Sunday, May 31, 2020
Ceremony 2010
Zoe is engaged to marry a successful but colossally arrogant director. Sam wants a second chance at love but Zoe isn't sure there was ever any love in the first place. Sam persuades his best friend Marshall to join him for a trip to Long Island. Sam wants to crash Zoe's weekend long wedding festivities. He also wants to convince her that he's the right man for her. He talks his way into getting them invited to a party at a beach house. Marshall is torn about the reason for this trip. He is feeling the emotions of deceit, anger, depression and acceptance. Sam is tryin every angle to plead his case to get Zoe back.
I don't know why Uma Thurman took this role but she's the only brightness in this movie. She is beautiful in her wedding makeup and her wedding dress. The men seem like dolts and the plot is so weak and unfunny that I wonder why it's called a comedy? 2* (I didn't like this movie)
90 min, Comedy directed and written by Max Winkler with Michael Angarano, Uma Thurman, Reece Daniel Thompson, Lee Pace, Jake Johnson, Brooke Bloom, Harper Dill, Rebecca Mader, Natalie Love, Charlie Moss, Libby Larson, Paul Amodeo, Philip Carlson.
Note: Imdb 5.5 out of 10 with 4,030 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 40% with 35 critics 31% audience with 2,428 user ratings, Amazon 3.6* out of 58 with 81 ratings, rateyourmusic.com 2.41* out of 5* with 23 ratings, Letterboxd 2.7* out of 5*.
Special Note: Lee Pace is actually driving during the buggy scene. Steven Spielberg offered Pace the part of Fernando Wood in the film Lincoln after seeing his performance in this film. Michael Angarano was originally cast to play the best friend and Jesse Eisenberg was to pay Sam. Eisenberg dropped out and Angarano was moved up to the lead role. When I looked up reviews online, the title Ceremony took me to reviews of actual ceremonies and not reviews of the film?
Saturday, May 30, 2020
End of the Spear 2006
This film is based on actual events in 1956. It is the story of Mincayani and he is a Waodani tribesman from the jungles of Amazonian Ecuador. Five young male missionaries travel to this remote area. They are Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Pete Fleming and Roger Youderian. Nate was a jungle pilot and he his job is to fly missionaries. He builds a small airplane out of wood with his 8-year old son Steve. Nate became convinced he wants to make contact with a jungle tribe, this is a tribe feared by other tribes. Nate's older sister Rachel Saint has had extensive contact with the Waodani warrior Dayumae. She has learned a few words of the Waodani language and she teaches young Steve what she knows. Steve teaches his father Nate. Rachel doesn't know what Nate and the other missionaries are planning?? Nate is worried she would pass the information on to the superiors of the agency she works for. They would certainly stop this plan!!
This film includes some explicit violence. A Waodoni girl is kidnapped with a harrowing chase and grab scene. The Waodonis kill each other and members of a different tribe. The five white missionaries are attacked by the Waodoni's and they are speared brutally. Steve Nate's son lives briefly with his aunt Rachel and the tribe. They unknowingly befriend the man who killed his father. Later there is an emotional reckoning. Elizabeth Elliot was the wife of Jim Elliot, she met Jim at Wheaton College in Illinois. She previously worked with the Quichua Indians and Jim worked among them with her. She spent two years with the Wadodoni tribe after Jim was killed. They had a daughter 10 months old when Jim was died. I used to listen to a radio program hosted by Elizabeth Elliot and I have read her books. 5* (I really liked this movie)
108 min, Adventure directed by Jim Hannon and written by Bill Ewing, Bart Gavigan and Jim Hannon with Louie Leonardo Chad Allen, Jack Guzman, Christina Souza, Chase Ellison, Chemo Mepaquito, Ninabet Bedoya, Sara Kathryn Bakker, Cara Stoner, Beth Bailey, Ocniel Barrigon, Yariela Caizamo, Andrea Lino Mache, Marco Flaco, Gabriela Valdespino.
Note Imdb 6.8 out of 10 with 4,827 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 40% with 53 critic reviews 82% audience with 14,261 ratings, Dove.org 2* violence, 1* nudity, Common Sense Media Cynthia Fuchs age 14+, violence 5*.
This film includes some explicit violence. A Waodoni girl is kidnapped with a harrowing chase and grab scene. The Waodonis kill each other and members of a different tribe. The five white missionaries are attacked by the Waodoni's and they are speared brutally. Steve Nate's son lives briefly with his aunt Rachel and the tribe. They unknowingly befriend the man who killed his father. Later there is an emotional reckoning. Elizabeth Elliot was the wife of Jim Elliot, she met Jim at Wheaton College in Illinois. She previously worked with the Quichua Indians and Jim worked among them with her. She spent two years with the Wadodoni tribe after Jim was killed. They had a daughter 10 months old when Jim was died. I used to listen to a radio program hosted by Elizabeth Elliot and I have read her books. 5* (I really liked this movie)
108 min, Adventure directed by Jim Hannon and written by Bill Ewing, Bart Gavigan and Jim Hannon with Louie Leonardo Chad Allen, Jack Guzman, Christina Souza, Chase Ellison, Chemo Mepaquito, Ninabet Bedoya, Sara Kathryn Bakker, Cara Stoner, Beth Bailey, Ocniel Barrigon, Yariela Caizamo, Andrea Lino Mache, Marco Flaco, Gabriela Valdespino.
Note Imdb 6.8 out of 10 with 4,827 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 40% with 53 critic reviews 82% audience with 14,261 ratings, Dove.org 2* violence, 1* nudity, Common Sense Media Cynthia Fuchs age 14+, violence 5*.
Friday, May 29, 2020
Blue Jasmine 2013
Ginger has a small apartment in San Francisco, she has two boys and a boyfriend, Chili. She works as a checker and stocker in a small local market and Chili is a mechanic. They were planning on Chili moving into the apartment. Ginger is divorced from Augie and he will be leaving the area soon to work on a pipeline in Alaska. Ginger's sister Jasmine lives in New York with her husband Hal and they have a son, Danny. Jasmine learns Hal has been cheating on her for a very long time. He tells her he is leaving her for one of the women he’s been seeing. Jasmine and Hal are very wealthy but they lose everything. Hal goes to jail and he commits suicide. Jasmine has a mental breakdown and she comes to San Francisco to live with her sister until she gets on her feet.
This is excellent, casting, scenery of San Francisco and New York, acting and storyline. Cate Blanchett gives a wonderful performance in the lead role of Jasmine. She’s hanging onto everything just by a thread at all times. Sally Hawkins as Ginger is exactly opposite from Cate in every way. There is every possible emotion available in this film. Also, a lot of humor even with the dark subject matter. 4 ½* (I loved this movie)
98 min, Drama directed by Woody Allen with Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Peter Sarsgaard, Sally Hawkins, Andrew Dice Clay, Bobby Cannavale, Charlie Tahan, Annie McNamara, Daniel Jenks, Max Rutherford, Tammy Blanchard, Kathy Tong, Ted Newstadt, Andrew Long.
Note: Imdb 7.3 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 90% with 223 critics 85% audience with 49,057 user ratings, Roger Ebert 3* Susan Wloszczyna, The Guardian 4* out of 5* Mark Kermode,
Common Sense Media S. Jhoanna Robledo, age 14+, positive messages 0, role models 1*, violence 2*, sex 2*, language 4*, consumerism,, drinking drugs & smoking 3*, Amazon 4.1* out of 5* with 1,982 reviews, Letterboxd 3.6* out of 5* with 99 fans, Metacritic 78 out of 100 with 47 critic reviews (positive 78 mixed 4, negative 1), 7.7 out of 10 with 386 user scores (positive 317, mixed 46, negative 23), The Guardian 4* out of 5*.
Special Note: Costume designer Suzy Benzinger had a budget of only $35,000. The Hermes bag that Jasmine carries was worth more than the entire budget? It was borrowed along with most of the other designer outfits. Director Woody Allen doesn’t get into motivation or background of a character when he is directing actors. Blanchett and Hawkins got together and invented the background for their relationship as sisters. In every scene when they talked about their past it is vague on the script and for the viewer. Both actresses knew before the scenes exactly what they were talking about as sisters. Blanchette studied the 60 minutes 1968 interview with Ruth Madoff, the wife of disgraced Wall Street swindler Bernie Madoff. She wanted to learn the vocal inflections and body language that Ruth used. She did this to capture the essence of a woman who had once been wealthy and living in a privileged world. How would she really act when that world comes crumbling down around her? Loosely based upon the 1947 play A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams.
Added Note: The themes of this film may be too mature for tweens and younger. Jamine is mentally unstable and is falling apart right before you eyes. Characters don’t readily empathize with one another. They seem to sabotage each other and themselves instead. Lots of drinking and pill taking by the main character Jasmine. She relies on hard liquor and prescriptions medications to get through the day. One character is very angry, bordering on abusive and there is some strong language.
This is excellent, casting, scenery of San Francisco and New York, acting and storyline. Cate Blanchett gives a wonderful performance in the lead role of Jasmine. She’s hanging onto everything just by a thread at all times. Sally Hawkins as Ginger is exactly opposite from Cate in every way. There is every possible emotion available in this film. Also, a lot of humor even with the dark subject matter. 4 ½* (I loved this movie)
98 min, Drama directed by Woody Allen with Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Peter Sarsgaard, Sally Hawkins, Andrew Dice Clay, Bobby Cannavale, Charlie Tahan, Annie McNamara, Daniel Jenks, Max Rutherford, Tammy Blanchard, Kathy Tong, Ted Newstadt, Andrew Long.
Note: Imdb 7.3 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 90% with 223 critics 85% audience with 49,057 user ratings, Roger Ebert 3* Susan Wloszczyna, The Guardian 4* out of 5* Mark Kermode,
Common Sense Media S. Jhoanna Robledo, age 14+, positive messages 0, role models 1*, violence 2*, sex 2*, language 4*, consumerism,, drinking drugs & smoking 3*, Amazon 4.1* out of 5* with 1,982 reviews, Letterboxd 3.6* out of 5* with 99 fans, Metacritic 78 out of 100 with 47 critic reviews (positive 78 mixed 4, negative 1), 7.7 out of 10 with 386 user scores (positive 317, mixed 46, negative 23), The Guardian 4* out of 5*.
Special Note: Costume designer Suzy Benzinger had a budget of only $35,000. The Hermes bag that Jasmine carries was worth more than the entire budget? It was borrowed along with most of the other designer outfits. Director Woody Allen doesn’t get into motivation or background of a character when he is directing actors. Blanchett and Hawkins got together and invented the background for their relationship as sisters. In every scene when they talked about their past it is vague on the script and for the viewer. Both actresses knew before the scenes exactly what they were talking about as sisters. Blanchette studied the 60 minutes 1968 interview with Ruth Madoff, the wife of disgraced Wall Street swindler Bernie Madoff. She wanted to learn the vocal inflections and body language that Ruth used. She did this to capture the essence of a woman who had once been wealthy and living in a privileged world. How would she really act when that world comes crumbling down around her? Loosely based upon the 1947 play A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams.
Added Note: The themes of this film may be too mature for tweens and younger. Jamine is mentally unstable and is falling apart right before you eyes. Characters don’t readily empathize with one another. They seem to sabotage each other and themselves instead. Lots of drinking and pill taking by the main character Jasmine. She relies on hard liquor and prescriptions medications to get through the day. One character is very angry, bordering on abusive and there is some strong language.
Thursday, May 28, 2020
The Grace Card 2010
Everything can change in an instant. Then it can take a lifetime to unravel. Each day, we have the opportunity rebuild relations by giving and receiving grace. Off the grace card and never underestimate the power of love. Mac McDonald loses his son in an accident. After this tragedy Mac lives 17 years of bitterness. Pain erodes the love he has for his family and leaves him very angry. His rage stonewalls his careen the police department. It also makes for a combustible situation when he’s partnered with Sam Wright. He is a rising star on the force, he is a part-time pastor and a family man. How will these two different forces in these men allow them to work together? They find it impossible to look past their differences? Every day, they have a chance to rebuild their relationship and heal deep wounds!!
This movie has hard hitting messages. Many people have secret hurts that they can't or don't know how to deal with. The script is good, the acting is good but slightly predictable at times. People need each other and during this time of the coronavirus helping other people to not get the virus is essential. Social distancing, wearing masks, buying only what you need and not hoarding, hand washing and wiping things down plus following the opening guidelines of state governors. 4* (I liked this movie)
Note: Imdb 6.4 out of 10 with 2,625 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 33% with 27 critics 81% with 3,966 audience scores, Amazon Prime Video 4.8* out of 5* with 507 reviews.
101 min, Drama directed by David G. Evans and written by Howard Klausner with Michael Joiner, Michael Higgenbottom, Louis Gossett Jr., Dawntoya Thomason, Rob Erickson, Kiana McDaniel, Taylor Ollins, Cindy Hodge, Chris Thomas, Brayden Negelein, Amisho Baraka.
Special Note: Michael Joiner lived and studied in Los Angeles for ten years and went on three hundred and fifty auditions. He received forty roles. He moved back to Kansas City Missouri and two months later, he got the call to play the lead role in this movie with no audition. Joiner is also a professional stand up comedian and he was cracking up the cast and crew during breaks. He was also Bruce Willis' full time photo double for Moonlighting 1985. Director David G. Evans is a full Time optometrist in Memphis Tennessee.
This movie has hard hitting messages. Many people have secret hurts that they can't or don't know how to deal with. The script is good, the acting is good but slightly predictable at times. People need each other and during this time of the coronavirus helping other people to not get the virus is essential. Social distancing, wearing masks, buying only what you need and not hoarding, hand washing and wiping things down plus following the opening guidelines of state governors. 4* (I liked this movie)
Note: Imdb 6.4 out of 10 with 2,625 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 33% with 27 critics 81% with 3,966 audience scores, Amazon Prime Video 4.8* out of 5* with 507 reviews.
101 min, Drama directed by David G. Evans and written by Howard Klausner with Michael Joiner, Michael Higgenbottom, Louis Gossett Jr., Dawntoya Thomason, Rob Erickson, Kiana McDaniel, Taylor Ollins, Cindy Hodge, Chris Thomas, Brayden Negelein, Amisho Baraka.
Special Note: Michael Joiner lived and studied in Los Angeles for ten years and went on three hundred and fifty auditions. He received forty roles. He moved back to Kansas City Missouri and two months later, he got the call to play the lead role in this movie with no audition. Joiner is also a professional stand up comedian and he was cracking up the cast and crew during breaks. He was also Bruce Willis' full time photo double for Moonlighting 1985. Director David G. Evans is a full Time optometrist in Memphis Tennessee.
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
The Phantom Carriage 1921
This film is based on the Nobel-Prize winning novel Thy Soul Shall Bear Witness by Selma Lagerlof published in 1912. It is also based on an ancient Scandinavian legend. Three men who are drunk tell about the legend. The last person to die in a year, if he is a great sinner, will have to drive the Phantom Chariot during the entire year. Each New Year's Eve, the Chariot carries off the souls of those who have sinned. David Holm is forced to recall his past misdeeds. His only hope lies in performing an act of selflessness to avoid the phantom chariot.
This is like A Christmas Carol but it is much more hardcore!! It is a silent movie in black and white. It is notable for its special effects and they were advanced for this time period. The narrative is structured with flashbacks within flashbacks. Shooting took place from May to July 1920 in the newly started Filstaden studios in Solna. The set design was inspired by the southern Swedish town Landskrona. This area looked like the location Lagerlof had in mind while writing the novel. There isn’t any sugar coating here!! 4* (I really liked this movie)
106 min, Drama directed by Victor Sjostrom and written by Selma Lagerlof and Victor Sjostrom with Hilda Borgstrom, Astrid Holm, Tore Svennberg, Lisa Lundholm, Concordia Selander, Mona Geijer-Falkner, Nils Ahren, Anna-Lisa Baude, Tor Weijden, Einar Axelsson, Olaf As, Nils Arehn, Simon Linstrand, Nils Elffors, Algot Gunnarsson, Hildur Lithman, John Ekman.
Note: Imdb 8.1 out of 10 with 9,819 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 100% with 14 critics 90% audience score with 1,475 ratings, Slant Magazine 4* out of 5* Joseph Jon Lanthier, Letterboxd 4* out of 5*
Special Note: Ingmar Bergman watched this film at least once every summer. He viewed it alone or in the company of younger people. He stated that this film, to him, was once “the film of all films.” It was the main influence on his own work. The film should have been heavily censored? This would be due to its supernatural content and in accordance with the censorship guidelines of 1921. The board of censors decided to leave the film intact rather than risk a dispute with Selma Lagerlof. Director Victor Sjostrom disguised himself as a poor man and spent time in the slums of Stockholm in order prepare for this movie. Sjostrom traveled to author Selma Lagerlof’s house in Marbacka to read the scenario out loud. He acted out the entire screenplay in front of her. Afterwards, he fell down on the sofa totally exhausted. She looked at him for a long time and then asked if he would care for a drink? That was her seal of approval. Charlie Chaplin said that this was the best film ever made.
This is like A Christmas Carol but it is much more hardcore!! It is a silent movie in black and white. It is notable for its special effects and they were advanced for this time period. The narrative is structured with flashbacks within flashbacks. Shooting took place from May to July 1920 in the newly started Filstaden studios in Solna. The set design was inspired by the southern Swedish town Landskrona. This area looked like the location Lagerlof had in mind while writing the novel. There isn’t any sugar coating here!! 4* (I really liked this movie)
106 min, Drama directed by Victor Sjostrom and written by Selma Lagerlof and Victor Sjostrom with Hilda Borgstrom, Astrid Holm, Tore Svennberg, Lisa Lundholm, Concordia Selander, Mona Geijer-Falkner, Nils Ahren, Anna-Lisa Baude, Tor Weijden, Einar Axelsson, Olaf As, Nils Arehn, Simon Linstrand, Nils Elffors, Algot Gunnarsson, Hildur Lithman, John Ekman.
Note: Imdb 8.1 out of 10 with 9,819 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 100% with 14 critics 90% audience score with 1,475 ratings, Slant Magazine 4* out of 5* Joseph Jon Lanthier, Letterboxd 4* out of 5*
Special Note: Ingmar Bergman watched this film at least once every summer. He viewed it alone or in the company of younger people. He stated that this film, to him, was once “the film of all films.” It was the main influence on his own work. The film should have been heavily censored? This would be due to its supernatural content and in accordance with the censorship guidelines of 1921. The board of censors decided to leave the film intact rather than risk a dispute with Selma Lagerlof. Director Victor Sjostrom disguised himself as a poor man and spent time in the slums of Stockholm in order prepare for this movie. Sjostrom traveled to author Selma Lagerlof’s house in Marbacka to read the scenario out loud. He acted out the entire screenplay in front of her. Afterwards, he fell down on the sofa totally exhausted. She looked at him for a long time and then asked if he would care for a drink? That was her seal of approval. Charlie Chaplin said that this was the best film ever made.
Jolene 2008
This film is based on a story written by E.L. Doctorow. The story is titled “Jolene: A Life.” Jolene was raised in foster homes and she meets Mickey when she is 15 years old. She sees an opportunity for a different life and they get married. Mickey promises they will look for a place of their own after just a couple of months of living with his aunt and uncle. Uncle Phil likes Jolene too much and it doesn't take long for this marriage to break up. Mickey loved her but he wasn’t able to provide for her financially. Jolene is sent to juvenile detention and she meets Cindy and she helps her escape. Next, she's a roller skating waitress in Phoenix and she meets and marries tattoo artist Coco Leger. This marriage only lasts until his still married to Coco first wife comes to see him with his son. Jolene suffers a meltdown after this experience. She becomes a dancer in Las Vegas, she meets mobster Sal, they get married and she's happy for a while. He dies suddenly and she marries Brad. He is a multi-millionaire but he treats her very badly. After this marriage, she’s finally on her own and she works her way up from several jobs to a receptionist job.
Chastain does a very good job in her role as Jolene and this is a screen debut for Jessica. I did not like the ending but it may explain everything that happened previously? 3* (This movie is OK)
108 min, Drama directed by Dan Ireland and written by Dennis Yares, E.L. Doctorow and Michael Gilio with Jessica Chastain, Dermot Mulroney, Chazz Palminteri, Michael Vartan, Zeb Newman, Rupert Friend, Theresa Russell, Frances Fisher, Stephanie Likes, Zeb Newman, Denise Richards, Michael Vartan, Shannon Whirry, Drea Pruseau, Mickey Cottrell, Mary Jane Johnson.
Note: Imdb 6.4 out of 10 with 4,247 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 48% with 21 critics 43% audience with 3,049 ratings, Slant Magazine Glenn Heath Jr. 1* out of 5*, Letterboxd 2.8* out of 5*, Amazon 3.7* out of 5* with 232 reviews,
Special Note: The story written by Doctorow is inspired by the Dolly Parton song, Jolene. There is a mistake with Jolene’s southern accent because it comes and goes? There also a mistake when Jolene is charged with kidnapping. Another mistake is that legally it is almost impossible to get a civil annulment when the couple have lived together as man and wife? It doesn’t matter how much money you have!! Brad would be required to get a civil divorce instead.
Marry Me 2010
An artist turned social worker Rae Ann Carter loves her job and she has always wanted the fairytale romance. It is the fantasy of meeting a prince, falling in love and getting married. She's been dating Adam for two years and expects him to "pop the question” soon. He tells her that he has an important question to ask her? It turns out he has received a grant to photograph frogs across the world? What a bummer!! She has a blind date with Luke, he is the nephew of their Pastor. That relationship doesn't seem to be going very well but she doesn't want to give up. Then, she meets Harry, he is Luke’s handsome former college roommate and she finds him very attractive. Which man will she choose to be the prince??
I didn't know this was a Lifetime Mini-Series. You can tell this was shown on TV because of the scene breaks for commercials. I don’t know why this is so long when it could have been resolved in half the time? It does have funny moments but somewhat overly predictable. The suitors could have been named Tom, Dick and Harry since there are three of them? But, that would be too cliche and not inventive!! 3* (This movie is OK)
169 min, TV miniseries, 2 episodes, comedy directed by James Hayman with Lucy Liu, Steven Pasqualae, Bobby Canavale, Enrique Murciano, Danielle Nicolet, Vanessa Marano, David Andrews, Elizabeth Bogush, Burgess Jenkins, Annie Potts, Kenny Alfonso, Javier Carrasquillo, Susan Mansur, Elizabeth Omilami.
Note: Imdb 6.7 out of 10 with 1,050 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 54% with 88 user ratings, Amazon 4.6* out of 5* with 113 ratings, netflix.com 3.8* out of 5* with 27,446 reviews, Letterboxd 3.1* out of 5*.
Special Note: Enrique Murciano (Harry) & Steven Pasquale (Luke) also worked together on Bloodline 2015 as the characters Marco Diaz & Alec Wolos. In Bloodline, they also play men that like the same woman but their circumstances are reversed. Originally aired on Lifetime on December 12 and 13, 2010.
I didn't know this was a Lifetime Mini-Series. You can tell this was shown on TV because of the scene breaks for commercials. I don’t know why this is so long when it could have been resolved in half the time? It does have funny moments but somewhat overly predictable. The suitors could have been named Tom, Dick and Harry since there are three of them? But, that would be too cliche and not inventive!! 3* (This movie is OK)
169 min, TV miniseries, 2 episodes, comedy directed by James Hayman with Lucy Liu, Steven Pasqualae, Bobby Canavale, Enrique Murciano, Danielle Nicolet, Vanessa Marano, David Andrews, Elizabeth Bogush, Burgess Jenkins, Annie Potts, Kenny Alfonso, Javier Carrasquillo, Susan Mansur, Elizabeth Omilami.
Note: Imdb 6.7 out of 10 with 1,050 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 54% with 88 user ratings, Amazon 4.6* out of 5* with 113 ratings, netflix.com 3.8* out of 5* with 27,446 reviews, Letterboxd 3.1* out of 5*.
Special Note: Enrique Murciano (Harry) & Steven Pasquale (Luke) also worked together on Bloodline 2015 as the characters Marco Diaz & Alec Wolos. In Bloodline, they also play men that like the same woman but their circumstances are reversed. Originally aired on Lifetime on December 12 and 13, 2010.
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Hanna 2019
This series is both a high-concept thriller and a coming-of-age drama. It is based on the film Hanna 2011. Hanna was taken as a newborn baby to a government-sponsored experiment in a Romanian facility involving genetic superiority, human weapons, etc. Erik Heller and Hanna’s mother go the facility to get Hanna back. They flee to a Polish forest but Hanna’s mother is killed by gunfire. Erik teaches her how to survive alone and how to physically and mentally protect herself. They live in the forest for fifteen years. Hanna meets a young man working in the forest and she leaves. She wants to know what is beyond the forest? Hanna hides out with a suburban family in London and she met them after she ran away from a Moroccan CIA facility. They are a British family out on holiday in their VW van. Sophie and Hanna become friends but they have a falling out and Hanna leaves. Erik realizes that Hanna will not listen to anything but the truth. He takes her back to Romania and Hanna tells Erik that she knows he is not her real father. He tells her about the Romanian facility called Utrax where she was taken after she was born. He also tells her how her mother died.
There is a LOT going on in this film and some information is slowly revealed and at later in later scenes. Hanna’s mother and Erik met when her mother was thinking about going to an abortion clinic. Erik wanted to help her and he gave Hanna’s mother other options. Because of her forest training Hanna is very strong and she can somehow sense information. It is difficult for her to interact with other teens her age when she has a chance to be with them. It is possible that there will be a Season 2 released in 2020. 5* (I really liked this series)
TV series, action and drama, ten episodes, each episode is one hour long. Created by David Farr with Esme Creed-Miles, Mireille Enos, Joel Kinnaman, Khalid Abdalla, Katie Clarkson-Hill, Rhianne Barreto, Justin Salinger, Felicien Juttner, Giles Norris-Tari, Yasmin Monet Prince.
Imdb 7.5 out of 10 with 18,126 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 67% with 39 critics 83% with 313 user ratings, Rolling Stone 2 1/2* out of 5* David Fear, Amazon 4.1* out of 5* with 4,013 viewers.
Mistakes: Romanian number plates are used for German cars and German number plates are on Romanian cars?
There is a LOT going on in this film and some information is slowly revealed and at later in later scenes. Hanna’s mother and Erik met when her mother was thinking about going to an abortion clinic. Erik wanted to help her and he gave Hanna’s mother other options. Because of her forest training Hanna is very strong and she can somehow sense information. It is difficult for her to interact with other teens her age when she has a chance to be with them. It is possible that there will be a Season 2 released in 2020. 5* (I really liked this series)
TV series, action and drama, ten episodes, each episode is one hour long. Created by David Farr with Esme Creed-Miles, Mireille Enos, Joel Kinnaman, Khalid Abdalla, Katie Clarkson-Hill, Rhianne Barreto, Justin Salinger, Felicien Juttner, Giles Norris-Tari, Yasmin Monet Prince.
Imdb 7.5 out of 10 with 18,126 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 67% with 39 critics 83% with 313 user ratings, Rolling Stone 2 1/2* out of 5* David Fear, Amazon 4.1* out of 5* with 4,013 viewers.
Mistakes: Romanian number plates are used for German cars and German number plates are on Romanian cars?
Anne with an E 2017-2020
This film is based on the books Anne of Green Gables written by Lucy Maude Montgomery. It is the story of a young orphan girl living in the late 19th century. Anne was given up for adoption when she was a few months old after her birth parents both died. She has been in an orphanage for quite a while and she is now 13 years old. In 1896, Anne is adopted by an elderly brother and sister with a farm on the outskirts of the Canadian town of Avonlea, Prince Edward Island. Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert are brother and sister, they live together and they both have never been married. They asked an orphanage to send a to boy to help Matthew with the farm work. When Matthew arrives at the train station to pick up the orphan, he learns that she is a girl and not a boy? She is very talkative on the buggy ride home and Matthew doesn’t know what to think about this because Matthew is a man of few words? He really wonders what Marilla will say when she finds out he brought home a girl. Marilla wants to send her back immediately? Matthew convinces Marilla to keep her for a trial period. It is going well until a brooch that is very dear to Marilla is missing? Matthew hurries to catch the train to bring Anne back when the brooch is found.
When Anne returns, she is officially made a part of their family. Anne continually faces bullying from students in the Avonlea school. Anne somewhat contributes to the bullying by being different and not conforming to any of the behaviors of the other students. She does make friends but many times there are misunderstandings. Anne feels everything more deeply because of her past at the orphanage and the treatment she received from others. There is also class discrimination from residents of Avonlea. It is because Anne was an orphan and the Cuthburts have a comfortable living but they are working class people. The storylines are very good, the soundtrack is excellent, good dialogue, comedy that makes you laugh and smile, realistic about Anne finding her own identity, bullying, prejudice, racism and sexism. 5* (I really liked this series)
TV, Drama, each episode is one hour, three seasons created by Moira Walley-Beckett with Amybeth McNulty, Geraldine James, R.H. Thomson, Dalila Bela, Lucas Had Zumann, Corrine Koslo, America Jett Montaz, Helen Johns, Kyla Matthews, Jonathan Holmes, Lia Pappas-Kemps, Jacob Ursomarzo, Dalmar Abuzeid, Miranda McKeon, Jacob Horsley, Glenna Walters.
Note: Imdb 8.7* out of 10* with 24,108 reviews, Common Sense Media Emily Ashby, age 13+, positive messages 4 , role models 5, violence 1, sex 2, language 0, consumerism 0,, drinking drugs & smoking 0, Amazon 4.5* out of 5*, Metacritic 79 out of 100 with 17 critics reviews (positive 14, mixed 3), 8.1 out of 10 with 51 user scores (42 positive 9 negative).
Special Note: The title of each episode in season 1 is a quote from the 147 novel Jane Eyre written by Charlotte Bronte. Each episode in Season 2 is a quote from the 1871 novel Middlemarch written by George Eliot. Each episode in season 3 is a quote from the 1818 novel Frankenstein written by Mary Shelley. There was a miniseries Anne of Green Gables in 1985 and their were sequels.
Special Note: Goodreads gives the books 4 1/2* with 94,378 ratings. There are six books in the classic Anne of Green Gables series and three more focusing on Anne’s children. The Anne of Green Gablers Series includes the titles, Anne of Green Gables 1908, Anne of Avonlea 1909, Chronicles of Avonlea 1912, Anne of the Island 1915, Anne’s House of Dreams 1917, Rainbow Valley 1919, Rilla of Ingleside 1921, Anne of Windy Poplar 1936, Anne of Ingleside 1939.
About the author: L.M. Montgomery was born November 30, 1874 and she died April 24, 1942 of coronary thrombosis. She was born in Clifton (now New London) in Prince Edward Island. Her mother Clara Woolens Macneill Montgomery died of tuberculosis when Lucy was 21 months old. Her father Hugh John Montgomery placed Lucy in the custody of her maternal grandparents Alexander Marquis Macneill and Lucy Woolens Macneill. They lived in the community of Cavendish, Prince Edward Island. Her father was stricken with grief and he remained in the area of her grandparents. When Lucy was seven, he moved to Prince Albert, North-West Territories, (now Prince Albert, Saskatchewan). Lucy spent one year (1890) in Prince Albert with her father and her stepmother Mary Ann McRae. Her first work was published in the Charlottetown paper in 1890. Lucy returned to Cavendish because her time in Prince Albert was unhappy because she didn’t get along with her stepmother.
When Anne returns, she is officially made a part of their family. Anne continually faces bullying from students in the Avonlea school. Anne somewhat contributes to the bullying by being different and not conforming to any of the behaviors of the other students. She does make friends but many times there are misunderstandings. Anne feels everything more deeply because of her past at the orphanage and the treatment she received from others. There is also class discrimination from residents of Avonlea. It is because Anne was an orphan and the Cuthburts have a comfortable living but they are working class people. The storylines are very good, the soundtrack is excellent, good dialogue, comedy that makes you laugh and smile, realistic about Anne finding her own identity, bullying, prejudice, racism and sexism. 5* (I really liked this series)
TV, Drama, each episode is one hour, three seasons created by Moira Walley-Beckett with Amybeth McNulty, Geraldine James, R.H. Thomson, Dalila Bela, Lucas Had Zumann, Corrine Koslo, America Jett Montaz, Helen Johns, Kyla Matthews, Jonathan Holmes, Lia Pappas-Kemps, Jacob Ursomarzo, Dalmar Abuzeid, Miranda McKeon, Jacob Horsley, Glenna Walters.
Note: Imdb 8.7* out of 10* with 24,108 reviews, Common Sense Media Emily Ashby, age 13+, positive messages 4 , role models 5, violence 1, sex 2, language 0, consumerism 0,, drinking drugs & smoking 0, Amazon 4.5* out of 5*, Metacritic 79 out of 100 with 17 critics reviews (positive 14, mixed 3), 8.1 out of 10 with 51 user scores (42 positive 9 negative).
Special Note: The title of each episode in season 1 is a quote from the 147 novel Jane Eyre written by Charlotte Bronte. Each episode in Season 2 is a quote from the 1871 novel Middlemarch written by George Eliot. Each episode in season 3 is a quote from the 1818 novel Frankenstein written by Mary Shelley. There was a miniseries Anne of Green Gables in 1985 and their were sequels.
Special Note: Goodreads gives the books 4 1/2* with 94,378 ratings. There are six books in the classic Anne of Green Gables series and three more focusing on Anne’s children. The Anne of Green Gablers Series includes the titles, Anne of Green Gables 1908, Anne of Avonlea 1909, Chronicles of Avonlea 1912, Anne of the Island 1915, Anne’s House of Dreams 1917, Rainbow Valley 1919, Rilla of Ingleside 1921, Anne of Windy Poplar 1936, Anne of Ingleside 1939.
About the author: L.M. Montgomery was born November 30, 1874 and she died April 24, 1942 of coronary thrombosis. She was born in Clifton (now New London) in Prince Edward Island. Her mother Clara Woolens Macneill Montgomery died of tuberculosis when Lucy was 21 months old. Her father Hugh John Montgomery placed Lucy in the custody of her maternal grandparents Alexander Marquis Macneill and Lucy Woolens Macneill. They lived in the community of Cavendish, Prince Edward Island. Her father was stricken with grief and he remained in the area of her grandparents. When Lucy was seven, he moved to Prince Albert, North-West Territories, (now Prince Albert, Saskatchewan). Lucy spent one year (1890) in Prince Albert with her father and her stepmother Mary Ann McRae. Her first work was published in the Charlottetown paper in 1890. Lucy returned to Cavendish because her time in Prince Albert was unhappy because she didn’t get along with her stepmother.
Stuart Little 1999
This film is loosely based on a book written by E.B. White. The Little family lives in small house in New York City. They have a son George but they are thinking of adopting a child. They visit an agency and there are so many children that they can’t make a decision. They meet Stuart Little, he is a mouse and he’s been at the agency for a long time. They really like Stuart and they hope he will fit into their home and lives. All the Littles love Stuart except Snowbell, the family cat. She is afraid the other cats in the neighborhood will find out she is living with a mouse?? It doesn’t take long for trouble to start with Snowbell's cat friends.
There are some moments of iffy humor, cat flatulence, cat joking about licking, more profanity than you would think for a family movie. Plus, a lot of mean words and phrases like shut up and loser. Some moments of peril and danger. Issues of adoption and emotional transitions between parents and kids. Some families with young children might want to watch this before letting the children watch it to see what they think about the above issues? 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
84 min, Adventure directed by Rob Minkoff and written by E.B. White, M. Night Shyamalan and Greg Brooker with Geena Davis, Hugh Laurie, Jonathan Lipnicki and the voices of Nathan Lane, Chazz Palminteri, Michael J. Fox, Steve Zahn, Jim Doughan, David Alan Grier, Bruno Kirby, Jennifer Tilly, Stan Freberg, Jeffrey Jones, Connie Ray, Alice Beasley, Estell Getty.
Note: Goodreads gives the book 3.89* with 16,231 ratings and 2,695 reviews, Imdb 5.9 out of 10 with 121,877 reviews, Common Sense Media, Nell Minow, age 7+, education value 1*, positive messages 2*, role models 2*, violence 2*, sex 0, language 3*, Roger Ebert 2*, Rotten Tomatoes 67% with 97 ratings, 41% with 495,275 audience scores, .
Special Note: Most of the scenes with the Littles are shot with heavy amounts of blue and red in the shot. These colors are most noticeable in their clothing. British TV actor Jonathan Lipnicki revealed the the character Snowball was based on a cat director Rob Minkoff had when he was growing up. Rob took the cat actor home after shooting finished because a bond had formed between them. The first film to hit the number one spot in the new millennium. The two detectives are named Allan and Sherman. Allan Sherman was a popular US comedy singer. This is Columbia’s first live-action/animated hybrid film. Many actors and actresses were considered for roles in this film.
There are some moments of iffy humor, cat flatulence, cat joking about licking, more profanity than you would think for a family movie. Plus, a lot of mean words and phrases like shut up and loser. Some moments of peril and danger. Issues of adoption and emotional transitions between parents and kids. Some families with young children might want to watch this before letting the children watch it to see what they think about the above issues? 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
84 min, Adventure directed by Rob Minkoff and written by E.B. White, M. Night Shyamalan and Greg Brooker with Geena Davis, Hugh Laurie, Jonathan Lipnicki and the voices of Nathan Lane, Chazz Palminteri, Michael J. Fox, Steve Zahn, Jim Doughan, David Alan Grier, Bruno Kirby, Jennifer Tilly, Stan Freberg, Jeffrey Jones, Connie Ray, Alice Beasley, Estell Getty.
Note: Goodreads gives the book 3.89* with 16,231 ratings and 2,695 reviews, Imdb 5.9 out of 10 with 121,877 reviews, Common Sense Media, Nell Minow, age 7+, education value 1*, positive messages 2*, role models 2*, violence 2*, sex 0, language 3*, Roger Ebert 2*, Rotten Tomatoes 67% with 97 ratings, 41% with 495,275 audience scores, .
Special Note: Most of the scenes with the Littles are shot with heavy amounts of blue and red in the shot. These colors are most noticeable in their clothing. British TV actor Jonathan Lipnicki revealed the the character Snowball was based on a cat director Rob Minkoff had when he was growing up. Rob took the cat actor home after shooting finished because a bond had formed between them. The first film to hit the number one spot in the new millennium. The two detectives are named Allan and Sherman. Allan Sherman was a popular US comedy singer. This is Columbia’s first live-action/animated hybrid film. Many actors and actresses were considered for roles in this film.
Monday, May 25, 2020
The Irishman 2019
This film is based on a book by Charles Brandt titled I Heard You Paint Houses. The main storyline is about an aging hitman remembering his time with the mob and the friends he had from 1950 to the 1970’s. Frank Sheeran is a former labor union high official and mob hit man. He learned to kill in Italy during WWII. He is looking back on his life and the murders that defined his mob career. He has also continued to maintain connections with the Bufalino crime family. He claims to have had a role in the disappearance of his life-long friend Jimmy Hoffa. Jimmy was the former president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Jimmy vanished in late July 1975 at the age of 62.
This is an epic crime drama and violence is extremely strong. There are many murders with blood spurts, guns, shooting, strangling, fighting, punching, yelling, explosions, killing of chickens, a slow motion shooting with extra blood. Language is also constant, characters smoke cigarettes and cigars, drinking is common but usually in a social setting. It lines up with Scorsese’s earlier classic movies but it is more reflective and melancholy. I really feel there could have been stricter editing because over three hours is a LONG movie!!
3 hours and 29 min, Bio directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Steven Zaillian with Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale, Anna Paquin. Stephen Graham, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Jack Huston, Katherine Narducci, Jack Huston.
Note: Imdb 7.9 out of 10 with 290,523 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 96% reviews with 424 critics 86% audience with 1,057 reviews, Roger Ebert 3 1/2* Matt Zoller Seitz, RollingStone 5* Peter Travers, The Guardian 4* out of 5* Mark Kermode, Metacritic 94 out of 100 with 55 critics, 8.1 user score out of 10, 785 positive, 87 mixed, 77 negative, Amazon 4.4* out of 5* with 112 reviews, Letterboxd 4* out of 5* with 631 reviews, Common Sense Media, Jeffrey M. Anderson, age 17+, positive messages 2, role models 0, violence 5, sex 1, language 5, consumerism 1, drinking drugs & smoking 3.
Special Note: Nominated for 10 Oscars, another 71 award wins and 310 nominations. Martin Scorsese has also directed other gangster films, Goodfellas 1990 and Casino 1995. Joe Pesci refused multiple times (possibly 50 times) to come out of retirement to appear in this film. Frank Sheeran says the line, “Three can keep a secret, if two of them are dead!” Surprisingly, he is quoting Benjamin Franklin. Martin Scorsese has said that he couldn’t get a Hollywood studio to back his epic mob movie. They claimed that nobody was interested in making a film with him and Robert DeNiro anymore? Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos proposed a budget of $160 million and the project was given the green light. This is the longest film Scorsese has directed and the longest mainstream film released in over 20 years.
Run Times for other Scorsese films: Silence 2016 (2 hours 41 min), Wolf of Wall Street 2013 (3 hours), Hugo 2011 (2 hours 6 min), Shutter Island 2010 (2 hours and 18 min), The Departed 2006 (2 hours 31 min).
This is an epic crime drama and violence is extremely strong. There are many murders with blood spurts, guns, shooting, strangling, fighting, punching, yelling, explosions, killing of chickens, a slow motion shooting with extra blood. Language is also constant, characters smoke cigarettes and cigars, drinking is common but usually in a social setting. It lines up with Scorsese’s earlier classic movies but it is more reflective and melancholy. I really feel there could have been stricter editing because over three hours is a LONG movie!!
3 hours and 29 min, Bio directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Steven Zaillian with Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale, Anna Paquin. Stephen Graham, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Jack Huston, Katherine Narducci, Jack Huston.
Note: Imdb 7.9 out of 10 with 290,523 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 96% reviews with 424 critics 86% audience with 1,057 reviews, Roger Ebert 3 1/2* Matt Zoller Seitz, RollingStone 5* Peter Travers, The Guardian 4* out of 5* Mark Kermode, Metacritic 94 out of 100 with 55 critics, 8.1 user score out of 10, 785 positive, 87 mixed, 77 negative, Amazon 4.4* out of 5* with 112 reviews, Letterboxd 4* out of 5* with 631 reviews, Common Sense Media, Jeffrey M. Anderson, age 17+, positive messages 2, role models 0, violence 5, sex 1, language 5, consumerism 1, drinking drugs & smoking 3.
Special Note: Nominated for 10 Oscars, another 71 award wins and 310 nominations. Martin Scorsese has also directed other gangster films, Goodfellas 1990 and Casino 1995. Joe Pesci refused multiple times (possibly 50 times) to come out of retirement to appear in this film. Frank Sheeran says the line, “Three can keep a secret, if two of them are dead!” Surprisingly, he is quoting Benjamin Franklin. Martin Scorsese has said that he couldn’t get a Hollywood studio to back his epic mob movie. They claimed that nobody was interested in making a film with him and Robert DeNiro anymore? Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos proposed a budget of $160 million and the project was given the green light. This is the longest film Scorsese has directed and the longest mainstream film released in over 20 years.
Run Times for other Scorsese films: Silence 2016 (2 hours 41 min), Wolf of Wall Street 2013 (3 hours), Hugo 2011 (2 hours 6 min), Shutter Island 2010 (2 hours and 18 min), The Departed 2006 (2 hours 31 min).
Once Upon a Time in Rio 2008
Rio de Janeiro has a two-tiered society, the upper level is Ipanema Beach and the lower level is the South Zone of the Cantagalo slum. The divisions in the city are dominant and divided by prejudice and economic differences. The working class cleans apartments, staffs restaurants and they sell food. De lives with his mother in a cramped apartment and he sells hot dogs on the beach. This area is surrounded by crime and hardship. Nina is the only child of a successful lawyer and he is not happy when he learns about De, Nina's new boyfriend. De and Nina begin to learn that everything is against them and their romance.
There is nothing new except the location in this Romeo and Juliet plot. You do become connected to the characters but the end is inevitable. I was not sold on the idea of their true love because of their lack of chemistry together? This film was good enough to stand alone without the heavy reliance on the Romeo and Juliet inspiration. Veering somewhat away from the original inspiration would have been a better idea overall. The views are very beautiful and the 2014 World Cup was held in Brazil. 3* (This movie is OK)
117, Drama directed by Breno Silveria and written by Patricia Andrade and Domingos de Oliveria with Thiago Martins, Cyria Coentro, Rocco Pitanga, Vitória Frate, Paulo César Grande, Rocco Pitanga, Luana Schneider, Fernando Brito, Rodrigo Costa.
Note: Imdb 7.1 out of 10 with 1,1612 reviews, 84% audience with 340 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, Google 97% liked this movie, Amazon 4.3* out of 5* with 24 ratings, Letterboxd 3.4* out of 5*.
Special Note: The World Cup only generated about 0.4% of additional gross domestic product for Brazil over a 10-year period. There were gains in sales for beverages, travel, construction and broadcast companies. The costs were thought to be the highest in the history of the FIFA World Cup up to this date. The total was an estimated $11.6 billion until surpassed by the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia with an estimated cost of $14.2 billion. The World Cup does improve the quality of life for those living in in host cities. But that can be due to new and modern facilities, employment opportunities, increase in police presence and efforts to curtail crime to make host cities look safe. In Brazil the tournament lasted 32 days and in the long term there was no real affect. The citizens became more divided and Brazil was left with an almost useless infrastructure?
There is nothing new except the location in this Romeo and Juliet plot. You do become connected to the characters but the end is inevitable. I was not sold on the idea of their true love because of their lack of chemistry together? This film was good enough to stand alone without the heavy reliance on the Romeo and Juliet inspiration. Veering somewhat away from the original inspiration would have been a better idea overall. The views are very beautiful and the 2014 World Cup was held in Brazil. 3* (This movie is OK)
117, Drama directed by Breno Silveria and written by Patricia Andrade and Domingos de Oliveria with Thiago Martins, Cyria Coentro, Rocco Pitanga, Vitória Frate, Paulo César Grande, Rocco Pitanga, Luana Schneider, Fernando Brito, Rodrigo Costa.
Note: Imdb 7.1 out of 10 with 1,1612 reviews, 84% audience with 340 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, Google 97% liked this movie, Amazon 4.3* out of 5* with 24 ratings, Letterboxd 3.4* out of 5*.
Special Note: The World Cup only generated about 0.4% of additional gross domestic product for Brazil over a 10-year period. There were gains in sales for beverages, travel, construction and broadcast companies. The costs were thought to be the highest in the history of the FIFA World Cup up to this date. The total was an estimated $11.6 billion until surpassed by the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia with an estimated cost of $14.2 billion. The World Cup does improve the quality of life for those living in in host cities. But that can be due to new and modern facilities, employment opportunities, increase in police presence and efforts to curtail crime to make host cities look safe. In Brazil the tournament lasted 32 days and in the long term there was no real affect. The citizens became more divided and Brazil was left with an almost useless infrastructure?
Sunday, May 24, 2020
Margin Call 2011
An investment firm discovers the entire firm is in jeopardy due to an inaccuracy in a formula. Several employees passed this information about the mistake on to bosses months ago but nothing was done? In the next 24 hours, decisions must be made that pertain to the employees and the finances of everyday individuals. The setting is during the onset of the 2008 financial crisis.
This is a dramatic thriller on the eve of a huge Wall Street market crash. You see the inner workings of the company and some employees are fired before there is a conflict about the formula. Employees are given information about their settlements, escorted to their offices to pack personal belongings, escorted to the door and their cells phones terminated. After all this, the company wants to ask some of the employees to return and help out even after this kind of treatment? Cutthroat actions through and through. There is liberal use of strong words throughout this drama. The characters also drink and smoke frequently as a response to the stress. This is a thoughtful, muted, intelligent and terrifying tale of one financial firm in the beginning 26 hours of the 2007-2008 financial crisis. 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
109 min, mystery directed and written by J.C. Chandor with Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Irons, Paul Bettany, Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, Zachary Quinto, Stanley Tucci, Demi Moore, Mary McDonnell, Aasif Mandvi, Ashley Williams, Susan Blackwell, Maria Dizzia, Jimmy Palumbo, Al Sapienza.
Note: Imdb 7.1 out of 10 with 112,459 reviews, 87% with 168 critics 74% audience with 19,955 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 4 1/2*, RollingStone 3* out of 4* Peter Travers, Amazon 4.1* out of 5* with 3,264 reviews, Common Sense Media Jeffrey M. Anderson age 16+, 4*, 1* Violence, 1* Sex, 4* Language, 1* Consumerism, 3* Drinking, Drugs & Smoking.
Special Note: This film was shot in seventeen days. The Moundsville Bridge mentioned by Eric Day actually exists. It was completed in 1986 and that was twenty-two years before the debit crash of 2008. J.C. Chandor said that he wrote the script for the story in just four days. He had been carrying the story in his head for about a year-and-a-half and did his writing between job interviews in Boulder, Colorado.
This is a dramatic thriller on the eve of a huge Wall Street market crash. You see the inner workings of the company and some employees are fired before there is a conflict about the formula. Employees are given information about their settlements, escorted to their offices to pack personal belongings, escorted to the door and their cells phones terminated. After all this, the company wants to ask some of the employees to return and help out even after this kind of treatment? Cutthroat actions through and through. There is liberal use of strong words throughout this drama. The characters also drink and smoke frequently as a response to the stress. This is a thoughtful, muted, intelligent and terrifying tale of one financial firm in the beginning 26 hours of the 2007-2008 financial crisis. 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
109 min, mystery directed and written by J.C. Chandor with Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Irons, Paul Bettany, Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, Zachary Quinto, Stanley Tucci, Demi Moore, Mary McDonnell, Aasif Mandvi, Ashley Williams, Susan Blackwell, Maria Dizzia, Jimmy Palumbo, Al Sapienza.
Note: Imdb 7.1 out of 10 with 112,459 reviews, 87% with 168 critics 74% audience with 19,955 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 4 1/2*, RollingStone 3* out of 4* Peter Travers, Amazon 4.1* out of 5* with 3,264 reviews, Common Sense Media Jeffrey M. Anderson age 16+, 4*, 1* Violence, 1* Sex, 4* Language, 1* Consumerism, 3* Drinking, Drugs & Smoking.
Special Note: This film was shot in seventeen days. The Moundsville Bridge mentioned by Eric Day actually exists. It was completed in 1986 and that was twenty-two years before the debit crash of 2008. J.C. Chandor said that he wrote the script for the story in just four days. He had been carrying the story in his head for about a year-and-a-half and did his writing between job interviews in Boulder, Colorado.
Saturday, May 23, 2020
Win Win 2011
Mike Flaherty is a disheartened attorney and he's struggling to keep his practice in business. He thinks he's found a new money source by becoming the legal guardian of an elderly client. The he man's grandson shows up looking for a place to stay. Mike is also a part-time wrestling coach and he learns that Kyle was formerly a wrestler and he's good. Kyle has had some questionable business dealings while trying to support his family?? Kyle's mother shows up and she wants to move her father to Ohio where she lives and also take her son with her. The big reason for her actions is that she wants her father's money!! She is broke and just out of rehab!!
Of course Paul Giamatti is a sad sack but he's better this time, he makes a bad decision, thinks he will get away with it but finally does the right thing. This film deepens and grows as it moves along. Thomas McCarthy also wrote and directed The Station Agent 2003. The characters seem strange and wonderful like they could be real people but they have better lines. Alex Shaffer is a new comer as an actor. Parents need to know that this excellent indie dramedy offers lots of wisdom. It examines characters caught at the crossroads of mid-life through clear lenses. They are refreshing and unburdened by cliches. There is plenty of swearing and some mature themes. The language is coarse but isn't used abusively. A mother has a drug addiction and this causes her teenage boy to go adrift. He need structure and safety. There are plenty of stand-ups characters with flaws but they make you believe in a world of hope and optimism. Some violence but not overly graphic. 3* (This movie is OK)
106 min, Com/Drama directed and written by Tom McCarthy and also written by Joe Tiboni with Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Bobby Cannavale, Jeffrey Tambor, Alex Shaffer, Melanie Lynskey, Burt Young, David Thompson, Margo Martindale, Mike Diliello, Nina Arianda, Marcia Haufrecht, Shroan Wilkins, Clare Foley, Penelope Kindred, Sophie Kindred, Tim Ransom, Nicolas Somers.
Note: Imdb 7.1 out of 10, 52,270 reviews, 94% with 175 critics 85% audience with 32,019 ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3*, Common Sense Media S. Jhoanna Robledo, age 16+, Positive Messages 3*, Positive Role Models 3*, Violence 1*, sex 1*, language 4*, consumerism 0*, drinking, drugs, smoking 2*.
Special Note: Alex Shaffer was a New Jersey state high school wrestling champion the year before this film was made. Amy Ryan partially accepted her role in this film because she had played such a notoriously bad mom in Gone Baby Gone 2007. She thought Jackie represented a good mom. Tom McCarthy co-wrote this movie with his childhood buddy and wrestling teammate, Joe Tiboni. New Providence High School in New Providence, New Jersey is featured in this film because it is the alma mater of Tom McCarthy.
World on Fire Episode 5 2019
Belgium has fallen to Germany and Harry’s unit continues to flee. They are making their way to Dunkirk along with other troops and civilians. They are hoping to board a ship back to England. German planes are bombing and strafing the caravans of the refugees fleeing to safety. The troops encounter a truck full of British troops and they are so shell-shocked that they can only babble nonsense. These troops are taken to a hospital and Webster is in charge of the hospital. The German planes drop fliers telling the people to surrender in the face of hopelessness. Herr Rossler finds a letter about Hilda in his office. Kasia is still participating in the killing of German soldiers. Tom is in Dunkirk helping evacuate soldiers from the beaches. Gregor is also there plus Albert’s friend Eddie is fleeing to England. Lois and her musical partner are performing for troops at an air base near Manchester. Her father has shell shock due to uncertainty about her brother Tom. He offers to watch Jan for Robina. Douglas has a nervous breakdown. Nancy reports that the Germans are invading France and they need help from America.
TV series, PBS Masterpiece series with seven episodes. each episode is one hour long, directed by Adam Smith, Thomas Napper, Andy Wilson, Chanya Button and written by Peter Bowker with Sean Bean, Julia Brown, Yrsa Daley-Ward, Arthur Darvill, Blake Harrison, Jonah Hauer-King, Helen Hunt, Patrick Kennedy, Lesley Manville, Ewan Mitchell, Parker Sawyers, Brian J. Smith, Zofia Wichlacz, Charlie Creed-Miles, Tomasz Kot, Agata Kuleza, Victoria Mayer, Max Rieselt. 5* (I really liked this episode)
Note: Imdb 7.2 out of 10 with 2,589 views, Rotten Tomatoes 85% with 27 critics 54% with 13 user ratings, Amazon 4.4* out of 5* with 1,152 reviews, Metacritic 74 out of 100 with 12 critics (11 positive 1 mixed) 5 out of 10 (3 positive 2 negative), indiewire.com Grade B-.
Special Note: Commissioned by the BBC in October 2017, casting began in October 2018. Filmed in Prague, Chester, Liverpool, Lytham St. Annes, Wigan and Lyme Park. This episode begins the rescue effort initiated by the British people to rescue as many refugees in their private boats as possible. This was a critical turning point in the War!! The Allies are losing the battle on the Western Front in France. The evacuation of British and other Allied forces from Europe was from 26 May to 4 June 1940. The armistice with France and the Germans occurred on 22 June 1940. Surprisingly, the Germans halted their advance on Dunkirk. It was because the Germans feared an Allied breakout against their troops. Many of the French soldiers were taken prisoner by the Germans but 123,000 were rescued. At least 40,000 British soldiers were left behind.
TV series, PBS Masterpiece series with seven episodes. each episode is one hour long, directed by Adam Smith, Thomas Napper, Andy Wilson, Chanya Button and written by Peter Bowker with Sean Bean, Julia Brown, Yrsa Daley-Ward, Arthur Darvill, Blake Harrison, Jonah Hauer-King, Helen Hunt, Patrick Kennedy, Lesley Manville, Ewan Mitchell, Parker Sawyers, Brian J. Smith, Zofia Wichlacz, Charlie Creed-Miles, Tomasz Kot, Agata Kuleza, Victoria Mayer, Max Rieselt. 5* (I really liked this episode)
Note: Imdb 7.2 out of 10 with 2,589 views, Rotten Tomatoes 85% with 27 critics 54% with 13 user ratings, Amazon 4.4* out of 5* with 1,152 reviews, Metacritic 74 out of 100 with 12 critics (11 positive 1 mixed) 5 out of 10 (3 positive 2 negative), indiewire.com Grade B-.
Special Note: Commissioned by the BBC in October 2017, casting began in October 2018. Filmed in Prague, Chester, Liverpool, Lytham St. Annes, Wigan and Lyme Park. This episode begins the rescue effort initiated by the British people to rescue as many refugees in their private boats as possible. This was a critical turning point in the War!! The Allies are losing the battle on the Western Front in France. The evacuation of British and other Allied forces from Europe was from 26 May to 4 June 1940. The armistice with France and the Germans occurred on 22 June 1940. Surprisingly, the Germans halted their advance on Dunkirk. It was because the Germans feared an Allied breakout against their troops. Many of the French soldiers were taken prisoner by the Germans but 123,000 were rescued. At least 40,000 British soldiers were left behind.
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
A Song for Martin 2001
This film is based on a novel written by Bille August and Ulla Isaksson. Martin is a well known and highly respected classical composer and conductor in his early sixties. Barbara is the first violinist and in her fifties. They meet at one of his performances. There is a strong mutual attraction between them and they both divorce their current mates and get married. They settle in Sweden and work together on his composing. Five years later while working together on an opera, Martin is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Over time, his condition worsens and his personality changes.
This is good!! It’s not about your usual couple in their twenties!! It’s about a middle aged couple, their honeymoon and their married lives. Barbara really loves Martin, he can't help what his happening to his memory and personality. An illness like Alzheimer’s is catastrophic and being a caregiver is also difficult. The person you married is gradually fading away into someone else?? There is tension, stress, anxiety and exhaustion for the caregiver. It’s difficult to contain frustration and anger. It's a struggle for both of them to hold onto the love that brought them together. 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
113 min, Drama directed and written by Bille August with Sven Wolter, Viveka Seldahl, Reine Brynolfsson, Peter Engman, Kristina Tornqvist, Lisa Werllinder, Klas Dahlstedt, Lo Wahl, Linda Kallgren, Jonna Ekdahl, Alba and Asta Kamma August, Claes Ahlstedt, Gabriel Eriksson.
Note: Imdb 6.9 out of 10 with 1,058 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 85% with 27 critics 84% audience with 1,048 ratings, Roger Ebert 3 1/2*, Metacritic 72 out of 100 with 15 critics (12 positive, 3 mixed), Amazon 4.1* out of 5* with 32 ratings, Letterboxd 3.3* out of 5*, netflix.com 3 1/2* out of 5*.
Special Note: Filmed in Gothenburg and Uddevalla, Vastra Gotalands Ian, Sweden. Also known as En Sang for Martin in Swedish.
Special Note: In Sweden, there are places for people to go to get rest and health-care is free. Mainly, the emotional side of the illness is portrayed and how it affects the person who loves them the most. Making life as normal as possible for the is about all that can be done but sometimes the other person doesn’t see this effort. Many times, friends and family are not there to help and give respite to the caregiver. They begin to disappear?? In the US there are additional worries. What will happen if their loved one needs to go into a home, how will the care be and is the care affordable?
This is good!! It’s not about your usual couple in their twenties!! It’s about a middle aged couple, their honeymoon and their married lives. Barbara really loves Martin, he can't help what his happening to his memory and personality. An illness like Alzheimer’s is catastrophic and being a caregiver is also difficult. The person you married is gradually fading away into someone else?? There is tension, stress, anxiety and exhaustion for the caregiver. It’s difficult to contain frustration and anger. It's a struggle for both of them to hold onto the love that brought them together. 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
113 min, Drama directed and written by Bille August with Sven Wolter, Viveka Seldahl, Reine Brynolfsson, Peter Engman, Kristina Tornqvist, Lisa Werllinder, Klas Dahlstedt, Lo Wahl, Linda Kallgren, Jonna Ekdahl, Alba and Asta Kamma August, Claes Ahlstedt, Gabriel Eriksson.
Note: Imdb 6.9 out of 10 with 1,058 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 85% with 27 critics 84% audience with 1,048 ratings, Roger Ebert 3 1/2*, Metacritic 72 out of 100 with 15 critics (12 positive, 3 mixed), Amazon 4.1* out of 5* with 32 ratings, Letterboxd 3.3* out of 5*, netflix.com 3 1/2* out of 5*.
Special Note: Filmed in Gothenburg and Uddevalla, Vastra Gotalands Ian, Sweden. Also known as En Sang for Martin in Swedish.
Special Note: In Sweden, there are places for people to go to get rest and health-care is free. Mainly, the emotional side of the illness is portrayed and how it affects the person who loves them the most. Making life as normal as possible for the is about all that can be done but sometimes the other person doesn’t see this effort. Many times, friends and family are not there to help and give respite to the caregiver. They begin to disappear?? In the US there are additional worries. What will happen if their loved one needs to go into a home, how will the care be and is the care affordable?
Monday, May 4, 2020
Nenette 2010
Nenette is an orangutan who is 50 years old and has been at the menagerie of the Jardin des Plantes in Paris France for most of her life. Originally, Nanette was from Borneo and she came to Paris at the age of 3 years old in 1972. She is the mother of four and has outlived three mates. She bonds only with a few of the zoo keepers and her son Kubo is with her at the zoo. She is the world’s oldest Borneo orangutan in captivity.
In the film, we see all the orangutans from the other side of thick glass but we only see some reflections of the visitors. The comments from the visitors are featured along with interviews with the zoo keepers. Nenette drinks tea and humanity projects their own feelings and thoughts onto her? For her 50th birthday on a Sunday there was a cake, wrapped boxes and visitors singing Happy Birthday to Nennette. She was also treated to exotic fruits and she ate a strawberry cake. Some of her favorite activities were included, painting and do-it-yourself workshops!!
This movie is interesting but a stretch at 70 minutes. Orangutans are very slow in their movements except when they are swinging or climbing their ropes. It's cute when they take blankets and cover themselves. Nenette can also open a bottle and drink from it just like a person. 3* (This movie is OK)
70 min, Documentary directed by Nicolas Philibert with Judit Kele and Nenette.
Note: Imdb 6.8 out of 10 with 268 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 85% with 34 critics 52% audience with 207 ratings, Metacritic 66 out of 100 with 12 critics (5 positive 6 mixed), Letterboxd 3.2* out of 5*.
In the film, we see all the orangutans from the other side of thick glass but we only see some reflections of the visitors. The comments from the visitors are featured along with interviews with the zoo keepers. Nenette drinks tea and humanity projects their own feelings and thoughts onto her? For her 50th birthday on a Sunday there was a cake, wrapped boxes and visitors singing Happy Birthday to Nennette. She was also treated to exotic fruits and she ate a strawberry cake. Some of her favorite activities were included, painting and do-it-yourself workshops!!
This movie is interesting but a stretch at 70 minutes. Orangutans are very slow in their movements except when they are swinging or climbing their ropes. It's cute when they take blankets and cover themselves. Nenette can also open a bottle and drink from it just like a person. 3* (This movie is OK)
70 min, Documentary directed by Nicolas Philibert with Judit Kele and Nenette.
Note: Imdb 6.8 out of 10 with 268 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 85% with 34 critics 52% audience with 207 ratings, Metacritic 66 out of 100 with 12 critics (5 positive 6 mixed), Letterboxd 3.2* out of 5*.
The Six Wives of Henry Lefay 2009
A salesman has been married five or six times, depends on your counting and twice to the same wife. Many times his daughter Barbie needs to step in to patch, repair and pick up the pieces. Henry is vacationing in Mexico with a woman who is not his wife even though he is currently married. He is killed in a para-sailing accident and everything gets complicated. Once again, it's up to Barbie to step in and keep the funeral honorable and dignified without too much craziness!!
So many mix-ups, so much arguing, fighting, jealousy, crying, anxiety!! There are parts that are funny but this seems weak and lukewarm. 2* (This movie is OK)
95 min, Comedy directed and written by Howard Michael Gould with Tim Allen, Elisha Cuthbert, Paz Vega, Andie MacDowell, S. Epatha Merkerson, Jenna Elfman, Jenna Dwan, Barbara Barrie, Lindsay Sloane, Edward Herrmann, Chris Klein, Larry Miller, Peter Kybart.
Note: Imdb 5.1* out of 10* with 2,895 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 24% audience with 741 reviews, Amazon 3.1* out of 5* with 57 ratings, Letterboxd 2.4* out of 5*, rateyourmusic.com 1.91* out 5* with 9 ratings.
Special Note: This film is also known as My Dad’s Six Wives. The theatrical release was in Israel and was it launched straight to DVD in the United States and the United Kingdom.
So many mix-ups, so much arguing, fighting, jealousy, crying, anxiety!! There are parts that are funny but this seems weak and lukewarm. 2* (This movie is OK)
95 min, Comedy directed and written by Howard Michael Gould with Tim Allen, Elisha Cuthbert, Paz Vega, Andie MacDowell, S. Epatha Merkerson, Jenna Elfman, Jenna Dwan, Barbara Barrie, Lindsay Sloane, Edward Herrmann, Chris Klein, Larry Miller, Peter Kybart.
Note: Imdb 5.1* out of 10* with 2,895 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 24% audience with 741 reviews, Amazon 3.1* out of 5* with 57 ratings, Letterboxd 2.4* out of 5*, rateyourmusic.com 1.91* out 5* with 9 ratings.
Special Note: This film is also known as My Dad’s Six Wives. The theatrical release was in Israel and was it launched straight to DVD in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Cracks 2009
This film is a period drama set in 1934 and it is based on a novel by Sheila Kohler. The title is Fiamma and it is written in Italian. Miss G is a teacher at a private school for girls near the eastern coastline of England. This school is an austere boarding school with an elite girls sports team. The award winning diving team is considered to consist of the premier group of girls in the school. The members are Di, Lily, Poppy, Laurel, Rosie and Fuzzy with Di as the Team Captain. The other students envy the students on the team. Miss G prides herself on being different type of teacher and a nonconformist. Most of the other teachers are severe, straight-laced and they reinforce the school's reputation.
Everything for the team changes when Fiamma enrolls and becomes part of the diving. She is from Spain and she has a strong independent streak!! She doesn't look to the other students for approval and she does things her own way. This makes her more exotic and appealing to the other students which changes the pecking order. The rest of the squad is also jealous of Fiamma’s relationship with Miss G. The girls force her off the team and out of the school by bullying tactics. Later, Fiamma is forced to rejoin the group. The team decides to let her into their social circle. They begin to be as fascinated with her as much as Miss G is. Later things take a turn again with the team?
This is interesting but it falls apart and loses itself near the end. It becomes slow and predictable. I didn't care for the conclusion, it could have been much better with more depth and investigation instead of a sweep under the rug style. Miss G is shown as educated, well traveled and self-composed. The film is beautifully shot and the music is a compliment to the film. 3* (This movie is OK)
104 min, Drama directed by Jordan Scott and written by Ben Court, Caroline Ip, Jordan Scott with Eva Green, Juno Temple, Maria Valverde, Imogen Poots, Clemmie Dugdale, Adele Mccann, Ellie Nunn, Zoe Carroll, Sinead Cusack.
Note: Imdb 6.7 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 43% with 49 critics 48% audience with 8,118 ratings, reelviews.net 3* James Berardinelli, Slant Magazine 2* out of 4* Andrew Schenker, Eye For Film 3 1/2* out of 5* Richard Mellor, Amazon 3.9* out of 5* with 142 reviews, Metacritic 54 out of 100 with 12 critics (4* positive 8* mixed) 6.5 out of 10 with 15 ratings (7 positive 8 mixed) Letterboxd 3.3* out of 5*.
Special Note: The poem that Poppy recites is Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley. In the novel the boarding school is located in South Africa and not Great Britain. This film is the only joint venture of the Scott family. Jordan Scott is writer-director plus daughter of executive producer Ridley and Niece of Executive producer Tony Scott. Directorial solo debut in a feature film for Jordan Scott. In the novel, Fiamma has blond hair and she is a princess. Filmed at Headfort School, Kells, County Meath; St. Columba’s College, Whitechruch, Dublin, County Dublin; Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland, Redcross, County Wicklow, Ireland; Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK.
Everything for the team changes when Fiamma enrolls and becomes part of the diving. She is from Spain and she has a strong independent streak!! She doesn't look to the other students for approval and she does things her own way. This makes her more exotic and appealing to the other students which changes the pecking order. The rest of the squad is also jealous of Fiamma’s relationship with Miss G. The girls force her off the team and out of the school by bullying tactics. Later, Fiamma is forced to rejoin the group. The team decides to let her into their social circle. They begin to be as fascinated with her as much as Miss G is. Later things take a turn again with the team?
This is interesting but it falls apart and loses itself near the end. It becomes slow and predictable. I didn't care for the conclusion, it could have been much better with more depth and investigation instead of a sweep under the rug style. Miss G is shown as educated, well traveled and self-composed. The film is beautifully shot and the music is a compliment to the film. 3* (This movie is OK)
104 min, Drama directed by Jordan Scott and written by Ben Court, Caroline Ip, Jordan Scott with Eva Green, Juno Temple, Maria Valverde, Imogen Poots, Clemmie Dugdale, Adele Mccann, Ellie Nunn, Zoe Carroll, Sinead Cusack.
Note: Imdb 6.7 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 43% with 49 critics 48% audience with 8,118 ratings, reelviews.net 3* James Berardinelli, Slant Magazine 2* out of 4* Andrew Schenker, Eye For Film 3 1/2* out of 5* Richard Mellor, Amazon 3.9* out of 5* with 142 reviews, Metacritic 54 out of 100 with 12 critics (4* positive 8* mixed) 6.5 out of 10 with 15 ratings (7 positive 8 mixed) Letterboxd 3.3* out of 5*.
Special Note: The poem that Poppy recites is Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley. In the novel the boarding school is located in South Africa and not Great Britain. This film is the only joint venture of the Scott family. Jordan Scott is writer-director plus daughter of executive producer Ridley and Niece of Executive producer Tony Scott. Directorial solo debut in a feature film for Jordan Scott. In the novel, Fiamma has blond hair and she is a princess. Filmed at Headfort School, Kells, County Meath; St. Columba’s College, Whitechruch, Dublin, County Dublin; Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland, Redcross, County Wicklow, Ireland; Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK.
Marwncol 2010
Mark Hogancamp suffers a vicious beating from five men outside a bar. For nine days he is in a coma and he has no memories of his former life. As part of his therapy to help recover from brain damage, he builds a 1/6th scale Belgian World War 2 era town that he creates in his backyard. The name of the town is Marwncol and he uses dolls representing his friends and family. Plus, he takes life-like photographs detailing relationships and dramas. He makes up these situations as activities in the town. A magazine publication shows his pictures of his work. Then, New York gallery sets up an art show to feature his work. Mark is very nervous about going to the city and showing his "private" creation. Suddenly, Mark’s homemade therapy is deemed to be “art!” This forces him to choose between the safety of his fantasy life or the real world that he has avoided??
This documentary has won quite a few awards and is very different from other films of this type that I've seen. It was a senseless beating, the world he has built is amazing and he also relies on it for the feeling of safety because he fears a future attack. He has also benefited physically from the building process. He left behind his insatiable desire for alcohol which contributed to being in the wrong place a the wrong time!! Somehow Mark has survived against all odds!! 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
83 min, Doc directed by Jeff Maimberg, with Mark and Edda Hogancamp, Emmanuel Nneji, Tom Neubauer, Julie Swarthout, Janet and Mark Wikane, Bert, Lisa Bruck, Colleen Vargo, David Naugle, Ruthie Hotaling, Tod Lippy.
Note: Imdb 7.6 out of 10 with 3,317 reviews, 98% critic and 89% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.
Special Note: Filmed in Kingston and Manhattan, New York. Mark plays in the town and the photographing helps him to recover his hand-eye coordination. It also helps him deal with the psychic wounds of the attack. For the premiere of this film, Mark prepared a story line including the delivery by courier of a 1/6th scale press kit of the village of Marwencol. The names comes from the real people, Mark, Wendy and Colleen.
This documentary has won quite a few awards and is very different from other films of this type that I've seen. It was a senseless beating, the world he has built is amazing and he also relies on it for the feeling of safety because he fears a future attack. He has also benefited physically from the building process. He left behind his insatiable desire for alcohol which contributed to being in the wrong place a the wrong time!! Somehow Mark has survived against all odds!! 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
83 min, Doc directed by Jeff Maimberg, with Mark and Edda Hogancamp, Emmanuel Nneji, Tom Neubauer, Julie Swarthout, Janet and Mark Wikane, Bert, Lisa Bruck, Colleen Vargo, David Naugle, Ruthie Hotaling, Tod Lippy.
Note: Imdb 7.6 out of 10 with 3,317 reviews, 98% critic and 89% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.
Special Note: Filmed in Kingston and Manhattan, New York. Mark plays in the town and the photographing helps him to recover his hand-eye coordination. It also helps him deal with the psychic wounds of the attack. For the premiere of this film, Mark prepared a story line including the delivery by courier of a 1/6th scale press kit of the village of Marwencol. The names comes from the real people, Mark, Wendy and Colleen.
Sunday, May 3, 2020
Cave of Forgotten Dreams 2010
In 1994 in a cave in Southern France known as the Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc was discovered which contains some of the oldest etchings made by man. The cave is over 20,000 years old and only a few archaeologists and paleontologists are allowed into the cave. Few have obtained access to the cave because of fear of damage. German documentary filmmaker Werner Herzog obtained permission to film with non-heat emitting lights and a small crew. Our ancestors created this beautiful artwork around 32,000 years ago. Herzog asks questions to various historians and scientists. He is wondering what these humans would have been like. He is thinking about trying to build a bridge from the past to the present.
The etchings and the cave itself are very interesting. The only problem I have with this film is there are a limited number of etchings featured so they are shown multiple times. There are other areas of the cave that were not shown because the floor cannot be walked on. 3* This movie is OK)
90 min, Doc directed and written by Werner Herzog with Dominique Baffier, Jean Clottes. Werner Herzog, Julien Monney, Jean-Michel Geneste, Michel Philippe, Gilles Tosello, Carole Fritz, Valerie Feruglio, Nicholas Conard, Maria Malina, Wulf Hein, Maurice Maurin.
Note: Imdb 7.4 out of 10 with 14,620 reviews, 96% critic with 134 critics 76% audience with 12,528 ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, The Guardian 5* Peter Bradshaw, Roger Ebert 3 1/2*, Metacritic 86 out of 10 with 34 critic reviews 6.8 out of 10 with 53 user ratings, Letterboxd 3.7* out of 5*, Amazon 4.4* of 5* with 587 reviews, netflix.com 3.7* with 391,511 votes, indiewire.com grade A-.
Special Note: This is the highest-grossing independently released documentary of the year 2011 in the USA. As of 12 June 2011 the gross was $6.4 million, earnings over 10 times than the second-place film!! The tap dance by Fred Astaire with his shadow is from the movie Swing Time. The first 20 of the film are sot with two GoPro Hero cameras taped side-to-side with one upside down. At the time of filming there wasn’t a 3D-system small enough for the cave available. The remainder of the film was shot on professional, higher-quality 2k 3D-cameras with follow-focus at a later date when they were available. There has been criticism that this film is too long and too empty. There is a prolonged visit with museums elsewhere in Europe not related to this cave. Early humans are discussed but not the type of humans who have entered this cave? Usually, France would request the premiere be held in France but Herzog said, “They didn’t know it was finished?”
The etchings and the cave itself are very interesting. The only problem I have with this film is there are a limited number of etchings featured so they are shown multiple times. There are other areas of the cave that were not shown because the floor cannot be walked on. 3* This movie is OK)
90 min, Doc directed and written by Werner Herzog with Dominique Baffier, Jean Clottes. Werner Herzog, Julien Monney, Jean-Michel Geneste, Michel Philippe, Gilles Tosello, Carole Fritz, Valerie Feruglio, Nicholas Conard, Maria Malina, Wulf Hein, Maurice Maurin.
Note: Imdb 7.4 out of 10 with 14,620 reviews, 96% critic with 134 critics 76% audience with 12,528 ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, The Guardian 5* Peter Bradshaw, Roger Ebert 3 1/2*, Metacritic 86 out of 10 with 34 critic reviews 6.8 out of 10 with 53 user ratings, Letterboxd 3.7* out of 5*, Amazon 4.4* of 5* with 587 reviews, netflix.com 3.7* with 391,511 votes, indiewire.com grade A-.
Special Note: This is the highest-grossing independently released documentary of the year 2011 in the USA. As of 12 June 2011 the gross was $6.4 million, earnings over 10 times than the second-place film!! The tap dance by Fred Astaire with his shadow is from the movie Swing Time. The first 20 of the film are sot with two GoPro Hero cameras taped side-to-side with one upside down. At the time of filming there wasn’t a 3D-system small enough for the cave available. The remainder of the film was shot on professional, higher-quality 2k 3D-cameras with follow-focus at a later date when they were available. There has been criticism that this film is too long and too empty. There is a prolonged visit with museums elsewhere in Europe not related to this cave. Early humans are discussed but not the type of humans who have entered this cave? Usually, France would request the premiere be held in France but Herzog said, “They didn’t know it was finished?”
That’s What I Am 2011
Andy Nichol is a 12 year old boy in one of the Jefferson Middle Schools in California of 1965. He is in the eight grade, he is intelligent but shy, awkward, socially unpopular and he will do anything to avoid ridicule and ostracism. Mr. Simon is a popular teacher and he pairs Andy with Stanley on a school project. Stanley is a more unpopular student, he’s a social pariah and he is also known as “Big G.” Stanley has thick orange hair, a head too big for his body and ears too big for his head!! He has been the object of ridicule since grade school. This will really seal Andy’s fate as an outcast and make him even more doomed.
There is an area on the school ground reserved only for the outcasts. Once you set foot on this property, you are forever an outcast. A major problem is they can only meet in this area to work on the project? Later, Mr. Simon finds himself the target of a malicious rumor. This story circulates after Principal Kelner suspends a school bully for brutally beating a female classmate. The cause of the beating was because the bully thought the girl had cooties??
This is very good, Mr. Simon is trying to teach the students that tolerance leads to peace. Mr. Simon has also won an essay contest on world peace with a new car as the prize. His essay was only four words: human dignity + compassion = peace. There are positive messages about being true to yourself and sticking up for others. Bullying consists of name calling, punches, threats and a jacket is used for whipping. 4* (I really liked this movie)
101 min, Drama directed and written by Michael Pavone with Ed Harris, Chase Ellison, Molly Parker, Daniel Roebuck, Randy Orton, Daniel Yelsky, Alexander Walters, Mia Rose Frampton, Amy Madigan, Camille E. Bourgeois III, Redwick D. Scott II, Jordan Reynolds, Vanessa Cloke, Sarah Celano, Dalton Dare.
Note: Imdb 7.0 out of 10 with 10,128 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 60% with 20 critics 68% audience with 1,784 ratings ons, Common Sense Media Carrie R. Wheadon, 10+ age, 4* positive messages, 4* role models, 2*violence, 2*sex, 2* language, 1* consumerism, 1* drinking, drugs & smoking, Metacritic 53 out of 100 with 11 critics(4 positive 6 mixed 1 negative) 5.3 out of 10 with 6 ratings (4 positive 1 mixed 1 negative), Letterboxd 3.2* out of 5*, Amazon 4.2* out of 5* with 101 reviews. Special Note: This film is based on a true story. This is the first film for Randy Orton. Ed Harris and his wife Amy Madigan have frequently collaborated together on films.
There is an area on the school ground reserved only for the outcasts. Once you set foot on this property, you are forever an outcast. A major problem is they can only meet in this area to work on the project? Later, Mr. Simon finds himself the target of a malicious rumor. This story circulates after Principal Kelner suspends a school bully for brutally beating a female classmate. The cause of the beating was because the bully thought the girl had cooties??
This is very good, Mr. Simon is trying to teach the students that tolerance leads to peace. Mr. Simon has also won an essay contest on world peace with a new car as the prize. His essay was only four words: human dignity + compassion = peace. There are positive messages about being true to yourself and sticking up for others. Bullying consists of name calling, punches, threats and a jacket is used for whipping. 4* (I really liked this movie)
101 min, Drama directed and written by Michael Pavone with Ed Harris, Chase Ellison, Molly Parker, Daniel Roebuck, Randy Orton, Daniel Yelsky, Alexander Walters, Mia Rose Frampton, Amy Madigan, Camille E. Bourgeois III, Redwick D. Scott II, Jordan Reynolds, Vanessa Cloke, Sarah Celano, Dalton Dare.
Note: Imdb 7.0 out of 10 with 10,128 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 60% with 20 critics 68% audience with 1,784 ratings ons, Common Sense Media Carrie R. Wheadon, 10+ age, 4* positive messages, 4* role models, 2*violence, 2*sex, 2* language, 1* consumerism, 1* drinking, drugs & smoking, Metacritic 53 out of 100 with 11 critics(4 positive 6 mixed 1 negative) 5.3 out of 10 with 6 ratings (4 positive 1 mixed 1 negative), Letterboxd 3.2* out of 5*, Amazon 4.2* out of 5* with 101 reviews. Special Note: This film is based on a true story. This is the first film for Randy Orton. Ed Harris and his wife Amy Madigan have frequently collaborated together on films.
Something Borrowed 2011
This film is based on a novel by Emily Giffin published in 2004. Directed by Luke Greenfield and written by Jennie Snyder Unman and Emily Giffin. Rachel is a 30 year old lawyer who always puts aside what she wants for the sake of Darcy, her best friend since childhood. Darcy is marrying Dex but he was Rachel's study partner in law school. She has had a crush on him from the beginning of classes. Dex discovers he may be marrying the wrong person and it should be Rachel? There is a lot of pressure for him to keep quiet and keep the wedding ball rolling. Than, Rachel’s close friend tells hr that she’ll spend her entire life in regret if she doesn’t talk to Dex about how she feels!!
This is very predictable, Darcy never thinks about anyone but herself and she holds a higher standard for others than herself. I can do to you but you better never do to me is her motto!! There are a series of lies and betrayals portrayed as funny but they are not at all!! Especially strong language for a romantic comedy. A lot of scenes that take place while characters drink too much at bars. Some messages about love and friendship are iffy and sometimes the characters are unlikable. This is just not very good. 2 1/2*
(This movie is so-so)
112 minutes, Romance directed by Luke Greenfield with Kate Hudson, Ginnifer Goodwin, John Krasinski, Colin Egglesfield, Steve Howey, Ashley Williams, Geoff Pierson, Jill Eikenberry, Jonathan Epstein, Leia Thompson, Sarah Baldwin, Lindsay Ryan, Kirsten Day, Christopher Peuler.
Note: Goodreads gives the book 3.85 * with 493,576 ratings,Imdb 5.9 out of 10 with 55,980 views, Rotten Tomatoes 15% with 116 critics 48% audience with 43,350 reviews, Roger Ebert 2*, Rolling Stone 1/2* out of 4* Peter Travers, Common Sense Media Sandie Angulo Chen, age 15+, 0 positive messages 0 role models, 1* violence, 3* sex, 3* language, 2* consumerism, 3*drinking, drugs & smoking, dove.org 4* sex, 5* language, 2* violence, 3* drugs, 2* nudity, 2*, conversation about affairs, characters saying that they hate each other, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* with 1,825 reviews.
Special Note: Kate Hudson and Steve Howey also played a couple who got married in Bride Wars 2009. Marcus and Rachel are sitting on a bench in the park. A woman sitting on the bench next to them is reading a book. The title is Something Blue by Emily Giffin and Something Blue is the sequel to the book Something Borrowed. Adam Duritz from Counting Crows has said he didn’t approve the cover versions of his song in this movie. Darcy and Dex’s wedding invitation says the wedding is to be held at The Plaza. This is the same place that Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway’s characters were married in the film Bride Wars.
This is very predictable, Darcy never thinks about anyone but herself and she holds a higher standard for others than herself. I can do to you but you better never do to me is her motto!! There are a series of lies and betrayals portrayed as funny but they are not at all!! Especially strong language for a romantic comedy. A lot of scenes that take place while characters drink too much at bars. Some messages about love and friendship are iffy and sometimes the characters are unlikable. This is just not very good. 2 1/2*
(This movie is so-so)
112 minutes, Romance directed by Luke Greenfield with Kate Hudson, Ginnifer Goodwin, John Krasinski, Colin Egglesfield, Steve Howey, Ashley Williams, Geoff Pierson, Jill Eikenberry, Jonathan Epstein, Leia Thompson, Sarah Baldwin, Lindsay Ryan, Kirsten Day, Christopher Peuler.
Note: Goodreads gives the book 3.85 * with 493,576 ratings,Imdb 5.9 out of 10 with 55,980 views, Rotten Tomatoes 15% with 116 critics 48% audience with 43,350 reviews, Roger Ebert 2*, Rolling Stone 1/2* out of 4* Peter Travers, Common Sense Media Sandie Angulo Chen, age 15+, 0 positive messages 0 role models, 1* violence, 3* sex, 3* language, 2* consumerism, 3*drinking, drugs & smoking, dove.org 4* sex, 5* language, 2* violence, 3* drugs, 2* nudity, 2*, conversation about affairs, characters saying that they hate each other, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* with 1,825 reviews.
Special Note: Kate Hudson and Steve Howey also played a couple who got married in Bride Wars 2009. Marcus and Rachel are sitting on a bench in the park. A woman sitting on the bench next to them is reading a book. The title is Something Blue by Emily Giffin and Something Blue is the sequel to the book Something Borrowed. Adam Duritz from Counting Crows has said he didn’t approve the cover versions of his song in this movie. Darcy and Dex’s wedding invitation says the wedding is to be held at The Plaza. This is the same place that Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway’s characters were married in the film Bride Wars.
Larry Crowne 2011
A Navy veteran loses his job after ten years at a big-box store because he doesn't have a college education. The reason is that he lacks the education for a management position. He decides to take some classes at his local community college. Things begin to change for him, he meets new friends, gets a part-time job, he's doing well in his classes and he begins to like his speech professor.
This movie is like a TV movie and not up to the acting range of the lead actors. It's predictable, sappy fluff and lightweight. 2 1/2* (This movie is so-so) 99 min, Drama directed and written by Tom Hanks and also written by Nia Vardalos with Julie Roberts, Sarah Mahoney, Roxana Ortega, Randal Park, Brady Rubin, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Cedric the Entertainer, Taraji P. Henson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Wilmer Valderrama, Rami Malek, George Takei, Rita Wilson.
Note: Imdb 6.1 out of 10 with 61,347 views, 36% wutg 201 critics 41% audience with 32,484 ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 2*, The Guardian 1* out of 5*, Letterboxd 2.6* out of 5*, Metacritic 41 out of 100 with 41 critics (10 positive 22 mixed 9 negative) 5.8 out of 10 with 100 ratings (34 positive 48 mixed 18 negative), Amazon 4.3* out of 5* with 852 reviews.
Special Note: This film is based on the life of a friend of Tom Hanks. He was called Jim Chandler to conceal his identity. Universal Pictures noted that almost 75% of the movie's opening day weekend was older than 50? When Bryan Cranston found out he would be cast as the husband of Julia Roberts' character, he went on an accelerated workout and diet regiment. He also bleached his teeth and he said it was all done in an attempt to convince people that his character would actually be married to someone like Roberts!!
This movie is like a TV movie and not up to the acting range of the lead actors. It's predictable, sappy fluff and lightweight. 2 1/2* (This movie is so-so) 99 min, Drama directed and written by Tom Hanks and also written by Nia Vardalos with Julie Roberts, Sarah Mahoney, Roxana Ortega, Randal Park, Brady Rubin, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Cedric the Entertainer, Taraji P. Henson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Wilmer Valderrama, Rami Malek, George Takei, Rita Wilson.
Note: Imdb 6.1 out of 10 with 61,347 views, 36% wutg 201 critics 41% audience with 32,484 ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 2*, The Guardian 1* out of 5*, Letterboxd 2.6* out of 5*, Metacritic 41 out of 100 with 41 critics (10 positive 22 mixed 9 negative) 5.8 out of 10 with 100 ratings (34 positive 48 mixed 18 negative), Amazon 4.3* out of 5* with 852 reviews.
Special Note: This film is based on the life of a friend of Tom Hanks. He was called Jim Chandler to conceal his identity. Universal Pictures noted that almost 75% of the movie's opening day weekend was older than 50? When Bryan Cranston found out he would be cast as the husband of Julia Roberts' character, he went on an accelerated workout and diet regiment. He also bleached his teeth and he said it was all done in an attempt to convince people that his character would actually be married to someone like Roberts!!
Hanna 2011
A sixteen-year-old girl Hanna has been raised by her father Erik Heller an ex-C.I.A. operative. They have been living in the wilds of Finland. She has learned how to be the perfect assassin and she is dispatched on a mission across Europe. She is being tracked by Marissa Wiegler, a ruthless female intelligence agent and her operatives. As Hanna nears her ultimate target, she begins to have revelations about her existence and her humanity?
This action thriller has bloody and violent scenes and pushes the limits of a PG-13 rating!! The violence is very realistic but many of the action scenes are shot in a stylized and rapidly edited manner. The different weapons used are arrows, knives, guns, fists and everyday objects. There is a high body count, bloody deaths, torture and implied deaths of bystanders. The messages of this film are fairly negative and it suggests that a person with killer instincts must give into them? Despite the downers in this film, Hanna is a person with dual personalities. She is a deadly killer and sweet heroine in one package!! 5* (I really liked this movie)
111 min, Action directed by Joe Wright and written by Seth Lochhead and David Farr with Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, Vicky Krieps, Cate Blanchett, Paris Arrowsmith, John Macmillan, Tim Beckmann, Paul Birchard, Christian Malcolm, Jamie Beamish, Tom Hodgkins, Nathan Nolan.
Note: Imdb 6.8 out of 10 with185,104 views, Rotes Tomatoes 71% with 227 critics 66% audience score with 72,443 user ratings, The Guardian 2* out of 4* Peter Bradshaw, Roger Ebert 3* out of 4*, Common Sense Media age 15+, 0* positive messages, 0* role models, 4* violence, 2* sex, 3* language, 1*consumerism, 1* drinking, drugs & smoking, Amazon 4.3* out of 5* with 2,689 reviews, Metacritic 65 out of 100 with 40 critics (26 positive 12 mixed 2 negative) 7.7 out of 10 with 436 ratings (324 positive 81 mixed 31 negative), Letterboxd 3.4* out of 5*.
Special Note: Saoirse Ronana performed many of her own stunts. Her eyebrows were bleached to try and mimic the physicality similar to a white wolf. Ronan had four hour days of intense training for over two months from Dan Inosanto, a Bruce Lee protege. A former CIA agent was brought in to consult on the character of Marissa Wiegler. The large oval shaped tunnel where Hanna escapes is a wind tunnel for testing full sized aircraft. Seth Lochhead wrote the original story and script on spec in 2006. He returned for production work in 2010.
This action thriller has bloody and violent scenes and pushes the limits of a PG-13 rating!! The violence is very realistic but many of the action scenes are shot in a stylized and rapidly edited manner. The different weapons used are arrows, knives, guns, fists and everyday objects. There is a high body count, bloody deaths, torture and implied deaths of bystanders. The messages of this film are fairly negative and it suggests that a person with killer instincts must give into them? Despite the downers in this film, Hanna is a person with dual personalities. She is a deadly killer and sweet heroine in one package!! 5* (I really liked this movie)
111 min, Action directed by Joe Wright and written by Seth Lochhead and David Farr with Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, Vicky Krieps, Cate Blanchett, Paris Arrowsmith, John Macmillan, Tim Beckmann, Paul Birchard, Christian Malcolm, Jamie Beamish, Tom Hodgkins, Nathan Nolan.
Note: Imdb 6.8 out of 10 with185,104 views, Rotes Tomatoes 71% with 227 critics 66% audience score with 72,443 user ratings, The Guardian 2* out of 4* Peter Bradshaw, Roger Ebert 3* out of 4*, Common Sense Media age 15+, 0* positive messages, 0* role models, 4* violence, 2* sex, 3* language, 1*consumerism, 1* drinking, drugs & smoking, Amazon 4.3* out of 5* with 2,689 reviews, Metacritic 65 out of 100 with 40 critics (26 positive 12 mixed 2 negative) 7.7 out of 10 with 436 ratings (324 positive 81 mixed 31 negative), Letterboxd 3.4* out of 5*.
Special Note: Saoirse Ronana performed many of her own stunts. Her eyebrows were bleached to try and mimic the physicality similar to a white wolf. Ronan had four hour days of intense training for over two months from Dan Inosanto, a Bruce Lee protege. A former CIA agent was brought in to consult on the character of Marissa Wiegler. The large oval shaped tunnel where Hanna escapes is a wind tunnel for testing full sized aircraft. Seth Lochhead wrote the original story and script on spec in 2006. He returned for production work in 2010.
The Peanut Butter Falcon 2019
This is an adventure story and the setting is in the world of a modern Mark Twain. Zak is 22 years old and he has Down syndrome. He runs away from the home where he wants to chase his dream of becoming a professional wrestler. Zak would like to attend the wrestling school, The Salt Water Redneck. Zak meets Tyler and he is 32 years old. Tyler is a small-time outlaw on the run and he becomes Zak’s coach and ally. Together, they travel through the deltas, drink whisky, find God, catch fish, elude capture and convince Eleanor to join them on their trip. Eleanor is 28 years old and she is a nursing home employee with her own story.
This a road/buddy movie with a fairly mature content. There are some guns and shooting, violent wrestling sequences, a character punching a kid and a knife held to a person’s throat. Language is fairly frequent, characters flirt and kiss, one character wears only underpants for several scenes. Drinking of whiskey and having hangovers are common. some smoking and a flashback to a drunken driving incident. On the plus side, there is kindness, empathy and a fair representation of someone with Down syndrome. There is good acting and the story feels real. It does have some incredibly emotional scenes. 4* (I really liked this movie)
97 min, Adventure directed and written by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz with Zack Gottsagen, Ann Owens, Dakota Johnson, Bruce Dern, Shia LaBeouf, Thomas Haden Church, Rob Thomas, Jon Bernthal, Tim Zajaros, John Hawkes, Yelawolf, Jonathan D. Williams, Deja Dee, Lee Spencer, Mark Helms.
Note: Imdb 7.6 out of 10 with 38,378 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 96% with 200 critics 96% with 4,704 ratings, Roger Ebert 3 1/2* Sheila O’Malley, The Guardian 4* out of 5* Wendy Ide, Empire Online 4* out of 5* Beth Webb, NME 4* out of 5* Olly Richards, Common Sense Media Jeffrey M. Anderson age 13+, 3* positive, 3* role models, 3* violence 2* sex, 3* language, 1* consumerism, Letterboxd 3.9* out of 5*, Metacritic 70 out of 100 with 28 critics (23 positive 5 mixed) 7.7 out of 10 with 89 ratings (67 positive 8 mixed 5 negative).
This a road/buddy movie with a fairly mature content. There are some guns and shooting, violent wrestling sequences, a character punching a kid and a knife held to a person’s throat. Language is fairly frequent, characters flirt and kiss, one character wears only underpants for several scenes. Drinking of whiskey and having hangovers are common. some smoking and a flashback to a drunken driving incident. On the plus side, there is kindness, empathy and a fair representation of someone with Down syndrome. There is good acting and the story feels real. It does have some incredibly emotional scenes. 4* (I really liked this movie)
97 min, Adventure directed and written by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz with Zack Gottsagen, Ann Owens, Dakota Johnson, Bruce Dern, Shia LaBeouf, Thomas Haden Church, Rob Thomas, Jon Bernthal, Tim Zajaros, John Hawkes, Yelawolf, Jonathan D. Williams, Deja Dee, Lee Spencer, Mark Helms.
Note: Imdb 7.6 out of 10 with 38,378 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 96% with 200 critics 96% with 4,704 ratings, Roger Ebert 3 1/2* Sheila O’Malley, The Guardian 4* out of 5* Wendy Ide, Empire Online 4* out of 5* Beth Webb, NME 4* out of 5* Olly Richards, Common Sense Media Jeffrey M. Anderson age 13+, 3* positive, 3* role models, 3* violence 2* sex, 3* language, 1* consumerism, Letterboxd 3.9* out of 5*, Metacritic 70 out of 100 with 28 critics (23 positive 5 mixed) 7.7 out of 10 with 89 ratings (67 positive 8 mixed 5 negative).
Saturday, May 2, 2020
Battle Los Angeles 2011
Meteors that are hitting the water near large cities around the world. They are found to be alien invaders and humans along the beaches are being killed. A Marine platoon is dispatched to save Los Angeles. Rescue civilians is their mission and they have only three hours to complete their task. After this time limit the US Air Force will begin bombing the area. Marine Staff Sergeant Nantz is about to retire but he is reassigned to a new platoon. This platoon is flown by chopper to the forward operating base at Santa Monica Airport. New 2nd Lt. Martinez is leading the platoon. They are sent to rescue some civilians trapped at the police station within alien territory. This job has a three hour time frame.
This is filmed like Marines in a combat zone at war with other people but these are aliens and their ships. It just seems too unrealistic and doesn't capture your attention like it could or should. Michelle Rodriquez, aren't there any other roles for her other than this film and Fast & Furious? 3* (This movie is OK)
116 min, Sci-Fi directed by Johathan Liebesman and written by Christopher Bertolini with Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, Bridget Moynahan, Ramon Rodriquez, Will Rothhaar, Cory C. Hardrict, Jim Parrack, Gino Anthony Pesi, Ne-Yo, James Hiroyuki Liao, Noel Fisher, Joey King, Adetokumboh M’Cormack, Bryce Cass, Michael Pena, Neil Brown Jr., Taylor Handley, Letterboxd 2.2 out of 5*, Common Sense Media, Jeffrey M. Anderson, age .
Note: Imdb 5.7 out of 10 with 170,838 reviews, 36% with 207 critics 48% audience with 93,692 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, The Guardian 2* out of 5* Peter Bradshaw, Metacritic 37 out of 100 with 35 critics 5.8 out of 10 with 588 ratings, Amazon 4.4* out of 5* with 2,240 reviews, Letterboxd 2.2 out of 5*, Common Sense Media, Jeffrey M. Anderson, age 15+, 1* positive message, 3* role models, 4* violence, 0* sex, 3* language, 1* consumerism, 0* drinking, drugs & smoking.
Special Note: Eckhart broke his arm while filming a stunt and he still never missed a day of work!! He also said that this film was the most fun but the toughest. He would like to return for a sequel and with the setting in Paris, France. Marines from Camp Pendleton helped train the actors for their roles. A number of actual marines also appear as extras. To thank them, a sneak preview of the film was shown at the Camp.
This is filmed like Marines in a combat zone at war with other people but these are aliens and their ships. It just seems too unrealistic and doesn't capture your attention like it could or should. Michelle Rodriquez, aren't there any other roles for her other than this film and Fast & Furious? 3* (This movie is OK)
116 min, Sci-Fi directed by Johathan Liebesman and written by Christopher Bertolini with Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, Bridget Moynahan, Ramon Rodriquez, Will Rothhaar, Cory C. Hardrict, Jim Parrack, Gino Anthony Pesi, Ne-Yo, James Hiroyuki Liao, Noel Fisher, Joey King, Adetokumboh M’Cormack, Bryce Cass, Michael Pena, Neil Brown Jr., Taylor Handley, Letterboxd 2.2 out of 5*, Common Sense Media, Jeffrey M. Anderson, age .
Note: Imdb 5.7 out of 10 with 170,838 reviews, 36% with 207 critics 48% audience with 93,692 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, The Guardian 2* out of 5* Peter Bradshaw, Metacritic 37 out of 100 with 35 critics 5.8 out of 10 with 588 ratings, Amazon 4.4* out of 5* with 2,240 reviews, Letterboxd 2.2 out of 5*, Common Sense Media, Jeffrey M. Anderson, age 15+, 1* positive message, 3* role models, 4* violence, 0* sex, 3* language, 1* consumerism, 0* drinking, drugs & smoking.
Special Note: Eckhart broke his arm while filming a stunt and he still never missed a day of work!! He also said that this film was the most fun but the toughest. He would like to return for a sequel and with the setting in Paris, France. Marines from Camp Pendleton helped train the actors for their roles. A number of actual marines also appear as extras. To thank them, a sneak preview of the film was shown at the Camp.
Queen to Play 2009
This film is based on the The Chess Player by Bertina Henrichs. Helene is a middle-aged housekeeper at a posh Corsican hotel with and she has very few prospects. She is a devoted and diligent wife and mother but she has nothing to call her own in her life except her family. She watches a couple staying at the hotel playing chess on the deck and she is very interested. She buys an electronic chessboard to give her husband for his birthday. She tries to teach herself and tries to teach him but her husband doesn't like the game. She cleans for an eccentric, reclusive American and she asks him to mentor her in the game. Every Tuesday, Helene cleans for Kroger and they play chess. Kroger is a reclusive American expat. Their chess games transform both of their ho-hum lives.
This is good, finding something she is very passionate about separates Helene from her family and they begin to resent the intrusion. The townspeople begin to gossip about the time she spends with the American and this doesn't help her family feel better about her choices. The scenery on the island of Corsica is very beautiful and colorful. Not mentioned in this film is the fact that it usually takes years with many different chess partner to become a solid player? This combination would also be needed to participate successfully in a tournament? 4* (I really liked this movie)
97 min, Drama directed by Caroline Bottaro with Sandrine Bonnaire, Francis Renaud, Jennifer Beals, Valerie Lagrange, Alexandra Gentil, Alice Pol, Elisabeth Vitali, Dominic Gould, Daniel Martin, Laurence Colussi, Didier Ferrari, Valerie Trejean, Francois Orsoni, Christine Ambrosini, Kevin Kline.
Note: Imdb 6.9 out of 10, Roger Ebert 3 1/2*, Slant Magazine 2* out of 4* Andrew Schenker, Letterboxd 3.3* out of 5*, Amazon 6.9* out of 5* with 121 reviews.
Special Note: Filmed in Corsica France. The language is in French and English. The original title was Joueuse and this is the feminine word for player. Two minds playing a game of chess can engage each other and not in a romantic way. It is the pure contact of their thinking. Words are not in the mind during a chess game. Just rules of spatial relationships.
Awards: Special Mention for John Schlesinger Award for Outstanding First Feature Palm Springs International Film Festival 2010 and Official Selection Tribeca Film Festival 2009.
This is good, finding something she is very passionate about separates Helene from her family and they begin to resent the intrusion. The townspeople begin to gossip about the time she spends with the American and this doesn't help her family feel better about her choices. The scenery on the island of Corsica is very beautiful and colorful. Not mentioned in this film is the fact that it usually takes years with many different chess partner to become a solid player? This combination would also be needed to participate successfully in a tournament? 4* (I really liked this movie)
97 min, Drama directed by Caroline Bottaro with Sandrine Bonnaire, Francis Renaud, Jennifer Beals, Valerie Lagrange, Alexandra Gentil, Alice Pol, Elisabeth Vitali, Dominic Gould, Daniel Martin, Laurence Colussi, Didier Ferrari, Valerie Trejean, Francois Orsoni, Christine Ambrosini, Kevin Kline.
Note: Imdb 6.9 out of 10, Roger Ebert 3 1/2*, Slant Magazine 2* out of 4* Andrew Schenker, Letterboxd 3.3* out of 5*, Amazon 6.9* out of 5* with 121 reviews.
Special Note: Filmed in Corsica France. The language is in French and English. The original title was Joueuse and this is the feminine word for player. Two minds playing a game of chess can engage each other and not in a romantic way. It is the pure contact of their thinking. Words are not in the mind during a chess game. Just rules of spatial relationships.
Awards: Special Mention for John Schlesinger Award for Outstanding First Feature Palm Springs International Film Festival 2010 and Official Selection Tribeca Film Festival 2009.
My Run 2009
Terry Hitchcock is a 57 year old man coping with the death of his wife Sue from breast cancer in 1984. A few days after Sue died, Terry lost his job. On top of all of these events, Terry is struggling with single parenthood and he has three young children. To bring attention to this disease and to single parents, he ran 75 marathons in 75 consecutive days. He began his journey in 1996 starting out in Minneapolis. It was a tremendous challenge and a test of the limits of his endurance. Supporting him in this was tough for his three children and especially his oldest son Christian who was along on the journey. They ran in freezing rain, unbearable heat, chest pains and bone fractures. It did strengthen an unbreakable bond between Terry and his son. They didn’t stop until they broke the finish tape in Atlanta Georgia.
This is good, it seems like Terry won’t be able to finish this challenge due to the severe requirements physically and mentally but you still root for him. During his run, he had many experiences such as a pickup truck tried to hit him, Some people would drive by and try to know him off the road. In Kentucky, a big black bear came out of the forest!! The bear was as scared of Terry as Terry was of the bear!! Terry also had a heart attack halfway through his marathon!! Later, he gave speaks in classrooms and jailhouses. Terry also had lingering injuries after he completed his run. 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
85 min, Doc directed by Tim Vandesteeg, written by Kim Pederson and narrated by Billy Bob Thornton with J. Marie Fieger, Chris, Jason and Teri Sue Hitchcock, Scott Meier, Christine Redlin, Andy Stemig, John and Perry Williams.
Note: Imdb 7* out of 214 reviews, 58% audience on Rotten Tomatoes with 87 ratings, dove.org 2* language 1* drugs, 1* a death.
Awards: Audience Award, Austin Film Festival; Outstanding Achievement in Documentary, Newport beach Film Festival; Grand Jury Las Vegas Film Festival; Best of Fest, Minn/St. Paul INt. Film Festival; Outstanding Achievement in Documentary; VISIONFEST Film Festival, Best Documentary; Mammoth Film Festival Award of Merit; Accolade Competition Family-Friendly Seal from the Dove Foundation; Big Bear Lake International Film Festival Audience Award; Documentary Miami International Film Festival Audience Award.
This is good, it seems like Terry won’t be able to finish this challenge due to the severe requirements physically and mentally but you still root for him. During his run, he had many experiences such as a pickup truck tried to hit him, Some people would drive by and try to know him off the road. In Kentucky, a big black bear came out of the forest!! The bear was as scared of Terry as Terry was of the bear!! Terry also had a heart attack halfway through his marathon!! Later, he gave speaks in classrooms and jailhouses. Terry also had lingering injuries after he completed his run. 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
85 min, Doc directed by Tim Vandesteeg, written by Kim Pederson and narrated by Billy Bob Thornton with J. Marie Fieger, Chris, Jason and Teri Sue Hitchcock, Scott Meier, Christine Redlin, Andy Stemig, John and Perry Williams.
Note: Imdb 7* out of 214 reviews, 58% audience on Rotten Tomatoes with 87 ratings, dove.org 2* language 1* drugs, 1* a death.
Awards: Audience Award, Austin Film Festival; Outstanding Achievement in Documentary, Newport beach Film Festival; Grand Jury Las Vegas Film Festival; Best of Fest, Minn/St. Paul INt. Film Festival; Outstanding Achievement in Documentary; VISIONFEST Film Festival, Best Documentary; Mammoth Film Festival Award of Merit; Accolade Competition Family-Friendly Seal from the Dove Foundation; Big Bear Lake International Film Festival Audience Award; Documentary Miami International Film Festival Audience Award.
Friday, May 1, 2020
Waiting for Forever 2010
Emma Twist is an actress, her father Richard Twist is sick and she leaves Los Angeles for her hometown. Will Donner has loved Emma since they were kids and his parents were killed in a train accident. After his parents died, Will refused to grow up. Will and his brother Jim moved away to live with relatives. He became an unemployed drifter and aimless?? The only thing that didn’t change about him was his undeclared love for neighborhood girl Emma Twist!! For the last few years Will has been where Emma has been, she just didn't know. Will returns to their hometown and determines that he will speak to Emma and tell her how he feels. He is living with his conventional brother Jim, Susan, Jim’s wife and their child. The family seems to adore their uncle because he is the free-spirited silly uncle. Neighbor friend Joe and his family are also happy to put up with Will.
This film is unpredictable and there are some tear jerk moments. For me, it seems like everyone is inside out in this movie, the father is dying but he hurts his wife with his words, Emma's boyfriend is a jerk and it rubs off on her, Will's brother Jim is cruel when he doesn't need to be, Will is arrested for a crime he doesn't know anything about? Maybe this was made for another Earth and not this one?? Also, somehow this film is strangely unaware of its creepiness plus wouldn’t Will be considered to be a stalker?? 2* (I didn't like this movie)
95 min, Drama directed by James Keach and written by Steve Adams with Rachel Bilson, Tom Sturridge, Blythe Danner, Richard Jenkins, Scott Mechlowicz, Nikki Blonsky, Jamie King, Matthew Davis, Richard Gant, Roz Ryan, Richard Gant.
Note: Imdb 6.0 out of 10 with 19,440 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 5% with 19 critics 42% audience with 13,313 reviews, Slant Magazine 1* out of 5* Nick Schager, Metacritic 26 out of 100 (1 positive 3 mixed 10 negative) with 14 critics 6.5 out of 10 with 11 ratings (5 positive 4 mixed 2 negative), dove.org 2* sex, 2* language, 2* violence, 2* drugs, 1* nudity, 2* behavior: man shown: hitchhiking, standing up in a trailer, following a woman all over the country, picking at a woman, lying to police, arrested, Amazon 4* out of 5* with 111 reviews, Letterboxd 2.5* out of 5*.
Special Note: Jamie King plays Will’s sister and she later starred in Hart of Dixie with Rachel Bilson who played Emma. Filming took place in Salt Lake City and Ogden Utah. Shown with a limited theatrical release and played from three to fourteen theaters in a two-week run. Production budget of $5 million and gross $25,517. Definitely not a profit!!
This film is unpredictable and there are some tear jerk moments. For me, it seems like everyone is inside out in this movie, the father is dying but he hurts his wife with his words, Emma's boyfriend is a jerk and it rubs off on her, Will's brother Jim is cruel when he doesn't need to be, Will is arrested for a crime he doesn't know anything about? Maybe this was made for another Earth and not this one?? Also, somehow this film is strangely unaware of its creepiness plus wouldn’t Will be considered to be a stalker?? 2* (I didn't like this movie)
95 min, Drama directed by James Keach and written by Steve Adams with Rachel Bilson, Tom Sturridge, Blythe Danner, Richard Jenkins, Scott Mechlowicz, Nikki Blonsky, Jamie King, Matthew Davis, Richard Gant, Roz Ryan, Richard Gant.
Note: Imdb 6.0 out of 10 with 19,440 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 5% with 19 critics 42% audience with 13,313 reviews, Slant Magazine 1* out of 5* Nick Schager, Metacritic 26 out of 100 (1 positive 3 mixed 10 negative) with 14 critics 6.5 out of 10 with 11 ratings (5 positive 4 mixed 2 negative), dove.org 2* sex, 2* language, 2* violence, 2* drugs, 1* nudity, 2* behavior: man shown: hitchhiking, standing up in a trailer, following a woman all over the country, picking at a woman, lying to police, arrested, Amazon 4* out of 5* with 111 reviews, Letterboxd 2.5* out of 5*.
Special Note: Jamie King plays Will’s sister and she later starred in Hart of Dixie with Rachel Bilson who played Emma. Filming took place in Salt Lake City and Ogden Utah. Shown with a limited theatrical release and played from three to fourteen theaters in a two-week run. Production budget of $5 million and gross $25,517. Definitely not a profit!!
The Ledge 2011
A man is forced onto the ledge of a tall apartment building and the police are called to talk him down off the ledge. The man doesn't want to be there but he has until noon, one hour, to jump or a woman will be shot by her husband. Gavin has hired Shauna to work in the hotel where he works and they also live in the same apartment building. This was a big mistake in the beginning but Gavin and Shauna have started a relationship. Joe is Shauna's husband and he has ordered Gavin to the ledge!!
This movie is told in flashbacks and you know right away that Gavin needs to run, leave town, move away, get another job, do anything to get away from Shauna because her husband is more than unpleasant. Even if she's the last woman in the world, run anyway. The story is very bad but the acting is good. Plus, there is not a drop of chemistry between Charlie and Liv?? 3* (This movie is OK)
101 min, Drama directed and written by Matthew Chapman with Charlie Hunnam, Terrance Howard, Liv Tyler, Patrick Wilson, Jacqueline Fleming, Christopher Gorham,Maxine Greco, Geraldine Singer, Dean J. West, Brianna Dufrene, Jillian Batherson, Tyler Humphrey, Mike Pniewski, Katia Gomez.
Note: Imdb 6.5 out of 10 with 18,288 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 14% with 29 critics 48% audience with 4,907 reviews, Slant Magazine 1/2* Jesse Cataldo, thecriticalcritics.com 5* of stay away, Metacritic 34 out of 100 with 14 critics (1 positive 8 mixed 5 negative) 5.8 out of 10 with 36 ratings (18 positive 7 mixed 11negative), Letterboxd 2,8* out of 5*, Amazon 4.4* out of 5* with 172 reviews.
Special Note: The premise of this film is somewhat similar to the Stephen King short story also titled The Ledge. The apartment number is #212 and it is a reference to the birthday, February 12th of Charles Darwin. He was the great-great-grandfather of Matthew Chapman, the writer and director. Shana asks if Gavin was a teacher and Gavin replies, yes. Charlie Hunnam played a PE teacher in Green Street Hooligans 2005.
This movie is told in flashbacks and you know right away that Gavin needs to run, leave town, move away, get another job, do anything to get away from Shauna because her husband is more than unpleasant. Even if she's the last woman in the world, run anyway. The story is very bad but the acting is good. Plus, there is not a drop of chemistry between Charlie and Liv?? 3* (This movie is OK)
101 min, Drama directed and written by Matthew Chapman with Charlie Hunnam, Terrance Howard, Liv Tyler, Patrick Wilson, Jacqueline Fleming, Christopher Gorham,Maxine Greco, Geraldine Singer, Dean J. West, Brianna Dufrene, Jillian Batherson, Tyler Humphrey, Mike Pniewski, Katia Gomez.
Note: Imdb 6.5 out of 10 with 18,288 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 14% with 29 critics 48% audience with 4,907 reviews, Slant Magazine 1/2* Jesse Cataldo, thecriticalcritics.com 5* of stay away, Metacritic 34 out of 100 with 14 critics (1 positive 8 mixed 5 negative) 5.8 out of 10 with 36 ratings (18 positive 7 mixed 11negative), Letterboxd 2,8* out of 5*, Amazon 4.4* out of 5* with 172 reviews.
Special Note: The premise of this film is somewhat similar to the Stephen King short story also titled The Ledge. The apartment number is #212 and it is a reference to the birthday, February 12th of Charles Darwin. He was the great-great-grandfather of Matthew Chapman, the writer and director. Shana asks if Gavin was a teacher and Gavin replies, yes. Charlie Hunnam played a PE teacher in Green Street Hooligans 2005.
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