MtnShelby Reviews

Miles to Go (2012)

Cute premise but some shocking conversation

[4/10 · 20 July 2015]

I don't generally enjoy leaving negative reviews, especially for small films. There's a lot to like in this film, including a very appealing female lead. The film is quickly paced, no bogging down, no cloying romantic clichés. But let's just say that the sexual talk went way beyond banter to a big cringe-worthy, sticky ewwwwww of disgust in at least two scenes, and I'm not counting the locker room chatter between Miles and his caustic friend. I am so glad I watched this film alone, as I can't imagine how I would have reacted had someone else been there beyond my dog, and I'm not quite sure she's fully recovered. I'm by no means a prude, but Gheesh, if there is going to be sexually charged dialogue, it has to be clever, not vulgar. Double Indemnity this isn't.

September Affair (1950)

Lovely, nostalgic scenery and lovely Joan

[6/10 · 30 November 2014]

I've had the good fortune in my life to visit all of the major locations in this film at least once, and three times for two of them. How wonderful to revisit Capri through this film, albeit in black and white and decades before I traveled (which made the cinematography all that more interesting). But the film isn't a documentary (thank goodness with the understandable but annoying Italian clichés and stereotypes). . . so there's that troublesome plot with, as others have pointed out, some fundamental flaws that require an enormous suspension of disbelief. I just couldn't get past these challenges, nor could I find much to celebrate in two people abandoning all responsibilities to conduct an adulterous affair as "ghosts" of themselves. Despite very solid acting and an always lovely Joan Fontaine, I just could not be swept away be the charm and the fantasy and found myself squarely in line with the grande dame piano teacher as she chastises Joan's character for her behavior. I know many viewers adore this film, and I suppose at some level I can see why (even as I watched the film I had a brief urge to sell everything and go back), but the premise of the romance just doesn't work for me.

Another Man's Poison (1951)

worth watching

[7/10 · 28 November 2014]

I agree with other reviewers who found merit in this film. Maybe because I watched it "on a dark and stormy night," I found the film to have quite a few endearing qualities, including a sufficiently gloomy and Gothic setting, solid acting, a big dash of melodrama (sometimes unintentionally funny), some brilliant catch phrases, a couple of handsome equines, some much-needed tawdriness, intriguing real world background, an astute and meddling detective type, and of course Bette as the menacing, manipulative author of thrillers (undoubtedly as sordid as her behavior). I mean, what's not to like? Sure, the plot has some real twists that are beyond suspending disbelief, and the quality of the film isn't the best, but if you're a fan of the genre or Bette, then this is a must see. But first, pour yourself a stiff drink. Preferably, direct from the bottle.

Personal Affair (1953)

Wish I'd known about this film before!

[8/10 · 27 November 2014]

I'm a huge Gene Tierney fan, but apparently not enough of one, because I only discovered this film while browsing through Amazon. Wish I'd known about it years ago. The quality is good, the pace is fast, the acting solid, the themes surprisingly brazen for the times (or so it seems to me). There's a touch of melodrama, mystery, even film noire. The Aunt Evelyn character is almost as wicked as dear old Mrs Danvers. If you're debating about watching this film, don't. It's worth the time, especially for a fan of classic black and white films. Thanks to the viewers who took the time to rate this film! otherwise I would never have discovered it.

Rush (I) (2013)

Wow

[10/10 · 5 July 2014]

It would be difficult for me to be less interested in racing, and I thought this film was terrific. It's fast paced, exciting, well-acted, informative and just good fun. What makes this movie is it's only nominally about racing--the interesting angle is the complex rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda (and I would actually recommend NOT reading up about these two before you see the film--there is a major spoiler at the end if, like me, you check into their biographies first). They liked each other, they hated each other, they were polar opposites in their approaches to just about everything--racing and life--and yet they absolutely needed each other. What an interesting character study that elevates this film over the typical Days of Thunder-type of action film.

I'll give a cheer for Chris Hemsworth, who does a great job portraying James Hunt--Hemsworth is one of the best actors at playing the Good Time Charlie-type of character (which I would argue is much of his charm in the first Thor film, except Thor grows up. Hunt doesn't). Okay, I do love looking at CH, and he can wear that long hair and those 70s outfits any time . . . but he's a darn good actor, too.

How unfortunate this film didn't generate the popularity it deserves. I'd rate it one of the better films I've seen in the genre.

The Frozen Ground (2013)

Surprisingly Good Thriller

[8/10 · 9 June 2014]

I'm not sure why I had such low expectations for this film--I ought to know by now that many blockbusters are poor films, and many sleepers are great films. This is a sleeper that is well worth watching. Based on a grim but fascinating true story, the film is riveting from start to finish. Great scenery, a solid script, terrific acting, and steady pacing. While other reviewers have offered well-earned accolades for the two male leads' performances, I'd like to give a shout out to Vanessa Hudgens, who brings to her character the perfect combination of fragility and toughness, innocence and world-weariness. Her fine performance creates a great deal of empathy for an otherwise potentially unlikable character. This isn't a new take on prostitution by any means, but Hudgens adds a depth to the character I didn't expect. Well done. If you're even the slightest bit intrigued by this film--don't pass it by.

Foxes (2011)

Wow

[8/10 · 19 May 2014]

There is an awful lot going on in these 16 minutes. The cinematography is excellent, the acting solid, and the Gothic quality . . . well done. The film is jam-packed with very telling details . . . the husband's badge pinned to his dull workday uniform, the foxes at the garbage, the marks on the woman's body, the bits of landscape framing the row houses. The housing community is beyond monotonous--it's downright menacing in its straight-jacket sameness. There's an intensity that compels you to keep watching. The ending is a bit hokey for me, but the options were probably limited given the direction of the story. Certainly worth watching.

The Eclipse (2009)

Convincing Performances, Worth Watching

[7/10 · 15 May 2014]

I'm always up for a ghost film, especially if it involves a gloomy, Gothic atmosphere and a remote, isolated location. The Eclipse doesn't disappoint. It's a hybrid film, a bit of romance, a good dose of loss-of- loved one melancholy, and a handful of jumpy ghost scenes. The characters are brought together through a literary festival, which also gives a generous dose of snark, mostly through Aidan Quinn's performance as a strangle- worthy author (a good role for this fine actor). The performances are all solid, but I especially enjoyed Ciarán Hinds as the lonely widower. The performance is so convincing--Hinds brings such genuine expression to this role, and it's a must-see for his fans. The film isn't going to satisfy hardcore ghost film or horror fans, but if you're into this type of contemporary Gothic film, it's certainly worth the time.

Satellite of Love (2012)

Beautiful scenery but . . .

[6/10 · 13 May 2014]

I had higher hopes for this film. I really expected it to be a heartfelt exploration of old loves/new loves, the paths we choose on our journeys, the paths we take, and the ones we didn't. The film certainly reaches for this kind of exploration, but it didn't quite seem to grasp anything beyond the superficial. And there is an awful lot of surface-level prettiness--lush scenery, a home in the country, a lovely swim in a seductive grotto, the sand and the sea, lots of wine and food and more wine and food, all sensually consumed by equally beautiful people. Lovely to look at, particularly the sun-flecked scenes, but so what? For me, the dialog fell flat--the words seemed to reach for something more, but they didn't get there. Always there seemed to be a yes/no/let's open a bottle of wine quality to the interactions between the characters (I watched the film with subtitles, so the relatively superficial quality of the dialog was especially apparent). Well, there was a conversation in the wine cellar, but that was a bit cheeky and clichéd and ultimately went nowhere beyond the obvious. And I admit I didn't care for the painfully self-aware, transient quality of the one couple who knew their relationship would no more endure than the next bottle of wine (too bittersweet for me).

Still, I was glad this movie didn't develop the nasty edge of Closer (a film about four people hurting one another), but I needed some kind of edge, some kind of insight, and there didn't seem to be one. Or, perhaps I'm just expecting too much.

The Switch (I) (2010)

Surprisingly satisfying

[7/10 · 30 April 2014]

I don't like romantic comedies. I don't particularly care for Jennifer Aniston's films. I don't even like cute kids. And yet I thoroughly enjoyed this film about a single woman's quest for motherhood. Jason Bateman is adorable and genuine, Jennifer is cute and spirited without being cloying, Patrick Wilson is well-cast as the cardboard sperm donor, Juliette Lewis is lots of fun, and that little boy . . . I could have smothered that cupcake in icing and just eaten him up. As others have commented, one of the nice things about the film is the interaction between Bateman and the little boy--they genuinely seemed to get along as if they really were father and son. Maybe I just needed a break from heavier films, but I thought The Switch was delightful. And yes I cried at the end--eeek.

Leaving Barstow (2008)

Well worth watching

[7/10 · 30 April 2014]

I enjoyed this film on many levels. The story really resonates--a decent but unexceptional young man--one who might be described around town as a "good kid"--struggles to come to terms with his small town existence, his loneliness, and his fractured family. There's a lot of humanity in this film, and the characters' stories really resonate. The setting is gritty and realistic, the characters genuine and down to earth, and the tensions between them very authentic. While the ending is predictable,it's a good ending, one which is satisfying without being pat. The actors are well cast and the acting is well done. This is a fine film, highly recommended.

The Return (2003)

Beautifully Filmed

[8/10 · 21 April 2014]

This is a beautifully directed and filmed movie. The character study between the wayward, brooding father and his two disillusioned sons is very intense without being unrealistic or melodramatic. There are so many subtle, beautifully-rendered images and scenes, well worth studying for a student of cinema or film fan. The two young actors are remarkable--so very realistic yet expressive in their portrayals.

The real life aftermath involving one of the young actors is absolutely chilling. While what happens outside of the film and what happens within the film shouldn't impact one another, I can't help but think of the two as linked, because they were. So very, very sad how real life and the film became entwined.

Saving Grace B. Jones (2009)

Manipulative

[3/10 · 21 April 2014]

I am usually very forgiving of B-grade films. I don't mind a good old- fashioned syrupy love story now and then, or some half-baked horror tale about a woman in some remote location fighting to save her family's haunted B&B . . . but this film . . . wow, I really can't forgive this one. It is so grossly manipulative, with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer, from the acting to the writing to the rainstorms of Biblical proportions. I didn't know if I was watching a Hallmark film, some silly Nickelodeon episode, or a cheap horror flick. The children are as cloying as marshmallow peeps (did no one work with these young actors, or did they just stuff them with cupcakes and candy and set them in front of the camera?). The adults--actors, director, and screen writer--didn't fare much better. I just felt bashed in the head at every turn--too much too much too much. (Towards the end of the film Penelope Miller has one of the most atrocious rain-soaked speeches I have ever seen.)

I did enjoy and appreciate Tatum O'Neal's performance. While I understand some of the harsh criticism regarding her portrayal of a severely emotionally disturbed woman, I found it to be heart breakingly realistic in the main. Of course she would drift around, half awake, half alive, twitchy and flaky and completely insecure. I actually felt sorry for this character. While I don't know how much of the story is entirely based on real events, surely placing Grace in her brother's home with his happy camper family, across the street from her former husband and his bubbly preggers wife, then given the glamorous job of sewing the baby's quilt and creating a mile-high lemon meringue pie of a ballgown for a 10 year old attending a military ball (a horrible and unnecessary story line, on several counts). . . I mean, if this is what her life has become, who wouldn't break out the sharp objects?

The Armstrong Lie (2013)

Interesting, but not Earth Shattering

[6/10 · 18 April 2014]

This is an interesting documentary and well worth watching. I knew absolutely nothing about the world of cycling--nothing--and very little about Armstrong other than as a celebrity and household name. I had heard about the scandal attached to him over the years, but didn't pay much attention. This documentary was thoroughly informative, but I must agree with reviewers who say the director could have gone for the jugular at some point, but didn't. At the end of the documentary, the Oprah interview excepted, Lance is still rationalizing his behavior, and it almost seems as if he can't believe those 7 years will stand without a Tour De France winner.. . as if he inevitably MUST be re-instated at some point in the future because he "still won" . . . regardless of the how, why, and the final outcome. A fascinating inquiry into the cult of the ego, and our willingness to believe.

Half Light (2006)

Great Scenery

[7/10 · 18 April 2014]

This film can be enjoyable, if you don't expect too much (um, including a logical plot and threads neatly tied up). If you like stunning scenery of remote and craggy landscapes, then endure the silliness and watch the film. The opening credits have an interesting montage, too, of the typewriter and novels. But after that, it's pretty much downhill. Oh, the plot is fun, and Demi looks fabulous, the kid is cute, there's a menacing toy, the opening scenes aren't bad, and the romance is kinda silly but hey it's there. Toss in some some lightweight thriller/horror moments to keep you awake (the mirror scenes, windows, mysterious unexplained messages, the usual). But plot-wise, gheesh, what a far-fetched mess.

Museum Hours (2012)

Beautiful Interiors but . . .

[5/10 · 28 March 2014]

This film primarily made me kick myself for never having visited the Kunsthistorisches Art Museum the two times I was in Vienna (shame on me). In between kicking myself, I enjoyed the focus on Bruegel's paintings and the museum interior. I even enjoyed the potted plant scene with the guest lecturer explaining the paintings. The images of Vienna were beautifully rendered, and made for such a contrast with the usual posh images we associate with Vienna (which certainly was the point, or one of the points). So, this was a Vienna with which I as a former tourist was unfamiliar--well done, the film shook me out of my longings for tourist Vienna, sachertorte, and waltzes. But oh, if the film had only stuck with the inner life of the museum and the museum guard, his isolation, his anonymity, and his dedication to the museum and its great works of art. . . what a much richer viewing experience, at least for me. From the first scene introducing Anne with her cousin in a coma (oh dear), I felt my interest challenged. She seemed to me a completely unnecessary and irksome character, always in need of something . . . money, directions, companionship, whatever. The friendship with the museum guard was so dimly lit for me, their escape into the surrounding area a distraction, the scenes in the hospital a chore. Perhaps this was the intent, but I don't think so. I would much have preferred to explore the museum guard and his existence. Or another museum guard, maybe one in the next room, a guard with a family and happy home life to which the solitary Johann has neither access nor invitation. Or perhaps more Bruegel paintings. Or any of the other paintings.

This film would make an interesting pairing with The Mill and the Cross (2011), which I admit I could not make it through for reasons outside of this review. The DVD of Museum Hours comes with a very nice pamphlet explaining the genesis of the film, and its inclusion was a nice surprise. Overall, this is a film worth watching, but not one to get excited about.

Peace, Love & Misunderstanding (2011)

Lightweight and Fun

[7/10 · 28 March 2014]

I was looking for a light, enjoyable film for a Friday night after a long work week, and this one fit the bill. Sure, it's not a perfect film, as many reviewers point out. The jokes often fall flat, the plot has lots of clichés, Jane Fonda is highly spirited but a bit hyperbolic, the goddess night made me cringe, and the sugary romance (especially the young teen romance) can pour on thick as honey. Still, there are lots of fun tidbits, particularly Jane with her chickens and naked lovers roaming freely about the house. And what a house it is--an awesome collection of kitsch and clutter, worth seeing the film just for the house and the lush rolling fields and flowers. The chickens steal a couple of scenes, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan was a great surprise (I don't watch television, so his charms were new to me). If you don't go into the film with too many expectations, it's worth watching. I needed mindless stress relief, and this film certainly did the trick.

The Bigamist (1953)

A Must See For B&W Movie Fans

[8/10 · 24 March 2014]

How did I miss this film? There are so many reasons to see it, starting with the wonderful Ida Lupino directing and starring. The film bravely explores some pretty volatile topics that range well beyond the bigamy issue. The triangulation of the three lead characters is riveting, from start to finish. I had no idea what to expect of this film--I feared it would be quite silly and melodramatic. And while the film does have its cloying moments (and the portly Edmond O'Brien is no Cary Grant), I enjoyed every minute of this film, especially its intelligent portrayal of contemporary social issues. As films go, The Bigamist is no Casablanca, but it's certainly not sub par, and it's well worth the time invested. Highly recommended.

The Wall (2012)

Worth Watching

[8/10 · 21 March 2014]

This film will not appeal to everyone, but it certainly appealed to me. I'm a big fan of films and books depicting people in isolated, alienated circumstances, whether physically alone or within the boundaries of society. The Wall effectively portrays this unnamed woman's solitary confinement behind an invisible wall, while the world outside has stopped functioning as she knew it (the apocalyptic reason is never brought to light and is really not necessary, and the couple at the cabin is an effective symbol of the frozen state of time and circumstance). The woman develops a tender-hearted relationship with the animals she must nurture and care for as she learns to care for herself and survive. Certainly the viewer (like the reader) can draw many conclusions about the nature of solitude, isolation, alienation, and human psychology. The film invites that kind of thinking, if not open dialog. The woman experiences a wide range of emotion, desperation, yes, but also solace and even joy in her steadfast self reliance and the beauty of the world to which she is given access (scenes of the night sky are particularly moving). The outlook is ultimately a bleak one, though, and expect no clear resolution. This ambiguity may be off-putting to viewers who would prefer the woman find a way out, encounter a rescuer, or at least discover a partner in her exile (which makes one of the events in the film all the more horrific).

If for no other reason, watch the film for the fine acting, exquisite scenery, and dramatic depiction of nature. I have not yet read the book on which the film is based, but am looking forward to doing so. I congratulate the filmmakers for bringing this story to a wider audience.

Bleak Night (2010)

Worth Watching

[7/10 · 18 March 2014]

This is a gem of a film. Bleak Night is well worth watching for a wide range of reasons, from the reflective cinematography to the solid acting efforts. Bleak Night is not about a father's quest to uncover the truth about his son . . . it's a fuller exploration of the circumstances that led to the event and the young men involved. There's a unique flavor to the trio in this situation, one that is not usually explored. I won't say more than that--the discovery is part of the reason this film rises above other, more usual treatments of the subject.

I especially enjoyed the central metaphor of the train and the railroad tracks, which I did not find clichéd, but rather core to the film and the relationship between the three young men. Bleak Night has stayed with me days beyond its viewing. If you're even the slightest bit interested in the film, give it a chance. I am certainly glad I did.