Wild (2014)

 

A chronicle of one woman's one thousand one hundred mile solo hike undertaken as a way to recover from a recent personal tragedy. 

Compelling and at times powerful personal travelogue convinces with Witherspoon's strong performance, competent direction and good landscape cinematography. 

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)

 

Rey develops her newly discovered abilities with the guidance of Luke Skywalker, who is unsettled by the strength of her powers. Meanwhile, the Resistance prepares for battle with the First Order.

Competently produced and highly entertaining continuation of the Star Wars saga, again proof that the recent productions are superior to the previous trilogies concerning characters and character development, - and diversity; Daisy Ridley's Rey is arguably the series' most agreeable hero.

On rewatching:  Although visually stunning in some sequences, this episode is in fact more generic and less entertaining on a second watch.

Smooth Talk (1985)

 

 

A free-spirited 15-year-old girl flirts with a dangerous stranger in the Northern California suburbs and must prepare herself for the frightening and traumatic consequences.

Laura Dern is extraordinary in this realistic, dark adaptation of a Joyce Carol Oates' story; the final sequence is particularly intense and harrowing.
 

Halliwell (no star): "Unattractive scenario about thoroughly dislikeable people."

Maltin**1/2: "Disarmingly realistic...Williams...all but deadens rest of the film. Worth seeing if only for Dern's fine performance. Impressive feature debut for documentary director Chopra..." 

 

 

Laura Dern

(ph: Jürgen teller)

Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Dern

Little Women (2019)

Jo March reflects back and forth on her life, telling the beloved story of the March sisters - four young women, each determined to live life on her own terms.

Lively, beautifully set and photographed, excellently cast adaptation of the classic and beloved novel; however, the non-linear telling of the tale diminishes the impact of the romances and tragedies and seems to assume the audience already has full knowledge of the story.

Marriage Story (2019)

A marriage breaking up and a family staying together.

Excellent and realistic separation drama analyzes the back and forth of a divorce and emphasizes how the legal procedure actually boosts and preys on the split; superb cast throughout, but Laura Dern is absolutely amazing.

99 Homes (2014)

A recently unemployed single father struggles to get back his foreclosed home by working for the real estate broker who is the source of his frustration.

Good, committed drama exposes the moral twists you need to take to survive in a corrupt system, with Michael Shannon introducing another variety of a villain personality.

October Sky (1999)

The true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner's son who was inspired by the first Sputnik launch to take up rocketry against his father's wishes.

Halliwell (no star): "Based on the biography of a man who became a NASA engineer, this is a gently nostalgic flag-waver of smalltown Americana in the 50s, amiable but forgettable."

Maltin***1/2: "Sincere, heartwarming drama...Rich performances, well-drawn characters, and an old-fashioned sense of can-do American spirit make this something special." 

Tasteful produced and well-cast movie with a touch of nostalgia; entertaining, but once again an American success story of an individual making his way against social obstacles.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)

Rey develops her newly discovered abilities with the guidance of Luke Skywalker, who is unsettled by the strength of her powers. Meanwhile, the Resistance prepares for battle with the First Order.

Competently produced and highly entertaining continuation of the Star Wars saga, again proof that the recent productions are superior to the previous trilogies concerning characters and character development, - and diversity; Daisy Ridley's Rey is arguably the series' most agreeable hero.

Lonely Hearts (2006)

Two homicide detectives track  a murderous pair known as the "Lonely Hearts Killers" who lured their victims through the personals.

True crime story gets a slight neo-noir treatment in this well-made, but not quite exciting movie, though Salma Hayek surprises in a very unusual role; a far cry from The Honeymoon Killers, which is based on the same story.

Maltin**: "Uninspired treatment of acutely unpleasant material..."

Twin Peaks (2017)

25 years after Laura Palmer's murder, Special Agent Dale Cooper, who investigated the case, heads out on an odyssey that returns him to the Washington town.

Ingenious continuation of the Twin Peaks surpasses the previous seasons by aesthetic cohesion, plot development and the sheer magic and mystery of its tale, a TV Gesamtkunstwerk. That said, episode 8, "Gotta Light?", is a work of art in itself.

 

The Founder (2016)

The story of Ray Kroc, a salesman who turned two brothers' innovative fast food eatery, McDonald's, into one of the biggest restaurant businesses in the world.

Intriguing and ultimately sad tale of greed vs. quality and integrity that exemplifies the making of an American corporation, although the movie ostensibly omits any social and political issues of the topic; Michael Keaton is perfect as the shallow and heartless door-to-door salesman that becomes a brutal corporate magnate.

Jurassic Park III (2001)

A decidedly odd couple with ulterior motives convince Dr. Alan Grant to go to Isla Sorna (the second InGen dinosaur lab.), resulting in an unexpected landing and unexpected new inhabitants on the island.

Moderately entertaining third part of the series, again the dinosaurs steal the show.

On rewatching: I still agree with my initial opinion about the dinosaurs; the movie is streamlined for straight entertainment and delivers, but offers nothing more.

Halliwell (no star): "Hectic chase movie that, jettisoning the slight intellectual content of the first two movies, concentrates on shocks and thrills, which it delivers effectively."

Maltin***: "Entertaining popcorn movie that takes a formula and plays it for all its worth...Full of scares, and lots of fun: proof that a thrill-ride type of movie doesn't have to be dumb...or overlong."

Blue Velvet (1986)

The discovery of a severed human ear found in a field leads a young man on an investigation related to a beautiful, mysterious nightclub singer and a group of psychopathic criminals who have kidnapped her child.

Need I explain? When it was released I watched it 3 times in a row, I was completely overwhelmed, Lynch exceeded my expectations. An instant classic!

On renewed viewing: David Lynch's masterpiece still mesmerizes with its idiosyncratic and sinister, but spot-on vision of Americana.

Halliwell***: "Bizarrely stylish exercise by the director of The Elephant Man, popular at the box-office."

Maltin**: "Terminally weird, though flamboyantly original film...A highly individual look at the bizarre elements just behind the facade of a picture-perfect American town. Too audacious to be easily dismissed, but too strange to be easily enjoyed...yet this was one of the most critically acclaimed movies of 1986!"

Blue Velvet (1986)

The discovery of a severed human ear found in a field leads a young man on an investigation related to a beautiful, mysterious nightclub singer and a group of psychopathic criminals who have kidnapped her child.

Blue Velvet (1986)

(Italian movie poster by Esciotti) 

The discovery of a severed human ear found in a field leads a young man on an investigation related to a beautiful, mysterious nightclub singer and a group of psychopathic criminals who have kidnapped her child.