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Reviews
Land (2021)
Absolutely Stunning!
I watched this movie about 2 weeks ago and again today. What an amazing effort by Robin Wright. Her directing and her acting are simply unforgettable. The movie starts off a bit slowly but the cinematography is incredible so it's easy to get lost in the beauty of the film. Demián Bichir's performance is brilliant and understated. The story of a woman her is grief-stricken and lost in despair who goes off to the wilderness to avoid sharing her pain with anyone else. She is lost but it's of her choosing. Demian finds her near death. I won't say more as not to give anything away but this is so worth seeing. Such a beautiful film!
Just Mercy (2019)
An Honest Telling of our Broken Justice System
This is the story of an idealistic young black Harvard graduate who dedicates himself to working with death row inmates beginning with cases in Alabama. Michael B. Jordan's performance is nothing short of outstanding. He plays this role with quiet compassion and empathy. In the beginning scene where he goes to the prison to see his 7 clients, he is stripped searched and you can see the pain clearly on his face knowing he must submit simply because he is black. Jamie Fox's understated performance is exactly the right tone. It would have been easy to show a seething bitterness at the system that put in on death row a year before he was convicted but his resignation to his fate was far more telling. These two performances were both Oscar worthy. This is a story that should be required viewing for all school students. We need civics classes once again in our schools. This is a movie I can highly recommend and as we head into the trial of George Floyd's killer it should be viewed with a Black Lives Matter mind set. All lives matter but in America, as this film depicts, black lives seem to matter less and that is simply wrong. The message of this film cannot be overstated. Bigotry and hatred have no place in the law. Justice for all period.
Ford v Ferrari (2019)
Got Me Back to the Movie Theater
I generally don't enjoy going to the movies anymore since I can wait a few months and watch on our big screen in the comfort of my own home but I was excited to see this movie. We saw it the day it opened in our local theater and I was not disappointed. What a great film. Damon and Bale were fantastic from beginning to end. The characters were very well developed and you actually felt like you knew these guys! The whole cast was phenomenal. I'm not much of a race car fan but this movie had suspense and humor that made it entertaining for everyone! Well done!!
The Astronaut Farmer (2006)
Love this Feel Good Movie
I am a huge fan of Billy Bob Thornton so knew I would enjoy this film. It was so uplifting with a message of follow your dream. The chemistry between Virginia Madsen and Billy Bob was evident from the beginning. The story line may be fanciful but it worked. I won't bother going into details since many other reviewers beat me to it. Suffice it to say it you want a movie that leaves you feeing better after it's over, see this movie. I loved it!
Leaving Neverland (2019)
For MJ Fans It's a Difficult Documentary
I sat and watched all 4 hours of this disturbing documentary today. I have always been a die-hard fan of Michael Jackson's music. I followed him from his early Jackson 5 days through his death. I knew he was deeply affected by his own upbringing and really wanted to believe that he just loved being with kids because he was emotionally stunted but I wondered if the allegations were true. This documentary handled the stories of these 2 men, Robson and Safechuck with respect and care. The fact they are coming forward knowing they will be vilified in public to tell their truths convinced me. This was very well done and I hope it raises awareness of a very sad social issue.
Survivor (2015)
Nonsense
This movie was truly nonsense. Had the makers of this movie invested even a small sum of money for an actual state department foreign service employee to advise the director on how things work at U.S. embassies this might have been a decent movie. It had a great cast but the director seems have been on vacation. Just a stupid movie and not worth the time.
Stronger (2017)
Well Done!
I liked this movie a lot. Jake Gyllenhaal gives an inspired performance as Jeff Bauman, the young man who was waiting at the finish line when the Boston Marathon bombs went off. Jake gives a very emotional but not over the top performance as was needed in this film. He shows that Jeff Bauman was experiencing PTSD but without any counseling (or none portrayed in the film) pushed through it. From my point of view, the patriotism shown was horrific for him as he did not view himself as a patriot or hero. He was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. He did not "beat terrorists" but rather he'd seen one of the bombers and was able to assist in the effort to capture one of them. My husband and I served the U.S. government overseas and at home for more that 40 years and we don't believe we have to prove our patriotism to anyone. Our service proves it. So I just tune out the overdone patriotism part of this movie and figure it's Hollywood. The story itself is an inspiration to many by the mere fact that he overcame his adversity. This movie is worth a watch and I recommend it for viewers that simply enjoy a story well told and well acted.
The Big Sick (2017)
Tedious
After reading reviews on this site my husband and I decided to see it instead of one of the heavier more depressing movies currently playing at the local cineplex. Our granddaughter was having a party with kids and parents and since we don't live in the same town but were visiting for the week end, we decided to make ourselves scarce. This movie seemed like it might be amusing and somewhat entertaining. It wasn't! It wasn't funny at all. We are movie buffs and rarely walk out of any movie but had we had somewhere else to go, we would eagerly departed after the first 30 minutes. We kept waiting for it to take off but right to the last minute there was simply nothing. To be completely honest, don't waste your time - even on DVD or streaming!
Passengers (2008)
Intriguing Movie
I just caught this on a premium TV channel and I had never heard of it. I would have paid money to see it in a theater if I had. I thought it was interesting in a "Sixth Sense" kind of way and well acted. Anne Hathaway and Patrick Wilson had excellent chemistry. I don't want to give anything away but it was the story of a plane crash and some of the people on board. The story was well told and kept you wondering till the end. It was sad but it ended well. I enjoyed this movie very much! Too bad it didn't get wider distribution.
Seven Pounds (2008)
Stays With You Long After It's Over
I've seen this movie twice and remember seeing it the first time. It was so unexpected - the reaction I had to it. I was living in some far flung reach of the world, don't remember where at the time and hadn't seen any hype for it. Never even heard of it. I saw it because it had Will Smith and I like him. It was one of those movies that does start a bit slow but the music, direction and story draw you in. You don't need to understand the story from the beginning. The story simply unfolds. Will Smith gave one of his finest performances in this love story. Rosaria Dawson certainly deserves more acclaim than she receives as her performance was stunning. This is the kind of movie that by the end, everyone in the theater is silent and stays seated as the credits roll. When you're walking out, no one is talking. I thought about this movie for days after I saw it, actually more like weeks. It wasn't pro or con suicide but rather the story of pain and redemption. It was so sweetly told and no matter how you feel about the result, the story was simply beautiful. I love this movie but it's definitely not for everyone and it's sad. If you want to be happy and laugh, watch something else. It you want to enjoy magnificent performances and a great story, however unrealistic, watch this.
Spooks (2002)
Just Silly
I watched the first 4 seasons of this series and it just gets sillier and sillier with each season. I can't say for sure but the idea that any "secret operative" of any agency would tell the young child of a lover that they are "spies but don't tell anyone ever" is just absurd! It seems like they just brag about being spies a bit too much to be believable. The plots become repetitive and nonsense the further on in the series I get. If you want intelligent television try watching "The Newsroom" or "The West Wing" which I consider two of the best TV shows ever broadcast. I would hate to think this is a realistic portrayal of MI-5. It seems to me that real life MI-5 agents must find this program laughable and probably hate the ridiculous image of their service that it portrays. Don't think I will bother with season 5 onward.
Goliath (2016)
Anything with Billy Bob Thornton is worth the watch
So far I've watched the first 3 episodes of this series and I'm hooked. Initially I was excited because I am huge fan of Billy Bob. He never disappoints and this is no exception. Just as in the previous series, "Fargo", he plays a strange character but this character is a truly nice guy. In "Fargo" he was also a nice guy who just happened to kill people with no conscience - a true psychopath. In Goliath he is a washed up attorney but one who was at the top of his form before he lost everything to the booze. He takes on what should be a quick wrongful death case that soon turns into a monster. Watching him navigate and come back into his former self surrounded by his cobbled together team is entertainment at it's best. I will binge watch the rest of this series and hopefully he will return in season 2. Hopefully there will be a season 2 and he will again be the star. Who ever his manager is, kudos! You always leave us wanting more of Billy Bob!!!
George Gently (2007)
Very Addictive British Cop Show
I love British drama and police series are my favorite. This doesn't disappoint! Martin Shaw is fantastic as the slightly out of synch but always compassionate lead along with his side kick, Lee Inglebee as the incorrigible John Bachus. I only started watching this show from the beginning a few days ago but am now up to the 3rd season and will binge whenever I can to watch the entire series. It's filmed so beautifully and although I find the "hip" music of the 60s is, as was always the case back then, silly and out of touch, I simply turn down the sound when they get into car chases or whatever. Music of the 60's for some reason, was never used in movies and TV in the 60's, something I never understood then and now even less. I will continue to watch this to the end and will miss it when it's over. I am pretty housebound with an elderly father right now so finding something really excellent and entertaining like this to watch makes life a bit easier. Really excellent!
Rock the Kasbah (2015)
Utter Nonsense
Rarely do I watch a movie that I cannot finish but this was one of them. Bill Murray was typical Bill Murray. He seemed his usual tired and jaded character throughout as the washed up music manager. From the beginning with him listening to an awful hopeful singer to the travel to Afghanistan with Zooey Deschanel as the hopeful talent on a USO type tour, the story is absurd. We kept waiting for it to get going but it just never did. Kate Hudson as the supposed smart hooker, working her trade as her 401-K retirement plan, was additionally awful! The young Pashton girl who is forbidden by family and tradition to sing at all much less on TV or in public, had a nice voice but lacked any excitement. I feel like this was sort of a "Slum Dog Millionaire" rip off. Seems like Bill Murray has made a career of making movies that take little intelligence or acting skills. I've never understood the appeal. This movie reinforced my opinion. Don't recommend wasting time or money on this one.
Straight Outta Compton (2015)
Excellent History of Rap Music
My husband and I watched this last night on DVD and although we aren't fans of rap music, we both found this movie an excellent history of the genre. It tells the story of Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Easy-E, MC Ren and D.J. Yella, all well played by Corey Hawkins, O'Shea Jackson, Jr., Jason Mitchell, Neil Brown, Jr., and Aldis Hodge respectively. The story begins when Dr. Dre leaves the home of his mother as she wants him to get a regular job to support his girlfriend and newborn son. He is frustrated by his need for self expression and his dream of creating something new that will speak to the young people struggling with unending police harassment and discrimination. He meets up with Jerry Heller (Paul Giamatti), a music manager who offers to manage Dr. Dre and his like minded friends, N.W.A. Dre is the producer and Easy-E and Ice Cube write and rap. They produce their first hit with Straight Outta Compton. As the police continue their harassment of them they express their feelings of anger and frustration through the lyrics and rhymes. This resonates with young people around the country and they are soon stars. The usual problems come up and they move away from each other and Jerry, some making better decisions that the others. Although they part ways, the bond remains a deep one that will eventually bring them back together after a tragedy.
This movie was well acted by all and even though we have never really liked rap, this was truly eye-opening. We understand and appreciate where it began now and can respect the genre in a way we never expected. This movie engaged us throughout and I can recommend it for any one that can get past the language and violence. It was needed for authenticity. Really good movie!
Million Dollar Arm (2014)
A feel good movie!
I lived in India for nearly 3 years and can really identify with this movie. A down on his luck sports agent, Jon Hamm, goes to India to try and recruit a baseball pitcher in a contest called Million Dollar Arm. His scout, played by the always wonderful Alan Arkin, is a welcome addition to the cast. They also recruit a young Indian, Amit, played by Pitobash who is excellent in the roll, as the interpreter. After traveling all over India they find a couple of young men who are very raw but have potential. Of course they've never played baseball before so it's not going well. Enter Coach house played by Bill Paxton. He has six months to turn them into baseball players so they can have a try out with a major league team. Lake Bell as the love interest and nurturing influence has good chemistry with all the guys. Based on a true story (with, I imagine, plenty of literary license) it makes for a good, old fashioned uplifting movie. I've seen this now several times and enjoy it as much now as I did the first time I saw it. I'm not a huge baseball fan but it wasn't so much about the baseball as it was about second chances. Probably not for everyone but a good vehicle for Jon Hamm as he moves off the small screen and into movies.
The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000)
Loved This Movie!
I loved this movie and felt that it was truly underrated. Matt Damon and Will Smith were magical and the chemistry between them was so believable. The story of a down and out golfer who overcomes the adversity of war and pulls himself from the depth of despair to rise like a phoenix from the ashes is not a new one but this one makes it seem fresh. Charlize Theron is good as the love interest and it works. The kid who inspires and believes in him adds so much to the story. And Jack Lemon as the old man (who was the kid as a youngster) gives the story depth. It inspires a love of the game of golf even in those who previously hadn't found it very interesting. It's a wonderful history lesson about the game and since I first saw this movie I began to enjoy watching golf on TV. I may even attend one of the big tournaments one of these days. The character development and back stories are interesting throughout and it makes for an engaging movie. I've seen this many times and whenever I need a feel good movie, I watch this.
Great Balls of Fire! (1989)
No Jerry Lee Lewis Fan Till I Saw This
I saw this movie when it first came out and just happened to see it again tonight - many years later. When I first saw this I had never been a fan of Lewis. After seeing Dennis Quaid's performance, which I thought was incredible by the way, I had to get Whole Lot of Shaking Going On and Great Balls of Fire right away. They soon became party favorites that got everyone on the dance floor. I understood the true genius that embodied Jerry Lee. The movie was fun and the music was fantastic. Wynona Ryder was good as the 13 year old cousin who married him. I can't imagine ever letting my 13 year old daughter marry such a man but he was so endearing that it was hard to hate him for it. I saw Jerry Lee Lewis perform on TV and I always thought he was so crazy and obnoxious and Dennis Quaid nailed him right on the head. Alex Baldwin was an unlikely person to play cousin Jerry Faldwell but he was believable. Over all I loved this movie and it made a fan out of me.
The Judge (2014)
Wonderful Story of Family Estrangement and Rapprochement
I was out of the country when this movie was released so saw it on DVD for the first time a few weeks ago. The story is of a dysfunctional family, Duval as the father (the local judge in the small town), Downey Jr., the estranged son, D'Onofrio as the older brother and Strong as the younger brother. They've all come together for the funeral of the mother but Dad is arrested for the hit and run of a former defendant in his court. The story revolves around the difficult relationship between Duval and Downey Jr who is a lawyer as they prepare a defense for the Judge. The performances by all are outstanding especially Downey Jr. and Duval. I didn't expect this level of performance from Downey Jr after his latest turn as comic action hero but we all know he has endless talent which is rarely tapped into these days. Duval, well what can you say about him. He's been exceptional from his first turn as Bo Radley to this latest as the Judge. He never disappoints. This movie makes you laugh and cry which to me, makes it an excellent flick. I can watch this again and know I will get something different from it. Dax Shepherd warrants mention as well and of course, Billy Bob Thornton was a nice touch but under utilized. Over all I loved this film and think any Downey Jr or Duval fans would love it as well.
Dolores Claiborne (1995)
Amazing Story but Even More Amazing Acting
I saw this movie years ago and the story so intrigued me that I bought it on video. It's a story by Stephen King and although I'm not a fan of the science fiction he writes, his drama is always surprising. This does not disappoint. Kathy Bates as the abused wife who is accused of killing the wealthy woman she has cared for for many years, is a tour d'force. Jennifer Jason-Leigh is another who gives a wonderful performance as her daughter who returns reluctantly to help her estranged mother. She is convinced that her mother did this crime but decides she must delay her return to her high profile journalism job in order to find a lawyer for her mom. While in the process, all the family history comes to light with a dramatic climax. The telling of the family history and the story that unfolds is so well acted by Bates, Jason-Leigh and Christopher Plumber that I was sorely disappointed when this was overlooked by the Academy Awards. I've seen many movies staring Kathy Bates but in my opinion this was the best performance of her career. I felt that this certainly ranked higher than her performance in Misery. However, I understand that the subject matter of Misery was more commercial. I've seen this movie many times and I always have the same reaction - Kathy Bates is simply a great actress and this is a fantastic performance.
Act of Valor (2012)
No Actors Necessary
When we decided to view this movie when hadn't realized that the actors weren't actors at all but actual SEAL team members. At first it seemed a bit stiff but soon had gained our full attention. It was a very real, gritty and extremely suspenseful story of what happens, not "if" but "when" terrorists find a new way of lashing out at the U.S. Hinting at the the toll on the family life of SEALs was an integral part of the story but the action and adventure was truly the main focus. It was indeed, filled with first rate action and suspense. Once I realized that the actors were SEALs I was expecting to find it too macho (I'm female) but instead found that it enhanced the action as it made it more like being privileged to view a special OPs rather than simply watching a movie. I work for the State Department and have for the past 28 years so of course I found small inconsistencies. For example, the International School of Manila (ISM) wasn't really that school - my son attended ISM and that wasn't it. Also, the U.S. Ambassador would not be in a Mercedes - he has a Cadillac in the Philippines. Otherwise, I thought they did an excellent job of informing and entertaining and I recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys action and suspense.
Irreconcilable Differences (1984)
One of the best movies Ryan ONeil ever made!
I originally saw this movie in 1985 with my kids and of course, we loved it! We were living in India at the time and videos were our only link to American culture. Fortunatley we had a copy (no comment). We probably saw it 30 or 40 times over the years. When Blake starts singing during the scene in the Gone With The Wind take off, Atlanta, I have tears rolling down my cheeks. Later in the film you see the heartbreaking reality of many a child's life growing up in Hollywood. Money aplenty but no quality time with family. The premise is so sad and Drew Barrymore is so poignant - truly showed what a talented kid she was and sadly she seems to have been living very much the same way her character was in the film. Finally, I too, would join in campaign to get this out on DVD! Why hasn't it been released? Could it be the heights to which Sharon Stone rose on the stardom scale? Who knows but if you ever have a chance to see this movie, clear your schedule and sit down and watch it.