Back to the Movies....sort of
I haven't been much into movie watching for the last few months, though by July it did start to pick up. Probably because I was spending time with Anne. August might be better. Anyway, here's the last three months for your "viewing" pleasure.
MOVIES WATCHED IN MAY
May 4 - Star Wars IV: A New Hope (1977)
Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and two droids to save the galaxy from the Empire's world-destroying battle station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from the mysterious Darth Vader.
Director: George Lucas
Stars: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alex Guinness, Peter Cushing
I remember going to the movies at least a dozen times when this movie first came out. I have to admit, it’s held up well. And, what can I say but may the 4th be with you!
MOVIES WATCHED IN JUNE
Jun 3 - The Age of Adeline (2015)
A young woman, born at the turn of the 20th century, is rendered ageless after an accident. After many solitary years, she meets a man who complicates the eternal life she has settled into.
Director: Lee Toland Krieger
Stars: Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, Harrison Ford, Ellen Burstyn, Kathy Baker
Another movie I’ve seen before, though it had been awhile. Still, it’s a nice, easy watch and thoroughly enjoyable.
Jun 29 - Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022)
The Crawley family goes on a grand journey to the South of France to uncover the mystery of the dowager countess's newly inherited villa.
Director: Simon Curtis
Stars: Hugh Bonneville, Jim Carter, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith
I wasn’t sure how this would all work out; I was worried it would be the same ol’ same ol’. But I ended up really liking the movie.
June 30 - All The Old Knives (2022)
Two CIA agents and ex-lovers (Chris Pine and Thandiwe Newton) are brought back together years after a failed rescue attempt and forced to blur the lines between profession and passion in this deeply riveting tale of global espionage, moral dilemma and deadly betrayal.
Director: Janus Metz
Stars: Laurence Fishburne, Thandiwe Newton, Chris Pine, Jonathan Pryce
This had some twists I didn’t see coming. Well worth watching.
MOVIES WATCHED IN JULY
Jul 4 - Legends of the Fall (1994)
In the early 1900s, three brothers and their father living in the remote wilderness of Montana are affected by betrayal, history, love, nature, and war.
Director: Edward Zwick
Stars: Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Aidan Quinn, Julie Ormond, Henry Thomas
Another oldie but goodie, though I’ve never understood what was so great about the Ormond character that all three brothers would fall in love with her. But I like the movie, anyway.
Jul 8 - Dead Again (1991)
A woman who has lost her memory is taken in by a Los Angeles orphanage, and a private eye is enlisted to track down her identity, but he soon finds that he might have a past life connection to her that endangers their lives.
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Stars: Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Andy Garcia, Robin Williams, Derek Jacobi
Saw this several years ago, too. Quite interesting and watchable.
Jul 17 - We Need to talk about Cosby (2022)
Writer/director W. Kamau Bell's exploration of Bill Cosby's descent from "America's Dad" to alleged sexual predator. Comedians, journalists and survivors have a candid, first of its kind conversation about the man, his career and crimes.
Stars: Doug E. Doug, Godfrey, Chris Spencer
God, this man was a horror. I remember my younger brother listening to his albums, he’s been around that long. I never did watch the show, so I didn’t have anything invested in him being proven innocent. And after watching this documentary, it’s pretty obvious that he wasn’t.
Jul 18 - Persuasion (2022)
Eight years after Anne Elliot was persuaded not to marry a dashing man of humble origins, they meet again. Will she seize her second chance at true love?
Director: Carrie Cracknell
Stars: Richard E. Grant, Henry Golding, Ben Bailey Smith, Dakota Johnson
I didn’t care for this version, much preferring the 1995 version with Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root, and the 2007 version with Rupert Penry-Jones and Sally Hawkins. This one veered a bit too much from the book, and well as trying to be too modern. Plus a wasn’t crazy about Anne talking to the viewing audience.
Jul 19 - Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story (2022)
Jimmy Savile once ruled the airwaves with a quirky persona and good works. So how did this icon manage to hide his many alleged bad deeds for so long?
Stars: Roger Ordish, Mark Lawson, Meirion Jones
I’d never heard of this guy, but seeing him I couldn’t understand why anyone would not think him weird. Another celebrity who hid behind good works.
Jul 28-29 - The Last Movie Stars (2022)
Follows a celebration of Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman's lives.
Stars: George Clooney, Laura Linney, Zoe Kazan, Martin Scorsese, Billy Crudup, Karen Allen, Sally Field, Ethan Hawke, Ewan McGregor, Mark Ruffalo
Well, this is more like it, actors who are actually good people. Yes, they had their problems, but they more than made up for them in the work they did. It was interesting how, just having the transcripts (Newman having destroyed the videos,) they recreated the scenes by having other actors speak the lines.
MOVIES WATCHED IN MAY
May 4 - Star Wars IV: A New Hope (1977)
Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and two droids to save the galaxy from the Empire's world-destroying battle station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from the mysterious Darth Vader.
Director: George Lucas
Stars: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alex Guinness, Peter Cushing
I remember going to the movies at least a dozen times when this movie first came out. I have to admit, it’s held up well. And, what can I say but may the 4th be with you!
MOVIES WATCHED IN JUNE
Jun 3 - The Age of Adeline (2015)
A young woman, born at the turn of the 20th century, is rendered ageless after an accident. After many solitary years, she meets a man who complicates the eternal life she has settled into.
Director: Lee Toland Krieger
Stars: Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, Harrison Ford, Ellen Burstyn, Kathy Baker
Another movie I’ve seen before, though it had been awhile. Still, it’s a nice, easy watch and thoroughly enjoyable.
Jun 29 - Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022)
The Crawley family goes on a grand journey to the South of France to uncover the mystery of the dowager countess's newly inherited villa.
Director: Simon Curtis
Stars: Hugh Bonneville, Jim Carter, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith
I wasn’t sure how this would all work out; I was worried it would be the same ol’ same ol’. But I ended up really liking the movie.
June 30 - All The Old Knives (2022)
Two CIA agents and ex-lovers (Chris Pine and Thandiwe Newton) are brought back together years after a failed rescue attempt and forced to blur the lines between profession and passion in this deeply riveting tale of global espionage, moral dilemma and deadly betrayal.
Director: Janus Metz
Stars: Laurence Fishburne, Thandiwe Newton, Chris Pine, Jonathan Pryce
This had some twists I didn’t see coming. Well worth watching.
MOVIES WATCHED IN JULY
Jul 4 - Legends of the Fall (1994)
In the early 1900s, three brothers and their father living in the remote wilderness of Montana are affected by betrayal, history, love, nature, and war.
Director: Edward Zwick
Stars: Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Aidan Quinn, Julie Ormond, Henry Thomas
Another oldie but goodie, though I’ve never understood what was so great about the Ormond character that all three brothers would fall in love with her. But I like the movie, anyway.
Jul 8 - Dead Again (1991)
A woman who has lost her memory is taken in by a Los Angeles orphanage, and a private eye is enlisted to track down her identity, but he soon finds that he might have a past life connection to her that endangers their lives.
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Stars: Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Andy Garcia, Robin Williams, Derek Jacobi
Saw this several years ago, too. Quite interesting and watchable.
Jul 17 - We Need to talk about Cosby (2022)
Writer/director W. Kamau Bell's exploration of Bill Cosby's descent from "America's Dad" to alleged sexual predator. Comedians, journalists and survivors have a candid, first of its kind conversation about the man, his career and crimes.
Stars: Doug E. Doug, Godfrey, Chris Spencer
God, this man was a horror. I remember my younger brother listening to his albums, he’s been around that long. I never did watch the show, so I didn’t have anything invested in him being proven innocent. And after watching this documentary, it’s pretty obvious that he wasn’t.
Jul 18 - Persuasion (2022)
Eight years after Anne Elliot was persuaded not to marry a dashing man of humble origins, they meet again. Will she seize her second chance at true love?
Director: Carrie Cracknell
Stars: Richard E. Grant, Henry Golding, Ben Bailey Smith, Dakota Johnson
I didn’t care for this version, much preferring the 1995 version with Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root, and the 2007 version with Rupert Penry-Jones and Sally Hawkins. This one veered a bit too much from the book, and well as trying to be too modern. Plus a wasn’t crazy about Anne talking to the viewing audience.
Jul 19 - Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story (2022)
Jimmy Savile once ruled the airwaves with a quirky persona and good works. So how did this icon manage to hide his many alleged bad deeds for so long?
Stars: Roger Ordish, Mark Lawson, Meirion Jones
I’d never heard of this guy, but seeing him I couldn’t understand why anyone would not think him weird. Another celebrity who hid behind good works.
Jul 28-29 - The Last Movie Stars (2022)
Follows a celebration of Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman's lives.
Stars: George Clooney, Laura Linney, Zoe Kazan, Martin Scorsese, Billy Crudup, Karen Allen, Sally Field, Ethan Hawke, Ewan McGregor, Mark Ruffalo
Well, this is more like it, actors who are actually good people. Yes, they had their problems, but they more than made up for them in the work they did. It was interesting how, just having the transcripts (Newman having destroyed the videos,) they recreated the scenes by having other actors speak the lines.