After spending most of his life in prison for a murder he
committed as a child, a young man (Andrew Garfield) is
returned to society, where a dedicated caseworker (Peter
Mullan) helps him start a new life under a new identity,
Jack Burridge. When he lands a job and falls in love,
things seem to be taking a positive turn for Jack. But
his new existence hangs by a thread, as he discovers when
one simple act threatens to expose him.
I’ve struck it rich with this wonderful but very sad British movie. It has an independent
flavor and Andrew Garfield is outstandingly realistic in his role as a young man just
entering society after a stretch in prison.
There are certain scenes showing “Jack” socializing at parties, etc. that you might
consider boring. But please, please hang in there because this film has been for me
one of those rare finds. I don’t even know how I chanced upon the title.
Daughter Kate and her Nigel (Movie Fans) actually were able to fight jet lag and stay awake
for the film.
Antonio (Javier Bardem) is a Basque terrorist whose plan is
jeopardized when he meets Charo (Ruth Gabriel), who introduces
to another world of crime and pleasure. They become immersed
in a passionate romance. Antonio is determined to complete his
mission, but his indifference to a cause in which he no longer
believes, along with Charo’s tempting allure, creates a tragic
conclusion.
NetFlix got it wrong. Antonio is played by Carmelo Gómez. Javier Bardem instead
has a lesser role as a really rundown drug addict. In fact almost everyone in this downer
of a Spanish film is a bit scummy: prostitute, drug addict, terrorist. Come to think of it,
even the police were corrupt. There is not one decent person in the film. There is way
too much nudity and sexual explicitness. So why did I finish watching ? Because Antonio
the Basque terrorist falls in love with an unfortunate young woman whose drug habit
pushes her into prostitution just as Antonio is questioning his life as a terrorist. In a way
the ending is perfect.
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.
Five years ago, Dennis (Simon Pegg) left his pregnant fiancée,
Libby (Thandie Newton), at the altar. Now, he realizes it was
the worst mistake of his life. Run down and out of shape,
Dennis begins training for a marathon, hoping to win Libby away
from her sleazy new boyfriend (Hank Azaria). Will losing the
pounds and catching his breath be enough to get her back? Dylan
Moran co-stars in David Schwimmer’s feature directorial debut.
After the mostly downer of “Days and Clouds”, Schwimmer’s “Run Fat Boy Run” is a
welcome relief. It’s just an easy-to-watch movie about
an indecisive slacker trying to change his ways. Some great sight gags. Why do we
laugh at pratfalls ? I suppose the sex gags make it out of bounds for children.
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.
Adam Sandler also stars as the titular Zohan, an Israeli
counterterrorism soldier with a secretly fabulous ambition to
become a Manhattan hairstylist, in this comedy he co-wrote with
Judd Apatow (Knocked Up) and Robert Smigel. Zohan’s desire runs so
deep that he’ll do anything — including faking his own death and
going head to head with an Arab cab driver (Rob Schneider) — to
make his dreams come true
This movie is:
juvenile,
crude,
maudlin,
offensive,
mostly constant sexual references.
I enjoyed it in what must have been roughly 90 minutes of weakness.
The movie has a mission: convince the audience that Israelis and Palestinians should stop
fighting and live in peace. I found myself wondering how audiences in either Israel or
Palestine would receive this movie. I assume Adam Sandler is Jewish. I only wish that
John Tarturro (his Palestinian nemesis) was Palestinian instead of being Italian.
Americans Lewis (Joaquin Phoenix), Sheriff (Vince Vaughn) and Tony
(David Conrad) spend a carefree summer together on the beaches of
Malaysia. Two years later, a lawyer (Anne Heche) tells Sheriff and
Tony that Lewis has been sentenced to death for drug trafficking.
If both go back to claim their share of the drugs, each will go to
prison for three years; if only one goes, he’ll be jailed for six
years. If both refuse, Lewis will die.
The best thing about this film for me was to learn that Vince Vaughn can act. All I have seen
him in previously were films of the type “Wedding Crashers”. And as usual, Joaquin Phoenix
comes through with another original idiosyncratic character.
I watched the movie in denial: “This could never happen to me because a) I would never
go to Malaysia, b) I do not smoke pot (especially in Malaysia)”. But the really scary difficult
question is: what would I do in their situation ?
This is NOT a feel-good movie. It is suspenseful: how will this ever turn out ? There are
a few plot twists. The prison is ugly.
Retired FBI director Terry McCaleb (Clint Eastwood), feeble from a
recent heart transplant, is hired by Graciela Rivers (Wanda De Jesus)
to investigate the death of her sister, Gloria — coincidentally, the
donor of McCaleb’s new heart. McCaleb soon deducts that Gloria was
murdered by a serial killer he was trailing for years while in the
FBI but can the elderly agent muster the strength to hunt down the
killer and stop him for good?
This film could have been an hour-long TV detective show. Clint should not have made this one
because it is definitely ersatz Eastwood. Choose an episode of “Law and Order” instead.
So why did I watch it ? The plot is acceptable. Some of the supporting characters aren’t
bad (although the villain is not a great actor). And I feel good because I guessed who the killer was.
Besides, I have something like the flu and there was nothing on television.
When their little girl is abducted by a kidnapper (Pierce Brosnan) with
an elaborate scheme, Neil (Gerard Butler) and Abby’s (Maria Bello)
perfect life is instantly turned upside down. With the clock ticking on
their daughter’s life, the couple is forced to comply with the whims of
a madman. Directed by Mike Barker (A Good Woman, Best Laid Plans), this
white-knuckled thriller will have you on the edge of your seat.
What kept me watching were the really clever and unexpected plot twists. Let me know if you
guess anything significant while you are watching. I haven’t seen this plot before, so call it
original. I gave the movie a B because I wasn’t sure how good the acting was. Let me know
if you have an opinion in this matter.
Not the worst way to waste the time it takes to watch.
Two years after the debut of Carrie, director Brian De Palma
delivers another bloody tale of psychic teenagers. When telekinetic
teens Robin (Andrew Stevens, son of Stella) and Gillian (Amy Irving)
become the target of a government baddie (John Cassavetes, who wants to
exploit their powers for weapons of mass destruction), the boy’s father
(Kirk Douglas) is determined to stop him. Watch for Daryl Hannah and
Laura Innes in their film debuts.
Believe it or not, John Williams wrote the orchestral music for this film. As you might expect, a horror film made in 1978 will seem dated. Certain parts of the film just don’t seem to work well. I give it a B. But I was never bored. It was a lot harder to produce special effects back then.
In this film:
o John Cassavetes is the bad guy. He was Rosmary’s husband in “Rosemary’s Baby”.
o Charles Durning plays a doctor. He was Tommy’s dad in “Rescue Me”.
o Amy Irving, the heroine(?) was the character Isabelle Grossman in “Crossing Delancey”
o Daryl Hannah has done a lot. She was the athletic android that hid among the toys in “Blade Runner”.
