Never Look Away AKA Werk ohne Autor

Never Look Away AKA Werk ohne Autor

Disney!

3 October 2018

Historical Drama

DVD
C

A crazy aunt rebels against the Nazis and possibly scars her nephew for life, but the first quarter hour wasn't bad.  Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck wrote and directed, who did The Lives of Others AKA Das Leben der Anderen a dozen years later.

Never Goin' Back

Never Goin' Back

A24 etc.

August 3, 2018

Dramedy

DVD
C-

I know this is supposed to be a "stoner comedy" but I found it a bit bleak, although I could see how it might be funny to some people, hence dramedy and C-.  Augustine Frizzell wrote and directed.

Nerve

Nerve

Lionsgate etc.

July 27, 2016

Sci-Fi

DVD
C-

This is based on Jeanne Ryan's book and I could see it maybe working as a YA novel but it's a bit by the numbers as a movie.  Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman co-directed.

The Negotiator

The Negotiator

Regency etc.

July 29, 1998
Action

DVD
D

While Jackson's performance is good, opening the movie with an abused child as a hostage means I would never watch more than the required quarter hour.  F. Gary Gray directed, five years before the Italian Job remake.

Ned Kelly (1970)

Ned Kelly (1970)

United Artists

1 July 1970

Historical Drama, Crime Drama

DVD
C-

Mick isn't bad as the title character and I did like the Irishness but not really my thing.  Tony Richardson directed a decade after The Entertainer.

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Topcraft

11 March 1984

Anime, Sci-Fi

DVD
C-

For a change, the character design isn't bad for Studio Ghibli, maybe because this technically predates that studio.  But I just wasn't that into the story.  (A dystopia where everyone has to wear masks to stay alive, I've gotten enough of that in real life.)  Hayao Miyazaki directed and co-wrote.

The Natural

The Natural

Tri-Star

May 11, 1984

Sports Drama, Historical Drama

DVD
D+

Chockful of clichés but the costumes are good.  This is based on the Bernard Malamud novel and directed by Barry Levinson.

National Velvet

National Velvet

MGM

January 26, 1945

Historical Drama, Sports Drama

DVD
B+

I saw this movie decades ago, maybe when I was a teenager and it was already long a classic.  I enjoyed it, even though I was never a "horse girl."  But this isn't just a "horse movie."  It holds up remarkably well over seventy-five years after it was made because its characters are vivid and lovable, flaws and all.  Liz Taylor is luminous and Rooney has possibly his best role ever.  Anne Revere deservedly won an Oscar for her role as the mother, a character that could be described as feminist, as well as wise, warm, and witty. And the supporting roles are solid, including a young Angela Lansbury as the oldest daughter.  Just a delight overall.

This is based on the Enid Bagnold novel and directed by Clarence Brown.

National Treasure

National Treasure

Disney etc.

November 19, 2004

Action

DVD

D+

The real national treasure was the friends we made along the way.  Jon Turteltaub directed.

Nashville

Nashville

Paramount

June 11, 1975

Musical, Dramedy

DVD
C

I'd wanted to watch this movie for years, because of the cast and director, but it just didn't click with me today, although I did boost it from a C- to a C because the opening credits are so good.  And at least this movie isn't as cringey as MASH, although nowhere near as fascinating as Gosford Park, or as weirdly lovable as Popeye.

Napoleon (1995)

Napoleon (1995)
Blink Films etc.

February 23, 1995

Children's, Fantasy

DVD
C-

A puppy has adventures.  I'm not sure if this actually counts as fantasy, since the animals might not technically talk but just have their barks etc. translated.  However, just to be on the safe side, I'm using that tag.  Mario Andreacchio directed.

Nanny McPhee

Nanny McPhee

MGM etc.

21 October 2005

Children's, Historical Comedy, Fantasy

DVD
C-

I remember watching, or at least trying to watch this years ago and I definitely got past the quarter hour I gave it today.  I just wasn't invested in this meaner version of Mary Poppins.  Emma Thompson not only stars as the title character but adapted Christianna Brand's Nurse Matilda books.  Kirk Jones directed.

Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase

Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase

Warner Bros. etc.

March 15, 2019

Mystery

DVD
C+

I liked this enough that I wished that the acting and writing were stronger, although it was cool to see 81-year-old Linda Lavin some four decades after Alice.  And I have to point out that, despite all the stuff with social media, I kept thinking how this felt a quarter century out of date, with a skater-girl Nancy, like the Preppie Nancy in the 2007 movie.  Well, at least there weren't roadsters.  Katt Shea directed.

Na-moo-eobs-neun san AKA Treeless Mountain

Na-moo-eobs-neun san AKA Treeless Mountain

Oscilloscope Pictures

27 August 2009

Drama

DVD
D+

Unhappy children.  So Yong Kim directed and co-wrote.

The Name of the Rose

The Name of the Rose

Columbia

September 24, 1986

Historical Drama

DVD
D-

Boring and a little gross.  This is based on the Umberto Eco novel and directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, fifteen years before Enemy at the Gates.

Nacho Libre

Nacho Libre

Nickelodeon Movies

June 16, 2006

Children's, Sports Comedy

DVD
D+

A monk has a crush on a nun and wants to be a wrestler.  Jared Hess directed and co-wrote.

Mythica: A Quest for Heroes

Mythica: A Quest for Heroes

Arrowstorm Entertainment

January 23, 2015 (direct-to-DVD)

Fantasy, Action

DVD
D+

The saga begins.  Anne K. Black directed and co-wrote.

International Crime

International Crime

Grand National Pictures

April 23, 1938

Crime Comedy?
DVD
C-

Marred by sexism but I did think it was mildly interesting to see something from the Shadow series.  Charles Lamont directed, three years after Circumstantial Evidence.

The Green Glove

The Green Glove

United Artists

February 28, 1952

War Drama?

DVD
D-

Both dull and shrill, with clumsy narration.  Rudolph Maté directed.

Green Eyes (1934)

Green Eyes (1934)
Chesterfield Pictures

June 15, 1934

Mystery

DVD
C-

Murder at a masquerade party, based on Harriette Ashbrook's The Murder of Steven Kester and directed by Richard Thorpe, eighteen years before Ivanhoe.

Fog Island

Fog Island

Producers Releasing Corporation

February 15, 1945

Mystery

DVD
D+

An ex-con invites the people who framed him to his island, and they all want to go?  Terry O. Morse directed.

The Fatal Hour

The Fatal Hour

Monogram

January 15, 1940

Crime Drama

DVD
D+

Kind of flat, even the banter.  William Nigh directed.

The Devil's Party

The Devil's Party

Universal

June 2, 1938

Crime Drama

DVD
D+

A bunch of ragamuffins grow up in New York.  This is based on Borden Chase's novel Hell's Kitchen Has  a Party (a better title), and directed by Ray McCarey.

The Clairvoyant

The Clairvoyant

Gaumont British

15 July 1935

Drama

DVD
B-

This was better than I expected, helped by Claude Rains in the title role.  I also like the way that the "triangle" plays out with more nuance and sophistication than it could've.  This is based on Ernest Lothar's novel and directed by Maurice Elvey.

Up in the Air (1940)

Up in the Air (1940)

Monogram Pictures

September 9, 1940

Comedy, Musical

DVD
C-

I guess this turns into a mystery later.  It looks like (from Wikipedia) that the character with the later ironic name Rita Wilson is killed later.  I might've stayed with this movie (especially since it's only an hour long), since the plot and music weren't bad, but the characters weren't too appealing and of course the Black character was heavily stereotyped.  Howard Bretherton directed.

Circumstantial Evidence (1935)

Circumstantial Evidence (1935)

Chesterfield Pictures

March 30, 1935

Dramedy?, Romcom?

DVD
C

This is so all over the place tonally-- the banter about the death penalty, the banter about working women, the romantic rival who has a freaking skull next to his reading lamp, etc.-- I was tempted to just keep watching to see where it'd go next.  But not tempted enough.  Charles Lamont directed, a dozen years after his film career started and a dozen years before the Ma & Pa Kettle series.  (This is about three years after the also strange War Babies with Shirley Temple, but much less cringey.)

Trapped (1949)

Trapped (1949)

Eagle-Lion Films etc.

October 1, 1949

Crime Drama

DVD
D+

It starts out like a documentary on the U.S. Treasury, but then it just turns into a standard crime drama.  Richard Fleischer directed, fairly early on in his career.

Chandu on the Magic Island

Chandu on the Magic Island

Sol Lesser Productions

August 1935

Fantasy?

DVD
D+

Surprisingly dull considering the campy elements.  Ray Taylor directed.  This is on a "Mystery Classics" collection, and by now we know that sometimes Classics = Public Domain.

Mystery, Alaska

Mystery, Alaska

Hollywood Pictures

October 1, 1999

Sports Comedy
DVD
D+

This would be a better movie without the hockey team.  Jay Roach directed.

Mysterious Island (1961)

Mysterious Island (1961)

Columbia

December 20, 1961

Historical Drama [and I guess Sci-Fi later]

DVD
C-

I wasn't as interested in the characters or situation as I was with other Jules Verne adaptations, although it's always nice to see a hot-air balloon.  Cy Endfield directed.

My Way AKA Mai Wei

My Way AKA Mai Wei

CJ Entertainment

22 December 2011

Sports Drama, Historical Drama [apparently a War Drama later]

DVD
C-

Two young men have a rivalry from childhood onwards, personally and athletically, and I guess eventually this shapes world events.  Je-kyu Kang wrote and directed.

My Sister's Keeper

My Sister's Keeper

New Line etc.

June 26, 2009

Drama

DVD
D-

A Jodi Picoult medical drama with Cameron Diaz miscast as the mother?  No thank you.  Nick Cassavetes directed and co-adapted, seven years after John Q.

My Piece of the Pie AKA Ma part du gâteau

My Piece of the Pie AKA Ma part du gâteau

StudioCanal

16 March 2011

Dramedy
DVD
C-

Kind of depressing but I did like the bit with the mob of kids making dinner.  Cédric Klapisch wrote and directed.

My Neighbor Totoro AKA Tonari no Totoro

My Neighbor Totoro AKA Tonari no Totoro

Toho

16 April 1988

Children's, Anime, Fantasy, Dramedy

DVD
B-

I'm not a big Studio Ghibli fan but even I could see some of the charm of this movie, in its story and the scenery.  I'm just not crazy about the look of the humans.  Hayao Miyazaki wrote and directed.

My Mom's New Boyfriend

My Mom's New Boyfriend

Sony etc.

April 30, 2008

Comedy
DVD
C-

Considering I don't like Meg Ryan, this isn't as bad as it could be.  George Gallo wrote and directed.

My Life Without Me

My Life Without Me

Sony etc.

7 March 2003

Drama

DVD
D+

Another depressing movie with "My Life" in the title.  This is based on Nanci Kincaid's short story collection Pretending the Bed Is a Raft.  Isabel Coixet directed, eleven years before Learning to Drive.

My Life As a Zucchini AKA Ma vie de Courgette

My Life As a Zucchini AKA Ma vie de Courgette

Rita Productions etc.

15 May 2016

Animation, Dramedy

DVD
D+

The English voice acting isn't bad, but the story and especially the visuals are.  Claude Barras directed and co-wrote.

My Life as a Dog AKA Mitt liv som hund

My Life as a Dog AKA Mitt liv som hund

AB Svensk Filmindustri

12 December 1985

Historical Drama

DVD
D-

Gross and depressing, but at least the sets and costumes look authentic.  Lasse Hallström directed and co-wrote, and this is based on the autobiographical novel by Reidar Jönsson.

My Giant

My Giant

Columbia etc.

April 10, 1998

Comedy

DVD
C

I gave this twenty minutes, because it did start out promisingly.  But I lost interest once Crystal went to the "giant's" house.  Crystal co-wrote, and Michael Lehmann directed, nine years after Heathers.

My First Mister

My First Mister

Paramount

October 26, 2001

Dramedy

DVD
C-

One of those movies where I care more about the side characters (in this case the goth girl's mom and stepdad) than the main characters, and not enough.  Christine Lahti directed.

My Favorite Year

My Favorite Year

MGM

October 8, 1982

Historical Comedy
DVD
B-

I'd seen this two or three times before, although maybe not for over thirty years.  It remains a sweet, light, not-meant-to-be-taken seriously piece of entertainment.  (For instance, the views out windows are very clearly backdrops, and I mean in the rooms of the "real world," not the TV show.)  After almost forty years, there's obviously an extra layer of nostalgia, and I tagged as many then very recognizable faces as I could fit.  (Archie Hahn plays the Delivery Boy as well.)  Richard Benjamin directed.

My Favorite Wife

My Favorite Wife

RKO

May 17, 1940

Comedy

DVD
B-

I'd heard about this movie for ages, so I'm glad I finally got to watch it. It didn't knock me out, but I thought it was mostly sweet and quietly funny, especially Cary Grant's asides.  It's more suggestive than other screwball comedies of the era I've seen, including the interesting subtext of Grant's reaction to Randolph Scott in swim trunks.  Garson Kanin directed.

My Favorite Brunette

My Favorite Brunette

Paramount

April 4, 1947
Comedy, Mystery

DVD
C-

A promising cast and concept, and it was nice seeing the Bay Area in the '40s, but I just didn't find the opening quarter-hour funny.  Elliott Nugent directed.