I'll Skip "Breakfast At Tiffany's"

Breakfast At Tiffany's (1961)

Not Rated

Starring Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Mickey Rooney, Patricia Neal

Directed by Blake Edwards

The Story:

Holly Golightly (Hepburn) is a... socialite ... living alone in New York. Ah, but when writer Paul Verjak (Peppard) moves into her building...

Who am I kidding?

It's the tale of two hookers living in New York.

However, after trying over the course of 3 days, I finally made it 20 minutes into the movie.

Only because I always try and give every movie 20 minutes to make up my mind, or change my mind.

That said, I was ready to bail on the adventures of Holly at around the 5 minute mark.

As a comedy, it is not amusing.

As a romance, it is nauseating.

Factor in the Mickey Rooney character, and this is one of the most racist films ever made.

Done as a bit by Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther movies, it's amusing.

Done as a real character who is nothing more than a comic relief cliche'... well no ...

And I really had no desire to spend another 90 minutes with any of these characters any longer.

Hepburn is made to be a feminist icon with her performance here, but I think that's revisionist history through rose-colored glasses; or overlooking how she makes a living.

I can neither endorse the one-hit-wonder Deep Blue Something's "Breakfast at Tiffany's" song, because as I recall, I think, I no longer like it.

For those however that do like it, it's streaming on Netflix if you're so inclined.

Final Grade: F

A Murder Most 'Meh'... "A Kind Of Murder"

A Kind of Murder (2016)

Rated R

Starring Patrick Wilson, Jessica Biel, Hayley Bennett, Eddie Marsan, Vincent Kartheiser

Directed by Andy Goddard

The Story:

Walter (Wilson) is a successful architect by day and budding detective novelist by night. His wife Clara (Biel) is unsupportive at best, and things just aren't right between them. Walter longs to be with Ellie (Bennett) instead. However Walter's obsession with a seemingly perfect unsolved murder may prove to be his very undoing.

Welcome to a throwback noir thriller set in 1960s New York.

The production values are stellar as it looks and feels as if the film and everything in it is straight from a bygone era.

The problem comes about from the story itself.

The perfect murder in question is pretty much just that, perfect.

You have the weaselly suspect (Marsan) and the overeager detective (Kartheiser) and these characters will go about making Walter's life unbearable.

But that's just it, it almost is unbearable.

His fascination with what could have happened makes him the suspect when his own wife is murdered, and naturally he lies and then lies some more.

The book upon which this is based is titled The Blunderer.

You'll feel like that is a very apt title the longer you watch the film.

Watchable, but in the end, rather unsatisfying.

Final Grade: C-

"Sully" Can Be My Pilot Anytime

Sully (2016)

Rated PG-13

Starring Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney, Valerie Mahaffey, Mike O'Malley, Katie Couric

Directed by Clint Eastwood

The Story:

In 2009, a plane carrying 155 passengers and crew was hit by a massive bird strike after take off, disabling both engines. The captain (Hanks) made a decision to force a water landing on the Hudson River as he felt there was not enough time and power in the plane to make it to any of the neighboring airports. Everyone survived the "Miracle on the Hudson". However, as with all crashes, an investigation was underway, and the panel was determined to prove that Sully acted recklessly and could have indeed landed at an airport.

File this one under miraculous true story.

The movie starts with a bang, and never truly lets up.

Yet it is also paced just slow enough to not feel rushed.

Eastwood has settled in so comfortably behind the camera, and his films are usually quiet, yet emotionally impacting, and this one is no different.

The movie uses creative choices for flashbacks to fill you in on the narrative of Sully's life, so it doesn't unfold like a biography.

It helps to build towards the finale when all of the pieces of Sully's life and upbringing come into play when he makes the decision for a water landing, eschewing the normal protocol of turning back or heading to the other neighboring airports.

It will all come down to the mock flight tests that are performed to decide whether Sully gets to continue his aviation career, or if he is grounded, even though he saved everyone on board.

Final Grade: A-

Nothing Much Happens "5 Flights Up"

5 Flights Up (2014)

Rated PG-13

Starring Morgan Freeman, Diane Keaton, Cynthia Nixon

Directed by Richard Loncraine

The Story: 

Alex and Ruth Carver (Freeman & Keaton) have lived in their apartment for decades. However, they're getting older, and the prospect of marathoning those 5 flights of stairs is becoming more daunting with each passing year. With the help of a realtor friend (Nixon) they're going to put their apartment up for sale and hopefully find a new one that they like as well.

Yep, that's it.

There's your movie.

There are also 2 additional subplots that provide the drama and tension of the movie:

Their dog needs surgery and may not survive!
There is a possible terrorist in town who is making the apartment selling/buying experience harder than it should be.

We are treated to a series of flashbacks of Alex and Ruth when they are just starting out to give some background to their life together, and how they made that apartment their home.

But essentially, nothing really happens throughout the movie.

If not for Morgan Freeman who gets to do some voice-over narration (The Manhattan Redemption!) to the story, this film would have a much lower rating.

Freeman makes everything better.

Final Grade: C

'Cause You've Had A Bad Day... "The Angriest Man In Brooklyn"

The Angriest Man In Brooklyn (2014)

Rated R

Starring Robin Williams, Mila Kunis, Peter Dinklage, Melissa Leo, Hamish Linklater

Directed by Phil Alden Robinson

The Story:

Henry (Williams) is having a bad day. When he is finally seen by Dr. Gill (Kunis), it's not even his doctor, but someone covering for the doctor so he could start his weekend early. Naturally, Henry lets the doctor have it verbally chastising her up one side and down the other. She doesn't want to release the news to Henry that he's got a brain aneurism, but when push comes to shove she blurts out that he's only got 90 minutes to live.

So begins Henry's last day in New York.

Facing that news, Henry decides that all that truly matters is making amends with his family.

Naturally, with each reconciliation, he is thwarted at every turn as the countdown to the end of his life draws ever closer.

Can he reconnect with his wife (Leo) and son (Linklater) before it's too late?

Meanwhile, Dr. Gill is chasing all over New York to find him, even enlisting Henry's brother (Dinklage) on the chase.

This is another one of those films that is both endearing and heartbreaking to watch, so soon after the passing of Robin Williams.

It's one that has a few too many parallels, and I'm not sure if the viewing so close to his death provides extra emotional impact or not.

Either way, it's a film you may not have heard about, but one that is well worth your time.

Final Grade: Solid B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Too dramatic to be a crowd pleasing multiple viewings. However, it's one that a few years down the road could be watched again for some laughs and tears.

Keep It Classy America... "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues"

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013)

Rated PG-13/R  for Language

Starring Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, David Koecher, Christina Applegate

Directed by Adam McKay

The Story:

Ron Burgundy (Ferrell) has moved on with his wife (Applegate) and their child and is now co-hosting the news in New York.  When she is selected to be the first prime-time female news anchor, and he's fired, well Burgundy spirals out of control as his life is effectively over.  But when Ron is approached to be part of a crazy new idea: a 24 hour news channel... can Ron reassemble his old team from San Diego, and help convince the world that news, 24/7 is a good idea?

I remember seeing Anchorman a few years ago, it was amusing, but not the amazing, hilarious cult film that many people I know make it out to be.

The sequel...

Pretty much the same.

There are a couple of insanely funny gags... and a lot of otherwise enjoyable laughs.

However, there's nothing here for me to want to come back to and watch again in the future.

And for me, that's the ultimate test and tribute to a comedy:  How many times can I watch this film, and it still be funny every time?

What actually worked for me in this film was when the movie focused on how Ron and his team actually created history on the air.  Those segments were the best, and revisionist history being what it is, you could believe that in this day and age, it was Ron Burgundy, or whatever real anchor he is indeed cloned after that came up with these ideas that "hey, this could be news!" and the people ate it up.

And still do.

If you enjoyed the first one, I see no reason why you won't enjoy the latest installment.

Final Grade: C+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Maybe in a few years I'd watch it again, but no hurry, and no need to own it.

Springtime In New York... "The Last Play At Shea"

The Last Play at Shea (2010)

Not Rated

Starring Billy Joel

Directed by  Paul Crowder

The Story:

This documentary chronicles the life and career of Billy Joel.
This documentary chronicles the history of Shea stadium from creation to destruction.
This documentary chronicles the fall, rise, fall, rise, fall, rise... of the New York Mets.

It does all of this in 90 minutes, and it does it spectacularly.

It is a concert film...without a lot of the concert.
It's a baseball film...with rock and roll.
It's a rock and roll film...with baseball.

It's unique, and very enjoyable.

Not a lot of the 2 night finale actually makes the 90 minute performance.

However, over the 90 minute running time, you'll learn a lot about Joel, New York, Shea Stadium, The Beatles and much more.

Example:  Sting realized that performing at Shea was the pinnacle of their career, so while on stage, he decided he would leave The Police when their tour was over.

Crazy, right?

A musical history lesson, perfectly encapsulated in film.

I just wish that the 2 night concert performance was available as extras or released on its own as well.

Final Grade: A-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I don't see a need to own it, and a viewing is good.  But it could be a nice historical piece to pull out every so often to remember what life was like back in the days of Shea.

Love at First Bite? "Vamps"

That bites!

The Story:

Two vampires in New York, Goody (Alicia Silverstone) and Stacy (Krysten Ritter) mostly enjoy their night life.  Taking college courses at night and working as exterminators to catch rats and drink their blood.  Yep, they and many other vampires have shunned human blood and concentrate on the vermin of New York as their sustenance.  Ah, but when the Van Helsing family moves to New York, the girls' existence is about to get really complicated...

Following up the latest viewing of Clueless, I wondered whatever happened to Amy Heckerling?

Turns out she wrote and directed this one last year, and brought back Alicia Silverstone (and Wallace Shawn!) in the process.

I'm not sure if she gave up on Hollywood, or vice versa, but there just hasn't been very much Amy Heckerling product in quite some time.

She comes out of the gate in 1982 with Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and then enjoys success again in High School in 1995 with Clueless.

Other than that, her career is filled with long gaps from the Director's chair, and even longer since she's had a box office hit.

Vamps apparently didn't help her much, which is a shame, because it is a cute little movie.

Perhaps that was the problem?    It's nothing special that screamed "I must be a movie" instead of something that could have been made for tv.

Her cast is impressive, with Sigourney Weaver playing the stem vampire that turned both Goody and Stacy.  As it turns out, only stems can turn people into vampires, and if a stem is injured or killed, it will have repercussions on the entire line of vampires that the stem had created.

So you can see where the plot device is coming from.

Either way, it's still a better film than Twilight.

: )

Final Grade: B-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Mostly harmless fun.  Not Heckerling's best, but it's a  movie that I could watch again with no problem.