George A. Sprecace M.D.,
J.D., F.A.C.P. and Allergy Associates of New
London,
P.C.
www.asthma-drsprecace.com
The Involved Citizen - Common Sense Revisited
> Movie Reviews: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
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(Posted: December 19, 2024)
"DUNKIRK."
"CHURCHILL AT WAR."
Winston Churchill: a Great Man and probably the single most important reason for the Allies' victory in WW ll.
The greatest value of these Documentaries lies in the abundant original photo-footage.
GS
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(Posted: November 16, 2024)
"RETURN OF THE KING:
THE FALL AND RISE OF ELVIS PRESLEY".
Much more than "a pelvis".
"MARTHA STEWART"
"There is no History. There is only Biography".
"INVESTIGATION... Extra-terrestrials..."
The rug covering all of this is getting really lumpy.
"WHEN WE WERE KINGS".
Ali and Foreman....
I'm exhausted!
GS
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(Posted: October 27, 2024)
"CINDERELLA MAN".
A boxing man...and a Man.
"BIG TIMBER".
now there's a geography and a lifestyle that we will never see personally.
"SECRETS OF NEANDERTHALS".
Who knew?
"THE WORLD'S FASTEST INDIAN".
Wow!
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(Posted: September 7, 2024)
"RED" AND "RED - 2".
Both starring Bruce Willis - and the second featuring a number of big stars,
these movies solve the challenge of offering bloody mayhem without raising
the viewer's blood pressure. How? Check it out.
"MIDWAY".
Need i say more?
GS
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(Posted: August 23, 2024)
"WYATT EARP AND THE COWBOY WAR".
Excellent...for the rendering of its History, for the value of its Acting,
and for the challenge of its Morality. Worth the time.
GS
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(Posted: July 13, 2024)
"BILL RUSSELL.
LEGEND"
"More championship rings than fingers on his hands."
But his decades-long championship role against racial segregation is his Glory.
GS
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(Posted: July 10, 2024)
"DARKEST HOUR".
Terrific!!
GS
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(Posted: July 7, 2024)
"TURNING POINT: THE BOMB AND THE COLD WAR".
Especially for those younger people who know little - and care less
about - the History of the World since the later 19th Century,
this is an Excellent story derived from hundreds of original documents and photos.
"As a wise man once said: "If you don't know History, you are doomed to repeat it"...again and again - as we are.
GS
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(Posted: May 25, 2024)
"WHAT WOULD SOPHIA LOREN DO?"
Not only a welcome remembrance of the career and life of a great
actress - and an iconic ITALIAN WOMAN - but also a view of the family
life of another Italian woman and family that followed and values that
career and life.
GS
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(Posted: May 12, 2024)
"RATHER".
A FINE REVIEW OF THE CAREER OF DAN RATHER,
IN LIFE AND IN JOURNALISM - AT LEAST AS VALUABLE
FOR ITS ORIGINAL PORTRAITS OF OUR NATIONAL
SURVIVAL SINCE 1945...SO FAR....
GS
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(Posted: March 18, 2024)
BORN IN 1933, I HAVE LIVED THROUGH TWO/THIRDS OF THE 20TH CENTURY, ARGUABLY THE MOST DANGEROUS AND CHALLENGING PART.
But offspring of the last two generations - and their parents - know
little and seem to care less about what brought us all through and to
these dangerous times.
How will this play out in the critical national elections of November, 2024.
Well, there is an excellent NetFlix documentary, several hours long,
that traces the developments of those decades with original records and
great precision.
You younger citizens owe it to yourselves and to the rest of the us to
view and to absorb this information, all so relevant to the dangers our
world faces today.
See: "TURNING POINT: THE BOMB AND THE COLD WAR".
GS
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(Posted: February 29, 2024)
""EINSTEIN AND THE BOMB".
"NYAD"
"STEVE MARTIN / MARTIN SHORT"...Terrific!
"TURNING POINT: 9:11..." Never Forget!
"ALEXANDER: THE MAKING OF A GOD." Excellent Series.
And recently, the addition of many very good full length movies of the last few decades.
GS
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(Posted: February 15, 2024)
"Miss America
Taylor Swift"
A highly talented sweet young girl.
Let's hope she stays that way.
"The Greatest Night In Pop".
"Arnold".
GS
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(Posted: December 13, 2023)
THE FOLLOWING IS OFFERED WITH A STRONG WORD OF CAUTION.
These films are comprised of ACTUAL NAZI WAR MOVIES.
Many are brutal and Inhuman.
They should be taken with recitation of "Five Our Fathers and Five Hail Marys"...
and of the Biblical pronouncement: "Vengeance Is Mine. I Shall Repay, Sayeth The Lord". (Romans II).
They will affect your sleep.
BUT WE MUST KNOW WHAT "HUMANS" CAN BE. Witness the recent actions of Hamas against Israelis.
"WWII...FROM THE FRONT LINES".
GS
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(Posted: November 26, 2023)
"A WALK IN THE WOODS".
Terrific. Don't read about it. Just watch it.
GS
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(Posted: November 11, 2023)
ONCE AGAIN, JUST ONE OFFERING FROM ME...
and a very good one:
"SLY", the life story - so far - of Sylvester Stallone.
as told by himself, with commentary from Arnold Schwartzaneger.
A lot more than the muscles that meet the eye.
GS
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(Posted: October 30, 2023)
TODAY I OFFER ONLY ONE NEW MOVIE:
"IT AIN'T OVER: YOGI BERRA".
An Excellent NetFlix Documentary.
Born and raised in the Bronx from 1933,
the Yankees have been my team since the Great 1940's and 1950's...
including 1946-1950 when I would walk nearby Yankee Stadium on my way to
Cardinal Hayes High School. In fact, my son and I met Yogi at a "Sports Night"
many years ago.
But where did Therese (also a Yankee fan) and I go wrong?
We raised five Red Sox fans in New London, CT....
GS
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(Posted: October 9, 2023)
IN THE MIDST OF ALL THE TIRESOME CARNAGE ON NETFLIX AND ELSEWHERE, HERE'S SOME GOOD STUFF.
"ORDINARY MEN"
"TURNING POINT"
"MARTHA MITCHELL"...an "unguided Mitchell".
"THE SAINT OF SECOND CHANCES"
"CLOSE CALLS"
"MONTE PYTHON". Not all crazy walks and laughs.
"NEVER STOP DREAMING - SHIMON PEREZ" ... excellent review of the umpteenth Coming of the Jewish People.
GS
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(Posted: September 10, 2023)
Except for the first suggestion - as
a fan of Liam Neeson - these are as usual all documentaries.
"NON-STOP."
THE BIG SHORT", about the
financial crisis of 2008 - whose origins I suspected back in 2002 when banking
institutions began creating and marketing mortgage monsters.
"CUBA LIBRE". A good,
proud people do not deserve what they got.
"BIG GEORGE FOREMAN". Not
only Big, but Good.
"HOW TO BE A TYRANT". Beware.
GS
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(Posted: August 6, 2023)
AND MORE...
"WHO WE ARE: CHRONOLOGIC RACISM IN AMERICA".
Cannot be denied. Cannot be forgotten. Still a human Sin for some - but Not institutional. SO MOVE ON !
"ANDY WARHAL". His main artistic power was his business acumen.
"HITLER'S CIRCLE OF EVIL". A critical study of human nature at its worst. And It Can Happen Again...Anywhere.
"HEDY LAMARR". Much more than meets the thankful eye.
GS
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(Posted: July 14, 2023)
MORE on NetFlix.
"Barbra...
after Ella Fitzgerald (bless her), my favorite female voice.
"They Shall Not Grow Old"...
displaying the barbarity of the First World War on the front lines through original photo footage. (All war is barbarity).
This
comes close to me. My father was a Sergeant of Artillery in the Italian
Army (with the Allies) in the Dolomites of the Austrian Front,
reportedly as vicious in the vertical as the Battle of the Somme was in
the horizontal.
"The Greatest Battles of WW ll: The Holocaust; Hiroshima".
"2020"...
the many notable and crazy and funny events of that year - told from a distinctly Leftist point of view.
GS
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(Posted: July 2, 2023)
MORE ON NETFLIX, ESPECIALLY THE FINE
DOCUMENTARIES.
"Almost Australian".
I check out all Australian
offerings, since this is as close to the OutBack as I plan to get.
"Arnold".
An excellent visual memoir narrated
by the man himself:
neither a revered saint nor a damned
sinner.
He has been and continues to be the
epitome of "NEVER GIVE UP", in anything.
I'LL BE BACK !"
GS
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(Posted: May 14, 2023)
"BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING".
"DOWNFALL: THE CASE AGAINST BOEING".
"TURNING POINT"
"9/11 AND THE WAR ON TERROR"
"COUNTDOWN".
1970'S NYC.
"HARRY AND MAEGAN"
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(Posted: April 28, 2023)
On Netflix:
"FINAL BATTLE"
"THE
DIPLOMAT"
"THE MARTHA MITCHELL EFFECT"
"WHOSE VOTE COUNTS...EXPLAINED"
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(Posted: April 2, 2023)
MORE:
WW ll IN COLOR: DUNKIRK.
LINCOLN LAWYER.
9/11.
GS
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(Posted: March 12, 2023)
MORE ON NETFLIX.
I haven't been to a regular movie theater in many months.
"Facing Nolan"
"Making 'All Quiet On The Western Front'"
"The Best Of Stand-Up"
"Our Planet: Jungles".
"Worth".
"Bill Russell - Legend".
GS
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(Posted: February 8, 2023)
"ARCTIC".
One rarely finds a Morality Play being offered on the secular screen.
Congratulations to Netflix.
GS
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(Posted: January 27, 2023)
• "DRESDEN".
Although
the death toll from the fire bombing of this German city in 1944 was
reported to have been 20,000 instead of the originally reported
200,000,
"WAR IS HELL".
We can only try to Avoid It; we cannot make it "more humane".
• "NEW AMSTERDAM"
This
serial / episodic production is interesting, well - produced and
well-acted....although again less so as it goes into the later
episodes.
GS
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(Posted: January 15, 2023)
THIS ONE DESERVES AN EXCLUSIVE ENTRY:
"MADOFF: MONSTER OF WALL STREET".
Expertly crafted and acted,
enough tragedy to rival all of Shakespeare's tragedies,
enough injustice and malfeasance in public and private high places to wreck
a person's trust in anything or in anyone.
Prepare to spend several hours - but not before bedtime.
GS
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(Posted: December 20, 2022)
Again restricting myself to NetFlix offerings,
I caution regarding multiple serial episodic offerings,
which tend to get worse and worse as they get more numerous.
"The Curious Case of Carlos Ghohn".
"Aftershock: Everest Earthquake, 2015"
"The Volcano"
"Sir. No Sir".
"Harry and Maegan"
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(Posted: October 1, 2022)
MORE:
"Sea Power"
"Ancient Aliens"
"The Rise and Fall of "AND-1"
"Broad Peak"
"Quantum of Solace"
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(Posted: September 12, 2022)
LIBERATORS.
THE FIGO AFFAIR.
WAR MACHINES.
UNTOLD: THE RACE OF THE CENTURY.
CODE BREAKERS.
BEING THERE.
GS
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(Posted: August 29, 2022)
DUNKIRK
BIG TIMBER
TRAINWRECK: WOODSTOCK - '99. You may need to take an antacid before viewing this one.
JENNER.
A LIFE OF SPEED: FANGIO.
DARKEST HOUR.
GS
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(Posted: July 23, 2022)
MORE NETFLIX OFFERINGS WORTHY OF SOME FREE TIME.
"DESIGNATED SURVIVOR" , mainly for the human behavioral psychology.
"MARTHA MITCHELL".
"SIR, NO SIR" - about the later years of the Viet Nam war.
"THE CHRISTMAS MAN" - Pan Kaztan.
"ACTION IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC"
"PEARL HARBOR'
"BORGEN". Good story, interesting characterization, great acting.
"THE BOMBARDMENT'
"THE INTERPRETER"
"THE GREAT HACK".
"CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA"
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(Posted: June 19, 2022)
AND MORE...(there may be some duplicates):
Meltdown: Three Mile Island.
Marilyn Monroe.
Like a Rolling Stone: Ben Fong
Torres.
That's Entertainment. (especially
1974; also 1976).
Intercept.
Designated Survivor. This turns out
to be much more than an action thriller.
It is a good study in Behavioral
Psychology of about a dozen characters, all very well acted.
Enjoy.
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(Posted: May 30, 2022)
MORE ON NETFLIX.
- "MELTDOWN: THREE MILE ISLAND". Unfortunate for America, but the nuclear industry deserved its return to the desert.
- "LIKE A ROLLING STONE: BEN FONG TORRES". Even for those of us who were not paying attention then, a fascinating story.
And
just for remembering Hollywood when it was Great:
"THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT", 1974. There is also a 1976 sequel. Enjoy.
GS
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(Posted: April 24, 2022)
MORE...ON NETFLIX.
"Our Great National Parks".
"Shoes of the Fisherman".
"Gifted Hands".
"Servant of the People".
"Untold".
"Breaking Point".
"Loser'.
"The Imitation Game".
"Russian Revolution".
"How to Stage A Coup".
And "Colin Quinn: The New York Story"...
(needs a Valium, but a lot of funny insight into the New York "psyche",
especially for a New Yorker).
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(Posted: March 28, 2022)
MORE...
(RE. KAITLIN (BRUCE) JENNER)
"GIFTED HANDS"- about Dr. Ben Carson.
"SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE".- about Ukraine's President - and Court Jester.
"UNTOLD".
"BREAKING POINT".
All Documentaries, my favorite genre.
GS
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(Posted: March 20, 2022)
HERE ARE A FEW MORE OFFERINGS ON NETFLIX THAT I FOUND WORTH MY TIME:
"Winter On Fire".
"Against The Ice".
"Downfall: The Case Against Boeing".
"Final Account".
"Margin Call".
"Beirut".
"13".
"Jenner".
"Fearless".
"Battered Bastards Of Baseball".
And Truth always turns out to be better that Fiction.
GS
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(Posted: February 19, 2022)
"David
Attenborough..."
"The Siege Of
Jadotville".
"The Angel"
All Offerings in
"World War ll In Color".
"Patriot".
"We Were
Soldiers".
"True Memoirs Of
An Intentional Assassin"
"BORGEN",
A MULTI-EPISODE DRAMA ON NETFLIX...
Early on, every crisis
seems to be addressed with a romp in bed.
But this is an Excellent series: in plot, in
acting, in characterization and in depiction of Human Nature. An unusual
grade of "A".
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(Posted: January 23, 2022)
"12 O'CLOCK HIGH".
"POPE FRANCIS: A MAN OF HIS WORD".
"SILVERADO"...although almost too much violence for me.
"DAVID ATTEHBOROUGH - OUR WORLD". Depressing but hopeful.
GS
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(Posted: January 2, 2022)
MORE...
- "Darkest Hour".
- "For The Love Of Spock".
- "The Last Dance".
- "WW ll In Color: Dunkirk; The Battle Of The Atlantic.
And from Turner Classic Movies: "That's Entertainment, 1974,1976". GREAT STUFF. Those were the days.
GS
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(Posted: December 12, 2021)
MORE, ON NETFLIX...
"Jackie".
"Fourteen Peaks".
"Spycraft".
"Fire in Paradise".
"Broken".
"Convergence".
"Fourteen Minutes From Earth".
GS
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(Posted: November 23, 2021)
STILL NOT GOING TO THE MOVIES.
But NetFlix has a lot to offer, if you search patiently.
"The Wonderful".
"Camp Confidential".
"What Would Sophia Loren Do?"
"Five Came Back".
"FTA".
"Steve Jobs".
"Space Cowboys".
And the best for last: "Barbara".
GS
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(Posted: November 10, 2021)
SO WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN MOST OF THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA HAVE BECOME A FIFTH COLUMN
AND WHEN EVEN THE BEST AND MOST RELIABLE OF THE COMMENTATORS - BRET BAIER - PRODUCES ACIDITA AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES?
One Answer: check out some of my NetFlix pics as posted on the "Movie Review" section of this web site.
"Try it. You'll like it".
"The Wonderful".
"Camp Confidential".
"What Would Sophia Loren Do?"
GS
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(Posted: October 31, 2021)
IN THIS BARREN DESERT OF NEW MOVIES,
NETFLIX is worth the price of admission.
But it should get a better way to find offerings.
"An Inconvenient Truth".
"Big Timber".
"Victoria and Abdul".
"We Steal Secrets".
"Rita Moreno".
GS
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(Posted: October 9, 2021)
THANK GOD FOR TED TURNER ENVISIONING AND FOUNDING "TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES".
From timeless Classics to Turkeys, there is something for everyone, depending on the time of day they are offered.
I recently happened upon a fine offering from 1937, featuring Spencer Tracy and Joan Crawford:
"MANNEQUIN"
"Try it. You'll like it!"
GS
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(Posted: October 6, 2021)
ANOTHER EXCELLENT DOCUMENTARY ON NETFLIX:
"OFFICIAL SECRETS"
More "Yellowcake" - type lies, more personal integrity and courage, and GREAT ACTING.
GS
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(Posted: October 6, 2021)
"AMEND. THE FIGHT FOR AMERICA" - A NetFlix documentary.
This
offering, very well done in presenting America's "Original Sin" of
slavery both before and after the passage of Amendment 14 of the U.S.
Constitution, chronicles in original and graphic detail the outrages
and murders directed against Black people and other non-whites - and
against Federal Law - for a century by ignorant and evil people, both
in the South and in our urban centers.
This is not revisionist
history; this is HISTORY. And today's Black citizens have every right
to remember the plight of their family members throughout those
decades. But they would do well not to be party to repeating those
outrages and murders, against either each other or against the "White
Man". Since the 1960's we have all been ready to move forward together
on equal terms. We should All embrace that - and that moment in History
that is Our History.
GS
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(Posted: September 12, 2021)
"PLEASE, SUH - MAY I HAVE SOME...MORE?"
More on NetFlix, that is.
- "Steve Martin / Martin Short." Your facial muscles will get tired with a constant grin.
- On this 20th Anniversary of 9/11, these are two excellent offerings: "Turning Point" and "Worth".
- "History
101", an excellent review of a number of singular events that occurred
during the last century, and whose effects continue to resonate.
And after the Great Westerns with John Wayne, the following is my choice as the Greatest Western:
"The Outlaw Josey Wales". WOW!
Enjoy.
GS
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(Posted: September 2, 2021)
Let's compare tastes...Netflix selections that I recommend...
"David Geffen". The power of Bulldog Tenacity.
"The Russian Revolution"...from the 1850's.
"Miles Davis". Musical Genius out of the crucible of shameful Segregation.
"The Liberator". A masterful use of avatars to depict the crime of War, in general and in the Anzio beachhead.
"Caitlin
Jenner", together with her autobiography. Transgender identity is not a
Woke construct...but a biologic and psychological Fact. It is being
distorted for personal gain and destruction.
"Jerry Seinfeld: "23 Hours To Kill". THE BEST!"
"Try It. You'll Like It"...Maybe.
GS
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(Posted: May 31, 2021)
NOT READY...TO "SHARE" THE MOVIES WITH OTHER MOVIE-GOERS YET.
Here are some more good offerings on Netflix:
"The Last Days"...how 6 million Jews and 5 million non-Jews were slaughtered in the Holocaust. Not for the timid.
"Sand Castles"...about WMD's, Iraq, lies, liars, the government and SNAFU.
"Fear City"...about
New York City in the 1970's, the Mafia, the concrete jungle and Rudolph
Giuliani. Giving everyone "an offer they can't refuse".
"Sinatra"...Need
I say more? Yes, I do - for they don't give sufficient exposure to
Ol' Blue Eyes as the fine actor that he also was.
Enjoy.
GS
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(Posted: February 6, 2021)
"THE INTOUCHABLES".
Magnificent!
Do yourself a favor.
GS
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(Posted: February 6, 2021)
IT'S DIFFICULT TO FIND DOCUMENTARIES (my favorite genre) ON NETFLIX...
and too many of the other offerings involve blood and guts - and the well-known "man's inhumanity to man".
But here are two good ones:
- "HIGHWAYMEN', a great story properly told, and with fine performances from Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson.
- "KISS
THE GROUND", narrated by Woody Harrelson. More Facts, rather than the
usual political / scientific hypotheses about Global Warming.
- "The Dig"
Not
much time to watch Netflix or TCM...too much going on about COVID-19:
the disease and its variants; the testing; the vaccines; the
treatments; the "Long-Haulers"; the responsible avoidance actions....
For much about all of that, including my professional perspective, check out the "Health Alerts" section on this web site.
GS
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(Posted: January 3, 2021)
STILL FINDING GOOD STUFF ON NETFLIX,
although their method for searching out offerings should be improved.
"FOR THE LOVE OF SPOCK"
Very Good.
Who knew? All of my kids knew, that's who.
"THE GOSPEL OF LUKE"
Masterful, in actors and in locales.
But Best is the "screen play"...which is actually the verbatim Gospel of Saint Luke!
Thank
you to whomever is responsible, especially to St. Luke, the author also
of the Acts Of The Apostles and the sometime companion of St. Paul on
their travels.
Any solo shows by Jerry Seinfeld, especially
the older he gets. I find myself watching the entire shows with a
stupid grin on my face.
Less good are his collaborations with other comics.
GS
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(Posted: December 20, 2020)
"DAVID ATTENBOROUGH: A LIFE ON OUR PLANET"
In
his "witness" statement, this 93 year old renowned naturalist gives a
sad but still hopeful account of man's stewardship of his planet, its
prospects and its options. Whatever our views about Climate Change,
facts are stubborn things.
GS
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(Posted: November 29, 2020)
WHAT WAS I DOING IN THE YEAR 2001?
Evidently not going to the movies.
"ENEMY AT THE GATES".
Excellent! And based on a true story from the historic and critical Battle of Stalingrad.
Had
the Russian People not been willing to throw themselves into the maw of
the Nazi war machine - and break its teeth while sustaining such
massive casualties...we would all have been speaking German since the
1940's.
GS
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(Posted: November 15, 2020)
"PLEASE, SUH...MAY I HAVE SOME MORE?"
Well, of course. But nobody has been to the Movies for quite a while.
Meanwhile, NETFLIX offerings, carefully chosen, are a God-Send.
- As noted before, "Madam Secretary"
is worth your while - at least until the later offerings, when the
subject matter seems forced and second level characters seem to get
their chance to shine.
- "Out-Back Truckers: Australia".
An eye-opener, especially for the out-back scenery - and for the
lengths honest people will go to to earn an honest living. Challenging?
Brutal! And inspiring.
- "72". The 72 absolute worst places to live in the world. Trips you definitely want to make from your favorite rocking-chair.
- "Liberator": comic book quality visuals - but surprisingly effective and honest-to-God moving stories of soldiers in WW ll battle.
- Any Documentaries,
especially those involving Russia in WW ll. Had the Russian People not
fought and died as they did against the Nazi war machine, we all would
have been speaking German since 1945. We owe them a permanent debt of
gratitude, despite everything else.
And
now, selections offered by my son Perrin, who spent well over 30 years
in the Lighting Profession in Los Angeles and who has an encyclopedic
memory for all things visual. I have not yet viewed these...but this is
his list.
- "Imitation Games"
- "Malcolm X"
- "Broadcast News"
Enjoy.
GS
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(Posted: October 17, 2020)
Over the last two weeks, I have been watching an EXCELLENT TV series
posted on NetFlix. It originally aired in segments between 2014 and for
four or five years thereafter.
"Madam Secretary"
Great acting by all, especially by the title character.
Great characterizations re. the other characters.
Great stories, all plausible and well presented.
Worth your while. Just don't watch too much before bedtime.
GS
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(Posted: July 8, 2020)
THIS IS GOING TO BE A "DIFFERENT" MOVIE REVIEW.
First of all, it came out in 1977, this being the first time I actually watched it.
Second, I consider it the worst War Movie I've ever seen:
"A BRIDGE TOO FAR"
I had clear premonitions while reading the credits, posted up front.
The
massive number of "stars" in it suggested to me that they were there
just for photo-ops: "All Hat, no Cattle". That proved to be right.
The
fact that it is based on a failed Allied offensive in September, 1944
suggested to me, after hoping for the best, that the movie should have
been named: SNAFU: "Situation normal: all f..... up".
This was Roger Ebert's review at the time:
"'A
Bridge Too Far' is such an exercise in wretched excess, such a mindless
series of routine scenes, such a boringly violent indulgence in all the
blood and guts and moans they could find, that by the end we're
prepared to speculate that maybe Levine went two or even three bridges
too far. The movie's big and expensive and filled with stars, but it's
not an epic. It's the longest B-grade war movie ever made."
Sorry...but with a name like George, "I cannot tell a lie".
GS
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(Posted: June 29, 2020)
HERE ARE TWO FINE MOVIES RECENTLY BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION.
1)
"Quartet". If you can resist the initial temptation to "get outta
here", you will be handsomely rewarded. And based on a true story as
well. (Hint: Verdi).
2) "Una Giornata Particulare": Sophia Loren
and Marcello Mastroianni. Italian with English subtitles.
Need I say more? But I will: Beautiful.
GS
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(Posted: March 6, 2020)
REMEMBERING THE GREAT YEARS OF AMERICAN CINEMA,
AND THEIR GREAT CREATORS.
See another great Netflix Documentary, generally the best viewing to be had:
"FIVE CAME BACK":
The stories of directors Stevens, Wyler, Ford, Capra and Houston
during WW ll, and how they came back with their own individual versions of PTSD that enabled them to do their greatest work.
Just two examples:
"The Best Years Of Our Life", by William Wyler.
"It's A Wonderful Life", by Frank Capra.
And how Stevens could no longer do comedy after his wartime experience.
This will also remind us of the many great actors who fought in that war.
Great American History.
GS
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(Posted: February 2, 2020)
HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT THE SCOPE OF MY OFFERINGS ON THIS WEB SITE?
One is "Movie Reviews: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly".
With the exception of references to excellent Netflix Documentaries, I have found slim pickings in recent years.
Of course, "Docu-Dramas" are different: some good, some not so good as too reflective of their authors' biases.
One which is worth viewing is "The Two Popes".
Excellent actors, superb scenes and scenery (eg. The Vatican). And if
you have a personal bias in favor of one or the other of the Popes, as
I do, that also will resonate.
But make sure also to read the
movie review on this docu-drama offered by Steven D. Greydanus and
entitled "Papal Caricature". It appears in National Catholic Register,
Feb. 2, 2020. The writer purports to know a great deal about his
subjects; and he paraphrases Roger Ebert on this:
"The more you know about the subject matter and movies, the less you are likely to enjoy them".
Having
lived and through Popes back to Pope Pius Xll, and having been in the
presence of and blessed by Pius Xll in1950 in St. Peter's Basilica at
the age of 17, I will continue my direct observations - and my biases.
GS
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TOM HANKS, "MR. ROGERS", AND "TROUBLES"...
It's a good thing I didn't commit.
I was out in about 40 minutes.
1) I thought Tom Hanks' portrayal of Mr. Rogers, whom I did view a couple of times on TV, was insipid.
2)
At least once a week, a new patient comes in for evaluation of
allergies / chest diseases and ends up sharing his or her problematic
life story with me. I don't pry. I just seem to have that "come hither
look".
So I don't need any more of that when I'm trying to relax.
There's
a great deal of angst and pain out there. And all one needs to offer is
a little attention (which most of them lack) to be helpful.
So: 40 minutes was not so bad.
GS
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(Posted: August 4, 2019)
MORE FINE OFFERINGS ON NETFLIX.
"DESIGNATED SURVIVOR"... multi-season, multi-episodes.
"THE IRON LADY".
"DISASTERS".
"STAR TREK" - originals - if you're into that.
GS
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WHO WUDDA THUNK IT".
Haven't seen a big screen movie in over 6 months.
Nothing to see except violence and the recurring exploration of the writers' navels.
NETFLIX Documentaries, on the other hand, are a different matter entirely: excellent.
"THE GREAT ALONE".
"TED WILLIAMS".
"NAT KING COLE".
"LOUIS ARMSTRONG: SATCHMO."
"THE TRUMP DYNASTY".
"RUSSIA AND THE NAZI INVASION, 1941: MAN OF STEEL."
and many others.
Check it out.
GS
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TIME FOR ANOTHER "NIGHT AT THE MOVIES."
No,
not the mediocre crop of self - aggrandizing efforts being churned out
by Hollywood in recent years, to be touted in the Academy Awards
tonight. That's why I haven't been to a current offering in the last
nine months.
But I can offer some good documentaries offered on
NetFlix - and at least one fine movie of recent years. Of course, that
movie was given only tepid reviews by the current "conoscenti".
- "Dangerous Highways"
- "The World's Busiest Cities"
- "Oliver Stone's Untold History Of the U.S.A." Typical Oliver Stone, but interesting.
- "Armistice"
- "The Dark Charisma of Adolph Hitler"
- The
2016 movie "ALONE IN BERLIN", based on a true story and on a book
published in 1947, starring the always excellent Emma Thompson and her
film husband - unknown to me but who also does a fine job. Both
terrifying and tender, the story reminds us of the importance of our
Freedom - never to be taken for granted, especially these days in
America.
GS
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HELLO AGAIN.
Sorry
for the long silent interlude. But I haven't found any movie to see in
the last 6 months. Such is the current plight of Hollywood,
artistically and relevantly a shadow of its former self in decades
past. The pending 2019 Academy Awards will have difficulty finding the
best of the worst - in my opinion.
Meanwhile, back in my rocking
chair during periods between "stamping out disease" in this, my 62nd
year practising Medicine, I have viewed some Excellent documentaries on
NetFlix. I recommend these.
- "THE ROOSEVELTS: AN INTIMATE HISTORY".
A fine presentation of both history and the personal psychology of
Teddy Roosevelt, FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt, among others. Regarding
Theodore Roosevelt's death while in his sleep - after his momentous
life - one observer's comment is absolutely true: "It's good that Death
took him while he was asleep. If he had been awake, there would have
been a Fight".
- "STALIN: MAN OF STEEL - 1941". Also "THE BATTLE FOR RUSSIA".
We owe the Russian people a great debt of gratitude. If they, at
massive loss of life and limb, had not beaten back the Nazi war machine
at that time, I believe that we would all be speaking German.
- "WILD NORTH" and "RIFT VALLEY". Just a feast for the eyes.
- "VIET NAM",
by Ken Burns - but actually by the American soldiers in the field.
Don't watch it unless you're in a good mood. That will change.
That's all...for now.
GS
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Here is a movie that I and all others in this region have not been allowed to see:
"GOSNELL: THE TRIAL OF AMERICA'S BIGGEST SERIAL KILLER".
Nevertheless,
I offer you the movie review published in the National Catholic
Register, November 11, 2018, entitled: "Indicting Abortion's Culture",
by Steven D. Greydanus.
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"Little Pink House"
(Posted: April 16, 2018)
"On The One Hand", Jeff Benedict and all of the movie's participants
succeeded well in telling the story that they intended to
tell...although some of the actors - especially "Governor Rowland" and
"Claire Gaudiani" came directly out of Film Noir casting.
"On the other hand", they completely ignored theother vital parts of the story:
- Governor
Rowland having wanted to test a new Connecticut State Law passed to
help depressed cities like New London - which could have easily
otherwise used the existing Blight statute that could have been applied
to the conditions at Fort Trumbull.
- The passing reference to a chronically dysfunctional city political apparatus.
- The
idea that a then - moribund New London Development Corporation could be
the effective vehicle for spending over 60 million dollars for a
complex and controversial project...by creating a Committee of 40
people (!) and heading it with a college professor with a penchant for
self-promotion.
- The heavy-handed, "Win-Lose" approach so
typical of this city rather than a humane, sensitive, "Win-Win"
approach - even possibly including retention of the existing
neighborhood - that could someday achieve this city's "potential".
- The
Committee losing all credibility for a non-political approach by
allowing the retention of the Italian Dramatic Society building as the
only one in the neighborhood left standing.
- The occult deliberations with the only corporation in contention.
- The
ultimate legal documents which evidently allowed that corporation to
withdraw from a key element of the agreement - the promise to build a
hotel in the immediate area - when the corporation had a change in top
leadership.
- The withdrawal, by a key planned occupant for a key
location on the property - leading to a partial decision by the
Superior Court that required the subsequent legal actions including the
USSC.
- The fact that the Institute for Justice did not take
the case "Pro Bono", as was intimated in the movie - but that they
received well over 1 million dollars by a local donor to take the case.
- And
most importantly, the fact that a strong case can be made - and was
made successfully at the U.S. Supreme Court - for the legitimate
application of the Constitutional power of Eminent Domain for the
benefit of an entire city and region...if applied fairly, evenhandedly
and transparently. The Court's decision, in my opinion, would have
garnered a much stronger majority opinion if it had been so applied
here. Many dying cities in this nation need such a mechanism to avoid
demise.
That was the story "On The Other Hand..."
GS
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"Action in the North Atlantic"
(Posted: February 25, 2018)
with Humphrey Bogart and Raymond Massey.
This
1943 depiction of the American Merchant Marine during WW ll is well
done, both in action sequences and in acting. And the US. Merchant
Marine Service is certainly deserving of the attention. That service
had the greatest percentage of personnel losses of all the American
military services in the War...yes, including the Marines.
Once
again, this story has special meaning for me. My cousin Alfred was
stationed on destroyers during the war. One of his trips was guarding a
Liberty Ship convoy headed to Murmansk, as in this story. In fact, on
that trip he somehow fractured his ankle and spent two weeks on a
hospital in Murmansk. After the war, he spent over thirty years as an
officer in the Merchant Marine. Fred, we miss you.
GS
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BY NOW YOU KNOW THAT MY "MOVIE REVIEW" SECTION IS DIFFERENT.
Of course, I have not yet seen "The 15:17 To Paris": but I certainly will.
A huge "ATTA BOY" to the three real-life heroes.
And a "LIFETIME AWARD" to Clint Eastwood, even a second if he has already received one.
This
man has lived at least two lifetimes. And he has lived them
intelligently, honorably and with great imagination. Thank you. And,
even if you aren't a golf duffer:
"Don't keep score. Just keep on swingin'."
GS
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BECAUSE THE CONTINUING CROP OF CURRENT MOVIES ARE SO BAD...
here's another great Winner from the 1950's:
"The Enemy Below"
(Posted: February 8, 2018)
WITH ROBERT MITCHUM AND CURT JURGENS.
This
story has a special interest for me, since my cousin Alfred was
stationed in WW ll on a destroyer in both the Atlantic and the
Pacific...and had a ship destroyed from under him. He survived and
spent the next three decades as a Merchant Marine officer and a
sometime police officer. His duty was my experience in that War.
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"The Guilt of Janet Ames"
(Posted: January 20, 2018)
This is a 1947 movie with Rosalind Russell and Melvin Douglas which I stumbled on at TCM.
EXCELLENT: "A" for acting, overcoming a bit of melodrama in the plot.
Worth finding.
GS
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"The Post"
(Posted: January 15, 2018)
I hate grade inflation. But this movie gets a "5" out of 4.0.
It
should receive the Oscar for best movie, while Churchill's actor should
get it for his depiction of the great man of his times.
One more
thing. I recall having been infuriated just once in my life. That was
when that Liar Robert MacNamara had the gall, 30 years later, to
attempt to explain his actions and inactions that cost many tens of
thousands of American lives.
GS
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"Darkest Hour"
(Posted: December 27, 2017)
This is an excellent piece of movie making and of acting.
Whether
it is true and fair to its protagonist is another question, a question
which I will answer after I research several Churchill biographies and
an autobiography which I own.
Even before viewing this movie, my
suspicion had been raised by the movie "Dunkirk" which reportedly
failed to mention Churchill at all! Hollywood fake new in action.
I will get back to you soon on this matter.
Meanwhile, an "A" for the movie and for the actor, who deserves an Oscar for his portrayal. See it.
GS
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"Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"
(Posted: December 3, 2017)
First,
the good news. Frances McDormand is still a great actress, although I
prefer her wearing a badge and an 8 month pregnancy. Woody Harrelson
surprised me. I always considered him to be a B actor. He does much
better here. The strength of the movie is in its characterizations; and
there are a number of interesting characters, all played well.
Now
for the bad news. For a small town suggesting Middle America, there is
an awful lot of swearing and foul language, most of it gratuitous. Also
gratuitous and out from left field is a major dressing - down of a
Catholic priest, obviously for points in some quarters. There are too
many story-plot lines, tenuously held together. The mood is incessantly
down, unnecessarily so.
In summary, I would still have
recommended this movie if it had ended at least 1/2 hour earlier...and
had taken the rest of the detritus with it. But not now.
A "C".
GS
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"Victoria and Abdul"
"On
the one hand...", this is a study in the Seven Deadly Sins, played out
by the British royal household, at least at that time.
"On the other hand...", it is a depiction of the Human Spirit, irrepressible in the person of Queen Victoria.
The
story of Abdul, only recently discovered, is necessary but not
sufficient. It is Judi Dench who steals the show, as usual for this
great actress.
Definitely see this movie - and then read the
book review that appears in the NYTimes Book Review, Oct. 8, 2017: "The
Raj Duet", by Man Morris
An "A" for all involved.
GS
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"Wind River"
A
beautiful setting, a reasonably interesting but sordid story, a few
flashes of good acting...all spoiled by gratuitous gimmickry designed
to bust your eardrums.
C-.
GS
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"The Hitman's Bodyguard"
It Works, on several levels. Don't ask for more...JUST GO.
An "A".
GS
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"Dunkirk" [more]
LET'S HEAR IT FOR "FAKE NEWS".
Just kidding, folks.
But here is a fascinating story about Elmyr de Hory:
a Very Original Fake.
My
sources here are: a) the article on this real "fake" artist in
Wikipedia; and b) "F for Fake", a fine documentary film by Orson Welles
(1973 or 1974).
As an "executive summary" - and a real question for
the ages - I can do no better than to quote directly from the Wikipedia
article:
"In Welles film, de Hory questioned what it was that made
his forgeries inferior to the actual paintings created by the artists
he imitated, particularly since they had fooled so many experts, and
were always appreciated when it was believed that they were genuine. In
'F for Fake', Welles also poses questions about the nature of the
creative process, how trickery, illusion and duplicity often prevail in
the art world, and thus, in some respects, downplays the culpability of
the art forger de Hory and outliers like him."
In any case: A Very Original Fake.
GS
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"Dunkirk"
This is a different movie review: a film that I will not see.
The reason? Read the article entitled:
"The Dumbing Down of 'Dunkirk', by Dorothy Rabinowitz, WSJ July 21, 2017, Opinion, pA17.
Hollywood
should not be forgiven for all of the bouncing boobs and "buttocks",
the idiot would-be satirists, the "Intellectual Yet Idiot (IYI)"
political commentators. And it should not gain from misrepresenting the
heroes and heroics of World War ll or of any other war for the sake of
"safe-spaces" or a "universal story".
Not from me, anyway.
GS
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TRUE CONFESSION:
I haven't yet seen this movie. But I surely will. Burt Reynolds is a GREAT!
GS
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"The Comedian"
(Posted: February 3, 2017)
In deference to Robert De Niro, whom I like,
this movie will not be graded.
In deference to my readers...don't go.
GS
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"Hidden Figures"
(Posted: January 22, 2017)
Two parts infuriating, three parts uplifting.
Altogether, a five star effort by all involved, in all categories.
And the best part: it's a true story!
Another reminder, which we human beings always need, of how low we can descend, and of how high we can rise.
An "A"...and a multi-Oscar accomplishment.
GS
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"Hacksaw Ridge"
(Posted: November 5, 2016)
Excellent.
One of the best war movies I have ever seen, in all categories.
Unless "Political Correctness" infests the Academy Awards, I believe
that this is a sure winner, especially for Gibson. And once again in a
recent film, utter brutality is successfully combined with sensitive
humanity
Could it be that some of today's actors, adept at depicting anything but Life, are growing up?
"A".
GS
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"Reacher: Never Go Back"
(Posted: October 23, 2016)
A good movie: in plot, in characterization, in acting, and in editing
of all the fight scenes that otherwise would have produced death or
maiming of the actors.
In fact, this is a rare time when I can
compare it with the book, which I read on a recent cross-country trip.
(I rarely read fiction).
An "A".
GS
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"Deepwater Horizon"
(Posted: September 30, 2016)
They
certainly get the pyrotechnics and the deafening sound right, although
at the expense of hearing the dialogue. They also try to develop
individual characters, although ultimately superficially. But does a
person, in panic and pain for sure, need all of that time to get off
that rig that is about to incinerate you - and JUMP INTO THE WATER?
But
my main criticism is not with those details, but with the bigger
picture: there was a crime; there are many victims; but there is no
Punishment.
And don't talk to me about money damages.
PEOPLE NEED TO GO TO JAIL. That theme was barely implied in the movie.
Not so with Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal who, addressing the
many examples of corporate crime, has drafted the "HIDE NO HARM ACT",
which would finally make responsible corporate individuals criminally
liable for corporate criminal acts perpetrated under their control.
That should have been the message of this movie, "based on a true
story".
What: too politically incorrect?
A "B-".
GS
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"Sully"
(Posted: September 16, 2016)
Everyone has seen the real-life movie "...On The Hudson". So, is this a sequel?
In
any case, this movie is well-done and worth-while. That's not to say
that it could not have been improved with better sequencing of the
flash-backs and forth, with fewer agonized phone calls between Sully
and his wife, and with a somewhat broader range of emotion by Tom Hanks
in a reprise of his stoic acting in the Maersk ship pirate story.
What was very good were the flight sequences and the emotions of the just plain folks caught up in all of this.
A B+.
GS
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"Florence Foster Jenkins"
(Posted: September 3, 2016)
I
don't recall ever walking out of a movie that featured Meryll
Streep...before this one. And that, despite the fact that I had
promised myself beforehand not to do so, in deference to Ms. Streep.
But that I did. I am not into cruelty or sadism, not toward animals and certainly not toward fellow human beings.
You might want to read the story of Ms. Jenkins life in the Wikipedia account. Perhaps I should have done that before going.
Anyway,
I have nothing good to say about those who surrounded her in real
life. And as for Ms. Jenkins, my diagnosis is Tertiary Syphilis
and related psychosis. Was there not one person who loved her enough to
shield her from her delusions?
So, did this movie, hurtful and once more depicting man's inhumanity to man, have to be made at all?
No Grade.
GS
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"Jason Bourne"
(Posted: July 29, 2016)
This movie gets all "A's" from me. And I believe that it is also Academy Award material in several categories.
The
only minor criticism I might offer is that the demolition derby toward
the end of the film is a bit too long. Perhaps the price for
scrap metal is was peaking when the film was being made.
Very Good.
GS
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"Independence Day: Resurgence"
(Posted: June 25, 2016)
I walked out after 35 minutes. I tired of holding my nose.
GS
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"Battle of the Bulge"
(Posted: May 28, 2016)
MEMORIAL DAY, 2016:
What to remember....
We remember and honor all those who fought and died in all of America's wars.
And
for those who can't remember because they never learned in the schools
of recent decades, I offer a movie tutorial "to make the medicine go
down".
"BATTLE OF THE BULGE", 1965.
A gritty, real-life and unsparing depiction of war.
Among a group of great WW ll movies, this stands out.
Watch it and remember, or learn for the first time what being an American means.
GS
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"London has Fallen"
(Posted: March 3, 2016)
This movie will go ungraded by me, since I left early...to wash all of the blood off myself.
I
hope Londoners will see this, and then perhaps start worrying about all
the Muslims in their midst...who are even allowed their own exclusive
neighborhoods - AND THEIR OWN SHARIA LAW. Insane!
GS
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"Where to Invade Next" by Michael Moore
(Posted: February 27, 2016)
This movie is worth seeing, a "B" overall.
It has to be called a documentary, since all of the "actors" are real
people, always a plus. It is also a cleverly crafted screed that avoids
the term "diatribe" appropriately attributed to his earlier works. It
achieves this with dollops of honey and effective humor that cover for
the occasional comments like referring to the history of American
slavery as "genocide" tantamount to the Holocaust.
The story line contrasts individualistic America with several
socialistic nations of Europe and elsewhere - where the citizenry are
just happy to be taken care of from cradle to grave without too much
effort on their part. It does appear to work for them, especially after
the living memory of a disastrous first half of the 20th century.
What really gets this movie off on the right foot is his first
"invasion"...of Italy. Several believable sequences
interviewing real and personally attractive people. And what bad can
you say about his original description:
"Italians always look like people who have just had sex".
That got me hooked.
GS
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"The Finest Hours"
(Posted: January 31, 2016)
Here is a movie
that needed to be made - and that should have been made a long time ago
- because it is A TRUE STORY, going back to 1952.
True stories don't need to be hyped, and very often don't need special
effects. They certainly don't need or deserve a post-mortem analysis of
those effects, as is often served up in some other movie reviews.
This movie is well-done and - after my self-analysis of my own reaction
- is worth an "A". Initially, I found myself irritated by the amount of
time spent over the "courtship" of the two main characters. But that
was and is the other point: the courage and tenacity of the partner
left behind...to wait and worry and raise the kids and pay the
bills...and rarely to play a critical role in actually saving the life
of their loved one. These are the other heroes, rarely
acknowledged. And this story brings that fact out. Thank you for that.
One fault that I can find is in the depiction of the commanding
officer. A leader is a leader when his subordinates are confident
in his judgment and want to follow him...not because he orders them to
do so. This leader fails in this test; and we don't learn why.
Finally: A PERPETUAL "ATTA BOY" TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE U.S. COAST
GUARD.
GS
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"The Revenant"
(Posted: January 8, 2016)
As I've noted
before, a book can be analyzed on four fronts:
the Plot, the Characterizations, the author's message / intent, and
what the author unintentionally revealed about himself or herself.
Here, the story is based at least in part on a true story, that of the
frontiersman / trapper Hugh Glass in the 1820's. But how he
survived and why he continued trying to survive is not clearly
established for most of the film. The "survival instinct of man",
faced with all of these challenges, by itself would not cut it for me.
Seeking revenge is always a powerful motivator - but that kicks in much
later.
The characters, and the characterization are great acting. And the main
actor is the environment, a beautiful - deadly travelogue that would be
worth the price of admission by itself.
What is the message of the author and the director? That revenge should
give way to '"Vengance is Mine. I shall repay", sayeth the Lord."
What is their message that they unintentionally reveal, at least to me?
That revenge itself is a good enough motivator.
An "A" in all categories.
GS
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"The Revenant"
(Posted: January 1, 2016)
MOVIE REVIEW...A
"PREQUEL".
Here's a movie that I promise not to walk out of.
GS
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"Trumbo"
(Posted: December 5, 2015)
First the good
news: it's worth seeing. "B" acting. An engaging and true
story. A "B - " overall.
But now, the other news. Two hours in length; but it seemed
longer, lingering on the family disruptions. The efforts to
depict well-known personalities with actors bearing a vague resemblance
was not very successful - and was distracting. The Trumbo character
himself was not fully formed.
And disturbing to me was the failure to put the "Red - Baiting" in full
context: the World War immediately followed by the not-so-Cold War,
with the hated Soviets dropping an Iron Curtain over half of Europe,
engaging in domino aggression including Korea, stealing the Atom Bomb
and very likely also the Hydrogen Bomb, and with home-grown Communists
increasingly feared and suspect as representing a "Fifth
Column"...especially in government. This does not relieve the
authorities from flouting Constitutional protections and fundamental
fairness.
However, neither are the powers and players in Hollywood relieved of
blame for their unfair and often self-serving attacks on their
colleagues and fellow citizens.
And that's my point. Everyone seems to have an excuse, aka
"reason" for his or her base actions. Trumbo even describes all
involved as "victims". The Hell they were. They were all
responsible for their actions. Of course, that idea, personal
responsibility, would be too un-PC for the Hollywood and its followers
of today.
GS
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"Creed"
(Posted: November 28, 2015)
Formulaic...but
the formula still works. And the acting is very good, especially the
work of Stallone. Rocky can act!
Now, if I could only hear all of the dialogue.
A B+ overall. And could this be the end - really - of a movie
dynasty?
GS
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"Spotlight"
(Posted: November 27, 2015)
Excellent in
every respect...as a movie, though sad and demoralizing as a reflection
on the worst of human nature.
'"Judgment is Mine. I shall
repay", sayeth the Lord". (Romans).
Meanwhile, this grave injury to the Catholic Church did not end with
the story. At an event which I attended in disbelief, Cardinal
Bernard
Law was honored before his exile to Rome at a massive ceremony in St.
Patrick's Cathedral in Norwich, Ct. attended by nearly 80 Bishops and
other clergy from throughout the nation.
I have not lived a sheltered life and thus had never been
scandalized...until I witnessed that event.
And in Rome, the Cardinal is hardly wearing sackcloth and ashes.
What else can I say and continue to act as a Christian?
GS
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"Bridge of Spies"
(Posted: October 25, 2015)
First, the good
news. This is a well-crafted movie, with excellent acting, a story that
follows closely most of the actual facts about Rudolph Abel and James
Donovan, his attorney.
Now for the not-so-good news. Attorney Donovan, who had served as an
attorney for the OSS and who had reportedly served at the Nurnberg
Trials, thus knowing the importance of national security, especially at
the height of the not-so-Cold War, is depicted has having stubbornly
jeopardized his mission regarding the captured U-2 pilot whose
information whose information in Soviet hands would have put his nation
at great risk. This, to secure the simultaneous release of an
American student who had independently and stupidly gone to East Berlin
to study. Had this entire project failed for that extraneous, although
however noble reason, Donovan would have and should have been
charged as a criminal. But it went off well...and Donovan
returned as a hero, which reputation he held for the rest of his life.
I know a bit about this period, having been in Frankfurt, Germany from
1960-62 as a physician with the U.S. Army Medical Corps. When the
Berlin Wall was built, our hospital and the 3rd Armor Division, whom we
supported, were placed on 3 hour alert for a possible push into Russian
occupied Germany. Not too "Cold".
Back to the movie: a B+ for the movie, an A for the acting...and a C
for the lesson evidently sought to be taught.
GS
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"The Martian"
(Posted: October 9, 2015)
JUST USED A ROUND
- TRIP TICKET TO MARS.
"The Martian" is engaging...as is Matt Damon in all of his work.
Of course, I got lost in much of the scientific basis...but who
cares.
An "A" for Damon and for several of the supporting cast. A "B+"
for the movie.
In addition, one of the best parts is a piece of advice that the
Martian gives to a class of aspiring astronauts (paraphrased):
"There will be a time when everything - and I mean everything - goes
South. It will happen. At that time, will you think that you're
gonna die? Yes. So you accept that. And then you start solving
the problems, one at a time. Then you will live".
My addition: whether you "die" or live, you will live.
GS
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"A Walk in the Woods"
(Posted: September 19, 2015)
Definitely worth
the walk or ride to your theater, especially in a summer replete with
JUNK.
Nick Nolte is TERRIFIC. An "A".
Robert Redford is... well, Robert Redford. And boy, does he look
old. Was that makeup? A "B".
The Ladies are great. A "B+".
The story, and especially the opportunity for personal growth would
have benefited from some acknowledgement of "spirituality" and of the
"eternal". But there studiously was none - except for looking up
at the wonder of a few billion (trillion?) stars. A lost
opportunity, without having had to get "religious".
Remember: the last words on the lips of an atheist as he or she is
about to die are "Thank God I died an atheist".
GS
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"San Andreas"
(Posted: June 26, 2015)
The movie review
of this movie is another example of the evident inability of some (many
?) members of our younger generations to recognize and appreciate human
emotions. I believe it is the result of broken homes, a drug culture,
and the cyber - culture in all its forms. Have we already reached the
"Singularity"...and don't recognize it. The movie review gives
passing recognition to the emotions depicted, and gives credit to
Hollywood's ability to create "disasters". But it still gives the
movie a "2 star" rating.
WRONG. This is a fine movie, even a family movie for teenagers
and older adults. And it also accommodates a theory of mine: that
viewing depicted true-to-life disasters in some way may prepare an
individual to deal with a real disaster if encountered. My only fault
with this movie is that they did not give high billing as "Supporting
Actor" to GOD. B+.
GS
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"Woman in Gold"
(Posted: April 25, 2015)
Had this movie
tried to tell a different story, it would have bordered on
melodrama. But given the true events relating to one of the
darkest periods of world history produced by the bestial Third Reich in
the 1930's and 1940's, it is riveting, sad and enraging. And its Nazi
actors are not yet off the stage. A very elderly former death
camp official just recently brought to trial thought it was important
to say that their "procedures were very orderly". "'Judgment is
Mine. I shall repay', sayeth the Lord".
See it, to become informed, sad and enraged all over again.
GS
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"Belle"
(Posted: February 6, 2015)
Terrific movie:
A. That's all, folks.
GS
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"American Sniper"
(Posted: January 24, 2015)
I resisted as
long as I could, since I'm not a fan of blood and guts. But I
kept hearing about the psychological aspects of the story. And
it's true. This could more aptly be named American Warrior - and
Victim. It certainly demonstrates the trauma of War, for all
involved. It also demonstrated once again to me something I have
repeated in this section recently: we cannot avoid World war lll with
boots on the ground in the Middle East at this time. That can
only be achieved by the "moderate Muslims" themselves, effectively
motivated by America and the Western World.
Very well done, in all categories - especially in acting.
Definitely Academy Award material. An "A".
GS
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"The Imitation Game"
(Posted: January 17, 2015)
This well-crafted
narrative is much more a psychological puzzle than a historical
thriller. Certainly, Alan Turing was not "normal", Thank
God. For it is estimated that his work reduced WW ll by two years
and by 14 million more dead. And his experience provides yet
another reason to lionize Winston Churchill.
From the first scenes I began my diagnostic efforts, almost immediately
focusing on the possibility / likelihood that he suffered (in a very
real sense) from Asperger's Syndrome. And a Google search will
confirm that I am not alone.
In any case, good story and great acting (as only the English can seem
to manage). An "A".
GS
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"Wild"
(Posted: December 20, 2014)
This cannot be a
movie review, since I left after the first hour. But I can offer
the following:
a) it is worth seeing;
b) fine acting;
c) great scenery.
And it has a message which may or may not have been intended. Ignoring
the obligatory...and perfunctory... copulation scenes to earn an R
rating, it is a good movie for this Christmas Season. The quest
for meaning through Nature is a surrogate for "the reason for the
Season": our Creator.
GS
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(Post
Script: November 23, 2014)
INTERSTELLAR
- The Movie; The Message...
About one week ago, I posted a Movie Review on this current offering on
this web-site.
Two days ago, David Brooks published a fine column on the same subject,
entitled "Love And Gravity"(in NYTimes Friday, November 21, 2014,
OP-ED, pA27). His is much more in-depth; but we agree entirely.
This is a love story about the ultimate Love: God's Love for His
ultimate creation, and about His one Command: Love thy God; Love thy
neighbor. How could Hollywood have produced this? Is there really hope?
The whole matter brings to mind a famous quotation from the poet John
Keats:
"A thing of beauty is a joy forever: its loveliness increases; it will
never pass into nothingness:"
GS
"Interstellar"
(Posted: November 16, 2014)
After groaning
through three execrable coming distractions, I surprised myself by
staying through this 2 1/2 hour movie. It wasn't the references
to Quantum Theory or Relativity or black holes or worm-holes...or the
believable cinematography. It was a combination of excellent
acting by Mathew McConaughey and the impression that this is the
closest that today's Hollywood can come to making a religious
movie. "Love makes the world go 'round." And we know that,
although never mentioned here, "God is Love". A "B+".
GS
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"Saint Vincent"
(Posted: October 26, 2014)
A good antidote
after having seen "Fury", especially if you have dry eyes.
Actually very good, with "A " acting by all and a "B" for plot.
The latter is my reaction to "a stroke of luck" followed by a plot
twist that is not "a stroke of genius".
GS
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"Fury"
(Posted: October 26, 2014)
Hollywood has
certainly learned how to "do War right". I came out of the
theater with shrapnel wounds all over me.
Very well done and acted, particularly with the plot unfolding into the
eyes of an innocent "Everyman" that we can all relate to.
But why, despite a good sense of hearing, do I miss 30% of the dialogue
in the cacophony of Dolby? Not a good thing. A B+.
On a personal note, I value among my greatest blessings in a life
well-blessed the fact that none of my three sons had to go to war...and
that my part in the Service was healing, not killing.
GS
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"The Judge"
(Posted: October 10, 2014)
...with Robert
Duval and Robert Downey Jr.
Excellent. Where did this come from? Except for a rare
excess, like the "snapping turtle ex machina", and a gratuitous "R"
rating, this is 'Grade A" all the way. Both Duval and Downey
deserve Academy Award nominations.
GS
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"This is Where I Leave You"
(Posted: October 3, 2014)
The perfect title
for this movie. It took me 30 minutes to act out the sentiment.
Good acting...or was it simply these actors acting out their own lives?
Hard to say these days, given the epidemic of personal and societal
dysfunction. Besides, two of the main thespians were Jane Fonda's
synthetic boobs.
A "C-".
GS
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"My Old Lady"
(Posted: September 28, 2014)
...with Maggie
Smith, Kevin Kline and Kristin Scott Thomas. You can't go wrong
with these three superb actors. But there is too much dialogue
and monologue - and even operatics - which impair the flow of the
story. Thus, a failure in the cutting room, despite a movie of
just 103 minutes. Worthwhile, but could have been better.
A "B".
GS
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"The Drop"
(Posted: September 21, 2014)
Definitely an
"R", and not for sexual content...so don't bring the kids. This
is a 21st century "Film Noir"...very "noir". But don't try to
learn anything about its plot beforehand. Let it unfold before
you. A hint: James Gandolfini is a main character.
Excellent: an "A".
GS
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"Blazing Saddles"
(Posted: August 25, 2014)
Beautifully
presented at The Garde Theater in New London, Ct. this
masterpiece of kitch and inspired slapstick should be viewed at least
every 40 years (eg. at this, its 40th anniversry), and PRN for any
"down days".
Of course, I would be happy to see and hear Madeline Kahn do "I'M
TIRED" every Friday.
An "A" for everything.
GS
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"The Hundred Foot Journey"
(Posted: August 23, 2014)
This is another
example of following the work of excellent actors and more recently of
movies with an Indian motif.
A fine movie in all respects. The only issue for me was
understanding some of the dialogue, as always presented in that clipped
- English style characteristic of Indian actors. But the spare
dialogue is worth paying careful attention to, except perhaps when you
have to wipe away a tear. I give it an A.
GS
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"America: Imagine the World Without Her"
(Posted: July 19, 2014)
Any time a movie
title starts with the word "America" and Roger Moore gives it *1/2,
I've got to check it out.
"...rambling, mis-titled...." True. ' "America" sets itself up as
a piece of documentary counter-history..." Not quite, as it
counters the revisionist history pushed by the Far Left regarding
seminal events in American history. This the author, Dinesh
D'Souza, does pretty well.
Indeed, the best evidence of this is the difficulty the public will
have finding a movie theater that will run it. Censorship?
"We report; you decide." In any case, this movie is worth seeing
- if you can find it. I give the movie a B-. I give any
movie theater that offers it, like the Olde Mistick Village Art Cinema
in Mystic, Ct., an A.
GS
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"A Million Ways to Die in the West"
(Posted: June 7, 2014)
This story starts
out with at least a kernel of promise (especially with the great
southern Arizona scenery). But very shortly it eats its seed-corn
in an avalanche of over-done. If it was trying to shock: nobody gets
shocked any more. You've got to do better than that. So,
using the same metric I used for the "...Budapest Hotel":
1:10 PM: Made Mistake;
1:40 PM Corrected Mistake.
GS
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"Million Dollar Arm"
(Posted: May 27, 2014)
I give it an "A"
in all categories. And it's also a short travelogue in
India. Just try to skip the "Coming Attractions". UGH...
GS
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"The Grand Budapest Hotel"
(Posted: April 5, 2014)
1:05PM.
Made mistake.
1:50PM. Corrected mistake.
GS
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"Before Midnight"
(Posted: April 5, 2014)
Definitely an
"R", but in context and with "redeeming social value". A good
story line - unfortunately too common in this world of broken marriages
and "parentus interruptus". And very good acting. In fact, at one
point I felt guilty eaves-dropping on their miseries. The only
weak point I found was the dinner scene in Greece; to paraphrase the
old TV serial "Duffie's Tavern: "Where the effete meet to
eat". A solid B+.
GS
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"Monuments Men"
(Posted: February 8, 2014)
The real news is that
there have been so many reasonably good
movies in 2013 and entering 2014...instead of the usual tripe.
The
not-so-good news here is that George Clooney
can't decide what kind of movie he wants to make. The result is worth
seeing,
particularly for its important war story. But don't look for much
characterization
or gravitas...or involvement on a personal level. Overall, a C+.
GS
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"Saving Mr. Banks"
(Posted: December 30, 2013)
It has been noted that
good...even great...movies get created
mainly when the country is down in the dumps. The Great
Depression was
one example of this. Are we witnessing another such period, when
truly
good movies rise above the wasteland?
Here is yet another
movie that is definitely worth the price of
admission, and also the price of a box of Kleenex. Emma Thompson
is
great, and is now my pick for Best Actress at the Academy Awards.
Tom
Hanks is also very good. But he may have to settle for "Best
Supporting Actor", although I'm not sure of that one.
For "Best Actor", I'm
sticking - so far - with Bruce
Dern in "Nebraska".
And
I haven't walked out of a movie in months.
GS
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"Nebraska"
(Posted: December 11, 2013)
My streak of good
luck continues.
As another real movie reviewer said, sounding
hyperbolic, "Almost Perfect". This story is filmed in black and
white; and both that and the story itself are "black and
white". No shades of grey here. And yet it turns out to be,
in
a strange way, a Christmas story...without any merriment.
So
far, this makes my choices for Academy
Awards: Bruce Dern as best actor; his story mother as best supporting
actress;
and maybe even best cinematography. Now how's that for sticking my neck
out?
GS
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"Philomena"
(Posted: December 6, 2013)
YET ANOTHER MOVIE NOT TO MISS...but don't
read any reviews beforehand.
...with Judy
Dench and Steve
Coogan, is Grade A all the way...despite or because of the terrible
subject
matter: the Irish Magalena Laundries.
But,
to the movie reviewer who suggested that it
might have started out as a comedy, I award a consultation with a
psychiatrist.
GS
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"All Is Lost"
(Posted: November 16, 2013)
I award it an A for photography, a B for acting, and a D for "script",
such as it is. In fact, if Redford's character had substituted
his one-word monologue with another word (...), he and we would have
been much the better for it. As regards some of his nautical
decisions, I must be a bit more circumspect to avoid receiving loud
guffaws from my kids. "DUCK-TAPE, DUCK-TAPE". But I do have
some specific questions to put to these real sailors...after they have
seen the movie. Overall, a "B".
GS
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"Last Vegas"
(Posted: November 11, 2013)
HAS HOLLYWOOD GONE MAD? HERE'S ANOTHER IN A STRING OF VIEWABLE
MOVIES:
Smiles, laughs, tears, a message...and what a treat to see these greats
interacting.
Despite the fact that "PG - 13" stands for nothing anymore, I give it
an "A-".
GS
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"The Fifth Estate"
(Posted: October 27, 2013)
COULD IT
BE...ANOTHER WORTH-WHILE MOVIE?
I give it an A: in plot, in characterization and acting, in telling us
what the makers had in mind, and in what they revealed without
intending to.
As I left the theater after viewing this movie, a statement made in
another movie immediately came to mind:
"You want
the Truth? You can't handle the Truth"! (Jack Nicholson in
"A Few Good Men".).
And that' s the way it really
is. We human beings could not bear to see ourselves as we really
are or at times can be, the result of a completely transparent world
that the Internet threatens to produce. And the outcome would be
merely to replace the hierarchy of society - such as it is - with
the anarchy of the Mob. Is that what you want?
GS
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"Blue Jasmine"
(Posted: October 14, 2013)
FUGGEDEBOUDED.
Populated by paper cutouts of real people...except for the "heroine",
all too real in today's cynical and amoral world. I walked out
within an hour.
GS
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"Captain Phillips"
(Posted: October 13, 2013)
...worth seeing, but a B-.
GS
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"Fast"
(Posted: October 13, 2013)
Great: an A, and not
for the races or the racy scenes. Great characterizations, great
acting,and fine directing by Ron Howard.
GS
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