Category Archives: Feel Good Not For Children

2001, Could Be Sad, Feel Good Not For Children, Revenge, Stephen King, Suspense

Hearts in Atlantis (2001)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

This coming-of-age drama set in the 1960s is another one of Stephen King’s short stories adapted for the big screen. Anthony Hopkins plays an elderly man with bad eyesight and a second sight who’s a boarder in a widower’s home. He befriends the woman’s young son, who reads to him and learns of his mysterious power and the danger he’s trying to escape. On the heels of the success of King’s The Green Mile, this film’s tepid reviews surprised many.

Anthony Hopkins has not been a consistently good actor. In fact, as I see it, he has been in some really second-rate movies and his acting at times has been horrible (examples: Dracula or The Mask of Zorro). In “Hearts in Atlantis” he is acceptable. It is the story that held my attention. You do have to suspend some disbelief because the supposedly 11 year old boy has some lines that are just too mature and observant for a kid that age. And did J. Edgar Hoover, for all his cross-dressing faults, really employ psychics to fight communism ? Maybe I should read the original Stephen King short story. I would still call this a feel-good, but not for children (who might not understand the mother’s rape scene). There is one bashing scene, but this is not a violent film.

2002, Could Be Sad, Feel Good Not For Children

In America (2002)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Academy Award-winning director Jim Sheridan brings authenticity and grit to this heartwarming drama about an Irish family starting life anew in early-1980s America. With their two daughters in tow, Johnny (Paddy Considine) and Sarah (Samantha Morton) leave Ireland and head to New York so Johnny can pursue an acting career. What follows is a series of adventures, both comical and terrifying, as they struggle to make the most of their new life.

Usually I am fairly hard-hearted about sentimental films (“been there, seen that”), but this film, I have to admit, got a few weeps out of yours truly. The interplay of the family characters was almost inspiring to see. How those parents loved those kids! What NetFlix fails to tell you is that the theme of the entire movie is that before coming to America (illegally), they had lost a young boy Frankie of 3 years. This is a story of loss and deferred mourning. The African artist Mateo is played by Djimon Hounsou who played the lead African “slave” in “Amistad”. I could have watched the two little daughters forever. Despite certain details too good to be true at the end, the ending really got to me.

I hate to say “not for children” but there was one wonderful (and tastefully played) sex scene. Also at one point Mateo puts his blood on a canvas.

I try not to rave (especially since our mood at the time determines how we receive a film), but don’t miss this one!

2007, Chick Flick, Feel Good Not For Children

And Then She Found Me (2007)

1 Comment

From NetFlix:

Helen Hunt, Colin Firth, Bette Midler and Matthew Broderick star
in this comedic tale about a schoolteacher in the thick of a midlife
crisis involving a messy divorce, the death of her adoptive mother
and a reunion with her eccentric birth mother. As if that weren’t
enough to juggle, things grow even more complicated when she begins
dating a man who turns out to be the father of one of her students.

Bette Midler makes any movie a “feel-good” for me. This chick flick
melodrama borders sometimes on a B, or maybe I’m being too
harsh. The story line has lots of twists and never drags. There is
just too much language and sex for children to watch this film.
Helen Hunt is older and fits the part perfectly. And Bette Midler
plays Bette Midler which just puts a smile on my face. There is
a serious, religious, Jewish tone to the movie. It is not just a
comedy.

For what it’s worth, I really enjoyed the film.

2007, Feel Good Not For Children, Underdogs win

The Great Debaters (2007)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

When African-American poet Mel Tolson (Denzel Washington, who
also directs) creates a debate team at historically black Wiley
College, he pushes the team to a level of excellence that allows
them to challenge powerhouse Harvard in 1935. But despite public
success, personal clashes foment as the father (Forest Whitaker)
of one of Tolson’s students resents his son’s loyalty to his coach.
Denzel Whitaker co-stars in this drama based on a true story.

You have seen this movie before: underdogs win against great odds.
But that movie is almost always inspiring and this film is no exception.
Wiley college in 1935 debated and won against USC, not Harvard.
In 2007 Denzel Washington announced a million dollar grant to
Wiley college to re-establish their debating team.

This film is not for children because it does portray a lynching. Also
Denzel Washington explains the origin of the word “lynch” and the
details are chilling.

The co-existence of comfortable, educated blacks with the redneck
Jim Crow south in 1935 can be shocking.

Strong performances by all actors make this a must-see.

Highly recommended,

2006, Feel Good Not For Children, FilmReview

Outsourced (2006)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

When his department is outsourced to India, customer call
center manager Todd Anderson (Josh Hamilton) heads to
Mumbai to train his successor (Asif Basra). Amusing culture
clashes soon ensue as Anderson tries to explain American
business practices to the befuddled new employees — and
in the process learns some important lessons about
globalization and life. Director John Jeffcoat’s delightful
comedy also stars Ayesha Dharker and Matt Smith.

Thanks to Lynn for suggesting “Outsourced”. This film is bound to bring a smile
to your face. It is an easy watch because there is really no tension. Relax and
enjoy as if you had traveled to India as Todd Anderson and really learned to accept
India.

Every detail seems to ring true except possibly for the following: Following his
being turned blue, red, and every other color in the feast of Holi, Todd notices that
the Indians clean themselves in the river. So Todd follows suit and submerges.
I suspect that if a germ susceptible American did that, he might die on the spot.
But correct me if I am wrong.

Possibly not for children due to sexual references. At one point the couple spend
a night in the “Kama-Sutra” room. Even that comes off innocently.

Just plain chill-out fun,

1996, DO NOT MISS, Feel Good Not For Children

Shine (1996)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

A riveting profile of Australian keyboard virtuoso David
Helfgott (Geoffrey Rush) and his ultimate triumph over a
domineering, abusive father (Armin Mueller-Stahl);
schizophrenia; and an obsession with the all but unplayable
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3. Sir John Gielgud,
superb as ever, plays Helfgott’s tutor. Richly deserved
Oscars went to Rush (Best Actor) and to Mueller-Stahl for
his supporting turn.

You should read about David Helfgott in Wikipedia. The movie is not exactly true,
but close enough. In the film Helfgott’s father is more of a monster than perhaps
he deserves to be. I was disappointed to learn that Helfgott’s performance of the
Rachmaninoff Third Piano Concerto was criticized quite negatively. Never mind,
just enjoy the film.

As with most “feel good” movies, you first have to “feel bad”.
When Lynn Redgrave enters the film, you just know the movie will get happier.

In several scenes Helfgott forgets to wear clothing. He gropes a woman several
times. Hence, perhaps not for children.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, especially for classical music fans,

2002, Feel Good Not For Children

About a Boy (2002)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Will Lightman (Hugh Grant) is a rich, hip, irresponsible
Londoner who, in search of available women, invents an
imaginary son and starts attending single-parent meetings —
confident in both parties’ inability to make a commitment.
But when Will meets Marcus, the troubled 12-year-old son of
Fiona (Toni Collette), a quirky and unexpected friendship
develops as both Will and Marcus help each other grow up.

Another suggestion from Kate and Nigel, “About A Boy” is a feel-good lightweight
film that avoids being maudlin. Hugh Grant does a nice job, as do the kids in the
movie. Possibly not for children due to its explicit sexual references. Just a bit of fun.

1996, Feel Good Not For Children

Courage Under Fire (1996)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Lt. Col. Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington) heads an
investigation of the wartime activities of chopper pilot
Capt. Karen Walden (Meg Ryan) to verify that she’s posthumously
worthy of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Serling meets with
several soldiers who were under Walden’s command, including
Ilario (Matt Damon) and Monfriez (Lou Diamond Phillips). But
the men give conflicting accounts, so it’s up to Serling to
uncover the truth.

Kathy, Bev (a Movie Fan), and I watched this film together with the understanding that
if we were bored, we would eject. It starts with a Desert Storm battle scene which was
long enough to make us think we were starting to get bored. But we hung in there long
enough to get interested. The plot was intriguing enough to hold our interest. What really
happened back there in Iraq ? For my money, Lou Diamond Phillips as Monfriez
played a really intense role. The film is nothing special and a bag of popcorn might help.
Battle scenes might not be good for small children.

Not my first choice.

2008, Feel Good Not For Children, Italian

Days and Clouds (2008)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

After years of putting it off, Elsa (Margherita Buy) finally
returns to school to pursue her art history degree. But her
newfound academic bliss crumbles when her husband, Michele
(Antonio Albanese), loses his job and the duo is forced to
sell their gorgeous flat. The ensuing financial strain soon
takes a surprising toll on their marriage in director Silvio
Soldini’s intimate domestic drama, shot in beautiful Genoa.

Most of this Italian film is a downer. Considering the times we live in, the story of an Italian losing his job and the necessary downsizing is really the story of everyman. Of course, for the most
part, in Italy you own an apartment instead of a house. Economic hardship is a strain on
every family and the usual question here is: can this marriage survive ? Again, watching this
film reminds me how glad I am to be retired and not constantly threatened by layoffs. I wish
the husband had not reacted so badly, but I understand his position. Just so you won’t be
put off too much, from an emotional standpoint the film has a happy ending.

Not for those low in spirit.

1999, Feel Good Not For Children

Liberty Heights (1999)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

‘No Jews, dogs or coloreds,’ reads the sign outside a public
swimming pool in 1954 Baltimore. High school freshman Ben Kurtzman
(Ben Foster) and friends find themselves confronted with
anti-Semitism, racism and coming of age in a fast-changing world.
Writer-director and Baltimore memorialist Barry Levinson takes
viewers on a sentimental journey, complete with loving period
details and wry humor.

For those of you fortunate enough to not have grown up in Baltimore, Liberty Heights was
at that time a Jewish section of Baltimore. This movie takes place in 1954 when I was
a freshman at Mount Saint Joseph high school in Baltimore. The movie portrays a Baltimore
life of which I was completely unaware. I had many Jewish friends because I attended
also the Peabody Music School in Baltimore. I had NO black friends. I never really
experienced anti-Semitism. But among my family and friends there was much anti-black
prejudice. Fortunately, my mother’s influence was strong enough to combat the prejudice.

I can only hope the movie is an accurate portrayal. Was it realistic to have a white Jew
befriend a middle-class black girl in his forcibly desegregated high school behind her
disapproving father’s back and go with her to a black live theater to see a rock and
roll star while the audience was mixed black and white, all dressed well in shirts, ties, etc ?

That boy’s father supposedly ran the famous Gayety burlesque theatre. Even I had
heard of the Gayety. Baltimore has since cleaned up its act much in the way that
Boston has.

True or not, I loved the movie. It is warm and human enough to call it a “feel-good”. But
the sexual language and some few incidents might put the movie out of bounds for
children.

To me it was worth the trip back in time.