Tag: Ashley Judd

A DOG’S WAY HOME (2019)

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Directed By: Charles Martin Smith 

Written By: W. Bruce Cameron and Cathryn Michon

Based On the novel by: W. Bruce Cameron 

Cinematography: Peter Menzies Jr. 

Editor: David S. Clark, Debra Neil-Fisher and Sabrina Pilsco

Cast: Ashley Judd, Jonah Hauer-King, Alexandra Shipp, Edward James Olmos, Barry Watson, Wes Studi, Chris Bauer, John Cassini, Brian Markinson, Patrick Gallagher 

As a puppy, Bella finds her way into the arms of Lucas, a young man who gives her a good home. When Bella becomes separated from Lucas, she soon finds herself on an epic 400-mile journey to reunite with her beloved owner. Along the way, the lost but spirited dog meets a series of new friends and manages to bring a little bit of comfort and joy to their lives.

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These are the perfect family films as they are filled with innocence cute show, survival and loving, as well as offer adventure.

They are also manipulative as hell because they want you to get emotionally invested in the film. This is in a film you watch for the filmmaking necessarily or even the story but you will find yourself emotionally involved no matter how long you watch the film.

Especially as they usually focus on the dogs as they know that it is a weakness for the majority of the population to fall in love with these films, or find them more personal or personable.

No, like most of these films this one is based on a novel it still is more about a dog. The people who is a fax and who effect it has every scene seems to be introduced to new characters and get their story and leaves at the right moment, to affect their lives, and more positive ways.

Will admit that these films are guilty pleasures, even for me, and I’m not a dog owner, but I continuously watch the sermons once in a while and find myself charmed, even though I know the tricks, and I know better. They are even diverse and to reach each possible member Of a demographic of the audience.

Which then makes her feel all the more designed rather than natural

at least this one is directed by Character actor, and veteran Director, Charles Martin Smith, which might be why I give this one just a little bit more credit than it deserves.

Grade: C+

DE-LOVELY (2004)

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Directed By: Irwin Winkler 
Written By: Jay Cocks 
Cinematography: Tony Pierce-Roberts 
Editor: Julie Monroe 

Cast: Kevin Kline, Ashley Judd, Jonathan Pryce, Kevin McKidd, Kevin McNally, Allen Corduner, James Wilby, Keith Allen, Taylor Hamilton, Angie Hill, Natalie Cole, Sheryl Crow, Elvis Costello, Robbie Williams, Alanis Morrisette

Inspecting a magical biographical stage musical, composer Cole Porter reviews his life and career with his wife, Linda.

This was a film it has taken me a while to watch. As I knew more about the soundtrack than the movie. It’s one of those I always meant to watch it eventually type of movies where you feel you have to be in a certain mood to watch or can never think of when specifically needing something new to watch. Not has it ever truly been recommended to me by anyone. So I finally decided to take the plunge.

The film feels like how I described it. It’s on and certainly entertaining and thinks of itself as smart. Though it never truly elicits any true emotions from the audience. So it never truly connects and comes across more as if you were watching a visual biography that tries to be flashy and inventive.

As the film and story are preset like Cole Porter is creating a musical of life and constantly having to deal with a director who has his own vision or wants even the harder more private stuff to be part of it. As they both look back upon his life from the director’s Chairs in the audience. 

The film is presented as a love story between Cole and his wife. Even as he is bi-sexual or more homosexual.

Kevin Kline shines in the main role. He is truly what makes the film Memorable. As he seems to go above and beyond to make it work. He already is usually one of the crowning achievements in any film. Only wished he would have had more starring roles when he was younger. Though it always seemed hard to find a place to put him in films. Which might be why he stuck more to theater over the years. He has a theatrical way of speaking at times, but so does John Lithgow, and look at how many legendary roles he held down. Though maybe only a few as the leading man. 

As they go through the numbers some are more stage-bound and others more in life outdoors. Though always feeling staged. As it stages at least half of its scenes in theaters of some kind. 

The film reminds the audience of ALL THAT JAZZ. Only that movie was based on and directed by its subject Bob Fosse. This film never quite ends up as warts and all, dramatic or hard-hitting. That film unfortunately never as inventive either. 

This film could work as a Broadway show all Its own. Though it never quite comes across as grand as it should. 

As it is based on a true story and biography. We all know what is going to happen. It telegraphs its moves at times in true dramatic cliches. Though comes across as quite elegant as a prestige film.

Irwin Winkler is the director and he isn’t bad here he just unfortunately makes the material feel basic. It never quite has the flair of the person it is based on. 

It’s a prestige project that tries to be playful. That is more meant for awards season. Yet not of that caliber. Though it is fun to see music superstars of the time period, singing classic songs. 

It’s a good presentation but never quite feels deep enough. For us to care or to be moved. Once it finally hits home and hard is at the end. You will come out of the film humming and singing and wanting to hear more of his songs.

Grade: C+

BUG (2006)

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Directed By: William Friedkin

Written By: Tracy Letts (Based upon his play)

Cinematography: Michael Grady 

Editor: Darrin Navarro 

Cast: Ashley Judd, Michael Shannon, Harry Connick Jr., Lynn Collins, Brian F. O’Byrne 

Having escaped her abusive ex-husband Goss, recently released from state prison, Agnes, a lonely waitress with a tragic past moves into a sleazy, rundown motel. Her lesbian co-worker R.C. introduces her to Peter, a peculiar, paranoiac drifter and they begin a tentative romance. However, things aren’t always as they appear and Agnes is about to experience a claustrophobic nightmare reality as the bugs begin to arrive.

This is a love story between two damaged individuals. As we can see from the beginning Ashley Judd’s character is not only lonely but also seems to be more willing to put up with abuse and the nature of whoever she is dating. As her ex, she has a court order o. Keeps coming over to beat her up and steal her money. 

So it’s not too shocking that soon after being with this new man that she is introduced to, she starts to suffer from the same psychosis.

The couple could be compared to what happens when two drug addicts get together. Where they seem to live off each other and in their own world. Watching this movie they do come off as meth addicts. Even in scenes later we see that they have been freebasing also. Something g strangely even his psychiatrist takes a turn with. 

though there is a more artistic rather than erotic sex scene. Which director William Friedkin has been doing constantly in his later films. As overly erotic as KILLER JOE was, the seductive or sexy scenes seemed more like going for pretty and meant much more. It could be that both these films come from the theater world. So these are the only moments where he can truly try to make it more cinematic with his own vision. 

It took me some time to watch this film over the years. So the anticipation builds up. So that when finally watching the film it is tamer than expected and feels like it needs to be seen on the big screen to truly feel the film. Unfortunately, I didn’t, but the second half of the film is truly graphic and disturbing. 

The film didn’t live up to certain expectations but it is effective to a certain degree. It definitely helps if you come into the movie blindly 

Which is why I believe the second half is so disturbing is that the first half has a few shocks but stays mundane. So the lunacy of the second half not only wakes up the Audience but disrupts them out of comfort and expectation. 

We also watch the breakdown of Ashley Judd’s Character whom we truly feel sorry for from the beginning though we also see how submissive she is.

The last act comes across as downright artistic when it comes to production design and the acting. 

Though he had been a working actor this Is the movie that truly made Michael Shannon a star or put him More on that path. After so far a career of bit roles and more theatrical work.

Harry Connick Jr. Even plays against type in this film. As Judd’s abusive not quite ex-husband 

Not your typical horror film or thriller. It is more disturbing about damaged people damaging themselves and each other. Involving those who are unlucky enough to cross their paths. 

It ends up not being what you first thought when you sat down to watch it, but luckily something much deeper.

There is some beautiful filmmaking here making the mundane interesting and you can feel its theatrical roots. The director and cast truly make the film feel bigger than the location it seems to be stuck in and make the hotel room seem labyrinthian 

Grade: B- 

SOMEONE LIKE YOU (2001)

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Directed By: Tony Goldwyn 
Written By: Elizabeth Chandler
Based On The Novel “ANIMAL HUSBANDRY” By: Laura Zigman
Cinematography: Anthony B. Richmond 
Editor: Dana Congdon

Cast: Ashley Judd, Hugh Jackman, Marisa Tomei, Greg Kinnear, Ellen Barkin, Donna Hanover, Catherine Dent, Nicole leach, Peter Friedman, Colleen Camp, Mirelle Enos, Veronica Webb, Naomi Judd

After being jilted by her boyfriend, a talk show talent scout writes a column on the relationship habits of men which gains her national fame.

Way before the ADELE song on the same name. This movie came around when Ashley Judd was getting used to being a star. This was the film where it would really rest on her shoulders.

The problem is that this film is so generic. That even at the time it came out there felt outdated. It’s one of those films that came out in the 90’a and while you can tell it is a studio film it still comes across as no-frills. As there is no particular style everything’s made to look bland. So that when something that looks sharp in style and person. It is jarring. The film feels like it could have been a storyline on the television show FRIENDS rather than getting its own movie.

It also feels like everyone is too for their roles and especially to still have the character’s mindsets.

This film is disposable. So disposable I watched it recently and don’t remember much of this film. I know enough that I would never watch it again.

Hugh Jackson plays a cad who somehow becomes roommates with a co-worker played by Judd. She has recently broken up with her boyfriend and at first, they can’t stand each other (then why live together in the first place. It is New York after all so I guess desperate measures) slowly but surely, of course, they fall in love and he changes his ways.

I enjoy Hugh Jackman a lot. He is like one of those classic leading men from the 1940s and ’60s and at least the film in a scene shows why his character is so jaded and cruel as a ladies’ man. Though here he rarely has any chemistry with his female co-stars which really doesn’t help if you are making a romantic comedy. (Nor does the theory of double negative where the chemistry is supposed to be bad that it comes off charming eventually) Though there is something innately watchable about him.

Watching this film less for the romance and more for the comedy. As there is already little romance and more talk of it than anything. The comedy also never really comes other than some catty one-liners more from Jackman than Judd

At least Hugh Jackman seems to know he’s not in a necessarily good movie. He is just biding his time until each scene ends and is happy with the work. Not to mention a paycheck.

One can’t get mad at this film totally as it fits its conventions and lets you know what type of film it is. It doesn’t try to misdirect to make itself seem like it has more depth or one-of-a-kind filmmaking. Still even for its genre while competently filmed it is majorly disappointing in most aspects.

By the end, it also makes it obvious that the main character needed the break-up to happen for her to grow. As she would have been noted and settled into marriage with the wrong person in the first place and Even Though would have been happy. She also would have been bored and stuck 

The film is strictly painted by numbers and off the assembly line. I don’t even have that much more to say about it.

Grade: F