jeffreylincoln Reviews

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)

This is NOT a story of redistribution

[7/10 · 17 May 2023]

It is interesting that I watched Mr. Deeds Goes to Town just after watching the evening news. A lead story featured yet another debate over raising the national debt limit. One of the things holding up the negotiations is the Republicans' demand for a work requirement for able-bodied adults to receive welfare benefits.

A couple or reviewers here have commented that this movie is redistributionist propaganda. No it is not! It is actually more in line with compassionate-conservative values.

You may recall that Longfellow Deeds was not simply giving away farmland for nothing. He was supplying ten acres plus supplies, with the caveat that the farmers had to work the land for three years. After completing that requirement, THEN the land would be theirs. That, my friends, is a hand up, not a hand out.

I don't know if the producers and Mr. Capra were trying to make a political statement, or simply creating a box office hit. Just enjoy the film for the historical perspective and the cute storyline. A worthwhile watch!

Tangerines (2013)

A war for citrus? Oh, much more...

[10/10 · 28 March 2020]

This is only the ninth film I've rated 10. It shows the worst and best of humanity, in less than half an hour. I'll probably never watch it again, but I'm so glad I did. Do not overlook this outstanding story.

High Fidelity (2020)

I want to love this show

[6/10 · 16 February 2020]

So much to like here. The soundtrack. The records. The characters. The whole vibe. I just can't fully enjoy a show with constant f-bombs. I know that's how people converse in modern society. I just want something more in my entertainment than the same lack of vocabulary and constant swearing I hear in the local tavern. Sadly moving on to something else.

Still Laugh-In: The Stars Celebrate (2019 TV Special)

Entertainment has devolved

[3/10 · 31 July 2019]

1969: clever political satire and jokes poking fun at both sides 2019: mean-spirited barbs aimed at one side 1969: witty sexual insinuation 2019: vulgar and obscene language you can hear in the back of any junior high school bus

This hour was so disappointing. Laugh-In was successful because it was funny to everyone, even me at 12 years old even though I didn't get all the jokes. I feel sorry for kids today who are being indoctrinated by popular television that tells them how to think, vote, and swear unabashedly.

City Island (2009)

Does anyone in this family share anything about themselves?

[9/10 · 1 July 2010]

The basis for this film is a family which is so beyond dysfunctional that they don't have the slightest idea of what each other wants or enjoys. The funniest example of this is that they all smoke while hiding it from the others.

The family dynamics are enough to keep the viewers' attention while we learn about the characters and their secrets. Since we know everyone's stories and hangups, there are no big surprises at the end, but the way the story lines come together is entertaining.

The pacing is just right, and the acting and direction are spot-on. There is nothing that is terribly offensive or tasteless, so it can be a good date movie.

Objective, Burma! (1945)

Good story, poor delivery

[4/10 · 28 June 2009]

While I am a big fan of movies from this era, I found Objective Burma to be dated and unrealistic. The corny dialogue is not just here and there, but almost in every scene. The hand signals from the officers to the troops are incessant. They are silent when there is no need, and they speak out loud when any noise would give away their position. The attempts at snappy dialogue are pathetic.

The only positive remark that I can muster is that there are some well scripted and filmed battle scenes. The movie has some historical value, but sitting through two and a half hours of this emoting was torture.

Skip this title and instead view Bridge on the River Kwai, All Quiet on the Western Front, Stalag 17, or Das Boot.

Forbidden Games (1952)

Not just another anti-war movie

[9/10 · 21 December 2008]

Forbidden Games is one of those films that, even if you don't know the language, engrosses you so completely that you forget at times that you're reading subtitles. Clement's direction is outstanding, the story is interesting, and the characters are believable (even the children).

It is said that this is an anti-war film. That may be true to an extent, but I find it more about how adults' bad behavior affects kids. The children in this story misbehave, and it is necessary for the viewer to discern the motivation for their behavior.

This movie will stir your emotions, so pick the right time to watch it. You'll want time for reflection and discussion. Highly recommended!

De-Lovely (2004)

Hard to put this flick into a category

[7/10 · 7 December 2008]

I chose to watch this movie due to my admiration for Porter as a composer. I did not want to be treated to a love story or a study of a person's sexuality. But I'm glad I watched it. Although the film made me feel uncomfortable at times (unlike musicals of the 40s and 50s!), I did enjoy it.

The musical performances, by numerous jazz and pop stars, is top-notch. My favorite: Diana Krall's vocal on "Just One of Those Things." A couple of numbers, late in the picture, are moving.

There is a lot of garbage coming out of the movie industry today. This film is one of the exceptions. The story is told in an unusual way, but it is not hard to follow. Fans of Porter's music should be able to forgive the usual bio-pic omissions, insertions, and exaggerations.

Brief Encounter (1945)

Film-making at its basic finest

[9/10 · 16 November 2008]

Brief Encounter is simply one of the best character studies you will ever see on the screen. Nearly every viewer will be reminded of similarities from their own life story. Who among us hasn't had strong feelings for someone they can never have?

Trevor Howard delivers stoic but believable lines. Celia Johnson conveys her inner conflicts with amazing realism. What really surprised me how Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto was so welcome to me as a viewer. Many times, especially in the older classics, I find the music a distraction. In Brief Encounter, each time the Concerto came on, it was a stirring moment.

Love is such a strange emotion. It is silly when we see it in others, and how it causes them to behave. On the other hand, it is very real to us when it hits home. This movie lets us inside the heads of two respectable people as they struggle with self-control and social boundaries.

I couldn't help thinking about how, were this movie made in today's Hollywood (maybe it has been remade???), we would have been treated to a bedroom scene or two. In my opinion, that would have cheapened the film and taken away from the intense romantic mood. Watch for Howard's hand on Johnson's shoulder in their final scene together. If it does not give you goosebumps, then you have been officially desensitized and should stick to modern, R-rated "romances!"

Marked Woman (1937)

Holds up well today

[8/10 · 4 November 2008]

Marked Woman must have been quite jolting when it was released in 1936. Although thoroughly implied, there is prostitution at the center of the plot, and everything nasty that goes along with it. Thankfully, the violence is off screen, but we are not spared the aftermath of violent acts.

Bogart breaks away from his bad guy roles and plays the hero, quite well. Bette Davis is in her usual good form. There are a couple of melodramatic scenes for Davis which will seem dated, but she also will wow you with some killer lines delivered as only Bette can.

Many '30s films are clunky and hard to sit through. This is not one of them. It is fast paced and full of moral dilemmas and interesting characters. To add to the interest of the story, it was based on an actual news story of that time.

Town Without Pity (1961)

Douglas in an amazing performance

[9/10 · 28 September 2008]

Not many actors could pull off this complicated role of a defense lawyer with a conscience, but nonetheless a sense of duty. Although the title implies that the plot centers around a community that is cruel, it is the family relationships which inflict the most damage.

This film must have been shocking for its time (1961). It still shows well today, and will have most viewers in its grip until the end.

There is a good deal to digest here--Dysfunction in the families, credibility of witnesses, coming of age issues... But mostly what I thought about is how much of an advantage it is to have a good lawyer!

Enjoy this movie for the interesting plot and the talent of Kirk Douglas, but don't expect to come away feeling happy.

Phone Call from a Stranger (1952)

Worth a rental, maybe not buying

[7/10 · 28 September 2008]

I enjoyed this movie but it may not be one that I watch again. Naturally, Bette Davis steals the show, but there are noteworthy performances before Bette's character appears.

Some of the plot is predictable, and some is not. Shelly Winters is very good, Keenan Wynn is good as an annoying person, and Gary Merrill is fine in the lead role.

One of the problems I found with this film is that there is so much plot packed into an hour and a half, and I missed a few details during the character development portion of the story. But it all comes together by the end. The viewer will empathize with the characters, and you may very well ponder this question: Is it ever OK to tell a lie?

Carrie (1952)

Stirring melodrama

[9/10 · 17 August 2008]

I selected this film to watch mostly because of Jennifer Jones (I'm male, so shoot me), and having Sir Lawrence Olivier never hurt a movie. I was really surprised at how I became caught up in the story, as one bad decision led to another, and another, and I was interested in seeing how the two lead characters would turn it around and live happily ever after.

The story is full of moral dilemmas and consequences. I found myself rooting against the lead characters, and at other times wanting them to do well. The movie is older than I am, and I can only imagine how some of the subject matter must have surprised audiences in 1952.

Some people will enjoy the terrific acting, some the interesting story, and some (like I) both. Olivier's performance is one I will put on my short list of all time favorites. Jones is every bit as good as she was in "Portrait of Jennie" or "Duel in the Sun."

Shall We Dance? (1996)

No sex, no foul language... Just good cinema!

[9/10 · 23 July 2008]

This film is a marvel of character study. No character in this film is flawless, and as we learn of their human weaknesses, we are drawn in by empathy and curiosity.

There are some genuinely touching moments dealing with embarrassment, joy, and humor. If you are a ballroom dancer or have ever taken lessons, you will draw on that experience as you watch.

This could be a good family film if the kids are old enough (12?) and can deal with the subtitles. You might have to explain why a wife would hire a private detective to spy on her husband.

I would say this is a great date movie. The ending is nothing surprising but is very satisfying and well scripted and filmed.

Young@Heart (2007)

A unique look at the golden years

[9/10 · 28 April 2008]

This is a movie for people who want to see something real, sometimes uncomfortably so. The senior citizens in this documentary bare their souls to us in ways that make us laugh at some times, and fear for them at others.

Many people, aged or not, cling to their familiar values and preferences. The members of the Young at Heart chorus, with a little prodding, are willing to move out of their comfort zone to tackle unfamiliar musical territory in order to reach out to all generations.

This is a film about about perseverance, humbleness, teamwork, and aging. This documentary grabbed me right out of my seat and pulled me on to the screen. At any given time I was either smiling, laughing, or fighting back tears. Several times I started to stand and applaud, only to realize that I was looking at a movie screen and wasn't actually a member of the concert audience.

I found Young at Heart to be an inspiring film for the young, old, and in between.

Caramel (2007)

Caramel shows that it can be done

[8/10 · 25 March 2008]

Caramel is one of the rare contemporary films that shows restraint in its use of common language and in-your-face eroticism. I can't remember the last time I watched a movie that dealt with adult topics in such creative ways.

In contrast to most other films of this kind, we the audience are treated as intelligent, thinking people. We are asked to examine women's issues of sex, relationships, and aging without being subjected to the graphic scenes and gratuitous language that are prevalent in today's film-making. There isn't even an instance of "potty" humor, although one particularly touching scene takes place in a bathroom. Nevertheless, humor abounds in the form of terrific writing and amazingly good acting by these Arabic actresses.

Naturally, movies of this type do not have mass appeal in US culture. But for cinema buffs who appreciate the creative nature of screen writing, Caramel should not be missed. Guys, you can earn points by taking your date to this one, and there is a bevy of beauties for us to enjoy. And moms, don't miss the chance to take your adolescent daughters to Caramel... It will spark conversations about love, relationships, adultery, lesbianism, menopause, and more... All without being offensive.