Movies: The Midwife, The Glass Castle, A Ghost Story

Special Note:  We were delighted to retrieve our computer this morning.  All is well and we are ‘back on line’!  Thanks for your patience and support. J&J

The Midwife

Here’s a movie to seek out if you are a fan of foreign language films.  Set in metropolitan Paris, Catherine Frot plays a midwife whose profession is under attack by the evolution of the medical industry.

Along comes her late father’s mistress, Beatrice, played by the incomparable Catherine Deneuve who humbly declares she has brain cancer and has nowhere left to turn to.

The acting is the reason to see this film.  It is a drama but not overly dramatic.  It is sometimes not too funny and not too melodramatic, but just about right.

The genre is Drama and is not rated in the US.  The run time is 117 minutes.  It is a great opportunity to see two exceptional French actresses in great roles.  French with English subtitles.

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The Glass Castle

This movie is based on the memoir by the same name.  This actually makes the film better than fiction though it is not always easy to watch.  Woody Harrelson and Naomi Watts play the free spirited parents whose unconventional approach to raising children ultimately results in a serious disfunctional dynamic.  There are moments of humor counterbalanced by moments of significant angst.

Once again, acting is front and center.  Since the story covers the children through adulthood, several actors fill the roles.  Most notably Oscar winner Brie Larson plays the oldest daughter.  Max Greenfield is her fiance.

It is rated PG-13 but there are several scenes that are not suitable for children.  The genre is noted as a Drama/Biography.  It runs a long 2 hours, 7 minutes.

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A Ghost Story

This is a truly unique film.  Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara play the leads. When Casey’s character suddenly dies, he continues as a ghost observing his heartbroken partner and a series of evolutions.

The story requires a lot of patience and imagination from the viewers.  Those patient enough will be rewarded with a haunting yet voyeuristic view of the world from the ghost’s point of view.

The genre is noted as Drama, Fantasy, Romance and runs 1 hour, 32 minutes.  It is rated R for “imitations of mortality”.  (First we have ever seen that!)  It is sure to prompt conversation.

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