I am catching up on some of the award winning films of 2007, along with watching favorites I have on tape. Still cold, damp and no spring flowers yet. So for now:
No Reservations (2007) Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart and Abigail Breslin. Not what I expected. Hardly any laughs. No sparks between leads. Abigail is not as animated as usual. All in all, this story of chefs and their rivalry at a top restaurant was just passable. 6 out 0f 10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0481141/
The Big Easy (1987) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092654/
New Orleans, murders, cajun music, and a sexy love story. Very good.
A Good Woman (2004) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379306/
Based on Lady Windermeres Fan. With Helen Hunt and Scarlett Johansson in lovely 1930 clothes. Great cars, houses and a cast of British character actors who are funny and entertaining.
The Wizard Of Oz (1939) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032138/
Judy Garland and "Over The Rainbow". Spring tradition.
The Bad & The Beautiful (1952) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044391/
Kirk Douglas, Lana Turner, Dick Powell in episodic film about films. Almost perfect story about a louse, or is he?
Easter Parade (1948) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040308/
Judy Garland and Fred Astaire in a delightful musical. With Peter Lawford and Ann Miller almost stealing the show. Perfect for the season.
In Her Shoes (2005) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0388125/
Cameron Diaz, the great Toni Colette and Shirley MacClaine, in a story about 2 sisters and their grandmother. Interesting and much better than a lot of womens comedies.
Laws Of Attraction (2004) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0323033/ Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore are opposing lawyers who ta-da! fall in love. Predictable and unfunny and irritating. Moore is my least favorite actress right now. Her appeal escapes me.
Becoming Jane (2007) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416508/ The lovely, elegant Anne Hathaway as Jane Austin and her early struggles to become a writer while being prodded to make a 'good marriage' with a local squire while falling in love with one of the gentry, played by James McAvoy. He is much too short and slight for a romantic lead, as far as I'm concered. But it is a delightful look at the period and the lives of people in the country.
Perfect Stranger (2007) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0457433/ Lovely Halle Barry and Bruce Willis in a suspense story about murder. The twist at the end had me shaking my head. Just passable entertainment.
The Strange Woman (1946) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038990/ The gorgeous Hedy Lamarr in one of her very best roles as a woman who grew up very poor and married the richest man in town, who was old enough to be her father. She causes much misery among the family and others. Is she a devil or a saint? Lamarr was called the most beautiful woman in the world in the 1940's. You can believe it in this film.
Ali Baba & The 40 Thieves (1944) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036591/ Sand and sandals, Maria Montez in technicolor, Jon Hall the lead hero, horses, and Andy Devine for comic relief. Another favorite from my young life of going to the Saturday matinee' at the local theater. Two films, 3 cartoons, chapters in 2 0r 3 serials and drawings for prizes. That kept the kids away all afternoon so the grownups could do - whatever grownups did. LOL!
Eight Below (2006) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0397313/ Marvelous film about an expedition with sled dogs that ends up leaving the dogs chained up as a blizzard heads that way. Meaning to get back as soon as they get the injured back to safety by helicopter, it is months before they return. The dogs get free and go hunting to survive. The scenes with the dogs are riveting. Thank goodness they finally are rescued. Based on a true story.
Michael Clayton (2007) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0465538/ One of the nominated films of 2007, this is a very good story and I watched it twice, back to back. Then the next day I watched it with director and editor commentary. A look at the corporate world and the giant law firms who handle their transgressions. And the law firms"fixers." The final shots of George Clooney sitting in the cab, is 2 1/2 minutes and the subtle changes on his face are great. And Tilda Swinton in her final long scene is great as well. In a tracking shot of Clooney, walking down the long foyer, we see in a blurred background, her fall to her knees, finally undone. This is one you must pay attention to. The opening, over the credits, of Tom Wilkinson's mad ranting is very strange, but it all mades sense soon.
Grand Hotel (1932) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022958/ The first of the *All-Star* films made by MGM. Greta Garbo, John and Lionel Barrymore, Joan Crawford and Wallace Berry come and go in the various threads of the story, all happening in Berlins Grand Hotel. Won best picture of 1932. Very enjoyable. As the doctor says "people come, people go; nothing happens at the Grand Hotel."
One lonely narcissus opened yesterday. So I have hopes. But while it is cold and gray, will continue seeing the best of 2007, and also my old taped films.
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