The Half of It is a witty romance story with a lot of heart and plenty of drama involving high schoolers trying to figure out the messy art of love. (See the movie trailer below.)
In it, Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis) is a loner expatriate from China who helps her disenfranchised single father pay the bills by writing class assignments for other students. Along comes tongue-tied footballer Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer), who wants Ellie to help him write love notes to popular art student Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire). If you think this sounds a lot like Cyrano de Bergerac, you're right, except that it's been modernized and set in flyover America.
There are all kinds of complications in the story. Ellie doesn't want to write love letters initially but Ellie's electrical power is about to be shut off and Paul offers to pay substantially more. Paul becomes impatient with making progress and wants to move ahead with Aster. Aster is dating with the football team's quarterback who is sure they will be married one day and her father is pretty happy about the pairing. And no one knows that Ellie and Aster are secretly in love with each other, complicating everyone else's relationships.
This story occurring in flyover country, where no one knows much about the world at large, makes the obvious that much less obvious. And it all makes this a cute, adorable yet painful story about youth in unattainable love.
The Half of It move trailer through YouTube available here:
I saw The Verdict in theaters in 1982 and it was one of the best dramas I had ever seen. Recently I listened to a film podcast by Full Cast and Crew that focused on the brilliant performance of lead actor Paul Newman and it brought back all the memories of this exceptional film. So I watched it again on HBO/Max and it hasn't lost any of its dramatic power, so many years later. (See official movie trailer below.)
What the podcaster says is, this film contains brilliant performances by all the actors, indeed by everyone on the cast and crew. It's one of those perfect films. So if you get a chance to see The Verdict, see it. The only thing that doesn't age well in this film are the vehicles filmed naturally in the streets of Boston and New York City. But that would be true in any film. Everything else holds up.
Paul Newman plays Frank Galvin, an "outcast, alcoholic Boston lawyer" as imDb.com describes him, who "sees the chance to salvage his career and self-respect by taking a medical malpractice case to trial rather than settle." Of course, it's more than that. Way more than that. As is often the case, what Galvin seeks is redemption. Throughout the story, he comes to pit the outcome of the trial first against how much he is likely to earn in a quick settlement and then in what he can win in redemption of his soul as a human being.
At his side is perennial character actor Jack Warden as Mickey, another lawyer who at first brings Galvin the case to "throw him a bone," then helps him litigate when Galvin finds the going getting tough. They find themselves at odds with sinister forces who just want to settle the case and move on, including the Archdiocese of Boston in the person of Bishop Brophy (Edward Binns), the opposing counsel who represents the Archdiocese, Ed Concannon (James Mason), and a judge who often sides with defense to the point of favoritism, Judge Hoyle (Milo O'Shea). All these are fine veteran actors at the top of their game.
Not all is as it seems in this case. A patient now lives in a vegetable state with no friends, little family, and no advocates for her future. Her sister and her boyfriend just want to settle the case and move on, too. The doctors who led to her state care more to move on than explore justice. And opposing counsel is known for pulling questionable tactics to win their cases. And Galvin isn't in top form as an attorney.
Galvin turns down the settlement. He thinks he can win the case. But things keep getting in the way, by hook or by crook. You feel for this poor man, for so long destitute professionally and personally, at the end of his rope and yet just within reach of redemption. You pull for him, even as despicable as he sometimes seems.
The rest of this supporting cast play critical roles, too. Sally Doneghy (Roxanne Hart), the patient's sister, so insecure and yet hopeful. Laura Fischer (Charlotte Rampling), a mysterious woman always asking questions but at Galvin's side at critical moments. Maureen Rooney (Julie Bovasso), an attending nurse who refuses to testify but knows an important secret. And Kaitlin Costello (Lindsay Crouse), the admitting nurse who can't be found.
If you want a riveting drama, if you want acting at the top of its game, if you want a story you won't guess the outcome of till the very end, see The Verdict.
Think Momma Mia 2 without the music, without the Mediterranean, without the glamour, and without the fun. Ticket to Paradise is about a divorced, fighting couple who travel to Bali in the Pacific near Malaysia to try to stop their daughter from marrying the man of her dream in the locale of her dreams. (See the movie trailer below.)
The production spent their budget on dream-location shooting and two of the biggest names in Hollywood, casting George Clooney and Julia Roberts, then added a decent but predictable script. It's okay, if you're Clooney and Roberts fans. It's okay, if you're wasting-your-vaca-time-on-a-resort-island-locale okay. And maybe right now, in the record heat of this summer, commisserating with the cast and crew who shot the film in the tropics.
Okay, not everything about this film was bad. You can dream about your own South Pacific vacation and maybe running into George Clooney and Julia Roberts. Maybe even run into a lush marriage ceremony while you're there and chuckle about the cultural disconnects. And watch as many planned events go awry. That's the fun of watching Ticket to Paradise, as you sympathize with the engaged couple. Actually, it's a pretty good story if limited in scope and setting. You could do worse.
Or ... maybe you're tired of blockbuster films that aren't making it this year and you want something simple with some laughs. Ticket to Paradise just might be the summer flick for you.
Dennis Quaid leads this preachy real-life drama about a Southern family whose faith is tested by death and calamity. (See movie trailer below.)
After attending his brother's unexpected funeral, Doug White (Dennis Quaid) and this family catch a private flight back home. But not long after takeoff, the elderly pilot dies, leaving Doug to fly and land the twin-engine plane he's never flown. In fact, he's only ever flown one plane before, a single-engine Cesna, and barely landed it safely, with instructors onboard. Now he has only his own wits, the help of his wife Terri (Heather Graham), and the devotion of two teenage daughters Bailey (Abigail Rhyne) and Maggie (Jessi Case) to drive him.
On the ground guiding Doug are the Miami and local flight controllers and the one pilot who once faced the same circumstances years ago, Kari Sorenson (Jesse Metcalfe). Film is heavy on dramatic scenes as well.
Getting through the ordeal requires Doug and his family to dig deep into their personal faith and family relationships, themes which the film explores throughout.
The Quiet Girl is a charming Irish film about a young girl sent to spend the summer with childless relatives in Rural Ireland. It's a rocky relationship at first, with the father figure (Seán) unresponsive to her and the mother figure (Eibhlin) doting but insecure. The rule of the house is, there will be no secrets, but little Cáit will come to find out the house is ruled by a very big secret, a big secret that once it's out will bring them all closer. (See movie trailer below.)
Cáit (Catherine Clinch) has lived a simple but deprived life with her poor family, and Eibhlin (Carrie Crowley) slowly begins to fill it with the gifts of love, care, respect, and upbringing. At first she gives Cáit boy's cloths they have on hand, and then she begins to dote on Cáit with food and as Seán (Andrew Bennett) warms to her they buy clothing of her own, treating her like their own daughter. They begin to trust her with little chores, watching her closely and seeing that she doesn't get into trouble. She's invited to help Seán around the farm with chores, and they take her to Mass with them and to the market where they buy her little things. She's like their child.
By the end, Cáit has become a fixture of the family and Seán and Eibhlin have become endeared to her, used to her. It's nearly time to return Cáit to her own family when the big secret comes bounding out. The scene is a heartstopper.
This story is heavy on character. The setting, cold and chilling at the beginning, becomes bucolic and warm and comfortable. It's a great summer or early autumn afternoon view for everyone in your family. It will find a place in your heart. Winner of the 2023 Oscar for Best International Feature Film.
