kfratt Reviews

Tall in the Saddle (1944)

Really Enjoyed this Western

[8/10 · 23 December 2023]

It's no Good, Bad, Ugly or Once Upon a Time in the West, but I truly enjoyed Tall in the Saddle not only for a what I thought was a great depiction of John Wayne (John Wayne as actor and I suppose what Wayne is really like) but even more for Ella Raines. I loved the character she played, her aggressive nature and earthy good looks played perfectly opposite the sweet-as-pie, adorable young blonde played by Audrey Long. I was pulling for Raines to win Wayne's heart out over the obviously desirable and available Long. I was a little surprised to read, in Raines' biography, that Tall in the Saddle was considered one of her A-pictures, because it seems like a second-bill production. It's still super.

Moonrise (1948)

Too Beautiful for Hawkins

[6/10 · 5 October 2023]

I enjoy film noir, and this film has a nice reputation (according to the Turner Classic folks), and while I watched the entire movie I was turned off early on. The Danny Hawkins character, first portrayed as sympathetically pathetic because he was picked on and bullied throughout his young life, evolves into an adult jerk. He doesn't know the meaning of "No" while he attempts to court who has to be one of the most beautiful girls in town, Gilly Johnson, portrayed by Gail Russell. She unrealistically falls for this partly- to fully-unemployed moody and borderline abusive loser. That was the turn off. From there the movie runs somewhat predictably, as the beauty has her life turned upside down because of her decision to fall for basically a psycho. If only they made her character less appealing, it all would have worked better.

The Hunt (II) (2020)

TRUE

[8/10 · 13 August 2023]

Interesting, politically-charged, dark-comedic take on The Most Dangerous Game. I was a bit surprised to learn that 6 of the 9 producers are "significant Democratic National Party contributors" because left comes off worse than the right. Betty Gilpin, whom I had no knowledge or inkling about before seeing this movie, is fabulous. I agree with reviewer "grakky" about her facial animations. I would hope she would be able to capitalize on this performance for some strong roles in big pictures. In any case, because there is a clear and strong political voice throughout this film, I'll add that I know the left would truly like to do this to conservatives, just like I would love to do it to liberals.

Bless Their Little Hearts (1983)

Fabulous, Riveting, Authentic

[9/10 · 2 June 2023]

Missing 1 star for unresolved ending and some low-budget production values (that can also add to the realism of the film). If you've had enough of the force-fed social justice television commercials and the like showing black families living perfectly integrated lives in a wealthy suburb, Bless Their Little Hearts is up your alley. A struggling black man with little to no marketable skills who cheats on his wife and compromises his role as a father and provider to his family with no blame cast on whitey is refreshing. A true slice of life. This film would likely be cancelled if made today. The acting, especially by Hardman and Moore, is superb and does not reflect their lack of filmography. The movie ended too abruptly, leaving me blankly cheering for the family to win - at something - and wondering what will come of the delightful older daughter.

Gabriela (1983)

Pretty Good for Mastrioanni and Braga fans

[8/10 · 14 January 2023]

I'm not a Braga fan, but she smolders in this film in a very primitive and animalistic way, which was probably a combination of the director and her own interpretation. The movie is really all about her, and secondarily the bar owner, Nacib (Mastrioanni). I feel proud of myself for getting the end, I think. Nacib takes on this wild woman and, slightly against her wishes, marries her and then proceeds to attempt to change her into a modern, "respectable" wife. It works, and doesn't work, as the now former wild woman ends up fooling around behind Nacib's back - just like many of the other town's "respectable" and married women do. After a divorce or annulment or whatever they pull off, things appear to go back to the way it used to be.

The Boys in the Band (1970)

Hetero liked it

[7/10 · 21 November 2022]

Groundbreaking early gay movie mainstreamed by director William Friedkin has this heterosexual looking forward to watching the remake for comparison. Has all the stereotypes, but I don't believe gay men are that miserable, nor do I think many straight men are really closet queers. I watched it on TCM, with host Ben Mankiewicz and a guest movie reviewer virtue signaling nonsense, like how they couldn't believe the brush back the movie suffered in the early 1970s. Are you kidding me? I can take that kind of review of American history from a 21-year-old college woman, but a couple of folks past 50? Good lord.

Goon: Last of the Enforcers (2017)

Can Only Be One

[7/10 · 23 January 2022]

This isn't a bad movie for hockey fans, especially those who liked the original GOON movie. However, it is impossible for the sequel to live up to the first, mainly because the characters have already been established so there is no pleasant element of surprise those introductions received 10 years earlier. It's no different in Slap Shot 2, mainly with the re-introduction of the Hanson Brothers. They're old news. Take Last Of for what it is, which is a decent story about hockey fighters -- if you're into that sort of thing.

Hobson's Choice (1954)

Nice Movie

[7/10 · 7 January 2022]

Nice movie few people alive have ever seen. I know Charles Laughton is a great actor, but I liked Brenda De Banzie's old spinster title character so much I wanted to watch more of her and less of Laughton, the father.

The Last Movie Star (I) (2017)

Very Nice Little Movie

[8/10 · 7 January 2022]

Very nice little movie that I watched twice in 12 hours. Perfect for what it was trying to do, including casting Burt Reynolds as a repentant former Hollywood superstar nearing the end of his life. Ariel Winter is very good, especially her scene driving while documenting her depression medication history. In this movie she goes from looking like the sleezy daughter of Porky Pig to being quite pretty, which she is off screen. Well worth a watch.

Klute (1971)

Disappointed by Rating

[8/10 · 2 January 2022]

I'm no cinematic expert, but I think the rating is too low for this movie. I don't want to go crazy and give it a 10, but my 8 reflects a higher rating than it's averaged on this site. I do not like Jane Fonda because of her politics, but her performance is great. I didn't know she won an Oscar, and when I found out was not surprised at all. Her crying scene listening to the tape recording had my head shaking in respect for her ability.

America America (1963)

Wonderful Movie

[8/10 · 21 August 2021]

Wonderful period piece illustrating righteous immigration to the USA, like three of my grandparents pulled off around the same time, and not like the freeloading ingrates stealing into my country the last five to six decades.

War of the Worlds (2019– )

Different and Very Good

[8/10 · 3 August 2021]

Different from the classic Wells "War of the Worlds" but very good twist on the original theme. I also appreciate that the characters (actors) are basically regular and ordinary-looking people and not supermodels or other unrealistic types. This lends to the realism of the series from week to week, and I for one look forward to more, if there is more.

Go Naked in the World (1961)

Terrible Characters

[1/10 · 11 April 2021]

I admit to watching this film to check out Lollo, and she didn't disappoint as a minor version of Sophia Loren. My problem was with the characters played by Borgnine and Franciosa. So unlikeable - one being an overbearing jerk of a father and the other his whiny, spoiled son caught between adulthood and perpetual adolescence. Other than his good looks, what in the world would a smoking-hot woman as portrayed by Lollo want with such a spineless, no-work bum? Based on the ending, I can't imagine the son was supposed to come off as such a loser.

Our Daily Bread (1934)

Enjoyed this Socialist/Communal Tale

[7/10 · 2 October 2020]

It's comical to read the left-leaning denialists lashing back against the clear socialist/communist leanings of this film. And though it may have nothing to do with this film in particular, even the leading lady, left-wing activist Karen Morley, was eventually blacklisted in the 1950s. It was still a nice capture in time of our Great Depression, and while not as polished as the A-Grade Grapes of Wrath (with its own little socialist themes), a good and worthwhile watch.

The Plot Against America (2020)

Good if confused period piece

[7/10 · 17 April 2020]

If you enjoy period pieces and alternative histories (like Man in the High Castle), you'll like this. There is at least one whopper of an alternative fact here that is woven throughout the series, namely, that FDR was a friend of the Jews. Never mind that FDR, as a member of Harvard's Board of Overseers, was instrumental in putting a quota on Jewish acceptances in the late 1920s. He also appointed anti-Semite Joe Kennedy ambassador to England, and his administration limited Jewish immigration in the late 1930s as the targeted and panicked European Jewish population continued their efforts to flee annihilation. In Episode 5, I think, it was funny to watch a fictional Walter Winchell political rally broken up by rioting thugs, only to have the growing fascist media blame the innocent side. Reminded me of the liberal USA media blaming Trump when self-admitted democrat plants started trouble and were thrown out of his rallies.

Chernobyl (2019)

Spectacular

[10/10 · 9 June 2019]

Riveting docudrama. The only thing that may be more incredible about this film are poor reviews from a minority of people. If you're looking for an action movie or sex or a love story are whatever grips a millennial these day - don't watch this. I started watching on a Saturday night on my daughter's urging and only stopped because I was falling asleep after three episodes. I got up Sunday morning and immediately watched the last pair to finish up. Awesome.

Bigger Stronger Faster* (2008)

Best Show on the Subject

[10/10 · 15 July 2010]

I took 15 different anabolic steroids, oral and injectable, the original human growth hormone, and HCG during my four years of anabolic use in the early 80s as a competitive powerlifter, bodybuilder, and college baseball and hockey player...but now I'm a school teacher with a master's in math, so I'm not a total blockhead. I learned about 'roids from the best (Dr. James Wright, who did steroid research for the US Army), was involved in the drug trade with the best (England's Tony Fitton), and have been the subject of numerous studies, print stories, books, and shows (Time, Harvard University, Boston Museum of Science, Nightline to name a very few). That being noted, this was easily the most honest, straightforward and truthful program I've ever witnessed about anabolics - and that includes all the stuff I've been involved in. Those who don't agree simply don't have the experience to realize that, so it's not really their fault, they are just consumed with personal opinion and bias based on little to no first-hand knowledge and the misdirected media. Throw everything else in the trash, this show is the best.