Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Dear Mr. Watterson (NR) 6.0

Dear Mr. Watterson (2013) : A documentary film about the impact of the newspaper comic strip Calvin & Hobbes, created by Bill Watterson. (6.3)

Director: Joel Allen Schroeder
Stars: Berkeley Breathed, Jef Mallett, Stephan Pastis

I love Calvin and Hobbes. Actually, I haven't known others who have the same obsession with them as I do, as that's not something I talk about with others. Apparently, there are many like me. But this is a review of one documentary about the comic strip and its creator. Okay, so the director wasn't able to talk Bill Watterson and there are no interviews, segments on creating the strip, explanation of how it all got started, etc. So, the whole movie looks a lot like an admiration of the art from a far, and to a tiny bit a self indulgence of the director's own obsession with Calvin and Hobbes. That's all fine and dandy, but with a little bit more research, he could have done more historical perspective; given some example strips, etc. Instead, it is a series of repetitive interviews all talking about pretty much the same thing.  I think I leaned to appreciate the strips a bit more; then again, I already valued Calvin and Hobbes a whole lot, so I don't know if there was anything added here. Under the no commercialization clause, I doubt the director would have been allowed to show entire strips anyhow ... so, I'm willing to cut some slack. All in all, it is a good documentary for the sake of nostalgia but read the strips for the best value. My Rating: 6.0

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

The Rainmaker (PG-13) 6.5

The Rainmaker (1997): An idealistic young lawyer and his cynical partner take on a powerful law firm representing a corrupt insurance company.

Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Writers: John Grisham (novel), Francis Ford Coppola (screenplay)
Stars: Matt Damon, Danny DeVito, Claire Danes

Uh, why do I get the feeling that I've seen this type of good lawyer movies before?  Because,  I have.  It is the young, fresh out of college, want to do good lawyer against the big corporations with expensive lawyers in a country courthouse. Danny DeVito is perfect for the cynical side-kick. Matt Damon in his 1997 freshness is also the right casting for the I-haven't-tried-a-case-before-this lawyer. I'm sure the novel is a lot more nuanced than this all the pieces fit right into a nice little puzzle movie. It is enjoyable and you route for the little guy and all, but it is all too predictable. A good movie to kill time with when you like it better dead. My Rating: 6.5

Friday, July 25, 2014

My Girl (PG) 6.0

My Girl (1991)Vada Sultenfuss is obsessed with death. Her mother is dead, and her father runs a funeral parlor. She is also in love with her English teacher, and joins a poetry class over the summer just to impress him. Thomas J., her best friend, is "allergic to everything", and sticks with Vada despite her hangups.  (6.8)

Director: Howard Zieff
Writer: Laurice Elehwany
Stars: Anna Chlumsky, Macaulay Culkin, Dan Aykroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis

I supposed those who grew up in that time frame would feel quite nostalgic about the story told in this movie. I couldn't quite get into that, but I understand. The kids part of the story is also quite bitter-sweet and kudos to the writer for keeping it like that and not sugar-coat it. Growing up, love and loss are things a little girl is forced to learn quickly. Perhaps, something in the storytelling didn't resonate with me all that much. My Rating: 6.0

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Pretty in Pink (PG-13) 6.5

Pretty in Pink (1986) A poor girl must choose between the affections of her doting childhood sweetheart and a rich but sensitive playboy. (6.7)

Director: Howard Deutch
Writer: John Hughes
Stars: Molly Ringwald, Jon Cryer, Harry Dean Stanton

I'd seen bits and pieces of this movie previously, but this is the first time I watched the whole thing in one go. For those who grew up in the US in the 80s, watching this movie now will bring back some memories. Perhaps, it is easy to trivialize the trials of high school teenagers, but at least, the story here makes some attempt at putting a weight behind it. I wish they had revealed a bit more of the southern California locations ... would have been more nostalgic. OMD's "If you leave" is one of the more memorable remnants of this movie. Glad I watched it (again, so to speak). Oh yeah, I'm definitely Duckie, at least these days in my not-so-high-school life. So there's that. My Rating: 6.5

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

The Frozen Ground (R) 7.0

The Frozen Ground (2013) An Alaska State Trooper partners with a young woman who escaped the clutches of serial killer Robert Hansen to bring the murderer to justice. Based on actual events. (6.4)

Director: Scott Walker
Writer: Scott Walker
Stars: Nicolas Cage, Vanessa Hudgens, John Cusack

The story of Robert Hansen had been used in various other films and TV series, so this isn't an original idea. However, the three actors mentioned above give excellent renditions of their respective characters. The most captivating is that by Hudgens. Nicholas Cage, as usual, gets into his character and blends in with the story. What it lacks in originality of the story, this movie makes up for with the telling of the tale. Powerful and realistic depictions sans the gory scenes. My Rating: 7.0

Monday, July 21, 2014

Dead Man Walking (R) 7.5

Dead Man Walking (1995) A nun, while comforting a convicted killer on death row, empathizes with both the killer and his victim's families. (7.6)

Director: Tim Robbins
Writers: Helen Prejean (book), Tim Robbins
Stars: Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn, Robert Prosky

This is a movie that questions the place of the capital punishment in our society. Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn perform admirably and true to the task at hand. The brutality of the crime, the aftermath for the victims families and the road to redemption (or not) is clearly depicted. What is not discussed, perhaps, is the usefulness or the lack thereof of putting someone to death from a non-emotional point of view. A superbly written non-fiction by a long-term advocate for the abolition of the death penalty, this is a meaningful starting point for the discussion. As a movie, this excels at pointing out both sides of the argument without being preachy. What it is preachy about is the religion but I'm willing to overlook that given the writer's background and the relevance to the storyline. My Rating: 7.5

reboot

I am going to try to restart the blogging process.  I've been watching a bit less movies and more cricket of late what with the Sri Lankan cricket team having had a fabulous first half of 2014.  Let's see how far this goes.

-pkd