Escape from Alcatraz (1979)

Genre: Thriller
Directed by: Don Siegel
Cast: Clint Eastwood, Patrick McGoohan, Fred Ward, Jack Thibeau
Time: 112 minutes

 

Based on the non-fiction book of the same name by J. Campbell Bruce, this film recounts the 1962 prisoner escape from the maximum-security prison of Alcatraz. After years of planning, Frank Morris, John Anglin and Clarence Anglin, who had all been sent to Alcatraz after escaping other prisons, made their way out and disappeared. Nobody knows for sure if they survived, but their bodies were never found.

I was curious about this film since I will be visiting the site of Alcatraz soon. This film is really well done. It pulls you into the story and you stick by it all the way through. Clint Eastwood really shined here in the role of Frank Morris. He did a good job making the intelligent criminal that inspired the film look real.

Rating: ««««

Tous toqués! (2024)

Genre: Franco / Comedy
Réalisateur: Manon Briand
Distribution: Julie Le Breton, Édouard Baer, Élodie Fontaine
Durée: 90 minutes

 

Sonia travaille comme douanière aux frontières entre le Québec et les États-Unis. Elle s’est aliéné une bonne partie de la population de son village en étant trop intransigeante dans son travail. Lorsque sa fille Lili-Beth s’inscrit à un concours de jeunes chefs, malgré peu de talent naturel en cuisine, Sonia fait appel à Victor, un chef français à qui elle a récemment donné du temps dur aux douanes, espérant éviter à son enfant une autre humiliation.

C’est un petit film sympathique, quoique légèrement prévisible. On y va fort dans le cliché parfois, mais, tout de même, c’est une bon divertissement.

Note: «««

Kickboxer (1989)

 Genre: Action
Directed by: David Worth
Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dennis Alexio, Michel Qissi
Time: 103 minutes

 

After his brother Eric gets paralyzed after a vicious organized fight against local champion Tong Po, in Thailand, Kurt Sloane, who was also the corner man, finds someone to train him in Muay Thai so he can avenge his brother by fighting the man who badly injured him.

I remember this film from when I was a kid. I liked all the fighting back then. Looking at it with adult eyes, I see all the clichés, the storyline shortcuts and the bad acting. It is still somewhat entertaining, but not always for the best reasons.

Rating: ««

80 for Brady (2023)

Genre: Comedy
Directed by: Kyle Marvin
Cast: Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Ritsa Moreno, Sally Field
Time: 98 minutes

 

Lou, Trish, Maura and Betty are four older women who have been best friends for many years. They are also huge fans of the New England Patriots, and especially of their quarterback Tom Brady. On a whim, they decide to travel to Houston to attend Superbown LI, opposing the Patriots to the Atlanta Falcons.

This film, based on a true story, is a lot of fun. Good doses of laughter and more touching moments. Sure, there is a lot of silliness, but the strength of the four ladies forming the main cast is the true pillar of this flick.

Rating: ««««

Everybody Loves Raymond (1996-2005)

Genre: TV / Comedy
Starring: Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Brad Garrett, Doris Roberts, Peter Boyle
Number of seasons: 9

 

This sitcom centers around the life of Raymond “Ray” Barone, a sportswriter for Newsday, who lives on Long Island with his wife and three young children. Across the street are Ray’s Italian American parents, two very overbearing and ever-present people, always meddling in their son’s life. Also in the picture is Robert, Ray’s older brother. In spite of his age, Robert is ever jealous of the attention that Raymond gets from his parents and from the rest of the world.

Everybody Loves Raymond is a fun sitcom. By the time you reach season 9, you sense patterns and repetitiveness in certain moments, but the storylines are mostly quite entertaining. The strength here are the characters. They are well-defined and the casting was well done. Every cast member feels more like real people than TV characters. Very entertaining. Some laughter and some touching moments here and there.

Rating: ««««

A Complete Unknown (2024)

Genre: Biographical / Drama
Directed by: James Mangold
Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning
Time: 141 minutes

 

Based on 2015 Elijah Wald book titled Dylan Goes Electric, this film chronicles the early career of singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, from his move to New York City in an effort to meet his idol, the recently hospitalized Woody Guthrie ; to his rise to fame, and to the infamous moment, in 1965, where Dylan got on stage with a band at the Newport Folk Festival and used electrical instruments, causing massive controversy but bringing his career to a whole other level.

This is such a good movie. Timothée Chalamet is amazing as Dylan. He brings the young Dylan to life with such brilliance. The supporting cast is also very strong. Edward Norton was so believable as Peter Seeger.

Overall, this is a film I plan on seeing again, a few more times.

Rating: «««««

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

 Genre: Christmas / Comedy
Directed by: Jeremiah S. Chechik
Cast: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Randy Quaid
Time: 97 minutes

 

Clark Griswold lives in the Chicago area with his wife Ellen and his two kids, Audrey and Rusty. Clark’s plan is to have a big shindig where he hosts all of the extended family for Christmas. He also hopes to get a big seasonal bonus from work to surprise his family with a big expense. But with redneck cousin Eddie dropping by uninvited with his family and so many other issues, things do not go as planned.

This is an all-time Christmas classic film, with zany situations and slapstick comedy. I am not the biggest Chevy Chase fan out there, but he was in true peak cinematic form here. The rest of the cast does a good job too. This one is so much fun.

Rating: «««««