American Beauty (1999)

 Pros: The acting is excellent. Kevin Spacey won his only Best Actor Oscar as Lester Burnham, a man who is sick of being a pushover, but Annette Bening's Carolyn is just as good. Thora Birch may not have been nominated, but she was great. The plot is also good. Pulling something out of Billy Wilder's bag of tricks, this is narrated by a dead man, and you have to figure out what happens. The film also has good mechanics, which is always a must to be a good film.

Cons: Parts of the plot are just icky, namely Ricky (Wes Bentley) is a creeper. And drug dealer, but mainly a creeper. Sure, his feelings toward Jane (Birch) are genuine, but it is just gross that he constantly films the house next door. And Lester wants to have sex with Jane's sexually charged friend, Angela (Mena Survari), which is gross. Sure, she wants it but she's a child and fortunately Lester realizes that just in the nick of time. 

Recommend: Yes, though this film is a bit overrated, it is still solid.

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-A side plot is that Ricky's strict, abusive military father, Frank (Chris Cooper) wrongly believes that his son is a homosexual, which he finds appalling though he is also has those tendencies. He shoots Lester after Lester rebuffs his advances.

-Carolyn cheats on her husband with her real estate rival, Buddy Kane (Peter Gallagher) and has sex with him in some super awkward positions.

-Pay attention for a blink and miss it cameo from John Cho.

-Allison Janney is Frank's suppressed wife as she shows no emotions throughout.

-Ricky has a crazy but efficient little drug dealing operation going. 

-His film is the floating plastic bag is truly beautiful.

The Green Mile (1999)

 Pros: Wow, the acting is utterly superb, for starters, with realistic (some good others genuinely sadistic) characters and a solid, if unrealistic plot and screenplay. Despite the odd and painfully sad ending, this is a solid film, with great mechanics, score, editing, cinematography and scenic design.

Cons: Well, while this film needed a twist, magic realism, in this case, with convicted killer John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan) having magical healing powers and an ageless mouse with a simple talent of rolling an empty spool of thread toward his owner, is just odd and breaks with the extreme realism of the rest of the film. Still, the film is solid enough to nearly overcome this issue.

Recommend: I think so

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-As this film occurs in the death row section of a Louisiana prison, there are some truly despicable characters, including the nasty child murderer William Wharton (Sam Rockwell) and the nasty prickish warden, Percy (Doug Hutchison) who doesn't understand or care of the importance of wetting a sponge for electrocution so the poor guy fries to death, leaving the audience horrified. 

-It is shocking that so many people would want to attend an electrocution.

-I never thought I would hear Tom Hanks play with a mouse.

-Most creative excuse for not wanting to have sex with your wife: "My water works is still having trouble and I don't want to pass it on to you." Yes, that's the actual line.

-Bonnie Hunt and Patricia Clarkson are the wives and each do well with their painfully small role. 

-James Cromwell, David Morse and Barry Pepper provide excellent support for Hanks. 

-The two evil men do get their just desserts, with Wharton being shot to death and Percy needs up lobotomized, more or less, in a mental institution. 

-Graham Greene's role is painfully small. He needs more good roles in more good films.

-Gary Sinise also makes a cameo appearance as Coffey's defense attorney who thinks he's guilty. 

Dear Evan Hansen (2021)

 Pros: Yikes, it's hard to find a true positive thing about this film, which is such a shame, as there was so much potential, from the big name cast including Julianne Moore and Amy Adams, not to mention Ben Platt reprising his Tony-winning role as the titular Evan Hansen. Sure, the songs are great, but they were such a minor part of the film, it's a shame when they were the best part.

Cons: I feel that Platt wasn't miscast as many. Yes, he was too old and his hair was awkward, but I felt he did well with the role, considering he's done it hundreds of times before. Evan is a loner, with issues and while he makes a huge mistake, worming his way into a family who wished their actual son was as kind as Evan, he is still a leading character we need in Hollywood. However, the plot was offered an opportunity to highlight mental illness in teenagers, as Connor (Colton Ryan) clearly had some huge issues and honestly, thank goodness he only killed himself (which is still sad), it didn't focus on those very relevant issues, skimming over them instead, and that's unacceptable as so many are on anti-depressants and other medications to deal with the pressure of being a human. And also, while the songs were great (Requiem was especially a highlight), this film is not a musical, but rather a drama with songs sprinkled in. I guess the ending is a happy one, but it also fizzles out. And it's a shame that Amandla Stenberg's and Kailtyn Dever's performances were wasted as they are two of the most talented actresses of their generation. 

Recommend: Probably not

Grade: C+

Side Notes:

-Evan is undoubtedly a lonely child, as his father left and his mother works a lot as it is difficult to support the two of them without any financial support, so there is a wealth discrepancy between the two families as well. 

-Zoe (Devers) has no lost love for her brother, and he was largely a bully, misunderstood, but a bully nonetheless. 

-This is also one of the few films where the male and female leads don't end up together.

-The plot twist of Evan actually wanting to die is chilling and while devastating, certainly the best part of the film. 

The Straight Story (1999)

 Pros: An intriguing story of the stubborn, elderly Alvin Straight (Richard Farnsworth) who insists on making amends with his brother and as his eyesight is so bad, he can't drive, he rigs a John Deere lawn mower with a trailer and sets out for the 260 mile journey, so the story is simple but fascinating. Farnsworth is also a revelation. Sissy Spacek provides great support as his daughter and caretaker who has a bad stutter.

Cons: Though the plot portrays some of his struggles along the way, I can't believe that he would be hauling the supplies to butcher a deer and you also never see him go to the bathroom or drink a beverage until the end when he finally splurges on a beer. Also, there were no minorities whatsoever. 

Recommend: Yes

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-Farnsworth's best scene is when he randomly meets up with another World War II veteran and explains how he accidentally shot his scout, thinking it was a wayward German soldier and how that still haunts him to this day.

-Spacek's Rose lost custody of her children due to the state misconstruing her mental capabilities, but where was there father? He's never mentioned. 

-It is also surprising that no one ever had a problem with Alvin just camping for the night on their property.

-Smoking is a disgusting habit, just saying.

-We never learn why there was a rift between brothers.

-Harry Dean Stanton has a cameo as Alvin's brother, Lyle. He's great in his teeny, tiny role. 

Operation Mincemeat (2022)

 Pros: The screenplay is tight, though complex, with several twists and turns (don't forgot to pay attention to the waiters), and the acting is excellent, as it should be with a stacked cast. And yes, the good guys win.

Cons: Honestly, not really any, though the one twist is a bit odd and you don't fully understand it until Ewen (Colin Firth) explains it and while the entire plot seemed improbable, a dead corpse on Spain's shores carrying classifying documents which need to be led to Hitler, as a specific series of steps need to ensue, but somehow, they happen. 

Recommend: Yes

Grade: B+

Side Notes: 

-Colin Firth and Matthew MacFadyen both star, vey for the girl, Jean Leslie (Kelly MacDonald) and both previously portrayed Mr. Darcy. While you can figure that out for Firth, MacFayden is nearly unrecognizable here. 

-Firth and MacDonald previously starred in Nanny McPhee. In that one, they ended up together.

-Penelope Wilton delivers great support as the devoted secretary to Ewen.

-Pay attention for a quick glimpse of Ruby Bentall, Verity, Poldark's unsung hero and voice of reason in Season One.

-Personally, I'm glad that Jean didn't marry either Charles (MacFadyen) or Ewen as Ewen was married and Charles was a jerk to her in that one scene, though he probably could have redeemed himself, if necessary.

-Ian Fleming (Johnny Flynn) was the narrator and played a small, but vital role as an ardent supporter of Mincemeat.

Two Women (1961)

Pros: Sophia Loren is great as Cesira, an Italian shopkeeper, widowed in the middle of World War II. However, while she delivers the performance of a lifetime (winning an Oscar), her character makes dubious decisions, including leaving the bombed out Rome and sleeping with a married man. Eleanora Brown as her daughter Rosetta is also great. The setting, lightning, cinematography and score are also great and painfully realistic.

Cons: The plot. Yeah, I had huge issues with it as Cesira first is desperate to flee Rome and then she gets to the hamlet where food is scarce and wants to head back to Rome and the timeless, as apparently at least a year passed and you wouldn't have known it. And that's a shame as Loren's superb performance was utterly wasted in this film, which is nothing more than mediocre at best.

Recommend: No

Grade: B-

Side Notes:

-Of note, the f word appears in a subtitle and a woman offers to feed them breast milk as her baby was killed by the Germans. The rape scene is relatively realistic, painful to watch but there isn't any blood shown afterwards.

-Mussolini is mentioned several times. His son would soon marry Sophia's younger sister.

-Jean-Paul Belmondo is cast as the male lead, an educated man living in the small village. His character feels oddly out of place and as the actor is French, he is also miscast. Still, he does the best he can with his role. 

-The ending is awful. I'm not upset that it was a sad ending, it's just that they were trying to get back to Rome, endured plenty of tragedy, but ends with them in a random village, in a stranger's house, holding each other, without any finality. But yes, there is growth of Cesira's end. She does finally admit that she can't always be strong. 

-Despite Loren's great performance, Natalie Wood was better in Splendor in the Grass. 

-This film pales in comparison to Vittorio De Sica's masterpiece Bicycle Thieves, though he directed this one also. See that one instead. 

Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)

Pros: Audrey Hepburn playing a near normal person is great to see. She comes from a humble upbringing, determined to better herself and yet, it doesn't seem to be completely going her way. Despite her excellent wardrobe, she's a call girl and can't stand real human relationships. She's great, and it's hard to hate an Audrey Hepburn film and at least she's a real character here, with a range of emotions, much better here than in that cheesy Roman Holiday, which is good but she's not as good as she is here. And the ending's happier. 

Cons: Paul Varjack (George Peppard) doesn't have much to do and tries but never fully embodies his character, plus, he's a bit of a jerk at times, though he does hit the nail on the head when he snaps at Holly, stating that she's already put herself in a box, he doesn't have to do it for her. Also, the plot is almost a pre-curser for Pretty Woman, only Paul isn't rich. 

Recommend: Yes

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-Poor Cat, he really goes through a lot, getting thrown into a closet door and then she leaves him out in the rain, though fortunately she does come to her senses and rescues him.

-The supporting cast is solid with one notable exception. Patricia Neal, Buddy Ebsen and Martin Balsam shine in their supporting roles though Mickey Rooney is grossly miscast as the Japanese neighbor. It is probably one of the grossest casting mistakes in the history of Hollywood, though The whole cast of The Good Earth is also certainly on the list.

-Hepburn might have just have a baby before filming, but she's still super shiny and other than the pastry at the beginning, she doesn't eat anything throughout the course of this film and her only attempt at cooking is a disaster. 

-Her cigarette holder is almost deadly. 

-The scene where Holly and Paul attempt (and succeed) to steal from a Five and Dime is a work of genius.

-The score is utterly brilliant as well and the song 'Moon River' is a classic for a reason. 

Isadora (1968)

Pros: Vanessa Redgrave is a revelation as Isadora Duncan, who revolutionized dance, not to mention opened several dance schools across Europe.  She is unapologetic with how she lives her life, including having both her children out of wedlock, simply not wishing to get married. This film realistically shows an actress as pregnant and in labor, which was not common for the 1960s so that's refreshing to see. And the sets are great with flawless choreography. 

Cons: Well, in addition to the painfully tragic life Isadora led, losing all three (though only two are shown in the film) tragically young, there are other holes in her life, namely, how does Isadora become so famous in Europe? Sure, she's immensely talented, but we are not shown how she rises from a lonely dance hall gal to selling out large venues in Europe. And they show her death, which is a tragic fluke, death by scarf.

Recommend: Maybe, Redgrave is that good

Grade: B

Side Notes:

-James Fox, Jason Robards and Ivan Tchenko give good support as some of Isadora's numerous lovers.

-Isadora's costumes are similar to what is shown on Dancing with the Stars so they must have been downright scandalous for the time.

-What a performance goes awry, Isadora pulls down her blouse, barring her breasts to the conservative American audience.

-Though she does get married, the reasons seem weak to me, not to mention, Sergei (Tchenko) is borderline abusive and certainly a tortured artist. 

-It must have been difficult having out of wedlock children in the early twentieth century. 

The Lion in Winter (1968)

Pros: Peter O'Toole and Katharine Hepburn shine as King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, who is painfully underportrayed in Hollywood, though she certainly lived a rather adventurous and colorful life. The acting is top notch, as each actor chews the scenery off the wall in each scene. Hepburn fully deserved her third Oscar for this film.

Cons: Despite the solid acting and top-notch dialogue, all the characters are conniving and cunningly cruel, each son wants the thrown and each parent has their favorite, and they each have their own wants that they are desperate to fulfill. In the end, none of them win, and the brothers hate each other more than when they started and Henry and Eleanor still both love and hate each other. And King Philip of France (Timothy Dalton), son of Eleanor's first husband, might or might not be at war with them, over some disputed land.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-Hollywood has tons of films and TV shows and/or miniseries about the British monarchy but not enough about Eleanor, a rare woman landowner in the latter half of the 12th century. Plus, she had two rocky marriages and gave birth to ten children.

-Anthony Hopkins is brilliant as a young Richard the Lionheart and he's magnificent.

-A homosexual relationship between Richard and Philip is heavily implied. 

-The setting is rather stark and cold though I suppose it was realistic as everything was crude and simple back then. 

-Though the film occurs at Christmastime, it is far from a cheery celebration, though Eleanor is finally out of prison. Yes, that's right, Henry has her confined because that's how much she pisses him off. 

Parallel Mothers (2021)

 Pros: Penelope Cruz is a wonder as Janis, a photographer who gets pregnant later in life. She delivers a brilliant performance. Milena Smit is also great as her teenage counterpart, Ana, surprised at her pregnancy when she's so young and from different circumstances. 

Cons: I did have issues with the plot, predicting that the baby girls (Cecelia and Anita) were switched at birth as they both needed to be taken in for observation, noticing that Janis's Cecelia appeared Asian in descent, and then the tragedy of losing Anita (Janis's biological daughter, raised by Ana). I also found the growing relationship between Janis and Ana turning romantic was a step that could have been avoided. Still, while I love a happy ending (Janis is pregnant again), I needed more clarity on if she and Ana were back together. Though the screenplay was clever and solid, I just didn't like where it went necessarily.

Recommend: Maybe

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-Anita dies of a crib death, aka SIDs, which is rare.

-Though Janis places a call to a lawyer, it is unclear if any repercussions were pursued against the hospital, as they are to blame.

-Though Janis changed her phone number, when called out, she simply gives out her new number freely.

-Ana's relationship with her mother (Aitana Sanchez-Gijon) could have a film in itself.

-Ana is essentially gang-raped, having sex with the first guy freely while the others watched. They then blackmailed her into having sex with them or else the tape would be released. That's just sick. 

Goodfellas (1990)

 Pros: Well, I don't really know where to go with this. Sure, the film was great as a whole, with a solid screenplay, top-notch filmmaking, creative editing and cinematography and superb acting, and yes, trigger-happy Tommy (Joe Pesci) gets his revenge but it is just so violent and drug-fueled, about people who think they are better than everyone else and deserve special treatment. And normally over narration is annoying, but I felt that it really worked for this film.

Cons: As I mentioned above, these are greedy, nasty people not to mention violent. For example, the lead Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) is the only able who's allowed to beat his wife, Karen (the great Lorraine Bracco). And God forbid you cross someone, they will whack you. It's absolutely insane.

Recommend: It is a classic for a reason, but I'd rather not watch it again. 

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-The only reason I would watch this film again is because I didn't notice that Samuel L. Jackson has a small role as Snatch, who ruins a large heist for them by getting high.

-The film also stars Robert De Niro and Paul Sorvino as the two rival mob leaders. Each have their own unique styles of controlling and ways to make business. 

-Karen and Henry have an interesting first date as he isn't even interested in her and then stands her up and she gets super pissed. As she yells at him, he falls in love with her. 

-Cocaine is Henry's downfall, which he gets involved with once he actually has to go to prison.

-For Henry's first arrest and vacated conviction, they treat him as though he just lost his virginity. 

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

 I finally watched this film. Beware, spoilers ahead.

Pros: This film is a classic for a reason. Though it is gruesome and painfully tragic, everything about this film screams realism, from the elaborate set to carefully coordinated battle scenes and the gritty performances. Despite the weak points in the plot, this screenplay is still quite solid as there were just so many details to make sure come together beautifully. There were also some twists, including having another James Ryan (Nathan Fillion) being located first, before the one they were looking for. The cast is also top-notch and each are brilliant, truly inhabiting their roles.

Cons: I did have a few issues with the screenplay. While I do believe that a mother could easily lose three sons to the war, I find it hard to believe that all would die seemingly at once, and this whole time I was expecting James Ryan (Matt Damon) to die, when it is the lead, the captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) who dies, laying down his life so James's mother doesn't have to bury her remaining son. So even I managed to be surprised. I went into this film thinking that Private Ryan died, so I was shocked. And yes, they made Private Ryan was quite noble, refusing to take the easy way out, not leaving his post, despite the orders.

Recommend: Despite the grim body count, yes.

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-The excellent supporting cast includes Paul Giamatti, Edward Burns, Tom Sizemore, Adam Goldberg, Barry Pepper, Ted Danson, Bryan Cranston, Vin Diesel (who tragically dies trying to save some kids who are never seen again) and Dennis Farina.

-Other than the young French girl, I don't think females uttered any lines in this film.

-Some soldiers wear wedding rings; others including Captain Miller does not.

-No wonder Miller understood the poet, he teaches English composition.

-So many die upon the Normandy landing that the tide is red.

-The men barely eat, drink, sleep or go to the bathroom during the course of this film.

-Though I am largely a pacifist, even I clapped when Jackson (Pepper) took out the German sniper. 

Leaving Las Vegas (1995)

 Pros: A gritty, realistic film, Nicolas Cage is not just acting like an alcoholic, you truly believe that he is an alcoholic and Elisabeth Shue is solid as Sera, the prostitute who somehow falls in love with him and while the rest of world judges Ben (Cage) for being an alcoholic, she just accepts him for what he is. Of course, there is no happy ending and, for a change, I'm oddly okay with that.

Cons: Despite the screenplay being nominated for an Oscar, I found it jumbled with Ben appearing to hit rock bottom and run out of money before losing his job so those scenes seemed out of order to me with no explanation given. Intercutting Sera's scenes with a therapist after Ben's death was also odd. 

Recommend: Honestly, probably not

Grade: B

Side Notes:

-There is also a gruesome rape scene but done realistically, with bleeding afterward.

-Apparently, Laurie Metcalf is the landlady at the complex where Sera lives. 

-We never receive true clarity on what happened to Ben's wife and son.

-Starting a fire in your house is never a good idea.