Forsaken 2015

     Reverend Samuel Clayton is surprised to see his son John Henry Clayton return for a visit.  John Henry fought in the Civil War and he has stayed away even though the war is over.  John Henry’s mother has passed away and he didn’t know this.  She had hoped to see him again before she died.  There is a local gang hired by James McCurdy to terrorize the town.  McCurdy wants to run out the farmers and buy up their land.  He doesn’t care what he has to do to get the property.  The gang starts to take their frustrations out on John Henry’s face because he’s not carrying a gun.  His reputation as a fearless quick-draw killer has drawn their attention.

     This film is interesting and has a lot of the same themes of much earlier westerns.  It’s nice to some new westerns coming to film.  I think some of the dialog is not as people talked in 1870?  Of course, there has to be tension and conflict between the Reverend and his son.  3* (This movie is OK)

90 min, Action directed by Jon Cassar with Kiefer Sutherland, Donald Sutherland, Demi Moore, Lex Cassar, Graeme Black, Dave Trimble, Joe Norman Shaw, Brian Cox, Chris Ippolito, Dylan Smith, Landon Liboiron, Michael Mitchell, Justin Michael Carriere. 

Note:  Imdb 6.3 out of 10, 43% critic 87% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3*, The Guardian 3*, Metacritic 55 out of 100 with 17 critics 7.3 out of 10 with 11 reviews, Amazon 4.1* out of 5* with 1028 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed on the CL Ranch, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.  Discovery Channel’s Klondike of 2014 was also filmed at CL Ranch.  The town was quickly transformed from a booming city of 1890 for Klondike to a small town of the wild west of 1870 for Forsaken.  John Henry is the real name of Doc Holliday.  Kiefer Sutherland wanted to make a film with his father and he asked writer Brian Mirman to write a western story for them.  Kiefer said the time during filming was the longest period he has spent with his father.  There is another film with the same title from 2005.

The Red Turtle 2016

     The title in French is La Tortue Rouge.  A mariner is shipwrecked by a storm on a deserted tropical island with sandy beaches.  His only company is the timid crabs and the bamboo swaying in the forest.  He finds fresh water and fruit to eat.  He builds a raft from the bamboo and sets out to sea.  He doesn’t make it very far out on the water before some kind of creature destroys the raft.  He makes more rafts and he has them destroyed by the creature each time its in the seawater.  He dives into the water but he doesn’t see what type of creature breaks up the rafts? He’s decided this is his last time on the raft, he sees a red turtle and the turtle comes up on the beach that evening.  He’s so angry at the turtle that he hits it on the head with a bamboo stick and pushes it over onto it’s back!! 

      There is very little spoken dialogue, no facial expressions and always the same environment.  A lot of symbolism is portrayed and I’m not sure what it all means?  Everything about this movie is very beautiful.   It’s calm no matter what happens with a lot of color and light.  The story is really about the earth, the animals and a minimally about humanity.  4* (I liked this movie)

80 min, Animation Directed b Michael Dudok de Wit with the voices of Emmanuel Garijo, Tom Hudson, Baptiste Goy, Axel Devillers, Barbara Beretta.

Note:  Imdb 7.5 out of 10, 94% critic 80% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3 ½*, Amazon 4.2* out of 5* with 172 reviews, Metacritic 86 out of 100 with 32 critics 8 out of 10 with 95 reviews.

Special Note:  This is the first non-Japanese film to be produced by Studio Ghibli.  A Dutch animator, French-Belgian-Japanese animators and six animators from Studio Ghibli worked as a team on this film.  Worldwide gross was $787,712 and release in Japanese theaters generated $328,750 on the first weekend.  Winner for Best Animated Feature – Independent Annie Awards 2017, Un Certain Regard Special Prize at Cannes Film Festival 2016, Best Animated Feature from San Francisco Film Critics Circle 2016.

LaLa Land 2016

     This film was written and directed by Damien Chazelle.  Mia is an aspiring actress and she meets Sebastian when they are stuck in a LA traffic jam.  This is not a happy meeting!!  Mia is not moving her car when she can and Sebastian does a LOT of horn blasting?  Mia works at a coffee shop serving pastries, bagels and lattes.  This is not her dream job.  Sebastian plays piano in bars and for cocktail parties.  He was let go at his recent job just before Christmas.

      When I watch movies on TCM and they are musicals, I usually fast forward during the singing and dancing scenes?  How could I do that with this film when musicals are the majority of the film??  I didn’t understand that the characters are really living in La La Land?  I thought this was just a title and not how they were living their real lives?? 2 ½* (This movie was so-so)

128 min, Comedy directed by Damien Chazelle with Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Rosemarie DeWitt, J.K. Simmons, John Legend.

Note:  Imdb 8.2 out of 10, 90% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3 ½*, Amazon 3.5* out of 5* with 1394 reviews, Metacritic 93 out of 100 with 53 critics 8.4 out of 10 with 1580 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in Los Angeles, Hermosa Beach, Long Beach, Pasadena, South Pasadena, Burbank, Santa Clarita and West Hollywood, California.  Randy Kerber recorded the piano performances.  Ryan Gosling spent two hours a day, six days a week in piano lessons.  When filming began, he was able to play all the music.  When Emma Stone sings Audition (The Fools Who Dream) a piano was playing in her ear from another room.  Emma decided when she would sing and when she would switch to dialogue.  Originally Emma Watson was scheduled for the role of Mia.  She had scheduling conflicts with Beauty and the Beast of 2017.  The film crew had 30 minutes for two days to film the dusky purple twilight Hollywood Hills dance.  The leads did five takes in two days.  The fourth take is used in the film.  John Legend is a singer and classically trained pianist but he learned to play guitar for his role.  This film grossed $151.1 million in the US and Canada plus $294.1 million in other countries.  The total was $445.2 million with a budget of $30 million.  It is one of the top 20 most profitable releases of 2016.

Changing Lanes 2002

     Gavin Banek is in a rush to get to court on time.  Doyle Gipson is also in a rush and he’s also going to court.  Gavin is filing legal papers involving a multi-million dollar trust.  They have an accident with their cars, Doyle wants to exchange information and handle the accident properly.  Gavin is in too much of a rush and he wants to give Doyle a blank check to cover the damages to his car.  Gavin accidentally drops a folder with an important document for his case and he has until the end of the day to present these papers to the court.  Gavin and Doyle begin to go back and forth over both of them botching their court appearances because of the accident.  For Gavin, it’s his career as a lawyer.  For Doyle, it’s losing custody or sharing custody of his boys with his wife and trying to get their marriage back together.

     There is a LOT of tension in this film.  I didn’t know what was going to happen to Gavin and also what would happen to Doyle?  How far would the film escalate with the two men continually pressuring each other?  There is a lot going on in the background that unfolds in layers.  3 ½* (I liked this movie) 

    

98 min, Drama directed by Roger Michell with Ben Affleck, Samuel L. Jackson, Kim Staunton, Toni Collette, Sydney Pollack, Tina Sloan, Richard Jenkins, Akil Walker, Cole Hawkins, Ileen Getz, Jennifer Dundas.

Note:  Imdb 6.5 out of 10, 77% critic 53% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 4*, Amazon 4.4* out of 5 stars with 229 reviews, Metacritic 69 out of 100 with 36 critics 8.8 out of 10 with 168 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in New Jersey and New York City, New York.  The World Trade Center towers were digitally removed from the opening main sequence.  During re-editing they were reinserted as a tribute.  Ben Affleck started to wear a wetsuit under his suits in the final scene.  He was too cold for hours in wet clothes during filming.  Samuel L. Jackson often wears the color purple on screen.  In the film Unbreakable of 2000, he wears purple clothing.  Star Wars: Episode II of 2002, he has a purple light saber.  In this film, he wears a purple hat.  F.D.R. highway was shut down to regular traffic for two days for the accident scenes.  Roger Mitchell also directed Persuasion and Notting Hill.

Equity 2016

     This film is based on a story by Sarah Megan Thomas.  Naomi Bishop is a New York investment banker.  She failed to land a big IPO for a tech company and that has tarnished her relationship with her company.  Now she has a chance to change this perception with another IPO for a tech company.  It’s called Cachet and it’s supposed to have up-to-the minute security features.  There is a lot of sexism in this line of work.  Naomi takes heat from her clients and her colleagues.   Naomi was hoping to be promoted to manager when the current manager retires.  She learns that she may not get this job because of perception again?  Naomi has a college friend and this friend is now a Federal investment law prosecutor.  They try to meet socially but Samantha Ryan is on a fishing expedition for information and not friendship.  Erin Manning is Naomi’s assistant and she is also asking for a promotion.

     This is the first female-driven Wall Street film.  Naomi doesn’t apologize for being after money in her job.  To her, money isn’t a dirty word and women can have this as their goal too.  This film had a lot of potential but it doesn’t deliver.  There were a couple of times when I didn’t know what was happening?  I had to wait for later scenes to bring things together.  There is a lot of tension and I was very glad not to be involved the stock exchange as a job!!  2 1/2* (This movie is so-so)

100 min, Drama directed by Meera Menon with Anna Gunn, James Purefoy, Sarah Megan Thomas, Alysia Reiner, Samuel Roukin, Caraig Bierko, Samuel Roukin.

Note:  Imdb 5.5 out of 10, 81% critic 53% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 2 ½*, Amazon 3.1* out of 5* with 74 reviews, The Guardian 2* out of 5*.

Special Note:  Filmed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and New York City, New York.  Bloomberg L.P. is a privately held financial software, data and media company.  Their headquarters are located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.  This company was a lead sponsor but not with money.  They provided two Blomberg executives to assist in production and the company consulted with the producers and writers.  Bloomberg TV employees, reporters, anchors, producers, directors and crew were filmed for this movie.  These scenes were the first shot and they pan the length of the film.  Alysia Reiner Orange is the New Black as the character Fig.  The director Meera Menon won a Tribeca award for Farah Goes Bang.  Amy Fox wrote the screenplay.  The Compliance Officer Abby is Carrie Preston and she was the character Attorney Elsbeth Tascioni in The Good Wife TV series.

Act of Love 1953

     In the early 1950’s, Robert Teller goes back to a seaport in the south of France.  He spent time here during WWII.  He met Lise Gudayec and they were friends.  Robert rented a room and he let Lise stay in the room since she was an orphan.  She didn’t have any other place to stay and no money or identity papers.  They fell in love and Robert wanted to marry her but he needed approval from his commanding officer.  The officer refuses because he thinks Robert will thank him later for preventing this spontaneous union.  Robert is transferred the next day away from Paris.  Lise and Robert had made plans to marry and she is waiting for him but he doesn’t arrive for the wedding. 

     The French were very suspicious of the Americans and they didn’t want them to marry their women.  Everyone thought this marriage was happening too fast and possibly for the wrong reasons.  They didn’t understand that they were really in love and their background story.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

108 min, Drama directed by Anatole Litvak with Kirk Douglas, Dany Robin, Barbara Laage, Gabrielle Dorziat, Fernand Ledoux, Robert Strauss, Marthe Mercadier, George Mathews, Richard Benedict, Leslie Dwyer, Sydney Chaplin.

Note:  Imdb 6.6 of 10, TCM Leonard Maltin 2.5* out of 4* user review 3.5 out of 5.

Special Note:  Filmed in Paris, Alpes-Maritimes, France.  Kirk Douglas met his German wife-to-be Anne Douglas when she applied for a job as his assistant on the French location shoot for this film.  The French title is Un acte d’amour.  This is one of the first Franco-American productions with a big budget made after WWII.

Rusty Lead the Way 1948

     Danny Mitchell is a 13 year-old boy and he meets their new neighbor Penny Waters.  She has just moved into their neighborhood with her mother.  Penny is blind and it was due to an accident.  She is very shy and lonely.  The Board of Education believes Penny should go to the State Institution for the Blind.  The Board wants to do what they believe is right for Penny.  First, she goes to receive a guide dog and attend the training school for handling a dog.  Penny has already had some practice with Danny’s dog Rusty, he is a German Shepherd.  Penny really likes Rusty and she’s hoping to find a guide dog like him.  Penny is doing well until she goes out on her own with her new dog.  She becomes disoriented and frightened by all the city sounds.

     Penny believes her guide dog likes the trainer better than he likes her?  She leaves the school and she doesn’t take her dog.  She doesn’t trust him and she was worried that this would happen.  Things turn out differently than she expects a short time later.  This film reminded me of the Lassie series. 3 ½* (I liked this movie)

59 min, Drama directed by Will Jason with Ted Donaldson, Sharyn Moffett, John Litel, Ann Doran, Paula Raymond, Peggy Converse, Flame.

Note:  Imdb 6.4 out of 10, Letterboxd average rating 2.33, TVGuide 1* out of 4*, AllMovie 1 ½* out of 5*.

Special Note:  There are 7 other films about Rusty produced by Columbia Pictures.  Adventures of Rusty 1945, The Return of Rusty 1946, For the Love of Rusty 1947, The Son of Rusty 1947, My Dog Rusty 1948, Rusty Saves a Life 1949, Rusty’s Birthday 1949.  The series started with Ace the Wonder Dog, then police dog Rip and continued with Flame.

The Man in the High Castel Season Three

      This series is based on a novel by Philip K. Dick.  Juliana Crain is in the Neutral Zone and she meets new resistance people,Wyatt is an Irish fixer.  She also reconnects with Frank but she finds herself on the run and she seeks Trade Minister Tagomi’s aid.  Juliana recognizes that her fate and Tagomi’s are intertwined.  She and Tagomi begin to watch the historical films together.  Childan wants to return to San Francisco and his antique store but Ed is reluctant to leave.  Juliana and Joe Blake meet up again but Joe is doing undercover work for Himmler.  The Reich continues to provoke the Japanese Pacific States but they have the atomic bomb.  Wyatt gets new identification papers for Juliana and they head out of the Neutral Zone.  John Smith learns more about Nazis efforts related to alt-world travel.  Juliana and Wyatt are interested in viewing the possible site for construction of the travel machine.  The Reich is still set on eliminating Tagomi.  Ed returns to San Francisco and meets up with Childan.

     There is a LOT going on in this season and you don’t know who will be killed or captured next??  The Nazi propaganda machine is intent on destroying American monuments in the Pacific States.  The historical films prove events of WWII are not as they seem in the current time period.  Some believe fervently in the films but others deny there is any truth to them?  4 ½* (I loved this series and I can’t wait for Season Four!!) 

60 min, each episode, created by Frank Spotnitz and produced by Amazon Studios, ten episodes with Alexa Davalos, DJ Qualls, Joel de la Fuente, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Rufus Sewell, Rupert Evans, Luke Kleintank, Chelah Horsdal, Brennan Brown, Arnold Chun, Bella Heathcote, Lee Shorten, Gracyn Shinyei, Genea Charpentier, Quinn Lord.

Note:  Imdb 8.1 out of 10, 82% critic 78% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 3.6* out of 5* with 1233 reviews, Metacritic 70 out of 100 with 5 critics 7.3 out of 10 with 15 ratings.

Special Note:  The Reich SS Headquarters in New York seems to be in the same location as the real headquarters of the United Nations?  The rank of Nazi John Smith is Obergruppenfuhrer (senior group leader) and Reinhard Heydrick is the Oberst-Gruppenfuhrer (supreme group leader or colonel group leader).  During WWII, these were the two highest SS commissioned ranks.  The Oberst-Gruppenfuhrer reported directly to Himmler.  The Nazi high command spares no expense on their uniforms and decorative ornamentation!!   

Episode Titles:  (1) Now More than Ever, We Care About You  (2) Imagine Manchuria  (3) Senso Koi  (4) Saba  (5)  The New Colossus  (6)  History Ends  (7)  Excess Animus  (8)  Kasumi  (9)  Baku  (10)  Jahr Null.

L'Argent 1983

     This film is based on a short story The Forged Coupon by Leo Tolstoy.  A young French teen asks his father for his monthly allowance.  His father gives him the money but the teen asks for more because he owes a debt to another student at school.  His father says no and his mother also says no.  He decides to try to pawn his watch to a friend.  This friend gives him a forged 500-franc note.  The teens go to a photo shop and use the note to buy a picture frame.  The clerk takes the note and later the co-manager sees the note is forged.  She’s not happy because this is the third forged note in two weeks.  The clerk passes off all the forged notes for the payment of the heating gas delivery bill for the shop.  Yvon uses the notes to pay a restaurant bill but he is arrested.  The photo shop clerk lies about seeing Yvon in the shop.  Yvon avoids going to jail but he is fired from his job.  Because he has a wife and daughter, he needs money to support them and he agrees to be a bank robbery get-away driver.  He’s caught, sent to trial and sent to prison for three years.

     This is a strong story about an innocent person down the line of a crime imprisoned, losing his family and ending up with nothing.  The teen boys don’t think about any consequences of passing the forged money.  The clerk thinks it’s fine to lie about giving the bill to Yvon.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

85 min, Crime directed by Robert Bresson with Christian Patey, Sylvie Van den Elsen, Michel Briguet, Beatrice Tabourin, Didier Baussy, Bruno Lapeyre.

Note:  Imdb 7.5 out of 10, 96% critic 82% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 3.9* out of 5* with 27 reviews, Slant Magazine 4*, Metacritic 95 out of 100 with 6 critics.

Special Note:  This film won the Director’s Prize for Robert Bresson at the 1983 Cannes Film Festival and tied with Andrei Tarkovsky for Nostalgia.  Also nominated for Best Sound at the Cesar Awards 1984.  Won the 1984 National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Director.  The last film by Robert Bresson and included among the 1001 Movies you must see Before you Die.  The French Minister of Culture Jack Lang personally intervened to get this movie filmed because his daughter Caroline has a role.

The Coroner Season Two 2016

     Jane Kennedy is the coroner for the fictional small Devon coastal town of Lighthaven.  She investigates sudden, violent and suspicious deaths.  She had been living away from Lighthaven but a failed relationship has brought her back home.  She is living in cramped quarters with her 15-year-old daughter Beth, mother Judith and Mick Sturrock, Judith’s boyfriend and employer.  Jane works closely with Detective Sergeant Davey Higgins and he’s also a former boyfriend who is now married.

     I thought this was an interesting series and I liked the characters.  At times I had a little trouble following the motive and the identity of the murderer.  The countryside is very beautiful and the town reminds me of the filming location Port Isaac, Cornwall, England, UK for Doc Martin. 3 ½* (I liked this series) 

       

45 min each episode, 10 episodes, BBC day-time TV Series, created by Sally Abbott with Claire Goose, Matt Bardock, Beatie Edney, Oliver Gomm Grace Hogg-Robinson, Ivan Kaye, Archie Rush, Megan Barnard, James Barriscale, Iain Batchelor.

Note:  Imdb 6.8 out of 10, Amazon 3.9* out of 5* with 19 reviews, Shop BBC 5* with 11 reviews, Acorn TV 5* with 2 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in Dartmouth, Totnes, Devon and Cargreen, Cornwall, England, UK.  Mick owns The Black Dog Inn in Cargreen.  The scenes for the Black Dog were filmed in the derelict Crooked Spaniards Inn.  Claire Goose and Matt Bardock worked together previously on the series Casualty.  The production team also worked on Father Brown and they used the same formula for this series.  Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracey in Adam’s Rib were the models for the characters.  There is also a set of best-selling books with the same title written by M R Hall.  He stated that the enormous similarities were disconcerting but the BBC said the series is not based on or inspired by the books?

Titles for episodes:  The Drop Zone, Perfectly Formed, Those is Peril, The Beast of Lighthaven, The Captain’s Pipe, Life, Perfect Pair, The Foxby Affair, Pieces of Eight, Crash.

Christine 1983

     This film is based on a book by Stephen King and the beginning is set in Detroit of 1957.  A red Plymouth Fury is coming down the assembly line and one of the line workers is killed in the car.  In 1983, Arnold Cunningham sees this same Fury in a backyard and he must have this car.  The Fury doesn’t look at all like the car it was in 1957.  The paint is dull and the upholstery is worn but the radio still plays.  There is a self-repair garage in their town and Arnie starts to work on the car.  Everything about Arnie begins to change after the purchase of Christine.  He starts to date Leigh Cabot, the most beautiful girl in the high school class.  He becomes more self-assured and cocky.  Some jealous tough guys in school go to check out Christine and they do a LOT of damage to the body.  Christine isn’t very happy about this because she was back to how she looked on the assembly line.

      I was nervous about seeing this film in earlier years but now it’s not scary at all.  You know what’s going to happen to anyone that messes with Christine or makes her mad or jealous!!  An unusual occurrence is that Christine had over 90,000 miles when Arnie bought her but her mileage is going down?  Christine is a beautiful car and since I appreciate cars, I didn’t like seeing her beat up!!  4* (I really liked this movie)

111 min, Horror directed by John Carpenter with Keith Gordon, John Stockwell, Alexandra Paul, Robert Prosky Harry Dean Stanton, Christine Felford, Roberts Blossom, William Ostrander, David Spielberg, Steven Tash.

Note:  Imdb 6.7 out of 10, Roger Ebert 3*, Rotten Tomatoes 69% critic 63% audience, Roger Ebert 3*, Amazon 4.6* out of 5* with 789 reviews, Metacritic 57 out of 100 with 10 critics 8.7 out of 10 with 24 reviews, Empire Online 2* out of 5*.

Special Note:  Filmed in Calabasas, Newhall, Los Angeles, Burbank, Monrovia, Santa Clarita, South Pasadena and Oak Park, California.  The production of this film started before the book was published due to Stephen King’s popularity.  Alexandra Paul has the role of Leigh Cabot and she has a twin sister.  Her sister Caroline often stood in for her during scenes.  At times Christine’s windows are blacked out and that’s to conceal the stunt driver.  It also made it difficult for the driver to see because the scenes were at night.  Twenty-four cars were purchased and rebuilt into seventeen cars used in filming.  Two other Plymouth models were used, the Belvedere and the Savoy.  Some of the damages to Christine are to plastic that looks like metal on camera.  Hydraulic pumps were installed on the inside of the body and they sucked the paneling inwards.  Reverse of the footage showed the appearance of the body retaking form.  Kevin Bacon was offered the lead role of Arnie but he filmed Footloose of 1984 instead.  The total gross for this film was $21,017,849 with an estimated budget of $9,700,000 for a gain of $11,317,849. 

Mel 1998

     Bonnie and Peter are the parents of two teenage boys.  The oldest boy Roger is caught stealing a DVD from a store.  His parents are also called to conference at the school for behavior problems with Roger.  Bonnie and Peter decide to ask Bonnie’s father if the boys can stay with him for a while on his farm.  Developers have taken over another farm and turned it into an amusement park.  The same developer wants to buy up Grandpa’s property in order to expand.  Grandpa wants to keep the cabin and property as a family legacy.  There is an old Indian myth about a rather large turtle-like creature sent by the spirits to protect Swanson Lake.  Supposedly, this creature is an inhabitant of the Lake.  The locals know the creature as Swannie. 

     The area of the Pacific Northwest, Coehege, Washington where the farm is located is very beautiful and rustic.  It’s a small community with a population of 300 people.  Grandpa loves his grandchildren but he wants them to learn some lessons while they are on the farm.  The boys are surprised that their visit has turned into an adventure they didn’t expect!!  There is a lot of imagination in this film but also basic values such as respect for elders, forgiveness and saying that you are sorry.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)   

97 min, Family directed by Joey Travolta with Ernest Borgnine, Julie Hagerty, Greg Evigan, Jack Scalia, Bug Hall, Josh Paddock, Vanessa Evigan, Paul Sampson, George Yager, John Green Molly An Lashinsky, Ellen Travolta.

Note:  Imdb 3.7 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 58% audience, Amazon 3.2* out of 5* with 14 reviews, Dove.org give this film the Family-Approved Seal for ages 12+, sex 1 out of 5, language 2, violence 2, drugs 2, nudity 1, the other 1 includes disrespect for authority, lying, cheating, stealing, illegal activity and some possibly frightening scenes.   

Special Note:  Filmed in Sandpoint, Idaho and Spokane, Washington.  Also released on DVD in 2004 and 2011.

The Last Days of Pompeii 1959

     This film is based on a novel by Edward Bulwer-Lytton.  The setting is in Pompeii before and after the eruption of Mt Vesuvius in AD 79.  Pompeii had a substantial population and possibly 11,000 inhabitants at the time of the eruption.  This area became prosperous from the region’s renowned agricultural fertility.  Life could be very difficult unless you were a person of wealth.  Some people were tradesmen, craftsmen, shopkeepers, laundry workers, wine makers but there were also slaves.  There was a forum, four public baths, an amphitheater, swimming pool and an aqueduct providing water for more than 23 street fountains, a large number of private houses and business and some out-of-town villas.  The inhabitants had become used to minor quaking but there was a severe earthquake on 5 February 62.  It did considerable damage and would have been registered between about 5 and 6 on the Richter scale.  The eruption of Vesuvius occurred in 79 on August 24.  Ships of the Imperial Navy were stationed in the Bay to assist in evacuations.  Heat of at least 482 degrees Fahrenheit was the main cause of death of the people.  Originally, the cause was thought to be from ash suffocation.  The people were also covered in up to 12 different layers that rained down for about six hours.

     This is an interesting film and its age doesn’t matter because the scenes are of historical events.  The sharp contrast in the divisions of the different groups of people is also interesting.  The people were also very drawn to the entertainment of the arena where gladiators fought to the death.  It was a way to make a LOT of money and receive adoration but death could happen during any battle.   3 ½* (I liked this movie)  

103 min, Action directed by Mario Bonnard with Steve Reeves, Christine Kaufmann, Fernando Rey, Barbara Carroll, Anne-Marie Baumann, Mimmo Palmmara, Guillermo Marin, Angel Aranda, Carlo Tamberlani, Mario Morales, Mino Doro, Angel Ortiz, Mario Berriatua, Lola Torres, Ignazio Dolce.

Note:  The book has 3.6* out of 5* with 1657 votes on Goodreads.com.  Imdb 5.7 out of 10, 33% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 3.8* out of 5* with 50 reviews, Letterboxd 2.8 out of 5, TCM Leonard Maltin 3* out of 4*, user rating average 3.45*.  

Special Note:  Filmed at CEA Studios, Madrid, Spain; Cinecitta Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy; Pompeii, Naples, Campania, Italy.  Steve Reeves is in the role of Glaucus Leto and he suffered a major injury during filming.  A chariot he was driving struck a tree and dislocated his shoulder.  The injury never full healed and it was the end of his more intense bodybuilding routines.  These routines had be a part of most of his life.  Director Mario Bonnard became ill on the first day of shooting.  Sergio Leone took over as Director.  Many of the same cast and crew members would later be hired for Sergio Leone’s first credited directorial effort, The Colossus of Rhodes from 1961.  Sergio Leone and Sergio Corbucci and Duccio Tessari were introduced to the deserts of Spain during filming.  They were later inspired to use these locations for the spaghetti westerns.

Hotel Artemis 2018

     The Nurse runs a high-security, members only hospital for high-rolling criminals in Los Angeles CA.  There is rioting in a near-future LA and the hospital is under siege.  A bank robber checks in his injured teammates and their $18 million in jewels.  Mob boss Wolf King and the police are next to arrive.  Rooms for patients are referred to as dark rooms because criminals can go into Hotel Artemis without the police finding out.  The rooms are named Niagara, Honolulu, Acapulco and Nice.  The patients are referred to by their room names and never their real names.  One patient is called Waikiki because he shares the Honolulu room with his brother. 

     Jody Foster is acting in the role of The Nurse and she doesn’t look at all like herself??  She’s older, scruffier and in charge.  There are a lot of big names in the cast but the movie is very dark and not that interesting?  Actually it isa disappointment!!  1 ½* (I really didn’t like this movie)

94 min, Action directed by Drew Pearce with Jodie foster, Sofia Boutella, Dave Bautista, Jeff Goldblum, Brian Tyree Henry, Jenny Slate, Zachary Quinto, Charlie Day, Dave Bautista, Kenneth Choi, Father John Misty, Evan Jones.

Note:  Imdb 6.1 out of 10, 57% critic 33% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 4*, Amazon 3.5* out of 5* with 31 reviews, Empire Online 4* out of 5*, Metacritic 58 out of 100 with 36 critics 5.8 out of 10 with 45 reviews.

Special Note:  There are 10 rules for the Hotel Artemis.  1. No fighting or killing other patients.  2. No disrespect of the staff.  3. No guns or weapons.  4. Memberships must be paid in full and in advance.  5. Lapsed members will not be admitted.  6. No photography or video.  7. No outside food or drink.  8. No visitors.  9. Compromising the rules leads to a revoked membership.  10. Rules are final and non-negotiable.

Gassland 2014

     The setting of this film is Dublin, Ireland.  John drives a taxi in order to put food on the table.  His mother Jean has been drinking since she gave birth to a son with Downs syndrome.  Her husband left her after the birth and she hasn’t seen him since.  John is trying to get Jean to stop drinking, it’s damaging her liver and she will die if she doesn’t quit.  He convinces her to go to a treatment center but the free clinic can only keep her for one week. 

     This is a very dark movie and there is more going on than we really know?  A man on a horse gives John money?  John goes into what looks like a deserted house but there is an Asian woman in the bathtub?  She has been abused and she is delirious?  John takes her to the director of the free treatment center for help?  Somehow John raises $8000 to get Jean further treatment for her drinking at the center?  I would like to fill in these blanks but how?  2 ½* (This movie is so-so)

93 min, Drama directed by Gerard Barrett with Will Poulter, Toni Collette, Jack Reynor, Michael Smiley, Laura Byrne, Joe Mullins, Ally Ni Chiarain, Shahi Rami, Kian Murphy, Gary O’Nuallain, Graham Earley, D.J. McGrath.

Note:  Imdb 6.0 out of 10, 83% audience 44% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3*, Amazon 2.8* out of 5* with 7 reviews, Metacritic 66 out of 100 with 16 critics.

Special Note:  Filmed in Dublin City, Ireland.  Toni Collette filmed her scenes in six days.

Misconduct 2016

     Arthur Denning is the head of a major pharmaceutical company.  There is a rumor that he has altered the test results for one of the new drugs the company has been working on.  His former girlfriend Emily Hynes contacts Ben Cahill.  She gives Ben a file with information about the drug trial results.  Ben is working for Charles Abrams and this will be a very big case for Ben.  He approaches Abrams about pursuing a class action lawsuit against Denning.  Events start to occur that jeopardize the case from the beginning. 

     As I was watching this film, I wondered how well known actors were talked into acting in this?  Did they have bills due and payments to make?  Everything is lightweight and far-fetched.  We are asked to believe attorneys with real clients and a knowledge of the law would take on this case?  Even a person about to be run down by a motorcycle doesn’t know how to get out of the way?  1 ½* (I really didn’t like this movie)

106 min, Drama directed by Shintaro Shimosawa with Josh Duhamel, Anthony Hopkins, Al Pacino, Alice Eve, Malin Akerman, Byung-hun Lee, Julia Stiles, Glen Powell, Marcus Lyle Brown, Leah McKendrick.

Note:  Imdb 5.3 out of 10, 7% critic 23% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 3.2* out of 5* with 212 reviews, Metacritic 24 out of 100 with 10 critics 5 out of 10 with 15 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in New Orleans, Louisiana.  This film is the directorial debut for Shintaro Shimosawa.  This is the first time Al Pacino and Anthony Hopkins have worked together.  The original title was Beyond Deceit but too many people thought it sounded like Beyond Da Sea?  Lionsgate acquired distribution with limited release in theaters and through video on demand.  Ticket sales were $125 in its UK opening weekend with an average of 4 viewers per screen.

Finding Altimira 2016

     The setting of this film is Cantabria in Northern Spain of 1879.  A cave is accidentally discovered and it is filled with important Paleolithic paintings.  The paintings are located in the caves of Altamira.  Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola y de la Pedrueca begins to carefully study them.  Archaeologist Juan Vilanova y Piera from the University of Madrid is also working in the cave.  They are writing a publication to present this discovery to the academic world.  They believe the drawings are both authentic and very old.  Instead of embracing this discovery, they receive only skepticism and attempts to discredit everything Marcelino and Piera have presented.  Marcelino spends the rest of his life trying to clear his name and reputation.

     Eventually, it was established that the cave drawings date back to around 35,600 years ago.  The entire situation of the disbelief about the paintings also causes pain to Marcelino’s wife and daughter.  They are all surprised that something so beautiful is met with such vehement opposition?  3 ½* (I liked this movie) 

  

97 min, Bio directed by Hugh Hudson with Antonio Bandares, Clement Sibony, Rupert Everett, Javivi, Irene Escolar, Nicholas Farrell, Allegra Allen, Lluis Soler, Tabata Cerezo, Golshifteh Farahani, Chantal Garsan.

Note:  Imdb 5.9 out of 10, 69% critic 45% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 3.9* out of 5* with 56 reviews, Metacritic 57 out of 100 with 5 critics no user score as yet.

Special Note:  Filmed in Santander, Castro Urdiales, Santillana del Mar, and Comillas, Cantabria, Spain.  The offer was presented to Banderas to visit the actual cave but he refused.  The cave has been closed to the general public since 2002 because the presence of people was causing the paintings to deteriorate.  A replica was built in a museum near the cave in 2001 and Banderas visited this location.  The movie is dedicated to Jose Antonio Lasheras, he was the director of the museum of Altamira from 1991 until he died in 2016.  There are scenes indicating the official opposition of this discovery by the Catholic Church but this isn’t true.

A Woman, A Part 20

     Anna Baskin in 44 years old and she is an actress.  She has been in a successful TV role and she’s not happy about where her character is heading in the show.  Anna stays up all night, she lives on cocaine, Ritalin and Wellbutrin.  She has a week off from the show and then she needs to meet with everyone involved about her character.  She returns to her previous apartment in New York.  She is struggling with the life she has now and she can’t seem to fit back into her former life.  There are a lot of things going on.  Her friend Kate is forced out of her apartment because she can no longer afford the rent.  Anna is suffering from burnout and she also has an autoimmune disorder.  The acting industry is difficult on both the inside, the outside and especially for women.

     Anna really has it all but she can’t get her mind around this fact.  There are many people in the world that would trade places with her.  Maybe, if you spend too much time in an unreal world, you can’t see yourself anymore or what you are doing to yourself?  This film feels like a play but it isn’t and to me that can be a detrimental to my rating.  3* (This movie was OK) 

  

97 min, Drama directed by Elisabeth Subrin with Maggie Siff, Dagmara Dominczyk, John Ortz, Khandi Alexander, Cara Seymour, Sophie von Haselberg, Eszter Balint, Lucas Near-Verbrugghe, Ana Kayne, Shez Sardar.

Note:  Imdb 5.4 out of 10, 90% critic 54% on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3*, Amazon 3.5* out of 5* with 5 reviews, Metacritic 66 out of 100 with 8 critics no user reviews as yet.

Special Note:  Filmed in Silverlake, Los Angeles, California and New York.  Maggie Siff has a role as psychologist Wendy Rhoades on the TV series Billions.

Chappaquiddick 2018

     This film is about the scandal and the mysterious events surrounding the drowning of Mary Jo Kopechne on July 18, 1969.  Ted Kennedy had been at a small party to honor the team that had worked politically with the Kennedy’s, especially the late Robert Kennedy.  Mary Jo was an aspiring political strategist and Kennedy insider.  Ted and Mary Jo left the party and Ted missed the turn to the ferry.  Instead, they mistakenly headed to the Chappaquiddick Bridge.  This Bridge has no guardrail and his car went over the side into the water.  Ted was able to escape from the car and he returned to the scene with Paul Markham and his cousin Joseph Gargan to find Mary Jo and save her.

     Only Ted Kennedy knows what happened that night and he says he doesn’t remember how he got out of the car?  Mary Jo could have been saved if he had reported the accident immediately.  Instead he waited about ten hours to contact authorities?  He eventually plead guilty for leaving the scene of an accident.  Kennedy may have been able to become President of the United States but this event cast doubts about him?  3* (This movie is OK)

106 min, Drama directed by John Curran with Jason Clarke, Kate Mara, Ed Helms, Bruce Dern, Jim Gaffigan, Olivia Thirlby, Clancy Brown, Taylor Nichols, John Fiore, Gillian Mariner Gordon, Katie Henoch, Lexie Roth, Angela Hope Smith.

Note:  Imdb 6.5 out of 10, 81% critic 70% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 2 ½*, Amazon 3.4* out of 5* with 260 reviews, Metacritic 67 out of 100 with 33 critics 7.4 out of 10 with 52 reviews, Washington Post 3* out of 4*, Common Sense #* out of 5*, Age 14+,1* positive, role models drinking, drugs, smoking, 3* violence, 4* language.

Special Note:  Filmed in Ipswitch, Rowley and Newburyport, Massachusetts.  It’s never been explained how Ted Kennedy got out of the car despite many different investigators and investigations?  Another inconsistency is how Kennedy returned to the mainland?  He said he swam 500 feet but he was actually rowed back by Markham and Gargan as shown in this film.  The car is a late model Oldsmobile (1967 Delmont 88) and it was partially submerged with the wheels out of the water and the top crushed into the sand.  The height of the water must have been not much more than 4 feet.  Kennedy stated that Markham and Gargan dived at risk to their lives?  It would really be wading and stooping?  The press moved on to the news of Apollo 11 space mission landing on the moon two days later.