Movies, Movies, Movies
My sister loves going to the theatre, so while I was there we went quite often. And the days we didn't go to the theatre, we watched a movie at home. Oh, and she love mysteries, especially Poirot.
MOVIES WATCHED IN MARCH
Mar 4 - The Mauritanian (2021)
Mohamedou Ould Slahi fights for freedom after being detained and imprisoned without charge by the U.S. Government for years.
Director: Kevin Macdonald
Stars: Tahar Rahim, Nouhe Hamady Bari, Saadna Hamoud, Jodie Foster, Benedict Cumberbatch
Clearly shows the travesty of justice for many of the men held at Guantanamo. Disturbing, yet a compelling story.
Mar 9 - Joker (2019)
A mentally troubled stand-up comedian embarks on a downward spiral that leads to the creation of an iconic villain.
Director: Todd Phillips
Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz
Very weird take on the Joker’s creation. A bit over the top, and really strange, yet oddly entertaining.
Mar 10 - Cyrano (2021)
Too self-conscious to woo Roxanne himself, wordsmith Cyrano de Bergerac helps young Christian nab her heart through love letters.
Director: Joe Wright
Stars: Peter Dinklage, Haley Bennett, Kelvin Harrison Jr.
I loved it. How could I not, with Dinklage as Cyrano? And I felt his lack of height worked better than the odd joke of a huge nose.
Mar 11 - The Colony (2021)
Set in the distant future, a female astronaut, shipwrecked on the long-decimated Earth, must decide the fate of the wasteland's remaining populace.
Director: Tim Fehlbaum
Stars: Nora Arnezeder, Iain Glen, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina
A really good science fiction movie without the overblown special effects. It keeps you guessing.
Mar 19 - Belfast (2021)
A young boy and his working-class Belfast family experience the tumultuous late 1960s.
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Stars: Jude Hill, Lewis McAskie, Caitríona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, Judi Dench, Ciarán Hinds
There’s a quietness to the story, as it’s told through the eyes of a young boy. We see things as he would have seen them, not as an adult would have. An excellent movie.
Mar 24 - Uncharted (2022)
Street-smart Nathan Drake is recruited by seasoned treasure hunter Victor "Sully" Sullivan to recover a fortune amassed by Ferdinand Magellan, and lost 500 years ago by the House of Moncada.
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Stars: Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg, Antonio Banderas
Mindless entertainment. Lots of action, but thin on plot. And, yes, they’re already planning a sequel.
Mar 28 - Death On the Nile (2022)
While on vacation on the Nile, Hercule Poirot must investigate the murder of a young heiress.
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Stars: Tom Bateman, Annette Bening, Kenneth Branagh, Armie Hammer, Gal Gadot
Very well done remake. Great cast. Lots of twists and turns. Not one I’d seen before.
Mar 29 - Death On the Nile (1978)
As Hercule Poirot enjoys a luxurious cruise down the Nile, a newlywed heiress is found murdered on board. Can Poirot identify the killer before the ship reaches the end of its journey?
Director: John Guillermin
Stars: Peter Ustinov, Mia Farrow, Simon MacCorkindale, Bette David, Jon Finch, Olivia Hussey, George Kennedy, Angela Lansbury, David Niven, Maggie Smith, Jack Warden
I have to admit to preferring the remake, but this one is good, too. Probably what didn’t help is that, having seen the remake, I knew who the killer was.
Mar 29 - Evil Under the Sun (1982)
Trying to find how a millionaire wound up with a phony diamond brings Hercule Poirot to an exclusive island resort frequented by the rich and famous. When a murder is committed, everyone has an alibi.
Director: Guy Hamilton
Stars: Peter Ustinov, James Mason, Maggie Smith, Roddy McDowall, Diana Rigg
This one kept me guessing. It was nice watching one of these that I’d never heard anything about. And, again, a great cast.
Mar 30 - The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)
British retirees travel to India to take up residence in what they believe is a newly restored hotel. Less luxurious than advertised, the Marigold Hotel nevertheless slowly begins to charm in unexpected ways.
Director: John Madden
Stars: Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson, Dev Patel, Celia Imrie, Lucy Robinson, Diana Hardcastle, Ronald Pickup
Probably my favorite romcom. Funny, thought provoking, and a truly excellent cast.
Mar 31 - The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015)
As the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel has only a single remaining vacancy, posing a rooming predicament for two fresh arrivals, Sonny Kapoor pursues his expansionist dream of opening a second hotel.
Director: John Madden
Stars: Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Dev Patel, Celia Imrie, Ronald Pickup, Diana Hardcastle, Richard Gere
Not as good as the first movie, but still worth watching. Most of the original cast returns, with some excellent additions.
MOVIES WATCHED IN MARCH
Mar 4 - The Mauritanian (2021)
Mohamedou Ould Slahi fights for freedom after being detained and imprisoned without charge by the U.S. Government for years.
Director: Kevin Macdonald
Stars: Tahar Rahim, Nouhe Hamady Bari, Saadna Hamoud, Jodie Foster, Benedict Cumberbatch
Clearly shows the travesty of justice for many of the men held at Guantanamo. Disturbing, yet a compelling story.
Mar 9 - Joker (2019)
A mentally troubled stand-up comedian embarks on a downward spiral that leads to the creation of an iconic villain.
Director: Todd Phillips
Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz
Very weird take on the Joker’s creation. A bit over the top, and really strange, yet oddly entertaining.
Mar 10 - Cyrano (2021)
Too self-conscious to woo Roxanne himself, wordsmith Cyrano de Bergerac helps young Christian nab her heart through love letters.
Director: Joe Wright
Stars: Peter Dinklage, Haley Bennett, Kelvin Harrison Jr.
I loved it. How could I not, with Dinklage as Cyrano? And I felt his lack of height worked better than the odd joke of a huge nose.
Mar 11 - The Colony (2021)
Set in the distant future, a female astronaut, shipwrecked on the long-decimated Earth, must decide the fate of the wasteland's remaining populace.
Director: Tim Fehlbaum
Stars: Nora Arnezeder, Iain Glen, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina
A really good science fiction movie without the overblown special effects. It keeps you guessing.
Mar 19 - Belfast (2021)
A young boy and his working-class Belfast family experience the tumultuous late 1960s.
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Stars: Jude Hill, Lewis McAskie, Caitríona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, Judi Dench, Ciarán Hinds
There’s a quietness to the story, as it’s told through the eyes of a young boy. We see things as he would have seen them, not as an adult would have. An excellent movie.
Mar 24 - Uncharted (2022)
Street-smart Nathan Drake is recruited by seasoned treasure hunter Victor "Sully" Sullivan to recover a fortune amassed by Ferdinand Magellan, and lost 500 years ago by the House of Moncada.
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Stars: Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg, Antonio Banderas
Mindless entertainment. Lots of action, but thin on plot. And, yes, they’re already planning a sequel.
Mar 28 - Death On the Nile (2022)
While on vacation on the Nile, Hercule Poirot must investigate the murder of a young heiress.
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Stars: Tom Bateman, Annette Bening, Kenneth Branagh, Armie Hammer, Gal Gadot
Very well done remake. Great cast. Lots of twists and turns. Not one I’d seen before.
Mar 29 - Death On the Nile (1978)
As Hercule Poirot enjoys a luxurious cruise down the Nile, a newlywed heiress is found murdered on board. Can Poirot identify the killer before the ship reaches the end of its journey?
Director: John Guillermin
Stars: Peter Ustinov, Mia Farrow, Simon MacCorkindale, Bette David, Jon Finch, Olivia Hussey, George Kennedy, Angela Lansbury, David Niven, Maggie Smith, Jack Warden
I have to admit to preferring the remake, but this one is good, too. Probably what didn’t help is that, having seen the remake, I knew who the killer was.
Mar 29 - Evil Under the Sun (1982)
Trying to find how a millionaire wound up with a phony diamond brings Hercule Poirot to an exclusive island resort frequented by the rich and famous. When a murder is committed, everyone has an alibi.
Director: Guy Hamilton
Stars: Peter Ustinov, James Mason, Maggie Smith, Roddy McDowall, Diana Rigg
This one kept me guessing. It was nice watching one of these that I’d never heard anything about. And, again, a great cast.
Mar 30 - The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)
British retirees travel to India to take up residence in what they believe is a newly restored hotel. Less luxurious than advertised, the Marigold Hotel nevertheless slowly begins to charm in unexpected ways.
Director: John Madden
Stars: Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson, Dev Patel, Celia Imrie, Lucy Robinson, Diana Hardcastle, Ronald Pickup
Probably my favorite romcom. Funny, thought provoking, and a truly excellent cast.
Mar 31 - The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015)
As the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel has only a single remaining vacancy, posing a rooming predicament for two fresh arrivals, Sonny Kapoor pursues his expansionist dream of opening a second hotel.
Director: John Madden
Stars: Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Dev Patel, Celia Imrie, Ronald Pickup, Diana Hardcastle, Richard Gere
Not as good as the first movie, but still worth watching. Most of the original cast returns, with some excellent additions.