The Soloist

The Soloist

DreamWorks etc.

April 24, 2009
Drama

DVD

D+

A mildly interesting story burdened with too much medical crap.  This is based on the real Steve Lopez's book and directed by Joe Wright a few years after Atonement and his Pride & Prejudice.

The Singing Detective

The Singing Detective

Icon Productions/ Paramount

January 17, 2003

Crime Drama, Historical Drama, Musical

DVD
F+

Arguably the most repellent musical I've ever tried to watch.  Keith Gordon directed.

Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Village Roadshow etc.

December 25, 2009

Historical Drama, Action

DVD
C-

I enjoyed this in the theater at the time, although it's not really my thing, but it didn't hold my interest now.  Guy Ritchie directed, eleven years after Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

The Judge

The Judge

Warner Bros. etc.

October 10, 2014

Drama

DVD
D

An unpleasant man is under a lot of stress.  David Dobkin directed and co-wrote.

Good Night, and Good Luck

Good Night, and Good Luck

Warner Bros.

November 4, 2005

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

I don't know if it's the influence of "reality TV" and documentaries or what, but modern historical dramas often have a flattening, distancing technique.  I saw it in The Front Runner (about Gary Hart) and I see it here in this story of Edward R. Murrow and Joseph McCarthy.  It's not just that this is in black & white, but some shots are through windows and from odd angles.  The acting, like in Chappaquiddick, is also distant, even in emotional scenes.  Anyway, I can see why this was so acclaimed, but it's not for me.  (The German Good Bye, Lenin, in contrast, makes us care about the characters while painlessly presenting then recent history.)  Clooney directed, co-wrote, and plays Fred Friendly.

Dolittle

Dolittle
Universal
January 17, 2020
Fantasy
DVD
C

While I enjoyed this more than the '60s Rex Harrison version, especially the look of it, I still didn't care enough about the characters to continue.  Stephen Gaghan directed and co-wrote.  And, yes, my first movie from the 2020s!