Tina's July 2019 Movies

Here we go again, with this month's hot weather edition.  Movies not seen previously are marked with an asterisk and the numbering picks up from previous months.  The ratings go from 1-5 cans of tuna fish, with 5 at the top of the heap.

87.  Born on the 4th of July (1989) – Watching this movie on the 4th of July seemed like the appropriate thing to do.  It is director Oliver Stone’s adaptation of the book by Ron Kovac, Vietnam war veteran turned antiwar activist.  Tom Cruise plays Kovac as he goes from a star high school athlete and gung-ho Marine recruit through harrowing experiences in Vietnam, where the confused young Marine may have accidentally killed a serviceman in his unit.  Then Kovacs himself is hit and paralyzed and endures the horror of being treated in a military hospital until he returns to his Massapequa, Long Island, home as a conquering hero.  But by then, the anti-war movement is busy criticizing US policy and those who served, initially enraging the young vet, until he finally redirects his anger toward the war and the US government.  This is one of Cruise’s best roles, and while I always find him a bit too earnest and Stone a bit too heavy-handed, both have a very meaty story to tell here, and they handle it well.  4 cans.
88.  March of the Penguins (2005) – This documentary is remarkable not only for the way it demonstrates the behavior of penguins as they migrate, mate and care for their chicks, but also for the phenomenal footage captured by the production team.  How the penguins can figure out whose mate is whose is beyond my ability to comprehend, since I swear they all look exactly alike.  The animals take on extreme challenges in nature to mate, give birth and protect their young.  Fascinating stuff.  4 cans.
89.  Beaches (1988) – Sobfest starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey as long-time friends.  If you don’t get all choked up at the end, you have either seen this movie one too many times or think it is too corny.  It gets me every time.  4 cans.
90.  Pavarotti* (2019) – Italian opera singer Luciano Pavarotti is larger than life in this Ron Howard documentary.  His magnificent voice is a gift, he acknowledges, but also a curse.  He used his talents to move far beyond the opera stage, performing at outdoor venues around the world in concerts, and later teaming up with such notable rock stars as Bono to attract a whole new generation of fans.  He performed a charity concert in the rain in London and even Princess Diana was persuaded to put down her umbrella to allow everyone there to see the legend sing.  When Pavarotti teamed up with fellow tenors Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras to perform for the first time as the Three Tenors, the hair stood up on my arm.  Their work utterly changed the acceptance of opera and the way classical music is performed, as the broadcast was seen around the world.  You don’t have to be an opera buff to love Luciano.  4 cans.
91.  Yesterday* (2019) – A different story, an excellent cast and great music make this movie a joy to watch.  Jack (Himesh Patel) is a failed musician who is about to give up on his dream when a worldwide power shortage results in a collective global case of amnesia.  No one but Jack knows that the Beatles existed, and no one but him knows all of their songs.  They no longer appear on Google, so he can’t even look up the words, relying instead on memory to perform them and delight audiences with what they assume is original work.  He can’t believe it, but he starts singing their songs and garners huge acclaim for his songwriting genius (thank you, Lennon and McCartney).  His manager (Lily James), whom he loves but hasn’t admitted that to himself or her, can’t manage him since she is a schoolteacher.  I don’t want to spoil the movie, but I can tell you the premise is interesting and it is carried out with verve and skill.  And those songs!  4 cans.
92.  Fried Green Tomatoes (1991) – A cast of unforgettable characters populates the town of Whistle Stop, Alabama, and the stories of Miz Threadgood (Jessica Tandy), who shares them at the nursing home with a visitor (Kathy Bates), a willing listener to the adventures of Idgie (Mary Stuart Masterson) and Miss Ruth (Mary-Louise Parker).  This heartwarming story about friendship and relationships – good and bad – set amid racial discrimination in the good old South is always worth viewing.  4 cans and a lump in my throat. 
93.  Wild Rose* (2019) – Jessie Buckley makes a memorable debut in this movie about a working class woman just out of prison who dreams of being a country singer.  Living in Glasgow, Rose is pretty far from Nashville, and she neither writes songs nor plays guitar.  She does have a striking voice and a certain look, so she can command a room, but she’s always getting herself into predicaments, such as getting drunk and having her bag stolen.  When the woman whose house she cleans offers to let her sing at a party, it looks like Rose may be getting the break she needs, but with two kids to care for and a mother (veteran English actress Julie Walters) harping on her to take responsibility and not let the kids down, Rose is torn.  Will she get to Nashville and make her dream come true?  Worth seeing for yourself.  3½ cans.
94.  Maiden* (2019) – Imagine sailing around the world, doing it in a yachting race with a first-time skipper and in a beat-up boat.  In this case, nothing was going to stop Tracy Edwards and her all-female crew from competing in the prestigious Whitbread Round the World Race in 1989-90.  This documentary relies on abundant footage of the amazing voyage, filled with high seas and high adventure and a spirit that characterized Edwards and her crew.  I know nothing about sailing, but I can appreciate teamwork, drive and determination and the way the crew of the Maiden balanced the field, showing that women can do everything that men can do.  The perfect movie for a scorching hot day!  3½ cans.
95.  My Cousin Vinny (1991) – Joe Pesci plays Vincent LaGuardia Gambini, law school grad and novice attorney, who travels from his home in Brooklyn to a small town in Alabama to defend his cousin and his friend from a charge of murder.  When Vinny and his fiancé, (Marisa Tomei) arrive from New York, all decked out in leather, they stand out just a little from the locals.  The Judge on the case (Fred Gwynne in a great performance) is determined to hold barrister Gambini to the standards of his courtroom, although good old Cousin Vinny has never actually tried a case in the 6 weeks since he finally passed the bar after years of failure.  Ralph Macchio plays the cousin on trial with no real sense of confidence in Vinny.  This is a laugh-out-loud comedy and Tomei was named Best Supporting Actress for her role.  4 cans.
96.  Going Attractions:  The Definitive Story of the American Drive-In Movie* (2013) – Those of us old enough to remember drive-in movies hold a certain fondness for them, and this documentary (on Amazon Prime) captures that special feeling.  Remember the speaker on the car window, putting the kids in pajamas and taking a carload to the drive-in?  The snack bars, the huge screen, the romance of a summer date night…all are in this charming film that traces the origins of the drive-in from the 1930s through the 50s and 60s – when there were about 5000 nationwide – to the few remaining today (at the time of this movie, about 400 remained).  If nostalgia and movies appeal to you, check this one out.  3½ cans.
97.  The Firm (1993) – Tom Cruise plays a fresh young attorney hired by a big and unscrupulous law firm to join them in their dirty deeds.  Throw in an attractive young wife (Jeanne Tripplehorn), a brother in jail, a ruthless mentor and partner in the firm (Gene Hackman) a couple of clever and determined FBI guys and a secretary who lends a helping hand (Holly Hunter) and combine that with chases on foot, gunmen, the Chicago mob and Wilford Brimley chasing Cruise (my money’s on Tom) and you have a bit of an overdone plot in an otherwise suspenseful movie.  3 cans.
98.  Wine Country* (2019) – I get it.  There’s nothing like a girls’ weekend, fueled by long-term friendships and the memories they evoke, supplemented by wine and a few adventures.  So, I wanted to like this “buddy” movie brought to you largely by Saturday Night Live alums (Amy Poehler directed, Rachel Dratch, Tina Fey and Maya Rudolph star), but, despite the comedy and injections of real life with its work/family obligations and health issues, it just failed to measure up to my expectations. Feel free to check it out on Netflix and let me know what you think.  3 cans.