Reviews

This is a superb portrayal of actual events, performed by a truly excellent cast. I know that women who work still have challenges to surmount, but younger viewers may find it hard to believe the breadth and depth of the bias inherent in women's working lives as recently as 1968.

The strike shown here started as a simple protest against the classification of skilled workers as unskilled, a ridiculous situation. As the women presented their case against that idiotic idea, the long-standing (eternal, more like) standard whereby women were automatically paid less than men came into focus. When I first learned about that, it was concerning defense plant workers during WWII, where women were paid less than 70% as much as their male counterparts. I have seen film and read statements in which men who'd supervised them admitted that the women were just as competent as men, and -- in jobs requiring fine dexterity -- often far superior to most men.

FYI: I did not grow up in a "Workers of the World, Unite!" household. To borrow a very old joke, I was 11 years old before I knew that damnunion wasn't a single word. I admire the women shown in this film more than I can express. I would carry a sign for them.

I can hardly remember anything about this film other than Venus Rising From the Sea. I remember that there was a story, one which showed J. L.'s character exercising considerable empathy for the subject of her job project, but--when I try to remember any scene--all I can see in my mind is the magnificence of the naked Jennifer Lawrence striding across the beach in order to kick ass.

I don't think I have 190 more characters-worth to say. I have long enjoyed Lawrence's self-effacing sense of humor. She is a wonderful actress who does not take herself seriously, a welcome presence in an industry in which many people take themselves FAR too seriously.

When I first heard about a silent movie about silent movies, I had no interest in seeing it. I happened to read the comments on the DVD box at my local library, and decided to give it a chance. I don't know how to sum it up; it may not be possible.

I had never heard of either of the stars before this viewing, but am now a fan of each. Jean Dujardin's modern interpretation of broad silent movie acting I thought marvelous, and Bérénice Bejo's Peppy is undeniably charming, and peppy.

I love tap dancing, and the tap number at the end -- the first scene with significant audible dialogue -- is great fun.

I think of this as akin to A Star is Born, but with a happy ending.

This film is interesting, and well-made, but I fear that I'm about half a century too old to become really engaged with the story. Frances is sweet, undirected, clueless about any form of relationship, almost invariably makes poor decisions, and lies constantly, even (or especially) when the truth would have worked to her advantage. I did not see anything which would have motivated the glowing reviews written elsewhere.

I enjoyed the unforeseen presence of the wonderfully talented Charlotte D'Amboise (I saw her in Chicago--the show, not the city), and Grace Gummer is always welcome, as she and her sister each inherited a nice serving of talent from their mother, Meryl Streep.

I was pleasantly surprised that the DVD from my library included a very informative booklet, with a detailed presentation of the story.

Please don't let my perceptions influence yours; I may be wrong (chuckle).

I actually like this about 6 1/2 stars worth, but I rounded up.

Starting a bit slowly, with a conversation between two of the least-likable characters in the film, it took me a few minutes to see where the story was going. Fans of Christopher Guest's mockumentaries will feel very much at home watching Authors Anonymous, as many moments feel very like Best In Show.

Kaley Cuoco, whose character is the least educated member of a writing group, has the greatest and most-rapid success of the group, and the inter-group dynamics and jealousies which ensue are the core of the film. The cast is perfect, and--as I learned from the bonus features--were allowed to improvise at will. One of the producers indicated that about 15% of the movie we see was not in the script, which made for very funny work.

I dabble at writing myself, so maybe that's why I rate this more highly than most reviewers, as I can see myself in many moments of the film. Anyone who appreciates, or at least is curious about, independent films should watch this.

I enjoy the work of Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson, so I hoped for better from this film. Containing: an ancient curse; a person who's immortal until the curse is lifted; a cure for the curse which is nearly impossible to acquire; masses of computer-generated hubbub; this is simply Pirates of the Caribbean on a river.

I like this film, a lot! I plucked it off the shelf at the library because I enjoy the work of the stars, and because the notes on the box said "witty." It is genuinely witty. It's a bit talky, but in a way I like: the protagonists have actual vocabularies, and express themselves in complete sentences. What a pleasant surprise! An exchange I enjoyed particularly, concerning the bride: WR "She does not have the sense God gave a toaster." KR "She's a moron, and her breasts were built on a medical bench."

My enjoyment was enhanced by the setting of the movie, as the wedding venue and the hotel in which the main characters stayed are about 25 miles from my home, so I recognized most of the exteriors. This is a worthy successor to mid-20th-century screwball comedies, with a sort of West-coast Woody Allen flavor.

Post Script: I'd love to know whether there was an actual script for this film, or whether the director just handed each actor an outline of suggestions every morning. I can't help but believe that about 75% of the dialogue was extemporized.

I have wondered often how many people associated with this company have ever heard the name Kenny Howard, the real Von Dutch. He was a pioneer pinstriper, vehicle customizer, knife maker, and gunsmith, an all-around craftsman. From what I've seen, no one associated with this brand is worthy of carrying Kenny's tool box.

I'm pleased that this is not the swords-and-sorcerers crap which it could have been. Somehow I missed the film during its theatrical release, had never even heard of it until it started showing up on television. TV broadcasts had an inordinate number of commercial interruptions, so I got it from my local library.

I've heard various versions of Arthurian legend over the years, and I find this one to be quite plausible. According to the DVD extra features, new archeological evidence supports the possibility of the story originating over 1,000 years before the clean and shiny 15th-century version we've been fed by Hollywood. Men who'd lived as warriors would not be clad in clean, colorful costumes. There's also a mention by Keira Knightley that--like many early societies--pre-celtic Britons and Picts were matriarchal, lending credence to the idea that some warriors were female. History has established well that women have fought in many wars, usually disguised as men, but this film shows them clearly as female. I love the scene where Guinivere is fighting a very large man, who has thrown her to the ground, and three other women coming racing to her aid. Just like modern women, they band together in times of duress. (Side note: The shots of Ms. Knightley in her leather-and-woad battle dress give me heart palpitations). Viewing on disc really enhanced my enjoyment, as being able to pause and see in slow motion made many of the action sequences more comprehensible.

I don't know whether there is any historic evidence that battle-hardened knights helped indigenous people escape marauding Saxons, but it made for a lively story. I enjoyed the film, and will probably watch it again...eventually.

29 May, 2023 I watched this for the second time last night, and enjoyed it thoroughly again. It carried me along so well that it did not feel as though it was over two hours long.

The character portrayed by Larry Parks is such a jackass that I cannot accept that any self-respecting woman would be interested in him, especially anyone as beautiful and capable as Elizabeth Taylor's character. I wanted to see more of the kids' dance classes.