Victoria & Abdul

Victoria & Abdul

Focus Features etc.

15 September 2017

Historical Comedy
DVD
C-

This tries to offer both splendour and humour but fails at both.  It's based on Shrabani Basu's book Victoria & Abdul: The True Story of the Queen's Closest Confidant.  Stephen Frears directed.

Reservation Road

Reservation Road

Focus Features

October 19, 2007

Drama

DVD
D

Laughably heavy-handed.  John Burnham Schwartz helped adapt his own novel, while Terry George directed, three years after Hotel Rwanda.

Ratchet & Clank

Ratchet & Clank

Focus Features etc.

April 29, 2016

Children's, Sci-Fi, Comedy
DVD
C-

Considering it's based on a video-game, not bad.  Kevin Munroe and Jericca Cleland co-directed.

Promising Young Woman

Promising Young Woman

Focus Features etc.

January 25, 2020

Dramedy? Horror?  I don't know!

DVD
D

I was prepared to hate this movie, but then it veered off in the direction of revenge, so I only dislike it.  Emerald Fennell wrote and directed.

Pariah

Pariah

Focus Features

December 28, 2011

Drama

DVD
C-

Downbeat story of a young African-American lesbian.  Dee Rees wrote and directed.

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 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).

Nocturnal Animals

Nocturnal Animals

Focus Features etc.

September 2, 2016

Drama?

DVD
D

It would be nice to see Amy Adams and Michael Sheen act together in a good movie, although at least I tuned out before things got too dark.  Director Tom Ford adapted Austin Wright's novel Tony and Susan.

Never Rarely Sometimes Always

Never Rarely Sometimes Always

Focus etc.

April 3, 2020

Drama

DVD
D+

Depressing tale of teen pregnancy, directed and written by Eliza Hittman.

The Motorcycle Diaries

The Motorcycle Diaries

Focus Features etc.

15 January 2004

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

Che Guevara, the early years, based on his book.  Walter Salles directed.

Moonrise Kingdom

Moonrise Kingdom

Focus Features

June 29, 2012

Historical Comedy?

DVD
C

I really liked this in the theater, but my interest in Wes Anderson quirkiness has definitely faded in the past decade.  Still, I do like the setting and the costumes, and scattered lines, in the first quarter hour.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Focus Features

March 7, 2008

Historical Comedy
DVD
C-

I could see what they were going for here, but I just didn't think it worked.  This is based on the Winifred Watson novel and directed by Bharat Nalluri.

Milk

Milk

Focus Features etc.

November 26, 2008

Historical Drama

DVD

B-

I was really moved by this movie when I saw it in the theater, but rewatching it I felt more distant, I think partly because a lot of the supporting characters are barely sketched in.  Still, Penn remains solid as the title character.  Gus Van Sant directed, and I've tagged some of the real people who appear in archival footage.

Loving

Loving

Focus Features etc.

November 4, 2016

Historical Drama

DVD
C

I wanted to see this movie at the time and I think it's a very interesting (true) story.  Unfortunately it's not told in an interesting way here.  Jeff Nichols wrote and directed.

Let Him Go

Let Him Go

Focus Features

November 6, 2020

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

Avenging in-laws, I think?  Director Thomas Bezucha adapted the novel by Larry Watson.

Kisses

Kisses

Focus Features

21 November 2008

Drama

DVD
D+

Child abuse in modern Ireland.  Lance Daly wrote and directed.

The Kids Are All Right

The Kids Are All Right

Focus Features

July 30, 2010

Dramedy
DVD
C-

The concept is interesting but the execution doesn't quite work.  Lisa Cholodenko directed and co-wrote.

Hamlet 2

Hamlet 2

Focus Features

August 22, 2008

Comedy
DVD
D+

If only it was as funny as it thinks it is.  Andrew Fleming directed and co-wrote.

Everybody Knows AKA Todos lo saben

Everybody Knows AKA Todos lo saben
Focus Features
14 September 2018
Drama
DVD
C-

I guess this turns from a mild family drama to a crime drama some point after I tuned out.  Asghar Farhadi wrote and directed.

Evening

Evening
Focus Features
June 29, 2007
Drama
DVD
D

Two minutes in I exclaimed, "God, this is so frickin' genteel!"  Then I MST3Ked the fact that no one looked period-appropriate in the flashbacks (the '50s according to Wikipedia, but I barely would've bought the '80s) and how much I disliked every character.  Still, the coastal Rhode Island scenery almost survives the blandifying.  Based on the Susan Minot novel and directed by Lajos Koltai.