She Wore a Yellow Ribbon

1949  NR  WESTERN  1h 43min

CAST— John Wayne, Joanne Dru, John Agar, Ben Johnson, Harry Carey, Jr., Victor McLaglen, Mildred Natwick, George O’Brien, Arthur Shields, Francis Ford, Noble Johnson, Tom Tyler

MUSIC— Richard Hageman  DIRECTOR— John Ford  BASED ON— The Big Hunt (story), War Party (story), by James Warner Bellah

     Another exciting glimpse of the West told through the eyes of legendary filmmaker John Ford. John Wayne stars as a U. S. Cavalry officer whose retirement is to commence in six days. Yet he still retains an eagle eye for the threat of an Indian attack. Every possible tribe within the region has united to fight the oppressing white man. Now Wayne must leave the post, taking his troops into the dangerous country. An entertaining ride through the harsh terrain is in store for those willing to saddle up and take orders from the Duke.

OUR RATING— ***

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     Sherlock, Jr. 1924  NR  COMEDY  45min

CAST— Buster Keaton, Kathryn McGuire, Ward Crane, Joseph Keaton, Erwin Connolly

MUSIC— Silent  DIRECTOR— Buster Keaton

     Buster Keaton does what he does best: combining clueless innocence with often death-defying stunts to create a memorable comedy treat. This time around Keaton plays a movie projectionist/wannabe detective who is accused of stealing a valuable watch. To overcome his depression he fantasizes about film, placing himself in a detective film where he solves a theft. But all of that’s filler; just wait for the effects and stunt work, all done by Keaton himself, of course. This is one for fans and newcomers alike. Deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the United States Library of Congress National Film Registry.

OUR RATING— ***

     Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

2011  PG-13  ACTION  2h 9min

CAST— Robert Downey, Jr., Jude Law, Noomi Rapace, Jared Harris, Eddie Marsan, Rachel McAdams

MUSIC— Hans Zimmer  DIRECTOR— Guy Ritchie  BASED ON— Characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

     Despite a promising first entry (Sherlock Holmes [2009]) the newest retread of Arthur Conan Doyle’s seminal characters has fallen flat. Sherlock Holmes, now on his own due to Dr. John Watson’s pending nuptials, has uncovered a plot involving bombings, murder and money. All clues point to a most unlikely source: Professor James Moriarty, a quiet author, highly renowned on the lecture circuit. Holmes enlists Watson’s aid once again and, with the help of a beautiful gypsy girl, begin a deadly game of cat and mouse with the scheming Moriarty. Nowhere near as entertaining as its predecessor, this film tries to maintain energy but fails in almost every regard. No matter your opinion of the first film this one is not worth the time.

OUR RATING— **

PRECEDED BY— Sherlock Holmes (2009)

     Sherlock Holmes  2009  PG-13  ACTION  2h 10min

CAST— Robert Downey, Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, Eddie Marsan

MUSIC— Hans Zimmer  DIRECTOR— Guy Ritchie  BASED ON— Characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

     Robert Downey, Jr. stars as the eccentric consulting detective in an equally eccentric film from director Guy Ritchie. The game is afoot when Holmes and Dr. John Watson (Jude Law) stumble upon a sinister plot involving faux black magic and world domination, masterminded by the cunning Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong). When Blackwood seemingly arises from the dead Holmes and Watson lead a merry chase through Victorian-era London, seeking answers to an increasingly bizarre case. Featuring classic Sherlockian characters including (“The Woman”) Irene Adler and the inept inspector Lestrade, this film should strike a violin string with devotees of Doyle’s detective, even if this version does contain more action than one would expect. And no deerstalker cap either.

OUR RATING— ***

FOLLOWED BY— Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)

     Sherlock Gnomes

2018  PG  ANIMATED  1h 26min

CAST— James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mary J. Blige, Johnny Depp

MUSIC— Chris Bacon  DIRECTOR— John Stevenson

     When last Gnomeo and Juliet were seen the subject was Shakespearean lore tempered with modern renditions of classic Elton John songs. Now Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous consulting detective Sherlock Holmes is molded into plaster, as Sherlock Gnomes is on the case of a recent rash of pilfered gnomes throughout London. Along for the ride (and most of the dirty work) is his partner in crime-solving, Dr. Watson, overworked and underappreciated. When the Montagues and Capulets arrive in London their new garden is given over to their old blue and red lawn decorations. Gnomeo and Juliet, no longer secretly pining for each other, are equal partners, their union now to be celebrated as they are announced to be in charge of the garden. But their new responsibilities as leaders put them at odds with each other again. During a lovers’ spat away from the garden a gnome thief strikes home, leaving not a trace of their family and friends. It’s up to Gnomes and Watson to solve the case, the clues to which all point to Sherlock’s archenemy, Moriarty, here portrayed as the cutesy mascot of an English pie company. Gnomeo and Juliet must join forces with the two sleuths, themselves having differences of opinion, if they hope to save London’s gnome population. Not as inventive, clever, or as funny as its predecessor, this pseudo mystery is purely a showcase for American Johnny Depp to put on a British accent and vocally ham it up as Sherlock. The mystery angle is obvious from the start, the characters already tired two films into the franchise, but less discerning audience members may appreciate the goofiness this sequel has to offer. AKA Gnomeo & Juliet 2.

OUR RATING— **

PRECEDED BY— Gnomeo & Juliet (2011)

     The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw

1959  NR  COMEDY  1h 43min

CAST— Kenneth More, Jayne Mansfield, Henry Hull, William Campbell, Bruce Cabot, Robert Morley

MUSIC— Robert Farnon  DIRECTOR— Raoul Walsh  BASED ON— The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw (story), by Jacob Hay

     A Western-comedy lacking adventure and/or antics, this one is pretty much a dud from the start. A ne’er-do-well heir to London’s finest firearms manufacturer decides that the best place to sell guns would be America’s Wild West. Off he heads to peddle his wares but he never manages to sell a single firearm. He does, however, make peace between the whites and the Indians, become sheriff of a rowdy town in the middle of a range war and manage to snare the girl of his dreams… all without a clue as to what’s going on. It sounds better than it is. Cheerio. AKA The Blonde and the Sheriff.

OUR RATING— * ½

     Shenandoah

1965  NR  WESTERN  1h 45min

CAST— James Stewart, Doug McClure, Glenn Corbit, Patrick Wayne, Rosemary Forsyth, Katherine Ross, Tim McIntire, Paul Fix, Denver Pyle, George Kennedy, James Best, Harry Carey, Jr., Dabbs Greer, Strother Martin

MUSIC— Frank Skinner  DIRECTOR— Andrew V. McLaglen

     In Civil War-torn Virginia a farmer (played by James Stewart) works tirelessly to maintain his farm and to keep his large family safe. However peaceful his viewpoint on life may be he tends to get a little riled when one of his clan is harassed. When his sixteen year-old son is mistaken for a Confederate and taken prisoner by Union soldiers Stewart takes it upon himself to mount a rescue operation, with most of his family in tow. Okay for a Civil War drama but if you’re looking for a tale of action you’d best look elsewhere.

OUR RATING— **