lar_lef Reviews

Cookie's Fortune (1999)

"Arsenic and Old Lace" updated

[9/10 · 28 November 2018]

Very enjoyable. Like the old, good comedies about murder. Thus "Arsenic and Old Lace" updated in syle with a modern touch of a bit of sex and racial mixture. What it tried to do , it did very well. And so 9 stars.

Hard Choices (1984)

social worker turns to crime to free a lad otherwise sent to hard core prison

[7/10 · 23 October 2017]

Film begins very well and continues well until social worker frees her increasingly loved charge from prison from which he would be sent to a hard core prison where his youthful handsome looks would make him a victim. Somehow I found it a bit hard to swallow her change from Bonnie Good to Bonnie of Clyde mien, and afterward, as stated, the film becomes less interesting, less beautifully photographed, and only the good ending redeems something from a story which held your interest and was believable but gradually becomes a criminal romance story. Well acted,and considering the low budget, impressive nonetheless.

East Side Sushi (2014)

Latino woman aspires to become a sushi chef.

[6/10 · 21 October 2017]

We all applaud the main protagonist in this movie, and she is why i gave it a 6, not a 5, but really sushi in all its 50 shades begins to come out of the viewer's ears and eyes, especially in the interminable first half of the film, more excruciating than enduring a series of JapaneseTea ceremonies by a coffee drinker. It made this viewer consider committing seppuku, or yearning for a samurai to disembody the cameraman. Perhaps the heroic samurai Benkei who, according to Japanese legend, killed a giant carp which had swallowed his mother when she fell into a waterfall. A more fitting title would have been "Long Days Journey into Shushi." The movie would have been conceivably sponsored by some sushi lobbying organization. I waited patiently and expectantly during the litany of sushi styles for a falafel-sushi, but no luck. OK, so my usual fish fare is gefilte fish or fish and chips-- yes, admittedly a fish proletarian.forgive my carping and giive me a burrito.

All Over the Guy (2001)

2 men struggle to find love

[8/10 · 15 October 2017]

Well acted, well made, believable movie. Apparently didn't get the wide distribution it deserved. Treated its subject with honesty humor, and seriousness. If it was a boy-girl movie would, unfortunately, have received more of an audience, but would have lacked the punch that it being a male-male relationship afforded. A sure sign that homosexual subject that would have been taboo a a couple of decades back now treated openly. Kudos.

Victoria & Abdul (2017)

Unlikey story of Indian Moslem servant "capturing" Queen Victoria

[7/10 · 10 October 2017]

Actually 6 1/2. First half of film enjoyable for its light humor and contrasts. second half bogs down somewhat and becomes over sentimental, but whole film enjoyable if you relax and enjoy it, even though in some parts more ridiculous than a story I wrote wherein Disraeli, Victoria's Prime Minister seeks help of Sherlock Holmes to recover the Queen's stolen favorite tea cozy. Film really turns on savoring the Queen as portrayed in an acting gem.

Stronger (I) (2017)

Rehabilitation of bombing victim

[8/10 · 10 October 2017]

Well-made film though in my mind a bit overly-long, a bit too much rehabilitation detail, and a bit too much on facial closeups. Gyllenhaal a sure candidate for a best actor Oscar (and may go all the way) and Maslany as best supporting actress. Best aspect is treating the hero's hardship dealing with garish media sports events, though the baseball game finds him more willing, after his meeting with the man who saved his life. The victim/hero was a real nerd from a dysfunctional family until his injury; after which he, following lapses, becomes a serious human being, thanks also to meeting his live- saving man.Audience knowing is based on true events adds to it, although movie's happy ending lacked real life's denouement.

Inside Out (I) (2011)

Ex-con and best friend in conflicts on a number of levels

[7/10 · 27 September 2017]

Not a bad film despite some hard to digest aspects; for one, the best friend of the con marries the latter's girlfriend after he is imprisoned. One can see her attraction for him, but he is such a nerd and contrast to her manly boyfriend, hard to believe she would marry him however distraught she was over husband's imprisonment. Levesque was pretty good as an actor and Rappaport,too, given his difficult role, if a bit over nerdy. Too many plot reversals,in my opinion, but the dialogue, humorous at times, kept your interest. The director did a good job in his first film, considering the script he was given. If the film was hard to believe in parts, it kept your interest; the plot intricacies made you want to see how the ball of wax would be resolved. Best thing about the picture might be its title.

Eye of the Beholder (1999)

obsessive following of a woman serial killer

[7/10 · 14 September 2017]

Part thriller, part detective, a bit of horror mark this well photographed, well acted, but ultimately not quite successful film. It is too long and seems as if the makers couldn't decide how to end it. Works best for the viewer if he/she doesn't try to figure out every aspect. Interesting attempt, but starts to lose the viewer with repetitive murder followed by following the murderess/love object. Best part is her meeting the blind man she was to marry. Sympathetic aspect of a movie pretty cold despite the would be psychological explanations for behavior of murderess and her tracker.

The Reunion (II) (2011)

dysfunctional family learns to function

[8/10 · 8 September 2017]

An enjoyable action/bonding film with brief anti-capitalist sub,sub plot, which could have been eliminated, but does no harm to the movie.

A film blessed with good dialogue, good acting; in short, an enjoyable romp that you can forget at once after seeing it, but while doing so fun to watch. And the Mexican girl who helps our heroes is pretty to watch; as per the fashion now prevalent for some years, she reveals a bit of breast, now and then. This fashion helps brand pictures as modern (with such views) or pre-modern (without). I don't believe that Doris Day movies featured such. Not complaining, mind you, though in some movies the expansive reveal detracts from the plot, assuming there is one. A smuttering, as well as a smattering of smut.

Frantz (2016)

Man and woman undergo the repercussions of war on their lives

[9/10 · 4 September 2017]

Surprised by the effectiveness and impact of this well-made, well-acted film. Slow paced which appropriately unfolds this story with twists and turns and an ending that does not give in to happy ending temptations. Balances very well the two main themes of what happened and what didn't happen between the two soldiers. in my opinion a worthy nomination for an Oscar for best foreign film (was it nominated?). Keeps you thinking about it after you leave the movie theater. A wonderful antidote to the slick, often over-action films that too often mark the contemporary film scene.

The Glass Castle (2017)

Dysfunctionlal family sometimes functioning

[8/10 · 22 August 2017]

Actually 8 1/2 in my opinion. Well acted film with the father a dreamer and battler rolled up in one person sometimes Dr. Jeckyl, sometimes Mr Hyde. A socialist, though not branded as such,though this is a minor aspect of the film. When I read a summary of the book the film is based on, there was no mention made of the man that the daughter who went to New york and became a writer (and the author of the memoir the movie was based on) met and I think that maybe he would have been better left out of the movie, too, as superfluous, and not needed as a nerdy foil to the father priding himelf on his (would-be) manliness.update: later someone told me was in book, so much for my movie revision. The artit- wife in real life was a doctor. So much for art imitating life.

Godzilla (I) (1998)

Enjoyable film of its type.

[7/10 · 13 August 2017]

Follows more or less traditional pattern of monster movie. Enbjoyable even though you know the good guys (we humans) will win out in the end, and the romantic aspect will be resolved suitably. Good-natured poking fun at a lost of familiar targets. A bit too long, in my opinion, but not for fans of the genre. Last scene with new monster being hatched there, i suppose, to allow for sequel, but still a kind of he (it)-who- laughs last laughs.

Nora (2000)

Joyce and wife in love-hate relatioinship

[7/10 · 15 June 2017]

Relax, folks, you don't have to read Ulysses to watch this movie, let alone Finnegans Wake (no apostrophe in latter title as per Joyce). Better yet, it's not a movie version of either. The relationship between Joyce and Nora is the subject, and the ups and downs (no sexual pun here, though it would fit) of it are lovingly unfolded. Nora somehow reminded me of Molly Bloom in Ulysses, though I have no idea if Nora was the inspiration for Molly. Good photography, fine acting. why only a seven from yours truly? Too slow for my taste, Perhaps an unfortunate product of the SMS age. No wonder I never finished Ulysses nor could get into Finnegans Wake.

Get Well Soon (2001)

Feel good at end love lost/love found wacky comedy

[8/10 · 4 June 2017]

I liked it. It didn't strive to do too much and what it did it did well. Wacky comedy, gross at times, but justifiable in overall context. Not for the academy awards movie watchers, but if you like to run with its coyness, a good time will be had by all. You will forget this urban comedy after you view it, but while you are viewing it, a fun, manic, movie.

Wonder Woman (2017)

Wonder Woman versus the evil-doers

[8/10 · 31 May 2017]

As a kid, there was a giant pile of comic books to read while we waited in the barber shop for our haircuts. As a younger child, I had a crush on Wonder Woman -- and fantasies to go with it. Wonder Woman, being a woman, and since women are more intelligent than men, has it all over Superman, Batman, Spiderman and such. Kudos to Gal Gadot. Caution: I haven't seen the movie yet but based on the (apparently justified) hype and the active trailer, give it an 8 1/2. I wonder how Fellini would have made the movie. What- Lebanon banned the movie! Quick, Wonder Woman, speed to Beirut and take care of Nasrallah.

Bicycling with Molière (2013)

Two aging actors try to have art imitate life or vice-versa re Moliere play

[4/10 · 28 May 2017]

OK, Francophiles will boo me, but this oh so slow moving movie left me waiting, not so patiently for it to end. I hoped when one of the two actors mentioned another play, "Othello," apparently because the woman in the movie led to tension between them, that maybe there would be a little murder to end the boredom, hopefully of one of the actors, but no. Slow French movies are of two types, good and not-so good. This film belongs to the latter category. Even one brief TV role of one of the actors wasn't any better than the mother movie; nor a second play within the play where they act Moliere's play did not take off the ground. The two actors in the movie just didn't seem to me to be very good actors. Maybe with "Tartuffe" next time they will do better. The English are better at this kind of thing. and they have Shakespeare to work against.

The Spirit (2008)

Clark Kent as the masked crusader who never changes clothes.

[6/10 · 14 May 2017]

An attempt to join noir to kitsch which doesn't succeed.Some interesting photography, but it too goes overboard sometimes. I gave it an extra point for attempt. Too bad such a heavily budgeted movie couldn't come up with something better. The (comic) book was better than the movie.

The Sea Gull (1968)

Romantic and artistic angst among the Russian gentry.

[6/10 · 7 May 2017]

Too long and philosophic for the modern movie viewer. Dramatic monologues that try the patience. Maybe great for Russians of Chekhov's day when people had plenty of time to look into their tea leaves. Hard to believe the talented director of the movie came up with this. overstuffed more than the sea gull in the play. I felt like a philistine writing this, but that's my reaction.

Perfect Strangers (2016)

Dinner with friends leads to unpleasant secrets revelations

[7/10 · 15 April 2017]

Perfect strangers is a successful film, of necessity contrived because it is built on a successful gimmick- don't want to reveal it here. Takes place largely in dining room (was it a play before a movie?). Good movie symbolized by eclipse of moon occasionally watched by the diners, and ending hinted at by it. Not everything credible, but we are not watching War and Peace, or maybe so, in a sense. Plenty of pasta in evidence, so you and your partner may want to go out for a pizza afterwards, if still speaking to one another - hopefully life won't imitate art.Basta (enough).

Norman (2016)

Norman good movie but with some faults IMO

[4/10 · 31 March 2017]

The movie "Norman" I would award 3 3/4 stars out of 5. Most of the movie was slow and repetitious. Norman's various meetings - especially the cameo ones-- could have been presented in a shorter version. What saved the movie, was the "4th Act", which was brilliant. I also thought the facial close-ups were overdone. As good as Gir was, I tired of this aspect, almost but not quite mugging. Of course the Israeli viewer can "enjoy" certain parallels to political corruption occurrences in the past- and maybe hints at the present "difficulties" of the present Prime Minister. If the movie had been shorter, it would have been better. It did mix nice satiric aspects with drama.