cherimerritt Reviews

Megan Leavey (2017)

Do not miss if you've REALLY loved a dog

[10/10 · 13 April 2024]

Before I say I love this film, I need to ask, how was Common (Gunny) billed 17th instead of 5th or 6th? Both time on the screen and importance in the story, plus performance quality, warrant a way higher billing.

For people whose dogs have changed them, changed their lives, and created meaning in their world, this one is a must see, validating story. Besides the story of the two of them, the scene in which her father admonishes her to fight for the one she loves is worth the ticket price alone. I'm posting it on my FB page now for my Trusted People to put on their Important Stories Not to Miss list. Is that recommendation enough?

Bicycle (I) (2014)

Very validating for us cyclists

[10/10 · 5 December 2021]

Having given up car ownership in 2010 in favor of cycle transportation instead, this film was a real find for me tonight. I love the freedom of not owning a car! Will watch again many times. Couldn't agree more with the film's basic premise - the cycling life is so viable, a great answer for many complex problems, and an awesome experience. Thank you to the film makers for making this film.

Larger Than Life (1996)

Loved it. Will watch it a 3rd time

[10/10 · 20 October 2020]

Well, I'm a big fan of Bill Murray and I LOVE elephants, so I've watched it, twice now, from Vera's POV. Having ridden on an elephant with great glee, the scenes in which Jack is on top of Vera were especially enjoyable, especially when she walks into a lake with him hollering "No! Stop! Stop!" but they end up playing together in the water. Deeelightful! If you yourself bond with animals, this film is a sweet experience.

Harold and Lillian: A Hollywood Love Story (2015)

What a gem!

[10/10 · 13 August 2020]

As lifelong movie lovers and students of the film industry, this documentary about these two incredible people that we had never heard of added a piece of the puzzle about the history of film making that we now consider an essential. Our long held fascination with storyboarding - how it works and what it contributes to the making of a film - now has the details and colors and intuitions of it filled in. Even more so though, their relationship and their personalities and their independent spirits gave us much needed validation of our own independent spirits and positions we've taken in the last two years with our own naysayers (some of our children). Thank you so much to everyone who made this film possible and gave us visibility to these two people and the details of their story and their contributions to and synergy with everyone they worked with. Their transparency when they were speaking and incredibly insightful descriptions provide the best evidence I've ever seen for how important it is to serve truthfully what's in front of you at the moment, in every moment. If you love movies like we do, this one is a must see. I will write to her tomorrow to tell her of how their story moved us and held us spellbound at 2 AM.

I Can Do Bad All by Myself (2009)

Love you, Tyler Perry

[10/10 · 19 July 2020]

Love Madea, love Tyler Perry. Tyler's stories may seem frivolous to the casual viewer, but for me he cuts to the chase...Madea cuts to the chase. Taraji knocked it out of the park, as usual. Mary Blige did, too. And what a treat to see Gladys Knight and hear her sing. Also loved Pastor Winan's preaching and singing. Had never seen Adam Rodriguez before but am now a fan (I don't watch CSI).

Thank you, Tyler Perry. You lifted my spirits again, as so many times before. In fact, Madea has become my role model. I really needed this film, this message, this journey today. Please keep making movies, Mr. Perry.

Loving Vincent: The Impossible Dream (2019 TV Movie)

Not to be missed for Vincent fans

[10/10 · 20 April 2020]

Every frame is like a Van Gogh painting...So much better than a film would have been. Like meeting the people in those paintings and seeing them through Vincent's eyes. I've seen it six times and will watch it again in the future. An amazing feat.

Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken (1991)

Sonora gets it right.

[10/10 · 25 February 2020]

Sonora's story is one of my all-time favorites. She pursues what calls to her at the depth of her soul and will not be dissuaded - not by any person, any circumstance, nor any obstacle. She also is so connected with horses...precisely my kind of gal and a true story. I found a video on YouTube of her (Sonora Webster) actually doing this high-dive jump on a horse into a pool of water. Plus I know a man who actually saw the show at Coney Island as a kid.

I also treasured the alliance that grew between Sonora and Doctor Carver's son, Al, whom she later married. But it was the fact that she took on going out into the world on her own as a young teen, rather than endure being belittled by puny-hearted bullying people that was most inspiring to me. The risks were so high but she stuck to her know-er inside her and moved forward. That makes her a true role model for anyone, in my book. I know it's a true story because my aunt interviewed Sonora in person twice.

Promised Land (1996–1999)

Thank you Start TV for playing Promised Land

[10/10 · 23 July 2019]

I watch this wonderful show every night at 3:00 a.m. on Start TV - Channel 2-2 here in Los Angeles. If we weren't cord cutters, I would never have found out about this gratifying program. Thank you, Martha Williamson.

The Betty White Show (1952–1954)

Earliest Betty White I've seen.

[7/10 · 25 October 2018]

1954. Early Betty White as herself, not as a character. Never heard of this show, but what a kick for us longtime fans.

Apartment for Peggy (1948)

Ditto and more

[10/10 · 26 August 2013]

Dougdoepke wrote exactly the review I would have written, only better (hence my review title "Ditto"). Please read it for my reactions.

I rated the film 10 out of 10, though, due to my own personal interest in gender difference issues. This film highlighted and illustrated some of them exquisitely.

Once in a conversation with a female engineer over lunch, I was sharing about my efforts to open cereal boxes, etc., before my husband got to them because he would open the wrong end just tear into the box. She replied, "Oh, it's a 'dick' thing. Even the male engineers lack the patience to read the instructions through before starting to assemble stuff we receive. They always end up with pieces left over that were essential." There's a scene that perfectly plays this out. (I always do the assembling at our house.)

Peggy's perfect long-range view of their future together and her need for a shared vision and shared enthusiasm for that vision is perfectly female. Jason's internal pressure to be a better provider right now perfectly illustrates how money pressures too often distract men from the much more substantive essential of their wives' need to experience a well-discussed shared vision they can pursue together and adhere themselves to, no matter what difficulties arise.

And the young wives' (Peggy in particular) more sound ways of long-range-view reasoning about how to live and why, contrasted against, well, you watch the film and tell me what YOU think. Whether you are male or female, please don't miss these profound (I thought) aspects of this hidden gem of a film. For me, it was definitely a 10. I even located (inadvertently) Jeanne Crain's granddaughter online and emailed to her my reactions and appreciation.

Spitfire (1934)

Thoroughly enjoyed this one.

[10/10 · 17 June 2013]

The human characteristic Hepburn plays best and for which I love her most is total indifference to anyone else's opinion of her. In this one, she plays it out as well as she did in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, except as a YOUNG woman, and at the OTHER end of the social continuum.

Mountain girl Trigger Hicks (Hepburn) seems eccentric and odd to her neighbors, and apparently superstitious and ignorant to other reviewers, but her self-awareness and absolute confidence in her own perspective and insights into others' hearts and motives made perfect sense to me. The person I saw was exactly the same as the person Mr. Fleet (Ralph Belamy), the Chief Engineer who has gone there to build a damn, is seeing; a person who is wise beyond her years, stable in her emotions, and a keeper ...one you would regret losing, having met her.

My love for Hepburn is not what influenced me to give this one a 10. My love for people who've found what matters most in life is. If that's what matters to you, you'll enjoy this film and I recommend it highly.

Passed Away (1992)

So glad I didn't miss this film I've never heard of.

[5 November 2011]

Great film. One of the best I've seen about families, especially lots-of-sibs families; especially lots-of-sibs Irish families. Have been a fan of Bob Hoskins and Maureen Stapleton since forever and no one could have been better in these two roles. Also a fan of Peter Riegert since Crossing Delancey. What a cutie, and perfect in this one as always. Nancy Travis was absolutely precious and the sane one (sort of a surrogate daughter to the deceased) in this clan. Also became a fan of Pamela Reed tonight. Oh, and the banjo pickin' by Jim Corr, demonstrating again the magic of familiar music, especially folkloric, to bond people together. If you're Irish, this scene alone is worth the price of admission. And one more - David Futterman. Only on the screen the last ten minutes, yet nonetheless, very memorable.

No dull moments and a definite pick-me-up after five episodes of Home Land today (yes, it's great, but emotionally strenuous). Just what I needed and I recommend it highly. Thank you, Movie Channel, for airing it.

Adventure for Two (1943)

Young Russian inventor seeks buyer of his invention in affluent pre-war England.

[13 July 2011]

Young Russian inventor Ivan Kouznetsoff (Sir Lawrence Olivier) brings his new design and prototype for an underwater ice-breaker propeller to pre-war England (1938-39) in hopes of presenting it to world famous engineer and shipbuilder, Mr. Runalow (Felix Aylmer), hopefully for production. He coincidentally meets Mr. Runalow's granddaughter, Ann (Penelope Dudley-Ward), who takes him under her wing and home to the family. Culture shock (in both directions) permeates his every experience and interaction. The development of mutual understanding is the sub-plot, hastened by Hitler's invasion of Russia during Kouznetsoff's second trip to England and its subsequent synergy of combined effort to assist Russia and to complete the ship with the cutting edge propeller.

Having worked for 2+ years with émigrés from Russia who lived through WWII and were contemporaries with this film, Olivier's interpretation of Russian sensibility was of great interest to me and he did a very fine job. One of Olivier's best performances, in this writer's opinion. Well written script and dialog. Performances of Felix Aylmer and Penelope Dudley-Ward were quite enjoyable. Felix Aylmer as a wise genius in this film bears notice in contrast to his role as Polonius in Olivier's Hamlet. The film held my undivided attention the entire two hours.

Highly recommended for anyone with high interest in inter-cultural relations. Given human nature's propensity for alienating others who display any differences, the making of this film was a stroke of genius. Hopefully it was widely viewed at that time (1943) and provoked reflection. If a picture is worth 1000 words, a moving picture is worth 1000 pictures. Kouznetsoff's speech at the ship's christening and launch is priceless - remarkably apt and inspiring.

Fate Is the Hunter (1964)

Great movie. On TMC 1/2/11 @ 8:00 p.m.

[10/10 · 2 January 2011]

This movie is one of my all-time favorites that I'm happy to share tonight with my movie-buff husband who has never seen it. (I'll bet Tony DiNozzo would remember it, though.) I've been trying to remember the title for ages (couldn't recall Rod Taylor's last name to look it up online. Getting senile I guess.)

I agree with Roscoe-4. "It illustrates the many zany and unusual things that can happen to change our lives forever." The actual cause of this plane crash has stuck with me since I first saw the film over 30 years ago on TV. Many times I have caught myself in the midst of a possible negative chain-of-events and changed something I was doing because of this movie (especially if there was a cup of coffee involved in what I was doing). It also probably lead to my interest in Multivariate Statistics (quantification of the phenomenon of multiple variables leading to a single outcome.)

Personally, I think everyone should see this film. At least it tells a person to keep looking deeper for causes instead of assuming that "what you think is accurate" is also worth believing just because "it makes sense" to you. "It makes sense" should never be enough by itself to lead us all the way to a conclusion.

Jackass Mail (1942)

What a kick!

[7/10 · 24 November 2010]

Not a dull moment. Great chemistry between Marjorie Main and Wallace Berry AND between Wallace Berry and Darryl Hickman. I especially enjoyed little Tommy guilelessly busting Baggot when he was up to his old tricks. It was precious and refreshing.

Marjorie Main's style of dealing with men is a lesson in the direct approach made charming and irresistible.

J. Carrol Naish as a Mexican up-to-no-good tempter of Berry behind the scenes but Marjorie's entertaining buddy in front of her was also a very amusing departure from his usual roles.

It was definitely worth staying up for.