CategoryDRAMA

Posted May 7, 2018 AMERICAN

Dan in Real Life (2007)

CRUMBLIES… I’m writing this in 2018 – the year the best TV Dad of all time died: John Mahoney of Frasier. Behind the grumpiness of Martin Crane was an actor … Continue Reading Dan in Real Life (2007)

Posted May 7, 2018 ACTION

His Picture in the Papers (1916)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUsfHCv6CNA CRUMBLIES… Silent Steve caught me unawares with this one. It’s over a hundred years old now, but feels weirdly modern. His Picture in the Papers is a silent … Continue Reading His Picture in the Papers (1916)

Posted May 7, 20181 Comment AMERICAN

The Lightkeepers (2009)

CRUMBLIES… No. No no no no no no no. I only sat through the whole of this because there’s a Streep child in it, Richard Dreyfuss is Richard Dreyfuss and … Continue Reading The Lightkeepers (2009)

Posted May 7, 2018 AMERICAN

Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (1962)

CRUMBLIES… Bloody hell. Mad Maud put this one on and practically worshipped at its feet. I’d never seen it – and had studiously avoided the careers of both star over … Continue Reading Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (1962)

Posted May 6, 2018 DEMENTIA

The Olive Tree / El Olivo (2016)

CRUMBLIES… Now here’s an unexpectedly resonant, borderline poetic film where the oldster is the framework for a youngster finding their courage. The trailer made me think it would be about … Continue Reading The Olive Tree / El Olivo (2016)

Posted May 5, 20181 Comment ACTION

Perfect Strangers / Vacation from Marriage (1945)

CRUMBLIES… Old Mrs Jack, bless her, was a live wire. She charmed old Jack here out of his tense shell in the 1950s. We were too young to have … Continue Reading Perfect Strangers / Vacation from Marriage (1945)

Posted May 4, 2018 AMERICAN

The Notebook (2004)

CRUMBLIES… Mad Maud has a thing about James Garner. It’s an obsession that sits nicely alongside all her other ones, gets us doused in weekly bouts of The Rockford Files … Continue Reading The Notebook (2004)

Posted May 2, 2018 AMERICAN

Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

CRUMBLIES… Friendship, eh? If there’s a thing that makes life tolerable, it is the company of others. And by company I mean tightly managed video-calls with children, grandchildren and – … Continue Reading Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

Posted May 1, 2018 BRITISH

Ladies in Lavender (2004)

CRUMBLIES… Imagine. A cottage on the coast line of Cornwall. The 1930s. A couple of sisters. A boy. A story of unrequited love and some fiddling. That, ladies and ladies, … Continue Reading Ladies in Lavender (2004)

Posted May 1, 2018 AMERICAN

Hello, My Name is Doris (2015)

CRUMBLIES… Now, here’s a new genre in the grey-scale of movies: older woman goes for younger man. The basics of this film had gotten round the corridors and old Jack … Continue Reading Hello, My Name is Doris (2015)

Posted April 29, 20181 Comment AMERICAN

Away From Her (2006)

CRUMBLIES… Okay. Deep breath. It’s another Alzheimer’s film. After the emotional journey of Still Alice (2014), old Jack thought he’d go the whole hog and bask in some Julie Christie goodness. … Continue Reading Away From Her (2006)

Posted April 27, 2018 AMERICAN

Miss Lulu Bett (1921)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb9ROkl8cC0 CRUMBLIES… Damn me, if Silent Steve didn’t find a gem from yesteryear for this Sunday’s God-do-I-have-to-watch-this-athon. It’s the story of a young spinster in an American home, treated like … Continue Reading Miss Lulu Bett (1921)