Change Your Image
sundayatdusk-97859
Reviews
The Goes Wrong Show: The Lodge (2020)
Laughing & Screaming Guys Too Wrong . . . .
After seeing the "Christmas Carol" gone wrong, I had to watch more of the gone wrong gang. This one has some very funny parts, but it also has some very irritating parts, which is why I did not rate it higher. The guy laughing laughed way too long twice, and the screaming guy on the wall was totally irritating. Yet it's still worth the watch, and I must watch other episodes.
After seeing the "Christmas Carol" gone wrong, I had to watch more of the gone wrong gang. This one has some very funny parts, but it also has some very irritating parts, which is why I did not rate it higher. The guy laughing laughed way too long twice, and the screaming guy on the wall was totally irritating. Yet it's still worth the watch, and I must watch other episodes.
Yes, since I repeated myself in this review, saying the same thing twice, this review has gone on too long, too. :)
Mr. Deeds (2002)
More Juvenility . . . .
What is it? Can Adam Sandler not star in a movie that doesn't have crude juvenile humor? If he's not the one making puerile statements or acting out in a puerile manner, it's one of the other actors. In this film, he's mostly polite, but it's still one I had to FF through at times and stopped watching before the end.
Mr. Deeds is a nice guy who runs a pizzeria in a small town where everyone knows everyone else. An uncle he never met left him billions of dollars and he has to visit NYC to sign papers. There he gets involved with Winona Ryder, a devious news person. Not good acting on her part, or maybe not a good part.
Whatever happened at the end, I don't know. As stated earlier, I turned it off. I did so during the fight between Ms. Ryder and a sumo wrestler type woman in Deed's small town. Adam Sandler must think the only individuals who watch his movies are teenagers or adults with serious cases of arrested development.
A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong (2017)
Almost An Hour Of Fun . . . .
This is the first "Gone Wrong" episode I have ever seen and laughed from start to finish. "A Christmas Carol" is being staged by a group of totally inept actors and stage hands. Actors must go on with the show even when props fail, characters don't show up, stage hands are visible, people fall out windows or through floors, etc.
Derek Jacobi does an excellent job as Scrooge keeping it all together or all not together. Henry Lewis plays a 200-pound Tiny Tim after he accidently crushes the smaller actor who was Tiny Tim with a stage prop. There also was a modern party scene that I totally did not understand, but maybe I needed to watch the other "Gone Wrong" episodes first. I intend to watch them all.
Gosford Park (2001)
Muffled Voices & Confusing Characters . . . .
If I hadn't seen the opening credits that showed Julian Fellowes was the writer, I would have guessed it. No one pays more attention to the lives of the servants in an affluent household than he does. It was confusing for a while, though, who was who downstairs. The same goes for the upstairs characters. For example, two blond men were indistinguishable to me, and I was confused at times who was married to whom.
Moreover, I wasn't totally certain at the end of the film who the killer or killers were. At times, the dialogue was so unclear, too, that I had to turn on subtitles. I tried the different settings on my AV remote for sound, but that didn't totally fix the problem. I don't think my speakers or ears were responsible. (I streamed with Amazon Prime.)
It was a worthwhile movie to watch, however, just not as good as I expected. There is nothing sentimental about it, however, so viewers needing sentimentality will probably be disappointed. Those needing true love or any love will also be disappointed. It's one of those life goes on sort of movies where Kelly Macdonald and Maggie Smith were standouts, especially Ms. Macdonald.
Ironside (1967)
All Seasons Currently Streaming For Free . . . .
For many of us who watched unlimited TV in the '60s and '70s as children, police show stand out as the ones we remember the most. The three I will always remember are "Hawaii 5-0", "Ironside" and "The Streets of San Francisco".
The only one of those shows not found on complete DVD sets is "Ironside". All seasons never seemed to be anywhere to stream, either. Well, guess what? Roku TV, which is free, has all eight seasons of "Ironside" right now!
"Ironside" was considered a standout type of TV show by critics because the lead character, Robert T. Ironside, was in a wheelchair. I considered it exceptional strictly because of the cast and stories. The pilot movie, which showed how Chief Ironside ended up crippled for life, was an excellent made-for-TV movie.
Raymond Burr gave an edge to the character, while still seeming likable and compassionate. Don Galloway was a favorite of mine, while Barbara Anderson and Don Mitchell added diversity as a rich society girl and a young black man.
Lots of 1960s-1970s issues are explored, as is life in San Francisco at the time. The fifth season starts off with the 2-part episode that launched "Sarge", a notable short-lived series with George Kennedy as a cop turned priest. (Too bad that series is not on DVD and currently can't be streamed anywhere.)
The list of guest stars on "Ironside" includes so many actors and actresses the viewer will quickly recognize and remember. Hopefully, Roku TV will stream the series long enough for me to watch all the episodes. Not all TV shows watched as a child are still watchable as an adult. "Ironside" fortunately is still highly watchable.
ID Presents: Nine at 9: Vanished in New Canaan: An ID Mystery (2020)
From Society Darling To Doormat To Dead Wife . . . .
While this documentary gives a somewhat clear view of the Jennifer Dulos case, it tends to be very irritating at times due to talking heads who had nothing to do with the case. Two were downright "overacting", including a really, really irritating legal analyst.
There is very little about Jennifer Dulos' life before marrying, too, but that's understandable for a short true crime documentary. You don't realize, though, how long she waited for her Prince Charming to show up to have kids. That "ticking clock" situation would help explain why she stuck with an abusive husband, who turned out to be the real ticking clock, when she wasn't known before marrying to be a doormat.
P. S. A new very thorough book on the case is coming out next year: "Murder in the Dollhouse: The Jennifer Dulos Story" by Rich Cohen.
Crazy on the Outside (2010)
Funny & Serious Enough . . . .
This film was funnier than I expected. Actually, I didn't know what to expect. I don't think I have ever seen Tim Allen in anything, and have only seen Sigourney Weaver in dramas. She ended up being the funniest character in this movie.
While her brother Tommy was in prison, she told their grandmother he was in France, and Grandma keeps talking to him in French; as well as doing his whole bedroom over with French decor; including a painting of Napolean.
This is both a comedy and a drama. There are some serious scenes showing a man dealing with the outside world after spending three years in prison. Yet there is lots of humor, too, and it's not a wasted hour and a half.
Murder, She Wrote: Town Father (1989)
Best Cabot Cove Episode . . . .
This is one of my favorite episodes, if not my absolute favorite. It's a lot of fun, involves a lot of Cabot Cove citizens, and spotlights Richard Paul's hilarious Mayor Sam Booth character.
A young woman from Wyoming shows up at Cabot Cove when Mayor Booth is running for re-election. She accuses him of being the father of her five children, and breaking his promise of going back to her when his current term was over.
Big scandal in such a small town! Lots of never-ending gossip, especially at Loretta's beauty shop. Is it true or is it a plot to get a new person elected mayor? A really funny episode from start to finish.
Moonflower Murders (2024)
From Magpies to Moonflowers . . . .
I didn't like this series quite as much as the "Magpie Murders", but it was still quite enjoyable, and I wished there had been more than six episodes, just as I wished there had been more of "Magpie".
Susan Ryeland and Atticus Pünd are once again trying to solve murders in two different time periods. Herr Pünd has a new amusing assistant this time, and Ms. Ryeland is also dealing with family and personal matters. Her relationship with her boyfriend Andreas seemed fitting to be explored in the episodes, but her sister's problems seemed out-of-place in the series.
At one point in a meeting in a restaurant, where neither of the two main characters were present, the conversation got sleazy, but that was the only low point of the story. Having the characters play different roles in the two different time periods is quite interesting, but wasn't as noticeable this time as it was in "Magpie".
You can watch these PBS episodes for free with the PBS app for a limited amount of time, after they are originally broadcasted on Sunday night. After that time, you need the PBS Passport, which requires a large donation. It's cheaper to just get a PBS subscription with Prime Video.
Murder, She Wrote: The Celtic Riddle (2003)
Jessica Fletcher's Swan Song . . . .
This last of the four "Murder, She Wrote" movies is the best, in my opinion, except for all the dead people. All the live people, however, are quite interesting and Inspector O'Dwyer is an absolute doll!
Jessica is in Ireland again where she receives a house left to her in a will by a man she once met in Cabot Cove years earlier. The man's wife and oldest daughter are hostile towards her, but the youngest daughter likes her.
The man also left a hidden treasure and notes to various individuals about the treasure's location. That leads to individuals being murdered, and a mystery that needs solving. Yes, Jessica is in her element!
Is it hard to figure out the killer(s)? No, like the first two movies, I figured it out early on without trying. Nevertheless, the story itself was captivating enough, and the very last time Jessica Fletcher of Cabot Cove solved a mystery, without ending up a dead person herself.
Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage (2024)
Unwatchable With Commercials . . . .
I wouldn't call myself a true fan of "Young Sheldon", but did watch all the episodes and thought I'd try out this spinoff. The first episode was funny enough and Georgie is very amusing. His father-in-law is also an appealing character. Plus, Georgie's mother and MeeMaw came for a visit, and MeeMaw always steals any scene she is in.
Now, the bad stuff. Until I can see this show without commercials, I will not watch it again. They might as well say this show is the sponsor of the commercials. You can't show that many commercials and expect all viewers to stick with such short episodes. The laugh track is also totally unneeded, but was not as irritating as I thought it would be.
Murder, She Wrote: A Story to Die For (2000)
Why No One Is Allowed To Get Away With Murder . . . .
(Amazon Prime has the four "Murder She Wrote" movies now. Do a search for "Murder She Wrote--New".)
This second MSW movie is about a speakers conference, where writers and others are attending to learn about performing and making money at speaking engagements. The movie was not as good as the first one, but still classic Jessica Fletcher. A nasty ex-KGB director/writer is killed and his manuscript is stolen. Quite a few suspects, but I did guess who the killer was without trying.
At the end of the film, Jessica gives a long speech about why murderers should never be allowed to get away with murder, and why no one should resort to murder. Interesting, since with many MSW TV episodes, the viewer may feel the killer should get away with the killing. I guess this explains why all the MSH stories never lets anyone get an out-of-jail-free card.
Murder, She Wrote: South by Southwest (1997)
Can Watch Now On Amazon Prime . . . .
Okay . . . . the four "Murder She Wrote" movies are currently on Amazon Prime. It can be confusing how to find them, however. You must do a search for "Murder She Wrote" (New). It will show 4 seasons. Seasons 2, 3 & 4 are all showing the description of Season 2, even though they are actually the remaining two movies. Hopefully, Amazon will correct this eventually.
I never watched many of the TV episodes until the last few years, when I saw them all on Peacock. You do get really attached to Jessica, and are sad when all the episodes are watched. Seeing these movies instantly brings back that attachment. Jessica is the same, at least in this first movie.
It's an interersting story, although I guessed who the killers were before the ending, even though I wasn't trying to do so. Jessica ends up in Arizona after a train ride that ended up with one passenger missing and one murdered. Both the FBI and higher government powers are involved, which I found dull; but Jessica herself is never dull, and it was great to see the late, great Angela Lansbury in action again.
Before and After (1996)
Too Many Loose Ends . . . .
While this movie raised some interesting ethical issues, it went on way too long. Yes, we get the father would do absolutely anything to keep his son out of prison. That didn't need to be shown and explained again and again. A lot of the family scenes could have been cut, including the bedroom scene between the parents.
Another big flaw of the film was how it showed such disregard for the victim. She wasn't dead when the son left her bleeding in the snow. She was alive for a short while at the hospital. He could have gotten her help and she may have survived the injury. Yet no one mentions this to the son, not even his doctor mother, who saw the horribly injured girl in the emergency room.
Moreover, she was presented as a girl who posed for nude pictures and slept around, which apparently was supposed to make her seem less virtuous and valuable than the son. The dead girl's life was quickly forgotten. The only thing really important about her was who would be held responsible for her death.
Then there was the matter of how the son got the car unstuck in the snow, as well as why his father seemed to instantly think there might be incriminating evidence in the car. He also had a daughter himself whom he adored, yet apparently he didn't think for a moment how he would have felt if it was his daughter dead. Not a movie I could recommend to anyone, except to fans of the actors.
Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop (2021)
Goes Nowhere Slowly But Surely . . . .
This movie seemed more like a pilot for a TV series, than a stand-alone mystery movie. It starts off showing Miss Willoughby's childhood, including her orphanhood, and progesses to her adult life. Miss Willoughby sounds exactly like Lady Mary from "Downton Abbey". Both she and her guardian are likable enough, but the story is a total dud.
Don't expect any spooky haunting scenes, surprises or twists. Moreover, expect to figure out what is going on with the bookshop owners long before the end. It's like the writers expected the movie to get by on Miss Willoughby's charm, looks and wealth alone. Sure. How interesting and impressive.
See How They Run (2022)
Fun & Funny . . . .
If you have knowledge of of Agatha Christie's play "Mousetrap", this movie probably will seem funnier. Yet, if you have no knowledge of the play, it's still a very funny movie, particularly the end where everyone ends up at Agatha Christie's house on a snowy night. Who invited them there and why? Who killed two men associated with the play and why?
Saoirse Ronan is a standout as a young constable paired up with a seasoned inspector, who sees no problem with drinking on the job or off the job. Sam Rockwell could have been a bit more likable, as that inspector, but he's still likable enough. Harris Dickinson is one of the funniest fictional actors, playing Richard Attenborough. They should have given him more lines.
Ladies in Black (2018)
One Of The Best Films Ever Made . . . .
This is one of my absolute favorite movies. It's so much fun, and even deals with some of the social issues at the time in 1950s Australia. Lisa is working in a department store over summer break. Summer is December in Australia, so this is also a Christmas/New Year movie. She doesn't quite fit in at first, but soon does, and has her horizons broadened by classy colleague Magda, a refugee some of the other women don't like.
Lisa has a loving father and mother, but her father refuses to allow her to go to university, where she wants to study the arts. He believes women have no need for such higher education. Can Lisa and her mother change his mind? Will Lisa's co-worker Fay ever find a decent guy who wants a sincere, serious relationship? Will this movie last forever? No, it did not, but I wish it did. I could have watched it for at least another hour or two.
The Last Dance (2000)
A Sentimental, Slow Sunday Afternoon Show . . . .
This is the second movie I have recently seen with a much older Maureen O'Hara. (I will forever picture her, though, as she was in the 1961 "Parent Trap"). She is a retired high school Latin teacher in this film, who encounters one of her old students at a hospital. She has heart problems and he is a nurse. (Him being a nurse was obviously something way more different than usual.)
The movie goes on with his family basically adopting her as a local grandmother. All through the story, the viewer slowly learns of Miss O'Hara's late husband, and how she can never let go of him or their short-lived marriage. This story is definitely somewhat slow and at times too sentimental, but it's an okay Sunday afternoon movie.
Mistaken Identity (1999)
Baby Boys End Up With Wrong Mothers . . . .
(First off, some current information on this IMDB page is wrong. This is not a documentary and it wasn't made by a British company. I sent in a correction for the genre, but not for the company. It clearly shows Vanguard Productions in the photo, though. There is no cast listing, either. The whole page needs to be corrected.)
This is a story about two mothers who give birth on the same day to two boys. The baby boys get switched by accident at the hospital, and it's about a year and a half before the mistake is discovered. Should they switch the boys back? Neither mother wants to do so, but things get complicated.
The biggest complication is the father of the unmarried mother suddenly wants to get back together with her and be a father. It turns out he only wants to do so because he expects a big settlement from the hospital for the mistake. That is obvious to everyone but his girlfriend.
The married mother and her husband want to keep their wrong baby, but also want to be involved in the life of their biological son. They make the unmarried mother a life changing offer and she takes it wrong. Her cad boyfriend sues for custody of both boys.
The movie is a typical woman's drama that pulls on the heartstrings of mothers of babies. Not the usual type of movie I like, but it was interesting enough. Of course, the viewer wants to know how this very complicated issue gets resolved, too, so it's not the type of movie to quit before the end.
P. S. If you want to see a good Japanese movie about switched babies, watch the 2013 film "Like Father, Like Son".
Gary (2024)
Stuck In Height & A Hit TV Show . . . .
I've read about Gary Coleman throughout the years, but never had much interest in him, and never watched his TV show. Thus, I did not know if I would watch this entire documentary. I ended up having no problem watching it until the end. The doc moved along nicely and wasn't repetitious. It does offer some good insight into his life, but not enough to make it more than a sympathetic look, lacking in critical observations.
For example, why did Gary Coleman choose to marry the woman he married and still live with her after they divorced? She was a not-too-bright user who hit him, just as he hit her. With his fame and medical condition, he could have easily found a kind, nurturing woman, such as a nurse, to marry; who would have dedicated her life to supporting and taking care of him. Did he want to keep feeling like a victim, and replay over and over again the way he felt others used him?
His parents were interviewed and they weren't portrayed as the demons some think they were. His first agent was interviewed and he also did not come across badly. His best friend was constantly interviewed, and there seemed nothing nefarious about their friendship, even though his father had his suspicions. The only one who came across badly was his ex-wife, but I somewhat doubt she was responsible for his death. The two of them were a trainwreck waiting to happen, and you don't need a person to cause a trainwreck.
Gunsmoke: New Doctor in Town (1971)
A Memorable Man . . . .
I was a young teenager when I first watched this episode, and it will always be my favorite "Gunsmoke" episodes. Pat Hingle, who was the judge in "Hang 'Em High", was one of my absolute favorite character actors. He did a superb job playing Dr. Chapman, the new doctor in town, a sharp, highly trained man who did not suffer fools gladly.
Fetus is the fool in this episode. He is so shaken by the idea Doc Adams would leave Dodge to go back to medical school, without telling anyone ahead of time, that he can't grasp Dr. Chapman is telling the truth about who he is and why he's in Dodge. He also is not able to read the letter Dr. Chapman hands him from Doc Adams. Of course, it all gets straightened out and the good doctor proves his worth.
Milburn Stone had a heart attack in 1971, which is why Mr. Hingle replaced him in seven episodes. They really should have given him more attention in the remaining six episodes. Alas, the late, great Pat Hingle never did get all the attention and awards he deserved.
Gunsmoke: Arizona Midnight (1973)
Too Ridiculous To Be Amusing . . . .
I recently started watching "Gunsmoke", after not seeing it since the 1970s. After watching episodes where so many individuals were harmed or killed, this episode seemed like it would be a nice break. In some ways it was because no one is harmed or killed, or even threatened with violence.
The problem with the story, however, is it is totally absurd. How Arizona snuck an elephant into town, hiding him in a barn right in the middle of town, was never explained. Moreover, the explanation as to why he did what he did was a total letdown.
Then we are expected to believe the elephant and the huge horse would be adequately taken care of by three not so bright guys with little or no money. That was not funny. The story simply did not work.
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)
If There Is Nothing Else To Watch On A Saturday Afternoon . . . .
This movie fortunately did not have all the violence I feared, but the profanity was way over the top. It also wasn't a particularly interesting film. Hijackers of a subway car want one million dollars in cash in NYC in an hour. Sure.
The hijackers were not captivating at all, and the passengers were not given enough time in the movie to really care anything about them. No, you did not want them to get killed, but you knew nothing about them and their lives.
There are also offensive racial slurs, but that was obviously to show how realistic the film was in the 1970's. That and the profanity. This is mostly a movie for those who like action films, and want everything to happen quickly.
The end of the subway ride was dramatic enough, but the end of the movie was predictable and downright silly. Or maybe it was supposed to be amusing. Walter Matthau was good, as was Robert Shaw, Julius Harris and Doris Roberts.
Housewife, 49 (2005)
A Purposeless Housewife Acquires Purpose . . . .
This is one of those British movie perfect for a rainy Sunday afternoon. Nella Last is a housewife who has many neurotic fears, and is trying to deal with the fear her life is meaningless. The only time she seems really alive and happy is when she is with her two sons and their friends, having little parties at her home. World War II is starting to drastically change life in England, though, and both her sons leave home.
What's left? She sees an ad for requests for diary entries for the Mass Observation Archive, and starts to write, getting little support from her aloof husband. The writing starts to give her life more meaning and she starts to do her bit for the war effort. Mrs. Last volunteers for the WVS and the British Red Cross. This also changes how she sees herself and her worth. Moreover, it allows her to be strong when others try to knock her down with their unkind words.
If anything should have been different in this film, based on a true story, I think it should have shown much more how important her diary writing was to her. It totally transformed her life. After her death in 1968, her diaries were published in book form, too. Victoria Wood provided a nice understated performance as Nella Last. David Threlfall creates an aloof husband who still can get sympathy from the viewer.
Christopher Harper; who I erroneously thought for sure was a Fox, as in a member of the British Fox acting family; provides a painful performance as a warm son who goes cold. Stephanie Cole, as Nella Last's volunteer boss, also goes from warm to cool at some point in the film. Nevertheless, the movie offers little but optimism at the end, and provides good insight on how a sheltered, neurotic housewife regained all her senses and a purpose in life.
Murder in Coweta County (1983)
A Bad Man, A Good Man & Even A Good Witch . . . .
Wealthy John Wallace thinks he owns Meriwether County, Georgia. He is the king of the land and the sheriff is in his pocket. He makes a big mistake, though, when he kills a man in Coweta County and there are witnesses. Sheriff Lamar Potts is not in his pocket and couldn't care less if John Wallace was the King of England. He intends to arrest him and put him on trial for murder.
Andy Griffith is not the good sheriff in this movie. He is the ruthless, heartless criminal who treats blacks and poor whites like slaves. Johnny Cash is the sheriff. While he's not the best actor in the world, he has always been very effective in the fiction stories I have seen him in. This movie is based on a true story and is an excellent made-for-TV movie.