light a match; they're frightened by fire!

An interesting, disparate bunch of movies....

The Slaughter Rule (2002) - "In Blue Springs, Montana, high school student Roy Chutney is beginning to lose his way in life largely the result of two simultaneous events. The first is that his father, Nelson Chutney, dies. Roy hadn't seen his father much since his parents divorced and his father remarried. Nelson was run over by a train, but Roy's mother, Evangeline Chutney, with who Roy has a somewhat emotionally distant relationship, believes he committed suicide. The second is that because funding to the school has reduced the football program to just a varsity team with no junior varsity, Roy, along with half the other players, is cut from the football squad, as his coach doesn't believe he is mentally tough enough despite he being a skilled player. The two incidents combined make the situation even worse for Roy as football was his primary connection to his father. Into Roy's life enters Gideon Ferguson, the local newspaper seller, who asks Roy to be part of his newly formed football team, which will play in a six-man back field league. Gid ends up being that father figure that is missing in Roy's life. That guidance is especially important as Roy begins his first sexual relationship, with Skyla Sisco, a local barmaid. However, Roy and Gid's relationship begins to change when rumors abound that Gid is gay and is romantically interested in Roy. Roy has to wade through the rumors and his own feelings both for Gid and Skyla in figuring out what to do regarding his relationships with them."
source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: it's early Ryan Gosling
IMDB: 5.9/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 74% Audience: 43%
my IMDB: 5/10

MPAA rating: R

directed by: Alex Smith, Andrew J. Smith

my notes: this is an intensely, aggressively depressing movie. Some good performances (and one standout,  Eddie Spears as Tracy Two Dogs) cannot ameliorate the pervasive ugh and shudder.
overall: not  recommended

Christmas Princess (2017) - "The true story of Donaly Marquez who, through a childhood of neglect, and abuse achieved her dream of becoming a Rose Bowl princess. An inspirational story of resilience, strength and finding a family to call your own."

source: streamed on Amazon Prime
I watched it because: I'm still in the holiday movie mode
IMDB: 5.8/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: N/A%
my IMDB: 7/10

MPAA rating: TV-G

directed by: Allan Harmon

my notes: this is a movie with an agenda. If you can get past that, then you might like it as well as I did. Donaly is a former foster kid who, along with her siblings, has been adopted though her birth mother is still living. She has always had a soft spot for the Rose Bowl, which is very hyped in her California town. The film is about the trials and tribulations revolving around auditioning for the Court. It's not as much "a Christmas movie" as it is generally uplifting.
overall:  recommended

 

Another Thin Man (1939) - "In this third film in the 'Thin Man' series based on characters created by mystery writer Dashiell Hammett, retired detective Nick Charles (William Powell) and his wife, Nora (Myrna Loy), accept an invitation to visit family friend Col. Burr MacFay (C. Aubrey Smith) at his Long Island, N.Y., estate. Soon after arriving with their new son, Nick Jr., and family dog Asta in tow, MacFay is murdered, and the Charles family must unravel a mystery that may implicate the most unlikely of suspects."
source: I borrowed the DVD from the public library
I watched it because: I'm into the series
IMDB: 7.4/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 86% Audience: 85%
my IMDB: 8/10

notable quote: "'We're going to have to shoot that mutt. We'll never find him like this.'

    'Wait a minute. He's not going to come running up to a lot of strange men with lights. What do you think he is, a moth?'"

MPAA rating: Passed [TV-G]

directed by: W.S. Van Dyke

my notes: another charming film in a series of witty, smart, delightful movies. Powell's Nick is a heavy-drinking, flirtatious, and notably gentle man. Loy plays Nora with class and sass. Asta the dog is wonderful, too.
overall:  highly recommended

Mouse Hunt (1997) - "When their string magnate father, Rudolf Smuntz, dies, brothers Ernie (Nathan Lane) and Lars (Lee Evans) move into his decrepit mansion. Struggling to keep a promise to never sell the now unprofitable string factory, the brothers decide that restoring the house, the last built by a famous architect, could bring them a great deal of money. But during their restoration attempts, Ernie and Lars are continually frustrated by a malicious mouse that keeps destroying their efforts."
source: streamed on Amazon Prime    
I watched it because: I thought I might get lucky with another animal-related movie
IMDB: 6.5/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 44% Audience: 49%
my IMDB: 1/10

notable quote: "'Some things are more important than money, Ernie.'

    'Notice it's always the financially challenged who say that?'"

MPAA rating: PG

directed by: Gore Verbinski

my notes: Nathan Lane gets REALLY old in a hurry, Lee Evans is somehow both boring and irritating, and even Christopher Walken as the exterminator can't save this godforsaken mess. And - an the unfortunate trend of modern filmmaking - in moments of tension, nearly every line is repeated. "Get it! Get it!" - as if the audience needs to have it ground into our brains to understand.
overall: not  recommended

[the title quotation is from Mousehunt]