tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77283261605773539142024-02-19T09:05:24.581-07:00Jerry's Movie BlogJerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861405001983388016noreply@blogger.comBlogger4744125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728326160577353914.post-73566478315615808502020-03-02T13:02:00.000-07:002020-03-02T13:02:45.855-07:00Missing Link (2019)<div>
<h3>
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<h3>
Academy Awards, USA <a class="event_year" href="https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000003/2020/1?ref_=ttawd_ev_1"> 2020 </a> </h3>
<table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="awards"><colgroup><col width="80"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr><td class="title_award_outcome" rowspan="1"><b>Nominee</b><br />
<span class="award_category">Oscar</span> </td><td class="award_description">Best Animated Feature Film<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2752098?ref_=ttawd_awd_1">Chris Butler</a> <br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1750312?ref_=ttawd_awd_1">Arianne Sutner</a> <br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1325899?ref_=ttawd_awd_1">Travis Knight</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
United Artists</div>
<div>
Directed by Chris Butler</div>
<div>
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4</div>
<div>
IMDb Wikipedia</div>
<div>
(Blu-ray, MGM/Fox)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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. </div>
Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861405001983388016noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728326160577353914.post-46770227425570702192020-02-13T23:25:00.001-07:002020-02-13T23:25:31.189-07:00Dad (1989)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImIsMrGjE5re-BJzTPKQCBUuhhmJsGoni6585DZ5IClhGzTg5-_s3jxC5CQsBsZOVAY_NxquLX7R-E4rVpA66ygQD3SVnFc5Kn92ZQFRnxlt8R73Yjqxu5uSKT-ZgKgIPWNBK9gFBrUSZ/s1600/dad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="510" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImIsMrGjE5re-BJzTPKQCBUuhhmJsGoni6585DZ5IClhGzTg5-_s3jxC5CQsBsZOVAY_NxquLX7R-E4rVpA66ygQD3SVnFc5Kn92ZQFRnxlt8R73Yjqxu5uSKT-ZgKgIPWNBK9gFBrUSZ/s400/dad.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br />
<h3>Academy Awards, USA <a class="event_year" href="https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000003/1990/1?ref_=ttawd_ev_1"> 1990 </a> </h3><table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="awards"><colgroup><col width="80"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr><td class="title_award_outcome" rowspan="1"><b>Nominee</b><br />
<span class="award_category">Oscar</span> </td><td class="award_description">Best Makeup<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004615?ref_=ttawd_awd_1">Dick Smith</a> <br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0225004?ref_=ttawd_awd_1">Ken Diaz</a> <br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0625397?ref_=ttawd_awd_1">Greg Nelson</a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Universal Pictures<br />
Directed by Gary David Goldberg<br />
My rating: 3 stars out of 4<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097142/">IMDb</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dad_(1989_film)">Wikipedia</a><br />
(Blu-ray, Mill Creek)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">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. </div>Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861405001983388016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728326160577353914.post-45319560886802725902020-02-13T22:51:00.000-07:002020-02-13T22:51:19.001-07:00The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1943)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHGt8ODRTHqFpRXaXRpE3twmaZh9LbpgE6FKCb9nDhA73a7nAahz6wtuOw_FWSET8b4m8qEFNDq4RphyphenhyphenUGIFtGWyNcCmUWTDkOCYXeiVda7JKnfMbHHEcwTwGP4bw_eO5sjMs5Pz86Wr8/s1600/miracleofmorgancreek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="336" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHGt8ODRTHqFpRXaXRpE3twmaZh9LbpgE6FKCb9nDhA73a7nAahz6wtuOw_FWSET8b4m8qEFNDq4RphyphenhyphenUGIFtGWyNcCmUWTDkOCYXeiVda7JKnfMbHHEcwTwGP4bw_eO5sjMs5Pz86Wr8/s400/miracleofmorgancreek.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br />
<h3>Academy Awards, USA <a class="event_year" href="https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000003/1945/1?ref_=ttawd_ev_1"> 1945 </a> </h3><table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="awards"><colgroup><col width="80"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr><td class="title_award_outcome" rowspan="1"><b>Nominee</b><br />
<span class="award_category">Oscar</span> </td><td class="award_description">Best Writing, Original Screenplay<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002545?ref_=ttawd_awd_1">Preston Sturges</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Paramount Pictures<br />
Directed by Preston Sturges<br />
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037077/">IMDb</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Miracle_of_Morgan%27s_Creek">Wikipedia</a><br />
(DVD, Paramount)<br />
<br />
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.Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861405001983388016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728326160577353914.post-88224498035315885032020-02-13T22:36:00.001-07:002020-02-13T22:36:26.931-07:00The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne (1987)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrDprNoNYuOh9g6o4MxYr-u1by9W5R8HITVCo5WuTKjXT0DwhcEE25RW4Pm6GXcx5YY0kaYg5fN9EGY0Ib26Rylj_8fz9Z43LAvHrSF-J-m6D1prjQkIKHOD9Dg3MitGe6TC1oDXWUw1i/s1600/lonelypassionofjudith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="450" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrDprNoNYuOh9g6o4MxYr-u1by9W5R8HITVCo5WuTKjXT0DwhcEE25RW4Pm6GXcx5YY0kaYg5fN9EGY0Ib26Rylj_8fz9Z43LAvHrSF-J-m6D1prjQkIKHOD9Dg3MitGe6TC1oDXWUw1i/s400/lonelypassionofjudith.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
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Island Pictures<br />
Directed by Jack Clayton<br />
My rating: 2 stars out of 4<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093431/">IMDb</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lonely_Passion_of_Judith_Hearne">Wikipedia</a><br />
(DVD, Image Entertainment)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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. </div>
Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861405001983388016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728326160577353914.post-14548226933377056442020-02-13T21:38:00.000-07:002020-02-13T21:38:41.779-07:00The Raggedy Rawney (1988)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYH48r9eDWri5E6Q1IVqIgqA5hHFEOoxAGpix0Bot56eCriyRarjX1shTEZSHWpLpak4l9T3MQCdaYL8sGzEQWUsrxAz84g3pBdSZSC-1cVp8l4Hv-xu5hp3HRwDAb6QkpJioMmmAWzCbk/s1600/raggedyrawney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1030" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYH48r9eDWri5E6Q1IVqIgqA5hHFEOoxAGpix0Bot56eCriyRarjX1shTEZSHWpLpak4l9T3MQCdaYL8sGzEQWUsrxAz84g3pBdSZSC-1cVp8l4Hv-xu5hp3HRwDAb6QkpJioMmmAWzCbk/s400/raggedyrawney.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>
<br />
Virgin Vision<br />
Directed by Bob Hoskins<br />
My rating: 2 stars out of 4<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095951/">IMDb</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Raggedy_Rawney">Wikipedia</a><br />
(DVD, Image Entertainment)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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. </div>
Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861405001983388016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728326160577353914.post-31901364067250363162020-01-29T15:08:00.001-07:002020-01-29T15:08:22.487-07:00The Ruling Class (1972)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVAyVKEOlLK7U1oVG_DOw1vUS6PRKebNHOFxUAaEg7DqnlZcPZase8JPmWzUW9dH4uUuwpnFIVU7iyjtcD2elyyTbNPbXVcC01fW-5nsEOJ-vfkTnJJ4o9DWDByNvfylzGHJFniKzA6IE/s1600/rulingclass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="656" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVAyVKEOlLK7U1oVG_DOw1vUS6PRKebNHOFxUAaEg7DqnlZcPZase8JPmWzUW9dH4uUuwpnFIVU7iyjtcD2elyyTbNPbXVcC01fW-5nsEOJ-vfkTnJJ4o9DWDByNvfylzGHJFniKzA6IE/s400/rulingclass.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><br />
<h3>Academy Awards, USA <a class="event_year" href="https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000003/1973/1?ref_=ttawd_ev_1"> 1973 </a> </h3><table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="awards"><colgroup><col width="80"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr><td class="title_award_outcome" rowspan="1"><b>Nominee</b><br />
<span class="award_category">Oscar</span> </td><td class="award_description">Best Actor in a Leading Role<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000564?ref_=ttawd_awd_1">Peter O'Toole</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
AVCO Embassy Pictures<br />
Directed by Peter Medak<br />
My rating: 3 stars out of 4<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069198/">IMDb</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ruling_Class_(film)">Wikipedia</a><br />
(DVD, Criterion Collection)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">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.</div>Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861405001983388016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728326160577353914.post-45213270288520380792020-01-29T14:50:00.000-07:002020-01-29T14:50:14.256-07:00Captain Kidd (1945)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rqrYqeL3i9eOae63WV0PhZxyz30RsaH2axV_HgX4b49f5mwBErwUP7D60tS3AH6EwXMdfDrvRgsFb1tSBLMywJUe7-LY0p2mdEjKDcdqPUO2z4XDdk4B_e2PWnHFG3r6k5C77xqnis5P/s1600/captainkidd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rqrYqeL3i9eOae63WV0PhZxyz30RsaH2axV_HgX4b49f5mwBErwUP7D60tS3AH6EwXMdfDrvRgsFb1tSBLMywJUe7-LY0p2mdEjKDcdqPUO2z4XDdk4B_e2PWnHFG3r6k5C77xqnis5P/s400/captainkidd.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br />
<h3>Academy Awards, USA <a class="event_year" href="https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000003/1946/1?ref_=ttawd_ev_1"> 1946 </a> </h3><table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="awards"><colgroup><col width="80"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr><td class="title_award_outcome" rowspan="1"><b>Nominee</b><br />
<span class="award_category">Oscar</span> </td><td class="award_description">Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0418205?ref_=ttawd_awd_1">Werner Janssen</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
United Artists<br />
Directed by Rowland V. Lee<br />
My rating: 2 stars out of 4<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037576/">IMDb</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Kidd_(film)">Wikipedia</a><br />
(DVD, Roan Group)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">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. </div>Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861405001983388016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728326160577353914.post-7085608214994319082020-01-29T14:26:00.003-07:002020-01-29T14:28:08.855-07:00Training Day (2001)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRVVSx4H_9BC1bThchzzKb1St1efLYtyhGvNi1412hNGGcQAJqWPPEliVprQsTCOTet1GwFXWjJN1iPAGsMrl8fgqSh5Rq62JPjBr8qTP8g0V-6riu9e1BjSBnGIY3OpgSwCzWg-bPUVe/s1600/trainingday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="666" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRVVSx4H_9BC1bThchzzKb1St1efLYtyhGvNi1412hNGGcQAJqWPPEliVprQsTCOTet1GwFXWjJN1iPAGsMrl8fgqSh5Rq62JPjBr8qTP8g0V-6riu9e1BjSBnGIY3OpgSwCzWg-bPUVe/s400/trainingday.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<h3>Academy Awards, USA <a class="event_year" href="https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000003/2002/1?ref_=ttawd_ev_1"> 2002 </a> </h3><table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="awards"><colgroup><col width="80"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr><td class="title_award_outcome" rowspan="1"><b>Winner</b><br />
<span class="award_category">Oscar</span> </td><td class="award_description">Best Actor in a Leading Role<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000243?ref_=ttawd_awd_1">Denzel Washington</a> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="title_award_outcome" rowspan="1"><b>Nominee</b><br />
<span class="award_category">Oscar</span> </td><td class="award_description">Best Actor in a Supporting Role<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000160?ref_=ttawd_awd_2">Ethan Hawke</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Warner Bros.<br />
Directed by Antoine Fuqua<br />
My rating: 3.5 stars out of 4<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0139654/">IMDb</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Training_Day">Wikipedia</a><br />
(Blu-ray, Warner Bros.)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">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.</div>Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861405001983388016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728326160577353914.post-62410381269398116562020-01-29T13:03:00.001-07:002020-01-29T13:03:09.538-07:00Molly's Game (2017)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7htDBAxIhZlp0mtMwURvnQrfjID2FvxBgeL8InVE2Cyh-WJ9cZxJAGSDrDs4B00wLkWco372DJg8OsReXgf9QOvVbN0HIeVovrmbro3xpOn8iu3LuywbZNxwNByl7chaCu6TcCCz5mGk/s1600/mollysgame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="674" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7htDBAxIhZlp0mtMwURvnQrfjID2FvxBgeL8InVE2Cyh-WJ9cZxJAGSDrDs4B00wLkWco372DJg8OsReXgf9QOvVbN0HIeVovrmbro3xpOn8iu3LuywbZNxwNByl7chaCu6TcCCz5mGk/s400/mollysgame.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br />
<h3>Academy Awards, USA <a class="event_year" href="https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000003/2018/1?ref_=ttawd_ev_1"> 2018 </a> </h3><table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="awards"><colgroup><col width="80"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr><td class="title_award_outcome" rowspan="1"><b>Nominee</b><br />
<span class="award_category">Oscar</span> </td><td class="award_description">Best Adapted Screenplay<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0815070?ref_=ttawd_awd_1">Aaron Sorkin</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
STX Films<br />
Directed by Aaron Sorkin<br />
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4209788/">IMDb</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molly%27s_Game">Wikipedia</a><br />
(Blu-ray, Universal)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">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.</div>Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861405001983388016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728326160577353914.post-29130090239229502242020-01-29T12:48:00.001-07:002020-01-29T12:48:46.517-07:00The Invisible Woman (2013)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznCoPAY9DWvhYEwcdl5tG1NaYLevKw4a6JIqco9XJAx7epb5ppViw3rGgsRQmqImCTfMCgtdm00qWBRBMdCtbSbOrBR_Kw5MAXbSYYe0__XzhKzsk5-m7dVzhyuX4iJl-xutw4qb1DZQ4/s1600/invisiblewoman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="674" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznCoPAY9DWvhYEwcdl5tG1NaYLevKw4a6JIqco9XJAx7epb5ppViw3rGgsRQmqImCTfMCgtdm00qWBRBMdCtbSbOrBR_Kw5MAXbSYYe0__XzhKzsk5-m7dVzhyuX4iJl-xutw4qb1DZQ4/s400/invisiblewoman.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br />
<h3>Academy Awards, USA <a class="event_year" href="https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000003/2014/1?ref_=ttawd_ev_1"> 2014 </a> </h3><table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="awards"><colgroup><col width="80"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr><td class="title_award_outcome" rowspan="1"><b>Nominee</b><br />
<span class="award_category">Oscar</span> </td><td class="award_description">Best Achievement in Costume Design<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0640445?ref_=ttawd_awd_1">Michael O'Connor</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Sony Pictures Classics<br />
Directed by Ralph Fiennes<br />
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1700845/">IMDb</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Invisible_Woman_(2013_film)">Wikipedia</a><br />
(Blu-ray, Sony)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">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.</div>Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861405001983388016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728326160577353914.post-6798513639807354282020-01-29T12:09:00.001-07:002020-01-29T12:09:45.158-07:00Guest Wife (1945)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOT3BlGudsJ5h5hV6HXs3wcAHa6UXxHwu4QAqQY3f-el5o3P9nJAS6SPMzFdXIQgxS_fj9T7MPqLnzmdVsQUCqO2yOU7Sjh5ElAAvmvvZdprBd0E-Dd78aRiSxRdxnw9QeZ8owwABEE1NW/s1600/guestwife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="300" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOT3BlGudsJ5h5hV6HXs3wcAHa6UXxHwu4QAqQY3f-el5o3P9nJAS6SPMzFdXIQgxS_fj9T7MPqLnzmdVsQUCqO2yOU7Sjh5ElAAvmvvZdprBd0E-Dd78aRiSxRdxnw9QeZ8owwABEE1NW/s400/guestwife.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><br />
<h3>Academy Awards, USA <a class="event_year" href="https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000003/1946/1?ref_=ttawd_ev_1"> 1946 </a> </h3><table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="awards"><colgroup><col width="80"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr><td class="title_award_outcome" rowspan="1"><b>Nominee</b><br />
<span class="award_category">Oscar</span> </td><td class="award_description">Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005945?ref_=ttawd_awd_1">Daniele Amfitheatrof</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
United Artists<br />
Directed by Sam Wood<br />
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037756/">IMDb</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guest_Wife">Wikipedia</a><br />
(Blu-ray, Olive Films)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Small town banker and his wife Claudette Colbert plan a second honeymoon in New York City. Before they leave, his old college buddy Don Ameche unexpectedly shows up in a dilemma: he has told his newspaper bosses in New York that he is married to Colbert. Never one to let down his buddy, he agrees to let Colbert pretent to be Ameche' wife for awhile. However, they all get separated at the train station and Colbert and Ameche travel to New York alone. This sets in motion a series of comedy situations for the "couple", who end up on the front page. The charade goes on far too long, and Colbert decided to teach her husband a lesson and pretend to fall in love with Ameche. Zippy screwball comedy with likeable performances all around. </div>Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861405001983388016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728326160577353914.post-31235298984859918422020-01-29T11:46:00.001-07:002020-01-29T11:49:34.308-07:00Maurice (1987)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5i8KqCOsVJQcChgo6H4FF_yIoYpWByqdPN9GJi4TuUzPbr0TiYnpQU5B1BeXJ80B_BukHKnDmbu-_x6e2o5Z_R1kJVkwAzhQ3nsHpBW52sJPA69ltDSeIn2QoPzSeQqqP01dJVVp-gxrH/s1600/maurice2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="921" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5i8KqCOsVJQcChgo6H4FF_yIoYpWByqdPN9GJi4TuUzPbr0TiYnpQU5B1BeXJ80B_BukHKnDmbu-_x6e2o5Z_R1kJVkwAzhQ3nsHpBW52sJPA69ltDSeIn2QoPzSeQqqP01dJVVp-gxrH/s400/maurice2.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<h3>Academy Awards, USA <a class="event_year" href="https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000003/1988/1?ref_=ttawd_ev_1"> 1988 </a> </h3><table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="awards"><colgroup><col width="80"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr><td class="title_award_outcome" rowspan="1"><b>Nominee</b><br />
<span class="award_category">Oscar</span> </td><td class="award_description">Best Costume Design<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0064746?ref_=ttawd_awd_1">Jenny Beavan</a> <br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0109149?ref_=ttawd_awd_1">John Bright</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Cinecom Pictures<br />
Directed by James Ivory<br />
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093512/">IMDb</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_(film)">Wikipedia</a><br />
(Blu-ray, Cohen Media Group)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">James Wilby is Maurice, a student at Cambridge in the early 20th century. He discovers he is gay and starts a torrid love affair with fellow student Hugh Grant. They successfully hide it from the rest of the college, but his grades suffer and he is kicked out. He meets up with Grant at his summer estate to resume their relationship. However, Grant casts him off and marries a local socialite. Wilby takes up with the groundskeeper instead, and together they plot to immigrate to Argentina where homosexuality is legal. Torrid melodrama, with impeccable period detail in the usual Merchant-Ivory style. </div>Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861405001983388016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728326160577353914.post-91389675422602384422020-01-29T11:37:00.000-07:002020-01-29T11:47:13.241-07:00An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbbYVV0-jvXZHsvqay0hs25vqi75mq3Ux0DY5t4jn_4ax_9npFmnkq7Ilb_TV_d807n9bIIKXxv2dtYv9EduYkFV_jDLZKXs5vzaC3nClOOuOx60zsQcncITuSXyFCKaUftvS8_wvSYaQ/s1600/fievelgoeswest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbbYVV0-jvXZHsvqay0hs25vqi75mq3Ux0DY5t4jn_4ax_9npFmnkq7Ilb_TV_d807n9bIIKXxv2dtYv9EduYkFV_jDLZKXs5vzaC3nClOOuOx60zsQcncITuSXyFCKaUftvS8_wvSYaQ/s400/fievelgoeswest.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br />
Universal Pictures<br />
Directed by Phil Nibbelink and Simon Wells<br />
My rating: 3 stars out of 4<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101329/">IMDb</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_American_Tail:_Fievel_Goes_West">Wikipedia</a><br />
(Blu-ray, Universal)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Fievel is separated from his family once again, this time after leaving the harsh conditions of the big city for the wide open spaces of the old west. While looking for his family, he passes his old friend Tiger in the desert but they mistake each other for mirages and keep walking. Tiger becomes a god to a local Indian tribe while Fievel gets tricked into opening a saloon in town. Soon reunited with his family, they all must band together to stop the evil cats who are threatening their existence. Underrated animated feature is a frenetic, wild ride that feels more like a Warner Bros cartoon. Jimmy Stewart's final screen credit, as the voice of an old hound dog who literally rides into the sunset at the end, is bittersweet, but perfect. </div>Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861405001983388016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728326160577353914.post-12919586619503885992020-01-29T11:19:00.000-07:002020-01-29T11:46:42.393-07:00The Proud and the Beautiful (1953)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCyrci2QrdQPKLzOWWUlAkXQUWX2rSdmavwE7UeHyM9gcCOUEGVUL7WMFyvy_PxxUv2Q68aarB-Cu5s0NPZluFG0wNJvYR-p1cu5Vwpfy57-8eNQ8v5TP-LhG3OMiH20U8lty0jKIHk8C/s1600/proudandthebeautiful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="936" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCyrci2QrdQPKLzOWWUlAkXQUWX2rSdmavwE7UeHyM9gcCOUEGVUL7WMFyvy_PxxUv2Q68aarB-Cu5s0NPZluFG0wNJvYR-p1cu5Vwpfy57-8eNQ8v5TP-LhG3OMiH20U8lty0jKIHk8C/s400/proudandthebeautiful.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><br />
<h3>Academy Awards, USA <a class="event_year" href="https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000003/1957/1?ref_=ttawd_ev_1"> 1957 </a> </h3><table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="awards"><colgroup><col width="80"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr><td class="title_award_outcome" rowspan="1"><b>Nominee</b><br />
<span class="award_category">Oscar</span> </td><td class="award_description">Best Writing, Motion Picture Story<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0765683?ref_=ttawd_awd_1">Jean-Paul Sartre</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Columbia Pictures (France)<br />
Directed by Yves Allégret<br />
My rating: 3 stars out of 4<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046149/">IMDb</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Proud_and_the_Beautiful">Wikipedia</a><br />
(Blu-ray, Pathe)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Michele Morgan is on vacation with her husband in Vera Cruz, Mexico, when he comes down with an illness and dies. The local doctor soon diagnoses an outbreak of meningitis and the town goes on lockdown. Patients are hearded into the local church by Morgan and a drunken former doctor with whom she has struck up a potential romance. Gritty, sweaty picture brings to mind the Mexican films of Bunuel. Story by philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre is sure to bring up plenty of existential questions.</div>Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861405001983388016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728326160577353914.post-30658743292789762412020-01-15T06:41:00.000-07:002020-01-15T06:41:04.480-07:00Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5aSyxp1T4pSUblJRt-cy0e6d_q4UWaHxcaBPppZ_6sZQQK5GSXLYI-TnOtc6TscM9i6nQFc9M-FdYCOVdH_5sj9KRT7xgj53n7RadRnUcGujiy0CDOIQ8sg1gLQuOzdGKa0NrWpTQ1-NV/s1600/bohemianrhapsody.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="674" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5aSyxp1T4pSUblJRt-cy0e6d_q4UWaHxcaBPppZ_6sZQQK5GSXLYI-TnOtc6TscM9i6nQFc9M-FdYCOVdH_5sj9KRT7xgj53n7RadRnUcGujiy0CDOIQ8sg1gLQuOzdGKa0NrWpTQ1-NV/s400/bohemianrhapsody.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br />
<h3>Academy Awards, USA <a class="event_year" href="https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000003/2019/1?ref_=ttawd_ev_1"> 2019 </a> </h3><table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="awards"><colgroup><col width="80"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr><td class="title_award_outcome" rowspan="4"><b>Winner</b><br />
<span class="award_category">Oscar</span> </td><td class="award_description">Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1785339?ref_=ttawd_awd_1">Rami Malek</a> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="award_description">Best Achievement in Film Editing<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0653211?ref_=ttawd_awd_2">John Ottman</a> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="award_description">Best Achievement in Sound Editing<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1341243?ref_=ttawd_awd_3">John Warhurst</a> <br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0367243?ref_=ttawd_awd_3">Nina Hartstone</a> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="award_description">Best Achievement in Sound Mixing<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0557338?ref_=ttawd_awd_4">Paul Massey</a> <br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0146687?ref_=ttawd_awd_4">Tim Cavagin</a> <br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0142841?ref_=ttawd_awd_4">John Casali</a> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="title_award_outcome" rowspan="1"><b>Nominee</b><br />
<span class="award_category">Oscar</span> </td><td class="award_description">Best Motion Picture of the Year<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0454752?ref_=ttawd_awd_5">Graham King</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Twentieth Century Fox<br />
Directed by Bryan Singer<br />
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1727824/">IMDb</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemian_Rhapsody_(film)">Wikipedia</a><br />
(Blu-ray, Fox)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">A mostly factual account of the band Queen, focusing mainly on its lead singer Freddie Mercury. From their early days as a club band formed from the ashes of Smile, to their final show at Wembley Stadium for Live Aid. All of the cliches are checked, both for a rock band and for a Hollywood biopic. Rami Malek does an excellent impersonation, as do the other actors standing in for the band members. The Live Aid concert is impressively reproduced using CGI. Still, the whole thing seems somehow lifeless, with no real plot, just a series of scenes, and we all know how it is going to end. </div>Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861405001983388016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728326160577353914.post-28345893381438017292020-01-14T23:10:00.002-07:002020-01-14T23:11:14.320-07:00Notes on a Scandal (2006)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3uEl6rS5Em6VsYUxeYHij5rdPUShnOlHSsOdA7yUK9wyYHQe8wJGPb4cZnzPJc3K4ioSpjzzotvDppM8hzH-Q-aFEoCWCB9L_oPxCNX-NBIqtxAHAnA16LJV1EQwg8SL_LEi4I5qmcZf/s1600/notesonascandal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="300" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3uEl6rS5Em6VsYUxeYHij5rdPUShnOlHSsOdA7yUK9wyYHQe8wJGPb4cZnzPJc3K4ioSpjzzotvDppM8hzH-Q-aFEoCWCB9L_oPxCNX-NBIqtxAHAnA16LJV1EQwg8SL_LEi4I5qmcZf/s400/notesonascandal.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br />
<h3>Academy Awards, USA <a class="event_year" href="https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000003/2007/1?ref_=ttawd_ev_1"> 2007 </a> </h3><table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="awards"><colgroup><col width="80"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr><td class="title_award_outcome" rowspan="4"><b>Nominee</b><br />
<span class="award_category">Oscar</span> </td><td class="award_description">Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001132?ref_=ttawd_awd_1">Judi Dench</a> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="award_description">Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000949?ref_=ttawd_awd_2">Cate Blanchett</a> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="award_description">Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0544999?ref_=ttawd_awd_3">Patrick Marber</a> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="award_description">Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001275?ref_=ttawd_awd_4">Philip Glass</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Fox Searchlight<br />
Directed by Richard Eyre<br />
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0465551/">IMDb</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notes_on_a_Scandal_(film)">Wikipedia</a><br />
(Blu-ray, Fox)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Cate Blanchett is a new art teacher at a rough suburban school. She is befriended by "battle axe" Judi Dench, nearing retirement and able to deal with the students. Dench discovers that Blanchett is in a sexual relationship with one of the students. She uses the information to blackmail Blanchett into staying her friend, with some subtle erotic overtones. The lonely Dench becomes more and more demanding of Blanchett's time. Dench decides to expose her relationship with the student which explodes in the media, threatens her marriage and costs them both their jobs. Blanchett and Dench are well matched, but the material is borderline exploitation.</div>Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861405001983388016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728326160577353914.post-3803608004005780332020-01-14T22:55:00.001-07:002020-01-14T22:55:59.229-07:00The Wild Thornberrys Movie (2002)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfy4O9xqZxo5z919bAfWUp_OaQ1kEmVpFgToHm_cKMS2b5aszPiMwQDZaDRW-Bz6F2cA2QMo_CwyotSyffNPitjfudTJZWmgGWjOQawhMA8mPr6ES7eoKrmKrOny1Ax0BkGnU79kDJwGA3/s1600/wildthornberrysmovie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="401" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfy4O9xqZxo5z919bAfWUp_OaQ1kEmVpFgToHm_cKMS2b5aszPiMwQDZaDRW-Bz6F2cA2QMo_CwyotSyffNPitjfudTJZWmgGWjOQawhMA8mPr6ES7eoKrmKrOny1Ax0BkGnU79kDJwGA3/s400/wildthornberrysmovie.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br />
<h3>Academy Awards, USA <a class="event_year" href="https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000003/2003/1?ref_=ttawd_ev_1"> 2003 </a> </h3><table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="awards"><colgroup><col width="80"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr><td class="title_award_outcome" rowspan="1"><b>Nominee</b><br />
<span class="award_category">Oscar</span> </td><td class="award_description">Best Music, Original Song<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0800328?ref_=ttawd_awd_1">Paul Simon</a> <br />
<div class="award_detail_notes">For the song "Father and Daughter". </div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Paramount Pictures<br />
Directed by Cathy Malkasian and Jeff McGrath<br />
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0282120/">IMDb</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wild_Thornberrys_Movie">Wikipedia</a><br />
(DVD, Paramount)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">While vacationing in Africa with her eccentric parents, 12-year-old Eliza Thornberry uses her power to talk with animals to track down poachers. She becomes friends with a cheetah family, and when one of the cubs gets captured by the poachers it becomes personal. She sets off alone to find and rescue him. An approaching solar eclipse sends all of the elephants to a remote valley where the poachers plan a mass shooting. Eliza, after escaping from the poachers herself, sets off to rescue them and stop the poachers once and for all. Fairly entertaining expansion of the Nickelodeon TV series into a feature length film, with the expected environmental message not too heavy handed. </div>Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861405001983388016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728326160577353914.post-53912732931834687142020-01-14T22:43:00.001-07:002020-01-14T22:45:20.148-07:00The Blue Dahlia (1946)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3WMB8uDqoAQc9ocUczCV6BXcVCqg4ioAhNzUnja81K0kg_KL3m3XmpPbftWnJ4K5D5HUPzaCzv8HcNTDCcgMMs0oVUDuVHmvKuWlTBoSwaFHyss1jfU_OEMTV1N9chtWhSemipl_Hq00/s1600/bluedahlia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="657" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3WMB8uDqoAQc9ocUczCV6BXcVCqg4ioAhNzUnja81K0kg_KL3m3XmpPbftWnJ4K5D5HUPzaCzv8HcNTDCcgMMs0oVUDuVHmvKuWlTBoSwaFHyss1jfU_OEMTV1N9chtWhSemipl_Hq00/s400/bluedahlia.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><br />
<h3>Academy Awards, USA <a class="event_year" href="https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000003/1947/1?ref_=ttawd_ev_1"> 1947 </a> </h3><table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="awards"><colgroup><col width="80"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr><td class="title_award_outcome" rowspan="1"><b>Nominee</b><br />
<span class="award_category">Oscar</span> </td><td class="award_description">Best Writing, Original Screenplay<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0151452?ref_=ttawd_awd_1">Raymond Chandler</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Paramount Pictures<br />
Directed by George Marshall<br />
My rating: 3 stars out of 4<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038369/">IMDb</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blue_Dahlia">Wikipedia</a><br />
(Blu-ray, Olive Films)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Three recently discharged Navy flyers arrive in Hollywood. One, Alan Ladd, goes to see his wife while the other two stay in their hotel. Ladd finds his wife drunk at a party and flirting with a man. They fight and she reveals the shocking truth about their child who died while he was serving. He leaves, but she turns up dead the next morning and he is the leading suspect. He makes friends with lonely Veronica Lake who happens to be married to his wife's lover, also a suspect in the murder. Meanwhile, one of his friends back at the apartment gets involved when he goes looking for Ladd and ends up with his dead wife as well. The police finally catch up to him and the other suspects. A satsifying, twisty, turning noir mystery from writer Raymond Chandler.</div>Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861405001983388016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728326160577353914.post-79405853524058104552019-12-26T21:03:00.000-07:002020-01-14T22:44:54.625-07:00Schlock (1973)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tjG5TGKcCDfzsZvxLfBPq3nVMLqocJlwlFZCObNeT4lCBd33Vg4_aswZV1OyD_PLwttTYErPB91n-3KR_S7YfL48xxbuZWh3mvri5CVimcGt75XweVKJqmUAWNOs8-7B2C_Y9ei1dhC7/s1600/schlock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="644" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tjG5TGKcCDfzsZvxLfBPq3nVMLqocJlwlFZCObNeT4lCBd33Vg4_aswZV1OyD_PLwttTYErPB91n-3KR_S7YfL48xxbuZWh3mvri5CVimcGt75XweVKJqmUAWNOs8-7B2C_Y9ei1dhC7/s400/schlock.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
<br />
Jack H. Harris Enterprises<br />
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067716/">IMDb</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schlock_(film)">Wikipedia</a><br />
(Blu-ray, Arrow)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
John Landis skewers the caveman genre in his first film, an irreverent, low budget comedy that could have only been made in the 70s. Basically a series of skits, much like Landis' later Kentucky Fried Movie, with Landis himself donning the gorilla suit. It's filled with some hilarious scenes, my favorite being the parody of the opening scenes of 2001. </div>
Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861405001983388016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728326160577353914.post-53738595231607948892019-12-24T20:46:00.000-07:002020-01-14T22:44:39.435-07:00Snowpiercer (2013)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg44cYjUNI_45f3B95vevFVj8QKnj-2Q_N_Qw2btbrm75T8gHZwl9UfYX925EVCOJoOMdTGS15uu26C-HlgqfsZrLbvbDYyhqXEEHmoZcZMrixCNBE31E39c4g4h15-pjFwnG31Qfds0IEv/s1600/snowpiercer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="674" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg44cYjUNI_45f3B95vevFVj8QKnj-2Q_N_Qw2btbrm75T8gHZwl9UfYX925EVCOJoOMdTGS15uu26C-HlgqfsZrLbvbDYyhqXEEHmoZcZMrixCNBE31E39c4g4h15-pjFwnG31Qfds0IEv/s400/snowpiercer.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
<br />
The Weinstein Company<br />
Directed by Bong Joon-ho<br />
My rating: 2 stars out of 4<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1706620/">IMDb</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowpiercer">Wikipedia</a><br />
(Blu-ray, Anchor Bay)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
After an attempt to stop global warming backfires causing an ice age instead, most life on Earth is extinguished. A handful of humans are saved aboard a train which constantly circles the globe. Mimicking a social order, those at the back of the train are overcrowded and live in extreme poverty, while those in front live a priviliged life. Chris Evans plays a revolutionary determined to get to the front of the train at all costs. After overcoming incredible odds he makes it, only to find... Ed Harris looking and acting a lot like Hugh Hefner. Promising setting ruined by the preposterous ending, not to mention the poor CGI depicting the frozen world outside the train. </div>
Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861405001983388016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728326160577353914.post-46664764443342460762019-12-23T20:32:00.000-07:002020-01-14T22:44:19.686-07:00Truck Stop Women (1974)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVY5CjrtCkyO52atW_d-wt7sy1GPG3QfWi0EY5NfK1RgQqE8tHpZQfFg2_vRy_6NKjxEHapsLJKAKFGMWdjopvIQdd4U_zn56QcVIt9WoYUK4_2Scv3NDjo3uAsVCfDx6CJjhv4DBwLKcI/s1600/truckstopwomen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="658" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVY5CjrtCkyO52atW_d-wt7sy1GPG3QfWi0EY5NfK1RgQqE8tHpZQfFg2_vRy_6NKjxEHapsLJKAKFGMWdjopvIQdd4U_zn56QcVIt9WoYUK4_2Scv3NDjo3uAsVCfDx6CJjhv4DBwLKcI/s400/truckstopwomen.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
<br />
L-T Films<br />
Directed by Mark L. Lester<br />
My rating: 2 stars out of 4<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072324/">IMDb</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truck_Stop_Women">Wikipedia</a><br />
(Blu-ray, Code Red)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Claudia Jennings clashes with her truck stop owner mom and wants a piece of the action. The truck stop is really a front for various schemes to steal from truckers, not to mention prostitution. So Claudia teams up with the mafia to try to take over, but mom has some help of her own and won't go down easy. Classic 70s trucker trash shot on location in New Mexico, set to CB-themed country music!</div>
Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861405001983388016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728326160577353914.post-14712581136934100232019-12-22T20:23:00.000-07:002020-01-14T22:43:59.273-07:00Frozen II (2019)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-ofNhmZY9Es3yHcegz4lMk094sJdyIhSm-_tmwGZDZDl4eivz7mFNdowXuKDSkmLfbXH3Fp-sUMXZ_q_XroC2QqkmgjewSD8pkwFZPFkMeoeGcxhTacEfc8NV84a24HVq3QcFiXDHHNv/s1600/frozenii.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-ofNhmZY9Es3yHcegz4lMk094sJdyIhSm-_tmwGZDZDl4eivz7mFNdowXuKDSkmLfbXH3Fp-sUMXZ_q_XroC2QqkmgjewSD8pkwFZPFkMeoeGcxhTacEfc8NV84a24HVq3QcFiXDHHNv/s400/frozenii.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures</div>
<div>
Directed by Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee</div>
<div>
My rating: 2 stars out of 4</div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4520988/">IMDb</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frozen_II">Wikipedia</a></div>
<div>
(theatrical)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Queen Elsa follows a voice into the forest, awakening spirits who threaten to destroy her kingdom. She sets off with her sister and friends to set things straight. They uncover a centuries old feud involving her mother and father. For peace to be restored, she is tasked with destroying a dam. Overplotted, confusing sequel designed more to sell toys than make a coherent movie. Did you really think they would let Olaf die?</div>
Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861405001983388016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728326160577353914.post-83243954444087944132019-12-21T15:29:00.002-07:002019-12-21T15:29:48.397-07:00The Amazing Captain Nemo (1978)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZvNeonI8j9uAnZ_N8lXSi73ahdfRpZn6Cle6cJSstlZaWaZb4_WZ2weSl_3j4O4vmDVxiU_zcWIAMpWrm4XKVT8KoqBAGtvzwmClmAaXH6QlSf6LZDLvlGLJiXOMpTkUrYSq0ObEYyln/s1600/amazingcaptainnemo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZvNeonI8j9uAnZ_N8lXSi73ahdfRpZn6Cle6cJSstlZaWaZb4_WZ2weSl_3j4O4vmDVxiU_zcWIAMpWrm4XKVT8KoqBAGtvzwmClmAaXH6QlSf6LZDLvlGLJiXOMpTkUrYSq0ObEYyln/s400/amazingcaptainnemo.jpg" width="312" /></a></div>
<br />
Warner Bros.<br />
Directed by Alex March and Paul Stader<br />
My rating: BOMB<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077156/">IMDb</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Return_of_Captain_Nemo">Wikipedia</a><br />
(DVD, Warner Archive Collection)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Jose Ferrer plays Captain Nemo, who put himself in cryogenic hibernation and is awakened 100 years later by divers with the US government. They enlist his help to stop mad scientist Burgess Meredith, who is blackmailing the President with a ray gun. Nemo takes them to the lost city of Atlantis where he convinces the hapless residents to help after they are attacked by Meredith as well. Tries to be an underwater Star Wars, with laser shoot outs, a poor Darth Vader imitation and a tunnel that almost exactly looks like the one at the beginning of the first Star Wars movie where Leia is rescued. Meredith is ridiculous and Ferrer wooden. Edited from a three hour mini-series, which only further confuses the plot. </div>
Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861405001983388016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728326160577353914.post-46872750601973344092019-12-21T15:08:00.001-07:002019-12-21T15:08:47.111-07:00Monsters vs. Aliens (2009)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13a3f2j6uGBRGuzMrvl_U4Vp6JAO9IfMMXQmTgZwpPsmQa-sKwiauh61m0xuKoW1_eTTnJ9WFntWGWyB0YynKFRsooZC8b7H2OYPDrVxf0R-DZg3cuHx8x4SFTLieiBHs_OmuFoXH1jpO/s1600/monstersvsaliens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13a3f2j6uGBRGuzMrvl_U4Vp6JAO9IfMMXQmTgZwpPsmQa-sKwiauh61m0xuKoW1_eTTnJ9WFntWGWyB0YynKFRsooZC8b7H2OYPDrVxf0R-DZg3cuHx8x4SFTLieiBHs_OmuFoXH1jpO/s400/monstersvsaliens.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
<br />
Paramount Pictures<br />Directed by Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon<br />
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0892782/">IMDb</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsters_vs._Aliens">Wikipedia</a><br />
(Blu-ray, Paramount)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A wedding ceremony is interrupted by a meteorite which crashes on the bride. She survives, but begins to glow green and grows to gigantic size. She is captured by the government and sent to a holding facility where she lives with other monsters. They gain their freedom by agreeing to confront an alien robot which has come to reclaim the meteorite, which is really a prized energy source. They defeat the robot, but after a brief taste of freedom are called into action again to defeat the powerful alien leader who comes looking for his robot. Pretty entertaining as far as these things go, but also loud with one too many endings. </div>
Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861405001983388016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728326160577353914.post-84281600375173152692019-12-21T13:35:00.001-07:002019-12-21T13:35:15.921-07:00Fort Yuma Gold (1966)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9NAeFPZy_DN4QDVIxA-JluvFLFFYbI04wBurvOl-jSY_zfFHWRGsYx_ga59YddFdP473G_FPt4IRFa317tCiSEK6RiVWARtQLBxuZdqA78GOPJ7KBGFNSfqZ7iNMoqswxXbuJPVm9AXJ/s1600/fortyumagold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="715" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9NAeFPZy_DN4QDVIxA-JluvFLFFYbI04wBurvOl-jSY_zfFHWRGsYx_ga59YddFdP473G_FPt4IRFa317tCiSEK6RiVWARtQLBxuZdqA78GOPJ7KBGFNSfqZ7iNMoqswxXbuJPVm9AXJ/s400/fortyumagold.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
<br />
Directed by Giorgio Ferroni<br />
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4<br />
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061773/">IMDb</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_a_Few_Extra_Dollars">Wikipedia</a><br />
(Blu-ray, Mill Creek)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the waning days of the American Civil War, southerner Giuliano Gemma is released from a northern prison in order guide a troop to a fort and warn them of an impending attack. However, nothing is as it seems as everyone involved has ulterior motives. Along the trek to the fort he encounters the usual spaghetti western scenarios, including a long bar fight, a saloon girl he falls in love with, and being staked out in the sun with his eyes forced open. He survives it all and even manages to break up the plan to steal the gold at the fort. Entertaining if highly improbable, with Spain standing in nicely for the American west. The Morricone soundtrack is stolen from another film. </div>
Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861405001983388016noreply@blogger.com0