Lots of films; reviews later on some

Storms and cold kept me in watching movies all week, except for Christmas Day when my daughters collected me and we went to my sisters for dinner with the clan. Nice outing with everyone in a pleasant frame of mind.

So this weeks movies are:

The King & The Chorus Girl (1937) Joan Blondell, Fernand Gravey. Favorite theme of many rom/coms of the 1930's. A dethroned Prince(Gravey) in exile in Paris, is a lush who drinks all night and sleeps all day. His two courtiers/keepers devise a scheme to have a girl (Blondell) who is in the chorus at the Folies, who brushed off the Prince after he invited her to supper and then went to sleep, keep giving him a hard time to keep him interested. It works. Edward Everett Horton is his usual bumbling, funny self. The two stars are charming. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029082/

Sweethearts(1938) Nelson Eddy & Jeanette MacDonald The only one of their 8 co-starring films in technicolor. Funny and lots of lovely duets. The fashion show of Adrian clothes for Jeanette is beautiful. Show business tale of a starring couple in their sixth season of their hit show on Broadway, but they want to go to Hollywood. They both have their show business parents living with them, and trying to run their lives. When they come home from the show, the parents want to get around the piano and - sing some more. So go crazy or try Hollywood. Lots of twists and turns, and lots of music. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030817/

Bringing Up Baby (1938) Kathyrn Hepburn, Cary Grant. Screwball comedy to end all screwball comedies. He's an uptight scientist. She's a scatterbrained debutante. Her aunt is sent a tame leapard from South America. All of them end up at the aunts country house with George, the dog. George steals a rare bone which will finish a dinosaur project for the prof. They all end up in jail. Don't ask - just watch and enjoy the pros make magic. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029947/

Torvarich (1939) Claudette Colbert and Charles Boyer in one of the screw ball comedies of 1939 - a great year for all types of films. This one has a Grand Duchess and her consort, a Prince, in Paris broke but guarding the treasury sent out of Russia ahead of the revolution - millions while they are starving. They must take - horrors! - jobs! The cookoo family they end up with has some great character actors just having fun with this script. Lots of fun. 9/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029685/

The Amazing Mrs. Holliday ( 1943) Deanna Durbin sings - rescues orphans from China. She pretends to be the wife of a lost sea captain so she can get the children into the USA. She sings 3 songs and is lovely, but the story defeats her and Edmund O'Brien as her love interest leaves much to be desired. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035631/

Cluny Brown (1946) Charles Boyer & Jennifer Jones. Cluny Brown doesn't 'know her place.' Her uncle is a plumber and she just wants to have a go at those pipes. But after she goes to a mans apartment because his pipes are clogged, and he is having a cocktail party, her uncle sends her into service in the country. All she did was have a little too much wine and purr like a cat, and Mr. Belinsky (Boyer) wants to build her a mansion full of pipes for her to bang away on. A charming, funny, quirky fable. Every role has the perfect actor. Set in England at the beginning of WWII, the war is referenced but only in passing. This is about Cluny and learning to say "squirrels to the nuts." 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038419/

Come To The Stable (1949) Loretta Young and Celeste Holme. Lovely fable of two French Nuns who come to New England to build a hospital and a chapel on a hill, causing all kinds of amazing things to happen as people take on the nuns and their dream. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041257/

We're No Angels (1955) Humphrey Bogart(Joseph), Peter Ustinov(Jules), and Aldo Ray(Albert) are three escaped convicts from Devils Island, and how they come to be out of prison and in the store and home of the Ducotels, Felix(Leo G Carroll), Amelie(Joan Bennett) and Isabel((Gloria Talbet) on Christmas eve. Charming and whimsical tale for the holidays. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048801/

Donovans Reef (1963) John Wayne, Lee Marvin, Dorothy Lamour have Christmas on a tropical island. Beautiful scenery, Marvin and Wayne are having a lot of fun, and it goes down easy. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057007/

Christmas Vacation & DVD extras (1989) Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid. One of the favorite films for Christmas. The joys and frustrations of trying to have the whole family together on the big day. Enjoyed hearing the cast talk about the various scenes as we watched together. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097958/

Sleepless In Seattle (1993) Meg Ryan, Tom Hanks. A romantic comedy with the two characters never being together except for the last 5 minutes. But it works. Starts at the Christmas season and ends on Valentines day. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0293508/

The Phantom Of The Opera (2004) Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson. If you love the music, romance, lush cinematography and a beautiful cast, this is a film to cherish. For the fifth Dec. 26th, I have been in a seat watching The Phantom, Christine and Raole play out the drama of the loved and the unloved. Butler is heartbreaking as the Phantom. His performance of the words to these songs shows the deep rage, longing and frustration of a lonely, half mad, man. Emmy Rossum is superb for a 17 year old doing this complex part. Wilson has one of the most beautiful lyric tenor voices I have heard. I am one of many women who was deeply affected by this production. Thank you Joel Schumacher. I am glad you remembered the great "The Red Shoes" and paid homage to that film with your opening and final scene of POTO, with the candle and the title pages. For me - POTO is still perfect.10/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0293508/

P.S., I Love You (2007) Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler, Kathy Bates. Another of Butlers films that is good for the Christmas season. A romantic drama with comedy. A few laughs and a few tears. Like life. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0431308/

Finally got back to doing the reviews I left out last Sunday. Got the decorations all down and put in the garage so I can take my time getting them boxed. Had a warm day to do it and now it is freezing and windy again. Back to watching films by the fire.

Feliz Navidad

Merry Christmas

Sunday before Christmas----

---finds frigid cold temps but the sun is shining. The past week has has snow and frozen fog. So it is a dead car in the garage, and me by the fire watching these films:

Fracture (2007) Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling. Cat and mouse game. Assistant D.A. Willy Beachum gets assigned a murder case of a wealthy man, Ted Crawford, who has shot and killed his wife. Who is innocent and who is guilty? As in most cases involving humans, all are a little bit of both. Proving that Crawford should be behind bars is not easy. Or pretty. Good. Easily keeps you watching the old pro and the new kid do their roles. A companion film on 'cheating' and the consequences is "Shattered" with Pierce Brosnan, Gerard Butler and Maria Bello. There the 'cheated on' get their revenge without any killing, but it is just as devastating. Fracture I rate a 7/10. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0488120/

Seven Sweethearts (1942) Kathryn Grayson & Van Heflin. This was filmed before we entered WWII but was released after. And even then seemed out of place. But it was one of MGMs vehicles to introduce lots of their contract players to an audience. They were especially wanting to see if Grayson could take Jeanette MacDonalds place as the queen of musicals for the studio. Van Heflin won an Oscar in '42 for Johnny Eager, but was wasted here as a reporter romancing the youngest daughter.. The setting at a tulip festival is quaint, but there really are such festivals in Dutch/German communities to this day. In Iowa, too. I went to one. Pleasant. 7/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035309/

Two Sisters From Boston (1946) Kathryn Grayson & June Allyson. Very proper turn of the century young women go to New York. One to study and become an opera singer. When she ends up in a saloon singing with Jimmy Darante, the other sister has to go to her rescue. Funny scenes, good music and cast, make an enjoyable time at the movies. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039054/

Bachelor Mother (1939) Ginger Rogers, David Niven. Enjoyable romantic comedy about a saleswoman mistaken for a baby's mother. Much superior to the remakes. Screenplay by Norman Krasna from an original story by Felix Jackson(Oscar), and directed by Garson Kanin, it bubbles along with chuckles and laughs from beginning to end. There is a wonderful scene of Times Square on New Years, intercut with the sound stage recreation. All in all, a wonderful holiday film. Charles Coburn as the would-be grandpa is a delight. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031067/

In Name Only (1939} Carole Lombard, Cary Grant. One of the few dramas Lombard made. She is very good as a young mother who falls for a wealthy married man (Grant). As the wife from hell, the great Kay Francis is sweet and manipulative, and uses her guile on his parents and her friends to keep her husband in line. Cary is Cary - and gorgeous. Top supporting cast, production values, make an above average melodrama. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031477/

Four days to go for the big HOLIDAY. Since it is going to be bitterly cold, we are going to be playing getogethers by ear. On the day, we will decide. That fireplace will be going every day.

A few films this week....

....with lots of sitting by the fireplace and keeping up with the awful news on the economy. And also the weather.

This week I watched:

Remember The Night (1940) Barbara Stanwyke, Fred MacMurray going home for Christmas. He's the assistant D.A., John Sargent. She is a thief, Lee Leander, he is prosecuting just before Christmas. The Judge releases her on bail for the Christmas holiday. She ends up being delivered to the D.A. who is going home for the holidays and he ends up taking charge of her. Sweet, sentimental and with the great Beulah Bondi as his Mom, Elizabeth Patterson as Aunt Emma, and Sterling Holloway as Willie. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032981/

The Jungle Book (1942) Sabu in the live action version. Kiplings childrens story in beautiful technicolor. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034928/

Little Women (1949) June Allyson, Janet Leigh, Elizabeth Taylor, Margaret O'Brien and Mary Astor as Marmee. Each generation seems to get their version of this story. This one was shot entirely on MGM sound stages. No realism. No dirt roads billowing dust. Just beautiful technicolor, cinematography, authentic costumes, and score. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041594/

Iris (2001) Judi Dench, Jim Broadbent (Oscar, Best Supporting) in story about novelist Iris Murdoch. It jumps between the young couple's story and the couple dealing with Iris' onset of Alzheimers. Sad. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0280778/0.

Middle of the month and 10 days before Christmas. Need to get last minute shopping done. But with the weather turning bad again, may just forget it. And watch films.

Holiday films; TV series.......

......were my viewing highlights this week. Lots of news shows also. Our poor country it back to my childhood with people losing jobs and others worried they will be next. Hope and pray our new President and his team can get us back to safety. War isn't the only thing to fear. Poverty is just as horrible. I'm praying!

Videos from my collection:

Christmas In Conn. (1945) Barbara Stanwyke, Dennis Morgan, S. Z. "Cuddles" Sakall, and a great house. Babs is a writer of a feature in a womans magazine about hearth and home. Her publisher (Sydney Greenstreet) gets a letter from a nurse who has hero who was shot down and survived 3 weeks in a raft. She wants to give him a great Christmas and from the pictures with the article decides to see if she can get an invitation for a Christmas In Conn. for her patient, who she thinks wants to marry her. Of course, The writer can't cook, isn't married, doesn't live on a farm as the article said, and how it all works out is the rest of the story. Loits of fun and charm. The sleigh coming up to the house, the first look at the lovely great room with blazing fire - everyone should have Christmas there! 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037595/

Miracle On 34th Street (1947) It's the best! Edmund Guinn is Kris Kringle; is hired to ride in Macy's parade and work in the store. Maureen O'Hara is the personel officer who hires him; Natalie Wood, her daughter; and John Payne the lawyer who gets the court to declare him the one and only Santa Claus. Charming fable to start off the Season to be merry. Perfect! 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039628/

In The Good Old Summertime (1949) Judy Garland at the Christmas Party in red velvet singing "I Don't Care" is a highlight.. S. Z. "Cuddles" Sakall is the store owner, Van Johnson is the head clerk, Spring Byington, the cashier at Oberkugens Music Store. A remake of "The Shop Around The Corner" with a crazy title, because almost the whole film is in winter, ending on Christmas eve, with Judy and Van kissing under the Christmas tree. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041507/

Rented DVD

NCIS-Season 1 (2003) 4 episodes and commentary by director. Mark Harmon is Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs of the Navy Criminal Investigative Service.
Michael Weatherly is Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo; Pauley Perrette is Abby Sciuto, forensics; David McCallum is Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard, coroner; Sean Murray, Special Agent Timothy McGee; and Cote de Pable is Mossad Liaison Officer Ziva David.
Great cast make each episode interesting and fun, even when the subject matter is gruesome. Very good series that I have just discovered. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364845/


The women of the clan are going to see "The Nutcracker Ballet" during the season. Gives a good feeling and is a beautiful experience.

More of my Holiday films are on my table ready to watch this coming week.

Melodramas, a musical & a Seasonal film.....

......start off December. Also, sleet, snow flurries and cold, cold, cold. Nice by the fire to see these films:

Mad About Music (1938) Deanna Durbin fluff but she is darling and sings a lovely Ave Maria. Deanna {Gloria) was 14 and just delightful as a pupil at a Swiss boarding school who makes up stories about her father. Her mother (Gail Patric) is a famous movie star, who in those days "couldn't" have a grown daughter. Herbert Marshall is a composer who chances to be on a train as the girls all come to meet this 'father.' One mixup after another has Gloria busy until the final song. A treat for her fans. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030395/

Mildred Pierce (1945) Joan Crawford's Oscar performance. She is a mother who will, and does, do anything for her oldest daughter, the evil Veda (Ann Blyth). Great cast doing great melodrama. Jack Carson (Wally), is terrific, and never gets enough recognition for his acting. Zachary Scott, Eve Arden, and Bruce Bennett round out the top players. Story of a woman's rise from housewife/waitress to owner of a chain of restaurants, and the bad choices she makes that finally bring her down, was way before women in films were usually this strong without some man behind them. One of the 1st showing a determined, smart, ambitious female. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037913/

Possessed (1947) Joan Crawford, another Oscar nominated performance. The gradual desent into madness, is Joan at her best. Van Heflin is the object of her desire; Raymond Massey is the stalwart husband; Geraldine Brooks, his daughter. Story of a nurse taking care of an invalid wife, who ends up marrying the husband after the wife dies, but who really wants to stay in contact with her former lover. Murder happens. Collapse happens. Semi-happy ending happens. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039725/

The Bishops Wife (1947) Loretta Young, Cary Grant, David Niven. Starts my Christmas season films. Cary's the angel, Loretta the bishop's wife, David the bishop. The character actors are delightful: Elsa Lancaster, the maid; Gladys Cooper, Mrs. Hamilton, the grande dame; James Gleason, the cabby who almost steals the show; Monty Woolley, the professor; Sara Haden, the bishops' secretary; Karolyn Grimes, daughter Debby. What a cast! A fable - done with great seriousness, and good humor, to continue to delight even our cynical age. The final lines are for all times, everywhere. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039190/

Into The Wild (2007) Beautiful and sad true story. . Emile Hirsch plays Chris McCandless, the college graduate who decides he doesn't want or need modern life and really wants to 'get away from it all.' His trip across country and the folks he meets is wonderful and entertaining. His final trip to Alaska and trekking out into the wilderness, to find an old bus sitting miles from anywhere, where he settles down for the season is interesting and hopeful. The final days of his life are heartbreaking. Can't say I admire his attitude, but his courage is great. Extremism, no matter what the cause, is bad. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758758/

"24"-Redemption" (2008-2 hr. TVmovie) Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) kicking ass and saving African children. After a year and a half of no new episodes, this is the reintroduction of badass Jack in his life under the radar of his former CTU agency. Story is about African warlords and the fact that militias round up children from all over the countryside and make them into soldiers, teaching them to shoot guns and kill. Jack's friend, a school teacher, is targeted because of the young boys at his village school. They try to get the children to the embassy miles away, and finally make it after much mayhem. Still like Jack and his "just get it done" attitude. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0813980/

My daughters helped me get my lights up along the front walk and driveway. Just have a scene with trees, a deer and big presents on the lawn. The two small spruce trees at the ends of the house have white lights. So that afternoon as they were finishing - the sleet/snow began falling. Great gobs, but it melted on the concrete. Stuck to the lawn and trees. A true holiday start to the season. Fireplace on, supper and a good movie. I'm happy!

TV week

Very few films this week because I have become hooked on the TV show "NCIS" which began in 2003 starring Mark Harmon. The USA network is playing 3 hours of the show each day, and on Sat. 11/22, had a marathon 9 hours of shows from 2005. Great cast make the formula of the show fresh almost every episode. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364845/

Diving Bell & The Butterfly/Scaphandre et le papillon, Le (2007-French) True story of a writer for Elle who has a stroke and is paralyzed except he can blink one eye. Very slow, but interesting. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401383/

Definitely, Maybe (2008) Abigail Breslin is a doll. The usual romantic comedy stuff, but the hook is the young daughter is trying to find out about the three women her father has talked about having known. The adult cast is passable. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0832266/

We are going into the deep freeze this week - 3 straight nights down in the 20s. Fireplace, wine and favorite shows and movies. That's a plan!

This week-----

---I watched a few films, but mainly was catching up on series TV. Watched a lot of NCIS reruns on the USA channel. Very good cast and interesting characters. Also, a few episodes of loopy Monk. Very funny at times. And, of course, Law & Order and all its' spin offs. Lots of talent on all these shows.

The few films I watched:

Phenomenon (1996) John Travolta and Kyra Sedgwick. A small town guy gets a bolt from the blue and seems to be able to learn & master any number of subjects. Enjoyable paranormal story. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117333/

The Queen (2007) Helen Mirren IS Queen Elizabeth II. Michael Sheen and Helen McCrory, as Tony and Cherie Blair, are also standouts. The story concentrates on the days just preceding and the day of Princess Diana's death and what the Royals did and didn't do. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436697/

Failure To Launch (2006) Sarah Jessica Parker & Matthew McConaughey. Such a lame story to waste the leads in, let alone Kathy Bates. Zooey Deschanel steals every scene she is in and if the story was about her character, we might have something worth watching. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427229/

Another rather cold, damp week predicted, with just one day with full sunshine and warm enough to finish getting the garden tools cleaned and back in the garage; and do some final cleanup of frosted plants. Then it is on to getting the holiday decorations out and up before it gets too cold to bother. So the fire and some movies, etc. on the agenda.

Guy Richie's RockNRolla------

A few comments about RockNRolla. I love gangster/mob films (Hong Kong over-the-top stylized violence), if they are not too bloody and not too much nasty language. So I was expecting RnR to be what it is - a gangster film with lots of cussin' and shootin' etc. Actually, I was surprised it was shot in such a way that some of the mayhem is off screen and you just hear it or the others are talking about it. There is a lot to be said for quick cuts.

The cast are all so good it is a pleasure to watch them morph into these mobsters, lowlifes and druggies. Gerard Butler is One-Two, the leader of The Wild Bunch, and is full of doofus charm.. The character isn't brilliant, but he is good-hearted to his mates. His dancing scene with Stella (Thandie Newton) the crooked bookkeeper for the Russian mobster, is very funny. He is either a good dancer and playing an awkward one; or really a bit awkward. Anyway, it is very cute and he and Thandie are darling together.

Idris Elba (Mumbles) & Handsome Bob (Tom Hardy) are the rest of The Wild Bunch. The encounter between One-Two and Handsome Bob is funny and sweet and even though One-two is shocked at first, he handles it so well and the two actors are just very good. Nice script writing. Or did the actors improvise some? Then One-Twos conversation with Mumbles about Bob is so funny and puts a human face on these violent criminals.

Other acting standouts are Toby Kebbell as Johnnie Quid (the RockNRolla) as the druggie step-son of Tom Wilkinsons mob boss (although I did get tired of Tom acting at the top of his voice), and his right-hand man Archie played by Mark Stong, who is a violent man, but Stong's expressions as things take crazy twists and turns are priceless. Another good performance.

The Russian mob after The Wild Bunch, who have stolen from them, is the funniest chase in a long time, which just ends because they all are so tired they can't run anymore. Oh, and the McGuffin priceless painting, which we never see except from the back, which is stolen many times, ends up at Stella's place. The Russian kingpin is not happy when he sees it (originally it belonged to him and he wants it back.) Will he have Stella killed? He's just asked her to marry him - but now, here's his painting - what's a billionaire mobster to do? We'll have to wait for RnR2 "The Real RockNRolla," to find out.

Since this is an ensemble film, no one is featured more than The Wild Bunch, I like that. I love The Wild Bunch, and hope they get to make 2 more films, writer/director Guy Richie has already written. They're cooool, just not as cool as they think they are. And when they ramp up the music near the end, it is a like a jolt of caffeine to the brain. WOW! Once around again!
8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1032755/

Election Day makes slow film week----

I was so surprised and happy on election night I stayed up and watched all the celebrations from Chicagos Grant Park to New York City's Times Square to Washington D.C. in front of the White House. I was in tears just like the folks at the parties.

So it has been a week when the TV news was on most of the time but I finally got around to seeing a couple of films too:

Open Range (2003) Kevin Costner directs and stars. With Robert Duvall and Annette Benning. The opening shots of the beautiful scenery; and the great gunfight for the finale are topnotch movie making. The sound in this film is the most realistic for a gunfight I have ever heard. One of my favorite westerns of the last 25 years. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0316356/

Inside Man (2006) Denzel Washington, Clive Owen & Jodie Foster in a caper film. Confused and confusing film. I've seen it twice and I'm still not sure what's going on. But Denzel is fine as the policeman trying to negotiate for the many hostages holed up in a bank with some crazy theives, who all are masked through most of the film so we don't get to feel anything for them. Jodie Forster and Christopher Plummer are good in strange roles - almost cameos - that almost could be from another film. All these stars do what stars do - keep you watching because they are so charismatic. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454848/

We are having frosty days and very cold nights. I've had my gas logs in the fireplace on the last 2 days to take the chill off the living room and my viewing chair. Dug up and brought in the canna bulbs and some other tender plants. Gardening is over for this year.

Two week report....

Over the last two weeks, while the weather was nice, I spent a lot of time outdoors. But I did watch these films:

Private Life Of Henry VIII (1933) Charles Laughton IS The King! And Elsa Lancaster as Anne Of Cleves is a match. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024473/

Dracula 2000 Gerard Butler, Christopher Plummer. Over the top, with way too many starletts and wannabe's during the first 30 minutes. Then it settles down to a new take on the Drac legend and with a mesmerizing Gerard Butler as the title character, becomes a worthy entry in the list of films about the undead one. Great for Halloween - with all things that go *bump* in the night.......8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0219653/

Pearl Harbor (2001) A love triangle between two flyboys and a nurse and Hawaii is bombed by the Japanese. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0213149/

Confessions Of A Dangersous Mind (2002) This dangerous mind couldn't get into it - it is very weird. No rating. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0270288/

V For Vendetta (2005) Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving. A strange film. Is it a romance, a horror, or ... what? Interesting. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0434409/

Babel (2006) Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett on a trip to Morocco when suddenly the bus window breaks and she discovers she has been shot. Many entwining stories start from this incident and it is soon so muddled it becomes boring. I really didn't care about the two yuppies and felt sorry for most of the rest of the characters. But by the end I was just glad it was over. What a mess! 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0449467/

The DaVinci Code (2006) Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen. I saw this in theater when it was first released and was disappointed. Decided to give it another try. I was completely bored and went to sleep. Maybe I should read the book? 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382625/

Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day (2008) Enchanting fable about a beautiful girl, Delysia (Amy Adams) who has a few too many lovers. But it is Frances McDormand as Miss Pettigrew, a nanny who has been fired, and a lingerie manufacturer Joe, (Ciaran Hinds) who find each other in this magical day, that are the great joys. Their scenes together are just perfect and very romantic. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970468/

RockNRolla (2008) Gerard Butler, Thandie Newton, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Strong. Guy Ritchie film about the criminals in merry ole England. Wonderful ensemble cast of pros brings to life the scoundrels and theives and violent thugs of the "new" and "old" school of gangsters. Lenny and Archie (Tom Wilkinson and Mark Strong) are the old school; One-two, Mumbles and Handsome Bob (Gerard Butler, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy) The Wild Bunch, are for hire; and Stella (Thandie Newton) the accountant who is up to no good. The Russian mobsters are "the new school" and have no rules. Toby Kebbell is Johnny Quid - the RocknRolla - and is a standout. The plot revolves around a painting that goes missing; along with some serious money. Chases and mayhem ensue. But it is the droll byplay between the Wild Bunch and between Stella and One Two that are the highlights. And a dance scene, the shortest sex scene ever in movies, and a chase scene that will have you laughing a lot. A very funny film. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1032755/

Well, I did it - I voted at election headquarters because I can't stand for very long and ask to vote early. However it turns out, I know one thing. Our presidential elections are too long. It becomes a joke for our comedians to mock.



See you at the movies.

Ginger, Gerry, Greg and Conte....

Not much, but what there is is "cherce"........

Roxie Hart (1942) Ginger Rogers and Adolph Menjou in the original screenplay that became "Chicago." Very broad satire, with everyone over the top. Good fun. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035272/

Yellow Sky (1948) Anne Baxter, Gregory Peck, Richard Widmark. A western with grit - you can almost taste the sand and feel the heat. Gang robs a bank and is chased into the salt flats and rides and walks 80 miles until they stumble into the 'ghost town' where Baxter and her grandpa live and mine for gold. Trouble insues. Peck outstanding as a bad boy gone good for a woman. Baxter good as the tough gal. Widmark has little to do but does it well. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040978/

20th Century Hours Of Stars "Overnight Hall" (1956) Richard Conte, Lizabeth Scott. During the 1950's and 60's Conte was almost a weekly star on one program or another. In this, the scipt defeats him. Story of a man and his stepson on a trip in dad's truck, when there is a blowout. The boy crawls under the truck to get his dog, and the jack suddenly gives way and he is trapped, not hurt, but wedged in. The rest of the story is Conte's frantic journey back along deserted road to find help, but he never tells people why he is doing what he is doing. Ends up in jail. Very poor writing, with huge gaps in believeability. But Conte is fun to watch. 5/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0501923/

Young Persons Guide To Becoming A Rock Star (1998) UK Television series featuring Gerard Butler. This was a 3 part series. Very well done story of the trials and tribulations of a group trying to get a band together and get an agent. Highlight is Butler's cameo of a rock star's meltdown in the agents office, because there wasn't a private loo for him on the plane to Japan, and "no avacados; I specifically ask for avacados." "Nobody loves me" he ends his rant. Very funny and him ending in the hotel bed with a bowl of fruit all that is covering his 'bits' and the girls have tied him up, doublecrossing the sorry ass, is worth the price of the DVD. Early in his career he had that something that makes you watch him when he is on screen. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0178167/

Dear Frankie (2003) Emily Mortimer, Gerard Butler, Jack McElhone. Almost perfect little film of a mother keeping her son safe from an abusive situation. Her story of the father being on a ship called the "Accra" and it turning up in the port town where she has settled her Mom and son, makes her have to find some man to pose for just one day, and visit the boy. She finds "The Stranger" Butler, who is quiet, but a strong presense. All the actors are spot on. The location shooting in Glasgow, Scotland, and the lovely score, make this a real joy to watch.
9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0377752/

Lovely Autumn weather keeps me out and about. Have some of my collection sitting on the table by my viewing chair, so the predicted rainy weather will have me watching favorites.

Carole Lombard & Alice Faye films...

This week I spent out and about, mostly puttering in my flower borders, transplanting, etc. Such glorious weather - Indian summer - just had to be outdoors. The maples are turning bright orange, crimson and gold.

But I did manage to watch three of my Matinee' Ladies films:

20th Century (1934) Carole Lombard, John Barrymore. Very dissapointing. Lombard, as an actress, spends the entire film screaming - or it seems that way. Tiresome. 6/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025919/

Hands Across The Table (1935) Carole Lombard, Fred MacMurray, Ralph Bellamy . Cute romantic comedy about a manicurist trying to snag a rich husband. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026452/

Hello, Frisco, Hello (1943) Newly restored on DVD. Alice Faye musical in gorgeous technicolor. Her signature song, "You'll Never Know" is discussed in the extras; how and why it was written; that it was the number one song in America for almost a year. John Payne, Jack Oakey, June Havoc and Lynn Bari round out the cast. Interviews with Alice Fayes daughter and film historians. The cleaned up picture and sound are first rate. 9/10 for the restoration. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035982/

This week we are supposed to have some rainey days, good for watching films. Time will tell.

A couple of musicals, lust, romance and murder---

---a little of everything this week. I watched:

Somethings In The Wind (1947) Deanna Durbin, Donald O'Conner, John Dall, Charles Winniger. Deanna is all grown up and handles the role of a radio disk jockey who sings along with the records she plays, well. As in all her films. there is a mixup and she is required to set everything right by the final reel. Her songs are more up tempo and modern. She does have one aria with the great Jan Peerce of the Metropolitan Opera. Donald O'Conner does almost the entire routine from "Singing In The Rain" in this film, 10 years before it is perfected as "Make 'Um Laugh." Nice for a Sat. afternoon at home. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039847/

Victor Victoria (1983) Julie Andrews is both title characters and is just fine. James Garner and Robert Preston give very good support and the music, costumes and cinematography is first rate. The standout performance is by Leslie Anne Warren as the chorus girl friend of Garners Chicago nightclub owner. Sparkle and dazzle, no holds barred - she makes you sit up and take notice. The 1920's in Paris through the eyes of Blake Edwards. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084865/

An Autumns Tale (1987 Hong Kong "Chou tin dik tong wah") Chow Yun Fat & Cherie Chung in a sweet tale of a young girl who comes to NYC to go to college, relying on 13th cousin Figgy (Chow) to furnish her with a place to live. He has written back home how well he is doing, so she thinks she will have a nice apartment. Actually, it is a dump amd Figgy is a gambling happy-go-lucky n'er-do-well. The ups and downs of life in a unfamiliar place, and getting to know each other is played out very nicely and of course, true love prevails. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093426/

Vantage Point (2008) Dennis Quaid, Forest Whitaker, Sigourney Weaver and William Hurt. Interesting way of telling about an event, an assassination attempt on the U.S. President, through the eyes of various people witnessing it and the different prospectives. But it is also a true summer action film, with the required car chases, explosions, shootouts, etc. Good cast helps. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443274/

Closer (2004) Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Clive Owen A good cast in a story of love, lust, lies and deception. The story is a bit muddled mid-way through, as to who is with who. But you keep watching - like watching a train wreck you just want to know what happens. 7/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0376541/

Smart People (2008) Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ellen Page, Thomas Haden Church Story of a widowed college professor who is so rigid and exacting that his family are like robots. No one can stand him - family, students. or faculty. Then his slacker brother shows up for a handout and a place to stay and shakes things up. Ellen Page does her "Juno" persona again. One wonders if she has any range. Enjoyable enough. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0858479/

The cooler weather has people out cleaning up for the winter to come. I am still planting marcissus bulbs and moving a few plants. But mostly just enjoying these lovely days - not too hot, but warm enough to sit in a rocking chair and watch the birds come and go.

The mums are in full bloom and are lovely, bright, warm, clear colors.

Murder, musicals and politics----

This weeks films were diversified. I watched:

The Great McGinty (1940) The great Preston Sturges first film that he got to direct from his own script. Very good cast of Brian Donlevy as Dan McGinty, Akim Tamiroff as "The Boss", Muriel Angelus as Mrs. McGinty and Willam Demarest as the political fixer. Our political system in the late 1930s, as seen by Sturges, is not very different from today. Buying votes back then was just more open. The outrage of a bum becoming mayor and then govenor is mirrored in the recently nominated Vice-Presidential candidate who seems somewhat lacking. Sturges comment, through his script on the sorry state of the average person to know who is honest and how things work, is brilliant. A real jewel of a film and the start of the Sturges stock company of character actors who were in most of his eight films that he directed. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032554/

Girl Of The Golden West (1938) Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald musical set in the migration west starts with the wagon train our heroine is traveling on being waylaid by bandits, with a young boy the adopted son of the Chief among them. He hears the girl singing at the campfire and falls in love. Years later, the girl, Mary is the owner of the saloon left to her by her grandfather. The sheriff (Walter Pidgeon) is in love with her and wants to marry, but she keeps putting him off. On a trip to the town she meets and falls for the bandit, pretending to be a soldier. Lots of pretty songs, some with Latin rhythm, and the stars ride off together in the end. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030182/

All The Kings Men (1949) Broderick Crawford as Willy Stark, is one of the great portrayals in movie history. Based somewhat of the Longs of Louisiana, it is the story of a rural school treacher who wants to get the roads paved into his area so the farmers can get their crops to market. From there the politicos and dissapointments take there toll and after a few elections, he knows how to win, but he also knows all the corrupt rewards of winning. Crawford is a force of nature in this role. He begins as a somewhat meek nice guy. By the time he is govenor, he is confident, boistrous and hard a nails. Along for the ride is John Ireland as Jack, a writer; his girl Anne (Joanne Dru); and Mercedes McCambridge, campaign head and lover of Willie. She won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for the role. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041113/

Apology (1986) Leslie Anne Warren as an artist, and Peter Weller as a cop, heat up the screen in this pretty good murder mystery. Lily is working on a installation piece for her scheduled show. Her gimmick is to have people phone and leave messages on her answering machine. They have to confess something they have done and then apologize. It works too well. A creepy guy calls and confesses rape and murder. At first Lily refuses to cooperate with the cop, but when a murder happens just as the caller said, she changes her mind. Great chemistry between Warren and Weller. A little more of them and less mayhem, and it would have been a better film. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090653/

Veronica Guerin (2003) The great Cate Blanchett as Irish newspaper reporter Guerin, who takes on the drug lords in Dublin. As she gets closer to the top guy, he openly assaults her at his estate, and then has her gunned down on the road. The film shows the toll all her crusading is having on her family and the injuries she sustains from an auto accident caused by the mob. An engrossing look at the Irish mob. 8/10 ttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0312549/

La Vie En Rose (Môme, La /French, 2007) What to say?! Marie Cotillard deserved her Oscar. But it was a hard slog to get through the film. The first hour (or did it just seem like an hour?) we see all the degradation and deprivation of the child, dirty, hungry and cold. All the adults in this waifs life are scum. The streets, hovels and bordellos where Edith Piaf is shuttled back and forth are so forlorn that I almost gave up; the music wasn't THAT good to watch all that misery.
And by the time we got Edith grown, I had almost lost interest in what happens next. I don't think Piaf was particularly likeable. And because I am not French, I really have no ear for the songs. Too many words don't seem to fit the melodies. But there were a couple that I remember from when she came to America in the 1950's and was on radio.
I can't say I enjoyed this film. But the performance was very good. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450188/

This week also saw the death of one of the greats of the golden age of films - Paul Newman. I remember when he first started as a young actor on live television. He was so good and so very good lo0kimg. Those blue, blue eyes were amazing. Such a fine man in every way. Rest in peace.

Just a few this week---

I had a few other matters to take care of - like having a tooth pulled and recovery. And some digging in the garden. But I managed to watch a few good films;

Transgression (1931) Kay Francis, Ricardo Cortez in a melodrama about a wife whose husband goes off to India for a year. The wife (Kay) becomes involved with a rogue (Cortez) who tricks her into coming to his home in the mountains of Spain. Death and despair before all works out for our heroine before "the end." 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022501/

Secrets Of An Actress (1938) Kay Francis, George Brent, Ian Hunter in a triangle revolving around a young actress. Brent is the romantic lead here, but Hunter is the interesting one. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030727/

Scudda Hoo, Scudda-Hey (1948) June Haver, Lon McCallister star in a teenagers film from just after the WWII war years. Story of a boy and the 2 mules he buys and trains. I remember the sighs of the girls at my highschool over Lon. Can't understand it now, but he was a heartthrob, as was June for the guys. Ah, youth! 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040762/

Searching For Debra Winger (2002) Documentary. Interesting look at how the actresses handle hitting the 30 to 40 age group. Suddenly, no roles offered or only mothers/harridans. Well done, if a bit repetitious. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318049/

Last Holiday (2006) Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, Timothy Hutton Remake of the Alex Guinness film of a dying person taking the bit in hand and going to a resort to spend their last days. All goes well and before long, money, friends and opportunities abound. Of course, it's all a terrible mistake. The Queen is fun to watch. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0408985/

Tomorrow brings the first day of autumn, which I love. Just hope it lasts extra long here this year. Beautiful time of year.

Kay Francis, Preston Sturges highlight week....

This week I watched:

Trouble In Paradise (1932) Herbert Marshall, Kaye Francis, Marian Hopkins. Precode and very sophistocated romp for the actors. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023622/

Cynara (1932) Kay Francis & Ronald Colman who was stiff and boring in this story of a man who has always been faithful to his wife, but succumbs to a sweet young things adoration. 6/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022796/

Small Town Girl ( 1936) Janet Gaynor & Robert Taylor. Cute story of a bored young woman who chances on meeting a rich playboy and in a night of dancing and drinking, ends up married to him. Both stars are very good and after the usual problems, they end up in each others arms. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028269/

Christmas In July (1940) Writer/Director Preston Sturges. Dick Powell & Ellen Drew. The first of Sturges films that he finally got to direct from his own script. Story of a guy who thinks he has won a contest and a lot of money. Supporting cast is a highlight and make this an enjoyable fable. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032338/

Sullivans Travels (1941) Writer Director Preston Sturges. Joel McCrea & Veronica Lake. The 2nd of Sturges great films. He wrote it for McCrea and he is great as the director who wants to make 'serious' films about what it's like to be poor. He is challenged to go find out because he has always been well off. So he has one attempt after another until he finally does learn a hard lesson from real life. Supporting cast is superb. Lake is a joy. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034240/

Coogans Bluff (1968) Clint Eastwood - before Dirty Harry. Clint has to go to NYC to get a fugitive and has all kind of trouble. But we know he is up to the job. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062824/

The Bucket List (2007) Morgan Freeman, Jack Nicholson. Mild fable of two opposites who end up sharing a hospital room, fighting their cancers. Rather predictable. Both stars are so good at being who they are, it is pleasant enough watching them. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0825232/

21 (2008) Kevin Spacey, Jim Sturgess. I enjoyed the glitter of Las Vegas. I did not understand what they were doing to win. The leading man was not exciting. The leading lady was bland. Kevin Spacey sleep walks through his part. And I still don't know what went on at the end. Did he get his scholarship? Was Spacey arrested? One thing for sure - Sturgess character was stupid to keep all his winnings in the ceiling of his dorm room. Even a locker at the bus depot would be safer. Lots of flaws but still kept me watching, even as I was talking back to the screen. Ha! 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478087/

Lots of rain here in the Heartland over the last week. Soggy yards. Allergies bothering me. Hay fever back with me after years of no problems. So the house shut up and watching films is the plan.

Two weeks outdoors; films I didn't fall asleep on:

Saratoga Trunk (1945) A favorite film that I have loved since I saw it back when it first came out in 1945. Ingrid Bergman has never been so beautiful, nor has Gary Cooper. Set in New Orleans in the late 1800s, and at Saratogo Springs, N.Y., when it was THE place to be for the 'season', the great studio MGM pulled out the stops to make a fun and romantic film. With the end train wreck and fight between the two railroad factions, there is even something for action fans. The costumes, sets and supporting cast are all superb. 10/10 TCM http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038053/


Gentlemens Agreement (1947) One of the first of the post WWII films taking on prejudice as the focal point of the story. This one focuses on prejudice against Jews, even after the holocaust. Gregory Peck as the journalist, who moves to New York and for his next story, decides to pose as a Jew, is great and was brave to take the role back in the day. Very good script, just letting the story show us what happens, until the last 15 minutes when we have to have his article read aloud by his mother (Anne Revere). Too preachy. But true non-the-less. Great support from Dorothy McGuire, John Garfield (his last role-he died soon after finishing the film), and Celeste Holm. 8/10 FMC http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039416/


On The Waterfront (1954) One of the greatest films of the 1950s and the greatest male performance of any decade. Marlon Brando IS Terry Malloy, the former boxer who "coulda been a contenda." The scene in the cab with his brother (Rod Steiger) is one of the truest and most moving put on film. When my boyfriend and I sat in the big theater and that scene ended, we heard a scream from the balcony "wow" and my guy yelled "brother". After it was over, we all got together to discuss the film, they agreed it was a film brothers could understand very well. "You should taken care of me jest a little bit" struck a cord between a lot of brothers. At least back in those days. Eva Marie Saint, as Edie Doyle, was a fragile girl with an iron will. All the secondary male roles were nominated for Oscars. As a result, none won, but Lee J. Cobb, Steiger, and Karl Malden, as Father Barry, should have won. All were terrific. Since the story was lifted from an expose of rackets in the waterfront unions, this film had a realism that we all recognized. We had read the headlines in our newspapers. This is a film they got right on the money! 10/10 My Collection http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047296/


Time Limit (1957) Richard Widmark is an attorney in the Judge Advocates office, investigating the charge of treason against a man (Richard Basehart) who had been a prisoner during the Korean war. All the rest of the men in his section of the prison were accusing him of collaboration. The facts as they are slowly discovered paint a completely different picture. One of the first films to take on the subject of military prisoners breaking under torture and mind control. At the time, very thought provoking. 8/10 TCM http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051083/


Goodbye Again (1961) Ingrid Bergman is silly as a ridiculous woman who is mistress to a man who treats her with contempt and calls it love. Then she is persued by a rich, very young and dumb guy, who wants to marry mommy - oops, I mean this supposedly smart woman. Can you tell how much I hated this film. Locations were nice. Fashions interesting. Cast were sleepwalking or drunk. IMO. 6/10 TCM http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054936/maindetails

My Blue Heaven (1990) Love this film for the end of summer, lighthearted fun, the music and dancing. Steve Martin is a 'made' man in the witness protection program who ends up in cookie cutter suburb waiting the testify against the mob. Rick Moranis is the FBI agent assigned to see that he arrives at court and not dead. Joan Cusack is the prosecuting attorney of her little town. "Vinnie" keeps getting arrested for infractions and she is mesmerized by the elaborate tales he tells to get out of his jams. Moranis has to come collect him time after time. Vinnie sees the attorney and the FBI agent are attracted to each other and plays cupid. A charming fable and lots of interesting characters. As Vinnie says at the end "Sometimes I even amaze myself." Good fun. 8/10 My Collection http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100212/


The Bank Job (2008) Jason Stratham and a crew of crooks decide to rob the vault of one of Londons staid banks. The details of their plan, getting all the equipment into the lowest basement of the building next to the bank, and how they tunnel through is interesting, and the mounting tension as we know the authorities are closing in, makes for a neat caper film. Doubly interesting because it is based on an actual robbery in the 1970's and at the fade, we learn "the rest of the story" on each of the main characters. 9/10 Rental http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0200465/



So with much cooler and rainy weather, I'm puttering about in my strip gardens, transplanting and cleaning up the plants that are through for the season.



I have my next films on my table and, if I can stay awake, will have more comments next week.

This week I saw-----

You Belong To Me (1941) Barbara Stanwyke and Henry Fonda in a dreadful rom/com that isn't romantic or funny. Fonda is a drip and is worse than I have ever seen him. Babs is always interesting, but she is defeated here by an incoherent script. 5/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034407/usercomments

I See A Dark Stranger (1946) In the USA this film was released with the title "The Adventuress" and is a droll, tongue in cheek telegraphing on what the film is about that you will see. An Irish girl, Bridey (Deborah Kerr) has been brought up to hate all things English. It's the "troubles" again. Maybe it is my just not "getting it" but I was not amused by Bridey's obstinacy. Trevor Howard is the British Officer who falls for her (why I can't tell from this story) and the supporting cast is most of the reason to stick til "the end." 7/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038289/

The Hucksters (1947) Ava Gardner day and she was at her peak in beauty, and her scenes with Clark Gable sizzle. They were a good team. Story of a big advertising agency and what it took to get clients to sign up for big bucks. Things are still about the same, except it is television instead of radio and billboards the ad agency's are fighting over. Adolph Menjou is the agency's top man; and the great Sidney Greenstreet is priceless as an absolutely disgusting client. Clark is just back from WWII, trying to get back in the game by signing rich, proper war widow Deborah Kerr up as a spokesperson for the product. MGM's great production values and 'look' are in evidence in this black and white film. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039477/

Summertime (1955) Kate Hepburn in the classic romance of a school teachers holiday in Venice. She meets shopkeeper Rosano Brazzi and has an affair. That's it. But with Venice never so beautifully filmed, a great romantic score, this story has made more people plan to visit a city than almost any other. A wonderful summertime film about summertime. 10/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048673/

Stage Struck (1958) A fine remake of the Kate Hepburn film, "Morning Glory." This time Susan Strasburg is Eva Lovelace, and Henry Fonda the producer/cad. Wonderful Herbert Marshall plays her first "friend in the theater," and Christopher Plummer is the playwright who loves her. Filmed in NYC in the theater district, the film has some of the excitement and grittiness of the stage life. It ain't all roses and applause. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052235/

American Gangster (2007) Disc 2 Extras Last week I wrote about the film itself, but the extras are just as interesting and you get to meet the real people - the cop and the gangster. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0765429/

The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) My type of film! Lots of beautiful scenery; great costumes; lovely score; and very interesting story of Mary Boleyn and what happened to her as part of Henry VIIIs court. A sub-theme is the treatment of women as chattel of their male relatives - fathers, brothers, uncles, cousins, all using the youngest and prettiest of their girls to rise as far up the ladder at court as they could. That, in this case, is the ruin of them all. Mary and the young man who she eventually marries, retired to the country as small landowners and lived a fairly long life, quietly away from court and greed.
In the deleted and extra scenes, there is a telling one with Kirsten Scott-Thomas, who says to her husband after Jane and her brother are beheaded, "this is what your ambition has brought us." She had tried all through their rise at court to keep the daughters from harm, but had no power and was brushed aside. Fine film, and for me, I wanted more as the cast list rolled. 9/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0467200/

Soon the fall films will be starting at the theaters. I have my list of films for September to watch on DVD and video. So until next week -----

Some oldies and goodies-----

---and some newby goodies too. This week I watched:

His Butlers Sister (1943) Deanna Durban is charming as the young step-sister of Pat OBrien, butler to rich theater impresario, Franchot Tone. When she comes to the big city to stay with him she ends up becoming a maid instead of auditioning as she had hoped. All works out as usual for Deanna, and she ends the film singing a magnificent version of Nessun Dorma. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036001/

His Kind Of Woman (1951) Jane Russell and Big Bob Mitchum have fun turning up the heat at a resort in Baja, Ca. Big Raymond Burr is the villian. Having a ball playing an egotistical ham actor is Vincent Price and he steals every scene he is in. Lots of fun from the Golden Era. 9/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043643/

The Fugitive & Extras (1993) 2003 copy. This was and is a favorite film of the 1990's. This transfer is superb. Richard Kimble's (Harrison Ford) flight from the overturned bus, as the train barrels off the tracks down the hill right towards him is still one of the most heart pounding images in film. And in the extras the director and producer talk about the 7 cameras used, and the real train engine used, in a one time only shot. Ford did his own stunt jumping at the last minute and they got a 'classic' of the live and real, baby! Tommy Lee Jones is great in his role of the relentless U. S. Marshall after Kimble. Never tire of this film. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106977/

Apollo 13 (1995) One of the most enjoyable films of astronauts in space. Wonderful cast headed by Tom Hanks. Gary Sinise great as always. How the whole NASA staff worked to get the crew back after the explosion onboard is still interesting and amazing that it all worked out. 9/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112384/

The Notebook (2004) Could not stand it so turned it off. I didn't like any of the characters as their young selves so it was a complete turn off. So I did. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332280/

The Last King Of Scotland (2006) Forrest Whitaker deserved his Oscar. He is riveting as the mad Idi Amin. I was dissapointed in James McAvoy. He seemed way too young to be this character. I just didn't believe it. But the story of what happened to Uganda after Amin took over was very interesting and horrifying. Don't think I'll ever watch it again, but it was well done. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455590/

American Gangster (2007) Denzel Washington is such a presence that I even liked his bloody gangster. Very good telling of the story of the rise of the man who made the drug traffic in NYC become a billion dollar business. Russell Crowe equally good as the relentless honest cop who takes him down. (9/10) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0765429/

The Heartland is having lovely weather for August. So I'm outdoors more, doing some cleanup and trimming. Very pleasant. Our local paper just had their fall preview of upcoming movies and there are some interesting ones coming out. If they make it to the Heartland. One I want to see, of course, is Gerard Butler in RockNRolla. But it may be in limited release according to the latest news. Which makes me a little blue. Love to see this Scotsman up on that big screen. He's the real deal. JMHO.

Fast Food

Very interesting dreamlike story of a guy who is returning to his boyhood pals after being away for years. He finds they are still the same drinking, drug taking misfits that he left and he can't fit in anymore. As Benny walks in to the dump his friends still live in, one is bouncing on a huge ball in his bvd's. They are having a brilliant conversation about what character they get in something they are betting on, I think. When Benny picks Princess Diana, they get into a hilarious discussion and argument about the Royal family. I was laughing out loud.

This is funny/sad/violent and better than I thought it would be. The first conversation when the 4 friends compose a song "Benny's Back" to welcome him is very funny. Brilliant song. (I'm kidding!)
Benny's back
Been a long time
but Benny's back.
Night after night we waited;
now Benny's back.

We ate a lot
we drunk some beer;
Benny's back;
Played some records and cards.
Benny's back, Benny's back, Benny's back.

It's funnier because they are so serious.

Gerry Butler as Jacko, shoots the pizza man and matter-of-factly orders another. He is mean and menacing throughout and very much the character.The recurring deal with the pizza delivery is Jacko just using excuses (pineapple!) to get out of paying, IMO. After all, they all dig in and eat the 1st one. Jacko has no trouble hurting people, as the trip through the tunnel shows, as he bashes the guy with his own guitar. So when they order another pizza later in the film - and Jacko sees *fish* he screams "We don't eat fish" and they all go nuts. And Jacko shoots the deliveryman. And orders another pizza. This is what I mean about this film being surreal.

There are no people reporting gunshots. No cops. Nothing happens to these dudes. These dumb and dumber guys decide to get out of their circumstances by robbing the neighborhood candy store which is really a drug money operation.

Their trip to buy guns is very funny. They have a party where Benny is given too much to drink and some drugs and goes into a trance like state. The cover for the gun dealer is his 'Sushi Bar' where the guys are served blue drinks with little umbrellas. In trying out the guns it is obvious they will screw up - they don't know how to use them. Then they all go back and read Gun Magazines. Funny scene.

Benny is so upset with his friends he goes up on the roof and cries. He sees only one outcome and it's bad. Time has passed them by and their dreams are gone. From here on, even more than from the beginning setup shots, I wondered if we are to see this as real or a nightmare. Guns blaze, people are killed, but we see no cops, no other humans in the buildings or on the streets, no traffic, deserted subways; just the main characters and those they deal with. All the segments with the girl Letitia are soft focus, through a haze and too much light. Real or surreal?

When Benny and Letitia are rundown by the car - but in the next frame are up again - real or dream/nightmare? Some funny lines have worked their way into usage "I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you." And "First rule of robbery? Pillage before you burn."

A small film that makes you think - or just turn it off. Take your pick. I liked it a lot. 8/10

As a prelude to seeing Gerard Butler in his latest gangster film, Guy Ritchie's RockNRolla, this is a pretty good effort. I looked up all the cast at IMDb and of the main characters, Gerry has made it the farthest. The female lead has worked steadily but mostly in TV. The actor playing Benny has done lots of stage plays. A few of the others have had lots of TV, Indy film and stage work. But all have worked only in England. Gerry just has, and had, something. It will be fun to see how he has progressed as a comic gangster from Fast Food to RockNRolla.

Greta Garbo day at TCM plus moderating temps-----

--- meant I spent more time outdoors enjoying the scenery and going out and about. I watched Garbo films and other 'classics', plus a couple of recent films this week.

Dinner At Eight (1933) Repeat viewing. Comments on April 7th Blog. 10/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023948/

Queen Christina (1933) I have watched parts of this Garbo film before, but never the whole thing. She is good, but the supporting cast is, in some cases, hammy. The final scene with her hair blowing in the wind at the bow of the ship, is worth seeing if nothing else. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024481/

Anna Karenina (1935) Garbo as another doomed heroine. She is the wife of a top bureaucrat in Russia but is bored and unhappy. She has a flirtation with Count Vronsky (Fredric March) that turns into a full blown affair, and she gives up everything - home, child, position - in order to run away with him. Turns out, as always, Vronsky wants his cake and eat it too. He convinces her to return from Venice and he goes on with his regiment life with the officers, who take him back in with joy. And he decides to go off to the little war in the Balkans. When he tells Anna, he is impatient with her objections. Anna, however, is shunned; her husband will not let her see her son; he will not give her a divorce; only her family receives her at their home. What is she to do? Walk down the tracks into a train. Garbo is good as poor, stupid Anna. March is not charismatic enough for Vronsky. But women do crazy things for men of all types so guess he is believable enough. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026071/

Camille (1936) Garbo's finest performance for my money. She is luminous, playful, soulful and doomed, as the courtesan, Marguerite. And despite the tomatos thrown at Robert Taylor, he is perfect as the young, rich, spoiled Armand, who persues her until they both are undone. Great production values as only MGM, at the top of it's reign in Hollywood, could deliver. The supporting cast of veteran character actors is superb. The party scenes at Marguerites alone are worth more than some whole movies. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028683/

The Painted Veil (2006) Based on a Somerset Maughm book. A Dr./Scientist, Walter Fane (Ed Norton) marries a rich, spoiled girl - Kitty, (Naomi Watts) who is goaded into getting a husband by her family. That's what women were supposed to do in the 1920's. He has told her that he has a post in China in Singapore. While there, at a party, she meets a handsome government official, Charlie Townsend, and starts an affair. Walter discovers them together and accepts a post in the interior of China where there is a cholera outbreak.
This is a film that takes its' time and shows us what is happening without big scenes or over-the-top acting. The scenery of the trek by carried chair, is horrific. Through the green, green countryside, with mists rising all around, hills all around, it is like being swallowed by a green monster. The gradual thaw by Walter; the trying to do something meaningful with her days; and their acceptance of each other as they really are, is quiet and like real life. The final scene back in England is also purposeful and brings the film full circle. I enjoyed my time with the Fanes. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446755/

The Good German (2006) George Clooney is Jake, a military reporter back in war torn Berlin on assignment to cover the Potsdam conference. He is also looking for his former mistress, Lena (Cate Blanchette). Jake is assigned a driver, Tully (Toby Maguire), a guy who will sell his mistress, who just happens to be Lena, for an hour at a time, or anything else he gets his hands on. He is also mean as a junkyard dog. So he ends up dead. And Jake wants to know why and what he can do to get Lena out of Germany because that is all she is interested in.
I did not like these people so by the end, I was just glad to be rid of them all. I give credit to the director for finding old film of Berlin as the bombed out ruin it was in 1945. And the footage of Stalin, Truman and Churchill sitting down to carve up Europe is great and brought back my classes in school in 1945 when we were learning all about how the world would be as the victors. Little did we know. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0452624/

The new week and more films are on the table by my chair. With a whole week of nice days with less heat and humidity, may go shopping and sightseeing around the area. Then again, a film or two while I rest is also inviting.

A Bruce Willis marathon and more........

------ an Oscar nominee, something new and something silly; this week I watched:

Lars & The Real Girl (2007) Ryan Goslin, very good. Much better than I thought. Really a sweet story of a introverted man who borders on being loony, and his doll. She is a replica of a real person and he treats her like his real girlfriend. His brother and sister-in-law don't know quite what to think. The doctor plays along trying to bring him into reality. But soon the townsfolk and everyone is also playing the game. How it ends is so nice. Ryan Gosling is perfect as Lars. Emily Mortimer is just a fine, fine actress. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0805564/

Bruce Willis Marathon Day:

The Jackal (1997) Remake of original with all the latest weapons and technology. Doesn't make it any better, but Willis is fun to watch. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119395/

Unbreakable (2000) I still don't get the cult following of this film. Interesting, but dare I say it - a tad of a bore. BruceyBaby and Samuel L Jackson are always worth watching though, so for a hot August day, I watched with my brain in neutral. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0217869/

16 Blocks (2006) At first I was very annoyed by the character Willis was supposed to get "16 blocks" to the courthouse from the jail, but by the midway point, and interesting thing happened. I began to pull for Bruce and him to make it, despite all the cops trying to take them out. Mos Def has that kind of voice at first, that is irritating, but he is a good actor and pulls off the innocent in the snake pit. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450232/

Mercury Rising (1998) Another tale of a person who is being persued by killers, this time an autistic boy. Andy Garcia is the Bureau Chief out to destroy the 'collateral damage' this boy can do because he can decipher the elaborate and supposedly unbreakable code for our nuclear arsenal. Or something like that. It's gets a little hard to keep track of since what you really care about is "are Willis and the boy going to get away." Enjoyable on a hot afternoon in the air-conditioning. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120749/

Hostage (2005) This time our hero, Bruce, is a small town sheriff, a former hostage negotiator for the L.A. police, who has some very crazy/bad teens with guns, take over a house out on the mountain. It is a fortress of electronic devices for security - that these kids have no difficulty in invading. Ben Foster, as the craziest of the 3 is really a frightening and compelling character. Very good work. Jimmy Bennett plays the young son of the family, and is really fine. We really want Sheriff Jeff to rescue him and his sister. When he is crawling around the duct work of the house, and you see his make-believe world, he just takes you in. The end 15 minutes goes over the top into explosions, fire, black-clad troopers, etc. More is not always better. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0340163/

The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants (2007) Awful title - and they're doing it again! Four friends from highschool, go their separate ways for the summer. The pants are magically able to fit each girl - from the round to the super skinny, to the tallest to the shortest. That's it. They each have a problem that the pants - ummm - solve. Are you getting this? One is in Mexico. Pretty scenery. One stays at home and works at a Walmart like store. Meets an annoying younger girl; learns a lot! One goes to Greece to her extended family. Gorgeous scenery. One goes to her fathers new family's home somewhere. It is gorgeous too. The family is the pits. The girl is unhappy. The pants come. She is still unhappy. I think. Well it wasn't awful, just the usual annoying sludge that someone thinks females will spend their money seeing. And I guess 'they' are right. (7/10) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0403508/

Swing Vote (2008)
Kevin Costner hasn't been this good and funny in quite a while. As a never-was/hard drinking/screw-up who ends up the vote needed to decide the Presidential election. Taking the importance of every vote to the enth degree, it still comes off as plausible.
Not favoring either philosophy, but showing the state of our politics as being for sale to the highest bidder, with the consultants having their candidate switch easily to a polar opposite of what they started out believing, and the lengths they will go to, it is a thoughtful, and devestating comment on our national politics.
And that may be it's downfall. You have to know how our system works and *care* to get the black humor of some of the dialog.
All in all, in this summer of mindless comic-book, noisy, films for the fanboys and girls, I loved this sly and witty film. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1027862/

Hot and humid and so the iced water & tea, cold beer with fresh lime, cold food and wine, and any film with water, is the order for the next week.

More Westerns, a King & such....

This week I spent outdoors enjoying some nice weather for gardening. Had my first corn-on-the-cob straight out of a locally grown garden and still watched a few films:

Anna & The King (1999) Chow Yun Fat is the King! Jodi Foster is Anna, the teacher hired to come to the court of Siam and start a school for the royal children. Gorgeous locations filmed in what was called Burma. Thailand refused because the story is patently false and is insulting to King Mongkut. But to see Chow in the costumes and with his charisma - it is enough for me. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0166485/

Best Of The Bad Men (1951) Robert Ryan and Robert Preston on opposite sides in the Clampett, Earp story, with a little James gang, the civil war, all mixed into a stew of a film. Not too bad. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043335/

Prelude To A Kiss (1992) Alec Baldwin and Meg Ryan in the strangest love story I have ever seen. On their wedding day an old man appears to kiss the bride - and shazamm - they are switched or are they and it is up to the bridegroom to convince the parents that he is not nuts. And us. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105165/

Hour Of The Gun (1967) Robert Ryan once again as Clampett, with James Garner as Wyatt Earp and Jason Robards, Jr. as Doc Holliday. Wyatt is sorta a bad guy, and Doc is his conscience. Fable. But a good 'un. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061787/

In The Valley Of Elah (2008) I am a fan of Tommie Lee Jones and think he gave the best performances of 2007. In this he is quiet, stoic and strong. A father who is going to find out the truth no matter where it takes him. Charlize Theron is effective as the cop in the small town department, with all the males being alpha dogs as she just tries to do her job and be effective. Gratuitous scenes of topless bars frequented by soldiers near the post makes me take off a point. Once yes. We get it - men have to have tits. Twice - no. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478134/

With the Dog Days of August fast approaching, I'm sure it will be more indoor activities, with lots of ice and cold food. That's the way it is.

Gardening, watering and film watching......

.... just keeping up when it is hot and humid is a chore. Air-conditioning is a blessing. So this week I watched:

Off Satellite:
Phantom Of The Opera (2004) Phantom Of The Opera (2004) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0293508/#comment
My favorite film of the last 10 years. For Gerard Bulter's magnatism in the Phantom role, and Lloyd-Webbers music and Schumacher's lush direction, this has remained a joy for me. If you don't like the music, fantasy, & romance, stay away. 10/10

Pride & Prejudice (2005) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0414387/
The third movie version, not counting the great TV mini-series, is fine. Knightley is a high-sprited Elizabeth Bennett. Production values are first rate, with locations and manor houses, lush landscapes, and a score featuring lovely piano music, making this a fine entry into the P&P collection. 8/10

The Others (2001) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0230600/
Nicole Kidman in an old mansion on an island. She has two children who have allergies to sunlight so the houses windows are always covered. She becomes stranger as the film progresses. Is she mad? Is it all real? A nightmare? The reveal is a letdown. I had to lower my rating on rewatching this after so long a time. I had mostly forgotten the story, and it seemed too long and not scary. And Kidman's whispery voice got tiresome. 6/10

Chicago (2002) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0299658/
What a romp. I'm sure this was brought back because of Mamma Mia's premier week. I bought the DVD as soon as it came out but haven't watched it for a long time. Since the USA Ch. was having a marathon of good films this Saturday, I watched them all. Not too much distraction with breaks. Anyway, Renee Zelweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones are terrific as the two murderers, but it is Richard Gere as Billy Flynn, Queen Latifah as Matron Mama Morton, and John C. Reilly as Amos Hart, who have show-stopping numbers. Roxie and Velma's final number of their new act is a corker, and cuddos to the director, Rob Marshall. Lots of fun. 10/10

Hostage (2005) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0340163/
Bruce Willis as a negotiator for a police dept., loses all 3 in a family when he fails to talk the husband out of doing them in. He ends as a sheriff of a quiet suburb, with a wife and daughter who are unhappy and want to return to their big city life. Suddenly, into his world come 3 psychos who follow an expensive van back to the home in the isolated hills, and take the family "hostage." How he gets them out, while his family is abducted and also held hostage, with none of the hostages killed, is pretty good and exciting typical Willis fare. Ben Foster as the wacko is great. 8/10

My Collection:
Absence Of Malice (1981) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081974/
Sally Field as a reporter (Megan Carter) who gets a scoop, she thinks, on Paul Newmans' (Michael Gallegher), a beer distributor who's father was a Don in the local mob, and what the story does to their lives. Fine film on the news media's effect on people, and the sometimes horrific consequenses of half truths and innuendo. Bob Balaban as the Government Strike Force attorney who bends the rules - just a little - is great as the villian. A worm, who wants to be a snake. Wonderful film. 9/10

TCM:
Swing Time (1936) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028333/
My personal favorite of the Rogers/Astaire films. Story fun, great supporting cast of character actors, and the music is perfect. Fred Astaire paid homage to the great Bill Robinson by dancing one of his routines, "Bojangles of Harlem", in black-face. It is a great number with terrific special effects for 1936. Another number in the snow, is A Fine Romance; and the romantic The Way You Look Tonight in the art deco night club is lovely. In 2007, the American Film Institute ranked this as the #90 Greatest Movie of All Time. It was the first inclusion of this film on the list. I agree! 10/10

DVD rental:
The Interpreter (2005) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373926/
Nicole Kidman in the title role, working at the United Nations in New York. She is from a war torn country in Africa, has a missing brother, and is either involved with revolutionaries or - not. Secret Service agent (Sean Penn) doesn't quite believe her story about overhearing a plot on the intercom at the UN, when she is recovering her tote bag, after an evacuation of the building. It is very confusing and after a time, tedious. 6/10

I Wake Up Screaming (1941) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033740/
Betty Grable, Victor Mature, and Carole Landis is one of, if not the first, true film noir. Great story and stars, and supporting cast. The shadows and light, the angles of the shots, the wet streets, all add up to true noirish film-making. This director doesn't usually get mentioned with The Maltese Falcons' John Houston, as the innovator of the style. But both films were made, and released, in the same year. Story of two sisters, one a party girl, the other a 'good' girl, and a policeman who covets the bad girl. Played by hulking 300 lb. Laird Cregar, he is a menacing figure thoughout the film. Glad I finally got to see it - thanks to Blockbuster on demand. 9/10

In Theater:
Mamma Mia (2008) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0795421/
Loved it! Saw it yesterday (20th) with my two daughters and we were clapping and laughing and having a merry ole time. Cast is very good. Some numbers run on too long, is my only complaint. Julie Walters is a standout. Can't believe this is the "Educating Rita" Rita! She is a hoot. 8/10

Supposed to be another steamy week, so iced tea and films in the cool house, is the ticket!

Bernie is the funiest dead guy ever----

---and a weekend with him is perfect summer fun. Have a beer with a wedge of lime over ice and just laugh away! And Nelson and Jeanette singing, and Will Smith being a screwup super hero almost restored my good humor this week:


Naughty Marietta (1935) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026768/
Nelson Eddy & Jeanette MacDonald's first musical. Costumes and music first rate. Perfect for summer dreaming. 9/10

A Song To Remember (1945) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038104/
Biography of Chopin (Cornel Wilde in his debut and simply gorgeous in the period costumes) and his romance with George Sand (Merle Oberon, beautiful. She almost out does Wilde in the tight pants, high collars and top hats!) Film ruined by overacting of Paul Muni. Music devine. 7/10

Love With The Proper Stranger (1963) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057263/
Natalie Wood & Steve McQueen in a romantic film which starts out on the serious subject of unwanted pregnancy and abortion, and ends in comedy. Not easy to do, but stars make it a pleasure. 45 years ago this was pretty shocking, and the director and cast of last years Juno could have taken lessons by watching it before filming their mess of a film. 9/10

Weekend At Bernies (1989) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098627/
Bernie does more dead than I do alive! Very funny slapstick film of 2 smucks, taking their discovery of an error with the accounts, to the bosses beach house. But the boss has put out a contract on their heads and then dies before it is carried out. The two guys have a hilarious time taking the dead guy around with them on the shore, on the boat and the sunblinded and crazed beach boys and girls are too goofy to realize Bernie has gone to the great beach beyond. Terry Kiser is amazing as Bernie, alive and dead! 9/10

Pulp Fiction (1994) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110912/
Watched this on TV and they bleeped all the bad language. Still didn't help. Do not see the greatness of this one. UGH! 5/10

Looking For Richard (1996) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116913/
Al Pacino and his friends do Shakespeare and have fun. Interesting to hear such great actors struggling with getting this together. And the comments from the people on the street are sometimes funny, sometimes shocking. 6/10

Mrs. Brown (1997) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119280/
Dame Judi Dench in the title role. Billy Connelly is brilliant as John Brown from the Scottish Highlands. Gerard Butler, in his first film role, is Archie Brown, who is amused and concerned for his brother. Great film. 9/10

Hancock (2008) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ Will Smith as a different kind of superhero. He is foul mouthed, drunk most of the time, and causes a whole lot of collateral damage. Very funny concept. Jason Bateman and Charlize Theron are good as the married couple he gets involved with. Movie falls apart with about 30 minutes to go when it gets all serious and loses the concept it started with. 6/10

Looking forward to watching some more of my favorite summer movies this coming week. Laughing is always good in the summertime. Or anytime for that matter. So let's get to it.

We had a great Independence Day-----

---and hope everyone else did too. This week I watched:

You Can't Take It With You (1938) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030993/
Frank Capra directs Lionel Barrymore as Grandpa Vanderhof, the elder statesman of his extended family and neighborhood. Edward Arnold is Anthony P Kirby, the rich tycoon adversary. James Stewart is his son who is in love with Jean Arthur one of the Vanderhof clan. Great cast of character actors doing eccentric, and doing it well. Story of the poor who are rich in friends and family, and the rich who are poor in ----you get the idea? 7/10

Roman Holiday (1953) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046250/ Just have to watch every time it is on TCM. Audrey Hepburns first film and she was a charmer. Greg Peck is great as the cynical reporter who fall for her Princess-out-for-a-night-and-day. Eddie Albert, as pal photographer Smittie, almost steals the show. 8/10

Body Heat (1981) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082089/
New DVD copy of an old favorite. Beautiful transfer; great extras. Full commentary by Lawrence Kasdan on his first film as a director, and how he had to use a cast of unknowns because of the budget he was given to work with. All stage actors, who had to audition for their parts. Imagine! It made them all stars. William Hurt, Kathleen Turner and Ted Danson all have great comments about their roles. Also, Mickey Rourke. Sexy and smokin' hot after all these years and the reveal is still a corker. 9/10


Americas Sweethearts (2001) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0265029/
A Complete mess. Can't believe I bought this even in the $5 bin at Walmart. I laughed exactly twice this time. Don't know what the cast and director were going for, but it was all lamebrained. 5/10


Freedom Writers (2007) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0463998/
Another story of a teacher from the burbs who starts her career in an warehouse school, who finds a way to make a difference. And writes a book with all the students, and some get to college. I'm glad for them, and Hilary Swank is very good as the fish out of water teacher, but I was tired of it all by the end. Guess I'm hard hearted. 7/10

Hot and muggy yesterday and today feels like will be the same. So more films to watch. I replaced 4 favorite films that I had on video tapes with great DVDs. As I go through my library I will be doing more of that, as long as my wallet lets me.

For late June - Weddings, and fluff..........

The weather was very nice, with only a few storms. So I was able to do some shopping, and have lunch out and also watch movies:

Juno (2007) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0467406/
Oh. Puleese! This was one of the 5 best of 2007? Egads, what about "300" - innovative, creative, and new. This was like a TV Saturday film for the high school crowd. Oh yeah, I get it! That's who this was for and they think it is profound. Yikes, I feel for the world as we know it. 5/10

P.S., I Love You (2007) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0431308/
Enjoyable romantic drama that I watched again with the Cecelia Ahern commentary about the way her book was changed for the film. Very good job by all concerned. 9/10

An Unsuitable Job For A Woman (1997-TV series) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0138899/
An interesting mystery from the PBS Mystery Theater with Diana Rigg doing intro and wrap. Early work with a small role for Gerard Butler. He already could command the screen. Camera loved him. Story about a pregnant private detective who finds the Docs are running a baby adoption ring. 8/10

Fools Gold (2008) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0770752/
Beautiful scenery - live and inanimate. Dear daughter decided we had to rent this. She loves the MM guy - and the scenery of what she thought was the Bahamas. Turns out it was filmed in Queensland, Australia! It was gorgeous - aqua blue water and white sand, palm trees, blue skies and white clouds. Oh and Matthew McConaughey was cute - in a bummy kinda way. Kate Hudson is getting boring. She needs a makeover. Did Donald Sutherland just need a paycheck? Or did they all just want a vacation? The yaught was to die for and I wouldn't mind spending a few months on it and swimming in that water. And get paid. 6/10

Singing In The Rain (1952) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045152/
A true "classic" in every sense - and a perfect as they get. Gene Kellys' best. Debbie Reynols is so cute you wanna cry. Donald O'Connor steals most of the scenes he is in, and ditto for Jean Hagan. The gorgeous Cyd Charisse's dances with Kelly are some of the best on film. Millard Mitchell, never better as the beleaguered studio head. All in all, a pleasure to watch every time I get out the DVD, or watch on TV. 10/10

The Pilots Wife (2002-TV) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289390/
Christine Lahti makes this story of a crash at sea, and her lost husband(John Hurt) who had secrets, watchable. 7/10

Betsy's Wedding (1990) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099128/
A favorite, with Alan Alda the frustrated father; Madeline Kahn, his wife; Molly Ringwald their daughter, Betsy, who is getting married; Joe Pesci, the bother-in-law from hell; Catherine O'Hara, his wife who gets even; and best of all - Ally Sheedy, the other daughter who is a cop; and Anthony LaPaglia, as Stevie Dee, who is crazy about her. Their story and unusual romance is the highlight of the film. All in all, a pleasure for a June day. 8/10

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0259446/
Do you see a trend? June - Weddings? This was such a fun film of a large frump, who gets the handsome guy, that it made tons of money in theaters around the world. Proving that there is a big audience for comedies for women of a certain age. This big Greek family are fun and we like being around them. 8/10

Woman In White (1948) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040974/
What a cast! Eleanor Parker, Alexis Smith, Sydney Greenstreet, Gig Young, Agnes Moorhead, John Emory and last but not least, John Abbott, as the most delicious invalid ever put on screen. He is a buffet of nerves and ailments, who can't abide the slightest noise - unless he makes it. The story is based on the Wilkie Collins novel, considered the first true mystery story. A mansion, rich beautiful heroine, her companion cousin, the artist tutor, and such an array of unusual guests in the house, plus 'the woman in white' running about the grounds, make a fun hour and a half. 8/10

Telefon (1977) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076804/
The cold war is on hold, and somehow a madman has decided to use the plot to blow up installtions in the USA for his own purposes. To the rescue comes Charles Bronson from Moscow, and Lee Remick from the USA. The plot is interesting, the Stars are having a good time, and so are we. Scenery pretty too. 8/10

July is upon us. Here in the Heartland USA, that means Hot! Air-conditioning and iced drinks! And movies.