Kentucky (1938)

A feud between two Civil War era horse owners carries on to the mid-’30s -- but now there’s a comely granddaughter on one side and a dashing grandson on the other and, well, that feud can’t last much longer now, can it?

It was a predictable bore.

C-

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)

I can definitely see why Brad and Angelina fell in love with each other while shooting this; their chemistry was impossible to deny. The film is also surprisingly irresistible -- action, banter, romance, double-cross -- just a great popcorn flick.

B

O'Horten (2009)

A man retires after about 40 years as a locomotive engineer and has weird, though quite quiet, adventures over the next week or so.

He…

• sneaks into an apartment as a shortcut, only to be blackmailed by a young boy who lives there into sitting up with him until the boy falls asleep
• gets cavity-searched at an airport when he goes to meet a guy about selling his boat
• falls asleep in a sauna until the gym is locked up for the evening, at which point two skinny-dippers interrupt his solitary swim
• spends an early dawn riding with a man who insists he can drive with his eyes closed

His demeanor was always so mild that the bizarreness of his post-retirement days almost seemed commonplace. I was charmed, but I couldn’t help but feel that I’d also been on a ride with a driver who had no idea where he was going.

C+

Georgy Girl (1966)

Georgina is a frumpy young woman with a gorgeous roommate. She’s never been kissed and the only one to cast an eye her way is the master of the house in which her parents serve.

The way that Georgy navigated her life was interesting: comfortable with who she is, but unimpressed by the options that come with being less-than-stunning. She ultimate “gets what she always wanted” (as the horrible theme song chirps over the end credits) but I was extremely disappointed both on her behalf and for the man she eventually marries.  Couldn’t she have gotten the prize without ruining her life and the life of someone who loved her in the process? What a sour way to end her story.

C+

The Company (2003)

There’s only the barest suggestion of a plot -- it’s more like a freeform documentary on the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, only it’s not “real.” We sit in on practices, watch performances, and briefly glimpse personal lives. We never get deep into motivations and emotions, and that suited me just fine.

I’m not into ballet -- like, at all -- but this number moved me to tears.



B-

Quo Vadis (1951)

Even though it’s stagey, it can’t help but be interesting. Peter Ustinov plays Nero like a big spoiled baby -- he’s like a grown-up “Never” from Louie (I couldn't find a clip of Never, but if you've seen the ep, surely you'll agree).  He strums while Rome burns and then blames the Christians when the people escape and are understandably pissed. 

It’s no Ben Hur or Ten Commandments, and the main couple is pretty bland, but it’s not bad.

B-

Men in Black 3 (2012)

Josh Brolin nails his young Tommy Lee Jones impression -- it’s almost uncanny.

I was rather surprised to find myself having such a good time with this.  My assumption was that they could only beat a dead horse at this point, but it seems there was still a bit of story to tell, and it was both touching and entertaining.  The effects were cheesier on the small screen than I bet they were in the theater, but the whole concept’s cheesy so it's not like the effects messed anything up.

B-

Made in Dagenham (2010)

Female employees at a British Ford factory go on strike demanding more pay -- which broadens to a demand for equal pay for women across the country.

The story is certainly worth telling, but it should’ve been told better.  It comes off as just a bunch of aimless women doing what they’re told by a man.  I guess it's a good thing that the man in question actually had the women’s interests at heart.

C

The Cruel Sea (1953)

We follow the “Compass Rose,” a ship in WWII’s British Navy, as they acquire a green crew and go to war. I never did learn to differentiate between all of the main members, but that’s not a huge deal. The film did a good job of showing the tension and alliance that exists in a group of men living and working together for years.

Although the opening voice over told us that the sea is the only enemy, that seemed rather an overstatement -- rough waters and storms were barely seen.

B-

Dead Like Me: Life After Death (2009)

This follow-up of a series I enjoyed immensely did nothing for me.

I can think of a few decent reasons to revisit this TV show, not the least of which would be to finally give some of our beloved reapers their "lights" -- to let them jump into the afterlife.  But I can't figure out why they made this sequel. It plays like a lame extended episode and it doesn't have Mandy Patinkin (not that I blame him).  It was good to see the old crew, but I would’ve frankly preferred them to have left well enough alone.

C-

Pete Kelly's Blues (1955)

Jack Webb stars as Kelly, the leader of a jazz band in the ‘20s, strong-armed into paying protection money to the mob.

Not only does it star Webb, he directed it too -- and you can tell because it’s every bit as wooden as an episode of Dragnet. The girls are nuts, the guys are furniture, and Webb’s a big damn hero. Yawn.

D

Gravity (2013)

Stunning. I will be very surprised if both Bullock and Clooney aren’t nominated for acting awards -- but it’s the screenplay and visuals that make it. The story's so smart in that there's a viable reason for everything to go wrong.  I didn’t roll my eyes or ever mutter “can’t she catch a frickin BREAK” even once.

It's a beautiful and terrifying reason to cough up cash for a big screen 3D experience.

A-

Liberal Arts (2012)

I really thought I hated Josh Radnor, but it turns out that I may just hate Ted Mosby, ‘cause this movie he wrote and directed is pretty great.

Radnor plays Jesse, a New Yorker in an unfulfilling job, who’s called back to his college campus to give a farewell speech for a professor with whom he’s maintained a friendship. While there, he meets undergrad Zibby and they hit it off...rather well. The film is deep and has a lot to say, mostly about age difference and why it does and doesn’t matter, but also about depression, friendship, and life in general.

I liked it very much -- there was lots of insight without feeling like some massive lecture.

B+

Nothing Personal (2010)

A woman dumps all of her belongings on the sidewalk like she's hosting a 100% off sale and takes off on foot. She hitchhikes and camps out until she finds a lonely house with a lonely man. Although the woman demands privacy and seems to prefer solitude, the two people gradually form a functioning household.

We never find out backstory -- it’s like opening a novel in chapter 4 and just getting on with it. But, somehow, that was alright.

B

Take This Waltz (2012)

Michelle Williams has a loving and light-hearted marriage, but that doesn’t stop her from starting an intense flirtation with the guy across the street.

This could have been an affecting and sad “always gotta have your guard up” cautionary tale, but Williams’ character was more like a child in constant need of attention and reassurance (seriously, the scene below made me want to PUNCH) that I couldn’t help but root for her to leave her decent husband who deserved so much better.



B

Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969)

It starts off slow, is at least 30 minutes too long, and the “musical” portions are unmemorable and rather out-of-place. But the story itself is a touching winner.

A rather dull teacher finds love with an actress and his life is transformed -- her love somehow makes everyone notice how worth loving he really is. It spans decades and had me crying by the end.

B-

Disconnect (2013)

Blew me away. Three overlapping stories concerning online presence -- how people almost live there rather than just visiting.  It's a powerful reminder that a screen can’t be trusted. Hopefully this will one day be nothing more than a time capsule.

Although the scene below is kinda spoilery, I think I held my breath through the whole thing (starting @ :25) when I saw it in the context of the movie.



B+

Fallen Angels (1998)

Weird, overly-stylized pair of stories following a hitman and a mute small-time thug. I wasn’t sure of what was happening most of the time and many scenes went on for what seemed like weeks, but it was definitely original. I’m just not convinced it was any good.

C

Great Expectations (1947)

Good adaptation of my least favorite Dickens.

B-