Little Men (2016)

Little Men (2016)

Magnolia Pictures

January 25, 2016

Drama

DVD
C

Nothing to do with Louisa May Alcott, since it's set in modern-day Brooklyn, but mildly interesting,  Director Ira Sachs co-wrote.

Little Birds

Little Birds

Millennium Entertainment

January 23, 2011

Drama

DVD
D

Depressing.  Elgin James wrote and directed.

Little Big League

Little Big League

Columbia

June 29, 1994

Children's, Sports Comedy
DVD
C-

Not bad for not being my kind of movie, or maybe I just liked the '60s TV references.  Andrew Scheinman directed and co-wrote.

Little

Little

Universal etc.

April 12, 2019

Comedy
DVD
D

I didn't even like the characters I was supposed to like.  Tina Gordon directed and co-wrote.

Literally, Right Before Aaron

Literally, Right Before Aaron

Indy Entertainment etc.

April 22, 2017

Comedy
DVD
D+

I tried to watch this once before, since I love Justin Long in Going the Distance, but this movie is so unpleasant and unfunny that a D+ feels generous.  Still, I could kind of see what they were going for, and I didn't actually hate it.  Ryan Eggold wrote and directed.

Liquid Tales: The Animated Films of Patrick Smith

Liquid Tales: The Animated Films of Patrick Smith

Square Footage

January 30, 2007

Animation, Fantasy

DVD
C-

I just watched the short about violent puppets.

The Lion King (1994)

The Lion King (1994)

Disney

June 24, 1994

Children's, Fantasy

DVD
C-

The Great Chain of Being as a musical.  I tagged only the voices I heard in the first quarter hour.   Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff directed.

Lincoln

Lincoln

DreamWorks etc.

November 16, 2012

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

A bit flat.  This is loosely based on Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln.  Steven Spielberg directed.

Limitless

Limitless

Relativity Media etc.

March 18, 2011

Dramedy

DVD
D+

A pretentious writer takes a mind-altering drug and becomes even more insufferable.  This is based on Alan Glynn's novel The Dark Fields and directed by Neil Burger.

Lilian's Story

Lilian's Story

Studio Unknown

9 May 1996

Drama

DVD
D+

Another story I don't want to watch, although I didn't dislike it instantly, like Like Dandelion Dust.  This is based on the Kate Grenville novel and directed by Jerzy Domaradzki

Like Dandelion Dust

Like Dandelion Dust

20th Century Fox etc.

February 25, 2009

Drama

DVD
D

Definitely not a story I want to watch.  This is based on the Karen Kingsbury novel and directed by Jon Gunn.

The Lighthouse

The Lighthouse

A24 etc.

7 September 2019

Historical Drama

DVD
D

Atmospheric is not a compliment.  Robert Eggers directed and co-wrote with his brother Max.

The Light Between Oceans

The Light Between Oceans

DreamWorks etc.

2 September 2016

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

I didn't care about the story but the scenery was of course lovely.  Director Derek Cianfrance adapted the novel by M. L. Stedman.

A Light Beneath Their Feet

A Light Beneath Their Feet

Studio Unknown

October 10, 2015

Drama

DVD
C-

Good details in a story I don't want to watch.  Valerie Weiss directed.

Life on the Line

Life on the Line

Lionsgate

November 5, 2016

Drama?

DVD
D

The only things I liked about this movie were the scenery and the title, the latter because it made me think of the line "Ready to put my love on the line" in the Barry Manilow song from Foul Play.  So now I'm listening to that on YouTube.  As for this movie, David Hackl directed.

Life of the Party

Life of the Party

New Line/ Warner Bros.

May 11, 2018

Comedy

DVD
B-

I found this uneven but at times adorable and/or funny.  And some things were predictable (like everyone loving McCarthy's character), but others were not.  (I thought she'd have a romance with her new professor/ old college friend, but he just says she's his favorite student.)  Director Ben Falcone cowrote with McCarthy and he has a quick cute cameo as the Uber Driver.

Life as We Know It

Life as We Know It

Warner Bros. etc.

October 8, 2010

Romcom

DVD
D+

I half considered seeing this movie at the time, but I'm glad I didn't.  I've since seen enough of Heigl paired with obnoxious manboys for a lifetime.  On the plus side, seeing McCarthy steal a scene makes me glad that she stars in the next movie for consideration, since even weak MMcC movies are of interest.  Greg Berlanti directed this movie.

Life (2017)

Life (2017)

Sony Picutures Releasing

March 24, 2017

Sci-Fi

DVD
D+

Yeah, not my cuppa, although the look of it isn't bad.  Daniel Espinosa directed.

Life (2015)

Life (2015)

Barry Films Production etc.

February 9, 2015

Historical Drama

DVD

C-

This story of James Dean and a Life photographer is a bit, well, lifeless.  Anton Corbiyn directed.

Libertine

Libertine

Isle of Man Film etc.

18 November 2005

Historical Drama

DVD
C+

I didn't exactly like this movie but I thought it was interesting enough, in its protagonist and its setting, to watch until the end.  I believe Rosamund Pike gave the best performance, as the long-suffering wife.  Laurence Dunmore directed.

Liar Liar

Liar Liar

Universal

March 21, 1997

Comedy
DVD
D+

A Jim Carrey comedy, so yeah.  Tom Shadyac directed.

Levelland

Levelland

Detour Filmproduction

May 7, 2003

Sports Drama

DVD
C

While a story about bored suburban teen skateboarders isn't really my thing, I will admit that the characterization and soft-punk soundtrack make this one of the better movies I've rejected lately.  Clark Walker wrote and directed.

Letters to Juliet

Letters to Juliet

Summit Entertainment

May 14, 2010

Dramedy?

DVD
C-

I was intrigued by the trailer for this at the time and then months ago when it popped up on some DVD, but the actual execution is kind of flat compared to the happy movie I expected.  (Even the Italian scenery is surprisingly meh.)  This is sort of based on the nonfiction book by Lise and Ceil Friedman.  Gary Winick directed.

Letter from an Unknown Woman

Letter from an Unknown Woman

Universal-International

April 28, 1948

Historical Drama, Romance

DVD

C-

A teenage girl gets a crush on a musician, but this being turn of the century Vienna, she goes to the library and helps carry his carpet.  Director Max Ophuls helped adapt the Stefan Zweig novella.

Lethal Weapon

Lethal Weapon

Warner Bros.

March 6, 1987

Crime Drama

DVD
D+

I think Die Hard is a better Christmas movie.  Richard Donner directed.

Let There Be Light

Let There Be Light

Wildfire Films etc.

November 3, 2017

Drama

DVD
C-

Better than I expected but still implausible, and I only watched the first quarter hour.  Kevin Sorbo directed.

Let Him Go

Let Him Go

Focus Features

November 6, 2020

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

Avenging in-laws, I think?  Director Thomas Bezucha adapted the novel by Larry Watson.

Les Miserables (1998)

Les Miserables (1998)

Sony Pictures etc.

May 1, 1998

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

Such a relief that it's not a musical, but I still don't care about the basic story, based on the Victor Hugo novel.  Bille August directed. 

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

Paramount etc.

December 17, 2004

Comedy?

DVD
C

I watched the whole movie in the theater and I do recall listening to the Snicket commentary before, but this time, sigh.  I'm sorry, I just can't get past Jim Carrey being annoying, and not in a way that enhances the movie.  This is based, loosely, on the first three books in the Daniel Handler series (which I've read more than once), and directed by Brad Silberling.

The Lemon Drop Kid

The Lemon Drop Kid

Paramount

April 2, 1951

Comedy
DVD
D+

I probably saw this as a kid but at first I was mixing it up with Sorrowful Jones, which I remember liking.  Oh well.  This is based on the Damon Runyon story, as it tells us.  Sidney Lanfield and Frank Tashlin directed.

Lemon

Lemon

Magnolia Pictures

January 22, 2017

Dramedy
DVD
D

A set of unlikable characters, a lemon indeed.  Janicza Bravo directed and co-wrote with Brett Gelman, who plays the protagonist.

The Leisure Seeker

The Leisure Seeker

Indiana Production

October 6, 2017

Dramedy
DVD
C-

A potentially interesting story marred by consistently off line readings.  This is based on the Michael Zadoorian novel and directed by Paolo Virzi.  Trump is tagged because the movie is set in the summer of '16 and we hear him on the radio.

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part

Warner Bros.

February 2, 2019

Animation, Comedy, Action, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

DVD
C

OK, so I liked this in the theater more than I liked The Lego Batman Movie, but today I gave up after half an hour.  The magic of the first movie just isn't there.  (That one I own and have watched a few times.)  Mike Mitchell directed.

The Lego Batman Movie

The Lego Batman Movie

Warner Bros. etc.

February 10, 2017

Animation, Action, Comedy

DVD
C-

I really enjoyed the first Lego Movie, so I saw this in the theater and was disappointed.  I would've gone with a C or C+ then.  It's not any better at home.  Chris McKay directed.

Legends of the Fall

Legends of the Fall

TriStar etc.

January 13, 1995

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

At least the scenery is kind of nice, so there's something to look at during some of the unrealistic emotions.  This is based on the Jim Harrison novella and directed by Edward Zwick.

The Legend of Tarzan

The Legend of Tarzan 

Warner Bros.

June 27, 2016

Historical Drama?
DVD
D-

Stunningly bad, and it's not like Tarzan movies set a very high bar.  Based on, well, you know, and directed by David Yates.

Legend (2015)

Legend (2015)

Cross Creek Pictures etc.

9 September 2015

Historical Drama, Crime Drama

DVD
D+

Tom Hardy is the Kray Twins.  This is based on John Pearson's book The Profession of Violence, which director Brian Helgeland adapted into the screenplay.

Left Handed Gun

Left Handed Gun

Warner Bros.

May 17, 1958

Western

DVD
D+

Young Newman as Billy the Kid.  This is based on the Gore Vidal play and directed by Arthur Penn.

Lebanon, PA

Lebanon, PA

Reconstruction Pictures

April 29, 2011

Drama

DVD
C-

Yet another indie where the protagonist's parent dies early on.  I mean, yes, I'd rather watch this than an action film, but still.  Ben Hickernell wrote and directed.

Learning to Drive

Learning to Drive

Broad Green Pictures

September 9, 2014

Drama

DVD
D

I love some of Katha Pollitt's writing, but this movie based on one of her articles is depressing.  Isabel Coixet directed.

Leap! AKA Ballerina

Leap! AKA Ballerina

Entertainment One and Gaumont

19 October 2016

Children's, Historical Drama?
DVD
C-

Not terribly original but innocuous enough I guess.  The directors are Mimi Maynard, Eric Summer, Paulette Victor-Lifton, and Éric Warin

Lazer Team

Lazer Team

YouTube Premium etc.

January 27, 2016
Comedy, Sci-Fi

DVD
C-

I could see this potentially being mildly entertaining, if it were more focused.  Matt Hullum directed and co-wrote.

Layer Cake

Layer Cake

Columbia etc.

1 October 2004

Crime Drama

DVD
C-

Definitely not my thing, but I can't deny the visuals are impressive.  J.J. Connolly based the screenplay on his novel.  Matthew Vaughn directed.

Lawrence of Arabia

Lawrence of Arabia

Columbia

11 December 1962

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

Not really my thing, but I did sort of like how everyone was so divided on Lawrence even after his death (which happens in the first quarter hour).  David Lean directed.

Laurel Canyon

Laurel Canyon

Sony Pictures Classics

March 7, 2003

Drama

DVD
C-

Lisa Cholodenko wrote and directed this about seven years before The Kids Are All Right, and again the concept is OK but the execution is wanting.

Atoll K AKA Utopia

Atoll K AKA Utopia

Franco London Films

17 October 1951

Comedy

DVD
C-

L & H's last film, although not necessarily the last one for this project.  There are four directors, most of them uncredited: Léo Joannon, John Berry, Alfred J. Goulding, and Tim Whelan.

The Devil's Brother AKA Bogus Bandits

The Devil's Brother AKA Bogus Bandits

MGM

May 5, 1933

Historical Comedy, Musical

DVD

D+

Not even Thelma Todd can save this for me.  Hal Roach and Charley Rogers co-directed.