Movie Reviews

 ***** = Loved it and recommend it **** = Enjoyed it *** = Decent ** = Dull * = Why did I bother?

Book Comments

2020

**********

Mole Agent - A charming "small film" about a Chilean octogeneraian who takes a job and become a bumanitarian. Very warm and delightful film!

*******

Mid-August Luncheon - With Gianni di Gregorio, a subtle and excellent talent.

*******

Citizens of the World - Also a delightful Italian comedy with Gianni di Gregorio and a fine cas tof characters.

The Tobacconist

From the Vine

​

2019

8 1/2 out of 10 Albert stars

Little Women - written and directed by Greta Gerwig

– a mini film review by Albert Fried-Cassorla

This is an entertaining version of a classic novel, one that uses many of the powers of a well-produced film to bring the stories within it to life. The stories are on the whole well-told, and it held my interest almost completely throughout. Good acting abounds. There is a tragic part of the story which I will not go into to avoid spoiler. It is well-done and to me, convincing.

Friends of mine who are more familiar with the book say the film takes too many liberties, especially by tacking on a biographical account of the character Jo and conflating that with the history of Louisa May Alcott, the author. A feminist friend said the script was too preachy, by having extended passages that talk explicitly about how limited were the ways in which women could earn a living back then.

I have two reservations, although, as I said, I enjoyed the flick very much:

1. The March family seems too rich. Evrything is in bundance, as if the set designer and director coud not contain themselves in their enthusiasm for physical splendor.

2. The poor family living nearby is sketched in only rudimentary fashion, as if to say: "Here are the poor people. We (the March fmaily) sbhowedd them some charity and compassion. And now we will dispense with them." I am not asking for the full Dickensian treatment.but little further tale-telling would have been welcomed. If liberties were to be taken with the story, I'd like to know mroe about those folks.

Still these are minor quibbles in an excellent evening spent at the movie theater!

8 1/2 out of 10 Albert stars

A beautiful day in the neighborhood – film review by Albert Fried-Cassorla

This movie gets my rating of 8 1/2 out of Albert 10 stars. It's worth seeing, not just if you were a fan of Mr. Rogers, but if you want to gain insight into how one person can truly affect the course of another person’s life in a positive way.

Without giving away the heart of the tale, I will say that Mr. Rogers befriends a journalist and helps him become reconciled with a particular family member. How he does it is the heart of the story. The movie teaches us about how to be sincerely and truly focused on the Other.

This film is based on a true story. I did see last year‘s movie on Mr. Rogers, called “Won’t you be my neighbor?“ and because I had, I wondered whether I could really stand another Mr. Rogers movie. Well, having Tom Hanks as the star didn’t hurt. He did a great job, but not without a terrific script and a great supporting cast.

But I have one cosmic question: Why does Mr. Rogers rate two feature films, and Captain Kangaroo none? I will have to ask Clarabelle for the answer. Very few people will know what I am talking about. Let me know if you do!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10011448/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1

10 out of 10 Albert stars

Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice - I totally loved this documentary, and by extension, her personallity. She had a generous soul. I speak in the past tense, because although she is still alive, she is now suffering from Parkinson's and is tragically all but unable to sing.

Unlike many other films, it never bored me. Fascinating throughout, thanks to great movie-making and to the power of her voice and song selection. Let's not forget that Ronstadt was an interpreter, not a creator as such. Still intrepreters lgitimate artists and are needed in this world. Ronstadt's voice thrills, especially on three songs:

You're No Good
Blue Bayou
The Sound of a Different Drum (with the Stone Ponies)
 

9 out of 10 Albert stars

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9351980/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1

American Factory - Produced by Higher Ground. Available on Netflix. (Admission: a family member of mine is involved in the company. Still, I can heartily and honestly recommend it.) This is a fascinating documentary about what happened when a Chinese company took over a failed American windshield manufacturing plant in the midwest, re-employing 2,0000 people. Cultures clash, American work standards are challenged, tempers are frayed and more. An involving story, told with inside knowledge, surprisingly revealing interviews and more.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7905466/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1

9 out of 10 Albert stars

They Shall Not Grow Old - (We saw it on a plane flight.) An excellent documantary about World War I soldiers' lives and combat experiences. It is colorized and computer smoothed to produce an intense, fiors-tperson view. It's as if these people were still alive. Alas, all are gone. A powerful trip backwards in history!

My slight complaint is that it could have used summarires of the causes of the war and a selection of viewpoints on: Was this horrible war necessary? Over 2 million people were killed in the Battle of the Somme alone, so some discussion seems warranted, both to honor the dead and to protect the public from similar (possibly crazy) crusades.

6 out of 10 Albert stars

Echo in the Canyon - A visual and aural trip through the LA music scene of the lat 1960's and 70's. Great if you love the music of that period, such as the Mamas and the Papas, The Beach Boys, Neil Young, Crosby Stills and Nash and more. Too much time spent on Jacob Dylan, IMHO.

​

2018

EIGHTH GRADE. 10 out of 10 Albert Stars. This is a super well-told of a modern eighth grader, as played by a 13-year old budding super-star. The following special ingredients do not add up to the unique power of this film. but here is a list: modern technology, cliques, meanness of kids, a dad who wants to be close to his daughter, sexuality, superb direction, realism and more. Simply, go see it!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7014006/?ref_=nv_sr_1

THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS. 9 out of 10 Albert Stars. This is an extraordinary documentary for two main reasons: it tells an amazing and resonant tale, and it is very well produced. You cannot read half a sentence about it and abound knowing that this is the story of three triplets separated at birth. So I am not giving anything away here.

What makes it very interesting. Is how the brothers gradually became aware of each others’ existences. This is compounded by their strange similarities and important differences. The film has much to say, obliquely, about the Nature vs. Nurture debate. And it has fever more to say about “scientists” who have little consideration for the fate and wellbeing of their subjects.

We are tempted to call their attitudes Nazi-like. But can you do that when the experiment planners were Jewish? I will leave that for you to decide. Some of this film is very sweet, some dark. Do not go expecting a marmalade medley of “Oh triplets, how cute!” But what you will experience will be both engrossing and thought-provoking — guaranteed.

I especially recommend this to any therapists whom i know: such as Cindy Baum-Baicker, Joellyn Ross, Wade Luquet, Linda Schenker, and Mark Schenker. But also to anyone with ore than a passing interest in forever-mutable human nature?

IMDB.COM
Three Identical Strangers (2018)
Directed by Tim Wardle. With Silvi Alzetta-Reali, Eddy Galland, Ron Guttman, David Kellman. In 1980 New York, three young men who were all adopted meet each other and find out they're triplets who were separated at birth. Then they discover why.
Save

DIETLAND - 9 out of 10 Albert Stars

created by Marti Noxon

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5869202/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

This TV series on Alazon Prime has 4 episodes so far. It is very provocative and entertaining. It is about the fat-shaming industries, ghouls (such as weight loss and cosmetics), females getting revenge on chauvinistic males and more. By the way, the revenge theme reminds me of the Ellen Jamesian Society in John Irving's The World According to Garp.

The plot lines (at least three) keep you involved and contain surprises. I found it entertaining and recommend it, although I only had time for the first two episodes. I hear that the remaining episodes are outstanding.

WALK HARD (The Dewey cox Story, 2007)

9 out of 10 Albert Stars

On IMDB, see:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0841046/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

How I missed this hilarious comedy on the first trip around, I'll never know. Caught it on Netflix the other night. John C. Reilly is phenomenal as he portrays any number of Rock gods of the 1950' through the early 2000's. Chiefly, he plays Johnny Cash. I found the script and filmmaking wonderful, as a satire on rock cliches. Within it are takeoffs on The Beatles, Bob Dylan, June Carter Cash (Jenna Fischer) and many more.

Even more amazing is that Reilly recorded 33 original songs for the movie with his backup band. And they are in varied styles. He handles all with aplomb. And so, it is a plum!

THE HOUSE Of TOMORROW (2017)
9 out of 10 Albert Stars

This movie gets your attention and holds it via strengths of good acting and directing, rounded character development, an excellent script, and a fine story arc. It is not really about Buckminster Fuller’s architecture, although that figures symbolically as the geodesic dome house-museum in which Ellen Burstyn and her charge live.

Instead, this tale is about two adolescents, one sheltered and played with great restraint and sensitivity by Asa Butterfield; and the other a rebellious, aspiring punk rocker played by Alex Wolff. The sheltered teen is zealously guarded by his granny, played superbly by Ellen Burstyn.

There is a good deal more to the story and many amusements and hijinx. But the main theme is caring — and is it is finely interpreted by the teens and the parental figures. Well done! Only available in selected theaters and via DVD

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5580036/?ref_=nv_sr_1

available for streaming from Amazon Prime

I, Tonya - 10 out of 10 Albert Stars

This movie surprised me. I had heard it was good, but had no idea it would be this good. My opinion of the actual, histrical Tonya Harding was poor and mistaken. This movie made me emphathize with both the real and fictional Tonya, and I was totally swept up in her story. It seems to have been a case of a woman making bad choices, as influenced by the men around her. According to the film, she had no idea that Nancy Kerrigan was going to be attacked.

I will not reveal the plot, even if it is generally available, either as fiction or biography. Suffice it to say that the film captivated me and made excellent use of staged to-the-camera interviews by principal characters, plus wonderfully scripted, acted and directed scenes. Sentimental fool that I am, I actually cried when I saw the real Tonya at the end of the movie, a victim but a triumphant one.

TULLY - 10 of 10 Albert stars

This film tells the story of an overwhelmed. exhausted, pregnant mother, played by Charlize Theron, and the various trials she faces. If that were all this movie offers, you might well say: "Not for me."

But this film TAKES OFF! And pays off. A mysterious Nanny appears - Tully - played with zealous aplomb by Mackenzie Davis. She offers to make the mom's pregnancy and, indeed, her life much better.

This description just hints at what lies in store. I won't tell you, because that is the beautiful secret of this arresting film. If you like to be challenged at the cinema - plus provoked and entertained - then this movie is for you. A caution: do not read too much about it beforehand.

​

2017

The Greatest Showman - 8 out of 10 Albert stars - Highly entertaining, but flawed because it glosses over PT Barnum's poor behavior or crimes.

Theresz at Dinner - 9 out of 10 Albert stars - Mainly well made class conflict film. Has a frightening scene I regreat having seen.

The Florida Project. - 10 out of 10 stars! A truly great film. These chid actors show the beauty and fun of childhood as well as the misery of being raised by inadequate parents. Not for everyone, because the children are badly treated sometimes, mainly via neglect. There is too much to say about why this is a fantadtyic film. I will leave it to others to go into detail.

Good-Bye Christopher Robin - 9 out of 10 Albert stars -touching and evocative

Ladybird - 8 out of 10 Albert Stars Pretty good and funny. Not worthy of the hype. Especially meaningful for those who have a difficult mother-daughter relationship.

Logan Lucky - 7 out of 10 Albert Stars Entertaining. Plot was a bit hard to follow.

Mayerowitz Stories - 8 of 10 Albert stars

A Hard Days Night - 10 of 10 Albert stars- Unbelievable that I never before saw this very amusing film about my favorite band.

Trip to Spain - 5 out of 10 Albert stars- Overrated, egotistical and mainly unfunny movie.

MAUDIE - a mini review - 10 out of 10 Albert stars

This beautifully told story deserves your attention! Maudie is a tale of a lonely, afflicted woman who creates a space for herself in this world by dint of her pluck, artistic talent and charm.

The principals are Sally Hawkins as Maudie and Ethan Hawke as a gruff and even abusive fisherman who hires Maud as his housekeeper. How the rest of the relationship develops is the essence of the story, and I wont spoil it here. Hawkins' performance is Oscar-worthy and calls for substantial emoting. Hawkes' role calls for more restraint and infinite shades of dumbfoundedness, irritation, bewilderment, and occasional apercu of realization. He shows these emotions with only slight changes of expression that are fun to watch.

Maud Lewis was a self-taught artist, kind of like a Grandma Moses of Canada. The landscape is Prince Edward Island, which I was fortunate to have visited a few weeks ago. Lovely landscapes and great Nature views abound. I saw "Dunkirk" the week prior. This film is like Dunkirk in Opposite-World!

9 out of 10 Albert stars

The Big Sick - This is a fine film for multiple reasons: it entertains most of the time; it delivers a good dose of meaning in terms of human suffering; it shows the powers both of empathy and prejudice among the characters; it is based on a true story that has resonated with me, my friends and the audience, and more. Excellent acting all around. Go see it!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5462602/?ref_=nv_sr_2

9 out of 10 Albert stars

Their Finest - This is a thoroughly entertaining movie about film indistry workers in England during World War II. The story focuses on a female writer who rises in stature because of her talents and also because of a shortage of male writers. It has a strong love angle and a superb performance by Bill Nighy as a preening, conceited acTOR! Keeps your interest throughout (or at least it did mine.)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1661275/?ref_=nv_sr_1

8 out of 10 Albert stars

Paterson - If you like poetry - especially imaginatively enhanced poetry - I think you will enjoy this movie. And if Adam Driver is your guy, who will see a new side of his acting talents here: serious, human, not "attitudinous" as his character was in Girls. The film is about a bus driver who writes poetry and also about his various relationships. The actual poetry quoted belongs to Ron Padgett, although it is attributed fictionally to the lead character.

The title throws a curveball, if you are familiar with Paterson, the book of poems by William Carlos Williams. You might think it has something to do with him, but NO. (He does get one mention, as do Abbott and Costello and other Patersonites of note.)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5247022/?ref_=nv_sr_1

10 out of 10 Albert stars

Toni Erdmann - This film engaged me and did not let go for its entire 2 3/4 hours. This is about a late middle-aged father who wants to get back into the life of his busy business executive daugher. He tries various silly stratagems to do this, most of which are humorous and pathetic. The lead actor, Peter Simonicchek, is fantastic -- as is his daugher-character, played by Sandra Huller. The two play off each other with so many varied moods and moments.

There are many surprises in this movie! Of course I won't reveal them. It's available on Amazon video, by the way.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4048272/?ref_=nv_sr_1

I Am Not Your Negro

Tin Men (DVD)

Rumor Has It (DVD)

Revolutionary Road (DVD)

Hidden Figures

9 outof 10 Albert stars

This was a very entertaining historical film, full of surprises. Lots of romance here, but built on pillars of history. As you probably know, this film if about the role of African-American women scientists in advancing the US Space Program in the 1960's and beyond. Of the three lead ladies, Taraji P. Henson has the largest role and is the true standout of the picture. A very inspiring film for women and African-Americans, especiallty -- or for anyone who cares about social progress and science.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4846340/?ref_=nv_sr_1

​

2016

Lion -- a moving, powerful film!

********* 1/2

I give this film nine out of and a half out of 10 Albert stars.
This movie tells an engrossing tale of a poor Indian boy who gets lost while trying to accompany his brother on a brief and dangerous journey. What unfolds is gripping – – we are ineluctably drawn into the welfare and safety of this charming young child, lost in the labyrinth of unfeeling adults and the steely mechanics of the Indian railroad system.
The first hour of the movie is spellbinding as we see the young character named Saroo cope with the bewildering landscape of urban India, so far away from his home. Later in the movie we see Dev Patel play his older self in a star turn. But the overwhelming credit for the power of this movie, besides going to the writer and director, belongs to the child star, played by Sunny Pawar. His magnificent performance is the best I've seen by a child actor Quvenzhané Wallis in Beasts of the Southern wild.
My slight complaint is that near the end of the movie, the pace slows to a crawl and we are forced it to study Dev Patel's anguished face as he goes through the ritual of searching for his home. Nicole Kidman is great as Saroo's white adoptive mother. However, she has a lengthy monologue that it's not compelling.
Those comments aside, this is still a gripping story, maybe the best I've seen in 2016 or 2017. So go to the theater – – hear Lion roar!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3741834/?ref_=nv_sr_1

​

Movie worth seeing!

Indignation - 2016 - 9 1/2 out of 10 Albert stars.  

This is a very engaging and well-told movie based on a 2008 novel by Philip Roth. It's about a Jewish college student in the 1950's who faces several important chiocces as he adjusts to life in a small college in Ohio.

The movie grabs you and holds onto you as the characterizations become more real and believable. Playwright Tracy Letts (August Osage County) does a fantastic job as "the heavy." This tale in also about love and its limits, family dynamics, religious discrimination, mental illness and more. It provides a very satisfying evening at the cinema. Go see it!

​

Everybody Wants Some! Nine out of 10 Albert stars.  

Simply put -- for a fun time, go see this flick. It's an effervescent and irreverent look at college life in the 1980s, as seen from the viewpoint of college baseball athletes in Texas.

Everything does happens that you can imagine happening in a campus comedy, but even so, it's always surprising. Richard Linklater is a wonderful filmmaker who has a relaxed and natural way of presenting characters and events. 

The escapades roll on and keep the audience entertained and often in stitches. The actors are comical in an unforced way, and every scene is cleverly constructed. The net result is that you feel you've enjoyed the company of some startling lunatics having a good time. I bet that even with the rigors of film production that this gang of actors really did enjoy themselves. Clever wit and innovative physical scenes keep your mind hopping.  See if you agree: crazed pitcher character reminds me of Weird Al Yankovic on steroids.

If I could add one thing, it would be more of a plot. But Linklater is not too fond of traditional notions of plot, I think, so that's OK. Zoey Deutch is so appealing that she could've played more of a role in the movie, perhaps in the same way that Katharine Ross's rol did decades ago in The Graduate. But that's a small complaint. As I said: go see it and have a fun time!

Star Wars seven. I give this an 8.5 out of 10 possible Albert stars. I know that all the world is watching, so I have to be very careful about my evaluations.

I saw this in the third row of a small movie theater with a really big screen in 3-D.

My friend and I enjoyed it tremendously. You just have to have the right expectations.
 

If you're looking for an indie movie, stay away! A few things that I really loved about it were the varied forms of humor that are laced throughout, the startling visuals, engrossing scenery, bizarre costumes and images, plus the fast pace. The sand dunes in the early scenes are great to look at, especially when one character rides down a giant doon on a shell or something.

The movie's plot is very reminiscent of the first Star Wars film, as many people pointed out. That's fine with me. I was not looking for originality, just entertainment.

The scene in the bar is very enjoyable, with all the strange creatures. I wish it were longer and that they had come up with more strange drinks, and more exotic aliens to gawk at. Also, the cast should be more integrated, especially with Asians. I kept thinking that millions of Chinese people are watching the same film, and that no one on-screen looks like them. Surely that can be fixed in the next version. I understand that Disney wants a new Star Wars film every year. So integrate! Since part of the film's message is fighting tyranny, having a more integrated cast could boost the resonance of themes of freedom and democracy worldwide.

The acting is generally good. I had not seen any of the Star Wars prequels, sequels etc., but this one was as good as the first. So if you want to have a good time at the movies, and what I've described above sounds interesting, then go. You'll see what half the planet is talking about!

​

​

2015

Carol.   8.5 out of 10 possible Albert stars.  This movie is sumptuously designed and beautifully acted.  They key fact is that it draws you into the story and keeps you interested.  Of course, so many other aspects of the film are wonderful: the period atmosphere, which Todd Haynes recreates so well; the great costumes and coiffures, the period automobiles; the Midwestern motel and more.

     Cate Blanchett is so intriguing to view, with her waves of blonde, perfect hair, pretty outfits and long red slash of a mouth.  So the physical helps maintain you interest in the character.  She is complex, and on this I must disagree with some user-critics in IMDB.com, who say she is shallowly drawn. Rooney Mara's character matures and changes in intriguing ways.  And the men do not come off badly in general.  I will not say more about that since it would give away some pilot points.

So, on balance it is an involving picture, if you think you care to watch a well-told tale about two women in love or lust in the 1950's. Now for a few criticisms:

There is too much emphasis on automobiles; pretty as those molded 50's car were, instead we could have had  brief snippets of revealing everyday conversations among pedestrians.

Also, the pace was a bit too slow for my taste. Still, a very enjoyable film, and one of the best I saw in 2015!

2014

Chef - with Jon Favreau. ****- Good stories, and fun.

Hyde Park on the Hudson (streamed) **** - with Bill Murray. Very enjoyable. 

2013

Way Way Back

Dinner for Schmucks (DVD)

Frances Ha

Love is all you need

After midnight

the 5-Year Engagement

Stories We Tell

Il Postino (1994) DVD

Argo (DVD)

The Sunshine Boys (on TV)

The Intouchables

Sleepwalk with Me

Celeste and Jesse Forever,

42,

No

​

2012

Howard's End

Moonrise Kingdom

To Rome with love

Beasts of the Southern Wild

Being Flynn

Friends with Kids

A Separation,

Pima,

Academy Award Winning Short Films: Live Action,

Euphoria 2008

2011

The Illusionist

Midnight in Paris

Tree of Life;

Secret of the Grain

Monkey Business

Prelude to a Kiss

My Life in Ruins

The Descendants

Hugo, The Artist,

Monkey Business (DVD)

My Life in Ruins

Pulp Fiction

Taxi Driver

How to Live Forever

Get Shorty

Pocket Change (Truffaut, streamed)

The Trip

Tree of Life

Midnight in Paris

Joan Rivers, A Piece of Work (video rental)

2010

Social Contract

Down Low,

Tamara Drewe,

Mid-Aug Lunch;

Eat, Pray, Love

Exit Through the Gift Shop

Down Low

Tamara Drewe

Elling - (Netflix) ***** - a wonderful comedy about two Norwegian men, mentally challenged, who manage to become independent and enjoy life. Very charming!

Cyrus ***** - Very engaging, serious comedy. 

The Kids Are All Right  **** - with Mark Ruffalo.

Winter's Bones *** - I know all reviewers loved this. The acting was fine and the plot tense and strong. But too depressing for my taste.

Next Stop Wonderland **** - Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Hope Davis - charming flick! On DVD.

Get Him to the Greek *** - Funny!

City Island *****

2009

Anvil

Up

Wall-Y

Open City

Breathless,

Slumdog Millionaire,

Milk,

Very Young Girls

2009

Anvil

Up

Wall-Y

Open City

Breathless,

Slumdog Millionaire,

Milk,

Very Young Girls

​

​

2008

L' Atalante - Jean Vigo

​

​

2004

*****

Sideways. This movie is a road story, a serio-comedy about two single men who help each other, have hilarious adventures, come to understand wine and to a far less extent women. Paul Giamatti is sensational as a depressed single guy who can't grasp happiness, even when it's in his hands. The "getting the wallet" scene alone is maybe the funniest piece of filmmaking I have sene in years. Absolutely hilarious! And best of all, this film has resonance.

****

The Incredibles. A very entertaining animated film about a Super Hero family where the Dad is trying to hang up his uniform and retire from superpower-dom. It's funny and smart, and mainly good family fun. I would have preferred much more comedy and less "Dr. No" style shenanigans, which domninate the second half of the film.

****

Kinsey. With Liam Neeson and Laura Linney. A fascinating movie about the trsail-blaxing sex researcher. It's a character study of his obsessive nature, what it takes to achieve in a new, controversial field, and the sufferings imposed on him by society. Neeson is wonderful and belieavable, extreme and yet nuanced. Linney is wonderful. Makes you glad you did not live back in the dark old days.

****
We Don't Live Here Anymore. With Mark Ruffalo, Laura Dern, Peter Krause and Naomi Watts. Kind of as Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" updated, but not only with heavy doses of couples arguing; also with sensitive scenes imaginatively portrayed, un-cliched couples dialog and more. The movie has been shot through a dark filter, as if to say, "You'd better believe that this film is dark and serious and unafraid to take on difficult situations." Brighter colors would have added more realism. But still, an excellent flick.

*****
Intimate Strangers. French with subtitles. A great little story about a woman who goes to see her new therapist, and who instead meets an accountant - who proceeds to listen very well! This movie is filled with little and major surprises, natural acting, interesting characters and true character and plot development. An entertaining film!

****
Garden State. Written and directed by Zach Braff. 2004. A very involving coming-of-age story that gives TV's Scrubs Star Zach Braff new depth, in a semi-serious role as an entertainer returning home for his mother's funeral. To say that he "meets Natalie Portman," is understating the wonderful and playful way their relationship develops.

***
The Manchurian Candidate. 2004. Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep. This movie had lots of hype and does have its own inner momentum. But in the end, it fizzles because "Who cares if some politician in the future has a brain implant and is controlled by giant corporations?" Politicos can be controlled by special interests without implants. Just look at our political system today. Good acting, though, especially by Meryl Streep.

****
Local Hero (video). 1983. Written and directed by Bill Forsyth. With Burt Lancaster and Peter Riegert. Charming story of a Houston man, Riegert, who goes to Scotland to buy a village and put in a giant oil refinery. Surprising events happen, including a visit by the company's CEO, played by Lancaster. This film is an off-beat charmer that makes you want to slow down and savor life.

****
De-Lovely. Kevin Kline and Ashley Judd.. A delightful look at the life, music and loves of songwriter Cole Porter, this movie is beautifully filmed and treats Porter's gay loves with seriousness. His relationship with his tolerant and loving wife, Linda, is the heart of the film.
The musical numbers are beautifully and differently staged, including several beauties set in Venice.
In some ways, this is a sad movie, but perhaps only because we all must die, even the most talented and joy-inspiring among us.

***
Spiderman 2. Starring Toby Maguire, Kirsten Dunst and Alfred Molia.
This movie is an entertaining romp that is satisfying on several levels. Dunst is emotionally believable as well a very pretty as the long-suffering girlfriend about to give up on the noncommittal Maguire. I missed the first Spiderman movie but many friends who have seen both say this is better.
I especially liked the special effects scenes featuring Molina carrying Dunst up the side of a skyscraper. Even better is the runway subway train scene, which I won't describe here (lots of fun!).

***
Before Sunset. With Ethan Hawk and Julie Delpy. Very entertaining and romantic movie, IF you can stand a film that is 80 minutes of talking and walking. I could -- easily! The story line resumes a relationship tale of an earlier romantic episode featuring Ethan Hawke and Delp. That story began in a prior film called Before Sunrise. This movie gives you a bit of tour of Paris, which is fun. But the meat of it is the sturm and drang between the romantic leads, each of which has a spouse whom they find dissatisfying. How it all turns out. Well, you'll just have to see the picture!

**
Since Otar Left.
A cute movie about an old Russian lady trying to find her missing son. She goes to Paris with her daughter and granddaughter in an effort to find him.
Something happens in Paris. The old lady's tenacity and good humor furnish the emotional heart of the film.

However, I must admit I could not get absorbed in the characters. A haze of gray listlessness hangs over the movie, like four month of cloudy weather.
I found myself surprisingly bored too often, despite the old lady's charm. A friend of mine loved this movie and was totally charmed, so I guess opinions can vary drastically on this one.
In my opinion, a far better movie about charming old people was Autumn Spring. Now THAT was a film! (See write-up from 2002 below)

**
Murder at the Cafe Noire. This is a film in which the audience chooses possible plot directions at several points. The process is fun for the first 3 or 4 times, then it palls (at least it did for me).

The acting is energetic and some of the original songs are very comically written and lustily performed.

But all of the endless private eye detail about "who did what to whom" was annoying. I think this movie would have benefited by being more of a comedy, which it is good at, and less of a film noir plot exposition.

****
Spring Summer Winter Fall Spring. This movie is so engrossing, from the very beginning, when a mischievous boy straps stones to the back of a frog, until its ending.
The man story concerns a Zen Buddhist monk who lives on a floating island in the middle of a country lake. There, he solves dilemmas of visitors and others that range from sexual desire to murder and contrition and beyond. In its own unique way, this is a great film!

*****

Monsieur Ibrahim - Omar Sharif stars in this tale of an old Parisian shopkeeper who befriends a boy from a broken family. The boy is Jewish, and Sharif's character is a Sufi mystic. This movie is about finding joy in the world and the art of being happy and giving and taking what you can from life, including friendship and romance. The story is beautfully told. In fact, I loved it and its messages. It is like a less impish, less whimsical Amelie, one of my favorites of all time. The messages are similar, but this is no pastiche. It's happy and sad, and therefore like life itself!

*****

My Architect - Nathaniel Kahn, the unacknowledged or illegitimate son of the famous architect Louis Kahn, has created this great tribute to his father. The elder Kahn did not treat him well, but the son is forgiving, emphasizing the positive aspects and in some ways the unnknowability of his dad. This film succeeds on many levels:

·  it is compassionate, because Nathaniel is very likeable, warm, and inquiring;

·  it gives an appreciation of an architect whose best work is extremely inspiring, complete with visual tours of his masterpieces;

·  it shows how hard the past is to recapture, especially when the focus is a person who led mysterious and duplicitous lives. Louis Kahn had a wife and two mistresses, totalling three families.

*****

In America - Jim Sheridan's wonderful story of coming to America as a poor Irish actor and dealing with strange characters and situations in Hell's Kitchen in NYC. Sara and Emma Bolger as his daughters are marvelous and touching. This is the best movie I have seen in some time.

****

Big Fish - An imaginative movie from Tim Burton that tells a loving story about a story-teller, played by Albert Finney. It's pleasant enough and a good tale, but not substantially moving.

2003 - 33 movies

****
Cold Mountain - A sweeping love story that tells a good story. But the passions stoked are not that strong. Kidman and Law generate no screen sparks.

******

The Cooler - William H. Macy stars as a "Cooler," or casino employee who brings bad luck to otherwise winning casino players. Maria Bello plays his love interest and Alec Baldwin his boss-tormentor. Ths fliuck has an excellent script, great humanity, exceptional acting and a structure that builds in interest and emotion. A real winner!

****

Station Agent - Peter Dinklage plays a dwarf who wants to escape to a rural abandoned railroad station, where he can be himself. He can hardly be his own, as neighbors are inelectably drawn to him, messing up his peace, but perhaps bringing him humanity.

****

Intolerable Cruelty - Bill Murray plays an actor visiting Japan, where he is alienated.... except his hotel neighbor. They connect in a Platonic affair. Warm, comical, and touching. However, Japoan unfairly comes across as a land of crazed automatons.

Love Actually - High Granyt plays Britain's Prime Minister, whose heart is slowly won by his assistant. Actually, this story includes many love stories, mostly deftly woven together, not all sweet. Entertaining!

****

Elf - Starring Will Farrell and Jack Newhart, among others. Comical and sweet tale of an overgrown elf, really a human. What makes this movie exceptional is that it is so ingenuous and sweet.

*****

Intolerable Cruelty - Directed by Joek and Ethan Coen, with George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones. A very funny, fast-paced romp about rapacous lawyers, Holywood golddiggers, the strange prospect of love amidst all of this, and more. Smartly done and great fun.

****

School of Rock - Fun romp from Jack Black, as a subversive music teacher who secretly helps his students become excellent rockers.

*****

Nowhere in Africa - A very well-told tale of holocaust fleers who fiund some sort of refuge in Africa. A very warm and touching tale, especially in the children's relationshp with Africans.

****

Mystic River - From the novel by Dennis Lehane, with screenplay by Brian Helgeland, directed by Clint Eastwood. With Tim Robbins, Sean Penn, Laura Linney, Kevin Bacon, Marcia Gay Harden. A searing drama, which unfolds a well-told tale about childhood friends, molestation, kidnapping, rape, murder and revenge -- you know, the usual light-hearted Eastwood topics. This works a a whodunit and as a character-driven drama. I think it aspires to be a moral tale as well, and that's where it fails to achieve greatness. Stop reading here if you don't want to know much more about the plot.

When Sean Penn decides to exact revenge and does so upon the wrong person, the Laura Linney character (his wife) convinces him that he is a :king among men," and such people don't look back or admit to errors. Sounds just like Bush and his Iraq quagmire, if you ask me. OK, so I can disapprove of the characters' morality but admit that people like this must exist. But writers and directors choose topics and tales, and we can believe that their selection is instructive and uplifting -- or not. This is a case of not.

The lesson that it seems Eastwood wants to convey is: Good men can kill the wrong people. But it's all right; its the way of the world, and the price of truing to protect your family. Also: crimes committed in childhood play out later in life and wreak havoc in peoples lives many years hence. I can believe that, but it's like knowing that rain must fall.

Despite these complaints, I was very involved in the film which had many fine dramatic moments, especially those involving Tim Robbins.

*****

Lost In Translation - A funny and poignant love story about Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson's characters, each lonely though married and feeling abandoned in Tokyo. Murray is excellent is a sort of beat-down, sophisticated and wry way. Johansson is fresh, beautiful and genuine. Japanese people come across poorly, and this story probably does a disservice to them. Still, it's entertaining and moving.

***

Russian Ark - An exploraiton of the Hermitage Museum in Leningrad, Russia, done as a series of historic tableaux, representing different eras in Russian history. Entertaining in part and bewildering and slow-moving in others. This was shot in one long take. Ambuitious. The ballroom itself and dancing customed characters are especially magnificent visually.

*****

Finding Nemo- A beautifully made funny animated flick with lively, interesting characters. Did I say beautiful only once? Let me say it twice. The pastels, the gorgeous ocean and evanescent creatures and photographically real whales are extraordinary.

Yet the characters are the most important -- a cute story about a clownfish Dad, played by Albert Brook's voice, and his son Nemo, who gets taken away. The story cocncerns his efforts to find him. Sure, thaty's typical fare for a plot line, but how the story is told makes all the difference. Ellen Degeneres is great as Darla, a forgetful blue fish. Now I did see this with my nieces and nephews and that made it more special. But I think anyone can enjoy this fun flick.

Whale Rider - A beautiful film about an elder Maori tribesman who seeks a boy who will become the new leader and savior of his people. His granddaughter seeks this role, but he rejects her. What happens next is the essence of the story, told beautifully and even poetically. Starts slow and builds interest and power.

****

Pirates of the Caribbean - A playful film about pirates that actually takes a theme park ride and makes an amusing story of it. Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush excel as pirates. The arch tone and comedy make it fun. All of the violence is highly stylized and strictly designed to be amusing and non-threatening.

****

Swimming Pool - A movie about a prim mystery writer who spends time at her publisher's villa in France. She meets the publisher's licentious daughter, and the fireworks begins. It has a surprise ending that I did not quite understand or care for. But I enjoyed the story nonetheless. Strong characterizations and good writing.

****

Nowhere in Africa - An emotionally very rich story about a Jewish family fleeing from Nazi Germany to Africa, leaving behind their man's father. The story shows how historical events stressed the couple's relationship. The actress playing their daughter does a wonderful job, especially in relating to her new African neighbors.

****

Russian Ark - A historical tour of The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, complete with acted vignettes showing scenes form the Czars's lives, elegant balls and more. Shot in real time. The interior architecture is splendid. Don't expect a normal film - this one wanders and makes you wonder.

*****

Capturing the Friedmans - At first, because of the subject matter, I did not want to see this documentary about a convicted pedophile and his trial. But glowing reviews convinced me otherwise, and I am glad I saw it. The movie is more about the Roshomon-effect of people's divergent views of an alleged crime. The filmmaker leaves you to figure it out. Very absorbing dialog and scenes from a family that talked about and recorded everything. Poses disturbing questions about the American judicial system.

*****

Bruce Almighty - Jim Carrey and Morgan Freeman are wonderful in this comedy about a man who expects too much from life and from God, and who gets a lesson. The script is witty, and the treatment of religious themes is, in my opinion, respectful. Best of all, there are TONS of laughs and a good deal to ponder philosophically about what Life dishes out, and how we regard it. In one scene, where Jim Carrey manipulates an evil anchorman's on-air lines, I laughed so hard I had to look away from the screen for fear of choking!

****
A Mighty Wind - Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy have great fun re-creating and re-uniting folks groups that never existed -- but they seem so real!

The Folksmen are similar to the Kingston Trio,
The New Main Street Singers are like the New Christy Minstrels, and
Mitch and Mickey are like Richard and Mimi Farina or Ian and Sylvia. (autoharp's presence would indicate the former.)
Tons of laughs and very witty. Levy's character is the most interesting, and he makes the film work. Sap that I am, I actually liked the film's pretend music! As the Times critic said, it made me want to dust off my old Mitch and Mickey records -- until I realized there weren't any!

****
Assassination Tango Another tour de force by Robert Duvall, who wrote, directed and stared in his excellent film.

This is the story of a New York hit man who becomes enamored of the tango. Duvall was in real-life stung with tango fever after seeing the touring show, Tango Argentina. He then made 30 trips Buenos Aires, and this movie is in many ways the result of his passion.
I feel that Duval is America's greatest actor. I began too feel this way many years ago, after seeing The Great Santini and the view was strengthened after the Apostle. The latter movie was the total invention of a possessed, enigmatic and fascinating character, a performance which still amazes me.
This movie fuses very believable characters and dialog with the charm and lyricism of fine tango music and dance. The result is a heady mixture of romance and sexuality. The threat of violence gives the movies its edge and makes the John H. character unpredictable.
To hint now at the story line without giving it away… John H. (Duvall) has a hit to commit in Buenos Aires and must return in time for the party of his girlfriend's daughter. He is enraptured with the little girl and with is role as her surrogate father. But the charm is in the performances by Duvall, which can be witnessed but not adequately described.

****
The Magdalene Sisters. A true-life story about young women in Ireland who were caught expressing their sexuality. They were then enrolled in a convent by their parents, and imprisoned there, working as slaves in a laundry facility unless they would escape or be rescued. Apparently 30,000 women were caught up in this system. The story involves three principal characters and many others, their struggles, loves and fates. Its struggle and escape theme is somewhat reminiscent of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. I found it powerful, but others in my group found it hard to take and too black and white.

***
Hukkle - A tour de force of cinematography, with arresting images and a novel approach. There must be a million images in this loosely told tale of a town where men are dying. I won't day why.
The imagery is just about all in this film.
The unifying force is an old man who hiccups and smiles. He seems to have a wry take on life. Hukkle means hiccup. It's as if all human concerns are just a hiccup in history.
I fault it for not having more of a story. The same supremely imagistic talent could have been made to serve an interesting tale. My friends say I'm too linear about that, but such is my fate!

*****
Dial M for Murder (video) - The 1954 classic Hitchcock thriller and detective mystery. Ray Milland plays a malicious husband who wants to kill his svelte wife, played by Grace Kelly. Bob Cummings plays her lover.
This film is complex and fast-moving. I found it engrossing, especially Milland's acting, which is so intelligent, nuanced and filled with innumerable considered actions and expressions.
I did find the latchkey business incessant and overdone. Other than that, it crackled!

****

The Hours - With Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, and Julianne Moore. This is a good movie IF and only if you can tolerate a flick that is almost exclusively about suicidally depressed people. The three stories concern the author Virginia Woolf and her husband Leonard, who is desperate to prevent her suicide; a mother (Moore) who has enormous yearnings to kill herself despite the needs of her young son to see her survive; and Streep as a latter-day Mrs. Dalloway, a Woolf character, struggling to keep her AIDS-ridden brother alive.

Does this sound like a sad evening in the movie theater? Yes, it is. Then what is the reward? Well, if you care about good story-telling, you will find it here. The characters speak convincingly about their particular situations, especially about the right of each of us to end our own lives, if we so choose. The fallout and damage of this choice are inevitable, and are shown here unflinchingly. One consolation: many of these characters, historical and fictional, had their dilemmas before good treatments were available for clinical depression.

*****

Bringing Down the House - Starring Steve Martin and Queen Latifah. This is a hilarious movie! At least I and the audience I saw it with agreed that it is so. Steve Martin plays an uptight lawyer, and Queen Latifah a brassy wrongly-accused criminal. There's much racial stereotyping, so be forewarned.

I am a total Steve Martin fan, and so I am prejudiced in favor of this flick. He reprises some of his famous Wild and Crazy Guy routines from the Saturday night Live days.... and the younger generation has never seen it, so it is new for them -- which is great!. Wonderful to see him in such rare form, and doing new things, too, like the homey rapper routine. Latifah is a great foil. As critic Carrie Rickey pointed out, much like Mae West to his W.C, Fields. Although Fields never had Martin's body English.

*****

Talk to Her - Directed by Pedro Aldomovar. I loved this film! It's about two women who go into comas and the men who care about them. But of course, that oversimplifies. This fil is rich in emotion, color and inventiveness. It also possesses a very interesting and comical fantasy sequence! It's hard to say any more without giving it away. Made in Spain and in Spanish. If you don't mind sub-titles, see it!

****

Chicago - With Rene Zelweger, Katharine Zeta-Jones and Richard Gere. Imaginatively done dance musical exudes entertainment. The story may be slight, but so what? Don't expect Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers-quality dancing. But do expect maxmum imagination and staging.

****

Adaptation - directed by Spike Jonze, with Nicholas Cage and Meryl Streep. This is a story about a neurotic screenwriter and his relaxed, easygoing twin brother, both played with style by Cage. This film is almost as imaginative as Jonze's earlier Being John Malkovich. Although it has several self-referential sections,and tautological imaginings of writers looking upon writing and the process. While that approach is usually deadly, here it works beautifully! Streep is involved in writing a story about an "orchid thief" who leads a weird but happy life. Enter Cage and his own story-hunting, and mayhem ensues. The interaction of the two brothers is the highlight of the film for me. Definitely interesting and different!

****

About Schmidt - With Jack Nicholson and Kathy Bates. Jack Nicoholson does not play his exact old self in this one, about a retiree trying to connect with his family and the world. I like the untraditional plot structure of this film, Nicholson's and Bates' performances, and the moving ending. Much of what I loved about this film is not easily isolated and identifiable - it's a good story, well-told.

****
The Nutty Professor with Eddie Murphy - (video rental) - Wonderful comedy, with Murphy playing umpteen roles. Yes, it has bathroom humor. But it's a true tour-de-force of role-playing , in the Peter Sellers / Alec Guinness tradition. I especially enjoyed Murphy as a Godzilla-King Kong marauder of New York. Also his fat self was very loveable, which humanized the tale.

****
Election (video rental) - Reese Witherspoon. This is a highly amusing story about a student who bedevils a teacher. Of course, that's a total simplification. Entertaining throughout.

​

2002

*****
Frida - The wonderfully told tale of the life of Mexican artists Frida Kahlo and her lover / mentor / husband, muralist Diego Rivera. This film is told with high artistry, wit flying gold dust, amusing and entertaining animated sequences, realism, sex, love, power, battles of ideas and more. Absolutely rich and delightful!

****

Real Women Have Curves - Josefina Lopez delivers an excellent script and movie, based on her play about a family of hard-working Chicanas in the L.A. area. The youngest sister, played by America Ferrara, aspires to much more than the factory life of her mother and sister. Filled with buoyant humor. Sort of like a Mexican Big Fat Greek Wedding, but with more insight.

****

Far From Heaven - A great recreation of the 1950's, showing an upper middle class corporate family falling apart. Also, a poignant love story is told. Gorgeous scenes and lovely photography, plus excellent acting. Never reaches the high voltage that I think some scenes deserved, though. And I lived through the 1950's. It wasn't that slow!

*****

Autumn Spring - Directed by Vladimir Michaelek, 2001 - I absolutely adored this movie about a retirees in Czechoslovakia, two of whom are quixotic schemers and deceivers -- but i a good-hearted, innocent way. A man pretends to be a millionaire in order to tour a mansion and get a free lunch. He drives his wife crazy! She finally tames him... and then the unexpected happens. Absolutely filled with delight and love of life.

***

The Piano Teacher - Sado-masochistic tale of a piano teacher and her repressed personality, then strange erotic habits. It's a good story, but I found the ending unsatisfying. Others in my group who saw it thought it was fantastic.

****

Rodger Dodger - 2002. Campbell Scott plays a neurotic lover-type whose neurosis interferes with his success on all fronts. He shepherds a teenage relation in the ways of sex and women. A very well-told story.

****

Last Dance - a film by Mirra Bank - Jewish Film Festival at the Gershman Y, Philadelphia - This is a documentary abut the making of a dance-theater piece called "A Selection," by Pilobolus Dance Company. They dramatize a story by Maurice Sendak that concerns the performance of a musical by children of the Nazi "model Jewish camp." The interaction and conflicts between the dance company and author are remarkably candid and revealing. Their story told is a sad one - what could be sadder than children and Nazi death camps?

Amazingly, though, you come away from this evening seeing that something beautiful can be produced, without sugar-coating, and without leaving feeling depressed or deluded.

*****

Punch Drunk Love - Starring Adam Sandler and Emily Watson. Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. This is a romantic thriller, whereas it's billed as a romantic comedy. No matter, this film has an excellent story, well-told and well-acted. Adam I wasn't a fan before, but I admit that Sandler is wonderful in this film.

****

Kissing Jessica Stein - Written, direct by and starring Heather Juergensen and Jennifer Westfeldt - An entertaining story about a woman who -- as a result of a coircumstance and an opportunity -- funds herself exploring a lesbian relationship. She surprises herself, not to mention those around her. Of course, that's too neat a summary.

In between, there are lovers, tense experiences and a whole lot of humor. These creative women worked on this as a play in New York before it was filmed. I bet that helped its flow considerably.

****

Last Orders - Written and directed by Fred Schepisi. With Michael Caine, David Hemmings and others. A tale of life-long buddies now in their late middle age or early retirement phase, who must disperse the ashes of their now dead drinking buddy. Very little about the dispersing, it;s more about the dreams, loves, and aspirations of these men over the years. Very well done.

****

Y Tu Mama Tambien, directed by Alfonso Cuaron - Excellent, sexy, rough and vulgar, this movie talle sthe tale of two Mexian teens who go off on an adventure with a middle-aged woman. A great deal hapens among them, and it all makes sense and entertains us. In the end there is poignancy but enough said. The film will be too sexy or trashy for some people.

*****

Monsoon Wedding - directed by Mira Nair. A funny, warm, colorful and moving tale of an Indian wedding. It has 5 sub-plots, all interesting. This is a delightful movie worth recommending to just about anyone!

​

​