The Others AKA Los Otros

The Others AKA Los Otros

StudioCanal etc.

2 August 2001

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

Too much shrieking, and not even at scary things.  Alejandro Amenábar wrote and directed.

The Other Boleyn Girl

The Other Boleyn Girl

BBC Films etc.

19 February 2008

Historical Drama

DVD
C

I didn't like the Philippa Gregory book, in part because of all the historical inaccuracies.  Still, at least in a movie you've got costumes and scenery, and the performances aren't bad.  Justin Chadwick directed a few years before The First Grader and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.

Othello (1995)

Othello (1995)

Castle Rock etc.

December 15, 1995

Historical Drama

DVD

C-

Livelier and more naturally acted than the Welles version but the lighting in some of the early scenes does it no favors.  Director Oliver Parker did the adaptation.

Othello (1951)

Othello (1951)

United Artists

November 27, 1951

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

Like most screen adaptations of Shakespeare, this isn't good, although I like the sets.  Welles directed and starred.

Osama

Osama

Barmak Film etc.

27 June 2003

Drama

DVD
D+

Surviving the Taliban.  Siddiq Barmak wrote and directed.  

The Orphanage AKA El Orfanato

The Orphanage AKA El Orfanato

Rodar y Rodar

11 October 2007

Drama (but later Horror of course)

DVD
C

I liked this more than I expected and probably would've stayed tuned if it were just about the mom and her imaginative little boy living in a big house near the sea.  J.A. Bayona directed, nine years before the inferior A Monster Calls.

The Original Kings of Comedy

The Original Kings of Comedy

MTV Productions etc.

August 18, 2000

Comedy, Documentary

DVD
D+

When the best joke here is the one about white guys getting fired and then "going postal," with the worst (of the first quarter hour anyway) being football humor, I'm definitely not the audience for this, not to mention how dated it all is after almost twenty years.  (And not in a fun way, like watching actual classic, vintage comedy.)  Still, it's better than Cheech & Chong's Hey Watch This.  Spike Lee directed.

Ordinary Love

Ordinary Love

Bankside Films etc.

6 December 2019

Drama

DVD
D+

A married couple dealing with cancer, and now I happily have a Sade earworm.  Lisa Barros D'Sa and Glenn Leyburn co-directed.

Operation Finale

Operation Finale

MGM etc.

29 August 2018

Historical Drama

DVD
C

I gave this half an hour because I thought it had potential, but it kept shifting over to less interesting characters and plot threads.  Chris Weitz directed.

Only the Brave

Only the Brave

Columbia etc.

October 20, 2017

Drama

DVD
D+

I was surprised to discover that this is based on a true story, because the writing and acting are a bit cliched and stilted.  Joseph Kosinski directed.

Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior

Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior

EuropaCorp etc.

21 January 2003

Action

DVD
D+

Sort of a city vs. country story, with a stolen statue's head.  Prachya Pinkaew directed and co-wrote.

One Night at McCool's

One Night at McCool's

USA Films etc.

April 27, 2001

Crime Comedy
DVD
D

I actually considered going lower on this, since it has a woman falsely claim she was almost raped, right before she seduces Matt Dillon, but it's a Michael Douglas movie, so it's not like I expected feminism.  Harald Zwart directed.

101 Reykjavík

101 Reykjavík

101 Limited

1 June 2000

Comedy
DVD
D+

Unappealing characters but I liked the sets and props, especially the bathtub that converts to a sofa.  Director Baltasar Kormákur adapted the novel by Hallgrímur Helgason, eighteen years before Adrift.

One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)

One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)

Disney

January 25, 1961

Children's, Animation, Romance, Comedy?

DVD
C-

I remember liking this as a kid, although I think it was all the cute puppies.  (I'm definitely not a dog person, but the puppies were cute.)  This time, I found the four main characters a bit tedious, and the Tallulah-Bankhead-like villainess didn't liven things up enough.  This is based on the Dodie Smith novel, and co-directed by Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, and Wolfgang Reitherman.

The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared AKA Hundraåringen som klev ut genom fönstret och försvann

The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared AKA Hundraåringen som klev ut genom fönstret och försvann

StudioCanal etc.

25 December 2013

Comedy
DVD
C

This didn't click with me, but I can see why it was such a hit.  Director Felix Herngren co-adapted the novel by Jonas Jonasson.

One Hour Photo

One Hour Photo

Fox etc.

August 21, 2002

Drama

DVD
C

Too creepy for me but I could see it might be an effective psychological thriller further in than the first fifteen minutes.  Mark Romanek wrote and directed.

One from the Heart

One from the Heart

Zoetrope Studios

February 11, 1982

Musical?

DVD

C-

Taken down two notches for too much Tom Waits, bumped up a notch for Teri Garr in various stages of undress.  Coppola directed and co-wrote.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

United Artists

November 19, 1975

Drama

DVD
D

I avoided this movie for years, mostly because it looked incredibly misogynist.  I will say that the first quarter hour wasn't as bad as I feared, although still bad of course, reminding me of my low tolerance for Jack Nicholson.  This is based on the Ken Kesey novel and directed by Milos Forman.

One-Eyed Jacks

One-Eyed Jacks

Paramount

March 30, 1961

Western
DVD
D-

Unappealing on multiple levels.  Sam Peckinpah and Rod Serling contributed to the script without credit, while Brando stars and directed.

One Crazy Summer

One Crazy Summer

Warner Bros.

August 8, 1986

Comedy
DVD
B-

At times, this really is one crazy movie, with random satirical moments, like the Ron & Nancy lunchbox.  I was expecting a generic '80s teen comedy, not an '80s teen comedy where the hero (Cusack) graduates from Generic High School.  Not everything lands, but there's an amiable and somewhat innocent feel to this, despite the cartoons that look like Ralph Bakshi animating early '30s style,  perhaps epitomized best by Bobcat Goldthwait and Tom Villard playing twins.  Savage Steve Holland wrote and directed.

Ondine

Ondine

Little Wave etc.

18 February 2010

Drama?

DVD
C

I might like this better if it actually were a fantasy, but it just didn't quite click for me.  Neil Jordan wrote and directed, and it's definitely more watchable than his Byzantium or Interview with the Vampire.

Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood

Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood

Columbia etc.

July 22, 2019

Historical Drama, Historical Comedy, Action

DVD
C

The first quarter-hour is relatively watchable for Tarantino, helped by the use of humor, the '60s details, and of course the lack of graphic violence.

Once Upon a Time in China

Once Upon a Time in China

Golden Harvest etc.

15 August 1991

Historical Drama, Action
DVD

D+

Definitely not my kind of movie, but the cinematography is kind of nice.

Once a Thief (1991)

Once a Thief (1991)

Golden Princess Film etc.

2 February 1991

Action, Comedy

DVD 

D+

One of those movies where the people onscreen are clearly having much more fun than I am.  John Woo directed and co-wrote.

On the Waterfront

On the Waterfront

Columbia

August 6, 1954

Crime Drama

DVD
D+

Not my kind of movie, but at least I could look for recognizable faces.  Elia Kazan directed.

On the Town

On the Town

MGM

December 30, 1949

Musical, Comedy, Romance

DVD
B-

Released at the very end of the '40s, this is chockful of still gettable topical references, like about Dr. Kinsey and Dinah Shore.  (Well, if you're over 50 and/or know the twentieth century.)  At its best, it is joyous and infectious, with an eager, charismatic cast, including a cast-against-type Sinatra.  Unfortunately, there are parts that don't click, like one of those "modern ballet" sequences that would also mar co-directors Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly's Singin' in the Rain a couple years later.  I've seen this movie once before, maybe a decade ago, and I was looking forward to watching it again.  I think if I had fast-forwarded, I'd rank the movie higher.  Still, I know I'll watch it again someday.

On the Beach

On the Beach

United Artists

December 17, 1959

Sci-Fi

DVD
D+

A pretty boring apocalypse, although the dad feeding the baby was cute.  This is based on the Nevil Shute novel, and directed by Stanley Kramer.

On the Basis of Sex

On the Basis of Sex

Focus Features etc.

December 28, 2018

Historical Drama

DVD
B

This is a solid biography of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, focusing particularly on 1970, a life-changing year for her and the country.  I did feel that the story tried to juggle too many characters, losing some in the shuffle (like her students and even her son), but overall I was entertained and enlightened.  Mimi Leder directed, twenty years after the forgettable Deep Impact.

On Dangerous Ground

On Dangerous Ground

RKO

December 17, 1951

Crime Drama

DVD
D+

Forgettable.  This is based on Gerald Butler's novel Mad with Much Heart, and directed by Nicholas Ray and an uncredited Ida Lupino.

On Chesil Beach

On Chesil Beach

BBC Films etc.

19 September 2017

Historical Drama

DVD
C

While the performances of the leads are good and I like the setting, the movie is too downbeat for me.  Ian McEwan adapted his own novel, and Dominic Cooke directed.

On Borrowed Time

On Borrowed Time

MGM

July 7, 1939

Fantasy

DVD

C

A scheming spinster inspired by Chaucer.  Harold S. Bucquet directed.

On a Clear Day

On a Clear Day

Focus Features

2 September 2005

Drama

DVD
C-

A proud Scotsman is sacked.  Gaby Dellal directed, six years before the quite good Angels Crest (obviously very early in this project).

The Omen

The Omen

20th Century Fox

June 25, 1976

Horror

DVD
C-

Not cheesy enough but it certainly tries, like when the time and date of "June 6th, 6 o'clock" appears on the screen.  Richard Donner directed.

The Omega Man

The Omega Man

Warner Bros.

August 1, 1971

Sci-Fi

DVD
D+

Charlton Heston has to survive in a post-apocalyptic dystopia, with nothing but his wits, his eight-tracks, an unlimited supply of gas and cars, a machine gun, and of course those blinding teeth.  I bumped this up a notch or two for the '70sness (including clips from the Woodstock documentary) and sheer WTFery.  This is based on Richard Matheson's novel I Am Legend, and, yes, I gave the Will Smith version a C.  Boris Sagal directed this version.

Oleanna

Oleanna

Samuel Goldwyn Company etc.

November 4, 1994

Drama

DVD
D-

Stilted and so boring I started reading the weather forecast a few minutes in, and yet also shrill and unbelievable.  But at least there was no physical violence, so D- is as low as I can go.  David Mamet directed this adaptation of his stage play.

Old Yeller

Old Yeller

Disney

December 25, 1957

Historical Drama, Children's

DVD
D+

A reminder of why I generally don't like dogs, although I can see why Kirk and Corcoran became such stars at Disney.  This is based on the Fred Gipson novel and directed by Robert Stevenson.

Old School

Old School

DreamWorks

February 21, 2003

Comedy (allegedly)

DVD
D

Unfunny and misogynistic (not that the men are any great shakes, but it is from their perspective), although bumped up a notch for the wedding singer, and he's no Adam Sandler.  Todd Phillips directed and co-wrote.

Old (2021)

Old (2021)

Universal etc.

July 23, 2021

Dramedy
DVD
C-

Better than I expected, but then I tuned out before it turned into horror.  Director M. Night Shyamalan did the adaptation.

Oklahoma!

Oklahoma!

RKO etc.

October 11, 1955

Musical, Historical Drama

DVD
C-

Yeah, the songs are memorable, but I've never been able to engage with this musical, especially the characters, starting when I saw it at my high school almost forty years ago.  Fred Zinnemann directed.

Off the Black

Off the Black

THINKFilm

December 8, 2006

Drama

DVD
C-

Umpiring has consequences.  James Ponsoldt wrote and directed.

Of Mice and Men (1992)

Of Mice and Men (1992)

MGM

October 2, 1992

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

Yes, based on the book.  Gary Sinise directed and played George.

Of Gods and Men AKA Des hommes et des dieux

Of Gods and Men AKA Des hommes et des dieux

Why Not Productions etc.

8 September 2010

Drama?

DVD
D+

Slow-moving.  Xavier Beauvois directed and co-wrote.

Of Boys and Men

Of Boys and Men

Studio Unknown

February 13, 2008

Drama

DVD
C-

Grief.  Carl Seaton directed.

Odd Thomas

Odd Thomas

Fusion Films etc.

April 6, 2013

Horror, Comedy
DVD
C-

Not my kind of movie, but I do like how it's shot.  Director Stephen Sommers adapted the Dean Koontz novel.  And I did like this more than his Mummy and his G.I. Joe movies.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

Disney

August 15, 2012

Dramedy?, Fantasy?, Children's?

DVD
D+

Unlike in Juno, this time Jennifer Garner's character's infertility issues are front and center, and maudlin.  My library shelves this as "children's," but whatever.  Director Peter Hedges co-wrote with Ahmet Zappa, which may explain the pathetic attempts at whimsy, like the pencil museum.  Still, the look of the movie isn't bad, so D+ is as low as I'll go.

Octopussy

Octopussy

United Artists etc.

7 June 1983

Action

DVD

C-

At this point, regular readers of this blog (if there are any) must wonder why I continue to try different James Bond movies.  Well, I feel like that each entry in the series has something unique.  In this case, it's director John Glen's Hal-Needham-like slapstick approach, which I didn't notice in For Your Eyes Only or The Living Daylights, both also from the '80s.