Book Club is a fun and well acted comedy-drama featuring four wonderful performances from its leads Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen, and a respectable supporting cast.
Comes a Horseman is an oft forgotten western-thriller that features three amazing performances, particularly by Jason Robards, with beautiful cinematography from the late Gordon C. Willis (The Godfather Trilogy).
Panned by critics (29% on Rotten Tomatoes), Stanley & Iris rests almost entirely on the talent, and charms, of the two leads, Jane Fonda and Robert De Niro, rather than the script. Fans of either of these legendary actors will get something out of this rom-melodrama.
The Chase is an all-star centered crime-drama and an acting tour-de-force from Marlon Brando to Jane Fonda and Robert Redford. It’s somewhat of a forgotten film but thankfully finds a home on Blu-ray through Twilight Time’s Limited Edition series.
9 to 5 is an oft funny social comedy thanks in large part to the trio of female leads, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton with honorable mention to Dabney Coleman for playing their jackass boss.
Cao Ballou is a well done and one hell of an entertaining, and oft funny, Western comedy. The movie excels with the performances by its two leads — Jane Fonda and Lee Marvin — and some catchy tunes to go along with a well written story and characters.
Julia (1977) is a well made period drama featuring strong performances by Jane Fonda and Vanessa Redgrave, along with Jason Robards well. This “Limited Edition” Blu-ray released by Twilight Time isn’t exceptional yet the video and audio transfers are both well done and the new commentary with Fonda is interesting.
This is Where I Leave You is a bit uneven where the comedy seemed to work far better than the overindulgent dramatic areas. Jason Bateman and Tina Fey are both great but by far Adam Driver steals the show to the point I kind of wish his character got his own movie, a dark comedy in the vein of Bad Santa perhaps.
Barbarella might not be everybody’s cup of tea, it certainly wasn’t mine, but there are certain aspects one can appreciate beginning with Jane Fonda’s performance. Otherwise, the film is a bit too far “out there” though it does have some great, memorable, scenes. As far as the Blu-ray is concerned, I was very impressed with an amazing video transfer and half decent mono lossless track.
