ron-oneto-1 Reviews

Crusade in Europe (1949)

Lest history repeats itself

[10/10 · 1 October 2007]

I had seen "Crusade in Europe" on TV when it first came out. After viewing, Ken Burns "The War", I think it is time for this series to be placed on DVD as soon as possible. If "The War" has a good viewing audience, "Crusade in Europe" will be a smash. It is time to show what the "Greatest Generation" went through. In my family alone, we had 9 members in the Second World War and I was one of those kids collecting glass, metal, tires and whatever. My uncle died at Normandy in the first wave. Another uncle fought in North Africa, Sicily, Cassino, and Anzio where he was serious wound. Before they are all gone, its time to show the famous and the infamous once again. We have to remember those men and women who served and the type of people they were and what they stood for, on both sides. We most know our history and its people.

The Girl in the Café (2005 TV Movie)

One of the most beautifully, well acted movies I have seen in years

[10/10 · 8 May 2007]

Both Bill Nighy and Kelly Macdonald did a superb job playing their parts. The emotions they brought out were a credit to their outstanding abilities. I do wish that both would star in many more movies together, their interaction would get them an academy award every time. Words fail to describe their excellent portrayals of their characters: the reclusive, dedicated civil servant Lawence (Bill Nighy) and the beautiful, tender, mysterious Gina (Kelly Macdonald). Kelly Macdonald accent was so sexy and innocent that all she had to do was talk. What a love story.

Think there are a lot of overpaid actors and actresses that could take some lessons from these two. Thank you Richard Curtis for the screen play and thank you David Yates for bring us this movie with such a marvelous cast.

The Aryan Couple (2004)

An Excellent Movie

[10/10 · 1 February 2007]

Maybe being a child of the generation depicted in this movie made me feel closer to the situations. I am not Jewish if that means anything. All the actors in this story play their roles perfectly. The tension builds to a point that makes one totally involved in the events. I highly recommend this film to everyone. Not for its historical significance but for the performances of all the actors. There are few films that involve an audience so much that one feels the pressure, tension, anxiety, and utter fear the characters portray in the story. Landau plays his part well, but Gretchen Becker, Judy Parfitt and Kenny Doughty are superb along with all the supporting actors. A great movie. I like to call these movies "sleepers".

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

State of the times we live in

[1/10 · 22 January 2007]

This is the most dysfunctional family movie I have ever watched. I was surprised at the high rating. I guess the ratings reflect the state of the times we live in. Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston and Gwyneth Paltrow do play their roles well but whatever made them accept their parts. Ben Stiller, Danny Glover and Bill Murray were fit for the roles they played which was not acting. It appeared as if Hackman was trying to save the movie. While Huston and Paltrow gave up on the roles and appear to want it over as soon as possible. In general it was not a good movie and had no value. A waste of film would be putting it mildly. I do normally rate movies so critically but this one needed it.

Song of the South (1946)

The digitized version is out

[10/10 · 28 December 2005]

My future son-in-law placed a present under the tree that he said I would like very much knowing I am a old film buff. IMDb has listed this film as only available on VHS from outside the U.S. To my surprise it was a digitized DVD version. It is perfect. Still not believing it was the original film, I had to view the film immediately with the family. My daughters whose ages range from 33 to 43 had never seen the film but I had always sang and tried to mimic the characters in the story that I remembered. There wasn't a dry eye in the group after this film viewing. Now their children will enjoy this wonderful film. My daughters had heard it was racial but after viewing it with four very independent-minded, successful professionals, they all agreed that the actor and his portrayal of Uncle Remus was beautiful. The life lessons are portrayed by stories of fascinating cartoon animals by an old knowledgeable and graying man that children will feel he is their special UNCLE. Children will always remember the stories far into adulthood and never think it was racial.