Mansfield Park
1999 3/5 -worth the watch
Frances O'Conner, Jonny Lee Miller, Alessandro Nivola, Embeth Davidtz
At 10, Fanny Price, a poor relation, goes to live at Mansfield Park, the estate of her aunt's husband, Sir Thomas. Clever, studious, and a writer with an ironic imagination and fine moral compass, she becomes especially close to Edmund, Thomas's younger son. Fanny is soon possessed of beauty as well as a keen mind and comes to the attention of a neighbor, Henry Crawford. Thomas promotes this match, but to his displeasure, Fanny has a mind of her own, asking Henry to prove himself worthy. As Edmund courts Henry's sister and as light shines on the link between Thomas's fortunes and New World slavery, Fanny must assess Henry's character and assert her heart as well as her wit.
Chasing Liberty
2004 2/5-nothing special
Mandy Moore, Mark Harmon, Matthew Goode, Jeremy Piven
Anna Foster has never had an ordinary life. At eighteen years old, she is the most protected girl in America; she is the First Daughter. Frustrated with her overprotective father, the President of the United States of America, Anna makes a deal with him: only two agents are allowed to guard her while she attends a concert in Prague. When her father backs out of his promise, Anna flies into a temper and goes on the run with Ben Calder, a handsome photographer she runs into outside of the music club. They travel together with the intention of going to the Love Parade in Berlin. Anna hasn't told Ben who she is but more importantly, Ben hasn't told her who he is. Under the orders of Anna's father, Ben is supposed to keep an eye on the rebellious girl but falling in love with her wasn't something he expected to do.
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Spoilers
He seemed like good up-standing young man, he really did. I respected him for lying to her about their kiss, for not sharing a bed, and for not taking advantage of her. There were plenty of times he could have told her the truth, I know because I said it out-loud at each occasion, but he didn't. So imagine my extreme disappintment when he told her how he felt and kissed her and slept with her without ever telling her the truth of who he was. The end drove me crazy as well, she went back to him with a grand gesture! Are you kidding me?! He should be the one with the gesture!
Stage Beauty
2004 4/5 -just wonderful
Claire Danes, Billy Crudup
Based in the 1660's of London's theatres, this film is about the rules of gender roles in theatre production, and means to change them for everyone's benefit. Ned Kynaston is the homosexual cross-dressing actor who has been playing female parts in plays for years, particularly Desdemona in Othello, he also has a close relationship with a male co-actor. One day however, the rules of only men playing women could change when aspiring actress Maria auditions as Kynaston's praised role, Desdemona, and soon enough, King Charles II decides to make the law that all female roles should be played only by women. Maria becomes a star, while Ned finds himself out of work. But after a while, Ned finds it in his nature to forgive Maria's aspiration, they may even fall in love, and Charles may proclaim women will be played by either gender.
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I thought this was a really beautiful film. It seemed very ahead of it's time; I wonder how audiences responded to it. If anyone even saw it. It was a powerful story about a man struggling with who and what he is. It is the only Netflix movie I kept an extra day to watch again.
Like Crazy
2011 2/5-nothing special
Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones, Alex Kingston
Anna and Jacob fall instantly in love when they meet as students at an L.A. university. But Anna is British and when graduation approaches, Anna decides to stay and violate her student visa rather than returning to England. After a visit home, she is then unable to return to the United States. While fighting customs and immigration battles, Anna and Jacob must decide if their relationship is worth the distance and the hardship.
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Spoilers
Okay, they got married for all the wrong reasons. They loved each other, I have no doubt about that. They got married out of desperation. They did it on a whim and it was the wrong time to get married and the wrong way. Just a bad way to start a life together. There was a very abrupt ending to this movie, but I kind of liked it. There was no real resolution, it left you to decide how it ended.
Me ad Orson Welles
2008 1/5-bad
Zac Efron, Claire Danes, Christian McKay
In November 1937, high school student and aspiring thespian Richard Samuels takes a day trip into New York City. There, he meets and begins a casual friendship with Gretta Adler, their friendship based on a shared love and goal of a profession in the creative arts. But also on this trip, Richard stumbles across the Mercury Theatre and meets Orson Welles, who, based on an impromptu audition, offers Richard an acting job as Lucius in his modern retelling of Julius Caesar. Despite others with official roles, this production belongs to Welles, the unofficial/official dictator. In other words, whatever Welles wants, the cast and crew better deliver. Welles does not believe in conventions and will do whatever he wants...
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Every time I looked at Zac Efron, I would just lust after him.
I didn't like how Richard made the deal with Welles! After his high and mighty speech about morals and ethics and then just turns his back on that. I really didn't think he'd give in.
It's All About Love
2003 1/5-bad
Joaquin Phoenix, Claire Danes
It's All About Love is the story of two lovers and their attempts to save their relationship in a near-future world on the brink of cosmic collapse. John, and world-famous ice skating star, Elena, are about to sign divorce papers when they realise that, in spite of everything happening around them, their love is worth fighting for. It's All About Love is a fresh take on modern love and future life as two lovers struggle in a conspiracy of epic proportions.
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I did not understand one minute of this trippy movie.
HappyThankYouMorePlease
2010 2/5-nothing special
Josh Radnor, Michael Algeri, Malin Akerman, Kate Mara
Six New Yorkers juggle love, friendship, and the keenly challenging specter of adulthood. Sam Wexler is a struggling writer who's having a particularly bad day. When a young boy gets separated from his family on the subway, Sam makes the questionable decision to bring the child back to his apartment and thus begins a rewarding, yet complicated, friendship.
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I really liked Sam number two's persistance.
The Hunger Games
2012 4/5 -just wonderful
Jen Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth
In a dystopian future, the totalitarian nation of Panem is divided between 12 districts and the Capitol. Each year two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal retribution for a past rebellion, the televised games are broadcast throughout Panem. The 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors while the citizens of Panem are required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as District 12's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart Peeta, are pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives.
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Wow! This was a pretty great adaptation!
Spoilers?
I really liked that they showed the riots in District 11 after Rue was killed. Pretty emotional.
I did not like the dogs in the movie. They could have been terrifing if they stuck with the mutations that were in the book.
I thought the ending of the book and the ending of the movie were totally different! I didn't think it came off that it was all just a show for Katniss.
The movie was a lot different than I was expecting. It felt like this little indie film instead of the huge blockbuster that it is.