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

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.

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!

Judy

 2019 PG-13 1h 58m 

Set in 1968, this dramatized biopic recounts singer Judy Garland's last concerts in London, where the fragile and weary star prepares for a run of sold-out shows while beginning a courtship with her soon-to-be-fifth spouse.

Cast 

Renée Zellweger, Jessie Buckley, Finn Wittrock, Rufus Sewell, Michael Gambon, Gemma-Leah Devereux, Bella Ramsey, Andy Nyman, Fenella Woolgar, John Dagleish, Phil Dunster, Tim Ahern, John MacKay, David Rubin

Director 

Rupert Goold

Genres 

Music & Musicals, Musicals, Biographies, Showbiz Dramas, Period Pieces, 20th Century Period Pieces, Indie Dramas

Moods 

Emotional, Romantic

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.

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

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.

Cast 

John Kerry, Samantha Power, Barack Obama

Director 

Greg Barker

Genres 

Documentary, Historical Documentaries, Political Documentaries, Indie Documentaries

Moods 

Inspiring

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

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.

Cast 

Bill Murray, Dale Grand, Bob Elliott, Geena Davis, Jason Robards, Randy Quaid, Kimberleigh Aarn, Ron Ryan, Brian McConnachie, Jack Gilpin, Philip Bosco, Stanley Tucci, Phil Hartman

Director 

Howard Franklin, Bill Murray

Genres 

Comedy, Heist Films