I always feel I belong where I am

    There are a lot of movies—I mean, SO many movies—that I've never seen, for whatever reason. I saw very few movies during the decade-plus of my marriage, because my former spouse had, um, different taste in entertainment. After that, I went through phases of seeing a lot (e.g. with Nick, or with my former housemates), and seeing done (e.g. when I was living alone and mostly going out for dinner with friends in the evening.  

    So, now that I've started watching movies more often—what should I watch? Should I go back and watch the classics (1930s-1960s) that I haven't seen? Should I watch only the award-winners? Should I watch the blockbusters, critically-acclaimed or not? Or should I watch only new movies, to "keep up" going forward? 

    Thoughts like these affect my movie choices. Feedback encouraged.

Joe Bell (2021) - "The story of an Oregonian father who pays tribute to his gay teenage son, Jadin, embarking on a self-reflective walk across America to speak to heartland citizens about the real and terrifying costs of bullying."

Source: streamed on Amazon Prime
I watched it because: there is some sort of weird draw from Mark Wahlberg movies
IMDB: 5.8/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 40% Audience: 73%

my IMBD: 4/10

notable quote: "Have you considered changing schools? ... What about therapy?"

MPAA rating: R

directed by: Reinaldo Marcus Green

my notes: I wanted to like this. I wanted it to be inspiring, emotional, and transformative. Instead, it was crass, hard to like, jarring, and uncomfortable.

overall: not recommended

Guilty Conscience (1985) - "Criminal lawyer Arthur Jamison (Anthony Hopkins) wants to be rid of his wife, Louise (Blythe Danner), but doesn't want to have to make the crippling alimony payments that will result from a divorce. He comes up with an ingenious scheme with the help of his young girlfriend, Jackie (Swoosie Kurtz). Inventing a fictional persona, he stages several murder scenes to set up the real one that he hopes will be the perfect crime. Louise, however, is not easily fooled."
Source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: I generally like Anthony Hopkins
IMDB: 6.7/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: N/A% Audience: 44%

my IMBD: 2/10

notable quote: "'Isn't it a fact that you are one of the prominent criminal attorneys in the state, if not the country?'

    'Guilty!'

    'Beg pardon?'

    'You make it difficult to be modest, counselor. Since I am under oath, I am simply agreeing with you.'"

MPAA rating: TV ("approved")

directed by: David Greene

my notes: this is the worst of the TV movie issues. Overacting and predictable plot points killed it.

overall: not recommended

One, Two, Three (1961) - "C.R. MacNamara (James Cagney) will do anything to get a promotion within the Coca-Cola company, including looking after boss W.P. Hazeltine's (Howard St. John) rebellious teenage daughter, Scarlett (Pamela Tiffin). When Scarlett visits Berlin, where C.R. is stationed, she reveals that she is married to a communist named Otto Piffl (Horst Buchholz)—and C.R. recognizes that Otto's anti-establishment stance will clash with his boss's own political views, possibly jeopardizing his promotion."
Source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: I keep trying to find a movie with James Cagney that I actually like
IMDB: 7.9/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 91% Audience: 88%

my IMBD: 6/10

notable quote: "Ve haf emergency meeting vith Swiss Trade Delegation. They send us twenty carloads of cheese. Totally unacceptable—full of holes."

MPAA rating: not rated 

directed by: Billy Wilder

my notes: I just don't like Cagney. At all. Ish.

Academy Award nominee: Best Cinematography, Black and White—Daniel F. Fapp
overall: not recommended

The Man from Laramie (1955) - "Will Lockhart (James Stewart) comes to the ranch town of Coronado looking for the man who is selling rifles to the Apaches, because his brother was killed with one. There he runs into Alec Waggoman (Donald Crisp), an aging rancher with a violent son named Dave (Alex Nicol). A conflict between Dave and Vic (Arthur Kennedy), Waggoman's top aid, helps Lockhart uncover the source of the rifles -- and also gets him involved in the power struggles at the Waggoman ranch."
Source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: Jimmy Stewart is worth seeing (at least to see if I like it)
IMDB: 7.3/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 100% Audience: 79%
my IMBD: 6/10

notable quote: "'You're just a hard, scheming old woman, aren't you?'

    'Ugly, too.'"

MPAA rating: not rated

directed by: Anthony Mann

my notes: didn't love it. Jimmy just seems so old for some of these roles, and so "urbane" to be wearing cowboy clothes and shooting the place up. But it's a decent way to spend a couple hours.

overall: recommended

Finding You (2020) - "Violinist Finley Sinclair travels to an Irish coastal village to begin her semester studying abroad. At the bed-and-breakfast run by her host family, she encounters Beckett Rush, a handsome actor who's filming another installment of his medieval movie franchise. As romance sparks between the unlikely pair, Beckett ignites a journey of discovery for Finley—transforming her heart, her music and her outlook on life."
Source: streamed on Amazon Prime 
I watched it because: this was part of my "whatever Christmas movie is fine" phase
IMDB: 6.3/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 53% Audience: 91%
my IMBD: 7/10

MPAA rating: PG

directed by: Brian Baugh

my notes: this is a sweet and surprisingly clever movie. The Beckett character is frustratingly obtuse, but shows real growth in the end. And Finley Sinclair (played well by Rose Reid) is utterly transformed. I liked this quite a bit.

overall:  recommended

[the title quotation is from The Man from Laramie]