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Showing posts with label mystery movie. Show all posts

Friday, August 2, 2024

Gourmet Detective - Hallmark Movie Review

If you enjoy an intriguing mystery combined with a hint of romance, then you will love the movie, "Gourmet Detective".

Currently, the Gourmet Detective Hallmark series offers 5 episodes. However, today I will only be reviewing the pilot movie of the series where Detective Maggie Price meets the "Gourmet Detective", Henry Ross.

Price and Ross first encounter one another when Henry is filling in as the instructor of a cooking class. Maggie is there on a date. She immediately takes exception to Henry's nickname, the Gourmet Detective, and shows annoyance when he exhibits his ability to read people and know things about them based on observation.

From the very beginning of the movie, it is clear a restaurant is being sabotaged. It is impossible to know if the timing of the sabotage is due to the health inspector's upcoming visit or if it is to run off customers. Either way, when roaches and rats are released in the kitchen, it is obvious someone wants to shutdown the restaurant.

However, a murder at dinner is rather extreme and unexpected.

The Gourmet Detective Movie Synopsis

Gourmet Detective

When the Gourmet Detective is asked to help figure out who is sabotaging the Duquette Restaurant, he readily agrees to help out his friend. At an exclusive dinner, one of the guests is murdered and Henry (the Gourmet Detective) is a witness. In order to avoid being considered a suspect, he agrees to work with Detective Price to offer his food expertise and insider information.

Mostly due to Maggie's confrontational and combative attitude with Henry, he has to work harder to be friends with her. She reluctantly allows him to cook for her and her family while working on the murder case together.

Eventually, their relationship becomes more comfortable as they work together to find the identity and the reason for the murder.

I did not suspect the real murderer until the two "detectives" found the incriminating evidence which made this a fun mystery movie to watch.

I look forward to the next episode in the series!

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Friday, July 17, 2020

Fracture Movie Starring Anthony Hopkins & Ryan Gosling Reviewed

I recently watched Fracture (2007) starring Anthony Hopkins & Ryan Gosling again. It is one of the older movies in my DVD collection, which I have been delving into lately.

I have been reminded how some of the movies from the past are a lot better than current day releases. They have an actual plot that keeps the viewer enthralled in the movie. This is not light-watching material that can be used as background noise. This is definitely a movie that demands your attention.

While there is some bad language, it seems to fit with the plot and not shoved into the dialog for ratings. Even though the movie is about adultery and murder, nothing requires a viewer to turn away due to grotesque or salacious scenes. None of that extraneous stuff was required in this movie. The plot, itself, is enough to keep you glued to the set.

In fact, my DVD stopped about 25 minutes before the end. I cleaned, wiped, and even washed the DVD, but nothing I did cleared the issue. Apparently, my DVD has a deep scratch in it that cannot be repaired. I was watching the movie with my parents and we were determined to see the end, so my dad purchased a two day rental just so we could finish the movie.

It is quite sad that my DVD is ruined! It had been long enough since the movie's release, that I had totally forgotten most of the show and definitely the end. It was like watching it for the first time.

Plot Synopsis of the Movie "Fracture"

Fracture (Widescreen Edition)I find myself wondering why the movie was named "Fracture". It could be because of the fractured marriage. Or perhaps, it may refer to the injury incurred. It would also be applicable to the faulty thinking due to emotions. Let me explain why either would be accurate.

Ted Crawford (Anthony Hopkins) is an aeronautical engineer that owns his own company. He is calculating and methodical. To say he is a genius, might actually be an understatement.

When Ted discovers his wife is having an affair, he doesn't immediately respond. He plans his revenge. He takes steps to ensure he will not be found guilty of anything in a court of law. He shoots his wife, but not fatally. She is in a coma with permanent brain damage.

When Willy Beachum (Ryan Gosling), the bright shining star in the D.A.'s office, is appointed to prosecute Ted for attempted murder, he believes it is an open and shut case. After all, he has the assumed evidence, as well as a confession. However, his legal mind is challenged by Crawford's meticulous intellect and plan execution.

The decisions both of these men make will have a lifetime of consequences. It was quite fascinating to watch these two men face-off and match wits.

Like any great suspense movie, or book, you should expect the unexpected. The twists and intellectual genius are what makes this movie spectacular!

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Friday, May 18, 2018

Crooked House Movie (2017) Review

Agatha Christie's Crooked House - 2017 Movie Reviewed

Agatha Christie never disappoints! Crooked House is an awesome mystery.

As always, Agatha Christie held me spellbound until the very end. I had no idea who the murderer was and the ending was completely unexpected.

I don't know how I previously missed seeing one of the movie versions of Crooked House. Apparently, there have been several. I was thrilled to discover an Agatha Christie book plot that I had neither read, nor seen a film adaptation of the story.

If you love a great mystery, if you are an Agatha Christie fan, or if you happen to be seeking a wonderfully suspenseful movie, I highly recommend Crooked House. I don't know about any of the other movie versions, but I do know this 2017 version is phenomenal and Glenn Close is superb as Aunt Edith.

The Plot of Crooked House by Agatha Christie

When Aristide Leonides dies at the age of 85, every member of his family and household are murder suspects. He was extremely wealthy and each family member had reasons why they would want him dead. Since they all lived together in his mansion, they all had opportunity and access to his medicine, which was mixed to create a lethal poison.

The family was not sad over Leonides death. In some ways, it was a relief to several of them because he was a controlling patriarch who enjoyed playing games with their lives. He used his money and their dependence upon him, to wield power over them. Now, they were free from the overbearing, oppressive bully in their lives.

Everyone thought they knew what would happen to his estate in the event of his death, but they were all wrong. Unbeknownst to his sons, his grandchildren and his first wife's sister, Leonides had neglected to sign the will that left them all heirs. Because there was no legal will, his young wife stood to inherit everything by default.

Even before they knew about the unsigned will, family members were not particularly fond of his wife and they were more than willing to cast the blame for his murder on her. Even the police suspected that his wife, Brenda, and her lover had poisoned Leonides.

As you would expect, Brenda did not like the family either and was thrilled to find out she would inherit everything. She did not hesitate to show her happiness over this turn of events.

Leonides granddaughter, Sophia, hired her previous lover, who also happened to be a private detective, to investigate the murder. She worries that Scotland Yard will not be respectful of the families privacy and she wants Charles Hayward to protect them from unnecessary probing.

You now know the basic plot. Two sons, two daughters-in-law, three grandchildren, a sister-in-law, a young wife and her lover all living in the same house, who all have means and motive to kill the head of the family, Aristide Leonide. Scotland Yard is even depending on Charles Hayward to figure out which one is the murderer. See if you can figure it out before the last 10 minutes of the movie!

By Senator Stabenow
(Senator Stabenow, Glenn Close and Faustino Venzor.)
[Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Glenn Close in Crooked House

Glenn Close stars as Edith de Haviland in Crooked House. As always, she is fabulous. I can't imagine any other actress ever coming close to her performance. She was totally and completely believable as Aunt Edith.

Edith was Aristide Leonides sister-in-law by his first marriage. Therefore, she was his children's aunt and his grandchildren's' great aunt, but they all call her Aunt Edith. She is a bit eccentric, self-assured, intelligent and strong willed. I loved her!

In my opinion, Glenn Close as Edith made what is clearly a wonderfully suspenseful book plot into a phenomenally superb movie.

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Friday, August 25, 2017

Perfect Plan (2010) Movie Review - Emily Rose & Lucas Bryant

Perfect Plan is not in my normal genre of movies to watch, but surprisingly I liked this thriller mystery movie. It was fairly predictable, but that was mostly because of the written movie description. It revealed too much of the plot in my opinion. When it comes to a mystery movie, I prefer that the "mystery" be left to be discovered when watching, not in the movie description that should be labeled spoiler alert. Nevertheless, the actors still make the movie worth watching.

Some of you may already be familiar with the actress, Emily Rose. This was the first movie I have ever seen her star in and it made me look her up to see her other tv films. I did see several TV films listed that I plan to watch soon. Frankly, I liked her better than many of the current day major movie actresses in Hollywood.

The Perfect Plan Movie Plot

The movie opens with two campers being murdered one night. Their identities are not revealed until later in the film when their brother starts searching for them. Within minutes of the first scenes, we are moved from the Appalachian Trail to Chicago city where we meet Lauren Baker.

Perfect Plan (2010) Movie Review
Emily Rose & Lucas BryantCheck Price Lauren (Emily Rose) is co-owner of In the Loop Realtors. She and her best friend, Maddie, are struggling to keep the company open in the depressed real estate market. When Lauren lists a mansion in an exclusive area, they see an opportunity for things to financially turn around for them.

The mansion is owned by a brother and sister who inherited it when their parents died in a car accident. Since neither of the siblings live there, they want to sell fast. When Lauren quickly finds a cash buyer, everyone is happy. At least, they are happy until they see the newspaper article about the bodies of Sean and Rebecca Crawford being found on the Appalachian Trail in PA.

Perfect Plan Movie Rating and Recommendation

Personally, I thought the movie was pretty good. I appreciated the plot twists and lack of grotesque murder scenes. However, this movie is for mature audiences only due to adult scenes and content.

While it may not be an "edge of the seat" thriller mystery, it is well worth watching.

Perfect Plan is available on Amazon and is included for free with Prime Membership.

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Friday, October 30, 2015

Crimson Peak Movie Review

Crimson Peak is the perfect mystery movie for Halloween! Of course, it would be a great horror flick anytime of the year, but the release of this movie was perfectly timed for Halloween in 2015.

This movie actually has a lot to recommend it and I was not disappointed. Crimson Peak is not just a scary horror movie, even though the ghosts are the scariest I have ever seen, bar none. The movie has a fantastic mystery plot. At one point, you may think you have it figured out, only to be stunned by the truth when it is revealed.

Tom Hiddleston is also a huge draw for this movie. He has that perfect "innocent", disarming and enchanting personality with just enough edge to be fascinating and mesmerizing. Just like his performance as Loki in the movie Thor, as Sir Thomas Sharpe in Crimson Peak, the audience embraces him. We want to trust him!

The two beauties in his life are equally beguiling. His sister, Lady Lucille Sharpe (Jessica Chastain), is the embodiment of old world grace and style on the surface with just enough arrogance and talent to broadcast her existence of entitlement.

Even though she is from an equally wealthy background, Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska) is like an open book. Her childlike charm and exuberance announce her naiveté. It is obvious that her father has protected and cherished his only daughter.

Synopsis & Review of the Crimson Peak Movie Plot

Written by Cynthia Sylvestermouse

Crimson Peak Tom Hiddleston as Sir Thomas Sharpe Poster Promo 8 x 10 Inch PhotoThe movie starts at a very difficult time in young Edith's life when her mother has just died of black fever. We are told how she never got to even say goodbye to her mother. It isn't long before Edith is visited by the ghost of her mother with a warning to "beware of Crimson Peak." Years pass, and unfortunately, it isn't until after Edith is married that she even identifies the location of Crimson Peak.

Sir Thomas Sharpe breezes into Edith's life and doesn't hesitate to show his interest in the pretty young woman. He pursues her and singles her out publicly as his choice of dance partner. Although Edith has a long established affection and friendship with Dr. Alan McMichael (Charlie Hunnam), she is still totally and completely captivated by Sir Thomas's attention.

After the unexpected death of her father, Sir Thomas Sharpe swoops in as a buffer to Edith's indescribable pain over the death of her remaining parent. She marries him without hesitation and moves to his family mansion in England which she soon learns is also known as Crimson Peak.

At Crimson Peak, Edith is haunted by even more ghosts who are trying to communicate with her. When she suspects she is being poisoned, she starts to summon the ghosts and to listen to her eerie messengers.

Recommendation of Crimson Peak

First, let me start here by telling you that Crimson Peak is rated "R" for a reason. Not only is it violent and scary, it also has crude language and adult content. In all honestly, there were a few times when I had to hide my own eyes. I knew I didn't want those images replaying in my head for years to come.

As a whole, and largely because of the mystery plot, I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who has the stomach for it and an interest in horror flicks.

Ironically, considering the mystery plot, the ghosts and grotesque scenes seem to "fit" this movie. They are not contrived to booster the rating to R. It is truly a well earned "R" rating, but do be warned, it is not for the faint of heart.

It is truly the perfect Halloween movie!