Guns, drama, comedy, etc....

Dark Victory (1939) Bette Davis, George Brent, Geraldine Fitzgerald. Davis always claimed this was her favorite film. It was THE 'matinee ladies" film. Story of a rich playgirl who has a brain tumor. Great doctor operates, but can't give her more than 6 months to a year to live. Davis has never looked better. And the story is well done by all of the cast. And those last scenes - well, I can't help it - I always have tears. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031210/

Now, Voyager (1942) Bette Davis, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Gladys Cooper. Now THIS is my favorite Davis film. Story of an upper crust, Boston middle aged woman, Miss Charlotte Vale, who is so dominated by her rigid mother she is tightly wound. Her sister-in-law brings a doctor to meet the family and Charlotte. After she breaks down, and is sent to his retreat for a few months, it is arranged for her to take another woman's passage on a cruise where she meets the handsome, Jerry Durrance. His attentions bring her out of her shell and they eventually fall in love. Her transformation when she returns home shocks the entire Vale clan. Her mother most of all. Davis, standing at the top of the gangplank in her white picture hat, slender, and mysterious to the other passengers, is an iconic film moment. As is the lighting of 2 cigarettes at the same time, by Henreid. 67 years later, people are still discovering the magic. All the performances are marvelous and with the lush musical score by the great Max Steiner, this film is definitely a 10/10. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035140/

Mr. Soft Touch (1947) Glenn Ford, Evelyn Keyes, John Ireland, Buelah Bondi, Percy Kilbride. One of Glenn Ford's programmers made for Columbia, where he was under contract. It is a sort of noir, with the male lead playing a sort of gangster. But as these films go, he is a changed man by 'the end.' Story involves guy needing a hideout for 48 hours in order to get away with a large amount of loot. He finds the perfect place, a settlement house, run by social worker, Keyes. Set in the Christmas season, this should have been a holiday classic, but fails to draw us in to that world with the story, the score or cinematography. Still, the stars are charming. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041663/

Advise & Consent (1962) Watching this again after many years, I found I was so disappointed. It was boring. I don't remember thinking that back when it first came out. It was a great book, and made into what was supposed to be a top film of the year. Maybe I am just burned out on scandals, intrigue, double-dealing, etc. It is all still with us today and in the headlines. So this story just seemed too familiar to have any real suspense or excitement. Some marvelous actors doing good work, but I was less than interested. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055728/

Revolver (2005) Guy Ritchie gangster film starring Jason Statham, Ray Liotta and an actor that I am following - Mark Strong. The story is of gangsters, gamblers, and double and triple crosses. Plot is so confused, it is hard to make sense of, but who cares. The actors are fun to watch be mean and nasty. And Strong is always good to watch. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365686/

Shooter (2007) Mark Wahlberg, Danny Glover, Michael Pena. Another story of a trained assassin brought out of retirement to figure out how the President will be targeted and killed by a long range shooter. Of course, it is a setup and the rest of the film is trying to figure out who is doing it and why. What I liked was the FBI agent (Pena), sorting through the mess and figuring out who is the good guy. Cast does a credible job, but the story is so jumbled up and finally it is all about explosions. Lots of explosions. If that does it for you, you'll like this one. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822854/

Nights In Rodanthe (2008) Diane Lane, Richard Gere, Christopher Meloni, Viola Davis, Scott Glenn. What a house! What a beach! So, you have problems? Will this make you feel better? Nights in Rodanthe will make your heart sing and the story is secondary. The beauty of the setting, the lead actors, the score - are all that's needed by romantics to have a delicious 2 hours. Will these two actors ever be ordinary? A really good visit with old friends. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0956038/

The Ugly Truth (2009) Went to see this again to try to catch dialog drowned out by laughing on opening day. This time there were so few of us in the theater I was able to hear it all. Just a delightful, naughty romp with two incredibly gorgeous people. Gerard Butler and Katherine Heigl seem to be having fun, so we do to. The drive up through the foothills of the mountains and the picnic scene, is beautifully shot. The salsa dance between Butler and Heigl looks like they were having a really good time and are pretty good dancers. For what it is - a summer comedy - it is well done. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1142988/

I am now up-to-date on my movies and comments. Whew. When summer patio and garden time interfers with my movies, I feel like I'm in a crisis. Hahaha! What will come next?