Category Archives: Drama

1997, Drama, Explicit sex, French, Gay theme, Not Feel Good

Dry Cleaning (1997)

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From NetFlix:

For 15 years, Nicole (Miou Miou) and Jean-Marie (Charles Berling) have worked side by side at their dry cleaning establishment, building a business and maintaining a seemingly peaceful marriage. But a chance encounter with Loic (Stanislas Merhar), the male half of a brother-sister nightclub act they catch one night, forces the two to reevaluate their relationship, leading them to wonder whether they ought to be together at all.

What starts off slowly with a visit to a nightclub to see an act that only a French person might possibly appreciate, eventually turns into a sexual “who will do what to whom”. I can give nothing away, including an ending that I did not expect. But I would enjoy hearing anyone’s reaction to this film. But then as May West would have said “So many films, so little time”. (That is not quite what she said).

1000NYTimes, 1974, Comedy, Detective, Drama, Old-Fashioned, Suspense, Violent, Vulgar

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)

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From NetFlix:

Mr. Blue (Robert Shaw) and his crew take hostages on a subway car. If Blue and Co. don’t get a million dollars in an hour, Blue will start carving graffiti on the passengers’ foreheads. Quentin Tarantino borrowed a lot from this unsung classic of crime cinema — including criminals using colors for code names — for his film Reservoir Dogs.

This version is the original “Taking”. Note that the numbers in the title are spelled out. I decided to see the first version before seeing the second version. It is recommended in the “NY Times Best 1000”.

For sure, this version does not take itself too seriously and has a grand time making fun of just about everything. For example, the mayor is played as a bumbling idiot with the flu who is booed every time he appears in public. There is a ton of swearing. Walter Matthau runs the show. If anyone out there is too young to remember Walter Matthau, he was the slob half of the “Odd Couple”. Near the beginning of the film, Matthau is showing a Japanese contingent the wonders of the New York subway system but all the visitors can do is bow because it seems they don’t understand English. When notice of the hostage taking arrives Matthau says (about the visitors ) “Get these monkeys outta here”. At that point one of the Japanese answers in perfect English, “We understand. Thank you for everything. This is very exciting”. And so it goes for most of the film. There is music only at beginning and end and it sounds exactly like the music used in the very early James Bond movies. It ends with 10 really clever seconds.

1990, Detective, Drama, Imperfect, Kathryn Bigelow, Nudity, Suspense, Violent

Blue Steel (1990)

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From NetFlix:

When psychotic Wall Street broker Eugene (Ron Silver) witnesses rookie cop Megan (Jamie Lee Curtis) gunning down an armed robber in a store, he becomes instantly obsessed with her. After lifting the robber’s gun from the crime scene, Eugene carves Turner’s name into the bullets and uses them in a series of murders. Soon, Turner is drawn into a deadly game of wits with a psychopath who’s always a step ahead … and much closer than she thinks!

Since I am on a Kathryn Bigelow (director) kick, I tried this film. Although Ron Silver plays an acceptable psychotic, Jamie Lee Curtis is a bit stiff. Give this film a B. The plot could have made things a lot harder for the cop Megan. I could have framed her and sent her away for life. For a better Kathryn Bigelow film see The Weight of Water.

2005, Biographical, Drama

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (2005)

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From Netflix:

With 10 children to feed, postwar Ohio housewife Evelyn Ryan (Julianne Moore) has gotten used to being resourceful, stretching her husband’s meager salary to the limit. But when clipping coupons won’t cut it, she’s forced to rely on her creativity and enters a jingle-writing contest for extra income. Woody Harrelson and Laura Dern co-star in this uncommon comedy-drama based on a heartwarming memoir by Ryan’s daughter, Terry.

No, it is not treacle, but possibly hard for a child to watch. This is supposedly a true story based on a memoir written by a daughter. It is hard to believe that the wife could support the 10 kids by consistently winning contests, but I’ll go along with the joke. Sadly, the reason she has to bring in winnings is that her husband, believably played by Woody Harrelson, is a mean drunk. More accurately, his heart is in the right place when he is sober, but each night he consumes a 6-pack of beer and a pint of whiskey and goes on rampages. He also secretly takes out a second mortgage on their home and spends all the money. It is also hard to believe that all the kids didn’t hate him. But through it all the wife just smiles and maintains her role as shining example (that detail was a bit hard to swallow).

If nothing else, this film is a piece of post-WWII cultural history. Women stayed home. A woman would never vote for a woman president. After one of the husband’s rampages, their Catholic priest comes to counsel the wife and tells her she will just have to try harder. As the priest leaves, one of the children says “The priest’s breath smells just like daddy’s breath”.

If you start to watch the film, just don’t be put off by the beginning. Julianne Moore peppers the entire film with little jingles she has created. It seems so corny that I almost gave up. But in the end I was glad I watched the entire film. And if you do stick with it, do NOT miss the credits because they tell you what happened in real life to each of the 10 children.

Finally, have you or any of your children ever seen anyone in an iron lung ?

1000NYTimes, 1001BeforeDie, 1998, Classic, Could Be Hard To Watch, Drama, Not Feel Good, Violent, War

The Thin Red Line (1998)

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From NetFlix:

Director Terrence Malick’s lyrical retelling of James Jones’s novel about the bloody 1942 battle for Guadalcanal was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. With narration from Pvt. Witt (Sean Penn), fellow soldiers Capt. John Gaff (John Cusack), Sgt. Keck (Woody Harrelson) and the rest of the company become a tight-knit group as they face the horrors of war to hold onto a key-positioned airfield — and their own sanity.

Both the “NY Times Best 1000” and “1001 Films to See Before You Die” rave about Malick’s war film. At 170 minutes, it is a long an harrowing adventure. There are too many known actors to even begin mentioning them. Essentially an anti-war film, it constantly blends exotic filming of an island paradise (scenery, natives, birds, etc) with the horrors of the effort to defeat the Japanese entrenced on the summit of the island. But most of all, it accompanies various soldiers as we hear their thoughts, their meditations on this sanity-threatening experience. Of all the threads, two impressed me the most:

Nick Nolte plays Lt. Col. Toll who is an older man that in peacetime was bypassed for promotion. This war is his big chance to be noticed. Accordingly he is willing to sacrifice his men in order to achieve personal glory. At one point he orders Captain Staros, a soldier and lawyer, to launch a suicidal attack. But Staros refuses to order his men to their death, defies Toll’s order, and finds a better way. After successfully reaching the summit, Toll bribes Staros with a Purple Heart so that Staros will not tell the outside world what an as _ _ _ le comander he, Toll, really is.

Ben Chaplin plays Pvt. Bell who survives the terror by constantly remembering his time with his dearly beloved wife. However, at one point he receives a “Dear John” letter asking him for a divorce. Chapin’s portrayal of the slowing dawning, almost impossible to accept, realization of his loss is devastating.

Critics has questioned the length of the film. But this is a classic war film that you should see before you die.

2008, Could Be Sad, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Love Story, Nudity, Sexual Episodes

Two Lovers (2008)

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From NetFlix:

After his engagement falls through, Leonard Kraditor (Joaquin Phoenix) juggles the affections of Michelle (Gwyneth Paltrow), his beautiful, self-destructive neighbor, and Sandra (Vinessa Shaw), the attractive, sensible daughter of his father’s business associate. Writer-director James Gray’s beautifully nuanced romantic drama is set in Brooklyn and also stars Elias Koteas. The film was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

In my search for an actor’s actor, among others I nominate Joaquin Phoenix. He has never, to my knowledge, appeared in an unworthy part. His roles in “Gladiator” and “Walk The Line” were astounding. Also noteworthy were his roles in “Reservation Road” and “We Own the Night”. But for me his role in “Two Lovers” is the best yet. He plays an ordinary human being, albeit one with lots of problems.

Gwyneth Paltrow plays a mixed-up bleached blond. For our tastes Paltrow is getting a bit too old for such a part. But Paltrow always does a good job.

Playing a really sweet young woman (who aggressively pursues Leonard) is the stunningly beautiful Vinessa Shaw. She was the character Emma Nelson playing opposite Russell Crowe in “3:10 To Yuma” (which you MUST see).

And then there is Leonard’s beautiful mother. We sat there watching Ingrid Bergman in looks and speech and mannerisms. Finally it hit us – the actress is Isabella Rossellini, the daughter of Ingrid Bergman.

For me the plot came to a perfect conclusion. Would anyone out there like to disagree ?

Wife Kathy also liked the film. For a non-movie person like Kathy, that is saying a lot. Don’t miss this one!

2001, Could Be Hard To Watch, Drama, Kathryn Bigelow, Not Feel Good, Nudity, Violent

The Weight of Water (2001)

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From NetFlix:

Two couples (Catherine McCormack and Sean Penn, Josh Lucas and Elizabeth Hurley) head off to New Hampshire to look into the double murder of two sisters in 1873. The film, based on Anita Shreve’s novel, volleys back and forth between the past and the present, dredging up not only the past killings but the modern-day relationships of the foursome, as well.

Kathryn Bigelow, who directed this film, has been in the news lately. So I am now trying to see as many of her films as I can. She has a reputation for pulling no punches in her films. Eventually in this film you experience this in the murder scenes and in the storm at sea. But just as unsettling are the motives for the murder. The scenes switch back and forth from the past (the murder) and the present (the foursome on the boat) with great rapidity and in a clever way by matching the mood in each scenario.

My attention never wavered. I am now officially a Kathryn Bigelow fan.

2007, Could be boring, Could Be Sad, Drama, Imperfect, Not Feel Good

Evening (2007)

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From NetFlix:

With daughters Constance (Natasha Richardson) and Nina (Toni Collette) by her bedside, terminally ill matriarch Ann Grant (Vanessa Redgrave) recounts a passionate romance that took place 50 years in the past yet defined the rest of her life. Claire Danes stars as a younger Ann, and Patrick Wilson portrays her lover. This adaptation of Susan Minot’s best-seller also features the megawatt talents of Meryl Streep and Glenn Close.

For all the big name stars (and their real-life children) in this film, the acceptably interesting story could have been told a lot better. Wife Kathy and neighbor Bev (a MovieFan) called a halt to watching it about a quarter of the way through. On my own I slogged through the rest just to see how it all ended. You have better things to do with your time than to watch this slow boat to old age.

2001, Comedy, Drama, Feel Good Not For Children, Imperfect, Sci-Fi, Unusual

Happy Accidents (2001)

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From NetFlix:

Ruby Weaver (Marisa Tomei) is tired of being the “enabler” in relationships and has decided to give up the role of doormat. She’s also on the verge of giving up on love. But a sweet, small-town guy, Sam Deed (Vincent D’Onofrio), changes her mind, and it seems Ruby’s finally found a sane boyfriend. Or has she? Soon, Sam’s divulging that he’s a time traveler from the year 2470 … and Ruby must decide whether love conquers all.

Why would I ever watch this film ? Two reasons: I am a Vince D’Onofrio (Law and Order Criminal Intent) fan, and I like quirky films. Of course that is redundant because D’Onofrio is synonymous with quirky. Rate this date flick a B. Some of the girl-talk conversations are insipid. But the idea behind the film is fun and the projections of what the future holds are thought provoking. Should I tempt you: He comes from Debuque Iowa which is on the Atlantic coast. Now are you interested ?

2007, Drama, Nudity, Sci-Fi, Unusual

Youth Without Youth (2007)

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From NetFlix:

Oscar-winning director Francis Ford Coppola spins a unique love story that combines elements of suspense and science fiction. Set in pre-World War II Europe, the film follows an academic (Tim Roth) who’s metaphysically altered after being struck by lightning. This begins a spiritual journey through time toward divine love, a journey in which the professor grows younger and more enlightened even as his nation is on the brink of war.

Francis Ford Coppola takes chances, judging from this pseudo-sci-fi film. Such a slow, quiet, strange, imaginative film will not be to everyone’s taste.

After our hero is struck by lightning at the age of 70 his body transforms into a younger man who can speak many languages and has other powers. He also now has a double of himself and they converse a lot. He outwits the Gestapo who want him for experimentation. After the war a woman much younger than our hero is struck by lightning and becomes his partner. She goes into trances and speaks languages that are progessively more ancient. The hope is that eventually she will speak the proto language from which the other languages developed. But each trance ages her. So our hero has to leave her in order that she regain her youth.

Hope I didn’t give away too much, but with limited viewing time at your disposal, you probably don’t want to watch this unusual film.