Lord Edgware Dies 1989

    Hercule Poirot is living in a London apartment, Captain Hasting's returns from Argentina and Inspector Japp is on the scene, all that is needed is a body?  Lord Edgware is very nasty, treating everyone around him badly, not just a few friends, no friends.  Lady Edgware is the first suspect in the murder but she has an alibi? 
    This is good, there is a lot more to be seen than meets the eye.  Poirot comes up with 5 questions that need to be solved to know who is the murderer, the problem is that no one has the answers to the questions?  3 1/2* (I liked this movie)

120 min, Mys directed by Brian Farnham with David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Philip Jackson, Pauline Moran, Helen Grace, John Castle, Fiona Allen, Dominic Guard.

Note:  Blockbuster 4*, imdb 7.5 out of 10, not listed on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Green Hornet 2010

    The son of a powerful newspaper man in LA can't do much before and after the death of his father.  He finds out the man who was making his delicious coffee was a fired former employee of his father who also took care of the cars.  They link together to fight an underworld kingpin.  OK, this might be really good if your age is in the single digits?  You don't have to watch everything, you won't miss anything, read the newspaper, eat a meal, do some work on the computer, your ears can do the watching for you!!  2* (I didn't like this movie)

119 min, Comedy directed by Michel Gondry with Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Cameron Diaz, Tom Wilkinson, Edward James Olmos.

Note:  Blockbuster 3*, imdb 6.1 out of 10, 44% critic 48% audience on Rotten
Tomatoes.

Career Girls 1997

    Two former college roommates spend the weekend together after 6 years apart.  They both have flashbacks to their college days, Annie was shy, nervous, no self-esteem and had a severe facial rash.  Hannah had strong opinions about everything and a habit of blurting them out.  In the present, Annie has gained confidence, poise, her face cleared up but she still can't relax.  Hannah cannot let a quiet moment speak for itself.
    In the scenes where they are roommates together, it's difficult to watch because Annie has so many nervous mannerisms and Hannah is always jumping around.  The present day scenes are better and don't make you feel like fingernails on a blackboard.  3* (This movie is just OK)


87 min, Comedy directed by Mike Leigh with Katrin Cartidlge, Lynda Steadman, Mark  Benton, Kate Byers, Any Serkis, Joe Tucker, Margo Stanley, Michael Healy.



Note:  Blockbuster 3*, imdb 7.0 out of 10, 87% critic 85% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Mugabe and the White African 2009

    Michael Campbell is 75 years old, he and his family own a farm in Zimbabwe.  He didn't have the money to buy the farm so he took out a 20 year loan.  At the end of the loan period, President Robert Mugabe gave the land to a man affiliated with the government but not a farmer.  500 people were living on the farm, the workers, their wives and children, it was giving all of them a wage and a place to live.  Michael went to the international court to fight for his land but there were many delays caused by the Zimbabwe legal people.  Just prior to the final hearing, Michael, Angela and Ben were severely beaten by pro-Mugabe militia men. 
    This is very good, the photography was taken by subterfuge since the filmmakers would've been killed to suppress the story.  It's not just the story of this family but a story repeated with other families.  How can a country survive with the government ignoring human rights, creating unemployment and turning producing farms over to people who are not going to use it but let it become idle?  3 1/2* (I liked this movie) 

94 min, Doc directed by Lucy Bailey with Michael and Angela Campbell, Ben and Laura Freeth.

Note:  Blockbuster 3 1/2*, imdb 7.7 out of 10, 97% critic 92% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Makioka Sisters 1983

    Also released under the title Fine Snow, this film is set just before WWII and is about four sisters in Osaka Japan, two married and two younger and single.  According to custom, the older unmarried sister is to be married before the younger.  Arrangements have been made several times for the older sister to marry but it has not worked out.  The younger sister is more independent, making a living by making dolls and finding it difficult to wait for her life to begin. 
    Since this is in Japanese with subtitles close attention is required because of the differences in culture, complexity of the relationships and the relaxed pace.  The local foliage is very beautiful with seasonal variations as well as the kimonos of the women.  4* (I really liked this movie) 

140 min, Drama directed by Kon Ichikawa with Keiko Kishi, Yoshiko Sakuma, Sayuri Yoshinaga, Yuko Kotegawa, Juzo Itami, Koji Ishizaka.

Note:  Blockbuster 4*, imdb 7.3 out of 10, 100% critic 70% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.  (This is the first film I've seen rated 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.)

Bloodworth 2010

    After 40 years on the road, a country musician returns to his family in Tennessee.  He left behind his wife, three sons and now has a grandson.  There is not much here, everyone is just stumbling along before and after his return, no one has much to show for the 40 years.  A lot of ranting, arguing and family grudges  2* (I didn't like this movie)

95 min, Drama, Kris Kristofferson, Frances Conroy, Hilary Duff.

Note:  Blockbuster 2*, imdb 6.6 out of 10, 57% critic 48% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd 1989

    Hercule Poirot has retired to the small village of King's Abbot, he cannot get away from the detective business even in this remote location.  Plus, what else is there for him to do since his garden will not cooperate?  Is there a connection between the death of a local man and then the suicide a year later of his wife?  Who is involved in the ensuing murder of wealthy industrialist Roger Ackroyd, are the cases related?  Chief Inspector Japp of Scotland Yard is on the investigation, he will need the complications of the overactive mind of Hercule to solve the case.  3 1/2* (I liked this movie)

103 min, Mystery, directed by Andrew Grieve with David Suchet, Philip Jackson, Oliver Ford Davies, Malcolm Terris, Selina Cadell, Daisy Beaumont, Flora Montgomery.

Note:  Blockbuster 4*, imdb 6.9 out of 10, not listed on Rotten Tomatoes.