White Fang (1991)

White Fang (1991)

Disney

January 18, 1991

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

Boring but, yeah, at least there's scenery.  This is of course based on Jack London, and directed by Randal Kleiser.

Training Day

Training Day

Village Roadshow Pictures

October 5, 2001

Crime Drama

DVD
D-

Although the first quarter hour wasn't as violent as it could've been, Denzel's character was obnoxious.  Antoine Fuqua directed, between The Replacement Killers and Shooter.

10,000 Saints

10,000 Saints

Screen Media Films

August 14, 2015

Historical Drama, Historical Comedy
DVD
C-

The acting was pretty good but I didn't really care about the characters.  Co-directors Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini (who did The Extra Man and the surprisingly good American Splendor) co-adapted the Eleanor Henderson novel.

In a Valley of Violence

In a Valley of Violence

Focus World

October 21, 2016

Western

DVD
C-

I like some touches, like the dog and the opening credits, but it is a a modern Western, with the violence implied by that and the title.  Ti West wrote and directed.

Getaway (2013)

Getaway (2013)

Warner Bros.

August 30, 2013

Action

DVD

D-

Idiotic and at times infuriating movie, which made me kept questioning why the "hero" couldn't see that he was risking the lives of hundreds of people to maybe save his wife's life.

First Reformed

First Reformed

A24

May 18, 2018

Drama

DVD
D+

Paul Schrader wrote and directed this slow-moving tale of a pastor who keeps a diary.

Born to Be Blue

Born to Be Blue
Entertainment One
13 September 2015
Historical Drama
DVD
D-

Another biopic about an unpleasant musician, this time Chet Baker.  Robert Budreau wrote and directed.

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
THINKFilm
October 26, 2007
Crime Drama
DVD
C-

Three years after Lumet directed Tomei in the Alfie remake, he gives her a sex scene and a nude scene in just the first quarter hour.  So a C- rather than a D+ for this tale of two criminal brothers.  Note that the alphabet has given Ethan Hawke back to back entries for this blog.

Before Sunset

Before Sunset
Castle Rock
July 2, 2004
Romance
DVD
C-

This turns out to be the middle in a trilogy, with movies spaced nine years apart (Before Sunrise was first and Before Midnight is the last, so far).  I judged it as a stand-alone and it was just sort of there.  A novelist gets interviewed and then talks with his "ex," who shows up to surprise him, and even though I am big on dialogue (my idea of ultimate entertainment is a lot closer to people talking on a couch than it is to explosions or any "spectacle"), I just didn't care enough about what they were talking about.

Ethan Hawke not only stars as Jesse, but he co-wrote the screenplay with director Richard Linklater and Kim Krizan, who co-created the characters.