Deliberatedan Reviews

Your Place or Mine (2023)

Standard Romantic Comendy

[8/10 · 12 February 2023]

I am most attracted to new releases because of the actors not necessarily the story line so I took a leap of faith on this one. I was not disappointed in either.

I agree with one reviewer that the title has almost nothing to do with the movie but I let that go.

I also let got the three hour time difference yet the direction would suggest it is the same time in NY and LA in various scenes. They seem to tighten that up closer to the end of the movie.

Certainly has a When Harry Met Sally theme to it, which is an al time favorite so it is hard for me to not like this one.

My wife didn't watch this with me and we may watch it again today. I wouldn't do that if I did n't think it was something she would like or something I liked.

If you are a regular romantic comedy buff, this one ticks all the boxes.

Raise Hell: The Life & Times of Molly Ivins (2019)

Good

[6/10 · 4 November 2021]

I never heard of Molly or I forgot about her. Probably would have enjoyed it more if I knew of her. I stuck with it. Quite the character and quite the life. Eye witness to history. Very well done. Recommend.

Back for Good (II) (2017)

Meh

[4/10 · 4 November 2021]

It was okay but hard pressed to recommend. The writing was okay. The acting seemed strained. The story line was vanilla. Virtually no plot. Nominal character development. Good news? It was short.

The Girl in the Book (2015)

Great story!

[9/10 · 3 October 2021]

Well written, directed and performed.

Hard not to argue we live in a patriarchy after watching this movie. Good grief. Hard to argue we don't have a rape culture on our hands. I am not quite ready to concede that one.

The movie captures the essence of the New York publishing society and the egos at large. Alice's father played by Michael Cristofer is a fantastic role to watch. How he holds court at his dinner table, asking people what they would like, and then changing their order for them demonstrates an incredible ego and patriarchy. Very powerful. And it is the final scene at the dinner table that signals a turning point in the story.

I'd highly recommend this movie to women and men. Emily VanCamp is just excellent.

Monsters Inside: The 24 Faces of Billy Milligan (2021)

Good story

[7/10 · 24 September 2021]

I can't believe the horrendous reviews here. Definitely deserves some of it especially the interview sites. Weird choices. Music maybe overdone. Otherwise, for whatever reason, I was completely unfamiliar with the story. Glad I watched it.

Dear John (I) (2010)

Solid movie

[9/10 · 14 November 2010]

Another reflection of our times! The theatres seem crammed with movies revolving in some way around 9/11 now, and I don't think I have seen a bad one yet. This may not be a great movie but it is worth seeing.

Of course there is the love story, and I think there is great chemistry between John and Savannah, and it starts with his chivalry from the very beginning on the beach. Fantastic! Then there is the historical value. Pay attention to the dates! (Your watching a movie about a soldier that starts in "Spring, 2001.") And then there is the autism. Another incredible piece of work by Richard Jenkins.

The three themes are all very realistic, there is no mushy fantasy in this film. In fact, there is the hardcore reality. Savannah is revealed as a girl who just wants to do the right thing, John is damaged goods, suffering from the same neglect by his mother, that little Alan is. Som great, intimate conversations throughout the movie, lots of little nuances only the astute will pick up.

Don't be getting up and down during this movie because you will miss something.

I was glad that they did not belabor the war effort here. We got a good flavor of it but it was more about the pain of leaving love ones behind, then the pain of the war itself.

I almost forgot to mention the coins, What a phenomenal use of symbolism. "I was minted in 1980." Just beautiful.

I encourage anyone to watch this movie. Touching, riveting, and just deep enough to choke you up every now and then.