Les Vacances de M. Hulot AKA M. Hulot's Holiday

Les Vacances de M. Hulot AKA M. Hulot's Holiday

DisCina

25 February 1953

Comedy
DVD
C

There are some cute moments, like with the garbled train announcements, but I didn't feel like this holiday was going anywhere after fifteen minutes.  Jacques Tati co-wrote, directed, and stars.

M (1931)

M (1931)

Nero-Film 

11 May 1931

Crime Drama

DVD
C-

I found this flatter and more simplistic than I expected from a "classic," although the theme of unfounded accusations was interesting and no doubt had political significance in early '30s Germany.  Fritz Lang directed and, yes, it's a breakthrough role for Peter Lorre.

Luzhin Defense

The Luzhin Defence

Clear Blue Sky etc.

8 September 2000

Historical Drama, Romance

DVD
C-

Somewhat boring story with impressive production values.  This is based on the Vladimir Nabokov novel and directed by Marleen Gorris.

Lucy

Lucy

EuropaCorp etc.

July 25, 2014

Crime Drama, Sci-Fi?

DVD

D-

Not only violent but racist.  Luc Besson wrote and directed.

Lucky Them

Lucky Them

IFC Films

April 21, 2014

Dramedy
DVD
C-

The setting of contemporary Seattle is mildly interesting, but I didn't care for or about Collette's character.  Megan Griffiths directed.

Luce

Luce

Neon etc.

August 2, 2019

Drama

DVD
C-

A very contemporary drama that I just couldn't get into.  Julius Onah directed and co-wrote.

Loving Vincent

Loving Vincent

Trademark Films etc.

4 August 2017

Animation, Historical Drama

DVD
C-

This is an interesting concept, but the execution didn't grab me.  Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman co-directed, as well as co-wrote with someone else.

Loving Pablo

Loving Pablo

Studio Unknown

29 September 2017

Crime Drama, Romance?

DVD
D

This is based on Virginia Vallejo's memoir Loving Pablo, Hating Escobar, about falling for a drug lord.  Fernando León de Aranoa directed and co-wrote.

Loving

Loving

Focus Features etc.

November 4, 2016

Historical Drama

DVD
C

I wanted to see this movie at the time and I think it's a very interesting (true) story.  Unfortunately it's not told in an interesting way here.  Jeff Nichols wrote and directed.

Lovely and Amazing

Lovely and Amazing

Lionsgate

August 2, 2002

Dramedy
DVD
D

I tried to watch this once before but it remains neither lovely nor amazing.  Nicole Holofcener wrote and directed, four years before the much superior Friends with Money, which also has Keener.

Loveless AKA Nelyubov

Loveless AKA Nelyubov

Arte France etc.

1 June 2017

Drama

DVD
D+

Divorce and misery, with some nice cinematography at times.  Andrey Zvyagintsev directed and co-wrote, a decade after The Banishment.

Love, Weddings & Other Disasters

Love, Weddings & Other Disasters

Saban Films

December 4, 2020

Romcom
DVD
D

I was leaning towards a D+ for this unfunny and unrealistic movie, and then Diane Keaton came in as a literally blind date who knocks over a bunch of glassware.  Larry Miller co-wrote with director Dennis Dugan and one other person.

Love the Coopers

Love the Coopers

Lionsgate

November 13, 2015

Dramedy?
DVD
D+

Both pretentious (with the Steve Martin narration) and simplistic, like a woman literally shattered with emotion.  Jessie Nelson directed.

Love Story (1970)

Love Story (1970)

Paramount

December 16, 1970

Romance?, Sports Drama?

DVD
D+

I had this on VHS long ago and for all I know might still.  The thing is, the "best" thing about it, the kitsch, isn't worth the experience, and you're probably still better off reading the MAD parody.  Anyway, this time watching the first quarter hour I thought, one, there's a difference between witty banter and an insult exchange, and two, that is way too much hockey.  This is based on the Eric Segal book, which I think I did read at some point.  Arthur Hiller directed.

Love, Simon

Love, Simon

20th Century Fox

March 26, 2018

Dramedy?
DVD
C-

While I recognize the good intentions of this, I don't know if it was the very upper-middle-class-trying-to-pass-itself-off-as-average feel or what (I mean, in one sequence the high school looks like an indoor mall!), but I personally didn't find this believable or relatable.  And I say that as someone who was a closeted bisexual teen in the '80s.  This movie is based on Becky Albertalli's novel Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda, which I read a couple years ago and might've given a C+.  Greg Berlanti directed.

Love, Ludlow

Love, Ludlow

Washington Square Films

January 21, 2005

Dramedy, Romance

DVD
B-

Goranson gives a remarkable performance as a woman torn between her responsibilities for her grown brother with special needs, and the possibility of romance with an adorkable guy.  However, the film is difficult to watch at times, so I can't go higher on the grade.  Adrienne Weiss directed.

Love in the Time of Money

Love in the Time of Money

Blow Up Pictures etc.

January 11, 2002

Drama

DVD
D

I'd rather watch actual porn because at least those people seem happy.  Peter Mattei wrote and directed.

Love Exposure AKA Ai no mukidashi

Love Exposure AKA Ai no mukidashi

Omega Project

29 November 2008

Dramedy

DVD
D

Overwrought, cliched, and unlikable.  Sion Sono wrote and directed.

The Love Bug (1968)

The Love Bug (1968)

Disney

December 24, 1968

Children's, Comedy, Fantasy

DVD
C

I liked the Herbie movies as a kid but this just didn't grab me this time.  It feels a bit bland, considering the setting of late '60s San Francisco.  Robert Stevenson directed.

Love & Mercy

Love & Mercy

Lionsgate

September 7, 2014

Historical Drama, Musical

DVD
D+

The not so fun life of Brian Wilson.  Bill Pohlad directed.

Love After Love

Love After Love

IFC Films

April 22, 2017

Drama

DVD
D+

Somehow both depressing and emotionally distant.  Russell Harbaugh directed and co-wrote.

AKA Glosniej od bomb

Louder Than Bombs AKA Glosniej od bomb (2001)

Studio Unknown

September 2001

Dramedy?

DVD
D+

Unappealing.  Przemyslaw Wojcieszek wrote and directed.

A Lot Like Love

A Lot Like Love

Touchstone

April 22, 2005

Romcom

DVD
C

While I like things about this, especially the '90s soundtrack, I can't past the unlikability of Peet as the female protagonist, a big hurdle for a romcom.  (And I have liked her in other movies.)  Nigel Cole directed.

The Lost World (1960)

The Lost World (1960)

20th Century Fox

July 13, 1960
Sci-Fi

DVD
C

I liked this about equally with the silent version, although I only watched a quarter hour of this one and about forty minutes of the '20s movie.  And Jill St. John was the best thing about this version.  Director Irwin Allen helped adapt the book by Doyle.

The Lost Husband

The Lost Husband

Six Foot Pictures

April 10, 2020

Drama

DVD
C-

A bit downbeat and slow-moving, although I kind of like Dunn's performance as the aunt.  Director Vicky Wight adapted the Katherine Center novel.

The Lost City of Z

The Lost City of Z

Amazon Studios etc.

October 15, 2016

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

The first quarter hour is a bit dull.  Director James Gray adapted the book by David Grann.

Lost Boys: The Thirst

Lost Boys: The Thirst

Thunder Road Pictures etc.

October 12, 2010

Horror, Comedy
DVD
D+

I sort of liked the first movie when I saw it in the '90s on VHS, but I'm definitely not enough invested in the franchise to get into this one.  Dario Piana directed.

Lord of War

Lord of War

Lionsgate etc.

September 16, 2005

Crime Drama, Historical Drama

DVD
C-

Despite the star, the studio, and the primary genre, I bumped this up for the use of humor.  Andrew Niccol wrote and directed.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

New Line

December 5, 2002

Fantasy, Action

DVD
C-

For approximately 35 years, since I was dating my Tolkien-loving then-future-ex-husband, I have not been able to get into Lord of the Rings, in book or movie form, although I did see the '70s cartoon at the time and like The Hobbit as a book.  Peter Jackson directed.

Lord of the Flies (1963)

Lord of the Flies (1963)

British Lion

13 August 1963

Drama

DVD
C-

I read the William Golding novel in high school and it creeped me out, although I quit the movie today only a quarter hour in, when it was only mildly sinister.  Peter Brook directed and wrote the screenplay.

The Lookout

The Lookout

Miramax etc.

March 30, 2007

Drama

DVD
D+

A car crash and its aftermath.  Scott Frank wrote and directed.

Looking for Richard

Looking for Richard

Fox Searchlight

October 11, 1996

Documentary

DVD
D+

Both condescending and ignorant, especially about Richard III and Richard III.  Al Pacino is all over this one and deserves much of the blame.

The Longest Yard (1974)

The Longest Yard (1974)

Paramount

August 30, 1974

Sports Comedy, Sports Drama, Crime Comedy, Crime Drama

DVD
D+

Reynolds plays a very unsympathetic character, and the movie is about football in prison.  Still, I think Bernadette Peters's hairdo and some other '70s trappings are worth a notch up from a D.  Robert Aldrich directed.

Long John Silver AKA Long John Silver's Return to Treasure Island

Long John Silver AKA Long John Silver's Return to Treasure Island

Treasure Island Pictures

16 December 1954

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

Newton is as vivid as ever as the title character, but the story isn't at his level.  And, yeah, loosely based on Robert Louis Stevenson.  Byron Haskin directed.

London Fields

London Fields

Hero Entertainment etc.

October 26, 2018

Drama?

DVD
D

I was going to give this pretentious but stylish movie a D+, but the writer's block and stalking brought it further down.  This is based on the Martin Amis novel and directed by Mathew Cullen.

The Unknown (1927)

The Unknown (1927)

MGM

June 4, 1927

Horror?

DVD
D

Tod Browning + Lon Chaney + circus - arms = creepy.

Laugh, Clown, Laugh

Laugh, Clown, Laugh

MGM

April 14, 1928

Drama?

DVD
C-

With 15-year-old Loretta Young as the object of love for a count and her adoptive father, although I didn't get that far into the story.  Herbert Brenon directed.

The Ace of Hearts (1921)

The Ace of Hearts (1921)

Goldwyn Pictures Corporation

September 17, 1921

Crime Drama

DVD
C

This is on a Lon Chaney collection.  I'm not into silents, but I was mildly intrigued by the assassination committee and the love triangle.  This is now easily the oldest movie so far on this project, since previously that was a couple movies from 1925.  This one is based on Gouverneur Morris's novel The Purple Mask and directed by Wallace Worsley.

Loggerheads

Loggerheads

Strand Releasing

January 2005

Drama

DVD
C-

Slow-moving slice of life, directed and co-written by Tim Kirkman

Logan Lucky

Logan Lucky

Bleecker Street

August 9, 2017

Dramedy

DVD
C-

Wikipedia has this as a "heist comedy," but the first quarter hour is more of a downbeat family dramedy.  Steven Soderbergh directed.

Logan

Logan

20th Century Fox etc.

February 28, 2017

Action, Sci-Fi

DVD
D-

Superhero movie set in that distant time of 2029.  James Mangold directed and co-wrote.

The Lodge

The Lodge

Sony Pictures etc.

January 25, 2019

Drama?

DVD
D

Apparently this changes from a depressing family drama to a psychological horror later, but I didn't care either way.  Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz co-directed, and co-wrote with someone else.

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

PolyGram etc.

28 August 1998

Crime Comedy
DVD
C-

Not my thing but stylishly directed by Guy Ritchie.

The Lobster

The Lobster

Element Pictures etc.

15 May 2015

Sci-Fi, Comedy

DVD
C-

I could see how this might be funny if it weren't so listless, but it almost felt like the listlessness was the point.  Yorgos Lanthimos directed and co-wrote.

Lizzie

Lizzie

Artina Films etc.

September 14, 2018

Historical Drama

DVD
D

Lizzie Borden, no thanks.  Craig William Macneill directed.

The Living Daylights

The Living Daylights

United Artists etc.

27 June 1987

Action
DVD
D+

Rather forgettable.  This is based on the Ian Fleming short story.  John Glen (with that spelling) directed.

The Lives of Others AKA Das Leben der Anderen

The Lives of Others AKA Das Leben der Anderen

Creado Film etc.

23 March 2006

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

Internal spying in East Germany in '84.  Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck wrote and directed.

The Little Things

The Little Things

Warner Bros.

January 29, 2021

Crime Drama

DVD

D

Not my thing, but yay, my first 2021 movie.  (I haven't gone to a movie theater in like two years, even pre-Covid.)  John Lee Hancock wrote and directed.

The Little Stranger

The Little Stranger

Film4 etc.

21 September 2018

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

I guess this turns into a horror movie or something later, but it felt like a depopulated Downton Abbey episode.  This is based on the Sarah Waters novel and directed by Lenny Abrahamson.

The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)

The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)

AIP etc.

August 5, 1960

Horror, Crime Comedy?

DVD
B-

This remains a very strange film, even knowing the backstory.  From the young Jack Nicholson cameo to the very New-Yorky-looking Los Angeles to the comedy style (including the obvious Dragnet parody), it is definitely unsettling, and that's not even getting into the hungry plant.  I wouldn't say this is a great film, but it is certainly entertaining, and at times even sweet.  Roger Corman directed and co-wrote.

Little Nicky

Little Nicky

New Line Cinema

November 10, 2000

Comedy, Fantasy

DVD
F+

This is one of the most offensive, unfunny comedies I've ever seen, and it makes me greater appreciate the South Park movie of the previous year, which covered some of the same territory but had genuine laughs.  Sandler plays the title character and co-wrote with director Steve Brill and one other person who I am refraining from shaming here in hopes that he wrote the Namath joke that almost single-handedly saved this from an F.

The Little Mermaid (2018)

The Little Mermaid (2018)

Studio Unknown

August 17, 2018

Children's, Fantasy, Historical Drama

DVD
D+

Wildly implausible dialogue derails this quickly.  Like the famous Disney cartoon, this is based loosely on H.C. Andersen.  Blake Harris and Chris Bouchard co-directed, and Harris wrote the screenplay.

The Little Mermaid (1989)

The Little Mermaid (1989)

Disney

November 17, 1989

Children's, Fantasy, Musical, Romance, Comedy

DVD
C+

Even though I've seen this movie once or twice before, I was on the fence the entire viewing this time.  Yes, the songs are catchy and some of the voicework is good, but I don't know if I really liked the characters or cared about the conflicts.  This is based loosely on the Hans Christian Andersen tale.  Ron Clements and John Musker co-directed, as well as co-wrote with many.