up special isn’t as political as you might expect. But he shares stories of how, in the wake of a Trump presidency, even white people are asking Noah about moving to South Africa. One highlight is his extended conversation between a native of India and the first British colonizer

Movie #1557 ........................."Mama Mia: Here We Go Again"

Movie #1557 "Mama Mia:  Here We Go Again"  or Number 2, the sequel (which is the reason Meryl Streep isn't in the film much --- tries to never do sequels.  But it really isn't a sequel because the story does not follow the musical --- it has nothing to do with the musical, just goes in the future a tad and mixes that up with going into the past, when Donna (Meryl Streep, who is now Lily James (from Downton Abby and Cinderella) gets pregnant with Sophie, the young "bride" in Mama Mia 1.  Anyway, this "sequel" is better than the first, in my opinion.  It, as a film, is more laid back and takes it easier than the first one, which really pushed hard to get every number across....as if it were competing with the very popular musical.  This time the energy comes from the young trio of Donna and her friends, showing excellent singing and dancing abilities, and it doesn't come across as forced, but more in the spirit of being young and free and getting away and being on their own for the first time.  Another aspect I liked about the film is that the songs fit in so much better than the musical --- I'm not a big fan of the musical , but the story here makes more sense, and for the first time, I actually followed the words to "Waterloo" and other of the Abba songs , and they introduced the characters or situations so much better than in the first movie.  I also enjoyed the photography a bit more because the editor was doing some slick stuff with mirrors (in one scene) and just used more "witty" techniques to smooth the movement from one scene to the next --- and it was a bit difficult at times with going from past to present quite swiftly --- sometimes using the same places.  Really cool, and kept the audience on its toes.  I'd give it a 4.2 ---- very recommended from me for its entertainment value --- the aim is for you to come out feeling good, and that's needed once in a while.  Oh, and make sure you sit through the credits because there's a running joke that comes in one more time at the end.  And Cher has two numbers!  And if you are looking for a great example of good editing, check out the last ballad that Amanda and Meryl Streep sing.  Terrific job!

"MAMA MIA;  HERE WE GO AGAIN"    PG-13     1 HOUR and 54 minutes

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In this sun-soaked sequel, a pregnant Sophie (Donna's daughter) is now running the family villa on Kalokairi and worried about facing motherhood minus her mom's guidance. But Donna's best friends reassure Sophie with tales about Donna's experiences.

Movie #1556 ........................."Eighth Grade"

Movie #1556 "Eight Grade" --- ewwww!  this movie reminded me just how awkward we all probably were back in middle school.........and this girl's performance (if you can call you that) hits it right on the head because she doesn't look like she's acting at all --- She does an advice video on a daily basis that says absolutely nothing, as far as advice.  She has a crush on a "bad boy" instead of focusing more on the nerd who tries to talk to her at a pool party.  She decides since she will be attending high school next year that she should start taking chances.....baby steps, but the one time she does, does not turn out well --- uh oh, two steps back.  Her dad is wonderfully played by Josh Hamilton (stage performer) who seems again to be this girl's real father --- he tries so hard you want to put your arm around him and say, "There, There."  Not sure the film is for everyone......it's getting a whopping 98% from the critics at rotten tomatoes.com --- critics like this slice of life.  But audience scores are in the 80s because, well, it's uncomfortable --- laughing is oftentimes done to cover up how slow or awkward a scene or line is.  The film IS slow --- has lots of gaps, lots of repetition. But it definitely shows the life of an eighth grader in this day and age, where social media is so darn tough on the nice people who just want some attention and want to fit in.  Big question I had as I left the theatre --- would eighth graders like the film?  I asked a grandmother sitting behind me that had two kids, one going into eighth grade and they said they liked it, and grandma was happy the kids saw it (good for them, she said, even though the kids  said one scene was not appropriate (it's the banana scene --- you can guess what that is about!) but this grandma thought it was tame (the banana scene in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" was pretty controversial, the way I remember it -- times change).  But I don't know --- I'm thinking a discerning, thinking eighth grader might get it, but maybe it might be more appreciated by   high schoolers looking back?  if they do that?  I'd give it a 4.

"EIGHTH GRADE"      2018      RATED R (hah!  it's that banana scene!)

As Kayla Day begins the last week of a difficult year in eighth grade, the emotional perils of adolescence swirl around her. Though she's comfortable with her online persona, the looming social challenges of high school terrify her.

Cast: Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton, Frank Deal

Movie #1555 ........................."The Ant Man and the Wasp"

Movie #1555 "The Ant Man and the Wasp" -- I don't usually like these superhero films, but there's something about this franchise that I really enjoy --- perhaps it's the sense of humor in between the fights, or maybe the big chase scenes that seem different from other heroes' films because these heroes are so tiny --- or then again, it can be the  constant change in the backgrounds (from too big to too small) so it saves the film from boredom....whatever it is, I recommend this film as just a fun summer film show to see --- what a hoot to see the big car chase on the streets of San Franciso (in homage to Bullit, perhaps?), to see Michelle Pfeiffer as the mom coming back to life, Michael Douglas playing the hostile father who tries to protect his daughter, Michael Pena, ordinarily a very dramatic actor, taking on a humorous sidekick role here.  Overall, there are just a few clunky moments dealing with dialogue that made those moments appear to be a bit soapoperish --- otherwise, very enjoyable.

"ANT MAN AND THE WASP"PG-13        2018            4 stars out of 5

It's not easy balancing dad obligations with superhero duties, but Scott Lang is doing his best. Called upon to team with the Wasp and help carry out a crucial new mission, he again dons his Ant-Man suit and gears up for battle. 

Cast: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Peña

Movie #1554 ........................"Indignation"

Movie #1554 "Indignation" --- based on one of Phillip Roth's final books, I found it to be  well done, with strong acting by the lead and his parents and the jewish boys at his college. Prior to this, it's been  a difficult task for Hollywood  to put Roth's books on screen successfully.  I have not read this particular book, but the film makes me want to because it seems a nice solid study of a kid who has worked at the family business all of his young life, and then he finds himself , as a jew, attending a christian school and having trouble fitting in --- even with the jewish fraternity.  That is, until he meets a fragile, damaged young lady, who seems quite experienced and worldly.   He's at the college to escape being conscripted into the Korean War, and the last moment of this film is gut wrenching, and perhaps makes the rest of the film fall into place.  Can't say much more, but there's much less action than long discussions here --- and that is my major complaint --- there's a 20 minute scene with Tracy Letts, the principal at the school, that should have been cut, and a couple of other ones that needed better editing, too.  But overall, the story in intriguing, and I would recommend it to those who don't mind a bit of a talky film about a kid growing up in the 1950s.

"INDIGNATION"      2016             1 hour and 52 minutes

When he's admitted to a rigidly Christian college in the Midwest, Marcus Messner also achieves another goal: to get away from his domineering Jewish dad. But Marcus' optimism is soon tempered by a nettling dean and signs of anti-Semitism on campus.

Cast: Logan Lerman, Sarah Gadon, Tracy Letts,

Movie #1553 .........................."Mission Impossible: Fallout"

Movie #1553 "Mission Impossible:  Fallout" --- I really enjoyed this film, esp. all the stunts that Cruise and crew performed --- and they are, indeed, performances.  After a week, I can't really remember all the plot intricacies, but I remember Cruise hanging on a helicopter, jumping from one bldg to another, him jumping out of planes, motorcycle riding through Paris (including one kick-ass scene through and  around  the 8 lanes (or more) that surround the the Arc de triumph  -- unbelievable!!!! I liked the love story that comes to the foreground only in one major scene, but is the elephant in the room in so many other scenes. It was also fun to watch Simon Pegg go through so much when he usually prefers to be a bystander.  I highly recommend this film for action movie watchers ---- or just a good, very solid spy thriller.  I'd give it 4.5.  (relied a lot on how much knowledge you have from the whole franchise --- my fault -- I should have seen the previous one before seeing this, and I would have had an easier watch.

"MISSION IMPOSSIBLE:  FALLOUT"    PG-13           2018

Überspy Ethan Hunt and his fearless cohorts on the Impossible Missions Force are tested as never before -- physically and mentally -- in this stunt-heavy installment of the action-thriller series.

Cast: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames

Movie #1552 ........................."Hannah GaDsby's: Nanette"

Movie #1552 "Nanette" (Hannah GaDsby) I had heard this was pretty much viral, so I found it on netflix to stream ("Trending now" section) , and I'm glad I did, because I found it quite intriguing. From the very beginning you could tell this speaker is one to be reckoned with --- so insightful, so biting at times --- a comic who gets to the core of an argument, who doesn't waste lines..... a feminist, who depends on stories of what happened to her when she was growing up  gay in Tasmania , when homosexuality was illegal until 1996.  She takes on her critics of her comedy, she takes on her mom, her relatives, there's a vast store of observations that she is making, and her set becomes quite topical, jaw dropping, and universal all rolled into one.  But then, it takes a turn, and  she starts to make angry statements --- dead serious that also cut to the bone.  You in the audience might feel awkward, uncomfortable,  but that's her purpose.  Then, she goes back to humor for a little while, until she gets to the high point at about 50 minutes in --- where she tells you she doesn't think she can do the "comedy" stuff any more because it can cover up the truth, and we don't need to cover up truth anymore.  When I was done watching this, I felt a hit in the gut --- it was so raw, so tense, so very very good, that I immediately started to send the link with a recommendation   to people I thought  would get something out of it and value it.  So I recommend this overwhelmingly; however, it is NOT for everyone.  The language is raw --- the subject matter is offensive at times.  It just is really well done, very truthful, human and insightful.  I give it 4.5 out of 5.  I felt it was just a tad long (maybe should have stopped at 60 minutes?) just because there's a limit to the amount of time  one can sit and listen to the style she uses.   But there's one thing I know for sure --- This needs to be seen by as many people as possible.



"NANETTE"  BY HANNAH GADSBY      69 MINUTES     2018
She's serious about leaving comedy, but first she's taking aim at toxic culture and the concept of self-deprecating humor.