kathytexan-12585 Reviews

Henri Dauman: Looking Up (2018)

Excellent documentary of an amazing life

[10/10 · 8 October 2023]

I remember seeing Henri Dauman's photography as it appeared in Life Magazine during the 1960's. His photos made an indelible impression on me. It's so good to learn who the man was behind these iconic images. As he stated in the film, he covered the second half of the 20th century with his photography. I thought the documentary told his story well - starting with his childhood in France during World War 2. Later on, in America, he had an opportunity to learn and master the technical aspects of photography. But it was his ability to relate to the people he photographed that set his work apart from the others. This documentary shows example after example of his insightful work. Henri Dauman was an amazing man and gifted chronicler of an age. Many thanks to the filmmakers for this inspiring glimpse into his life. Bravo!

Merry Kissmas (2015 TV Movie)

Gorgeous guy and beautiful girl meet cute

[9/10 · 23 December 2022]

I'm glad I didn't look at the viewers' comments before I watched this. I really enjoyed the story and all the actors' performances. The character Carlton is a manipulative narcissist, who must always have his way. His fiancé/manager Kayla, puts up with his demands because she believes he loves her. Just when she starts to realize what's been going on, Carleton plays upon her sympathy to keep her under his control. Will she ever break free from his grasp?

I finally saw this movie 7 years after it was released. I had never heard of it. What a nice surprise! Maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but I'm glad I gave it a shot.

Point Break (2015)

Waste of Time

[1/10 · 20 May 2022]

The production went to amazing locales to film action sequences...and for what? Lousy scripting, virtually no character development...just a bunch of suicides performed in spectacular fashion. I was waiting for the sandwich to taste better and ended up with breadcrumbs served up as an ending.

Shame on the producers, writers, director and cast. Ugh!!! What a lousy waste of production resources...and more importantly, a colossal waste of my time.

Law & Order: Pro Se (1996) Season 6, Episode 21

Excellent performances

[10/10 · 22 January 2022]

Dennis O'Hare gave a terrific performance as mentioned by other reviewers. But Ann Dowd deserves recognition for her portrayal as O'Hare's sister. It was heartbreaking to watch her try to convince her brother to make the right decision. She gave an amazing performance!

Gun Crazy (1950)

Annie get your gun

[9/10 · 23 May 2021]

Great film noir with a haunting theme song. A taste of cinema vérité with the actors doing their own driving in various locations. Good performances too.

However, I have to comment on the final scenes because there was a continuity gaffe regarding Annie's handbag.

While Annie and Bart ran through the swamp, Annie lost her balance and fell in the muddy water. Her handbag went flying off her left arm and landed in the stream and Annie no longer had her handbag. In the next shot, the handbag reappeared on her left arm as they struggled through the swamp. I assume there was no retake because the action moved so fast that most people might not have noticed. I haven't seen any viewer comments about this detail.

The handbag was crucial for the climax of the movie when Annie reached for her gun. What a wild chase!

Summer of '42 (1971)

Disappointing and weak storyline

[5/10 · 2 May 2021]

I saw The Summer of '42 the first time (1972) in a theater and just saw it again on TCM in 2021. It's been a long time and I forgot much about the plot. The 5 stars go to Michel Legrand's score playing over the opening credits. It was gorgeous and still resonates with me. Zero stars for the rest of the movie. We go from a couple who happily live on the beach before the husband is shipped out during WWII. After that, we get to watch three immature teenage boys sweat, wrestle, swear, and try to score with girls...they were so grubby and gross. The character Dorothy goes from newlywed bliss to a heartbreaking casualty of war. Her scene with Hermie was hard to watch. The less said about the ending, the better.

Irene (1940)

Charming movie!

[9/10 · 18 March 2021]

I've never had the pleasure of watching Anna Neagle on film before. She's delightful. I loved the scenes of her in color that showed off her flaming red hair and gorgeous complexion. The blue dress was stunning. Ray Milland was well cast - he was so handsome in 1940. I'm so glad I saved this on my DVR. It brightened my day!

Blue Bloods: Triumph Over Trauma (2020) Season 11, Episode 1

Don't mess with a great series

[3/10 · 12 December 2020]

Executive Producer Kevin Wade should be taken to the wood shed for messing with one of the best series on television. I read his interview in TV Guide and it looks like his agenda was met with a lot of 1 star ratings. Was Wade the reason Whoopi Goldberg, famous for her mean-spirited bullying on "The View," was featured on the season opener? Was he hoping she might "enlighten" the audience? Aside from the producer's intent, I found the script was mediocre and left their usually fine cast with little to do. Even Sunday dinner - my favorite - fell flat. Not a promising return for the 10th season.

If I Only Had Christmas (2020 TV Movie)

Did we watch the same movie?

[9/10 · 1 December 2020]

I can't believe the negative reviewers - maybe they were having a bad day. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. A great cast, interesting story, dramatic tension and a twist ending. This had it all!

Christmas in Vienna (2020 TV Movie)

Sara Drew deserved a better love interest

[6/10 · 15 November 2020]

Sarah Drew was so lovely, vulnerable and gorgeous in this film. That makes me wonder why the character played by Brennan Elliott was so out of place. He seemed too old, burned out and uninterested. What a drip. I've enjoyed his performances in the past, but in this film, he was so wooden - even when depicting his pain - he came across like a block of ice. Maybe he was directed to do this. If so, the director blew it. On the other hand, the kids' performances were beautifully. portrayed. I thought each one was so endearing. Could've been a 9 or 10 but the dad was a dud.

Hometown Hero (2017 TV Movie)

Hoped it would get better...

[5/10 · 26 September 2020]

...but it didn't. The story was a disjointed mess. For example, when the vet professed his love for Kelsey, it was like the character dropped in from another movie. There was no development of their relationship. Plus the actor was as stiff as a board...no expression or energy for a man in love. Meghan Price, who played the mom, was engaging, but her story seemed to drop off when there was nothing left for her to do. Brooke Nevin did her best with a bad script. Daisy, the dog, was terrific - I'd love one just like her. However, Daisy was so adorable and well-behaved, the owner GAVE HER AWAY at the end. Who wrote this drivel? In addition to the bad script, was a terrible music score. It didn't match the storyline and played so loudly over the dialogue, I was struggling to hear what the characters were saying. I can't believe this was a Hallmark production.

An American Dream (1966)

Music by Johnny Mandel

[5/10 · 21 July 2020]

The film was ridiculous but that theme song will live forever. A Time for Love, by Johnny Mandel, has an unforgettable melody and Mandel's arrangement, playing over the opening credits, was the best part of the movie. Vidal Sassoon also gets special mention for Janet Leigh's chic hairstyle. The pacing and direction were so weak, I lost interest early on. I was hoping the movie would be good but it wasn't. The five stars go to Johnny Mandel. The rest of the movie deserves a big fat zero.

The Surface (I) (2014)

Interesting character study

[8/10 · 14 July 2020]

This movie isn't for everyone, as you can see by some of the ratings. However, there is a market for quiet films too. The story was good and allowed the characters to evolve. I could tell from the opening scenes that Mitch was in trouble, especially after he drove off with his boat and didn't bother to close the garage door. When he damaged his boat, he was in even more trouble. Then he met Kelly, who was hanging onto the wreckage of a crashed plane. The rest of the film focused on the two men, how they wound up in the middle of Lake Michigan, and why their lives had taken a bad turn. I didn't expect to care about them, but I did. Spoiler: when Mitch added a fish and additional décor to his mother's fish tank, that gesture offered a glimmer of hope and the promise of a new beginning. Very nice.

Perry Mason: Chapter One (2020) Season 1, Episode 1

This is NOT Perry Mason

[1/10 · 22 June 2020]

This is so dark and disgusting, I don't know where to begin. Matthew Rhys is a fine actor, but I didn't enjoy his role as a drunken, degenerate loser. The reason I love Raymond Burr's version of Perry Mason, is that it's about a classy, highly intelligent attorney who knew how to win cases. Since when do we have a younger Perry Mason who's a sloven? I doubt Earl Stanley Gardner ever envisioned Perry as a falling down drunk living in filthy farmyard squalor. The art direction was so effective, I could almost smell his B.O.

Why besmirch a highly successful series that is still watched by so many on MeTV and the Sundance Channel? If the creators had such a strong urge to create this slimy garbage, why not take a chance on a new series with a different name? Obviously, they hoped to capitalize on the Perry Mason brand.

I will NOT be watching the next seven episodes. The only reason I watched the first episode was that I hoped it might get better. Not a chance. Call it what you will, this is NOT Perry Mason.

Moment to Moment (1966)

Where can we view this movie?

[10/10 · 26 May 2020]

VHS is the only format to purchase this wonderful movie. Sadly, I no longer own a VHS player. Who owns the rights to this film and why aren't they making it available via streaming or DVD? I first saw Moment to Moment in the late 60's and loved it. The locations in the south of France, the story and performances were captivating. Unless you own a VHS player, the movie is not available for viewing...ANYWHERE. Please bring this classy movie back. It deserves viewing. Jean Seberg did a great job and never looked more beautiful. This film serves her much better than Amazon Prime's Seberg (garbage).

Seberg (2019)

Banal beyond measure

[1/10 · 25 May 2020]

I remember watching Jean Seberg in 1970s French films...I was surprised at her terrible French pronunciation for someone who had lived and worked in France. It was like she wasn't even trying to speak the language well. Her acting by that time was lethargic and she was just going through the motions.

Her earlier films: Bonjour Tristesse, Breathless, Lilith, Moment to Moment, were so much better. How sad.

Now about this film - the mediocre storyline, cardboard characters, and good guy/bad guy dramatic setup - all contributed to this banal piece of tripe. Blechhhhh!

Just the Way You Are (2015 TV Movie)

Romantic and fun!

[10/10 · 2 May 2020]

I loved the story and cast. Ty Olssen was great - he played a real guy, a believable husband and dad (unlike some Hallmark leads who seem a little light in the loafers). Candace was superb in another winning role. I really hoped all would turn out well for everyone. This movie was a pleasant surprise.

Perfect Match (2015 TV Movie)

Beautiful story

[9/10 · 12 March 2020]

I like the way the wedding planner met each challenge gracefully and creatively. I could see why the Paul Greene character was falling for her. I like a story where the man pursues the woman. And just when it looks like he's finally given up...

Great to see Linda Gray - she's always been one of my favorites. Paul Greene and Danica too. The son had a lot of fun lines from film noir. Good casting and story!

Prisoners (2013)

Could've earned a 10

[7/10 · 27 February 2020]

...but it was overly long at 2 hours and 38 minutes. Tighter editing would've helped maintain the dramatic tension and suspense. Events moved at a glacial pace. What a shame because it was a good story with lots of twists and turns. The self-indulgent directing/editing is why I only gave the film a 7. It could've been great but it's not.

Homicide Hunter (2011–2020)

Joe Kenda rocks!

[10/10 · 30 January 2020]

I've been watching this series since the beginning. I was enthralled by the concept...a homicide police detective who tells how he closed 96% of his cases. The first time he said to the camera, "My, my my..." I was hooked. I'm so glad he agreed to do the series...it was a win-win for everyone. Telling his stories helped Kenda with his PTSD, the producer had a hit program and viewers like me got to meet a great detective and a terrific human being. Well done!

Love, Romance, & Chocolate (2019 TV Movie)

Bruges looks so beautiful

[8/10 · 28 January 2020]

I gave the movie 8 stars because they did a great job capturing Bruges on film. How beautiful. I'd love to go there after watching this movie. The story featured a chocolate competition which added to the dramatic tension...but Will was so dour and overly serious. He looked handsome but not much fun. The scene when the prince and princess told how they met was so charming. The script could've used the same touch in scenes with Will and Lacey.

The Art of Us (2017 TV Movie)

The art work gets an 8

[8/10 · 7 January 2020]

I'd like to know who did all the paintings for this movie. They were gorgeous! Kudos to the artist who painted them!

Repeat Performance (1947)

Intriguing film noir

[9/10 · 29 December 2019]

I watched this fully restored film on Noir Alley last night on TCM. The story is about a woman who shoots her husband and then wishes she could have a do-over. This is a time travel movie that works. Great cast and beautifully shot - the fashion and hairstyles of 1947 never looked better. I'm impressed with the quality of the restored film too. Sit back and enjoy this movie!

When in Rome (1952)

Great casting and story - a must see!

[9/10 · 28 December 2019]

The pairing of Van Johnson and Paul Douglas was perfect. Johnson was very believable as the earnest, kind priest and Douglas gave a great performance as the charming convict headed in the wrong direction. Their visit to the four major basilica (St. John Lateran, Mary Major, St. Paul Beyond the Walls and St. Peter's) was wonderful. To think Hollywood would feature this in a movie warmed my heart. This is a story about spiritual struggle, followed by redemption. I wanted to cheer at the end!

A Christmas Love Story (2019 TV Movie)

Beautiful!

[10/10 · 14 December 2019]

What a heart-warming story! I wasn't sure where the story was going but it held my interest throughout. Good performances - both acting and singing. Get your hankies ready toward the end!