The Missouri Breaks

The Missouri Breaks (Arthur Penn, 1976)

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Rating: Q=5, P=4 / Average OJ

Scale 1=2, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=2, Scale 4=2

Western, Action, Crime

On the surface this film is a Western through and through, but it has goofy moments juxtaposed with gruesome killing and disturbing tormenting. It's not easy to watch, at times. The consequences of the lawless "old west" certainly shows in this story. Definitely one of Marlon Brando's weirdest performances.

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Ride Lonesome

Ride Lonesome (Budd Boetticher, 1959)

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Rating: Q=6, P=4 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=2, Scale 4=2

Western, Action, Bounty Hunter

The stark, desolate landscape is a beautiful background for a classic Western film about men trying to outrun the law, redeem themselves, seek revenge and/or find peace. This film has sharp dialogue and great acting. An enjoyable escape.

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Legend

Legend (Ridley Scott, 1985)

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Rating: Q=4, P=3 / Thanks But No Thanks

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=1, Scale 3=2, Scale 4=1

Fantasy, Dark, Adventure

I so want to like this film because the artistry--lighting, visuals, atmosphere--is impressive, but the story is so convoluted and strange that it's just impossible to enjoy, for me. It felt like a conglomeration of Fantasia and Peter Pan and The Chronicles of Narnia. But creepy and cryptic. The best part of the film BY FAR is Tim Curry's performance as the Lord of Darkness. He totally steals the show and leaves you wondering why there wasn't more of him on the screen. This could have been so much better. I'll stick with other 1980s fantasy films like Willow and The Dark Crystal.

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Little Women

Little Women (Greta Gerwig, 2019)

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Rating: Q=7, P=6 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Based on novel, Coming of Age, Classic, Civil War era, Feminism

I was eager to watch this film since the 1994 Little Women version played a big role in my childhood. I never fully identified with one particular character, but really loved them all for their uniqueness. In this early version Christian Bale and Gabriel Byrne were both dream loves...and Winona Ryder's fierce, independent portrayal of Jo March was magnificent, to me. So, I had high hopes for Greta Gerwig's version of the beloved story.

Well, she definitely delivered. At first, I wasn't sure if I liked the way she organized the plot, but it grew on me and eventually I found it fit well. And all the actors were superb, especially Saoirse Ronan and Timothee Chalamet. It was a new take on the classic and one I think is perfect for our time.

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