Thumbnail Movie Review XXVI

Title: Malena
Italian with English Subtitles

It stars Monica Bellucci and Guiseppe Sulfaro.

WWII is nearing its end. Malena, a stunningly beautiful young woman living in a Sicilian village, causes grown men to make utter fools of themselves, and a teenage boy to fall in love. Much trouble gets visited upon Malena for her crime of being a stunningly beautiful young woman.

I'll reserve further comment. My urban Canadian sensibilities render me incompetent to judge the credibility of the story. It is a beautifully made film, though, and Monica Bellucci is superb in her role.

MM. 92 minutes. Canadian 14A rating.

Thumbnail Movie Review XXV

Title: Das Boot (The Boat) -- The Director's Cut

It stars Jurgen Prochnow, Herbert Grenemeyer and Klaus Wennemann.

Life aboard a WWII German submarine as it hunts and is hunted.

Quite a piece of work. Easily one of the best war movies ever. One is left slack-jawed by the magnitude of the folly that is warfare. Highly recommended.

MCMLXXXI. 209 minutes [! We made it a two-nighter. There's no way I can sit through a 209 minute movie at one go.] Canadian 14A rating.

Considerate Cat

I've said before that Cooper the cat has a face and eyes that just glow with intelligence. I believe he displayed some of that intelligence this afternoon in a remarkable way.

Cooper is a tabby/Siamese mix. He has a 'meow' like fingernails on a blackboard; when he's due for a meal, he lets you know it in no uncertain terms. This afternoon, his mealtime was coming very near when my wife got a phone call from a relative. Cooper was right there with her as she answered the phone and embarked on quite a lengthy conversation.

The whole while my wife was on the phone, Cooper sat silently looking on. The instant she hung up the phone, Cooper started up with his "FEED ME! FEED ME!" meowing.

Now, consider this dictionary definition of the word 'consideration' [emphasis mine]:

"Thoughtful or sympathetic regard or respect; thoughtfulness for others."

Cooper exhibited consideration; more consideration in the circumstances than I'm accustomed to seeing from a lot of humans.

I must cease referring to Cooper as a beast. There's nothing beastly about him. (Well, except for barfing up furballs in odd places, maybe.)

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Thumbnail Movie Review XXIV

Title: The Boys & Girl from County Clare

It stars Colm Meaney, Bernard Hill and Andrea Corr

Late 1960s Ireland. A traditional Irish music competition brings together former lovers and reveals a long-hidden secret.

A wonderful story and characters. Never mind the music, there is nothing so musical as Irish speech. They make the f-word sound positively lyrical.

MMIII. 91 minutes. Canadian 14A rating

Thumbnail Movie Review XXIII

Title: Funny Money
American Comedy

It stars Chevy Chase and a bunch of others.

Identical briefcases, one of them stuffed with millions of ill-gotten dollars, get mixed up. Much very silly, very funny mayhem ensues.

Suspend your critical faculties and enjoy.

MMVII. 98 minutes. Canadian 14A rating.

Thumbnail Movie Review XXII

Title: The Man Without a Past (Mies Vailla Menneisyytta)
Finnish with English subtitles.

It stars Markku Peltola and Kati Outinen.

A tradesman arrives by train in Helsinki, where he is soon robbed and brutally beaten unconscious by a gang of low-lifes. He comes to with his documents gone along with all memory of his past. He sets about to construct his life anew.

A very strange, very charming film; many touching and 'funny' scenes and details of decent lives lived in urban poverty, off the edge of convention.

MMII. 97 minutes. Canadian PG rating.