Missing Link (2019)

Academy Awards, USA 2020

Nominee Oscar

Best Animated Feature Film Chris Butler Arianne Sutner Travis Knight

United Artists

Directed by Chris Butler

My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4

IMDb Wikipedia

(Blu-ray, MGM/Fox)

In the late 1800s, a British scientist is determined to make a name for himself by proving the existence of a mythical creature. After receiving an anonymous letter, he heads to Washington state in search of the Sasquatch. It turns out he is a friendly, intelligent talking fellow, who also wrote the letter. He convinces the explorer to take him to the Himalayas to live with others of his kind, the Yeti. They need a map from his old girfriend, so she comes along as well. They are pursued by a bounty hunter hired by a rival scientiest. In the Himalayas, they find a Queen who locks them up rather than risk revealing their location. They manage to escape after some extended fighting scenes. Fifth animated film from the Laika studios is probably their least successful. The deadpan delivery of Zach Galiflanakis as the "Missing Link" seems rather miscast and is rarely funny. The mouth animation needs work, as I was distracted by the mismatch with the voices. 

Dad (1989)

Academy Awards, USA 1990

Nominee Oscar

Best Makeup Dick Smith Ken Diaz Greg Nelson

Universal Pictures
Directed by Gary David Goldberg
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(Blu-ray, Mill Creek)

Busy executive Ted Danson is called home when his eldery mother has a heart attack. He ends up instead taking care of his father while she recovers. His father is suffering from senility and struggles with even simple tasks, but gradually learns to take care of himself. All appears to be going well until he is diagnosed with cancer and ends up in the hospital. This sends him into some kind of psychologically-induced downward spiral. A change of doctors leads to a miraculous recovery and renewed appreciation of life. Soon, he is dressing outrageously and learning Japanese. However, it doesn't last and the cancer returns. Overplotted melodrama overcome by a tremendous performance by Jack Lemmon in one of his best roles, which is saying something given his stellar career. 

The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1943)

Academy Awards, USA 1945

Nominee Oscar

Best Writing, Original Screenplay Preston Sturges

Paramount Pictures
Directed by Preston Sturges
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(DVD, Paramount)

High-spirited, naive Betty Hutton sneaks out to dance with soldiers. She bumps her head and wakes up married, and pregnant, but cannot remember the name of her husband, who has long since disappeared. Her long-time admirer Eddie Bracken tries to help her out of the situation by marrying her under a false name and "borrowing" money from the bank where he works. However, it all falls apart when he signs his real name on the marriage license and is accused of bigamy and theft by the small minded townsfolk. He is redeemed when she gives birth to sextuplets, causing a media frenzy. The usual rapid-fire Sturges madness, but anticlimactic and a moral code that just does not add up.

The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne (1987)

Island Pictures
Directed by Jack Clayton
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(DVD, Image Entertainment)

Maggie Smith is a lonely spinster who moves into a new Dublin boardinghouse. She falls in love with the brother of the owner, Bob Hoskins, recently relocated from New York City. He turns out to be not only a heel but a rapist. It takes her awhile to realize that maybe he doesn't love her. She spirals out of control leading to a religious crisis and hospitalization. Dreary Dublin scenery doesn't do much to enliven this overwrought drama. 

The Raggedy Rawney (1988)

Virgin Vision
Directed by Bob Hoskins
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(DVD, Image Entertainment)

A shell shocked new recruit attacks and partially blinds his commanding officer, then deserts into the nearby forest. He takes up with a group of gypsies, disgutising himself as a girl. His real identity (and gender) is soon discovered by the daughter of the gypsy leader. She gets pregnant, leading to misery for all. The blinded officer eventually shows up to get his revenge, leading to desperate measures by the gypsies. Unpleasant distraction by first time director Bob Hoskins, who apparently drew upon gypsy stories told to him by his grandmother. 

The Ruling Class (1972)

Academy Awards, USA 1973

Nominee Oscar

Best Actor in a Leading Role Peter O'Toole

AVCO Embassy Pictures
Directed by Peter Medak
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(DVD, Criterion Collection)

Peter O'Toole, a certified paranoid schizophrenic who believes himself to be Jesus Christ, inherits a position of nobility. He lives with his uncle and his uncle's wife in a large country mansion. They married him off to young Carolyn Seymour, his uncle's mistress, hoping to produce an heir and lock up O'Toole in an institution. Instead, they fall in love and try to get him cured. It apparently works when O'Toole is pitted against another man who also thinks he is Jesus Christ, in a memorable showdown involving electric shocks. However, he only adopts another personality, this time Jack the Ripper. He proceeds to murder his uncle's wife when she tries to seduce him. He ends up giving fiery speeches in the House of Lords, whom he sees as rotting, living corpses. It ends with one of the best screams in cinema history. Uneven, to be sure, but completely disarming satire of British aristocracy. Peter O'Toole gives a bravura performance.

Captain Kidd (1945)

Academy Awards, USA 1946

Nominee Oscar

Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture Werner Janssen

United Artists
Directed by Rowland V. Lee
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(DVD, Roan Group)

Charles Laughton is the famous pirate Captain Kidd. He persuades the King that he is really an honest man and is hired to escort a ship filled with treasure through dangerous waters off the coast of Africa. He hires prisoners as crew, including Randolph Scott, who is only disguised as a prisoner. Laughton of course has his eyes on the treasure, which he quickly gets his hands on and destroys all of the evidence. The daughter of the sunken ship's captain survives and is taken aboard, and all of the men quickly fall in love with her. She comes to trust Scott for her safety and honor, and he reveals his true identity as a gentleman after revenge for one of Kidd's former victims. Overplotted and talky for a pirate movie, although Laughton is well-cast and a treat as usual. 

Training Day (2001)

Academy Awards, USA 2002

Winner Oscar	Best Actor in a Leading Role Denzel Washington
Nominee Oscar	Best Actor in a Supporting Role Ethan Hawke

Warner Bros.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua
My rating: 3.5 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(Blu-ray, Warner Bros.)

LA cop Ethan Hawke, looking for a promotion, is assigned street duty with narcotics detective Denzel Washington. The naive Hawke is immediately put through the ringer by Washington, whose unorthodox methods push the limits of the law. It climaxes with a bust of one of Washington's friends, an ex-cop turned drug dealer who is hoarding millions of cash under the floorboards, during which Hawke is framed for murder. It turns out Washington needs the cash to pay off the Russian mafia. Hawke gradually realizes what is going on and decides to stop Washington. A gritty, streetwise film that ratches up the intensity with each passing minute. Location shooting in some of the worst neighborhoods of LA and rap soundtrack complete the atmosphere.

Molly's Game (2017)

Academy Awards, USA 2018

Nominee Oscar

Best Adapted Screenplay Aaron Sorkin

STX Films
Directed by Aaron Sorkin
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(Blu-ray, Universal)

After her career as an Olympic skier is ended by an accident, she moves to LA to start her life over. Working for tips in bars she meets a man who runs underground poker games. He hires her as a secretary and learns all of the tricks of running the game. This causes her to get fired, but she knows enough to start her own games which are a great success. However, she gets pressured by one of the players to raise the stakes, and when she doesn't he leaves the game and takes the players with him. Relocating to New York, she starts a new game and finds the same success. However, the mafia gets involved and she is pressured to start skimming from the top to protect her assets. She gets arrested by the FBI, but convinces a skeptical lawyer to represent her case. She ends up pleading guilty despite her lawyers objections, but a friendly judge lets her off with no jail time. Well made and well acted, but spends too much time on the intricasies of poker, which just isn't that exciting.

The Invisible Woman (2013)

Academy Awards, USA 2014

Nominee Oscar

Best Achievement in Costume Design Michael O'Connor

Sony Pictures Classics
Directed by Ralph Fiennes
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(Blu-ray, Sony)

Charles Dickens, in his 40s, falls for a young teenage admirer and actress. They steal glances at his public readings and during her rehearsals for a play. Her mother figures out what is going on and at first dissuades her, but realizing it could help her career eventually looks the other way. Dickens separates from his wife, allowing their relationship to continue, but in secret. Understated, somewhat laborious period drama, even Dickens fans may be bored. Incorporates many true events from Dickens life, including a train derailment which he barely survived.