Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group discussion
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Movies, DVDs, and Theater
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What MOVIES or DVDs have you watched? (PART EIGHT - 2015) (ongoing thread)
Thank you, Mercurialgem!
I also loved the movie Cinema Paradiso.
I'll check it out. Thanks.PS-It's a foreign language film. I only enjoy films in English.
I streamed a good movie from Netflix yesterday."The Identical" (2014)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2326574/?...
http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/800125...
"Twin brothers are unknowingly separated at birth; one of them becomes an iconic rock 'n' roll star, while the other struggles to balance his love for music and pleasing his father."
At first I didn't think I'd like this movie, but then the plot drew me in. I gave it 5 stars.
Sounds interesting as I have twin grandsons although not separated at birth; one is a commercial truck driver for Swift & Co and the other is graduating from Engineering school this month. Other part of this equation is that the twin who is the truck driver is doing this in order to pay for his twin's college tuition.
The other night I went to our local movie theater with my sister and saw "Woman in Gold" starring Helen Mirren."Woman in Gold" (2015)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2404425/?...
"Maria Altmann, an octogenarian Jewish refugee, takes on the Austrian government to recover artwork she believes rightfully belongs to her family."
It's based in a true story. See Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woman_in...
I'm not a fan of this type of movie but I went because my sister wanted to see it. I don't enjoy listening to all the legalities having to do with the ownership of art. However, the part about the holocaust was suspenseful.
Wiki quoted the following from the "Rotten Tomatoes" critics: "Woman in Gold benefits from its talented leads, but strong work from Helen Mirren and Ryan Reynolds isn't enough to overpower a disappointingly dull treatment of a fascinating true story."
Actor, Ryan Reynolds, is appealing in a low-key way.
PS-The words "Woman in Gold" refer to the name of a painting of a lady wearing a lot of gold.
PPS-The movie is filled with beautiful scenes of buildings, fancily decorated rooms, and Helen Mirren wearing a gorgeous wardrobe. Such fashion!
Nina, I suppose it's worth watching but I wouldn't give it 5 stars. Parts of it were good but not all the talk about legal issues concerning who should own the artwork. The court scenes slowed the movie down but they were an essential part of the story.
Good review Joy. I think I will keep that movie in mind. I really liked, "The Monument Men," and it seemed like sory of the same theme.
Nina, thanks for reminding me about "The Monument Men". I knew I had seen a movie with the "artwork" theme but I couldn't remember the name of it. I'm glad you mentioned it. Now I can stop wondering about it. :)
I just finished watching "The Gathering Storm" (2002), a Netflix DVD. It was excellent. It stars: Albert Finney, Vanessa Redgrave & Jim Broadbent.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0314097/?...
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/The-Gath...
"The story of British prime minister Winston Churchill, focusing on his place in British life just prior to World War II."
Albert Finney was made up to look so much like Churchill! I wonder if the facial jowls were real. His whole body was very fat, just like Churchill's. Here's a picture of Finney as Churchill: http://www.bbc.co.uk/staticarchive/ee...
PS-No prosthetics were used on Finney's face, according to the bonus film on the DVD.
PPS-The bonus film says that Finney kept his head tucked into his chin to accentuate the jowls.
I agree, the resemblence is remarkable. I must order the movie.I once bought some hankerchiefs that were at an estate sale and supposedly from Churchill's home at Blemheim castle. Often wondered how they came to be in St. Joseph, MO. At the time the story behind them sounded very authentic.
Nina, I would wonder if the hankies were authentic too.
I streamed a pretty good movie last night."The Cat's Meow" (2001) Stars: Kirsten Dunst, Cary Elwes, Edward Herrmann
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0266391/?...
"Semi-true story of the Hollywood murder that occurred at a star-studded gathering aboard William Randolph Hearst's yacht in 1924."
It's streamable from Netflix. I had often heard about this murder. So I was interested in the movie. Actually, no one really knows who committed the crime, but the movie presents one version of what MAY have happened. It's a very colorful film.
I saw The Identical an I wish I would have seen it through your eyes because I didn't really like it. The beginning was good and had high hopes for liking it but honestly I didn't like Blake Rayne in that role. I remember the scene when one of them is late and the father reprimanded him for it because he was under age and I was like WHAT he looked like he was in his mid 20s so from there I didn't see him fitting in that role. Also, the whole thing reminded me of Elvis. I know Elvis had a twin that died. I don't know if it was suppose to be about Elvis and an alternative story of how things could have been if his twin lived. I really wanted to like it but I guess I'm just hard to please.
Saw the movie, "Anywhere But Here," last night. Good acting and although wasn't a great movie it was worth sticking to end.
Mercurialgem wrote: "I saw The Identical an I wish I would have seen it through your eyes because I didn't really like it. The beginning was good and had high hopes for liking it but honestly I didn't like Blake Rayne ..."I thought it was an interesting story. I accepted Blake Rayne in the role he played, even though he wasn't exactly handsome. He sort of grew on me. I wonder if that was his singing voice. I liked the quality of the singing voice.
I didn't know that Elvis had had a twin. If so, that could very well have given the film-makers the idea for "The Identical". Here's the IMDb movie link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2326574/?...
Nina wrote: "Saw the movie, "Anywhere But Here," last night. Good acting and although wasn't a great movie it was worth sticking to end."I'll try it, Nina. Thanks.
"Anywhere But Here" (1999) Stars: Susan Sarandon, Natalie Portman
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0149691/?...
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/26009713...
Saw "Far From the Maddening Crowd," and some of it was not understandable; especially one of the scenes. My friend who I went with also couldn't figure it out. Have any of you seen it or read the book? If so manybe you could help out.
Nina wrote: "Saw "Far From the Maddening Crowd," and some of it was not understandable; especially one of the scenes. My friend who I went with also couldn't figure it out. Have any of you seen it or read the book? ..."Nina, I didn't read the book but in 2012 I saw the film adaptation of Far from the Madding Crowd. See my review at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Here's the film's IMDb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061648/
"Far from the Madding Crowd" (1967)
"Bathsheba Everdene, a willful, flirtatious, young woman, unexpectedly inherits a large farm and is romantically pursued by three very different men."
NOTE: Although the feminine lead character is called "Bathsheba", this is not a biblical story. IMO, it was misleading to name the character "Bathsheba".
Joy, In the movie I just saw the lead was not named Bathsheba. And she had three suitors; one was a sheep farmer who asked her to marry him in the first scene because he had two hundred sheep. Then the sheep were somehow lead to a cliff and jumped into the ocean. We couldn't figure out who gave the girl her inheiretence and there was a wealthy older man who asked her to marry him. We don't see the soldier until about half the movie is over.Then we see him at a church altar presumbably waiting for his bride. We see her hurrying down a lane over and over and then see him in the church. Then, finally the bride to be gets to what we assume is the outside of the church and opens the door and see a different bride and groom and so she closes the door and walks away and then we see the soldier realizing she isn't ocming and he leaves the church. It was a very confusing scene.
Nina wrote: "Joy, In the movie I just saw the lead was not named Bathsheba. And she had three suitors; one was a sheep farmer who asked her to marry him in the first scene because he had two hundred sheep. Then..."Nina, at IMDb it says that Bathsheba was played by Julie Christie. Maybe we saw different movies. Anyway, I don't remember the details of the movie. But here's the IMDb link again:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061648/
Was Alan Bates in the movie you saw?
No, the movie you saw probably starred Julie Christie. The one we saw yesterday has just been released.
Was it this one?"Far from the Madding Crowd" (2015)
Stars: Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Sheen
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2935476/?...
"In Victorian England, the independent and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene attracts three very different suitors: Gabriel Oak, a sheep farmer; Frank Troy, a reckless Sergeant; and William Boldwood, a prosperous and mature bachelor."
Nina, I've both seen the 1967 movie adaptation of Far from the Madding Crowd (starring Alan Bates) and read the book; it's my favorite of Hardy's novels. Wikipedia has a good plot summary here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_from_the_Ma... ; which should clarify the ambiguous parts for you.As Joy noted in a post back in 2013 on the "Title Origins and/or Meanings" thread, this title comes from a line in Thomas Gray's 18th-century poem "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard." The 1967 movie was also favorably mentioned on our movie threads for both 2012 and 2013. The Bluefield College library has another film version that I believe follows the novel more closely; I can't remember for sure if I've watched the whole thing or not.
Biblical names were quite commonly given to children in 18th and 19th century England (and America); so a reader in Hardy's own time, hearing Bathsheba's name, would not automatically think the book was set in biblical times. (One of her suitors is named Gabriel, and she has a farmhand named Cain --his mother, "not being a Bible-reading woman," confused the identities of Cain and Abel. :-) ) You can also find these kinds of names in works by Dickens, Trollope, and other Victorian writers.
Joy H. wrote: "Was it this one?"Far from the Madding Crowd" (2015)
Stars: Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Sheen
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2935476/?...
"In Victorian England, the indep..."Yes, that was the movie I saw and they never called the main character Bathsheba, they referred to her as Everdeen. We didn't even know her first name was Bathsheba. I tried to order the film you referred to starring Julie Christie on Netflix and it says 'very long wait, so who knows if I'll ever see it.
Joy H. wrote: "Was it this one?
"Far from the Madding Crowd" (2015)
Stars: Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Sheen
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2935476/?...
"In Victorian England, the indep..."
The movie I saw was just released and not the Julie Christie movie. I don't know any of the actresses or actors movie names in the one I just saw. I sometimes wonder if there are any "new" actors. They always refer to what other films they have been in so we have an idea of who they are/unlike the old stars who were really stars;Gregory Peck(you didn't have to say he was in "To Kill a Mockingbird." Or Cary Grant/John Wayne/Better Davis/Spencer Tracy/Katherine Hepburn/Bob Hope to name a few real stars
Werner wrote: "Nina, I've both seen the 1967 movie adaptation of Far from the Madding Crowd (starring Alan Bates) and read the book; it's my favorite of Hardy's novels. Wikipedia has a good plot summary here: en..."Thank you, Werner. I finally learned something about the movie I just saw. They left way too much to your imagination. Or maybe I just imagined i saw the movie. That description was marvelous. And more than two movies from that book. WoW.
As I said, I can't thank you enough for all that info on the story.
You're welcome, Nina; glad to help out!
Werner wrote: "... Biblical names were quite commonly given to children in 18th and 19th century England (and America); so a reader in Hardy's own time, hearing Bathsheba's name, would not automatically think the book was set in biblical times. ..."I see. Thanks, Werner. I didn't know that.
Nina wrote: "... they never called the main character Bathsheba, they referred to her as Everdeen. We didn't even know her first name was Bathsheba. ..."Ah, that solves the mystery then.
Nina wrote: "...I tried to order the film you referred to starring Julie Christie on Netflix and it says 'very long wait, so who knows if I'll ever see it."Nina, sometimes I receive the Netflix DVD quite promptly, even though it says it's a long wait.
That's encouraging. Maybe there is hope afterall.
Recently I watched two mediocre movies but they kept me watching and that's the most important thing these days. In one or both of them (can't remember) I hated the background singing which consisted of whining lyrics which made me cringe. Is this the kind of music that's popular nowadays? The movies were as follows:"Having You" 2013 (a real tear-jerker in parts)
(STREAMABLE FROM NETFLIX)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2343549/?...
http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/703026...
"Jack has finally managed to propose to his infertile girlfriend when his life is turned upside down by the arrival of an old one-night stand that introduces him to his seven year old son."
"Midway to Heaven" (2011) (Netflix calls it: "Heaven Is Waiting")
Adapted from a novel, Midway To Heaven, by Dean Hughes.
(STREAMABLE FROM NETFLIX)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1762308/?...
http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/701848...
"Long-grieving widower Ned spurns his daughter's attempts to push him back into dating, especially now that she has a boyfriend of her own."
(I didn't like the eventual love interest of the male lead. I don't know why. She turned me off for some reason.)
PS-WARNING: In the movie mentioned above in Message #387, ("Midway to Heaven" aka "Heaven is Waiting"), it opens with the lead male talking to his dead wife. She keeps appearing by his side for several scenes. Don't let this confuse you. It confused me at first. She's just part of his imagination but if you don't pay attention, you may think she's supposed to be a real live character.
Usually if a movie is streamable on Netflix I can't get it on our Netflix but I'll check it out just in case.
Nina wrote: "Usually if a movie is streamable on Netflix I can't get it on our Netflix but I'll check it out just in case."Well, Nina, you're not missing too much if you aren't able to get the two movies I mentioned above in Message #387. They kept my interest but I wouldn't say they were terrific.
I watched a DVD from Netflix:"Enough Said" (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2390361/?...
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Enough-S...
"Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini star in this charming comedy about a divorced woman venturing into a relationship with a sweet man."
This was an entertaining movie. Gandolfini is very likable in this film. Louis-Dreyfus plays a similar personality to the one she played in the Seinfeld sitcom. She's cute and tends to get herself into funny and sometimes sad situations. An interesting story but for some reason I could only give it 3 stars. It was a bit lackluster but it was entertaining nevertheless.
PS-I didn't like the title. It didn't seem to fit the movie. Too nebulous. I like a more concrete title.
PPS-A good title would have been: "Second time around".
I used to love to watch Julia...on Seinfeld. Wonderful comedian.
Until last night, it's been quite awhile since I had (or made) time to actually sit down and watch a movie. But on Memorial Day, I had the opportunity to snatch up a DVD of Mr. and Mrs. Smith for a dollar at a flea market, and watched it last night. (There's a link to the Netflix description over on our "Coming Soon" thread --message 24, posted by Joy back in 2009.) This one has been on my radar for awhile, because the premise struck me as intriguing, and Jolie is always eminently watchable, especially in an action role.If I were rating the film on Goodreads' scale and could give half stars, I'd give it three and a half. There are some considerable logical holes in the plot which don't stand examination too well, and it demands more suspension of disbelief than some viewers will be able to muster. What carries it as successfully as it does come across are strong performances by both Jolie and Pitt, whom I don't think I've actually seen act before, and the emotionally compelling (even wrenching at times) exploration of their relationship.
It's rated PG-13 for (mostly stress-induced) bad language, "sexuality" and a lot of violence. But the sexuality is only in two scenes (and in one case is only an implication that premarital sex happened), and though there's a high body count, it's quick and clean violence --and not directed against innocents.
Joy and Nina, I doubt if either of you would really get into this one. But some other members of the group might!
You're right, Werner. I doubt I'd enjoy a story about "guns for hire". :) But you mentioned that the movie demands a suspension of disbelief and has holes in the plot. I find that some of the stories I read have that quality. Things happen or characters behave in ways that aren't quite believable. If I like the story, I try to ignore those things. It's just a story after all... and they say that sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. :)
Joy, your comments about Suspension of Disbelief sometimes works but often for me, it doesn't. I avoid movies with violence with the exception of the Swedish trilogy and now I can't remember the name. something like, "Girl with the Golden Tatoo." Help me out with the title, if that isn't it.
Nina wrote: "... I avoid movies with violence with the exception of the Swedish trilogy and now I can't remember the name..."Nina, I too avoid movies with violence.
Are you thinking of the movie and book named The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo? Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Dragon Tattoo story is part of The Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson.
Yes, Joy that is the correct title and I was loaned that book by a friend and I have to say I got hooked in spite of the violence but that usually doesn't happen. I even watched all three movies. Now, I might not.
Nina, as you can tell from my review of the Dragon Tattoo story, I didn't get hooked. :)
I didn't think the violence was excessive in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It's a murder mystery & certainly has its dark moments, but nothing is gratuitous. I gave it 4 stars (unusual for this genre) & was even impressed by the computer parts. I did mention that it was 'gritty'. No, I'm sure Joy wouldn't like it. Nina, I think you might. My review is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Jim wrote: "I didn't think the violence was excessive in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It's a murder mystery & certainly has its dark moments, but nothing is gratuitous. I gave it 4 stars (..."Jim, I did see the movie and I read the book. I gave the movie 3 stars. (I streamed it from Netflix.)
PS-My review (written in 2011) says that I liked the ending. See my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group
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As for movies I remember watching Cinema Paradiso and really enjoying it.