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11.22.63 (2016)
Read the Novel.
I consider 11.22.63 to be Stephen King's last great novel. It is long so it takes a commitment to start reading it (or listening to the audio), BUT it is King at his best with combining history and characters. The amount of detail about the events leading up to and afterwards are fascinating. King and his assistants clearly did a lot of research of that era. The movie was OK but does not compare to the source. It would be asking a lot to expect a movie or mini-series to capture that novel. As an aside there are a few movies/series that have done justice to their source. "The Book Thief" is one example of a successful adaptation if you want to check that one out.
War of the Worlds (2019)
Ok but nothing special
This series took the original premise of an alien invasion and then morphed it into a poor man/woman version of The Walking Dead. It had several different groups of people with their own storylines who were loosely connected by a shared family member (husband, sister, etc). Rather than zombies it had **** creatures attacking humans.
At first it held some interest but after too many episodes that slowly leaked out hints about the aliens it felt bloated.
I am not sure I would watch a second season to find out the intent of the invasion...which is hinted at already.
Some re-imagination of shows, such as Battlestar Galactica, succeed.
I recommend watching a show like that instead of this War of the Worlds series.
The Dark Tower (2017)
The Dark Tower Destroyed by Film Makers
Big fan of the book series and wanted to see the film after the initial crowds died down. Well, I went with some of my family last night to see the film... at the only theater still showing it. Aside from us there was one, yes one, person in the theater watching the movie. The Dark Tower film had almost nothing to do with the books. It had the main character names and a dark tower. Little else resembled the books but I guess an 1:30 long movie won't capture much of a major book series, especially books the size of King type books. The actors were fine, especially the boy actor playing Jake. But the film did not work as an action film or as any other type of genre. Some action but too many check the watch moments. Some character building, but who cared. Some CGI but boring. The best part of the movie was the loading of bullets into the gun... kinda sad. I suggest saving your money... although you probably won't find this film at the theater much longer... and catch it for free later. Even then it might not be worth the time spent.
Quantico (2015)
Fell off a cliff after the first season
The first season was somewhat interesting with a large cast of characters and a hook of some traitor among them. Even then it was somewhat convoluted in the writing and inconsistency with the character development. Stayed around to get some resolution which turned out to be poorly done. What a waste but hoped for a better season 2. The second season has been worse... much worse. I am not surprised that this show is unlikely to be renewed. The ratings are in the basement. I don't walk away from many shows but I almost walked away during the past couple of episode where the writers have outdone themselves with their idiotic rhetoric. My wife and I are definitely done with this show but will watch the final episode coming up. AND I will not support any of the sponsors on this show.
Out of the Blue (1947)
Ann Dvorak is the real star of this film
Wishy washy title but saw that it was billed as screwball comedy and had gotten some good reviews on IMDb so it ended up as my pick for 'movie night' in our home. I was not familiar with Ann Dvorak who was getting secondary billing in this movie but once she was introduced to the story the movie picked up... and she stole every scene. I want to see more of her in comedy films and hope that there are some. George Brent deserves some kudos also as the main foil in this screwball comedy. He did a nice job. If you have a chance to watch this film then do it. The opening scene is weak but it really picks up after that and does not stop until credits are ready to roll at the end.
Topper Returns (1941)
Excellent Cast / Ordinary Movie
I am a Joan Blondell fan and the cast of this film is excellent so I had high expectations. Roland Young and Billie Burke are excellent as Mr and Mrs Topper. Billie Burke's character reminded me of a Gracie Allen character... spacey and very funny. Rochester was fun and even made a reference to returning to Jack Benny after all the 'craziness' going on in this film. The only problem is that the 'craziness' was not that funny and the film felt low budget and tedious most of the time. Joan Blondell was disappointing also... lots of unfunny one liners and definitely was quickly moving towards the end of her career as a leading lady. Sorry but I would not recommend this film when there are so many others available that are much better.
One Way Passage (1932)
This movie still works in the 21 century
Recently saw this film, thanks to both TCM and my DVR. I am a big William Powell fan and was aware that Kay Francis was one of the big stars in that time period. I was not disappointed. First, the picture and sound were both very watchable, something that some early talkies cannot claim. The casting of the leads was perfect, as expected, while the supporting cast had important roles in the storyline. Unlike some early films this one had layers to the story that gave it more dramatic weight. My only negative comment is that while I like Frank McHugh in his other films, I did not especially like some of the corny comedy scenes that he had in this film. The comedy was a little too broad for a film like this. Not a reason to not watch but it is the only thing that keeps me from giving it an eleven star rating, if I could.
The Purge: Anarchy (2014)
Formula ridden film that has been already made numerous times
Finally watched The Purge - Anarchy after it sat on my DVR for awhile. I did watch it from start to finish which means it deserved some rating stars. It is SciFi only in that it is set in a future where The Purge exists. *** minor spoiler ahead *** The characters are predictable and it was only a matter of time when their paths would cross. And the 'monsters' of course are bankers and rich people... so predictable from Hollywood types where they are rich but believe they represent us. The film presents a simplistic view of the world... but that is Hollywood. If you are looking for good SciFi then look elsewhere. This is more of a horror action film. Anyway, the movie was OK as entertainment so if that is all that you want then go for it.
Crashing Hollywood (1938)
Fast paced and has some laughs
Just watched Crashing Hollywood after having saved it on my DVR from a TCM airing. I like Lee Tracy but did not have high expectations. He was a big star early in his career but his personal life derailed his career. Crashing Hollywood is a short film at only around 60 minutes which is not always a bad thing. Lee Tracy was more reserved than when I had seen him a couple of his older films. The supporting cast provided more of the screwball humor. The story held some interest from the start and towards the end of the film it escalated into a wild screwball comedy with mistaken identities and chase scenes. This is not an Academy Award movie but a good choice if you want to spend an hour being entertained and having a few laughs.
Ever in My Heart (1933)
An unexpected film theme
TCM showed this film and I saved it on my DVR for later viewing. Barbara Stanwyck, World War I, Germans and throw in mystery...sounded like a good old war themed movie. Turns out it was a movie that could have only been made around 1933. It was sandwiched just right between the two World Wars to deal with the issues in the film. It showed the life of a German who married an American in the years before the Great War. Later in the film the War became a major focus and impact upon his life and his family. My grandfather was of German heritage. He was born in the US but both his parents were from Germany. When he became of age he attempted to enlist in WW I but was turned down because he was 'German'. Didn't matter that his family had arrived before the Civil War and had fought for the Union. When my family finished viewing this film we all thought - this film is 'different'. The theme was not something I was expecting and not something I had every seen in other films. A young Barbara Stanwyck was a bonus. Worth watching if you enjoy older films.
Noah (2014)
No to Noah
Recently watched Noah with my wife. I had heard it was not faithful to the bible but to be honest I don't know much about any of that anyway. I was looking forward to an epic story with plenty of action. Plus it had Russell Crowe in it. Figured it had to be a somewhat entertaining movie. I was wrong. The story was tedious and boring. The rock creatures looked like some second rate special effects. They even made the flood, hope that is not a spoiler, look ordinary at best. My review is based on the movie as entertainment. I have no concerns one way or another about whether it was faithful to the original story. It was just a bad movie. Probably the worst I have seen in the psst year.
Washington Merry-Go-Round (1932)
Disappointing Lee Tracy Film
I have enjoyed exploring older films and came across Lee Tracy who was a bit of a star in the thirties. He was fast talking and had a huge presence on the screen. Personal problems with alcohol derailed his career later on. I had found this film, Washington-Merry-Go-Round, and was looking forward to watching it. It was an early thirties film with some politically incorrect portrayals of black characters. It reflected the times of the making of this movie so I accepted it with a slight jolt. My main problem was that this movie was so heavy handed making it's statement about corrupt people with money controlling politicians. The monologues were overly long and simplistic. The movie did have a few good moments but it is not a movie that I would recommend spending my time watching. There are too many better movies to watch.
Forever Female (1953)
Bad Title. Good Movie
This 1954 film features Ginger Rogers and William Holden with a nice supporting role played by Paul Douglas as Ginger Roger's ex-husband. Ginger Rogers was in her early forties at the time of this film and played an actress not totally accepting of her age. The public still loved her but playing a 29 year old was beginning to strain credibility. William Holden played an unknown playwright with a play featuring the relationship of a 19 year old and her mother. The role was rewritten so that Ginger Rogers could play a 29 year old, once again. Won't go further into the story but I found it interesting that Ginger Rogers was brave enough to play a role like this where age was a focus. It was a surprise to see an older Ginger Rogers after only having seen her earlier movies. Overall this film was entertaining with a nice mix of comedy and drama. Well worth the time to watch.
On the 2nd Day of Christmas (1997)
Remember the Night
When I first read the overview of this movie I thought that it sounded familiar. I checked my Christmas movies and it turned out that Remember the Night from 1940 written by Preston Sturges was the film. Here is IMDb's overview of that film which starred Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray "Just before Christmas, Lee Leander is caught shoplifting. It is her third offense. She is prosecuted by John Sargent. He postpones the trial because it is hard to get a conviction at Christmas time. But he feels sorry for her and arranges for her bail, and ends up taking her home to his mother for Christmas" And once again they fall in love... If you enjoyed "On the 2nd Day of Christmas" then you might enjoy this older B&W film with a similar theme.
The Animal Kingdom (1932)
Pre-code movie
The Animal Kingdom has Leslie Howard, Ann Harding & Myrna Loy which is enough reason to watch this film. Ann Harding was a big star at that time and got top billing. I have enjoyed watching several of her films. This is pre"Thin Man" Myrna Loy so her character is a departure from the likable fun loving spouse of William Powell. I have grown to like Leslie Howard after initially only knowing him from his "Gone with the Wind" role. This is a pre-code film and the subject manner reflects that. None of the later restrictions of moral codes. Others describe the plot so won't go into that. It is listed as a comedy and drama but don't expect any comedy from the lead actors. The only source of comedy is the butler of Leslie Howard. The story is really a drama about relationships with just a small amount of comedy relief. After viewing the film my impression is that it was a curiosity of the time period but had enough interest to recommend it to others.
Watch on the Rhine (1943)
Better than it should be
I watched this movie on TCM mainly because it had Bette Davis and I like WW II era movies. I find it interesting to see how they perceived their times without the advantage of the hindsight that we have. Other reviews go into detail about the plot so won't repeat that other than to say it kept my interest. Bette Davis was excellent as was most of the actors in the major roles. Paul Lukas, of course, was dominating in his scenes. I also liked Geraldine Fitzgerald who I don't recall having seem before. As some harsh critics have stated it was slow at times, but not often. It felt a little preachy and stage-like but as I watched I kept thinking 'I like this movie'. I think the theme and the excellent acting carried the movie. So in spite of some criticism I would recommend this film.
Devotion (1931)
Interesting side stories
An enjoyable movie if you can suspend belief that Ann Harding can disguise herself as an older woman. Thankfully the story moves on beyond that concept. I found the Robert Williams role to be the most interesting part of the film and why I would recommend it, beyond that it does star Ann Harding and Leslie Howard.
Without going into the story too much he plays a character that we do not know whether to like or not. There is a lot of gray in who he is. The same can be said for the Leslie Howard character. I have watched a number of movies from the thirties and this is one of the ones that I would recommend watching if you have a chance.
Man-Proof (1938)
Not perfect but entertaining
Based on the casting that included Myra Loy and Rosalind Russell, I decided to watch this movie. Some reviews are unkind so I was surprised to find that I enjoyed it as much as I did. And I watch a lot of the thirties and forties movies. My impressions...
- It evolved from a comedy into a more serious theme of troubled relationships. Uneven but still interesting.
- I had to check out the date of the movie to verify that it was not pre-code film because the storyline became more 'adult' as it moved along, until the ending.
- I enjoyed Franchot Tone, who I was not that familiar with. Definitely want to see him in some other films.
- Some call the dialog stilted but I found myself listening closely to it because there was a lot of thought in the words spoken.
Bottom line - there are mixed reviews but I found this film to be well worth the time spent.
Slightly Dangerous (1943)
Lana Turner and Supporting Cast Shine
I have been watching a lot of 30s and 40s movies over the past several months and this has been one of the more entertaining ones. As other reviewers have stated, Lana Turner handles comedy very well, the supporting cast is excellent and the storyline has some "weight" to it. I like Robert Young but did have to suspend belief to buy into Lana Turner being attracted to him. He handled the comedy well but was a little lacking in the romantic storyline... Otherwise the casting was well done. One reviewer also made reference to Marilyn Monroe - I know I did a double take a few times noticing the resemblance between Lana Turner and Marilyn. And Lana Turner definitely could act. Bottom line - this movie is worth the time investment to watch.
Magnificent Obsession (1935)
A little disappointed
I am a fan of Irene Dunne and was looking forward to seeing this movie. Unfortunately it felt a little out of touch with the events, especially in the first half of the movie. After the initial shock of learning that her husband had suddenly died, the wife displayed little grief. In fact she seemed somewhat interested in a young man (Robert Taylor) she met when her car broke down. Of course, she didn't know that he had indirectly contributed to her late husband's death but she seemed a little too carefree for the situation. This movie is of some interested because it is the original version of the story. I have not seen the updated version yet so am interested in comparing the two movies.
Easy Living (1937)
Movie didn't live up to positive reviews
I agree with the minority reviews that this film didn't quite click. Scenes were too long. The pratfalls too frequent. The plot and characters too flimsy. I found the hotel owner to be more irritating than amusing. Jean Arthur and Edward Arnold were solid but not great. Ray Milland did not make much of an impression. Franklin Pangborn probably was the highlight of the acting. I love slapstick but this film just didn't quite work for me. With all the talent in this film it should have been much much better. Read a couple of the less positive reviews which give more detail about the shortcomings of this film. Unfortunately they are right.
The Rounder (1930)
Jack Benny shines in early short subject
The Rounder is an extra on the DVD "To Be or Not to Be". After watching the main feature I decided to see what this extra was about. Jack Benny was out of character as we know him today but as I watched I became drawn in by the very bizarre story line. Jack plays a sophisticated man who has been out late drinking and enters the wrong home in his tipsy state. He encounters a woman who has also just returned from an evening at a club with her boyfriend that ended up in her breaking up with him. The interaction between Jack and the woman is priceless. It has a number of good laughs as well as a somewhat surreal feel to it. Highly recommended.
Room Service (1938)
Underrated Marx Brothers film
After having watched many of the earlier Marx Brothers movies it was refreshing to not have the musical interludes that had become a part of the formula of a Marx Brothers movie. No piano, no harp or geeky male tenor. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the musical numbers when they add something to the movie but not when they are an obligation. The supporting cast was excellent and added to the humor without taking away from the Marx Brothers antics themselves. At the end of the movie my sons said it was the funniest of the Marx Brothers films that they had seen...and they had seen all the earlier files including Duck Soup and A Night at the Opera. I may be influenced by the critics who rate Duck Soup and "Opera" at the top of the list but Room Service definitely deserves a strong recommendation if you want a good laugh.
So Fine (1981)
A modern screwball comedy
What makes this movie a comedy classic are the sub-plots involving Ryan O'Neal as a straight laced academic who gets involved with a sexy woman who is the girl friend of Big Eddie (the biggest bad guy you will ever met). While I wouldn't want to compare Ryan O'Neal with Cary Grant there is a feel of some of the Grant roles where he plays the shy awkward guy rather than his normal sophisticated role. This movie has the feel of an old time screwball comedy but with some scenes that only could be shown in a more modern movie. I will never forget the passionate couch scene where the girl breaks out in opera.
Well worth the viewing if you can find it.
Unfortunately it is not available on DVD yet... that needs to change!