Cast: Dustin Hoffman (Harvey Shine), Emma Thompson (Kate Walker), Eileen Atkins (Maggie Walker), Kathy Baker (Jean), Liane Balaban (Susan)
For complete info, see IMDb's Last Chance Harvey page.
Dustin Hoffman & Emma Thompson are wonderful in this movie. It's a very touching story about a man whose life is falling apart until he finds someone who turns his life upside down. You definitely miss nothing by seeing this on the small screen, since it's all about the relationships. Traveling to London for a wedding from America is stressful any time, but when it's for your daughter's wedding and she seems closer to her step father, I think the trip would push almost anyone to the edge.
I definitely recommend renting Last Chance Harvey if you missed it in a theatre.
Grade: B
Labels: 2008, drama, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Kathy Baker, London, movie, romance, weddings
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:30 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Jack Black (Po), Dustin Hoffman (Shifu), Angelina Jolie (Tigress)
For complete info, see IMDb's Kung Fu Panda page.
To be fair to Kung Fu Panda, I have to say that I don't like live action Kung Fu movies (at all) and point out that perhaps that's a requirement for enjoying Kung Fu Panda to the fullest. I had heard such great things about the movie that I was pretty bummed I couldn't see it on the big screen. I did, however, see it on Blu-ray Disc on my pretty big TV, so it wasn't much of a downgrade. Though I'm glad I rented it, I'm not at all sad that I missed seeing it on the big screen. In fact, if I'd paid to see it in a theatre, I might have felt ripped off.
Perhaps the problem I have with most animated movies is that I compare them all to Pixar movies. I realize this isn't fair to the other movies, but Pixar has set the standard and this year's WALL-E was totally amazing. All other animated movies pale in comparison, but with all the positive comments I heard about Kung Fu Panda I expected it to be closer to the quality of Pixar's movies than it turned out to be.
That being said, I even enjoyed Disney's Mulan a lot more than I did Kung Fu Panda and I think Disney movies are a much more fair comparison. If you like animated movies and enjoy Kung Fu movies, I'd definitely recommend renting this one. If not, you might want to consider putting it pretty low on your rental list.
Grade: C+
Labels: action, adventure, Angelina Jolie, animated, comedy, Dustin Hoffman, family, Jack Black
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:45 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Kevin Bacon (Sean Nokes), Billy Crudup (Tommy Marcano), Robert De Niro (Father Bobby), Minnie Driver (Carol Martinez), Dustin Hoffman (Danny Snyder), Ron Eldard (John Reilly), Jason Patric (Lorenzo 'Shakes' Carcaterra), Brad Pitt (Michael Sullivan)
For complete info on this amazing cast, see IMDb's Sleepers page.
When a friend mentioned Sleepers to me, I was shocked that I'd never heard of it. I only listed the major characters above (and not even all of them) and look at that cast. How could I have possibly missed all information on this movie? Yes, it was just after I got out of college, I moved twice that year and got married, but that's no excuse for missing all information on Sleepers.
If you somehow managed to miss this movie, too, I highly recommend that you rent it. Definitely not an upbeat movie, but this story about boys who pull a prank that goes way too far, leading them to experience horrors in a detention center that scar them for life and the revenge they get 10 years later is very well done. The cast is beyond amazing. The story is gripping and heart wrenching. It's also never been proven either way, so it's possible the events in the movie actually happened. That possibility makes it much more horrific.
Grade: B+
Labels: 1996, Billy Crudup, Brad Pitt, crime, drama, Dustin Hoffman, Jason Patric, Kevin Bacon, Minnie Driver, movie, Robert DeNiro, thriller
Reviewed by Kat at the 9:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Robert De Niro (Jack Byrnes), Ben Stiller (Greg Focker), Dustin Hoffman (Bernie Focker), Barbra Streisand (Rozalin Focker), Blythe Danner (Dina Byrnes), Teri Polo (Pam Byrnes)
Since I wasn't a fan of Meet the Parents, the idea of Meet the Fockers didn't appeal to me at all - especially when I found out Barbara Streisand (who I try to avoid in all forms) was going to play Greg's mother. Just what I needed in a movie I didn't want to see in the first place. So, why did I see it in a theatre? Christmas movies are always done by a vote in our family and I didn't win.
Surprisingly, I ended up enjoying Meet the Fockers a lot more than I did Meet the Parents. It wasn't as belaboring and was much more entertaining. Barbara Streisand was even funny. Now that is a statement coming from me!
Still wouldn't rush out to a theatre to see it, but worth renting or watching on HBO.
Grade: B
Labels: 2004, comedy, Dustin Hoffman, movie, Robert DeNiro
Reviewed by Kat at the 2:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: John Cusack (Nicholas Easter), Gene Hackman (Rankin Fitch), Dustin Hoffman (Wendell Rohr), Rachel Weisz (Marlee)
For complete info, see IMDb's Runaway Jury page.
Definitely one of the best adaptations of a John Grisham novel! Runaway Jury, this story about the manipulation of a jury was exciting and entertaining the whole way through even though I had already read the book. My husband (who had not read the book) and I both fully enjoyed this movie. I recommend it to John Grisham fans (you'll be surprised at how well they did with this one) and non-Grisham fans alike. It's a wonderful thriller whether you know his work or not!
Of course, the cast is so amazing that I would have wanted to see this movie even if I didn't already enjoy the story. They do a great job with Grisham's characters. Definitely rent this if you missed it on the big screen!
Grade: B+
Labels: 2003, drama, Dustin Hoffman, John Cusack, John Grisham, movie, Rachel Weisz, thriller
Reviewed by Kat at the 4:45 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Dustin Hoffman (Stanley Motss), Robert De Niro (Conrad Brean), Anne Heche (Winifred Ames), Denis Leary (Fad King), Willie Nelson (Johnny Dean), Andrea Martin (Liz Butsky), Kirsten Dunst (Tracy Lime)
For complete info, see IMDb's Wag the Dog page.
This movie about a war that's faked in order to cover up a presidential sex scandal is really good. Wag the Dog really explores the way the government can spin reality to appear however they want to the American public. Of course, like all situations where big lies are told, the "war" gets out of hand. Although Wag the Dog goes over the top at times, I think that's still realistic. In a situation where you're creating an entire war for the public to believe, things would probably get pretty out of hand from time to time.
I definitely recommend renting this movie and watching it again!
Grade: B+
Labels: 1997, comedy, Dustin Hoffman, Kirsten Dunst, movie, Robert DeNiro
Reviewed by Kat at the 4:50 PM show | 0 screams