The Movies I Watched in October

Anne of the Indies 1951  8/10 

The Apprentice 2024  7/10

Bastarden 2023  7/10

 Beetlejuice 1988  7/10

 

The Brothers Rico 1957  6/10

Crime in the Streets 1956  6/10 

Crime of Passion 1956  6/10

A Cry in the Night 1956  6/10

Cry Vengeance 1954  6/10 

Enchanted 2007  7/10

Furiosa. A Mad Max Saga 2024  8/10 

The Garment Jungle 1957  6/10

Getting Gilliam 2005  6/10 

The Harder They Fall 1856  7/10

Hell's Half Acre 1954  6/10

Highway Dragnet 1954  6/10

Holy Spider 2022  7/10

 

House of Bamboo 1955  6/10

The Houston Story 1956  6/10

I Died a Thousand Times 1955  6/10

Illegal 1955  7/10

In a Violent Nature 2024  6/10

The Killer is Loose 1956  6/10 

A Kiss Before Dying 1956  6/10

The Long Wait 1954  6/10

Mare of Easttown 2021  8/10

Master Gardener 2022  7/10

 

The Night Holds Terror 1955  6/10 

The Night Runner 1957  6/10

The Phenix City Story 1955  6/10

Private Hell 36 1954  6/10

Riot in Cell Block 11 1954  6/10 

Slightly Scarlet 1956  6/10

Smile 2022  6/10

Supernova 2020  6/10

Tideland 2005  7/10 

Tiger Bay 1959  7/10

 

Trap 2024  6/10

Violent Saturday 1955  6/10

Vuelven 2017  7/10

 

Amy Adams

 

Amy Adams

Sunshine Cleaning (2008)

In order to raise the tuition to send her young son to private school, a mom starts an unusual business -- a biohazard removal/crime scene clean-up service -- with her unreliable sister.

Fairly entertaining, if not too exciting family comedy-drama solidly directed and especially watchable for the good ensemble of characters.

Maltin***: "Likable comedy-drama...The two stars are perfectly cast and aided by a handpicked ensemble."

Vice (2018)

The story of Dick Cheney, an unassuming bureaucratic Washington insider, who quietly wielded immense power as Vice President to George W. Bush, reshaping the country and the globe in ways that we still feel today.

Political satire focused on a malicious historical politician is foremost successful with the extraordinary performances of its cast and with some biting moments, but generally is not very funny, has a haphazard script and - the reality was much worse than depicted here.

Amy Adams

Nocturnal Animals (2016)

A wealthy art gallery owner receives a draft of her ex-husband's new novel, a violent thriller she interprets as a veiled threat and a symbolic revenge tale.

Brilliant direction and cinematography and an excellent cast can't quite conceal the inconsistency of embedding a fictitious thriller within a romantic revenge tale and making it its trigger; the ending therefore is more powerful than the novel and would work even without all the contrivance.

The Movies I Watched in September

Airplane! 1980  6
Because of the Cats 1973  6
La campana del infierno 1973  6
César et Rosalie 1972  6
Concussion 2015  6
Crime d'amour 2010  6
Eraserhead 1977  10

Eraserhead Stories 2001  7

Eyes in the Night 1942  6
De Flat 1994  5
Gojira no gyakushû 1955  6
Inside Job 2010  7

 
Inside Lehman Brothers 2018  7

The Last Voyage 1960  6
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel 2017  7

The Most Unknown 2018  7

Nocturnal Animals 2016  7

Schwarzer Kies 1961  7

State of Play 2009  6
Suburbicon 2017  7

The Tingler 1959  6

The Fighter (2010)

Based on the story of Micky Ward, a fledgling boxer who tries to escape the shadow of his more famous but troubled older boxing brother and get his own shot at greatness.

Colourful and lively boxing drama is convincing - and entertaining - due to good ensemble performance.

Maltin***: "Flavorful potrait...this film has atmosphere to burn and showy performances - where did they find those women who play Micky's sisters - thought it peters out a bit in the final act."

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Fearing that the actions of Superman are left unchecked, Batman takes on the Man of Steel, while the world wrestles with what kind of a hero it really needs.

Above-average superhero drama delivers the goods (mostly mayhem) and adds tension to the encounter of Batman and Superman plus some badly needed help from Wonder Woman, collateral damage included.

Man of Steel (2013)

Clark Kent, one of the last of an extinguished race disguised as an unremarkable human, is forced to reveal his identity when Earth is invaded by an army of survivors who threaten to bring the planet to the brink of destruction.

Good variation of the Superman saga thrills with great production and effects and a nicely assembled cast; alas, the final duel gives the term 'collateral damage' a whole new dimension.

Maltin**1/2: "...never quite soars, despite a promising start...the second half of the movie, a nonstop demolition derby that resembles a loud, raucous TRANSFORMERS movie and leaves its characters on the back burner. A good cast, led by the finely chiseled Cavill, can only do so much with this material."

Arrival (2016)

When twelve mysterious spacecraft appear around the world, linguistics professor Louise Banks is tasked with interpreting the language of the apparent alien visitors.

Satisfyingly intelligent sci-fi drama with great production and a good cast of characters emphasizes the science aspect (linguistics) and avoids which otherwise would have been another alien invasion and even offers some food for thought. 

Amy Adams

Big Eyes (2014)

A drama about the awakening of the painter Margaret Keane, her phenomenal success in the 1950s, and the subsequent legal difficulties she had with her husband, who claimed credit for her works in the 1960s.

Adequately straightforward handling of an unusual and upsetting true story of artistic betrayal with a splendid cast.

Trouble with the Curve (2012)

An ailing baseball scout in his twilight years takes his daughter along for one last recruiting trip.

OK feel-good drama offers some good performances - and a little bit baseball.

Maltin***: "There's no reason this predictable story should play so well, but it does, thanks to a first-rate cast and a tailor-made role for Clint. First-time director Lorenz (a longtime Eastwood colleague) steers his actors from overplaying or becoming cute, which could have killed this amiable yarn."

Amy Adams

ph: Vincent Peter

Leap Year (2010)

A young American woman plans to travel to Dublin, Ireland to propose marriage to her boyfriend on Leap Day, because, according to Irish tradition, a man who receives a marriage proposal on a leap day must accept it.

Surprisingly entertaining and likeable romantic comedy (remake of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's 1945 "I Know Where I'm Going") effectively set in the Irish landscape and the two leads do a good job.

Maltin*1/2: "Charm-free romantic comedy brings out the worst in everyone involved. Even the usually appealing Amy Adams is off-putting...Try to imagine what IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT might have been like if Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert had little charisma and no chemistry."

From my vaults: Amy Adams