sq8188-162-458059 Reviews

Alone (V) (2020)

Surprisingly Good

[8/10 · 2 June 2024]

This is an old-theme but played well. Story line is simple but the acting, direction, cinematography made everything works. Jessica (Jules Wilcox) leaves town for a fresh start after husband's death (we later learned it was by suicide for reason not fully explained but not entirely pertinent). She tows a U-Haul trailer with her belongings and goes on long journey far out in the country. Gorgeous scenery. And runs into cat-and-mouse road game with a SUV driver, who is actually a prowler, preying on single women out on lonely highway. Director John Hyames takes a lot of cues from the "SHINNING" with wide angle shots over long drive; the forest just draws you into the plot line. Like the "SHINNING", he even titled the scenes. Unless it's overused. I don't hold that against him. The woman, Jessica, is kidnapped and thrown into a basement. The story moves on from there. Thankfully we are spared of sexual assaults and torture. The ending when it comes was satisfactory. Overall a pleasant surprise.

The Diplomat (II) (2023– )

Intelligent Script makes Action Almost Unnecessary

[8/10 · 21 April 2024]

This would have been a 9 1/2 had not been few fau paux. First, we spend 8 hrs looking at Kerri Russell's messy hair, so distracting. An almost royal post as ambassador to UK is expected to keep a more immaculate appearance. When she steps off plane in Heathrow to a british welcome party, her hair is flying all over her face; has no one noticed to fix that ? Equally messy hair is the Miss Park character, whose supposed affair with Stuart, Russell's handler-chief-of-staff was so forced to have become laughable; she had zero chemistry with Stuart or anyone else. Not particular attractive do we need another stereotype of over-aggressive asian female woman? This brings us back to Kerri Russell. As Kathrine Wyler, her role as ambassador lack the finese or elegance required for the job. She is intelligent and kisses no ass - those are the strong point, but she is also temperamental, often out of control. And it stretches the imagination that a ceremonial ambassador would carry out political negotiations at the highest order. If you look beyond these obvious faults, small and moderate, there is a good international political drama in there, takes flight via intriguing and intelligent dialogs that gives insights to how things work inside government beauracracy and between sovereign states. Hal, the estranged husband "wife" whose crafty, quick wit is engaging - you can't figure if he is the good guy or bad guy. Equally effective is the British PM who is brutal and powerful. The Stuart character is also memorable and exihibits high intelligence and honesty. One thing of note is the current media environment seems to push minorities into high places of responsibility, more so than real. Stuart is a minority but so is his boss, the white house chief-of-staff. Also the foreign secretary. And they are the ones keeping order, really running things. This is a current trend. You have to decide for yourselves how it portraits reality. Finally, to explain the title for this review: the powerful, smart dialogs can be effervescent and engaging and just as explosive.

The Empress (2022– )

Stunning, top-notch royal court intrigue

[9/10 · 21 February 2024]

AMAZED how good Netflix "THE EMPRESS" is. You'd love this royal court intrigue, empire day clashes and a beautiful romance all woven together into exquisite drama accompanied by haunting music score. I watched it first time in English, then second time in original German with English subtitle. Only minor attention ie, not all the scenes are necessary, and often the royal palace is empty. The young emporer makes all the decisions himself, never consults his mother the archduchess who brought him up and is the matriarch; this is a hole in the screen play. All the principle roles are brilliantly acted and leaves lasting impression especially the title role played by Devrim Lingnau. Equally strong is Melika Foroutan who is the monarchy's matriarch. Can't wait for season 2 ✅.

Maid (2021)

Brillient and Flawed

[7/10 · 2 November 2021]

This is suppose to be a painful and realistic purview of an abused single mother. Watching it allows me see the daily struggle of thousands of women like Alex, seemingly locked in a vicious cycle of poverty, apathy and degradation. But there is a small nic in the gears that makes for a perfect story - Alex wasn't physically abused, unless you count the dishes thrown in drunken rage by her ex. Suddenly she had to go to a homeless shelter. What was Alex before living with Sean ? She must have had a job. While seeking help she accepted any job, in this case being a maid, no disrespect to hardworking maids everywhere. Also Alex's stubborn refusal to be helped by good samaritans is frustrating. Her constant want to break away from whoever was helping her is.nauseating. From her father who seemed to want to make amends, to good nature Nate, and back to her ex, who tried to win back Alex by going sober, working 2 jobs to try make a family, to the weathy black attorney who became her friend and offered Alex and Maddy a place to stay in her glass ceiling mansion. To all of them Alex's answer was no, or "we are just going to stay a few days". As if watching Alex suffer endlessly was not emotionally draining enough, large screen time was lotted to the high-strung, bipolar Paula, Alex's mom. So not only Alex and daughter was down in the dumps, we had to watch Paula nearly self-destructs too. Credit to the writers in tieing up the loose ends and closes on a high note in the last episode.

The Charm of Love (2020 TV Movie)

Should have been Rated Better

[7/10 · 14 July 2021]

Old fashion romantic romp that grows on you on the strength of female lead Katrina Norma and her beau, a lovable charmer in the person of Tilky Jones. The story is chintzy. Katrina went treasure hunt in order to save her museum. She comes to scenic exotic island, ancient manuscript in hand, and meets inn owner Jones, who is based in New York but comes to the island to revive business for the charming historic Pierre Hotel. Katrina's beauty and personality grows on you during her encounter with the affable Jones. Their time together comprises much of the movie while assorted colorful, island-appropriate characters complement the back set. It's like going to an old ice cream shop when you are out on dinner stroll - comforting and everything comes out as expected. Should you be fickled and go hard on that creamery owner for not inventing new surprise gimmicks or do you enjoy the moment ?

China Moon (1994)

Second Look Hits the Notes

[8/10 · 4 July 2021]

It was years ago I first watched "China Moon". I just revisited again because I had forgotten the plot line. Much more appreciated this time around I profess. It was a crime noir filmed in the sultry southern air. No one does detective better than Ed Harris outside of Clint who is his own genre. But as ordinary every-man detective who has the usual human angst, Harris sets a high bar. The temptress is the mysterious Madelein Stowe who competently matches Harris in distress. The plot throws the requisite curve as the movie rises to finale. As Harris partner later turned accuser, Benecio Del Toro gives an excellent performance with his usual brand of chicanery. One thing kept this movie from classic noir is I find the lighting a bit too bright; a few dark interior shots would render the effect. Just a minor preference. But if you like Hitchcock style of illuminous lighting, Ed Harris' blond hair never looked more brilliant. Finally this would not have been the hidden gem that it was without the fine score by George Fenton. A lot of long saxaphone notes underscores the irony of the story and coaches our emotion for the ride. Something about music in detective movies about vulnerable men and femme fatales that makes the whole experience so stirring.

The Next Three Days (2010)

Nice Find on Netflix won't be disappointed

[8/10 · 4 February 2021]

2 couples dinning together suddenly explode into an argument between the women when discussing what is it like working for a female boss. Elizabeth Banks' character, Lara Brenen, does have a turbulent relationship with her boss, a female. The next morning, after a typical family breakfast and getting ready to work/school, the cops bust in, with an arrest warrant for Lara for murdering said female boss in a parking lot by striking her with a fire extinquisher. The evidence is circumstantial. 3 years later, having exhausted all legal appeals, Lara is sentenced to life. Russell Crowe's John Brenen, the everyman school-teacher husband is understandibly having a hard time to be apart from his wife, and she is beautiful indeed. Any man who has such a wife will be in despair, surely. John talked with an ex-con who was a jail-break artist. He gave him all the tips down to the timing where police will quarantee the exits. Slowly John hatched his plan to free his wife. I will not spoil the story by telling you what happens next. There are tight sequences when the couple is trying to escape, along with their small son. Unlike other action films where you don't care if good guys or bad guys get away, I really wanted the couple to get away. Some minor flaws leak out. How does an ordinary man sudden become super hero-like character, busting a drug house(!) "The Taxi Driver" like, breaking into places at ease, and evading the police so expertly? And why does the boy has to be so dour upon seeing his freed mother after 3 yr ? However If you keep your focus on the frantic flight taken by a desperate family you'll will overlook these discrepancies. The 2nd part of the movie when John kicked in his jail-break plan really keeps you on edge of your seat and routing for the family on the run. The acting - good but the tight script is the star here.

The Best of Me (2014)

The Best of Nicolas Sparks Don't Miss

[10/10 · 1 February 2021]

Having just seen "The Choice", another Nicolas Sparks movie which I find enjoyable - moved by great dialog and titulating chemistry between the lead characters, but the plot was simple - "The Best of Me" is much more intricately woven, infused with great trauma and tragedy . Now I understand why Sparks fans rave about this novel over his other works. Mr Sparks is a model of efficiency - every character has a precise role in this screen play. While the interleaving of young Dawson and Amanda's love story with present day reunion takes some getting used to but you'd find the story ultimately satisfying. The story begins interestingly of two former lovers called to a reading of the will at an athorney's office after an old friend passed away. Tuck,the old friend was a father figure to young Dawson who took Dawson in when he ran away from an abusive father. And he also defended him when the Dawson clan came for him. The wise & benevolent Tuck bequeathed his estate to both of them. Because of a deep hurt and abandonment due to tragic circumstance, Amanda is cool at first upon seeing Dawson yet they have to spend time together to clear the belongings. Old memory is rekindled. Soon, everything that drawn them together as young lovers slowly returned, until they become fully engaged in each other again. The morning after spending a passionate night, Amanda takes a call from her teenage son. It is the usual mom thing. "I'd see you soon, love ya" says Amanda in closing the call. Dawson senses their moral quandry that Amanda has a life, a family to return to, tells her "We really can't do this, can we?". The story kicks into another gear when Amanda returns to her husband. I will not spoil the meticulous plot. Sparks' book is structured with multi-layers around the central characters. While it is not high literature, but it still strikes the right cords, asking some profound questions, especially the letters from Tuck to Dawson and Amanda, and the letter from Dawson to Amanda after she returned home. If you are like me, you'll find this movie highly gratifying and come away loving that special someone even more than before.

The Vanished (2020)

Almost a Masterpiece

[8/10 · 26 January 2021]

Incredibly well-made, excellent cinematography and intense acting created a gripping thriller in "The Vanished" 2020 (there were several titles with same name). A couple goes camping with their little daughter in remote Cataloosa and shortly upon arrival the little girl is missing, thus begins a very believable journey of what a couple would experience and act when they have lost a child. It becomes a character study of the couple in reaction to such event. The only thing prevents it from reaching level of a masterpiece like "The Shinning" is some unnecessary characters and the usual vices that stigmatize people in the woods. Giving understanding that these are intentional plot cues to try to move the audience one way or the other but it is a bit too long in doing so. Thankfully the ending ties everything together and the pscho-analyst part is quite stunning, gives the story a satisfactory conclusion. Lastly the music score is first rate, well-paced and the ending soundtrack is haunting and memorable.

A Walk to Remember (2002)

Mandy Moore's Breakout Movie - Must See

[10/10 · 21 January 2021]

The beginning setup scene looks like any other teen party flick, but if you stay longer, you'd discover a gem. How long ? Just long enough for Mandy Moore to show up! A pastor's daughter, she is the studious, uncool girl in school. But Moore's Jamie is also intelligent, articulate, wholesome, anchored in her faith and illuminates a natural beauty. You see girls like that in school. Guys go for the wild type, the type who just want to have fun. Jamie is unfazed by the slights of the "cool" cliques and carries herself with poise and grace. She has just enough attitude to fend off the infantile jokes without being like the others when provoked. Landon, Shane West's popular heart-throb character, was put into a school play and he sought more drama tips with Jamie who was his female lead. she agreed but told him "you must not fall in love with me" portentously. Engrossed in teenage male popular boy ego, Landon replied with "that's won't be a problem". Landon was blinded to the beauty in Moore in the beginning like hiding the fact he was meeting with her from his friends. "You mean we are like secret friends ?" Jamie tautly countered him. All that changed after the school play in which he saw her natural elegance and beauty. You know the rest of the story. Boy smitten with girl. Girl likes boy. They hung out - there were nice scenes of night sky and star gazing through Jamie's prized big telescope. But there was a dark cloud coming. I will spare the spoiler. Peter Coyote and David Lee Smith turned in seasoned supporting performances as the fathers of Jamie and Landon, respectively. Especially touching was the moment the divorced father of Landon done a good deed and Landon returned to hugged him father and son; they had been estranged before. But everything all points back to Moore. This was her first breakout hit and established her as a solid actress, setting up for more films in which she played teen princess roles fittingly.

Laurel Canyon (2020)

Songs of my youth - a journey back

[7/10 · 30 November 2020]

This is a nostalgic documentary of an era in Rock n Roll that could never be recreated. The comaraderie and synergy during that time in our history and at the magical place lifted pop music to great heights, probably aided by LCD but what the heck. Most of the important pioneers were covered and abetted with interesting personal stories. Crosby,Still,Nash & Young got a lot of attention, as they should be. On the other hand, The Byrds got entirely too much attention, especially in the beginning; this band's influence on Rock of the 60s and 70s can not be compared to CSNY or The Mamas and Poppas earlier. Also not enough time was dedicated to Joni Mitchell who was one of the titans of her time transcending rock and folk music. Joni's popularity dropped off significantly after she tragically turned her focus toward jazz. As her fan I felt forsaken - but that was beside the point. Mitchell's "Ladies of the Canyon" should have been included as it depicts the canyon life marvelously.

The Echo of Thunder (1998 TV Movie)

So Good Should be a Feature Movie

[9/10 · 28 November 2020]

A father living in the Australian wilds takes in teen-age daughter from previous relationship whose mother passed from cancer. Familiar plot but it is done well here. The irony and conflict is relatable, owing to a strong and perfectly casted team. Judy Davis is a reliable Australian actress whose work has been realistic. As is the father husband Jamie Sheridan who portraits rugged farm owner with a good heart and sense of right. Davis is his wife who reluctantly goes along with her husband's plan but has her own dfficulties. We see her toils away at tree farming, clearing brushes a lot. The movie paints a realistic picture of the hard farm life. Lauren Hewitt is the griefing daughter who suddenly has to learn to deal with her situation. A subplot helps propel the main story. And there are nice scenes in moments when Lara seeks solace, goes into the woods and a strayed dog comes to her, becomes her companion; in particular a fantastic shot of Lara looking over a bluff against white clouded sky as her background is quite memorable. Disagree with another reviewer who found this device prosaic. There is a tendency for critics to unfairly bash a chosen formula just because they have seen it in other films. Steak Bearnaise is a classic dish. You eat it once at one restaurant, and from here on no other restaurant should make this dish ? Finally, this being a Hallmark production should not lower your expectation. Anything missing - a good, dramatic score would have punctuated the drama much more; maybe even makes it oscar worthy.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)

Nice Adaptation

[7/10 · 23 November 2020]

American writer Mary Ann Shaffer penned the framework of The Guernsey novel which were completed by her niece Anne Barrows. Shaffer was inspired by the war time stories of the island when she visited there. Published mere months after Shaffer passed away the book became a NY Times Best Seller. Not surprisingly its depiction of human dignity and sustenance while going through hardship and travail of enemy occupation captured the imagination of readers everywhere. Not agreeing with the flighty dismissal of one Roger Ebert Reviewer about the nazis in the movie being caricatured and his quick comparison of patriotic sympathesizers in recent Charlottville demonstration equate to true evil - a liberal jab ? No, these nazis were terrifying, like when a young work-camp boy escaped and aided by the courageous altrusistic Elizabeth and later shot ranged out on the spot when he was caught, no, the fear is real. Also the same fear persisted even before that as Dawsy the pig farmer tried to persuade Elizabeth from coming to the aid of a fellow human because of threat of nazi barbarism. Then there were rays of hope as a german officer who was a doctor before the war came to help out local farmer in the a calf delivery and befriended the farmer. Their friendship was genuine. There are many other things to like in this movie. It does tell a powerful story, and deserves a more somber treatment from an american stand point. But perhaps to its defense, the "britishness" of how they handle adversity with understated humor can explain this rendition. Lilly James heads the cast as the narrator who shown she grew with the story; Michael Hulsman hits the right note as the laconic farmer, and other cast members notably Penelope Wilton and Laura Findley Brown seems to have come straightly off the set of Downton Abbey and gorgeous cinematography completes the bill. Only thing "off" was the score was not quite suitable for this cogent human drama - too mild and without any punctuations like when Elizabeth's fate was finally revealed, a high point of the plot, the music was oddly silent ! It would have been much more appreciated.

Howards End (1992)

Delightful and Foreboding !

[7/10 · 14 November 2020]

E.M Forster's book published on 1910 was a contempoary novel about England coming to the end of the Edwardian Period. The book's importance centers on answering the call to "who shall inherit England ?" when the British Empire was at the height of her colonial power and standing in the world. While faithful to the book, the movie has some missgivings. The whimsical nature in which Leonard Bass who represents the servant class, weaves in and out of the lives of the Slagels who depict the progressive liberal intellectual class stretches belief. Bass seems to just show up at high society gatherings even though he obviously has to walk a long way from his humble neighborhood. Lastly. the ruling class was tendered by the Wilcox family headed nobly and aristocratically by Anthony Hopkin, the patriarch of the family. His children all seem one-dimensional, self-centered as they mainly fasten on retaining their wealth & elitism.

The story meshes the lives of these 3 classes of people in that era, pre-world war I. Howard's End, the family home of the Wilcoxs serves as metaphor for Old England, and the book deftly foretells the social changes that came after as the aristocratic class had to yield to a coming evolution. In this light, it is no accident the constant theme of the movie is to ask the one question - who shall live in Howard's End, who shall inherit it ? There is some flaws in that execution. First of all while Emma Thompson is a sublime actress - her chemstry with Hopkins is engaging - she is not bookish enough to be an archtypal intellectual; it seems she is really good at hostessing, not leading literary discussion. Her younger sister, Helen, the mercurial liberal ably played by Helena Bonham Carter, but she too is not bookish enough to be considered an intellectual. She is more a gypsy girl type and even dressed that way despite her upper class status. Hopkins's Henry Wilcox is commanding and stately. When he dismsses the miseries of the working class he seems almost righteous. Finally the Leonard Bass character is an engima to himself because he is unsure of what he wants, and to others around him, mainly Helena who made him her liberal object of compassion, and to Emma Thompson's Maggie who only wanted to help him. In the end, more devices are needed to drive the conclusion that everyone - should live together at Howard's End.

A Quiet Place (2018)

Stupid and Boring

[1/10 · 22 February 2020]

Thinking what this novel premise might bring, I was sadly disappointed and have to agree with many of you that this movie is a big waste of time and a somewhat promising concept. I was hoping Krasinski has a breakout moment but he has not shown anything better than B-movie acting. While Krasinski is also the director, he fails to inform the audience why the humans - the 4 of them in one family - were totally passive when confronted by the flesh-grabbing monsters. Why didn't they try to invent ways to kill the monsters for example ? The climatic showdown also lacks punch because the sound was missing. This reminds us how important sound score is to movies - it punctuates and guides the motion. You'd have to take a long gulp to accept the absence of sound due to the unique story line. In terms of characters, there is a father-daughter conflict for which the father favors the son,like by taking him to the river fall so they can finally have a conversation. Perhaps with some contention the characters would be more engaging but Krasinski does an unsure job making neither father nor daughter more likable. As for the remaining members - wife and son, there were nothing outstanding about their roles or the performances. It occurs to me when they communicate only using sign language it was poorly done, and appears oddly off since sign language is usually accompanied by vivid facial expression - such were lacking. Looking for positives, the cinematography was excellent; it is only thing keep the movie from falling in B-grade obsecurity.

The Age of Adaline (2015)

A Rare 10 of 10

[10/10 · 22 January 2020]

I hardly give out 10s. Ingmar Bergmann's 1972 "Cries and Whispers", "Philadelphia" with Tom Hanks, "Schindler's List" and now "Age of Adaline".

*SPOILER ALERT* The story begins capriciously with Adaline, now Jenny, adopting new identity in San Francisco. The voice over explains her curious past. While this device often detracts, it is done nicely here. Adaline or Jenny seems to glide along in her immortal journey, never ages following an automobile accident and a freak storm. She and her daughter moves from place to place to avoid suspicion.

Not laying down long term relationship until Jenny meets intelligent, homesome and persistent charmer, Ellis. She rejects him first but relents as they really enjoy each other's company. The clear, bright San Francisco landscape adds beauty to this already handsome movie. Could this film be made in Chicago with the same results ? Perhaps, but I loved the first choice already. Jenny tries to run away when their relationship begins to sprout. But Jenny relents after slight urging from daughter - maybe she has wanted to further that relationship herself. A short time later Ellis asks Jenny to join him for a weekend celebration at his parent's 40th anniverary. The story line has been light and breezy to this point just like the lead character Adaline/Jenny, played engagingly by Blake Lively. It all changed when Ellis brought Jenny to meet his parents, suddenly, the plot leaps into high gear, from light romance to serious drama and asks many life's most ironic questions. William, Ellis's father, were stunned to see Adaline as the girl he almost proposed to before she ran out on him, 40 yr ago. "Adaline Bowman was my mother", Jenny quickly improvised. As William, Harrison Ford displayed he can play serious role beside action figures. Confounded and puzzled, William reminesces his romance with Adaline before he met his current wife. He makes use of his encounters with Jenny to find out more about Adaline. Then by chance he noticed the scar on Jenny's wrist. Startled, he rushed to find an old photograph of Adaline with bandage on the same hand, which had received a flesh wound from a bare branch when they were hiking through the woods. William confronts Jenny privately and she finally admits who she is. William begs her to not run away, for the sake of Ellis. But she does, bringing the movie to its climax.

The most effective scenes are Jenny with William - when William was quizzing her and when they finally re-unites as former lovers. As Adaline, Blake Lively totes elegance ,beauty and poignancy when calls for. Ford was effective even unforgettable in his role as someone who must reckons with love lost and love found but under most unusual and ackward circumstance. Nice to see Ellen Burstein acting again, this time as the daughter who has aged. The scenes between mother and daughter were cogent even though on screen Burstein should be the mother, but deft acting by both of them shows the daughter still leaning on the mother, and the mother though looks younger, retains presence as a mother would. Fuzzy haired Ellis, played by Michael Huisman, rounds out the talented cast. Kathy Baker has brief screen time as Ellis's mother.

Virgin River (2019– )

Old fashioned but Done Well

[10/10 · 19 January 2020]

So why wouldn't you love it ? Like a classic dish, familiar ingredients but done well. The cast is amazing. Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) is more than a looker. Her medical knowledge came off so easily and when she works a patient she displays great expertise and alacrity. And her heart is in the right place too showing compassion and care to her patients. Jack is reliable and falls for Mel's charms at first look. The side plots are interesting too. A lot of tension and conflicts. We are also introduced to the dark side in those serene , misty northern california hills - the ruthless hoodlums who run the pot farm. Novelist Robin Carr weaved a captivating plot using interesting people and clever plot twists. I can't wait for season 2.

I Almost Married a Serial Killer (2019 TV Movie)

Actually had a Good Story

[7/10 · 16 October 2019]

Camile falls for a handsome charmer named Clement and her daughter dotes on him too. What could be wrong until Camile accidently walked into his secret room and discovered photos and news clippings of all the women he killed. There is one catch: Clement only kills women who are in love with him and willing to marry; it makes it that much more execiting (I guess). He lunged at her and missed and she escaped. The police nabbed Clement and he was sentenced to eight consec life sentences. Camile returned to her normal life but before long, news of Clement jail break forced Camile and daughter Violet to move - under witness protection. "They like to finish up their business , esp because you testified against him", the police tells Camile. Into a small town mother and daughter moved, under new identities. Here the plot makes a clever twist. Clement had plastic surgery to change his appearance and after surgery he finished off the doctor so no one knows. A chance encounter brough Camille new love interest in person of Bryan, who owns a ranch just outside of town. Bryan seems trust worthy and protective and is patient with Camille, who again is about to fall in love a second time. Will she repeat the diseaster consequence of the first love affair ? Well acted, there were genuine suspense and does hold me to my seat because thanks to good plot development and pacing, I care about what happens to Camille and Bryan. Overall 7 / 10.

The Reader (2008)

What would you have done ? She asks

[9/10 · 6 June 2019]

Crime,guilt,punishment and redemption (or lack of it) are weighty subjects. They all came together in Stephen Daldry's adaptation of Bernhard Schlink's book of the same title. It started out aimlessly, looking much like a story about boy coming-of-age with an older woman. By the movie's end it is not about that but how we deal with guilt. Hannah, the older woman, carries a wartime past that explains her hardened exterior and distance. Sensing the boy,Michael, is wanting more out of just sexual relationship, she abruptly moved away. Flash forward to years later Michael, a law student, sees Hannah again, in a courtroom trial where Hannah is on trial along with half dozen other women for being camp guards, aiding and abetting the Holocaust. This is a fresh angle among Holocaust dramas. We are witnessing ordinary people, not to be excused, followed the herd, even it was churning toward evil. To what degree are each one responsible ? It can't be "just following order". Post-war German guilty and retribution is on display. Hannah and her cohorts are charged with not freeing the prisoners while their shelter - a church, was burning. Hannah did not defend her action. Michael struggles with a secret which could have helped Hannah, but he chooses not to go forward. The great Roger Ebert drew this parallel - both Hannah and Michael rejected the chance to do good, and are living with that guilt. It is also important Hannah does not get rehabilitated in the end. Such ending would have pleased the masses but casts nothing about penitence and atonement. Hannah accepts and carries her punishment. Michael carries his guilt differently, in personal relationships and enduring painful history. The book cleverly uses readings of literature as common vehicle linking Michael and Hannah together. "Read to me first, then we make love." says Hannah. Many find the first half of the movie in which there is much puppy love/sex the high point. I can understand that because the latter half strikes a completely somber and serious tone distinctly different than the first part. However it draws for me a more powerful conclusion as we are thrusted into facing the difficult subjects of generational guilt and self-condemnation.

Days of Heaven (1978)

A Well-Made Bad Movie

[6/10 · 28 April 2019]

The movie starts out like "Heaven's Gate", another movie with "heaven" in the title. Much of the cinematography is similar, frames like coming off oil-painting masterpieces. Veteran cinematographer Nester Almendros won an Oscar for this, not surprisingly. The other heavy weight Ennio Morricone turned in subpar results ,however. Movies like this is guided a lot by the music score, and it did not quite do the job it supposes to here. Richard Gere's character is a villain, Brooke Adam his accomplice. They played scheme on the rich land owner, Sam Sheperd. The story is narrated by young, street-wise orphan girl Lindam who befriended the "brother and sister". While director Terrence Mallick's direction is episodic and magnificant at times but the story was not told well. Not until after the rich land owner married Brooke Adam did it reveal Richard Gere was pretending to be brother to Brooke Adam.

Poor story telling unshovelled this movie, wasting huge potential when so much talent was assembled.

Nights in Rodanthe (2008)

Much Better Than Expected Love Story

[9/10 · 19 August 2018]

Richard Gere and Diane Lane were both in their prime when they made this movie. Gere in his subdue,medicinal way and, Lane epitomizes the every-woman dealing with family issues : hostile teen daughter, prepubescent son and unfaithful husband. Gere is Dr Paul Flanner who is trying to find closure after a failed operation in which his patient died, while his son, the younger Dr Flanner witnessed the mishap. His son resented him because he was a driven doctor who neglected him and his mother.

What sets this movie apart were two effects. The first being the iconic beach inn on the Carolina Coast. The stormy scenes around it were unforgettable. One in particular found Gere and Lane arguing heatedly on how he should have handled meeting his patient's angry husband, who was the reason Dr Flanner came to the inn, to see the grieving widower nearby, while the storm was closing in: two worlds collide in more than one way. The second was the message mother (Lane) delivered to daughter that she ought to hold out for true love, the kind that entices you to be better than yourself. Great lesson, without the need to hammer it home. That brings me to think something that is rarely discussed, written or taught. We are so used to viewing romantic love being that nebulous, indescribable feeling that man has toward woman, or vice versa, or between life partners. Love should be codified. There is the love between the creator and the created, parent and child, protector and the protected, giver and receiver (in which much of it is unidirectional almost always), destructive love - the kind that drag each other down, and the kind of love that promotes each other to be better person to the other and the world around them. If I have learned anything from this movie, this would be the message I shall not forget.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)

Phoney and Poorly Casted

[3/10 · 1 August 2018]

This 1967 drama has some fans over the years. However it was a phoney attempt at racial recnciliation. The young woman was obviously too young and immature to be love interest of Dr Prentiss, a black physician. She acted like a air-headed the entire movie, and hardly was there chemistry between her and the male lead. The attempt at playfulness was like father-daughter. Now the mother, Katherine Hepburn who was expectedly shocked when her daughter brought me a black man (this is 1967). But all of that shock lasted but 5 minutes. After that the hollywood liberal became evident. Spencer Tracy was barely a tad more hesitant before giving in. Another thing wrong - this is the fault of infantile writers: the black man in question had to be Yale professor of medicine, and won honors internationally for his work in the WHO. A black man had to have these credentials to be palatable to white society ? What if he was only a sales executive ? No, he wouldnt have been good enough.

The most interesting relationship was the dynamic between the black guest and the black maid. And what was the animosity between him and his father who also came to dinner ?

This film was lauded for its sensitive subject in that era, but did not exhibit the intelligence it deserves.

Frozen River (2008)

Wrong Message

[4/10 · 23 May 2018]

Hard living in the reservation, becomes even more ungiving against the bitter cold and frozen north. While this film succeeds in painting that lifeless landscape, the people are as unsympathetic toward each other as well. Ray is hard-edged as a 50 something white woman whose no-good gambling husband finally left for good, leaving her, a small child and an angry 15 year old teen. More than her match is Lila, who wore the same dour expression throughout the movie. No one seems to like each other. Ok I get that, life is hard on the reservation. But these people dont seem to be helping themselves either. The biggest complaint comes when Ray (Melissa Leo) is caught smuggling two chinese women, asks the cop, who was the most sympathetic voice in this whole ordeal, how long would she be locked up. "Four years", he says, "unless you are on a watch list". She was relieved. Only 4 years ? Thats easy money for taking a small risk - it should be 10 years and $100,000 fine. This is hardly a deterrent. The director and writer seem single-focused on just one thing. That to portray poverty and hopelessness. But hardly offers a solution.

Dunkirk (2017)

The story is the story ?

[3/10 · 6 August 2017]

Would have been good if there were any real story except maybe one about the RAF pilot what little there was. Director Nolan is trying to tell a story through a soldier's eyes. He tracks one young private with no name and gave him almost no dialog throughout the retreat. The soldier with no name wore the same shell-shock expression in the entire movie. Nothing he did was significant - so why are we following him? The pilot whom i was told was a great actor in UK but he had on a pilot's face mask the entire time, only at the end when he fueled out and stepped off his plane did he show his face. The pilot showed great skill in aerial combat. When his 2 other fly mates were shot down, he seemed to have stemmed the entire Nazi air force all by himself. At the end, the story suggests he chose to stay in the fight using up all his fuel than leaving the British ships undefended. Amazingling the ships nearly did nothing to defend themselves! I don't see any AA action. Nolan must be a one-sided believer in air power. I had to stretch my imagination to see what the pilot was up to. The beach at times look deserted. There were supposed to be 400,000 men stranded there. At least they could have CGI some of them in. Weird! The screen writer seems to want to say it's every man for himself out there. There were no order to it. Ken Branaugh was paid to look regal and just say his lines but seems detached to the men or even the war. After an hour of running around, occasional strafing from a couple of Luftwaffe planes and boats sinking it gets monotonous. Without any story building, at least the screen writer could have throw in some perspective from the German side. The only "german" seen were shadows of Nazi helmets descended on the pilot after he bailed out and torched his plane. About the boat sinking, director Nolan chose to show 4 maybe 5 boats sinking if you count the hospital ship in the beginning. The entire British destroyer loss in the operation was six. Nolan was obliged to show almost all of them sinking ?

I thought the 1958 version of Dunkirk was boring, but this one bores just same, except some spectacular air crashes. Not enough to save anything. Not even close to "Private Ryan".

Hit and Run (1999 TV Movie)

Personal Study

[9/10 · 24 June 2016]

Joanna Kennd was driving home in the rain and hit a kid on bicycle when she tried to fetch something from her purse. She went to investigate and found the child is too seriously hurt to be moved, so she went for help. When she returns, she was waved off by the cops. Thus began the tormented journey for Joanna until she made things right in the end. Joanna, played by Margaret Colin is completely believable in the role. Her every grimace, hesitations conveyed the guilt and conflict (will she see her own daughters again). Margaret Colin has been one of my favorite actress since I first saw her in Independence Day. She adds a womanly grace to everything she does, even in playing a woman who had done some wrong. Thanks to Colin's excellent performance, this movie was captivating from beginning to end, despite a simple story line. There was enough happen stances to make it interesting and of course Margaret Colin pushed it over the top. With the success of Independence Day, I wish Ms Colin to land more substantial roles beyond television. Nine out of ten stars.