A Walk in the Woods (2015)

 

After spending two decades in England, Bill Bryson returns to the U.S., where he decides the best way to connect with his homeland is to hike the Appalachian Trail with one of his oldest friends, Stephen Katz.

Likeable, leisurely paced road movie has its amusing moments, some good landscape cinematography, and Redford and Nolte seem to be enjoying themselves, fully at ease with the characters they are playing.

 

A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy (1982)

 

A wacky inventor and his wife invite two other couples for a weekend party at a romantic summer house in the 1900s countryside.

From memory: Light-hearted and inconsequential, Woody Allen plays around with Bergman's Sommarnattens leende, all very well made, good dialogue and a capable cast, it's enjoyable but without much substance.

Halliwell*: "Subdued, melancholy and rather uninventive Woody Allen variation on Smiles of a Summer Night." 

Maltin***: "SMILES OF A SUMMER'S NIGHT, Woody Allen-style; a quirky, entertaining diversion...Appealing cast...,exquisite Gordon Willis photography."

Melvin and Howard (1980)

 

The story of hard-luck Melvin E. Dummar, who claimed to have received a will naming him an heir to the fortune of Howard Hughes.

From memory: Likable comedy-drama is endearing in its sympathetic slice-of-the-life depiction of lower-middle-class Americana, made in good humor and with a great cast of performers.

Halliwell***: "Eccentric comedy which has been compared to the work of Preston Sturges, but has an agreeable style of its own"

Maltin***1/2: "Wonderful slice-of-life story...An endearing, bittersweet American fable, with Oscar winner Steenburgen providing most of the comic highlights, including a memorable TV talent contest." 

Goin' South (1978)

Due to the lack of men after the Civil War, a small western town allows a bachelorette with ulterior motives to save a horse thief from the gallows by marrying him.

From memory: Imagine Jack Nicholson indulging himself in directing a humorous Western with himself in the lead role and you pretty well know what you're getting; entertaining, but very messy and overlong.

Halliwell (no star): "Curious semi-comic Western which might have made a good two-reeler."

Maltin***: "Amusing Western comedy, not for all tastes...Steenburgen is refreshingly offbeat and Belushi's disappointingly small role is a real hoot."

The Discovery (2017)

Two years after the afterlife is scientifically proven, a man attempts to help a young woman break away from her dark past.

An intriguing premise is muddled by a half-hearted treatment and a disappointing ending, and the central romance between Mara and Segel is simply mismatched.

Last Vegas (2013)

 

 

Four friends take a break from their day-to-day lives to throw a bachelor party in Las Vegas for their last remaining single pal.

 

Likable, but unremarkable comedy, obviously made for its elderly star cast to have an easy ride. 

Maltin**1/2: "Raunchy senior-citizen jokes abound, but some of the gags are pretty funny and the stars seem to be having a good time."

In the Electric Mist (2009)

A detective in post Katrina New Orleans area has a series of surreal encounters with a troop of friendly Confederate soldiers while investigating serial killings of local prostitutes, a 1965 lynching and corrupt local businessmen.

Interesting as this great French director's first American production, but despite all talent involved, the plot goes in all directions and makes the story diffuse and without focus.


On second viewing: still agree that the story is vague and without focus, but the movie hold's one interst with atmosphere and a good cast.

Maltin **1/2: "Atmospheric and well cast, this police procedural with mystical undertones is highly watchable, although some of the characters and relationships seem a bit sketchy ..."

The Dead Girl (2006)

The clues to a young woman's death come together as the lives of seemingly unrelated people begin to intersect.

Intense, complex and harrowing study of the various lives involved or affected by a horrific crime; direction is speckless and the cast is superb.

Maltin***: "Intriguing if downbeat vignettes are linked by an overall rumination about violence toward women in our society. Writer-director Moncrieff offers her actors a superior showcase, and they're all terrific."

Back to the Future Part III (1990)

Enjoying a peaceable existence in 1885, Doctor Emmet Brown is about to be killed by Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen, so Marty McFly travels back in time to save his friend.

Satisfyingly exciting comclusion of the series, this time as an amusing Western parody and with a nice romantic interest for the doctor.

Halliwell***: "Good-natured fun at the expense of calssic Western movies."

Maltin***1/2: "Delightful conclusion to this time-travel trilogy...The dormant movie Western gets a major dose of adrenaline from this high-tech, high-powered comic adventure, which offers great fun, dazzling special effects, and imagination to spare. There's real movie magic at work here."

The Help (2011)

An aspiring author during the civil rights movement of the 1960s decides to write a book detailing the African-American maids' point of view on the white families for which they work, and the hardships they go through on a daily basis.

Clearly anti-racist, but politically a bit naive period piece, which nevertheless satisfies with a brilliant all-female cast, all at the top of their art.

Maltin***: "Evocative portrayal...The white characters' plight almost seems trivial alongside the life-and-death struggles of the servants, but the performances are rich, especailly Davis, who is heartbreakingly real, and Spencer..."