ruthpry Reviews

Management (2008)

Lacking in believability but good job by the actors

[5/10 · 3 October 2009]

Steve Zahn carries this movie. The two main character's interactions would be unbelievable much of the time, but Zahn manages to sell it. Unfortunately the plot goes from extremely hard to believe, to just plain silly.

Despite a lame plot and bad writing, Zahn shines as the desperately in love protagonist. He's so convincing and endearing that you're rooting for him to succeed. But all the while there's a script running in the back of your brain telling you how stupid the premise is. Aniston's comedic talents were somewhat lacking in this film, but her character was not very well developed by the writers. One moment she's a vulnerable sweet lonely lady and then next she's a bitchy head case. But Aniston as usual is always adequate in the romantic comedy genre. I would have loved to have seen these two paired in a better story.

House M.D.: Wilson's Heart (2008) Season 4, Episode 16

You could hear a pin drop in our house. And that NEVER happens.

[10/10 · 8 June 2008]

Family TV night always includes House, MD. Luckily with TIVO we can re-wind whenever someone in the family inevitably blabs commentary out during the show.

We never had to touch the TIVO while this episode played out. Everyone kept their pie holes shut and that's saying quiet a lot when you have teenagers about you.

The quiet held until the very end of the show, and for several minutes afterward. That just doesn't happen in our boisterous family.

In the silence, my husband and I held each other for a long time. Only fantastic theater can grab and hold you like that. TV just doesn't get better.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)

The assassination of Jesse James...again

[1/10 · 7 February 2008]

Have insomnia? This "movie" is the cure. If I were Jesse, I'd claw my way out of my Missouri or Texas or wherever grave and go after everyone involved in this film in a zombie like fashion. Hey! There's a story line that might actually become a watchable film.

The only rational explanation I can find for this film is that the makers are out to prove that we are all in the same snore fest boat--life is a bore, your life, my life, their life, his life, etc. . .so go on--get to sleep and get it over with.

Oops, I guess I can't get my comment submitted until I say something else about this film. Right now I just need to take a nap.

The Brave One (2007)

Gender reversal remake of Death Wish gone Great Guns!

[9/10 · 6 February 2008]

Maybe I've overscored this movie a tad because I expected to puke through the entire thing. Instead I encountered a sensitive, riveting, slow/fast moving experience that was almost perfectly executed. There was one moment of "willing suspension" when the small, slight Jodie Foster character head-butts a giant bad guy, gains the advantage and kills him with a crow-bar. I took away only one point for that scene because, lets face it--you've got to give a super-hero a bit of "willing suspension." We all did that for Charles Bronson.

Fortunately, the more powerful--super-hero scenes--were accomplished using believable force, (the gun) and the force brought to the screen by Jodie Foster's performance as an apologetic, and truly unwilling participant in her fury. Terrence Howard delivers an amazing performance and holds his own against a powerhouse performance by Foster. His character is reminiscent of a good guy version of Benicio Del Toro's character in Usual Suspects, he is soft spoken, smart and in turmoil while searching for answers.

Beyond the main players, there is no flaw to be found in the performances delivered by ANY of the minor players. Expected to hate it--loved it, and that almost never happens. Great movie.

Comanche Moon (2008)

Don't trust the reviews!

[10/10 · 17 January 2008]

Karl Urban and Steve Zahn are amazing as the youngish versions of Woodrow and Gus as played flawlessly in the 80's version by Jones/Duval. After reading ALL of the reviews, I was prepared to be disappointed by their performances. WHO writes those reviews? Whomever they are--they have no sensibility about audience reception.

Beyond the simple fact that Urban and Zahn almost channel Jones/Duval in their performance, this mini-series stands on its own as a carefully crafted . . . almost lovingly crafted project . . . that offers the audience more layers and insight into the lives of the original characters.

Linda Cardinelli truly completes the character, Clara, played by Angela Huston in the original. Keith Robinson, as Joshua Deetz, offers a superb performance as do 99.9% of the players.

So, don't believe what you read. Watch it!

Lake Placid (1999)

Sold me on Oliver Platt's & Briget Fonda's comedic talents

[8/10 · 3 September 2007]

I loved this film. Bridget Fonda's best work. Her character was eminently vulnerable and both Bill Pullman and Brendan Gleeson were the perfect straight men for her comedy. Oliver Platt pitted against Brendan Gleeson was a fantastic mix. The writing is dead on and it is a very enjoyable show that you can watch more than once and realize that you've missed a joke.

The special effects left something to be desired. It was very clear that they didn't have "green screen" technology at their disposal. However, the fake special effects are overridden by extremely strong performances by very talented character actors.

I would have given the film a higher rating, despite the lack of good special effects, because the acting on the part of most of the character actors created an ensemble piece that became, by the end of the film amazing.

Unfortunately Betty White's cussing scenes brought the movie down. It's the one misstep the writers and/or casting team took.

However, this was an ensemble character driven movie with four VERY strong performances.

A Simple Plan (1998)

Hateful movie

[1/10 · 29 August 2007]

As a southerner I am always offended by Hollywood's constant choice of a So. accent for any evil doer or crazy person. This movie is set in Minnesota and yet all of these people who are evil to each other and others, have southern accents. 'Scuze Me? Minnesota is about as far from Texas or Georgia as Hollywood is from reality. This is a terrible mean spirited movie, a big downer. Human nature is not as dire as all that, there are a whole lot of heroes in this world. Also, the characters lack continuity all through the movie, and I mean ALL of the characters, Bill Paxton's character changes from a kind hearted every-man into a greedy murderer without even skipping a beat. Billy Bob Thorton's character goes from being an innocent simpleton to an angry thug, again without skipping a beat. Don't even get me started on Briget Fonda's character!

Driving Lessons (2006)

Seems like Jeremy never grew up and took responsibility for his life

[1/10 · 24 August 2007]

Director/Writer apparently never grew out of his teenage angst moment and blames his Christian, protective, loving, parents for everything he had to "endure" from them. Of course the "good" parents are portrayed as all teenagers see their parents----the stupidest people on the planet.

Yet the crazy ex-actress is portrayed as someone magical, someone who "saves" him from his STUPID and unforgivingly SANE parents.

Bummer that Jeremy needs to have a bit more therapy but I have to hope that he never makes another movie until he grows into an adult. Sometimes it takes forty years or so.

Maltin gets it wrong on occasion.

Rescue Me (2004–2011)

Big Fan From the Beginning!

[10/10 · 28 June 2007]

It's irreverent, funny, tragic, riveting. I have gasped out loud more than once while watching. Brilliant writing and acting. D. Leary is in his element and has created such a reality to his character Tommy Gavin that I can't believe Gavin isn't a real person. The only critique would be that the show does tend over do the quirkiness of some of the characters. But that is balanced by the cornerstone characters who are as lovable as they are offensive. The fast paced story lines and periodic shockers keep my heart rate pumping throughout the show. And there is always that lingering possibility that a fire is just around the corner to mix things up. I've never missed an episode and highly recommend it for adults, but watch it only after the kids are in bed :-)

Catch and Release (II) (2006)

Girl Keeps Making Same Mistake

[2/10 · 27 June 2007]

Girl learns that her fiancé of five years has been lying. . .about pretty much everything including having a kid with another woman while they were dating. She freaks out and then hooks up with the only one of his friends who was aware of all of his lies and who admits to walking away anytime a relationship gets serious. . . Oh, and yeah she watched him having sex with a complete stranger on the day of her fiancé's funeral.

Girl finds out that there is also a cute, non-drug using, non-long haired, non-lying, non-drug using, non-sex fiend friend of her fiancé who is in love with her but shuts him down, because. . . women are STUPID???

Of course all is well in the end because the drug smoking hippie sex fiend surfer dude who has relationship and intimacy issues is RICH. YEAH! ALL IS WELL.

P...L...E...A...S...E!!!!! Women are NOT that STUPID!!

Pumpkinhead (1988)

Our family's favorite Halloween movie

[9/10 · 28 October 2006]

Great story and fantastic acting, especially by the lead actor, Lance Henrikson but the witch does a great job too. Great idea to translate the classic poem "Pumpkinhead" into a movie. The poem, the basis for many a childhood nightmare, deserved to be made into a movie. The only reason I hesitate to give the movie a 10 is that it is obviously filmed in California but set in WVA. Despite the obvious budget restrictions this movie succeeds and is a work of film art.

The relationships are riveting, the story moves at an incessant pace. For the genre, the violence is not horribly graphic, yet the monster is good and scary.