Movie Review: ****Philadelphia (1993)

 This is reportedly a fictional movie, but mirrors a couple different real life stories.  Andrew Beckett (Tom Hanks) sues his former boss after he is fired.  The firm contends his work was mediocre at best (even though they had just given him an important case.  Beckett's contention is that he was fired because they discovered he had AIDS.  He is represented in court by Joe Miller (Denzel Washington).  Miller does not like being around gay people.  But maybe that makes him better at representing Beckett.  The firm is headed by Charles Wheeler (Jason Robards) and is represented by Belinda Conine (Mary Steenburgen).  Antonio Banderas portrays Beckett's lover.  

This movie is one that makes you think about what may be your own prejudices.  We see the relationship that Beckett has with his partner.  Of course this is in the era before gay marriage.  

This movie won two Oscars, Hanks for best actor and Bruce Springsteen for best song, Streets of Philadelphia.  In today's environment Tom Hanks probably wouldn't be allowed to play this roll as a strait man playing a gay man.

Movie Review: Back to the Future III

This movie gets the story back on track.  Doc has been transported back to 1885.  Marty is going back to save him, as in the past, Doc Brown was killed by Buford Mad Dog Tannen.  The plot has several twists, and Marty finally learns a lesson.  It doesn't matter if an "ass-hole" calls you names, you don't have to respond.    Doc meets the new school teacher, keeping her from a fall that should have killed her, and fall madly in love with her.  And Marty puts himself in the way of the gun fight with Mad Dog which was intended for the doctor.  Will they ever get back, because they need 88 mies per hour, and trains can barely go that fast.
Several cast members play multiple roles, including Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly and his great-great grandfather, And Lea Thompson as both Marty's mother and great-great grandmother.  Lastly Thomas F. Wilson plays Mad Dog and Biff.  Christopher Lloyd recreates Doctor Brown.  New cast member Mary Steenburgen plays Clara.  Three cameo people in the par are played by Pat Buttram, Harry Carrey Jr. and Bub Taylor.  James Tolkan plays the Marshal, while he was the vice-principle in other films.

Movie Review: **^Did You Hear What Happenned to the Morgans?

The movie is (2009) starring Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker.  The critics did not like this movie.  It is about two socialite New Yorkers being placed in Western Wyoming in a witness protection plan.  They are placed with two rural down-to-earth types, the Wheelers, played by Sam Elliott and Mary Steenburgen.  This is the classic fish out of water type story with a marriage relationship problem on top of that.  It is being with this two people, that helps the Morgans put their own relationship back together.  I enjoyed this movie.  The characters were a bit stereotypical, but I didn't care.  It was fun all the same.