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Movie Review: The Woman in the Window (1944)

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Synopsis: While his wife and kids are on vacation, Professor Richard Wanley spends a late evening at a men’s club with his friends. While walking home, he stops outside a store window to study the painting of an attractive woman. As he is doing this, the model, Alice Reed, walks up to him and after a brief conversation, invites him back to her place to see some of her other modeling work. While enjoying some drinks on her couch, Alice’s lover, financier Claude Mazard, shows up and attacks Richard, forcing the professor to kill the other man in self-defense. Worried both about being charged with murder and the scandal that would follow even without charges, Richard convinces Alice to hide Claude’s body. Only, his careful plan isn’t as careful as he thought. Who’s in it? The movie stars Edward G. Robinson , Joan Bennett , Raymond Massey , Dan Duryea and Edmund Breon . Review: The Woman in the Window was on ScreenPix’s “movies to watch before you die” list and after reading the des...
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DOGE's Failures Prove the Private Sector and Public Sector Don't Always Mix

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I’ve mentioned in the past how my wife and I will occasionally spend our date night performing karaoke. And, not to brag, I have occasionally ended a song (usually Poison’s “Every Rose Has its Thorn”) to thunderous applause from the drunk people at the bar. However, even on those good nights, I have never once been under the delusion I could sell out a stadium like Bon Jovi or Taylor Swift. In fact, I am convinced it would be very similar to Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency – an embarrassing failure. OK, I am going to take the high road a bit and say, while I’ve never been a personal fan of Musk, I do respect the success he has had in the private sector, making him the wealthiest person in the world by a large margin. In fact, I’ll take the even higher road and pay President Donald Trump a similar compliment as far as his business successes are concerned. Here’s the thing with that though. Much like how karaoke doesn’t guarantee a singing career, success in t...
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Movie Review: Bailout at 43,000 (1957)

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  Synopsis: After a series of successful tests with dummies, the Air Research and Development Command is ready to use human test subjects for its new downward ejection seat, designed to allow bombardiers to escape from high altitudes. Major Paul Peterson has been called back to active service and is in line to test the ejection seat. However, when the first test results in the volunteer suffering a broken neck, Paul, who has a wife and son, is reluctant to go through with his duty. Who’s in it? The movie stars John Payne , Karen Steele , Paul Kelly , Richard Eyer and Eddie Firestone . Review: I’ve had Bailout at 43,000 in my library for a few weeks but every time I was going to watch it, came across something else I wanted to watch more. I finally got around to seeing the movie this morning and while I started out having some doubts about it, it turned out to be a decent choice. This is a different type of war movie. There are no gun battles and not a whole lot of action ov...
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Movie Review: Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)

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Synopsis: After years of being a bachelor, Det. Mike Lowrey finally gets married, only to have his wedding nearly ruined by his partner, Det. Marcus Burnett, having a heart attack. Burnett survives but soon after leaving the hospital, the pair learn their former mentor, Captain Howard, is being accused of working for the drug cartels. Not wanting their deceased captain's name to be tarnished, Mike and Marcus conduct their own investigation, with the help of Mike's criminal son, Armando, and soon find themselves being framed both as accomplices and murderers. Who's in it? The movie stars Will Smith , Martin Lawrence , Vanessa Hudgens , Jacob Scipio and Ioan Gruffudd. Review: After binge-watching the first three movies in the series on Monday, my wife and I decided to finish things up with Bad Boys: Ride or Die last night. As is the case with most movies with multiple sequels, this installment showed signs of the series needing to come to an end. However, that didn't...
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Movie Review: Paris Playboys (1954)

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Synopsis: When noted French chemist Maurice Gaston LeBeau goes missing while working on a top-secret rocket fuel, Sach's resemblance to the scientist makes him the perfect choice as a double/decoy to drive the real scientist out of hiding. While it seems to be the perfect opportunity for a Paris vacation with Slip and Louie, Sach soon learns his life is in danger from spies. Who's in it? The movie stars Huntz Hall , Leo Gorcey , Bernard Gorcey , Veola Vonn and Steven Geray . Review: I ended up watching Paris Playboys this morning for the same reason I pick many of my early-morning films, the shorter runtime. My experience with Bowery Boys films has been a bit hit or miss, though I have found just enough gems to keep giving them a try. Unfortunately, this one fit better in the "miss" category. Ironically, while my biggest complaint about Bowery Boys films usually is the result of too much going on, this film was much more on the opposite side with not much substan...
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Movie Review: Bad Boys for Life (2020)

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Synopsis: After risking his life countless times with the Miami Police Department and becoming a new grandfather, Det. Marcus Burnett is ready to retire but his long-time partner and friend, Det. Mike Lowrey tries to convince him otherwise. When Lowery is shot by an unknown assailant and nearly dies, Burnett calls it quits. Lowrey, however, motivated by anger after six months of rehabilitation, insists on being involved with the investigation. Marcus, who made a promise to God to avoid violence in exchange for Lowrey surviving his wounds, wants to remain retired but is soon drawn into the investigation as well. Who's in it? The movie stars Will Smith , Martin Lawrence , Vanessa Hudgens , Alexander Ludwig and Jacob Scipio . Review: I have been a bit reluctant to watch Bad Boys for Life because nostalgia-motivated sequels don't usually pan out. However, thanks to the dangerously cold temperatures outside yesterday, my wife and I had time to re-watch the first two Bad Boys m...
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Movie Review: Snakes on a Plane (2006)

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Synopsis: FBI agent Neville Flynn is escorting Sean Jones from Hawaii to Los Angeles so Jones, who witnessed a federal prosecutor's murder, can testify against crime lord Eddie Kim. Flynn takes every precaution, including commandeering the entire first-class section of the Boing 747 they are flying to Los Angeles in. However, Kim is one step ahead of them and has arranged for a crate of venomous snakes, made more aggressive by a pheromone, to be released on the plane mid-flight. Who's in it? The movie stars Samuel L. Jackson , Rachel Blanchard , Nathan Phillips , Julianna Margulies and Kenan Thompson . Review: My wife and I have discussed watching Snakes on a Plane dozens of times since it was released 19 years ago but for multiple reasons, we just never seemed to find the time to do it (even after seeing a movie that spoofed this movie). We finally were able to do that last night, and I can honestly say this film did not disappoint. I will start out by saying the premise i...
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