Heroes, Idols & Ideas

Al says this movie grabs, touches you and takes your breath away! Now I want to go to the hteaher to see this one!!

Eastwood's character reminds me of my own father and besrt buds, James (Pappy-W W II VET) & Cecil (Korean War vet)I could tell you stories, their stories, God rest their souls!!

(2009 Director: Justin Lin) My expectations are not high...but just loved the characters enough to endure it!

Based on a true story...a highly accepted German bravely yet surresptitiously aides an underground providing hope & escape for many Jewish oppressed by the Nazis during World War II. Stars Liam Neeson alongside an amazing cast including Sir Ben Kingsley & Ralph Fiennes.

Heartwarming....

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In my top 20 movies for its incredible depth and accuracy and honesty in film-making. thought I had already review this one (to be continued)

(1942 release...Director: Michael Curtiz)
Romance, true love, difficult, war-torn love....Rick & Ilsa meet again...in Casablanca...in Rick's lounge. Morrocco is neutral during WW II though the French police cooperate a little too fully with the German Third Reich! This movie has everything....even some twists of humor. Bogart, Bergman, Peter Lorrie & patriot Victor Lazlo (played by ?) & French officer (Claude Rains) and my favorite all time lines "We'll always have Paris." and "Round up the Usual Suspects."

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Don't forget..this story is entirely set DURING WORLD WAR II...AND IS ONE OF THE BEST FILMS EVER MADE!! This movie was Woody Allen's character's obsession in Woody Allen's film, "Play It Again Sam!"

(1995 Director: Michael Mann)! Ashley Judd? Didn't recognize her here! Val Kilmer? Top criminal mastermind McCauley (De Niro) faces off with Homicide Detective (Al Pacino) after pulling off the perfect crime.. .Director Michael Mann has created about the best suspense crime drama ever in HEAT.

Seeing this movie for maybe the 3rd time tonight (on Ion tv) I still could not leave it......except to simultaneously begin an online chat with my Honeypie! Still, the emotions this crime drama stirs me each time I watch it, gripping my attention & holding it right up until the suspenseful end. There are HUMAN criminals.... quite real, easy to LIKE! And their years-long bonds are humbling because of their intense loyalties, especially between Val Kilmer and McCauley. Ryder gives a tremendous performance as Kilmer's wife and mother of his son. Her loyalty is almost touching.

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The supporting cast? Jon Voigt who makes their crimes possible, researching all the little details....

On deciding on whether or not to join the NEXT heist (a bank robbery), his ex-con pal (Tommy Sizemore) says,"You know, for me, action is the juice! I'm in."

(2007 Director: Rob Reiner) div style="width:445px;">

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Lovely tale though sad of Nicholson and Freeman who meet in the Oncology Ward--2 patients living their end days/months with gusto and compiling their own individual, unique bucket lists.....Tho a most unusual pairing 2 men of different race and social status share the common link of a terminal diagnosis. the result? a most moving film I watched in the last month or 2 before my own father's passing. Memorable!!

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(2006 Director: James Mangold) I grew up on gospel music and in church....I am a HUGE Johnny Cash/June Carter Cash fan...if you have EVER written a song or loved a musician, then PLEASE SEE THIS MOVIE!!! Such a finely done 'true story." Yes...all is NOT roses!!!
ROBERT PATRICK PLAYS JOHNNY CASH'S NOT ENCOURAGING FATHER..
WANNA SEE CASH'S 1ST RECORDING STUDIO ?? (BE PATIENT!!)

Trailer: Walk the Line

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(2003 Director: Peter Berg) Violent, extremely violent tale of greed & monopolizing control by Christopher Walken of a jungle community. Great showcase for The Rock... Hard to watch but truly amazing tale of endurance and tenacity. Must see for Christopher Walken's role!

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(2005 Directors: Robert Rodriguez & Comic Creator: Frank Miller) True to the comic book story. LOVED IT! It helps if you like Bruce Willis and have lived a somewhat real life...Eerie storyline but until midway thru I hardly noticed that becuz I was soo intrigued by the comic booky charaters!! Deals with psychos, stalkers, hookers, and cops in a old style cop movie way (but updated green effects? comic booky almost!) GOOD NEWS!! SEQUELS ARE IN THE WORKS!! The stars really shine on this including: Benecio del Toro Rosario Dawson, Josh Hartnett (Snow Falling on Cedars), Clive Owen (Closer, Children of Men, King Arthur)

(1986 Director: David Cronenburg) Okay..2 of my VERY FAVORITES!! GEENA DAVIS AND JEFFREY GOLDBLUM!! Does it get any better? No...seriously worse for this hot young passionate scientist (played by Jeffrey Goldblum)...NO POPCORN FOR THIS MOVIE!! Oh...baby!! If ANYONE could be sexy while degenerating...it is the young, hunky exceptional Jeffrey Goldblum!! HUBBA HUBBA paired with none other than the future 1st female U.S. President herself (Geena Davis)! After reading most others' reviews, must I say it again??? FOR ITS TIME PERIOD, this film had good special effects + amazing creativity in dream sequences, etc. 2 DEFINITE THUMBS UP!! LOL

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(2006 Director: Steve Zaillian) It is possible to say too much about a movie, in that spirit, see this one for Sean Penn's (Best Actor-MILK) passion (borderline megalomania), & Anthony Hopkins (Silence of the Lambs) portrayinjg a distinguished retired Southern Judge & incredibly cute Jude Law (Closer, The Holiday) who lost his accent & donned a Southern accent for this flick. Penn plays a state senator who rides a longshot into office as Governor--a man who has foresight & vision into what destiny he sees for his home state. Impassioned but never dull..All the King;s Men is a wonderful showcase for these seasoned actors. None of these men were ever better...as good perhaps but never BETTER! Anthony Hopkins? Well, his career has been soo diverse as to have included a role as Paul (Saul of Tarsus) which he brought depth and character to like none other.

At the 2009 Academy Awards
The introductions of the actors nominations for Best Actor Oscar were incredible this year!!

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(2003 Director: Mike Newell) Surprising film. I thought I had seen it on cable shortly after it came out......but must have missed major parts of this film. Portrays a somewhat brave unmarried art teacher (Julia Roberts) who accepts a position with an ultraconversative elitist college.

"Is that a battle wound you have there?"

"I'm a sucker for war stores & battle languages."

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(1994 Director: Joel Schumacher) Set in the South, I found this to be an excellently written suspense film where Susan Sarandon stars as a defense attoirney who cannot turn down the pro bono defense of a young boy who has witnessed a murder suicide.

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I enjoyed Tommy Lee Jones' portrayal of a corrupt prosecuting attorney willing to risk the life of the young witness to take down the Mafhia. Susan Sarandon nominated for an Academy Award for her role here. Based on a John Grisham novel.

(2008 Director: Michael McCarthy) In a word?--Outstanding! This low key film appealed to me on many levels. i seemed to feel what the characters were feeling and could relate alot to Walter. Perhaps U 2 have foreign friends who have touched your life? Different cultures but wonderful peoples?

Movie focuses on the life of Walter, a normal widowed college profeessor who works in CT but maintains an apartment in NYC. Perchance he befriends a street minstrel and his wife...whom someone has given them a key to his rarely used NYC apartment. Walter is veyr amiable & is drawn to this young immigrant couple which their own problems. HIs association with Tarek, an excellent drummer, and his partner enriches his own somewhat lonely and bland life. Walter comes alive learning the drums for himself with the help of Tarek.

I have so much more to say about this movie...but it is quite late...and I was deeply moved (to be continued)

(1954 Director: Delmer Daves) One of the very deeply moving epics from a bygone ear... Worth see! Take a glimpse at the talents and beauty of young Anne Bancroft & Susan Hayward as seductive Roman temptresses....

(2008 Director: John Patrick Shanley) Lots & lots of use of foreshadowing in this movie which might actually escape you it is so obvious! Film gets its title from one of the more memorable sermons preached by Padre Flynn (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) The styles of the Principal of St. Nicholas School, Sister Aloysius Beaviiuer (Meryl Streep) is counter to the style of the newish Padre whose sermons are presented complete with some Irish voicing set to a story of Father O'Rourke.

Set in 1966, "the year after JFK's assassination," the conversative times are reflected in both the uniforms worn by the students at the Parochial middle school as well as the floor length garb worn by the nuns. Just a reminder for the youth here on Flixster, that the 1960's was when legislation was passed against segregation and forcing "school busing" to create school racial integration. A very innocent Sister James new to St. Nicholas School is appointed to teach 8th grade social studies and is passionately portrayed by Amy Adams (Enchanted). Written on the blackboard is the infamous quotation, "There is nothing to fear except fear itse.fl" Sister James is being mentored by the tough, experienced Principal SIster Beauvier (Meryl Streep) who instills fear in her students. Sister James is in turmoil over whether or not to share with her Mother Superior an incident which occured the prior week. Sister Beauvier is stern, even confiscating one ofthe student's new transistor radio he was listening to in class.

Sister Beauvier was once married to an Italian who was killed in "the War." she relates to the parent of Donald, one of the newer students at the Parish who is removed as altar boy for drinking "altar wine." The occurrence arouses the full suspicions of the Director who is relentless and should think of becoming a detective!!

Sister Beauvier: "Que pasa en la rectoria?"

Padre Flynn: "No pasa nada"" The dialogue of these 3 spiritual leaders shifts to address the suspicions of young Sister James relating to their one black student, Donald (Joseph Foster).

Love both leads, Philip Seymour Hoffman & Meryl Streep who play cat and mouse in this duel of wits.... Subject matter? Suspicion. Is their abuse?

During their seemingly light interchange Padre Flynn gets a sermon inspiration which Streep presses him for the subject of. He shares it is "intolerance.:" Father Flynn interjects a discussion about the Church needing to play a larger role during "these times."

Father Flynn: "IIt's a new time."

Sis Beauvier: "What's new about it?"

Flynn: The church needs to change.

Beauvier:

Flynn: "We should take the children out...

But we are not members of their family? We are different.

Why? Because of our vows?

Precisely.

And they think we are different. The working class parents of our Parish trust us to be different.

I think you are getting off the subject.

The Christmas pagent. We must be careful how Donald Miller is used.

What about Donald Miller?

We must be care that we neither hide Donald Miller nor put him forward.

Because of the color of his skin?

That's right...."

The point being?

Flynn: We should be friendlier.

Beauvier: But we are not family.. We are different.

Flynn: Why? Because of our vows?

Sleuth Sista' Streep bristles at her certainty of Padre Flynn's misconduct in every fiber of her being Sister James thinks her suspicions are unwarranted and relate more to his preferences for ball point pens, 3 lumps of sugar in his tea not to mention the Father's suggestion of a secular song being added to the annual Christmas pageant they are planning together......

The working class of our parish trust us to be different.

Que pasa en la rectoria?"No pasa nada."

"?Y bien?"

"Por su puesto."

Yo estoy convencia."

Yo lo tumblare."

"Look at that you blew out my light, In ancient Sparta important matters were decided by who shouted loudest. Fortunately we are not in anciient Sparta. Now sit down!"

This transplanted Midwesterner remembers the winds and sounds of the Fall season. A recurring gale force strong wind blows throughout the course of the days the period of several weeks in which this film is set. Even one of the lights in the ceiling of Principal Beauvier's office repeatedly blows out at key moments of dialogue no less!!

(1989 Director: David Anspaugh) Hard to beat the classic acting talents of Gene Hackman & Dennis Hopper. Okay I actually AM a Hoosier myself....so basketball? Uh, yeah!

Hackman plays an alcoholic high school basketball coach, Coach Dale, who is given another chance by his hometown. Lovely Barbara Hershey co-stars in this one. Dennis Hooper stars as a way-too-humble down on his luck drunk.

(2008 Director: Peter Berg) Just picked up Hancock over at local Blockbuster. This one was lighter fare than my usual recent choices! Interesting, very inter- esting storyline...drunken and down on his life Hancock (Will Smith) has superpowers and fights against the "bad guys" in his little neck of the wodds (small time stuff mainly). Public Relations man (Jason Bateman) takes an interest in him...ah...actually Hancock saves him...Hmm..had to review the credits to realize that was Charlize Theron co-starring as PR man (Jason Bateman)'s wife!! Great role for both.

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Liked this movie in a similar way to how I liked My Super Ex-Girlfriend starring Uma Thurman. Gotta see it to believe it!

(2006 Director Ivan Reitman) Uma Thurman is marvelous in this one! Great supporting cast... funy funny!

..And now for something completely different....unless you loved Spiderman...and Hancock...

If you saw the previews then you know Uma has superhuman powers. Yes definitely"campy"....for the sci fi, satire lovers!! Predictable sexual humor...Luke Wilson's character is not UP for the task of a girl friend, much less a super hero girlfriend!!

(Feb. 2007 Director: Olivier Dahan) This movie touched me in the old style very very Charlie Chaplain kind of way...not exactly a musical..although rich and demonstrative of the times it is set in....

Gerard Deparieu (Cyrano, The Man in the Iron Mask & the Count of Monte Cristo) as Daddy De L'Eppe..who was a savior truly a saviour to little near orphan Edith, now Edith Piaf (Marion Coutillard). I am almost ashamed to have waited to see this on Netflix online as an "instant play," but it moved me so on this late Saturday night..I feel I myself this woman's life story is an inspiration to go on--no matter what obstacle or loss! This mighty little woman with the big voice & incredible big violet blue eyes...went from singing with her circus performing Dad on the streets (begging) passing through a deep albeit life-long friendship with another runaway gal (portrayed by Elisabeth Commelin) and ultimately to arrive in demand commanding the talents of many refined & talented along the way.....

St. Theresa is to whom little Edith prays as a small child...and she even has visions regarding this spiritual connection.

Craig's & Badblondie's reviews definitely made this sound like a must-see! And they were oooohh soooooo right!

Sad...heart rendering story of an amazing life, born a deprived child, shuffled back and forth between Dad & Grandma (who ran a brothel where she was truly loved, however), back with dad...rather sickly in her youth.

A tiny frame with such a large spirit & love of the cabaret night life & camaraderie as a common person who was destined for fame despite her obstacles.

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