Nim's Island

Nim's Island (Jennifer Flackett and Mark Levin, 2008)

Click here for the basics

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

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

Family, Adventure, Storytelling, Coming of Age, Comedy

This is a fun (and rather ridiculous!) story about embracing life, trying new things, being resourceful, and the power of loyalty. The two main characters are both female, both learning to cope/grow in their own way, and both processing reality in a unique way (a hypochondriac/agoraphobic adult writer who can't function without her main character vs. a brave young girl whose friends are all different species). A great family film, a nice reminder that good storytelling still exists in movies.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

The Man Who Came To Dinner

The Man Who Came To Dinner (William Keighley, 1942)

Click here for the basics

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

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

Screwball Comedy, Dialogue, Romance, Based on Play

"Did you ever have the feeling that you wanted to go, and still have the feeling that you wanted to stay?" This line, sung by the incomparable Jimmy Durante, is a great summary of this film and my reaction to it. I liked the sharp wit, the interactions between characters, the comic timing. And while I couldn't stand the excruciating main character, Sheridan Whiteside, I found myself wanting to listen to him insulting his hosts, and interfering with their lives.

The art of the film is nothing special but the dialogue is wonderfully fun and fast-paced, probably what attracted Bette Davis, Anne Sheridan, and Monty Woolley. A fun one.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold (Martin Ritt, 1965)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=7, P=3 / Rubs Me The Wrong Way

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

Cold War, Spy, Intense Dialogue, Suspense, Thriller

Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy this film despite the rating. My trouble is that cold war + spy genre is just not my cup of tea. Something about that combination makes me feel uncomfortable and a little lost. The artistry and editing in The Spy Who Came In From The Cold is tremendous, beautiful, poignant. I loved watching every scene. But the plot feels too dense, often hard to follow. I felt the same way about Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Maybe the book would have allowed me more time to soak in the nuances of the scheming.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

For No Good Reason

For No Good Reason (Charlie Paul, 2012)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Quite Legible

Scale K=3, Scale L=3, Scale M=3, Scale N=2

Documentary, Art, Politics, Activism

This is a fun documentary about part of the life of Ralph Steadman. He is the big, main part of why I enjoy the world of Hunter S. Thompson. I would never call myself a Gonzo fanatic, but I love the strange, ugly, bizarre, frightening, grotesque images that Steadman draws. It's fun to see how it all started and how it evolved. To me, and I think most artists, it's all about process as a way of dealing and reacting to the world. I think I could be friends with Ralph Steadman. We share beliefs and philosophies. 

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Fantastic Planet

Fantastic Planet (Rene Laloux, 1973)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=7, P=7 / Obsession

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

Science Fiction, Animation, Philosophical, Surreal

This is classic science fiction and a masterpiece of animation. And it is a powerful and timeless story that values knowledge, tolerance, and peace. Every moment of the film is like stepping inside a painting by Dali or Bosch. Magical, marvelous, and captivating.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Children of Men

Children of Men (Alfonso Cuarón, 2006)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=7, P=4 / Can't Get Enough

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

Science Fiction, Dystopia, Post-Apocalyptic, Based on Novel, Philosophical

This adaptation of P.D. James's novel is gritty, desperate, and scarily believable. Could the effects of globalization and climate change cause mass migration, excessive fear, and all-consuming war? Maybe. And what if the human race could no longer reproduce? Would the absence of new life erase all hope? Deeply compelling. If you rent this, watch the additional features. There is a short documentary with interviews by influential/important scientists and philosophers VERY worth your time.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here