March 01, 2014

Saturday movie review: 'Enough Said'

March 01, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

I love that movies in which characters face — and struggle with — an empty nest are becoming more and more popular of late. I've been there, know how difficult it can be. So such movies resonate deeply with me and make me more full appreciate that I've made it through the initial challenges of accepting the change and loss and embrace (for the most part) the opportunities and delights of this phase of life.

Enough Said

Which is why, even though I'm not a middle-aged divorcee in search of...

February 22, 2014

Saturday movie review: 'Winter's Tale'

February 22, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

I originally planned to open this review of WINTER'S TALE by saying I'm not really all that into romantic movies. Considering last week's review was of a romance too, though, I think that might make me appear a liar.

On the other hand, last weekend was Valentine's Day weekend, so I don't think viewing back-to-back romances means I'm a sucker for them.

Winter's Tale poster

Oh, forget it... I'll be honest. Okay, I'm a sucker for romance. When...

February 15, 2014

Saturday movie review: 'Love Is All You Need'

February 15, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

Valentine's Day weekend begs for a romantic comedy to watch, and LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED perfectly fits the bill for us middle-aged movie lovers. Actually, I think it fits the bill for all adult movie lovers, middle-aged or not, who crave an uplifting story about heartbroken people still hoping to find love and happiness.

Love Is All You Need movie

LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED is a delightful bilingual film — Danish and English, with subtitles for...

February 08, 2014

Saturday movie review: The Guilt Trip

February 08, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

I've been a fan of Barbra Streisand since I was about 10 years old. Though my ardency for her has waned in recent decades, I still appreciate and enjoy Streisand's singing and, to some degree, her acting. So when THE GUILT TRIP starring Barbra Streisand and Seth Rogen as mother and son was released, I didn't rush to the theater to see it, but I did add it to my DVD queue.

The Guilt Trip

Jim and I watched it earlier this week. My reaction...

February 01, 2014

Saturday movie review: 'Blue Jasmine'

February 01, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

Though I'm a longtime fan of Woody Allen's films, I wouldn't proclaim BLUE JASMINE a must-see film. It's not one of my favorites of Allen's — that honor belongs to PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO. It's Cate Blanchett's role as Jasmine in the film, though, that is a hands-down, no-doubt-about-it must-see.

Blue Jasmine on DVD

All the many, many nominations Blanchett has so far received...

January 25, 2014

Saturday movie review: 'Captain Phillips'

January 25, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

Sometimes movies based on true stories fail to intrigue viewers because audiences already know the full story, the outcome. Not the case with CAPTAIN PHILLIPS. At all.

CAPTAIN PHILLIPS was released on DVD Tuesday, and Jim and I were thrilled to have it in our hands Tuesday afternoon. (Thank you, Netflix!) We watched ...

January 18, 2014

Saturday movie review: 'The Kings of Summer'

January 18, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

While it's cold outside across much of the country, viewing THE KINGS OF SUMMER is an easy way to heat things up on the inside. The coming-of-age comedy — which dazzled at last year's Sundance Film Festival — features chuckles and charm that will provide plenty of warm fuzzies to get you through these chilly winter days.