Movie #1610 ........................."Christmas on Honeysuckle Lane"

Movie #1610 "Christmas on Honeysuckle Lane" -- this movie just proves that you can have a really shabby script and put good actors in it, and they can make it watchable, which is just what happens in this movie.   I have enjoyed watching Alicia Witt and Colin Ferguson together in various other movies, but this one was a bit of a stinker --- there was some big party that they were preparing for but I never got a handle on why they had to do that, there was a brother but he never seem to connect to anyone else in the film, the other sister seemed to have this continual argument with her daughter about her not telling her mother that she was thinking of changing her major (what kid hasn't kept info like that for mom, esp. when you see the mom's reaction to the change)  I don't know --- I wasn't sold on this film, but I like watching the chemistry with the two leads so I'd give it a weak 3 out of 5.

"CHRISTMAS ON HONEYSUCKLE LANE"   2018

Emma returns home to celebrate Christmas for the last time with her siblings in the house they grew up in. After their parents' recent passing, the siblings reluctantly agree to sell the family home on Honeysuckle Lane.

Director:

 Maggie Greenwald

Writers:

 Caitlin D. Fryers (Writer), Caitlin D. Fryers (Written By) 

Stars:

 Alicia Witt, Colin Ferguson, Laura Leighton

Movie #1609 ........................."Marrying Father Christmas"

Movie #1609 "Marrying Father Christmas" is the third installment of this Father Christmas series of films, and for my money, it is the weakest.  It still has the very genuine leads (Erin Krakow being the girl, and one of my favorite actresses of these Hallmark films), but the story is really weak.  Each of the films has a mystery in the center --- The first one is who Erin's father really was and by the end of that film, she meets the love of her life and gains an entire new family (relations of her actor dad); the second one dealt with outing her dad and ending up somewhat of a scandal that put her new family in a somewhat embarrassing situation, but all comes out good in the end and her bf proposes to her.  Now , in this one, there's a man who is following Erin around and he says he is related to her mom --- meanwhile, she is planning the marriage to her bf  --- it ends up happily, but the center conflict was very weak and not much of a story.  They end up married (not giving away anything there --- look at the title) , so I'm wondering if there will be more in this series or if this is the end.  I think it is okay to stop there......how many more big mysteries can there be in one person's life?  I give this 3.5 out of 5 stars.


"MARRYING FATHER CHRISTMAS"    2018

In the latest installment to the Father Christmas trilogy, Miranda and Ian finally look to tie the knot, but more complications are always on the horizon, putting their happily ever after in jeopardy.

Director:

 David Winning

Writer:

 David Golden

Stars:

 Wendie Malick, Erin Krakow, Niall Matter

Movie #1608 ........................."Hope at Christmas"

Movie #1608 "Hope at Christmas" was a good story with okay leads, but exceptional secondary people with interesting backstories, as well.  The girl is enough to watch the film --- she's a cutie and full of lots of energy, which is a good choice for this cast since the lead woman seems really cold through 2/3 of the film.  Then in the last 1/3 she seems to open up, and that's when she wins over the audience.  The guy speaks way too quickly and mumbles about 1/2 of the film until for some reason he decides to buy into getting closer to her and the little girl.  The story reminded me a little of "You Got Mail" with the bookstore and reading so important.  And there's this one terrific scene where kids build their own Christmas tree with books!  Loved that!  I would give this film 4 stars out of 5, even with its weaknesses in the lead characters ---- but if you see it as a build with a change in character (not overly motivated except that time changes things, I guess), you probably will like this film, too.

"HOPE AT CHRISTMAS "     2018

Sydney Ragsdale (Thompson), recently divorced, decides to spend Christmas in a house she inherited with her young daughter. As Sydney begins to spend more time at the local bookstore, she meets a teacher, Mac (Paevey), who also fills in for the town Santa. Mac tries to make Christmas wishes come true, and this year Sydney is at the top of his 'nice' list. As a new opportunity with the bookstore unfolds, Mac helps Sydney open herself up to life, love, and believing in the spirit of Christmas again.

Writers: Robert Tate Miller (teleplay by), Nancy Naigle (novel) | 1 more credit »

Stars: Shelby Armstrong, Peter Graham-Gaudreau, Dakota Guppy

Movie #1607 ........................."Pride, Prejudice and Mistletoe"

Movie #1607 "Pride, Prejudice and Mistletoe" was a meh film, even though one of my favorite Hallmark actresses (Lacey Chabert) was in it.  The guy was not very believable in his role as a chef who helps Lacy (who is helping her mother) run a big festival --- they were fellow debate team rivals back in the day and that carries through to the present as they have manufactured arguments over how best to deal with this big party.  I really don't recommend this and give it 2 stars out of 5.

"PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND MISSLETOE"   2018

Darcy (Chabert) started her own company, rather than work with her father. Returning to her hometown for Christmas, Darcy reconnects with an old rival from high school, tavern owner Luke (Penny).Darcy's mother has them plan a charity event together. As Darcy and Luke plan the event, she is trying to find what age wants in life. Based on the book of the same title by Melissa de la Cruz.

Director:

 Don McBrearty

Writers:

 Nina Weinman (teleplay by), Melissa de la Cruz (based on the book by) 

Stars:

 Lacey Chabert, Brendan Penny, Sherry Miller

Movie #1606 ........................."Reunited at Christmas"

Movie #1606 "Reunited at Christmas"  was kind of dull ---- the bright light of the family appears to have died during the year, but left a list of to do's for the reunited family to do, like they have always done  in past Christmases.  The leads are winsome but the rest of the cast is a bit on the boring side.  The story lags a bit from one scene to the next as the lead woman, a writer, tries to put together her writing project. The conflict is a bit weak (and overused in these hallmark ventures) because it deals with an engagement that is forced upon her and the leads have to pretend they are getting married, therefore covering up the real truth that she isn't sure.  There seems to be good chemistry between the leads, and he is as charming as she is ---- that's not the problem.  It's just the story doesn't have much to it.  I like the two leads, so I would give it a 3 out of 5.









"REUNITED AT CHRISTMAS"   2018   ---- HALLMARK MOVIE

Director: Steven R. Monroe

Writers: David Golden, Marcy Holland

Stars: Nikki Deloach, Mike Faiola, Lisa Durupt

Frazzled and struggling with writer's block, novelist Samantha (Deloach), along with her boyfriend, heads home to her late grandmother's home to spend Christmas. While at home with family, her grandmother's wise words reveal the true meaning of Christmas with Samantha at a time when she most needs encouragement.

Movie #1605 ........................"Christmas at Pemberly Manor

Movie #1605 "Christmas at Pemberly Manor was a fun watch for me because I enjoyed the guy lead, and the story was charming to me.  It dealt with a rich guy who was prepping his manor for a big sale; meanwhile, a young woman who is in charge of the town festival requests to use the grounds.  Because he finds her an interesting person to butt heads with, he acquiesces ---- and of course love is in the air at Pemberly Manor.  The woman spoke way too fast --- and she's best when she is snarky --- but has problems with other scenes.  However, the story kept me watching so I would recommend this one --- the dialogue was choppy throughout, too, but then I decided that they were doing it like a Jane Austen presentation, so I got used to it.  I would give this 3.5 out of 5 stars.

"CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLY MANOR"     2018

Loosely based on Pride and Prejudice, event planner Elizabeth Bennet is initially at odds with Mr. Darcy, the owner of Pemberley Manor, which she intends to be the venue of her next event but soon finds herself irresistibly attracted to him.

Director:

 Colin Theys

Writer:

 Rick Garman

Stars:

 Jessica Lowndes, Michael Rady, Cole Gleason 

Movie #1604 ........................."A Quiet Place"

Movie #1604 "A Quiet Place:" --- First, I should start by saying that I don't usually watch horror movies, a genre this particular film would be labelled.  In fact, I had to wait to watch this one until I had someone else to watch it with (Dave dislikes horror pictures so much, he refused to see it with me   ---- he still hasn't seen "Silence of the Lambs," which went on to win a bunch of oscars and therefore was the impetus for me to finally sit down and watch it, but it still is one of the few I've seen in the horror genre).  Anyway, I have so much respect for the leads in this film (John Krasinski and his wife Emily Blunt) that I trusted that in their hands  they  had something important  to say , and I respect that they tried to do it in a very creative way.   I must admit that I had some misgivings while watching it --- for one,  I  wish they would have had more explanations for what was happening, and secondly, I disliked that guns were used in the film as part of the solution to their problems..... that being said, I feel the film succeeds mostly in the  competent, creative way it unfolds.... once you get sucked into  the story, it is hard to  break away --- it is that tense!  And all of this is done without SOUND, which is  unbelievable, esp. to one who depends mostly on sound for her information (like me).  That's probably why I wanted even more information to be given to me ---- the film was mostly relying on visuals, and I confess that I probably missed some  along the way.  But that doesn't take away from how different this film is --- how creative it is ---- how difficult it must have been to do it --- bow powerful the message is when done in such a unique way ---- and how important the film is to see for its one-of-a-kind style.  I highly recommend it for those reasons.  "Attention must be paid " to this film for the risks it takes to get across its message.  Well done!

"A QUIET PLACE" 2018

In this tense chiller, the horror mounts as the Abbott family struggles to survive in a postapocalyptic world where monstrous blind creatures use their supersensitive hearing to stalk human prey -- forcing the Abbotts to live in silence.

Cast 

John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Noah Jupe, Millicent Simmonds, Cade Woodward

Director 

John Krasinski

Genres 

Thrillers, Suspense, Sci-Fi Thrillers, Sci-Fi Horror

Moods 

Ominous, Chilling, Scary, Suspenseful

Movie #1603 ........................."Can You Ever Forgive Me?"

Movie #1603 "Can You Ever Forgive me?"  I saw this film a few days ago, and I'm still thinking about it.  I found this a fascinating study of a very complex, sad and lonely writer, Lee Israel.  Melissa McCarthy is up to the challenge to play this woman, and Richard E. Grant shines as her friend and partner in illegal activity.  Either could garner a nomination for AA, they are that good here.  The film is a sad biopic, but it has a fair amount of humor because the characters the two actors portray are very colorful, dynamic individuals.  If you have a love of the written word, authors and books, you need to see this ---- if you want to see a well made biopic, you'll want to see it, too.  I wouldn't be surprised if it will be in the running for some Oscar nominations.  I'd give it a 4.5 out of 5.

"CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?"   2018

When Lee Israel falls out of step with current tastes, she turns her art form to deception. An adaptation of the memoir Can You Ever Forgive Me?, the true story of best-selling celebrity biographer Lee Israel.

Director:

 Marielle Heller

Writers:

 Nicole Holofcener (screenplay by), Jeff Whitty (screenplay by) 

Stars:

 Melissa McCarthy, Richard E. Grant, Dolly Wells 

Movie #1602 ;........................."Road to Christmas"

"Movie #1602 "Road to Christmas" is another Hallmark film (you're kidding!) but it gets some kudos for trying to be a bit different --- woman produces/directs a Martha Stewart type woman's live show, but the martha stewart person  wants to back off a bit and put in more and more taped stuff --- the woman is forced to work with the Martha Stewart lady's son who is pushing the same, but the woman wants more live work, more serendipitous stuff --- Aside from the main plot,  there's a three wise men motif going here, because there are three sons the  MS lady has, but she only really sees one of them --- so the film investigates that falling out, a meet and greet with the woman producer and the other sons, and then the action of her bringing the 3 wisemen together to MS's house --- lots of traveling in this one- in fact, so much that they show a truck on snow that  keeps moving where they are going on a map for the audience to follow.  What I didn't like about the film  is the lead guy --- he had this sexy (or at least tried to be) smoldering, soft voice --- now, I don't know about you  but I don't just WATCH these movies; i.e. I  am usually doing something else --- Hallmark movies are an "AND" activity -- well, Thanksgiving night, I was finishing up a big batch  of crusted- upon pots &  pans etc. from the meal. While listening to this movie, I could hear everything the  female producer said, but not a word of the male, so it was a frustrating experience for me, and for that reason I would give it a 3.5 out of 5. The film  was different, and I will give it that, but annoying (in the lack of volume for the male lead).

"ROAD TO CHRISTMAS"

Road to Christmas (2018)

TV-G | Family | TV Movie 4 November 2018

A TV producer is producing a Christmas Special for the 5th year but she is then told to co-produce it with the host's son. Initially, she's not too happy about it but - Christmas brings friends and families together.

Director:

 Allan Harmon

Writer:

 Zac Hug

Stars:

 Jessy Schram, Teryl Rothery, Matreya Scarrwener

Movie #1601 ........................."Return to Christmas Creek"

Movie #1601 "Return to Christmas Creek" was not as good as some of the other Hallmark xmas films because the conflict seemed manufactured.  It dealt with feuding brothers and I just never believed it. The girl and guy leads were once best friends growing up, but then she left and hasn't kept up with him.  He is now working with her uncle, whom she comes back to visit --- and of course, he's still available.  That's kind of hoakey, too.  I like the main Uncle (Steven Weber from "Wings") but otherwise, the secondary stories were quite boring, and the main one seemed manufactured, so I wouldn't give it above a 3 out of 5 stars.  And this is a don't bother.

"RETURN TO CHRISTMAS CREEK"

• . As Christmas approaches, Amelia Hughes (Anderson), a career-focused Chicago app developer lacking in holiday spirit, returns to her small hometown of Christmas Creek to rediscover the meaning of Christmas. There, she reunites with her childhood best friend Mike (Huszar) and her estranged uncle Harry (Weber), whose mysterious rift with Amelia's father divided her family during the holiday season when she was a child. As she engages in local holiday festivities - and begins falling for Mike - Amelia finds herself feeling the Christmas spirit and looking forward to Harry's Christmas Eve tradition of delivering toys to needy children in his small, private airplane. Meanwhile, Harry begins repairing his damaged relationship with his ex-girlfriend Pamela (Kari Matchett). But as she helps prep Harry's airplane for the toy delivery, a shocked Amelia learns her parents have unexpectedly shown up in town for the holiday and is crushed when her father and Harry resume their longstanding feud. On Christmas Eve, disappointed by her family's continued fighting, Amelia prepares to return to Chicago and leave behind Christmas Creek and her budding romance with Mike along with it. But just as she's about to leave, she feels a burst of inspiration that just might turn things around and help her finally restore family peace and embrace romance as love prepares to take flight for Christmas.
  
  
  
  

  Director:

   Don McBrearty

  Writers:

   Kirsten Hansen (story by), Kirsten Hansen (teleplay by) | 2 more credits »

  Stars:

   Byron Abalos, Tori Anderson, Alison Brooks 

Movie #1600 ........................" A Veteran's Christmas"

Movie #1600 " A Veteran's Christmas" was one of the better Hallmark offerings that I have ever seen --- In some ways it followed a formula, but in other ways it covered new ground.  I can't remember seeing another Hallmark xmas offering with a female military personnel as a main character.  I liked watching her trying to fit back into society, esp. after missing her dog that she had trained and worked with for several years.  Also, the guy main character is a job in a small town, so I liked to be in his shoes part of the time in the film --- and think about what it takes to do that kind of job, and if you are offered one in a city, the pros and cons in making the decision to take it or not.  The actors are winning (esp. the girl) and the story moves along quite smoothly, and it showed a slower growth of relationships instead of quick, abrupt ones that are hard to believe.  I give it 4.8 and I highly recommend it.

"A VETERAN'S CHRISTMAS"   (2018)

• Captain Grace Garland, a decorated US veteran, returns home after two tours of Search and Rescue in Afghanistan. After being separated from her beloved K9 partner, Grace must rediscover the magic of Christmas. When Grace finds herself stranded in the town of River's Crossing a couple weeks before Christmas, the local judge Joe Peterson, offers her a place to stay on his property and takes it upon himself to show Grace everything she has been missing; Christmas, family, community, and love.
  
  
  
  

  Director:

   Mark Jean

  Writer:

   Mark Jean

  Stars:

   Sean Faris, Eloise Mumford, Mary Long

 

Movie #1599 ........................."Christmas in Love"

Movie #1599 "Christmas in Love" --- dumb title, isn't it?  Girl is good (most of the time) but guy is pretty and shows very little facial expressions.... so kind of dull.  He comes across smarmy and conceited through most of the film with a lot of come-backs to her very passionate, honest comments about how important the community of people are who help bake these Kringles.  It has a successful ending scene, but depends on "looking at his computer" for its start of the high point.  Used a lot.  Anyway, I don't really recommend this one --- seemed formulaic, and not much new here.  I'd give it a 3 out of 5 stars.

"CHRISTMAS IN LOVE"

• Ellie Hartman (D'Orsay) is an aspiring crafter working in her small town's bakery making famous Christmas Kringles. When the new, big-city CEO Nick Carlingson (Lissing) visits the bakery, he arrives filled with modernization ideas destined to lay off many employees. During his visit, Ellie is to teach Nick how to make a Kringle, and determined to show him it's the people who make the business a success, not machines. Nick meets more of the employees and townspeople, visits the food bank and begins to see all the kindness that is shared, and he begins to soften - though not convinced automation isn't better. Struggling with chasing her own entrepreneurial dreams, Ellie begins to fall for Nick but not before feeling betrayed when she inadvertently sees Nick's laptop filled with automation plans. When Nick finally tells the employees his future ideas for the company, Ellie must decide if she should trust him, but more importantly, whether to take a leap of faith in making her own dreams come true.
  
  

  Director:

   Don McBrearty

  Writers:

   Stephen A. Stewart (screenplay by), Stephen A. Stewart(story by)  | 1 more credit »

  Stars:

   Carolina Bartczak, Telysa Chandler, Brooke D'Orsay

Movie #1598 ........................."Christmas on the Bayou"

Movie #1598 "Christmas on the Bayou" -- I enjoyed this one -- first, it was a different setting (bayou) and second the characters were interesting ---the film had  the great Ed Asner as the mentor for the little boy, the relationship between mom and son, and the relationship between the conflicted woman with an old boyfriend who still cares about her.  They had good chemistry ,....as friends..... and I found it intriguing how that relationship grows slowly to something far more than friends, now that they are adults who don't want to screw up the friendship that they have.  There is a lot of heart here, some good southern humor, too, along with beautiful scenery.    I would give it 4 out of 5 stars.

"CHRISTMAS ON THE BAYOU"

When successful New York marketing executive Katherine discovers her workaholic ways are taking a toll on her eight-year-old son, Zac, she decides to spend Christmas with him and her mother, Lilly in her home town on the bayou. When Caleb tries to rekindle a childhood romance and convince her to move back home, Katherine is torn between the bright lights of the big city and the quiet, gentler rhythms of her Southern roots. Only a Christmas miracle orchestrated by Papa Noel can steer her heart to her true home.

Director:

 Leslie Hope

Writers:

 Marcy Holland, Brian D. Young

Stars:

 Hilarie Burton, Tyler Hilton, Randy Travis 

Movie #1597 ........................."Christmas at Holly Lodge"

Movie #1597 "Christmas at Holly Lodge" --- here we go again --- it's that fun time (well, maybe not for you reading this) it's hallmark Christmas movie  time --- unfortunately for you, but many of my blogs to finish out the year will be a mixture of academy award possibilities (Yey!) and Hallmark Christmas movies (boo!)  Here's the first Hallmark  this year --- "Christmas at Holly Lodge" -- duh!  what is new here --- well, not the plot , but that isn't fair when judging a Hallmark movie because there are really only a few plots they follow.  How about capability of the cast?  Well, the woman was strong, but the guy was dull, conceited, manipulative, and by the end, he still seemed that way.  The secondary people should have intriguing stories to help propel the film forward, but those were missing here --- and how about the big argument and then pay off (getting together) -- both pretty dull.  But it had a strong theme --- the community that the lead female has developed with her lodge --- that was the feel good message here, so I would give it a 3 out of 5.  You might like it, but very little chemistry between the two leads....due to him, I thought.

"CHRISTMAS AT HOLLY LODGE"

Sophie Bennett, the owner, tries to convince a developer that the lodge would be a bad investment.

Director:

 Jem Garrard

Writer:

 Melissa Salmons

Stars:

 Alison Sweeney, Jordan Bridges, Sheryl Lee Ralph

Movie #1596 ........................."Widows" (2018)

Movie #1596 "Widows" was not a movie I would necessarily seek out, but the script was written by Steve McQueen (12 years a slave) and Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl), and the cast had Viola Davis, and many other prominent african american actors that I knew would make the acting parts shine in this film, and besides the other three people I was going to the theatre wanted to see it so that's the movie I saw today.  I found it violent (but I knew it would be considering the subject matter), very well acted, dark with very few colors and 1 person smiling through the entire film, and a script that needed more work --- there were scenes that weren't really needed and whole characters were introduced and couldn't figure out a big reason why they were introduced (Like Lucas Haas) -- there are lots of why questions when it's over and I just found it weak, except for Viola Davis' performance.   Bottom line is that I really didn't like anyone in the film, and I left feeling very depressed about how our politics might be running.  Everything is done under the table and both sides of this election is in it for the money and power --- very little integrity shown at all.  Father swears at son, son swears at father.  Betrayal.  Murder.  There's intrigue but if you don't care about the people in it, who cares?  I never felt emotionally pulled in.  I do recognize that there are worthwhile reasons behind some scenes; for example, a white cop shooting a black driver in a car who doesn't comply right away to what he is saying, how middle and lower class people with very little money can't seem to open a business like a beauty shop in the neighborhood without getting help from the mob, female empowerment is strong here and several times you notice that these women get away with stuff because no one believes they could pull it off --- with these scenes, the film has worthwhile things to say about our society, and that makes it more worthwhile for us to see.  However, it is a heist film and I like he ones where the audience is in on most of the plan so we can see it wittily play out, and that's missing here --- I also prefer heist films that when they are done, you can look back and say:  Wow, that took a lot of thinking through and it was very creative --- it showed skill.  I felt neither in this film.  I would give it 3 out of 5.

Widows (2018)

R | 2h 9min | Crime , Drama , Romance | 16 November 2018 (USA)

Set in contemporary Chicago, amid a time of turmoil, four women with nothing in common except a debt left behind by their dead husbands' criminal activities, take fate into their own hands, and conspire to forge a future on their own terms.

Director:

 Steve McQueen

Writers:

 Gillian Flynn (screenplay by), Steve McQueen(screenplay by)  | 1 more credit »

Stars:

 Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki

Movie #1595 ........................."A Star is Born" (2018)

Movie #1595 "A Star is Born" (2018) -- after reviewing the 1976 version, I can say now that this was more enjoyable.  However, my first reaction after seeing this, I felt a little let down because people have been raving about it.  And yes, I would rave about Bradley Cooper in this (for directing, acting and singing, AND conveying a rather complex character).  I think he made Lady GaGa better by the way he looked at her and listened to her.  This is the first time I really felt sorry for the guy in this story, so in that way, he was successful, and that gave a good reason to redo the film yet again.  The story was easier to follow and there seemed to be meaning to all the scenes, contrary to the earlier one.  But, I'm sorry, but Lady Gaga is no Barbra Streisand.  I kept waiting for her to do more with her scenes, but I felt most of them were about the same --- she has this naturalness about her, but very few highs and lows.  She pretty much let him run each of the scenes, instead of being an even partner in them.  When she is alone and singing, that's where she soars, though --- but still, to me, the voice isn't as rich as Streisand's.  But that's probably just me.  But I can say I reacted more emotionally to this story and these two people, and that's what makes it all around better than the 1976 one.  I will have to re-watch the Judy Garland one, but since James Mason doesn't sing, it would be a very different film.  But I'll have to wait and see on that one. This one gets 3.8 stars out of 5 from me.  And I think most people will enjoy it, if they give it a chance.

A Star Is Born

 2018 R 

• Overview
• Details
• Cast

In a role previously played by Janet Gaynor, Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand, Lady Gaga has big shoes to fill in this third remake of the classic tale about a rising star whose career eclipses that of her famous mentor.

Cast 

Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, Sam Elliott, Dave Chappelle, Andrew Dice Clay, Eddie Griffin, Bonnie Somerville, Greg Grunberg, Michael Harney, Willam Belli, Rafi Gavron, Rebecca Field, Michael D. Roberts, Gabe Fazio

Director 

Bradley Cooper

Genres 

Drama, Showbiz Dramas, Musicals

Moods 

Romance 

Movie #1594 ........................."A Star Is Born" (1976)

Movie #1594 "A Star is Born" (1976)

I recently saw yet  another remake of this story recently, and I waited until I saw this one before I wrote my blog on the Gaga one.  This one was not good.   It is rated as the worst of the 4 remakes, and it's the story's fault.  Each of the films has its own ending, its own emphasis, its own music...... this should be better than it is because of Barbra Streisand.  She's actually the best actress of the 4, probably, but the dialogue is so lame and the story is so disjointed, it's hard to like the film, and it is extremely difficult to like Kris Kristofferson.  In this one, he has a one-night stand with another girl, and that doesn't make him endearing to audience at all!  And when he sings, he sounds like he is croaking....he has very little charisma and depends all on his looks, with his shirts usually open to his waist.  He does goofy, exaggerated things in the film and Barbra tries to make it look natural, but she has trouble with that, so the scenes fall flat (like mud fighting).  She does a slam bang job of her monologue song at the end where she first sings of her grief (to a tune that she wrote, and he wrote the lyrics to) and then moves into his songs and uses them to let him know she will be okay.  Now, if you compare it to the recent one, I feel Bradley Cooper does a slam bang job of getting this alcoholic across better --- he's a better actor, a better singer,  has more charisma and his character sacrifices himself because he loves her so much.  The story hung better together, but I'll talk about that in the next blog.  This one I would give 2.8 out of 5 stars --- it's for the Barbra Streisand concert that we had the opportunity to experience if we watch this film --- the rest is not good.  P.S.  "Evergreen" is almost worth sitting through the whole film again ---- almost!

A Star Is Born

 1976 R 2h 20m 

• Overview
• Details
• Cast

This Academy Award-winning remake of a heartbreaking 1954 musical features Barbra Streisand in the role immortalized by Judy Garland. Esther Hoffman (Streisand) is on the brink of stardom, thanks to her monumental singing talent and her nurturing mentor, John Norman Howard (Kris Kristofferson), a veteran rocker who's also her lover. Unfortunately, his once-bright luster is on the wane, and her rise bristles against his impending decline.

Cast 

Barbra Streisand, Kris Kristofferson, Gary Busey, Oliver Clark, Venetta Fields, Clydie King, Marta Heflin, M.G. Kelly, Sally Kirkland, Joanne Linville

Director 

Frank Pierson

Genres 

Drama, Showbiz Dramas, Romantic Dramas, Contemporary Movie Musicals, Musicals, Blockbusters

Moods 

Emotional, Romantic

•