In Harm's Way

In Harm's Way

Paramount

April 6, 1965

War Drama

DVD
D+

The "best" thing here is the anachronistic (for 1941) hair and dancing of the "wild" young wife.  The movie is based on the novel by James Bassett, and directed by Preminger.

In Cold Blood

In Cold Blood

Columbia

December 15, 1967

Crime Drama

DVD
D+

Several boring threads intersect, but I sort of like the music and cinematography.  Obviously based on the Truman Capote novel, and directed by Richard Brooks.

In China They Eat Dogs

In China They Eat Dogs

TLA Releasing

10 September 1999

Action, Comedy

DVD
D+

I didn't find this funny and I don't think that it was just that things got lost in the translation.  Lasse Spang Olsen directed.

In America

In America

Fox Searchlight Pictures

January 2003

Drama

DVD
C

I found this story too downbeat to go beyond the first quarter hour, although I can see why it got praise and awards.  Jim Sheridan directed and co-wrote with his daughters Naomi and Kirsten.

In a Valley of Violence

In a Valley of Violence

Focus World

October 21, 2016

Western

DVD
C-

I like some touches, like the dog and the opening credits, but it is a a modern Western, with the violence implied by that and the title.  Ti West wrote and directed.

Impromptu

Impromptu

Sovereign Pictures

12 April 1991

Historical Drama, Historical Comedy

DVD
C

Everyone is very colorful but they're not really believable as the historical figures (George Sand et al.) or even really as people.  I sort of wish the movie had just gone all out as a farce, and Emma Thompson certainly seems willing to cross over.  James Lapine directed.

Immortal Beloved

Immortal Beloved

Sony Pictures Releasing

December 16, 1994

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

I didn't much care about the mystery of Beethoven's immortal beloved, but I bumped this up for the sets and Margolyes.  Bernard Rose wrote and directed.

The Immigrant

The Immigrant

Weinstein Company

May 24, 2013

Historical Drama

DVD
D

Downbeat.  James Gray directed and co-wrote.

The Imitation Game

The Imitation Game

Weinstein Company

August 29, 2014

War Drama

DVD
C-

Somewhat interesting story with an unappealing protagonist.  (I don't mean Turing being gay.  I mean his personality.)  This is based on Graham Moore's biography Alan Turing: The Enigma.  Morten Tyldum directed.

I'm Still Here

I'm Still Here

Magnolia Pictures

September 10, 2010

Mockumentary

DVD
D

Obnoxious.  Joaquin Phoenix and Casey Affleck play themselves and co-wrote, while Affleck directed.

I'm All Right, Jack

I'm All Right, Jack

British Lion

13 August 1959

Comedy
DVD
B

Uneven but often hilarious satire of labor-management relations, with rock & roll (including an awesome title song), advertising jingles, television panel shows, and nudist camps thrown in.  This is based on the Alan Hackney novel Private Life and directed by John Boulting, whose Heavens Above!, from 1963, disappointed me.

The Illusionist

The Illusionist

Freestyle Releasing etc.

January 22, 2006

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

Kind of pretty but kind of flat.  This is based on the short story "Eisenheim the Illusionist" by Steven Millhauser and directed by Neil Burger.

I'll Sing for You AKA Je chanterai pour toi

I'll Sing for You AKA Je chanterai pour toi

Studio Unknown

April 2001

Documentary

DVD
C

Pleasant but not engrossing story of music in Mali.  Jacques Sarasin wrote and directed.

I'll Cry Tomorrow

I'll Cry Tomorrow

MGM

December 25, 1955

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

This doesn't really have any of the qualities that helped me get through the book (reviewed here https://rereadingeverybookiown.blogspot.com/2012/06/ill-cry-tomorrow.html), but I still hope to someday see Hayward in a movie I can watch all the way to the end.  Daniel Mann directed five years before BUtterfield 8.

If Beale Street Could Talk

If Beale Street Could Talk

Sony Pictures Releasing

December 25, 2018

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

Slow-moving adaptation, by director Barry Jenkins, of the James Baldwin novel, 

Ides of March

Ides of March

Sony Pictures Releasing

October 7, 2011

Drama

DVD
C-

A fictional presidential campaign that feels very flat and dated now.  Clooney not only stars but directed and co-wrote.

Ida

Ida

Solopan

25 October 2013

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

Mildly interesting story but too slow-moving, directed and co-written by Pawel Pawlikowski.

Ice Princess

Ice Princess

Disney

March 18, 2005

Sports Drama

DVD
B

This movie caught me off guard by how good it was.  The performances were solid, particularly of course Cattrall and Cusack as the moms, I didn't see some of the plot twists coming, and I even liked the Aughties soundtrack.  And I am not at all interested in sports, including skating, but I winced at every fall and cared about these characters.  The title is awful though, as is the release poster, making this seem fluffy in the worst sense.  Tim Fywell directed.

Ice Age

Ice Age

20th Century Fox

March 15, 2002

Children's, Fantasy, Historical Comedy

DVD
C-

Considering how annoying I've found the trailers for the franchise over the years, this first entry isn't too painful and I do like Romano's voicework.  Chris Wedge and Carlos Saldanha co-directed.

I Want to Live!

I Want to Live!

United Artists

November 11, 1958

Drama

DVD
C-

I didn't care about the story but there's no denying Hayward's charisma.  The versatile Robert Wise directed.

I, Tonya

I, Tonya

Neon

December 8, 2017

Sports Drama, Sports Comedy, Historical Drama, Historical Comedy

DVD
C-

I can see how the dark humor would appeal to some, and the acting, especially by Janney of course, is good, but the movie is too dark for me.  Craig Gillespie directed.

I Think I Love My Wife

I Think I Love My Wife

Fox Searchlight Pictures

March 16, 2007

Comedy
DVD
C-

Race is handled more interestingly than love, sex, and marriage in this movie directed by, starring, and co-written by Chris Rock.

I.T. (2016)

I.T. (2016)

RLJ Entertainment

September 23, 2016

Drama

DVD
D+

Boring and then creepy.  John Moore directed.

I, Robot

I, Robot

20th Century Fox

July 16, 2004

Sci-Fi

DVD
C

Well made but not really my thing.  This is inspired by more than based on the writings of Isaac Asimov, and directed by Alex Proyas, who so far has directed movies I enjoy less, e.g. The Crow.

I.Q.

I.Q.

Paramount

December 25, 1994

Historical Comedy
DVD
C-

I guess this is innocuous enough but I wasn't drawn in and I did feel Matthau was miscast as Einstein.  Fred Schepisi directed.

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden

New World Pictures

July 14, 1977

Drama

DVD
D

I remember the song from the time, but yeah, I don't want to watch a movie set in a mental institution.  This is based on the novel by Joanne Greenberg and directed by Anthony Page.

I Married a Witch

I Married a Witch 

United Artists

October 30, 1942

Fantasy, Comedy
DVD
C-

Interesting concept, based on the Thorne Smith novel The Passionate Witch, spoiled by weak acting and writing.  René Clair directed and co-wrote, so he shares much of the blame.

I Love You, Alice B. Toklas

I Love You, Alice B. Toklas

Warner Bros.

October 18, 1968

Comedy

DVD
C-

I liked the title song (from a time when almost any title, no matter how unwieldy, could have a song) and it was nice to see Herb Edelman already very Herb Edelman, but I didn't care about anyone else, especially the nagging fiancee.  Paul Mazursky co-wrote. and Hy Averback directed.

I Know What You Did Last Summer

I Know What You Did Last Summer

Columbia

October 17, 1997

Drama

DVD
C-

I watched up through the accidental murder.  It was mostly interesting for the cast and scenery.  The movie is based on the Lois Duncan novel and directed by Jim Gillespie.

I [Heart] Huckabees

I [Heart] Huckabees

Fox Searchlight Pictures

October 22, 2004

Comedy?

DVD
C-

I enjoyed this at the time, but now?  Shrug.  I didn't laugh and I didn't care about the Schwartzman character, and Lily and Dustin weren't enough to save it for me.  David O. Russell directed and co-wrote.

I, Frankenstein

I, Frankenstein

Lionsgate

January 24, 2014

Sci-Fi, Horror

DVD
D

Frankenstein's monster sort of makes friends.  Stuart Beattie directed and co-wrote the script sort of based on the Mary Shelley novel.

I Feel Pretty

I Feel Pretty

STX Films

April 20, 2018

Comedy

DVD
D+

Schumer is repeatedly humiliated in the first quarter hour because she's movie-fat.  Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein co-wrote and co-directed.

I Dream in Another Language AKA Sueño en otro idioma

I Dream in Another Language AKA Sueño en otro idioma

Studio Unknown

12 March 2017

Drama?

DVD
C

Atmospheric and, yes, dreamlike, directed by Ernesto Contreras.

I Don't Know What Your Eyes Have Done to Me

I Don't Know What Your Eyes Have Done to Me

Studio Unknown

2003

Documentary

DVD
C-

Directors Lorena Muñoz and Sergio Wolf go in pursuit of information about a Tango singer.

I Could Never Be Your Woman

I Could Never Be Your Woman

Weinstein Company

February 26, 2008

Romcom, Fantasy

DVD
B-

This is one of those movies I like so much I want to love it, but it is definitely flawed, with the usually wonderful Ullman here playing the downer Mother Nature character, and the backstabbing All-About-Eve-light receptionist being too cartoony a villainess.  Still, I like Pfeiffer's romantic chemistry with Rudd, and her mother-daughter relationship with Ronan, and there are some other nifty things about it, including of course the Heckerling-designed color scheme and Fred Willard willarding away.  Note that this was made in '05, when Rudd was about 36 but of course was ageless enough to pass for 29, while Pfeiffer was about 47 and of course still gorgeous and believable as 40.*  I tagged as many people as I recognized and could fit.

*Also, the cut to Stacey Dash (at 39ish believably playing an actress who pioneered portraying teens) laughing at an insult to President George W. Bush has of course only gotten more ironic with time.

I Am Love AKA Io sono l'amore

I Am Love AKA Io sono l'amore

First Sun

5 September 2009

Drama

DVD
C-

The first quarter hour is well made but empty.  Luca Guadagnino directed and co-wrote, eight years before Call Me By Your Name.

I Am Legend

I Am Legend

Warner Bros.

December 14, 2007

Sci-Fi

DVD
C

One of the best post-apocalyptic movies I've rejected, this is based on the Richard Matheson novel and directed by Francis Lawrence (not to be confused with Sally Field's version of Gidget).

Hustlers

Hustlers

STX Films etc.

September 13, 2019

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

I know, that's a weird genre tag to use, but that's the only thing that fits the first quarter hour (set mostly in 2007), although I guess the plot later goes in a different direction than scenes from a strip club.  Lorene Scafaria directed and co-wrote.

The Hustle (2008)

The Hustle (2008)

Studio Unknown

July 5, 2008

Comedy
DVD
D

That this didn't get a full release until three years after its festival premiere probably tells you how unfunny it is, but it is also of course racist, sexist, and mildly biphobic.  Deon Taylor directed and co-wrote.

Husbands

Husbands

Columbia

December 8, 1970

Dramedy

DVD
C

It's interesting that this film, according to Wikipedia, polarized critics upon its release, because I found the first quarter hour right on the border of being worth continuing with, neither liking nor disliking it.  I do find it ironic that the title characters are shown with each other much more than with their wives.  Cassavetes wrote, directed and stars.

The Hurricane

The Hurricane

Universal

December 29, 1999

Mystery, Sports Drama, Historical Drama

DVD
D+

I can see it's well made, but not my kind of movie.  It's based on two books, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter's own The Sixteenth Round: From Number 1 Contender To 45472 and Lazarus and the Hurricane by Sam Chaiton and Terry Swinton.  Norman Jewison directed.

Hugo

Hugo

Paramount

November 23, 2011

Children's, Historical Drama

DVD
C-

I enjoyed the Brian Selznick book years ago but this adaptation feels off to me, especially the look of it.  Scorsese directed.

How to Talk to Girls at Parties

How to Talk to Girls at Parties

A24

21 May 2017

Historical Comedy, Musical?

DVD
D+

Three young punks in 1977, but I guess it also becomes sci-fi later.  This is based on the Neil Gaiman short story, which director John Cameron Mitchell co-adapted.

How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days

How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days

Paramount

February 7, 2003

Romcom

DVD
C+

I enjoyed this at the time, when I was about 35.  This time, I didn't find it particularly funny and I didn't think Hudson and McConaughey had much romantic chemistry.  Yet it is sort of fascinating as a demonstration of romcom tropes.  All of this (including the New York setting and the gamesmanship) was done much better in Down with Love, which came out a few months later, and that takes place in a highly stylized version of the early '60s.  Still, it's hard to dislike a movie that led to a brilliant Scaramucci joke (by Hudson herself).

Oddly enough, this is based on a cartoon book, by Michele Alexander and Jeannie Long.  Donald Petrie directed.

How to Kill Your Neighbor's Dog

How to Kill Your Neighbor's Dog

Lonsdale Productions

September 16, 2000

Dramedy
DVD
D+

As you might guess from the title, Branagh plays an unsympathetic character, but so do most of the other people.  Michael Kalesniko wrote and directed.

How to Be

How to Be

IFC Films

18 January 2008

Dramedy

DVD
C

Well, this is better than I expected for Pattinson as a depressed musician, but not enough to stick with.  Oliver Irving wrote and directed.