mjayh
Ottawa Public Library
mjayh's Completed Shelf
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The Glass CastleThe Glass Castle, DVDLe Château De Verre
DVD - 2017DVD, 2017
mjayh's rating:
Added Jan 31, 2018
The Wilde WeddingThe Wilde Wedding, DVDLes Noces De Wilde
DVD - 2017DVD, 2017
mjayh's rating:
Added Dec 04, 2017
NerudaNeruda, DVD
DVD - 2017 | SpanishDVD, 2017. Language: Spanish
mjayh's rating:
Added Nov 09, 2017
Comment:
This is a very creative, beautiful film that has both real and and imagined characters. It's about a poet in turbulent times, and his creative process.
Midnight SpecialMidnight Special, DVDLe Lieu Secret
DVD - 2016DVD, 2016
mjayh's rating:
Added Nov 04, 2017
Comment:
It is very hard to fathom how such a lame story attracted such a fine cast.
Land of mineLand of mine, DVD[Under sandet]
DVD - 2017 | GermanDVD, 2017. Language: German
mjayh's rating:
Added Oct 17, 2017
Comment:
Not for the faint of heart. I watched more than half but really couldn't take the tension, the violence and horror. I turned to wikipedia's movie description online to know how the movie ends and to understand the history behind the film. A very worthwhile story but a challenge to watch.Not for the faint of heart. I watched more than half but really couldn't take the tension, the violence and horror. I turned to wikipedia's movie description online to know how the movie ends and to understand the history behind the film. A very…
I, Daniel BlakeI, Daniel Blake, DVDMoi, Daniel Blake
DVD - 2017DVD, 2017
mjayh's rating:
Added Oct 16, 2017
Comment:
A very compelling, important film. It should be required viewing for anyone in public service.
GeniusGenius, DVDGénie
DVD - 2016DVD, 2016
mjayh's rating:
Added Sep 04, 2017
Comment:
This film got rather underwhelming reviews by movie critics--largely because it claims to be a true story yet fails to stick to the book upon which it was based, making changes deemed not as interesting or relevant as what really happened. Still, I enjoyed it and it seemed fitting that Perkins, the editor responsible for "discovering" so many writers and developing their talent, finally got the recognition he deserved.This film got rather underwhelming reviews by movie critics--largely because it claims to be a true story yet fails to stick to the book upon which it was based, making changes deemed not as interesting or relevant as what really happened. Still, I…
Top of the LakeTop of the Lake, DVD
DVD - 2013DVD, 2013
mjayh's rating:
Added Jul 23, 2017
Comment:
Beautiful scenery, but the story is unrelentingly grim. Too many troubled individuals wallowing in misery, and the bad guys are not just bad but loathsome. Possibly the women's group sequestered in the valley was meant to provide a bit of amusement, but the situation came across as weird for the sake of being weird and was rather unconvincing.Beautiful scenery, but the story is unrelentingly grim. Too many troubled individuals wallowing in misery, and the bad guys are not just bad but loathsome. Possibly the women's group sequestered in the valley was meant to provide a bit of amusement,…
Ripple EffectRipple Effect, Streaming Video
Streaming Video - 2008Streaming Video, 2008
mjayh's rating:
Added Jun 18, 2017
The DressmakerThe Dressmaker, DVD
DVD - 2016DVD, 2016
mjayh's rating:
Added Jun 07, 2017
All the WayAll the Way, DVD
DVD - 2016DVD, 2016
mjayh's rating:
Added Jun 06, 2017
Comment:
Brian Cranston is a good actor, however as another person pointed out he just doesn't have LBJ's imposing stature. Having two inches added in his shoes still doesn't make him anywhere near big enough, and it makes him seem high-waisted and awkward. His performance seems forced to me, as though he's trying to compensate. Still, the story is worthy, the other performances top-notch. It may be worth mentioning that All The Way was a stage play originally and Cranston's performance earned him a Tony Award. Film is much less forgiving.Brian Cranston is a good actor, however as another person pointed out he just doesn't have LBJ's imposing stature. Having two inches added in his shoes still doesn't make him anywhere near big enough, and it makes him seem high-waisted and awkward.…
PatersonPaterson, DVD
DVD - 2017DVD, 2017
mjayh's rating:
Added May 12, 2017
Comment:
A refreshingly real film with likeable people and a great performance by a very charming canine. A lovely gentle story.
The Birth of A NationThe Birth of A Nation, DVDNaissance D'une Nation
DVD - 2017DVD, 2017
mjayh's rating:
Added Apr 16, 2017
Comment:
Before deciding if this film makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of this period of history, people might want to look into the real lives of Nat Turner, the historical figure at the centre of the story, and Nate Parker, the writer/actor/director of the film, as both fall very short of exhibiting admirable behaviour. As someone else pointed out there has been a lot of controversy surrounding the movie because of the violent acts of Turner and Parker's history of sexual impropriety, his harassment of his victim which resulted in her suicide. It's an ambitious film, not without merit, but ultimately work of an inexperienced director and notable mostly for the controversy.Before deciding if this film makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of this period of history, people might want to look into the real lives of Nat Turner, the historical figure at the centre of the story, and Nate Parker, the…
Black bookBlack book, BookZwartboek
Book - 2007 | Dutch; FlemishBook, 2007. Language: Dutch; Flemish
mjayh's rating:
Added Apr 12, 2017
Comment:
We tend to think that stories "inspired by real events" must have some historical merit, but such is not necessarily the case. The writer/director of this film is known primarily for his pulp fiction and crude, sensational approach to filmmaking, and so this account is intended to be over the top, a bit of a "romp". The resistance movement is so much less heroic than is usually depicted, is unlucky and/or incompetent in its manoeuvres, and not without its own villains. You may find the film less off-putting if you just don't take it seriously.We tend to think that stories "inspired by real events" must have some historical merit, but such is not necessarily the case. The writer/director of this film is known primarily for his pulp fiction and crude, sensational approach to filmmaking,…
Collateral BeautyCollateral Beauty, DVDBeauté Cachée
DVD - 2017DVD, 2017
mjayh's rating:
Added Apr 11, 2017
Comment:
Oftentimes when I consider a movie hardly worth watching there's a redeeming factor that keeps me hanging in. However, such was not the case here. Visually it was nothing out of the ordinary, the story was lame to say the least, and the acting okay but painful to watch--it was as though the performers realized too late that they were involved in something they'd regret.Oftentimes when I consider a movie hardly worth watching there's a redeeming factor that keeps me hanging in. However, such was not the case here. Visually it was nothing out of the ordinary, the story was lame to say the least, and the acting okay…
FencesFences, DVD
DVD - 2017DVD, 2017
mjayh's rating:
Added Apr 10, 2017
Comment:
I was really glad to see this film at home rather than at a cinema because I was able to take a few breaks. It's a good movie but very intense. Viola Davis is wonderful as the wife. For anyone who hasn't seen her performance in Doubt (with Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams) you might want to check it out as it is also very compelling.I was really glad to see this film at home rather than at a cinema because I was able to take a few breaks. It's a good movie but very intense. Viola Davis is wonderful as the wife. For anyone who hasn't seen her performance in Doubt (with Streep,…
AlliedAllied, DVDAlliés
DVD - 2017DVD, 2017
mjayh's rating:
Added Apr 10, 2017
Comment:
The film is beautifully shot, has an engaging story that held my interest throughout. Was it entirely believable? I found it reminiscent of movies from the forties and fifties and rather enjoyed the escapism. I didn't find there was a lack of chemistry. Bogart and Bergman in Casablanca were no more passionate than Pitt and Cotillard.The film is beautifully shot, has an engaging story that held my interest throughout. Was it entirely believable? I found it reminiscent of movies from the forties and fifties and rather enjoyed the escapism. I didn't find there was a lack of…
A Hologram for the KingA Hologram for the King, DVDUn Hologramme Pour Le Roi
DVD - 2016DVD, 2016
mjayh's rating:
Added Mar 22, 2017
Comment:
This was a pleasure to watch. A glimpse into another culture and a lot of breathtakingly beautiful scenes. In the love story that unfolds a mature man actually falls for a woman his own age rather than one thirty years younger. Imagine that! Also, this movie really captures the sense of wonder and uncertainty one feels in a foreign country, while still depicting a character reasonably comfortable in the world. It's a fairly low-key film--amusing, quirky, but without much of the razzle-dazzle some poor souls require to stay awake. I would have preferred a subtler conclusion to the story. Much subtler. But still...This was a pleasure to watch. A glimpse into another culture and a lot of breathtakingly beautiful scenes. In the love story that unfolds a mature man actually falls for a woman his own age rather than one thirty years younger. Imagine that! Also,…
LovingLoving, DVD
DVD - 2017DVD, 2017
mjayh's rating:
Added Mar 10, 2017
Comment:
An excellent film. Great performances and a true story that needed to be told.
Florence Foster JenkinsFlorence Foster Jenkins, DVD
DVD - 2016DVD, 2016
mjayh's rating:
Added Mar 01, 2017
Comment:
The story is mostly fictional. The fact is, no one knows much about the relationships in Florence's life. Was the husband romantic, or simply a man who knew how to manage the life of a tragic, needy woman in order to reap the benefits? Streep's performance lent credibility to a film that is very much a light-weight when it comes to artistic value. That said, it is not without humorous and touching moments.The story is mostly fictional. The fact is, no one knows much about the relationships in Florence's life. Was the husband romantic, or simply a man who knew how to manage the life of a tragic, needy woman in order to reap the benefits? Streep's…
BillionsBillions, DVDSeason One
DVD - 2016DVD, 2016
mjayh's rating:
Added Mar 01, 2017
Comment:
I agree with others that there's a certain slime factor when it comes to the subject matter, but I don't agree with those who say the writing is bad. (One of the writers is a columnist for the New York Times and another co-wrote the Clooney hit, Ocean's Thirteen.) There's a psychological element too that makes this show fairly interesting. I admit I fast-forwarded through sex scenes that creeped me out, but the show has substance--or at least more than average--and the acting is what you'd expect from performers of this caliber.I agree with others that there's a certain slime factor when it comes to the subject matter, but I don't agree with those who say the writing is bad. (One of the writers is a columnist for the New York Times and another co-wrote the Clooney hit,…
A Place to Call HomeA Place to Call Home, DVDSeason 1
DVD - 2014DVD, 2014
mjayh's rating:
Added Feb 12, 2017
Comment:
If you like soap, it just doesn't get any sudsier than this.
Grand PianoGrand Piano, Book
Book - 2014Book, 2014
Added Mar 11, 2016
Comment:
Totally agree with the person who said this movie is not for anyone with any knowledge of or appreciation for classical music.
Mr. TurnerMr. Turner, DVDM. Turner
DVD - 2015DVD, 2015
Added Feb 19, 2016
Comment:
A beautiful film to look at, but I was put off by the creative liberties that were taken. There is no historical record of Turner having a sexual relationship with his housekeeper. He was eccentric, to be sure, but this piggy portrayal was not necessary and unfairly tarnishes his legacy.A beautiful film to look at, but I was put off by the creative liberties that were taken. There is no historical record of Turner having a sexual relationship with his housekeeper. He was eccentric, to be sure, but this piggy portrayal was not…
Magic in the MoonlightMagic in the Moonlight, DVDMagie Au Clair De Lune
DVD - 2014DVD, 2014
mjayh's rating:
Added Jan 24, 2016
Comment:
In a word: twaddle. Very pretty to look at twaddle at times, but twaddle nonetheless. As someone else mentioned, the casting of Stone as Sophie seemed a misstep. For one thing, she's almost thirty years Firth's junior which may explain the total lack of chemistry. The reviewer in the New York times described the movie as "the dutiful recitation of themes and plot points conducted by a squad of costumed actors." That pretty much sums it up.In a word: twaddle. Very pretty to look at twaddle at times, but twaddle nonetheless. As someone else mentioned, the casting of Stone as Sophie seemed a misstep. For one thing, she's almost thirty years Firth's junior which may explain the total…
Comment: