Get Smart

Get Smart

Warner Bros.

June 20, 2008

Action, Comedy
DVD
D

I walked out of this in the theater, maybe at a point slightly beyond the quarter hour I gave this today.  It badly misunderstands the original TV series (which was itself admittedly hit or miss), most significantly in that Max is not supposed to be clued in to his own ineptitude, and so casting Carell in the lead is a bad idea.  Also, I can see why they might not want to have 99 hero-worship Max, but they haven't found a good "modern" take on her character (played by also miscast Hathaway).  Furthermore, every joke fell flat, when it wasn't mildly offensive.  At least this time it didn't cost me any money to watch the movie. 

Peter Segal directed.

Get Out

Get Out

Universal

February 24, 2017

Horror, Comedy

DVD
B-

Jordan Peele wrote and directed this psychological horror movie that does get bloody and violent in the last section.  I'm tagging it as a comedy as well, because humor is used well, as both release and reality check, as the movie moves from "meeting the parents" anxiety to full-on Stepford Wives level conspiracy.  The movie is about the horror of racism (including among rich liberals), while the whole brain-swap thing is a bit cheesy, which is why I can't go higher in the grading.  I have to note that Catherine Keener continues to prove her versatility, and not just compared to her appearance in recently viewed Friends with Money.

Genius

Genius

Summit

June 10, 2016

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

I might be able to buy Firth as a New York publisher in this British-American production, but Law's Southern accent as writer Thomas Wolfe is truly laughable.  This is based on A. Scott Berg's book Max Perkins: Editor of Genius, and directed by Michael Grandage.

Gentleman's Agreement

Gentleman's Agreement

20th Century Fox

November 11, 1947

Drama

DVD
C-

I found the dialogue a little unrealistic (Moss Hart based the screenplay on Laura Z. Hobson's novel), and Peck's casual sexism (including joking about "slugging" his mother) unnecessary, especially in a film about prejudice (anti-Semitism specifically).  Elia Kazan directed.  Note that 11-year-old Dean Stockwell plays Peck's son, almost fifty years before his appearance in the McHale's Navy movie.

The General's Daughter

The General's Daughter

Paramount

June 18, 1999

Action

DVD
D+

Travolta plays an undercover detective, and yet no one sees through what his own boss calls a "cheesy Southern accent."  This is based on the Nelson DeMille novel and directed by Simon West, thirteen years before Expendables 2.

The Gene Krupa Story

The Gene Krupa Story

Columbia

December 1959

Historical Drama, Musical

DVD
C+

Very '50s take on the '20s and '30s, especially the fashion and hairstyles, and I wouldn't say the movie is "good" but I did find it somewhat entertaining.  And, yes, Krupa is set up for possession of "reefers," but we never find out by whom.  (I suspect Dorissa Dinell.)  Don Weis directed, four years before Critic's Choice.

Gauguin: Voyage to Tahiti AKA Gauguin - Voyage de Tahiti

Gauguin: Voyage to Tahiti AKA Gauguin - Voyage de Tahiti 

Studio Unknown

20 September 2017

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

Biography of guess who, directed by Edouard Deluc.

Garden State

Garden State

Fox Searchlight

July 28, 2004

Dramedy
DVD
D+

This might be sort of funny if it didn't have so many deliberately unlikable characters.  I mean deliberately both by the screenwriter-director-starr Braff and by the character's themselves

Gamer

Gamer 

Lionsgate

September 4, 2009

Sci-Fi, Action

DVD
D

A dystopia where people escape into dystopic video games?  Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor co-directed and co-wrote.

The Game Plan

The Game Plan

Disney

September 28, 2007

Sports Comedy
DVD
D+

The Rock is a self-absorbed football player who finds out he has an eight-year-old daughter.  Andy Fickman directed.

Game Night

Game Night

Warner Bros.

February 23, 2018

Comedy, Action, Mystery

DVD
B

Violent but not "too violent," dark but not "too dark," gross but not "too gross," this is sometimes laugh-out-loud funny and in sweet in its own warped way.  Bateman works well as the lead, paired perfectly with McAdams, with able support, especially from Plemons, who's like Matt Damon's brother but somewhere on "the spectrum."  John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein co-directed.

The Game

The Game 

PolyGram

September 12, 1997

Drama

DVD
C

A rich man (Douglas) who's haunted by the past gets a gift card from his brother (Penn, who looks his sixteen years younger than Douglas, whose character seems to be maybe half that amount older).  David Fincher directed a couple years before Fight Club.

El Gallo

El Gallo

Studio Unknown

January 16, 2018

Crime Drama

DVD
D-

Boxing, gangs, child abuse, and clumsy exposition. (Info-dumps with hard to read subtitles!)  Ali Abouomar and Monte Bezell, who plays the title character, co-directed.

The Gallant Hours

The Gallant Hours

United Artists

June 22, 1960

War Drama

DVD
D+

Cagney plays a heroic admiral in World War II.  Robert Montgomery directed and narrated.

Gabriel and the Mountain

Gabriel and the Mountain AKA Gabriel e a montanha

Studio Unknown

21 May 2017

Drama

DVD
C-

I was leaning towards a C for this story about a young Brazilian man who dies in Kenya, until the onscreen killing of a rabbit.  Fellipe Barbosa directed and co-wrote.

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

Paramount

August 7, 2009

Action, Sci-Fi

DVD
D

Sort of based on the toy.  Stephen Sommers directed and co-wrote.

Fury (1936)

Fury (1936)

MGM

June 5, 1936

Crime Drama

DVD
C-

The first quarter hour is just set-up, before Tracy's character is apparently set up.  Fritz Lang directed and co-wrote the screenplay, sixteen years before he directed Clash by Night.

Funny Face

Funny Face

Paramount

March 28, 1957

Musical, Comedy, Romance

DVD
B-

I'd heard of this movie for years but didn't actually know much about it until I watched it over the last few days.  It turns out to be an uneven-- at times annoying or boring, at others charming and stunning-- movie, which pairs Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn romantically at a time he was about double her age, but Kay Thompson steals every scene she's in, especially the musical numbers.  The '50s take on beatnik philosophers vs. the fashion industry is delightfully dated, the sex-role propaganda, less delightful.  Stanley Donen directed, six years after Astaire's Royal Wedding and the year before Damn Yankees.

The Fugitive

The Fugitive

Warner Bros.

August 6, 1993

Crime Drama

DVD
C-

Yes, based on the TV show, which I've never seen.  Andrew Davis directed.

Frozen II

Frozen II

Disney

November 22, 2019

Children's, Animation, Fantasy, Musical

DVD
C

I would've given the original movie a C+ when I first saw it.  (It's currently checked out from my library.)  This one is visually impressive, but the songs in the first quarter hour are unmemorable and I didn't feel invested in the story or the returning characters.  Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee co-directed, as well as co-wrote the script with others.

Frost/Nixon

Frost/Nixon

Universal 

December 5, 2008

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

The slash fic you never wanted, directed by Ron Howard.

Front Runner

Front Runner

Sony Pictures

November 21, 2018

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

Flat story of Senator Gary Hart, played by Hugh Jackman.  Since I remember the '80s, I feel like this could've been a heck of a lot more interesting, maybe with a better director than Jason Reitman.  Matt Bai co-wrote the screenplay based on his book All the Truth Is Out, a less generic title.

From Dusk Till Dawn

From Dusk Till Dawn

Dimension Films

January 19, 1996

Crime Drama

DVD
C-

Apparently this turns into a horror movie at some point after I tuned out.  Anyway, I bumped the grade up a notch for the surreal liquor store exterior.  Tarantino co-wrote and plays Clooney's brother, but Robert Rodriguez directed, as he did Desperado the previous year.

The Frisco Kid

The Frisco Kid

Warner Bros.

July 13, 1979

Western, Historical Comedy
DVD
D+

Wilder is a naïve Polish rabbi, who gets tricked on his way to San Francisco, by Harrison Ford among others.  Robert Aldrich directed a dozen years after The Dirty Dozen, which I actually preferred.

Friends with Money

Friends with Money

Sony Pictures

April 21, 2006

Dramedy
DVD
B-

This is one of those odd movies where I don't really like anyone in it but I find them interesting enough that I want to see what happens to them, and the ensemble does work well together.  (Except Joan Cusack, who's usually a scene-stealer, feels miscast.)  Nicole Holofcener wrote and directed.

Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th

Paramount

May 9, 1980

Horror

DVD
D

Since I watched just the first quarter hour, I didn't find this particularly scary or otherwise upsetting.  Mainly, it felt like a low-budget teen film of the late-Carter era, although gorier than most.  It would've scared the crap out of me at 12 had I actually wanted to, or been allowed to, see it.  Sean S. Cunningham directed.  Note that 21-year-old Kevin Bacon is recognizable as Jack, four years before he'd play a high-schooler in Footloose.

Friday Night Lights

Friday Night Lights

Universal

October 8, 2004

Sports Drama

DVD
D

I didn't like the TV show either.  I was set to give this a D- for all the toxic masculinity, but I kind of liked the scene where the former high school champion is a has-been at maybe 25, with a baby and a mullet.  This is based on H.G. Bissinger's book Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream.  Peter Berg directed.

Fresh

Fresh

Miramax

September 2, 1994

Crime Drama

DVD
C

I saw this at the time but mostly remember counting the swear words.  This time round, I still think it's well made but I can't get past the subject matter.  Boaz Yakin wrote and directed, and this is the first time I realized that he also did the disgusting Death in Love fifteen years later.

Frequency

Frequency

New Line Cinema

April 28. 2000

Sci-Fi

DVD
C-

Aliens are eavesdropping on a New York firefighter and his family, I think.  Gregory Hoblit directed.

Freerunner

Freerunner

Vitamin A Films

October 18, 2011 (direct-to-DVD)

Sports Drama

DVD
D+

Young men compete in stunts throughout the city, for the profit of others.  Lawrence Silverman directed.

Freedomland

Freedomland

Sony Pictures

February 17, 2006

Crime Drama

DVD
D

Jackson is a cop, Moore is a victim.  Richard Price adapted his novel into the screenplay, and Joe Roth directed.

Freedom Writers

Freedom Writers

MTV Films

January 5, 2007

Crime Drama

DVD
D+

Swank is an idealistic high school teacher whose students are in gangs.  This is based on the book The Freedom Writers Diary, with a screenplay by director Richard LaGravenese

Free Willy

Free Willy

Warner Bros.

July 16, 1993

Children's 

DVD
C-

I didn't care about the runaway boy or even the whale, although some of the scenery is nice.  Simon Wincer directed.

Fred Claus

Fred Claus

Warner Bros.

November 9, 2007

Comedy, Fantasy
DVD
C

I enjoyed this more than I expected, well, except for Vince Vaughn as the title character.  David Dobkin directed.

Second Chorus

Second Chorus

Paramount

January 3, 1941

Musical, Comedy

DVD
B-

A sprightly, implausible (Astaire and Meredith as college students?), and charming movie directed by H.C. Potter.  Goddard remains one of the most bewitching actresses of the first fifteen years of the talkies, here gorgeous and funny.

Royal Wedding

Royal Wedding

MGM

March 23, 1951

Musical

DVD
C-

I wasn't really drawn into this story of a brother-and-sister dance team (with Jane Powell definitely looking three decades than Astaire), although it's mostly innocuous.  Stanley Donen directed.  This is on a "Fred Astaire" DVD collection, with two more coming up.

Freaky Friday (2003)

Freaky Friday (2003)

Disney

August 6, 2003

Comedy

DVD
C-

I saw this at the time and knew it couldn't hold a candle to the Jodie Foster & Barbara Harris version, although it wasn't terrible.  It hasn't aged well in the last 17 years, and I only did the first quarter hour this time, so it's not technically sci-fi (or fantasy) on this blog.  (I didn't even get up to the racist revision of the switch.)  My main issue is that none of the characters are sympathetic, while they are lovable, flaws and all, in the '70s version (and of course the Mary Rodgers book).  Still, the "indie" music isn't bad and the production values are of course superior to the K-Mart-looking '70s.  Mark Waters directed.

Freaks

Freaks

MGM

February 20, 1932

Dramedy

DVD
D+

Although the first quarter hour is of course odd, I tuned out long before anything that could be described as "horror."  (It is "dramedy" rather than "drama" because of the use of humor.)  This might've been a C- or a C for me, but the acting is pretty bad.  Tod Browning directed the year after Dracula.

Frankenweenie

Frankenweenie

Disney

October 5, 2012

Animation, Sci-Fi

DVD

C-

While this is somewhat reminiscent of Burton's Corpse Bride, the look, story, and characters aren't nearly as good.

Frankenstein (1931)

Frankenstein (1931)

Universal

November 21, 1931

Horror

DVD
C-

I was more interested in the framing device of the introduction before a curtain than the modernization of the novel by "Mrs. Percy B. Shelley."  James Whale directed.

Till the Clouds Roll By

Till the Clouds Roll By 

MGM

January 3, 1947

Musical, Historical Drama

DVD
D+

Again, I didn't actually see Sinatra in this film on the "Frank Sinatra movie" DVD, and in fact I tuned out before most of the recognizable cast, but no matter.  I really don't care for the singing styles in Show Boat.  Richard Whorf directed.

The Man with the Golden Arm

The Man with the Golden Arm

United Artists

December 15, 1955

Drama

DVD
C-

I like the jazzy score and it's always nice to see Arnold Stang, but I didn't care about Frank as "Frankie" or his clingy wheelchair-bound wife.  This is based on the Nelson Algren novel and directed by Otto Preminger.

Suddenly (1954)

Suddenly (1954)

United Artists

October 7, 1954

Drama

DVD
D+

This is on a Frank Sinatra collection, although ironically Frankie doesn't even show up in the first quarter hour, which is mostly about people not respecting a widowed mother's personal boundaries in a small town.  Lewis Allen directed.

Francesco

Francesco

Ital-Noleggio Cinematografico

22 March 1989

Historical Drama

DVD
F+

Poorly directed (by co-writer Liliana Cavani) and recorded, miscast, and exploitative.  Even the Italian scenery isn't that impressive.

Frailty

Frailty

Lionsgate

April 12, 2002

Crime Drama

DVD

D+

Paxton directed and stars in this story of how a happy family produced a killer.

The Fox and the Hound 2

The Fox and the Hound 2

Disney

December 11, 2006 (direct-to-DVD)

Children's, Fantasy, Historical Comedy

DVD
C-

I remember really enjoying the original at the time (1981), although I was 13.  This one, well, I didn't want to see the hound trained to hunt, although things picked up when he got a singing career.  Jim Kammerud directed.

Four Weddings and a Funeral

Four Weddings and a Funeral

Working Title

13 May 1994

Romcom

DVD
C-

As with Love Actually (also written by Richard Curtis) almost a decade later, I've never gotten the appeal of this film, which I've tried to watch once or twice before.  (I can't remember if I succeeded.)  It's not dreadful but it is dreadfully coy and "witty."  I was relieved to see that MacDowell didn't annoy in the first quarter hour (she's hardly in it and her humongous hat gives a more memorable performance), since I remember needing the greatness of Groundhog Day to win me over to her after first seeing this movie.  Mike Newell directed.

Four Sheets to the Wind

Four Sheets to the Wind

First Look Studios

January 22, 2007

Dramedy

DVD
B-

Sterlin Harjo directed this lowkey, drily funny "indie Indian" story about love and grief.  Laura Bailey is almost as likable as the romantic interest as she is as the main voice actress on the anime Fruits Basket.