MELODY

MELODY (1971)

Featuring: Mark Lester; Jack Wild; Tracy Hyde

Director: Waris Hussein

The memory of that "first love" is something we all hold dear and just gets more precious with every passing year. A while back in 2014 I looked at a movie on this blog that expresses this very sentiment: the British film Melody. For a full review, check out my post dated Thursday, 4 December 2014. Unfortunately it was a bit 'hidden' away among the other '5 star' movies I also reviewed in the same post.

However, when it comes to the issue of celebrating puppy love, this film is of such significance that I simply has had to give it its own dedicated post. That being said, what needed to be said about this movie, I cannot say any better here than what was already said in the previous post. So, without any further ado, here is the trailer:

And below is a picture of the stars from this movie, Tracy Hyde, Jack Wild and Mark Lester

 

 

LOVE, SIMON

LOVE, SIMON (2018)

Featuring: Nick Robinson; Josh Duhamel; Jennifer Garner

Director: Greg Berlanti

By all accounts this is a ground breaking movie. It is the first time that a big Hollywood studio like Twentieth Century Fox tackled the until now taboo subject of teenage homosexuality. And boy, did they hit the nail on the head!

Simon Spier (Nick Robinson) is a 'normal' seventeen year old who has to deal with all the usual stuff of growing up and coming of age. Only thing is, he is gay and nobody knows it. Heck, nobody even suspects it. And has every attention of keeping it that way. Until one fateful day when the class clown accidentally discovers his secret and decides to 'out' him...

Based on the book "Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli, this is a powerful yet sensitive account of the anguish and inhumane agony that faces every gay person at some point or the other in their life. Some, like Simon, get through it rather unscathed - others are not so lucky. And even though this film was generally very well received by audiences and critics alike, don't expect to see much of it - or any at all - at this year's Oscars. The Hollywood establishment and other elite is still reeling after what happened with Call Me By Your Name at last year's Academy Awards.

Be that as it may, I award this gem of a film with my very rare 5 out of 5 stars!

Simon with his friends before they knew...

   

LOVE ACTUALLY

LOVE ACTUALLY (2003)

Featuring: Hugh Grant plus too many famous people to mention...

Director: Richard Curtis (who also wrote the script)

Since it is almost Christmas, this year I decided to take a look at this off-beat British comedy. Back in the day, Leonard Maltin had the following to say about this movie:
"It seems as if every Brit from the prime minister to a fading rock star to a widower is falling in love..." Hence, the title which actually refers to the lyrics of the theme song "Love Is All Around Us".

It is impossible to give a summary of the plot here (just look at the picture below) as there are actually something like ten loosely connected yet fully independent story-lines, all taking place during the last few days before Christmas. However, in the end I found it all very charming and heart-warming with an amazing sound-track to boot. This is just the thing to watch with all those near and dear to you this time of year.

I rate it at a very merry 4 out of 5 stars. Cheers until next year!!

 

VOICE FROM THE STONE (2017)

Featuring: Emilia Clarke; Marton Csokas; Edward Dring

Director: Eric D. Howell

Based on the 1996 novel by Silvino Raffio this 2017 movie is also set in Tuscany, Italy during the 1950's. Verena (Emilia Clarke) is a nurse hired to aid a young boy (Edward Dring) who'd gone mute upon the recent death of his mother. Convinced that he can hear his late mother's voice in the walls of the ancient villa they all live in, the boy gradually draws his new carer into his own mysteriously silent world.

The mood is sombre and the pace is slow but the story is fascinating with a nice sting in the tail. As usual Emilia Clarke's performance is first rate but it is Edward Dring's wonderful depiction of the deeply troubled Jacob that really steals the show.

I rate it at a respectable 3 out of 5 stars.

 Edward Dring with Emilia Clarke

 

GIFTED (2017)

Featuring: Chris Evans; McKenna Grace; Olivia Spencer

Director: Marc Webb

Big gifts often come in small packages. Although that rings true for the central character in this movie the actual question it asks is this: What is "real" family.

Mary (Mckenna Grace) is a seven year old maths prodigy who has been in the loving care of her uncle Frank (Chris Evans) since she was a mere baby. That was shortly after her mother, his sister and also a maths genius, committed suicide. But then her estranged grandmother appears on the scene to stake her own claim on the little girl.

In an interview with Marc Webb who directed huge blockbusters like the Spider-Man movies, said that he really wanted to make a movie like this for some time now. And with stars like Chris Evans (Captain America) and Octavia Spencer (The Help) it is a winning combination - not even to mention the mega talented little Mckenna Grace. You have to have a heart of stone if you do not pick a tear for this one. 

I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

  Olivia Spencer, Mckenna Grace and Chris Evans

Trailer:

CUJO (1983)

Featuring: Dee Wallace; Daniel Hugh-Kelly; Danny Pintauro

Director: Lewis Teague

Every time I watch this movie (and it has been quite a few times now) it scares the heebie-jeebies out of me. No wonder it became a real cult classic amongst horror flick aficionados.

Again the main story contains a number of sub-plots but eventually everything work towards the main event. A mother (Dee Wallace) and her young son (Danny Pintauro) get trapped in their broken-down car on a desolate farm while a giant rabid dog is trying his best to get at them. How will they survive the ordeal?

Based on another Stephen King bestseller, the movie starts off happily enough in small-town America with nothing but wide open spaces only to climax into one of the most frightening claustrophobic and bloody film finales ever. Young Danny Pintauro's outstanding performance needs special mentioning though. It got him nominated for a Young Artist Award in 1984.

I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45vzCiU01O4

Mom and son shortly before the ordeal began...

 

DREAMCATCHER (2003)

Featuring: Morgan Freeman; Thomas Jane; Damian Lewis

Director: Lawrence Kasdan

A "dreamcatcher" is a device used by the indigenous peoples of North America to ward off bad dreams. Exactly how that fits into the story is not made very clear in the movie. For that you have to look at the trailer.

Four childhood friends who share extrasensory powers head off to their remote cabin in the woods for a boys only weekend. However, no sooner did they arrive there or things start to go horribly wrong. At the same time the military is on secret maneuvers to seek and destroy an alien base in the same area. And of course this goes awry as well. So it is up to our friends to jump in and save the world from total annihilation.

Like so many Stephen King stories this one has so many sub-plots, each with its own weird twists and turns that it becomes difficult to keep your head about it. Unfortunately this movie doesn't succeed in doing it and therefor become rather muddled and confusing towards the middle. However, the ending does tie some strings together. The special effects are great though. It might be worth watching it for the scary stuff alone if you are in the mood.

I rate it at 2 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzBSoQEQrLE

The four friends looking up at the title object