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 Silence of the Lambs

The Silence of the Lambs

Orion Pictures etc.

February 14, 1991

Crime Drama

DVD
D

I was surprised that, in the first quarter hour, Hannibal Lecter isn't necessarily the creepiest man onscreen.  This is based on the novel by Thomas Harris and directed by Jonathan Demme.

Panic Room

Panic Room

Columbia etc.

March 29, 2002

Drama?
DVD
C

I feel like there's the potential for a completely different movie I would like inside this one, since I did like the setting and characters, including an androgynous young Kristen Stewart as Jodie Foster's daughter.  But that would be a movie that doesn't turn into a thriller after the first quarter hour and would be more of a slice-of-life (albeit upper-class New York life) dramedy.  David Fincher directed and it's certainly more enjoyable than Fight Club and his other movies I've watched quarter-hours of for this project.

Nim's Island

Nim's Island

Walden Media etc.

April 4, 2008

Children's, Adventure, Comedy
DVD
C-

I could see kids really liking this, but as an adult I was too distracted by things like how they got such good Internet reception on a remote South Pacific island, especially back then.  This is based on the novel by Wendy Orr and co-directed by Jennifer Flackett and Mark Levin.

Money Monster

Money Monster

TriStar etc.

May 13, 2016

Crime Drama

DVD
D+

An obnoxious TV host (the title character, played by Clooney) is held hostage live on the air, and I'm not clear if we're supposed to care.  Still, the little gimmicks of the cable show were cute, so this is bumped up from a D.  Jodie Foster directed.

Maverick

Maverick

Warner Bros. etc.

May 20, 1994

Western, Comedy

DVD
C-

The comedic elements make this more interesting than most Westerns, but not enough for me to stay with it.  (I tuned out before Garner shows up.)  William Goldman wrote the screenplay (inspired by the TV show of course) and Richard Donner directed.

Hotel Artemis

Hotel Artemis

Global Road Entertainment

June 8, 2018

Sci-Fi, Action

DVD
D-

Racist and violent but made less awful by the still tough-but-tender Jodie Foster.  Drew Pearce wrote and directed.

Elysium

Elysium
Sony Pictures
August 9, 2013
Sci-Fi
DVD
C

This isn't bad for a dystopic film and I in fact watched the first half hour.  But ultimately, I didn't care enough about the world or the characters to continue.  (And it sounds like it becomes more of an action movie in the last hour or so.)  Neil Blomkamp wrote and directed.

This is by the way the fifth Jodie Foster movie on this blog, with a roughly 40-year span.

Carnage

Carnage
Sony Pictures Classics
1 September 2011
Dramedy
DVD
D+

Two unlikable couples talk and talk in New York City.  Roman Polanski directed and co-wrote.  This is the fourth Jodie Foster movie I've reviewed on this blog, although Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore is the only one I actually liked.

Candleshoe

Candleshoe
Walt Disney
December 16, 1977
Dramedy
DVD
C-

Although this came out the same year as Foster's Freaky Friday, and I suppose I've seen it once or twice, it definitely doesn't hold the same place in my heart as FF (reviewed here https://reviewingeverymovieiown.blogspot.com/2014/07/freaky-friday.html).  Watching it today, I can see why.  Jodie here plays a self-described delinquent who is essentially kidnapped, without initial explanation, and then cheerfully agrees to a swindle, as long as she gets her cut.  I tuned out soon after she found out about an old pirate's will, so, yes, well before David Niven and Helen Hayes show up.

Like Freaky, this is based on a book, in this case written by Michael Innes.  Norman Tokar directed.

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Warner Bros.
December 9, 1974
Dramedy, Romance
DVD
B-

I grew up watching the Alice sitcom and knew that it was inspired by this movie, which I never watched until today.  It's very different from the TV show, and doesn't even get to Mel's (well, Mel & Ruby's) Diner until over halfway through, shortly before we meet the characters played by Kristofferson and Foster.  There's definitely humor but there are moments of sadness, anger, and even violence.  The studio-enforced "happy ending" (the penultimate scene) is a little contrived, but remember that the movie opens with a movie-like scene of Alice's childhood (a bit like a rose-tinted Wizard of Oz, only in Monterey rather than Kansas).  Burstyn plays the many moods of her character quite well, but there are some fun supporting performances, including Tayback and Ladd originating the characters of Mel and Flo.  (Ladd would end up as Belle, the middle waitress on the sitcom.)  Curtin's Vera is one of her typically loopy roles, although I still have soft spot for Beth Howland's take on the character.  Note that Alfred Lutter did play Tommy on the Alice pilot.

The Accused

The Accused
Paramount
October 14, 1988
Drama
DVD
C-

I watched only the first quarter-hour of this movie I've avoided since the time, and even seeing some of the Foster character's injuries was almost more than I could take.  The acting seemed good, but knowing that there's a graphic rape scene late in the movie meant that I wouldn't be able to get through the scenes in between.  Jonathan Kaplan directed.