Tank

Tank

Lorimar/ Universal

March 16, 1984

Drama

DVD
D+

Not as boring as I expected.  Marvin J. Chomsky directed.

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Columbia etc.

August 4, 2006

Sports Comedy

DVD
D+

Director Adam McKay and star Will Ferrell co-wrote the script, which contains many lines in the form of jokes.

Talking Head AKA Tōkingu Heddo

Talking Head AKA Tōkingu Heddo

Bandai Visual

10 October 1992

Comedy?

DVD
C

I was enough intrigued by this to give it twenty minutes (rather than the usual fifteen), but it lost me in the scene of the literal and figurative talking head.  Mamoru Oshii wrote and directed.

Talk to Her AKA Hable con ella

Talk to Her AKA Hable con ella

El Deseo S.A.

15 March 2002

Drama

DVD

D-

A collection of things I don't want, like bullfighting.  Pedro Almodóvar wrote and directed.

Talk Radio

Talk Radio

Universal

December 23, 1988

Drama

DVD
C-

Heavy-handed.  Director Oliver Stone co-adapted star Eric Bogosian's play, which in turn is loosely based on Stephen Singular's nonfiction book Talked to Death: The Life and Murder of Alan Berg, which I read years ago and found good if disturbing.

Tales from Earthsea AKA Gedo Senki

Tales from Earthsea AKA Gedo Senki

Studio Ghibli

29 July 2006

Anime, Fantasy, Historical Drama, Action

DVD

C-

I mostly like the look of this, but I wasn't invested in the surprisingly bloody story.  Gorô Miyazaki co-adapted the Ursula Le Guin novel, with his father, Hayao.

The Talented Mr. Ripley

The Talented Mr. Ripley

Mirage Enterprises

December 25, 1999
Drama?

DVD
C-

With a lighter touch, this could've been a delightful farce, or something like one of Hitchcock's wittier mysteries.  Director Anthony Minghella adapted the Patricia Highsmith novel.

The Tale of Despereaux

The Tale of Despereaux

Relativity Media etc.

December 19, 2008

Animation, Fantasy, Historical Comedy

DVD
D+

I didn't care for the book by Kate DiCamillo, and the character design here doesn't help.  Sam Fell and Robert Stevenhagen co-directed.

The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)

The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)

Columbia etc.

June 12, 2009

Crime Drama

DVD
D-

I'm assuming that the '70s version at least had fun fashion.  This is based on the novel by John Godey, and directed by Tony Scott, after Crimson Tide and Spy Game, which are also D-s.

The Takers

The Takers

Screen Gems etc.

August 27, 2010

Crime Drama

DVD
D-

So boring I spent time trying to come up with a clever way of expressing how boring it is, but sadly nothing definitive.   John Luessenhop directed and co-wrote.

Take the Lead

Take the Lead

Tiara Blu Films

April 7, 2006

Drama, Musical

DVD
D+

The music was better than the story, but not enough.  Liz Friedlander directed.

Tag

Tag

New Line Cinema etc.

June 15, 2018

Comedy
DVD
C+

Sometimes funny but too uneven.  Jeff Tomsic directed.

Syriana

Syriana

Participant Productions etc.

December 9, 2005

Action?
DVD
D

Of course boring.  This is loosely based on Robert Baer's See No Evil and directed by Stephen Gaghan, fifteen years before Dolittle.

Sympathy for Delicious

Sympathy for Delicious

Corner Store etc.

January 23, 2010

Drama

DVD
C-

Didn't click for me, but the acting was pretty good.  Mark Ruffalo directed and played Father Joe.

Swordfish

Swordfish

Village Roadshow etc.

June 8, 2001

Crime Drama

DVD
D-

Does not contain humans.  Dominic Sena directed, eight years after Kalifornia.

The Sword in the Stone

The Sword in the Stone

Disney

December 18, 1963

Animation, Children's, Historical Comedy, Fantasy

DVD
D+

Kind of flat.  Based on T.H. White's novel and directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, who did four other Disney movies in this project, so far, Sleeping Beauty the best of the lot.

The Switch (2010)

The Switch (2010)

Miramax etc.

August 20, 2010

Romcom
DVD
D

Aniston and Bateman are plausible as best friends but this script (based on Jeffrey Eugenides's short story "Baster"), oy!  Josh Gordon and Will Speck co-directed.

Swing Vote

Swing Vote

Touchstone etc.

August 1, 2008

Comedy

DVD
D+

Neither funny nor insightful.  I tuned out before all the recognizable faces showed up, but I tagged who I saw.  Joshua Michael Stern directed and co-wrote.

Swing Time

Swing Time

RKO

August 27, 1936

Musical, Romance, Crime Comedy

DVD
C+

While some of the songs and dances are great, I was not happy with the script, with gambling, cheating, and dishonesty presented sympathetically.  And that's without getting into the blackface "tribute."  There are better Fred & Ginger movies, but this one is all right to pass the time.  George Stevens directed, before Gunga Din and Shane.

Swing Kids (1993)

Swing Kids (1993)

Hollywood Pictures etc.

March 5, 1993

Historical Drama, Musical?

DVD
D

Bumped up a notch for the music but still pretty stupid.  Thomas Carter directed.

Swimming with Sharks

Swimming with Sharks

Trimark Pictures

September 10, 1994

Comedy
DVD
D

About as fun as the title sounds.  George Huang wrote and directed.

Sweet November

Sweet November

Bel Air Entertainment etc.

February 16, 2001

Romance

DVD
D-

At least some of the people in Sweet Home Alabama weren't jerks.  And, no, I've never seen the '68 version.  Pat O'Connor directed.

Sweet Home Alabama

Sweet Home Alabama

Touchstone etc.

September 27, 2002

Romcom?

DVD
D+

Cliched and a little bland.  Andy Tennant directed, between Ever After and The Bounty Hunter.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

DreamWorks etc.

21 December 2007

Musical, Historical Drama, Horror

DVD
D

I of course didn't like this, but, also of course, Helena Bonham Carter was better than Johnny Depp.  Tim Burton of course directed.

The Sweeney

The Sweeney

Vertigo Films etc.

12 September 2012

Crime Drama

DVD
D-

Best described as "icky," misogynistic and violent to be more precise.  Nick Love wrote and directed.

S.W.A.T.

S.W.A.T.

Columbia etc.

August 8, 2003

Crime Drama

DVD
D-

Yeah, we all knew I wouldn't like this, but it least it had a moment of Josh Charles being snarky.  Clark Johnson directed.

Swamp Devil

Swamp Devil

Muse Entertainment etc.

17 April 2008

Horror

DVD
D

The guy with the crush was creepier than the title character.  David Winning directed.

Support Your Local Sheriff!

Support Your Local Sheriff!

United Artists

March 26, 1969

Historical Comedy, Western

B-

This film was both better than I expected and somehow not living up to its potential.  I like its blend of gentle, even laidback humor with slapstick and cartoony violence, but it didn't seem to have a clear viewpoint.  Also, it's a late '60s G-rated movie that involves several deaths and a whorehouse, so the tone is definitely uneven at times.  Standout performances are from star Garner (post-Maverick pre-Rockford Files, and it shows) and of course Harry Morgan as the amiably cynical mayor.  (The way he pronounces "puberty" is classic.)  There were times I liked Joan Hackett, but she's not given a clear, consistent character to play.  Burt Kennedy directed, a few months before The Good Guys and the Bad Guys, which lived up to its potential even less.

Support the Girls

Support the Girls

Burn Later Productions

March 9, 2018

Dramedy
DVD
C-

This didn't really land for me, but I could see other people enjoying it.  Andrew Bujalski wrote and directed.

Superman (1978)

Superman (1978)

Warner Bros. etc.

December 15, 1978

Sci-Fi

DVD
C-

I actually never saw this movie at the time or until today, but some of it got into the zeitgeist, so the first quarter hour (without Reeve) seemed oddly familiar.  Mario Puzo and Tom Mankiewicz contributed to the script, while the versatile Richard Donner directed.

Superfly (2018)

Superfly (2018)

Columbia etc.

June 13, 2018

Crime Drama

DVD
D-

I've never seen the original, but I assume it as least had better music and fashion.  Director X. directed.

Super Troopers

Super Troopers

Jersey Shore etc.

February 15, 2002

Crime Comedy

DVD
D+

Stupid but could be worse I guess.  Jay Chandrasekhar directed, co-wrote, and stars as "Thorny."

Sunshine State

Sunshine State

Anarchist's Convention Films

July 12, 2002

Dramedy?

DVD

C-

I wasn't invested enough in any of the threads to continue.  John Sayles wrote and directed.

The Sun Is Also a Star

The Sun Is Also a Star

Warner Bros. etc.

May 17, 2019

Romance?
DVD
C

I was interested in the deportation plot, somewhat interested in the college interview plot, and not particularly interested in the romance.  So I gave up after half an hour.  This is based on the young adult novel by Nicola Yoon and directed by Ry Russo-Young.

The Sun Also Rises

The Sun Also Rises

20th Century Fox

August 23, 1957

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

Kind of boring, and I have to say that 43-year-old Tyrone Power, the year before he died, looks too old to play a young war veteran.  Of course based on Hemingway, and directed by Henry King.

Summerland

Summerland

Shoebox Films etc.

31 July 2020

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

A bunch of unlikable people, but the scenery is pretty of course.  Jessica Swale wrote and directed.

Summer with Monika AKA Sommaren med Monika

Summer with Monika AKA Sommaren med Monika

Svensk Filmindustri

9 February 1953

Romance?

DVD
D+

An awkward young couple.  This is based on Per Anders Fogelström's novel and directed and co-written by Bergman.

Summer Wars

Summer Wars

Madhouse etc.

1 August 2009

Anime, Sci-Fi, Dramedy, Romance

DVD
B-

I'd seen this before, years ago, and enjoyed it, but I honestly didn't remember much about it, other than that there was a large family.  I think the film does a pretty good job of juggling so many characters and tones and visual styles.  But I can also see why it didn't linger with me.  Mamoru Hosoda wrote and directed, six years before The Boy and the Beast.

Summer Palace AKA Yíhé Yuán

Summer Palace AKA Yíhé Yuán

Ocean Films

18 May 2006

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

A young woman unhappily loses her virginity, cheers up at college, and then gets depressed again.  Ye Lou directed and co-wrote.

Summer City AKA Coast of Terror

Summer City AKA Coast of Terror

Avalon Film Corporation etc.

22 December 1977

Historical Drama

DVD
D

A group of young Australian jerks, Mel Gibson among them.  I might've bumped this up a notch for the early rock & roll, if the sound recording wasn't subpar.  Christopher Fraser directed.

Sully

Sully

Village Roadshow etc.

September 9, 2016

Drama

DVD
D+

The story behind the news story that I didn't hear about at the time and have given little thought to since, other than being aware of this movie, based on Sullenberger's book, Highest Duty.  Eastwood directed.

Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay

Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay

DC Entertainment etc.

March 27, 2018

Animation, Action, Sci-Fi?

DVD
D-

Does its darnedest to earn an R-rating, but throws in the word "heck."  Sam Liu directed, the year after Batman and Harley Quinn.

Suicide Kings

Suicide Kings

Eyes 'n Rice etc.

September 6, 1997

Crime Drama

DVD
D

I like the music.  This is based on Don Stanford's short story "The Hostage," and directed by Peter O'Fallon.

Suffragette

Suffragette

Film4 etc.

12 October 2015

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

Unfortunately, one of those historical dramas where the directing style-- by Sarah Gavron, eight years after Brick Lane-- distances the viewers instead of bringing us into that time.  

Sueño

Sueño

Destination Films

September 30, 2005

Dramedy, Musical, Romance

DVD
B-

There are flaws in the acting (especially the female love interest) and writing (some loose ends and plotholes), but the charm and the music help a lot.  Note that John Leguizamo was actually 45 when he played young Antonio!  (And Elizabeth Peña was 46 as the "older woman.")  Renée Chabria wrote and directed.

Sucker Punch (2008)

Sucker Punch (2008)

3 Finger Productions

26 April 2008

Action

DVD
D

Violent of course, but I enjoyed listening to the Geordie accents.  Malcolm Martin wrote and directed.

Submarine 707 Revolution: The Movie

Submarine 707 Revolution: The Movie

Group TAC

2003

Anime, Sci-Fi?

DVD
D+

I couldn't really follow this either.  Hideaki Anno and Shôichi Masuo co-directed.

The Stunt Man

The Stunt Man

20th Century Fox

June 27, 1980

Action

DVD
C-

Bumped up a notch for the period details, including the random song.  Director Richard Rush adapted the novel by Paul Brodeur.

The Strong Ones AKA Los Fuertes

The Strong Ones AKA Los Fuertes

Cinestación etc.

7 October 2019

Drama

DVD

D+

I couldn't really follow this, even though it was slow-moving, and I was surprised to see from the DVD case that it's actually a gay romance.  Omar Zúñiga wrote and directed.