Real and Tender little gem with budget production value and slow start.
592980
Real and tender.  Editing could have used some work in the first third of the movie.  Character development was slowed due to this initial poor editing.  connection between Liv and Frankie was believable. She was fragile to perfection.  He was internally lost which made a hard to read, yet believable character.  Film lacks good production and was obviously made on a shoestring budget with a small community of people who believed in the project. A few brief appearances by better known actors  A little gem for those with a little patients that don't require the neat and tidy plots or HD glam to appreciate a movie.
2944073
I purchased this as a gift having seen the movie on cable.  I had fairly low expectations but was pleasantly surprised.  The movie starts a bit slow, but the characters develop nicely.  The humor and story fall along the lines of "Grumpy Old Men," a comparison meant as a compliment rather than a criticism.  The story lapses into silliness at times, but the overall work is solid enough to hold an adult's interest.
754190
This is a light comedy good for casual viewing.  I picked it up on suggestion from a friend.  My cost to buy was about what I'd pay to rent it, so I just got it.  It has its moments.  If you don't set your expectations too high, you'll like it.
1995662
Fabio is a hustler who works the streets of Rio and he meets Eduardo who is much older and also a writer. They start a relationship but have issues around the use of protection, commitment and choices of friends let alone career.

Now that is about it, the subject of STIs is dealt with in an interesting way and there are side issues with one of Fabios friends. However, not a lot happens here. It is a small budget affair  filmed in real apartments etc  and some of the shots were really tasteful but that can not detract from the glaring lack of a real plot. The characters are actually acted fairly well and there is a genuine feeling of warmth here but that of itself is not really enough.

This is not a keeper as such  you may wish to rent as I did but there is very little here to make you a fan. Also very little in the form of bedroom action if that is your thing, so not one I can really recommend unless you have to see everything gay related that comes out and you may find something to like here.
2325853
Like your sentimental flicks fudge-free? Rent this one pronto, if only for the numbing serenity of a tamed De Niro and a button-down Jane Fonda. No big-budget romantic histrionics here. Neither of them particularly original in how they approach their characters: Fonda a plucky, quietly sensible working mother in the face of hardships, De Niro a man who works in a cafeteria kitchen and cleans lavatories. But originality is not really what's needed in this simple film about simple people and their loves beneath the stars. It is easy to see why films like this get glossed over come Oscar time, but it's unfair. All characters have their particular voices and seem refreshingly authentic. So, to a surprising degree, does the movie. Don't read too much of the plot, it should make for an excellent rental for a leisurely afternoon.
3251137
This was a low-budget film with actors that were skilled enough to contribute to a film that is "thought-provoking" and "engaging."  You will  not get all the added production quality of a film that has a larger budget.  As far as the script and dialogue went,  it could have been better but overall it succeeded in getting the viewer to consider the actual consequences a computer intelligence drawing conclusions on the question of  "Does God exist?"  At one point towards the end, a small clip is emailed that show a Philosopher considering a question of "Whether it is ultimately beneficial to the further development of human progress that a conclusion be drawn about God's existence or whether it is best to leave this question to be one that is continually wrestled with on the personal level?"  Near Death Experience or NDE's come into play on a very small scale in the conversations between the computer, IVAN, and those who experienced them.  No doubt, the computer data gathering program finds that this provides evidence of something greater than humans alone in the universe but this is very indirectly presented and not given as much attention as I would have liked.

Spoiler Alert:  In the film, IVAN doesn't produce an answer to God's existence.  The premise comes down to the philosophical argument of WHY DO WE ---AS HUMANS-- WHO KNOW FEEL LOVE, PAIN, AND DEEP EMOTION WANT TO THROW AT SUCH A VERY SPIRITUAL, HUMAN-BASED QUESTION (GOD'S EXISTENCE) TO A COMPUTER THAT IS DATA-FED AND NOT SENSORY OR DESIGNED OR BUILT AS WE ARE.  Hmmm......very good point, no doubt.  As far as the ending went.....I really didn't like it all.  I thought the Director could have figured out a better to close out to the film, even with it being a low-budget film.  It's like you get invited on a journey with a very significant question and you get hopeful of what could be but then you are left with a somewhat inconclusive and abrupt ending, in relation to the beginning point of the film.  I didn't expect some fantastic ending at all....but I'm like REALLY???? at the end.  Overall this film had a decent plot.  The actors are above average (yet not award-winning performance by any stretch) but there is definitely elements that could be improved in the production.  I do think it's a great plot that should be picked up again with a Director who can take it to the next level.  I think the movie, TRANSCENDENCE, with Johnny Depp, has some similarities and you get all the great special effects with that film, since the budget was good.  If you want to watch a film that makes you think, either one of the films can succeed in that.  There are issues for all of us, as technology grows in it's ability to process information at unimaginable speed.  Would the artificial intelligence make decisions to our benefit or to our detriment?  That is something to think about, for sure.
241063
I'd never heard of this low-budget, talky and politically-minded western until I saw it new in the video store. Though it's far from being one of the greats I'm glad I checked it out - mostly for lead Dan Duryea, one of my favorite seedy leading men/bad guys from noir, in the first western I've seen him in.

Duryea is Ned McCarty, riding into the town of Silver Lode on July 4th, after a man named Dan Ballard (John Payne, yet another face familiar from noir), who is in the process of being married to Rose Evans (Lizabeth Scott - a third noir icon!), daughter of the town's big cheese. Ballard is an upstanding citizen who's done well for himself in two years in the town and has become well-loved by everybody, but when McCarty comes in claiming that he's a US marshall charged with bringing Ballard back to California (I guess Silver Lode is probably in Nevada though I don't think it's ever stated) for murdering his brother, the town starts to turn against him. Ballard being the straight-shooter kind of guy admits to the killing - though he claims the other guy drew first - and people start to remember that it was always kind of odd that he pulled into town with loads of money out of nowhere years ago. Soon the whole town, except for his bride-to-be, is against him, as he tries to prove that McCarty isn't a real marshall and turn McCarty's mean against each other.

A well-done, taut and economical little thriller with very little gunplay until the last act, with the only real problem being that Payne is just too obviously the good guy and Duryea just as obviously the bad one. Perhaps with other actors not as stereotyped at that point there would have been more ambiguity; then again ambiguity seems to run counter to the obvious political McCarthy undertones - Ballard standing in for accused Communists, of course. Still quite nicely done, the two leads are fine (I've never been a fan of Lizabeth Scott, a low-rent Lauren Bacall to my mind, but she has little to do here and can't be faulted) and there are a couple of great tracks across the town as Ballard tries to escape the citizens turned against him. Dwan was one of the great action directors back in the silent days and he still had it in the mid 50s.
4777163
"Rare Birds" chronicles the life of Dave (William Hurt), chef of "The Auk" in a small coastal town in Newfoundland. Business is sagging, and Dave is preparing to sell the restaurant when wacky Fonce (Newfoundlander Andy Jones in a brilliant turn as always) cooks up a scheme involving the sighting of a rare bird (in reality, an extinct duck) to bring flocks of birdwatchers to the area and boost business. The plan works, but the two get more than they bargain for: there are numerous other subplots, some unnecessary, such as the cocaine stash, a love affair between Dave and Alice, Fonce's bookish sister-in-law, the RCMP Bulgarian light conspiracy, and the Winnebegos.
Molly Parker's Alice was a delight, as was Andy Jones' neurotic Fonce. I thought that the entire cocaine subplot was unnecessary. The bathroom humour seemed too base as well, although limited to one (thankfully) brief scene. Although Ebert regards "Rare Birds" as more of a wacky Newfoundland character study than "The Shipping News," I disagree. I found that "The Shipping News" had a much more engaging plot and much more involved characters. The pacing of "Rare Birds" is sometimes slow and awkward, and I didn't really relate to Hurt's character, which made it much harder to enjoy the film as a whole.
The DVD offers very little in the way of special features, mainly a few computer-generated sets from production designs, a trailer (which shows what the film *could * have been if it had lost the excess baggage) and a commentary by director Sturla Gunnarsson. "Rare Birds" is rated R for language and drug use.
4271714
OK, I rounded up to 4 stars. This really isn't bad, though.

It's an idiom that most American viewers won't be familiar with. The major characters are Kuan Yin, Confucius, and a flock of other gods, godlings, immortals, buddhas, figures from myth, and other well-known figures and stereotypes from the Chinese pantheon. There are the flying heroes, improbable weapons, and acting at least on a par with the Dr. Who series. In other words, lots of viewers will see it as alien, disconnected, and amateurish, as well as being filled overly convenient miracles.

But it's not in the Western idiom, so parts of it have to be taken in their own terms. And it has the look of a low-budget film, so you won't see effects on the Star Wars scale. And it is a bit cheesy and over-the-top, which is part of the appeal.

The fights are bloodless, the romance is chaste, and all but the youngest kids will understand the characters. If you don't take it or yourself too seriously, there's a lot of fun in this one.

//wiredweird
2309881
The story starts out flat and slow (in my opinion) but once you buy into the cross country trek and commit to finish watching the film, it is pleasant.  The plot is decent and witty without being too predictable or in your face.  I was quite surprised it got so many high marks in the reviews on Amazon -- which kept me thinking (up until the end) there must be something more worth waiting for.

Nope.

So if your watchlist is getting empty and you're needing something fairly light with a bit of humor and wit, this may be for you.  However, if you're looking for something romantic to watch with the spouse (and don't intend to put them to sleep) I'd suggest you keep shopping.

Worth noting that the leading actors are married in real life - and have great chemistry on-screen (which shouldn't surprise) -- but I did find myself wondering why the actress hasn't landed more roles.  They both had a familiarity about them, reminding us of somebody, but couldn't peg it the whole movie.
1071869
If you are a dedicated fan of Michael Douglas, then you will probably get a kick out of this low-budget indie flick.

Douglas plays a scraggly-bearded nutcase newly released from a mental institution in Southern California.  During his incarceration, he had become fixated with the idea of finding a stash of old gold coins that had been hidden for hundreds of years.  He is gradually able to lure his teenage daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) into his quixotic quest for the treasure.

After very careful calculations, Douglas determines that the gold coins lie buried beneath the cement floor of a Costco.  He and his daughter hatch an improbable plan to retrieve the treasure.  We watch the two of them execute the plan and we don't really believe any of it for a moment, but it is entertaining to see it unfold.

This movie has a very uneven tone.  Some scenes are pretty funny and some scenes are rather grim and it doesn't all come together quite as well as it could have.  But there's never really a dull moment.  The acting is close to perfect.  The location filming adds a welcome verisimilitude.  It's a very pleasant movie to sit through.

Fans of Michael Douglas won't want to miss this one.  Everybody else may find enough to enjoy here that it will probably be a purchase they won't regret.
1440064
This is one of those low-budget B films with unknown actors that usually are boring and substandard. After renting this for a $1.99 I viewed it and was surprised. The quality of the print is poor (filmed on 16mm and transferred to 35mm) and the color (Eastmancolor, which is usually good) has faded and needs to be digitally restored but I did find it interesting enough to watch all of it. First, the story is so-so (religious cult demands human sacrifices; people have been disappearing and turning up dead) and clich. Second, the writing was also so-so and some would be bored with it. The acting, however, was better than expected and I noted the sheriff, the doctor and the ranch/lodge owner were decent actors. The two ladies were attractive enough. Another thing that held my interest was the desert scenes, filmed in Southwest Texas near Big Bend National Park (Lajitas and Terlingua) which really would have benefited from a digital restoration. I won't give away the ending although it's predictable. So if you enjoy stories about devil cults, sacrifices, and people stranded in the desert, give it a try.
2292880
3.8 stars

At first this seems like just another hokey old flick, but within 15 minutes things pick up nicely and it becomes a rather funny statement on greed and fatcattishness. The leads are good, Sturges' pen and camera are both sharp as usual, and there are a few nice little speeches that could easily come from It's A Wonderful Life or other classics.

What's most appealing here is the respect and love for the "common man", and the rather bold little rants against selfishness and mindless capitalism. The boss' speech at the end about believing in greatness only because others believed it first hits the nail on the head quite uncomfortably, and shows that the more things change...

While no masterpiece, Christmas In July is well worth watching as a pleasantly amusing film with real heart.
And at only 67 minutes, it's a nice little amusement that doesn't force you to sit through many slow moments at all.
Wouldn't mind seeing some new movies this short; double bills again, anyone?

Btw, we got this from nitflex, and it was part of a multi-disc Sturges retrospective also listed here. But seeing as we only saw this film, it didn't make sense to review the whole series. So let it be known that this particular dvd of that series is welll-transferred and looks very good indeed. The sound is clean and very quiet but never muffled, the blacks have a fair bit of depth (kind of vital for b&w films!), and all in all it's one of the better transfers from this era you'll find out there right now.
1681664
This film was recommended to me.  I rolled my eyes when I first read the summary of it, but the movie surprised me.  It's a charming story that I think a lot of gay people can relate to.

This is an independent film and should be viewed as such.  It's not big-budget.  Lower-budget films have a real-life feel that can't be equalled by big-budget Hollywood movies.

All the characters are well-defined and very real.  The acting is good, considering the budget the movie was on.  I was impressed with Corey Spears' performance and surprised that, at 25, he could successfully pull of being an 18 year old.

The movie is entirely shot handheld and it gives the movie a very raw, realistic feel.

I'd recommend the film to just about anyone and have.
702421
This movie made prime barbecue out of stones and vines.  The essence of the challenges - dramatized but not mathematically enumerated (which I could have wished for ... though not the estrangement of the mathematically challenged) - was brought about by a small team.  You can tell this film was low budget but all the actors were good - even Izzard, a stand-up comedienne.  The low budget of the production found realistic source in the low budget of the fledgling radar team's setting.

Brilliant story about intelligent, not brilliant, nor well-born men, hashing out together a technology that would allow Britain to withstand the Luftwaffe with 1/3rd it's planes.
2112943
I like indy movies and character studies and wasn't sure about this one, it got off to a slow start that ended up being perfect by virtue of the state the main character was in - his moment of opportunity arrives and you don't know if he'll really take it. He keeps writing to someone for the voice overs and sharing his inner musings added a nice dimension. These characters all feel very real, they are dealing with very tough situations. It's kind of a coming of age film in which a moy becomes a man, father, friend etc. The acting was great on everyone's part, good script and production, all the way through, very humble regular guy finds his way, and people around him do too. Some unexpected drama that brought the film into a better than just good film. It's heartwarming.
4491442
It is a low budget movie so I did not expect much.  Over all it is better than many I started to watch.