Movie #2094 ........................."All of My Heart" (Hallmark)

Movie #2094 "All of My Heart" (Hallmark)  I noticed this was a nonChristmas Lacy Chabert film, so I thought I'd look into it.  It kind of had a plot line like a xmas one I watched this season about two people sharing the ownership of a vineyard, but this wasn't near as good as that one. This guy was worthless --- he couldn't even hammer in a nail --- and he had this passion for money and the corporate world, and we are supposed to believe that experiencing baby goats being born would change his mindset?  Not even Lacy could bail this one out --- or Ed Asner, who was this funny old coot sitting on a park bench making funny comments to anyone who walks by.  I'd give this a 2 and say don't bother! The best part was watching the bakery goods she was making..... 

"ALL OF MY HEART"      2015       1 hour and  21 minutes

After inheriting half of a house, a young woman develops an unexpected friendship with her co-owner.

Director:

 Peter DeLuise

Writer:

 Karen Berger

Stars:

 Lacey Chabert, Brennan Elliott, Edward Asner 

Movie #2093 ........................."Run" (Hulu)

 Movie #2093 "Run"(Hulu)   this is a thriller that my sister-in-law and I watched recently, and even with an overnight break in the middle, we still thought it was a good nail biter.  We even had to look up afterwards if the  young girl in the wheel chair was in real life disabled, and she is, which  makes what she goes through to make this film even more memorable!  I have seen movies on this  topic before (like "The Act"),  and  even though some of it seem "way out there" as far  as behavior, you are convinced because of the acting of the young girl and the great Sarah Paulson (who steals every show and movie that she is in, in my opinion!)  I give it a  4  out of 5, but not for the faint of heart!   

"RUN"                2020           1hour, 30 min        PG-13

A homeschooled teenager begins to suspect her mother is keeping a dark secret from her.

Director:

 Aneesh Chaganty

Writers:

 Aneesh Chaganty, Sev Ohanian

Stars:

 Sarah Paulson, Kiera Allen, Sara Sohn  |

Movie #2092 ........................."Wild Oats"(dvd)

Movie #2092 "Wild Oats" (dvd) I had purchased this dvd a while ago for 1/2 price  and took it out and watched it finally because it ran  about 1hour and 1/2 and I was walking in my living room  (which I do  a lot of these days when it is slushy and cold outside.)  I thought it had a funny premise: woman's husband dies (not funny) and she is going through grief (as Shirley MacLaine can easily do, she's an excellent actress), and when she gets her insurance check which she thinks will be $50,000 , it is a  mistake on the  insurance company's part to send  her 5 million dollars instead.  After  some hysterical discussions on the phone with a robot answering service, she and her best friend (Jessica Lange) take off for an island where there are cabanas, lots of water and gambling --- she dabbles in  the gambling, making a lot more money (which is important when the insurance guy who has to tell her there's been a mistake (Howard Hessman from WKRP Cincinnati) finally tells her.  There are some  funny moments, some universal mistreatment of old people (example with daughter Demi Moore with big horned-rimmed glasses)  2 awkward bedroom scenes (they don't show much at all) but most of it is just fluff and silliness, and the ending folds  a bit too quickly  and tightly.  I'd give it 3.5 out of  5.  I dropped it off at the retirement home for them to enjoy, which I know they will!

"WILD OATS"     2016      1 hour 26 mins PG-13

Everything changes for Eva when she receives a life insurance check accidentally made out for five million dollars instead of the expected fifty thousand dollars. She and her best friend take the money and head out for the adventure of a lifetime.

Director:

 Andy Tennant

Writers:

 Claudia Myers (screenplay by), Gary Kanew (screenplay by)  | 1 more credit »

Stars:

 Shirley MacLaine, Jessica Lange, Demi Moore 

Movie #2091 ........................."Soul" (Disney+)

 Movie #2091 (Disney +)   I loved the visuals and  the  music and some wonderful moments about creativity and  the  Carpe Deum philosophy.  But, I  have some negative's.  One is the story line --- it was all over the  place to me --- esp. in  a transitions like the one from  Greater Beyond to the Greater Before.  Someone likened that to a video game, and I thought  --- oh , that's why I didn't appreciate that --- I don't  play video  games so I was getting confused with what was going  on and thinking :   how can I kid navigate through this?  But the answer is easy--- the kid has some knowledge of video games, and I don't. I still hesitated recommend it  to kids because I am more a straight line thinker, and this was like I said "all  over" --- but then again, a film that is up with creativity would probably work best with an "all over" kind  of plot line --- So I don't fault it for that, as much  as that  the theme seemed "all over" too --- I thought there were moments that a theme would come out loud and strong (like the scene with  the teacher  on  the steps watching the little kid playing the trombone and getting a good feeling  that he had helped her).  By the end, though, we aren't sure that teaching is valued as much by him.... I probably missed an  important point, but I just was looking for more clarity there.  The voices are good --- there are too many Geralds!   3.5 because I wanted it to be better.  As far as recommending?  I have to think about this one  more --- but maybe that was what they were trying  to accomplishment here --- to make a think piece about music--- and like Jazz, it appears free and easy and calming, but it can be  complicated!  and make you think!

"SOUL"      1 hour 40     2020  

A musician who has lost his passion for music is transported out of his body and must find his way back with the help of an infant soul learning about herself.

Directors:

 Pete Docter, Kemp Powers (co-director) 

Writers:

 Pete Docter (story & screenplay by), Mike Jones (story & screenplay by)  | 1 more credit »

Stars:

 Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Graham Norton

Movie #2090 ........................."Ava" (netflix)

Movie #2090 "Ava" (netflix)  --- this story line reminded me of the t.v. show "Barry" who is also an assassin  ---  but that show doesn't show as much fighting  and killing and this film does.  It also has a huge sense of humor which is lagging here, as well.  Although  John Malkovich's character tries to infuse some in --- and he puts in some emotional scenes, as well. It just had way too much violence for me.  I thought  it was not  up to the quality of a Jessica Chastain film ---she can and  has acted in much better films.  So  I would suggest watching one  of them like  "The  Help" or "Zero Dark Thirty."  She and Malkovich elevate this action thriller, but I wouldn't recommend it.  When she isn't killing someone, she is either drinking herself into a stupor and viciously fighting off people.

"AVA"  netflix   2020     1 hour and 36 minutes  rated R

Ava is a deadly assassin who works for a black ops organization, traveling the globe specializing in high profile hits. When a job goes dangerously wrong she is forced to fight for her own survival.

Director:

 Tate Taylor

Writer:

 Matthew Newton

Stars:

 Jessica Chastain, John Malkovich, Common

Movie #2089 ........................."Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey" (Amazon Prime)

 Movie #2089 "Jingle Jangle:  A Christmas Journey" (Amazon  Prime)  What  fun!  I LOVED this gem  of a film  -- I liked the cast (esp.  the  young granddaughter -- what a  find!)  the sets and props, the music (John Legend) and what stellar choreography! It is  so  "in your face" ---  the characters  are  fast and furious but many are a bit  shallow ---  like  assistant  Gustofson and the robot, and the wife.  But the above strengths of the movie make  it a  wonderful watch in the holiday season. I   Highly  recommend-- 4.5.  And what a strong job Keegan-Michael Key and Annika Noni Rose  do, as well.  The granddaughter stole the show, to  me as Journey --- her  name is Magdalene Mills.  Wow!  What  a talent! 

"JINGLE JANGLE:  A CHRISTMAS JOURNEY" (Amazon Prime)  2020     2 hours, 2 mins

An imaginary world comes to life in a holiday tale of an eccentric toymaker, his adventurous granddaughter, and a magical invention that has the power to change their lives forever.

Director:

 David E. Talbert

Writer:

 David E. Talbert

Stars:

 Forest Whitaker, Keegan-Michael Key, Hugh Bonneville

Movie #2088 ........................." The Hillbilly Elegy" (netflix)

 Movie #2088 "The Hillbilly Elegy" (netflix)  I had a chance to read the book and got just so far (maybe P. 60?)  and put it down because I wasn't getting  to the story, but  I must say, the story starts  out quite  strong here  in this film, and it kept my interest throughout.  So much so, that now I am interested  in going back and reading the book to see how they compare ---  because I have been hearing that there are some big differences.  Since I didn't read the book, I just have the movie to comment  on --- and it was a winner to me, and a for sure academy award nomination for Glenn Close as the grandma , and another possibility to Amay Adams as the mom.  I didn't really realize that this story was about a kid growing  up in a really bad situation, raising himself up by his boot strings to graduate from Yale (a story similar to one that occurred in "Educated" , too, but I disliked that book a lot because of the amount  of abuse the reader is expected to read).  In  this film, in the hands of Ron Howard, the abuse is there  --- but it is done in such poignant  scenes and just enough to keep our interest to continue watching  --- Oh, it's hard to watch at times, with mom and her weaknesses, but the boy and his grandma have such a strong relationship, it is inspiring to watch.  In comparison to "Educated,"  I believed this one --- at least, the  story I saw here in the film.  I'd give it a 4 and recommend --- it is an eye opener on  a story we don't hear a lot about except in general terms.  This one is  up close and personal.

"THE HILLBILLY ELEGY"  (netflix)

An urgent phone call pulls a Yale Law student back to his Ohio hometown, where he reflects on three generations of family history and his own future.

Director:

 Ron Howard

Writers:

 J.D. Vance (based on the book by), Vanessa Taylor

Stars:

 Amy Adams, Glenn Close, Gabriel Basso