Wild Wild West

Wild Wild West

Peters Entertainment etc.

June 30, 1999

Western, Historical Comedy, Sci-Fi

DVD

D+

I enjoyed this in the theater at the time and thought the critics were too harsh, although the movie could never live up to its awesome title track.  Watching at home almost a quarter century later, the movie is pretty flat, but the song is still great.  Barry Sonnenfeld directed.

Sophie's Choice

Sophie's Choice

ITC Entertainment etc.

December 8, 1982

Historical Drama

DVD
D

The only thing I liked was the pink house.  Director Pakula adapted the novel by William Styron, eight years before Presumed Innocent.

Ricki and the Flash

Ricki and the Flash

TriStar etc.

August 7, 2015

Dramedy, Musical

DVD
C+

I saw this in the theater.  Both then and this week, I didn't think it lives up to its potential, but it's interesting enough to watch all the way through.  Streep of course is the star as the very flawed mother and not so flawed musician.  Streep's daughter Mamie Gummer is obviously well-cast as Ricki's daughter.  Jonathan Demme directed and Diablo Cody wrote.

A Prairie Home Companion

A Prairie Home Companion

River Road Entertainment

June 9, 2006

Comedy, Musical

DVD
D+

A little bit tedious, despite the cast.  (I'm omitting Tommy Lee Jones from the crowded tags.)  Robert Altman directed.

The Pirates of Penzance

The Pirates of Penzance

Universal etc.

18 February 1983

Musical, Historical Comedy
DVD
C-

I guess I'm somewhat biased against this, since I've long loved the cheesiness of the previous year's Pirate Movie, but this is a bit dull.  Director Wilford Leach adapted the Gilbert & Sullivan operetta.

The Extra Man

The Extra Man
Magnolia Pictures
July 30, 2010
Comedy
DVD
D+

Based on the Jonathan Ames novel of the same title, this is never as witty as it thinks it is.  Ames co-wrote the screenplay, with co-directors Shari Springer Bergman and Robert Pulcini, who collaborated on American Splendor, which I quite liked, go figure.

De-Lovely

De-Lovely
MGM
August 6, 2004
Historical De-Drama, Romance, Musical
De-DVD
De-D

De-pretentious, de-awkward, de-DNFable.  De-directed by Irwin Winkler.

Dave

Dave
Warner Bros.
May 7, 1993
Comedy
DVD
D+

Unfunny presidential version of The Prince and the Pauper, directed by Ivan Reitman.  I think I've tried to watch this once or twice before, like on cable in a hotel when I was channel-surfing.