Delivery Man—well done and entertaining—examines sperm donation from the angle of ‘I want to meet my biological father.’ David Wozniak (Vince Vaughn), who delivers meat for the Wozniak family’s meat business, finds that his college sperm donations fathered 533 children of which 142 have filed suit to release records that will allow them to meet him. David has his own life ‘going on’ with his pregnant girlfriend, Emma (Cobie Smulders), and difficulties with debt to gangsters.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Additional Thanks
Thank
you to Director Ken Scott for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive
Producers Scott Mednick, Ray Angelic, and Mark Sourian for making the film
possible. Cast include: Vince Vaughn, Chris Pratt, Cobie Smulders, Simon
Delaney, Bobby Moynihan, Adam Chanler-Berat, Sébastien René, Bill Maher, and
Jay Leno.
Buy a
ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes.
This film more than works for the adult audience.
Lawrence of Arabia—a
British classic released in the United States—made it to Ben Meyers’ Favorite Films list. The script centers
around the brilliant military maneuvers of T.E. Lawrence (acted by Peter O’Toole)
during WWI on the Arabian Peninsula. Excellent portrayal of two different
cultures colliding, learning to cooperate and respect each others’ abilities,
and finally to magnificently succeed in overcoming a common enemy while earning
freedom for an entire, new nation in the process. Based on the notes of T.E.
Lawrence, the film becomes an absorbing watch for its entire 227 minutes.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Director David Lean. Thank you to Producers Sam Spiegel and David Lean
for making the film possible. Thank you to Music Composer Maurice Jarre for the
terrific musical scores and to Script Writers Robert Bolt and Michael Wilson. Cast includes: Peter O'Toole, Anthony Quinn, Jack Hawkins, Omar Sharif, Claude Rains, Michel
Ray, John Dimech, and Alec Guinness.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes. A Peter O'Toole classic more than suitable for all movie fans. Video Critique Available Here:
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom—superbly
done, based upon Nelson Mandela’s autobiography—becomes a study in: when law
does not establish justice, then one man resorting to love, no war, and no
rebellion works quite well to establish freedom from repressive governmental
systems. Idris Elba’s acting for character Nelson Mandela is a little stiff,
but it still works and creates a classic film. Impressive work by Director Justin Chadwick.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Storyline Nelson Mandela's story...how Mandela grew up in a native African family, his aspirations to make his parents proud of him, his desire as a lawyer to solve the growing unrest between Africans and government, his failures and his successes as this becomes a lifelong quest, and the impact this has on his personal life. Additional Thanks
Thank you to Director Justin Chadwick for directing efforts, Thank
you to Executive Producers Basil Ford, Harvey Weinstein, François Ivernel, Cameron
McCracken, Philisiwe Mthethwa, Geoffrey Ohena, Sudhir Pragjee, and Sanjeev
Singh for making the film possible. Cast include: Idris Elba, Naomie Harris, Tony Kgoroge, and Riaad Moosa.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes. A well written film...Idris Elba makes a really good performance after 'getting' over initial stiffness. Video Critique Available Here:
The Book Thief,
a poignant tale of tragic endings and new beginnings, becomes that exceptional
story that one will not soon forget due to the thoughtful, mindful way in which
the script presents itself to its audience. There is a
twist in the story as the identity of the Narrator (Roger Allam) is revealed
which provides the perfect ending to a smoothly written and well-told tale.
Film
Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Storyline World War II story about the young foster girl, Liesel Meminger (Sophie Nélisse), who loves to read. Everything in her young life helps her read—her kindly foster father; a well-stocked library from which she, without permission, ‘borrows’ books; a Jewish refugee hiding in the family’s basement; and her schooling.
Additional Thanks
Great
work for Director Brian Percival. Thank you to Executive Producer Redmond
Morris for making the film possible. Cast include: Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson, Ben
Schnetzer, Sandra Nedeleff, and Nico Liersch.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes. Reminds one of the important things in life and how those events can lead to a beautiful life, well-lived. Video Critique Available Here:
All is Lost
has one actor (Robert Redford) and literally no dialogue; yet, it manages to
hold spellbound attention for 105 minutes. Natural and realistic, the film takes
us to the Indian Ocean, a damaged yacht, a bad storm, a capsized yacht, a
lifeboat, another bad storm, failed attempts to achieve rescue, resourceful
attempts to preserve life, and a deep dip into a hopeless situation with no
possible resolution.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Additional Thanks
Thank You to Director and Writer J.C. Chandor. Thank you to Executive
Producers Robert Ogden Barnum, Glen Basner, Joshua Blum, Howard Cohen, Eric d’Arbeloff,
Cassian Elwes, Corey Moosa, Zachary Quinto, Laura Rister, and Kevin Turen for
making this film possible. Cast Include: Robert Redford,
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes. A really wonderful film that exhibits above par finesse.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon—a
highly sculpted, cultural film—easily
earns its four-star rating. A 'not-to-be-missed' movie, it captivates international markets, dominates box office sales, and wins four Academy Awards. The story takes its audience through the angst of unfulfilled love, the passion of fulfilled love, the
bitterness of ill-used power, and the betrayal of friendship—all against
outstanding Asian scenery. Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Storyline A legendary sword weaves its way through many story threads to re-connect events of the past, present, and future. Additional Thanks
Thank you to Director Ang Lee. Thank you to Executive Producers David Linde
and James Schamus for making the film possible. Cast
include: Michelle Yeoh, Fa Zeng Li, Zhang
Ziyi, Chow Yun-Fat, Sihung Lung, Chen Chang, Xian Gao, and Yan Hai.
A Cat in Paris—good
storyline, simply animated French feature—may
be a little complicated to follow for the younger crowd, but will still please.
The story, about a jewel thief named Nico (voice of Steve Blum), a black cat,
and a little girl named Zoé (voice of Lauren Weintraub), involves a treacherous
nanny, Claudine (voice of Anjelica Huston), and an evil gang—in a superb tale about stealing, kidnapping,
and justice. The film contains some exciting chase scenes across French
rooftops, just the right amount of danger, a small mystery, and a satisfying
resolution for all audiences.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Director Jean-Loup Felicioli and Alain Gagnol. Thank you to Executive
Producer Emmanuel Bernard for making the film possible. Cast
include: J.B. Blanc, Steve Blum, Marcia Gay Harden, Anjelica Huston, Matthew Modine, Lauren Weintraub, Mike Pollack, Philippe Hartmann, Gregory
Cupoli, and Marc Thompson.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes. A great film, appealing and likeable. *Also Known As: Une vie de chat
Houseboat—suitable, not spectacular—has a sense of
likableness that that one cannot deny and the family theme is very well
done. This is a clean and decent Cary Grant film that is very watchable.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
Tom Winters is a lawyer, a widowed father to three children, and needs to get a new home. A set back with the mover necessitates looking for a different home than the one he had chosen and he moves into a houseboat.
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Director Melville Shavelson for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Jack Rose for making the film possible. Cast includes Cary Grant, Sophia Loren, Martha Hyer, and Harry Guardino.
Buy a
ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes. It is a 'Disney-styled in spirit' story and serves as a good fill-in-some-time movie.
Troy, interesting, does a much better job of telling the classic, god-related story than many other films within this genre. The acting is suitable to good
and the presentation/portrayal work at the same level. The writing department writes from an angle that greatly enhances previous attempts to portray this story with some very good dialogue lines about who should fight wars between kings. There are unnecessary nudity and sexual scenes in the movie. But, overall, the movie makes some valid points about war and makes way for good, after viewing discussion.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Storyline
The movie tracks the events that led to the Grecian attack on Troy over Helen.
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Director and Producer Wolfgang Petersen. Thank you to Producers Diana Rathbun and Colin Wilson for making the film possible. Cast include: Julian Glover, Brian Cox, Nathan Jones, Adoni Maropis, Jacob Smith, Brad Pitt, John
Shrapnel, Brendon Gleeson, Diane Kruger, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, and Siri Svegler.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Maybe. This is a suitable watch and tells a fairly
good story. Watch for Actor Peter O’Toole in his later life professional work and the support of Orlando Bloom, Eric Bana, Brian Cox, Brenden Gleeson, Brad Pitt, Sean Bean, and
Diane Kruger.
From Up on Poppy Hill—another
classic from Studio Ghibli, a real treat in animation and storyline—shows the
talents of Director Gorô Miyazaki, Director Hayao Miyazaki’s son. It’s a sweet
story about teen-aged Umi Matsuzaki (voice of Sarah Bolger), a young girl who
manages a Japanese boarding house, takes care of younger siblings, does all the
cooking and household chores, cares for her grandmother, and goes to school
full time. Every morning, before school, she raises three flags in the manner
her sea-faring father, Yūichirō Sawamura taught
her. The colorful flags send the message, “I Pray for Safe Voyages.” Umi meets
a boy named Shun Kazama (voice of Anton Yelchin) at school. He writes the
school newspaper and she soon is involved not only with writing the newspaper
but also in trying to save a study house that provides a place for many of the
school clubs. Umi and Shun begin to care for each other romantically, but Shun
finds that it is possible they are relatives. The film takes an unusual twist
as the two seek the truth of their heritage that has been lost during World War
II and the Korean War. The award winning Japanese movie pleasantly resolves
itself into a happy ending, making it a very good choice for adult and child
entertainment.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Director Gorô Miyazaki for directing efforts, Thank
you to Executive Producers Kathleen Kennedy, Nobuo Kawakami, and Frank
Marshall for making the film possible. Cast include: Anton Yelchin, Sarah Bolger, Alex Wolff, Bridget Hoffman, Elisa Gabrielli, Jeff Dunham, Ronan Farrow, and Beau Bridges.
The Secret Life of WalterMitty—a fabulous remake of the 1947
Danny Kaye movie of the same name—becomes worth your time and money. The film
examines Life magazine’s decision to close
its doors and the dedication of one underpaid and unrecognized employee, beleaguered
Walter Mitty (played by Ben Stiller), to ensure that the final issue is one of
its greatest issues. People are what make Life
magazine outstanding and Walter Mitty not only finds his person, but finds
courage to face danger and adventure across Greenland, Iceland, and the
Himalayas while tracking one of Life’s
best photographers for Life’s final
cover photo. It’s a terrific story across a backdrop of great scenery and gives
the viewer a nice ‘pop’ of satisfied happiness at the end.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Director Ben Stiller for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers
G. Mac Brown, Meyer Gottlieb, and Gore Verbinski for making the film possible. Cast include: Jon Daly, Kristen Wiig, Kathryn Hahn, Sean Penn, Adam Scott, Shirley MacLaine, and Ólafur Darri Ólafsson.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes. This film makes a great watch for whole family.
3 Days to
Kill—a quality action flick—melds work and
family issues superbly while adding comedic references that take the edge
off some of the film’s more intense scenes. Don’t miss this one. It’s received
unfair reviews and has been underestimated in nearly every quarter including
box office monetary income. The script is solid. The actors very well cast. It allows a
refreshingly rational resolution to age-old family challenges. It resolves the
way we truly want things to resolve—original family intact and working together
to build a future despite severe challenges. The film portrays the message
that family comes first, before profession, and it completely works as Ethan
Renner (Kevin Costner), on a CIA mission and sick with what sounds like a cold,
finishes a mass killing in an apartment room with the assistance of CIA Vivi Delay
(Amber Heard) delegated to lead Ethan’s new CIA assignment. Throughout the
action a strong second story runs as Ethan endeavors to maintain a relationship
with his daughter and estranged wife. CIA action intensifies through the entire
movie until the climatic ending that provides a non-disappointing adrenaline
rush.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Storyline
CIA agent works his profession while dealing with severe family issues.
Additional Thanks
Great work for Director McG. Thank you to Executive
Producers Christophe Lambert and Tucker Tooley for making the film possible. Cast include: Kevin Costner, Amber Heard, Hailee Steinfeld,Connie Nielsen,Tómas Lemarquis,Richard Sammel, Marc Andréoni, Bruno
Ricci, Jonas Bloquet, and Eriq Ebouaney.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes. Great work for Director McG. Video Critique Available Here:
Who Framed
Roger Rabbit follows a classic,
complicated ‘whodunit’ plot line making it the perfect entertainment for
adults. Its brilliant interweaving of animation with live action is flawlessly
seamless, highly imaginative, and believable.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia Storyline There’s trouble in Toontown and
Detective Eddie Valiant is the man for the job.
Additional Thanks
Great work for Director Robert Zemeckis. Thank
you to Executive Producers Kathleen Kennedy and Steven Spielberg for making the
film possible. Great work by Music Composer Alan Silvestri. Cast include: Bob Hoskins, Joanna Cassidy, Charles Fleischer, Stubby Kaye, Alan Tilvern, Richard
LeParmentier, Lou Hirsch, Betsy Brantley, Joel Silver, Mae Questel, Mel Blanc, and Tony Anselmo.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes. Terrific character development of animated and live characters ensures full audience engagement. Video Critique Available Here:
Freakonomics: The Movie—documentary
broken into four segments—endeavors to explore the value of a name, corruption
in Sumo wrestling, late 1990s United States crime decline, and value of bribing
to induce change in human behavior. The film appears disjointed and fragmented,
does not adequately provide alternative viewpoints for argumentation, lacks
resolution and emotional appeal, and falls deeply short on why any of this is
relevant information. The film lost nearly $2,800,000 in box office. While the
two narrators are personable, their combined personality is not enough to pull
this film off.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Storyline Exploration of method to change human behavior, a decade of crime decline, corruption in a sport, and name value.
Additional Thanks
Good
Work for Directors Heidi Ewing, Alex Gibney, Seth Gordon, Rachel Grady, Eugene
Jarecki, and Morgan Spurlock. Thank you to Executive Producers Paul Fiore, Seth
Gordon, Damon Martin, Jay Rifkin, and Michael Roban for making the film
possible. Cast include: James Ransone, Tempestt Bledsoe, Morgan Spurlock, Melvin Van Peebles,
Bill Gates, Greg Crowe, and Lian Amado.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes. There are serious connective issues with information presentation built within. Video Critique Available Here:
The Iron Giant—If you saw it in childhood and loved it, you will love it still. The
adult re-watch most probably will generate a “Nothing’s changed. I love it!”
For the kid in you, this is it—a terrific animated feature for all ages.
Film
Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Storyline
The Iron Giant (voice of Vin Diesel) falls to
earth and an adventuresome boy named Hogarth Hughes (voice of Eli Marienthal)
stumbles upon him, educates him, and then tries to save him from the world.
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Director Brad Bird for his
directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producer Pete Townshend for making
the film possible. Cast include: ELi Marienthal, Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick Jr., Vin Diesel. James Gammon, Cloris
Leachman, Christopher McDonald, M. Emmet Walsh,
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes. It’s a childhood classic worth another viewing as an
adult. It’s the perfect addition to home movie collections.
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