Ernest and Celestine AKA Ernest et Célestine

Ernest and Celestine AKA Ernest et Célestine
StudioCanal
23 May 2012
Children's, Fantasy
DVD
D+

I didn't like any of the characters in this adaptation of the Gabrielle Vincent children's books, but the snow effect was well done.  Stéphane Aubier, Vincent Patar, and Benjamin Renner co-directed.

Eragon

Eragon
20th Century Fox
December 15, 2006
Fantasy
DVD
C-

Adaptation of the Christopher Paolini novel, directed by the suitably named Stefen Fangmeier.

Equals

Equals
A24
May 26, 2016
Sci-Fi
DVD
D+

It's hard to get emotionally invested in a dystopia that suppresses emotions, although the look of the movie is well-done (if deliberately bland).  Drake Doremus directed and co-wrote.

The Entrapment

The Entrapment
20th Century Fox
April 30, 1999
Action
DVD
D+

Art theft and cat & mouse games.  Jon Amiel directed.

The Entertainer

The Entertainer
British Lion Films
25 July 1960
Drama
DVD
C-

The most interesting thing about this movie is that Joan Plowright (in her movie debut) plays her new husband Olivier's daughter.  Well, that and the bit of rock & roll we hear.  Tony Richardson directed.

Enter the Dragon

Enter the Dragon
Warner Bros.
August 19, 1973
Action
DVD
D+

I'm not a martial arts fan, but I did like the very '70s music during the credit sequence.  Robert Clouse directed.

Les Enfants Terribles AKA The Terrible Children

Les Enfants Terribles AKA The Terrible Children
O.G.C.
29 March 1950
Drama
DVD
C-

College-age-looking "children" and dangerous snowball fights.  Based on the Jean Cocteau novel and directed by Jean-Pierre Melville.

Enemy at the Gates

Enemy at the Gates
Paramount
March 16, 2001
War Drama
DVD
D

Jude Law is a Russian soldier during World War II.  Jean-Jacques Annaud directed and co-wrote.

Enduring Love

Enduring Love
Pathé
26 November 2004
Drama
DVD
C

A man becomes obsessed with a freak balloon accident he witnessed/participated in.  Based on the Ian McEwan novel and directed by Roger Michell.  This is the 100th "drama" I've posted about on this blog, although as always my tags are not firm.

Endless Love (2014)

Endless Love (2014)
Universal
February 14, 2014
Romance
DVD
C-

Remake of the 1981 Brooke Shields movie (which I've never seen), and both based on the Scott Spencer novel, with leads who don't look like recent high school graduates.  (He was 23 and looks 30, she was 24 and looks it.)  Shana Feste directed and co-wrote the adaptation.

Ender's Game

Ender's Game
Summit
November 1, 2013
Sci-Fi
DVD
D

Only one kid has the right balance of intelligence, compassion, and violence to save the world.  Director Gavin Hood wrote the screenplay based on the Orson Scott Card novel.

End of Watch

End of Watch
Open Road Films
September 21, 2012
Crime Drama
DVD
F+

No, just no.  Cops joking about the fact that they're killers, everyone being an idiot, including filming themselves.  But the music wasn't bad, so not an F.  David Ayer wrote and directed.

The Emoji Movie

The Emoji Movie
Columbia/ Sony
July 28, 2017
Children's, Sci-Fi, Comedy
DVD
B-

Well, although most people seem to have hated this (it made history by being the first animated movie to win several Razzy Awards), I was pleasantly surprised watching it today.  It's sweet and funny, and it has the ultimate in spot-on casting, with Steven Wright and Jennifer Coolidge as Mr. and Mrs. Meh.  Tony Leondis directed, co-wrote, and did a few voices.

El embrujo de Shangai AKA The Shanghai Spell

El embrujo de Shangai AKA The Shanghai Spell
Studio Unknown
12 April 2002
Historical Drama
DVD
B-

An uneasy blend of slice-of-admittedly-odd-life in 1940s Spain and noirish stories about one character's father, with the melodrama trickling into the main story in the last act.  Note that there are three significant Fernandos involved here: director Fernando Trueba, who adapted the Juan Marsé novel; Fernando Tielve as the young narrator and protagonist; and Fernando Fernán Gómez as a scene-stealing profane old captain.

Elysium

Elysium
Sony Pictures
August 9, 2013
Sci-Fi
DVD
C

This isn't bad for a dystopic film and I in fact watched the first half hour.  But ultimately, I didn't care enough about the world or the characters to continue.  (And it sounds like it becomes more of an action movie in the last hour or so.)  Neil Blomkamp wrote and directed.

This is by the way the fifth Jodie Foster movie on this blog, with a roughly 40-year span.

Elizabethtown

Elizabethtown
Paramount
October 14, 2005
Dramedy, Romance
DVD
B

Cameron Crowe wrote and directed this charming, gently funny movie, which falls apart if you think about it too much.  Especially Dunst's character, who inspired the term "Manic Pixie Girl" apparently, although she's more cheerful than manic.

The Sandpiper

The Sandpiper
MGM
June 23, 1965
Drama
DVD
C-

Well, at least this time there's lovely Big Sur scenery as a distraction from the overwrought acting.  Vincente Minnelli directed.

BUtterfield 8

BUtterfield 8
MGM
November 4, 1960
Drama
DVD
D+

A call girl's morning routine, directed by Daniel Mann and based on the John O'Hara novel.  And, yes, Taylor's then husband Fisher plays her "platonic" friend.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
MGM
August 29, 1958
Drama
DVD
D

The first quarter hour consists mostly of Taylor complaining to alcoholic husband Newman.  Richard Brooks directed and co-wrote the adaptation of the Williams play.

(This is on a four-pack of Elizabeth Taylor movies, but I'm again skipping Father of the Bride until we're actually in the F's.)

Elizabeth

Elizabeth
Gramercy Pictures
2 October 1998
Historical Drama
DVD
D+

I saw this in the theater, but this time I couldn't tell if Blanchett was giving a good performance or if it was just she was one of the few people not shouting their lines.  Also, putting Protestant martyrs in the first scene was certainly off-putting (and I'd argue less effective than if shown later).  At least the production values are good.  Shekhar Kapur directed.

Elf

Elf
New Line Cinema
November 7, 2003
Fantasy, Comedy
DVD
C

There's nothing terribly wrong with this movie, even if I'm generally not a Will Ferrell fan.  It just didn't grab me and it isn't as funny as it thinks it is.  Jon Favreau directed.

11:55

11:55
Gravitas Ventures
June 9, 2017
Drama
DVD
C

A veteran goes home to his old neighborhood.  Ari Issler and Ben Snyder co-directed and co-wrote.

The Elephant King

The Elephant King
Studio Unknown
April 26, 2006
Drama
DVD
D

An unlikable white American family with an obsession with Thailand.  Seth Grossman wrote and directed.

Elektra

Elektra
20th Century Fox
January 14, 2005
Action
DVD
C-

A cast-against-type Garner (at least compared to other roles I've seen her in) made this one more palatable than most action movies I've tried.  Rob Bowman directed.

Electra Glide in Blue

Electra Glide in Blue
United Artists
August 19, 1973
Crime Drama
DVD
D

Blake is a short Arizona cop.  (No, seriously, his height seems to be a plot point.)  James William Guercio directed.

Electric Apricot: Quest for Festeroo

Electric Apricot: Quest for Festeroo
National Lampoon Productions
2006
Mockumentary, Musical
DVD
C-

Les Claypool wrote, directed, and stars in this parody of jam bands (like Grateful Dead).

Eight Mile

Eight Mile
Universal
November 8, 2002
Drama
DVD
D-

A young rapper gets stage fright but sings lullabies to his kid sister.  Curtis Hanson directed.

Efficiency Expert AKA Spotswood

Efficiency Expert AKA Spotswood
Miramax
23 January 1992
Historical Comedy
DVD
C-

Hopkins plays the title character, at a mocassin factory in '66.  I didn't stay tuned past the first quarter hour, but wouldn't the advent of hippies help?  Mark Joffe directed.

Edward Scissorhands

Edward Scissorhands
20th Century Fox
December 7, 1990
Fantasy
DVD
C

An Avon Lady finds more than she bargained for.  I think I watched this once before, a quarter century ago, but it didn't really draw me in this time, although the look of it was of course (this being Burton) interesting.

An Education

An Education
Sony
18 January 2009
Historical Drama, Romance
DVD
B

Nick Hornby adapted Lynn Barber's memoir of the same name, which is set in London in the early '60s and tells of a teenage girl's education in life through an affair with a charming older man.  The period details feel accurate and, unlike with Edge of Seventeen, I was drawn into the story and liked the characters even when I didn't like their actions.  (Emma Thompson has a gem of a role as the sensible if anti-Semitic headmistress.)  Special shout-out to Molina as the scene-stealing but heart-tugging father of the protagonist.  I almost added "Historical Comedy" as a tag, since the movie is sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, although the film does get heavy at times, yet thankfully never tragic.

Lone Scherfig directed.

Edison Force

Edison Force
Millennium Films
March 5, 2005 (DVD premiere)
Crime Drama
DVD
D-

I almost gave this creepy crime movie an F+, but there was finally a scene without the horrible cop character (played by Dylan McDermott).  David J. Burke wrote and directed.

Edges of the Lord

Edges of the Lord
Miramax
October 12, 2001
Historical Drama
DVD
D-

Yurek Bogayevicz, as writer-director, is presumably responsible for the poor acting, especially by a miscast Osment as a blond, blue-eyed Jewish boy passing as a Catholic during World War II.

The Edge of Seventeen

The Edge of Seventeen
STX Entertainment etc.
November 18, 2016
Dramedy
DVD
C

I almost liked this teen comedy-drama, without quite liking the characters.  Harrelson plays an unsympathetic character in both senses, a guidance counselor who shows no sympathy and a character I had no sympathy for when the protagonist asked for guidance.  Kelly Fremon Craig wrote and directed.

The Edge of Heaven

The Edge of Heaven AKA Auf der anderen Seite  and Yaşamın Kıyısında
The Match Factory etc.
23 May 2007
Drama
DVD
C-

An elderly Turkish man hires a prostitute as a live-in.  Faith Akin wrote and directed.

Eddie the Eagle

Eddie the Eagle
Fox
December 12, 2015
Historical Comedy, Sports Comedy
DVD
C-

The true story of ski jumper Eddie Edwards.  Dexter Fletcher directed.

Eat Pray Love

Eat Pray Love
Sony
August 13, 2010
Drama
DVD
D+

I tuned out before the self-absorbed protagonist ate.  Bumped up a notch because I want them to make a movie about the snarky bookstore clerk who had only one line but more depth than any other character.  Based on a book, as you all know, which was adapted by director Ryan Murphy and Jennifer Salt (yes, Eunice on Soap).

Easy Virtue (2008)

Easy Virtue
Ealing etc.
7 November 2008
Historical Comedy
DVD
C-

Director Stephan Elliott co-wrote this uninvolving adaptation of the Noël Coward play.  Not to be confused with the 1928 Hitchcock version reviewed earlier.

Easy Rider

Easy Rider
Columbia
July 14, 1969
Drama
DVD
D+

Drug-dealing and using, interrupted by "Born to Be Wild," which bumps this up from a D.  Hopper and Fonda co-wrote (with Terry Southern) and Hopper directed.

Easy Money II: Hard to Kill

Easy Money II: Hard to Kill
Tre Vänner Produktion AB
17 August 2012
Crime Drama
DVD
D-

Well, at least this time it's a Swedish movie about drugs and the sexual exploitation of women.  Director Babak Najaki co-wrote the screenplay, based on Jens Lapidus's novels Easy Money and Aldrig fucka upp.

The East

The East
Fox Searchlight
January 20, 2013
Drama
DVD
C-

Infiltrating an eco-terrorist group is easy if you dye your hair.  Zal Batmanglij directed and co-wrote.

Early Man

Early Man
StudioCanal
26 January 2018
Animation, Historical Comedy
DVD
C-

Nick Park directed and co-wrote this sort of "Aardman does Flintstones," albeit inter-racial Flintstones with soccer.  And, yes, a lot of the jokes are very old.

The Eagle Huntress

The Eagle Huntress
Sony
24 January 2016
Documentary
DVD
A-

Otto Bell directed this movie, which is one of the most remarkable I've ever seen.  It is about a 13-year-old Mongolian girl, Aisholpan, who both defies and embraces tradition by becoming an eagle hunter.  She is brave, strong, wise, funny, kind, and very human.  Her family and friends are incredibly supportive.  The scenery is stark but gorgeous.  And we get to know her eaglet, too (better than the cheetah in Duma).  So many great little touches, like the weather reports on the radio and the purple nail polish she applies to herself and her little sister, as well as literally soaring shots of earth and sky.  The most magical thing about the movie though is Aisholpan's quietly confident smile.

Daisy Ridley, who later became Rey in the Star Wars franchise, narrates.

Each Dawn I Die

Each Dawn I Die
Warner Bros.
August 19, 1939
Crime Drama
DVD
D+

Cagney as a framed reporter thrown into the clink.  Based on the Jerome Odlum novel and directed by William Keighley, three years after the superior Bullets or Ballots.

Duplicity

Duplicity
Universal
Romance, Crime Comedy
March 20, 2009
DVD
D+

Unappealing leads playing unappealing characters, although I could kind of see how the movie could be entertaining.  Tony Gilroy wrote and directed.

Dunkirk

Dunkirk
Warner Bros.
13 July 2017
War Drama
DVD
C-

Not my sort of movie, but I recognize that the cinematography and music are good.  Christopher Nolan wrote and directed, five years after The Dark Knight Rises, which was much worse.

Dumbo (1941)

Dumbo (1941)
Disney/ RKO
October 31, 1941
Children's, Animation, Fantasy, Musical
DVD
C

I watched twenty minutes of this, which is almost a third of the running time, waiting for that decisive moment when I was sure I'd stay to the (not that distant) end.  But I just wasn't into it, although the look is nice and the story is OK.  (And, no, I tuned out before the controversial "crows" scene.)  There are seven directors credited, so I guess I'll just tag them all.

Duma

Duma
Warner Bros.
April 22, 2005
Children's, Adventure
DVD
C+

Too much boy, not enough cheetah.  This is based on How It Was with Dooms, written by Carol Cawthra Hopcraft and Xan Hopcraft.  Carroll Ballard directed, twenty-six years after The Black Stallion.