Holiday in Hartford Harlem Holiday in Harlem (2021) I didn't watch this movie for its plot or acting or anything like that. I watched it for its location shots. I was intrigued by the idea of the director trying to make Hartford into Harlem. And, for the most part, they pulled it off - certainly well enough for a … [Read more...]
A Very Merry Toy Store (2017)
Let's Not Toy Around A Very Merry Toy Store (2017) Amato's Toy and Hobby of New Britain closed at the end of February in 2022. I blame this movie. I really wanted to like this awful movie. Believe it or not, on a certain amygdalan level, I happen to like dopey Hallmark/Lifetime movies where everyone is pretty … [Read more...]
Parrish (1961)
Smokeshow Parrish (1961) First and foremost, Parrish is one of the Connecticuttiest movies ever made. On that alone, it was well worth my time. Sure, it's campy and over-acted, but the whole film uses the (rapidly disappearing) shade tobacco fields of Windsor and East Windsor as its setting! Many people in … [Read more...]
Beetlejuice (1988)
Third Times a Charm Beetlejuice (1988) Arguably the most well-known and certainly one of the most watched Connecticut movies. Oh? Did you forget Beetlejuice takes place entirely in the fictitious quaint little village of Winter River, Connecticut? You shouldn't have forgotten, especially if you're a resident … [Read more...]
The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia (2013)
A Connecticut Yankee in Hee Haw's Barnyard The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia (2013) I can't think of too many movies where you absolutely know going in, based on the title alone, you will hate yourself for watching it. Such was the case with The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia. Not only … [Read more...]
The Other (1972)
The Twinning The Other, 1972 I simply cannot read every "Connecticut book," nor do I want to. However, I certainly plan on reading one or two of Thomas Tryon's novels. The son of Arthur Lane Tryon, owner of Stackpole, Moore & Tryon in Hartford, Tryon grew up in Connecticut and went on to be a moderately successful … [Read more...]
The Preppie Connection (2015)
Cocaine, Sage, Rosemary, and Doin’ Time The Preppie Connection, 2015 Nothing you’ll read below will be anywhere near as good as that title above, so you might as well quit now. My only hope is that what I write is better than the movie I watched. A movie that was “inspired by actual events." Actual events … [Read more...]
Stepford Wives (2004)
Step Away... Very Far and Very Fast Stepford Wives, 2004 My god, what hath they wrought? The remake of the 1975 classic movie is a complete waste of time and writing about it is even more of one. But... here we are anyway. Nicole Kidman, Glenn Close, Christopher Walken, Matthew Broderick, Bette Midler... okay, … [Read more...]
Stateside (2004)
Mad Love Stateside, 2004 Warning: This review contains clips with very bad words. You're not going to watch this movie and I'm here to tell you that you probably shouldn't watch this movie. But I watched this movie. A movie, supposedly, "based on a true story," although from everything I've read "based on" is … [Read more...]
Auntie Mame (1958)
Auntie Awesome Auntie Mame, 1958 I love this movie. My wife loves this movie. If you don't at least like this movie, you are dead inside. And while it's only peripherally a "Connecticut movie," it's "Connecticutness" is enough to warrant a page on this website. It's a long movie with many twists and turns. … [Read more...]