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Quincy (2018)
Karen Carpenter should have been mentioned.
This is an excellent movie about a remarkable man, his music, and the the other artists that he affected and was affected by. However, Karen Carpenter should have been mentioned. She had arguably the most beautiful voice of her generation. Moreover, her life was wonderful and heartbreakingly tragic at the same time. I know that they interacted and because of that there should have been at least one shot of her in this movie. She lost out because she has been somewhat forgotten.
Nevertheless, it is a movie worth watching and his longevity has provided the filmmakers with so much material. It is almost a masterpiece.
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (2023)
Taylor is amazing but ain't no Karen Carpenter
What an incredible show! The technical effects, the musicians, the dancers, the location, and even the crowd made this the best show of its kind ever. Taylor must have performed at least fifty different songs flawlessly. How does she do it? After three hours, my wife and I were drained while she still seemed relatively fresh.
For her to allow this to be made into a movie opened her spectacle to possibly millions more in North America alone. I note that ticket prices in Toronto for her actual performance are over $2000US. Thank goodness for this movie!
If the camerawork can be trusted, many in the audience (largely teenage girls) were moved to tears.
We found that many of her songs sounded much the same. Her singing was good but, as a singer, she ain't no Karen Carpenter. But then, with all of her other talents, she doesn't have to be!
Glee: The New Rachel (2012)
Give Melissa the credit she deserves!
I can't believe that Melissa Benoist was so seldom listed as one of the "Top Cast". What's with that? In addition to her singing and dancing, she can also act. She moves beautifully and is clearly easy on the eyes.
She carried Season IV! Five years of Supergirl attest to her talents. The "powers that be" have some explaining to do. Without her, Season IV would only be a 5/10.
The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart (2020)
Who was she?
It was disgusting to see how the Bee Gees got caught up in the anti-disco craze in 1980. It was unfair and the radio people who stopped playing their music should be ashamed.
Who was the gorgeous blond woman sitting behind Barry Gibb at the 2017 Grammy Awards?
The Comey Rule (2020)
An excellent yet depressing summary of recent American political history.
I have followed the American political scene closely for many years but especially since 2015. My sources include both print and electronic media (both print and television) but, more importantly, the words and actions of the candidates themselves. This production shows that there were no saints involved in the 2016 debacle. Still, even though he was putting the reputation of the FBI ahead of the welfare of the United states, Mr. Comey probably deserved better.
Can't a nation with a population of roughly 350 million do better than Ms Clinton and Trump? The answer is no. The system needs to be overhauled started with the role that money now plays in our politics. The situation seems hopeless.
Fahrenheit 11/9 (2018)
Terrific but could have been even better!
A terrific movie! Another one of Michaal's efforts that make such a difference.
A suggestion ... Gerrymandering and voter suppression could have been mentioned.
The Cheshire Murders (2013)
The real horror
I thought that the documentary was very clever in exposing the incompetence of the police without actually stating it. The cover-up of that incompetence was also exposed as endless blacked out pages could be seen.
Let's see now ...
While the police waited outside: 1. The daughters were sexually assaulted 2. The daughters were burned alive 3. The wife was strangled 4. The wife's corpse was "raped" 5. The house was torched It should be noted that if the badly injured husband had been unable to get himself out of the house, he likely would have burned alive too.
After the event, we are told that the well-trained police did a wonderful job. Without their efforts, things could have been worse. How exactly? I noted that large portions of the police report were blacked out. I guess that they were covering their @$$e$.
It seems that people were so distracted by the brutality of the crime that they had no mental energy left to question the conduct of the police at the scene.
One or more of them should be fired.
Home by Christmas (2006)
A perfect Christmas move!
This movie captured the spirit of Christmas so beautifully. It doesn't matter if the plot has holes in it or not. This movie is all about the power of love and perseverance and the fact that real bonding can only take place when we expose our failures, fears, and weaknesses. It brought tears to my eyes.
It was also good to see Linda Hamilton again. I have very fond memories of her from the Terminator movies. This was such a different role in a way even though she was playing a strong woman. Of course, this is a different kind of strength than we saw when she was Sarah Connor.
I hope to add this movie to my Christmas movie collection. This effort outdoes The Polar Express and is in the same league as It's A Wonderful Life. and the Alistair Sim version of A Christmas Carol.
Everybody, hurry up and vote!
Donnie Darko (2001)
A great movie made greater by Maggie Gyllenhaal
Regarding Maggie . . .she really has a special presence on the screen that goes beyond beauty. The first time that I became aware of her was in Mona Lisa Smile. I could not take my eyes off her no matter who else was on the screen with her. The same thing with Donnie Darko. She only had a small role and yet, for me, she jumped off the screen. The over-used word 'authentic'comes to mind. In any case, I expect her to become more than a star. She is so talented and takes risks. Her movies differ so much. They don't fall into any category except that they are all different. And from such a great family. Oh, I also forgot to mention her unique beauty. Maggie, take care of yourself! The world needs more actresses like you. Best wishes to you and all the Gyllenhaals! The movie really shook me up. The ending, combined with that haunting song, reduced me to tears. Maggie, as the bereaved younger sister, finished me off. I did not discover this magnificent movie until my students warned me about it. I am a movie buff yet I do not remember it when it was first released. A wonderful cast, great script, mind-bending plot, and wonderful sound track. What else can I say? 9 out of 10!
Die Hard (1988)
Excellent and stands the test of time
Possible spoilers!
This movie has it all. Great plot, great acting, action, and excellent humour and satire. How about that Alan Rickman? Where was his Oscar nomination for his Hans Gruber? The exchange between Rickman and Bochner just before Bochner's character was off killed was priceless. The FBI guys had lines that reminded me a bit of Doctor Strangelove and their personalities were from Colonel Flagg from MASH.
Bruce Willis became a star after this movie and rightly so. Nobody could be a better fly in the ointment than he was in this movie. This movie did not need special effects but they were good nonetheless.
This movie in DVD would be an excellent gift for anyone who likes movies.
Enjoy!
The Grudge (2004)
The power of Sarah Michelle Gellar
For me, The Grudge was well done. It was different yet extremely frightening. Yet the reactions to this movie are varied. The terror comes from an intense psychological assault. As this movie comes from a different culture, this has caused confusion for even a great reviewer like Roger Ebert.
There is, however, one thing that we can agree on. Without the great Sarah Michelle Gellar, this movie could not have succeeded. Throughout the Buffy years, her movies, and her appearance on the 2002 MTV Movie Awards, she has shown that she can do it all. She can project the entire range of human emotions through her acting, she can dance and sing, she is an accomplished comedienne, and she is willing to take risks.
The amazing attendance during the first two weeks of The Grudge show the power that Sarah Michelle has at the box office.
Recent Oscar winners like Julia Roberts, Halle Berry, and Gwyneth Paltrow could not begin the take on the range of projects that Ms Gellar has taken on. When will Hollywood begin to offer Sarah Michelle the scripts that she has earned and deserves?
She is exquisite as well as talented. All hail Sarah Michelle!
Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
Where was our media? Where were the Democrats?
Possible Spoilers
'Where all think alike, no one thinks very much.' - Walter Lippman
Michael Moore's 'Fahrenheit 9/11' paints the picture of a shallow and profoundly stupid president. However, this movie does much more than this.
Where were the Democrats as Mr. Bush used the disaster in New York to advance his political agenda? Instead of asking difficult questions, they became an echo. No democracy can thrive without an energetic and principled opposition party. Michael Moore does not let the Democrats off the hook.
Where was our media as Mr. Bush used the disaster in New York to advance his political agenda? Instead of asking difficult questions, they became cheerleaders. Yet how could they do otherwise? What would happen to our media superstars like Dan Rather, Connie Chung, or Barbara Walters if they did? Can we really expect them to risk their positions and salaries by pointing out any disagreeable facts? How can our 'democracy' function if they don't? Mr. Moore does not let our media off the hook.
We now know that 15 of the 19 terrorists involved in the attacks of 01-09-11 were from Saudi Arabia and that much of Osama Bin Laden's funding came from that same country. By attacking a country that was not friendly to Al Qaeda, under false pretences, we have lost much more than 800 lives and 100 billion dollars. The 10000 Iraqi civilians who have been killed had families, relatives, and friends. Al Qaeda will now find it easier to recruit than ever before. By ignoring international law, Mr. Bush has turned our great country into a 'rogue state' and much of our moral authority has been lost as a result. He, the timid Democrats, and our compliant news media have also given Mr. Moore a chance to make a lot of money.
And the movie? 10 out of 10. Don't miss it! America is a great country that has given much to the world. Everyone knows that. However, we must not allow ourselves to think of ourselves as perfect and that our way is the only way. The debacle in Iraq is an example of where that kind of thinking can lead us.