DVD Collectors Online

Buena Vista Social Club, a review by Danae Cassandra

Buena Vista Social ClubOverview:
"The Buena Vista Social Club," guitarist Ry Cooder's celebrated album featuring the recently re-discovered talents of Cuba's foremost folk musicians, sold millions of copies and earned a Grammy Award. Now, Cooder teams up with acclaimed director Wim Wenders (Paris, Texas) to reveal the astonishing life stories, vibrant personalities and unforgettable music of the brilliantly talented but long-overlooked performers who collaborated on this now-legendary recording. From the crumbling barrios of their native Havana, to their triumphant, sold-out concerts in Amsterdam and New York's Carnegie Hall, it's an unforgettable, deeply emotional journey into the passion, pride and humanity of the artists whose music sparked a worldwide musical phenomenon!


My Thoughts:
I've always loved Latin music, and these guys do not disappoint. They are fabulous, and the story of how these guys were all but forgotten and then made a triumphant return/rediscovery in their golden years is quite inspiring. The film is an excellent documentation of the making of the album, but it could have benefited from including some history of Cuban music and discussing these wonderful musicians in context.

Despite that, if you enjoy Cuban and Latin music I cannot recommend this film highly enough for how good the music here is.

Bechdel Test: Fail (N/A)
Mako Mori Test: Fail (N/A)

Overall: 4/5

(From July Movie Marathon: Musicals (Yes... You read right!) on July 20th, 2016)

The Man Who Knew Too Much, a review by Tom

Title: The Man Who Knew Too Much
Year: 1956
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Rating: PG
Length: 115 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85
Audio: English: Dolby Digital Mono, German: Dolby Digital Mono
Subtitles: Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, German, Norwegian, Swedish

Stars:
James Stewart
Doris Day
Brenda de Banzie
Bernard Miles
Ralph Truman

Plot:
James Stewart and Doris Day, in a rare dramatic role, are superb in this brilliant suspense thriller from the undisputed master. Stewart and Day play Ben and Jo MacKenna, innocent Americans vacationing in Morocco with their son, Hank. After a French spy dies in Ben's arms in the Marrakech market, the couple discovers their son has been kidnapped and taken to England. Not knowing who they can trust, the McKennas are caught up in a nightmare of international espionage, assassinations and terror. Soon, all of their lives hang in the balance as they draw closer to the truth and a chilling climactic moment in London's famous Royal Albert Hall.

Awards:

Academy Award	1956	Won	Best Music, Song	"Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)": Jay Livingston, Ray Evans (Music/Lyrics)
AFI	1956	Won	100 Years... 100 Songs (2004)	"Song": Whatever Will Be Will Be (Que Sera Sera)

Extras:
Featurettes
Photo Gallery
Scene Access
Trailers

I don't know, but this movie was rather boring (*waiting for Jon to put me right* ).
Jon will probably want to strangle me, but I prefer to watch Bill Murrey's "The Man Who Knew Too Little" any day
I like James Stewart, but I feel his acting range is not very wide. He always seems to be playing the same character.


Rating:

(From Alfred Hitchcock Marathon on August 22nd, 2009)

HawthoRNe: Season 1 Ep. 5: The Sense of Belonging, a review by addicted2dvd

THE SENSE OF BELONGING
Ray is ordered to keep Amanda Hawthorne's upcoming biopsy a secret, while Christina confronts the hospital's star surgeon over a delicate brain operation for a long-time patient.

Notable Guest Stars:
No One Recognized

My Thoughts:
A good episode... but not great. I enjoyed both storylines in this episode. Though it seems like to me they could have done a little more with the storyline of Amanda Hawthorne (Title character's mother in law). Of the two storylines I found the one with the brain surgery more entertaining. With this episode watched... I am now half way done season one.

My Rating:

(From HawthoRNe Episode Reviews on June 26th, 2013)