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Hope Gap (2019)
The Very Sad Plight of an Only Child w/ Egocentric Parents
An excruciating movie. Grace is unbearable. Her husband is a stiff, selfish wimp. Both so selfish they use their only child as a go-between and interpreter for their agonizing travails. He has no outlet except an occasional chat with kind fellow students and is trapped in his parents' emotional drama.
Excruciating, yet riveting. Annette Bening is very good as needling, annoying, poetry and self-obsessed Grace. Hubs is the tall, silent, ever -suffering foil. He leaves his only child to clean up the sudden carnage in his wake.
A cautionary tale for only children. Don't let unfair toxic parents steal your joy. Josh O'Connor is excellent as the entangled son, Jamie. He also wins the prize as the only likable main character.
The God Committee (2021)
Devastating Look at the Medical Community
The late economist Walter Williams often discussed the transplant industry. It's big money, folks, but the main ingredient to the prosperity, the donor (surviving family) get nothing out of it. It's ghoulish to contemplate, but it is true.
This movie is an excellent window into what happens inside Big Transplant . The acting is superb. It's not a fun movie. But if you want a good look into medical ethics and great performances from surprising actors, this is for you.
Spinning Man (2018)
Need to Watch Again
The film is excellent and riveting. All the performances are very good. What about all the foreign actors playing Americans?? (tee hee - I think PC cultural appropriation victimhood is not enjoyed by Americans). I paid close attention, but am not sure what was really going on, so I want to watch it again. I am genuinely interested to try and nail it all down and spend more time with it. Could be a sign of a good movie.
Wild Mountain Thyme (2020)
Pretty, but Lacking
Perhaps I wasn't in the proper mood, but billed as a comedy? This is a lengthy film, somewhat plodding. I stuck with it hoping the comedy and romance would explode at some point. It's quirky, for certain. The chemistry between the male and female leads is about a 2 out of 10. The scenery is the star, and the song is charming as all get out, especially when performed by Blunt.
The Other Wife (2012)
PLEASE, when can we get to the plane crash???
This is an excruciatingly boring 2 episode movie with very pretty scenery and locales and bad acting. Perhaps I should cut them some slack - maybe the screenplay/dialogue was a collaboration written by the 9th grade creative writing class of 2010. Rupert Everett, however, presumably could have risen above his portrayal of a cartoonish stoop shouldered Snidely Whiplash. Horrendous performance. He has forever tainted himself.
Rosamund Pilcher is an entertaining author and I hope she did not live to see this rendition of her book. I struggled through it on 4 separate occasions, just to get through it for Rosamund. In the first episode, I longed for the plane crash. Just SOMETHING interesting. And it wasn't. Going forward, I longed for the stiff and awkward ballet scenes to end quickly. They didn't. Terrible, very predictable movie.
Before We Go (2014)
1/2 click up from Hallmark Movie
I wanted to like this, but I found it boring and trite. I didn't feel the chemistry between the two. I stuck with it to the end but was anxious for it to be over.
The Martian (2015)
Couldn't Decide if I Wanted Damon to Survive
The first half of this movie is not bad, although the happy go lucky, put a happy face on being left on Mars (Damon) was 60% hard to take. Permanently robbed of any credibility by his starring role in Dumb and Dumber, Jeff Daniels was not believable as the head of NASA.
Hearkening back to Apollo 13, the ingenuity factor was interesting. The second half became predictable and silly. There should have been a lot more left on the cutting room floor. It's loooong.
Snowed-Inn Christmas (2017)
Predictable? Oh Yeah. But Surprisingly Charming
Yes these Christmas stories are a dime a dozen. Yes these churned out movies can be crushingly boring and laughable. Because of the two lead characters, however, Snowed-In Christmas transcends. Walker and Lenz have great chemistry and timing. He is especially charming and more believable as a romantic male lead than a lot of these made for TV movies. They hooked me right in to the predictable story line. The emphasis on simple nuclear family experiences and togetherness becoming treasured and meaningful traditions is heartwarming and rare. Yep, I loved the movie.
Awake (2007)
Maybe the Writer had a Brain Transplant Halfway Through?
I did not catch this from the very beginning and saw a TV version, but I was pretty hooked until the plot line began to get absurd. I was still hooked enough to stay with it to the end. I pride myself at anticipating story twists and spotting bad guys but I was surprised a few times. With the exception of the bird-like operating room doc and the famous heart transplant surgeon, I thought all the acting was pretty good. The mother, son, and girlfriend were very good and easy on the eyes. It's just too bad it had to get so outlandish from a medical perspective. Not that the potentially ghoulish aspect of the transplant business couldn't be corrupted, but the complete lack of red tape, oversight, and procedures in this particular hospital/operating room strains credulity. Still, it was entertaining.
Midnight in Paris (2011)
Beautiful to look at.
It's striking midnight and we all know that means a walk back in time. It's an old story in an old city, and it's pretty to watch. Mostly charming, but often annoying due to the miscast of Owen Wilson. It is impossible to buy him in a role of a literary, well read author. He just can't pull it off. He and the actress playing Zelda are problems, and it's too bad for all the other really excellent portrayals. The actors playing Hemingway and Salvadore Dali are wonderful, as is the brooding Picasso. The fiancée, her family, and the know it all friend are great, too. A pleasant, pretty film with a great soundtrack and a casting department needing their heads examined.
November Christmas (2010)
What in the world happened?
A poignant story of families facing heartbreak with excellent acting, endearing characters and believability
UNTIL, very near the end
it suddenly becomes a moronic public service announcement. Several characters are gathered in the town diner when tired old clichés such as "that's what it's all about, isn't it ~ helping your neighbor and giving back" suddenly start tumbling out of everyone's mouth. It is mind boggling and such a departure from the rest of the movie which managed to be both heart wrenching and heart warming without having to explain to viewers, in the most condescending way, what it all meant. I was suddenly cured of any emotional connection to the characters as I watched this inane transition to PC drivel. All tears dried up but quick. Then, the ending
Gads, it was so cheesy and saccharine sweet. It was almost like a parody and did not belong in this movie. I cannot imagine what happened behind the scenes to ruin what could have been a first class motion picture. What an embarrassing ending.
Lost Sparrow (2009)
Public Airing of Horrible Family Dysfunction
It is no wonder that none of Chris Billings' five original brothers and sisters agreed to be in the documentary. I wonder about the wisdom of the two adopted Crow Indian sisters participating. Perhaps they felt they owed it to their brothers. Such a sordid and sad family tale now on display for all the world to see. I don't see how this helps the girls overcome the injustice and tragedy they experienced. While one says she "feels better", you have to wonder how the publicity will affect them over time. They are so fragile. Perhaps Chris feels better and perhaps it opens a necessary discussion about painful issues, but at what cost to his family? None the less, it was riveting, and hopelessly sad. And it hits all the pet PBS issues: insincere religiosity, white man bad, white man continues his rape and pillage of Native Americans.
A Child Is Waiting (1963)
A family tries to decide on a school for the retarded for their son
I came in about half way through the movie, but was still deeply moved by it. Judy Garland has never been a favorite, but she was excellent in this. Burt Lancaster plays it quiet and cool and is also great. The boy's mother, Gena Rowlands I think, portrays the family tragedy in every look and expression. Movies from this era are often overplayed and melodramatic, but this one is realistic and heartbreaking.
I would like to learn more about the making of the movie. A visit to a home for retarded adults had a documentary feel. I think it was a real location.
A heart wrenching predicament for families is presented with truth, compassion and understanding. I hope caring places like the home/school for little Reuben, as depicted in the movie, exist. This movie is definitely worth seeing.