From Netflix Only

Here is what I have watched on DVD since I posted my last list. They are listed in declining order as I rated them. The ratings I give are on my own number system as explained previously in this blog.

I'm still just getting movies from Netflix and giving the library video program a rest. Spring chores and integrating a new computer and some software are filling the partial movie void. This group has some newer movies, six from 2008 and 2009.

The Blind Side - 2009. A compelling true story, an effective performance by young Quinton Aaron and a better than normal performance from Sandra Bullock blend for some touching and encouraging moments in this 3.3 film. The bond between Michael and his foster family and foster mom in particular was the focus of the movie, so Michael's interactions with others was pretty much left out. It may have been possible to improve the script by including more Michael interaction with other people, probably by compressing or dropping some of the lesser elements like the college coach cameos and some of Sandra's non-essential scenes. I would like to have heard more from Michael during the telling of his story. It was disappointing not to have special features on the DVD about the real people.

The Horse Boy – 2009. There were two obvious subjects for learning in this 3.2 documentary – autism and shamanism, the national religion of Mongolia. A young American boy is taken by his parents to that country, to seek help in treating or alleviating his autism. But the film also showed the easy communication the boy had with animals, especially a horse, and the difficulty he had relating to other people, until he made his first friend, a young Mongolian boy. The boy and the Shamans also made a connection, and the final shaman said the boy could possibly be a shaman himself. The parents were an interesting couple, who showed us the extensive burden of having an autistic child [Susan and I agreed that next time we see a child throw a tantrum in a public place, we will not indignantly assume the parents don’t know how to discipline], but how the child also can enrich their lives.

An Education – 2008. This tastefully done 3.2 British film, set in 1961, tells the story of a girl who is hoping for imminent admission to Oxford, but whose otherwise boring life is stimulated by an older man who takes her under his wing. The education of the title is not the one received in academia, but rather in her personal life as she learns to deal with her parents, love, ambition and personal values.

The Affair - 1995. A WWII US Army base near a village in England includes African-American troops hoping to get the opportunity to leave menial tasks behind in exchange for combat in the impending invasion of Europe. While the troops are waiting, the villagers extend an invite to the African Americans to attend a dance, where a sensitive soldier and a proper lady whose husband is away in the British Navy start down the road which turns a casual relationship into a full blown affair. This 3.2 movie does an effective job of showing the institutionalized prejudice in the Army and the more subtle version among the rural British. The connection between the leads comes across as sincerely passionate, but the movie would have benefitted from more lovers talk to go along with the sex.

The Hairdresser's Husband - 1990. I have seen most all the available films of French director Patrice Leconte. He is one of the few directors who are their own cameraman, because he wants to see the frame as it is composed right at the point of view of the camera where he can be intimately involved with the actors. This movie is sort of poetic, reasonably short and holds interest even though there is not much in the way of plot. His movies always hold my attention and also hold their age well. The eroticism is soft and this 3.2 film leaves the viewer wanting to examine the feelings and thoughts it generated.

Away We Go – 2008. This easy going indie comedy with dramatic overtones is a pleasant 3.1 watch. It tells the story of a thirty something expectant couple traveling around to check out possible places to settle in for the rest of their lives. They visit friends and family who display a variety of parenting styles and then make their decision. The female lead, Maya Rudolph, has an appealing genuineness which hopefully will be seen in future movies.There is an interesting special feature about how the movie was produced in an environmentally friendly way.

Young Victoria – 2008. England has had some impressive queens, the longest reigning being Victoria. This 3.1 film covered her lesser know life as a child, teenage monarch and young bride. It jumped around a little at first but then settled in to show the deep connection between Victoria and Albert, well played by Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend, with good chemistry. They shared a profound sense of duty and concern for their subjects, especially those in lower circumstances, and this movie showed how that attracted them to each other.

Wonderful World – 2008. A simple film with a simple story simply told earns a simple 3 rating. I always like Mathew Broderick, and Sanaa Lathan is easy to watch. Being pessimistic is not attractive, but some pessimists are good people who are just overly realistic.

Stalingrad - 1993. This German production earned a 3 rating from me. It told the story of the WWII Battle of Stalingrad from the point of view of the German 6th Army, which was bogged down by the brutal Winter of 1942-43 and then surrounded by Russian forces. As morale plummeted and resentment of the officers welled in the enlisted ranks, the central characters tried to survive, fight despair and somehow realize their dream of returning home alive. Of about 450,000 troops in the 6th, only 6,000 ever accomplished that goal. This film at first seemed to indulge in graphic horror and then settled in to the more personal exploration of the main characters and their fight against the Russians and against personal despair. One purpose of this movie was to remind the German people how militaristic hubris can turn into monumental humiliation.

For Keeps –1988. Molly Ringwald gets pregnant just as she is finishing high school and she and the baby’s father try to keep their lives on track in the face of several obstacles. Starts a little weak and shows some age, but we gradually begin to empathize enough to earn the film a 2.9.

Zebrahead - 1992. This movie about kids in a Detroit high school centered on a romance between a white boy and an African American girl. Except for the leads, I thought the other roles were caricatures without much depth. The troubled kid role had some depth but was not developed enough. A sincere effort by a young film maker, but did not come together enough for me to give it more than 2.6.