Reviews

I have all but given up on the silly stuff that is being produced today. When I watch some of the movies of the 30's,40s and 50s I just find myself appreciating story lines that rely and clever plots and dialog. Not to mention the beautiful clothes and manners.

"Don't Read this on a plane" does not rely on the supernatural, violence or sex. It's plot engine is a young girl making her way through Europe largely on her wits. First and foremost it is superbly cast. Second the cinematography is first class. The plot is a delicious series of encounters in the modern world of Europe. Very real but also with a dash of tenderness. Sort of like real life (if we are lucky). The only unreal aspect (and in a nod to my old movies) the heroine is absolutely beautifully dressed throughout. Quite a feat with just one rolling suitcase.

Here is the thing. Cinema is the art form of our time and it's job is to inspire us with tales of 'real life' done well. All the elegant nuances that make up the 'soft parade' Enjoy this movie! Real life will just seem a little more fun afterward.

There were a bunch of LOL moments in this movie (very rare for me). Brilliantly written and cast. This is what indie movies are all about. Re affirms my belief in cinema as a transformative experience. Bravo Whitney Cummings! I can just imagine the energy that you had to expend to get this movie made.

Definitely a modern film noir. John Hawkes is wonderfully gritty but there are 2 things that make this movie a real pleasure to watch. 1. The women. So many beautiful women. Crystal Reed is hauntingly beautiful but all the women are lovely. As a movie buff I have become aware of how much a director can influence the on screen presence of a women. Dennis Hauck is a master. All of the women even in very rough scenes are incredibly enticing. This is about understanding the natural beauty of the women and then working with makeup, lighting and angles to make scenes where the camera 'loves' the women. 2. The pure artistry of the camera work. Watch the angles. The colors . This is the director and the DP creating art.

Watch and enjoy.

Full disclosure... Seattle is kind of my second home and I became aware of Lynn Shelton as she is one of the key figures in the movie scene there. So I am in the local cheering section but her and the Duplass brothers have put Seattle on the movie map. I think she has a good comedic sense and can evoke really lovely scenes from her female leads. John Huston said that if you cast a movie right the director doesn't have much to do and in this case the movie is brilliantly cast. All of the characters feel real and Keira Knightley is excellent. Chloë Grace Moretz and her are a real treat to watch.

This movie is huge fun and deals with real issues in today's world. Isn't that what cinema is supposed to be about?! Why can't a movie like this open on 3000 screens instead of some regurgitated 'lets pretend' super hero drivel?

Oh and the scene with Kiera as the street sales sign spinner is worth the price of admission.

This is a movie for people who like cinematography and of course Heather Graham. Personally I really enjoy movies with beautiful woman in them. Beauty in the cinema is a combination of the natural beauty of the actress and the vision of that beauty brought forth by the director and director of photography(DP). You just need to watch the opening credits to know that the DP is a brilliant artist. Then to watch the whole movie with all its fabulous colors is a real joy.

Heather Graham is well...Heather Graham. If you like her, then this is a wonderful vehicle for her talents. I happen to think she is a great actress as well as a great screen beauty.

The plot is quite real.

If you want exploding cars and flying people this is not your movie. If you treasure beauty, this is definitely a movie to watch.

The opening scenes in this movie are some of the best in cinema history. Start with the lovely blond in distress. Rescued by the man who seems to offer a very questionable way out of her predicament. Cut to the teeming nightclub. The frenetic activity just to set the stage for the appearance of the heroine. And what an entrance. Gene Tierney at the height of her beauty lit and shot by one of the masters of film. The director's understanding of the beauty of his star is all important and hear is one of the great examples. The designer Oleg Cassini provides the fabulous gowns. Their are some great lines in this movie but the real entertainment is watching a great director showcase a great beauty

Astonishing is the only word for this film. I have been raving about this film to all my friends. I tell married men to take their wives to this film and win major bonus points. I totally disagree with the review that called this one of the five best of the year. To me it is one of the five best films of ALL TIME! The dramatic mechanism in this film is almost perfect. By that I mean the way the we are drawn into the plot of the total underdog winning all (classic theme) when he came from the Mumbai slums. The essence of good storytelling is the 'believable coincidence" and this film has us believing. But more than that, to make a truly great, classic film you need dramatic scope and this is where this film exells. The emotions that are invoked are huge. Finally the visions and lessons of a civilization in transition (India) are very real. I was waiting for everyone to clap at the end of this film. They didn't, but I think it was simply because everyone has overwhelmed by this effect of the experience of this film. Slumdog Millionaire defines why film is a transformational medium.

They say it is the tough times that define us. Today the breakup of a family is something that has touched almost all of us in one way or another. 'Cruel But Necessary' shows how one woman dealt with the disintegration of her marriage and her comfortable suburban life. The marriage breaks up as a result of an inadvertent family video and Betty the protagonist takes this instrument that showed her the cruel truth of her collapsing marriage and embraces it as a way of dealing with the pain.

Although this plot line sounds dark the movie is very funny. The true art of this movie and the reason you will feel such impact is that is never pulls any punches but you are laughing the whole time. The trajectory of Betty's life seems to be going steadily down. The incidents are genuine and you are irresistibly drawn into the crazy but courageous main character.

The lead is played by Wendel Meldrum who also wrote the screenplay. Her presence in the film is magnificent. It's not just her beauty and grace but also the range of her characterization. Clearly the director Saul Rubinek knew how to 'light' her to give us the feeling of what she was going through.

If your life has been really quite nice so far you might not 'get' this movie but if you've seen your share of rough spots this movie will be good for your soul.

The reason so many of us love the cinema is because every once in a while we get to see a movie like 'Cruel But Necessary'.

The writer/ director Alan Rudolph clearly understands the beauty of woman. The combination of Julie Christie and Lara Flynn Boyle is beautifully juxtaposed. Nick Nolte provides the rough male energy that highlights the facets of the younger / older woman beauty esthetic. The screenplay provided excellent scenes and the camera work and lighting was top notch. My only disappointment was that I did not see this gem on the big screen.