Movie #568 ........................."Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy"

Movie #568 "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" is a very detailed complicated story that I'm not convinced could be told in a 2 hour + film. It was a long book, that was made into a miniseries in the past (with Alex Guiness) and now becomes an academy award nominee vehicle for Gary Oldman, whom I think was better as Sirius Black in the Harry Potter series. In fact, he doesn't say a word for the first 30 minutes of the film, and seems terribly British and unflappable in the rest of it. Too many names, too much happening, that after awhile we don't really care. We know there's a double agent (what spy story doesn't have that) and the way it is played out, is not all that different from many of the other movies on the subject. What struck me is that I think the US does better with its espionage films --- we do it at a quicker pace, and they are more gimmicky in keeping our attention. The Brits seem to think you can talk to death the spies and they will consider that torture and give up. I enjoyed watching Colin Firth in his first movie role since winning the academy award and he definitely added to the movie. Otherwise, didn't need to see it on the big screen.





3 stars out of 5
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
(2011) R
John Le Carré's classic thriller of Cold War espionage follows an English spy as he returns to MI-6 under a cloud of suspicion. In the years since he was sacked by the agency, some suspect he's become an operative for the Soviet Union.
Genre:Thrillers, British Movies, Spy Thrillers, British Thrillers
This movie is:Cerebral, Understated

Movie #567 ........................."To Hell and Back Again"

Movie #567 "To Hell and Back Again" is a documentary that is nominated for an academy award this year and it is very deserving. It's well done because first of all when the documentarian started on this filming, he didn't know what was going to happen --- he didn't know the ending, and yet he played it out to the hit this guy took, and then followed him home to his therapy, etc. but then, when he presents the story to us, he juxtaposes the past with the present --- i.e., while he's showing the guy going to the doctor, trying to get a parking space at Walmart and then taking a wheelchair in, visiting with his doctor, etc., he cuts in between those scenes back to before he was hit --- and ends on him being hit. It becomes very powerful when you watch it that way. To add to the story, we really see what these soldiers have to go through to get the Afghans' help. We are shown to be a problem to them when he come to help --- they see us as a hindrance because they have to leave their homes, and they are further afraid of not only the Taliban but us and what we'll do. Very enlightening film and I recommend it.





I rate this 3.8 out of 5
Hell and Back Again
(2011) NR
In this unvarnished documentary set on the Afghan front line, U.S. Marine Sgt. Nathan Harris is wounded by Taliban machine-gun fire, then returns to his North Carolina home to grapple with the stress of civilian life.
Genre:Documentaries, Military Documentaries, Social & Cultural Documentaries
This movie is:Gritty
Availability: Streaming and DVD

Movie #566 .........................."Carnage"

Movie #566 "Carnage" is a don't bother movie in this academy- award -picture -ladened season. Maybe you can rent it further on down the year when it comes out on DVD, but there are so many good movies out there right now, you really don't need to see this one. Dave and I saw this play ("God of Carnage" ) when it was on Broadway, and not getting to see the original four people who played in it, we came out thinking that the people we saw didn't really connect all that well, and therefore it wasn't as funny. Now in the movie, we had 4 competent people, and though it does have some good moments, and the cast is really very good, it still isn't all that funny. It's kind of like George and Martha (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) , peppered with some jokes, in that it is pretty mean-spirited. As one of the characters puts it so well by the end of the play, who really cares? And I'm afraid this audience member felt the same way by the end of the film (which is, incidentally, one of its most unsuccessful moments).





I rated this 3 stars out of 5
Carnage
(2011) R
In this comic drama from director Roman Polanski, two sets of parents meet in the aftermath of an incident in which one of their children bullied the other. As the evening progresses, the adults confront each other in increasingly hostile ways.
Genre:Dramas, Foreign Movies, Foreign Dramas, French Movies, French Dramas

Movie #565 ........................."Terri"

Movie #565 "Terri" --- this is a movie that made someone's top 10 list so I ordered it --- big mistake! It has some interesting moments about being a teenager, being big and therefore being bullied, being a misfit and finding other misfits to befriend you so you aren't alone, liking the girl in your home ec class, taking care of your uncle who takes so many pills he's zonked out most of the time, but on the whole the pace is way too slow, and the acting is way too mediocre to be a good film that I could recommend. This one you can skip. There are much better films on the subject. I thought it would never end............in fact, I'm watching the ending now, and wondering if it will ever get there..............it has turned rather raunchy and more mediocre as it climbs to the high point ---- come on, where's the poignancy? where's the quirky? where's the comedy? this is just raunchy. Skip it.





2.6 out of 3 stars
Terri
(2011) R
This poignant coming-of-age tale follows Terri, an overweight orphan who, while struggling to find acceptance with his peers, forms an unlikely friendship with his vice principal, who also knows all too well what it's like to be alone.
Genre:Comedies, Dramas, Independent Movies, Independent Dramas, Independent Comedies
This movie is:Quirky, Understated

Movie #564 ........................."Saint Ralph"

Movie #564 "Saint Ralph" -- what a funny movie that pokes fun at growing up, "boys will be boys," the Catholic Church, and friendship yet while allowing us to laugh at these kids, the film makes us think about some serious subjects like grief, dealing with tragedy in the family (mother is in a coma), living alone when you are only age 14, being bullied by others, taking on a goal to win the Boston marathon against all odds, and running, running, and running. I usually don't like movies about religion, but this was a really good one and I recommend it.





I ranked it 3.8 out of 5 stars
Saint Ralph
(2004) PG-13
Ralph (Adam Butcher) is a typical teenager with atypical questions, the largest of which concerns his mother. She's fallen into a coma, and the 14-year-old has set his sights on winning the 1954 Boston Marathon in a makeshift barter with God to make his mother well. His teacher, Father Hibbert (Campbell Scott), wants to encourage his dream, but in doing so, he goes up against the reserved, ever-realistic Father Fitzpatrick (Gordon Pinsent).
Genre:Dramas, Faith and Spirituality, Independent Movies, Independent Dramas, Sports Dramas, Faith & Spirituality Movies, Sports Movies, 20th Century Period Pieces
This movie is:Emotional, Inspiring, Sentimental, Feel-good

Movie #563 ........................."The Iron Lady"

Movie #563 "The Iron Lady" is a movie worth seeing for a number of reasons, most of them dealing with Streep and the director Phyllida Lloyd's work with Streep and the editor. I have been watching all these wonderfully photographed movies this year, including "War Horse," "Hugo," "Tree of Life" and the list goes on, and usually editing is pulled out of one of those films to be honored for the academy awards --- and that makes sense. However, to me, from the movies I have seen this year, the editing in this particular movie actually MADE the story work here. If you put "J. Edgar" next to this film, you would understand what editing can do to a film ---- make or break it. In "Edgar" it broke it, here it "made" it. The story is so much more fascinating because of the WAY it is told. She is unlikable and controversial, like Edgar, but still "attention must be paid" to the character in this film. I think Leo is almost as good as Streep, there's no doubt he has done as much work as she --- they could be comparable, if anyone could to Streep, yet she USES all the moments--- both characters are complex and you want to know what is on their minds, but the actor fills in the gaps, or should. Here, Streep is able to do that. I loved her before walking into the theatre (all my life, actually) , and this movie just underlined her ability. I thought it was Viola Davis's year to win best actress. Now, I'm not sure. Streep is very, very good! If there were any year for a tie, I'd want it to be this year. I know it has happened before ---- and to someone comparable to Streep (K. Hepburn), but I'm not sure it will go that way. And that's too bad because this year really has two great actresses, and two great films that should tie for best picture! (Midnight in Paris and Help) Anyway, Hats off to the director and Streep for making me want to put a Margaret Thatcher book on my to read list this year! Good flick!






I rated it 4 out of 5 stars
The Iron Lady
(2011) PG-13
Meryl Streep provides a subtle and nuanced portrait of Margaret Thatcher, the first female prime minister of Britain, whose political career and determination changed the rules that had limited women's opportunities for leadership.
Genre:Dramas, Political Dramas, British Movies, British Dramas
This movie is:Dark

Movie #562 ........................."A Better Life"

Movie #562 "A Better Life" was an emotional film about the immigration problem in the US. It's a very touching story about how much a father will go through for his son. I have read books on the subject, but this shows the plight of one Mexican immigrant who is trying his best to raise his teenage son, just when he's at the point of going toward something else in order to survive. A heartbreaking ending. This movie reminded me of a modern day "Bicycle Thief" because the same things seem to be going on here.





I rate it 3.5 out of 5 stars
A Better Life
(2011) PG-13
This candid social drama tracks the relationship and conflicts between Mexican immigrant gardener Carlos and his teenage son Luis, whom he's trying to interest in earning an honest living rather than drifting into the East L.A. gang scene.
Genre:Dramas, Crime Dramas, Social Issue Dramas
This movie is:Emotional, Gritty, Heartfelt