Movie #1777 "I'm Dead" (short surprise film) This one kept me guessing through the whole thing --- when you are told each of these films has surprises, you try to guess where is the surprise as you are waiting..... that jades the stories a bit. I think it hurt this one a little because we try to guess about this dead body in his living room. It is handled well ---n maybe a bit for info to see the very end? I'd give it 4 out of 5
"I'M DEAD" 2018 short drama 2018 UK
When Joe discovers his next door neighbour dead, he's forced into making a terrible choice - secretly dispose of her corpse or be framed for her murder.
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Movie #1776 ........................."Milton" (short surprise film)
Movie #1776 "Milton" (short surprise film) -- there's so much awkward in this film, and those parts I thought were really funny -- and it has the one moment I laughed out loud that I can't deny --- otherwise, the rest of this passed the stupid line to me and was just silly. Sometimes people welcome that, and you might like it. Here is the link to see what you think: https://vimeo.com/322707095
but what bothers me is when actors are playing characters one way, and in a NY minute, they change to the opposite --- to me, that's manipulating the story to get a laugh, at the expense of the characters. I felt that is what happened here, but parts of it were very funny --- 3.5 out of 5.
"MILTON" 2019
but what bothers me is when actors are playing characters one way, and in a NY minute, they change to the opposite --- to me, that's manipulating the story to get a laugh, at the expense of the characters. I felt that is what happened here, but parts of it were very funny --- 3.5 out of 5.
"MILTON" 2019
A guy makes a bad first impression when he meets his girlfriend’s family as they gather at her grandfather’s death bed.
Winner of the Vimeo Staff Pick Award at the 2019 SXSW Film Festival
Audience Special Recognition at 2019 Aspen Shortsfest
2019 Raindance Film Festival Selection
Best Narrative at 2019 Thunderdance Film Festival
2019 Nantucket Film Festival Selection
2019 Norwegian Short Film Festival Selection
Audience Special Recognition at 2019 Aspen Shortsfest
2019 Raindance Film Festival Selection
Best Narrative at 2019 Thunderdance Film Festival
2019 Nantucket Film Festival Selection
2019 Norwegian Short Film Festival Selection
DIRECTED, WRITTEN & EDITED by // Tim Wilkime
PERFORMANCES by // Allan McLeod, Elaine Carroll, John Ennis, Anna Seregina, Kiel Kennedy, Angela Leib, Pat McNeely & Bob Evans
Movie #1775 ........................."How to Swim" (short surprise film)
Movie #1775 "How to Swim" (short surprise film) this was my favorite of the batch --- it deals with a pregnant woman who feels inadequate and a bit lonely not having her mother around to help her through her pregnancy, so she tries to remedy it in a surprising way --- the story is so well played out and leads to a poignant ending....... I gave it a 5 out of 5.
Here's a link that should work so you could see it, too, if you want (it's 15 mins): https://www.topic.com/mothers-mixtape/how-to-swim?playing=true
Here's a link that should work so you could see it, too, if you want (it's 15 mins): https://www.topic.com/mothers-mixtape/how-to-swim?playing=true
Movie #1774 ........................."I Think She Likes You" (short surprise film)
Movie #1774 "I Think She Likes You" was a weird film with a lot of screaming and high pitched arguing between two women, while a man they picked up stands by and makes silly comments --- I think we were supposed to see a role reversal kind of film, but it fell kind of flat to me --- there were a few moments I liked, but otherwise, could be more focused. I'd give it a 3 out of 5.
"I THINK SHE LIKES YOU" 2019 9 minutes
Jake thinks he's in for a hot night with two young women, the night heats up, but not in the way he expects.
"I THINK SHE LIKES YOU" 2019 9 minutes
Jake thinks he's in for a hot night with two young women, the night heats up, but not in the way he expects.
Movie #1773 ........................."Little Grey Bubbles" (short surprise film)
Movie #1773 "Little Grey Bubbles" (short surprise film)deals with a just texting relationship, and when the woman finds out the man has died, she comes to the guy's funeral, even though she had never seen him before --- the film just gets stranger when she meets his family and friends, and then tries to find out why he texted her that he had something important to tell her ---- odd but good short film with some themes our society could learn from. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. I can see it streamable on line but for a cost , so far.
"LITTLE GREY BUBBLES" 2019
"LITTLE GREY BUBBLES" 2019
CREDITS
Director: Charles Wahl
Executive Producer: Mike Masters
Producer: Charles Wahl, Josh MacDonald, Kevin Kincaid
Screenwriter: Charles Wahl
Cinematographer: Kevin Fraser
Editor: Amy Mielke
Production Designer: Michael Pierson
Sound Designer: Erien Eady-Ward
Principal Cast: Kelen Ohm, Josh MacDonald, Francine Deschepper, Nicole Steeves, Kathryn MacCormack, Jeff Schwager, Sara Campbell, Locke Williams, Sam Haynes, Trina Corkum
Additional Credits: Colorist: Wade Odlum, Production Manager: Brent MacRae
Movie #1772 ........................."Step Daddy" (short surprise film)
Movie #1772 "Step Daddy" (short surprise film) is a lot like the previous one, although it went a tad longer and had a bit more variety in humor --- it has again a funny premise: a woman looks up a previous lover and while she is trying to flirt with him, he is trying to tell her he is gay and in another relationship. When her father turns up, she is in for further surprises. Once more. it could have gone further --- but the ending was a tad better here so I would give it 3.5 out of 5.
and once again, I do not see it available anywhere on line..... oh well.
and once again, I do not see it available anywhere on line..... oh well.
Movie #1771 .........................."The Proposal" (short surprise film)
Movie #1771 "The Proposal "(short surprise film) - the last batch of films I watched at the Milwaukee Film Festival were tied together with the element of surprise, and this one was one of the better ones ---- It could have been an equally good sketch idea for SNL --- a guy gets a girl out in the middle of a lake in a rowboat to propose to her and guess what? she thinks he is an idiot for doing that..... and his proposal has deeper consequences once he gets back to land. It is one joke and it works but I didn't think it went far enough or had a good ending, but I'd give it a 3 out of 5. I don't see its anywhere when I google it, so who knows if it ever shows up anywhere ever again, but it was based on a funny idea.
Movie #1770 ........................."Driveways"
Movie #1770 "Driveways" --- this was the one full length film I saw this year at the Milwaukee Film Festival and it was a winner to me. I chose it mostly because Brian Dennehy was in it, and it was compared to Grand Torino with Clint Eastwood. I would compare it more to "St. Vincent" with bill Murray, without many of the jokes in that film. Still, it was endearing and have many powerful moments in it --- it's a pretty simple story --- Cody's mom has brought him back to her sister's house to clean it out after her death --- she didn't know how much of a hoarder her sister was and the job is overwhelming --- she finds no electricity, a dead cat in the bathtub, etc. In to the rescue comes the reticent elderly neighbor (Dennehy) who is a vet of the Korean war --- the kid, a loner, develops a great relationship with the older guy until the older guy's daughter comes to take him away. And that's about it , but it's all the dialogue in between and everything that is not said in the film that makes it a winner. I thought it was quite effective in showing it takes a village to have an effect on a child And an older resident in our world --- the elderly have great wisdom to share with the rest of the world --- kids are resilient but need to be loved and cared for --- so do parents!!!! I'd give this 4.5 out of 5 ----
Movie #1769 ........................."The Day Don Died" (short doc)
Movie #1769 "The Day Don Died (short doc) relies just on interviews with mostly senior residents at a home where news goes around that one of its major members, who is a jazz musician, died and their reactions through to the funeral. Not much, just one big jolt that I thought was pretty obvious.....1 out of 5 . The least of the batch, I thought.
Movie #1768 ........................."Lost Weekend" (short doc)
Movie #1768 "Lost Weekend" (short doc) was a waste of celluloid to me with only a couple of redeeming factors --- it's about a guy in Pennsylvania who wins a contest out of a million entrants for an MTV weekend with Van Halen (whoopee!, right?) I had never really thought about the winners of some of these extreme contests so that was one redeeming factor --- the other came toward the end of the film when you find out some of the baggage that the winner has prior to winning the contest. The rest was just a lot of partying and silliness --- not very universal to me with very little message -- I'd give it a 2 out of 5.
I think you might be able to watch this at the following link: https://vimeo.com/327298583
It is about 10 mins long ---
I think you might be able to watch this at the following link: https://vimeo.com/327298583
It is about 10 mins long ---
Movie #1767 ........................."In Dog Years" (short documentary)
Movie #1767 "In Dog Years" (short documentary) this film speaks on just how tough it is to lose your dog , and how important dogs are to us and how tough it is to face their mortality --- and how we deal with their aging and individual problems (their old age, that they get nightmares, their fears, that they are blind, that they were abused before you got them, that they are biters and have little idiosyncrasies about them that we live with, just like we do with the people we surround ourselves with. I loved the theme and emotional it evoked, but the film fell short because of its repetition. I give it a 3 out of 5.
In Dog Years
2019 Directed by Sophy Romvari
Movie #1766 ........................."The girl in the Hallway " (short doc)
Movie #1766 "The girl in the Hallway" (short doc) male narrator talks about a 7 year-old black girl who lives in a complex with him and his wife and his new baby --- every day she asks what's the baby's name and he answers. One day, she isn't there --- she is missing, and the apartment is in a very dangerous part of town. We find out how the story turns out, and I don't want to give more info in case you ever get to see it. Sufficeth to say that I thought this one was the best of the 6 "stories to tell" packet of short films that I saw at Milwaukee Film Festival --- I was struck by the short story and the powerful message it told to us all. I give it 5 out of 5. It presented the story in a very artistic way (kind of reminded me of the Lebron James' short film that won an AA a couple of years ago about the power of basketball). Here is the link you can see this at --- Link: https://www.firstshowing.net/2019/watch-girl-in-the-hallway-animated-short-film-by-valerie-barnhart/
"The only thing that separates us from the street - is that door, and our deadbolt. All I want is to shut out the world…" A heartbreaking story brought to life using an unconventional animation style. Girl In The Hallway is a short film directed by Canadian animator Valerie Barnhart, who taught herself animation after graduating from the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design as a Visual Arts Major. She uses charcoal, pastel, and graphite drawn on black paper to tell the story of why one man can never forget the girl in the hallway. Featuring a "witness testimony" spoken word performance by Jamie DeWolf - which makes this even more heartfelt because it's so powerful. This is a very creative way to tell this story, and the distinct animation style makes it feel so much more visceral.
"The only thing that separates us from the street - is that door, and our deadbolt. All I want is to shut out the world…" A heartbreaking story brought to life using an unconventional animation style. Girl In The Hallway is a short film directed by Canadian animator Valerie Barnhart, who taught herself animation after graduating from the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design as a Visual Arts Major. She uses charcoal, pastel, and graphite drawn on black paper to tell the story of why one man can never forget the girl in the hallway. Featuring a "witness testimony" spoken word performance by Jamie DeWolf - which makes this even more heartfelt because it's so powerful. This is a very creative way to tell this story, and the distinct animation style makes it feel so much more visceral.
Movie #1765 ........................."Oban" (short documentary)
Movie #1765 "Oban" (short documentary) The second show doc was narrated by
Akiko, one of the last survivors of the bombing of Hiroshima --- this is done in an animated fashion and it is very powerful. She was born in 1925 and she lived on a island off of Japan, but she was working in Hiroshima proper when the bomb hit --- the traveling back to home in dire need of help was horrific to watch, even in animated style --- I will never forget the sound effect of people's hands snapping off due to the extreme heat from the bomb --- It was really well done, but I would have wanted even more information on such a tremendously impactful moment in our history. This might be nominated for AA but not sure if for animation or short doc. 4 out of 5.
Akiko, one of the last survivors of the bombing of Hiroshima --- this is done in an animated fashion and it is very powerful. She was born in 1925 and she lived on a island off of Japan, but she was working in Hiroshima proper when the bomb hit --- the traveling back to home in dire need of help was horrific to watch, even in animated style --- I will never forget the sound effect of people's hands snapping off due to the extreme heat from the bomb --- It was really well done, but I would have wanted even more information on such a tremendously impactful moment in our history. This might be nominated for AA but not sure if for animation or short doc. 4 out of 5.
Movie #1764 ........................."Take Me To Prom" - short documentary
Movie #1764 "Take Me To Prom" (short documentary, available on You-tube right now) -- this was the first short documentary I saw at the Milwaukee Film Festival was a hit right out of the gate. And, of course, it's Canadian (they are known for quality short films) This film would be embraced by the LGBTQ community while also being very universal about how we feel about going to prom and our various experiences, traumatic, memorable, life changing, controversial, etc. I am not a huge documentary fan mostly because I think they go on and on and on, and they tend to rely too much on interviews, but this one is short, to the point, and even though it deals with interviews, I like the fresh way it used old footage (occasionally displaying it on old t.v.'s for example). It also shows visual images when interviewees are telling a longer story, and I liked that. But, some of the speakers had problems being clear, so I think subtitles should have been used in those cases (like they do on the news). I'd give it 4 out of 5.
'TAKE ME TO PROM" 21 mins 2019
'TAKE ME TO PROM" 21 mins 2019
Being queer at prom: true stories from seven different decades.
Featuring intimate, charming interviews with queer Canadians ranging in age 17 to 88, Take Me To Prom invites audiences to revisit this iconic adolescent milestone.
Meet Alf, a quiet wallflower with a secret crush. Fontaine only remembers the details of his date’s dress. Marcy skipped her prom for a wild escapade. Alphonso staged a liberating protest with his friends. Marc bravely went to court so he could take his boyfriend to prom. Carmen’s traumatic prom marked the beginning of her inspiring transformation. And Caroline’s story captures the complex reality faced by queer youth today.
Vivid set design, re-enactments and archival footage transport audiences across 70 years of teenage heartbreak and rebellion — all while telling a story of social change over seven decades.
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Movie #1763 ........................."Instinct"
Movie #1763 "instinct" ---- finally, the one I found most disturbing because of the subject matter and the way it was handled was this film. Once again, I will quote from the Chicago Film Fest handbook..
"Charged with assessing inmates' eligibility for parole, psychologist Nicoline (Carice van Houten) becomes locked in a battle of wills with Idris (Marwen Kenzari), a charismatic serial rapist in this erotically-charged thriller. Though he's convinced everyone he is a reformed man, Nicoline suspects that Idris remains dangerous, and with each session between them, power dynamics shift --- just who is manipulating whom? The answers remain elusive in this powerfully immediate yet nuanced study of gender politics and the complex nature of desire. Dutch with subtitles. 98 minutes, 2019, rated R, Director: Halina Reijn, the Netherlands."
I have had good experiences with Dutch films --- but this was truly a disappointment. I saw the words "erotically-charged thriller" so I was ready for that and the subject matter, but I thought it would be more intelligent ---if she has a degree and some experience, I couldn't see her acting the way she did --- but then, I went back and forth with the idea that maybe she was baiting him , but the more I watched it, and we saw how damaged her life has been up until now, esp. with a weird relationship with her mother, I felt that wasn't the case . So I got more and more fed up with her behavior -- it seemed outlandish, at times, and not believable. And there was too much of that behavior -- maybe one scene when she falls for something he is dishing out to her , but not most of them. Then, if he is such a serial rapist, he'd be better at what he does to get her to fall for him --- he befriends a rabbit. But then in a few scenes, he brutally breaks its neck -- his behavior isn't we'll planned like I would think this rapist needs to be to get her into his trap --- it was all bizarre, and I would have locked both people up for mentally ill --- and that might just be what the film was going for. But I would think in this day and age, it should give the female some tools maybe to combat a serial rapist? am I asking too much from a film? By the end, I felt enough is enough and it was no surprise ---- in fact, I thought it could have ended more smartly a few times before --- a film shouldn't go on too long that the observer can think of better scenarios. I give it a 1.
"Charged with assessing inmates' eligibility for parole, psychologist Nicoline (Carice van Houten) becomes locked in a battle of wills with Idris (Marwen Kenzari), a charismatic serial rapist in this erotically-charged thriller. Though he's convinced everyone he is a reformed man, Nicoline suspects that Idris remains dangerous, and with each session between them, power dynamics shift --- just who is manipulating whom? The answers remain elusive in this powerfully immediate yet nuanced study of gender politics and the complex nature of desire. Dutch with subtitles. 98 minutes, 2019, rated R, Director: Halina Reijn, the Netherlands."
I have had good experiences with Dutch films --- but this was truly a disappointment. I saw the words "erotically-charged thriller" so I was ready for that and the subject matter, but I thought it would be more intelligent ---if she has a degree and some experience, I couldn't see her acting the way she did --- but then, I went back and forth with the idea that maybe she was baiting him , but the more I watched it, and we saw how damaged her life has been up until now, esp. with a weird relationship with her mother, I felt that wasn't the case . So I got more and more fed up with her behavior -- it seemed outlandish, at times, and not believable. And there was too much of that behavior -- maybe one scene when she falls for something he is dishing out to her , but not most of them. Then, if he is such a serial rapist, he'd be better at what he does to get her to fall for him --- he befriends a rabbit. But then in a few scenes, he brutally breaks its neck -- his behavior isn't we'll planned like I would think this rapist needs to be to get her into his trap --- it was all bizarre, and I would have locked both people up for mentally ill --- and that might just be what the film was going for. But I would think in this day and age, it should give the female some tools maybe to combat a serial rapist? am I asking too much from a film? By the end, I felt enough is enough and it was no surprise ---- in fact, I thought it could have ended more smartly a few times before --- a film shouldn't go on too long that the observer can think of better scenarios. I give it a 1.
Movie #1762 ........................."Fire Will Come"
Movie #1762 "Fire Will Come" --- it tells you all in the title.....and here is the blurb from the Chicago film fest book that incited an interest in me to go see it:
"Winner of a Cannes Jury Prize, this haunting slow-burn drama follows ex-con Amador returning home to live with his elderly mother after serving time in prison for arson. As an outbreak of fires encroaches on his community, he struggles to readjust to rural life under the watchful eyes of the villagers. Rendering the richly forested Galician countryside with a patient painterly eye, the film's mediative silences and smoldering embers presage an ominous future ahead. Galician with subtitles. 85 minutes. 2019, director: Oliver Laxe (Spain/France/Luxenbourg)"
Well, it was way too slow and not near enough information given to us. He is sooooo quiet, his mother says hardly a word......his neighbors hardly say a word --- and we are left with a bunch of questions...... Was his incarceration unjust or did he, indeed, start fires? We don't think he started the last one, or did he? How did the last one start? what the heck award did this film receive? It couldn't have been for script, or acting..... my guess is photography (although the photographer I brought with me said "meh" on hat subject. I thought the way the land was photographed was kind of pretty, and the fire sequence was pretty good, too. No "backdraft," but not bad. I still would give this film a 1 --- DON'T BOTHER!!!! And it was the first we saw at the Chicago Film Fest, but the least one we liked.
"Winner of a Cannes Jury Prize, this haunting slow-burn drama follows ex-con Amador returning home to live with his elderly mother after serving time in prison for arson. As an outbreak of fires encroaches on his community, he struggles to readjust to rural life under the watchful eyes of the villagers. Rendering the richly forested Galician countryside with a patient painterly eye, the film's mediative silences and smoldering embers presage an ominous future ahead. Galician with subtitles. 85 minutes. 2019, director: Oliver Laxe (Spain/France/Luxenbourg)"
Well, it was way too slow and not near enough information given to us. He is sooooo quiet, his mother says hardly a word......his neighbors hardly say a word --- and we are left with a bunch of questions...... Was his incarceration unjust or did he, indeed, start fires? We don't think he started the last one, or did he? How did the last one start? what the heck award did this film receive? It couldn't have been for script, or acting..... my guess is photography (although the photographer I brought with me said "meh" on hat subject. I thought the way the land was photographed was kind of pretty, and the fire sequence was pretty good, too. No "backdraft," but not bad. I still would give this film a 1 --- DON'T BOTHER!!!! And it was the first we saw at the Chicago Film Fest, but the least one we liked.
Movie #1761 ........................."Components of Love"
Movie #1761 "Components of Love" -- this movie deals with the comfortable and uncomfortable moments of love --- a take off on "Betrayal" that shows the beginning and ending of a relationship, and then what can come next when people pick up the pieces --- there's no doubt we are told constantly that love is a complexity, but this film shows it ---- the plot is below and you can see how complex that is, and what compounds the problem is the equal love for the child, who isn't really the guy's child, but he has raised him for all of the time he has been on earth, so he can't be denied the bond he has made with this boy. This is not a film for everyone because its pacing would test a lot of audience members seeking for more to the story and more action. But what I found interesting is the three people involved --- you see glimpses of how it could work, but then moments of why it never would again. And that is so sad to me, because I think if you want things to work, you can make that happen many times. This movies points out that that isn't always the case. I'd give it 4 stars out of 5, but I doubt if you will ever get to see it, but you never know --- it may be found on a streaming service some time. Who knows?
"COMPONENTS OF LOVE" 2019 90 mins Rated R
Love is ephemeral and relationships complex in this fragmented chronicle of a romance between two young adults in present-day Berlin. When Sophie meets Georg, she’s pregnant and recently abandoned by the child’s father. They quickly fall in love, with Georg raising her son as his own, though the ties that bind their patchwork family ultimately prove tenuous. With a sharp eye and steady hand, Bliese delves into the mysteries of attraction and the waning of desire.
"COMPONENTS OF LOVE" 2019 90 mins Rated R
Love is ephemeral and relationships complex in this fragmented chronicle of a romance between two young adults in present-day Berlin. When Sophie meets Georg, she’s pregnant and recently abandoned by the child’s father. They quickly fall in love, with Georg raising her son as his own, though the ties that bind their patchwork family ultimately prove tenuous. With a sharp eye and steady hand, Bliese delves into the mysteries of attraction and the waning of desire.
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Movie #1760 ........................."The Aeronauts"
Movie #1760 "The Aeronauts" This is a film I saw at the Chicago Film Festival before it has been released -- it was the best one I saw at the festival. It deals with a subject I can say I have never seen in film or ever really thought about --- those first balloonists and meteoroligists that went through all kinds of physical conflicts to help us surge ahead in flying and weather forecasting, two things we take completely for granted. That it is a woman, makes it even better for me, because it means she had to get people to believe in her prowess BEFORE entering the balloon because it was a man's job..... this is such an inspirational film, but Felicity Jones is the best part of the film --- that, and the production design (both of which should get AA nods for 2019). The film needs to be seen on a big screen, so if you are interested in the subject matter and you want to watch a film with lots of action, go see it now before it shrinks to the small screens in weeks to come. I give it 4.5 out of 5. Felicity gives a wow performance!
"AERONAUTS"
Movie #1759 ........................."Flea Bag" Season 2
Movie #1759 "Flea Bag" Season 2 --- better than Season 1, in my opinion. Winner of an Emmy, the writing is impeccable, the acting is over-the-top fleabaggish, but very effective, and the show is so observant of social relationships and just life itself. And especially sister to sister, mother to daughter, step mother to step daughter, and the list goes on. Oh yes, it's raunchy, and yes, at times pretty grim, but very powerful. This is not a show for everyone, but the humor and winks and nods to the camera make it for me. 4.5 out of 5. (on Amazon prime)
Movie #1758 ........................."Christmas Wishes & Mistletoe Kisses"
Movie #1758 "Christmas Wishes & Mistletoe Kisses" was the Hallmark film I watched tonight, and it was a good one. The plot isn't anything new --- overworked guy who hires a woman to decorate his house for some big bash and he doesn't want to have to make any decisions on it --- ah, but he does because in their talking they fall in love. I liked it because it kept you wondering (kind of) which guy she was going to choose --- the workaholic who tries to make time to see her, or the doctor who has the time but there are no sparks between the two --- gee, I wonder which one she will pick??? I give this a 3.8 out of 5.
"CHRISTMAS WISHES & MISTLETOE KISSES" 2019
Christmas Wishes & Mistletoe Kisses (Hallmark, October 26 at 8 p.m.):Wait, you mean to tell me this movie has Christmas wishes and mistletoe kisses? In this climate? Slant rhymes aside, this movie follows single mom Abbey (Jill Wagner), who “takes a risk in following her true passion of interior designing.” So brave! But can she design hunky eligible businessman Nick’s estate in time for Christmas Eve? Matthew Davis plays Nick. He’s Warner from Legally Blonde. That’s huge!
(the above is copied from Hallmark's website)
Movie #1757 ........................."Laundromat"
Movie #1757 "Laundromat" --- streamed through netflix --- ah, the wonderful world of money-laundering --- and such a topical subject, since several people in our government are probably engaging in the activity (or at least, have been in the past) --- anyway, it's a tough subject to understand, for me, and I found the movie quite useful as far as an introduction to the subject --- I didn't understand all of it, but I got enough of an introduction, and I loved watching Meryl Streep in yet a completely different acting choice. What I didn't like was Gary Oldman and Antonio Banderas constantly interrupting the flow of the film. I get that the director was trying to do something different as far as transitions, and also to add some humor but to me it was just a distraction, and actually made me turn it off after halfway through. But then I was told that there was a big plot thing that happened that I probably didn't want to miss, so I went back and watched it. I give it 3 out of 5 stars ---- an ok introduction, and interesting acting choice for Meryl Streep, but not necessary to see.
"LAUNDROMAT" 1 hour 26 minutes 2016 rated R
When a widow gets swindled out of insurance money, her search for answers leads to two cunning lawyers in Panama who hide cash for the superrich.
starring Meryl Streep, Gary Oldman, Antion Banderas, David Schwimmer, Sharon Stone.
this is a movie based on a book
"LAUNDROMAT" 1 hour 26 minutes 2016 rated R
When a widow gets swindled out of insurance money, her search for answers leads to two cunning lawyers in Panama who hide cash for the superrich.
starring Meryl Streep, Gary Oldman, Antion Banderas, David Schwimmer, Sharon Stone.
this is a movie based on a book
Movie #1756 ........................"Sweet Mountain Christmas"
Movie #1756 "Sweet Mountain Christmas" --- the first premier of Hallmark Christmas movies was this one --- forgive me for my passion for these romantic comedies -- they are formulaic, sometimes lame, occasionally funny, but somewhat endearing to me, so I will end up seeing A LOT of them and I will write blogs on them, too, sorry about that --- anyway, this was a 3.5 one --- the story was really lame/repetitious --- every day, we had the weather forecast because Lanie (a famous musician) is stuck in this wonderful town due to a big snowstorm (oh no, you're kidding!) while also learning new choreography to change her "style" (and she isn't too excited about it, but she has a bossy agent) . In enters the snowblower/mayor of the town who also happens to be Lanie's ex-boyfriend. I liked it, and it was fun seeing Megan Hilty (of Wicked, 9 to 5, Noises off fame) in action, and the story wasn't too bad. Good music throughout --- she has a wicked voice! (excuse the pun).
"SWEET MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS" 2019 (these usually last around 100 minutes)
Country music star Laney Blu (Megan Hilty) hasn’t been back to her Tennessee hometown in years. It wasn’t the kindest place to grow up, so when her career skyrocketed at seventeen she was happy to leave it behind. Though she’s set to headline a Christmas concert in NYC, Laney decides to make a quick pit-stop to see her family. When a freak snowstorm hits, she finds herself stranded in the town, and is roped into taking part in a local Christmas concert. As Laney spends more time in her hometown, it becomes less and less like she remembered it. She begins to fall in the love with the people, place and just maybe, a handsome snowplow driver named Robbie (Marcus Rosner). When the storm lets up, will Laney head off to NYC or will home be where her heart is? Sweet Mountain Christmas is produced by Brightlight Pictures. Tamara Trexler and Nancy Bennett serve as executive producers.
"SWEET MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS" 2019 (these usually last around 100 minutes)
Country music star Laney Blu (Megan Hilty) hasn’t been back to her Tennessee hometown in years. It wasn’t the kindest place to grow up, so when her career skyrocketed at seventeen she was happy to leave it behind. Though she’s set to headline a Christmas concert in NYC, Laney decides to make a quick pit-stop to see her family. When a freak snowstorm hits, she finds herself stranded in the town, and is roped into taking part in a local Christmas concert. As Laney spends more time in her hometown, it becomes less and less like she remembered it. She begins to fall in the love with the people, place and just maybe, a handsome snowplow driver named Robbie (Marcus Rosner). When the storm lets up, will Laney head off to NYC or will home be where her heart is? Sweet Mountain Christmas is produced by Brightlight Pictures. Tamara Trexler and Nancy Bennett serve as executive producers.
Monday, October 14, 2019
Movie #1755 ........................."Judy"
Movie #1755 "Judy" was a movie that will probably get nominated for an academy award (and perhaps win it! esp. for lead actress, Renee Zellweger) This was a very good story to me mainly because it concerns one of the most talented human beings that ever graced the earth, but someone I lost track of in her later years so I wasn't that familiar with her story. I liked the way the director went back and forth from her life in 1969 (the year she died) and 1939, the year she was cast in "Wizard of Oz," the movie that catapulted her into stardom. So it's kind of the rise and fall of the star --- no new territory for a film to cover, I realize, but this had so many emotions attached to it, considering some important revelations that come out as the story unfolds. I don't want to go into too many of them, but one most of us know is that the film industry itself in an effort to control the young female in the major role, started her on the drug problem she was to be plagued with throughout her life ---- and the cause of her death. Also considering that the men in her life were mostly manipulative money grubbing sycophants who left her in the financial jams she is in toward the end of her life. And her children. Well, there is one scene in particular in the film where she talks to Lorna on the phone that reminded me of the "Stella Dallas" moment when the mother realizes that her daughter would be better off without her --- the most bitter pill of all to have to take when you love your daughter so much and you only want to give her the best life possible! The film is so sad on so many levels, yet Ms Zellweger treats her with as much dignity as she can ---- and we always feel compassion towards her to the very end. Bring kleenex --- maybe you won't need it, but I did because of how dear I hold the Oz movie, the main theme song, and this bigger than life and so talented film icon Judy Garland. And a special shout out to a gay fan in the film who steals a lot of the scenes ---- he's so good, and real and funny. He breaks into tears when Judy has spent time with him in his home after a concert, and he elevated that moment to such universal heights that he draws us all in to what he fells --- and that's what films should do! I give this a 4.8 --- a little long in a few scenes, but what a powerful punch at the end. Well worth the time, for sure!
This was based on a play entitled "End of the Rainbow" that played on Broadway in 2012. I wish I would have seen it. The critic Ben Brantley went on and on about how magical the lead performance was!
This was based on a play entitled "End of the Rainbow" that played on Broadway in 2012. I wish I would have seen it. The critic Ben Brantley went on and on about how magical the lead performance was!
Movie #1754 ........................."The Clouds of Sils Maria"
Movie #1754 "The Clouds of Sils Maria" was an unusual film for me to watch. I only turned to it because of the 3 female leads ---- I like them all (Binoche, Stewart, and Moretz) and I did enjoy watching them wield their way through this enigmatic script that I can't say I liked. There were parts that were effective to me --- like the rehearsing between Stewart and Binoche, and the high point being kind of a surprise to me, but I disliked the ending --- I felt that should have had more explanation there, and also throughout the film. It's a movie I wish I had seen with someone else, and if anyone reading this has seen the film and wants to talk about it, I would love to discuss it in more detail because there was much floating up in the air here. It's a twist on "All About Eve" and any other film that has actors working on scripts that mirror relationships they have in life --- but I really didn't need to see it because I didn't enjoy it much in the viewing. I'd give it a 3, only because the acting was so good, and the "snake" of clouds coming over the water was quite a shot!
"CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA" 2014 2 hours and 3 mins
A middle-aged actress is cast in a film adaptation of the play that made her famous 20 years earlier, but in a much less glamorous role. For her role in the film, Kristen Stewart became the first American to win a Cesar Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Starring: Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart, Chloe Grace Moretz.
Genres: French Movies, Dramas, International Dramas --- this movie is understated (I totally agree because I wanted more stated!)
I streamed this from Netflix.
"CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA" 2014 2 hours and 3 mins
A middle-aged actress is cast in a film adaptation of the play that made her famous 20 years earlier, but in a much less glamorous role. For her role in the film, Kristen Stewart became the first American to win a Cesar Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Starring: Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart, Chloe Grace Moretz.
Genres: French Movies, Dramas, International Dramas --- this movie is understated (I totally agree because I wanted more stated!)
I streamed this from Netflix.
Saturday, October 5, 2019
Movie #1753 ........................."The Final Year"
Movie #2753 "The Final Year" I recommend you see this to remember just how much our president, national security advisor, secretary of State Kerry and others did for our national security the final year of Obama's presidency. The HBO camera follows them as they feverishly try to do as much as they can to insure our reputation is solid and our country safe and humanitarian issues are being addressed before Obama left office --- they were working on their foreign policy legacy, which they made their focus that last year --- and ironically while the next president was tweeting all kinds of superfluous stuff that just divided our country more and more. The highest point in the film happens to be one of the the lowest point in our American history (in my opinion) - you guessed it, the 2016 election, and that sent them packing and moving on full off worries of what was to come next. The film does manage to try to raise our spirits by taking Obama's comments about how important and powerful the "citizen" of our country can be ---- but still, the film is very sad to us who know how much dismantling of Obama's legacy has happened since that final year of Obama's presidency. Still, I recommend this film to watch to see what we did have back in 2016........and maybe someday again (if John Q Citizen uses his power for the good!). This is a documentary that is very slow paced, so you don't watch to watch it late at night....... but I found it very informative about U.S. foreign policy. 4 out of 5 stars. (this is on dvd from netflix)
"THE FINAL YEAR" 2017 1 hour and 29 minutes
"THE FINAL YEAR" 2017 1 hour and 29 minutes
Enjoying rare access to Barack Obama and some of his top aides during the last year of his presidency, filmmaker Greg Barker captures the urgency of White House foreign policy experts as they hasten to cement Obama's global legacy.
Movie #1752 ........................."Quick Change"
Movie #1752 "Quick Change" is a Bill Murray movie that I had never seen, so when I got a copy of it in my hands, I wanted to see it almost immediately, and I was not disappointed. It got 80% of the critics liking it on rotten tomatoes, which is very high for a comedy. But, I think you have to like the slow pace and glib humor of Bill Murray to enjoy the rest of the film. But have no fear, Randy Quaid does all the histrionics to keep the viewer awake, and Geena Davis plays a fine girlfriend of Bill Murray who is questioning his change in character since he started robbing banks. Yep, it's a caper, but m,osst of the film is what follows the caper, and in that way, it resembles "the Out of Towners" --- it makes fun of NYC and the film is full of smaller parts for a group of very funny actors who have made it big since the 90's film like Stanley Tucci, Tony Shaloub, Philip Bosco , Phil Hartman & Jason Robards, just to name a few. The film also offers a couple of surprises along its way, so I recommend it to Bill Murray fans! I give it 4 stars out of 5.
"QUICK CHANGE" 89 minutes 1990 rated R
"QUICK CHANGE" 89 minutes 1990 rated R
In this semi-tart valentine to the uniqueness of New York City, Bill Murray (disguised as a clown), Geena Davis and Randy Quaid concoct the perfect bank robbery plan. The only thing that gets in the way is the city in which they operate: They can't for the life of them make a clean getaway. Philip Bosco, Jason Robards, Stanley Tucci and Phil Hartman co-star in this underrated comedy directed by Murray and Howard Franklin.
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