bettiem Reviews

First Daughter (2004)

Delightful story from great actor /director Forest Whitaker with delightful cast

[9/10 · 27 August 2005]

Could anyone forget Jody (Forest Whitaker) in the Crying Game? I have followed his career ever since, and think he is a good director, great with small details. This humorous comedy/romance with some pathos (First Daughter has no freedom, falls for a beautiful guy (he is so attractive) only to learn he is a Secret Service Agent posing as a college residence adviser. Heartache, but Katie Holmes, also a fine actress (now engaged to Tom Cruse, let's not forget her as an actress because of him,) plays her role convincingly . I loved this light but interesting story - perfect escape , with many clever touches that a masterful Whitaker (as Director) gets into the scenes. I did feel that Michael Keaton (one of my favorites) was too short and still looks too young for the job of President. Katie and the First Lady both had to bend to dance with him. Katie is 5 foot 9 inches talI. I think giving this movie a 9 our of 10 is only fair with so many users putting it down. Perhaps they are too cynical to enjoy a romantic little movie. Cast, scenes, are all terrific. I hope to see more of Marc Blucas, who played an understated, in love, Secret Service Agant magnificantly.

I am old enough to be his grandmother.

Intolerable Cruelty (2003)

The Coen Bros, Zeta Jones, George Clooney = BINGO

[8/10 · 1 July 2005]

I was restless, tired, anticipating minor but painful surgery, sick of the hot muggy New England weather, and thought I'd check out HBO. WEll, there it was,, that combination of Coens, Clooney and Zeta Jones, Billy Bob Thornton, and an unexpected terrific comedy. It really made me feel better on all fronts. The Coens are masters at subtle comedy (Bridge over Troubled Waters at Scottish Marriage Chapel in Vegas,) ridiculously sentimental tough divorce lawyer colleague of Clooney, a beautiful Zeta Jones with convincing phony facial expressions, a self-absorbed Clooney who looks at his teeth in the spoons on the dinner table to make sure they are sufficiently white. The close-up of his teeth in the spoon, priceless!! I was very pleased with this movie. These folks just don't ever seen to get it wrong. Sit back, laugh, and enjoy it.

Sugihara: Conspiracy of Kindness (2000)

An outstanding dramatic documentary with incredible historical significance storical significance.

[10/10 · 3 June 2005]

The story of Chiune Sugihara and his outstanding bravery under dangerous conditions just before World War II is a must-see for freedom loving people. The movie feels like a sad work of fiction, but it is all absolutely true. The lives that Mr. Sugihara saved have resulted in the continuing existence of 40,000 people of four generations. I wish I could go to Japan to see the beautiful and sensitive memorial that has finally been built and dedicated to him. I wish I could go to Israel to see his memorial in the memorial garden for the Righteous. He died before the world decided to honor him. I am recommending this documentary to everyone I know, and urge PBS to publicize it.

The Love Letter (1998 TV Movie)

Twenty miles from Boston, a quiet Saturday afternoon, a ton of garden work and an article on Kentuky Derby due, and I'm sitting here bawling.

[8/10 · 14 May 2005]

It was amazing to turn to the Hallmark Channel for a break, and find the beginning of this movie. I said, oh boy, another Christopher Reeve "Somewhere in Time," - I'm not going to watch it, but it was such a pleasant break. A lovely, warm, romantic, sad, corny movie with great acting (David Dukes- War and Remembrance - was a marvelous pompous suitor). absolutely impossible plot, but heart warming, and when it ended, I was still bawling. I haven't figured out why. But Gettysburg, a hundred plus year old woman once a beautiful girl, the Civil War, a confused guy who invents computer games , was so oddball, that I loved it.. To escape into a fine fantasy romance, see this movie, and feel good about it. I rarely cry, but this simple little movie made for TV turned on my waterworks. Now, the garden is beautiful with iris, pansies and buckwheat mulch, and I'm back to the Kentucky Derby article which I hope will be heart warming for Giacomo and jockey Mike Smith. Watch this movie, and you'll do great things, too.

Logan's War: Bound by Honor (1998 TV Movie)

Just as much fun as the first time around. A.M. Monday escape fun!

[8/10 · 19 July 2004]

I commented on this movie more than a year ago. This time I

watched the characters closely. Jeff Kober who plays Sal, the

almost big shot Mafia guy and the star's trainer, is a double for

Willem Dafoe who has much more fame as both a good guy

(Clear and Present Danger) and a bad guy in numerous theatre

films, some with lead Harrison Ford. The nationwide Mafia folks

look sufficiently evil, middle aged; some look like benevolent

grandfathers. Premise is interesting, and Joe Spano comes

through with his understated performance as FBI man. The dog is

adorable and deserves credit for being loving and being vicious

(against Mafia guys and drunk kid's stepfather). Prfect stray - I can't

find him in the credits. Another bit player who is a good actress is

the abused wife of the neighbor. Wouldn't it be fun to take out the

whole Mafia leadership in one fell illegal swoop? But I would want

the hero to spare Tony Soprano for the next season.

The Promise (1999 TV Movie)

Good acting, suspense, characters developed are unusual for a woman's TV movie

[7/10 · 16 June 2004]

I usually do not watch this type of movie unless it is based on a

book by a well known author, but I found this story unusual in that I

found excellent character development, good acting, a truly serious

treatment of spousal abuse, and a ton of suspense. I found

myself fearing the abuser, and waiting with baited breath for his

capture. Well done. The children were fine actors, and the abuser

was effectively underacted, and really scary. The grandparents

were very convincing, also fine actors. I recommend this movie if it

comes on TV again. Although this plot is frequently shown in

movies and on TV, this is one of the better and more realistic

treatments I have seen. I am not familiar with the starring actors,

but they look so familiar that you can empathize with them. I hope

these actors receive more attention from central casting. I rated

this movie "7".

A Secret Affair (1999 TV Movie)

The scenery in Venice is worth the price of admission.

[20 April 2004]

The love story is the usual: woman ,caught in commitment at

home, finds "true" love on trip to Venice and then Dublin. Fionella

Flanagan as the true love's Mother is wonderful as always. But

the photography of Venice is breathtaking. I could not believe how

beautiful all the well known scenes of Venice,plus some areas I

had never seen, were presented. I'd give it a 7 based on the photography.. She merits a 6 for acting,

he merits a 6.5 with Irish accent. Story: does she or doesn't she? Wait and see. This story is based on a book by Barbara Bradford. It is a romance

and will be appreciated more by women than the average man, but

there are a few romantic men out there, thank goodness,

Mr. Saturday Night (1992)

You have to be at least half Jewish (like me) to love this movie.

[8/10 · 3 January 2004]

Ethnically speaking, you have to be at least half Jewish (like me) to

really appreciate this movie. Through the story of Billy Crystal as

comic - young and terrific, old and miserable, there is a great deal

of Jewish cultural life (the Catskills, for example) and Jewish

humor including some Yiddish. The love story of Billy and "Elaine"

is a parody on every Jewish Mother's dream that her daughter

marry a doctor, and Billy's brother plays into that when he tells her

parents that he is a pediatrician. The love-hate relationship

between the brothers is universal, and beautifully portrayed. Jerry

Orbach and Ron Silver, in small parts, add a lot to the film. I believe that Billy Crystal is one of the great talents on stage today.

He was great as the MC of the Oscars. This is comedy combined

with realistic drama and although one writer complains about the

aging makeup, I think it's great, even the slumped shoulders. I

watched it on Saturday morning over breakfast and it takes a lot to

impress me during that time period. I give it an 8.

Espérame en el cielo (1988)

One of the overlooked classic Spanish movie: humor, pathos, drama, well done.

[10/10 · 3 January 2004]

This is the incredible story of Franco and his double, the double's wife and the humorous and dramatic events that occur. It's fiction, but it could have been true - we can wonder, even now. Great acting by everyone in the cast., and special applause for Chuz Lampeare I video taped this movie when I lived in Spain (Fuengirola, Malaga).I am now home in the U.S. I can't play my video on American TV circuitry. I have been looking everywhere for a copy of this tape that I can play here. I ask that any of you out there please let me know if you know of a copy of this movie (in Spanish) that I can buy. I will happily pay for the expense of having it copied into American circuitry. Thank you.

Juwanna Mann (2002)

A basketball "Tootsie" - lots of fun

[6/10 · 7 September 2003]

Jamal Martin is a loud-mouth, arrogant basketball star who is

tossed from the League. In desperation to play, he pretends to be

Juwanna, Mann, a woman basketball player. The women on the

team are all good actresses and very convincing. Jamal as

Juwanna is played very well. There are some crude moments and

sexual innuendo, but it is basically good clean fun with the

phonies exposed and the good people coming out on top. Ir

reminded me of "Tootsie" where another desperate man (Dustin

Hoffman) has to play a woman in order to find a job. I give it a 6 for

creative imagination.

Seabiscuit (2003)

Great book! Great Cast! Great Special Effects! Great Horse! Great Movie!

[9/10 · 9 August 2003]

I was born in 1926, 7 years before Seabiscuit was foaled in 1933.

In the mid -30's and early 40's my Father took me to the Races at

Bing Crosby's Del Mar Race Track near San Diego. I might have

seen the wonderful little runt, but I don't remember. I read Laura

Hillenbarnd''s book in 2001 - what a surprising literary work of art

and love! EBay provided me with very fine people selling very good

Seabiscuit products of every type. I became a small collector - my

greatest purchase, a gift from a great eBay seller of a photo of a

Xmas card from the C.S. Howard family showing Seabiscuit with

his 7 little "Biscuits"- his first babies (weanlings). I also finally won a bid for the original COME ON SEABISCUIT

book by Ralph Moody, a teen agers' book but great for me, too, and

I'm now 77. -----I went to the movie on the first day, July 25, in my

hometown, Ann Arbor, Michigan. A lot of seniors had the same

idea.---- It is a fabulous movie - the love that the 3 (4 if you count

jockey George Wolff beautifully played by a real jockey) main

characters feel for the horse and its ups and downs, many of them

serious downs, comes through the screen right into your heart. C.S. Howard's wife Marcella(Elizabeth Banks) is the 5th lover of

Seabiscuit. and a convincing loving wife and lover of Seabiscuit.

The little horse meant so much to our country in a sad depressed

time, and now in the middle of sad wars, we have a reason to fall

in love again with the inspiring horse. If you don't cheer during the

Match Race with War Admiral, you are not really an anmal lover.

Wm T.Macey is no Clem McCarthy, but he is so funny as a

commentator that for a few minutes we can relax with the

diversion, then back to the high drama. Seabiscuit died young at

age l4 in 1947 at the beloved ranch of his owner C.S. Howard

having received enough love to almost make up for the early

abuses the little horse suffered. C.S. Howard is played with gusto

by Jeff Bridges. Tom Smith, the original horse-whisperer is

academy award material played by Chris Cooper., Tobey McGuire

as jockey Pollard is very good, better than in "Spiderman" and

Marcella Howard (played by Elizabeth Banks) is terrific. I would

have preferred a shorter depression story at the beginning, less

telescoping later, and the inclusion of jockey Red Pollard's

romance and marriage to his nurse. I would have liked closing

notes on the deaths and later lives of everyone in writing at the end

of the movie. Nevertheless, it is a solid 9. Racing sequences are

a solid 10.

White Fang (I) (1991)

This movie about a beautiful wolf dog mix and those around him is more than an adventure tale.

[5 August 2003]

The backgrounds of wolf dog and his new owner and the owner's partner (Beautifully played by Claus Maria Brandauer) explore unlikely relationships that form in a turn of the century Yukon environment which is raw and difficult. The boy becomes a man, the wolf-dog becomes a loyal friend of the young boy, and the partner becomes mature and sentimental - all changes against a glorious mountain backdrop.. The American Humane Society approved the many action scenes, some of them very violent, in which the dog and other less friendly dogs appear. The criminals are taken to the Royal Mounties, the boy stays with his wolf dog, the partner goes off with the bar owner after boy, dog and partner find a mine full of raw gold. It's a classic old movie with boy and dog as an unexpectedand wonderful team. What a beautiful dog!

A few tears. Great!

Table for Five (1983)

The title does not fit this interesting character story of family love.

[8 July 2003]

John Voigt is at his best in his role as a divorced Father who all but abandoned his children. A lovely Mediterranean cruise is a short reunion but fate enters the story. The children are excellent actors and Richard Crenna as the stepfather married to John Voigt's ex wife plays a sympathetic role. A part time girlfriend of Voigt's fills out this character study of people in crises trying to handle it well.

It is a touching, well crafted and well acted movie and not dated at all in spite of l983 production. I give it an 8.

CSI: Miami (2002– )

Both CSI and CSI Miami are great. The more the merrier.

[7 July 2003]

WE love all the forensics we can get. How about CSI Buffalo & CSI

Ann Arbor. Both shows have their special stars. I miss Kim

Delaney, but Emily Procter who was a fantastic Republican PR

person on "West Wing" is a beautiful young woman lead on

CSI-Miami. Both shows have the complete diversity of minorities,

but extra special wonderful African American woman actress on

CSI-Miami is Khandi Alexander as Dr. Alexx (I hope I have the

names right). As for leads, I favor the sensitive (losing his hearing)

Wm Peterson as Grissom. Horatio (David Caruso)only shows his

sensitivity by taking off his sunglasses and looking sadly in the

distance. He is more the prima donna type and the character of

Gil Grissom in CSI is more humble. Story lines for both shows are

marvelous. I read in TV Guide that there was big conflict between

various stars of each show. I hope that's not true, because they

are both A+ shows, and I wouldn't want to lose either one even

though on both shows the blood and guts of the forensic side of

things is gory in the extreme. Marg Helgenberger (China Beach)

shines on CSI . So it's a tie between Las Vegas and Miami.

CSI: Miami (2002– )

Both CSI and CSI Miami are great. The more the merrier.

[7 July 2003]

WE love all the forensics we can get. How about CSI Buffalo & CSI

Ann Arbor. Both shows have their special stars. I miss Kim

Delaney, but Emily Procter who was a fantastic Republican PR

person on "West Wing" is a beautiful young woman lead on

CSI-Miami. Both shows have the complete diversity of minorities,

but extra special wonderful African American woman actress on

CSI-Miami is Khandi Alexander as Dr. Alexx (I hope I have the

names right). As for leads, I favor the sensitive (losing his hearing)

Wm Peterson as Grissom. Horatio (David Carusa)only shows his

sensitivity by taking off his sunglasses and looking sadly in the

distance. He is more the prima donna type and the character of

Gil Grissom in CSI is more humble. Story lines for both shows are

marvelous. I read in TV Guide that there was big conflict between

various stars of each show. I hope that's not true, because they

are both A+ shows, and I wouldn't want to lose either one even

though on both shows the blood and guts of the forensic side of

things is gory in the extreme. Marg Helgenberger (China Beach)

shines on CSI . So it's a tie between Las Vegas and Miami.

The Story of Seabiscuit (1949)

All these years later, we have a new movie about Sea Biscuit. Can't wait!..w

[30 May 2003]

For its time, it was a nice movie. Shirley Temple was in adulthood even more lovely than as a child. Rosemary DeCamp can't lose, what a great actress.! One can't forget Barry FitGerald. Yes, the race between War Admiral and Seabiscuit used real footage. AND now, all these years later, 2003, we have the thrill of a new movie coming out in July. This time, author Laura Hillenbrand's great book will be produced with her supervision of the film. If the film is as good as the book which is truly a work of great art and literature, far more than a horse book, namely a character study of the horse and the four men who made Seabiscuit a great horse, we will complete the circle and the legend of Seabiscuit. Can't wait.!

The Wonderful World of Disney: Eloise at the Plaza (2003) Season 44, Episode 26

I'm a 76 year old grandmother and found this movie delicious (for me).

[9/10 · 28 April 2003]

My children enjoyed the Eloise books many years ago - now my grandchildren have fun with the little tyrant of the Plaza. We love New York, and saw a lot of it in this movie. We love "The Little Prince" and were thrilled by the way it was worked into the plot. Every single character from the room service waiter to the carriage driver to the harried manager to the Yale student tutor to the young debutante and her mother, snobbish Mrs. Daniels to the chef to the main character was marvelous. Each one seemed made for the part. Julie Andrews as Nannie was so easy to identify with, and Eloise - what a wonderful six year old. She should be another Shirley Temple or more. My personal favorite was the son of the Prince. I could identify with his pain as well as his courage to test the New York waters, led magnificently by the naughty but nice Eloise. The plot is not only humorous but also profound. This is a childrens' an adults' and seniors' movie. I will never again walk into the marvelous Plaza Hotel at 59th and Central Park South without thinking of precious and precocious Eloise. Disney take note, I would love a sequel.

Babette's Feast (1987)

Superb comedy, drama, sadness, romance, history: all this and amazingly with sub-titles

[28 April 2003]

Like so many European, South American and Asian films,

numerous facets are contained in one film. Usually, it is an effort

to read sub-titles, but this film is so good that it is almost fun to

make the effort to understand every nuance. The facial

expressions of all the characters, not just the lead characters, are

so telling, so deep, so relavent to the story, that you can't help

laughing or crying at the same time. The French exile Babette,

stuck in a tiny coastal hamlet in the north of Denmark, brings to

the isolated villagers a touch of beauty. As the feast unfolds with

all the goodies from France, the past history of the characters

comes forth and gives a lot of meaning to the story. Did anyone

notice that she imported all the gorgeous dishes and glassware,

even the tablecloth from France? I could almost smell the horror

of the heavily salted long boiled cod fish, pre-Babette's feast. How

touchingly sad was the lot of the two beautiful sisters. Oh my!

Somewhere in Time (1980)

The great character in this movie is The Grand Hotel of Mackinac Island, Michigan

[8/10 · 29 March 2003]

As a small child 70 years ago, my parents took me to the Grand Hotel. I still remember the horses (no cars allowed on the island even today), the real American Indian village where I met Native Americans for the first time, the long stairway to the beach, the world-known porch, supposed to be a mile long, but not really - with rocking chairs my parents adored. This setting is beautifully recreated in the movie, and Reeves and Seymour act their parts in sync with the hotel, the dining room especially. I remember the uniformed African American waiters and a few women waitresses.

I put myself and my memories in this movie. I think Christopher Reeve was perfect for the part - understated, unlikely hero, out of place, but not really, and Jane Seymour was superb as Elise, dramatic, beautiful, and Plummer, one of my favorite actors was wonderfully mean-spirited. Mackinac Island, Michigan, the location of the Grand is still a wonderful place to visit ,and The Grand, in real life, is a historic landmark. The hotel is the main character and is omnipotent in every scene.. Highly recommended for the romantic and the nostalgic movie-goer, like me.

The White Cliffs of Dover (1944)

Great story of 2 World Wars with Irene Dunne is still not dated.

[17 December 2002]

It is almost Christmas 2002, a difficult year for Americans and a perfect time for World War II nostalgia. I was 16 years old when this moviecame out, I am 76 now and "Cliffs" is as fresh today as it was then. The songs, English and American are marvelous, and Irene Dunne shines. Supporting cast is typical of the wonderful character actors of the time plus Elizabeth Taylor. We are moved by an American woman (Dunne) who loses a husband in World War I and a son in World War II. Frank Morgan, who is always Frank Morgan even in the "Wizard of Oz" is marvelous as Dunne's Father. Dame Mae Whittey, Gladys Cooper, Allain Marshall, C. Aubrey Smith as the very British Colonel -- everyone adds to the beauty of this movie, and we must not forget that Irene Dunne is the narrator of the famous poem of World War II, "The White Cliffs of Dover" which is still available in bookstores. I would put this movie in well-done Black and White, right up there with "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" (Van Johnson has a bit part in "Cliffs"), "Mrs. Miniver" with Greer Garson, and the magnificent World War 2 Series, "War and Remembrance" and "Winds of War". I am amazed that "black and white" is still effective. I hope this movie is presented as often as "It's a Wonderful Life" every year in the future.

Logan's War: Bound by Honor (1998 TV Movie)

Classic Chuck Norris with interesting characters thrown in

[8/10 · 1 November 2002]

This classic Chuck Norris movie has very good guys and very bad

guys. The young hero waits l5 years to revenge his family's murder

and he (IEddie Ciprian) does it with style. I hoped that it was the

beginning of a series on TV. I watch old "Walker, US Marshall"

re-runs and enjoy them. The ending really leads one to think of a

very probable series staring Logan (Eddie) and naturally, CHuck

Norris, the rich retired uncle who knows all the great kick boxer

and karate moves, is an excellent back up star and now I have a

question. Does anyone know if a series was contemplated or if a

series "happened" on TV without my knowing it. 4 years have

passed since this movie. I rated it an 8 for a fascinating plot, great

characters including a wonderful stray dog and a little kid and his

victim Mother. Great stuff. Please inform me if you know more.

Thanks. Bettie Magee

The Last Castle (2001)

Brilliant, understated acting by Redford and Gandolfini carries this tragic movie.Gandolfin

[8/10 · 13 October 2002]

Gandolfini (of "Sopranos" fame and an ageing but effective

Redford lend telling facial expressions and understated emotions

to a tragic story of former American Armed Forces personnel (all

levels and services) now in a high security military prison.

Gandolfini is a sadistic warden, and Redford is a former

hero-general. They clash, and Redford wins over the inmates and

restores their self confidence and pride with tragic consequences

including some deaths, and a violent prisoner revolt. There is

terrific suspense throughout, but especially in the last half hour.

Several "inmates" are excellent in their small roles. This movie is

about self respect against impossible odds. The ending is very

sad. I would like a sequel with Gandolfini on court martial and trial

for the terrible tings he does in his role as Warden. Exhausting

movie.

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

Nothing can make this movie "dated" in spite of the l946 showing.

[9/10 · 16 September 2002]

Although the wonderful soda counter in the local drugstore no

longer exists, and the clothes are definitely l946 immediate

post-war vintage, and good and evil are easy to understand, and

those old planes are really dated, this movie will never be dated.

The human adjustments and problems post-war, the beautiful

love stories, the wonderful acting (especially Harold Russell and

Dana Andrews) are as moving today in 2002 as they were in l946.

I was one of the young women who welcomed our marvelous

veterans home from World War II. Like so many, my memories of

the war years and the homecomings are as fresh today as if they

took place yesterday - this movie is very relevant for our times.

Anna and the King (1999)

Exquisite, panoramic in tradition of great sprawling movies with visual perfection.

[3 February 2001]

This is a lavish, panoramic, great visual movie which captures the secenery and traditions of an exotic although flawed county. Like movies such as Titnic, Gone With the Wind and Dr. Zhivago (the first few that come to mind), a poignant and sad love story between two people (Anna and the King) this movie captures intimate details and great scenes of war , entertainment and secenery - incredible scenery. It is well acted, beautifully filmed, cultually politically correct, and I loved it. Highly recommended.

You've Got Mail (1998)

Trendy, heartwarming little movie with two great stars.

[8/10 · 3 February 2001]

Very modern, trendy plot, great contemporary music, wonderful scenes of New York City (where God must live) and two great stars - Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan as potential lovers who finally get it right after the clever use of e mail brings them together. In the tradition of the similar and also great "Sleepless in Seattle" - different city, same stars and same clever plot. New York scenes in this one ae great - and serve almost as another star/