Snapshots (2002)

Snapshots (2002)

Albion Entertainment etc.

February 21, 2002

Dramedy?

DVD

C-

Yes, another movie where the setting is more interesting to me than the characters.  Rudolf van den Berg directed and co-wrote.

Smooth Talk

Smooth Talk

American Playhouse

November 15, 1985

Drama

DVD
C-

I tuned out long before it got too creepy, but I've known of this movie, and the Joyce Carol Oates short story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" it's based on, for years.  A different Joyce, Joyce Chopra, directed.

Smilla's Sense of Snow

Smilla's Sense of Snow

Bavaria Film etc.

13 February 1997

Crime Drama

DVD
D+

Knocked down a notch or two for the unsympathetic protagonist, while the mystery itself is mildly intriguing.  This is based on the novel by Peter Hoeg and directed by Bille August, the year before his version of Les Mis.

Smiles of a Summer Night AKA Sommarnattens leende

Smiles of a Summer Night AKA Sommarnattens leende

Svensk Filmindustri

26 December 1955

Historical Comedy

DVD
C-

I didn't like any of the characters, but the period details were good.  Bergman wrote and directed.

Smashed

Smashed

Super Crispy Entertainment

January 22, 2012

Drama

DVD
D

Yeah, I'm not going to watch a whole movie about an alcoholic teacher.  James Ponsoldt directed and co-wrote, six years after Off the Black.

The Smallest Show on Earth AKA Big Time Operators

The Smallest Show on Earth AKA Big Time Operators

British Lion

9 April 1957

Comedy
DVD
B-

A sweet funny little story about old movies and old movie theatres, but with a dark undertone.  I sort of hoped that the young couple would keep the cinema and start showing silents, too, since it's definitely the sort of place I would've liked to go.  (A 99-cent-for-triple-features theater in the '90s is the closest experience I've had.)  One thing I've learned in this project is that my tolerance for Peter Sellers is much lower than when I was young, but he does well playing an old man when he was actually 31.  And Margaret Rutherford is as adorably dotty as ever.  Basil Dearden directed.

Small Town Saturday Night

Small Town Saturday Night

Perfect Weekend

June 1, 2010

Drama

DVD
D+

One of those movies where the setting is more interesting than the people.  Ryan Craig wrote and directed.

Small Engine Repair

Small Engine Repair

Tapestry Films etc.

September 10, 2021

Dramedy
DVD
C-

I appreciated that at least there was a lot of dialogue, and no actual engine repair, in the first quarter hour.  John Pollono wrote, directed, and stars.

Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire

Film4 Productions etc.

31 October 2008

Drama

DVD
F+

Repellent, especially for such an acclaimed film.  This is loosely based on Vikas Swarup's novel Q & A, and co-directed by Danny Boyle and Loveleen Tandan.  

Slither

Slither

Brightlight Pictures etc.

March 31, 2006

Comedy, Sci-Fi

DVD
C-

I tuned out before this felt like full-on horror, but I did like the setting of a quirky small town.  James Gunn wrote and directed.

Sliding Doors

Sliding Doors

Mirage Enterprises etc.

1 May 1998

Romcom, Dramedy

DVD
C+

I really liked this at the time, but now I can see the many weaknesses in the script. Still, the premise remains intriguing and the soundtrack has aged well.  Peter Howitt wrote and directed.

Sleepless in Seattle

Sleepless in Seattle

TriStar

June 25, 1993

Romcom

DVD
D+

This is at least the third time I've attempted to watch this movie over the years.  Oh well, at least it was nice to see David Hyde Pierce in a supporting role.  (This time I tuned out before most of the recognizable faces showed up.)  Nora Ephron directed and co-wrote.

Sleepless

Sleepless

Riverstone Pictures etc.

January 13, 2017

Crime Drama

DVD
D

Jamie Foxx is a crooked cop with a messy personal life.  Baran bo Odar directed.

Sleeping with the Enemy

Sleeping with the Enemy

20th Century Fox

February 8, 1991

Drama

DVD
D+

Roberts's acting is pretty good here, but obviously I didn't want to watch a story about an abusive marriage.  This is based on Nancy Price's novel and directed by Joseph Ruben, thirteen years before The Forgotten, which I actually liked.

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Disney

January 29, 1959

Children's, Fantasy, Musical

DVD
B-

While I like this better than Snow White and Cinderella,  I am not dazzled by the then-modern design style.  The characterization, especially of the three fairies, has always been my favorite part.  This go round, I noticed how this movie influenced Disney's later modern fairytales Enchanted and Tangled, which are more entertaining in almost every aspect.  Still, I can't get that damn "Once Upon a Dream" song out of my head, so I guess that counts for something.

This is based on various versions of the fairytale.  The many directors are Les Clark, Clyde Geronimi, Eric Larson, Wolfgang Reitherman, and Hamilton Luske.

Sleepers

Sleepers

PolyGram etc.

October 18, 1996

Historical Drama, Crime Drama

DVD
D+

Bumped up a notch for the soundtrack.  Barry Levinson directed and co-wrote.

Slappy and the Stinkers

Slappy and the Stinkers

TriStar etc.

January 23, 1998

Children's, Comedy
DVD
D+

I tuned out before Slappy the Seal showed up.  Barnet Kellman directed.

Skyscraper

Skyscraper

Universal etc.

July 13, 2018

Action
DVD
D+

Rawson Marshall Thurber wrote and directed this predictable movie, a couple years after Central Intelligence and fourteen years after Dodgeball, which were marginally worse.

The Skulls

The Skulls

Universal etc.

March 31, 2000

Drama

DVD
D+

A nice young man wants to join a shady secret society and seems to have no qualms about it.  Rob Cohen directed, seven years after Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story.

Skateland

Skateland

Freeman Film etc.

January 25, 2010

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

The period details (for 1983) feel accurate, but I wasn't invested in any of the story threads.  Anthony Burns directed and co-wrote.

16 Years of Alcohol

16 Years of Alcohol

Metro Tartan

14 August 2003

Drama

DVD
D+

Richard Jobson directed and adapted his "semi-autobiographical novel," so I'm sorry he went through this, but I don't want to watch it.

Six Minutes to Midnight

Six Minutes to Midnight

Lionsgate etc.

25 September 2020

Historical Drama

DVD
C+

I was drawn in by the concept but the movie got increasingly melodramatic as it went on.  Director Andy Goddard, star Eddie Izzard, and Celyn Jones, who plays Corporal Willis, co-wrote.

The Sitter

The Sitter

20th Century Fox etc.

December 9, 2011

Comedy
DVD
D+

Not the worst comedy in this project by any means, but I certainly didn't laugh, or want to spend more time with these characters.  David Gordon Green directed, four years before Our Brand Is Crisis, which I also gave a D+

The Sisters Brothers

The Sisters Brothers

Why Not Productions among many others

October 19, 2018

Western

DVD
C-

I didn't care about the story, based on Patrick DeWitt's novel and co-adapted by director Jacques Audiard, but I was impressed by the cinematography.

Sisters & Brothers

Sisters & Brothers

Raven West Films etc.

8 September 2011

Dramedy
DVD
D+

A bunch of annoying people, some of whom are related to each other, although I could almost see how this could be a good film in better hands.  Carl Bessai directed and co-wrote, but this was also partly improvised.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2

Warner Bros. etc.

August 6, 2008

Dramedy
DVD
C

I enjoyed the Ann Brashares books and the movie adaptations at the time, but this felt a little flat today.  And, yes, it was weird to see Blake Lively in this so soon after watching her villain role in A Simple Favor.  Sanaa Hamri directed.

Sister Act

Sister Act

Touchstone AKA Disney

May 29, 1992

Comedy, Musical

DVD

D+

I know that there are people who just adore this movie, but I couldn't get into it.  Note, I tuned out before much of the recognizable cast showed up.  Emile Ardolino directed, five years before Dirty Dancing, another beloved movie that didn't gel for me.

Sioux City

Sioux City

Cabin Fever Films etc.

April 17, 1994

Drama

DVD
D-

I didn't care about the main character and I didn't like the hospital gore.  Phillips directed and stars.

The Single Moms Club

The Single Moms Club

Tyler Perry Studio

March 14, 2014

Dramedy
DVD
C

I liked the concept of this movie, and I gave it half an hour, but the characters were just too cliched.  Tyler Perry wrote, directed, and cast himself as one of the only nice men in the movie.

The Singing Detective

The Singing Detective

Icon Productions/ Paramount

January 17, 2003

Crime Drama, Historical Drama, Musical

DVD
F+

Arguably the most repellent musical I've ever tried to watch.  Keith Gordon directed.

Sing (2016)

Sing (2016)

Illumination Entertainment/ Universal

December 21, 2016

Children's, Animation, Musical

DVD
C-

I tried to watch this once before, but none of the plot threads grabbed me either time, especially the whole typo-driven plot device.  Still, the music (all covers of older pop & rock) is pretty good.  Garth Jennings wrote and co-directed with Christophe Lourdelet, eleven years after The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

A Simple Plan

A Simple Plan

Paramount etc.

December 11, 1998

Crime Drama

DVD
D+

Shrug, at least there were some nice nature shots.  Scott B. Smith adapted his own novel, and Sam Raimi directed.

A Simple Favor

A Simple Favor

Lionsgate etc.

September 14, 2018

Crime Comedy?

DVD
B

I read the Darcey Bell novel this is based on and found it so bad it was good, so obviously I was curious about this, especially with a director like Paul Feig and a "can't do anything wrong" star like Anna Kendrick.  (I don't hold Pitch Perfect against her.)  I found it delightful, aware of its own outrageousness but still working as a mystery.  (With significant changes from the book.)  I wouldn't quite say it's a great movie, but I was entertained, even through three (!) commentaries.