Category: ABC Film Challenge

Valerie and Her Week of Wonders – Movie Recommendation

First Reaction – Valerie and Her Week of Wonders

Watch Valerie and Her Week of Wonders

ABC Film Challenge – World Cinema – V

Director: Jaromil Jires

Writer: Ester Krumbachova, Jaromil Jires (Screenplay)

Writer: Vitezslav Nezval (Novel)

Cast

• Jaroslava Schallerova
• Helena Anyzova
• Petr Kopriva
• Jiri Prymek
• Jan Klusak

Plot: Surreal dream-like tale that combines several themes into one fantastical world.

Runtime: 1 Hour 17 Minutes 

Our Uniform – Movie Recommendation

ABC Film Challenge – Oscar Nominated – Y (Director Yegane Moghaddam)

Director: Yegane Moghaddam

Plot: An Iranian girl unfolds her school memories on the wrinkles and fabrics of her old uniform.

Runtime: 7 Minutes 

Isn’t She Great – Movie Rob‘s Review

ABC Film Challenge – Set in the UK – I

“It’s not a book anymore. It’s a bestseller.” – Henry Marcus

Number of Times Seen – 1 (8 Aug 2024)

Brief Synopsis – An aspiring actress is convinced by her publicist/husband to write a novel based on the gossip of Beverly Hills.

My Take on it – This is a film that surprised me at how enjoyable it was. Bette Midler and Nathan Lane are perfect in the lead roles here. The story deals with how a risque novel was able to change the face of the literary industry in a time where people didn’t expect it at all. The novel became an immediate best seller due to its popularity and they do a wonderful job showing how it all plays out. The interactions between the two leads is done so well and they have such realistic and enjoyable chemistry together. The supporting cast is also great with Stockard Channing, John Cleese and David Hyde-Pierce all add so much to the way that this film plays out.

Recommended!

MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – Nathan Lane’s first screen role was as a theater stage manager in the TV mini-series, Jacqueline Susann’s Valley of the Dolls (1981), which was executive produced by Irving Mansfield, whom Lane plays in this film. Ironically, in the movie Valley of the Dolls (1967), Richard Dreyfuss made his film debut, playing the same role of the theater stage manager. Dreyfuss would later star with Bette Midler in Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986). (IMDB)

Rating – Globe Worthy (8/10)

ABC Film Challenge – Set in the UK – E – Eichmann – Movie Rob‘s Review

“[after Eichmann’s interrogation and trial] We showed him more justice than he ever showed us.” – Avner Less

Number of Times Seen – 1 (4 Aug 2024)

Brief Synopsis – Following his capture by Israeli agents, Adolf Eichmann tries to profess his innocence under interrogation by an expert detective who seems to also have a personal stake in the issue at hand.

My Take on it – Such a great premise that works quite well. The idea of showing how an expert interrigator with personal issues at stake was able to match wits with a very intelligent war criminal is so fascinating to watch. The film does a superb job showing how one must try and isolate personal feelings while working on something that has such a large national ramifications. The dialogue is crisp and descriptive and allows this battle of wits to commence for the entire run time. There are scenes which are meant to try and give a human face to such atrocities while others try to mask it at the same time which makes the viewer constantly wonder what is the real truth throughout. The flashbacks help show perspective on things despite not being reliable enough. The fact that this is based on fact enhances the story even more as things play out.

Recommended!

MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – According to CIA documents released in 2006, U.S. and West German intelligence knew that Eichmann was hiding in Argentina in 1958. But they revealed nothing, fearing he might expose former comrades who had been useful to the CIA or the German government. (From IMDB)

Rating – Globe Worthy (8/10)

Witch Hunt – Movie Rob’s Review

ABC Film Challenge – Female Directors – W

“Despise is a big word. It’s a hard word. I think despise is… a much harsher word than hate, and that’s the way I feel about authority figures in Bakersfield.” – Carla Modahl – Daughter of Jeffrey Modahl

Number of Times Seen – Twice (5 Jan 2016 and 21 Jul 2024)

Brief Synopsis – Documentary about a small county in California during the mid-1980’s where 36 people were falsely accused of inexplicable crimes and how they fought for justice to be heard.

My Take on it – How could I partake in a series about female directors without including my favorite, especially since I know her personally. Dana Nachman has done some amazing work as a documentary film maker and even back when she was just getting started, she was able produce some very powerful films. This film is no exception to that. The story is one that is quite unbelievable and the repercussions of the events portrayed here reverberate even 16 years after this film was made. The fact that so many people in a small town in Califirnia could be accused of such heinous crimes solely on the word of children who constantly changed their stories still amazes me. The fact that these children were also innocent in everything that transpired is also quite shocking because it shows how the justice system can be weaponized and manipulated quite easily by people with an agenda. The fact that these innocent men and women spent years (and in some cases decades) in prison is shameful for the judicial system that allowed for these things to actually transpire. The documentary does a great job showing the side of these people, trying to make sense of the chaos that occurred nearly 40 years ago. The story are quite compelling and powerful and really make the viewer understand the pain that these people, their families and their loved ones went through for far too many years.

Highly Recommended!

MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – Two of the convicted individuals were unable to prove their innocence because they died in prison. (From Wikipedia)

Rating – Oscar Worthy (9/10) (no change from original review)