Tuesday, May 24, 2022
American Girl Movie Collection
- 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
Into the Wild
- Who's watched: G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Mom never saw this movie. I suspect she would have found it interesting, but I don't know, for sure. I'm basing my guess on her reaction to Grizzly Man, which was highly favorable and of which I'm surprised we never sought a copy. Anyway, I bought the movie on the cheap because I've always harbored a desire to take off and attempt to live "in the wild" and was curious about this movie, even though much of my reading about it had forewarned me that Christopher McCandless' journey was probably more about mental/spiritual/emotional/social (take your pick) illness than anything else and that he headed "Into the Wild" frighteningly unprepared, despite himself. Some have speculated that the movie is irresponsible. Thus, any leaning toward a romantic viewing of this film had been cleared before I watched it. Still, I enjoyed the story of what this man did, even though the movie is not completely clear on the brain chemistry or social environment behind his character and choice. It's a highly romantic retelling which, opposing the critics, I find appropriate. Despite this man's talent for personal tragedy, watching the movie has a tendency to allow me to (dangerously, I suppose) consider that, well, maybe someday...with quite a bit more preparation than an idea, I can assure you ...
Roger Ebert, by the way, wrote stunning, heartfelt review of this movie. In fact, the only reason I didn't attach his review to the title of this post is because, for some reason, I thought a definition of schizophrenia, in the context of the film, might be more appropriate. I'm not sure I was right, but, still, I'm sticking with my choice.
Update 5/24/22: Yet another post published on 4/09/09 that "disappeared" and I had to recapture.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Emile Hirsch Chris McCandless Marcia Gay Harden Billie McCandless William Hurt Walt McCandless Jena Malone Carine McCandless Catherine Keener Jan Burres Hal Holbrook Ron Franz Kristen Stewart Tracy Tatro Vince Vaughn Wayne Westerberg Zach Galifianakis Kevin Thure Lindhardt Mads Merritt Wever Lori Leonard Knight Himself
So, I was able to find a title link alternate to Wikipedia, an interesting one, too, and it remains up, but, just in case, here's the Wikipedia article.
Release Date: 2007
Directed by Sean Penn.
Labels: action3, adventure3, drama7, kristen-stewart, marsha-gay-harden, road-movie, tragedy2, william-hurt
Saturday, January 16, 2021
The Newsroom: Entire Series
- Commentary: This clip from the first show of the first season is why I own this series. Because it ran on HBO, I never got a chance to see the entire series. But, somehow, I saw this clip, and it haunted me. I finally obtained the entire series.
I know, I know, it's out of fashion to like Aaron Sorkin's productions right now. I don't care. He produces some of the most thoughtful, interesting, American, that's right, American political writing available. That's why I own this series, and several other of his video works. I look forward to viewing past works of his to which I haven't yet been introduced and any future work he produces. You heard it here: Thanks, Aaron. Carry on.
P. S. My mother died before this series was created. I think she would have enjoyed it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Jeff Daniels Will McAvoy Emily Mortimer MacKenzie Morgan McHale John Gallagher Jr. James Harper Alison Pill Margaret Jordan Thomas Sadoski Don Keefer Dev Patel Neil Sampat Olivia Munn Sloan Sabbith Sam Waterston Charlie Skinner Jane Fonda Leona Lansing Hope Davis Nina Howard Marcia Gay Harden Rebecca Halliday Mary McCormack Molly Levy
The Wikipedia write-up of the series is here.
Release Date: 2012-2014
Directed by several people, only one of whom was a woman, Lesli Linka Glatter (how's that for a name meant to be in the film industry). She directed only one episode each in the first and second seasons.
Labels: aaron-sorkin, drama1, emily-mortimer, female-director3, hope-davis, journalism, marsha-gay-harden, me-favorite1, political1, reflective, TV1
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Mona Lisa Smile
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is one of those movies that has a magnetic affect on both my mother and me. Although it's not the best school movie I've ever seen (my vote on this score is for The Paper Chase, although I'd consider The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, as well, and, a few others, come to think of it, The Blackboard Jungle, Goodbye Mr. Chips), from the cords of the opening music it drafts both of us into college, again, from our own perspetives. When we view this movie we always review the featurettes.
I have to admit, though, she and I are both suckers for school and education movies. Sometimes it's pathetic.
Directed by Mike Newell.
Update 6/13/2006: Since I first wrote this short review we've watched this movie on the average of once a month, at my suggestion. During tonight's watching I was uncustomarily analytical about some of the aspects of this movie that I love.
- All the performances are a delight to watch and utterly convincing, with the exception of Julia Roberts' performance. Tonight I finally figured out why, in this movie of incredibly performed roles (even the bartender at the wedding and "Mrs. Stone" the waitress are spot on) the star fell just short of matching her colleagues' level: She's, well, Julia Roberts and, as such, is no longer able to be a character. She is always Julia Roberts playing a character. This is unfortunate in movies such as this.
- The romance between Roberts' character and West's character is inauthentic, unconvincing, distracting and boring. It's possible that Roberts' character needs some sort of quickie affair in this movie as a device to underline her single status and her attitudes toward sexual attachment, but the one written and acted didn't work.
- The background music is both unobtrusive and evocative; so much so that the strains of the theme played behind the menu evoke pleasurable anticipation for the movie.
- The subject matter, despite being heavily covered in many other movies and, at the time of this movie's release, seemingly dated, lurks in women's souls deeply and is still not well addressed by society, thus, continues to have a powerful effect. As well, the characters and the story are so well developed that the period piece effect actually contributes to the emotional effect of the layout of the issues.
- The camera work is subtle and masterful. No camera effect is used for the sake of the effect alone.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Julia Roberts Katherine Watson Kirsten Dunst Betty Warren Julia Stiles Joan Brandwyn Maggie Gyllenhaal Giselle Levy Ginnifer Goodwin Connie Baker Laura Allen Susan Delacorte Marcia Gay Harden Nancy Abbey Donna Mitchell Mrs. Warren Marian Seldes President Jocelyn Carr Juliet Stevenson Amanda Armstrong Dominic West Bill Dunbar Topher Grace Tommy Donegal Ebon Moss-Bachrach Charlie Stewart Jordan Bridges Spencer Jones John Slattery Paul Moore Tori Amos Wedding Singer
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2003
Directed by Mike Newell.
Labels: dramaB, julia-roberts, kirsten-dunst, maggie-gyllenhaal, marsha-gay-harden, period5, political4, shared-favorite, teaching, women's-movie1
