Jésus de Montréal

Jésus de Montréal

Orion Classics

17 May 1989

Dramedy
DVD
C-

The best part of the first quarter hour is of course the porn-dubbing scene.  Denys Arcand wrote and directed.

The Jerk

The Jerk

Universal

December 14, 1979

Comedy
DVD
D+

I've of course heard of this movie since the time but never seriously sat down and watched it before.  The only mildly funny part in the first quarter hour was the title character's feeble first attempt to hitchhike.  Martin stars and co-wrote.  Carl Reiner directed.

Jem and the Holograms

Jem and the Holograms

Universal

October 23, 2015

Musical

DVD
C-

Fluffy modernization of the campy '80s cartoon, directed by Jon M. Chu.

Jefferson in Paris

Jefferson in Paris

Buena Vista (yes, Disney)

March 31, 1995

Historical Drama*

DVD
B

This was better than I expected, although I think the history can definitely be quibbled with, especially the simplistic presentation of Marie Antoinette.  But it's an absorbing story, with many viewpoints, so it's not just about Thomas Jefferson.  I like all the little period details, but it's also a very human side of history.

*Although Jefferson's "love life" is front and center, I don't see this as a romance as such.

Jason Bourne

Jason Bourne

Universal

July 29, 2016

Action

DVD
D-

So boring, including the way it's shot, I'm not even sure if it was one woman or two doing bad accents for I think Irish and Tennessee.  Director Paul Greengrass cowrote the screenplay based on the Robert Ludlum characters, fourteen years after he did Bloody Sunday.

Jarhead

Jarhead

Universal

November 4, 2005

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

A dark-humored true story, from the late '80s/ early '90s, based on the memoir by Anthony Swofford.  Sam Mendes directed.

Jane Got a Gun

Jane Got a Gun

The Weinstein Company et.

January 29, 2016

Western

DVD
C-

The acting seemed better in this than most Westerns, but it was too violent/gory for me.  Gavin O'Connor directed, around the time he did The Accountant.

The Jane Austen Book Club

The Jane Austen Book Club

Sony Pictures Classics

October 5, 2007

Drama

DVD
D+

Boring people nicely shot.  This is based on the Karen Joy Fowler novel, which I couldn't finish, and directed by Robin Swicord, who did the adaptation.

The Rare Breed

The Rare Breed

Universal

February 2, 1966

Western

DVD
C

Various machinations, and slapstick, around cattle-breeding and selling.  Andrew V. McLaglen directed a couple years before Hellfighters.

Night Passage

Night Passage

Universal

July 17, 1957

Western

DVD
C-

Jimmy Stewart's singing makes people brawl.  James Neilson directed.

The Far Country

The Far Country

Universal

July 22, 1954

Western

DVD
C

The quirky characters made this more likable than most Westerns.  Anthony Mann directed this a couple years after Bend of the River.

Bend of the River

Bend of the River

Universal

January 23, 1952

Western

DVD
D+

A bit dull.  This is based on Bill Gulick's novel Bend of the Snake, and directed by Anthony Mann, who also did Border Incident and He Walked by Night.  This is part of a four-pack of James Stewart movies, and thus filed under J.  

James and the Giant Peach

James and the Giant Peach

Disney

April 12, 1996

Children's, Fantasy, Musical

DVD
C-

I liked this when I saw it before, but I couldn't get into it this time.  This is based on the Roald Dahl book and directed by Henry Selick.

Jailbait (2014)

Jailbait (2014)

Studio Unknown

Direct to DVD, February 18, 2014

Crime Drama

DVD
F+

Exploitative story of a teenage girl abused by almost everyone she meets, especially in juvie.  Jared Cohn directed and adapted the graphic novel this is based on.

Jagged Edge

Jagged Edge

Columbia

October 4, 1985

Crime Drama

DVD
D+

After avoiding this movie for over 35 years, it's sort of a relief that the first quarter hour wasn't as bad as I expected, not that it was good.  (And Glenn Close just appears very briefly at that point, so I'm not tagging her.)  Richard Marquand directed, four years after Eye of the Needle.

Jaffa

Jaffa

Studio Unknown

10 June 2009

Drama

DVD

D+

Slow-moving soap opera about a Middle Eastern garage.  Keren Yedaya directed and co-wrote.

Jacob's Ladder

Jacob's Ladder

Tri-Star Pictures

November 2, 1990

Horror, Historical Drama

DVD
D-

A man is trapped in a nightmare world, but I escaped after a quarter hour.  Adrian Lyne directed, seven years after Flashdance.

J. Edgar

J.  Edgar

Warner Bros.

November 11, 2011

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

I don't really understand director Eastwood's decision to make the already off-putting subject of Hoover more so with the way this is shot and DiCaprio's odd voice and old-age makeup.  But the Library of Congress looked cool, so up a notch for that.

Izzy Gets the F*ck Across Town

Izzy Gets the F*ck Across Town

Shout Studios

June 22, 2018

Comedy
DVD
D+

Unsympathetic protagonist.  Christian Papierniak wrote and directed.

Ivanhoe

Ivanhoe 

MGM

13 June 1952

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

A bit dull.  Of course based on the Scott novel, and directed by Richard Thorpe.

It's Not Me, I Swear! AKA C'est pas moi, je le jure!

It's Not Me, I Swear! AKA C'est pas moi, je le jure!

Christal Films

25 September 2008

Comedy
DVD
C-

Putting the fun back into dysfunctional.  This is based on a couple novels by Bruno Hébert, and director Philippe Falardeau collaborated on the adaptation.

It's Easier for a Camel... AKA Il est plus facile pour un chameau...

It's Easier for a Camel... AKA Il est plus facile pour un chameau...

Le Petit Bureau

16 April 2003

Comedy

DVD
D+

I didn't like the main character, played by director Valeria Bruni Tedeschi.

The Italian Job (2003)

The Italian Job (2003)

Paramount

May 30, 2003

Crime Comedy

DVD
D+

Not as stylish as the original, although at least I recognized more of the cast.  F. Gary Gray directed.

The Italian Job (1969)

The Italian Job (1969)

Paramount

25 July 1969

Crime Comedy
DVD
C-

Not really my thing, but I did like the cinematography.  Peter Collinson directed.

It Runs in the Family

It Runs in the Family

MGM

April 25, 2003

Comedy
DVD
D+

Three generations of a family I don't care about, on or offscreen.  Fred Schepisi directed nine years after I.Q.

It Comes at Night

It Comes at Night

A24

June 9, 2017

Horror

DVD
D-

Atmospheric and boring.  Trey Edward Shults wrote and directed.

It Came from Outer Space

It Came from Outer Space

Universal-International

June 5, 1953

Sci-Fi

DVD
C-

I liked that the movie starts with the engaged couple but I wasn't that interested in the sci-fi elements.  Ray Bradbury came up with the original story treatment, and Jack Arnold directed.

It Chapter Two

It Chapter Two

New Line etc.

September 6, 2019

Horror

DVD
D-

Showing a gay-bashing in the first few minutes guaranteed I wouldn't go past the required quarter hour, although it's almost always nice to see Bill Hader.  This is of course based on Stephen King, while Andy Muschietti directed. 

I-Spy

I-Spy

Sony Pictures Releasing

November 1, 2002

Action, Comedy

DVD
D-

Annoying on many levels, including sexism, although directed by Betty Thomas.

Isn't It Romantic?

Isn't It Romantic?

Warner Bros. etc.

February 13, 2019

Romcom
DVD
C

Doesn't quite work, but I can see how it could.  Todd Strauss-Schulson directed.

Islands in the Stream

Islands in the Stream

Paramount

March 9, 1977

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

Nice scenery.  This is based on the Hemingway novel and directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, the year before The Boys from Brazil.

Is Paris Burning?

Is Paris Burning?

Paramount

November 10, 1966

War Drama

DVD
C-

"An all-star cast," none of whom I recognized.  Gore Vidal and Francis Ford Coppola are among those who contributed to the script.  René Clément directed.

Ironclad: Battle for Blood

Ironclad: Battle for Blood

Warner Bros.

14 March 2014

Historical Drama, Action

DVD
F+

Lives up to its subtitle.  Jonathan English directed and co-wrote.

Iron Will

Iron Will

Disney

January 14, 1994

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

Melodramatic, especially the argument between the boy and his dog.  Charles Haid directed.

The Iron Giant

The Iron Giant

Warner Bros.

August 6, 1999

Children's, Animation, Sci-Fi, Historical Comedy
DVD
C-

One of my best friends loves this movie but I've never been able to get into it.  This is based on the book The Iron Man by Ted Hughes, and directed by Brad Bird, who co-wrote the adaptation.

Iris

Iris

Miramax etc.

18 January 2002

Romance, Historical Drama

DVD

C-

Zigzagging through the life of Iris Murdoch, based on her husband John Bayley's book Elegy for Iris.  Richard Eyre directed and co-wrote the adaptation.

Invitation to a Gunfighter

Invitation to a Gunfighter

United Artists

October 14, 1964

Western

DVD
D

Eh.  Richard Wilson directed and co-wrote.

Invictus

Invictus

Warner Bros.

December 11, 2009

Historical Drama, Sports Drama

DVD
C

Although Freeman is good of course, I found this very slow-moving and I didn't want to stick around for it to become more of a sports drama.  This is based on John Carlin's book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation.  Eastwood directed.

Eiga Inuyasha: Toki o Koeru Omo

Inuyasha the Movie: Affections Touching Across Time AKA Eiga Inuyasha: Toki o Koeru Omo

Toho

15 December 2001

Anime, Fantasy, Action

DVD
C-

I've seen some of the series and I think this movie before, but this time I just couldn't get into it.  Toshiya Shinohara directed.

Interview with the Vampire

Interview with the Vampire

Warner Bros.

November 11, 1994

Horror, Historical Drama

DVD
D

Boring and violent.  Of course based on the Anne Rice novel, and directed by Neil Jordan, almost twenty years before Byzantium.

Interstate 60: Episodes of the Road

Interstate 60: Episodes of the Road

Samuel Goldwyn Films

April 13, 2002

Fantasy?

DVD
C

This had potential and I watched a half hour, waiting for it to get going, before I gave up.  Bob Gale wrote and directed.

The Interpreter

The Interpreter

Working Title Films etc.

April 4, 2005

Crime Drama

DVD
D

Boring, violent, and somewhat racist, but it was a bit nice to see the U.N. interior.  Sydney Pollack directed.

Internal Affairs

Internal Affairs

Paramount

January 12, 1990

Crime Drama

DVD
D+

Yes, bumped up a notch for Metcalf.  Mike Figgis directed.

Instant Family

Instant Family

Paramount

November 16, 2018

Dramedy

DVD
C-

Odd story about foster-parenting.  Sean Anders directed and co-wrote.

Insidious

Insidious

Sony etc.

14 September 2010

Horror

DVD
D

For most of the first quarter hour, this is more like a slow-moving if slightly creepy family drama than horror, but then something happens in the attic.  James Wan directed.

AKA Les innocentes

The Innocents AKA Les innocentes 

Aeroplan Film etc.

10 February 2016

Historical Drama

DVD
D-

Marked down a notch or two for lighting so poor I couldn't even initially tell what was going on in a crucial scene.  Anne Fontaine directed but this is nowhere near as good as her Coco Before Chanel.

The Informant!

The Informant!

Warner Bros.

September 18, 2009

Historical Comedy

DVD
C-

I kept waiting for this to click with me since it had potential, but no.  This is based on the exclamation-pointless book by Kurt Eichenwald and directed by Steven Soderbergh.

Infinitely Polar Bear

Infinitely Polar Bear

Sony Pictures Classic

January 18, 2014

Dramedy
DVD
C-

I like the '70s details but I don't want to watch a movie about a bipolar dad.  Maya Forbes wrote and directed.

Infernal Affairs III AKA Mou gaan dou III: Jung gik mou gaan

Infernal Affairs III AKA Mou gaan dou III: Jung gik mou gaan

Media Asia Distribution

12 December 2003

Crime Drama

DVD
D-

Uh, yeah, no, especially the eye surgery.  Andrew Lau and Alan Mak co-directed.

Indiscretion (1958)

Indiscretion (1958)

Warner Bros.

July 26, 1958

Romance?

DVD
C-

Kind of flat.  Stanley Donen directed.

Indignation

Indignation

Summit etc.

July 29, 2016

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

Penalized a notch for poor lighting.  Director James Schamus adapted the Philip Roth novel.

The Independent

The Independent

Arrow Entertainment

December 7, 2001

Mockumentary

DVD
C-

I can see the potential here, especially in the film-within-the-film parodies, but it's just not funny.  Stephen Kessler directed and co-wrote.

Independence Day: Resurgence

Independence Day: Resurgence

20th Century Fox

June 24, 2016

Sci-Fi

DVD
D+

I leaned towards a D until Goldblum showed up.  And, no, I've never seen the original.  Roland Emmerich directed.

The Incredible Mr. Limpet

The Incredible Mr. Limpet

Warner Bros.

March 28, 1964

Historical Comedy, Fantasy

DVD

C-

I grew up in the '70s watching Don Knotts comedies, so I saw this a lot, but both times as an adult I haven't been able to stick with it, especially with Limpet's unhappy human life, including marriage.  Arthur Lubin directed the live action part, and I didn't get up to the animation this time. 

In the Weeds

In the Weeds

Studio Unknown

June 11, 2000

Comedy

DVD
D+

An unlikable bunch of restaurant workers.  Michael Rauch wrote and directed.

In the Heart of the Sea

In the Heart of the Sea

Warner Bros.

December 11, 2015

Historical Drama

DVD
D

Boring and cliched, with unplaceable regional accents.  This is based on Nathaniel Philbrick's nonfiction book, which was indirectly related to Moby-Dick.  Ron Howard directed.

In the Good Old Summertime

In the Good Old Summertime

MGM
July 29, 1949

Musical, Historical Comedy

DVD
C-

Well, at least it's better than You've Got Mail.  Robert Z. Leonard directed.

In the Dead of Space AKA Space Fury

In the Dead of Space AKA Space Fury

Studio Unknown

September 28, 1999

Sci-Fi

DVD
D

Boring and amateurish.  Eli Necakov directed.

In Smog and Thunder

In Smog and Thunder

Studio Unknown

January 20, 2003

Parody, War Comedy
DVD
C

I could see someone finding this parody of war documentaries, here with Northern and Southern California battling for obscure reasons, hilarious but it just didn't quite click with me.  Sean Meredith directed.

In Search of a Midnight Kiss

In Search of a Midnight Kiss

Vertigo Films

April 27, 2007

Romcom

DVD
D+

With that title, you might be expecting a sweet romantic comedy, but, uh, no.  Alex Holdridge wrote and directed.