Rolling Thunder (1977)

A returning war veteran loses his family to a violent home invasion and decides to seek and retaliate against those responsible.

No Country for Old Men (2007)

 

Violence and mayhem ensue after a hunter stumbles upon a drug deal gone wrong and more than two million dollars in cash near the Rio Grande. 

Congenial adaptation of the Cormac McCarthy novel finds the Coen Bros. at the top of their art spinning a dark, sinister and thrilling tale full of excellent scenes, great photography and top performances all around.

Maltin***1/2: "Crackling tale...Creating tension from the first moments onward (and without the use of music), the Coens' adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel is a brooding tale of fate set against a stark backdrop...but not without irony and humor. Set on fire by Bardem's Academy Award-winning performance; brilliantly photographed by Roger Deakins." 

The Homesman (2014)

Three women who have been driven mad by pioneer life are to be transported across the country by covered wagon by a pious, independent-minded young woman, who in turn employs a low-life drifter to assist her.

Excellently directed Western with a dark, bleak vision of the period  is an intense experience, thanks to exhilarating performances by Jones and Swank  and a a good throughout and some magnificent cinematography.

Ad Astra (2019)

An astronaut undertakes a mission across an unforgiving solar system to uncover the truth about his missing father and his doomed expedition that now, 30 years later, threatens the universe.

Brad Pitt is magnificent as the calm, withdrawn astronaut in this visually striking sci-fi adventure, but the Daddy angle and its finale sure drags the whole experience down.

Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)

Biographical story of Loretta Lynn,, a legendary country singer that came from poverty to worldwide fame.

From memory: Excellent musical biography with a superb Sissy Spacek plus a equally good cast especially gives an accurate picture of the Kentucky boondocks.

Halliwell***: "'With-it' version of the old show business story: gradual success, stardom, nervous breakdown, reconciliation. Based on the life of Loretta Lynn, but mainly notable for its depiction of backwoods Kentucky."

Maltin***1/2: "...among the best musical bios ever made, though final quarter does slideover some "down side" details. Spacek won well-deserved Oascar..., but Jones, D'Angelo, and Helm (drummer for The Band) are just as good."

The Company Men (2010)

Three men try to survive a round of corporate downsizing at a major company - and that affects them, their families, and their communities.

Bleak and obviously accurate view of Amarican corporate capitalism and its effects on those who work therin - well-paced, atmospheric film with a good ensemble.

Maltin***: "Empathetic slice of modern American life...while it may not score an emotional bull's-eye, it still has something valid to say about self-worth and self-respect."

In the Valley of Elah (2007)

A retired military investigator works with a police detective to uncover the truth behind his son's disappearance following his return from a tour of duty in Iraq.

Good movie: excellent acting, good story.

On renewed viewing: On the surface a crime mystery, the movie subtly comes to reveal the harrowing effects that war inflicts on all who are involved; Jones' subdued and controlled performance is excellent.

Maltin***1/2: "Riveting whodunit takes us into dark, difficult terrain, all of it mirrored on Jones' haunted face; his exceptional performance anchors this outstanding film."

Hope Springs (2012)

 

 

After thirty years of marriage, a middle-aged couple attends an intense, week-long counseling session to work on their relationship.

 

The stars perform fine as a couple in a midlife crisis, but the message is that relationships are little business enterprises which only are 'successful' with constant effort and efficiency.

 

Maltin**1/2: "Reasonably realistic, empathetic comedy-drama...features (yet another) fine performance by Streep, but it's almost impossible to care about Jones' sullen, quarrelsome character. We have to take it on faith that she saw something wonderful in him all those years ago." 

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

A rejected military soldier transforms into Captain America after taking a dose of a "Super-Soldier serum", but being Captain America comes at a price as he attempts to take down a war monger and a terrorist organization.

Fairly entertaining comic-book adaptation with some good period detail; thankfully, the original's unflattering patriotism is toned down, and the villain is not the Third Reich itself, but a renegade madman Über-Nazi.

Maltin**1/2: "First half of this period piece is good fun, but story loses its thrust and doesn't even provide an honest ending. Evans is quite good in the title role; visual effects turn him into a puny version of himself for the early scenes."

The Family (2013)

The Manzoni family, a notorious mafia clan, is relocated to Normandy, France under the witness protection program, where fitting in soon becomes challenging as their old habits die hard.

Mildly entertaining, but lacklustre Mafia gangster movie spoof; it's not the casts' fault, which is accurate for the occasion; however, the movie only works in bits and not as a whole.

Maltin**1/2: "Farcical situation is well played..., but the screenplay...is lazy and leaves a lot to be desired. Watchable enough because of that cast but gets awfully "cute" when it makes winking references to a famous American mob movie."

Lincoln (2012)

As the War continues to rage, America's president struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on the decision to emancipate the slaves.

Despite depicting a short historic episode, the is movie convincingly creates a complex study of Abraham Lincoln, the political and social situation of the time and some good portrayals of other protagonists concerning the fight for the 13th Amendment; Daniel Day-Lewis' performance is spectacular, but the rest of the cast is great, too.

Maltin***1/2: "Day-Lewis miraculously disappears into the role of Lincoln, while the filmmakers persuasively create the look and feel of Washington in 1865.Thoughtful screenplay...and great casting from top to bottom make this a piece of American history come to vivid life."

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 ..."