A very momentous week for the USA. Hopefully the new President and members of congress can turn out faltering economy around. Huge problems and obstacles.
This week I watched:
A Star Is Born (1937) Janet Gaynor, Fredric March. The familiar story of a small town girl (Esther Blodgett/Vicki Lester) who goes to Hollywood to become a star. She meets a famous actor (Norman Maine/March), who is smitten with her and helps her get a screen test. She is hired, her 1st film is a hit, and they are married. But his career has been going downhill, mainly because of his drinking. The production values have the Selznick touch and the score of Max Steiner add immeasurable to the film. But it is Lionel Stander, as the cynical press agent (Matt Libby), who inadvertently puts the finish to Norman Mains's career, and is the standout for me this time. As I watched I thought this is the nastiest performance on film. He really nails the washed up, drunk to the wall. He never lets up and lets you see any softer side. There is mean - and there is mean. Stander does it all and doesn't have to throw a punch or have guns blazing. Great performance. I really hate Max! 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029606/
Catch Me If You Can (2002) Leo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken. And an early role for Amy Adams. A high school con man who managed to con millions from individuals and banks(!). Due diligence was bad even back 30 some years ago. The cast is uniformly strong and Leo is devilish as Frank and his many aliases. Loved the scene of the sweet young things dressed up as hostesses during the Jet Set era. What a time it was! The cars, the clothes, the look of the people was just right. Lots of fun, but I didn't like it as much this time as the 1st time I watched it on the big screen, so dropping it a point. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264464/
In Bruges (2008) Colin Farrell, Brenden Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes. Ray, Ken & Harry. Those boys are going to kill each other if they don't watch out! A very dark comedy about criminals. Farrell and Gleeson could take this routine on the road. Being sent by their crime boss to the old city of Bruges, Belgium, after a 'hit' went terribly wrong, is driving Ray bonkers. Ken is into doing the tourist bit. Harry is - Harry - a bad lot. The characters the boys meet while wandering around and at their lodgings, add to the quizzical goings on. There are shootings, knifings, and various other mayhem going on, but with tongue firmly in cheek, and what's a little killing among friends? 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780536/
Love In The Time Of Cholera (2007) Javier Bardem is Florentino who falls in love with Fermina when they are teenagers, and --- loves her all his life, but beds over 600 other women and keeps his diary meticulously. Scenery is gorgeous - filmed in Columbia, S.A. and the UK. I actually fell asleep and had to go scene by scene to find where I dropped off. So I cannot say much. I think I will try the directors commentary and see if he makes sense of the story. 6/10 only for the gorgeous costumes and cinematography. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0484740/
We are in for snow showers all through the coming week. My car will stay in the garage and me by the fire. Brrrr!
January 25, 2009
January 19, 2009
A few more films.....
This week I watched:
Swing Shift Maisie (1943) Ann Southern, James Craig. Maisie gets a job in a war plant and gets involved with a selfish playgirl who steals her man and money. But Maisie gets things fixed by the fade out. Not one of the better films in the series. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036407/
Maisie Goes To Reno (1944) Ann Southern, John Hodiak, Ava Gardner. Maisie takes a 2-week vacation from the war plant on doctors orders, to cure her nervous eye twitch. She gets involved with a soldier trying to get to Reno to persuad his wife not to go through with a divorce. Ava is the wife and gorgeous. Hodiak is a Reno casino dealer and Maisie works singing in the evenings at the hotel night club. Complications ensue as the wife is being kept away from every one but those who are trying to dupe her. Maisie saves the day once again. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037040/#comment
Beowulf & Grendel (2005) Gerard Butler, Stellen Skarsgard, Sarah Polley. Filmed in the wild and beautiful landscapes of Iceland, the age-old tale is told like a campfire story about a rough and ready group of young men coming to rescue a village from a horrible giant. Their leader is Beowulf, who their best story teller has turned in to a fantastic hero in stories he tells the children and among the comrades as they travel about. Their journey to Daneland to is help King Hrothgar and kill the troll who is murdering the men of the village. The witch Selma has secrets and Beowulf must find what they are - she sees how people die - and try to understand what is going on. An enjoyable tale and the cast does very well. 9/10 My review on GBGlobalFans http://gerardbutlerglobalfans.com/index.php?showtopic=44271
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0402057/
NCIS (2003) Disc 4 Season 1 Episodes 13-16. Mark Harmon. Very good episodic television show about the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Cast all very good and are developed with engaging personalities. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364845/episodes#season-1
The Devil Wears Prada (2007) Meryl Streep, Ann Hathaway. Enjoyable romp about the fashion industry and a hellion on wheels who runs everyone into the ground. Great role for Streep. Hathaway shines as the dowdy new hire who transforms into a copy of her boss. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0458352/
Tuesday we will have a new president sworn in and hopefully the nightmare of the last years will go away. That's my prayer.
Swing Shift Maisie (1943) Ann Southern, James Craig. Maisie gets a job in a war plant and gets involved with a selfish playgirl who steals her man and money. But Maisie gets things fixed by the fade out. Not one of the better films in the series. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036407/
Maisie Goes To Reno (1944) Ann Southern, John Hodiak, Ava Gardner. Maisie takes a 2-week vacation from the war plant on doctors orders, to cure her nervous eye twitch. She gets involved with a soldier trying to get to Reno to persuad his wife not to go through with a divorce. Ava is the wife and gorgeous. Hodiak is a Reno casino dealer and Maisie works singing in the evenings at the hotel night club. Complications ensue as the wife is being kept away from every one but those who are trying to dupe her. Maisie saves the day once again. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037040/#comment
Beowulf & Grendel (2005) Gerard Butler, Stellen Skarsgard, Sarah Polley. Filmed in the wild and beautiful landscapes of Iceland, the age-old tale is told like a campfire story about a rough and ready group of young men coming to rescue a village from a horrible giant. Their leader is Beowulf, who their best story teller has turned in to a fantastic hero in stories he tells the children and among the comrades as they travel about. Their journey to Daneland to is help King Hrothgar and kill the troll who is murdering the men of the village. The witch Selma has secrets and Beowulf must find what they are - she sees how people die - and try to understand what is going on. An enjoyable tale and the cast does very well. 9/10 My review on GBGlobalFans http://gerardbutlerglobalfans.com/index.php?showtopic=44271
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0402057/
NCIS (2003) Disc 4 Season 1 Episodes 13-16. Mark Harmon. Very good episodic television show about the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Cast all very good and are developed with engaging personalities. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364845/episodes#season-1
The Devil Wears Prada (2007) Meryl Streep, Ann Hathaway. Enjoyable romp about the fashion industry and a hellion on wheels who runs everyone into the ground. Great role for Streep. Hathaway shines as the dowdy new hire who transforms into a copy of her boss. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0458352/
Tuesday we will have a new president sworn in and hopefully the nightmare of the last years will go away. That's my prayer.
January 12, 2009
This & that---
Here are my comments:
Too Many Husbands (1940) Jean Arthur, Melvin Douglas & Fred MacMurray. Idid not like this so-called comedy at all. I gave the points for the 3 stars attempts with a lame script. The story of a husband thought dead and the wife marrying his best friend is familiar because of My Favorite Wife, which came out the same year but had a much better screen play using the same premise. I usually adore Jean Arthur but found her annoying in this one. 5/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033174/
Tales Of Hoffman (1951) Moira Shearer. One of the Powell-Pressburger films from England. This was a pretige road show film and played in the Heartland city where I lived for around a year. We dressed up to go to the elegant theater where it played. It is basically the story of Hoffman falling love with 3 women (or are they the same woman) and their stories. Beautiful color, set decoration, cimetography and music. So glad TCM finally got permission to show it last week. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044103/
Night People (1954) Gregory Peck, Broderick Crawford. Cold war drama that I love. Story of a young soldier who is kidnapped by the Russians in divided Berlin and how the soldier in charge (Peck) works the shadowy and sinister 'night people' to get him back. He has to contend with the boys blowhard father (Crawford) who flies from Toledo, Ohio to "get something done." Good performances all around and nice look at the dangerous political games from the 1954 era. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047279/
The Package (1989) Gene Hackman, Joanna Cassidy, Tommy Lee Jones. Hackman is always interesting, but this was rather uninteresting story. I've forgotten it already. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098051/
One Fine Day (1996) Michelle Pfeiffer & George Clooney. Busy parents try to fit the kids school field trip, fish, and work crises into one day. The stars try but this is just barely fun to watch. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117247/
You've Got Mail (1998) Meg Ryan & Tom Hanks. Another film made from the story "The Shop Around The Corner." This time the "shop" is being forced out of business by a big super market bookstore. The stars are good, the story tried and true and it ends in a lovely garden I have visited in NYC. And with a dog, too. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0128853/
Burn After Reading (2008) Frances McDormand, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich. It's a shaggy dog story, a black comedy. Loved it. Every character was over the top and wacko. The end scene with the two top spooks was delicious. Laughed out loud. If you remember that it is not supposed to make too much sense, reality-wise, you can just sit back and wait for the punch line. Also watched some of the extras. The Coens are two men with one brain, all about movies 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0887883/
Finally got my comments posted. Not that I'm busy; I just wasn't in the mood.
It is so cold out it is depressing. But we know it won't last forever, so look to the January thaw. If we get it this year.
Too Many Husbands (1940) Jean Arthur, Melvin Douglas & Fred MacMurray. Idid not like this so-called comedy at all. I gave the points for the 3 stars attempts with a lame script. The story of a husband thought dead and the wife marrying his best friend is familiar because of My Favorite Wife, which came out the same year but had a much better screen play using the same premise. I usually adore Jean Arthur but found her annoying in this one. 5/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033174/
Tales Of Hoffman (1951) Moira Shearer. One of the Powell-Pressburger films from England. This was a pretige road show film and played in the Heartland city where I lived for around a year. We dressed up to go to the elegant theater where it played. It is basically the story of Hoffman falling love with 3 women (or are they the same woman) and their stories. Beautiful color, set decoration, cimetography and music. So glad TCM finally got permission to show it last week. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044103/
Night People (1954) Gregory Peck, Broderick Crawford. Cold war drama that I love. Story of a young soldier who is kidnapped by the Russians in divided Berlin and how the soldier in charge (Peck) works the shadowy and sinister 'night people' to get him back. He has to contend with the boys blowhard father (Crawford) who flies from Toledo, Ohio to "get something done." Good performances all around and nice look at the dangerous political games from the 1954 era. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047279/
The Package (1989) Gene Hackman, Joanna Cassidy, Tommy Lee Jones. Hackman is always interesting, but this was rather uninteresting story. I've forgotten it already. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098051/
One Fine Day (1996) Michelle Pfeiffer & George Clooney. Busy parents try to fit the kids school field trip, fish, and work crises into one day. The stars try but this is just barely fun to watch. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117247/
You've Got Mail (1998) Meg Ryan & Tom Hanks. Another film made from the story "The Shop Around The Corner." This time the "shop" is being forced out of business by a big super market bookstore. The stars are good, the story tried and true and it ends in a lovely garden I have visited in NYC. And with a dog, too. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0128853/
Burn After Reading (2008) Frances McDormand, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich. It's a shaggy dog story, a black comedy. Loved it. Every character was over the top and wacko. The end scene with the two top spooks was delicious. Laughed out loud. If you remember that it is not supposed to make too much sense, reality-wise, you can just sit back and wait for the punch line. Also watched some of the extras. The Coens are two men with one brain, all about movies 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0887883/
Finally got my comments posted. Not that I'm busy; I just wasn't in the mood.
It is so cold out it is depressing. But we know it won't last forever, so look to the January thaw. If we get it this year.
January 04, 2009
Nine films in seven days
This week I watched:
It Happened One Night (1934) Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert. Won all the top Oscars of it's year. One of the only romantic comedies to ever win. Story of the heiress running away from meddlesome father and getting on a bus, helped along by newspaper man wanting an exclusive story. The leads make it better than it is and it's still charming after all these years. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025316/
The Awful Truth (1937) Irene Dunne & Cary Grant in one of the first screwball comedies. They are a married couple who are 'fooling around' on each other and end up in divorce court. How they get back together is the story. Ralph Bellamy does his 2nd banana routine or a Texas rancher who comes to NYC with Mama, and falls for the gal across the hall - Irene. Asta the dog figures prominently in the proceedings. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028597/
The Sweetest Thing (2002) Cameron Diaz, Christina Applegate, Selma Blair, Thomas Jane. This film is a stain on all their careers. Unpleasant and not funny. 3/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0253867/
The Sum Of All Fears (2002) Ben Affleck is Jack Ryan saving the country from nuclear war with Russia. With Morgan Freenman and Liev Schreiber, it is not as suspenseful as the other Ryan stories. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0164184/
NCIS (2004) DVD Disc 3 of first season 2003. Episodes 9-12. Mark Harmon leads his team of investigators to various crime scenes involving the body of navy service people. Fine cast and writing. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364845/
Rumor Has It (2005) Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Costner, Shirley MacLaine update the characters in "The Graduate." Rumor has it that this film is kind of a bore. 5/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0398375/
RV (2006) Robin Williams takes his family on a road rip in a huge RV that he has no idea how to drive, nor use all its' facilities. Some funny scenes, but overall the tone is condescending and sometimes meanspirited. If you think it is funny watching a long scene of emptying the sewer line and the incompetant Williams being covered in feces - this is for you. I indured the rest of the film, but was not amused. Some fun music, beautiful scenery so 5/10. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0449089/
Eagle Eye (2008) Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan run around with the all seeing eye keeping them under control. Plot has a point but I was so confused I gave up trying to keep track of what was going on. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1059786/maindetails
Highlight of the week:
The Duchess (2008) Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Hayley Atwell. I got the DVD rental and watched The Duchess New Years eve. Love all the costumes and set decoration. The story is another of the films showing the real life of upper class women in those days. Both the Duchess(Keira Knightley) and her friend/rival, Bess Foster(Atwell) were at the mercy of the men in their lives. Her life was dictated by what a man, the Duke(Fiennes) wanted - a male heir. Lower class women were alsoat the mercy of fathers and/or husbands, and also drudges, and could be turned out on the streets at any time. The church condoned it all.And it makes me crazy to hear that crazy blonde conservative bimbo writer say women should never have been given the vote! Yeah, just take us back to the good ole 1700's. We had it made then. NOT!!Anyway I thought the point-of-view was right on, and Keira did a fine job or showing the bottled up rage the Duchess had to keep corked. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0864761/
I have been collecting all the top 10 and other 'best films or 2008' lists. I admit not many films got me out of the house and into the theater this year and the number seems to fall every year. But one that I liked very much is making some lists - "RockNRolla." Guy Ritchie has made a very funny ensemble film with a top notch cast.
Some of the films on these lists I will never see. Others I will rent and others watch when they come on a TV channel. There is always another year and more films coming. And all the classics and favorites from past years to enjoy again.
On to the New Year!
It Happened One Night (1934) Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert. Won all the top Oscars of it's year. One of the only romantic comedies to ever win. Story of the heiress running away from meddlesome father and getting on a bus, helped along by newspaper man wanting an exclusive story. The leads make it better than it is and it's still charming after all these years. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025316/
The Awful Truth (1937) Irene Dunne & Cary Grant in one of the first screwball comedies. They are a married couple who are 'fooling around' on each other and end up in divorce court. How they get back together is the story. Ralph Bellamy does his 2nd banana routine or a Texas rancher who comes to NYC with Mama, and falls for the gal across the hall - Irene. Asta the dog figures prominently in the proceedings. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028597/
The Sweetest Thing (2002) Cameron Diaz, Christina Applegate, Selma Blair, Thomas Jane. This film is a stain on all their careers. Unpleasant and not funny. 3/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0253867/
The Sum Of All Fears (2002) Ben Affleck is Jack Ryan saving the country from nuclear war with Russia. With Morgan Freenman and Liev Schreiber, it is not as suspenseful as the other Ryan stories. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0164184/
NCIS (2004) DVD Disc 3 of first season 2003. Episodes 9-12. Mark Harmon leads his team of investigators to various crime scenes involving the body of navy service people. Fine cast and writing. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364845/
Rumor Has It (2005) Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Costner, Shirley MacLaine update the characters in "The Graduate." Rumor has it that this film is kind of a bore. 5/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0398375/
RV (2006) Robin Williams takes his family on a road rip in a huge RV that he has no idea how to drive, nor use all its' facilities. Some funny scenes, but overall the tone is condescending and sometimes meanspirited. If you think it is funny watching a long scene of emptying the sewer line and the incompetant Williams being covered in feces - this is for you. I indured the rest of the film, but was not amused. Some fun music, beautiful scenery so 5/10. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0449089/
Eagle Eye (2008) Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan run around with the all seeing eye keeping them under control. Plot has a point but I was so confused I gave up trying to keep track of what was going on. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1059786/maindetails
Highlight of the week:
The Duchess (2008) Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Hayley Atwell. I got the DVD rental and watched The Duchess New Years eve. Love all the costumes and set decoration. The story is another of the films showing the real life of upper class women in those days. Both the Duchess(Keira Knightley) and her friend/rival, Bess Foster(Atwell) were at the mercy of the men in their lives. Her life was dictated by what a man, the Duke(Fiennes) wanted - a male heir. Lower class women were alsoat the mercy of fathers and/or husbands, and also drudges, and could be turned out on the streets at any time. The church condoned it all.And it makes me crazy to hear that crazy blonde conservative bimbo writer say women should never have been given the vote! Yeah, just take us back to the good ole 1700's. We had it made then. NOT!!Anyway I thought the point-of-view was right on, and Keira did a fine job or showing the bottled up rage the Duchess had to keep corked. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0864761/
I have been collecting all the top 10 and other 'best films or 2008' lists. I admit not many films got me out of the house and into the theater this year and the number seems to fall every year. But one that I liked very much is making some lists - "RockNRolla." Guy Ritchie has made a very funny ensemble film with a top notch cast.
Some of the films on these lists I will never see. Others I will rent and others watch when they come on a TV channel. There is always another year and more films coming. And all the classics and favorites from past years to enjoy again.
On to the New Year!
January 01, 2009
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