Tulip Fever

Tulip Fever

Worldview Entertainment etc.

1 September 2017

Historical Drama, Romance

DVD
B-

Deborah Moggach's adaptation, with Tom Stoppard, of her own novel is implausible but held my attention throughout.  Justin Chadwick directed, and I rejected two of his other movies, but I did give The First Grader a B- as well.

A Private War

A Private War

Acacia Filmed etc.

November 16, 2018

War Drama

DVD
D

Yeah, not my kind of movie, although it's always nice to see Tom Hollander.  Matthew Heineman directed.  

Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Pride & Prejudice (2005)

StudioCanal etc.

16 September 2005

Historical Drama, Historical Comedy, Romance

DVD
C+

I found this disappointing at the time, particularly in contrast to the BBC production of a decade earlier.  I've watched it once or twice since then, before today, and it's not like I hate this version, but I do feel it's over-rated.  Today I tried to figure out what was lacking, and I couldn't help comparing it to Bride & Prejudice, which has a shorter runtime and yet manages to include several memorable song & dance numbers.  B & P also leaves things out (including the Kitty-equivalent) but I've never felt that it fails to develop so much of what it does include.  To take one example, by giving us hardly anything of Wickham, and changing the circumstances of his involvement with Georgiana, the weight of his elopement is lessened, as is his character as a counterpoint to Darcy.  Furthermore, I don't really get any sense from this movie of the bonds between characters, especially the Lizzy & Jane sisterhood.  Verdict: this remains watchable but unsatisfying.

Joe Wright directed, a couple years before the also flawed, C+-earning adaptation Atonement, which has Keira Knightley as well.  Emma Thompson apparently contributed uncredited dialogue.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Disney etc.

July 7, 2006

Action, Historical Comedy, Fantasy

DVD

C-

I enjoyed three or four of the movies of this series in the theater, but they don't seem to translate well to the home screen.  Gore Verbinski directed.

Libertine

Libertine

Isle of Man Film etc.

18 November 2005

Historical Drama

DVD
C+

I didn't exactly like this movie but I thought it was interesting enough, in its protagonist and its setting, to watch until the end.  I believe Rosamund Pike gave the best performance, as the long-suffering wife.  Laurence Dunmore directed.

Bohemian Rhapsody

Bohemian Rhapsody
20th Century Fox
23 October 2018
Historical Drama, Musical
DVD
C+

I rarely go to the movie theater these days, but I did for this movie, and came home feeling let down.  Not since Julie & Julia (2009) have I seen a movie made of two unequal halves.  In this case, we have the fun, interesting saga of how Queen made their music, and on the other we have a dreary cautionary tale about Freddie Mercury's love life, complete with a dishonest, manipulative boyfriend who could give Jude Law as Bosie a run for his money in Wilde (1997), although at least Bosie was handsome and charming.  As in Wilde, the poor loyal, cheated-on girlfriend/wife gets more sympathy and screentime than any of the men Mercury is involved with, professionally or romantically.  I would still marginally recommend this biopic for the music and for the band interacting, but I would've fast-forwarded today if I didn't want to give an honest grade.  (Just like I watched J & J on DVD by skipping scenes but will sit through the "Julie" parts if I end up reviewing it.)

Although Rami Malek got all the accolades and the Oscar, my favorite was actually Gwilym Lee as Brian May, funny and yet sincere.  And of course Tom Hollander was good, as he almost always is, here as Jim "Miami" Beach, their soft-spoken manager.  Mike Myers, who of course gave us a memorable rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody" in Wayne's World, plays the producer who doesn't get what's great about the song.  Bryan Singer directed.