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The Sin of Nora Moran (1933)
Ahead of its time
I am giving this a 8 because it was very progressive and fascinating for 1933.
The film utilizes a storytelling narration and goes back and forth between flashbacks, the present, hallucinations/dream state, and different points of view about the events leading up to a woman (Zita Johann) awaiting execution for a murder.
While this was fascinating, it was a bit of style over substance, as it made the story somewhat confusing.
Ziti Johann gives a lovely performance. Paul Cavanagh, a favorite of mine, gives performance very much in the style of the early 1930s, that is, he's a little melodramatic. However, the role was written that way.
As of this writing, the little girl who played young Nora Moran, Cora Sue Collins, is still alive. She sometimes makes appearances at the events of the Hollywood Museum in Los Angeles.
I still can't get over seeing a film that is 91 years old. Incredible.
A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen Mystery (2024)
Light entertainment
Hannah is at it again, this time trying to clear a cop friend, Lonnie, of murder. After driving a woman home from a reunion, she winds up dead. As the last person to see her, he's the main suspect.
I love Allison Sweeney and take the series for what it is, a Hallmark cozy mystery series. A lot of time is given to Hannah's crazy over-the-top mother, played by Barbara Niven. She has become a private eye, and now she is an actress, having been discovered when an actress in a commercial she and Hannah are watching being filmed walks out.
I'd say it's too much, but she is very funny.
I like that Hannah's two sisters are involved in the bakery, and that Hannah has extended her business to brew her own coffee.
With Mike gone, it looks as If Hannah is going to have it involvement with the new DA, played by Victor Webster.
Enjoyable.
One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery (2024)
Hannah is back but without Mike
I like the Hannah Swenson series starring Allison Sweeney. The films are both fun and energetic.
Cameron Matthison is no longer playing Hannah's boyfriend. There is a new man, though he's yet to be on Hannah's dance card - the new DA, played by Victor Webster. Norman is still around, but as a friend.
Hannah's again working to solve a mystery. She's teaching a baking class, but then the kitchen explodes. Accident?
Then there's a murder, and Hannah starts investigating.
No t enough time in the bakery, those are always fun scenes.
Hannah's mother has decided to become. P. I. The part, played by Barbara Nevins, is completely over the top but a hoot.
This is Hallmark, not Masterpiece Mystery, so take it for what it is.
Queenpins (2021)
Coupon queens
Queenpins is a cute film about a bored and unhappily married housewife, played by Kirsten Bell, and her vlogger friend, played by Kirby Howell-Baptistery.
The two of them cook up a scheme that grows coupon cutting into a multimillion dollar business.
It starts innocently enough, just a letter complaining about stale cereal. Suddenly freebies and coupons start rolling in.
Before you know it, the two friends have stolen millions from corporations. But a Loss Prevention officer from a supermarket and the postal service is hot on their trail.
Very enjoyable. I love Kirsten Bell in anything she does.
Scoop (2024)
A sad man
Scoop is a fictional story based on a real event - getting Prince Andrew to sit down for an interview on Newsnight after the Jeffrey Epstein debacle.
I was interested in this because it stars one of my favorite actors, Rufus Sewell. Sewell was hidden under tons of makeup as Andrew. Frankly, I look more like Andrew than he does. Nevertheless, you really forgot it was Rufus - he did a good job.
The delightful cast includes Gillian Anderson, Keely Hawes, and Billie Piper, all excellent.
Interesting film, not much goes on.
This subject is covered in much more depth in A Very English scandal, going into more detail about Andrew and his family.
The Foreigner (2017)
Jackie has it going on
After losing his only living daughter, Jackie Chan goes after the terrorists responsible for her death in "The Foreigner" from 2017 directed by Martin Campbell.
Chan plays an ex-soldier from Vietnam, now a British citizen and restauranteur Quan. He lost his two daughters to rape and murder during the war. His wife died giving birth to his only living daughter, Fan. Fan is killed when a dress shop is bombed in London.
At this point, the grieving Quan goes crazy. He wants the names of the terrorists who call themselves the Authentic IRA. He finally is able to confront the Irish Deputy Minister Hennessy (Pierce Brosnan). Hennessy has no answers for him.
In order to encourage Hennessy and his minions, Huan starts making and throwing bombs of his own, including Hennessy's farm.
Quan is just getting started, taking on people after him in some magnificent fights and escaping every time.
This film is actually two plots, both dominant - Hennessy suspecting an inside job and looking for the terrorists in house and attempting to find Huan. Huan is out to kill the terrorists. The plots converge.
Plenty of incredible action to be had. Jackie Chan, it seems, can do drama, comedy, and still can do martial arts at the age of 62, when the film was made.
Pierce Brosnan gives a terrific performance.
A lot of empathy for the devastated Quan, and a lot of action. Very good.
Mommie Dearest (1981)
A daughter's revenge
Life has a way of turning the beat around.
Frank Perry offered me a job right before starting this film. My life would have been completely different - not sure if that's bad or good. Years later I was working for someone from the Metropolitan Opera who was asked to help an actress prepare for the play "Master Class." Guess who, Faye Dunaway. Actually she was pleasant.
Okay, now for Mommie Dearest. What a mess. Hilariously camp. My favorite part of the film was the wigs. Joan Crawford was actually petite, but she had large facial features. Dunaway on the other hand had very fine facial features. So in a lot of scenes she looked like Carol Burnett doing a takeoff of Mildred Pierce. This is a complete camp classic, along with Monsignor by the same group. Frightening.
Is this a true story of Joan Crawford? Christina says no and claims to have had nothing to do with it. Oral histories describe Crawford as professional, and people enjoyed working with her. Of course, today the impression is somewhat different, in part thanks to Christina. Myrna Loy worked with Christina in a play, and said she was absolutely impossible. Christina was fired from that play.
The Oral History by Jeanine Basinger shows what really went on and what people thought back them - sometimes a reverse of what's thought today. A great example is Marilyn Monroe.
I understand Ms. Dunaway was an absolute monster to work with. Somehow I'm glad I wasn't on the set.
Rebecca (2020)
You can't remake Hitchcock
Based on the famous novel by Daphne Du Maurier, Rebecca has been remade several times since Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece in 1940 - once with Jane Curtin.
Well, here's the deal. There was only one Hitchcock, one Olivier, one Fontaine, one Judith Anderson, and one George Sanders. No matter what you do, you're going to suffer - miserably - in comparison.
Let's look at some of this production's strong points. Beautiful to look at. A marvelous performance by Kristen Scott-Thomas as the nut job Danvers - in the beginning, professional but not terrifying, later a demon right out of hell. A lovely performance by Keeley Hawes as Maxim's sister. The woman amazes me. I didn't realize who it was until I saw the cast list. From the beautiful MI-5 ingenue, she has developed into an extraordinary actress.
I had no problem with Lily James. Her Mrs. Dewinter had a fragility that hid an inner strength, similar to Fontaine's.
The wrong man out here is Armie Hammer. First off, he's too young. He lacks the man of mystery aura. Although Henry Cavill is only three years older, this is a role that needs gravitas and good looks.
One thing this remake has going for it is romance. We are allowed to see that they are in love, which wasn't present in the 1940 version.
It was missing my favorite scene and line, when she asks, isn't our marriage a great success? Aren't we happy? And Max says, If you say we're happy, let's leave it at that. Happiness is something I know nothing about. Just a devastating moment, missing here.
When you know the story, it's hard to say if it moves slowly or not. You just sit there knowing what's going to happen next. I would say that except for a couple of scenes, it lacked some excitement. The end seemed rushed, and I could have done without Cairo.
Someone wrote that this is an LGBT update. I don't know about anyone else, but Judith Anderson's obsessive/possessive Danvers had all those vibes.
In the end, despite some nice touches, it's unremarkable. And what isn't compared to Hitchcock.
Lethal Seduction (2015)
Dreck of a special kind -Lifetime's
I could write "Lifetime Movie" and leave it at that. All would be revealed.
Because I have an axe to grind, I won't,
Every single older woman/younger man story I've ever seen has the younger man - or should I say boy -GROSSLY miscast.
Remember Linda Gray and Chris Atkins in Dallas? Annette Bening and Shaun Evans in Being Julia?
Why would a gorgeous, sexy woman like Dina Meyer want this anemic looking, bland 17-year-old? What's wrong with Liam Hemsworth, 25 when this was made? That is what a 40-year-old finds attractive.
So here we are again with Meyer seducing this kid with an overprotective mother. Little does he know, she's one sandwich short of a picnic.
Revolting story with Dina Meyer wasting her time with this dreck.
The Miracle Club (2023)
Passage to Lourdes
Three women from Dublin (Maggie Smith, Kathy Bates, and Agnes O'Casey make a 1967 pilgrimage to Lourdes in hopes of miracles. They are joined by Laura Linney, back in Dublin after 40 years for the funeral of her mother. She is hated, particularly by Bates.
Linney goes because her mother left her ticket behind and would have wanted her to go; Bates has found a lump on her breast; O'Casey's son has yet to talk. The women leave their helpless, dependent husbands to fend for themselves.
We eventually learn the secret of why Linney is so disliked, why she left Dublin, and what binds Smith, Bates, and Linney together.
This is a story of faith, disillusionment, and forgiveness as the women experience a different kind of miracle.
It's a charming film, and the beginning talent contest is a no-miss. With the talent present in "The Miracle Club," it should have been much more. What there was, was elevated by the cast.
Degree of Guilt (1995)
Uneven
You could do worse than staring at David James Elliott for three hours.
This was a two-part miniseries featuring the same characters in different stories. The second story is better than the first.
The first part has Paget (Elliott) being asked by his former lover and mother of his son (Sharon Farrell) to defend her when she is charged with murder, though Paget hasn't practice criminal law in years. During the case Paget and his assistant Peralta - she is in a bad marriage- declare their feelings for one another.
The second part has Paget being accused of killing Peralta's husband.
Look for baby boomer actor Don Francks as well as Tricia O'Neill.
King Solomon's Mines (1937)
No CGI needed
Paul Robeson and great special effects are the highlights of this 1937 film, King Solomon's Mines. This was the first version. There have been several others.
This is probably the most authentic and stars Paul Robeson, Sir Cedric Hardwicke as Allan Quartermaine, Anna Lee, Roland Young, and John Loder. Anna Lee, a pretty ingenue, many years later played the dowager, Lila Quartermaine on General Hospital. Apparently, due to this film, she requested the name Quartermaine. Her then husband, Robert Stevenson, directed this film.
The story concerns the search for the diamond-laden mines, treacherous by itself, but the adventure also provokes trouble from the local natives.
Of course, Paul Robeson sings, and he had a beautiful voice. He had a tremelo which we commonly hear from singers of that era. Apparently this is how they were trained. There are several documentaries on Robeson, all very good.
Standout for me was Roland Young's sardonic comments. Loved his delivery. Hardwicke had that amazing voice - interesting to see him so young.
Incredible effects.
Some fun trivia: Anna Lee's daughter was married to an Everly Brother (Don), her granddaughter was married to Axl Rose. Lee herself is the goddaughter of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. She was paralyzed from the waist down in an auto accident and worked from a wheelchair for over two decades. At her second wedding, Alfred Hitchcock gave the bride away.
The Catered Affair (1956)
Another fine Chayefsky story
Bette Davis, Ernest Borgnine, and Debbie Reynolds star in The Catered Affair, featuring Rod Taylor.
Reynolds plays the daughter of a New York cab driver Borgnine and wife Davis. The family is lower middle class with no money for extras.
When their daughter announces she is engaged, she wants a small ceremony, Her mother decides that they've never given her anything and decides to throw a huge wedding for her, over her husband's and daughter's objections. To say it gets out of hand is an understatement.
Chayefsky was one of the great writers. Though a small film, the emotions and conflicts are right on. Bette Davis is fabulous as a woman going through the motions of her marriage and not wanting the same for her daughter.
It's a beautiful story of discovering what's important and how it's never too late to find happiness.
Really enjoyed all the performances - best of all, it left a smile on my face.
The Naked Face (1984)
Not great
The Naked Face is from the Golam and Globus Israeli production company that for a time was producing films for the US market. As I recall, Shelley Winters stole an emerald ring off of a film set when she wasn't paid for her work.
They were able to attract good casts, and The Naked Face, bad as it was, had one: Roger Moore, Rod Steiger, Art Carney Elliott Gould, and Anne Archer.
The story concerns a psychiatrist (Moore) who is being possibly set up for murder of his secretary and a patient - or, as he suspects, someone is trying to kill him.
Steiger plays a detective holding a grudge due to Moore's testimony in a case where a defendant killed his partner and won an insanity plea.
Absolutely gratuitous scenes of violence and torture, very unpleasant. Also Anne Archer walked in and out of Moore's office for no apparent reason as she never disclosed her problem
The film isn't particularly well photographed. And it's not particularly good.
Falling for Figaro (2020)
Fun for music lovers
Falling for Figaro is a small, interesting film about a young woman who leaves her high-paying job and goes to Scotland to become an opera singer under the tutelage of a former diva turned teacher (Joanne Lumley).
For anyone who has studied voice, Lumley as the money-grubbing teacher is a scream. The initial conversation with the aspiring singer goes like this:
"I'm not accepting any new students."
"I understand you charge a lot for lessons."
"What do other teachers charge?"
"About a hundred an hour."
"And I charge more?"
"Yes."
"I can see you tomorrow at 9 a.m."
The big goal of Lumley's two students is a contest that takes place each year.
Frankly, I wasn't crazy about the voices in this film with the exception of the dubber for Christine Bennington, an Australian soprano, Stacey Alleaume. I wanted to hear more.
Someone in a review asked if a person could become that good a singer in a year. Ready for a contest, hard to say. However, a singer with a natural voice who applies her or himself can absolutely develop their voice.
I would say that the big problem would be repertoire. Competitions normally ask for a list of six arias or so, and getting them into the voice in order to compete would be difficult.
A final note - the Barber of Seville aria, sung here by Shazad Latif (dubbed by Nathan Lay) is a major crowd-pleaser. Someone I knew brought down the house during a regional Met preliminary audition that was open to the public. He was one of the finalists and the next day at the formal concert he sang a Russian dirge. Why? The audience would have wanted him to win and wouldn't understand why he didn't had he sung Figaro.
This film isn't for everyone, but it's pleasant enough. By the way, Macdonald is overweight. I am noticing a trend of this in other films and tv, and I'm all for it. Yes, heavy women have boyfriends and talent. Nice to see.
Skyscraper (2018)
Duane Johnson goes all out!
I think people take this stuff too seriously. I got a big kick out of it.
Hong Kong now has the tallest building in the world, The Pearl. Here's the deal. I guess I heard the name The Pearl but didn't connect it with the name of the building. So when the camera zoomed to the top, I saw what looked like a gigantic baseball. I thought, wow, they sure like baseball there.
Duane Johnson, a former Marine and hostage rescuer who wears a prosthetic leg, has been chosen to check the security of the building - it's not completely opened yet. His wife (Neve Campbell) and fraternal twins have moved in.
Unfortunately, due to the little boy not feeling well, they return home early, as Ji's mortal enemy, desperate for a hard drive Ji has, sets the building on fire and disables all the fire protections.
When Johnson realizes this, he becomes determined to get them out. This won't be easy to do, especially with a prosthetic leg.
You would not believe the special effects and what this guy goes through. Spectacular. My palms were sweaty the whole time.
Interestingly, the plot rips off the famous Hall of Mirrors scene in Lady from Shanghai and a device used in the Irene Adler story from Sherlock Holmes - that facing evacuation, a person will grab what's most important to him. In this case, that pesky hard drive Li has.
The best part for me was seen the efficiency of Neve Campbell in attempting to get her children out as well as the way she totally kicked ass.
I say get the popcorn, marvel at the special effects, and laugh at the preposterous things Duane Johnson had to do. Take it on that basis and it's very enjoyable.
Desire (1936)
Oo-la-la Dietrich and Cooper and Lubitsch!
Dietrich, Cooper, Borzage, a little Lubitsch and Paramount - it doesn't get much better than this in the '30s. Two of filmdom's most gorgeous stars amidst glamour and light comedy, it's a winning combination.
The stunning Marlene Dietrich is jewel thief Madeleine, in cahoots with Carlo (John Halliday). She steals a pearl necklace worth 2.5 million francs and heads out of town.
Back in the US, Tom (Gary Cooper) works for a car company and is excited about his vacation in Spain. And the company is giving him a car that shall we say, advertises itself.
Madeleine runs into car trouble when her horn sticks and blares incessantly. Cooper helps her, and at the same time, falls for her. He suggests that he follow her in case her horn sticks again.
When they arrive at customs, Madeline slips the pearls into Tom's jacket pocket. She has some trouble getting the pearls back, and when Carlo arrives, he pressures her to get them so that they can get out of town. However, one small problem: Tom and Madeline have fallen in love.
This is a delightful light comedy, with some scenes directed by Lubitsch. It bubbles like frothy, champagne, and Dietrich's clothes are knockouts. Look for "I Love Lucy" Fred Mertz as Cooper's boss.
Dante's Peak (1997)
Great effects!
Always disappointing to find out there are so many movie snobs in the world.
I am a film historian and a devotee of classic film. There are all types of films for all types of people. And sometimes looking at CGI effects is okay and even entertaining. A steady diet of them (which I think we have today) - no.
Dante's Peak was part of the special effects race in the '90s. You had your Twister, Volcano, Tremors, Terminator etc. And why not? Easy sell since the 15 year old boys in Thailand love them.
Dante's Peak is about a volcano, that would be Dante, that seismic expert Pierce Brosnan thinks is about to blow and destroy the town below.
And how many times have we seen this plot. Imminent danger, too politically uncomfortable for anyone to accept until it's too late and all hell breaks loose.
Unfortunately, Pierce was right, and the special effects are out of this world. Throw in the story of the mayor (Linda Hamilton), her children, and her stubborn mother-in-law (Elizabeth Hoffman) and the dog Roughy and you have some human interest.
As entertaining as this was, as good as the acting was, as handsome as Pierce Brosnan was in 1997, it is PREPOSTEROUS that the family - and Roughy - made it out alive.
This thing scared the bejesus out of me. Very absorbing. And Roughy lived, always important to people like me, who won't watch movies about animals.
Baby Reindeer (2024)
Tough story
Baby Reindeer is the terrifying, frustrating, and sick miniseries about writer/performer Richard Gadd, who plays himself, and his involvement with a disturbed woman (Jessica Gunning) who mercilessly stalks him. At first she's simply pathetic, but that impression doesn't last long.
It's an interesting film because in the early part, you write Gadd off as a jerk because he does nothing about this woman's behavior toward him.
Then you realize the reason for it - he's a sexually confused man who, while spaced out on drugs, was abused (several times) by a friend (Tom Goodman-Hill) who was supposed to be working with him on a writing project. When he accepts similar behavior from Martha, you understand him, his need for attention, and his ruined self-esteem behavior.
It's not clear, at the end of the film, if he ever gets his act together sexually; he does have a meltdown on stage which leads to some positive changes. He reconnects with the abusive writer, but we don't know what the relationship will be.
One change is in his relationship with his parents, the most touching scene in the film, with a brilliant performance by Mark Lewis Jones who, with one sentence, will devastate you.
In the end you find that, despite Martha's atrocious behavior and mental illness, her story is also sad.
One ends up asking if people can ever really come back from severe trauma, shame, loss, and abandonment. You can try. Do you ever really succeed? Big question mark.
The acting is fantastic. Jessica Gunning's character is straight out of a horror movie. Gadd does a beautiful job of conveying his emotions. This is a real tour de force.
King Richard (2021)
Will Smith's Oscar winning role
Will Smith stars in his Oscar winning role of tennis coach Richard Williams in King Richard, a 2021 film directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green.
King Richard is the story of Venus and Serena Williams' father, who guided them in becoming the greatest female tennis players in the world.
In the beginning, Richard had a plan. The fact that it didn't line up with the plans of coaches didn't bother him. He wanted his daughters to be about more than tennis - to excel in education and enjoy family life.
We're shown a loving family of five daughters, with Richard coaching his two tennis-playing daughters during the day and working at night. He's someone who has suffered from racism and learned to take it on the chin. He believes in humility, so he doesn't tolerate the girls' bragging about their success.
Will Smith evinces great warmth and humor as Richard. However, I have a feeling this was just one side of this determined man. I think the other side may have had a few things in common with Joe Jackson.
While Richard is shown with this family, it wasn't his first. Serena and Venus have no less than seven half-siblings as Richard abandoned his previous family. The girls' mother Oracene (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor) wasn't his first wife, nor will she be the last.
Since this is a film about Richard's goals for and interactions with his daughters, his background is omitted. For sure he was an interesting and complex person.
Actual footage of Richard, Serena, and Venus shows a man thrilled with his daughters' success and proud of them. As he should have been.
Some great tennis games and a fine cast make this a successful underdog film.
Man's Castle (1933)
Shantytown precode
Spencer Tracy and Loretta Young star in a precode, Man's Castle, from 1933, directed by Frank Borzage.
It's precode, all right - premarital sex, living together while unmarried, and nude swimming.
Gorgeous, 21-year-old Trina (Young) meets tuxedoed Bill (Tracy) in the park. She hasn't eaten in two days. He takes her under his wing. One small problem: he doesn't have any money either.
Bill lives in Shantytown and takes Trina there, and the two start keeping house. Despite his rough, dismissive talk, Bill is in love with her - and afraid at the same time. He likes having little money and possessions because he wants to take off at a moments notice. Trina knows this, so train whistles make her nervous.
While making money serving a difficult summons, Bill meets entertainer Fay LaRue. He considers running off with her. However, Trina is pregnant.
Tracy and Young have great chemistry and are an adorable couple - offscreen as well as on. Borzage has Tracy at one point walking down the street on stilts, when he stops by a window to give a boy a baseball he's autographed as Babe Ruth.
You can see he thinks of himself one way and acts another. In essence he's a marshmallow mac truck.
Enjoyable and ultimately satisfying film, showing life during the Depression and peppered with some real characters.
The Age of Consent (1932)
College in 1932
Gregory LaCava directed this 1932 film, The Age of Consent, starring Richard Cromwell, Dorothy Wilson, Aileen Pringle, John Halliday, and Arline Judge.
It's a precode story of kids in college, with lots of talk encouraging young women to loosen their morals, all kinds of sexual innuendo.
Michael (Cromwell) is a young man of high ideals who doesn't appreciate his buddy Duke's (Eric Linden) outrageous flirting and sexy talk, especially when it comes to Michael's girlfriend Betty (Wilson).
He confides to one of the professors (Halliday) that he's thinking of giving up college for marriage. This is evidently because of raging hormones.
When he's caught with an underage waitress, Dora (Judge), after a night of drinking, Dora's father demands they marry at once. This is one of those so subtle blink and you miss it. We are given the impression that they maybe kissed while drunk. I don't think so. She asks, are you sorry - I think they had sex. Other reviewers weren't sure.
The premise seems to be, leave college and get married rather than just shack up. In a way it's odd, since other precodes have people living together before marriage.
Anyway I have a soft spot for Richard Cromwell due to Emma and the fact that he was briefly married to Angela Lansbury. He did not stay in show business. He was a very talented artist and died at 50.
The Young Lions (1958)
World War II drama
The Young Lions, from 1958, has an excellent cast consisting of Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift, Dean Martin, Maximillian Schell, Barbara Rush, Mai Britt, and Hope Lange.
Directed by Edward Dmytryk, it tells the story of a German soldier (Brando) and two Americans (Clift and Martin) in the trenches during World War II.
Brando is Christian, a believer in Hitler, who becomes disillusioned with the war very quickly. He asks to be transferred out of France, but his commanding officer (Schell) refuses.
Dean Martin is Michael, a Broadway performer who isn't excited about joining the war effort. Clift is Noah, a Jewish American, who falls in love with Hope (Lange) and marries her before leaving for the service.
The film has a lot of battle scenes, and in fact, is too long. Dmytryk cut 30 minutes. He could easily have cut another hour.
In my opinion, The Young Lions doesn't really pick up until the second half - and I include in that the performance of Montgomery Clift.
This is post-accident Clift - he would not have been classified 1A. He is frail and he seems exhausted- later on, he becomes more spirited and gives a terrific performance.
The second half of the film shows the horror of war and the death camps, and what it was like to hear bombs outside your door.
Finally, one realizes - mostly through the Lange-Clift story - how awful it was to watch your husband go off to war, to not know if he will meet his child, dependent on letters.
I think for many, WWII has been romanticized. Nothing romantic about it.
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016)
Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher
I'm not familiar with Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher. TV series, starring a huge hulk, is very entertaining. It's amusing with someone As short as Tom Cruise would be playing him.
Because this is my first Jack Reacher movie with Tom Cruise, I can't really judge how good or bad it is compared to the others. I have to admit I enjoyed it. For me, it was light entertainment. I loved all the New Orleans scenes, especially during the parade with all the fireworks and all the costumes. I thought that was terrific.
An extra plus for me was the presence of Al Hodge, whom I love on Leverage.
I don't really follow Tom Cruise's appearance are his career other than I have enjoyed some of his films. To me he looks like someone took his face and pasted it together. It is not the time Cruise. I remember it from the past, after his original job And getting his teeth fixed. I know I shouldn't look at his appearance, but it was a little distracting to me. I haven't seen him probably in recent years, which is why.
Nevertheless, you could do a lot worse than Jack Reacher: Never Go Back.
36 Hours (1964)
Mind games
An officer is tricked into revealing the details of the Normandy invasion to the Germans in 36 Hours, a 1964 film directed by George Seaton. It stars James Garner, Eva Marie Saint, Rod Taylor, and John Banner.
The U. S. wants to know where Germany believes D-Day will take place, and when. They send Major Jefferson Pike (Garner) to Lisbon to meet with his agent contact.
Once in Lisbon, he is drugged and sent to Germany. The Germans put some gray in his hair, atropine in his eyes so he needs glasses, and when he regains consciousness, he is told it is 1950 and the war is over.
He has a nurse, Anna (Saint), who is in on it, and his supposed good buddy Walt (Taylor) has to convince him everyone at the hospital is an American in Germany where he has been sent to recover. Can they get him to give the time and place of D-Day?
This is a good film with a good cast. The always likable Garner gives a wonderful performance as a confused but sharp man. Saint, whose character was pulled out of a concentration camp to play her role, is excellent as a woman mentally and physically abused by war.
Entertaining watch.