Genre: Mystery, Romance, Thriller, War

Year: 1940

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Joel McCrea, Laraine Day, Herbert Marshall, George Sanders, Albert Bassermann

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

My Review: A propaganda piece/spy thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Released prior to America's official entry into WWII; here was an effort on the part of Hollywood to influence America's attitude with regards to Germany, the war in Europe, and the plight of France and Britain. The movie starts as a New York newspaper sends a fresh new reporter over to Europe. They need a foreign correspondent who isn't jaded by the politics of Europe. The brash young reporter, Johnny Jones (Played by Joel McCrea - Posing as 'Huntley Haverstock') soon finds himself investigating a deadly conspiracy. The leader of the 'Universal Peace Party' is secretly working to advance German goals and the spread of war. Johnny Witnesses the assassination of a respected dignitary on the verge of peace treaty negotiations and he's immediately swept up in a web of conspiracy, lies, and deadly consequences. Complicating matters is his attraction to Carol, the daughter of the villain. Their developing relationship puts both in danger, and casts suspicion upon their motives. The special effects (especially the air plane crash) and action scenes were awesome; the pacing perfect, and the casting outstanding. Hitchcock's second film after fleeing Britain (in advance of the war). The camera work was outstanding and the message quite clear. America must enter the war! We must stop the Germans! 4 out of 5.

Summary: Johnny Jones is an action reporter on a New York newspaper. The editor appoints him European correspondent because he is fed up with the dry, reports he currently gets. Jones' first assignment is to get the inside story on a secret treaty agreed between two European countries by the famous diplomat, Mr. Van Meer. However things don't go to plan and Jones enlists the help of a young woman to help track down a group of spies.

Genre: Comedy, Sci-Fi

Year: 2010

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: John Cusack, Clark Duke, Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry, Sebastian Stan

Director: Steve Pink

My Review: Kim and I rented this one on our AppleTV. A combination of 80s nostalgia, low expectations, and a long day at work combined to make this comedy work for me. It didn't try to be overly complex, nor overly dramatic. A light comedy was just what I needed. Three main characters (Adam played by John Cusack, Nick played by Craig Robinson and Lou, played by Rob Corddry) are all on losing streaks. They decide to get away this weekend - to keep an eye on Lou (suicidal, alcoholic), and have a good time. Dragging Adam's nephew with them, they head into the mountains to their favorite party place. When they get there, a disappoint awaits. The joint is run down, low rent, and lacking in the fondness they remember. As the group is just about ready to throw in the towel and call it a bust, the doors burst open and a magical Hot Tub appears. What follows is a blast from the past, as the group decides to unwind and let things happen, they party hard, pass out, and wake up in 1986! The music was awesome, the casting o.k. and the pacing acceptable. The group initially decides to right some wrongs, decides against it when they think about the 'Butterfly Effect', then concentrates on 'just getting home'. I laughed at the ridiculous 80s costumes, jokes and preposterous plot holes. Chevy Chase as the hot tub repair man was another casting coup. If only it hadn't bothered with the gross out stuff, glorification of drugs, and excessive vulgarity. Maybe it's a generational think, but I really don't see the humor in that stuff. All in all, it was a pretty good movie, considering my low expectations. I give it a 3 out of 5.

Summary: Three friends on losing streaks: Adam, whose girlfriend dumped him, Nick, with a dead-end job and a cheating wife, and Lou, a suicidal alcoholic. To help Lou recover from car-exhaust poisoning, Adam and Nick, with Adam's nephew Jacob, go to a winter resort that was their old party place. It's now a dump, but the lads rally for a night of drinking in the hot tub. Somehow, the hot tub takes them back to 1986, on a fateful night for each of them. Maybe if they do everything the same way they did that night, they'll get back to the future so Jacob can be born. There are serious temptations to do things differently. Will they make it back to their sorry lives? And what about Jacob?

Genre: Music, Musical, Romance, Sci-Fi

Year: 1980

Country: USA, West Germany

Rating:

Starring: Catherine Mary Stewart, George Gilmour, Grace Kennedy, Allan Love, Joss Ackland

Director: Menahem Golan

My Review: Released in 1980, this campy, cult classic portrays the dystopic future of music contracts in the far distant future of 1994! The song and dance numbers are quite a hoot, especially since they stuck to the disco and light rock themes of the 70s. There really wasn't much vision in this glimpse of the future. While this movie depicts a future where the music industry has reduced the entire scene into a commercially controlled enterprise, I for one am very thankful for the way the internet has prevented this dark future. Millions of choices, no monopoly, and music distribution in more venues and forms than any one would ever have thought possible. Like other cult classics, you either love it or you hate it. Well, I didn't exactly love it, but I certainly didn't hate it. It was goofy enough to warrant a laugh or two, but the acting, writing and production were all crappy. The only redeeming feature was the energy level of the cast. 2 of 5.

Summary: Alphie and Bibi, two sweet, naive youths from Moose Jaw, Canada, have come to America to compete in the 1994 Worldvision Song Festival. Although the pair have talent, they are beaten out by the underhanded tactics of the festival favorites, another duo with the backing of BIM: Boogalow International Music, and its leader, Mr. Boogalow. Though crestfallen by their loss, Bibi and Alphie are soon delighted to hear the Mr. Boogalow has taken an interest in their music and wants to sign them to his label. All is looking up for the two until they begin to discover the dark underside of the rock and roll world.

Genre: Documentary

Year: 2010

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Jack Abramoff, William Branner, Tom DeLay, Donn Dunlop, Kevin Henderson

Director: Alex Gibney

My Review: A documentary by Alex Gibney (Enron - The Smartest Guys in the Room). This movie reveals the shady underside of American politics. The truth - Our politicians can be, and are, bought and sold with campaign contributions. If you want a bill passed, a regulation quashed, or an investigation thwarted, just dole out the green backs. While Jack Abramoff (Notorious lobbyist during the Republican's Reagan / Bush era) went to jail for it, the game continues to this day. In this documentary the camera focuses on one Washington insider who dared to flaunt his influence. Jack's problem, he didn't know how to keep a low profile. While Gibney seems to paint Republican's as the root cause of all evil, he failed to illustrate the fact that both sides play this game. One part of the film that really interested me was the part about the Northern Marianas Islands. I'm planning to eventually retire there, and this documentary had a lot to say about labor in those islands. The movie is loaded with a lot of facts, but it really skimped on the consequences in this tale of graft and corruption. What happened to Jack (lightly glossed over), his partners and the corrupt politicians who had the light shined on them? This guy swindles millions of dollars from American Indian tribes and he gets three years. Some crack head punches a cop and he goes down for 10 years. Rich man's justice, poor man's plight. The most disgusting part of this movie? Jack's incarceration and the prosecution of several politicians hasn't deterred this sort of activity in the least. With the Supreme Courts recent ruling in Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission, we can be assured, that this sort of corruption will continue, escalate and eventually result in the total compromise of all our politicians. So much for 'We the People!' I give this one a 3 out of 5.

Summary:

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music

Year: 2009

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Adam Goldberg, Marley Shelton, Eion Bailey, Lucy Punch, Vinnie Jones

Director: Jonathan Parker

My Review: I loved it. In the midst of a materialistic, pent-up, self indulgent world, Adrian Jacobs (played by Adam Goldberb) is beset on all sides by pretentious snobs and critics. His art is genuine, heartfelt, and unappreciated. Adrian and his loyal sidekick - The Clarinet (played by Lucy Punch) fall in with the wrong crowd when Adrian's brother Josh introduces them to some Art Gallery snobs. Adrian soon finds that he's fallen for Josh's girl - Madeleine. Things get really complicated in this romantic triangular comedy. Filled with great camera work, superb audio, great dialog, excellent direction and a fantastic cast, this art movie was very good. The characters were quirky but believable. The situations were honest, and the ethical dilemmas downright delectable. Entertaining and funny. The film mocks while praising, the avant-garde, performance art and the world of gallery art. I loved it. 5 out of 5.

Summary: A Chelsea art gallerist falls for a brooding new music composer in this comic tale about the state of contemporary art.