Reviews
Father Soldier Son (2020)
Excellent Documentary
Excellent documentary on the realities of a military family. Watch, but make sure you have a box of tissues....
Love on the Spectrum (2019)
Heartwarming
Such a great series on Netflix. I was so moved by all the people who participated and their parents. It surely shows that all people whether they have a disability, are awkward, are gay, etc., deserve to be loved and deserve to love. I was rooting for all of them and was glad that the show at the end gave an update. I am so glad I read that there will be a Season 2.
Noah (2014)
Worst Movie Ever Seen
I was expecting a biblical story about Noah and the Ark. It took over an hour for the ark to even start to be built and the rain to begin. I never remember in the bible creatures that looked like transformers helping Noah, but maybe I didn't read the right story.
The acting was terrible, which I was surprised since Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connolly played the leads. I couldn't tell if Noah was a good guy or a bad guy. I really don't know what Anthony Hopkins was doing in this movie. Sir Anthony is awesome in anything he is in, but maybe he just needed a paycheck. Just a mess of a story.
I watched this on demand and paid $4.95, which was too much. Do yourself a favor and don't waste your time.
Mother and Child (2009)
Loved this movie
This movie deals with adoption and a mother's love through three intertwined stories.
Annette Benning plays a woman who as a young girl gives her child up for adoption. Throughout her adult life, she is bitter, and unable to love and be loved. She meets Jimmy Smits and she slowly starts to melt and tries to find the daughter she has given up.
Naomi Watts is a bitter, driven, self absorbed woman who is unable to form relationships too. She knows she was adopted and it is not until she is ready to have her own baby does she want to find the woman who gave her up. Samuel L. Jackson plays her boss and lover, and he gives a subtle, but strong performance. The last story deals with Kerry Washington who is unable to conceive with her husband and are in the midst of an adoption with a young girl. In the middle of all this, her husband decides he can't go through with it and basically she becomes a single mother.
I thought the acting was excellent and you really felt the emotions of each character. I have seen the movie twice and cried twice. I can't recommend this movie enough especially if you are a mother. There is sadness, but the movie ends on a somewhat happy note as each woman accepts her past.
The Doctor (1991)
Very Good Movie
I really liked this movie. William Hurt was excellent as a cold surgeon, who although excellent as his job, didn't have a lot of beside manner. He didn't realize how he came across to patients and didn't seem to care. However, it all changes when he is diagnosed with cancer and becomes the patient.
The movie also deals with the relationship he has with his family. He doesn't have the emotional connections with his wife and son and in fact doesn't even reveal to her that he is sick at first. He also befriends a fellow cancer patient and has feelings for her and his wife notices.
When the physician does become the patient, William Hurt finally realizes what patients experience and this makes him a better person, dad, husband and doctor. The movie is uplifting, not overly sentimental and the acting is phenomenal. I love anything Mr. Hurt is in and he doesn't disappoint with his performance.
White House Down (2013)
Terrible Movie
This movie has to be one of the worst movies I've ever seen. It was ridiculous.
First of all, it's extremely long, well over two hours. It is also very violent. I can't even tell you how many people were killed.
The story makes no sense at all. First it starts off as a story of a divorced dad trying to impress his daughter by his applying to work for the Secret Service, along with taking her on a tour of the White House. At that point, the whole movie goes wrong, with the Head of the President's Detail plotting, the Vice President on a plane headed somewhere and the Speaker of the House along in the stupid plot. I think the highlight of the movie was the President in a limo with Channing Tatum driving in circles on the White House lawn.
Please do yourself a favor and do not watch this movie. If I had to pay for this, I would have been really mad, but I saw it on Demand, so it was free!
Before and After (1996)
Good Movie - Moral Dilemma
I recently saw this movie again after first seeing it in the movies when it first came out.
The premise of the story was good - what would you do if you suspected a family member of creating a terrible crime. Would you try and cover it up or would you turn the person in and tell the truth. These are some of the questions Liam Neeson and Meryl Streep as the parents have to contend with. I enjoy both of their acting and felt that Liam Neeson as the father was more realistic, while I felt that Meryl Streep seemed a little wishy washy. I didn't care for the son, played by Edward Furlong at all. I thought he was too blah and mopey and I didn't have much sympathy for him at all. There were also good performances by Alfred Molina as the defense attorney and Julia Wheldon, who played Liam and Meryl's daughter.
The movie moved along well and I felt that the ending was satisfactory. I was glad that the movie showed that people must take responsibility for their actions. All in all a good movie.
Body Heat (1981)
Great movie
I actually saw this movie when it first came out and a few times during the years and then recently on Sundance. What a great movie, I had forgotten. When it first came out, I thought, boy how daring, but it really has withstood the test of time.
You have a steamy love affair between Kathleen Turner and William Hurt. You have the unsuspecting husband (or is he) Richard Crenna and then the policemen. People will recognize "pre Cheers", Ted Danson in a major role. Do the police suspect WIlliam Hurt is involved all along? Is he that stupid to be involved in such a scheme or is Kathleen Turner that alluring that William Hurt trusts her so implicitly. When does he realize he has been scammed, and what a great ending! The movie was a great thriller and kept you guessing all along. This was a remake of Double Imdemnity, but with a modern twist. Don't miss this movie - it will keep you interested the whole time.
Philomena (2013)
Great Movie
I saw this movie with my sister and we both loved it. I had somewhat known part of the story of Philomena Lee since his has been in the news here in the U.S.
I always love Dame Judi Dench in any movie she is in. She is simply superb. I saw on this site some criticism of her in real life being too old to play this part, but her acting is so good and real, that you forget she is almost 80 and the character is in her 60's. Steve Coogan who plays the journalist who is helping her find her son, plus write a human interest story has the right chemistry with Dame Judi and they play perfectly off of each other.
The script is funny, sad, and heartwarming all at the same time. Bring some tissues with you. You'll be sad, but the story is uplifting.
All Is Lost (2013)
Good Movie
I really enjoyed this movie and am somewhat surprised by the negative reviews. Maybe since I don't know much about sailing, I wasn't able to criticize many of the actions Robert Redford took.
I've always enjoyed watching Robert Redford. He certainly has aged well for a 77 year old man. I'm sure by now, everyone knows there is no dialog in this movie except for a few sentences at the beginning and a curse word in the middle, which if it were me, I would have said a lot more than Mr. Redford! The movie kept you interested even though there was no dialog. By Mr. Redford's understated performance, and by his facial expressions, you could tell exactly what he was feeling, whether it was frustration, fear or disgust.
The scenes with him in the water were so exciting and kept you on the edge of your seat. I recommend this movie. Keep watching until the very end and see what your interpretation is... You won't be disappointed.
Revolutionary Road (2008)
Over-rated Movie
I did not read the book of this movie, but purely watched because of Leo DiCapro and Kate Winslet. I thought that with the two of them starring in this movie, you couldn't go wrong. I saw the other reviews and people raving about it, but I just didn't get it.
That being said, I just felt I was watching two depressed married people yelling at each other. First they seem to be happy about their move to Paris, then all of a sudden, they are at each other's throats. She has an affair with the neighbor. Is Leo happy that she is pregnant so that they don't move? I don't know - and what was the storyline with Kathy Bates and her crazy son. Was he the only person that saw through Leo and Kate's relationship? I just felt that there really wasn't a point to this whole movie -
Unforgettable (1996)
Good Movie
I recently saw this movie although it was released in 1996. I was pleasantly surprised by Ray Liotta's performance. Usually he plays such a bad guy. However, I enjoyed that his character showed some emotion.
There are a lot of twists and turns in this movie and you will be surprised at the ending. The storyline is far fetched, but you will enjoy it.
However, the movie at two hours, is a bit long and they could really have cut out a half hour. There were times I thought the movie could have ended, but it went on and on...
All in all, a good movie.
The Good Mother (1988)
Good Film (spoiler)
I saw this movie recently, although it was released in 1988. Diane Keaton plays a divorced woman with a young daughter. Liam Neeson is her boyfriend whose casual attitudes "free's" Diane.
I had to think back to the 1980's when this movie was released and compare it to what our attitudes towards child molestation are now. I was amazed that Liam Neeson's character wasn't arrested immediately when the incident occurred with Diane Keaton's daughter. Nowadays, it just wouldn't be a custody issue, but he would have been thrown in jail. That said, I was also surprised at Diane Keaton's character. She appeared to be a good mother, but to let her young child spend time with a man that she may not really know was not a good idea. Maybe it was the time period. All I know is that the situation would be totally different now.
If you are looking for a good film, with good acting, take a look at this. You'll be surprised at Liam Neeson, who probably was just starting out, how young he looks!