Gloria B's Reviews

Helen Mirren is amazing here! Good match with Harrison Ford. This one starts with a bang literally. I did not know this would be a series, and that's a bit disappointing. But it's a good intro to the Dutton family and the Yellowstone series that comes later.
Review Date: 11/26/2023

What a little gem of a fllm that is right up there with the classics. This is one of the more interesting Anton Yelchin films I've seen. It's a bittersweet love story in which Brian (Yelchin, who is always endearing) begins with conflicted morals and naivete learns a hard lesson about love. It is also a study on personal growth as the main character grows from would-be writer with a rejection letter covered wall to published author. His parents are played by Glenn Close and and Frank Langella. I liked Glenn Close here. It's more of a thinking movie that is quite sensual and beautiful. I give this one a solid five stars.
Review Date: 7/4/2020

Exaggeration to the point of sterotype? Maybe. Earned two stars with me. One for my having actually watched it from beginning to end. I didn't find any of the characters particularly believeable, and one was excruciatingly annoying. There were a couple moments of funny humor, but in general I thought it was a rather pointless romp through dragsville.
Review Date: 2/18/2013

Not a review so much as a warning. One reviewer on Amazon wrote:
You know a movie is going to be bad if the trailer is so bad that you can't even finish watching it. (Darrren12000) That sounds pretty bad.
Review Date: 8/6/2013

If there were a way to rate negative stars, this film would deserve it. I'd never seen how the right wing delivers propaganda until I got a look at this film. The film claims that democrats, environmental movement, women's movement, and all progressive movements in general are euphemisms for communism/socialism with the goal of "destroying America." Among the targets are the media, education and the arts. It would be laughable if it were not disturbing on so many fronts.
Review Date: 7/21/2018

This film is more slice-of-life on the Nobel Peace Prize winning physician, theologian, and humanitarian, Schweitzer (Jeroen Krabbe) and begins with his hospital in Lambarene, West Africa, where he lives with his wife (played by Barbara Hershey) dispensing medical treatment with his team of volunteer doctors. Schweitzer's philosophy of Reverence for Life is attributed to guiding the modern day environmental movement. I enjoyed the film for what it was. There may be holes in the plot, but I think the film is still worth a watch.
Review Date: 10/7/2018

A very low budget, alien stoner film from New Zealand. There's some hilarious scenes, and bad acting if you're into that sort of thing. The aliens look so ridiculously fake that it's funny. Poop humor is probably aimed at a younger crowd. It is what it is.
Review Date: 6/23/2022

Based on the political thriller by Vince Flynn, this was an exciting watch. It is the story of the origin of Mitch Rapp (Dylan O'Brien), recruited by the CIA black ops, and trained by veteran operative, Stan Hurley, played perfectly by Michael Keaton. The film opens with a terrorist attack on a beach that leaves many dead, among them, Rapp's fiance. This is the incident that sets him on his course to infiltrate the terrorist cell responsible, but he is thwarted by the CIA that beats him to it, and whiskis him off to a CIA training camp. O'Brien does a decent job of playing Rapp, as does Sanaa Lathan's portrayal of Irene Kennedy, the CIA Deputy Director. This was an intense action flick that kept me engaged to the end, and I would recommend watching this as well as reading Vince Flynn.


Review Date: 8/4/2018

Based on the political thriller by Vince Flynn, this was an exciting watch. It is the story of the origin of Mitch Rapp (Dylan O'Brien), recruited by the CIA black ops, and trained by veteran operative, Stan Hurley, played perfectly by Michael Keaton. The film opens with a terrorist attack on a beach that leaves many dead, among them, Rapp's fiance. This is the incident that sets him on his course to infiltrate the terrorist cell responsible, but he is thwarted by the CIA that beats him to it, and whisks him off to a CIA training camp. O'Brien does a decent job of playing Rapp, as does Sanaa Lathan's portrayal of Irene Kennedy, the CIA Deputy Director. This was an intense action flick that kept me engaged to the end, and I would recommend watching this as well as reading Vince Flynn.
Review Date: 8/4/2018

This is a new documentary film from Ken Burns told in two parts. Blood Memory is part one (116 mins); part two is Into The Storm (119 mins.) It includes interviews and beautiful cinematography. You get a good introduction to the history of the bison in this country that evolved alongside the Native Americans. The stories of Native people anchor the series, including the Kiowa, Comanche, and Cheyenne of the Southern Plains; the Lakota, Salish, Kootenai, Mandan-Hidatsa, and Blackfeet from the Northern Plains; and others. I can't recommnd enough!
Review Date: 12/4/2023

One reason I avoided watching this DVD before now is the cover art that, to me, reinforces the stereotype of Geronimo a "warrior" and "threat." At the beginning of this DVD it will correct that assumption. Geronimo was a leader and medicine man from the Bedonkohe band of the Ndendahe Apache people. From 1850 to 1886. I only watched the movie now because it is an American Experience film, something I did not realize before this. It is an excellent film! It is told through the words of descendants of the various Apache bands that had relatives involved in the plight of the Chiricahua. (Chiricahua were a group of different Apache bands.) I would highly recommend the film as a correction to the misinterpretations of history and of who Geronimo was. I was pleased to recognize the first interviewee of the film--it's just a clip before the main film begins--of Allen Houser, Chiricahua Apache, who is a renowned sculptor, and was one of my instructors at art school. He is one of the interviewees throughout the film, as well. What I appreciate most about the interviewees is their honesty and how articulate they are. This was a gift, that I greatly appreciate and will keep.
Review Date: 8/12/2023

I'm not sure what the intent of this film was. Themes on "the last of his tribe" are American's wet dream, but that may be another subject. My purpose is just to correct a few assumptions in the other review posted here. In general it is a good review, and asks questions about what has been omitted. Here are a few issues raised in the review:

The work says that "Minik was horrified to learn that after a sham burial, his father's skeleton was on display at a museum."

Native people have a respect for the dead. They go to great lengths to send their relatives on to the next world in a good way. There are various consequences of not following the rituals for the dead. With approx. 500 tribal nations, there are also diverse ritual practices for sending loved ones on to the next world. I would say "horrified" doesn't come close to describing Minik's response.

The reviewer continues with, "I really wonder if his situation helped to get the Indian Repatriation Act passed decades later." Well, probably not. Read up on the battle over The Kennewick Man's remains. Few museums have returned Native remains without a fight; and the law might apply as well to private land owners who continue to sell remains and artifacts on the black market.

One more point: the reviewer wrote, "I wonder if many of the Native American children forced to attend American private schools felt the same way." Native children were forcibly removed from their homes and taken, not to "private" schools, but schools more akin to reform schools where the objective was re-education: to beat the Indian out of them, to rape and molest Indian children; to cut their family and tribal ties, and to assimilate them into the American way of life, teaching them English and low level work skills (because very little was expected of them).

None of this has to do with the film, but since the other reviewer brought up questions not answered by the film, I'm simply correcting the reviewers' assumptions. This film is not high on my list.
Review Date: 9/25/2012

The previews made this seem like a different kind of movie, so I went in with some expectations. The movie turned out being something else, but still it is a good comedy that kept my interest even with the flawed lead character. Eddie Griffin stole the show. He was likeable, funny and wiser than his friend with the "gift." The film takes place post-Katrina, and attempts to show that despite what we're told, there is no rebuilding for the less fortunate residents that stuck it out. I didn't know, for one thing, that Stephen Dorff is known for making making bad movies. Had I such low expectations, I would still have liked this movie.
Review Date: 10/16/2018

Right wing "patriots" save the day, they are characterized as "conspiracy nuts" rather than survivalists that are stockpiling food and weapons. This film has a conflicted, convoluted storyline. There is initial footage of various presidents, among them Bush 1, proposing a new world order. The government are posited as the bad guys that upon declaring martial law will confiscate all weapons from the population. In the film the US Army declares the "NRA gun nuts" as domestic terrorists. Then it turns out that the UN is behind the new world order, claiming that America stands in the way of their agenda. The gist of story is that an EMP takes out the power grid, and one Texan homestead is targeted by the UN forces and are fought off by a single family in an incredulous battle scene. There is mediocre, sometimes melodramatic acting throughout. Even though I rate this fairly low as a film, it is still fun to watch, if only to attempt to sort out this mess.
Review Date: 7/30/2018

The packaging of this set is very misleading, and does not contain 2 DVDs. The second "disc" is a CD interview. The set contains "Amy Winehouse: The Girl Done Good" DVD, which is not bad in itself, but if you are looking for new material, this is not it. It's worth the credits if you haven't seen the DVD, and want to listen to the interview on CD.
Review Date: 8/3/2018

I am blown away by this series, which I did not see on TV. I'm impressed by the differing perspectives investigated, and the examples shown in the programs. Any discussion on "aliens" or life coming to Earth from other planets or solar systems is so interesting. In an endless universe, why should we assume that the third planet from our sun, be the only one to support intelligent life? I don't ascribe to alien abductions or UFO sitings per se, but I do think the sciences and professionals have much to offer to the discussion. And I do not think the societies we have constructed are the center of the universe. This program places various academic discussions at the center to demonstrate another perspective on "alien" lore. Traditional cultures from around the world play a central role in demonstrating the possibility of contact thousands of years ago. It's an very engaging program posing plausible theories.
Review Date: 12/8/2012

Although billed as mystery/thriller, my son recommended this film as "horror." It is definitely a nightmare. In the words of one reviewer, "To call it a version of 'fantasy island for white maniacal serial killer/rapists'. . . would take away the lengthy sociopsychological historical essay this movie deserves."
Review Date: 6/22/2023

I like suspense "thrillers"; and I like Jeff Bridges, and even Chris Hemsworth a little. Bad Times was an upped Vacancy with a twist. Here you get backstories on why these individuals are so messed up, you could say they are all victims of trauma. Even so, it didn't really make me invest in any of the characters. While Bridges' character is likeable; the one bright spot is Cynthia Erivo, a dynamite singer heading to Vegas, who is caught up in this crazy situation. Hensworth plays a despicable cult leader/child sexual predator and killer; he couldn't be more unlikeable a character.
Review Date: 11/9/2019

Early in the film, DiCaprio says he is pessimistic about our future, and I agree with him on that. Most Americans don't believe that oil is dwindling or care if alternative energy is made available. Most people don't believe that the government is owned by petro corporations, and this is unfortunate. The price of this ignorance will be more Katrinas, Harveys and Irmas; loss of the coastal lands and buffer zone flood plains. One reviewer said: "US politics/laws are inseparable from the financial backing of special-interests, particularly the fossil fuel lobby. And even if we managed to take the money out of politics . . . the average American isn't going to change their comfort level (i.e. energy consumption) to save anybody but themselves." Excellent film I would recommend.
Review Date: 4/15/2018

Giving one star is being generous. What a mess of a plot: sci-fi mixed with religious fanaticism.
Review Date: 4/16/2023

A co-op manager for coffee growers is on a quest for a long-term fair trade solution for his farmers. I was floored to learn how little coffee growers earn for their crops. It began with a cupping (taste testing) that praised Ethiopian coffee as the best, but led into the plight of real growers who live in poverty. It is a timely "wake up call" to choose only Fair Trade.
Review Date: 6/30/2018

I'm not a great fan of the Marvel superheros films, but Black Panther is among our keepers. The entire casting is great, the story is compelling and gripping throughout, there's a perfect blend of action, suspense, drama and comedy, and the costumes and CGI are fantastic and enhance the story rather than detract from it. The main draw for us is Chadwick Bosman, who will be greatly missed.
Review Date: 7/24/2023

This film is loosely based on Dee Brown's book of the same title. It has taken many liberties in with the story/history, for example, placing Charles Eastman, a young, Dartmouth-educated Sioux doctor in Pine Ridge. Eastman was a real person of notoriety, but was never at Pine Ridge. You can read about the other historical inaccuracies in other reviews. While I don't generally nitpick about historical inaccuracy--who would know the difference in this case anyway--Eastman is employed to carry the story forward, and bridge the opposing storylines. They could have utilized a made-up a character to fit this purpose. For Native American historians, or the Lakota and Dakota people, this is a glaring inaccuracy.

The tensions of Native American and American relations are played out by Sitting Bull (August Schellenberg), "the Lakota chief who refuses to submit to U.S. government policies designed to strip his people of their identity, dignity and sacred land; and Senator Henry Dawes (Aidan Quinn), one of the men responsible for the government policy on Indian affairs." What became known as the Dawes Act was the final straw in wrestling Native lands from the original peoples--making individual land holdings for each male head of household and throwing open the remaining Indian lands to white settlement. Sitting Bull accurately sums up this policy noting that the lands assigned will support only one generation--not the future generations. The real reason for removing the Sioux was to obtain the gold buried in the Black Hills, and to this day, the tribes have never accepted this settlement.

As a film, there's some saving grace as an educational tool, maybe as an introduction, but the inaccuracies would need to be addressed as well. The film shows Henry Dawes as sincere in his effort believing this is for the best, but for whom? The other vehicles of good intentions include the teacher, maybe even the character of Charles Eastman, who begins to question his role in this period of history particularly his role in aiding Dawes, whom he will eventually vehemently disagree.

The box set is packaged quite well. The film is worth a watch, but I'm on the fence about keeping it.
Review Date: 11/25/2018

I took a chance on this one to round out my Anton Yelchin filmography viewing. It is a wacky storyline, but light fun. Some gory makeup jobs for rotting skin. Yelchin plays the central character who is so likeable and offsets the controlling girlfriend and loser half-brother. There is also very funny humor in this film. Well worth a watch.
Review Date: 6/15/2020

I love movies with great soundtracks, and this is one of my favorites. I thought Beyonce played her role well. She may not be the Etta James, but I love her versions of James's songs. I also thought the hinted at love story believable. It may not be historically correct, but it is still one of my favorite movies.
Review Date: 7/25/2018

This has been the most "wholesome" of anything I watch in a Waltons kind of way. I give it a solid five stars. It's a series of human stories and drama and revolves around the occupants of the Nonnatus House who are nuns, nurses, and midwives that care for the poor of Poplar, London. Characters are all very likeable. Series has very good script writers. This about sums it up, taken from a review, "It is an especially faithful portrayal of the period, from social issues to fashion. From music to medical issues such as drugs, addiction and family planning." I've been binge watching every season as they come in. Well worth watching if you haven't seen/streamed on Netflix.
Review Date: 11/5/2018

I give this DVD five stars for providing much needed information through interviews with various experts. We have experienced years of unprecedented weather patterns that if one is observant follow directly after overhead cloud seeding. Yes, perhaps the video work is lower quality, but that does not undermine the value of the information presented. Me thinks the other reviewer protests too much. Other higher quality DVDs support everything presented herein. The toxic particles that are falling on us from the chemtrails are having devastating impacts on our health (upper respiratory disease, asthma, and recurring symptoms of mysterious illness). What is demonstrated repeatedly in this video is how the cloud cover changes dramatically following chemtrail events. I would highly suggest this video for anyone who has the niggling feeling something is going on . . . and who would like to learn more about those big Xs we are seeing in the sky.
Review Date: 12/18/2015

The Citizen is based on true events following the story of Ibrahim Jarrah's journey from immigrant to American citizenship during the volatile anti-middle eastern backlash post-911. Highly, highly recommend this film that is so timely, and necessary.
Review Date: 6/30/2018

Based on a true story, Colonia tells the story of post-WWII Nazis who escaped from Germany in 1945 and ended up in Chile in the 1970's, forming a cult in Chile ironically named Colonia Dignidad. Here, men and women are kept separate in a fenced in compound, and breaches of any rules are violently dealt with by the maniacal leader. The story is about a young woman, played by Emma Watson (Harry Potter), that joins the cult in order to rescue her friend that was kidnapped. This is a very good film, well worth a watch.
Review Date: 8/3/2018

This is a unique film with a non-linear storyline. It is a 6-year conversational love story told through cosmic imagry, fast paced, sometimes very funny, dialogue. Cosmology and fate, the present slips into the past, the telling is a dream that is statically interrupted and the story begins in a new place in time. This one is well worth repeated watching.
Review Date: 8/16/2020

I don't understand why this movie is not more popular. Robin Williams is always entertaining, but the biggest surprise was Edward Norton playing Smoochy. He's both funny and cute. It may have a bit of a cheesy story, but it's still a funny comedy. I keep it around for rainy days when I need a laugh.
Review Date: 4/26/2013

How can you go wrong with Helen Mirren? This is an interesting movie that requires paying attention to in order to follow the story. Flashbacks to an earlier incident in the lives of the three main characters lead you to the conclusion of the story. Truth and fiction are questioned. Do people really want to know the truth? How do individuals grapple with the knowledge of the truth of events and the fictionalization of the same events? In the end, it seems individual integrity determines the outcome. Well worth watching.
Review Date: 11/28/2012

While I agree with the spoiler review, I have a different take on the film. The title implies the film is about the descendents of Native Hawaiians, but the people portrayed in the film do not have anything in common with Native Hawaiians, with the one exception of the portrait on the wall of an Hawaiian princess of whom they are the descendents. Clooney's character lives in a mansion, while living Native Hawaiians do not. I seem to recall seeing one Native Hawaiian in a pan shot. Their absence in the film is telling. The ceremony performed in the bonus material I suspect is bogus. I lent the film to native friend who lived in Hawaii and asked whether or not the ceremony was authentic. She said no. The dancers are Polynisian rather than Hawaiian. I wanted to like this movie, but for all of these reasons, plus quite a few of the same reasons as the spoiler review addresses, I do not.
Review Date: 7/27/2012

There is some nice cinematography, and an interesting take on Dracula. It is horror, but not so scary that I couldn't watch it even with a little gore here and there. It's a period piece with appropriate costumes. There are interesting characters and backstories, and more than Dracula who is perpetrating crimes, which makes for some good mystery thrown in, too. If there is a downside--and I personally didn't care about this--this is all there is, and there won't be a season two. I think it holds up as a stand alone mini-series. I would give this a solid four star rating. Well worth a watch.
Review Date: 11/3/2018

This was a totally engrossing film--as soon as it began I couldn't stop watching. Incredible cinematography of the sweeping Mongolian steppe. The Kahzakh live in this a remote, cold place where in winter the temp is below -40 to -50 degrees! You get an insight into their culture, and the tradition of eagle hunting. The family is incredibly close and happy, and supportive of their daughter that wants to join in what is traditionally a man's role, that of eagle hunting. The young girl in the film is resolute in her decision and fearless. For me, a true test of good film is when while watching you forget that you are reading subtitles--which was the case here. Deserves a five star rating, and one I would highly recommend.
Review Date: 12/16/2018

This is one everyone should watch at least once. Posting a clip from Amazon because no one has reviewed. "From director and activist Pete McGrain, ETHOS sheds light on how we can affect change. With interviews from influential thought-leaders including, author and activist Noam Chomsky (Manufacturing Dissent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media), Chalmers Johnson (Blowback: The Sorrows of Empire), Oscar® winning documentarian Michael Moore and Howard Zinn (A People s History of the United States) to name a few, ETHOS will show you how to make meaningful and sustainable change in order to create a world where we can live harmoniously in a clean environment."
Review Date: 11/27/2018

No one plays a southern good ol' boy like Robert Duvall. He discovers on his mother's death that he's the product of his father's infidelity with a Black woman, and as his father says, he "came out white" so his white parents raise him. So begins his journey to find his Black half-brother, played by James Earl Jones, and the hilarity begins. I haven't laughed so hard at a film in a long while, even though I've watched this movie many times. What a great cast, and heartwarming film about family as the brothers reconcile.
Review Date: 8/12/2023

This movie was based on a book, and is a "sequel to the bestseller by Laurens Van der Post, 'A Story Like The Wind'". What I like are the scenes of Africa and the Bushmen, and the conservationist, anti-poacher message--ivory hunters in particular. I'd forgotten this was a Disney film, which explains the sidestepping of the political climate of the novel, and centering the story around ivory poaching and adding American the sensibilities of greed, corruption, betrayal. A young Reese Witherspoon plays Nonnie, a young girl raised in Africa. The young Bushman, Xhabbo, is her friend/brother, who guides her and the visiting city boy through bush and desert. Through the character of Xhabbo the spiritual tenet that the people and the land are one is central. I am glad I watched this again.
Review Date: 10/30/2018

In a word: devastating.

Sir Anthony Hopkins' performance is top notch as one would expect. Coleman has moments--relying on her expressions. She plays the long-suffering daughter of a man overcome by Altzheimer's, although I must say that point is never explicitly made. However, if you're looking for a cohesive storyline, this is not it. I have to assume it is portrayed from the fragmented mind of an Altzheimer's patient; there is no cohesive timeline. Various characters pop in and out. I couldn't quite figure out the two husbands, or only Sewell's character, as the other was introduced as her first husband. The final scene is the most heartbreaking I’ve ever seen in a film--Hopkins' is incredible here, which won him Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role. It was nominated for Best Motion Picture of the year. As for the film as a whole, I don't plan to ever watch it again, but I am glad I sat through it to its conclusion.
Review Date: 5/23/2022

Through the stories of four children's attempts to loose weight, the film starts slow, but ends up blasting the foodmakers, corporations, FDA and presents a mini-history of how foods have been marketed, primarily to children & how, from birth, baby formula and commercially-produced foods have created sugar addictions in children leading to declining overall health in the population. The push toward "low fat" actually increases the food addiction (sugar addiction because while the fat is removed, sugar is added) and leads to increased weight gain and an epidemic of chronic matabolic disease, "a condition that includes high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, strokes, and cancer, among other diseases." What comes through clearly is that people are confused about what food is "healthy" due to marketing. What I learned is that people who are thin on the outside can be fat on the inside. The condition is called "metabolic obese normal weight," and that being thin does not equate to "healthy." The skinny-fat kids can be pre-diabetic. In the end, I thought it was a very good film that anyone with children or who are attempting to loose weight should see. Highly informative.
Review Date: 10/29/2015

This is one of my all-time favorite anime films. The animation of the humans was very realistic. You can read about the storyline in Mark Ruby's excellent review. What I most appreciated was that there was a Gaia, or spirit of the earth. I've given this film as a gift, and will watch and continue to treasure it.
Review Date: 5/17/2022

This doc focuses on a single community in France that made an unprecedented move to serve only organic foods in their school. The demand created a market for growers, they hired caterers and a kitchen to provide food to the several schools and the Meals-on-Wheels program. The decision to feed children only organic food was a reaction to commercial agricultural practices that resulted in the deaths of many children in the community that were exposed to toxic chemicals being sprayed on near-by crops. Here in the US, because the country is so large, we wouldn't see the effects as immediately as this small community. Food for thought (pun intended). This is a good doc, worth viewing.
Review Date: 6/6/2017

This film is by far the best film I've ever seen on agriculture! In it, the filmmaker tours small farms that are attempting to change the local food systems. The farmers are highly literate on agricultural issues, and their own farming practices. The big star of the film are some piglets that are so darn cute. We see different models for sustainable agriculture, and some of the people have created ingenious systems. The most important message is what we already know--we can make a difference by buying local. I can't recommend this film highly enough. I didn't want it to end, it was that good.
Review Date: 7/16/2018

Many of these excellent reviews detail the movie itself, and Hayek's performance. I only would add that in Julie Taymor's directorial hands, the film is vibrant and steeped in magical realism, at times. I am as much a fan of Taymor's films as I am of Hayek's performances in film, that began with Frida (2002) on both counts. This film is permanently on my keeper shelf, as well as other films by Taymor: Titus (1999, Across the Universe (2007, The Tempest (2010), A Midsummer Night's Dream (2014).

From Wikipedia, "[Taymor's] film Frida about revered Mexican artist Frida Kahlo was nominated for five Academy awards, and her '1960's Beatles jukebox musical' Across the Universe won approval from both Yoko Ono and Paul McCartney. These films developed her reputation for respectful handling of the sensitive legacy of artists amongst their fans."

Please skip over the unintended slight of the next reviewer (the film wasn't about 'communism' but the painter's life) and move on to the detailed reviews of others with more insight on the actors, singers, and Kahlo's life, and stormy marriage.
Review Date: 2/24/2019

The subtitle is Why Wasn't the Ebola Outbreak Stopped Before it Was Too Late? The film documents how the virus spread rapidly over west Africa, and how international attention wasn't paid until one American was hospitalized with the virus in TX. As long as the virus stayed in the remote villages, little response was given. At the time Doctors Without Borders were pleading for aid as the dead mounted and they couldn't handle them all in their small clinics in remote areas where the sick and the dead remained in the same tents. When the virus spread to a metropolitan area, it was finally declared a “public health emergency of international concern” by the WHO.

Ebola causes viral haemorrhagic fever, and is one of the bleeding diseases, along with Marburg and Lassa viruses. These viruses are usually transmitted by direct contact with blood or other body secretions rather than being airborne. The filmmakers showed that the African's burial rituals spread the virus, and the death of one famous shaman's funeral exponentially dispersed the virus. The Zaire strain of Ebola virus outbreak in Africa had a mortality rate of 50-90%. The outbreak is still not over: "As of 8 August 2018, the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reported 44 EVD cases, of which 17 have been confirmed. . . Among the 44 cases, 37 cases had a fatal outcome, of which 10 have been confirmed for Ebola virus and 27 remain probable. All samples tested positive for Zaire ebolavirus species." ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR)

I watched this because I'm interested in how pandemic outbreaks are spread and handled. Infected areas are isolated so the virus can burn itself out. Obviously all people within the quarantined areas are at risk. It was a good documentary.
Review Date: 8/14/2018

I've watched this five star movie repeatedly over the years since discovering it on VHS. While the plot centers around loss of a loved one, I consider this a comedy as there's plenty of comic scenes and dialogue to go around. The all star cast includes Gene Hackman, Teri Garr, Elias Koteas, and my favorite character, Burgess Meredith. This is a hidden gem of a movie that I highly recommend.
Review Date: 7/6/2023

This is an early Wes Studi film in which he excels in his role of Geronimo, Goyaałé (Goyathlay), (Mescalero-Chiricahua) who was a prominent leader and medicine man from the Bedonkohe band of the Chiricahua Apache. The all-star cast also includes Jason Patrick, Robert Duvall, Gene Hackman, and Matt Damon. Other than Studi, Patrick's role was pivotal to the film as "an unsung military officer by the name of Charles Gatewood . .. Gatewood was apparently an individual of some integrity and . . .(carried) out his orders with dignity and compassion. (He) was rewarded for his exemplary service by becoming the victim of the pettiness and selfish self-centeredness of Nelson Miles, the officer commanding the Apache campaign." You can't help but feel compassion for individuals on both sides. In particular how the Chiricahua scouts that had served the military interest for years were disarmed, arrested, and exiled along with Geronimo and other Chircahua to Florida with the rest of the Apache.
Review Date: 11/25/2018

This one is a keeper. Stand out acting from Giovanni Ribisi, a man who is psychologically damaged from childhood trauma (rape) and Greg Kinnear, shedding his usual good-guy character here, and Keanu Reeves, who portrays a mean, abusive man that is most unlikable. Little mentioned is Hilary Swank playing the abused wife of Reeves' character who embodies the victim of domestic violence. Cate Blanchett shines as the tarot card reader whose "gift" is helping people on the one hand while placing herself and her family in danger. It is southern gothic thriller that I would love on Blu-ray. Well worth a watch.
Review Date: 11/26/2022

If you don't know anything about Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) it is a good intro told from the 1st person discovery of the government sanction of poisoning our food supply. the film follows a young father on his journey to educate himself and his little family. One scene that was quite touching was seeing one of kids sadly staring out the window at an ice cream truck. There are more educational dvd's out there, but this one does bring the issue home.
Review Date: 4/15/2018

Russell Crowe (Max Skinner) inherits a chateau and vineyard from his uncle Henry (Albert Finney). He is an investment broker in England and must travel to France with plans to sell the property where he'd spent much of his childhood. We are introduced to his uncle through flashbacks. Albert Finney plays his uncle Henry, who is an enigma, whose lessons on life are juxtaposed to his thoughts on wine. For his part, Albert Finney is perfect, his delivery of lines is impeccable. My favorite scenes are of his interactions with young Max, played by Freddie Highmore "many vintages ago." The vintner, Francis Duflot, is played by Didier Bourbon, more famous in France for comedy films, is the vehicle here for connecting Max with his past and his uncle, and through much of their interaction to invite insults between the French and English. Duflot's wife, Ludivine, is played by Isabelle Chandelier. Ludivine is endearing and hilarious as a French motherly type chiding both her husband and Max. Inevitably, Max meets the lovely Fanny Chanal, played by Marion Cotillard, and despite contentious beginnings they fall in love as Max leaves his brokerage to stay in Provence. I haven't mentioned Abbey Cornish, who complicates Max's plans to sell the estate, with her announcement that uncle Henry is her father. Ridley Scott captures the beauty of southern France. This is a delightful film made even better by the most imaginative choices of music - French, English and American - from his uncle's collection, "The Wedding Samba" by Edmundo Ross, or Je Chante by Charles Trenet. It's one to enjoy again and again. My only regret is this is not available on region A Blu-ray.
Review Date: 10/9/2022

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