dennisleecleven Reviews

Pignorant (2024)

Joey Carbstrong pulls no punches!

[10/10 · 18 February 2024]

I admire Joey Carbstrong for his many short videoes on social media and also on television in the UK. He has a strong grasp on logical discussion which I greatly admire. I like the fact he chose one species for this film instead of all animals used for food. That has been done in "The Animals' Film", "Cowspiracy", "Earthlings" and "Dominion" to name a few. Here, the focus is on the very intelligent pig.

If you are hesitant about seeing this film, you might ask why it would be disturbing since it is not upsetting to buy a pork roast or bacon at the grocery store, so why not see how it got to be in your shapping cart at the store? You'd not have qualms about seeing peas harvested or apples picked from the tree, so why do you squirm to see how pork chops and bacon come to be on your plate? See this film then answer how you feel.

Great Expectations (1934)

Watchable but it isn't Dickens

[4/10 · 21 July 2015]

This first sound adaptation of Dickens' 'Great Expectations' is sorely lacking anything connected with Charles Dickens. Phillips Holmes is a fine actor and he puts all that he can into the hackneyed script. Miss Havisham is played in a sentimental manner and she actually shows kindness. Jane Wyatt is also sympathetic! Her coldness, which she talks about with Miss Havisham, is lacking in action. This would all be fine if it were an original story but it is purportedly 'Great Expectations'! Stick with David Lean's far superior film and the BBC mini-series actually made in Britain. It is no wonder that Phillips Holmes left to make most of his final films in the UK after being disgusted with this film.

Her Man (1930)

A Great Gritty Tale

[10/10 · 23 May 2015]

Helen Twelvetrees is excellent as a poor waif in a dirty tavern. She is really a prostitute forced by Ricardo Cortez to keep the men entertained. Phillips Holmes (an underrated actor) bolts in and rescues her from her despair. This is no creaky early sound film. The camera work is brilliant and the cast (kudos to Marjorie Rambeau) is first rate. In tragedy, there is always comedy, and the two work together very well. I'd love to see a proper DVD release of this wonderful film. The setting is somewhat reminiscent of 'Anna Christie'. Helen Twelvetrees and Phillips Holmes deserve recognition to early sound films. This is truly classic Pre-Code cinema.

Rhoda (1974–1978)

Rhoda Lives On!

[8/10 · 6 October 2014]

I recently watched all seven seasons of The Mary Tyler Moore Show and it is a timeless classic. The 1970s was the era of spin-offs and of the two sitcoms from The MTM Show, Rhoda fares much better than Phyllis. Rhoda was a character who was down-to-earth, self-deprecating and she was the perfect best friend for the so-good Mary Richards. The MTM Show always had a perfect ensemble cast but Rhoda had characters leave and, especially when Rhoda and Joe separate, we don't know what became of Barbara Sharma who was Rhoda's assistant in dressing windows. Anne Meara leaves without a trace after becoming a close friend to Rhoda and Brenda. In comes Ron Silver as Gary Leavy who becomes a good friend but Johnny Venture comes and goes and it is never clear why he is there. Rhoda gives up dressing windows and it looks hopeful when she becomes a costume designer. Julie Kavner was extremely important to Rhoda as her younger sister and her comic performances are superb. The relationship between Rhoda and Brenda was pivotal to this show's success. Nancy Walker, who was missing in season three but returned for season four & five, was always brilliant. Valerie Harper progressed as Rhoda became more confident and was always there for her insecure sister, Brenda. These are brilliant moments in the show. I do wish very much that the final season would be released. Season Five has not been put on DVD and there are some five episodes never shown except when the program was syndicated. Over all, the show is good and funny. Valerie Harper is a joy to watch. There are a few episodes that didn't fare well but they are in the minority. Valerie Harper is a great actress and she remains Rhoda who has embraced feminism. Over all, good acting, good writing, and excellent acting from Valerie Harper, Julie Kavner, Nancy Walker, Harold Gould, David Groh, Ron Silver, Barbara Sharma, Anne Meara, the guy who played Benny and the owner of the costume shop where Rhoda finds a new career. A Most Enjoyable Show over all. What destroyed it was that CBS moved it six times so it lost viewers. So, I hope Shout Factory, who released the full four seasons will release Season Five!

Fools of Fortune (1990)

A Very Fine Film

[10/10 · 2 November 2011]

I found this film to be extremely engrossing. I am surprised that it has not received a higher rating. It has an excellent script and a very fine cast. It is superbly directed with Iain Glenn shown periodically in the present hiding from revenge done to his family. Michael Kitchen is fine as the father but it is the great actress, Julie Christie, who steals every scene she is in. It is not her unquestionable beauty but her acting is top notch and she has incredible screen presence. This film was not widely distributed and it should have been. It is a very good story of the violence in Ireland after WWI. I highly recommend this art-house film. It is not mainstream fare but I do think many people would have loved this film as I do. I was intrigued to watch this film due to Julie Christie being in this cast. I love this film even with the most unusual ending. It is a film I have watched several times. Give it a chance. It is excellent.

Reason for Living: The Jill Ireland Story (1991 TV Movie)

Jill Clayburgh Gives a Good Performance

[7/10 · 22 October 2011]

Jill Clayburgh may not look like Jill Ireland, but I do feel she was good as a mother with a son addicted to heroin. Jill Clayburgh is a fine actress and she is at the center of this film along with Neill Barry who is her troubled adopted son. The facts of addiction are realistically portrayed. I was taken back that no mention was made that the adopted son was from a marriage to David McCallum. It was not until looking up information on Jill Ireland that I learned of the adopted son being from Jill Ireland's son from a marriage prior to her marriage to Charles Bronson. I found that to be an annoying gap in this film. Elizabeth Ashley was a real asset to this film. Because this was a TV film, I am giving it seven stars for a realistic portrayal of heroin addiction and the fine performances by Jill Clayburgh, Neill Barry, and Elizabeth Ashley. Though, I must say, Jill Clayburgh did struggle with a British accent. I can overlook that fact.

Firestorm: 72 Hours in Oakland (1993 TV Movie)

Jill Clayburgh Gives a Good Performance

[6/10 · 22 October 2011]

It took me ages to watch this film which I expected to be worse than what it really was. The introduction of the primary characters was not well scripted at all. It was rather embarrassing. Two-time Oscar Nominee Jill Clayburgh does give a good performance considering the script she had to work with which was not that great. Why she was in a wheelchair wasn't revealed until the end of the film. The three family stories were interwoven clumsily and their actions of evacuating their homes didn't seem all too realistic. Still, after I got engrossed in the scenes of the real fire scenes, I came to like the film. LaVar Burton provided a good performance along with Jill Clayburgh's. I don't think it was as bad as some reviewers have written despite inaccuracies. I am giving it six stars because of the footage of the real fire and for the performances of Jill Clayburgh and LaVar Burton. I've seen far worse TV films than this one.

W (1974)

Twiggy in a Poor Film

[18 October 2011]

Twiggy is a very good actress. She has given stellar performances in "The Young Charlie Chaplin", "The Little Match Girl", "Madame Souszatska". One would not know what a fine actress she is from this film. It was a poor follow-up to "The Boyfriend". The problem is that the script is awful and the direction leaves a great deal to be desired. Twiggy has had much more success in TV programs such as "Tales From the Crypt", "Bodybags", and the ill-fated 1991 sitcom, "Princesses" (which was given the kiss of death by being put on Friday night!) shows what a marvelous knack she has for comedy. Don't judge Twiggy as an actress from this poorly written and directed lusterless thriller. She really is a fine actress in good material.

3 Kids and a Queen (1935)

A Most Enjoyable May Robson Film!

[12 July 2011]

May Robson was a truly fine actress. I really like this film and I highly recommend it. It doesn't matter to me if it seems to be "Capra-esque" or seem to try to be like a Damon Runyan story. I prefer to focus on this film as if I hadn't seen "Lady For a Day" or her first film, "Mother's Millions". I do enjoy it when May Robson is the star of the film as she is in this one. She is first cantankerous but one need only to look at her family to see why she is lonely. Films are still made that borrow from previous successful films. What made this fresh for me are the boys who are bound for troubled life until they meet May Robson whom they call "Queenie" and even the "Old Battle-Ax". Frankie Darro gives an excellent performance and is a real asset to the film. The gangster connection adds a fresh and believable aspect to this film. Yes, there are aspects to the story that are rather hard to believe, but the characters portrayed by May Robson and the children make this film charming. It does get sentimental but it is still a very enjoyable film. May Robson was a joy on screen, much like Alison Skipworth and the great Marie Dressler. I am glad to have this film and, despite any flaws, it has action, comedy and it is heart-warming.

When Pigs Fly (1993)

A Gem of an Independent Film

[10/10 · 15 June 2011]

I saw this film because I am an ardent fan of Marianne Faithful. I didn't know what to expect because Ms. Faithful has been in some terrible films in the past. I was enchanted with this film and I do wish it would be released on DVD. It is a most unusual ghost story and that is what is wonderful about it. There is nothing that is predictable about this film. What is a bit shocking is to see how Marianne Faithful became a ghost. It is a bit of a jolt. Alfred Molina gives a superb performance. I recommended it a Video Shop and wrote a mini-review and it was being checked out constantly by word of mouth. This film deserved more promotion than it received. It is not flatly directed in my opinion. It has a great cast and the script is top-notch. Alfred Molina and Marianne Faithful work extremely well together. A great ghost story but it is also a very human film. It has charm without being at all sappy. I really love this film because it is odd but it is odd in the best possible manner.