Movie #3015 ........................."Aftersun" (Amazon Prime)

 Movie #3015 "Aftersun" (Amazon Prime)  I am a big fan of Paul Mescal after watching the t.v. series "Normal People" so that made it doubly important that I catch this Oscar nominated portrayal of a depressed father in this film.  As a viewer , you are asked to do a bit more than just watch this film.  Because it has a present time :  the daughter older (probably the age of her dad in the video) is watching a video of her dad periodically through the film.   Mostly, the rest of the film is  a flashback   of her dad and her making this video of their trip (could be the last time they spend together) to Turkey.  You the viewer are asked to piece this story together so I don't want to take that job away from you, but sufficeth it to say the dad appears to be suffering depression for lots of reasons, and the daughter is on the brink of puberty and is full of curiosity, adventure, feelings of breaking away and going on her own, etc.  This could be a bad mix, and parts of the film show that, but mostly they make it work.  This is also a film that shows very little action that isn't typical of a vacation like this --- the daughter tries to get her dad to do karaoke, the dad tries to get the daughter to play games like water polo in the pool, they eat out and converse on a number of subjects,  etc.  The film is just on low simmer through most of it, but the burn has its effects.  I liked this and Paul Mescal's work here, but I don't think it will go past the nomination --- but it's worth a watch if the subject matter sounds relatable to you --- I think it would be for many people, and I'd give it a 4 out of 5, mostly for the artsy way it is presented and Mescal and the little girl's acting!

"THE AFTERSUN"   2022 R      1 hr and 42 mins

Sophie reflects on the shared joy and private melancholy of a holiday she took with her father twenty years earlier.  Memories real and imagined fill the gaps between as she tries to reconcile the father she knew with the man she didn't.

Director:  Charlotte Wells

Writer:  Charlotte Wells

Actors:  Paul Mescal, Frankie Corio

Movie #3014 ........................."Causeway" (Apple)

 Movie #3014 "Causeway" (Apple)  I watched this mostly because it has one academy award nomination , for Brian  Tyree Henry for supporting actor, but I'm glad I did anyway because I thought Jennifer Lawrence was equally as amazing, and I wondered why she doesn't have a nomination.  It is a very quiet portrayal of an Afghanistan vet sent home with a brain injury.  The first 20 mins or so in the film  she is rehabilitating, starting from scratch almost, and Jennifer Lawrence gets this look on her that conveys the shock her body and mind are in.  Of course, the film starts to perk up with Brian/s entrance --- well, mostly because SHE starts to perk up because he is funny to her, he's authentic, and he's helpful and accepts her for who she is now.  It's a sad story due to what we put our soldiers through, but it is also inspiring to watch someone start all over again and gain small successes along the way.  But this film is mostly showing the struggle, and that's something we need to see, and it is conveyed well.  This is a quiet film;  don't expect action, but I thought it was well done, and both Jennifer AND Brian  deserve a nomination.  4 out of 5.

"THE CAUSEWAY"        Apple   1 hour and 34 mins     R     2022

A US soldier suffers a traumatic brain injury while fighting in Afghanistan and struggles to adjust to life back home --- 

Director:  Lila Neugebauer

Writers:  Ottessa Moshfegh, Luke Goebewl, Elizabeth Sanders

Actors:  Jennifer Lawrence, Brian Tyree Henry, Linda Edmond  

Movie #3013 ........................."Le pupille" (theatre) this is a Disney movie...hmmm

 Movie #3013 "Le pupil" (theatre)  I can't believe this is a Disney movie --- it is just plain silly to me.  Sometimes I watch these short films and I just shake my head and think:  now why was this one made?  And that's the feeling I had about this one.  I did not like it.  At first, it seemed to have a point --- this adorable pouty-faced little girl was the only one who had straightened her bed in the school dorm while the others were being scolded for not doing so by the nuns --- Attending all catholic schools while in elementary school, I was fully aware of how stern some nuns can be, so I believed that scene.  But then all of a sudden , they break the 4th wall and turn to us and tell us in song what the story is about --- ??? So then I think, well, this is going to be a comedy and a creative "out of the box" kind of film.  But it never got me back to what the point was --- It had what I would consider scattered, silly scenes, and I never put them together --- it probably is my fault -- it was the last one on the bill, and it was Disney so I expected a film with much more quality.  Surprisingly, it ended up at the bottom for me.  So it probably will win because like I said, I probably missed something here.  The little girls were cute, the nuns were stern, there were a couple of cute moments, but that's  it --- 3.   (might  I add it was the longest?)

"LE PUPILLE"       37min      PG       2022

Follow the rebellious girls of a Catholic boarding school before Chriistmas , at a time of war and scarcity (hmmmm I missed that point - it seemed normal to me to be in a Catholic boarding school and they would only give you cake if you deserved it!)

Director:  Alice Rohrwacher

Writers:  Alice Rohrwacher, Carmela Covino, Shane Gotcher 

Actors:  Alba Rohrwacher, Greta Zuccheri Montanari, Carmen Pommela

Movie #3012 ........................."Ivalu" (theatre)

Movie #3012 "Ivalu" (theatre) Ivalu is this young girl's sister who is all of a sudden missing, and the younger girl, knowing her older sister so well, tries to look for her in all the places she thinks she could be.  There's a creepy undercurrent in this film , and the reason  is finally revealed to us by the end.  Unfortunately, this topic has become quite popular in our film culture, and I have seen better films on the subject, but his is an okay job putting forth a subject that we should be reminded of often so things can be done about it for those suffering from it.  I'd give this a 3.5.  Short, but powerful.

"IVALU"    2023       16 mins

Ivalu is gone.  Her little sister is desperate to find her.  Her father does not care.  The vast Greenlandic nature holds secrets.  The search for Ivalu is on.

Director:  Anders Walter, Pipaluk K. Jergensen

Writers:  Morten Durr (graphic novel) , Anders Walter

Actors:  Mila Heilmann Kreutzmann, Angunnguaq Larsen, Niki Larsen

Movie #3011 ........................."An Irish Goodbye" (theatre)

 Movie #3011 " An Irish Goodbye" (theatre)  -- I also enjoyed this one --- it's a bit longer  but  full of lots of dry humor (but very Irish in the dark humor department)....The main character is a down syndrome young man who has just lost his mom, and his older  brother comes back from the England to sell the farm that his younger  brother lived on with the mom.  Of course, the brother is against leaving the place and convinces his brother that he will agree to leave after they do the 100 things on their mom's bucket list that she put together before she died.  This one was hard to believe --- it's like a story you hear told and you can't quite believe it as it is told to you, but it is told so well, you go along with it.  That's the kind of story here, and the brothers are both memorable in their own ways.  I'd give this a 4 out of 5.

"AN IRISH GOODBYE"      23 mins     2022

In rural Northern Ireland, a pair of estranged brothers reunite following their mother's untimely death.

Directors:  Tom Berkeley, Ross White

Writers:  Tom Berkeley, Ross White

Actors:   James Martin, Seamus O'Hara

Movie #3010 ........................."Nightride " ("Nattrikken") (theatre)

 Movie #3010 "Nightride" (theatre)  This next live-action short is equally as entertaining, and it has some humor along the way (a tad longer than the previous one, and from Norway)  This film has a little person as its star , and she immediately tugs at your heartstrings when she is freezing and is ignored by the tram driver.  All she wants to do is to keep warm until he drives her to her stop --- but what happens when she tries to get in from the cold?  The story escalates from there --- and with every twist and turn of the tram, the story twists its way into your heart.  The film so well puts on display the bullies and the victims of the world and how we'd like these stories to end , but they rarely do.  I'd give this 4.5.

"NIGHT RIDE " ("NATTRIKKEN")      2020       15 mins

A cold night in December.  Ebba waits for the tram to go home after a party, but the ride takes an unexpected turn.

Director:   Eirik Tveiten

Writer:  Eirik Tveiten

Actors:  Sigrid Kandal Husjord, Ola Hoemsnes Sandum, Axel Baro Aasen

Movie #3009 ........................."The Red Suitcase" (theatre)

 Movie #3009 "The Red Suitcase" (theatre) The top three in this category could all be a tie for me because they were all done very well, but I guess if I had to pick the top one, it would be this one because 1) I was most invested in the story --- with it, the entire way, trying to think ahead for her, etc.  2) it had the best cinematic moment of all the shorts I have seen for this year --- the very end.... worth taking time to watch. Once you read what this is about (below), the best thing to do is just to experience it and  know as little as possible.  To me, it is an excellent example of a fantastic live action short :   a short scene that is succinct in the telling, cinematically nice to look at, and by the end can blow your socks off.  I give this a 5 out of 5.

"THE RED SUITCASE"    18 mins       2022

Luxembourg Airport.  Late in the evening.  A veiled 16-year-old Iranian girl is frightened to take her red suitcase on the automatic carpet.  She keeps pushing back the moment to go through the arrival gate and seems more and more terrified.  

Director:  Cyrus Neshvad

Writers:  Cuillaume Levil, Cyrus Neshvad

Actors:  Nacelle Ewan, Sarkaw Gorany, Anne Klein

Movie #3008 ........................."The Flying Sailor" (theatre)

 Movie #3008 "The Flying Sailor"  (theatre)  Well, this was the least of them all to me (watch, it will probably win)  mostly because the story was the weakest.  It starts with a tag line:  based on a true story, and then you watch what it is about, and you wonder, well, now how could that be.  But look for the note at the end of the film that it WAS based on an account of a man who was the flying sailor.  Unbelievable!  This one was short and....um, not sweet, but amazing to watch for a couple of minutes.  I'd give it a 3.

"THE FLYING SAILOR"    8 mins     2022

Inspired by true events, the highly anticipated new film by Oscar nominated duo Wendy Tiley and Amanda Forbes is a meditation on a sailor's unexpected voyage.  

Directors:  Amanda Forbes, Wendy Tilby

Writers:  Amanda Forbes, Wendy Tilby

Movie #3007 ........................."My Year of Dicks" (theatre)

 Movie #3007 "My Year of Dicks" (theatre)  Someone must have learned a lesson with the animated shorts last year because before this film was offered to the audience, the theatre had a brief intermission to let kids leave the theatre ---it was obvious (what?  not from the title?) to everyone that  only adults should watch this one (and it was last in the bunch).  Good idea, theatre owners.  So this one is not an animated kiddies film, but it had its moments of humor and lessons in it.  I will never ever forget the scene with this young girl's conversation with her dad about sex --- what he said and how she reacted was hysterical to me!  (her head was exploding at one point --- truly well done in an animated film!)  Anyway, the title speaks for itself --- it's kind of a love story dealing with her experiences with many of the high school guys  --- she's after love and her loss of virginity, and they are after....well, you know what they are after, and quite eager to comply .  And  that's the raunchiness and the humor the film offers.  I'd give it a 3.5 (just a bit scrambled in the depictions, but like I said, some were very funny, but very raunchy, too.  No holds barred here.)

"MY YEAR OF DICKS'     24 MINS      2022

Pam tries very hard to lose her virginity and always searches for "the one."  She's not alone; her best friends are with her.

Director:  Sara Gunnarsdottir

Writer:  Pamela Ribon (from her memoir)

Stars:  Brie Tilton, Jackson Kelly, Klarissa Hernandez

Movie #3006 ........................."Ice Merchants" (Theatre)

Movie #3006 "Ice Merchants" (Theatre)  the next in line for animated films had a bit of a problem with tediousness --- that is, the film sets up that this father and son work at chipping ice --thus the title of the film -- they live attached to a cliff of ice and they parachute daily down with their ice chips to sell to the market there, and have to pulley up, day after day, they do the same thing, until we see climate change set in and pose problems for them.  It's watching the one activity after another over and over again that is tedious --- but the irony at the end is worth it --- I don't want to give it away, in case you get to see this one.  I liked it and would give it a 3.5 out of 5.

"ICE MERCHANTS"       14 mins     2022

Every day, a father and his son jump with a parachute from vertiginous cold house, attached to a cliff, to go to the village on the ground, far away where they sell the ice they produce daily.

Director:  Joao Gonzalez

Writer:  Joao Gonzalez

Movie #3005 ........................."An Ostrich Told Me the World is Fake & I Think I Believe It" (theatre)

 Movie #3005 "An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake & I Think I Believe It" (theatre)  The next best one is right up their in quality , using stop motion while showing you just how much work goes into stop motion and it tells the story of this computer worker.  He is not good at selling toasters (as his boss points out) and he starts to wonder why he is doing what he is doing.  Just at that time, a visitor comes through the elevator --- an ostrich, who tells him everything is fake --- things start to happen to make the worker question the truth of anything..... esp. his job.  What a wonderful idea --- so so so creative.  I just wish the ending was wittier --- it would have cinched this category --- it still might, if the academy goes for creativity and technique over a more universal message like in the first one I blogged about.  I really enjoyed this and would give it a 4.  What a find!

"AN OSTRICH TOLD ME THE WORLS IS FAKE AND I THINK I BELIEVE IT"  11 M 2022

A young office worker uncovers the flaws in his stop motion universe with the help of a mysterious talking ostrich.

Director:  Lachlan Pendragon

Writer:  Lachlan Pendragon

Voices:  Lachlan Pendragon, John Caving, Michael Richard

Movie #3004 ........................."The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse" (theatre)

 Movie #3004 "The Boy, the Mole, The Fox and the Horse" (theatre) This was the gentlest of the animated shorts that are nominated for an Oscar this year, and I found it most authentic and easy to watch and get the theme (so most universal, for sure).  And it was a welcome animated film to me, considering that the last year's batch was not good for kids to watch at all........in fact, very disturbing.  The voices are recognizable (Gabriel Byrne is the horse, Idris Elba, the fox, Tom Hollander, the mole ) and well chosen.  The film is full of wonderful maxims that you could write on a chalkboard for advice on a daily basis. Example:  "The bravest thing I ever said was 'help'."  The little boy and his companions  reminded me of Winnie the Pooh and his followers, and of course the Wizard of Oz with Dot's 3 companions...... and their journey trudging through the snow to find "home" is a lot like their journeys, but without all the snow.  When they finally get to their destination, there's a very specific lesson the little boy learns, and it is a lesson well needed in our society at this time.  This is based on the very popular book of the same name, and I found it the best of the bunch this year. I give it a 4.5 (just a little long for me, but not a big deal)

'THE BOY, THE MOLE, THE FOX AND THE HORSE"   32 mins     2022

Follows a boy, a mole, a fox and a horse, as they create n unexpected friendship and travel together in the boy's search for home.

Director:  Peter Baynton, Charlie Mackesy

Writers:  Charlie Mackesy (book), Jon Croker (adaptation)

Voices:  Tom Hollander, Idris Elba, Gabriel Byrne, Judy Coward Nicoll (the boy)

Movie #3003 ........................."Fire of Love" (Disney)

Movie #3003 "Fire of Love" (Disney)  Yikes!  on the other hand, this was not intriguing to  watch, to me.  It is a love story of two volcanologists who got too close to a volcano and died in researching it. That's kind of about it -- It is a very scientific, plain approach to storytelling, but then ohmygod filming of the volcanos, lava and all.  And those parts are beautiful and  scary, all rolled into one --- and it gives you an armchair view, knowing full well to get the footage would take so much energy, hard work, not to mention bravery and intelligence.  But after you've seen a couple of the volcanos, I have to admit, even though I do   value their work,  it was tiring to watch.  I'd give this a 3 out of 5.  We'll see what the Academy voters think.  Did they make it to the end, or fast forward?  Disclaimer --- the end  just shows you the work they did up to the moment, obviously.

'FIRE OF LOVE"    Disney     2022  PG    1 hour and 38 mins

Intrepid scientists and lovers Katia and Maurice Krafft died in a volcanic explosion doing the very thing that brought them together:  unraveling the mysteries of volcanoes by capturing the most explosive imagery ever recorded.

Director:  Sara Dosa

Writers:  Sara Dosa, Erin Casper, Jocelyne Chaput (all women?)  

People in it:  Katia Krafft, Maurice Krafft, Miranda July (voice)  

Movie #3002 ........................."Navalny" (HBO)

Movie #3002 "Navalny" (HBO) - I am not a huge fan of documentaries because I feel, many times they run way too long, but I expect the best here, and this was a good one.  It gives a lot of information, but I feel I knew a lot about Navlany already since Rachel Maddow fills us in when/if there is any news about this main opposer of the Putin regime, who has been poisoned by Putin, beaten, and is now in jail, very sick.  He and his wife are soooooo heroic to me, and he looks so average and like a common man, and speaks so authentically....I guess I expect to see a red cape on him or something.  He truly is a rock star and I enjoyed this documentary --- it is so inspiring, but on the other hand, so difficult to watch how he has been so mistreated.  I'd give this a 4.

"NAVALNY"      HBO 2022    R       1 hour, 38 mins

Follows the man who survived an assassination attempt by poisoning with a lethal nerve agent in August 2020.  During his months-long recovery he makes shocking discoveries about the attempt on his life and decides to return home.

Director:  Daniel Roher

People in film:   Alexei Navalny, Hulia Navalnaya, Dasha Navalnaya 

Movie #3001 ........................."The Sea Beast" (netflix)

 Movie #3001 "The Sea Beast" (Netflix) Now for something completely different..... I must admit I was not up for this one at first --- the title put me off, for one, and there were giant red monsters, nope, didn't want to watch it, but I have been often surprised at what other animated features are out there, so I gave it a try.  And guess what?  I thought it was great!  I loved this film!  Yes, it is about sea monsters, but what a strong theme here for kids.  If you have kids, I think, girl or boy, they would enjoy this.  First, there's SO MUCH ACTION!  with pirates in danger, but not danger like bombs or guns or kidnapping, but fantastical stuff!  And  these pirates are monster hunters so they are very good at what they do.  But their jobs are questioned throughout the film by a little girl --- but don't be fooled --- she is assertive and articulate and smart!  I love this little girl, and she is so brave.  She makes friends with a chief hunter (who was an orphan like her and rescued by Cat. Crow, the best monster hunter of them all!)  and they are out to get BIG RED.  She befriends RED, and everyone's values are turned topsy turvy and the question pops up:  should we really be at war with these sea monsters or are they like us and just protecting themselves from the humans?  I liked this much more than Pinocchio and highly recommend it.  4 out of 5. (strong female)

"THE  SEA BEAST" (wish it had a better title)     2022    PG    1 hour and 55 minutes

When a young girl stows away on the ship of a legendary sea monster hunter, they launch an epic journey into uncharted waters and make history to boot.

Director:  Chris Williams

Writers:  Chris Williams, Neil Benjamin, Mattson Tomlin

Voices:  Karl Urban, Zaris-Angel Gator, Jared Harris

Movie #3000 ........................."Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio"(netflix)

 Movie #3000 "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio" (netflix) First a disclaimer.....I am not a huge fan of animated films, or anything animated, for that matter.  While all my family and friends were watching "Mighty Mouse" and "Yogi Bear" and the "Flinstones," I was not.  So to sit through a two- hour animated feature (they usually run 90 minutes because it is hard for the kiddies to watch longer, I guess) on a story I had already seen in a Disney film, was not something I was looking forward to --- and del Toro is not a favorite director either.  But since it is nominated, and is the frontrunner, I felt I had to watch this story again.  Wow on the style of animation (stop motion) , but ugh on the "dark fantasy" parts --- I know not all animation needs to be seen by kids, but parents should be warned because there's an idea out there that animation is for kids.  This one starts with  telling a brief story (much like in Disney's "Up" but less kinder) about Geppetto's son Carlos and how he died (bombing in a church and it is quite violent!) so that might be a turn off to many.  If you just tell your child that Carlos is no longer with his papa and put it on about 15 minutes in (I don't know the exact timing, but that's an estimation) the rest of the film might interest your child --- might, because it has long dialogue scenes with people that are trying to manipulate the puppet, and  trivial songs (what's that about?), and an ending you might need to explain to the kids (about death and coming back) ---- all in all,  the movie goes on way too long, in my view.  I liked the stop motion, but this viewer lost interest in it about 90 minutes through...... and I can usually sit through many hours watching film (I just came out of the documentary shorts program that lasted 3 hours, and that was nothing --- I have seen 5 films in a row on a plane and in a movie theatre  at a film fest without getting up!)  I'd give this sure -to- be-  the Animated Feature academy award winner  (for the stop motion) a 3.5 out of 5.   (hardly any women in it)

"GUILLERMO DEL TORO'S PINOCCHIO"    netflix     PG    2022     1 hour 57 mins

A father's wish magically brings a wooden boy to life in Italy, giving him a chance to care for the child.

Directors:  Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson

Writers:  Guillermo del Toro, Patrick McHale, Carlo Collodi

Voices:  Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Gregory Mann

Movie #2199 ........................."All Things Valentine" (Hallmark)

Movie #2199 "All Things Valentine" (Hallmark)  Since it was around Valentine's Day, Hallmark offered this one during the week, and I had it on in the background.  Here's an example where I liked the story better than the two leads.  Oh, they were just okay -- but they seemed very different when with each other. So they come across as pretending a lot.  Anyway, the premise seems kind of silly, too.  It was concerning a dear abby kind of blogger who is giving advice about how rotten Valentine's Day is when she doesn't even have a boyfriend, or love, in her life.  That's like doing movie blogs but never seeing any movies.  hmmmm.  Anyway, I liked the subplot with Kimberly Sustad, who is now in leading roles, as the initial girl who breaks up with this veterinarian because the coach tells her to............and that starts the conflict where the vet takes on "the coach" and says she should be benched!  You can see the conflict set up --- enemies through blogs but never meeting ---- until they do....... This does bring up valid comments on how phoney Valentine's Day can be, at times. So it could offer some talking points with couples.    I would give this a 3.5 out of 5.

"ALL THINGS VALENTINE"       2016     1 hour and 23 mins

A blogger who has had terrible luck on Valentine's Day meet a handsome veterinarian.  Then she finds out he is the one who has been leaving rude comments on her Valentines Day articles and she questions if her luck has changed at all.

Director:  Gary Harvey

Writer:  J.B. White

Actors:  Sarah Rafferty, Sam Page, Kimberly Sustad

Movie #2198 ........................."Two Tickets to Paradise" (Hallmark)

 Movie #2198 "Two Tickets to Paradise" -- I am really glad I checked who was in this before going past it when scheduling I would DVR for this week because I noticed one of my favorites Ashley Williams was one of the leads because she always brings humor into the story  --- and the guy is usually good when conflicted because he appears to be so easy going --- the kind of light movie I wanted to watch while waiting until 2 a.m. to get my Anne Frank tickets on line for our Amsterdam trip.  I never fell asleep so this must have gotten my attention.  Anyway, it was quite a way out of the box kind of an idea for a film --- two people both stood up on the same day in close proximity and meet up shortly after being "dumped" and decide they should go on "solo" honeymoons --- the rest is karma, if you believe it or not --- end up on same flight, in same hotel, blah, blah, blah.  I was watching to see how much would have to happen by the ending, but they pulled one of those "one year later" at the end to make it more believable?  hah!  It still was a bit too hurried in my estimation.   And oh, just oodles of things to learn here --- how to make a Lei, dance the hula, win at 3 legged races, etc.  It was really nice to see Hawaii though (the pink hotel in the movie was The Royal Hawaiian in the Waikiki Beach area).  Even though terribly unbelievable, the two stars won me over and I'd give it a 4 out of 5 and recommend it to watch if it comes around again.

"TWO TICKETS TO PARADISE"    2022    1 hour and 24 mins

Hannah Holt and Josh Wyatt have both just been stood up at the altar and meet each other at the park.  They will keep crossing paths as they land on the same resort for their honeymoon.

Movie #2197 ........................."Royally Ever After" (Hallmark)

 Movie #2197 "Royally Ever After" (Hallmark)  I liked this one --- the two are adorable, and the girl is an elementary school teacher, and as some dreams come true (fall in love with a prince?) this film shows how difficult that would be --- it takes a different angle --- they are in love and planning to be wed from the get-go, so they are always kissing and hugging (very different for Hallmark), but of course, in the first couple of minutes he tells her he is a prince ---- hmmm.  If you buy that one, you probably will like the film.  Otherwise, don't bother.  Then, the conflict is his folks and just how conservative they are and if they will even allow him to marry a person off the streets....She, of course, with her adorableness, is tough to  set her up for mistreatment, but, well, you'll have to see how they get out of it --- and really, his not being a prince is not something that is discussed ---- He is very duty bound.  But he has to make a decision.  She is very amenable to any life as long as they are together, and she gets to teach somewhere.....I liked the story and the conflict (be careful what you dream for because there may be consequences you must face), and so it was a fun watch for me..........and it would be for all the dreamers out there, I think.  I would give this a 4 out of 5 and place it in the "one of the better" columns for Hallmark.

"ROYALLY EVER AFTER"       2018     1 hour and 26n mins

A teacher learns that her boyfriend is actually the prince of a small country called St. Ives.  (don't bother looking it up! it's in Hallmarkland)

Director:  Lee Friedlander

Writers:  Duane Poole, Gary Goldstein, Aury Wallington

Actors:  Fiona Gubelmann, Torrance Coombs

Movie #2196 ........................."Grilling Season: The Curious CatererMystery " (Hallmark)

 Movie #2196 "Grilling Season:  The Curious Caterer Mystery" (Hallmark)  I don't know why I watched this second Curious Caterer film when I didn't like the first one, but I had two reasons:  I wondered how many times they would have an extensive murder mystery in a small town like this (i.e. how long would this series last?) and I really really like the two leads.  So , voila!  I'm doing another blog on the curious caterer.  This mystery was a tad better, but on a game board, the romantic (?) leads took two steps forward and just stayed there --- that means, they said nice things to each other a couple of times.  She is a caterer and how often is she going to have her best friend (the first one I saw) and her ex-husband's fiancé (this one) both victims of crime that she is oh so helpful in solving.... but that's the way these all run, really. This is a bit better than the first one, so 3.5 out of 5.  But it is one you can miss.

"GRILLING SEASON:  THE CURIOUS CATERER"  Hallmark    2023 1 hour, 24 mins

Caterer Goldy Berry reunites with detective Tom Schultz when a realtor is murdered.  As they uncover personal and professional rivalries, they realize the culprit is closer than expected.

Director:  Paul Ziller

Writer:  John Christian Plummer

Actors:  Nikki Deloach, Andrew W. Walker

Movie #2195 .........................."A Paris Proposal" (Hallmark)

 Movie #2195 "A Paris Proposal" (Hallmark)  It took a long time to warm up to the two leads in this one, but a saving grace was all the Paris places that we could see through the film.  It was a flimsy mistake made that screwed the rest of the movie up --- and them making the lie get bigger and bigger, just made it harder to watch.  The high point was in front of people, which I don't like, but the ending finished out nicely and tied to the beginning of the film.  I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5.

"A PARIS PROPOSAL"   Hallmark   2023    1 hour and 24 mins

Follows Anna and Sebastian, work colleagues who are mistakenly believed to be a couple by a client and now they must keep up appearances to not disappoint their biggest client.

Director:  Jessica Harmon

Writer:  Andrew Canning

Actors:  Alexa PenaVega, Nicholas Bishop, Kate Fahy

Movie #2194 ........................."Sweet Carolina" (Hallmark)

Movie #2194 "Sweet Carolina" -- I sure do like the leads (Chabert and Hynes) but I didn't care much for this story --- the storyline has been overdone, and this didn't offer anything new.  Plus, the conflict was casued just by her foolish decisions.   3.5 - chemistry in the leads, but it didn't carry the film because of the flimsy story.

"SWEET CAROLINA"  2021   1 hour and 24 mins

Marketing executive, Josie, returns home when she becomes the unexpected guardian of her niece and nephew.  While there, she reconnects with Cooper, her high school boyfriend.

Director:  Peter Benson

Writers:  Lacey Chabert, Jonathan Prince, Michael Reisz

Actors:  Lacey Chabert, Tyler Hynes, Gregory Harrison 

Movie #2193 ........................."the Martha Mitchell Effect" (theatre)

 Movie #2193 "The Martha Mitchell Effect" (theatre) I liked this one the most --- and it was the last one I saw in the bunch.  It was the clearest, most straightforward short doc that gave a lot of information --- and the story was particularly intriguing to me because I had heard her name mentioned as I was growing up, but I didn't know her story at all, and I'm glad I saw this one.  I came out thinking she had a lot of chutzpa, and I wish there was someone like her now to keep the politicians doing what they should be doing instead of what they can get away with when in power.  I recommend this one, if you can get a chance to see it . It is supposed to be available on netflix.  I give it 4.5 out of 5.  

"THE MARTHA MITCHELL EFFECT"    2022    PG    40 minutes

The Cabinet wife who spoke out during Watergate and the Nixon administration's campaign to gaslight her into silence.

Director:  Anne Alvergue, Debra McClutchy

Actors:  Martha Mitchell, Dwight Chapin, Connie Chung

Movie #2192 ........................."Haulout" (theatre)

Movie #2192 "Haulout" (theatre) this was the weirdest film of the bunch --- it never gave us information until the very end.  We see a cabin way way out on water, and this guy is manning the cabin.  We wonder what's going on.  Overnight, the beach around his cabin is infiltrated with maybe 6,000 (give or take) walruses, all squished together.  Soon it becomes obvious that there is damage being done to them as they crash into each other, and they start to die.   Then, when it gets colder, they disappear, leaving some dead on the beach.   At the end of the film, it tells us due to climate change, the walruses have lost their ice that they depend on for migration , etc.  And that's why they die.  It was 25 minutes of very little dialogue and information, but it had some powerful images --- it may win, but it wasn't my favorite.  I wanted more information.  I'd give it 3.8 out of 5.

"HAULOUT"   2022    25 minutes

Follows a man waiting in his hut in the desolate expanse of the Russian Arctic.  He is holding out in order to observe a natural event that occurs here, every year, but ocean warming is taking its toll.

Directors:  Maxim Arbugaev, Evgenia Arbugaeva

Writers:  Maxim Arbugaev, Evgenia Arbugaeva

Actor:  Maxim Chakilev

Movie #2191 .........................."Stranger at the Gate" (theatre)

 Movie #2191 "Stranger at the Gate" (theatre)  -- this is a true story about an ex marine who came out of 25 years of service hating Muslims, and when he moved to Muncie, Indiana, he started to plan to bomb a mosque.  Then, when he was surveilling the place, he found that the people are so nice and kind that after 8 weeks he did a total change and joined the group and became a leader.  It was an amazing story, and it really proves that people can change --- that there is redemption for people who work at it.  I thought this was topical, easy to follow and had a lot of heart.  I would give it a 4 out of 5.

"STRANGER AT THE GATE"   2022    29 mins.  

A U.S. Marine plots a terrorist attack on a small-town American mosque.  His plan takes an unexpected turn when he comes face-to-face with the people he sets out to kill.

Director:  Joshua Seftel

Actors:  Bibi Bahrami, Saber Bahrami, Zaki Bahrami 

Movie #2190 ........................."The Elephant Whisperers" (theatre)

 Movie #2190 "The Elephant Whisperers" (theatre) The photography was nice in this one, but there wasn't much going on in the 40 long minutes of this short doc.  They decorated the elephants (why, we don't know), bathed them, fed them, played ball with them  - but we, as the viewers, never learned much about elephants --- just that these people loved them.  And they were sad when they were taken away --- we don't know why they were taken away.  And there was a line in the film that it was people's fault that there were problems with elephants --- they didn't tell us the problems or what we did to cause them or what we could do to fix the problems.  I don't think this one was successful at all --- I'd give it a 2.5 --- like I said, the photography was good, but this one left me flat.

"THE ELEPHANT WHISPERERS"    PG   2022    41 mins.

Bomman and Bellie, a couple in South India, devote their lives to caring for an orphaned baby elephant named Raghu, forging a family like no other than tests the barrier between the human and the animal world.

Director:  Kartiki Gonsalves

Writers:  Kartiki Gonsalves, Priscilla Gonsalves, Garima Pura Patiyaalvi

Movie #2189 ........................."How Do You Measure a Year?" (theatre)

 Movie #2189 "How Do You Measure a Year?"  - well, this was cute and it had some poignant moments  - it is a short documentary that a father puts together full of questions and answers of his daughter on her birthdays from age 2 to age 17.  The poignancy is in bits and pieces, and there are some cute and sometimes laughable moments.  But what I thought it was lacking was a significance --- the biggest one I saw is that she is going off to college and they have a short goodbye scene.   That was a very private, albeit universal moment and then it ended.  I liked this, and it was cute and universal in some moments, but it doesn't seem to have  as significant of a theme as the others, or what you'd expect in a film that  would be nominated for an academy award ,  I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5

"HOW DO YOU MEASURE A YEAR?"  2021     29 mins

From the time she was two-years-old and until she turned 18, they had a ritual:  Dad asked (and filmed), and Ella answered.  What do you dream about?  What scares you?  What do you think about our relationship?  This is a little story about growing up and the love between father and daughter.

Director:  Jay Rosenblatt

Actors:  Ella Rosenblatt

Movie #2188 ........................."All Quiet on the Western Front" 2022 (netflix)

 Movie #2188 "All Quiet on the Western Front" 2022 (netflix) Why this particular film needs to be remade over and over and over I will never know --- and one of them previously won best picture (the 1930 one) , and now here comes another one......I can't say I remember all the renditions, but I was familiar with the story, for sure, having read the book.  I was waiting for the classic ending to this story, which the other movies used, but not this one.  The director chose to be more of a fatalist in his approach in this one and turn the ending into being  more violent and gruesome, rather than tragic and poignant and ironic.   In fact, the whole movie is more violent, gruesome, and  more difficult to watch than the previous ones --- I guess because we can do that so much better in film  now--- and if we can do it, then we do it to the umpth degree, I guess.  The book left an indelible mark on me through the years, and I can still remember scenes from it, so I guess that speaks well for the book.  And the 1930 movie has always had a special place in my heart, esp. for the delicacy of the ending, and the acting of Lew Ayres (who became a conscientious objector after making this film) ---  However,  the themes of the book are covered in this one:  those being 1) the wickedness of extreme nationalism that draws people into war 2) antiwar themes , for sure, and esp. the toll it takes on the youth, and 3) and how manipulative leaders can be with the amount of power they have.  This movie chose  to follow two story lines and juxtapose them --   the one story shows   5  youths from a particular neighborhood in Germany and the glory they think war will be until one of them tragically dies in the first few minutes of fighting.  The other story concerns the various meetings the  leaders of the warring nations attend  to come  to some sort of agreement to end the war.  The other renditions of the film don't spend a lot of time on that second story at all, but break up the film with more human stories that happen to the young men as the war tragically moves on..... so there's a difference I think that occurs while watching..... the  when the young men in this rendition are  just thrown into one terrible circumstance after another, they  don't become as human to us because we spend less time with them. So as far as the film watching, there are breaks in the heaviness of the war scenes, but the heaviness makes the futility of the whole thing just that much more --- there seems to be no end, and when you get to the end, it doesn't end with any hope at all --- it's kind of like a video game --- with one tragedy after another --- and the characters don't come across as real --- I just thought  we needed more poignant scenes instead of barreling on through.  For that reason I do not recommend this film, nor will I be a fan of it winning best picture accolades (although, it probably will win best foreign film, esp. with the Ukraine war waging on right now -- it is very topical, in that sense.) But the cinematography is beautiful ---- it is just something I don't want to watch.  After seeing it  so many other times, I got the message, so it's preaching to the choir with this viewer.  Id give it 3.5 out of 5.

"ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT"      R      2 hours 28 mins      2022

A young German soldier's terrifying experiences and distress on the western front during World War I.

Director:  Edward Berger

Writer:s:  Edward Berger, Lesley Paterson, Ian Stokell

Actors:  Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch, Aaron Hilmer,  Daniel Bruhl  

Movie #2187 ........................."Your Place Or Mine" (Netflix)

Movie #2187 "Your Place or Mine" -- My reading of a review of this film from Rex Reed ("this film is as much fun as a root canal") was funnier than this film itself.  But I don't think it was that bad.  As a constant watcher of rom-coms (my favorite type of film), I know how difficult it is to come up with something different  --- and this one at least tried.  Here's what it tried to do --- it tried to write the story about two people finding out they are really in love by not putting them together in 90 % of the film --- say what?  Even if you put America's sweetheart in as the woman ( who makes everyone she works with look good, well, maybe not Ashton Kutcher because he looks uncomfortable in this whole film), it didn't save it.  Not even putting Jimmy Kimmel's nephew as her smarmy kid could save it.  And not even showing landmarks of LA and NYC could save it.  Not when you have a  bad script already --- you can pose the "lovebirds" with no chemistry (how could they have that when they are never together! ) in bathtubs facing each other in homage to a very successful  Rock Hudson/Doris Day romcom ( a film that worked!) , but with a script like this....... it just doesn't work.  Oh, yes, there are a couple of laughs, esp. with her gardener Steve Zahn, her overdramatic  babysitter Rachel Bloom, her glib  best friend Tig Notaro, & flirtatious Shiri Appleby --- but otherwise, this falls short.  Dave has watched just a couple of Hallmark movies with me (just to be nice), and he even said this one made hallmark look much better.  I'd give this one  a 3 out of 5 --- it isn't the worst rom com, and some of you might get something out of it, but there is so much better available  --- and I expected much more from this one.

"YOUR PLACE OR MINE"     2023       PG-13    1 hour and 49 mins

Two long-distance best friends change each other's lives when she decides to pursue a lifelong dream and he volunteers to keep an eye on her teenage son.

Director:  Aline Brush McKenna

Writer:  Aline Brush McKenna

Actors:  Reese Witherspoon, Ashton Kutcher

Movie #2186 ........................."Sweeter Than Chocolate" (Hallmark)

 Movie #2186 "Sweeter Than Chocolate" (Hallmark) This is a silly idea  (that chocolate is magic and will bring couples together) but somehow it worked for me --- I liked the lead woman (Mumford) because she is so authentic, and the guy wasn't bad, either --- he was a journalistic who was cynical at first, but of course, he changes her mind as she spins her magic around him..... well, it's a love story, right?  I esp. like that dark chocolate was considered the best chocolate --- because I have always felt that way!  The end seemed a bit rushed, but it gets a 4.5 out of 5 for me --- great for Valentine's Day, conflict was sticky and the love part of the story was gooey, just like chocolate!

"SWEETWER THAN CHOCOLATE"   Hallmark  2023    1 hr and 24 mins

A t.v. reporter goes to investigate a local bakery which is rumored to have the secret recipe to finding true love on Valentine's Day.

Director:  David Weaver

Writers:  Kim Beyer-Johnson, Tracy Andreen, Lizzie Shane

Actors:  Eloise Mumford, Dan Jeannotte, Brenda Strong

Movie #2185 ........................."A Novel Romance" (Hallmark)

 Movie #2185 " A Novel Romance" (Hallmark) I love movies that focus around my love of books, and this was one.  It dealt with a popular novelist that uses a pen name to dodge being in the limelight, and a woman who is on his trail to find out the novelist's name for her newspaper job --- he has writer's block and of course, she helps with that, unknowingly..... the story and the conflict came across realistically here, and the two lovebird are are good and authentic,  It took a while to get to the end, but it was worth it.  I'd give it a 4.  And Charles Dutton was in it!

"A NOVEL ROMANCE"    2015    1 hour and 26 minutes

A best-selling romance novelist moves to Portland to cure his writer's block and unknowingly falls in love with his biggest critic.  When their true identities are revealed, they have to find the courage and take a leap of faith.  (note from me --- this suggests a lame, overdone storyline here --- she isn't his biggest critic --- but she has been hurt by dating someone in the limelight before, so he wants to hold off revealing who he is  to see where his relationship with her will go --- but he waits a bit too long --- well, that's the conflict-  so it's more involved than the blurb suggests)

Director:  Mark Griffiths

Writers:  Beverly Nuke, Hanz Wasserburger

Actors:  Amy Acker, Dylan Bruce, Camille Mitchell

Movie #2184 ........................."Marcel the Shell with Shoes on" (Amazon Prime)

 Movie #2184 "Marcel the Shell with Shoes on"  (Amazon Prime)  This movie is nominated for an AA for full feature animation, and it was really cute -------but I felt it was long because  the cuteness for me ran out after a while.  Of course, time should be allotted to marvel at "how the heck is this being done? " and time to laugh at many of the scenes ---- but the theme is evident from the start (how we take the little things in life for granted?) and it moves from one situation to the next v-e-r-y-----s-l-o-w-l-y....... I'm not sure kids would have the stamina to follow it, but it would be interesting to know if they do.  Also, the sound was garbled  a bit --- not sure if on purpose or not --- Jenny Slate's voice as Marcel is taking on the sound of a very little object, so maybe that part was on purpose, but there were moments we wanted it to be clearer. The film  really is very clever, and I valued that a lot, but I just thought it would have been so much better if edited more and more compact in its presentation.  I'd give it 3.5 out of 5.

"MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON"        (amazon prime)   2021   PG    1 hr, 30 mins

Feature adaptation of the animated short film interviewing  a mollusk named Marcel.

P.S.  IMDB is saying here that it was a short film at the beginning --- hmmmm.

Director:  Dean Fleischer Camp

Writers:  Dean Fleischer Camp, Jenny Slate, Nick Paley

Actors:  Jenny Slate (voice), Dean Fleischer Camp, Isabella Rossellini (voice)

Movie #2183 ........................."80 for Brady" (movie theater)

Movie #2183 "80 for Brady" (movie theater)  Ready for some fluff watching, esp. this weekend and next week, with the Super Bowl on everyone's mind?  you might want to check this one out --- It's actually a capable comedy in the hands of academy awards winners --- who knew?  Fonda, Field, Moreno and Tomlin portray Megafans of Tom Brady , and their one wish is granted --- to see him play  in the Super Bowl (2017).  It takes a lot of energy, organization, knowledge, etc that 80+ women  (oops, Field keeps reminding us she isn't there yet!)  have a bit of trouble handling, but therein lies some of the humor --- that, and watching the hutzpah they display on this GREAT adventure --- maybe the last for one of them.  The plot has so many implausible moments, but they don't come across as "silly" because of the way the women handle them --- and juxtaposition following one or  two of the "girls" at a time keeps the story moving --- It's amazing how many lines they memorized here for each of their parts, while giving the impression they are really IN the moment with each other ---- perhaps some improvising was used?  But they certainly seem self assured and serious about the comedy (if that makes sense) --- And they bring Tom Brady along for the ride --- the film has him reacting to a big speech Lily Tomlin makes to him, and he comes across NOT as a football player but an actor --- and he does the same in another scene later with her --- perhaps a new career for him now that he appears to be really retired?  I give this a solid 4 and recommend it.  The place was packed when we went at 10:30 on a Wednesday morning, with a bus dropping off people in front of the ticket booth!  What a hoot!  

"'80 FOR BRADY"    2023     PG-13     1 hr, 38 mins                                                                                                                           

A group of friends made it their life-long mission to go to the Super Bowl and meet NFL superstar Tom Brady.

Director:  Kyle Marvin

Writers:  Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins

Actors:  Rita Moreno, Sally Field, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin
                                

Movie #2182 ........................."Blonde" (netflix)

 Movie #2182 "Blonde" (netflix)  boy, if this wasn't nominated for an academy award, I wouldn't have sat through the whole thing, and I don't recommend you doing it --- you have two hours and 47 mins  you can better use to do anything else.  Watching this film makes sitting through "The Whale" a walk in the park --- talk about exploitation.....about manipulation.........gratuitous sex scenes...........about fake information...... can you tell this is one film I didn't like at all, pretty much?  Was there absolutely no happy time for her?  no good relationship?  nothing to put a smile on that wounded deer-in-headlights- victim's face?  And I read a couple of articles that I tend to agree with....this came across as kind of an anti-abortion film, when there's no proof she even made that choice......and what a topic to come down so heavily on particularly at this time ---- it seemed really a bad choice all around. ......And it really seems disrespectful to make a film like this about such an iconic woman who died so long ago at such a young age  and can't even defend herself  ---- and no matter how good the actress may be (and this one does look like her and at times does a good scene) it doesn't save a bad film.  I'd give it a 2 --- save yourself the time and don't bother.  

"BLONDE"     2 hrs and 47 minutes     NC-17 (Oh , yeah!)    2022

The story of American actress Marilyn Monroe, covering g her love and professional lives.

Director:  Andrew Dominik (note:  director of "Assassination of Jesse James" - a movie I never got all the way through....hmmmm)

Writers:  Andrew Dominik, Joyce Carol Oates (based on novel by)

Actors:   Ana de Armas, Bob Carnivale, Adrien Brody

Movie #2181 ........................"Women Talking" (movie theater)

 Movie #2181 "Women Talking " (movie theater) This film had an indie feel to it ---- and I'm very surprised that it has been elevated to status of one of the 10 best films of 2022 , according to the Hollywood Academy.  Not that it isn't deserving, but it is just not a film i would think a lot of people would enjoy watching, but then a lot of these movies fit that bill this year.  This film relies on listening..... and listening a lot because as seen in the title, there's a lot of talking by a handful of women.  You come into the middle of the argument and need to catch up quickly with very little information.  I know as i listened, I had several questions that popped up that were never answered.  It was helpful to read an article afterwards about how there is a society like this in South America , and when the writer had heard about it and visited it (in disguise), she got material for the script of this movie.  The emotion comes entirely through what the actors say ---- and they are all more than capable of delivering the argument:  Roony Mara, Judith Ivey, Claire Foy, Frances McDormand, and Jessie Buckley....The thing is that we never SEE the evil, which makes it more difficult to be pulled in emotionally.  We see the results (marks on the women's body, a flashback to Roony Mara's  results from a recent rape before the opening of the film), and I'm glad for that because there's very little if any gratuitous violence ---- we know from looking at their marked up bodies and the look in their eyes and what little they say  about  the violent situation they have been living in, but we never see the bad guys, never get to vent anger at them --- so the ending, when it finally comes, should be a bit more rewarding....but then again, we aren't quite sure, what is coming next, so maybe that was done on purpose?   Anyway, if you are going to see this film, make sure you are ready to listen, listen, listen.....this is another film this year that is a tough watch, but worth it.  I'd give it a 4, if just for the excellence in the ensemble acting.  

"WOMEN TALKING"    PG-13(I question this personally - should be R)    1 hour and 44 mins  2022

Do nothing.  Stay and fight.  Or leave.  Those are the choices in the opening vote of the women in this film.  In 2010, the women of an isolated religious community grapple with reconciling a brutal reality with their faith.

Director:  Sarah Polley

Writers:  Sarah Polley, Miriam Toews

Actors:  Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley

Movie #2180 ........................."Living" (movie theatre)

 Movie #2180 "Living" (movie theatre)  I love Bill Nighy!  I  find him highly entertaining in all his movies, and esp. a minimalistic in his acting yet getting across sometimes highly goofy characters (like the rock star in "Love Actually" ---honest, yet "out there."   Well, here he is in a different kind of character --- a stuffed shirt who has been given some bad news by his doctor, and when he looks back on his life, he doesn't see much to be proud of, so he decides to do something about it.  This is very much a minimalist kind of film ---- not too much dialogue, everything pretty much low key, with the lead character very dry.... much like the previous movie "Remains of the Day" --- and you know what?  both stories are penned by the same writer:  Ishiguro.  Once you know that, you can go into the movie with that frame of mind and listen very intently when there IS dialogue , and get to appreciate the character that Nighy portrays and the full- of- life girl who  befriends him and brings him back to the "living" ---I haven't seen yet all the academy award nominations for best actor, but from what I have seen so far, I would give it to this guy because it would be really tough to do such minimal speaking and show all the highs and lows of this difficult character to portray.  The film, however, is very slow, and to like it is to appreciate moments and the small things that happen throughout the film.  This is NOT for everyone, for sure, just like "Remains of the Day" wasn't --- but if you are an observer of small things, you would like this, I think  because this character was a very unusual one you would  see in film ---a very gutsy portrayal.  i'd give the film a 4 out of 5.

"LIVING"    PG-13      2022     1 hour and 42 mins

In 1950s London a humorless civil servant decides to take time off work to experience life after receiving a grim diagnosis.

Director:  Oliver Herman's

Writers:  kazoo Ishiguro, Akira Kurosawa (original screenplay)

Actors:  Bill Nighy, Aimee Lou Wood, Alex Sharp   

Movie #2179 ........................."The Whale" (movie theater)

 Movie #2179 "The Whale" (movie theater)  oh, boy, where do I begin?  I am not a Brendon Fraser fan, and I really didn't want to see this one.  From the speech he made at the recent Critics' Choice awards , I expected the movie to be manipulative and overdramatic ----  but I sat and watched it the other night, as uncomfortable as it was, and  I came out of it appreciating the acting but not the story, which jumped around from one subject to the next way too much.  His front door seemed a revolving door --- every time someone knocked on the door, my heart stopped a beat ---- was it the religious kid trying to read the bible to him? or  his angst-filled daughter so angry one wonders why she ever keeps coming back, possibly to mentally abuse him more?  or his ex-wife who is all screwed up and yells at him one minute, and hugs him the next?  or the pizza guy who just wants to make sure he is still okay?  or finally , and the only one we hope it is because she's the best of the bunch, his friend --- well, we think she is the most caring, but she continues to bring him food that could kill him.  The film is such a mixture of emotions, to me it didn't have a clear through line ---- it's as if it had so much to say but didn't know how to say it.  Once again, I would say his acting shows  a lot of work, but the same throughout the film, with very little variety, but it's the kind of acting job that might get rewarded with an Oscar ---- in a very weak year, I might add.  I wouldn't recommend this film, unless you are watching it because you want to --- because it is very uncomfortable and tough to watch --- esp. the gorging of food and the vomiting, and the abuse of him  by many of those who step into his room.  I give it a 3 out of 5. and would be anxious to hear what others think.  I only watched it because it was nominated for an AA.

PS --if he was really an English professor, one wonders why he made a lie/lay mistake in his dialogue? hmmm. anyone else notice that?

"THE WHALE"    R       1 hour and 57 mins            2022

A reclusive, morbidly obese English teacher attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter.

Director:  Darren Aronofsky

Writer:  Samuel D.Hunter

Actors:  Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink,  Hong Chau

Movie #2178 ........................"Tar" (Amazon Prime)

 Movie #2178 "Tar" (amazon prime) excellent acting, but way too many gaps for me --- I had to watch with a synopsis in front of me because there were so many names we needed to know and so many situations we had to guess oR assume about her..... I really didn't enjoy watching this film at all --- she was a band director, a female in a man's world, and to watch her abuse her power was a definite turn off to me --- and it isn't based on one specific person, so why not make a film about a woman conductor who has integrity and works her way to the top?  I would rather watch A  film like that than this one --- This film needed to impart more information to the viewer as he/she watches it, in my opinion.  Otherwise, you will probably get a blog like this, from someone like me who cared very little about the major characters, and just felt bad for the little girl who could no longer spend a lot of time with her adopted mother by the end of the picture.  Now, if we are to interpret the film that because of the pressure on a female in a man's world that she had some sort of mental breakdown, then maybe I would understand why she was abusive, but that's not really focussed on much in this film, unless I missed it, which is a possibility because like I said, the exposition was very little in the film and the viewer is thrown right into the middle of the story --- and the background is told is bits of flashbacks.  I don't recommend it, but I appreciate the acting.  3.5 out of 5.

"TAR"     R   2022      2 hours, 38 mins

Set in the international world of Western classical music, the film centers on Lydia Tar, widely considered one of the greatest living composer-conductors and the very first female director of a major German orchestra.  Having achieved an enviable career few could even dream of , renowned conductor/composer Lydia Tar, the first female principal music director of the Berlin Philharmonic, is at the top of her game.  As a conductor, Lydia not only orchestrates, she manipulates.  As a trailblazer, the passionate virtuoso leads the way in the male-dominated classical music industry.  Moreover, Lydia prepares for the release of her memoir while juggling work and family.  She is also willing to take up one of her most significant challenges:  a live recording of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 5.  However, forces that even the imperious maestro can't control slowly chip away at Lydia's elaborate facade, revealing the genius's dirty secrets and the insidious, corrosive nature of power.  What if life knocks Lydia off her pedestal?

Director:  Todd Field

Writ3er:  Todd Field

Actors:  Cate Blanchett, Nome Merlant, Nina Hoss, Sophie Kauer

Movie #2177 ........................."The Perfect Catch " (Hallmark)

Movie #2177 "The Perfect Catch" (hallmark)  Baseball, Andrew Walker and Niki Deloach?  What more could you ask?  Oh, and the boy from "Million Little things" (t.v. show) and lots of food, because Nikki's character is running a restaurant.  I enjoyed watching this for all those reasons above, and because the story moved clearly from start to finish.  It really delves into what it is like to be a big hit early in your life, and then you are left to examine...."Now what?"  I give it 4 out of 5.

"THE PERFECT CATCH:   Hallmark  2017    1 hour and 23 mins

Jessica, a single parent, owner of a struggling diner, finds the inspiration she needed when her high school boyfriend, Chase, a professional baseball player,  returns to town.

Director:   Steven R. Monroe

Writers:  Hanz Wasserburger, Gregg Rossen, Brian Sawyer

Actors:  Nikki Deloach, Andrew W. Walker, Chance Hurstfield

Movie #2176 ........................."Roadhouse Romance" (hallmark)

 Movie #2176 "Roadhouse Romance" need more oomph!  The lead guy (Tyler Hynes, a Hallmark fave of mine) is a hollywood director speeding through town on way to deliver a car gift to his girlfriend.  He's delayed due to car trouble in a podunk town where he doesn't even want to try supposedly the "best barbecue" in the state, made and served by a cute woman (with  golden voice - I guess she was a runner up in American Idol) who makes fun of his highfalutin Hollywood ways.......the stage business is weak because there isn't much for him to do but help her make the barbecue sauce, but the couple is cute.  The story is weak, and somehow gets resolved, but it isn't a terrific high point, and the film kind of shuffles to the end.  I'd give it 3.5 out of 5.

"ROADHOUSE ROMANCE"    2021    1 HOUR AND 24 MINS

When Callie returns home, she finds her hometown has changed - her first love has a nice girl and her family's BBQ restaurant has hit hard times.  She clashes with a marooned bight director who might hold the key to saving the restaurant.  

Director:  Paul Ziller

Writer:  Sally Robinson

Actors:  Lauren Alaina, Tyler Hynes