Here and Now 2018

     The original title of this film was Blue Night.  A singer in New York gets a grim diagnosis that puts her life and dreams into a different perspective.  Vivienne has been having headaches but she put off going to the doctor.  She has received a diagnosis and she has an appointment for surgery scheduled for early the next morning.  On this day, she spends time with her band, her mother, daughter, ex-husband and friends.

     Vivienne has scheduled singing tours but she doesn’t know what will happen after the surgery?  Her mother has come to stay with her but Vivienne feels smothered by her.  Everything about her life is now on hold!!  The surgery plus treatment may affect her voice.  She also doesn’t want to tell very many people what she is going through.  Usually, it helps to tell others what you are facing in your life?  She needs to focus on the future and have a positive future.  Vivienne also has a problem with putting herself first.  She is self-absorbed, she stands people up, keeps them waiting and barges in on them when she’s ready?  This film has a LOT of low ratings!!  3* (This movie is OK)   

91 min, Drama directed by Fabien Constant with Sarah Jessica Parker, Renee Zellweger, Simon Baker, Taylor Kinney, Jacqueline Bisset, Common, Michael Potts, Gus Birney, Waleed Zuaiter, Mary Beth Peil, Phillips Soo.

Note:  Imdb 4.4 out of 10, 23% critic 5% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic 45 out of 100 with 10 critics, Observer 2* out of 4*, Amazon 3* out of 5* with 2 reviews.

Special Note:  The story of a singer confronting her health diagnosis was previously done in the 1962 French New Wave film, Cleo from 5 to 7.

Vivienne’s condition is much worse than she expected.  She has glioblastoma multiforme.  It is the most aggressive cancer beginning in the brain.  Symptoms include headaches, personality changes, nausea and physical reactions like having a stroke.  It may progress to unconsciousness.  Treatment involves surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.  High dose steroids can be used to help reduce swelling and decrease symptoms. It’s unclear if removing all the cancer or most of the cancer is a better choice?  Despite maximum treatment, the cancer usually recurs.  Survival is usually 12 to 15 months with fewer than 3-5% living longer than five years.  Without treatment, survival is typically only three months.

Union Station 1950

     Joyce Willecombe has just boarded a train and she notices out the window that a car is speeding on the highway by the train.  The car comes to a screeching halt and two men board the train.  Joyce observes that the man sitting behind her has a concealed gun under his suit jacket.  The men are not sitting together either?  Joyce reports what she’s seen to the conductor and he advises her to contact the police at the next station.  Lt. William Calhoun is head of the Union Station police and tells Joyce that he will put a tail on the men.  Later, Joyce learns from Calhoun that her wealthy boss Henry L. Murchison has received a ransom note for $100,000!!  It for the return of his blind daughter Lorna.  Joyce is very upset and the police believe that Lorna is already dead?

     It’s surprising how well done a black and white movie from 1950 can be!!  There are more on the edge of your seat scenes in this film than a LOT of current action movies!!  Time is short and the money will need to be withdrawn on a Sunday.  Union Station is very busy and they are expecting more travelers on the ransom payment day.  The police will need to always be one step ahead of the criminals.  One advantage is that they can fill the Station with policeman and they won’t be spotted.  4 ½* (I really liked this movie)     

81 min, Crime directed by Rudolph Mate with William Holden, Nancy Olson, Barry Fitzgerald, Llyle Bettger, Jan Sterling, Allene Roberts, Herbert Heyes, Don Dunning, Fred Graff, James Seay, Parley Bear, Ralph Sanford.

Note:  Imdb 6.8 out of 10, 64% critic on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4.4* out of 5* with 107 reviews, TCM Leonard Maltin 2.5* out of 4* average user rating 4.56* out of 5*.

Special Note:  Filmed in Union Station, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Saugus, East Los Angeles, and Paramount Studios, California.

Special Note:  The chase scene on the elevated train used the Third Ave El in New York City for long shots and the Pacific Electric Railway cars in LA for close-in shots on the train.  Underground scenes were filmed in the tunnels of Chicago’s Downtown.  In 1992, the river flooded them this area.  The basements of downtown buildings were also flooded.  The Loop was shut down and the water caused an estimated billion dollars in damage.  Originally, John Lund and Alan Ladd were offered the role of Lt. Calhoun.  Lux Radio Theater broadcast a 60-minute radio adaptation of the movie on April l7, 1952.  William Holden reprised his film role for the program.  William Holden and Nancy Olson were also together in Sunset Boulevard of 1950.  The two films were released only about a month apart.     

Dog Days 2018

    The setting of this film is Los Angeles, California.  There are five different stories and they include their dogs.  Elizabeth is a newscaster of a morning TV show.  She has a disastrous interview with Jimmy, he's a former basketball player .  Elizabeth is very surprised to learn the next day that Jimmy is now under contract as co-host??  Tara works at a coffee shop near the office of veterinarian Dr. Mike.  He's very handsome and he also  has money.  Later, Tara helps Garrett, he is the owner of an animal care center but the building is being sold.  Tara is going to sponsor a pet adoption day for the dogs and to raise money for Garrett's business.  Grace and Kurt are very nervous about the arrival of their first adoptive child, Amelia.  Dax is an adult but he acts like a teenager.  He’s taking care of his sister’s dog since she has just given birth to twins.  There is a problem, his building doesn’t allow pets??  Walter is an aging widower and he misses his wife terribly.  He hired Tyler to walk his dog but unfortunately the dog runs away.  Grace and Kurt have found Walter’s dog but they are afraid to hurt Amelia by telling her the truth about the dog. 

     There is a LOT going on in this film with many plots.  The dogs are cute and interesting plus their individual stories are also interesting.  But, we also need to be spoon-fed the correct emotions and feelings about each story, person and dog???  In reality, it’s easy to see how the plots are going to end.  This is a feel good movie so how could they end badly??  The dogs are the best actors and they tell their own stories.  Almost all of the actors could be classified as the mostly young, fit, and pretty with upper middle-class lives in Los Angeles.  How could they possibly be boring or have problems??  3* (This movie is OK)

113 min, Comedy directed by Ken Marino with Nina Dobrev, Vanessa Hudgens, Adam Pally, Eva Longoria, Rob Corddry, Tone Bell, Jon Bass, Michael Cassidy, Finn Wolfhard, Ron Cephas Jones, Thomas Lennon, Rig Notaro.

Note:  Imdb 6.1 out of 10, 62% critic 79% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3*, Metacritic 47 out of 100 with 19 critics 5.6 out of 10 with 8 reviews, Amazon 4.2* out of 5* with 58 reviews. 

Special Note:  The production company for this film was also involved with The Zookeepers Wife, Jackie and Megan Leavey. 

A River Runs Through It 1992

     This film is based on a semi-autobiographical story collection by Norman Maclean.  Paul and Norman Maclean are brothers and they live in rural Montana.  They spend a LOT of time fly-fishing.  Their father is a minister.  When Norman moves east to attend college, it’s the first time they have been apart.  Paul is the rebellious brother and he manages to find plenty of trouble back home.  In the summer, Norman comes back home and they resume their fishing.  Now, there are older and they talk about where they’ve been and where they’re going.

     Many times out on the river and catching fish can be very soothing and solve all your problems.  The pressures of the world and divisions among families become unimportant.  This film draws you in and it’s not just the Maclean family but the history of the community and the period also unfold.  This is one of my favorite films and I could watch it many times!!  5* (I really liked this movie)       

    

123 min, Drama directed by Robert Redford with Craig Sheffer, Brad Pitt, Tom Skerritt, Brenda Blethyn, Emily Lloyd, Edie McClurg, Stephen Shellen, Vann Gravage, Nicole Burdette, Susan Traylor, Michael Cudlitz. 

Note:  Imdb 7.3 out of 10, 80% critic 83% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3 ½*, Metacritic 68 out of 100 with 21 critics 7.3 out of 10 with 31 reviews, Amazon 4.7* out of 5* with 759 reviews.

Special Note:  The book has 4.6* out of 5* on Amazon.  Filmed in Livingston, Bozeman and Big Timber, Montana and Granite Falls, Wyoming.  Pitt trained himself to fly-fish for a month prior to shooting.  He wasn’t near a river in Los Angeles so he trained on top of a building?  Redford courted Maclean for years to gain the rights to his novella.  Trout used in the movie were pond-raised in Montana and they were kept in a specially aerated and cooled tank truck until their turn in front of the cameras.  No hooks were used and a line was tied to each fish’s lower jaw under observance of the Montana Humane Society.     

God Bless the Broken Road 2018

     Amber and her daughter Bree have been going through a difficult time.  Darren Hill, Amber’s husband and Bree’s father was killed in Afghanistan.  Amber used to be active in their church but now she’s working at Rosie’s Diner on Sundays.  She’s very worried they will have their hour foreclosed too.  Amber’s mother-in-law lives nearby but she seems to always be giving Amber a difficult time.  They have a lot of friction between them.

     There is one question I have about this film?  Usually, a US serviceman killed in combat has an insurance policy and the funds are given to the immediate family.  It is usually $100,000 without taxes?  Didn’t Amber get this money?  She could have used it to pay on the house?  But, that would make a big hole in the plot??  3* (this movie is OK)    

   

111 min, Drama directed by Harold Cronk with Matthew Derek Davis, Arthur Cartwright, Adam Agee, Liam Matthews, Lindsay Pulsipher, Makenzie Moss, Jordin Sparks, Robin Givens, Kaelin Stockwell, Andrew W. Walker, Gary Grubbs, Shane Carson, Madeline Carroll, Patrika Darbo.

Note:  Imdb 4.9 out of 10, 10% critic 80% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Washington Post 1 1/2* out of 4*, Metacritic 31 out of 100 with 6 critics 7.3 out of 10 with 9 reviews, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* with 30 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in Marne, Manistee, Rockford Ludington, Michigan and Santa Clarita, California.  This film is based on the song Bless the Broken Road written by Marcus Hummon, Bobby Boyd and Jeff Hanna in 1994.  Hummon was a frequent Rascal Flatts contributor.  The song was first released by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and then by Hummon in 1995.  Melodie Crittenden released the song on her debut CD.  The song was also featured on the first season of Dawson’s Creek.  

Little Lili (La Petite Lili) 2003

     This film is based on a stage play The Seagull by Anton Checkhov.  A group of actors spend a holiday together in the French countryside.  Mado is an actress, they are staying at her country home and she is traveling with her boyfriend Brice.  Also staying with them is her son Julien, he is an experimental filmmaker.  Lili is the only person who lives nearby in this region.  She would like to be an actor and this could be a chance for her to make some contacts.  Brice invites Lili to travel to Paris.  Later Julien is making a film about the holiday.  Lili has become an actress and she learns about the new film.  She tries out for a role and she becomes the star of this production.  Julian is now married with a young daughter.

     You will need to pay attention to the subtitles to know what is going on in this film!!  There is a LOT of back and forth between the actors (I wonder why?).  There is also a LOT of yelling and emotional outbursts.  It may have been nice to have a few scenes with quiet??  3* (This movie is OK) 

104 min, Drama directed by Claude Miller with Nicole Garcia, Bernard Giraudeau, Jean-Pierre Marielle, Ludivine Sagnier, Robinson Stevenin, Julie Depardieu, Yves Jacques, Anne Le Ny, Marc Betton, Michel Piccoli, Maylie Del Piero, Mathieu Grodin.

Note:  Imdb 6.3 out of 10, 66% critic 49% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon Video 3.4* out of 5* with 21 reviews, Roger Ebert 3*, Slant Magazine 2 ½* out of 5*.

Special Note:  Filmed in Ile-aux-Moines, Morbihan, France. 

In Her Shoes 2005

     This film is based on a novel by Jennifer Weiner.  Rose and Maggie are sisters and they are nothing alike.  Rose is the older sister, she is an attorney, responsible and lonely but she has a closet full of shoes.  Maggie is beautiful, selfish, irresponsible and her drunken behavior gets her tossed by her step-mother from her dad’s house.  Rose breaks off their relationship after Maggie comes on to Rose’s boyfriend.  This gets her tossed from Rose’s apartment.  Maggie finds an address while looking in her father’s desk for money to pinch.  Then, Ella arrives on the scene?  She is the grandmother they didn’t know existed?

     It takes a while for Rose and Maggie to find common ground!!  There is a shift in attitudes when Shirley MacLaine comes on the scene as grandmother Ella Hirsh.  She doesn’t mind using tough love and telling the truth.  Rose and Maggie start to see each other as liking each other.  They can be friends and sisters.  3 1/2* (I liked this movie) 

    

130 min, Comedy directed by Curtis Hanson, written by Jennifer Weiner with Toni Collette, Cameron Diaz, Shirley MacLaine, Anson Mount, Richard Burgi, Candice Azzara, Brooke Smith, Mark Feuerstein, Terrance Christopher Jones, Nicole Randall Johnson, Jason Peck.    

Note:  Imdb 6.5 out of 10, Roger Ebert 3 1/2*, 75% critic 66% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic 60 out of 100 with 36 critics 6.8 out of 10 with 53 reviews, Empire Online 4* out of 5*, Rolling Stone 3* out of 4*.

Special Note:  Filmed in Deerfield, Delray Beach, Briny Breezes, Florida.  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Pasadena, Los Angeles, California.   Originally Toni Collette was to play Maggie and Sarah Michelle Gellar as Rose.  Collette gained 25 pounds for her role and she lost the weight during filming.  Cameron Diaz is playing the younger sister but she is actually two months older than Collette. 

Boardwalk Empire: Season Five 2014

     This is the final season so all plots and characters need a final wrap-up.  Nucky is still working on his Bacardi Rum deal in Cuba.  The Volstead Act is lifted and Prohibition expires.  There are flashbacks to Nucky as a young boy in 1884.  Margaret finds herself in trouble over a deal she made with Arnold Rothstein.  Chalky makes a deal with Narcisse.  Gillian is shown as a young girl.  Capone hears rumors of tax evasion charges?

     There were a LOT of good parts to this series but it’s finally all wrapped up!!  There was plenty of violence and it was spread throughout the series.  In every episode you didn’t know who would be around for the next episode.  Everyone knew from the beginning that Prohibition would have an end.  Get all the money you can now and try to stay alive!!  5* (I really liked this series)  

Note:  Imdb 8.7*, 89% critic 92% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon Metacritic 83 out of 100 with 12 critics 8.4 out of 10 with 131 ratings, 4.6* out of 5* with 1453 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in many New York locations.  Inspired by the book Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times and Corruption of Atlantic City by Nelson Johnson about historical criminal kingpin Enoch. L. Johnson.

Episode Titles:  Golden Days for Boys and Girls, The Good Listener, What Jesus Said, Cuanto, King of Norway, Devil You Know, Friendless Child, Eldorado.

Little Miss Sunshine 2006

     Sheryl Hoover lives in Albuquerque New Mexico with her family.  She has a brother Frank has he’s been having a lot of problems.  She is hoping he will start to get better living with her.  Sheryl’s husband Richard is trying to sell his self-help and self-improvement technique using nine steps.  He hasn’t had any success and he’s actually a complete loser?  Sheryl’s son Dwayne has taken a vow of silence and he wants to be a jet pilot.  Sheryl’s seven-year old daughter Olive has a chance to compete in the Little Miss Sunshine pageant in Redondo Beach California.  The family travels together in their old Volkswagen Type 2 Microbus and they have hope!!

     This family is very dysfunctional but their love is solid.  A LOT of true-to-life comedy and a LOT of laughs!!  There are also some tears thrown into the mix.  4* (I really liked this movie)

104 min, Comedy directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris with Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Greg Kinnear, Abigail Breslin, Paul Dano, Alan Arkin, Marc Turtletaub, Jill Talley, Brenda Canela, Julio Oscar Mechoso.

Note:  Imdb 7.8 out of 10, 91% critic 91% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3 ½*, Empire Online 4* out of 5*, Metacritic 80 out of 100 with 36 critics 7.4 out of 10 with 627 reviews, Amazon 4.4* out of 5* with 1007 reviews, Independent Critic 3.5*.

Special Note:  Filmed in Flagstaff, Chandler, Phoenix, Arizona.  Ventura, Acton, Santa Clarita, Los Angeles, California.  Abigail Breslin was listening to music on her headphones so she would not hear Alan Arkin’s profanity-laced scenes!!  All the participants in the Little Miss Sunshine pageant were veterans of real beauty pageants except Abigail.  She wore a fat suit for the role of Olive.  Writer Michael Arndt quit his job as Matthew Broderick’s assistant to write the script.  Five identical Volkswagen Type 2s were used during filming.  The DVD contains 4 alternate endings.  Budget was estimated at $8 million and worldwide gross was $100,523,181.

Awards:  Academy Award Best Actor in a Supporting, Best Original Screenplay, Screen Actors Guild for Best Outstanding Performance by a Cast, BAFTA Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Original Screenplay and two young actors, Critics’ Choice for Acting and Screenplay, Independent Spirit for Best Supporting, Screenplay and Director, Cesar Award for Best Foreign Film, Producers Guild for Best Picture, Writers Guild for Best Screenplay, GLAAD Outstanding Film.

Shopgirl 2005

     This film is based on a bestselling novella written by Steve Martin.  Mirabelle Buttersfield is in her twenties and she has recently graduated from college.  She has moved to Los Angeles and it’s not quite what she was expecting or hoped for.  She is barely eking out a living working as a clerk at the women’s evening gloves counter at Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills.  She has massive student loans and her salary is barely making a dent on the balance.  She has made no friends at work or where she lives.  This fact doesn’t help with her chronic clinical depression?  Suddenly, two men with a romantic interest enter her life??  Jeremy is a poor slacker and he works as an amplifier salesman/font designer.  The other man is Ray and since he is older at 35, he could be called a sugar daddy.

     It’s tough to graduate from college and then expect everything to fall into perfect place in your life.  The cocoon of education has dumped you out and your own your own!!  Mirabelle has two choices at the moment, Ray or Jeremy?  But, there is a third choice, could she meet someone else and turn down both Ray and Jeremy?  3 1/2* (I liked this movie)    

106 min, Drama directed by Anand Tucker with Steve Martin, Claire Danes, Jason Schwartzman, Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, Sam Bottoms, Frances Conroy, Rebecca Pidgeon, Samantha Shelton, Gina Doctor.

Note:  Imdb 6.4 out of 10, Roger Ebert 3 ½*, 60% critic 58% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic 62 out of 10 with 34 critics 6.5 out of 10 with 63 reviews, Rolling Stone 3* out of 4* Peter Travers, Amazon 4.1* out of 5* with 224 reviews.

Special Note:  There are two different cats used in a scene in Mirabelle’s bedroom.  One cat jumps on the bed and watches her with Jeremy.  One cat would jump but never watched.  The other cat didn’t jump but watched? 

V is for Vendetta 2005

     This film is based on a 1988 DC/Vertigo Comics limited series by Alan Moore and David Lloyd.  Evey Hammond is a resident of a futuristic Great Britain of 2031.  She tells the story of how she was an instrumental part in bringing down the fascist government in control of the country.  An unknown man in a Guy Fawkes mask saved her from a life-and-death situation.  He calls himself V and she begins to learn about his past.  She decides to help him bring down those who have dragged down Britain.

     Guy Fawkes was a real person and he lived from 13 April 1570 to 31 January 1606.  He fought for the Spanish and he was a member of a group of provincial English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605.  This was an attempt against King James I.  36 barrels of gunpowder were placed in a cellar under Westminster Hall below parliament.  The perpetrators were caught before the fuses could be lit.     The face of V is never shown because he is an idea or symbol.  A figure of Guy Fawkes is burned in effigy on bonfires around England every year on November 5.  There are MANY confusing ideas and there is a LOT of disorganization!!  Probably best not to think too deeply while viewing but don't lose concentration!!  3* (This movie is OK) 

  

132 min, Action directed by James McTeigue with Hugo Weaving, Natalie Portman, Rubert Graves, Stephen Fry, John Hurt, Tim Pigott-Smith, Roger Allam, Ben Miles, Sinead Cusack, Natasha Wightman, John Standing.

Note:  Imdb 8.2 out of 10, 73% critic 90% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3*, Rolling Stone Peter Travers 3 ½* out of 4*, Empire Online 4* out of 5*.

Special Note:  There is a scene where V tips over black and red dominoes and they form a giant letter V.  Twenty-two thousand dominoes were used and it took four professional domino assemblers 200 hours to complete the set up!!  There is another scene where V walks through fire.  He is wearing a special fire resistant gel and a g-string.  His body temperature had to be lowered before shooting the scene.  It was 3 degrees below zero the night of the shoot.  15 minutes before the take, he would put on ice-cold flame resistant clothing.  When he took the clothing off, he would be covered wit the gel and it had been iced all day.  The secret police were called Fingermen because the New Order was arranged on the model of the human body.  The cast and crew were only allowed to shoot near the British Parliament and the Clock Tower from midnight to 4:30 am.  They could stop traffic for only four minutes at a time.  The budget was $54 million and the box office take was $132.5 million.

Marylyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dance and Charm School 2005

     Frank Keene is out on the highway at an early hour to deliver bread baked in his bread shop.  Steve Mills has had an accident it appears to be a single care collision?  Steve is heading to a 50^th class reunion and it’s May 5, 2005.  He promised Lisa they would meet again.  Steve asks Frank to stay with him until the ambulance can arrive.  They begin talking and Steve says he is on his way to an appointment in Pasadena California.  He is meeting a years-ago acquaintance and many years have passed.   Steve asks Frank to take his place at the dance class.  The story goes back and forth between Steve’s childhood, the accident scene and the dance class.

     There is another aspect about this film and it is that Frank is still grieving the loss of his wife.  He hasn’t been able to part with any of her belongings.  I didn’t know if he would fit in with the crowd and the School?  I didn’t know what would happen to Steve but I had an idea?  3* (This movie is OK)   

103 min, Comedy directed by Randall Miller, with Robert Carlyle, Marisa Tomei, Mary Steenburgen, John Goodman, Elden Henson, Sean Astin, Teresa Johnston, Kelley Parker Michael Bower, Chance Michael Corbitt.

Note:  Imdb 6.6 out of 10, 22% critic 60% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, 2* Roger Ebert, Metacritic 40 out of 100 with 20 critics 7.6 out of 10 with 8 reviews, Amazon 4.6* out of 5* with 150 reviews, Slant Magazine 3* out of 5*.

Special Note:  The flashbacks are from a 1990 short film with the same name and the children are 12 years old.  Randall is very obnoxious and Mark Wahlberg has this role.  An elderly man tells Frank that Randall thinks he is Lord of the Dance but he’s not even Irish?  The Wahlberg family is actually of primarily of Irish decent.     

Under the Greenwood Tree 2005

     This film is based on a novel by Thomas Hardy.  Fancy Day has returned the village in Ireland where her father lives.  Her mother has passed away and Fancy has come back to teach school.  She is also caring for her ailing father.  The town becomes full of gossip about the man Fancy will marry.  Will it be wealthy Mr. Shinar, poor but handsome Dick Dewy or Parson Maybold.  Right away Fancy is in a bind because Maybold has brought in a harmonium to be played in the church.  The former church choir has their noses out of joint to be suddenly replaced!!

     I prepared myself for everything to turn out badly since this is from a Thomas Hardy novel!!  I was pleasantly surprised that there are complications but everyone doesn’t die horribly!!  This film is like a Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility.  There are miscommunications and the restraints of the time period.  I wasn’t sure what choice Fancy would make for her husband but I thought she did well.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)         

93 min, Drama directed by Nicholas Laughland with Keeley Hawes, James Murray, Terry Mortimer, Richard Leaf, Tony Haygarth Jane Wheldon, Sian Brooke, Ellie Thackeray, Liam DeGrunchy, John Axon, Steve Pemberton, Ben Miles, Aletha Steven, Tom Georgeson, Sean Arnold. 

Note:  Imdb 7 out of 10, 74% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4.1* out of 5* with 211 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in Hamptonne Country Life Museum, St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands and Ashridge Park, Little Gaddesden, Hertfordshire, England, UK.  The movement of Fancy’s hands on the harmonium at the Parson’s house doesn’t match the sound of the harmonium.  Fancy Day’s hairstyle changes from a full ponytail to a half ponytail between shots when Fancy is introduced to the villagers.  In the final scene, solar panels are visible on the rooftops at the right of the screen?  The novel has 3.69* out of 5* on Goodreads.

Diet Fiction 2018

     The award winning filmmaker and producer of the documentary Food Choices also made this film.  He delves into the controversial world of weight loss and dieting.  There are shocking facts, common misconceptions and there is misleading information promoted to the public by the diet industry.  There is science-based evidence on what can really lead to long term sustainable weight loss and improved health.

     The bottom line of this film is that a plant-based diet has been proven to provide weight loss and better health.  The worst diet and the cheapest diet is a fast food diet.  The food products in this diet are financially supported to make them a cheaper choice.  Other terms for the plant-based diet are the Mediterranean Diet/Lifestyle and the whole foods plant based diets.  There is a LOT of information in this film about the food industry, medical industry, different diets and myths around these diets.  Vegan is also a diet but it is not pushed here, only discussed as a possibility.       

    

90 min, Doc, directed by Michael Siewierski and produced by Gwyn Whittaker.

Note:  Amazon 3.3* out of 5* with 82 reviews.  There are many other websites with information about this DVD but they don’t include numerical reviews.

Special Note:  I thought it was interesting that John Mackey, the CEO of Wholefoods is interviewed.  He has also published a book titled The Whole Foods Diet.  He recommends that meat should be a 5-10% maximum of your diet.  There is one fact about the diet industry that cannot be disputed and that is selling products and making money is their bottom line!!   There is also a book with the same title written by Pamela Popper and Michal Siewierski published January 7, 2019.  Two reviewers on Amazon give the book 3* out of 5*.  The book states that about two billion people or 30% of the world’s population are overweight or obese.  Many live a yoyo life where their weight is up and down.  The book The Whole Foods Diet published on April 11, 2007 has 4.4 out of 5* with 89 reviews.

Left Behind America 2018

     This film is an episode of Frontline (Season 36: Episode 16) and it focuses on the economy and social forces of Dayton, Ohio.  This city was once booming but now it struggles to recover in the post-recession economy.  The city was formerly a center of innovation and manufacturing.  Over the past few decades many companies have deserted Dayton.   The beautiful buildings are still there but they are empty.  The once high wages have fallen to near the poverty level with replacement jobs.  Many neighborhoods don’t have a grocery story anymore.  There isn’t access to anything fresh.  There are only a few fast food places.  Entire neighborhoods have been abandoned and bought up at cents on the dollar by foreign investors.

     General Motors left Dayton In December 23 of 2008 and this was 2 days before Christmas.  There wages were about $35 an hour.  A cardboard box company has gone into the factory and the wages are about $13 an hour.  Other companies to leave are National Cash Register NCR, Mead Paper Company, Standard Register, Reynolds and Reynolds, Dayco and Phillips Industries.  Detroit has also suffered the same job losses and economic decline from the loss of the auto industry too.  The Big Three (General Motors, Ford and Chrysler) began shifting their production of out central Detroit between 1945 and 1957. This is a TOUGH situation.  Families turn to food banks to be able to feed themselves.  Their wages are not enough to cover, housing, utilities and other necessities.  3 ½* (I liked this movie) 

53 min, Doc directed by Shimon Dotan with Mark Bernstein, Priyanka Boghani, Joseph Bohbot, Rodney Brickey, Sarah Childress, Cherish Cronmiller, Christopher Vroom, Krys Davidson, Rana Foroohar, Jacob Hacker.

Note:  Imdb 7.9 out of 10, Amazon 4* out of 5* with 1 review.

Special Note:  Filmed in Dayton, Ohio.  Amazon give the book written by Robert Wuthnow 3.4* out of 5* with 16 reviews.

Ask the Dust 2006

     This film is based on a book by John Fante with the introduction by Charles Bukowski.  The setting of this film is in LA of the early 1930’s during the depression era.  There is racism, poverty, and disease in the Bunker Hill neighborhood.  Arturo Bandini has arrived from Colorado to write his great Los Angeles novel.  It has been six months and he is now down to his last nickel.  He orders a coup of coffee served by Camilla Lopez.  She is beautiful, self-possessed and she is Mexican.  Camilla gives him advice, encouragement and sometimes a check from H.L. Mencken.  Arturo continues to write and he continues to see Camilla.  But, they begin to fight and the relationship sputters.

     Nearly everyone in the United States during the depression was having a difficult time providing shelter and food.  Jobs were scarce and the wages were very low.  Publishing a book might not make the author very much money?  People will take food over a book in desperate times.  Two hours in length is a stretch!!  3* (This movie is OK)

117 min Drama directed by Robert Towne with Colin Farrell, Salma Hayek, Donald Sutherland, Eileen Atkins, Idina Menzel, Justin Kirk, Jeremy Crutchley, Ronald France, Dion Basco, Donna Mosely.

Note:  Imdb 5.8 out of 10, 35% critic 40% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3*, Amazon 4.3* out of 5* with 252 reviews, Metacritic 58 out of 100 with 33 critics 7.8 out of 10 with 38 reviews, Rolling Stone Peter Travers 2 ½* out of 4*.  Goodreads gives the book 4 .13 out of 5*.

Special Note:  Filmed in Cape Town, Western, Cape South Africa and Los Angeles, California.  Salma Hayek developed hypothermia while filing the ocean scenes.  Originally, Johnny Depp was interested in the project but Robert Towne couldn’t find financial backing.  Eva Mendes was set to take the role of Camilla before Salma signed on.  Colin Farrell was romantically attracted to Eileen Atkins but she turned him down.  There is a 42-year difference in their ages.  Danny Finn plays Willie the Dog and he’s not a professional actor.  Danny’s owner had to stand in for the film company’s dog-handler.  Danny would not pay attention!!

Atomic Blonde 2017

     The setting of this film is Berlin Germany before the fall of the wall.  This film is based on the 2012 graphic novel The Coldest City written by Antony Johnston and Sam Hart.  Lorraine Broughton is sent to Berlin during the Cold War.  She is a most lethal assassin and an undercover MI6 agent.  She is to investigate the murder of another agent.  She is also to recover a missing list of double agents.  She partners with embedded station chief David Percival.

     There are a lot of agents in this film that can be working for either side.  It’s unknown to Lorraine exactly who the good and bad guys are.  Theron did 98% of her stunts but not those falling down stairs or swinging from heights.  There are many scenes with Lorraine being interrogated about the outcome of her completed mission. I think this film had a LOT of potential but it doesn’t fully live up to it.  3* (This movie is OK)  

Note:  Imdb 6.7 out of 10, 78% critic 64% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3*, Empire Online 3*, Metacritic 63 out of 100 with 50 critic 6.6 out of 10 362 reviews, The Telegraph 3* out of 5*, Amazon 3.7* out of 5* with 1672 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in Budapest, Hungary; Berlin and Brandenburg, Germany; London, England, UK.  Charlize Theron had eight personal trainers to help her master her fighting skills.  She also trained with Keanu Reeves and he was preparing for John Wick: Chapter 2 of 2017.  James McAvoy broke his hand on the set of Split of 2016 and he had to use his injured hand in the action scenes.  A Carl F. Bucherer watch is featured prominently and director David Leitch is a brand ambassador.  Leitch is also the director of the John Wick franchise. 

A Question of Faith 2017

     Pastor David Newman has been asked by his father to take over for him at their Church.  He has agreed to this and he’s a loving husband and father.  David becomes very busy with this new position and he’s the promises he’s made to his 12-year-old son Eric slide.  Kate Hernandez is the owner of a local restaurant.  She a driven single parent too.  Her daughter Maria is a teenager and she hopes to be the first in her family to go to college.  John Danielson owns a failing construction company.  His daughter Michelle has the possibility of a singing career.  This could be his way out of financial trouble.  The lives of Eric, Maria and Michelle remarkably change in a short amount of time.  Of course, the changes impact David, Kate and John.   

     This film has very good messages.  Don’t text and drive and think about becoming an organ donor.  A donation can save the life of another person!!  A LOT of viewers have determined that this movie is full of propaganda, indoctrination and religious fanaticism??  They must have seen a different movie?  It’s about love, forgiveness and even anger at times.  All of the above are common human emotions!!   3 ½* (I liked this movie)

104 min, Drama directed by Kevan Otto with Richard T. Jones, Kim Fields, C. Thomas Howell, T.C. Stallings, Jaci Velasquez, Gregory Alan Williams, Renee O’Connor, Donna Biscoe, Amber Thompson, Karen Valero, James Hooper, Caleb T. Thomas, Marliss Amiea, Tom Scott II.

Note:  Imdb 5.5 out of 10, 40% critic 79% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Plugged In 4.5* out of 5*, Metacritic 4.3 out of 10 with 7 reviews, Amazon 4.8* out of 5* with 233 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in Atlanta and Marietta, Georgia.  Renee O’Connor’s in the role of Mary Danielson had her breakthrough role in Gabrielle in Xena, Warrior Princess.  Kim Fields as Theresa Newman has been in many television programs from 1977 to 2018.

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress 2002

     The setting of this film is China of 1971 and it is based on a novel by Dai Siji and Ina Rike.  The Cultural Revolution is still holding a strong grip on China.  Luo and Ma are two university students.  They are sent to a mountain mining village as part of their reeducation duty.  They are required to purge themselves of their classical western oriented education.  Their work in the village is backbreaking and they are very surprised by the ignorance of the villagers?  The two young men find that music and the beautiful young local women are the only pleasant things in their lives.  Otherwise, they consider their existence to be a miserable life.  They steal a secret cache of forbidden classic western literature from a departing student.  They determine to woo one of the young women and teach her from the books. 

     This film has a noble purpose but it fails to fulfill its promise?  The film moves 20 years into the future for the epilogue.  The biggest gift they bestow on the little seamstress is teaching her to read!!  The Cultural Revolution was launched in 1966 by Chairman Mao.  This Revolution had no lightness to its movement but all Chinese people are not unschooled rubes.  Chairman Mao dispenced wisdom through his Little Red Book.  The Red Guards killed many people, others were imprisoned and much of Chinese cultural heritage was destroyed. 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)

110 min, Bio directed by Sijie Dai with Xun Zhou, Kun Chen, Ye Liu, Shuangbao Wang, Zhijun Cong, Hongwei Wang, Xiong Xiao, Zuohui Tang, Wei Ghen, Tianlu Chen, Qing-yun Fan, Jie Min, He Zhang, Yukun Xu.

Note:  Imdb 7.2 out of 10, 77% critic 83% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 2 ½*, Metacritic 65 out of 100 with 22 critics 6.6 out of 10 with 12 reviews, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* with 51 reviews.  The book has a rating of 3.64* out of 5* with 47,896 rations on goodreads.com.

Special Note:  Nonore de Balzac was a French novelist and playwright.  He lived between 20 May 1799 to 18 August 1850 in France.  Filmed in Fenghuan, Zhaniajie Mountains, Hunan and Shanghai, China plus Paris, France.  Filming was allowed in China after seven months of negotiations with the authorities.  Any projection on Chinese territory was banned. 

Mile 22 2018

     James Silva is an operative of the CIA’s most highly prized and least understood unit.  He is the head of Mile 22.  This is the code name of a top-secret tactical command team.  The current job of the team is to retrieve and transport an asset.  Li Noor holds life-threatening information.  It concerns Mile 22 and he needs extraction before his enemies close in on him.

     There is a LOT going on in this film and a LOT of action.  But, the personal ticks presented by the character James Silvas played by Mark Wahlberg are tiring after a few scenes?  We get the message right away and it doesn’t take a head pounding to get it??  There are some circumstances about their mission and the outcome that are not clear?  If you have a lot of gunfights, fist fights, kicking fights, why have information??  This film could have been a LOT better!!  2 ½* (this movie was just so-so)

94 min, Action directed by Peter Berg with Mark Wahlberg, Lauren Cohan, Iko Uwais, John Malkovich, Rhonda Rousey, Carlo Alban, Natasha Goubskaya, Chae-rin-Lee, Sam Medina, Keith Arthur Bolden, Billy Smith.

Note:  Imdb 6.1 out of 10, 23% critic 45% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 2 ½*, Metacritic 38 out of 100 with 36 critics 5 of 10 with 73 reviews, Indie Wire D-, Amazon Video 3.4* of 5* with 673 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in Bogota, Colombia and Atlanta Georgia.  The house featured in the opening scene had a break-in shortly after production.  The intruders didn’t take anything because the owner was home.  Authorities and the owner believe it was the Hollywood lights that attracted them to the house?  The setting of the story develops in Asia but filming was done in Colombia.  This was because of concerns about the security of the crew.  Usually, most films depicting Colombia have been shot in Mexico or another location.  This is because of safety concerns because of the drug wars.

An Inspector Calls 2015

     The setting of this film is in the UK of 1912.  Arthur Birling is an industrialist and he is hoping to receive a knighthood.  His wife Sybil has arranged an engagement celebration for their daughter Sheila.  She is to marry Gerald Croft.  Sheila has a younger brother Eric and he’s also at the celebration.  Just after they have finished dining, Inspector Goole and comes to call on them.  He talks to them about the suicide of a young woman named Eva Smith.  They all claim to not have known the woman he is talking about?  He begins to show her picture to each of them and they start to remember how she came into their lives.

      Each of the Birling family members and Sheila's fiancé were involved in the life of Eva Smith.  Arthur terminated her employment at his factory for leading the other female workers to strike.  Eva found other employment at a dress shop but Sheila caused a scene and Eva was fired.  Gerald thought he was helping Eva by letting her stay at a friend’s apartment while it was empty.  This him included visiting her in the evenings as part of the bargain.  Sybil works with two other women to interview young women needing financial assistance.  Sybil refused to help Eva because she didn't believe Eva's story.  Eric was very much attracted to Eva and they were having a relationship.  He was giving her money but stealing the money from his father Arthur.  Eva's story is very sad and all of the Birling family plus Gerald could have really helped her and acted differently.  During this time period there was a large chasm between the wealthy and the poor.  The wealthy were overindulging and the poor were dying.  There are many twists in the plot and it's complex.  3 1/2* (I liked this movie)            

87 min, Crime directed by Aisling Walsh with Sophie Rundle, Lucy Chappell, Miranda Richardson, Ken Stott, Finn Cole, Chloe Pirrie, Kyle Soller, Davidl Thewlis, Flora Nicholson, Gary Davis, Wanda Opalinska.

Note:  Imdb 7.7 out of 10, 87% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, The Telegraph 3* out of 5*,The Hollywood News 5* out of 5*, The Telegraph 3* out of 5*, Empire Online 3* out of 5*, CultBox.co.uk 5* out of 5*, Amazon 4.4* out of 5* with 747 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in Yorkshire and North Yorkshire, England, UK.  This film is based on a play by J.B. Priestly.  There are also other versions of this film from 1954 and another from 2015.  There are also books released about the play and a Graphic Novel.