I hated the story, let's get that out of the way first. This film is about character acting at it's best, though, and Shirley MacLaine ("Aurora") and Jack Nicholson ("Garrett") bring us charisma and entertainment in spades which thankfully rescues the really pedestrian plot from abject mediocrity. Since her birth, "Aurora" has fussed over her daughter "Emma" (Debra Winger) and upon the death of her husband, settles down to a rather vicarious existence living life through her daughter, her husband "Flap" (Jeff Daniels) and their children. She is a strong willed woman, with love that can be gentle and kindly, or that can be rude and interfering with much of the frequently sardonic humour emanating from her disinclination to let them live their own lives. Next door we find "Garrett", a somewhat disreputable womaniser. A former astronaut who trades well on his erstwhile status, but who takes a bit of a shine to "Aurora" - and that's another source of lively comedy as the two clash with engaging regularity. The last hour descends rather quickly into melancholy, though, as the young "Emma" has to deal with her own problem husband, and an illness that starts to focus the attention from all concerned onto what really matters with their relationships. MacLaine is always good with these rough-round-the-edges roles and here there is plenty of chemistry on the sparing occasions in which she and Nicholson feature. Sadly, for me anyway, the rest of this hovers way too close to melodrama and though at its best it is really good, for the most part I was rather underwhelmed by the family antics that underpinned so much of the (over-long) story.
Virtually without exception, a relation between parents and children is something that affects us throughout our lives. The first fiction film by award-winning documentarist Jaro Vojtek is an omnibus film about complicated relationships between parents and their children in which characters are challenged with long-term separation or declining health. Four stories titled Son, Marathon, Canary and Father tell four different tales that form a single view on the troubled relationship between parents and children. Each story takes place in a different season and together they create a multi-layered mosaic of relations reflecting hopes, disappointments and inevitable decisions. With a documentary filmmaker’s precision, Vojtek observes the characters and their behaviour, presenting an authentic picture of damaged family relations.
Movie Star Rating : 0 Read More
A small mountain community in Canada is devastated when a school bus accident leaves more than a dozen of its children dead. A big-city lawyer arrives to help the survivors' and victims' families prepare a class-action suit, but his efforts only seem to push the townspeople further apart. At the same time, one teenage survivor of the accident has to reckon with the loss of innocence brought about by a different kind of damage.
Movie Star Rating : 6.9 Read More
Berlin, Germany. A cruel murder took place in an appartment building. Somebody bit off quite a piece of the victim's penis, who then, of course, lost a lot of blood, before being struck down at the head. Leading investigator Bernhard Kominka, being in stress due to a mentally retarded son and a problematic wife, seems to be the only one to see a lady in a red coat. After a while, his theory of her being the murderer may prove to be true, but the Cop also kind of fell in love with this new, interesting person in both of his lives: professional and private as well. Borders dissolve. His decision may be disastrous in any way.
Movie Star Rating : 5 Read More
After his daughter died of cancer, former French foreign legionnaire "Straight Shooter" alias Volker Bretz threatens those who financed, built, favoured and now work the nuclear power plant Atar II to kill one of them each day until the plant is shut down. His former drill sergeant, Frank Hector, who now owns several night clubs and brothels, is the only one who might be able to stop the maniac killing specialist. Frank is flown in instantly, but soon has to find out that his former comrade's actions might be a result from an event long ago.
Movie Star Rating : 4.8 Read More
When the popular, restless Landon Carter is forced to participate in the school drama production he falls in love with Jamie Sullivan, the daughter of the town's minister. Jamie has a "to-do" list for her life and also a very big secret she must keep from Landon.
Movie Star Rating : 7.7 Read More
Two desperate people have a wonderful romance, but their political views and convictions drive them apart.
Movie Star Rating : 6.9 Read More
As Agnes slowly dies of cancer, her sisters are so deeply immersed in their own psychic pains that they can't offer her the support she needs. Maria is wracked with guilt at her husband's attempted suicide, caused by his discovery of her extramarital affair. The self-loathing, suicidal Karin seems to regard her sister with revulsion. Only Anna, the deeply religious maid who lost her young child, seems able to offer Agnes solace and empathy.
Movie Star Rating : 7.9 Read More
A former child star torments her paraplegic sister in their decaying Hollywood mansion.
Movie Star Rating : 7.9 Read More
His name: infamous. His reputation: ruthless. But when James "Animal"Allen is locked up in a maximum security prison, he meets a revolutionary who changes his life. Now a reformed man, James is released only to find that his own son has assumed a life of crime and violence. Can a father haunted by his past redeem his family from the very streets he created, or will he be forced to make the ultimate sacrifice?
Movie Star Rating : 5.6 Read More
Kandahar 2023 - Movies (Dec 2nd)
My Norwegian Holiday 2023 - Movies (Dec 2nd)
Lady Ballers 2023 - Movies (Dec 2nd)
Commitment to Life 2023 - Movies (Dec 1st)
A Haunting in Venice 2023 - Movies (Dec 1st)
Thriller 40 2023 - Movies (Dec 2nd)
Williams and Mansell Red 5 2023 - Movies (Dec 1st)
A Soul Frame 2023 - Movies (Dec 1st)
The Hoot Owl 2022 - Movies (Dec 1st)
Scrapper 2023 - Movies (Dec 1st)
Candy Cane Lane 2023 - Movies (Dec 1st)
How the Gringo Stole Christmas 2023 - Movies (Dec 1st)
Its a Wonderful Knife 2023 - Movies (Dec 1st)
May December 2023 - Movies (Dec 1st)
The Shepherd 2023 - Movies (Dec 1st)
Blackwood 2022 - Movies (Dec 1st)
Out in the Ring 2022 - Movies (Nov 30th)
Bad CGI Gator 2023 - Movies (Nov 30th)
Monsternado 2023 - Movies (Nov 30th)
The Dark Sisters 2023 - Movies (Nov 30th)
Renfield 2023 - Movies (Nov 30th)
FBOY Island Spain - (Dec 2nd)
My Man Is Cupid - (Dec 2nd)
The Kitchen - (Dec 2nd)
James Martins Saturday Morning - (Dec 2nd)
Guys Ranch Kitchen - (Dec 2nd)
Welcome to Samdal-ri - (Dec 2nd)
The Unbelievable with Dan Aykroyd - (Dec 2nd)
My Demon - (Dec 2nd)
Castaway Diva - (Dec 2nd)
The Good Ship Murder - (Dec 2nd)
Spooked Ireland - (Dec 2nd)
A View from the Terrace - (Dec 2nd)
The Real Murders of Los Angeles - (Dec 2nd)
Richard Osmans House of Games - (Dec 2nd)
Tribunal Justice - (Dec 2nd)
Jersey Shore- Family Vacation - (Dec 2nd)
The Five - (Dec 2nd)
Hannity - (Dec 2nd)
Hard Knocks - (Dec 2nd)
I am Betty, the Ugly one - (Dec 2nd)