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Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School - PG-13
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This was enjoyable to watch just for the sheer calvacade of great character actors and actresses willing to appear in very small parts here; HOWEVER this sweet little story is uncomfortably told/narrated by John Goodman's character from his dying last words from the back of an ambulance, and has too disjointed of a screen play. What a shame really as it had real potential to be something much greater than it was - especially because of the talented folks director Randall Miller had at hand. Over-all though still enjoyable enough with an uplifting theme of enjoying one's life...despite it all.
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December 21, 2009
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N/A
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Whatever Works - PG-13
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Written and directed by Woody Allen. A sweet story about an older man disillusioned with life, who one day meets a young woman (Evan Rachel Wood) living outside his door in NYC. He begrudingly takes her in and they begin to change each other's lives for the better in unconventional but workable ways...hence, whatever works. This was enjoyable, and though I like Larry David, I didn't care for him in this role. I kept hearing the diaglog and hearing how Woody himself would have delivered those lines more effectively; never the less an enjoyable little film but not one of Mr. Allen's best.
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December 19, 2009
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N/A
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Herb and Dorothy - Unrated
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Herb & Dorothy are an elderly couple who have quietly over 4 decades gathered one of the largest minimalist art collections in the country. They are charming together and their passion for art shows when they talk about it. That being said, when the Vogels were off screen, I didn?t care. The other people in the film were boring and uninteresting and were given far too much screen time. The film is also too long for what they needed to say. Call it Herb & Dorothy, make it only about Herb & Dorothy, and turn it into a 15 minute news program segment, then we will all be happy. Otherwise, I'd say skip this one.
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December 18, 2009
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N/A
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Avatar - PG-13
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Visually this was just stunning in 3D...I grew up on the ol' ones from the 60s and 70s - and this is NOT your mama's 3D movie. Amazing really. There is a NON 3D version and if you see THAT you are not really SEEING this movie. The script was excellent and I knew as I watched it - it was kicking up a lot of contraversy- and boy has it...but it brings talk to the table and discussion and that is always another sign of a good movie. I really liked this and totally enjoyed the adventure and thought put into this. My only qualm was I felt it a little too long at over 2.5 hrs long - nearly 3 really - but...other than that - this was great. I might also mention the dialect used in this for the Avatar language was excellent and the soundtract was as well. Good job from director James Cameron.
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December 18, 2009
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N/A
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The Remains of the Day - PG
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One of very favorite Anthony Hopkins performances. He has to play his emotions (however strong) so close to the cuff in this role as the Butler to and English Lord during the 1930s & 40s (and later in the 50s/60s to an American Congressman - played nicely by Christopher Reeve) Hopkins character is the stodgy stiff upper lip butler with a world of emotions bottled up inside - they remain in there until the day he meets the new house maid played by Emma Thompson who consistantly challanges him to open up. A small part by a young Hugh Grant as the Lord's Godson also challanges Hopkins character to speak his mind on his own behalf rather than that of the Lord he serves (who becomes morally flawed as the film moves along) Brings a lot to the table for discussion, but truly the gem of this film is Hopkins himself and the worth of this film is primarily for those who love Anthony Hopkins - if so, this is a must see. He is just amazing to watch.
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December 16, 2009
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N/A
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Our Vines Have Tender Grapes - Unrated
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One of my favorite Edward G. Robinson movies. He plays a much gentler soul in this one as a farmer in Wisconsin during war time years with a loving wife (also in a more gentle role than typical by Agnes Moorehead) and little girl played ever so charmingly by Margaret O'Brien. A story about the importance of family and community - especially during tough times. Nicely directed by Roy Rowland and screenplay by Dalton Trumbo.
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December 14, 2009
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N/A
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Johnny Got His Gun - PG
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I find this highly over-rated. Bad acting - very creepy in the worst possible way and horrible script. I like Dalton Trumbo - I like most all of his films. He both wrote and directed this one - but I was nothing but highly disappointed. Weirdness to the point it's anti-war point of view will not be taken seriously.
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December 14, 2009
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N/A
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Julie & Julia - PG-13
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Excellent characterzation of Julia Child by Meryl Streep. Uncanny really. Adorable Amy Adams playing Julie, the young NY writer inspired by Julia Child as she writes a cooking blog for one year working her way through Child's cookbook. Two true stories intertwined and nicely brought together by director Nora Ephron. Very enjoyable.
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December 13, 2009
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N/A
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The Playboys - PG-13
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A sweet little drama, though nothing special. About a young single mother in the 1952 in Ireland who is wooed by the town cop and by a man (handsome Aiden Quinn) from a traveling theaterical show.
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December 11, 2009
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N/A
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It Happened on 5th Avenue - Unrated
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This is a little known but quite enjoyable classic Holiday film. You will recognize ob Cummings and evcen Alan Hale Jr (later of Gilligan's Island fame). A young man (Cummings) during the war is found sleeping in the park and invited to stay at rich man's mansion - only to find out that man is a drifter and not the real owner. Enter the real millionaire's (who has been living in the south) daughter and you now have a love interest too. Fun
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December 11, 2009
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N/A
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The Lucky Ones - R
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December 8, 2009
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N/A
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Shrink - R
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Nice performance by Spacey in this flim about a Hollywood Shrink to the stars who's own wife commits suicide and throws him into a grief he finds that his own "get happy" philosophy can't save him from; which deepens his depression even more so when he doubts his own creditability. Along the way we meet his patients and aquaintances who all cross paths in one way or another - sort of a "Crash" of emotional trauma. That being said this wasn't particulary anything new and the slow dark pace of this is not always easy to hang in there with ...but as a fan of Spacey's it was still a worthwhile watch.
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December 8, 2009
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N/A
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Thunderpants - Unrated
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Cute, and where funny at first the joke gets old fairly fast...the performances of Paul Giamatti and Ned Beatty in this give it more value than it would otherwise have for me...but?, for a famly film it's not too bad really. Silly fun...about an English boy who can't stop farting ..and learns that his "unique gift" can actually be put to some very good use to help out the American Space Program.
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December 8, 2009
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N/A
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Funny People - R
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Where to begin with this one. So many good points but just as many bad that could be made. Editing is where I'd begin..and much too long at 2.5 hrs. Until half way through the movie I had this as a 4 and then it quickly pulmitted downwards from there. Too many directions this film was trying to go. What a shame. Good performances - great story idea, bad editing, bad script. A seasoned comic -Sandler - finds he is diagnosed with a fatal illness, and as he begins his experimental drug testing he (with the help of his newly hired assistant - Rogan) begins to examine his life and what he really would have or should have from it. The movie begins in a mostly dramatic format, and had it continued on that way (with much of the un-needed slapstick and calvacade of cameos) it would have been so much better. Nice performance by Sandler and Rogan who CAN both nicely pull of dramatic roles..if only they could find more directors that would allow them to keep with that through an entire film. ahhh well.
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December 7, 2009
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N/A
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Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas - G
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December 6, 2009
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N/A
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Orphan - R
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Where this starts off just like all those bad seed (kid born evil) movies...it still entertains...but then this VERY well written story takes a turn and then another. Well crafted and suspense that kept us on the end of our seat till the end ...highly entertaining - and more suspense film than horror. (which is smart) One of those I wish I had read as it would have been even better - but I must say this one took me by surprise in more ways than one.
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December 6, 2009
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N/A
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Holes In My Shoes - Unrated
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Interesting bio/doc of "Jack Beers" who was born into poverty and lives more lives in his 94 than most could imagine. He tells most of his story himself though is joined by director David Wachs in the beginning and end of the film and by his brother Manny.
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December 5, 2009
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N/A
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A Christmas Carol - Unrated
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Gene Lockhart co-stars with his wife Kathleen and their daughter June as the Cratchets - this for me is the definitive version of all of the versions that are out there. I just love this old black and white classic version of the familiar Christmas story.
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December 4, 2009
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N/A
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Grey Gardens - Unrated
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Astonishing and notable performances by both Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore as Edith and Edie Beale - the eccentric aunt & cousin of Jackie Kenny Onassis, who came to light in the public eye in the early 70s when the media ran a story on how they were living in a run down house in the Hamptons with no heat or electricity. The excellent documentary by the same name then came about in 75 bringing them even more fame. This movie does not merely recreate that documentary (though there are excellent scenes that are recreated in the film) but also gives us a good look at them from decades and how they came to be where they were in the 70s. As much as I did enjoy this film, it would be soooo sad if folks simply saw this without first seeing the documentary from 1975. It's also on DVD and available for rent most anywhere. So rent the documentary - THEN watch the movie. Both are enjoyable.
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December 4, 2009
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N/A
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Fond Kiss..., Ae, (Just a Kiss) - R
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This is a fair little romance with a familiar tale, but a very good performance by Eva Birthistle in particular.
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December 2, 2009
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N/A
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Psycho - R
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December 1, 2009
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N/A
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The Carter Family - Will the Circle Be Unbroken - Unrated
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3.5 Stars. Lots of lovely old recordings are heard of the Carter Family in this DVD..and focuses primarily on A.C. Carter; so if you were looking for a lot of background personally on the entire Carter family, you are not going to get that here, but over-all a nice documentary and homage to their wonderful music.
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November 30, 2009
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N/A
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Year One - PG-13
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Much better than I thought it would be. Jack Black was being Jack and Michael Cera was being the same ol' character he always plays as well - but in this "buddy" film directed well by Harold Ramis, based strongly on the old fun and adventurous (yet silly) buddy films from the 1940s, with a heavy dose of frat-boy humor popular today - this really works. I enjoyed this.
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November 28, 2009
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N/A
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Encounters at the End of the World - G
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There were some excellent and truly amazing film shots here - and it also is educational, however Herzog's voice does not lend itself to narration and in this case I did not agree with his soundtrack choices here. Watching with subtitiles and the sound turned off made this watchable for me. Cannot discount the amazing footage in this film though and had he hired a narrator this would have been bumped up a star.
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November 27, 2009
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N/A
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Cars - G
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Utterly charming - perfectly cast - excellent story with loveable characters - perfect family film with the added bonus of a totally enjoyable and ecclectic soundtrack.
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November 27, 2009
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N/A
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11154 ratings
1359 reviews
