saved4eternity Reviews

Children on Their Birthdays (2002)

A beautiful coming of age film!

[9/10 · 25 August 2006]

I remember being so disappointed that this film never made it into my local theater after seeing the trailer for it played there more than once. Obviously, the theater management did not think such a sweet film, an innocent film, could capture much of an audience. They were wrong. It captured me wholeheartedly. Not only is the movie cinematically beautiful, with a small town backdrop much like that in My Dog Skip, but the characters seem to have been dropped right out of the 1940's. Yes, some might call it schmaltzy, sugary, even overdone in some respects. Lily Jane's overdone accent I found particularly annoying. But Hollywood has done its best to give us the dark side, the horrific side, the characters filled with malice and malevolence. I find this film so refreshing and well acted as well. Using mostly unknowns makes the film feel even more comfortable. The characters are on an even playing field and each contributes more than his share. Children on Their Birthdays tells a simple story of growing up, mending fences, finding our way in a world which can be a very cynical place. But the children here give us hope that if their innocence can translate into tenderheartedness as adults, maybe we have a shot at a better tomorrow after all.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Who said summer movies were just fillers till the good stuff comes around?

[8/10 · 25 August 2006]

Once in a while, a movie takes you completely by surprise, either because you dropped in just to be 'amused' and found yourself totally immersed and entertained, or because its perceptions of what's important in life resonate so strongly that it leaves you giving this thing we call 'family' one more hooray! Little Miss Sunshine is just such a film. The cast is so totally on target, from Alan Arkin as grumpy, dope addicted but totally lovable grandpa, to Tony Collette as the mom struggling to keep some sense of normalcy in her everyday mundane existence. Of course, what can you say about Greg Kinnear as dad? This actor has been so underrated, mainly I think because he has chosen roles for their meat rather than glitz. In many ways, he reminds me of Kevin Bacon and Johnny Depp in that Kinnear knows what his forte is and relishes in every word on the page, making it totally his own and that to our captivation as an audience. I think fondly of his rendering of Frank Zabaski, Meg Ryan's comfortable relationship/ego maniacal newspaper columnist in You've Got Mail. I delight in every line Kinnear delivers because it is so obvious he is making THIS line his heart and soul at the moment he delivers it as though this chance at immortality will never come again....the mark of a consummate actor. Every performance in Little Miss Sunshine indeed does shine, but the story tugs at your heart in a way few films do. There is something or someone to identify with for everyone in this movie. What's more, we may wish we were more like one character but actually see ourselves in another. No one wants to see themselves as the depressed to the point of giving up on life uncle, but in some respects haven't we all gotten to that point at some time or another? It isn't so much that we didn't make the genuine attempt to end it all, but that we have all FELT as if COULD feel that desolate at some point in our lives. We would all rather be the over-the-top optimist most of the time, but the truth is, we all vacillate between feelings of utter isolation and frustration and all too infrequent feelings of sufficiency and self worth. The real winner in this movie is Olive, because her identity is still waiting to be forged, amidst the imperfect examples she is living with, hopefully gleaning the best from each and making her world a happy place. As far as the audience is concerned, we are all winners because we purchased a ticket to this film! Bravo Little Miss Sunshine! Summer films can sometimes make us smile!

The Member of the Wedding (1952)

Story telling at its very finest!

[10/10 · 29 July 2005]

On my very first viewing of The Member of the Wedding, I was stunned by its beauty, overwhelmed by its simplicity, captivated by its charm. A seemingly simple story of a young girl's attempt at growing up, this film takes us on a tumultuous and painful journey through the mind of Frankie Addams, a journey so fraught with twists and turns of emotion, we are barely able to keep up! Frankie's journey through adolescence is not an ordinary one. Her disapproval bordering on hatred of herself is bringing her to the edge of her world, and at times we are left wondering whether she has gone too far to ever come back. Her rebellion toward her journey is fierce, and Julie Harris is brilliant in her interpretation of a confused, angry young girl at odds with her world. If I had to make a list of the twenty movies that had the greatest impact on me in my lifetime, The Member of the Wedding would have to make the list. Ethel Waters is as charming and heart rending as she was in Pinky in this never to be forgotten film. I would suggest that it be used in the classroom as required viewing for students between the ages of twelve and fifteen, if only to give them a heroine with whom to share the sometimes chaotic journey from child to young adulthood.

What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)

Grateful for Gibert Grape!

[10/10 · 29 July 2005]

A remarkable film that once viewed, will leave an indelible impression on your heart, your mind, your spirit. Set in a run down, going nowhere town, amidst a population of largely rundown, going nowhere people, Gilbert Grape takes us on a journey through the everyday life of one family in which each member is struggling to find his identity. Johnny Depp as Gilbert is at his finest, sensitive and lovingly protective of his mentally challenged younger brother, Arnie, less understanding of the plight of his grossly overweight mother played brilliantly by Darlene Cates. Gilbert just wants a normal life, a life he seems resigned to being deprived of. He seeks solace in the attentions of a wandering housewife played by Mary Steenburgen. Enter Juliette Lewis as Becky, who captures his heart, personifying all the passion for life and freedom of spirit Gilbert aspires to. There are many memorable moments in this film, moments you cannot forget, but suffice it to say, What's Eating Gilbert Grape will leave you feeling grateful for everything you ever took for granted, especially those you love!

Gilmore Girls (2000–2007)

A show you can get lost in...

[10 February 2005]

The WB has consistently turned out great shows, and despite the fact that they seem to cater to a younger audience, the 'young' is not necessarily age-related. As a fifty-something year old grandmother, I am an avid fan of this show because it is bright, original, well-written, and the acting is without equal on series television. The writing is so sharp and quick, I will venture so far as to say a dimwit cannot watch this show without being totally lost.The writer's here are obviously highly intelligent people, and to follow the show and enjoy it to the fullest, you must be wide awake and very alert. Lauren Graham's character, Lorelei Gilmore, is a charmer. Not because she is beautiful, although she is very attractive, but there is more than that. She is the picture of brutal honesty, totally sold out to making life better for Rory, her daughter, and willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of family. Not just any actress could pull this off with such style and bravado. I believe if Lauren Graham were doing this caliber of acting on any other network, she would have garnered an Emmy long ago. Such a pity the WB does not receive its due when it comes to awards. The entire cast of Gilmore Girls is more than good, they are perfection. Scott Patterson is a heart throb and again, on any other network, would be receiving a lot more attention. Bravo, Gilmore Girls! Bravo and keep up the great work, WB network!

Tenth Avenue Angel (1948)

A pure delight!

[8/10 · 6 October 2004]

One viewing of Tenth Avenue Angel will not be enough for any real Margaret O'Brien fan. Miss O'Brien tugs at the heartstrings in this lovely holiday story that will have you longing for more! No doubt Margaret O'Brien was one of the most talented young actresses of all time. Her simple beauty, her ability to come across as a real child, and her talent for delivering lengthy lines never fail to astound you. The story is simple but tender, and other leads such as George Murphy and Angela Lansbury, take a backseat to Miss O'Brien. When she is in a scene, you cannot take you eyes off her. Just as in Our Vines Have Tender Grapes, and Lost Angel, Margaret O'Brien is a delight. A don't miss for any fan of hers and an even bigger treat for those who have never seen her films!

Smallville (2001–2017)

What a pleasant surprise!

[8 September 2004]

First off, let me say I was totally prepared to be disappointed with Smallville being a die-hard fan of the original Superman series and even an avid collector of memorabilia. But Smallville blew me out of the water! It is not only exceptionally well acted, precise in its detail to setting and time period, but the originality they have brought into the story lines has been unique. Smallville does not pretend to be a take-off on the original, it never tries to be anything more than what it is: an updated series about young Clark Kent, his origins and HOW HE FEELS about who he is beginning to realize he is. The old Superman dealt wholly with the tangible. That was fine in its day. But what an extraordinary treat it is to have a series treat the intangible side of Superman: his feelings, his confusion, his often times total inability to grasp what is happening to him. Here is by all outward appearances a normal teen who suddenly finds himself in the midst of an identity crisis none of us can begin to understand. Tom Welling makes a terrific Clark Kent, and likewise Jon Schneider as Jonathan Kent do a wonderful job at being believable. The pain of the inevitability of losing his 'son' to something he cannot control is played brilliantly by Schneider. Time has been extremely kind to Schneider who looks as boyishly handsome as he did when he played Bo Duke, the difference is he has grown immensely in his acting talent. Michael Rosenbaum is a very adept Lex Luther and Kristen Kruek plays a girlish Lana Lang in a straightforward, simplistic way which we would expect in a teen caught in the crosshairs of the results of the meteor shower which robbed her of her parents a dozen years ago. John Glover is ideal as Lionel Luther, he makes us despise him and at the same time, find a measure of pity for what he has allowed himself to become. The only part I feel was somewhat miscast was Annette O'Toole as Martha Kent. O'Toole seems somewhat out of her element, and I think another actress might have better fit the bill. Special effects for this series are so far beyond what we have ever seen on television, it is mind boggling. Be prepared, this is not ordinary television. This is EXCEPTIONAL ENTERTAINMENT! As we enter season three, it will be interesting to see whether this series can continue to support the quality and talent that have been so evident for these first several seasons. From what I have observed, this will not be a problem for this talented cast and for the genuises who have steered this series so far. Bravo Smallville!

Secret Window (2004)

It's what we go to movies for!

[10/10 · 29 July 2004]

Secret Window, while perhaps not boasting the most original plot in moviedom, is a slick, humorous, tantalizing, excellently acted voyage through the mind of one man as he battles to exonerate himself for the accusation that he has plagerized another man's work. Depp takes us on a ride, and while we are never sure of what is coming next, one thing is certain: we are entertained! Isn't that what movies are all about? In this day of over-analytical reviewers who can set themselves up as judge and jury for us all and shoot down a film before it in even in the theatre, I admire Depp's persistence in choosing roles that display what he is about: Excelling at his craft. Depp is an actor's actor, smart, talented, and willing to do roles that others bypass because their vanity doesn't allow them to play sometimes ugly (Jack Sparrow), vulnerable (Gilbert Grape) characters. Bravo Johnny Depp! Bravo Secret Window, it is worth the ride!

I'll Fly Away (1991–1993)

This was truly television's finest hour...what a pity it is no longer with us!

[1 June 2004]

Television is often considered a medium that suffices to showcase actors and actresses who can not make it on the big screen and/or after they have seen their hey-day! Not so with the cast of I'll Fly Away, whose brilliant characterizations brought to life a time when change was coming for the better, but with it a whirlwind of emotions that swept up its populace in a way in which no other time has done since. The beautifully painted portraits were a study the human condition, from Forrest to Lily, and down thru the ranks of the Bedford children. To the great discredit of television, this series was cancelled when there was so much that was important left to say! This was a landmark series that should be brought to viewers on DVD if for no other reason than to afford it another opportunity to speak its solid values to those who have never seen it, and speak them again to those of us anxious to re-hear!~

Mystic River (2003)

Incredible performances bring Mystic River to life!

[24 February 2004]

I was totally unprepared to see Sean Penn turn in this performance. Having already decided not to have anything positive to say about Penn because of his anti-American behavior as of late, I did not expect to walk out of the theatre heralding him as having turned in one of the most stellar performances I have ever witnessed on film. I will never forget the poignant and disturbing scene with Penn and Robbins sharing on the front porch overlooking the very street where they each began their troubling journey toward manhood. In this moment manhood is outweighed by the overpowering sense of loss being thrust upon Penn as he laments his daughter's brutal murder...as he passionately bemoans her loss telling Robbins "I can't even cry for her, I can't even cry for her."...Robbins with one line brings it all into focus when he tells Penn (Johnny Markhum_ ..."you're crying now'.

While Penn and Robbins have the more meaty roles, Kevin Bacon turns in an excellent performance with perhaps the bigger challenge of playing the less disturbed of the three childhood friends with skill and poise...he does it beautifully. Perhaps this is why Bacon has withstood the test of time in his career. He has not put himself into a box refusing to play only those roles which flatter or allow him all the exposure all of the time. He is as adept at sharing a scene as he is at carrying one. Bravo Kevin Bacon!

Mystic River is a fine film, and while Robbins and Penn may not be my personal favorites of people I would choose to spend an evening with getting to know better, I must admit, having watched them in this film, I have to say they have finely honed their craft and for this reason, Mystic River is a must see! There are actors, then there are craftsmen, everyone involved in Mystic River is a craftsman.