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.
October 20, 2008
October 12, 2008
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.
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.
October 05, 2008
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)