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charcas67
Reviews
Jasper Mall (2020)
Nice slice of life documentary of a dying mall, but could use more context.
All in all I enjoyed this documentary about a dying mall in Jasper Alabama. The film offers a cross section of people who work there and shop there as well as efforts (generally not successful) to increase foot traffic. I just wished occasionally the film makers had pulled away from the mall setting to give us some context about the larger community where the mall is set. Sure, internet commerce has hurt malls across the country, but are there shopping areas in Jasper that are prospering, such as downtown or the area where the jewelry repair shop moved to? Or is Jasper overall an economically depressed area that has gone severely down hill since the hey day of Jasper Mall in the 80s and 90s? The film would have been a much more rewarding experience for me if such contextual interludes had been provided.
Girls Can Play (1937)
Rita Hayworth stands out
In 1937 Rita Hayworth signed with Columbia and for next two years she ground out a bunch of b pictures produced by the studios b picture unit headed by Irving briskin; story is silly and production values are utilitarian but Rita stands out; she's still going through electrolysis on her hairline but her poise and her acting needs polish but potential stat quality obliterates everyone else in cast; take it for what it's worth a training ground and enjoy; a league of its own it's not though Rita stands out
Jubilee Trail (1954)
Good movie; want to read the novel now
Republic pictures put out all the stops for them for this adaptation of the Gwen bistrow novel; class production values despite the backlot early Los Angeles set; good depiction of the friendship between Garnett and Floridan; their bond despite how opposite they are driven the story; Joan Leslie is very touching and sympathetic as Garnett; Vera ralston as Floridan isn't subtle or nuanced in her part but her flamboyance is lively and works well-too bad she didn't get more parts like this as she works well in such roles; I've a feeling a lot of the book was left out but the picture makes me want to read it; all in all a solid well produced and entertaining republic picture