Tag: movies

Take 3: Easter Parade Review

On By 18cinemalane13 Comments

With today being Easter, I’m reviewing the 1948 musical, Easter Parade! But this is not the only reason why I’m writing about this movie. Since the protagonists would be considered a “mismatched couple”, the film was eligible for Realweegiemidget Reviews’ and Cinematic Catharsis’ Mismatched Couples Blogathon. Easter Parade was also recommended by Michaela from Love Letters to Old Hollywood. Prior to this year, the only Easter themed movie I wrote about was the Hallmark production, Easter Under Wraps. While I have reviewed faith-based films, those pictures were not about the Easter holiday. Because this was my first time watching Easter Parade, I was curious how Easter would play a role in this story. I was also curious how the film would compare to other musicals from the Breen Code era. So, without delay, let’s begin this review of Easter Parade!

Easter Parade poster created by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Loew’s, Inc.

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: Fred Astaire portrays Don Hewes in Easter Parade, a veteran dancer who is looking for a new dance partner. In this same movie, Judy Garland portrays Hannah Brown, a singer who is trying to make a name for herself in the entertainment industry. Together, Judy and Fred are an on-screen pair that not only works well together, but also dances well together! One of my favorite scenes is when Don mentions to Hannah how she doesn’t capture men’s attention. In an effort to prove Don wrong, Hannah walks in front of him, at first looking discouraged by her fruitless efforts. A few minutes later, Don sees men are taking notice of Hannah. He looks confused and even baffled at how Hannah could prove him wrong. When Don catches up with Hannah, he discovers she is making funny faces, explaining why men were noticing Hannah. This scene was hilarious because of Fred’s and Judy’s expressions and interactions!

Even though Judy and Fred worked well together, I think Judy and Peter Lawford had strong on-screen chemistry! Despite Hannah being from a small-town farm and Johnny being from the city, their interactions make it seem like they have a deep understanding for one another. While on a dinner date, Hannah confesses she dreams her true love will give her flowers and sweep her off her feet. When she reflects on her time with Don, she realizes Don only gives her flowers and sweeps her off her feet when it relates to dancing. During this reflection, Hannah looks defeated and sad by how she didn’t receive what she wanted the way she wanted it. Meanwhile, Johnny looks genuinely sympathetic toward Hannah. As I watched this scene, I wanted Johnny and Hannah to fall in love with each other!

The use of color: In Easter Parade’s opening credits, Technicolor was revealed to be incorporated into the production. I’m thankful Technicolor was used in this movie because capturing scenes in black-and-white would not have done this picture justice! Because parts of Easter Parade’s story take place around Easter, creative decisions such as costume designs and décor are very colorful. Toward the end of the film, Fred and a large group of dancers perform a number to “Steppin Out with My Baby”. Every performer’s costume boasted bright hues, from one dancer’s yellow shoes to another dancer’s blue gloves. At the beginning of the movie, during the musical number, “Happy Easter”, flowers in vibrant shades are present as Don makes his trip to the store. Though it’s a small detail, these flowers play a role in complimenting the colorful landscape of the story’s spring season!

The musical numbers: Musical numbers can make or break a given film. But in Easter Parade, the musical numbers are a major strength because of the choreography and delivery of the numbers themselves. One of the most creative numbers I’ve ever seen was Fred’s solo, “Drum Crazy”. This solo shows his character, Don, tap dancing and playing drums in an attempt to trick a child into giving him a stuffed bunny toy. The combination of dancing and instrument playing provides a captivating performance that not only highlights Fred’s signature talent, but also pairs dancing with other artistic mediums. Another strong solo was Ann Miller’s solo, “Shakin’ the Blues Away”. While portraying Don’s former dance partner, Nadine, Ann’s solo was a tap number that involved a lot of turning. What makes this musical number so memorable is how the cinematography closely follows Ann during her performance. This focus forces the audience to give their undivided attention to Ann and her number. The number itself is fast-paced and energetic, with Ann consistently delivering the choreography in precise and fluid movements!

Cute Easter image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

A premise-driven story: When I reviewed The National Tree last year, I explained the difference between a premise-driven story and a plot-driven story. After watching Easter Parade, I can confirm the movie has a premise-driven story. The premise of Don transforming Hannah into a star entices viewers to watch Fred and Judy acting and dancing together. But the film doesn’t really make the audience ask “and then what happened”? Even though the story is simpler and easier to follow, the story itself lacked a compelling hook, making it feel less intriguing. I wish the characters were given a conflict to resolve, similar to musicals like Singin’ in the Rain and Anchors Aweigh.

The “insta-love” trope: The romantic-comedy genre carries a collection of tropes and cliches. One of them is the “insta-love” trope, which features characters falling in love in a very short period of time. I understand there’s only so much story you can tell in an hour and forty-three minutes. But I thought Hannah and Don’s relationship progressed too quickly. I even thought the attraction between Hannah and Johnny happened too fast. The fast pace of these relationships made it seem like situations weren’t really resolved. Serious conversations and heart-felt discussions were either conveniently ignored or never brought up. The “insta-love” trope also affected how characters changed over the course of the story. Progressions in character development took place so quickly, it almost seemed too convenient.

Easter’s limited inclusion: With a movie called Easter Parade, I expected Easter to play a significant role in the story. While Easter is included enough to get the point across, I was disappointed by how limited its presence was. There were even scenes I could picture taking place within other holidays. Though the purpose of “Drum Crazy” was for Don to purchase a stuffed bunny toy, I found myself imagining this same musical number set during Christmas. Easter Parade is a story that could take place in almost any time of year and it wouldn’t make much difference.

The Mismatched Couples Blogathon banner created by Gill from Realweegiemidget Reviews and Barry from Cinematic Catharsis

My overall impression:

Some of the best, most iconic musicals were released during the Breen Code era. Their strong musical numbers and their overall timelessness have captured the hearts of viewers for decades. Easter Parade is one of these timeless musicals, showcasing its strengths through various creative departments! The colorful palette sprinkled throughout the story perfectly compliments the springtime atmosphere the film’s creative team was striving to present. Every musical number was well choreographed and performed, which definitely made the movie worth watching. Compared to other Breen Code era musicals, though, Easter Parade’s story was weaker. This flaw was due to the story being more premise-driven. Despite this and its other weaknesses, the 1948 film is an entertaining, mostly joyful production that is an appropriate selection for the Easter holiday!

Overall score: 7.6 out of 10

Have you seen Easter Parade? Is there an Easter themed movie you like to watch? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun on Easter!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Hallmark’s Frankenstein (2004) Review (Double Feature: 2004 Edition Part 2)

On By 18cinemalane1 Comment

Thank you for joining me for the second part of Double Feature: 2004 Edition! Similar to my review of Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird, this review of Hallmark’s Frankenstein will be spoiler-free. If you’re curious about why I chose Hallmark’s Frankenstein for this double feature, you can check out the introduction in the link below.

Introducing my Double Feature: 2004 Edition!

Hallmark’s Frankenstein poster created by Hallmark Entertainment, Hallmark Channel, Silverstar Ltd., Larry Levinson Productions, and RTL

Before I start this review, I need to explain why I’m referring
to this version of Frankenstein as ‘Hallmark’s Frankenstein’. On
Wikipedia, there is a page chronicling all the Hallmark Channel movies released
between 2000 to 2015. In the section listing Hallmark Channel’s films from
2004, Vincent Perez is listed as one of the stars of Hallmark’s version of Frankenstein.
But if you click on the italicized title of Frankenstein, the link goes
directly to Wikipedia’s page about the Hallmark movie starring Alec Newman. While
Vincent did star in an adaptation of Frankenstein released in 2004, it
is not the Hallmark version. I didn’t discover this error until after I had
seen Vincent’s film.

The reason why I included this screenshot in my review is to show my readers how Hallmark’s Frankenstein is listed on Wikipedia. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

1. What are your thoughts on 2004 as a cinematic year?

2004 was a year where “event entertainment” took place. When I say “event entertainment”, I mean television or movie premieres that are popular enough to become anticipated events. I remember when full print ads would boast a new Hallmark Hall of Fame production, marking the movie itself as “must see television”. Four sequels for popular predecessors were released in 2004, earning a spot among the top ten highest grossing films of the year. Twenty years later, consumers have more options when it comes to entertainment. This provides fewer opportunities for “event entertainment” to take place. Even events that have always been considered “event television” are struggling to capture audience’s attention.

2. Frankenstein premiered on Hallmark Channel on October 5th and 6th, 2004. How has the network evolved since the movie’s release?

When Hallmark’s adaptation of Frankenstein premiered, Hallmark Channel was three years old. At the time, the network didn’t have the distinct identity it does today.  This allowed content to be less restrictive when it comes to creativity. 2004 saw the debut of Hallmark’s second network, Hallmark Movie Channel. On that network, a lot of Hallmark Channel’s previously aired programming made up Hallmark Movie Channel’s catalogue, as well as Hallmark Hall of Fame titles and acquired content. But in the twenty years this second network has existed, the channel’s name has changed twice, with the network now known as Hallmark Mystery. With Hallmark creating two channels, it provided more opportunities to create movies. As time passed, both networks adopted a more distinguishable identity.

3. Is there anything about Frankenstein you liked or didn’t like?

While I think the acting was one of the strengths of this movie, the two strongest performances came from Alec Newman and Luke Goss! Alec’s portrayal of Victor Frankenstein was so captivating because of the wide range of emotions incorporated into the role. His versatility made Victor feel like an authentic human being. From crying over the loss of a loved one to playfully teasing Elizabeth, Alec’s performance allowed Victor’s interactions with other characters to be interesting, with each interaction appearing genuine. Meanwhile, Luke utilized emotion to make The Creature a complicated character like he was in the novel. In fact, Luke’s emotionality spoke volumes in scenes where dialogue wasn’t required. One example shows The Creature after he escapes from Victor’s laboratory. When he seeks refuge in a barn, The Creature bursts into tears, overwhelmed by the fear and rejection directed toward him.

When Frankenstein premiered on Hallmark Channel, it was released as a two-part mini-series. The first part revolved around Victor’s desire to create life, leading up to The Creature coming to fruition. But the second part was more drawn out, with scenes either longer than necessary or completely unnecessary. Frankenstein’s second part features a wedding reception that lasts about five minutes. I understand why that scene was included in the adaptation. In my opinion, though, the wedding reception should have been cut shorter or omitted from the script.

4. In your Word on the Street story about a potential sequel for The Polar Express, you talked about the technology applied to that film. Could you detect any technology incorporated into Frankenstein?

There were a few scenes where it appears CGI (computer generated images) was included in the film. Other than that, it didn’t look like technology (besides cinematography, sound editing, etc.) was relied on to create this adaptation.

Snowy mountain image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/landscape-background-of-snow-track-and-mountains_968656.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.

5. Did you develop any thoughts and/or questions while watching this film?

In one of Victor’s science classes, Victor claims the brain is the most important body part because of its electrical connections between nerves and other body parts. As he is attempting to create life, Victor collects various body parts from the morgue and the graveyard. When The Creature is awakened, wouldn’t he remember his life and identity prior to passing away? Wouldn’t The Creature recognize the body Victor gave him is not the body he was born with? With Victor’s statement about the brain, wouldn’t the nerves in The Creature’s brain not connect with the rest of his body? I never thought of these questions until I saw Hallmark’s adaptation of Frankenstein.

6. You’ve mentioned reading Frankenstein, but seeing few adaptations of the story. How does Hallmark’s version compare or contrast to the Frankenstein related movies you’ve seen?

Besides Hallmark’s adaptation of Frankenstein, I’ve seen three films that incorporate elements of Mary Shelley’s story. But because The Curse of Frankenstein follows the source material closer than the other two films, I’ll be discussing that movie alongside Hallmark’s version of Frankenstein. When I reviewed The Curse of Frankenstein last year, I was disappointed by the creative liberties the film’s creative team adopted. One of these creative liberties was presenting The Creature as a bumbling, destructive machine. As I mentioned in answer number three, The Creature was a complicated character in the novel. While he was destructive, The Creature’s actions were not always impulsive. In Hallmark’s adaptation of Frankenstein, Luke’s performance and the screenwriting illustrated how complicated The Creature is. The Creature’s intelligence was also highlighted in this adaptation, adding to The Creature’s complexity. Shortly after he escapes from Victor’s laboratory, the audience can hear how The Creature already understands the English language, grasping concepts like God and Heaven, as well as reading Paradise Lost.

7. Hallmark’s adaptation of Frankenstein is a made-for-TV production. Has there been a change in small screen cinema from 2004 to now?

In the same year Hallmark Channel premiered their version of Frankenstein, Hallmark Hall of Fame movies debuted on major networks. But fast forward to 2024, Hallmark Hall of Fame is no longer utilized by Hallmark, even after moving to Hallmark Channel in 2014. These decisions are examples of how made-for-TV programming has become more exclusive. Since 2004, Hallmark Channel has grown into one of the biggest creators of made-for-TV content. In fact, Hallmark Channel and its two networks, Hallmark Mystery and Hallmark Family, are three of the few places creating and/or distributing made-for-TV movies today. Rewinding to twenty years ago, major networks were still willing to include made-for-TV programs in their schedules. With the changing television landscape, including the invention of streaming services, major networks are just trying to stay afloat.

8. Now that it’s been twenty years since Frankenstein premiered, has it stood the test of time or become a product of its time?

For the most part, Hallmark’s adaptation of Frankenstein stands the test of time! It helps how this project is bringing to life a story that is iconic and timeless. I mentioned in my review of The Curse of Frankenstein how an overarching message in Mary Shelley’s novel is some good intentions possibly leading to bad results. This message also overarches Hallmark’s adaptation of Frankenstein, as Victor strives to do the impossible. There are other timeless messages in this version of Mary’s story, such as prioritizing what is irreplaceable.

9. After watching Frankenstein, is there anything you can take away from your movie viewing experience?

Similar to my review of I Am David, I will describe Hallmark’s version of Frankenstein in one word. That word would be ‘immersive’. This production made me feel like I was transported to another time and place. A combination of the acting performances, set design, costume design, and screenwriting achieved the illusion of an immersive experience. As someone who has read Mary Shelley’s novel, I appreciate how close to the source material Hallmark’s project is. From what I remember, the majority of the book’s key events and elements were included in the script. With that said, I understand why Hallmark chose to split Frankenstein into two parts. But, in my opinion, the second part was weaker than the first part. Looking back on Hallmark’s adaptation and I Am David, Frankenstein is a more underrated film that was not only forgotten by time, but also overshadowed by other titles released in 2004, like A Boyfriend for Christmas and Love’s Enduring Promise. I’m hoping my review inspires other fans of Hallmark to discover this hidden gem!

Popcorn and movie ticket image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/cinema-tickets-in-bucket-with-popcorn_2303439.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/layout”>Layout image created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen



Take 3: I Am David Review (Double Feature: 2004 Edition Part 1)

On By 18cinemalane2 Comments

Thank you for joining me for the first part of Double Feature: 2004 Edition! Similar to last year’s review of The Great Muppet Caper, my review of I Am David is spoiler-free. If you’re curious about why I chose I Am David for this double feature, you can check out the introduction in the link below.

Introducing my Double Feature: 2004 Edition!

I Am David poster created by Walden Media, Film and General Productions, Lionsgate Films, Artisan Entertainment, and David Productions Ltd.

1. What are your thoughts on 2004 as a cinematic year?

When I look back on the cinematic landscape of 2004, my first thought is how studios and film companies were more willing to create stand-alone productions. Twenty years ago, about fifteen sequels were released in theaters. In 2024, that number has increased, with about twenty-three sequels scheduled to premiere. My second thought about 2004 is how creativity was celebrated at the box office. The Polar Express, the reason why this double feature exists, was the tenth highest grossing film of 2004. Even though that movie was based on a pre-existing book, the production was not a remake or a sequel of a preceding film. Plus, The Polar Express brought something new to the cinematic table, as the movie was created through motion-capture technology.

2. I Am David was released on December 3rd, 2004 (around “award season”). Why do you think the film was overlooked on the award circuit?

The 77th Academy Awards was a televised event. This means those involved with the creation of the show had to make decisions that would increase or maintain higher viewership numbers. Million Dollar Baby, the movie that won Best Picture, was a film the majority of the Academy Awards’ audience had either heard of or seen. The movie was directed by Clint Eastwood and starred Hilary Swank, two actors this same Academy Awards audience were familiar with. Because I Am David premiered around the same time as Million Dollar Baby and lacked the star power Million Dollar Baby had, I Am David became overshadowed by a bigger, more popular production.

2004 was when The Passion of the Christ made waves at the box office. Becoming the third highest grossing film of that year, it earned the distinction of being one of the most successful faith-based movies in history. Similar to Million Dollar Baby, The Passion of the Christ contained star power, directed by Mel Gibson and starring Jim Caviezel. I wouldn’t go so far as to call I Am David a faith-based movie. However, elements of faith are woven into the story. While Jim Caviezel stars in I Am David, his presence in this film is very limited. With all that said, I Am David became overshadowed by another big, more popular title.

3. Is there anything about I Am David you liked or didn’t like?

The story of I Am David revolves around the titular character escaping from a Bulgarian labor camp in 1952. Throughout his journey, David takes refuge in the natural landscape surrounding him. The natural environment in this film serves two purposes; protecting David and giving him a gateway to freedom. A peaceful scene where he casually walks through a tunnel of trees beautifully captures this idea, providing a symbolic light at the end of the tunnel. The importance given to Europe’s natural landscape allows it to become its own character, with the elements, more often than not, working in David’s favor. It also showcases a side of Europe that could be easily taken for granted.

I Am David is a story where the audience learns more about David as the film progresses. While this keeps the audience invested in the film, this creative decision means answers aren’t provided until toward the end of the movie. On the one hand, I, kind of, wish some of the revelations about David were revealed sooner. But, on the other hand, major questions were answered within two plot twists that I found effective. Even though the longer wait for answers is a flaw, I was able to, for the most part, overlook it because of the strength of the plot twists.

4. In your Word on the Street story about a potential sequel for The Polar Express, you mentioned the technology that was applied to the film. Could you detect any technology incorporated into I Am David?

As far as I could tell, I didn’t sense any technology within I Am David other than cinematography, sound, and editing. Because of the nature of the movie, though, I don’t think technological film-making techniques were necessary.

Italian countryside image created by Bill Silvermintz at freeimages.com. “FreeImages.com/Bill Silvermintz.” Photo by <a href=”/photographer/edudflog-58908″>Bill Silvermintz</a> from <a href=”https://freeimages.com/”>FreeImages</a&gt;.

5. I Am David is based on a book published in the 1960s. Has the entertainment industry changed its approach to adapting pre-established stories?

Throughout 2004, about twenty adaptations based on literature premiered in theaters. Out of those twenty, eleven adaptations contained a built-in audience for a variety of reasons. Observing which movies are scheduled to premiere in 2024, the entertainment industry is, once again, choosing source material with a built-in audience. But now this selection process has expanded beyond literature; with movies, tv shows, and popular characters receiving their own adaptations. Even though there were productions in 2004 based on popular IPs (intellectual properties), the number of adaptations based on IPs has doubled in twenty years, with about 44 of 2024’s films fitting this criterion. One of these films is the musical remake of Mean Girls. While the original movie was based on the book, Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman, the remake is based on the 2004 film.

6. Did you develop any thoughts and/or questions while watching this film?

I didn’t develop any questions while watching I Am David. But as I followed the story, I took note of the film’s exploration of light and darkness. When the film begins, David attempts his escape from the labor camp. This scene is intense, emphasizing David’s dire situation through limited lighting, cinematography, and music. Flashbacks are sprinkled throughout the story, showing only enough harshness to get the point across. When the lighter moments appear in the movie, they feel earned, taking place after David experiences a trial in his journey. Primarily showcased in bright lights and with peaceful, even cheery music playing in the background, these lighter moments address how our world can be a beautiful place. Showing the light and darkness taking place in the world, especially in Europe post World War II, is a more balanced way of presenting the environment surrounding David.

7. On Ebert & Roeper, I Am David was not covered. Why do you think the movie was omitted from the show?

Ebert & Roeper, one of the iterations of At the Movies, was a nationally televised program. Smaller titles with limited releases were sometimes featured on the show. But the types of movies that populated the program were mainstream productions with widespread releases. This decision was likely made to maintain the show’s viewership, similar to the aforementioned 77th Academy Awards. The choice to emphasize more mainstream films was also probably made to provide the show’s audience with a chance to check out the movies brought up on the show, as those titles would be showing in more theaters.

8. Now that it’s been twenty years since I Am David premiered, has the movie stood the test of time or become a product of its time?

This film has definitely stood the test of time! A major reason for this is due to the timeless, universal messages woven into the script. Perseverance, trying to find the goodness in our world, and kindness progressing the journey forward are messages most people can appreciate. These messages may also inspire audience members to apply them to their own lives.

9. After watching I Am David, is there anything you can take away from your movie viewing experience?

If I could describe I Am David in one word, it would be ‘genuine’. Every aspect of this film, from the acting performances to the screenwriting, allowed the story of David and his journey to be told with genuine emotion and sincerity! Creative decisions were delivered as pleasant surprises for me, such as the plot twists that caught me off guard. I was really impressed by the inclusion of Europe’s natural landscape, given enough emphasis to be its own character. The exploration of light and darkness provided a more balanced perspective on David’s world. I Am David is a movie I wish had been nominated during “award season”. In fact, I wish more people knew about this film! But if someone wanted to watch I Am David, I would suggest watching it knowing as little information about the story as possible, as I don’t want the film’s aforementioned plot twists to be spoiled for first time viewers.

Popcorn and movie ticket image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/cinema-tickets-in-bucket-with-popcorn_2303439.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/layout”>Layout image created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch Review

On By 18cinemalane3 Comments

I’m going to be honest; even though it’s only March, Hallmark has not impressed me with their new mystery films, so far. Both True Justice: Family Ties and Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers were, in my opinion, just ok. I did not enjoy CrimeTime: Freefall, turning the movie off after about forty minutes. Hoping luck would turn itself around, I decided to check out the newest mystery title from Hallmark; Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch. In the 2020s, so far, Hallmark has come up with some interesting ideas for their mystery films. While some of those ideas could lead to a potential series, other ideas were not utilized to their full potential. With Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch, the movie contains several interesting ideas. Not only does the story take place in Paris, France, the protagonist is a psychologist in the world of fashion. Could these ideas come together to create a stylish and entertaining film? Keep reading my review to find out!

Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch poster created by Cineflix Media, Untitled Entertainment, and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Things I liked about the film:

Brooke D’Orsay and Gilles Marini’s on-screen chemistry: A staple of Hallmark’s mystery films is a male and female protagonist working together to solve a mystery. Sometimes, these protagonists will share a romantic relationship, with the initial spark taking place between these characters in a series’ first film. While it’s unknown at this time if Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch will lead to a series, I will say I liked Brooke D’Orsay and Gilles Marini’s on-screen chemistry! Brooke portrayed the protagonist, Lauren, with a warm and bubbly personality. Meanwhile, Gilles’ character, Andre, consistently carried his character with a serious demeanor. However, there were times when kindness broke through the seriousness. Together, Lauren and Andre shared a mutual understanding that allowed them to get along with each other. One scene shows Andre sharing a part of his life story with Lauren. Through the expression on her face and the look in her eye, Lauren appears sympathetic toward Andre. A subtle look of sadness is present in Andre’s eyes, yet he appears he can trust Lauren, despite barely knowing her.

The costume design: If a story is going to take place within the fashion world, the costume design should strive to look appealing to the eye. I can only speak for myself, but there were some style choices I liked seeing in this movie! More often than not, Lauren wears either red or pink. The pieces paired with these shades not only complimented the outfit itself, it also complimented Brooke D’Orsay. While walking home from a party, Lauren wears a red, silk gown with a halter top. As her jacket of choice, she wore a dark denim jacket that sparkled at just the right moments. Throughout the film, Lauren carried a red purse. In one scene, this purse was paired with a short, beige jacket. The dark and warm shades of the aforementioned jackets provided visually appealing color combinations!

Showcasing various facets of the fashion world: Throughout Hallmark’s cinematic history, there have been stories that explored the behind-the-scenes of a given industry. In the case of Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch, the world of the fashion industry is examined. When Lauren first arrives in Paris, she is introduced to many members of a fashion label, from a model scout to a financial adviser. This scene alone showcases the many moving parts associated with a fashion company. Lauren learns about counterfeits and how they affect the fashion industry. I’m glad the film’s creative team didn’t shy away from including the not-so-glamourous side of the fashion world, as a more balanced perspective of fashion was presented to the audience.

Sewing pattern image created by Nenilkime at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Nenilkime – Freepik.com</a>. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/sewing-color-background_1380853.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

An underutilized profession: In Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch, Lauren is a “fashion psychologist”; meaning she applies her psychology skills to the world of fashion. The idea of a psychologist using their skills and expertise to question suspects and come up with motives makes sense for a mystery story. Featuring a psychological perspective within the fashion world is a unique angle for a Hallmark mystery production. Unfortunately, Lauren didn’t utilize any of her psychology skills toward solving the mystery. In fact, her skills were so underutilized, they became pointless. There were even some characters who refused to accept Lauren’s psychological help. If anything, Lauren seemed more like an over glorified intern.

Thick French accents: I’ve mentioned before on 18 Cinema Lane how the delivery of accents can make or break a production. What can also make or break a production is how thick an actor or actress’ accent is. Within Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch, several characters delivered thick French accents. This made it difficult to understand what they were saying and keep track of who was who. There were even subtitles, occasionally, shown on screen to help viewers understand what the characters were saying. However, some time was spent trying to figure out what the characters were saying that I wasn’t able to be fully invested in the film.

Underutilized characters: Riccardo Dolce is a fashion designer Lauren meets while working in Paris. With a striking appearance, Riccardo was surrounded in mystery. I genuinely wanted to know more about his designs, as well as his perspective on fashion. Sadly, Riccardo was featured in the movie only about two or three times total. Toward the beginning of Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch, Riccardo claimed he wanted to collaborate with the designer Lauren was hired by. His reasons for the collaboration are never explained. Riccardo is just one of several characters who were underutilized in this film.

Illustration of Paris, France created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/travel”>Travel vector created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

When I talked about Mystery Island in my list of the worst movies I saw in 2023, I hoped Hallmark would find the motivation to create better mystery productions. Despite it only being March 2024, I think Hallmark is still looking for that motivation. If I could describe Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch in one word, it would be ‘underwhelming’. Lauren’s psychology skills were not fully utilized, making her seem like an over glorified intern. The script caused several characters to be underutilized, sometimes featuring them in the movie for only a handful of scenes. Thick French accents made it difficult to understand what the characters were saying, which prevented me from becoming fully invested in the movie. Up until this point, Hallmark’s newer mystery films seemed to contain ideas that could allow more than one chapter. But now that I’ve seen Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch, I honestly don’t know how this story could lend itself to a multi-chapter series.

Overall score: 5.2 out of 10

Have you seen Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch? What are your thoughts on the current state of Hallmark’s mystery movies? Tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Introducing my Double Feature: 2004 Edition!

On By 18cinemalane2 Comments

Every time I publish one hundred posts, I commemorate the achievement by creating a double feature; reviewing two films that have at least one thing in common. My 800th blog post was a Word on the Street story about the possibility of a sequel for The Polar Express. Since that movie was released in 2004, I chose two titles from that year to review in this double feature. Those titles are I Am David and Hallmark’s adaptation of Frankenstein. It’s been a while since I attempted to answer a question through my double feature reviews. So, this time, I will try to find an answer to the following question:

Based on these two movies, how has the cinematic landscape changed in twenty years?

Popcorn and movie ticket image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/cinema-tickets-in-bucket-with-popcorn_2303439.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/layout”>Layout image created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Argylle Review

On By 18cinemalane2 Comments

Here at 18 Cinema Lane, “newer” theatrically released movies are rarely reviewed. One reason for this is how I have prioritized older films and made-for-TV productions. But since I recently saw Argylle, I found a good excuse to write about a “newer” theatrical film! The mystery genre is the most popular genre on 18 Cinema Lane, as I have stated before. While Argylle isn’t exactly a mystery film, it seemed to contain elements of mystery based on the movie’s marketing. The marketing also had a distinct color scheme and style, boasting argyle patterns in either blue or yellow. However, any fan of film would know it takes more than pretty looking marketing to make a good movie. All of the right pieces have to fall into place in order for a movie to not only be financially successful, but to also be acclaimed by both the critics and the audience. So, what are my thoughts on Argylle? Keep reading my review to find out!

Argylle poster created by Apple Original Films, Marv Films, Cloudy Productions, Apple Studios, and Universal Pictures

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: When an actor or actress portrays a protagonist, what can work in their favor is bringing a sense of likability to their role. In Bryce Dallas Howard’s case, her portrayal of Elly presented a realistic looking performance that could make the audience feel empathetic for the story’s main character. A great example is when Elly takes her first plane ride. Due to her anxious feelings, she consistently taps and shakes her head while also shutting her eyes. She explains to Aiden how these physical gestures are intended to be a coping mechanism. Another example takes place when Elly is reunited with her cat, Alfie. When this reunification happens, Elly’s hands are shaking, a visually sign she was distressed over Alfie’s well-being.

Throughout Argylle, Elly interacts with Aiden. Portrayed by Sam Rockwell, Aiden had a laid-back personality and a dry sense of humor. Sam had nice on-screen chemistry with Bryce as well. A good scene between Elly and Aiden is during her aforementioned first plane ride. As Elly is trying to cope with her anxious feelings, Aiden helps Elly through her ordeal, calmly talking to her with a soothing tone of voice. He also gives her direct eye contact, emphasizing how he has Elly’s undivided attention. To me, this scene was one of the better scenes in Argylle, as the interaction between Aiden and Elly felt genuine!

Based on what I know about Bryan Cranston’s performances, he seems to, typically, be cast as characters that either have no-nonsense attitudes or a dry sense of humor. In Argylle, Bryan portrayed a character called Director Ritter. While Bryan consistently carried his character with a serious persona, there wasn’t much room in his performance for humor, as he portrayed an antagonist. Despite this, Bryan was expressive throughout the film! When he is frustrated by an agent’s mistake, Director Ritter has an irritated look on his face. He also has a stern look in his eye, indicating his bottled-up anger. More subtle expressions like this one worked in Bryan’s favor, allowing his character to have a distinct personality!

Fight choreography: Because Argylle is classified as an action film, there are a collection of action scenes scattered throughout the story. Several of these scenes involve choreographed fights between characters. The way the fights were choreographed was fluid and fast paced. The back-and-forth action between the characters sometimes felt like a ping pong game in motion. One such example is when Aiden fights multiple people on a moving train. As he goes from car to car, the ultimate fight continues. The adrenaline remained consistent in this scene, which helped it be an exciting moment in the film! The fight scenes in Argylle were also presented in creative ways. Different elements and materials were used to bring unique ideas to the big screen.

The allegories: Action movies aren’t typically known for having thought-provoking or creative writing. In Argylle, though, I was impressed by the incorporation of allegories! A scene that showcased a good example is when Elly and Aiden enter an empty room. Prior to this scene, Elly is told to write her next book as she and Aiden go along. Based on how I interpreted it, the empty room represented Elly’s writer’s block. The evidence that supports this claim is how, earlier in the story, Elly is experiencing difficulty writing another novel in her book series. An empty room is waiting to be furnished, just like a story is waiting to be told. While still in the empty room, Elly rips wallpaper off the walls. This, from my interpretation, was an allegory for a writer finding a breakthrough from their writer’s block!

Tools of a writer image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/camera-and-coffee-near-notebook-and-accessories_2399437.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/vintage”>Vintage image created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

A drawn-out story: According to IMDB, Argylle has a run-time of 2 hours and 19 minutes. Though stories set at a little over two hours can be well paced and delivered, Argylle is drawn out. The problem was the creative team trying to satisfy their film’s run-time by placing an abundance of plot twists into their story. Most of these plot twists were effective. But I think a few of them could have been cut from the script.

Things that don’t make sense: There are moments in Argylle that don’t make sense the longer you think about them. One example is when Elly and Aiden are trying to locate someone. While sitting in a public park, Aiden and Elly do their research on Elly’s laptop. Meanwhile, antagonists are trying to locate Elly and Aiden, using technology at their disposal. Why would Elly and Aiden put themselves in a vulnerable position when they know the antagonists could easily figure out what they are doing?

Henry Cavill’s limited presence: In my review’s introduction, I briefly mentioned Argylle’s marketing. One aspect of this movie’s marketing was Henry Cavill’s inclusion. From what I remember, Henry was heavily featured in the marketing, making it seem like he was one of the film’s main stars. Even though his character, Argylle, was important in the story, Henry’s overall presence in the movie was limited. Without spoiling the film, I will say this limited presence was explained. However, this creative decision made Argylle’s marketing seem somewhat misleading.

Ice skating pair photo created by fxquadro at freepik.com. Image by fxquadro on Freepik

My overall impression:

When I chose to watch Argylle, I thought I had an idea what type of movie I was about to watch. While I was correct on some aspects, there were surprises along the way. A few of these surprises were the allegories sprinkled throughout the story and the abundance of plot twists. Out of the expected elements of the movie, Argylle had its strengths; from the acting performances to the fight choreography. But the film does have its flaws. Some of them range from having a drawn-out story to presenting misleading marketing. In my opinion, though, Argylle was an exciting, enjoyable picture! It won’t become one of the best movies of the year. But the film was, for me, a memorable experience!

Overall score: 7.2 out of 10

Have you seen Argylle? Which 2024 movie releases are you looking forward to? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

The 6th Annual Gold Sally Awards are Here!

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Since 2024 is a Leap Year, I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to publish the Gold Sally Awards on Leap Day! For new readers of 18 Cinema Lane, the Gold Sally Awards are one of my blog’s annual traditions to commemorate 18 Cinema Lane’s anniversary. These award categories are created by me, based on topics I’ve brought up on my blog. While most of the awards are the same as in 2023, a few of them have changed. For those awards, I’ll explain the significance of those categories. But just like last year, I will discuss why I chose each recipient. So, now, the moment you’ve been waiting for! The 6th Annual Gold Sally Awards are about to begin!

6th Annual Gold Sally Awards Winners created by me, Sally Silverscreen.

The “She Won’t Give Me My Chocolate” Award

(Best Quote from a Movie)

“Heroes know who they are” – Evel Knievel, Evel Knievel (1971)

In my review of the 1971 biopic, Evel Knievel, I mentioned how surprised I was by the story’s messages and themes. One example I provided was when Evel explained to Linda why he doesn’t want a lettermen sweater. To elaborate how he doesn’t need to prove he’s a hero, Evel says to Linda, “heroes know who they are”. This quote is not only though-provoking, it is also profound without trying too hard to be. To me, that quote (as well as that scene) was given a lot of thought by the biopic’s creative team!

The Standing Ovation Award

(Character Most Deserving of Receiving Their Full Potential)

Sydney Carton from Hallmark Hall of Fame’s A Tale of Two Cities

My favorite character from Hallmark Hall of Fame’s A Tale of Two Cities is Sydney Carton! Because of his personality, I wanted to know more about him. I was also curious to see where his story would go. Without spoiling this movie, though, all I’ll say is Sydney deserved more than the story provided him. Similar to Kili from The Hobbit trilogy, Sydney is, in my opinion, the MVP of A Tale of Two Cities!

The They Deserve an Award Award

(An Actor or Actress Who Deserves Recognition)

Sarah Drew (for her performance in Guiding Emily)

In the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries film, Guiding Emily, the protagonist loses her eyesight. This prevented Sarah Drew, the actress who portrayed Emily, from using her eyes for emotional expression. However, she used other acting techniques to her advantage; such as body language, vocal inflections, and movements of the mouth. Sarah’s performance in Guiding Emily was so good, I specifically highlighted it in my review of the 2023 movie! Through versatility in her acting abilities, Sarah’s portrayal of Emily appeared believable! In fact, I think Sarah should have, at least, been nominated for an award.

The Cowboy Award

(Character Who Makes an Unnecessary, Drastic Change)

Margot from Christmas at Castle Hart

Cowboy, from the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, A Painted House, is a character I’ve mentioned on 18 Cinema Lane. The context was when he was featured in the dishonorable mentions section of my list of the top ten characters ruined by Hallmark. Because I won’t spoil the aforementioned Hallmark Hall of Fame film, all I will say is Cowboy makes an unnecessary, drastic change that, in my opinion, was jarring to witness. It was also jarring to watch Margot, from Christmas at Castle Hart, drastically change. For most of the 2021 movie, Margot comes across as a somewhat annoying character obsessed with Irish stereotypes. But when her sister, Brooke, confronts her about how they should stop lying, Margot becomes a selfish and manipulative person. She even convinces Brooke into believing that if their lies fall apart, it will be Brooke’s fault. In an instant, Margot became a character who cared more about her career than about how others would be affected by her lies.

The “Based on a Book I Haven’t Read Yet” Award

(Movie Based on Source Material I Have Not Yet Read)

Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Caroline?

Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Caroline? became my favorite movie of 2023! After watching the film, I remembered how it was based on the book, Father’s Arcane Daughter by E. L. Konigsburg. As well as trying to check out as many Hallmark Hall of Fame movies as I realistically can, I’d like to read as many books based on Hallmark Hall of Fame movies as possible. In fact, I even created a Hallmark Hall of Fame reading challenge! Since I haven’t read Father’s Arcane Daughter yet, I need to find an excuse to finally seek this book out.

The Edward Boult Award

(Missed Opportunity in Cinema)

Not Addressing Bullying in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

If you’re going to create a story for a younger audience, you need to be mindful when it comes to addressing serious, real-world issues. That’s because a younger audience can be very impressionable. The creative team behind the 1983 television production, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, should have kept this in mind when they chose to not address bullying in their film. As I talked about in my review, the Herdman children bully their peers. The bullied children don’t stand up for themselves against the Herdmans. It also doesn’t help how the adults in the story do not resolve this issue. Because of everything I just said, some younger audience members might believe they shouldn’t bring up bullying if it occurs in their life.

The Top Gun: Maverick Award

(Movie That Exceeded My Low Expectations)

A Biltmore Christmas

When I included Top Gun: Maverick in my list of the top ten best movies I saw in 2022, I admitted how skeptical I was about the movie’s quality. As I said in that list, sequels released over ten years after their predecessor can be hit or miss. But Top Gun: Maverick exceeded my expectations, becoming my second favorite picture from that year! In 2023, I was skeptical about A Biltmore Christmas due to its hype and publicity. Similar to Top Gun: Maverick, A Biltmore Christmas was so good, it ended up in the top three of my year end best movies list! Like I said in my list of the best movies I saw in 2023, there were so many things Hallmark got right in this Christmas movie. It also helps how the story provided a different type of narrative for Hallmark’s Christmas presentations. Because of how much I liked A Biltmore Christmas, I’m looking forward to seeing what Hallmark has in store for this year’s Christmas season!

The Dishonorable Mention Award

(Worst Movie from the Dishonorable Mention Category)

Christmas at Castle Hart

Because I didn’t see enough movies to include an honorable mention category, I wasn’t able to award a winner for the Honorable Mention Award. Since my worst movies of 2023 list featured a dishonorable mention category, I was able to find a recipient for this year’s Gold Sally Awards. Christmas at Castle Hart is the most disappointing film to not make my worst films of the year list. In my review of that movie, I stated how I had waited since 2018 to see Stuart Townsend star in a Hallmark production. Sadly, the final product Hallmark gave me wasn’t worth the wait. Stuart’s acting talents were underutilized to the point where his character, Aiden, spent most of the story driving the female protagonist around Ireland. Christmas at Castle Hart contained other flaws, such as bad CGI and an underutilized subplot. Looking back on the Dishonorable Mention Award, I realized how both recipients were Hallmark films.

The Far and Few Between Award

(Best Movie from a Genre, Film Category, or Decade Not Often Covered on 18 Cinema Lane)

Frankenweenie (2012)

Even though 18 Cinema Lane has been around for six years, there are some areas of cinema that are not often covered on my blog. One of those areas is animation. While it’s rare for an animated movie to receive a movie review, it’s even rarer for an animated movie to appear on my best films of the year list. 2012’s Frankenweenie achieved these feats in 2023, presenting a collection of good creative choices as well as heart. This movie was such a pleasant, memorable surprise, which surpassed my expectations. I’m thankful I took the chance to write about it!

The Hallmark Hall of Fame Award

(Movie That Feels Like It Belongs in the Hallmark Hall of Fame Collection)

Guiding Emily and A Biltmore Christmas

When I shared my overall impression of Guiding Emily, I said how the movie felt reminiscent of Hallmark Hall of Fame projects of yesteryear. This is because the film tells a more unique story from what Hallmark typically creates today. In the case of A Biltmore Christmas, the story provided a different type of narrative within Hallmark’s Christmas films. It also included a historical component to the story. When Hallmark Hall of Fame was in its prime, historical/period films or movies with inspirational themes were added to the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection. If this collection still existed, Guiding Emily and A Biltmore Christmas would have been chosen as 2023’s Hallmark Hall of Fame presentations.

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s Review

On By 18cinemalane15 Comments

When I write a movie review, I typically discuss what I liked and didn’t like about a movie, as well as summing up my thoughts in an overall impression. But for the 6th So Bad It’s Good Blogathon, I’m taking a different approach for this review. Readers of 18 Cinema Lane will know how long I’ve been searching for my “so bad it’s good” movie. Last year, when I wrote about Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter, I mentioned how I giggled a few times while watching the film. This was taken as a step in the right direction to finding my “so bad it’s good” title! For the aforementioned 6th So Bad It’s Good Blogathon, my original intent was to choose a movie that was built on a gimmick. Then I remembered how I found Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Heartache and Homecoming so bad, it was, at times, unintentionally funny. I also recalled how the 2022 project was actually a sequel to the 2018 film, Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s. Now that I’ve seen both films, I can, honestly, say the 2018 movie was so bad, it was, at times, unintentionally funny, though not as much as the sequel. So, in this review, I will provide examples of why Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s is so bad, it’s unintentionally funny at times!

Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s poster created by Glass House Distribution

Dr. Amy Bradford and her Veterinary Clinic

When I discussed Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Heartache and Homecoming in my worst movies of 2023 list, I mentioned how even though the protagonist is a veterinarian, she didn’t have to hold an animal every time a scene takes place at the veterinary clinic. This flaw constantly reminded the audience of the protagonist’s profession, making those parts of the script seem unnecessarily repetitive. When Dr. Amy Bradford first visits her veterinary clinic with her friend, Bethany, in Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s, it makes sense to show Amy with a bearded dragon. That scene establishes Amy’s role in the town and the story itself. But after the initial introduction, Amy is, once again, shown holding animals, whether Bethany is visiting the clinic or Amy is talking on the phone with her friends. It seems like the creative team behind Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s didn’t have confidence in their audience to remember Amy’s job. Personally, I found this flaw funny because of how frequent it was.

Collection of white rabbit images created by freepik at freepik.com Hand drawn vector created by freepik – www.freepik.com

Obvious Production Errors

Any movie will have its fair share of production related errors. But in Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s, several production errors were more obvious. Remember when I said Amy held an animal every time she was shown in her veterinary clinic? While on the phone with Bethany, Amy holds a brown rabbit with tall ears. A few seconds later, Amy is then holding a white rabbit with floppy ears. When Bethany and Amy first go to the veterinary clinic, both women drink a mug of tea. Before clinking mugs, Bethany is holding her mug by its handle in her right hand. After clinking mugs, she’s now holding the mug on its side with that same right hand. As she’s putting the mug to her lips, Bethany’s right hand returns to the mug’s handle. Toward the end of the movie, the villain escapes in a getaway van. One scene shows the villain entering the van and closing the door before it moves. The scene after that, the van drives away with the villain’s door open.

These three screenshots illustrate a production error I described in this review. Screenshots taken by me, Sally Silverscreen. Images created by Glass House Distribution

Not Understanding How Things Work

As I talked about in my 2023 edition of my worst movies of the year list, the script for Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Heartache and Homecoming reminded me of The Cookie Mobster, with the screenwriters not displaying an understanding for how some things worked. The example I brought up was how Game Boy Color video game consoles were incorporated into the story. Similarly, in Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s, the screenwriters repeated the same mistake as the 2022 film. One glaring example takes place as a character tries to use their cell phone. A volunteer at the protagonist’s church is about to watch a livestream video from her “smart” phone, with the video starting in a few seconds. The woman sitting next to her suggests she watches the video on the television that happens to be in the room. Confused by what the woman is requesting, the livestream viewer asks if it’s possible to do that with a phone. The woman then grabs the viewer’s phone, presses the phone’s touchscreen a few times, then the video magically appears on the television. It should be noted how the television was turned off prior to the woman turning the livestream video on the television. Cell phones in 2018 (when Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s was released) contain more advanced technology than cell phones from previous years. However, they are not “smart” enough to automatically turn on a television and connect to the television without the use of connecting wires or a remote control.

The Sixth So Bad It’s Good Blogathon banner created by Rebecca from Taking Up Room

Writing and Delivery of Dialogue

In this review so far, I’ve addressed some of the issues with the movie’s screenwriting. One flaw in this department is how the dialogue is written. There are some scenes where a character is supposed to deliver a strength filled line meant to be taken seriously. Due to the screenwriting, though, these lines don’t contain that emotional impact, causing them to sound funnier than intended. When Bethany visits a local real estate agent, she meets the realtor and his ex-wife. During Bethany’s visit, the realtor and his ex-wife get into an argument. After the realtor mentions how he should have fired his ex-wife, his ex-wife reminds him how that’s not possible by stating, “but I got half this company in the divorce settlement”. In an attempt to get the last word, the realtor replies, “Well, at least I got the cat”. Later that same day, Bethany is confronted at the local church by the villain. When the villain tries to intimidate Bethany to help them leave town, she utilizes some martial arts techniques to retrieve the villain’s gun and knock the villain to the ground. The villain then asks Bethany where she learned to fight. Bethany replies, in a serious tone, “I was homeschooled”.

Another issue with the movie’s script was how the dialogue was delivered. There were times when an actor’s line delivery was so unnatural, it sounded robotic. Toward the beginning of the film, Bethany is discouraged by her inability to bake a pie. Her mother reassures her by saying “No, it’s not. You’re much better with people than you are with pies. I mean, seriously, I have never met anyone that can connect with every single person that she meets. And that’s a gift”.  While Bethany’s mother gives her daughter a nice, encouraging comment, the limited use of vocal inflections and over-enunciating make this comment sound less genuine. When Bethany’s friend, Grace, visits Bethany’s family’s orchard, Grace reveals how she has worked in the Mount Hideaway facility for the past two weeks. Shocked by this piece of news, Bethany responds by saying, “You’re working at the classified facility outside my hometown?” This line delivery is so flat and over-enunciated, it sounds like Bethany is talking in slow-motion.

Red apples in basket photo created by Valeria_aksakova at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/fresh-tasty-red-apples-in-wooden-basket-on-green-grass_1284495.htm’>Designed by Valeria_aksakova</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Valeria_aksakova – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Poor Special Effects

Whether a tv movie network production or an independent film, these types of movies are typically granted smaller budgets. This financial restriction means some film-making techniques could be out of reach, such as time-consuming and expensive special effects. If computer-created special effects are applied to a film with financial limitations, those effects could show the film’s budget. As Bethany is taking her burnt pie out of the oven, smoke appears to be coming out of the oven. But as Bethany is trying to fan the smoke away from the pie, it’s pretty clear the smoke is a computer-created effect resting atop the image and likely added in post-production. While Bethany is reminiscing on the past, she recalls how she and her friend, Jamie, spotted an abandoned car. This abandoned car looked too glossy for the long shot of the nearby river. In fact, the car appeared to be poorly photoshopped into the scene during the film’s editing stage. Because the car wasn’t blended into the scene well, its inclusion in the movie felt so jarring, it was distracting.

If you look at this picture’s bottom right hand corner, you will see how the car looks like it was probably added in the editing stage of this movie. Image created by Glass House Distribution

As Bethany pays her church a visit, she goes to the homeschool resource center. In this room, there is a poster that reads, “Mistakes are proof that you are trying”. This quote is how to sum up Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s. The 2018 picture is filled with production and film-making mistakes. These range from the obvious (such as a poorly photoshopped car) to the subtle (like no display of understanding for how technology works). However, these mistakes are proof the movie’s creative team tried to visually tell a story. Making a film is a time-consuming and financially-consuming endeavor. This creative endeavor also consists of a lot of moving parts, requiring various people to oversee different departments of the film-making process. Going back to Mount Hideaway Mysteries: Exes and Oh No’s, I wouldn’t go so far as to choose this project as my “so bad it’s good” movie. But, while watching the 2018 film, I did find myself laughing more than I did watching Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter. Therefore, I will take that as another step in the right direction to finally finding my “so bad it’s good” movie!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: The Deep End of the Ocean Review

On By 18cinemalane2 Comments

In the We Heart Siblings Stories Week event, hosted by Hamlette (from Hamlette’s Soliloquy), I wanted to review a movie that was more underrated. While searching for the perfect title, I discovered a list on IMDB about the best movies about siblings. On that list, the 1999 movie, The Deep End of the Ocean, was featured. Back in 2021, when I reviewed Taming Andrew, I remember Gill, from Realweegiemidget Reviews, recommending The Deep End of the Ocean for a future review. Since I try to write about a recommended picture every now and then and since the 1999 film fit the blogathon’s criteria, I found the perfect title to discuss! Similar to Taming Andrew, The Deep End of the Ocean revolves around a family whose child was kidnapped and eventually returned. Since the missing child in the 1999 movie has siblings, those children’s perspective are included in the story. So, without further delay, let’s begin this review of The Deep End of the Ocean.

The Deep End of the Ocean poster created by Columbia Pictures, Mandalay Entertainment, Via Rosa Productions, and Sony Pictures Releasing

Things I like about the film:

The acting: If a story includes a teenage character, it can be easy for that character to be written as an angsty or rebellious stereotype. But in The Deep End of the Ocean, Vincent never seemed like a stereotype or caricature.  Through Jonathan Jackson’s performance, Vincent came across as a realistic individual, trying his best to bottle up his emotions while putting on a brave face. After Ben/Sam was identified as Beth and Pat’s son, Vincent reveals to Beth how he has seen Ben/Sam around their neighborhood. When Beth questions him about this occurrence, Vincent’s demeanor is very nonchalant. His face displays a relaxed look and the tone of his voice sounds annoyed. But as the conversation continued, Vincent’s tone changed to irritation, his words sharply leaving his mouth. His eyes also took on an intense stare, which sometimes happens when Vincent is included in more dramatic scenes. This portrayal of Vincent was consistent with his younger self, keeping his feelings to himself while also trying to keep his family together. The subtle expressions from Jonathan Jackson do a good job at showing how emotions can trickle out of a character who has bottled up their emotions for so long.

Treat Williams is an actor I’m familiar with because of his inclusion in the Hallmark community. Through his involvement in projects such as Chesapeake Shores, his emotions and expressions have always come across as genuine. This is also the case for his portrayal of Pat in The Deep End of the Ocean. One morning, Pat brings up the idea of growing their family with his wife, Beth. At the start of this conversation, Pat appears happy, even adopting a playful tone in his voice. When Beth, portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer, explains why she doesn’t want more children, Pat gradually becomes frustrated. This frustration grows into anger, with both Pat and Beth yelling at each other. The way this argument unfolds feels realistic, each character bringing up good points with a sense of honesty. Because of the acting abilities and on-screen chemistry of Michelle and Treat, scenes like this one don’t feel over-the-top or melodramatic.

Because this story revolves around the disappearance of Ben/Sam, I need to talk about Ryan Merriman’s performance. When I reviewed Taming Andrew, I said casting a young actor or actress who could, talent-wise, carry most of the movie is essential when a story revolves around a young character. The difference between Taming Andrew and The Deep End of the Ocean is how the whole family deals with Ben’s/Sam’s kidnapping in the 1999 movie, allowing Ryan is carry only part of the film. Despite this, Ryan still brought a good performance to the table, with a variety of emotions and expressions displayed. A great example was when Ben/Sam plays basketball with Vincent. The game starts off as a friendly duel, all smiles and playful banter. As the game continues, Ben/Sam becomes confused and even afraid as Vincent’s demeanor changes. Slowly but surely, Vincent allows his frustrations and irritation to get the better of him, going so far as to accidently hit Ben/Sam in the face. Ryan’s acting talents help Ben’s/Sam’s interactions with various characters create an interesting dynamic within the story.

Showing the process of searching and locating a missing person: As I just mentioned in this review, the difference between Taming Andrew and The Deep End of the Ocean is how the whole family deals with Ben’s/Sam’s kidnapping in the 1999 movie. Another major difference between the two films is how The Deep End of the Ocean shows the entire process of searching and locating a missing person. When Ben/Sam is first reported missing, the story addresses the sense of urgency in the 24 hours to about a week after Ben/Sam is kidnapped. A clock is routinely shown to indicate how much time has passed. A television interview and a cover of People magazine show the desperation Ben’s/Sam’s family has in finding Ben/Sam. Even the community surrounding Ben’s/Sam’s family come together to create posters and make phone calls. Even though Ben/Sam is found almost ten years later, this part of the process is also taken seriously, from addressing the need for a search warrant to placing Ben/Sam in a foster home before reintroducing him to his family. Because this entire process was shown in the movie, it gives the audience a sense of closure.

Featuring different perspectives: Like I’ve been saying in this review, The Deep End of the Ocean addresses how the whole family deals with Ben’s/Sam’s kidnapping. Each member of Ben’s/Sam’s family handles his disappearance differently throughout the course of the story. Beth is filled with grief over the situation. From giving up on her photography career to staying in bed most of the day, she carries a great sadness in her mind and heart. Meanwhile, Pat tries desperately to find the silver lining in life. He continues to work at a local restaurant while maintaining his dream of opening his own restaurant. Young Vincent is troubled by what happened, as well as becoming overshadowed by his little brother. He bottles up his feelings and tries to hold his family together. With the strength of the acting performances and the screenwriting, the dynamic among the family becomes fascinating to watch.

The We Heart Sibling Stories Week banner created by Hamlette from Hamlette’s Soliloquy

What I didn’t like about the film:

An underutilized perspective: When Ben/Sam was kidnapped, Kerry was just a baby. Years later, Kerry is confused by her mother’s, Beth’s, reaction after a chance encounter with Ben/Sam. This is because she has no recollection of the events surrounding her brother’s disappearance. Because of everything I just said, Kerry’s perspective didn’t add much to the overall story. In order to utilize Kerry’s perspective, I wish she was written as either a teenager or slightly younger than Vincent at the time of Ben’s/Sam’s kidnapping.

A few continuity errors: After the time jump from the late ‘80s to “nine years later”, Vincent is reintroduced as a sixteen-year-old with long hair. In the very next scene he’s featured in, Vincent is shown with short hair. No explanation is provided for the sudden change in hair style and none of the other members in Vincent’s family seem to notice this change. Yes, Officer Candy Bliss mentioned to Beth how Vincent needs a haircut. But that doesn’t explain this error in continuity. Even though this flaw was a minor one in The Deep End of the Ocean, the specific continuity issue I described is a glaring one.

A random dramatic moment: Toward the end of The Deep End of the Ocean, Vincent is arrested. To me, this dramatic moment felt random. I’m aware how this film is based on a book I haven’t read. But according to what the movie shows, Vincent never came across as a character who was a trouble-maker or someone seeking attention. Jonathan Jackson’s portrayal of Vincent shows this is a character that is not a stereotypical teenager displaying “teenage angst”. With the inclusion of Vincent’s arrest, however, it almost seems like that part of the story is contributing to the angsty and rebellious teenager stereotype.

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My overall impression:

Throughout this review, I’ve been comparing and contrasting Taming Andrew and The Deep End of the Ocean. That’s because I was recommended The Deep End of the Ocean when I reviewed Taming Andrew. After seeing (and writing about) both films, it seems the only similarity these titles have is how the story revolves around a missing child being reunited with their family. If anything, The Deep End of the Ocean shares similar ideas and themes with The Face on the Milk Carton. Speaking specifically about the 1999 movie, this is a production I could take seriously. The acting performances were strong, creating a dynamic among the characters that was interesting to watch unfold. The screenwriting allowed the story and subjects within them to be honestly and respectfully told. But because of how serious the subject matter is, The Deep End of the Ocean does not have a high re-watchability rate. However, the film provides a mostly complete picture of the emotional rollercoaster the story’s family experienced.

Overall score: 7.3 out of 10

Have you seen The Deep End of the Ocean? Have you read the movie’s source material? Tell me in the comment section below!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: No Postage Necessary Review

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

For my review of No Postage Necessary, my original plan was to publish it on Valentine’s Day. This decision was made because, last year, I wrote about Evan Williams’ Hallmark film, The National Tree, in honor of the Christmas season. While working on my aforementioned review, I was also finding research for my upcoming Sally Solves a Mystery article. However, locating research for my Sally Solves a Mystery entry took longer than I expected. That means I ran out of time to publish my review of No Postage Necessary as originally intended. But I haven’t reviewed a movie since last week, so that’s why I’m still publishing my No Postage Necessary review. When it comes to “chick flicks” and “rom coms”, Hallmark has capitalized on both genres. But Hallmark is not the “end all, be all” when it comes to romantic comedies. Will No Postage Necessary mirror the quality viewers come to expect from Hallmark? Keep reading my review to find out!

No Postage Necessary poster created by Two Roads Picture Co. and Deep C Digital

Things I liked about the film:

George Blagden’s performance: While I liked the acting throughout No Postage Necessary, the strongest performance, in my opinion, came from George Blagden. That, along with how George is the reason why I sought out this movie, is why I’ll be highlighting George’s performance in this review. The most notable aspect of George’s portrayal of the protagonist, Sam, is how effortless he makes his performance appear. Toward the beginning of the film, Sam is a pessimistic man, using sarcasm to combat disappointment. During these moments, the sarcasm rolls off George’s tongue, with the delivery being sharp. As the story progresses and Sam becomes attracted to the film’s female protagonist, Josie, his attitude begins to soften. George adopts a calm, yet playful demeanor to show Sam’s changing persona. The aforementioned effortlessness, along with George’s ability to readily change emotions and expressions, allows Sam’s transformation to come across as believable!

The on-screen chemistry: For any romantic comedy to work, there needs to be, at least, some on-screen chemistry between the lead actor and actress. If this on-screen chemistry is strong, it believably sells the protagonists’ romantic relationship to the audience. As I previously mentioned in this review, Sam becomes attracted to Josie. Throughout the story, Josie and Sam spend time together and eventually fall in love. While interacting with each other, I could sense on-screen chemistry between George Blagden and Charleene Closshey. These interactions were not only very sweet, but it seemed like their characters developed a sense of understanding between each other. I also want to point out how natural Sam and Josie’s interactions were in No Postage Necessary. The acting abilities of George and Charleene worked in this movie’s favor!

The messages and themes: Similar to other romantic comedies, especially from Hallmark, there were some good messages and themes within the script of No Postage Necessary. One major theme is taking responsibility for one’s own actions. Prior to the events of this movie, Sam was arrested and faced accountability for the crime he committed. He is on probation during the events of the film. But when he discovered a letter from Josie, Sam takes the initiative the turn his life around. He seeks out better employment so he can prove how self-sufficient he is. Sam even purchases a new car, trying to give Josie a good impression of himself. Because of the screenwriting and acting performances, this theme was delivered well in this movie!

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What I didn’t like about the film:

The cyber security/Bitcoin subplot: George’s character, Sam, is a computer hacker who was arrested for his crime. Despite his criminal past, he still believes he could use his skills for good. Throughout the movie, Sam is accused by Agent Ames of stealing Bitcoins, even though Sam has never worked with Bitcoins before. While I’m aware Sam needed a conflict to work through, as well as a reason to change his ways, the overall tone of this subplot clashed with the cozy, sweet nature of the main romance plot. It felt like a Hallmark Channel movie tried to incorporate a Lifetime movie conflict into their script. This aforementioned subplot also, at times, seemed to serve a talking point for bigger, real-world issues. That prevented the film from completely adopting escapism.

Underutilized conflicts: In one of Josie’s letters, Josie shares how she wants to enroll her daughter, Daisy, into a prestigious school for gifted children. This decision was sparked by Daisy’s inability to socialize with her peers, to the point she is physically harming other students. But during the movie, Josie spends more time talking about what she wants to do instead of creating a plan to accomplish her goals. I know achieving goals and dreams takes time as well as determination. But in an hour and forty-four-minute film that prioritizes the main romance plot and the cyber security/Bitcoin subplot, this is one example of a conflict becoming underutilized.

Omission of George’s musical talents: When I published my editorial about why George Blagden and Evan Williams should go to Eurovision 2024, one of my arguments was George and Evan’s musical talents. I highlighted how both Evan and George are not only musically gifted as individuals, they also sound good together. With that said, I feel it was a missed opportunity not to include George’s musical talents in No Postage Necessary. In this movie, Josie shares with Sam how she has dreamed of becoming a singer. There’s even a scene where Josie performs with her former band at a local pub. If the creative team behind the movie knew they would be incorporating music into their production, they should have given George an opportunity to perform at least one acoustic musical number. Even a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)” playing over a scene would have made sense.

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My overall impression:

Hallmark has gained a reputation of having some of their movies look and feel too similar to each other. This creative choice has caused viewers like myself to crave creativity and uniqueness from the network. No Postage Necessary tries to give their romantic comedy a different identity from other movies of this genre, including those from Hallmark. While I appreciate this effort at creativity, the tones of the main romantic plot and the cyber security/Bitcoin subplot clashed with one another, causing them to feel mismatched. When the movie focuses on the romantic plot, the story feels reminiscent of a Hallmark production. Even though there is cozy, sweetness shared between the protagonists and the messages and themes within the script are good, the creative team behind No Postage Necessary still found a way to tell their own story without appearing to copy Hallmark’s homework. If you’re a fan of George Blagden or have enjoyed his performance in other programs he has starred in, I’d recommend watching this film for his performance!

Overall score: 6.8 out of 10

Have you seen No Postage Necessary? Are there any romantic comedies you’d like to read about on my blog? Tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen