Movies, Mom & Me

• 
  Commentary:  Truth is, I first watched this movie when it was on Netflix and I was in the middle of an at-ends evening and didn't want to do anything, let alone watch a movie that would require mental involvement on my part. I figured this would be a good movie to watch and expected it to be the first in an evening that promised a lot of movie switching. I couldn't imagine I would like the movie or stay with it long. See, I was raised on an island for the bulk of my childhood and young adulthood. I was absolutely positive that Moana would get everything, everything psychological and emotional, anyway, about the island experience wrong. Turns out, I was wrong.
    Despite the fact that it featured yet another wide-eyed, plucky, Disney heroine, the type I loathe, it got a surprising number of island-heart things right. The fear of swimming, for one thing. This was standard on the island on which I was raised. The chickens, Cuban Cocks, to boot. Ye gads! Cuban chickens were everywhere on my home! I wasn't pleased with the protrayal of the Cuban Cock sidekick. I thought he either could have been improved, along the lines of the mini-dragon in Mulan, or dropped altogether from the story. The resolution of the conflict in the movie, which ends with Te Fiti curling up and "going to sleep" as an island was intriguing in light of the legends I'd learned about the creation of my home island. And all the characters were well drawn, particularly Moana and Maui. "Yep," I thought after watching it, "this movie I have to own, even if it is a Disney cartoon."
  Update 2/10/18:  I know, Moana isn't the classic super-hero, but Te Fiti is, and Maui is a demigod with possibilities of becoming a super-hero. By the end of the movie it's easy to wonder if Moana might have turned him around in his tracks through her display or non-super heroism.
  Update 6/2/2022:  This post was originally published on 2/5/2018 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Auliʻi Cravalho	Moana	Dwayne Johnson	Maui	Rachel House	Tala, Moana's Grandmother	Temuera Morrison	Tui, Moana's Father
  Nicole Scherzinger	Sina, Moana's Mother	Jemaine Clement	Tamatoa, Coconut Crab	Alan Tudyk	Heihei, Rooster/Villager #3	Oscar Kightley	Fisherman

  
    Release Date: 2016
    Directed by Don Hall & Chris Williams.

Labels: adventure1, animated, coming-of-age1, drama5, musical1, popcorn-and-soda2, road-movie, super-hero2

# posted by gail @ 10:59    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  *1* *2*
• 
  Commentary:  The "Mention" is only for one movie, but we watched all four with just about equal pleasure.
    Although I'm sure there are excellent reasons to critique the movies, we just sat back and enjoyed them.
    I understand yet another American Girl movie has been released, Chrissa. If Mom was still alive I don't think I'd be collecting this one because there is no obvious historical context and it looks like a highly moral 'tween version of Mean Girls. Much of the draw, for Mom and me, of this series, was the historical context.
    
  
  Kit Kittredge [Directed by Patricia Rozema.  Release Date: 2008];  Mom's favorite. It's the one that takes place during the Great Depression of the 1930s. This is the movie that elicited the most enthusiastic response from her, possibly because she was a child during that period. This movie so far, has been the only one to be reviewed by a major film critic, Roger Ebert. I've attached his review as the link for this movie.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Abigail Breslin	Margaret Mildred 'Kit' Kittredge	Chris O'Donnell	Jack Kittredge	Julia Ormond	Margaret Kittredge	Joan Cusack	Lucinda Bond
  Stanley Tucci	Jefferson Jasper Rene Berk	Jane Krakowski	May Dooley	Madison Davenport	Ruthie Smithens	Austin MacDonald	Roger
  Willow Smith	Constance	Wallace Shawn	Mr. Gibson	Glenne Headly	Mrs. Howard	Colin Mochrie	Mr. Pennington

  
  
    Felicity [Directed by Nadia Tass.  Release Date: 2005];  My favorite. It's the one that takes place just prior to the American Revolution.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Shailene Woodley	Felicity Merriman	Marcia Gay Harden	Martha Merriman	Katie Henney	Elizabeth Cole	John Schneider	Edward Merriman

  
    Samantha [Directed by Nadia Tass.  Release Date: 2004];  This one is the Christmas movie in this collection.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  AnnaSophia Robb	Samantha Parkington	Kelsey Lewis	Nellie O'Malley	Mia Farrow	Mary Edwards	Jordan Bridges	Gardner Edwards

  
    Molly [Directed by Joyce Chopra.  Release Date: 2006].  
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Maya Ritter	Molly McIntire	David Aaron Baker	Dr. James McIntire	Molly Ringwald	Helen McIntire	Thomas Brodie-Sangster	Boy in Spelling Bee

  
    Although I'm sure there are excellent reasons to critique the movies, we just sat back and enjoyed them.
    I understand yet another American Girl movie has been released, Chrissa. If Mom was still alive I don't think I'd be collecting this one because there is no obvious historical context and it looks like a highly moral 'tween version of Mean Girls. Much of the draw, for Mom and me, of this series, was the historical context.
    Apparently, American Girl movies continue to be made. I just scrolled through Amazon and several are out there, including some that are free to watch if you're an Amazon Prime member (and, of course, some require a rental fee, as well). I haven't watched any of the movies we acquired when Mom was alive since she died. All other links are to Wikipedia pages, I'm afraid, but the main article has some interesting information about the series history and almost every movie in the series has an additional Wikipedia link of its own. In time, I might scan through Amazon Prime (to which I subscribe) and check out the free movies. Should be interesting.
  Update 8/26/21:  Out of curiosity, I decided to check to see if any more American Girl (same link as in the title of this post) movies have been produced. As of 2017, 10 more, aside from the initial four which we own, have been released. Four of them appear as a four-pack on Amazon. Two are stand alones. Four, so far as I can tell, have only been released on Prime Video.
    Will I be watching them? I doubt it, but you never know. They're pretty sleek productions.
  Update 5/24/22:  Yet another post published on 4/09/09 that "disappeared" and I had to recapture.

Labels: Christmas, coming-of-age1, female-director1, historical3, kids, marsha-gay-harden, period3, popcorn-and-soda3

# posted by gail @ 09:40    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    Once again, a loaded list over at RogerEbert.com when pulling a search on this movie, including an interview with Greta Gerwig.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Saoirse Ronan	Christine MacPherson	Laurie Metcalf	Marion MacPherson	Tracy Letts	Larry MacPherson	Lucas Hedges	Daniel O'Neill
  Timothée Chalamet	Kyle Scheible	Beanie Feldstein	Julianne Steffans	Lois Smith	Sister Sarah Joan	Stephen McKinley Henderson	Father Leviatch
  Odeya Rush	Jenna Walton	Jordan Rodrigues	Miguel MacPherson	Marielle Scott	Shelly Yuhan	Jake McDorman	Mr. Bruno

  
    Here is the Wikipedia write-up on this movie.
    Release Date: 2017
    Directed by Greta Gerwig.

Labels: §2, A24, coming-of-age1, dramedy1, female-director2, greta-gerwig, laurie-metcalf, lois-smith, saoirse-ronan

# posted by gail @ 14:01    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under Construction.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Anaïs Reboux	Anaïs Pingot	Roxane Mesquida	Elena Pingot	Libero De Rienzo	Fernando	Arsinée Khanjian	Mrs. Pingot
  Romain Goupil	François Pingot	Laura Betti	Fernando's Mother	Albert Goldberg	The Killer	Claude Sésé	Police Officer

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
    Release Date: 2001
    Directed by Catherine Breillat.

Labels: §, coming-of-age1, Criterion1, drama1, female-director2, sexual

# posted by gail @ 19:20    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  This is an endlessly interesting origin story for Batman. All the major characters that people Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy are introduced, including Batman as a boy and how, exactly, the death of his parents leads him to become Batman. No need to say anymore, except, I'm a fan of the entire trilogy.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Christian Bale	Bruce Wayne/Batman	Linus Roache	Thomas Wayne	Sara Stewart	Martha Wayne	Morgan Freeman	Lucius Fox
  Michael Caine	Alfred Pennyworth	Liam Neeson	Henri Ducard/Ra's al Ghul	Katie Holmes	Rachel Dawes	Gary Oldman	James Gordon
  Cillian Murphy	Dr. Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow	Tom Wilkinson	Carmine Falcone	Rutger Hauer	William Earle	Ken Watanabe	decoy Ra's al Ghul

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
    Release Date: 2005
    Directed by Christopher Nolan.

Labels: action2, adventure2, christian-bale, christopher-nolan, coming-of-age1, drama1, michael-caine, morgan-freeman, neo-noirB, psychological1, super-hero1, suspense1, tom-wilkinson, violence1

# posted by gail @ 01:01    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Yes, yes, yes! Spectacular film!
    Truth is, I'm not heavy into super-hero-comic-book movies, but there are a few I favor, and when I favor them, I really favor them. I'd seen trailers of this movie and my curiosity had been piqued, but, with 100 holds on the movie at the library the day it was released, and a pretty-penny-purchase-price, I knew it would be awhile before I even saw it, let alone considered owning it. My Florida Sister, though, had seen the same trailers, been similarly intrigued, and, instead of buying the movie for herself, she pleaded her work schedule, which wouldn't allow her to see it for awhile, and sent the movie to me!
    Yes, it's dark as fuck. Yes, it's not only an origin story that adds to the plausibility of The Dark Knight (which I immediately rewatched after viewing Joker for the first time; yes, Virginia, I finally did watch the entire The Dark Knight movie, thoroughly enjoyed it and have watched it twice since the first viewing just to revel in Heath Ledger's performance), the pleasure of watching Joaquin Phoenix's performance was sooo satisfying. The man, literally, danced through the story, sometimes explicitly, always implicitly. I've since read reviews of the movie and they are maniacally mixed (except for reviews of Phoenix's performance). While there were many accolades, some considered the story unforgivably incendiary. Some considered it scattershot, too obvious, and/or boring. Almost no one acknowledged the obvious connection between Gotham's Joker by Heath Ledger and Joker by Joaquin Phoenix.
    Speaking of critical constroversy, although Roger Ebert didn't live long enough to see this movie, reviewers on the site wrote not less than four pieces about the film. The initial review granted it only two stars, but, then, a second, then a third, then a fourth piece followed. Extraordinary.
    Although I am a thoughtful fan of super-hero/super-villain movies, don't own many and have seen only the few I own, I have to say, this movie renders the madness of Joker and the madness of Gotham so immediate and real that it makes me wonder, how many Jokers are out there, around the corner, in our confusion of Gothams, just waiting for an accidented (yes, Virginia, accidented) chassis to place them on the world stage?
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Joaquin Phoenix	Arthur Fleck/Joker	Robert De Niro	Murray Franklin	Zazie Beetz	Sopie Dumond	Frances Conroy	Penny Fleck
  Brett Cullen	Thomas Wayne	Carrie Louise Putrello	Martha Wayne	Douglas Hodge	Alfred Pennyworth	Dante Pereira-Olson	Bruce Wayne/Batman

  
    For the curious, here's the Wikipedia write-up for this film. Not surprisingly, considering the controversy that erupted around the film, it is a much extended piece, including the usually threadbare Critical Response section.
    Release Date: 2019
    Directed by Todd Phillips
  

Labels: action2, adventure2, cgi-animation, coming-of-age1, dance, drama2, fantasy1, film-art1, horror1, joaquin-phoenix, political1, robert-de-niro, satire1, super-hero1, violence1

# posted by gail @ 10:38    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  I didn't know this movie existed until recently. Yes, I enjoy the Disney cartoon version of Mulan, I have it in my collection. When I discovered that this live action version existed, though, I immediately checked it out of our library system and watched it. Although it dramatizes many of the same themes, including romance, although a thwarted one, it is a much more serious take on the legend, especially since any comic elements this one contains (and, there are a few soft moments that could be considered comic) do not have anything to do with Eddie Murphy or a dragon and a chicken. However, there is a striking parallel between the portrayal of the Mulans.
    Much to my surprise, I'm not sure which version I prefer. Immediately after I watched this version (when I initially checked in out of the library), I found myself hankering to watch Disney's version ... and I did. Both movies have such a high degree of respect for the heroine that I find them both satisfying, and mutually complementary. Which is why I now own a copy.
    You'll notice the number of tags I have attached to this movie; and the fact that the same number is not attached to the Disney version of Mulan. I think all the tags I've attached to this version could apply to the Disney version, but I think this movie had more of an impact on me than the Disney version. Truth is, I'm curious about the 2020 live action Mulan put out by Disney. At some point I'll check it out of the library and watch it, but I'm not sure I'll purchase it.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Zhao Wei	Hua Mulan	Chen Kun	Wentai	Hu Jun	Mendu	Jaycee Chan	Fei Xiaohu
  Nicky Lee	Hu Kui	Liu Yuxin	Rouran Princess	Yu Rongguang	Hua Hu	Vitas	Guide

  
    If you feel the need, here's the sparse write-up on this film at Wikipedia.
    Release Date: 2009
    Directed by Jingle Ma.

Labels: §2, action2, adventure2, cgi-animation, coming-of-age1, drama2, fantasy1, father-daughter-dynamics, gender-bender, historical1, military, period1, political1, romance1, spectacle1, tragedy1, war1

# posted by gail @ 09:21    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  I confess that I have not yet seen this movie. When I picked it up at Costco I was delighted I was finally able to purchase it, remembering my pleasure in the 1994 (and original) version of this story.
    I haven't yet watched this movie. Suffice it to say, I expected to watch it the day I purchased it. Then, I looked up the Wikipedia article about this version and completely confused myself with the stridently divided critiques of it. While praising the voice acting, critics simultaneously called the movie various versions of "soulless". How is it possible for excellent voice acting to render a "soulless" movie, I wonder? Maybe some critics had a problem with the cgi-animation. Frankly, I love cgi-animation, so, we'll see. Soon.
    Maybe today.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Donald Glover	Simba	Seth Rogen	Pumbaa	Chiwetel Ejiofor	Scar	Alfre Woodard	Sarabi
  Billy Eichner	Timon	John Kani	Rafiki	John Oliver	Zazu	Beyoncé Knowles-Carter	Nala
  James Earl Jones	Mufasa	Florence Kasumba	Shenzi	Keegan-Michael Key	Kamari	Eric André	Azizi

  
    In case you're curious to see what information Wikipedia has to offer about this latest film rendition of the story, here's the link.
    Release Date: 2019
    Directed by Jon Favreau.

Labels: §, adventure2, animated, cgi-animation, coming-of-age1, kids, musical1, royals

# posted by gail @ 09:33    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Ah, yes! The Group! I did not see this film until years, decades, in fact, after it came out. I believe I first saw it on TCM while my mother and I were companions. I had read the book around the time when the movie came out. And loved it. I didn't relate to the time period but the writing and story telling were so good I didn't need to. I never forgot the passages about Dottie and her initial sexual adventure. When I finally saw the movie, I was delighted with how that was portrayed in the film. I also found Joan Hackett mesmerizing in the part, although I had, for a long time, been a fan of her work, mostly through her appearance in character roles on television.
    The ensemble of actors in this movie is incredible. The story is an exceptionally thoughtful and thought provoking description of a particular period in the lives of privileged young women. The movie, itself, is so well done it is a miracle to watch. I've seen it twice since I bought it and it snatches me into it with every viewing. When it finishes, I'm ready to watch it again.
    I've been trying for some years to obtain a copy of it but, although all the places that sell movies have had it advertised, it's also been unavailable. Recently it came back on the market. I'd been keeping my eye on its availability for some years and as soon as it was re-released, I snatched up a copy.
    Watching it twice has made me hungry to read the book, again.
    As a curious side note, searching for reviews of this movie was oddly frustrating, considering my interest in it. It seems, the movie attracted more attention overseas than it did in the U.S. The one review I could find, had access to and attached to the mention of the movie in the first paragraph seems to sum up, in short shrift, the U.S. reaction to it.
    As a continuation to the above side note, TCM has a very interesting background review of the film, which I've linked to the title of this post. When the link comes up, click into the title of the review. For some reason, TCM won't let bloggers link directly into their articles.
    Rewatched: 3/5-6/22 - I've decided to reread the novel by Mary McCarthy upon which this movie is based. I've been meaning to reread the novel since I obtained a copy of the movie, but hadn't yet gotten around to it. Then, today, I read (a first reading) the story upon which another one of my [RW]s is based and the process so illuminated my understanding of the movie that I decided I should proceed apace with rereading the novel upon which this movie is based. It'll probably take me a few, or more, days. Luckily, I have a copy of that novel. I'll report back when the deed is done.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Candice Bergen	Elinor Eastlake	Joan Hackett	Dottie Renfrew Latham	Elizabeth Hartman	Priss Hartshorn Crockett	Shirley Knight	Polly Andrews Ridgeley
  Joanna Pettet	Kay Strong Peterson	Mary-Robin Redd	Mary Prothero Beauchamp	Jessica Walter	Libby MacAusland	Kathleen Widdoes	Helena Davison
  James Broderick	Dr. James Ridgeley	James Congdon	Sloan Crockett	Larry Hagman	Harald Peterson	Hal Holbrook	Gus Leroy
  Richard Mulligan	Dick Brown	Robert Emhardt	Henry Andrews	Carrie Nye	Norine Blake	Baruch Lumet	Mr. Schneider

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1966
    Directed by Sidney Lumet.

Labels: buddy, candice-bergen, coming-of-age1, drama3, historical1, joan-hackett, period1, popcorn-and-soda2, satire1, women's-movie1

# posted by gail @ 17:19    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  I can't tell you when I first viewed this one. Obviously, sometime after 1994. I'm not sure if Mom ever saw it. I, however, fell in love with it on first viewing.
    I was already a fan of Australian cinema. That started with my viewing of Outback/Wake in Fright, many years previous. It was, however, the beginning of my admiration of Toni Collette. And, my appreciation of Australian comedy. I remember, after initially viewing this movie, scouring our library for other Australian comedy gems, which is what brought me to Strictly Ballroom. Australian comedy has a surprisingly sharp edge that catches you unawares and that U.S. comedy lacks, I find, except in extraordinary instances. Let's see, do I own any of those "extraordinary [U.S.] instances"? A few. Adaptation, for one. Network, for another. If I wanted to stretch a point, Natural Born Killers takes U.S. comedy edge well beyond any Australian comedy edge I've yet seen. Buster Keaton, though, is probably the best example of U.S. comedy edge competitive with Australian comedy edge. I'd include Charlie Chaplin but he was a Brit who shaped U.S. movies into what they would, and continue to, become.
    This movie, combined with Strictly Ballroom, brought to my awareness a slate of excellent Australian actors, one of whom, Bill Hunter is/was (sadly, he's dead) in four movies I own.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Toni Collette	Muriel Heslop	Bill Hunter	Bill Heslop	Rachel Griffiths	Rhonda Epinstall	Sophie Lee	Tania Degano
  Jeanie Drynan	Betty Heslop	Gennie Nevinson	Deidre Chambers	Daniel Lapaine	David Van Arkle	Matt Day	Brice Nobes

  
    Just in case, here's the link to the Wikipediea write-up.
    Release Date: 1994
    Directed by P. J. Hogan.

Labels: bill-hunter, comedy1, coming-of-age1, toni-collette, women's-movie1

# posted by gail @ 09:30    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  As I mention in my write-up for Platoon, this movie, here, is my favorite Vietnam movie. I finally purchased it a while ago. I've watched it a few times since. It is always a thrill. I am ever aware that the movie was, in its time, still is, in fact, controversial. It is not an actor's movie, that is true. Neither was the Vietnam War an actor's war (in the sense that, for instance, WWII became an actor's war). It was a brutal, bloody mess of a capitalist imperial "adventure". It deserved to be lost, as did all the connected wars in Southeast Asia that the U.S. perpetuated. This movie makes that fact abundantly clear.
    Although the war, itself, was carnage on a grand scale, the movie is not. As a director's movie, it is a prime example of the interpreting art of film directing. As such, it gets the misdirection/misadventure of the actual war and the global (let alone U.S.) reaction to it right. I will never tire of wanting to watch this movie. It's probably a generational thing. So be it.
  Update 9/29/19:  I've added this film to a category that I feel I need to defend: the "gang-movie" category. Although the group of men portrayed in this movie are a military unit, they are, clearly, also a gang, as well as part of a larger gang, the overwhelming military gang of professional warriors. It's impossible for me to consider them different than a street gang. Watch the movie. You'll see what I mean.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Matthew Modine	Pvt./Sgt. J. T. Davis	Vincent D'Onofrio	Pvt. Leonard/Gomer Pyle	Lee Ermey	Gunnery Sgt. Hartman	Adam Baldwin	Animal Mother
  Arliss Howard	Pvt./Sgt. Evans	Kevyn Major Howard	Rafterman	Dorian Harewood	Eightball	Tim Colceri	Doorgunner
  Ngoc Le	VC Sniper	Ed O'Ross	Lt. Walter J. Schinoski	John Terry	Lt. Lockhart	Bruce Boa	POG Colonel

  
    Just in case, here's the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
    Release Date: 1987
    Directed by Stanley Kubrick.

Labels: action1, coming-of-age1, gang-movie, haunting1, historical2, horror1, matthew-modine, military, period2, spectacle1, stanley-kubrick, vincent-d'onofrio, violence2, war1

# posted by gail @ 07:53    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  This movie was an obvious choice for my Oliver Stone movie section. Of course. And, it's a favorite of mine. I'm surprised I didn't own it before now. I'm not sure it's my favorite Vietnam film. I've seen several, for obvious reasons. The young men of my generation were drafted into fighting this war, many of whom I knew. I was coming-of-age during the protest of this war, so, in a sense, it's "my" war. I haven't seen every movie about the Vietnam war. There are a few I've missed that I still want to see. But, of all the Vietnam war movies I've seen and those I own, it's right up there at the top. What's my favorite? This may surprise you: Full Metal Jacket. It's such a favorite, in fact, that I thought I had a copy of it and just discovered that I don't. Well, I'll have to remedy that. In the meantime, Platoon is my third favorite Vietnam movie, the other (which vies with Full Metal Jacket for most favorite) being Jacob's Ladder. I know, I have strange tastes in Vietnam movies. So sue me.
    Speaking of additional links, you might find Sense Memory: "Platoon Through a Veteran's Eyes" interesting. It's from the RogerEbert.com website. Roger Ebert wrote a review of this film, linked to the title of this post, but, years later, in 2016, a writer for Roger's website wrote a memoir of his experience viewing the film for the first time, as a veteran.
  Update 9/29/19:  Yet another military movie that highlights military gang behavior in an excruciating manner and more realistically, in some ways, than Full Metal Jacket, so, I believe it has earned a place in my "gang-movie" category.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Charlie Sheen	Chris Taylor	Tom Berenger	Sgt. Barnes	Willem Dafoe	Sgt. Elias	Keith David	King
  Forest Whitaker	Big Harold	Francesco Quinn	Rhah	Kevin Dillon	Bunny	John C. McGinley	Sgt. O'Neill
  Mark Moses	Lt. Wolfe	Johnny Depp	Lerner	Corey Glover	Francis	Reggie Johnson	Junior

  
    Also, as usual when I haven't linked it to the title of one of these posts, here's the Wikipedia write-up of the movie.
    Release Date: 1986
    Directed by Oliver Stone.

Labels: action1, coming-of-age1, drama4, forest-whitaker, gang-movie, historical2, oliver-stone, period2, war1, willem-dafoe

# posted by gail @ 12:35    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Yikes! A third candidate for "horror" label status, all in the same editing session! This movie was a must-view-must-have for me. It's the second in the Eastrail 177 Trilogy by M. Night Shyamalan. I didn't know this, though, when I checked the film out of the library and watched it. All I knew was that it is the latest Shyamalan movie to be released so I wanted to see it. I don't always like his movies, like, for instance, The Village and Lady in the Water, not to mention The Last Airbender. Some of them, like Signs (which I don't own but occasionally check out of the library), I find entertaining but not worthy (yet, anyway) of owning. There are a few I haven't seen but expect to. My favorite of his films, though, is Unbreakable.
    I liked Split so much that I immediately looked up information on it. When I discovered it is part of a trilogy of which Unbreakable is the first, well, I wanted to own it. I expect, eventually, to own Glass to complete the trilogy in my collection (I own it, now).
    Split is of interest to me because I have a peculiar interest in super-hero evolution movies. Split is a super-villian evolution movie. To quote the Wikipedia entry on the movie: "The film has been referred to as the first supervillain origin story; the first time a film has been completely devoted to the origins of a villain as opposed to the origins of the superhero." My interest in super-hero movies and series is so eccentric that I avoid a lot of them. Unbreakable was the happy accident that lead me into a deeper interest in super-heroes. Now, I find that interest expanding into super-villians. I'll not be instituting a super-villian category, yet, because this would be the only movie in that category, at least for awhile, until other film makers catch the wave. Thank you, M. Night Shyamalan for being the first, and spectacularly!
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  James McAvoy	Kevin Wendell Crumb/alter egos	Anya Taylor-Joy	Casey Cooke	Betty Buckley	Karen Fletcher	Haley Lu Richardson	Claire Benoit
  Jessica Sula	Marcia	Sebastian Arcelus	Casey's Father	Brad William Henke	John Cooke	Neal Huff	Mr. Benoit
  Lyne Renée	Academic Moderator	Rosemary Howard	Penelope Crumb	M. Night Shyamalan	Security Guard Jai	Bruce Willis	David Dunn

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2016
    Directed by M. Night Shyamalan.

Labels: action1, coming-of-age1, drama4, fantasy1, horror1, m-night-shyamalan, science-fiction1, super-hero1

# posted by gail @ 12:01    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  I was a long time coming to own this film, even though I'd seen it more than a few times, including, and mostly, when my mother was alive. I came, in fact, very close to not owning it. I've seen several of Miyazaki's films but own only three: this one, Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro. I often enjoy Miyazaki films but, except for the last two in my list, they seem a bit stodgy and predictable, regardless of the seductive animation, contraptions and spirits. Yes, this one seemed stodgy and predictable to me, too, which is why I didn't previously own it. Two conversations and one event occurred, though, that finally convinced me, a few months ago, that I should add it to my collection.
    The first conversation took place a few years ago. My Arizona niece told me that she had organized a film club that was going to feature only films written, produced, directed and acted primarily by women. Kiki's Delivery Service was going to be their first feature. "Oh!" I said. "That movie is primarily created by a man, Hayao Miyazaki!" My Arizona niece argued with me that it couldn't be, so I looked it up online while on the phone with her and gave her all the details. I don't know if that film was cancelled from their repertoire. After that incident, she and I didn't discuss the film club, anymore.
    The second conversation was an extended one between myself and my Colorado sister. In telling me about her grandson and what he was learning in school, she mentioned that in one of his classes they studied the significance of the female archetypes portrayed in Kiki's Delivery Service. Although I'd seen the movie more than once with Mom, I couldn't remember much about it, it never made much of an impression on me except that Mom loved it. My sister butted up against a brick wall when trying to remember anything about the movie.
    The incident was that, because of my conversation with my sister, I decided to check the movie out of the library. The entire system owned only one copy, secured at an obscure branch library, so I had to put it on hold. This copy had been checked out and mishandled so many times that it was unplayable. That's when I decided to order a copy, thinking that, once I viewed it a few times, I'd donate it to the library. I'm sure they would be pleased to own a brand spanking new copy and, being a Disney movie, it's not cheap for them to obtain. So, I've owned the movie for a few months and watched it a couple of times, keeping in mind both conversations I've had about it. I may keep it, I'm not sure. My interest in it, at the moment, is mostly "scholarly", but, after a few more playings, we'll see whether the library ends up with my copy or I do.
    By the way, I'm instituting a new category for this movie, coming-of-age. I'm not sure how many movies I own that would fit into that category. It wouldn't surprise me if this is the only one. But, I'll do a quick check.
  Update 6/4/2022:  I've kept the movie. I will not be turning it over to the library. And, yes, I continue to watch it, at least once a year.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Kiki	Kirsten Dunst	Jiji	Phil Hartman	Osono	Tress MacNeille	Ursula	Janeane Garofalo
  Tombo	Matthew Lawrence	Fukuo	Brian Cummings	Kokiri, Kiki's Mother	Kath Soucie	Okino, Kiki's Father	Jeff Bennett
  Madame	Debbie Reynolds	Barsa	Edie McClurg	Senior Witch	Debi Derryberry	Madame's Grandaughter	Sherry Lynn

  
    Release Date: 1989
    Directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

Labels: anime, coming-of-age1, debbie-reynolds, dramedy1, fantasy2, kirsten-dunst, mom-favorite1, super-hero2

# posted by gail @ 13:46    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  Watched and bought this movie AMD
• Mentions:  None
• 
  Commentary:  I admit it. I'm a Flashdance junkie, just like millions (maybe billions, considering its stunning entry into the global cultural lexicon; if you doubt this, watch Caro diario; my library system used to have this film; it doesn't, anymore, I just checked). Yes, the story is dumb, yes it's pretty much badly acted, yes it's a pussy flick, but I don't care. I love the music/dance sequences. My favorite is the Maniac sequence. My second favorite is the Manhunt sequence: LOVE it when the dancer crawls across the floor! My third favorite is the one that features a reaction to television, Imagination. This is not to say that I don't like any of the other dance sequences. I found myself craving this film after my mother died, (much as I craved, with much personal embarrassment, the movie City of Angels) because I felt like I needed to feed off its energy. It worked, and still works. I guess, with City of Angels, I needed to feed off its grief process. Did my mother ever watch it? Possibly, during one of its infamous (but infrequent) television reruns, although I can't remember. Whether or not she saw it, would she have liked it? Absolutely, for exactly the same reasons I like it. I refuse to say any more on the grounds that it might incriminate both of us.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Jennifer Beals	Alexandra Owens	Michael Nouri	Nick Hurley	Lilia Skala	Hanna Long	Sunny Johnson	Jeanie Szabo
  Cyntha Rhodes	Tina Tech	Kyle T. Heffner	Richie Blazek	Lee Ving	Johnny C	Ron Karabatsos	Jake Mawby

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1983
    Directed by Adrian Lyne.

Labels: 20th-century-chick-flicks1, audio-visual, coming-of-age1, dance, me-favorite2, musical1, popcorn-and-soda2, pussy-flick, romance1

# posted by gail @ 12:21    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  *1*
• 
  Commentary:  I was surprised to see that I mentioned this movie in my journals, albeit some time ago. I'd forgotten about it until some cable channel showed it not too long ago, I clicked into it and Mom was not only thoroughly entertained by it but enjoyed the idea that time can collapse forward as well as backward. It's very dated, true, and the singing is not well woven into the movie, but Streisand's performance, especially as her re- and pre-incarnated personalities, is riveting. Jack Nicholson has a forgotten part in this movie, as well, which renders it fun to watch, simply because he participated in this movie long before he became known for his portrayals of ticklish, "Nicholsonian" characters.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Barbra Streisand	Daisy Gamble/Lady Tentrees	Yves Montand	Marc Chabot	Larry Blyden	Warren Pratt	Bob Newhart	Dr. Mason Hume
  Simon Oakland	Dr. Conrad Fuller	John Richardson	Sir Robert Tentrees	Jack Nicholson	Tad Pringle	Mabel Albertson	Mrs. Hatch

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1970
    Directed by Vincente Minnelli.

Labels: barbra-streisand, coming-of-age1, dramedy1, fantasy2, jack-nicholson, period4, popcorn-and-soda3

# posted by gail @ 18:24    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  None
• 
  Commentary:  The first time my mother watched this she said, enthusiastically, that she enjoyed it. The second time I watched it in her presence, she paid no attention to it. The third time, not too long ago, she stared at the screen in a daze but insisted on sticking with it, then announced at the end that "...it doesn't seem to have much of a point." In some ways, I consider this movie a barometer of my mother's mental acuity on the day she happens to see it.
    This is, by the way, one of my favorite Weir movies.
    Once again, the title for this post is linked to an alternate source.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Jim Carrey	Truman Burbank	Laura Linney	Hannah Gill/Meryl	Ed Harris	Christof	Noah Emmerich	Louis Coltrane/Marion
  Natascha McElhone	Sylvia/Lauren Garland	Holland Taylor	Truman's Mother	Brian Delate	Truman's Father	Paul Giamatti	Simeon

  
    Here is a link to the Wikipedia article on this film.
    Release Date: 1998
    Directed by Peter Weir.

Labels: coming-of-age1, drama8, fantasy3, laura-linney, me-favorite2, paul-giamatti, peter-weir, popcorn-and-soda4, satire2

# posted by gail @ 13:00    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  *1*
• 
  Commentary:  Again, I'm not a fan of animation, but this pulled me in when the shot of the zebras on the plain, at the beginning of the movie, dissolved into the shot of ants carrying leaves along a tree branch; or vice versa, I'm not sure which way the shot dissolved. At any rate, I find it very entertaining. So does my Mom. It has, though, been awhile since we've seen this one.
    Here's a link to a site called "The Lion King World Wide Web Archive - The Unofficial Fan Resource". It's grown quite a bit since I last visited it (I'm writing this on 7/31/21). It's very well done, very up-to-date and loaded with all kinds of stuff related to The Lion King franchise and fandom.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Matthew Broderick	Simba	Jeremy Irons	Scar	James Earl Jones	Mufasa	Moira Kelly	Nala
  Nathan Lane	Timon	Ernie Sabella	Pumbaa	Robert Guillaume	Rafiki	Rowan Atkinson	Zazu
  Madge Sinclair	Sarabi	Whoopi Goldberg	Hyena Shenzi	Cheech Marin	Hyena Banzai	Jim Cummings	Hyena Ed

  
    If you're in the mood for a quicker take, here's a link to the Wikipedia article about this particular movie.
    Release Date: 1994
    Directed by Roger Allers & Rob Minkoff.

Labels: adventure3, animated, coming-of-age1, kids, musical1, royals, shared-favorite, whoopi-goldberg

# posted by gail @ 12:43    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  None
• 
  Commentary:  I bought this movie on a hunch. I'd seen it a couple of times on PBS. The second time, I insisted my mother watch it. Unfortunately, both times it was shown without closed captioning and the New Zealand accents threw her for a loop. I thought, though, if she could see it with captioning she'd really enjoy it, so, when I noticed a copy of it for sale, I bought it. I was right. She not only enjoyed the movie but was interested in the special features, as well, even though they didn't have closed captioning. This is a strangely dreamy movie, while appearing to be firmly set in reality. It's one of the most unusual coming-of-age movies I've ever seen. I'm sure we'll be watching this again.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Keisha Castle-Hughes	Paikea Apirana	Rawiri Paratene	Koro	Vicky Haughton	Nanny Flowers	Cliff Curtis	Porourangi
  Grant Roa	Uncle Rawiri	Mana Taumaunu	Hemi	Rachel House	Shilo	Taungaroa Emile	Willie

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2002
    Directed by Niki Caro.

Labels: coming-of-age1, drama9, dream1, fantasy3, female-director2, shared-favorite, sport1

# posted by gail @ 22:41    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  None
• 
  Commentary:  This is just one of my favorite little fripperies that, sight unseen, I thought Mom (and I) would enjoy when I noticed it on ridiculous sale. I was right. I especially enjoy Toni Collette's performance, but, frankly, I'm a sucker for her in any film. Mom was charmed by the premise of the film and so surprised by the ending that she said, "Well, that's what I like to see. The guy doesn't necessarily get the girl, but gets something better." My sentiments exactly.
    I like, too, that the title doesn't refer to a specific "boy". In truth, there are two "boys", one who can honorably wear the appellation and one who can't. The magic of the film is that both boys learn how to become men, one right on time, one a little late, but still accomplished.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Hugh Grant	Will Freeman	Nicholas Hoult	Marcus Brewer	Toni Collette	Fiona Brewer	Rachel Weisz	Rachel
  Natalia Tena	Ellie	Sharon Small	Christine	Nicholas Hutchinson	John	Victoria Smurfit	Suzie

  
    Here's the link to the Wikipedia write-up for this film.
    Release Date: 2002
    Directed by Chris Weitz & Paul Weitz.

Labels: coming-of-age1, dramedy2, rachel-weisz, romance3, toni-collette

# posted by gail @ 22:24    0 comments    email......this post