“Amelia”
Rated PG for some sensuality, language, thematic elements and smoking.
“Amelia,” a film based on the highpoints of Amelia Earhart’s life, stars Hilary Swank. It is a movie, but could just as likely have been a Lifetime Channel “herstory” special. It might as well have been titled, “The Love Life of Amelia Earhart.” Seems the aviatrix was a high flier in more ways than one.
Hilary Swank was very good …very, very good at playing a very, very wooden character. At least she did a great job playing what appeared to be a wooden character; someone with all the warmth of an overcharged Frigidaire.
Amelia Earhart married George Putnam, the publisher, played by Richard Gere; perhaps the highest paid actor who is given chance after chance despite his inability to deliver a hit film. George Putnam is played by Gere who apparently is a very, very wooden character.
According to the movie, Earhart had a lover, Gene Vidal, a person who seems oily (Ewan McGregor); Gene has a little boy, named Gore. Yes, that Gore Vidal. Young Gore admired Amelia very much. Amelia liked young Gore very much. When Gore got scared, Amelia calmed his fears. Touching? No, I am afraid not. But the oily father's characteristic got passed on to his son.
Writing about this movie makes me realize how terribly unaffected I was by the film. Before then, I thought it was just boring. The only time I was interested was in the last ten minutes. The most effective performances came from the character actors playing Coast Guard men. They made me feel emotion, for the first time during the entire film.
The planes were beautiful, I will say that much. And the producers and writers stayed away from the more melodramatic theories concerning the disappearance of the Earhart plane. It comes off … believable …. and tragic. Thankfully they did not bring up the slightly moldy claim that the Japanese did it.
Let me think what else I can write? How about some of the leading characters in the movie are Hilary Swank’s freckles…and her overly, large teeth…with a guest appearance of the pretty scary set sported by the actress playing Eleanor Roosevelt.
Big teeth, wooden characters, gorgeous planes, vigorous freckles, and a small coterie of talented character actors who actually provide 10 minutes of tension is hardly enough to make a good movie.
I knew the ending; everybody knows the ending, so the performances should carry the film with dramatic and effective impact. Even the folks over at the Lifetime Channel know that. Hilary Swank has the juice to deliver the goods, so I really can’t figure whom to blame; but it certainly wasn’t the Japanese.
Amelia gets two bow ties out of five.
On the Screen
Tough to say who to blame for flatness of ‘Amelia’
- On the Screen
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‘Woman in Black’ gives unexpected twist
“Chronicle”
Rated PG-13 (for intense action and violence, thematic material, some language, sexual content and teen drinking).“The Woman in Black”
Rated PG-13 (for thematic material and violence/disturbing images). -
‘Descendants’ a smart, compelling film
“The Descendants”
Rated R for language including some sexual references. -
‘Artist,’ ‘Iron Lady’ earn their share of bow ties
“The Artist”
Rated PG-13 for a disturbing image and a crude gesture.“The Iron Lady”
Rated PG-13 for some violent images and brief nudity -
‘Contraband’ is more of the same old, same old
“Contraband”
Rated R (for violence, pervasive language and brief drug use). -
‘Dragon Tattoo’ stays true to Swedish location
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
Rated R (for brutal violent content including rape and torture, strong sexuality, graphic nudity and language). -
Print edition, December 29, 2011
Headlines in today's Union-Recorder.
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‘Mission Impossible’ delivers what’s expected
“Mission Impossible — Ghost Protocol”
Rated PG-13 (for sequences of intense action and violence). -
‘The Sitter’ is an overall forgettable film
“The Sitter”
Rated R for crude and sexual content, pervasive language, drug material and some violence -
Nearing the end of the year, a look back at cinema
One month remains in the year, but the knuckleheads in Hollywood who decide what film opens in the land of rubes and suckers (everywhere but New York and Los Angeles) sent our local theaters nary a new film to review this weekend.
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Trio of Christmas movies all hit the holiday mark
Arthur Christmas
PG for some mild rude humor. - More On the Screen Headlines
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‘Woman in Black’ gives unexpected twist







