Movie #497 ........................."Newsies"

Movie #497 "Newsies" --- Mina, my niece, is here visiting, so I'm seeing a few movies I thought she'd like. While I was watching this older flick, I was looking up the cast, and noticed it won some razzie awards, which is never a good sign --- I'm here to say, it isn't that bad! Not at all! In fact, I found it quite entertaining --- we both did. Of course, it probably doesn't tell the exact story of the newsboys strike against Joe Pulitzer, but it does get across the feelings that the newsies experienced through those tough times! I'm always amazed at what Christian Bale can do, and I was pleasantly surprised to find the secondary guy was young Josh from one of my favorite films "Big" --- There's lots of music in this, but I found it fun music, since it was written by one of my favorite composers, Alan Mencken ("Little Shop" and "Little Mermaid) I recommend it for middle school kids --- it moves quickly along and is a lot like "Oliver" --






3.5 stars out of 5
Newsies
(1992) PG
It's 1899, and the ragtag orphans who deliver the news to New York City stage a protest when publisher Joseph Pulitzer raises the price they must shell out for their supply of papers. Can they unite the oppressed and fight the powers that be? Inspired by a local trolley workers' strike, newsie Jack Kelly (Christian Bale) sets out to organize the boys into a union, with David Jacobs (David Moscow) as the outfit's brains and Jack as its spokesman.
Genre: Children & Family Movies, Dramas, Musicals, Movies for ages 8 to 10, Movies for ages 11 to 12, Family Features, Dramas based on real life, Period Pieces, Disney Movies, Family Dramas
This movie is: Inspiring

Movie #496 ........................."Coraline"

Movie #496 "Corlaine" was one of the most inventive films I have ever seen. I just kept staring at the screen, laughing at each new page turn --- I never guessed where it was going until the very end, when it was tying up all the loose ends. What a hoot! But not for little kids, oh my. I watched it with my niece (who is 12) and she found it a bit frightening in parts. Goofy, quirky, creative, creepy, imaginative, all those words and more describe this one. I kept trying to picture the guy who wrote this film --- where the heck did he get all these ideas? Really amazing piece of film. So if you are looking for something different, and a tad dark (like Burton films), see this animated gem!


You rated this movie: 4 out of 5 stars
Coraline
Coraline & The Secret Door
(2008) PG
In this stop-motion animation Oscar nominee, curious young Coraline (voiced by Dakota Fanning) unlocks a door in her family's home and is transported to a universe that strangely resembles her own -- only better. But when her Other Mother (Teri Hatcher) doesn't want Coraline to return to reality, our heroine must summon an amazing amount of courage to go home and save her family.
Genre: Children & Family Movies, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Movies for ages 11 to 12, Family Features, Fantasy, Family Feature Animation, Family Sci-Fi & Fantasy
This movie is: Imaginative, Mind-bending

Movie #495 ........................."Help"

Movie #495 "Help" might be the best movie I see this year ---- it's that good! In fact, I plan to bring the whole family to it some time this week because I saw it with my movie club, so Dave missed it and I don't want him to miss such a wonderful film. I read the book, and it was a grand reading (most of our book club liked and enjoyed it), so I went to the movie with trepidation. I know just how many books have been ruined on film, but this is one big fat exception. In fact, it might even be a bit better ---- there wasn't really a lot I didn't like about the book, but this is more compact, funnier, and more moving in places due to the acting and editing. However, I am glad I read the book so that I knew more of the backstories of all of these wondrous secondary characters. To be sure, there will be some nominations for AAs from this ensemblage. My guess is Viola Davis, and maybe Sissy Spacek (for supporting actress) or Cicely Tyson or even Allison Janney. Emma Stone has never been better, but afraid she will be overshadowed by Viola Davis' performance --------- but that's a good thing that there are all such great performances in such a great movie about an equally great book. Go see it! One of the best this year!



Rate 5 stars out of 5
The Help
(2011) PG-13
In 1960s Jackson, Miss., aspiring writer Eugenia Phelan crosses taboo racial lines by conversing with Aibileen Clark about her life as a housekeeper, and their ensuing friendship upsets the fragile dynamic between the haves and the have-nots. When other long-silent black servants begin opening up to Eugenia, the disapproving conservative Southern town soon gets swept up in the turbulence of changing times.
Genre: Dramas, Dramas based on a book, Social Issue Dramas, Dramas based on contemporary literature, 20th Century Period Pieces
This movie is: Emotional

#495 ........................."San Quentin"

Movie #495 "San Quentin" -- gotta love TCM, esp in August when this gem of a station dedicates a full day to an actor's work --- today is Humphrey Bogart, and the list of films are all ones I've seen ("To HAve and Have Not," "The Big Sleep," "Petrified Forest" (my fave)etc, but then this popped on at 7:15 a.m. and I hadn't seen it, and wasn't planning on seeing it (prison movies, yuck!) but he and Pat O'Brien and Ann Sheridan were so good, they drew me in. Guessed the ending (who wouldn't ?) but it still was a nice way to wake up to a beautiful day on the lake. Now, back to reality and stripping furniture!





Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
San Quentin
(1937) NR
In this fast-paced prison drama, Pat O'Brien stars as former Army officer Steve Jameson, who, after accepting a guard job at the titular penitentiary, initiates military-style reforms. But his changes don't go over with hardened inmate Joe Kennedy (Humphrey Bogart) -- especially when Jameson begins dating the convict's sister (Ann Sheridan). The supporting cast includes Barton MacLane, Veda Ann Borg and Joseph Sawyer.
Genre: Dramas, Crime Dramas

Movie #494 ........................."Million Dollar Hotel"

Movie #494 "Million Dollar Hotel" a cult classic, huh? I guess it has the look of a Donnie Darko, and I liked it about as much as that film. There are some parts that are eerily quirky and pull you in, like Jeremy Davies' performance, and some of the other characters that fill the lobby of this hotel ------ the story starts off really well, but then it gets muddled ---- and Davies starts mumbling, and the young girl needs to do more to get her character more clearly across, and the film needs to follow Mel Gibson less! I did like the opening and the ending and some of the bits, but not enough to recommend this.




Rated 3 stars out of 5
The Million Dollar Hotel
(2001) R
A gang of outcasts and misfits live in a downtown Los Angeles fleapit known as the Million Dollar Hotel. When a billionaire's son (Tim Roth) dies in the hotel, a federal agent (Mel Gibson) arrives to investigate, turning everyone's lives upside down. While trying to determine whether the death was a murder or a suicide, he uncovers a web of deceit that runs surprisingly deep. Jeremy Davies and Milla Jovovich co-star.
Genre: Foreign Movies, Independent Movies, Thrillers, Foreign Thrillers, German Movies, Independent Thrillers, Crime Thrillers, Mysteries
This movie is: Quirky, Mind-bending, Suspenseful

Movie #493 ........................."Thumbsucker"

Movie #493 "Thumbsucker" -- I was looking forward to this one, but very disappointed. The humor escaped me most of the time, and I just found it slow, methodical, and a bit boring. I just saw it a few days ago, and I can't even remember most of it. I do know I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, but I did appreciate the lead character (Lou Taylor Pucci) and what he brought to the role ---- and that I hated Keanu Reeves in it, and I'm sometimes a fan of his. Take that back --- I liked him a lot in SPEED, but I wonder why I ever liked him in anything else! He's so cardboardy, and it is painfully obvioius here --- perhaps, that's part of the humor that escaped me. And here's another good performance by Tilda Swinton, wasted, because the part isn't quite big enough ---- when she steps in with her dream of running away with Benjamin Bratt, those moments were funny, but too fleeting. This is a don't bother, even if it did get accolades at sundance.





Rate 2.5 out of 5 stars
Thumbsucker
(2005) R
Teenager Justin Cobb (Lou Taylor Pucci) has an embarrassing secret: He still sucks his thumb. Berated by his father (Vincent D'Onofrio) for the childish habit and unable to confide in anyone, Justin lets his loopy orthodontist (Keanu Reeves) try hypnosis. Trouble is, it works almost too well, and before long, Justin needs another crutch to keep his angst at bay. Vince Vaughn and Tilda Swinton co-star in director Mike Mills's 2005 Sundance entry.
Genre: Comedies, Dramas, Independent Movies, Dark Comedies, Dramas based on a book, Independent Dramas, Independent Comedies, Dramas based on contemporary literature
This movie is: Dark, Quirky

Movie #492 ........................."The Man Who Knew Too Little"

Movie #492 "The Man Who Knew Too Little" is a good find, and the words netflix uses to describe this film, "Goofy, Quirky." are right on the mark. This is totally a Bill Murray vehicle, and it truly shows off his talents --- it's a Bond spoof and it had us laughing several times. The only complaint I had is that it took too long to end ------ a little quicker there, and it would have been a 4 or 5 rating. It really is like "Being There" but less cerebral =--- just all fun! I recommend it. (kids could watch it , too, because any killings are done in a silly fashion!





You rated this movie: 3.5 out of 5
The Man Who Knew Too Little
(1997) PG
Bill Murray stars as video store clerk Wallace Ritchie in this satire of the spy thriller genre. Wallace wants to celebrate his birthday with younger brother James (Peter Gallagher), but James, an aggressive businessman, has an important dinner meeting planned. He gets rid of Wallace by giving him a ticket to an audience-participation show where an unfortunate case of mistaken identity leads Wallace into -- among other things -- a web of espionage.
Genre: Comedies, Satires, Slapstick Comedies
This movie is: Goofy, Quirky