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.
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