View Date: 3/13/10
This movie stars Dustin Hoffman as an unemployable actor in New York who dresses as a woman to win a part on a soap opera. In the process, he winds up falling for his costar while trying to have a relationship with an old friend. Additionally, the people involved with the soap only know him as a woman, so various uncomfortable situations arise when teamed up with his male costars.
This movie was quite enjoyable, but it did follow some very typical patterns of cross-dressing comedies. I had seen pieces of it before, but this was the first time I had seen it in its entirety. Looking at it now, I can't really understand why it was nominated for so many Oscars. I did, however, really enjoy Bill Murray as the straight man. It was nice to see him in a comedy from the early 80's as a relatively subtle character. I did experience some laugh-out-loud moments, particularly when guys were attracted to his not exactly beautiful female persona.
10 words or less: Don't understand all the hype, but fun little movie.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Flash of Genius
View Date: 11/22/09
This movie is about the man who invented intermittent windshield wipers. He presented his technology to the major auto manufacturers, who jerked him around about licensing the equipment and then wound up stealing it from him. Against all advice, he took the major automakers to court to get recognition for his work and to get them to admit the technology was originally his.
Greg Kinnear did a very job playing an engineer struck with an idea, then collapsed under his determination and with the loss of losing his family. Other than that, I thought the movie was OK. I had seen other Davis vs. Goliath movies that were better, but I understand why this story was chosen to be told as a film.
10 words or less: OK, but not outstanding.
This movie is about the man who invented intermittent windshield wipers. He presented his technology to the major auto manufacturers, who jerked him around about licensing the equipment and then wound up stealing it from him. Against all advice, he took the major automakers to court to get recognition for his work and to get them to admit the technology was originally his.
Greg Kinnear did a very job playing an engineer struck with an idea, then collapsed under his determination and with the loss of losing his family. Other than that, I thought the movie was OK. I had seen other Davis vs. Goliath movies that were better, but I understand why this story was chosen to be told as a film.
10 words or less: OK, but not outstanding.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Bride Wars
View Date: 11/21/09
This romantic comedy stars Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway as two childhood best friends who both become engaged to their respective boyfriends and plan to be each other's maids of honor. And they both want to have their wedding at the place they have been dreaming about since they were little girls. Unfortunately, the locale makes an error in booking their times and has the weddings scheduled concurrently. This turns the friends against each other, as neither want to give up their dream wedding, so they turn to pranks and backstabbing trying to get the other to give up her date.
This was a standard rom-com with a slight twist at the end. Most of the funny parts were seen during the commercials, and really, so was most of the plot. It was an enjoyable way to spend a few hours, but I don't need to watch it again.
10 words or less: Got it all from the previews.
This romantic comedy stars Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway as two childhood best friends who both become engaged to their respective boyfriends and plan to be each other's maids of honor. And they both want to have their wedding at the place they have been dreaming about since they were little girls. Unfortunately, the locale makes an error in booking their times and has the weddings scheduled concurrently. This turns the friends against each other, as neither want to give up their dream wedding, so they turn to pranks and backstabbing trying to get the other to give up her date.
This was a standard rom-com with a slight twist at the end. Most of the funny parts were seen during the commercials, and really, so was most of the plot. It was an enjoyable way to spend a few hours, but I don't need to watch it again.
10 words or less: Got it all from the previews.
Across the Universe
View Date: 11/21/09
Picture yourself in a boat on a river, with tangerine trees and marmalade sky, and that's what this movie is. This movie is a modern musical set completely to the music of the Beatles. The story follows several several friends through a series of adventures, including arrests and protests.
The movie itself is rather difficult for me to describe. However, what is easy for me is to say just how much I liked this film. It was really unique, and the music was perfectly fit in with the story. The actors did their own singing, and it really was a marvelous piece. The acting was wonderful, and it was a thoroughly beautiful movie.
10 words or less: Can't sing praises high enough for this film.
Picture yourself in a boat on a river, with tangerine trees and marmalade sky, and that's what this movie is. This movie is a modern musical set completely to the music of the Beatles. The story follows several several friends through a series of adventures, including arrests and protests.
The movie itself is rather difficult for me to describe. However, what is easy for me is to say just how much I liked this film. It was really unique, and the music was perfectly fit in with the story. The actors did their own singing, and it really was a marvelous piece. The acting was wonderful, and it was a thoroughly beautiful movie.
10 words or less: Can't sing praises high enough for this film.
Hotel for Dogs
View Date: 11/22/09
This movie is about a brother and sisten in the foster care system. The only thing they have been able to keep routinely with them through their many recent moves is their dog. They do have to hide it from their foster parents, so they have set up several contraptions to make the dog more self-sufficient.
Their dog gets away from them one day, and they track him to an abandoned hotel that is occupied by two other stray dogs. The three animals really seem to be at home in the hotel, so the kids choose to make the dogs comfortable there. The kids have very kind hearts, and wind up taking in pretty much every stray dog in the city. Along the way, they team up with some other like-minded kids, and really develop the hotel into a “Hotel for Dogs”.
I was really surprised at just how good this movie is. Both my daughter and I really liked it, and wound up watching it several more times later in the week. Yes, it is a family movie, but it was very enjoyable. We still talk about the contraptions made to make the dogs more self-sufficient and entertained.
10 words or less: A wonderful family movie, better than anticipated.
This movie is about a brother and sisten in the foster care system. The only thing they have been able to keep routinely with them through their many recent moves is their dog. They do have to hide it from their foster parents, so they have set up several contraptions to make the dog more self-sufficient.
Their dog gets away from them one day, and they track him to an abandoned hotel that is occupied by two other stray dogs. The three animals really seem to be at home in the hotel, so the kids choose to make the dogs comfortable there. The kids have very kind hearts, and wind up taking in pretty much every stray dog in the city. Along the way, they team up with some other like-minded kids, and really develop the hotel into a “Hotel for Dogs”.
I was really surprised at just how good this movie is. Both my daughter and I really liked it, and wound up watching it several more times later in the week. Yes, it is a family movie, but it was very enjoyable. We still talk about the contraptions made to make the dogs more self-sufficient and entertained.
10 words or less: A wonderful family movie, better than anticipated.
Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels
View Date: 3/12/10
Usually here I try to describe the movie a bit without giving too much away. But with this one, I really don't know where to start. This movie includes gambling, drugs, heists, and gangsters in general, all taking place in England. There are about 4 sets of goons that are all working both with and against each other in one way or another. It all starts with a card game, and ends with a room of corpses.
Sting plays the part of the main character's (and I use that term rather loosely) father who owns a bar. He has a small role, but plays it well.
This movie is utterly ridiculous yet absolutely hilarious. For much of the movie, I sat there with a dumbfounded look on my face. I enjoyed it, but I'm having hind of a hard time making heads or tails of it. I liked the way Guy Ritchie put it together, and found it very appropriate for the story.
10 words or less: Still trying to make heads or tails of it.
Usually here I try to describe the movie a bit without giving too much away. But with this one, I really don't know where to start. This movie includes gambling, drugs, heists, and gangsters in general, all taking place in England. There are about 4 sets of goons that are all working both with and against each other in one way or another. It all starts with a card game, and ends with a room of corpses.
Sting plays the part of the main character's (and I use that term rather loosely) father who owns a bar. He has a small role, but plays it well.
This movie is utterly ridiculous yet absolutely hilarious. For much of the movie, I sat there with a dumbfounded look on my face. I enjoyed it, but I'm having hind of a hard time making heads or tails of it. I liked the way Guy Ritchie put it together, and found it very appropriate for the story.
10 words or less: Still trying to make heads or tails of it.
History's Mysteries: Lincoln: The Untold Stories
View Date: 1/23/10
This program, presented by the history channel, is one in a series of shows detailing important events or people in history. This particular one was about Lincoln, as seen in the title. It goes into details that are generally not well known about our nation’s 16th president, from his early years through the Civil War.
I’m a big Civil War buff, so I enjoyed learning other aspects of the president serving during its course. The show was rather dry, and I had a hard time keeping my attention focused at times. But overall, it was very much what I expected.
10 words or less: Interesting facts presented as a history show.
This program, presented by the history channel, is one in a series of shows detailing important events or people in history. This particular one was about Lincoln, as seen in the title. It goes into details that are generally not well known about our nation’s 16th president, from his early years through the Civil War.
I’m a big Civil War buff, so I enjoyed learning other aspects of the president serving during its course. The show was rather dry, and I had a hard time keeping my attention focused at times. But overall, it was very much what I expected.
10 words or less: Interesting facts presented as a history show.
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