Bernie157 Reviews

Jumping the Broom (2011)

"Jumping the Broom" was excellent

[9/10 · 28 May 2011]

My wife and I drove quite a distance to see this movie (we had some ticket discount deal that wasn't good at nearby movie chains/theaters). It was a late Saturday morning showing so we were the only white people among about 10-12 viewers total.

Going in we had a good feeling that we were going to enjoy it, partly based on radio and TV reviews. Sometimes I read IMDb or Yahoo reviews before deciding to see a movie but we didn't this time.

This movie started out as a trite story of two beautiful people in love but then as the other characters were brought into our view, things got interesting. First we saw the parents of the bride who appeared to be quite well off with a large house. As we were introduced to the groom's mother and other relatives and friends, we saw that there were great differences.

As others have said in these reviews, the situations seemed fairly believable for the most part, regardless of whether the majority of the cast and characters were black or white.

Many of the actors were fairly well known from recent and past TV series and movies.

Bernie

Last Summer in the Hamptons (1995)

The review before the review

[8/10 · 1 February 2011]

What I mean by my subject line is that I am watching this on HBO on my TV, but came in late and haven't paid full attention while I am doing some other things. Which is why I scheduled it to record on my DVR the next time it is on in about a week. Maybe I can find it available at our public library and see it sooner.

However from what I have already ready in these reviews and from what I have seen of the movie, I somewhat differ from the negative reviews and am enjoying it and will enjoy it as much or more when I get a chance to see the whole thing.

While it probably won no Oscars, not everything will but that doesn't make it bad.

For my tastes, the large number of familiar cast members, the easy and often funny dialog, and the low-key progression of scenes is just doing it for me right now. It does get weird from time to time.

I don't know the writer but someone mentioned Woody Allen and it definitely has that W.A. tone to it. There is almost nothing from W.A. that I haven't enjoyed.

Blue Bloods (2010–2024)

One of our favorite new shows

[9/10 · 23 October 2010]

The reviews so far cover just about everything I was going to say. We record it on our DVR and just caught up to the latest episode last evening.

The premise of a family of law-related members is well done. The actors are great (not sure why I didn't see James Naughton, who had a good part last evening, isn't mentioned in the cast here on IMDb).

Perhaps some of the story lines are on the trite side, based on current events, e.g. last night's NYC terrorist bomb episode, but also well done.

It looks like New York, although I didn't see a "filming locations" link in this IMDb article.

This is one we'll be watching (again, mostly via DVR) for as long as it is on the air.

Radio Days (1987)

Having just watched it on DVD, I was glued to the screen.

[10/10 · 8 December 2009]

What can I say that hasn't been said before? Wow, at least 60 posts to this thread, most of which I haven't yet read.

My wife says we saw it when it was in the theaters but I can't say I remember.

We are now watching it on DVD taken out from the library.

It is so wonderful and well done. It is so vividly colorful; I don't know how much the appearance was enhanced for the DVD but it is great in Wide mode on a flat-screen! Even the sad scene of the attempted rescue of a little girl (who fell down a well?), which turned out tragically, was poignant and realistic, and riveting.

The references, the music, the actors and actresses -- aye aye aye!

Hello Goodbye (I) (2008)

Cockamamie, Masha -- but cute and enjoyable

[7/10 · 20 June 2009]

A barely religious French Jewish gynecologist is cajoled and convinced by his converted-to-Judaism wife that she really wants to move to Israel to explore their Jewish roots. On a brief exploratory visit, he is promised a job at an Israeli hospital when a current gynecologist moves to the US. Also they buy into an apartment which is under construction but ought to be finished soon. So they break it to his parents and family, pack up their stuff, and move to Israel The doctor who was supposed to move to the US has reasons for delaying, the apartment construction is stalled due to finances, which leads to a lot of problems including that he takes a job washing cars at a hotel. He decides to go back to France but his wife doesn't want to. Eventually, ....

Night at the Museum (2006)

It grew on me

[8/10 · 10 April 2009]

I watched "Night at the Museum" with my wife, daughter, and 3 of my grandchildren. Actually, I missed much of the beginning as I was busy with other things and thought that I wouldn't enjoy the movie. I got the DVD from our library at the request of my daughter who said that one of the teachers suggested that the kids see it. Once I sat down with the rest of the family, it started to grow on me and we all enjoyed it -- as preposterous as the premise was. With the long list of veteran and/or known actors, the well-done special effects, and the take-offs on historical facts, this was an educational and enjoyable movie.

Key West (1993)

Enjoyed reading these reviews

[10/10 · 11 October 2008]

I am right now watching "The Big Chill" on DVD. One of its actors is Meg Tilly. I looked it up on IMDb which led me to reading Meg's bio which mentioned and reminded me of Meg's sister Jennifer Tilly whose filmography included "Key West", which was one of my wife's and my favorite shows. I then read this entire thread of reviews.

Wow, I really loved that show also and agree with all of the sentiments about the quirkiness and uniqueness of the characters and situations.

As most everyone else, I wish it was on DVD or otherwise available.

The last reviewer says he watches it on reruns so I wish I knew what network, channel, day, times it is on.

So if anyone knows how we can watch episodes of "Key West", please let us know.

Free Zone (2005)

I couldn't wait to get out of there

[3/10 · 11 June 2008]

Five of us sat in a room and watched this movie on DVD. At the end we discussed it somewhat. One woman seemed to get it but the rest of us did not.

In fact I had "shpilkes" through the entire movie and wanted to suggest that at least my wife and I leave early on but I didn't want to disturb the others in case they were enjoying it (although I couldn't see how).

We started viewing it without subtitles (sort of by accident) but part-way through the opening crying scene with unintelligible music, we decided to stop it and turn on subtitles thinking that perhaps the lyrics of the music would show up in the subtitles. No such luck so we sped through the crying scenes.

In most respects I agree with most of the comments associated with low ratings and poor reviews. The double-exposure scenes were just annoying. The pouty-lipped Hannah seemed to be trying to "say" something but I didn't know what. The Palestinian lady seemed to take her time getting started participating in the movie.

It went from scene to scene without much understanding on my part as to why. And finally at the end, at an Israeli checkpoint (I think), Rebecca (Portman) jumps out of the car and runs off lickety split with vehicles going after her with sirens blaring. Yet I don't know why she did try to run past security nor why she wasn't shot at.

Huh?

The Secrets (2007)

Superb film

[8/10 · 28 May 2008]

I don't have too much to add to the previous comments but I wonder why there have been no comments since last October. This movie must be hiding for the right opportunity(ies) to be seen.

I previewed this movie as part of an upcoming Jewish Film Festival and it was far and away the best drama that I have seen, perhaps in several years.

I thought the Orthodox Jewish milieu was going to be a turn-off but that only added to a great story, directing, acting, setting, and scenery.

The actresses seemed to be familiar types from other, English-language, films but they probably were not. Just a very good experience.

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)

Totally disappointed

[5/10 · 19 May 2008]

After hearing several interviews of stars and creators and sampling of songs on my local NPR (National Public Radio) over a few months, I was looking forward to seeing this movie and enjoying the parodying of the singing and personalities of Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, and others.

Then I got the DVD from my library this weekend.

Unfortunately, all the gratuitous sick humor, nudity, drug use, and violence, and minimal good singing ruined it for me and my wife. I realize that this was supposed to represent the depravity that Elvis and other rock stars have sunk to -- but gee whiz.

Call me somewhat older than the supposed target audience of these Apatow comedies which seems to favor raunchiness and sexual innuendo rather than on true creativity, good acting, and good stories.

The First Time I Turned Twenty (2004)

Jewish teen girl breaks into all-male school jazz band

[8/10 · 22 March 2007]

This is a French film with English subtitles about a chubby but pretty high school Jewish girl who isn't happy with her life.

However she competes for a spot in an all-boy school jazz band, playing a super "double bass" violin, and wins. Before and after winning, she has to put up with many pranks by the non-Jewish boys in the band.

All the characters and actors in this film as well as the main topic and sub-topics, are a pleasure to watch. The girl's parents, sisters, and uncle are especially well written and played.

There is one scene of male frontal nudity so perhaps not suitable for small children.

Yom Yom (1998)

Not a very good movie

[5/10 · 9 September 2006]

Like the first commenter said, it was a bunch of vignettes -- some related, some not -- which were mostly boring. Some naked and/or sex scenes spiced it up.

Not sure why some highly-acclaimed actors would participate in it, except to get a pay-check during a lull in their careers. Seemed odd that most of the movie characters had same first name as the actors' first name.

It wasn't clear to me that it was about Jews and Arabs, perhaps mostly Arabs, until near the end. I didn't recognize anything as being Haifa or any other specific place -- mainly scenes of semi-squalor or ongoing construction -- despite my one trip to Israel including Haifa about seven years ago.

Saint Clara (1996)

Enjoyed this film

[5 October 2001]

I saw Saint Clara in Toronto during the Toronto Film Festival in 1997. It was at a theatre not part of the festival at the time but it felt like it could have been (perhaps it was the year before). As others have said, it had an odd, bleak, futuristic look and feel about it but was enjoyable none the less. I would love to find the DVD or tape so I could see it again. Bernie