Tag: movie reviews

Take 3: Cricket on the Hearth (1967) Review

On By 18cinemalane5 Comments

You probably think it’s strange how, after a week and a half long hiatus, my first review back on my blog would be for a Christmas film (in the middle of August). However, I have a very good explanation for this choice. The first reason is how the 1967 animated movie, Cricket on the Hearth, is what I selected for Realweegiemidget Reviews’ (Aaron) Spellingverse Blogathon, as Aaron Spelling was one of the film’s executive producers. The second reason is how animated movies are reviewed so infrequently on my blog. In fact, Cricket on the Hearth is the first animated film to be reviewed on 18 Cinema Lane in 2024. When I chose to participate in the (Aaron) Spellingverse Blogathon, I knew I wanted to write about a made-for-tv movie. So, when I discovered the 1967 film on Aaron’s IMDB filmography, I felt I found the perfect movie for the blogathon, especially for the previously mentioned reasons! But did Cricket on the Hearth end up being the perfect choice to write about? Keep reading my review to find out!

Cricket on the Hearth (1967) title card created by Rankin/Bass Productions, Thomas/Spelling Productions, and National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Things I liked about the film:

The animation: Some of the best animated movies boast bright, colorful hues. These hues can be utilized in various ways, from creating imaginative worlds to providing interesting visual contrasts. Cricket on the Hearth was a very kaleidoscopic production! Scenes either burst with a bundle of color or at least one bold color sparkled against a darker background. Presenting Cricket Crocket in a mustard yellow suit jacket and shoes, paired with an orange vest and a red bowtie, was a smart creative decision. It forces the audience to focus on Cricket Crocket, especially when he’s standing on a dark wood table or a deep green top hat. The toys in Caleb’s toy shop come to life during the song, ‘Smiles Go With Tears’. Despite the title’s contraction, the song’s tone is joyful because the song is about someone shedding tears due to being happy. The joyful nature of ‘Smiles Go With Tears’ is wonderfully depicted in the presentation of the toys. From a doll’s bubble-gum pink dress and bonnet to a pair of bright yellow and blue elephants, this scene was great to look at!

While looking for a place to live, Caleb considers moving into a poor house. Because Cricket Crocket is perched on Caleb’s top hat, Cricket Crocket hangs upside down in order to face Caleb. While looking upside down, Cricket Crocket sees a nearby toy factory. As he is readjusting himself, the image of the toy factory flips from appearing upside down to becoming right-side up. Animated films from the 1960s, especially those that were made-for-tv productions, were created with limited resources compared to animated pictures from the twenty-first century. Therefore, scenes like the one I just described seem ahead of its time.

The songs: Before reviewing Cricket on the Hearth, I had never seen the 1967 movie. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered the movie was a musical! The songs featured in this film sounded like relics of the late ‘60s, the time when Cricket on the Hearth was released. But these sounds, from emotional ballads to cheery tunes, felt nostalgic. Danny Thomas, who voices Caleb, sings a ballad titled ‘Through My Eyes’. Throughout this song, Caleb expresses his desire for his daughter, Bertha, to see the world how he wishes he could present it to her. The combination of Danny’s vocals and the orchestral music felt reminiscent of Judy Garland’s ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ and Louis Armstrong’s ‘What a Wonderful World’, songs that exude a sense of hope and contain timeless elements. Another song of Danny’s I liked was ‘The First Christmas’! Before this song, Caleb wonders how he will provide the kind of Christmas Bertha hopes for. He learns how to resolve his conflict as the song carries on. The lyrics of ‘The First Christmas’ illustrate how Christmas doesn’t have to look the same for those who celebrate the holiday. The inclusion of the Norman Luboff Chorus added gravitas to this song!

The religious aspects of Christmas: Based on what I know about Charles Dickens and his stories, A Christmas Carol, one of his most well-known pieces of literature, is typically not known for addressing the religious aspects of Christmas. Though it was briefly incorporated in Cricket on the Hearth, I was pleasantly surprised by the recognition of Christmas’ religious aspects! As I previously said while talking about ‘The First Christmas’, the lyrics of the song illustrate how Christmas doesn’t have to look the same for those who celebrate the holiday. This point is emphasized by reminding the audience how Jesus had very little in terms of decorations and presents during the First Christmas. By the end of the song, the message is made clear; it’s not about what you have, but who you spend Christmas with that’s important. Before closing out the movie, Danny quotes a poem by Edmund Cooke. The quote itself goes “Tis not the weight of jewel or plate, or the fondle of silk or fur, ‘tis the spirit in which the gift is rich, as the gifts of the Wise Men were. And we are not told whose gift was gold or whose was the gift of myrrh”. Edmund’s poem brings up an excellent point, as the Nativity story does not specify which gift came from which Wise Man. This quote also highlights the point made earlier about Christmas being about who you spend the holiday with.

The (Aaron) Spellingverse Blogathon banner created by Gill from Realweegiemidget Reviews

What I didn’t like about the film:

Scenes that serve as padding: In order to satisfy a film’s run-time, a film’s creative team will, sometimes, choose to pad the story out by incorporating additional scenes or establishing shots. This creative decision was utilized in Cricket on the Hearth, mostly in between songs. During the song, ‘Through My Eyes’, a scene of Bertha dancing in a ballgown lasts for almost thirty seconds. The song itself takes up two minutes and twenty-three seconds of the movie’s run-time. I don’t think Cricket on the Hearth needed padding, especially since it lasted a little over forty-nine minutes.

The randomness of the ‘Fish and Chips’ song: I liked the featured songs in Cricket on the Hearth. However, there is one song that, in the context of the story, felt random. A cat named Moll, voiced by Abbe Lane, sings a song about the finer things in life called ‘Fish and Chips’. This song is sung to a jazzy, ragtime tune. During the performance, Moll dances in a red, low-cut, sleeveless dress and even attempts to flirt with the male characters in her audience. The animation in this scene didn’t look bad. Abbe Lane also did a good job with the material given to her. But the story appearing to take place somewhere in the 1800s and with the movie’s tone being mostly heartwarmingly gentle, Moll’s ‘Fish and Chips’ song feels out of place in Cricket on the Hearth.

Parts of the story that don’t make sense: For this part of my review, I will spoil Cricket on the Hearth. If you have not seen the 1967 film and are interested in watching it, please skip ahead to the part of my review titled ‘My overall impression’.

Cricket on the Hearth’s antagonist, Tackleton, has a pet bird named Uriah. More often than not, Tackleton and Uriah are inseparable. After Tackleton orders Uriah to get rid of Cricket Crocket, Uriah and two of his friends kidnap Cricket Crocket and try to sell him to a sea captain. During the scene of Uriah’s attempted business transaction, it is heavily implied Uriah and his friends died. Fast forward toward the end of the movie, Tackleton is upset by Bertha’s rejection of his marriage proposal. In fact, he’s more upset about Bertha’s rejection than the absence of his bird. If Tackleton and Uriah were as inseparable as they appeared to be earlier in the movie, wouldn’t Tackleton wonder what happened to Uriah? Wouldn’t Tackleton ask the other characters if they know where Uriah is? This is just one part of Cricket on the Hearth that, to me, didn’t make sense.

Three Wise Men themed wish list paper image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/christmas”>Christmas vector created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

As I watched Cricket on the Hearth, I was reminded of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, the 1983 Christmas movie I reviewed last December. Both films are not only made-for-tv productions, they both feel more like television specials than movies. It’s expected to suspend some disbelief in stories from animated films. But Cricket on the Hearth tried to suspend disbelief to the point parts of the story didn’t make sense. Despite the movie being under an hour long, some scenes, including those in between songs, served as unnecessary padding. Throughout Cricket on the Hearth, however, I could tell the movie’s creative team tried their best to make their project as special as possible. The songs were not only well performed, the music and visuals provided a good combination for the song itself. Though briefly incorporated, I also liked the recognition of Christmas’ religious aspects. I have not read Cricket on the Hearth’s source material. But based on what I know about Charles Dickens’ work, this story seems different from his other adaptations, as Cricket on the Hearth relies more on elements of fantasy and magical realism.

Overall score: 6.5 out of 10

Have you seen or read Cricket on the Hearth? Which adaptation of Charles Dickens’ stories would you like to see me review? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters Review

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Now that 2024 is at the halfway point, I can share my honest thoughts on Hallmark Mystery’s programming. As of late July 2024, the best mystery movie is still Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans! I also thought Tipline Mysteries: Dial 1 for Murder has potential to start a series. But other than those titles, most of Hallmark’s mystery films, so far, have either been ok, disappointing, or (in the case of CrimeTime: Freefall) unwatchable. This emphasizes what I’ve been saying since I published my editorial about why Francesca Quinn, PI is the worst Hallmark movie I’ve ever seen; the network no longer prioritizes the mystery genre. However, I watch as many of Hallmark’s mystery projects as possible hoping they are good. With that said, I have decided to review Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters. In an editorial as well as a Word on the Street story, I speculated what the movie could be about based on quotes and scenes from the trailer and even past creative decisions from Hallmark themselves. While some of these speculations were proven wrong, it was interesting to see how these creative choices differed from my own ideas. I also approached this newest chapter in the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series hoping it was good, as the overall quality of the series, in my opinion, has been inconsistent. Did Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters raise my hopes or fall short of my expectations? Keep reading my review to find out!

Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters poster created by Hallmark Mystery, MoonWater Productions, and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Things I liked about the film:

The overarching theme: When I shared my thoughts on the Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters trailer last month, I talked about how the film’s main plot seemed like a redemption story based on the featured scenes and quotes. As I watched the movie, I was proven wrong on what the story was about. Instead, the overarching theme of Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters discussed when to get involved in someone’s life as well as their problems. This was an interesting creative choice because this is the first time in the series’ eleven-year history the POstables have questioned their work at the Dead Letter Office. The creative decision also highlights how the POstables’ actions have consequences. The thought-provoking nature of the overarching theme, plus its relatability, gives the audience something to think about not only during the movie, but after the story ends.

Recognition of therapy: Therapy can be a useful resource for people who genuinely need it. Though in the twenty-year history of Hallmark Mystery, this idea is rarely included in their programming. Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters shows both POstable couples utilizing therapy for personal reasons. For Norman and Rita, therapy is a part of the process toward starting a family. Meanwhile, Oliver and Shane attend therapy in order to solve a problem. The incorporation of therapy in the newest Signed, Sealed, Delivered movie addresses how multifaceted therapy can be. It also acknowledges a topic typically overlooked by Hallmark. Therapy’s inclusion in Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters gave this story a more unique identity within the series!

Charley’s subplot: In my Word on the Street story about the trailer for Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters, I speculated if Rhiannon Fish’s character, Charley, would become a fifth member of the POstables. This speculation was based on quotes and scenes directly from the trailer. Charley does not become an official member of the POstables in Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters. However, she did receive her own subplot! Charley’s part of the story shared a connection to the film’s main plot. Plus, Charley received more character development, which allowed the audience to learn more about her and her backstory. Because of this creative decision, Charley became more involved in the overall story of the movie. It also gave Rhiannon more acting material to work with!

Since I included screenshots of the Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters trailer in my aforementiond Word on the Street story, I will also include them in my review of the movie. This screenshot is taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

What I didn’t like about the film:

Shane and Oliver’s relationship problems: Throughout the eleven-year lifespan of the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series, Oliver and Shane have embodied the “opposites attract” trope sometimes adopted in romance or “rom-com” stories. Despite their differences, the couple was able to find common ground to help and love each other. Sadly, this previously established aspect of Shane and Oliver’s relationship was lacking in Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters. For most of the story, the couple were either arguing with each other or were bitter toward one another. Their problems got to the point where Oliver and Shane didn’t seem compatible like in past films. Though the couple did go to therapy to resolve these problems, Shane and Oliver’s relationship woes soured the movie’s overall tone.

Predictable parts of the story: The Signed, Sealed, Delivered series has a more unique identity compared to Hallmark Mystery’s other movie series. One reason is the exclusion of murder mysteries. But no matter the mystery a movie series adopts, the mystery itself has to be intriguing enough for the audience to stay invested in the program. An approach to this idea is not making the story too predictable. Unfortunately, there were predictable parts of Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters’ story. Charley knows exactly how the Great Mailbox Breach of 2017 started. Seconds after I predicted the reason, she ended up proving my prediction right when she shared this revelation with Shane and Oliver. Speaking of Shane, she has a surprise to share in this film. The surprise wasn’t effective for me because I correctly guessed the surprise within the movie’s first twenty minutes based on presented clues. These predictable parts of the story caused the film’s intrigue to decrease.

Too convenient situations: Earlier in this review, I mentioned Rita and Norman going to therapy as part of the process toward starting a family. Their part of Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters’ story revolved around their desire to adopt a child. At one point, Rita even mentions having to deal with a lot of paperwork. But along the way, the POstables meet someone who, conveniently, finds the perfect solution for Norman and Rita. This causes their conflict to be resolved by the end of the movie. Situations happening too conveniently is another reason for the film’s decreased intrigue.

Since I included screenshots of the Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters trailer in my aforementiond Word on the Street story, I will also include them in my review of the movie. This screenshot is taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

My overall impression:

Hallmark brought the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series out of a three year hiatus to air Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters on Hallmark Mystery. While it’s good to see Hallmark continuing a mystery series instead of cancelling or abandoning it, the newest Signed, Sealed, Delivered chapter needed more time to develop a stronger story. This movie did improve upon some of the flaws of the predecessor, Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Vows We Have Made, such as providing Charley with more character development. Good creative decisions were expressed on screen, like the overarching theme and the recognition of therapy. But as I watched Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters, I realized what the film was missing was the cozy charm that helped create Signed, Sealed, Delivered’s brand. The elements of religion/faith Signed, Sealed, Delivered has been known for was lacking, with God being referenced only once. Even Stevie Wonder’s song, which has become the unofficial theme song of the series, was nowhere to be heard. In all honesty, I have seen films in the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series that were weaker than Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters. At the same time, there were stronger films in this series than Signed, Sealed, Delivered’s newest installment. Hopefully, next year’s chapter, “Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back” is a better movie.

Overall score: 6 out of 10

Have you seen Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters? Are you looking forward to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back”? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: El Dorado (1966) Review

On By 18cinemalane1 Comment

Whenever I’ve participated in the Legends of Western Cinema Week Blogathon, I, more often than not, review a movie from the Western genre. Since I review Western genre films so infrequently, this blogathon serves as a good opportunity to expand my cinematic horizons. For the 2024 edition, I decided to select a title that has been recommended to me. Suggested by J-Dub from Dubsism, I am reviewing the 1966 film, El Dorado! Years ago, I saw pieces of this movie. At the time, I thought it was boring. But I was willing to give El Dorado a second chance, wondering if my perspective had changed. I also have seen very few films from John Wayne’s filmography. So, reviewing this film gave me a chance to check out more of his movies!

El Dorado (1966) poster created by Paramount Pictures, Laurel Productions, and Polyphony Digital

Things I liked about the film:

The on-screen chemistry: Relationships in movies, whether romantic or platonic, can come across believably on screen if there is a strong sense of chemistry between the actors. This is what happened in El Dorado! Toward the beginning of the movie, J.P., portrayed by Robert Mitchum, meets up with Cole, portrayed by John Wayne, to talk about a potential job opportunity. Cole and J.P. carry no-nonsense demeanors, but their cordialness to each other shows the respect between them. The scene’s mood becomes lighter when Maudie, portrayed by Charlene Holt, shows up. Her friendly, playfulness emphasizes the friendship these characters share. When Maudie talks about her late husband and Cole with J.P., the empathetic reflection indicates how much she cares about both Cole and J.P.. Not only was there strong on-screen chemistry among the actors, this strong on-screen chemistry was consistent throughout the film. The on-screen relationships were interesting to watch because of these factors!

The dialogue: One of the most important components of a movie’s script is the dialogue. Through dialogue, characters can memorably stand-out, important information can be shared, and characters’ problems can be solved. The quality of a script’s dialogue depends on how well written it is. While watching El Dorado, I took note of the cleverness of the dialogue. After a son from the MacDonald family dies, Cole visits the family to share the sad news. The patriarch of the family, Kevin, asks what happened, with Cole telling him how he got “a boy to do a man’s work”. Later, when Cole returns to El Dorado, he reconnects with J.P.. When J.P. asks Cole what he’s doing back in El Dorado, Cole tells his friend, “I’m lookin’ at a tin star with a…drunk pinned on it”. Dialogue like the two examples I provided show how cleverly words were used as well as the eloquent ways intended points were phrased.

Breen Code Era moments: As I’ve explained before on 18 Cinema Lane, the Breen Code was a series of guidelines studios had to follow between 1934 and 1954. El Dorado was released in 1966, a decade after the Breen Code Era ended. However, there were moments sprinkled throughout the movie that felt reminiscent of the Breen Code Era. Before Cole leaves El Dorado, he kisses Maudie. The kiss itself isn’t shown on-screen because Cole’s hat is blocking their faces. When Mississippi, portrayed by James Caan, is first introduced to the audience, he uses a knife in self-defense against a man he claims killed his friend. As Mississippi retrieves his knife, the aforementioned man is hidden behind a table to prevent some of the violence from being shown on screen. The way these moments were written and presented were thoughtful presentations of an era gone by.

Legends of Western Cinema Week Blogathon banner created by Hamlette from Hamlette’s Soliloquy, Heidi from Along the Brandywine, and Olivia from Meanwhile, in Rivendell

What I didn’t like about the film:

A prolonged conflict: Before watching El Dorado, I had seen two of John Wayne’s films: Stagecoach and Allegheny Uprising. In those movies, the story revolves around an overarching conflict some of the characters are consistently trying to resolve. While there was an overarching conflict in El Dorado, it primarily resided in the film’s second half. The first half of the movie consisted of a series of loosely connected vignettes. These vignettes, more often than not, contained low stakes. El Dorado’s first and second halves felt like they belonged in their own separate movies.

Inconsistent sense of urgency: Like I just said when talking about El Dorado’s prolonged conflict, the first half of the movie was a series of loosely connected vignettes, while the film’s overarching conflict resided in the story’s second half. Within the second half of the movie, scenes containing low stakes were woven into the production. One example is Cole addressing a back injury he received earlier in the story. El Dorado’s two halves and the low stakes scenes from the film’s second half are two reasons why this movie’s sense of urgency was inconsistent.

Enabling the Sheriff: J.P., the Sheriff of El Dorado, develops an alcohol addiction due to a romantic relationship gone wrong. When Cole and Mississippi go to El Dorado, they, as well as Bull, try to help J.P. overcome his addiction. Mississippi even creates a liquid concoction to sober J.P. up. But hours after receiving Mississippi’s concoction, J.P. is looking for alcohol. Bull tells J.P. exactly where a bottle of alcohol is located, in the upper left-hand drawer of his desk. Later that evening, Cole allows J.P. to go to the local saloon by himself, where he not only purchases a whole bottle of alcohol, he’s also laughed at by the film’s antagonists. J.P. does eventually become sober in order to help his friends. But toward the end of the movie, J.P. shares a shot of alcohol with Bull. If a screenwriter is going to incorporate a serious topic like addiction into their script, they need to be mindful about how that topic is included in the film. In my opinion, the way addiction was addressed in El Dorado could have been more thoughtful.

Sheriff badge image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/brown-cowboy-label-set_1543252.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/vintage”>Vintage vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

El Dorado is not only the third film of John Wayne’s I’ve seen, it’s the second film of John’s I’ve reviewed. Out of these three films, Stagecoach, Allegheny Uprising, and El Dorado, I haven’t found a title that’s left a strong impression on me. Looking back on Stagecoach, I think the movie is just fine. Allegheny Uprising was ok. Now that I’ve seen El Dorado in its entirety, I feel the 1966 project is also ok. The two halves of this movie and the low stakes scenes woven into the movie’s second half are likely the reason for El Dorado’s inconsistent sense of urgency. The topic of addiction could have been handled in a more thoughtful way. However, the movie does have its strengths. Some of these strengths are the on-screen chemistry among the cast and how well the dialogue was written. Personally, I found El Dorado to be a mixed bag. Hopefully, the next film of John’s I watch and review will be stronger than this one.

Overall score: 6 out of 10

Have you seen El Dorado? Which film from John Wayne’s filmography would you like me to review? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: In Country (1989) Review

On By 18cinemalane3 Comments

One of the best parts about participating in blogathons is being introduced to movies that may be new to you. This is my experience with the 1989 film, In Country! For Taking Up Room’s Norman Jewison Blogathon, I wanted to choose a movie that was more underrated. While searching through Norman’s IMDB filmography, I came across the aforementioned ‘80s title. The synopsis reminded me of My Girl 2, where Vada is attempting to learn more about her mother. What sets In Country apart from the 1994 sequel is how the 1989 movie explores the aftermath of the Vietnam War by having the protagonist search for answers about her father. In 2024, I have reviewed four other films from the 1980s, so far. Similar to titles like Amadeus and Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Pack of Lies, In Country incorporates historical elements into the story. But will the 1989 movie be a pleasant surprise like Amadeus or a disappointment like Pack of Lies? Keep reading my review to find out!

In Country (1989) poster created by Warner Bros. and Yorktown Productions

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: In any story, especially one that features a young protagonist, the main character’s likability can determine if the story is worth investing time in. I can only speak for myself, but I liked Samantha “Sam” Hughes’ personality! Though naïve at times, Sam was like a bright ray of sunshine, caring about the people in her life and trying to make her world a better place. What made Sam a likeable character was how genuine her emotions were. After finding a box of her father’s belongings in her mother’s room, Sam leaves a voice message on the phone explaining to her mother how upset she is by her mother’s silence about her father. When she hangs up the phone, the sad look in her eyes and the slight frown perfectly show how hurt Sam feels about her mother’s choices. This is just one example of Emily Lloyd bringing that genuineness to life, allowing her performance to be memorable!

Prior to watching and reviewing In Country, I had seen some of Bruce Willis’ films. His portrayal of Emmett Smith is different from some of his other roles, as he had to rely on emotion instead of action to carry his character through the story. A thunderstorm is causing chaos outside Emmett’s home one evening. Because of his time serving in the Vietnam War, he flinches whenever thunder strikes due to the flashbacks he is experiencing. At the same time, Emmett carries irritation in his voice because he wants the storm to stop and he wants to avoid Sam’s questions. Similar to what I said about Emily Lloyd’s performance, Bruce’s performance felt genuine. Beneath the tough exterior Emmett consistently displayed, he was a man who was trying to live a civilian life as best as he knew how.

Honesty about war and its impact on veterans: Like I just mentioned in this review, Emmett experiences flashbacks one stormy evening due to his time serving in the Vietnam War. These flashbacks not only cause Emmett to flinch every time thunder strikes, they also cause him to go outside, climb up a tree, and yell for someone to show their face. Throughout this scene, Sam asks Emmett questions about what is happening. Unfortunately for Sam, these questions are left unanswered. When Emmett goes outside, Sam calls for Emmett to come back in the house. As Emmett’s mind and heart are beyond the borders of his Kentucky home, Sam feels powerless, unsure of how to help Emmett. The scene I just wrote about is one example of the film’s honesty when discussing war and its impact on veterans. The candid way these subjects were talked about in the movie shows how the movie’s creative team understood the subjects’ significance.

The mise-en-scène: I’ve explained before that mise-en-scène is how a scene is presented in a movie. Mise-en-scène was utilized in several scenes’ favor in In Country. Toward the beginning of the film, a group of U.S. soldiers are wading through the swamps of Vietnam. This moment is presented as a long shot with the view appearing as if the camera is hiding behind the swamp’s foliage. How this scene is showcased to the audience emphasizes the soldiers’ need to stay unseen. Sam, Emmett, and Mamaw travel to Washington D.C. to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. While walking past the monument, a close-up shot captured Mamaw as the names on the monument were gliding past her face. The visuals symbolized how the Vietnam veterans have touched the lives of not just their loved ones, but those in their communities as well.

The Norman Jewison Blogathon created by Rebecca from Taking Up Room

What I didn’t like about the film:

Sam’s attraction for Tom: While trying to learn more about her father, Sam turns to a veteran named Tom. At the Vietnam veterans’ dance, Sam invites Tom to share a slow-dance with her, where they get a little too close for comfort. After the dance, Sam spends the night at Tom’s house and has sex with him. Up until the slow-dance at the veterans’ dance, Sam never expressed any romantic interest in Tom. Plus, she just graduated from high school and Tom appears old enough to be her father. Not only was this part of the story random, its inclusion in the film was unnecessary, especially since it has no impact on the plot.

The “slice of life” parts of the story: As I’ve been saying in this review, Sam wants to learn more about her father who served and died in the Vietnam War. This part of the story, as well as the parts exploring the veterans’ perspective, was interesting. But those parts made up half the movie. The other half revolved around subplots that were more “slice of life”. When the story turned to the “slice of life” events, I found myself wishing the movie would go back to Sam learning more about her father or Emmett interacting with the other veterans. In fact, I think the movie should have primarily focused on those aforementioned parts of the story.

On-the-nose songs: The inclusion of songs in a movie can make or break a given scene. Sometimes, a song can be so on-the-nose, it doesn’t leave the intended emotional impact. This happened on more than one occasion in In Country. The opening lines of the Bruce Springsteen song, “I’m On Fire” are “Hey, little girl, is your daddy home? Did he go away and leave you all alone?”. This song can be heard on two occasions after Sam decides to learn more about her father, pointing out what the audience already knows. Earlier in this review, I brought up how Sam invites Tom to share a slow-dance with her, where they get a little too close for comfort. The song they dance to is Hank Williams Jr.’s “Ain’t Misbehavin’”, which narrates what’s happening on screen and foreshadows what’s about to come. That song paired with the events that unfold created a scene that left me uncomfortable.

Children holding American flags during a sunset image created by rawpixel.com at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/people”>People photo created by rawpixel.com – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

When I watch a movie, I sometimes imagine how the story would turn out if it was presented in a different way. One recent example is how Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Brush with Fate would have, in my opinion, benefitted by being presented as a multi-part mini-series. I feel similarly about 1989’s In Country. For the most part, the creative team behind the movie appeared to have their hearts in the right place. The honesty about war and its impact on veterans was included in the story in such a candid way, it showed the movie’s creative team understanding the significance of the subjects woven into the script. But this aforementioned honesty, as well as Sam’s search for answers about her father, should have been the film’s primary focus. Therefore, I wish this story had been a road-trip movie, where Sam, Emmett, and Mamaw go to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., with Sam learning about her father and important life lessons along the way.

Overall score: 6.1 out of 10

Have you seen 1989’s In Country? What’s your favorite film from 1989? Tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Pack of Lies Review

On By 18cinemalane9 Comments

For last year’s Broadway Bound Blogathon, I reviewed the
Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation, A Tale of Two Cities. This is an adaptation
from 1980 I liked so much, it was one of the best movies I saw in 2023! While
reflecting on that film, I realized it’s been a whole year since I reviewed a
Hallmark Hall of Fame production. To make up for lost time, I chose to write
about the 1987 Hallmark Hall of Fame film, Pack of Lies! Two years
before this movie aired on television, Pack of Lies premiered on
Broadway, making the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie a good choice for the
blogathon. Pack of Lies is also a Hallmark Hall of Fame film from the ‘80s
I haven’t seen before. One of my aspirations is to see as many Hallmark Hall of
Fame movies as realistically possible. Out of the titles I have seen, I’ve
noticed the mystery genre is rarely represented throughout the Hallmark Hall of
Fame collection. That fact is another reason why I chose to review Pack of
Lies!

Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Pack of Lies poster created by Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, Robert Halmi, and CBS

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: Ellen Burstyn and Teri Garr portray Barbara
Jackson and Helen Schaefer in Pack of Lies. The friendship of these two
characters highlights how different they are from one another. Helen has a very
outgoing and bubbly personality, a talkative woman who’s willing to solve
problems. Meanwhile, Barbara is more reserved, dressing more modestly and
avoiding conflict whenever possible. Part of why the differences between these
characters were achieved was through the acting abilities of both Ellen and
Teri! They presented the uniqueness of their characters through various emotions
and expressions. When creating a movie where actors portray friends, the believability
of their performances can make or break that illusion. The aforementioned illusion
was certainly created and maintained throughout Pack of Lies!


In stories where a character has some degree of authority,
their personality is usually serious. This can be a challenge for an actor or
actress, as there are few opportunities to utilize a variety of expressions and
emotions. That didn’t stop Alan Bates from portraying Stewart and making that
performance memorable! When Mr. and Mrs. Jackson first meet Stewart, he leaves
a trusting first impression. During this meeting, Alan incorporates eye movements,
vocal inflections, and variations of mouth movements to create an interaction
that appeared realistic. Because of the realistic nature of Stewart’s meeting,
the scene itself contains a sense of realism. This realism is consistently
carried in the movie through the acting performances!


A mystery within a mystery: The meeting between Stewart and
the Jacksons I previously referenced in this review is about how Stewart is
looking for a man named Laurence. The main mystery in Pack of Lies is
discovering who Laurence is and why Stewart is interested in finding him. At
the same time, the legitimacy of Stewart and his mission serve as a second
mystery. Because of the vagueness Stewart provides to the Jackson family, it
leaves both the Jackson family and the audience wondering who Stweart really is
and why he wants to confront Laurence so much. This second mystery provides an
added layer of intrigue to the overall story!


Providing books as gifts: While visiting their friends, Helen
and Peter Schaefer, Barbara and Bob Jackson receive books as gifts from Peter.
Barbara loves art so much, she and Helen take art classes regularly. Meanwhile,
Bob is an employee in the aircraft industry. In the meeting between the Jackson
family and Stewart, Stewart points out a model plane Bob built. From Peter, Barbara
receives a book of drawings from the Clark Institute in Massachusetts. Peter gives
Bob a book about the first flights across the Atlantic. These books were
thoughtful presents Peter took the time and effort to find. Looking back on the
Hallmark films I’ve seen, including those from Hallmark Hall of Fame,
characters receiving books as gifts are rarely shown. Therefore, I appreciate
this creative choice from Pack of Lies’s creative team to fill a
creative void that is, more often than not, overlooked.

The Seventh Broadway Bound Blogathon banner created by Rebecca from Taking Up Room

What I didn’t like about the film:

Telling instead of showing: In an ideal movie, it’s
important to show and tell what’s happening on screen. But because film is a
visual medium, showing should be emphasized. Unfortunately, in Pack of Lies,
telling was preferred over showing. Throughout the movie, Stewart tells Mr. and
Mrs. Jackson that a man named Laurence Powell is a man of interest. The reason for
this interest is his possible connections to Russian communists. Dialogue is
the only way the truth about Laurence and Stewart’s reason for recruiting the
Jackson family is revealed. The subject of espionage in entertainment media isn’t
always action-packed and adrenaline-fueled. If a creative team knows their
story will have low energy, they should maintain a sense of suspense and
intrigue by showing what’s going on.


Little lapse in time: At the beginning of the movie, Stewart
assures the Jackson family he’ll only observe Laurence for a day or two. As the
story progresses, Stewart’s mission ends up lasting longer than the proposed
one to two days. Like I just said in this review, Pack of Lies
emphasized telling instead of showing. The little lapse in time throughout the
movie is another example of this flaw. Christmas decorations in the Jackson
house are the only indication a significant period of time took place. Prior to
that part of the story, the film looks like events happened within a week.


Things that don’t make sense: As I’ve been saying in this
review, Stewart’s mission is to observe Laurence over a period of time. The more
information revealed by Stewart, the more the Jacksons and the audience learn
Stewart knew more about Laurence than he originally let on. I know the subject
of espionage can be varied and complicated when included in entertainment
media. However, with everything I just said, why didn’t Stewart just arrest
Laurence instead of observing him over multiple days? Why did Stewart need to
get the Jackson family involved in the first place? This is one example where Pack
of Lies doesn’t make sense.

Sketch of London image created by Archjoe at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/hand-drawn-houses-of-parliament_1133950.htm’>Designed by Archjoe</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Archjoe – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

Hallmark Hall of Fame movies, like any creative endeavor, are
not created equally. As I shared in this review’s introduction, I liked A
Tale of Two Cities so much, it was one of the best movies I saw last year.
Sadly, I can’t say the same about Pack of Lies. The 1987 presentation
was a two hour slow and tedious build-up to a resolution that was underwhelming
and anticlimactic. The cause of these flaws was the emphasis on telling instead
of showing. This is not the first time a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie from the ‘80s
let me down, as I also found 1985’s The Corsican Brothers disappointing.
After watching Pack of Lies, I learned the movie was based on a true
story. Now knowing this, I think the story would have benefitted more had it
become a documentary instead. As I wrap up my review of Pack of Lies, I
reflect on a Hallmark commercial I have seen. In this commercial, a man, whose
first language is not English, is looking for the perfect card for his wife,
who will soon arrive in the United States. When he goes to a Hallmark store,
the man is assisted by an employee named Rose, who helps him find exactly what
he is looking for. Another man who occasionally appears throughout the
commercial reveals the events in the commercial are based on a true story.
Honestly, the story behind that Hallmark commercial is a more fascinating movie
idea than what was presented in this Hallmark Hall of Fame film.


Overall score: 5 out of 10


Have you seen Pack of Lies? Which Broadway show do
you wish received a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie? Tell me in the comment
section!


Have fun on Broadway!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: For Me and My Gal Review

On By 18cinemalane9 Comments

Looking back on Judy Garland’s movies I’ve seen, I can
honestly say I haven’t seen a movie I didn’t like. Even though some pictures were
better than others, I can’t say any of Judy’s films were “bad”. Hoping this
streak will continue, I joined the Third Judy Garland Blogathon by reviewing For
Me and My Gal! This film was recommended by the Brannan sisters from Pure
Entertainment Preservation Society. They not only introduced me to this film,
they introduced me to the Breen Code era! Between 1934 to 1954, the Breen Code
served as a set of guidelines for film-makers. These guidelines addressed the
dos and don’ts of movie-making based on a series of morals. Within that period
of time, Hollywood gave their audience films that have stood the test of time
and even become “classics”. But will this statement hold true for For Me and
My Gal? Keeping reading my review to find out!

For Me and My Gal poster created by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Things I liked about the film:

The on-screen chemistry: Since I chose to review this movie
for the Third Judy Garland Blogathon, I want to discuss Judy’s performance in For
Me and My Gal. However, I want to talk about her performance in relation to
her on-screen chemistry with Gene Kelly. When a movie musical features a
romantic relationship, the on-screen chemistry of the lead actor and actress
can sell the idea their characters truly love one another. This is what Gene
and Judy achieved through their portrayals of Harry Palmer and Jo Hayden! One
perfect example is presented during the musical number, “For Me and My Gal”.
Through facial expressions, the choreography, and their singing abilities, Jo
and Harry realize they share the same dream, despite being complete strangers
only hours ago. This musical number emphasizes how these characters were always
meant to be together.


How World War I was incorporated: For Me and My Gal takes place in the middle of the 1900s, the time when World War I took place. The story revolves around civilian perspectives; vaudeville
performers trying to make their dreams come true. At the beginning of the
movie, newspaper headlines broadcast events related to World War I. But the
newspaper’s front page is turned away from the characters, as they are more
concerned with how their performances were reviewed by the critics. As the
story progresses, World War I starts to take center stage in their lives,
affecting each character differently. This progression is steady and the
changes happen more subtly. The way World War I was incorporated into For Me
and My Gal felt realistic. Though fictional musical movies require a
certain amount of disbelief to be suspended, it was refreshing for realism to
be woven into the film.


A story with stakes: Movie musicals, especially those from
the Breen Code era, contain simpler stories. These stories range from looking
for another member of a talent group or characters expressing their love for
each other. In For Me and My Gal, the overarching
story focuses on characters working toward their dreams. Throughout the movie,
Jo and Harry experience obstacles and attempt to overcome them. At one point in
the film, Harry receives an offer to perform at The Palace, a theatre in New
York every vaudeville performer aspires to go. While the offer itself sounds
amazing, the problem is Harry would no longer be able to perform with Jo. This
is one example of For Me and My Gal containing a story with stakes. In
the case of the aforementioned conflict, there were stakes not only for Harry’s
career, but also for his relationship with Jo.

The Third Judy Garland Blogathon banner created by Crystal from In The Good Old Days Of Classic Hollywood and Kristen from Hoofers and Honeys

What I didn’t like about the film:

The “insta-love” trope: In stories where a romantic
relationship in included, part of the story is devoted to showcasing the
progression of that relationship. If a story’s relationship moves too quickly,
it may be difficult for the audience to become invested in that relationship or
determine if the actors have on-screen chemistry. While Judy Garland and Gene
Kelly had good on-screen chemistry, I found their characters’ initial attraction
to happen too quickly. In fact, this attraction happened so quickly, it almost
felt unbelievable. I recognize there’s only so much story to tell in an hour
and forty-four minutes. However, I wish Harry and Jo’s attraction for one
another had taken its time.


An unresolved debt: Toward the beginning of For Me and My
Gal, Jo’s brother, Danny, pays Jo a visit after one of her shows. During
their conversation, Jo tells Danny she will pay him back after she becomes a
big vaudeville star. But this is the only time throughout the movie where this
debt is mentioned. The debt is not revisited or resolved as the story progresses.
That part of the story ended up becoming a loose end that was left behind by
the end of the movie.


A confusing conflict: For this part of my review, I will
spoil For Me and My Gal. If you have not seen this movie and are
interested in watching it, skip this part of my review and continue reading where
it says “My overall impression”.


After Jo and Harry discover their love for each other, they
receive a telegram congratulating them on their upcoming performance at The
Palace, a theatre in New York they have dreamed about for so long. When they
arrive at The Palace, Harry and Jo learn there was a misunderstanding. They
received a gig at The Palace theatre in Newark, New Jersey. In the telegram, its
sender stated The Palace was in New York. But any performer on the vaudeville
scene would know there’s only one Palace theatre, the one in New York City.
That quote in the telegram references how Eve Minard, a singer Jo and Harry met
on a train trip, brought up the idea of more than one Palace theatre. For Me
and My Gal was released during the Breen Code era. When a character makes a
poor choice within a film from this time period, they either face accountability
for that choice or learn from their mistake. However, Eve is never confronted
about the telegram. This leaves me confused, wondering if Eve was intentionally
ruining Harry and Jo’s plans or if she was genuinely trying to help, but her
message became lost in translation?

Children holding American flags during a sunset image created by rawpixel.com at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/people”>People photo created by rawpixel.com – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

The term, “The Golden Age of Hollywood”, gets thrown around
from time to time in conversations about the film industry. This term’s
definition depends on who you ask, as film itself can be subjective. In my
opinion, one of Hollywood’s “golden ages” was the Breen Code era. For Me and My Gal serves as one example to prove my point. The 1942 picture sets itself apart from other musical films by
presenting a story with stakes. It also incorporates World War I in a realistic
way. As I’ve stated in past reviews, the strength of a musical movie lies in
its musical numbers. For the most part, For Me and My Gal features
musical numbers that are pleasant to watch! This is the second Judy Garland
production I reviewed this year I was not only recommended, but ended up liking
as well. The streak of enjoyable Judy Garland movies I mentioned in this review’s
introduction is still going strong!


Overall score: 7.6 out of 10


Have you seen For Me and My Gal? What is your
favorite movie of Judy Garland’s? Please let me know in the comment section!


Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen



Take 3: Dance ‘Til Dawn (1988) Review

On By 18cinemalane3 Comments

You probably saw the title of this review, read the film’s synopsis on IMDB, and wonder, “What does this made-for-TV movie from the ‘80s have to do with the subject of neighbors”? What if I asked you to think about the subject of neighbors from Mr. Rogers’ perspective? On the television show, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, the opening theme song was “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” The show’s overarching theme of neighbors is more about community and a sense of belonging to it. With this perspective in mind, the 1988 made-for-TV production, Dance ‘Til Dawn, fits this definition of neighbors. The story revolves around students and their families belonging to the community of Hoover High School. Most of the movie focuses on Hoover High School’s Senior Prom, showing different points of view throughout the event. Whenever I participate in a blogathon, I try to approach a given topic from a more unique perspective. With Dance ‘Til Dawn reviewed for The Neighbors Blogathon, hosted by Rebecca from Taking Up Room and Quiggy from The Midnite Drive-In, my entry will definitely show a different side to the subject of neighbors!

Dance ‘Til Dawn (1988) poster created by Konigsberg/Sanitsky Company and National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Things I liked about the film:

The cast’s adaptability: One of the selling points of Dance ‘Til Dawn is the gathering of actors and actresses from television shows that were popular around the movie’s premiere. While television stars are used to working alongside a large group of talent, they grow accustomed to working with their cast from their respective show. They even become familiar with the character they portray, especially if a television show develops a long lifespan. In Dance ‘Til Dawn, the cast was not only given new material to work with, they also had to portray characters that were different from those they were used to. Alan Thicke and Tracey Gold represent everything I’ve been saying. Both actors starred as father and daughter on the sitcom, Growing Pains. Alan Thicke graced television screens as a kind yet fair soul who tried to set a good example for his children. Meanwhile, Tracey’s character, Carol, had a friendly personality (from what I remember), a good candidate for her high school’s welcoming committee. Though Tracey and Alan starred in the same film, they shared very few scenes together. Alan portrayed Dan’s father, Jack, an extroverted, over-confident man who wants his son to be just like him. Tracey portrayed Angela, a young lady who was more introverted and had little confidence to stand up for her dreams. Through Alan’s and Tracey’s performance, as well as the performances from the rest of the cast, every actor and actress sold the illusion of how this talent was always meant to work together. They also sold the idea these characters were always meant to co-exist.

The costume design: A school’s prom provides an excuse for students to dress up in fancy attire and partake in glamour. This is no different for the characters in Dance ‘Til Dawn. The film’s costume designer was Taryn De Chellis and Gingiss FormalWear provided the movie’s prom attire. In collaboration with Patricia Wolfe (the movie’s costume supervisor) and Steve Hicke (the movie’s costumer), the Hoover High School prom attendants looked photogenic in their formal outfits. This was achieved by providing the cast with formalwear that complimented their natural features. Out of the actors portraying high school students, Christina Applegate was the only blonde actress. Wearing an off-the-shoulder gown in a shade that appears to be metallic cherry red, Christina’s blonde hair presents a nice contrast with the bold hue of her character’s prom dress. Though Tracey Gold and Alyssa Milano are brunettes, Tracey’s hair looks a shade lighter than Alyssa’s hair. Similar to Christina receiving a dress in a darker shade, Tracey wore a stunning black, sparkly, sleeveless gown. Meanwhile, Alyssa was given a strapless white dress, paired with white satin pump heels and a pink hair bow.

Different ways of celebrating Prom: In films about Prom, so much focus is given to the party itself that one of two things happen; either prom alternatives are not presented or prom alternatives are frowned upon. But that was not the case in Dance ‘Til Dawn. While Hoover High School’s Prom party was highlighted throughout the story, not every student chooses to celebrate Prom this way. Angela’s original plan was to host a sleepover with her friend, Margaret, spending all night watching movies. No one criticizes or questions Margaret and Angela for wanting to commemorate Prom in this fashion. In fact, the film’s script celebrates the uniqueness of prom festivities. The idea of Prom being what you make it is rarely found in stories about this event, so I appreciate Dance ‘Til Dawn’s creative team making this one of the movie’s themes!

The Neighbors Blogathon banner created by Quiggy from The Midnite Drive-In and Rebecca from Taking Up Room

What I didn’t like about the film:

Some cliched stories: Throughout Dance ‘Til Dawn, creative ideas were expressed, from the aforementioned uniqueness of prom festivities to several pieces of dialogue. However, there were some stories within the movie that were cliched. One example is Angela and Kevin’s story. Angela is asked to Prom by Kevin, who wants to date her for the wrong reasons. Before arriving at the prom party, Angela transforms from an introverted “geek” to a beautiful young lady worthy of being prom royalty. Attending an event under false pretenses, as well as a My Fair Lady-esque makeover, have become so common in stories about teenagers, they are cliches at this point. Personally, I wish Angela and/or Kevin’s story had taken a different route. A more unique story option would be having Angela asking an Italian exchange student to Prom, developing a friendship and a shared interest in Italian art.

The underutilization of Tempestt Bledsoe: As I mentioned earlier in this review, Angela originally plans to host a sleepover with her friend, Margaret. Portrayed by Tempestt Bledsoe, Margaret was a character with her own style and not afraid to speak her mind. But compared to the other characters, Margaret appeared in only a handful of scenes. In fact, Margaret wasn’t given much to do in this story. Not only was Margaret an underutilized character, Tempestt’s acting talents were underutilized as well. Like I said about Angela and Kevin’s story, I wish Margaret’s story had been a bit more creative. An example would be Angela daring Margaret to go to Prom, with Margaret having a better time than she expected.

Some things that don’t make sense: There were a few times in Dance ‘Til Dawn where things don’t make sense. A good example takes place in Shelley and Dan’s story. Because Shelley lacks a date for Prom, she spends most of the evening trying to avoid people from Hoover High School to prevent embarrassment. While in the drive-thru of a fast-food restaurant, Shelley recognizes the voice on the other end of the drive-thru menu; a student whose locker is next to Shelley’s. What didn’t make sense to me was how Shelley and Dan did not realize how close they were to the menu’s microphone, meaning the student on the other end would recognize Shelley’s voice. Maybe the screenwriters forgot how drive-thru menus worked?

Image of high school students dancing at prom created by Jan Sundstedt at freeimages.com. Photo by <a href=”/photographer/jansun-33414″>Jan Sundstedt</a> from <a href=”https://freeimages.com/”>FreeImages</a&gt;. Image found at freeimages.com.

My overall impression:

Throughout this review, I’ve been using Dance ‘Til Dawn to elaborate on Mister Rogers’ perspective on neighbors. Learning more about the production after watching the movie, I realized some of the cast members would be considered neighbors, as their shows aired on the same network. With stars from other networks joining the aforementioned cast members, the group as a whole provides a blend of talents, personalities, and perspectives. The film’s behind-the-camera team also adds to this blend of people. When they came together, they created a made-for-TV film that, in my opinion, was just ok. The movie didn’t go above and beyond enough to be considered good or great. But at the same time, it wasn’t offensive enough to be bad or even disappointing. The on-camera talent worked together to sell the illusion that they were always meant to act together and their characters were always meant to co-exist. The behind-the-camera team, such as the costume department, collaborated to make the movie look photogenic and feel cohesive. Looking back on Dance ‘Til Dawn, I wonder why there was never a film about the Disneyland attraction, Videopolis. In fact, the prom party in the 1988 film made me think about that place in Disneyland. Now that I completed this review, I guess I have a new mystery to solve!

Overall score: 6 out of 10

Have you seen Dance ‘Til Dawn? Are there any stars you wish had appeared in the movie? Please let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Comparing with the Critics – Best of 1984 – Amadeus

On By 18cinemalane13 Comments

This review is from my series, Comparing with the Critics. If you’d like to learn more about the series, click on the link below.

Introducing my new series, Comparing with the Critics!

I was intrigued to review Amadeus for a number of reasons. One of those reasons was the song, “Rock Me Amadeus” by Falco. For years, I thought the song was created to promote the movie, given the coincidence of two pieces of Amadeus related media debuting in the ‘80s. With the song released in 1985, a month before Amadeus won Best Picture at the 57th Academy Awards, I’d like to believe I was kind of right. In At The Movies’ ‘Best of 1984’ episode, both Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert liked the glamourous, musical biopic. Roger made the film his “personal choice for the best film of 1984”. Like Network and Harry & Son, I had never seen Amadeus, so I approached the movie with little to no expectations. Though I heard good things about the picture since its premiere in 1984. As I write this review after watching the movie, I can definitely see why Amadeus was, at least, nominated for an Oscar.

Amadeus poster created by The Saul Zaentz Company, AMLF, and Orion Pictures

When I reviewed RKO 281 last July, I complimented Liev Schreiber’s portrayal of Orson Welles. In that review, I said Liev brought humanity back to Orson’s name, finding the heart of the “genius” and putting some genuine emotion behind it. This is the same way I felt while witnessing Tom Hulce’s portrayal of the titular man. Reading about an iconic figure like Amadeus can make one wonder what his personality was like. Similar to Orson Welles, Amadeus can be thought of as more than just a man with a gift. Through good times and bad times, Tom shows the film’s audience how Amadeus was, simply, human. As his father comes to visit him in Vienna, Amadeus expresses pure joy when he sees his father at the top of the stairs. Amadeus’ smile alone showcases the happiness within his heart. One evening, when Amadeus is composing an opera, he slowly slips into exhaustion. His eyelids rise and fall, he sways out of rhythm, and his face looks as white as the lace on his shirt. Roger claimed Tom’s portrayal of Amadeus was “one of the year’s most engaging performances”. Tom’s performance serves as an example where Roger, the Academy, and I were on the same page.

F. Murray Abraham’s portrayal of Antonio Salieri reminded me of Gloria Swanson’s portrayal of Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard. What I mean by this is the character in question’s search for fame is so strong, it forces the character to become increasingly obsessive, even making questionable choices. Throughout Amadeus, Antonio reflects on his life and how it was impacted by the success of Amadeus. At the beginning of his story, wistfulness can sometimes be heard in Antonio’s voice as he shares his dream of making music for God. As his reflected encounters with Amadeus continue, the tone in Antonio’s voice evolves into bitterness, hinting at the frustration he bottled up over the years. This frustration can also be seen if one looks closely at Antonio’s facial expressions. Before a scene from the movie was shared in the ‘Best of 1984’ episode, Roger called F. Murray’s portrayal “a brilliant performance”. The Academy certainly agreed with Roger, as F. Murray won the Best Actor Oscar instead of Tom at 1985’s Academy Awards. Personally, I liked both F. Murray’s and Tom’s performance for various reasons. Through their portrayals, Tom and F. Murray displayed how fame can negatively impact the human soul.

It’s In The Name Of The Title Blogathon banner created by Gill from Realweegiemidget Reviews and Rebecca from Taking Up Room

As I mentioned in this review’s introduction, Roger chose Amadeus as his “personal choice for the best film of 1984”. One reason why is how “this movie doesn’t contain one bit of the pretentious, solemnity that we usually associate with movie biographies of classical musicians”. To add to Roger’s comment, I’d like to point out how the film serves as an immersive, detail-oriented character study of how the music industry can be both rewarding and cruel. When Antonio shares his life story with a visiting priest, he emphasizes how he was the only member of his family who was interested in music. This organic talent and rise to prominence provide an opposite view of how Amadeus claimed his fame. Scenes and dialogue illustrate how Amadeus was raised to be a star, with his father providing both the music education and connections for a comfortable future. While discussing a new opera with the Emperor, Amadeus successfully argues why his opera should be performed. He states how he worked many hours on the project and how the opera’s lack of politics will prevent the audience from being alienated. The examples I provided in this paragraph show how, sometimes, talent isn’t enough when it comes to the music industry. It also highlights the effort that goes into making music, let alone one song.

String of musical notes image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/pentagram-vector_710290.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a> <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com. 

While sharing his thoughts on Amadeus, Roger stated how the film was “a cheerful, rambunctious, irreverent film”.  I disagree with his statement to an extent. There are cheerful moments within the movie. However, I wouldn’t claim the movie itself is “cheerful”. The overall story contains darker, sadder moments as well, especially toward the end of Amadeus’ life. One part of the story revolves around someone masquerading as a deceased loved one Amadeus knows. Due to his grief and unresolved issues, Amadeus truly believes the masquerading imposter is the loved one brought back from the dead. This imposter is so cruel to use Amadeus’ pain for their own personal gain. Another statement of Roger’s I disagree with is about how the movie views Amadeus himself. Roger claims how the film “doesn’t so much concern with the actual details of Mozart’s life as with its own feelings about his genius, his personality”. The movie allows the characters, including Amadeus, to be flawed. But there were a few instances where the story seemed one sided. After a successful opera performance, Antonio’s student is upset because she learned Amadeus was engaged to a woman named Constanze. This leads Antonio to believe Amadeus and the student had a relationship. However, the story never clarifies if Antonio’s belief was true. In fact, Antonio stated he didn’t know how his student and Amadeus met or how long they knew each other. To me, this goes against what a cinematic biography should do; introducing an audience to a historical figure through an unopinionated lens.

Comparing with the Critics banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. TV show title cards created by WTTW National Productions, WTTW, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), Lifetime Television, Tribune Entertainment, Buena Vista Television, and Disney-ABC Domestic Television

Before moving on to the next featured film in At The Movies’ ‘Best of 1984’ episode, Once Upon A Time in America, Gene tells Roger “what I love about the film is that it celebrates creativity and that is a subject that most Hollywood movies are simply not concerned with”. As I was about to disagree with Gene by bringing up RKO 281, I remembered that a) RKO 281 was an HBO made-for-TV movie and b) RKO 281 was released in 1999, a decade after Amadeus. But this review is not debating how much creativity is incorporated into Hollywood’s films, especially during the mid-80s. This article is simply an exploration of whether I agree or disagree with Roger and Gene’s thoughts on Amadeus. Earlier in this review, I mentioned how the film was an immersive, detail-oriented character study of how the music industry can be both rewarding and cruel. The movie’s immersion and focus on detail can be seen in the production’s costume and set design. These elements make the entire picture look and feel historically accurate. While Amadeus is a beautiful looking film, it also contains substance. The script provides thought-provoking material, exploring themes like how success can affect someone both positively and negatively. The glamourous and not-so-glamourous sides of the music industry are shown through the stories of both Amadeus and Antonio. Like I previously brought up in this review, Amadeus successfully argued why his opera should be performed. With everything I said, it makes me wonder how much Falco argued in favor of his song, “Rock Me Amadeus”?

This review was brought to you by

Sally Silverscreen

Comparing with the Critics – Worst of 1984 – Harry & Son

On By 18cinemalane17 Comments

This review is from my series, Comparing with the Critics. If you’d like to learn more about the series, click on the link below.

Introducing my new series, Comparing with the Critics!

Toward the end of At The Movies’ ‘Stinkers of 1984’ episode, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert share a collection of films they felt were some of the worst movies of 1984. One of the films Roger brought up was Harry & Son. In a brief segment about the movie, Roger refers to the picture as a “sincere, but misguided dream”. Roger also calls Harry & Son “a painfully contrived tear-jerker”. Gene responds before the segment ends that “he and Burt Reynolds are two of the worst in ‘84”, likely referring to Paul Newman. I honestly hadn’t heard of this film until I watched this episode of At The Movies. Therefore, I approached the title with little to no expectations. But now that I have seen Harry & Son, I think calling the picture one of the worst of 1984 is, actually, a bit harsh.

Harry & Son poster created by Orion Pictures

While briefly talking about Harry & Son, Roger brings up Robby Benson. But instead of simply referring to Robby by his name, Roger says “Robby “gee Dad, want a diet pop” Benson”, even saying it in a mocking tone. By addressing Robby’s name in this way, Roger gives the impression Robby’s character, Howard “Howie” Keach, is just a stereotypical surfer jock. As I got to know this character while watching Harry & Son, I discovered this assumption was far from the truth. Throughout the story, Howie always has his heart in the right place. More often than not, he brings a burst of positivity, choosing to look at the glass half full. In a scene where Howie and his father, Harry, are on their porch, Harry orders his son to find a job, a bitter tone in his voice due to his frustrations over his declining health. In a positive, yet matter-of-fact way, Howie informs his dad how he already has a job washing cars. Another scene shows Howie coming home, excited to see his dad arrive so early from work. A big smile is spread across his face and his eyes shine bright with joy. But as he learns his dad has just lost his job, Howie’s face changes to display confusion and fear. This change in persona is seamless, never missing an emotional beat. Moments like this one were made possible by Robby’s acting abilities, showcasing a wide range of emotions and expressions. In my opinion, I think Robby should have, at least, been nominated for his performance in Harry & Son.

It’s In The Name Of The Title Blogathon banner created by Gill from Realweegiemidget Reviews and Rebecca from Taking Up Room

As I just mentioned in the previous paragraph, Harry is frustrated over his declining health. After an incident at a construction site, Harry is forced to be honest about his poor eyesight. One scene has Harry talking with one of his co-workers about his health issues, raising concerns over how these issues will affect his employment. In the 21st century, specifically the 2020s, there has been a risen awareness for men to address their medical issues. So, for Harry to talk to a peer about his health in a movie from the ‘80s is kind of ahead of its time. Later in the story, Howie learns his friend doesn’t have health insurance. When he takes his friend to the hospital, Howie is frustrated by the rejection his friend faces due to the hospital’s policies. The importance of health insurance is another medical topic that has gained attention in the 21st century, including the 2020s. Similar to what I said about Harry’s honesty about his health, I appreciate these brief, yet necessary moments to bring up these serious health subjects, especially in a time when they weren’t found in common societal conversations yet.

Since Harry & Son takes place in Florida, I thought this picture of a Florida shaped pool would make sense for this review. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen. Image originally found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiBkULOrf7Y.

In the introduction of my review, I quoted Roger Ebert’s statements about Harry & Son, with Roger saying the film was a “sincere, but misguided dream” and “a painfully contrived tear-jerker”. I will agree with Roger about the movie being sincere. There were some sweet moments that were written, acted, and directed with a strong amount of sincerity. One example is when Howie goes to a high-end clothing store to purchase a suit jacket. When I first saw that scene, I honestly thought Howie had bought the jacket for himself, showing his dad how he can afford nicer attire. So, imagine my shock when Howie gave the jacket to his dad as a birthday present.

Where Roger and I disagree is how the movie is a “misguided dream” and a “painfully contrived tear-jerker”. I will admit Harry & Son has its flaws, such as scenes ending too quickly and emphasizing showing without telling. But I wouldn’t go so far as to say the movie is “misguided” or “painfully contrived”. With scenes ending too quickly, it felt like the characters were expected to say more. When Nina (Harry’s daughter and Howie’s sister) is talking with a client at a hair salon, I thought Nina was going to respond to the client’s story about their estranged father. But the moment is quickly forgotten as the story moves on. As Howie is reconnecting with Katie, an ex-girlfriend, their conversation is one of the most cryptic pieces of dialogue I’ve ever heard in a movie. While I could see these characters still cared for one another, by observing their expressions and displayed emotions, it took me a few minutes to figure out what Katie and Howie were saying to each other. This is just one example of showing without telling.

Comparing with the Critics banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. TV show title cards created by WTTW National Productions, WTTW, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), Lifetime Television, Tribune Entertainment, Buena Vista Television, and Disney-ABC Domestic Television

Gene added his thought on Harry & Son, stating “he and Burt Reynolds are two of the worst in ‘84”, as he possibly referred to Paul Newman. Since I haven’t seen many of Paul’s or Burt’s films, I can’t agree or disagree with Gene’s statement. But what I can do is share my overall thoughts on Harry & Son. This is an ok, slice of life story, which, in my opinion, would have worked better as a stage play. My reason is how the cast is smaller and the story seems more condensed. While I liked the acting performances in this film, Robby Benson ended up being the star of the show. If anyone has an interest in watching Harry & Son, I’d recommend the film for Robby’s performance alone. With the flaws I already mentioned, I also felt like there was too much happening in a short amount of time. However, the story itself was easier to understand. Harry & Son will not become one of the best movies I’ve seen this year, so far. But compared to some of the films I’ve, so far, seen, there are far worse titles than Harry & Son.

This review was brought to you by

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans Review

On By 18cinemalane1 Comment

Despite Hallmark Mystery creating less mystery series, the Curious Caterer series is, in my opinion, the strongest film collection the network currently releases. While I found the first and third film to be fine, I quite liked the second film. So, I was very excited when I discovered Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans was on the horizon! What intrigued me about the newest chapter was how the story revolved around a costume party. There have been costume parties featured in other Hallmark Mystery productions. However, these parties have played such a minor role in the overall story. Based on the film’s promotional photos and trailer, it looked like the set and costume design were being taken seriously by Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans’ creative team. But I didn’t want to get my hopes up too high, as Hallmark Mystery’s presentations have, so far, been underwhelming. Was Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans Hallmark’s “diamond in the rough”? The only way to solve this mystery is to read my review!

Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans poster created by Timeless Pictures, Basset Hound Distribution, and Hallmark Media


Things I liked about the film:

The acting: Throughout the Curious Caterer series,
Nikki Deloach and Andrew W. Walker have had consistently strong on-screen
chemistry. What has made this chemistry work is how Nikki and Andrew give solid
performances individually and together! Now that Goldy and Tom’s relationship
has progressed to being a dating couple, there are more romantic, even flirty
interactions between the characters. A great example is when Goldy is setting
up the appetizers at the costume party. Attempting to impress Goldy, Tom recites
Shakespearian poetry. But during the recitation, Goldy discovers the poem is written
on Tom’s hand. The interaction was not only humorous, but also a sweet moment
shared by Tom and Goldy.  This sweetness
feels genuine, as smiles and a mutual fondness are presented through the
expressions and emotions Nikki and Andrew share on screen!

Besides the main stars, the supporting cast gave good
performances throughout Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans. One performance I
was really impressed with came from Brock Morgan! Introduced in Curious
Caterer: Fatal Vows as Detective Dave Trach, Brock reprises his role in
this new chapter of the series. Between these two films, Brock consistently
presented Dave with a serious persona. In Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans,
emotion was incorporated in more subtle, yet effective ways. While pursuing a
suspect, Dave’s father becomes injured. As the wound is being treated, Dave
shares a conversation with his father. If you look closely, you can see Dave is
shaking during this conversation, showing how the situation affected him.
Another scene shows Dave receiving terrible news. Throughout that scene, Dave
is visibly upset, his mouth formed into a frown and his eyes showing a look of discouragement.
But as the scene progresses, tears slowly appear in Dave’s eyes. After watching
this movie, I wish Brock Morgan was given a starring role in a Hallmark
production!


The mystery: As I brought up in the introduction, the story
of Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans revolves around a costume party. But
during this party, a snowstorm forces the guests to stay in a castle with
little to no technology. These elements create a locked room mystery, with the
characters utilizing the skills and tools they have at their disposal. While
trying to piece the mystery together, Goldy and company use tapestry as a
mystery board. Name cards, antique looking paper, and even caricature drawings
make up profiles for each suspect. Because Tom, Dave, and even Mason are guests
at the party, they don’t have their detective supplies with them. However, they
are able to use some of Goldy’s kitchen utensils, such as disposable gloves,
mason jars, and tweezers, to solve the case.  The ways the characters adapt to their environment
showcase the creativity of the film’s writing!


The incorporation of fencing: The costume party in Curious
Caterer: Foiled Plans was a fundraiser for Elk Park Prep Academy’s fencing
team. There were even fencing matches held during the party. Though it was
given a smaller role in the story, I liked the incorporation of fencing. In my
opinion, fencing is such an underrated sport, especially in the world of Hallmark
movies. Because the fencing team’s coach was one of the mystery’s suspects,
some brief insight into fencing was provided in the script. This served as a
short introduction of the sport for the film’s audience.


The humor: Adding humor to a Hallmark mystery program can be
tricky. Not enough humor may make a film too serious in nature. But incorporate
too much humor and the movie might feel too goofy. With Curious Caterer:
Foiled Plans, the overall humor was sprinkled throughout the story. This gave
the audience breaks from the darkness of the mystery while allowing the script
to be taken seriously. After the mystery had been introduced, Tom wonders who
among his group has a notebook with them. Because of the snowstorm, they can’t
reach their cars to retrieve a notebook. As everyone denies having a notebook
with them, Mason tells Tom how his pants don’t have pockets. This random comment
was funny because Mason answers Tom’s question without answering his question.

Castle photo created by Photoangel at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/old-castle-in-the-mountians_1286237.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/tree”>Tree image created by Photoangel – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

A random attraction: When Dave Trach was introduced in Curious
Caterer: Fatal Vows, he did not like Goldy’s friend, Marla. This dislike
was caused by Marla helping Tom with a case. In Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans, however, Marla and Dave act really friendly with
one another. They are so friendly, it feels like they are in a dating
relationship. To me, this attraction felt random because, from what I remember,
there were no hints that Dave and Marla were romantically interested in each
other. My guess is the film’s creative team made a weak attempt of including
the “enemies to lovers” trope.


Things that don’t make sense: After the story’s murder
victim was discovered, Dave’s father instructs the party’s guests to travel through
the castle in pairs. Later in the movie, Goldy’s daughter, Olive, finds a key
clue in the case. When this discovery was made, Goldy criticized Olive for
wandering the castle. Yet Olive did follow the instructions of Dave’s father,
as she made the case’s discovery while exploring the castle with a friend from her
school’s fencing team. This is just one example of parts of the story not
making sense.


An overshadowed crowd: A snowstorm causes the party’s guests
to remain stuck in the castle. The longer the mystery is drawn out, the more
frustrated the guests become. But this frustration isn’t really highlighted in
the story. Instead, the script focuses on the frustrations of the mystery’s
suspects. Because the crowd itself isn’t given as much attention in the story,
the magnitude of the crowd’s feelings is not felt. Though Goldy calms the crowd
by baking cookies and making hot chocolate, the crowd’s collective emotions remain
the same for most of the movie.

Magnifying fingerprints image created by Balintseby at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/glass”>Glass vector created by Balintseby – Freepik.com</a>. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/fingerprint-investigation_789253.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

When I reviewed Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch, I
shared how, at the time, I wasn’t impressed with Hallmark’s new mystery movies.
I was also not impressed with One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery,
as I found the film disappointing. After almost four months of underwhelming
productions, Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans was a much-needed breath of
fresh air! There are so many things this movie got right, such as the
creativity of the mystery itself. Other elements of the film were also well
delivered, like the set and costume design. I would say Curious Caterer:
Foiled Plans is the best chapter in this series. In fact, I’d say this is the
best mystery movie Hallmark has released this year, so far! Because the bar was
raised so high in Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans, I’m not sure how Curious
Caterer’s creative team will be able to top this film. But not matter where
the story goes, I’m pretty sure the Curious Caterer series will maintain
the momentum they’re currently traveling on!


Overall score: 8 out of 10

Have you seen Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans? Would you like to see more movies in the Curious Caterer series? Let me know in the comment section!


Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen