too much fuel, not enough spark—that's what's making her misfire

Four good ones, including one that's brilliant. That more than makes up for the skanky turkey.

Ford v. Ferrari (2019) - "As Enzo Ferrari's fast Rosso-Corsa racing cars dominate the mid-1960s motorsport world, the American car designer, Carroll Shelby, is forced to retire after winning the demanding 1959 '24 Hours of Le Mans' endurance race. But, before long, an unexpected proposition by the Vice President of Henry Ford's motor company, Lee Iacocca, will offer an opportunity to beat the Italians at their own game. Now, under those pressing circumstances, the British sports car driver and racing engineer, Ken Miles, reluctantly agrees to lend a hand and improve the firm's image, as Ford's race team has less than ninety days to rewrite history. As a result, the non-conformist duo comes up with the mighty Ford GT40 Mk I high-performance racing car. Can Shelby and Miles break Ferrari's streak? "
source: streamed on Amazon Prime    
I watched it because: my companion and I had both wanted to see it since it came out
IMDB: 8.1/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 92% Audience: 98%
my IMDB: 9/10

notable quote: "It's about right now [that] the uninitiated have a tendency to soil themselves."

MPAA rating: PG-13

directed by: James Mangold

my notes: I'd expected to like this, more because of the skill of the actors than about the story itself. Boy, was I wrong about that. Less about the racing or building of cars than about loving the work you do and doing the work you love. It's an aesthetically beautiful film, a pleasure and treat to watch. There is a scene where Ken Miles (Christian Bale) is sitting on a track with his son (Noah Jupe), looking into a sunset... it's one of the most gorgeous shots of all time.

Academy Award winner:
• Best Film Editing

• Best Sound Editing
Academy Award nominee:
• Best Picture

• Best Sound Mixing

overall: very highly recommended

Her Majesty, Mrs. Brown (1997) - "Queen Victoria (Dame Judi Dench) is deeply depressed after the death of her husband, disappearing from public. Her servant Mr. John Brown (Sir Billy Connolly), who adores her, through caress and admiration brings her back to life, but that relationship creates scandalous situation and is likely to lead to monarchy crisis."
source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: it's been a while since I've seen this sneaky favorite
IMDB: 7.2/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 92% Audience: 78%
my IMDB: 7/10

notable quote: "It's only grief makes her like she is."

    "Three years, John. Is that not a bit long to be grieving?"

    "She loved him."

    "Come on, man. There's love and there's...

    "What?"

    "You know what I mean."

    "I'm not sure I do."

    "There's love, and there's behaving like you do because there's nobody to tell you not to."

MPAA rating: PG

directed by: John Madden

my notes: a glorious film. I would not kvetch about its historical accuracy, since who's to know what's "accurate" about a time not scrutinized in minute detail like we are now? It's a lovely movie about a special relationship, and politics, and power-greed. (Also, Gerard Butler does a nice, understated turn as John Brown's brother Archie.)

Academy Award nominee:
• Best Actress—Dench

• Best Makeup
overall: always recommended

Jesse James (1939) - "Railroad authorities forces farmers to give up their land for the railroad for dirt cheap. Some sell off easily while the ones who resist r dealt with force. The railroad agents tries to force a reluctant old woman into selling, until her sons, Jesse and Frank gets involved. Jesse shoots one of the agent in the hand, in self-defense and later arrest warrants are issued for both the brothers. The agents visits the James brothers' house with warrants and ask them to surrender but even after repeated assurance by Rufus Cobb, an editor, that the brothers are not inside the house and only their sick mother is alone present, the railroad agents throws in fire lamps inside the house to smoke everyone out but unfortunately it causes the death of the old woman. Jesse kills the agents in revenge. This begins Frank and Jesse's career as outlaws."
source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: I don't know much about the James brothers, and haven't seen any (!) of Tyrone Power's films
IMDB: 7.0/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: N/A% Audience: 66%
my IMDB: 6/10

notable quote: "If we are ever to have law and order in the West, the first thing we gotta do is take out all the lawyers and shoot 'em down like dogs."

MPAA rating: [G]

directed by: Henry King/Irving Cummings

my notes: Henry Fonda and Tyrone Power were a treat. It's the triumph—however brief—of the common man over forces too big for any of us.

overall:  recommended

The Last Detail (1973) - "Two bawdy, tough looking navy lifers—'Bad-Ass' Buddusky, and 'Mule' Mulhall—are commissioned to escort a young pilferer named Meadows to the brig in Portsmouth. Meadows is not much of a thief. Indeed, in his late teens, he is not much of a man at all. His great crime was to try to steal forty dollars from the admiral's wife's pet charity. For this, he's been sentenced to eight years behind bars. At first, Buddusky and Mulhall view the journey as a paid vacation, but their holiday spirits are quickly depressed by the prisoner, who looks prepared to break into tears at any moment. And he has the lowest self-image imaginable. Buddusky gets it into his head to give Meadows a good time and teach him a bit about getting on in the world. Lesson one: Don't take every card life deals you. Next, he teaches Meadows to drink, and, as a coup de grace, finds a nice young whore to instruct him in lovemaking. Mule, who worries aloud about his own position with military authority, seems pleased with Meadows's progress. However, when the trio reach Portsmouth, the game comes abruptly to an end as reality sets in."
source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: Jack Nicholson made a bunch of good movies. I'd hoped this was one of them.
IMDB: 7.5/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 89% Audience: 87%
my IMDB: 2/10

notable quote: "I hate this detail. I hate this fucking chickenshit detail!"

MPAA rating: R

directed by: Hal Ashby

my notes: among the worst movies I've seen start to finish. Profane, insulting, and pointless.

overall: not even remotely recommended

Notting Hill (1999) - "Every man's dream comes true for William Thacker, an unsuccessful Notting Hill bookstore owner, when Anna Scott, the world's most beautiful woman and best-liked actress, enters his shop. A little later, he still can't believe it himself, William runs into her again—this time spilling orange juice over her. Anna accepts his offer to change in his nearby apartment, and thanks him with a kiss, which seems to surprise her even more than him. Eventually, Anna and William get to know each other better over the months, but being together with the world's most wanted woman is not easy—neither around your closest friends, nor in front of the all-devouring press."
source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: it's been a while since I've seen it, and I wanted something quiet on in the background while I assembled a jigsaw puzzle

IMDB: 7.2/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 83% Audience: 79%
my IMDB: 7/10

notable quote: "'For June, who loved this garden, from Joseph, who always sat beside her.'"

MPAA rating: PG-13

directed by: Roger Mitchell

my notes: this time around, it did not ring as true as it has in the past. The lengthy Hugh Grant angst period (which makes up 60% of the film) is quite dreary. I did particularly enjoy Rhys Ifans (Mycroft on Elementary) as William's roommate, Spike.

overall:  recommended

[the title quotation is from Ford v Ferrari]