Back to the Movies....finally!

I was stunned to see that I hadn't watched a movie for all of June and July. Blame it on incessant news watching because of COVID and all the things the Big, Fat, Ugly moron in the White House is doing. Finally, I just had to get away. So here we are, movies!

MOVIES WATCHED IN AUGUST

Aug 1 - Harriet (2019)
The extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman's escape from slavery and transformation into one of America's greatest heroes, whose courage, ingenuity, and tenacity freed hundreds of slaves and changed the course of history.
Director: Kasi Lemmons
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Janelle Monáe, Leslie Odom Jr.

A truly interesting movie about an extraordinary woman. Her courage in going back to where she had been a slave is amazing.

Aug 2 - Queen and Slim (2019)
A couple's first date takes an unexpected turn when a police officer pulls them over.
Director: Melina Matsoukas
Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Jodie Turner-Smith, Bokeem Woodbine, Benito Martinez

I’m not sure if any of this movie was supposed to be funny, but it was really rather pathetic. Their problem originated because they were black, but being young and sort of stupid brought about their ultimate fate.

Aug 3 - Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
An augmented human and Sarah Connor must stop an advanced liquid Terminator from hunting down a young girl, whose fate is critical to the human race.
Director: Tim Miller
Stars: Linda Hamilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mackenzie Davis, Natalia Reyes

I really liked how they fixed the timeline that was so skewed by the third and fourth movies. This one definitely made more sense.

Aug 4 - Love, Gilda (2018)
In her own words, comedienne Gilda Radner looks back and reflects on her life and career. Weaving together recently discovered audiotapes, interviews with her friends, rare home movies and diaries read by modern day comediennes (including Amy Poehler), LOVE Gilda offers a unique window into the honest and whimsical world of a beloved performer whose greatest role was sharing her story.
Director: Lisa D'Apolito
Stars: Gilda Radner, Andrew Alexander, Anne Beatts, Chevy Chase, Melissa McCarthy, Lorne Michaels, Martin Short, Gene Wlider

A lot is presented that I never knew about the comedienne. An entertaining look at a really funny lady.


Aug 8 - Motherless Brooklyn (2019)
In 1950s New York, a lonely private detective afflicted with Tourette's Syndrome ventures to solve the murder of his mentor and only friend.
Director: Edward Norton
Stars: Edward Norton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Alec Baldwin, William Dafoe, Bruce Willis

Norton is amazing in his role. The movie leaves you guessing until the end.

Aug 20 - Richard Jewell (2019)
American security guard Richard Jewell saves many lives from an exploding bomb at the 1996 Olympics, but is vilified by journalists and the press who falsely reported that he was a terrorist.
Director: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Paul Walter Hauser, Sam Rockwell, Brandon Stanley, Jon Hamm, Kathy Bates

I hadn’t followed Jewell’s story when it happened, so I was disgusted at what they did to him. It does seem as if law enforcement tends to take the easy, and often wrong, route.

Aug 22 - Dark Waters (2019)
A corporate defense attorney takes on an environmental lawsuit against a chemical company that exposes a lengthy history of pollution.
Director: Todd Haynes
Stars: Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins, Bill Pullman, Victor Garber, Mare Winningham

A fantastic movie. Ruffalo, as always, is great.

Aug 26 - A Beautiful Day In the Neighborhood (2019)
Based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Lloyd Vogel.
Director: Marielle Heller
Writers: Micah Fitzerman-Blue, Noah Harpster | 1 more credit »
Stars: Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys, Chris Cooper, Christine Lahti

I never watched Mr. Rogers’ program, so I don’t have an emotional attachment to the man. The movie portrays him as being really nice, but, I have to admit, he came off as sort of creepy to me.

Aug 29 - Just Mercy (2019)
World-renowned civil rights defense attorney Bryan Stevenson works to free a wrongly condemned death row prisoner.
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
Stars: Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, Brie Larson

Another movie that shows the downside of our judicial system. Enthralling.