Movie Review Bad Santa

Bad Santa

I so was prepared to hate this film and do not misunderstand.... THIS IS NOT FOR KIDS! That being said, I laughed. It's a weirdly charming, deeply disturbing take of a really messed up Santa dressing thief.

Lauren Graham has a foul mouth and Billy Bob Thornton knows how to act demented. Cloris Leachman shocks as grandma of the boy Bad Santa befriends.

Adults only check this film out from Bandon.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0307987/

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Movie Review Autism Is a World

Autism Is a World

This film helps broaden my mind and is part of the reason I love the library so much. The true story of Sue Rubin, a California college student with autism, impresses upon us with normal brain function how frustrating it must be to live insider her head. Julianna Margulies narrates as if she's speaking for Sue. I hope you will find her story as compelling as I have.

Check out this documentary in Lakeside, Coos Bay, North Bend and Bandon.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443434/

OiVey

List of Gems

I'm having a rough day so I thought I'd do a recap and "about this blog" post. I love the Coos County Library System and we watch on average seven to 10 movies a week. I pick from the shelves of outlying libraries because the website does not allow holds in Coos Bay or North Bend. Sometimes my hubby Murry picks something up directly off the shelf, but mostly I use the internet.

I'm still in the B's as I check out the DVD collection one at a time. When I review a film not in the A's or B's it's because I like to vary my ratings or someone suggests something I will really like. Once in a great while, I'll just look up a film I know I like. That happened with Muriel's Wedding and Blast From the Past. I own copies of those films as I like them very much.

Feel free to comment on anything.

GEMS to date 11/13/07

Blast from the Past
Muriel's Wedding
The Apartment
Amazing Adventure
All I Want
Last King of Scotland
Capote
13 Rue Madeleine
A Beautiful Thing
Baadasssss!
Bagdad Cafe
Chocolate
Aeon Flux
The World's Fastest Indian
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
About a Boy
Smoke Signals
Shipping News
Because of Winn-Dixie
American Splendor
Little Miss Sunshine
Tortilla Soup
The Incredibles
10 Items or Less

OiVey

Movie Review The Big White

The Big White

To help his crazy wife Robin Williams tries to collect his brother's life insurance. He finds a body in his Alaska dumpster and passes it off as his brother. The guys who dump the body want it back and they track him down and kidnap his wife. Holly Hunter charms as the Mrs. who claims turrets syndrome. THEN ole bro, Woody Harrelson, shows up and ask for his cut. Convoluted, very much, and still funny.

Ask for The Big White in Bandon.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0402850/

OiVey

Movie Review The Battle of the Sexes

The Battle of the Sexes

This 1959 Peter Sellers film explores the interaction between men and women in a rather sexist manner. I realize it's an old film, but very typical in its portrayal of women in charge as harpy tyrants who push men around. Sellers is a shy retiring accountant who's employer brings on a female business expert. Hy jinx ensues.

Have a look in Bandon for this DVD.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052607/

OiVey

Movie Review Being There

Being There

Chance likes to watch....TV.... Some consider this bizarre film a classic and I've heard it helped Shirley MacLaine restart her waning career. Peter Sellers leads as a confused man who grew up in a wealthy household tending to the garden. His patron dies leaving him with nothing and nowhere to go. He wanders the streets until hit by uber rich Mrs. Benjamin Rand. She takes him in and introduces Chance to her sickly husband.

Everyone mistakes Chance's name as Chauncy Gardner and start viewing his horticultural tips as profound musings. I still don't know how I feel about this movie. On one hand, it's superbly acted. On the other, the plot leaves me baffled. Bits are laugh out loud, but most of it is subtle.

Check it out on DVD in Bandon, North Bend and Dora. VHS copies are in North Bend, Coquille and lakeside.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078841/

OiVey

Movie Review Benny and Joon

Benny and Joon

Very charming early Johnny Depp movie with outstanding performances by Mary Stuart Masterson and Aidan Quinn. Oh I didn't realize that was Julianne Moore until I read it just now.

Benny tries his best to take care of his mentally ill sister. The pair inhabit a small town where Benny plays poker with white elephant odds and ends. One evening Joon sits in on a game and believes she has a great hand, but loses and has to take home one of players unwanted house guest. Depp's character Sam seems to have some mental issues of his own but he and Joon charm each other and us.

Check out my mate Murry's favorite film on DVD in Bandon and Coos Bay and on VHS in Lakeside, North Bend and Coquille.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106387/

OiVey

Movie Review Birth

Birth

Yuck. This creepy Nicole Kidman film tells the story of a boy who claims to be a woman's dead husband. It so totally borders on kiddie porn that I found myself gagging at one point. Certainly, nothing is shown, but keep this away from children.

I guess the star rated a few copies, but it's such a poor film I don't understand. Find it in Coos Bay, Bandon and Lakeside.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0337876/

OiVey

Movie Review An American Rhapsody

An American Rhapsody

Scarlett Johansson stars as a rebellious teen who joins her family after years growing up in Hungary. They left her behind as an infant when communist took over. Her parents petitioned to bring her to the states and finally got her back. Living in a strange land was too much for the girl and she decides to return to her caretakers in Hungary.

I know this is a true story, but I didn't really care about the family or their plight. Some consider this Johansson's break our role, but I don't consider broody teenager when you're 17 that big a stretch.

Coquille and Lakeside branches have copies of this film. Place a hold or go down in person and pick it up.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0221799/

OiVey

Movie Review The Black Brigade

The Black Brigade

A rag tag group of soldiers whose usual duty involves digging latrines, find themselves on the front lines trying to prevent the destruction of a strategic dam. The production value leaves a lot to be desired, but the acting and plot are superb. Look for Richard Pryor and Roosevelt Grier.

Check it out. from Bandon. This film has the title of Carter's Army in IMDB and it can also be found in a collection of war movies in Coos Bay called War Classics.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064135/

OiVey

Movie Review Blast from the Past

Blast from the Past

Brendan Fraser and Alicia Silverstone will simply charm your paints off in this geeky comedy about a family who spend 35 years in a fallout shelter. You just cant beat Christopher Walken and Sissy Spacek as the quirky parents of Adam who is born just after the parents mistake a plane crash for the end of the world. He meets Eve in a sports memorabilia shop and instantly falls in love.

Please rush to the library and pick up this great laugh fest. Find the DVD in Dora and VHS copies in Coquille, Dora and Powers.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0124298/

Buy it on Amazon
Blast From the Past

Download it from Amazon
Blast From The Past

Moive Review Amiercian Girl

American Girl

This screwed up tale of a needy young girl wasted my time. Abandoned by a father in prison, a cold mother and siblings who mistreat her, our American girl keeps trying to kill herself. Someone called this a black comedy, I don't recall anything approaching funny.

Lakeside has a copy of this dog.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0329297/

OiVey

Movie Review Antitrust

Antitrust

This film comes off a little like an Outer Limits episode and I like some of those so I liked this one too. A young programmer finds himself lured to a major software company where mysterious goings on lead him to discovering company secrets. Lots of fun digs at Bill Gates and Microsoft.

I'm pro Antitrust. You can be too. Look in Myrtle Point and Bandon for the DVD.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0218817/

OIVey

Movie Review Big Fish

Big Fish

Tim Burton can be a rather dreary director and while this is not a film of complete sweetness and light, it has loads of charm. A giant of a man tells his son years of tall tales. The boy doesn't find out until his father's funeral a majority of his stories turn out to be true. Go frolic in this weird world for a couple hours. It's well worth your time.

Catch Big Fish in Myrtle Point, Coos Bay and Bandon.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0319061/

OiVey

Movie Review Premonition

Premonition

Sandra Bullock tries valiantly to save her husband when she has visions of his death. It's a very random convoluted film that has nice elements, but just ends up being confusing and messy.

Check it out in Dora, Bandon, Myrtle Point and Coos Bay.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477071/

OiVey