You Might Be the Killer

You Might Be the Killer

Curmudgeon Films etc.

December 4, 2018

Horror, Comedy
DVD
B-

This was quite a surprise for me.  I'm definitely not a horror fan, but I found this funny and clever.  I can't say I totally got past the gore, but it was done in such a way that I didn't take it entirely seriously, even when I was invested in some of the characters.  The performance of Alyson Hannigan of course made a huge difference, but the rest of the cast held my interest even when her character was offscreen.  Brett Simmons directed and co-wrote.

The Women's Balcony AKA ישמח חתני

The Women's Balcony AKA ישמח חתני

Pie Films

29 September 2016

Dramedy

DVD
B-

This is sort of a clean-cut Orthodox Jewish version of Lysistrata, not feminist per se, since the women want to maintain that separate area of the title, but it is warm, human, and gently funny.  Except that the young rabbi is a complete villain, who is neither redeemed nor truly punished, which is why I can't go higher on my grade.  Emil Ben-Shimon directed.

Wild Nights with Emily

Wild Nights with Emily

P2 Films

March 11, 2018

Historical Comedy, Romance

DVD
B-

While this is at times funny and/or touching, I'm not sure how well it works to deliberately go against the usual "serious historical drama" directing approach.  I might've preferred this as a book, or even the writer-director Madeleine Olnek's original stageplay.  Still, definitely worth watching, and thinking about.

Wild Mountain Thyme

Wild Mountain Thyme

Likely Story etc.

11 December 2020

Romance

DVD
B-

This movie has charm, humor, and lovely scenery, but I'm not sure if the story (adapted by director John Patrick Shanley from his play Outside Mullingar) entirely works.  I wanted to love it but ended up just liking it.  Still, on this project, that's nothing to complain about.

White Irish Drinkers

White Irish Drinkers

Screen Media Films

October 1, 2010

Historical Drama

DVD
B-

I liked this movie a lot more than I expected, with that title and its bleak setting of working-class 1975 Brooklyn.  But there is enough warmth, humor, and even hope to carry through the rough patches.  John Gray wrote and directed.

When Harry Met Sally...

When Harry Met Sally...

Castle Rock Entertainment

July 21, 1989
Romcom
DVD
B-

So here's the thing.  I saw this movie once or twice before, not at the time, because at twenty-one I was a little young for it.  I always thought it was over-rated but not terrible, and just seeing the trailers made me mildly dislike Meg Ryan for decades.  So I didn't exactly go into this with high hopes.

But it's actually pretty good, sweet and mildly funny.  I can't relate to it, I don't think I've ever related to it*, but it's definitely interesting in an anthropological sense, very much of its time.  And it's much better than at least 90% of the romcoms out there, especially ones I've attempted for this project.  And, yeah, I'll finally start cutting Meg Ryan some slack.

Nora Ephron wrote (with a lot of input), and Rob Reiner directed.

*I relate to Going the Distance hard, even if I'm not actually like any of the people in it.

War Horse

War Horse

DreamWorks etc.

December 25, 2011

War Drama

DVD
B-

I liked this more than I expected, especially the scenes set in Devon, although I don't think every thread works, and of course I was more interested in the horse than the war.  This is based on the Michael Morpugo novel and directed by Steven Spielberg.

Waking Ned Devine

Waking Ned Devine

Tomboy Films etc.

15 September 1998

Comedy

DVD
B-

I saw this in the theater and enjoyed it, and it holds up pretty well at home a quarter century later.  The story is slight and it's never hilarious, but I liked spending time in the tiny village with the gorgeous scenery and the oddball residents.  Kirk Jones wrote and directed, seven years before Nanny McPhee.

Vitus

Vitus

Sony Pictures Classics

2 February 2006

Drama

DVD
B-

My first (and probably only) Swiss movie in this project, this story of a child prodigy who's smart enough to fake his own cognitive decline doesn't work in every aspect (some of the characterization was unclear), but it's watchable throughout.  Fredi M. Murer directed and co-wrote.

A Very Long Engagement AKA Un long dimanche de fiançailles

A Very Long Engagement AKA Un long dimanche de fiançailles

2003 Productions etc.

27 October 2004

War Drama, Historical Drama, Romance, Mystery

DVD
B-

I saw this in the theater at the time because I loved Amelie.  Not as long ago, but when I wasn't as deep into this project as I am now, I gave Amelie a B-, the charm having faded.  This probably was a B in the theater, especially with some of the dazzling shots, but it's a B- at home now.  I definitely enjoyed it more than most war dramas of course.  But even the romance aspect doesn't really work for me, because the missing fiancé is such a cypher, even in flashbacks.  Then and now, I most loved the "at home" scenes, with the cats, uncle, aunt, and postman.

Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet co-adapted the Sébastien Japrisot novel.

The Vanishing AKA Spoorloos

The Vanishing AKA Spoorloos

Golden Egg Films

27 October 1988

Mystery, sort of

DVD
B-

Both tense and understated, with very little actual violence but a constant threat.  It's not quite a mystery, or a crime drama either, but more a gradual unwrapping of the story.  The ending didn't entirely work for me, although it does offer closure of a sort, so I can't go with a B or higher.  Director George Sluizer co-adapted Tim Krabbé's novel with Krabbé.

Unconditional (2012)

Unconditional (2012)

Harbinger Media Partners etc.

September 21, 2012

Drama

DVD
B-

This movie was better than I expected, but not as good as I hoped.  I generally don't like "Christian movies," because I'm not a Christian and most of those movies are heavy-handed about their messaging. This one was subtler, with no overt proselytizing until about half an hour before the end.  And even then, I was swept up in the emotion, particularly Sam's thread.  The thing is, I was shipping Sam/Joe, but I suspect she's the made-up part of this "true story," especially because Joe was already married to Denise in real life at the time he became "Papa Joe."  So they show us this connection between the two childhood friends who have rediscovered each other and still need each other, but it's all platonic (and fictional) in the end.  And much of the story is about Sam trying to solve the mystery of her husband's murder and then it seems that "it doesn't matter" who killed him.  At least we do get to see Sam going back to writing children's books.

Brent McCorkle wrote and directed.

Tulip Fever

Tulip Fever

Worldview Entertainment etc.

1 September 2017

Historical Drama, Romance

DVD
B-

Deborah Moggach's adaptation, with Tom Stoppard, of her own novel is implausible but held my attention throughout.  Justin Chadwick directed, and I rejected two of his other movies, but I did give The First Grader a B- as well.

The Trip to Greece

The Trip to Greece

IFC Films

3 March 2020

Dramedy
DVD
B-

This apparently is the last in a series where Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon play fictionalized versions of themselves.  I found it uneven, but sometimes funny or touching, and of course the scenery is gorgeous.  Michael Winterbottom directed.

To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird

Universal

December 25, 1962

Historical Drama

DVD

B-

I've seen this movie a few times over the years, including I think on the big screen in the past twenty years.  I gave the Harper Lee novel a B eleven years ago (https://rereadingeverybookiown.blogspot.com/2012/06/to-kill-mockingbird.html) and I thought I might give the film one as well.  But, while I think the adaptation, by Horton Foote, is still pretty good, I felt less drawn in this time.  It's a combination of how the central tragedy happens mostly offscreen and the way that other characters, including Dill and his aunt, are not as fully developed as they could be.  (They probably were more so in the book, but I don't recall.)  The two main performances, by Oscar-winning Gregory Peck and non-child-actress Mary Badham as his daughter, remain strong and the movie did mostly hold my interest throughout.  This time, even on a TV screen, I was really impressed by the sets.

Robert Mulligan directed.

The Theory of Everything

The Theory of Everything

Working Title Films

7 September 2014

Historical Drama

DVD
B-

Although I'm definitely someone who's generally more interested in the domestic/romantic/personal side of people's lives more than their accomplishments, I do feel if you're going to make a movie about Stephen Hawking, there should be more of him developing and explaining his theories.  And if you are going to go for the personal side, it would be nice if the children were more than just props.  That said, there is a lovely, complicated portrait of his eventual ex-wife, Jane, whose Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen this is somewhat based on.  James Marsh directed, about four years before The Mercy, which has good period details, like this, but a much less interesting story.

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.

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.

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.

The Station Agent

The Station Agent

SenArt Films etc.

January 26, 2003

Dramedy

DVD
B-

Tom McCarthy wrote and directed this mostly dry, quiet character study of a group of very different people who connect, and don't.