I watched these films recently:
In Gay Madrid (1930) Ramon Navarro, Dorothy Jordan. Story of a wastrel nobleman's son who is sent to a small village to straighten him out where he falls for the local belle. It is a rocky road to true love. Along the way we have songs and waltzes and duels. Very dated but it is short as were so many early films. The leads were very attractive and I can see why Navarro was a matinee' idol. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0020997/
Love In The Rough (1930) Robert Montgomery, Dorothy Jordan. Another early pre-code film where they just throw in songs and dancing and comic routines at random places. I guess to see what worked. Bob is cute and I can see why my Mom and her girlfriends were crazy about him. But he is very different from the mature guy who was a Presidents communications director. This script is about golf, for heavens sake, and the men who play it, and OMG, the girls who play too, and every once in a while, they all stop for a routine of some sort. LOL 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0021100/
Cabin In The Cotton (1932) Bette Davis, Richard Barthelmess, Dorothy Jordan. Plantation workers, the company store, child labor in the fields, class and economic discrimination. It's all here in a story of the share croppers son, who gets educated and climbs up the ladder or the rich owners company. He is torn between his friends and family and their needs and the family of the owner, especially the daughter who flirts and sweet talks him into doing her will. Much to ponder and also has Bette saying her famous line: "I'd like ta kiss ya, but I jes washed mah hair." Makes no sense, but she was vamping the country boy. 7/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022735/
Stingaree (1934) Irene Dunne, Richard Dix, Mary Boland, Andy Devine. Set in Australia, the plot is about a bandit who becomes enamored of poor relation of Boland, who fancies herself a gifted singer. She has a musical evening so she has can sing for a visiting composer, and the bandit who has heard the girl sing, arranges for her to have a chance too. The composer is interested in helping the girl and arranges for her to begin her studies and then tour the worlds stages singing. The songs and staging of the numbers are okay, but the plot and elements of the production are mediocre. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025833/
Topper (1937) Cary Grant, Constance Bennett, Roland Young(Oscar nominee), Billie Burke. Great cast in film about ghosts. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029682/
Suspicion (1941) Cary Grant, Joan Fontaine. Hitchcock directs for Selznick. Some wicked battles, I've read, between the two titans, Hitch and DOS. Commented on previously. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034248/
Mr. Lucky (1943) Cary Grant, Lorraine Day, Charles Bickford. Cary is a cad and only in the end does he redeem himself. Which begs the question whether there was interference to made the film more upbeat. He can be the charmer who turns the knife or breaks a heart with the best of them. Here he is a gambling ship owner who needs a front to use for one big night to score a lot of money and leave with all the proceeds. So he hooks up with a group of women raising money for war relief. He woos the beautiful, rich leader of the organization, and we think he is falling too, but he does a switcheroo - or does he. A favorite Grant film for me, along with Suspicion. He should have gone all the way and done a real villain. He was real and good at it. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036174/
Christmas In Connecticut (1945) Barbara Stanwyke, Dennis Morgan, Sydney Greenstreet, Reginald Gardiner, S. Z. Zakall. Charming holiday favorite commented on before. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037595/
Miracle On 34th Street (1947) Edmund Guinn, Maureen O'Hara, Natalie Wood, John Payne. Santa Claus comes to NYC to work at Macy's, Love this film. Every part is perfect. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039628/
It Happened On 5th Ave. (1947) Victor Moore, Gale Storm, Don DeFore, Ann Harding, Charles Ruggles. Script nominated for an Oscar, and it is clever. Moore is Aloysius T. McKeever, a gentleman bum, who moves into the vacant mansion of wealthy Michael O'Conner, when he leaves for his other home in VA. At the time of our story, Mikes daughter decides to leave school and shows up at the house. McKeever keeps collecting strays and before long the house is brimming with assorted characters. Plus, the owner(Ruggles) acting as a bum who is put to work, his estranged wife(Harding) also drafted to cook, and said daughter. She is sweet on the first guy brought into the house, Jim. He is a veteran who McKeever met in the park, where he was residing on a park bench. This motley crew sticks together through the holidays and we see them all around the big dining room table sharing a toast. This is a new Holiday film for me and I really enjoyed it a lot. I'm adding it to my December films list. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039502/
B. F. Daughter (1948) Barbara Stanwyke, Van Heflin, Charles Coburn. Polly (rich girl), meets Tom (poor professor) and they fall in love, marry against her papa's wishes. She tries to help on the sly cause hubby is proud, don't ya know, and won't be beholden to nobody. WWII comes along and creates further problems between our couple. B. F. tries to help but really can't understand what his daughter sees in Tom. And when he dies, Polly is devastated. A Matinee' Ladies film, with hankies needed. Back then. We are more hard-hearted and cynical now. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040141/
Come To The Stable (1949) Loretta Young, Celeste Holme, Hugh Marlowe, Elsa Lancaster. A favorite holiday movie, watched and commented on several years in a row. 9/19 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041257/
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
December 25, 2011
December 14, 2011
Powell, O'Brien, Babs, Loretta & Julia---
---star in the films I watched recently:
High Pressure (1932) William Powell, Evelyn Brent. We see promoter, fast-talking 'idea' man, Gar Evans(Powell) passed out in a saloon in the first few minutes of the story. His associates frantically try to get him sober and presentable so they can get him interested in promoting their latest scheme, artificial rubber made from sewage. They have the 'chemist' who discovered the process holed up in Brooklyn. After Gar gets his former fiance back on board as his receptionist in the lavish offices he promotes them into, and gets salesmen selling stock, problems start and it seems someone will end up in jail. Early pre-code film with speakeasy's, dives, dames, thugs, and assorted con-men, all on the make, and it makes a fast, funny film. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023007/
Slightly Honorable (1939) Pat O'Brien, Edward Arnold, Broderick Crawford, Ruth Terry, Claire Dodd. Pat is a lawyer, Crawford his lawyer side-kick, trying to get the goods on Boss Arnold who has his graft in anything and everything. When there are a couple of murders, there are clues leading to suspicion that O"Brien in involved. Night club singer Terry gets her nose into all Pats business, and he is annoyed but also flattered. She is only about 18 to his middle-age. Terry is very annoying, but maybe that is the way the director wanted her to play it. Not great, but a good little noirish mystery. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033062/
The Bishops Wife (1947) Loretta Young, Cary Grant, David Niven, Gladys Cooper, Monty Woolley. Yearly favorite. Grant is the answer to the Bishop's prayer. He says he is an angel. Loretta, the title character, is so lovely and the story so nice, it is a perfect way to start the Holiday season. The Bishops message at the church evening service, about "all the shining gifts" of the season, makes me tear up every year. And the boy choir's song is beautiful. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039190/
East Side, West Side {1949) Barbara Stanwyke, Van Heflin, James Mason, Ava Gardner. Barbara, Van and James in a melodrama about a philanderer, his wife, his lover and her new friend who helps get them out of a dilemma. Ava is spectacular in her fashions of the day. A super star in the making. The whole cast is wonderful in a film for the 'matinee' ladies. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041327/
The Pelican Brief (1993) Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington. A favorite Grisham book made into a satisfying film. Commented on previously. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107798/
Elizabeth I (2005 TVmini-series) Helen Mirren, Jeremy Irons. 2 parts. The story of the great queen in her middle years. Her favorite from her youth, Dudley, is still with her at the beginning and her adviser's who want her to marry to keep Spain and France from waging war. Well done version and Helen is wonderful, as usual. Irons is also. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0465326/
Counting down to Christmas Day...
High Pressure (1932) William Powell, Evelyn Brent. We see promoter, fast-talking 'idea' man, Gar Evans(Powell) passed out in a saloon in the first few minutes of the story. His associates frantically try to get him sober and presentable so they can get him interested in promoting their latest scheme, artificial rubber made from sewage. They have the 'chemist' who discovered the process holed up in Brooklyn. After Gar gets his former fiance back on board as his receptionist in the lavish offices he promotes them into, and gets salesmen selling stock, problems start and it seems someone will end up in jail. Early pre-code film with speakeasy's, dives, dames, thugs, and assorted con-men, all on the make, and it makes a fast, funny film. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023007/
Slightly Honorable (1939) Pat O'Brien, Edward Arnold, Broderick Crawford, Ruth Terry, Claire Dodd. Pat is a lawyer, Crawford his lawyer side-kick, trying to get the goods on Boss Arnold who has his graft in anything and everything. When there are a couple of murders, there are clues leading to suspicion that O"Brien in involved. Night club singer Terry gets her nose into all Pats business, and he is annoyed but also flattered. She is only about 18 to his middle-age. Terry is very annoying, but maybe that is the way the director wanted her to play it. Not great, but a good little noirish mystery. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033062/
The Bishops Wife (1947) Loretta Young, Cary Grant, David Niven, Gladys Cooper, Monty Woolley. Yearly favorite. Grant is the answer to the Bishop's prayer. He says he is an angel. Loretta, the title character, is so lovely and the story so nice, it is a perfect way to start the Holiday season. The Bishops message at the church evening service, about "all the shining gifts" of the season, makes me tear up every year. And the boy choir's song is beautiful. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039190/
East Side, West Side {1949) Barbara Stanwyke, Van Heflin, James Mason, Ava Gardner. Barbara, Van and James in a melodrama about a philanderer, his wife, his lover and her new friend who helps get them out of a dilemma. Ava is spectacular in her fashions of the day. A super star in the making. The whole cast is wonderful in a film for the 'matinee' ladies. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041327/
The Pelican Brief (1993) Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington. A favorite Grisham book made into a satisfying film. Commented on previously. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107798/
Elizabeth I (2005 TVmini-series) Helen Mirren, Jeremy Irons. 2 parts. The story of the great queen in her middle years. Her favorite from her youth, Dudley, is still with her at the beginning and her adviser's who want her to marry to keep Spain and France from waging war. Well done version and Helen is wonderful, as usual. Irons is also. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0465326/
Counting down to Christmas Day...
December 08, 2011
Inception, The Social Network, Salt----
---and other recent films I watched:
The Ultimate Gift (2006) Abigail Breslin, James Garner, Drew Fuller, Ali Hillis. Dysfunctional family of tycoon gathers to finds out who gets what. Only to learn the wastrel youngest son may get it all. But he discovers there are problems, and instructions by video, that he must overcome. Along the way he meets a little girl and her mother and they are his saviors. And he tries to be a good guy and help them. Nice Hallmark family film which is loaded with heartstrings pulls. Abigail is such a good little actress she does it easily. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482629/
Inception (2010) Leonardo DiCaprio, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Joseph-Gorden Levitt. When did the 3 name fad start? So sick of it. Doesn't make them more memorable, just annoying. Now that off my chest, the movie itself is pretentious nonsense. Takes itself way too seriously. Dreams and deep sleep and rapid eye movement and all that and getting back and - not - or something. It was a slog, but I stayed awake and got to The End and will stick it into my "never see again" list. Cinematography interesting but we never know what is amazing anymore, cause it can all be done on the computer. 6/10 cause they're all soooo earnest. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1375666/
Due Date (2010) Robert Downey, Jr., Zach Galifianakis. Peter and Ethan's excellent adventure. Not! I won't even list Michelle Monaghan because her only reason to be in this disaster is to grunt and scream in a fake birthing scene. I only wanted to slap both these nuts about every five minutes. I guess I'm just not into guy humor because this and Hangover are so lame I can hardly remember any of either. Jeez, who writes this stuff? Some of the scenery is pretty. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1231583/
Salt (2010) Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber. Extreme action in the mode of the Bourne films. But the heroine is the agent and we don't know for whom she works and if any of it is real until the last few minutes. The stunts are spectacular with our girl jumping from the tops of moving semi's on the freeway. Too silly, but why quibble - so are lots of action films. And is there some item in a contract for action films that says "car must be shown flipping over, end over end, and causing multiple other crashes?" Every darn film where there is a chase. Anyway, Angie babe is gorgeous, can pull off the mean and bad persona, and the film is fairly well put together. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0944835/
The Social Network (2010) Jesse Eisenberg. Is this one of the best of 2010? Why? It is annoying and the star is more so. I'm not that thrilled to know how Facebook began or who ended up screwing who out of how much money. And while my tribe do all belong to FB and show each other pictures, and plan holiday gatherings, I can go weeks without ever logging on. Knowing the little snots that began the whole thing does not make me love it. Hard to make geeks at keyboards interesting but they did a pretty good job. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1285016/
Unknown (2011) Liam Neeson, January Jones, Diane Kruger, Aiden Quinn. A biochemist and his wife arrive at the Berlin airport and take a cab to their hotel, where said Dr. Harris discovers he has left his briefcase with their passports, on the cart. So he jumps in a cab to return to fetch it, leaving his wife to register for their room. There is a terrible accident and he wakes up in a hospital after a few days and has trouble remembering things. And he has no identification. But he does know who he is and who his wife is. Proving it is difficult. Eventually, he gets the cab driver - Gina - to help him remember what happened from the hotel on, and why people want him dead. Very interesting action film and Neeson is good as usual. The usual car tricks and unbelievable accidents in which the actors characters survive. But it is fun and so --- 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1401152/
Lucas Davenport: Certain Prey (2011/TV) Mark Harmon as Minneapolis Deputy Police Chief, Lucas Davenport goes after a couple of very bad ladies who murder and think they have gotten away with it. I love Mark as 'the boss' Jethro Gibbs in NCIS and watch and rewatch the series. If this is Marks new series it will be another that I will watch. His world weary Lucas is just the ticket. I thought the two female leads were very good, and were evil enough. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1864461/
The Adjustment Bureau (2011) Matt Damon, Emily Blunt. A politician and a ballerina find each other and through mysterious forces are pulled apart. Then are reunited but it was not supposed to happen. This is something about fate, predestination or whatever. Love story was sweet, but the rest is mishmash of religion, sci/fi, etc. Can't say I would ever want to see it again. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1385826/
Finally caught up on commenting on films I have watched from the middle to November to December 6th. Now for my Holiday list and just relaxing with the ones I love.
Remember, we are the 99%. At least, I am!
The Ultimate Gift (2006) Abigail Breslin, James Garner, Drew Fuller, Ali Hillis. Dysfunctional family of tycoon gathers to finds out who gets what. Only to learn the wastrel youngest son may get it all. But he discovers there are problems, and instructions by video, that he must overcome. Along the way he meets a little girl and her mother and they are his saviors. And he tries to be a good guy and help them. Nice Hallmark family film which is loaded with heartstrings pulls. Abigail is such a good little actress she does it easily. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482629/
Inception (2010) Leonardo DiCaprio, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Joseph-Gorden Levitt. When did the 3 name fad start? So sick of it. Doesn't make them more memorable, just annoying. Now that off my chest, the movie itself is pretentious nonsense. Takes itself way too seriously. Dreams and deep sleep and rapid eye movement and all that and getting back and - not - or something. It was a slog, but I stayed awake and got to The End and will stick it into my "never see again" list. Cinematography interesting but we never know what is amazing anymore, cause it can all be done on the computer. 6/10 cause they're all soooo earnest. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1375666/
Due Date (2010) Robert Downey, Jr., Zach Galifianakis. Peter and Ethan's excellent adventure. Not! I won't even list Michelle Monaghan because her only reason to be in this disaster is to grunt and scream in a fake birthing scene. I only wanted to slap both these nuts about every five minutes. I guess I'm just not into guy humor because this and Hangover are so lame I can hardly remember any of either. Jeez, who writes this stuff? Some of the scenery is pretty. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1231583/
Salt (2010) Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber. Extreme action in the mode of the Bourne films. But the heroine is the agent and we don't know for whom she works and if any of it is real until the last few minutes. The stunts are spectacular with our girl jumping from the tops of moving semi's on the freeway. Too silly, but why quibble - so are lots of action films. And is there some item in a contract for action films that says "car must be shown flipping over, end over end, and causing multiple other crashes?" Every darn film where there is a chase. Anyway, Angie babe is gorgeous, can pull off the mean and bad persona, and the film is fairly well put together. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0944835/
The Social Network (2010) Jesse Eisenberg. Is this one of the best of 2010? Why? It is annoying and the star is more so. I'm not that thrilled to know how Facebook began or who ended up screwing who out of how much money. And while my tribe do all belong to FB and show each other pictures, and plan holiday gatherings, I can go weeks without ever logging on. Knowing the little snots that began the whole thing does not make me love it. Hard to make geeks at keyboards interesting but they did a pretty good job. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1285016/
Unknown (2011) Liam Neeson, January Jones, Diane Kruger, Aiden Quinn. A biochemist and his wife arrive at the Berlin airport and take a cab to their hotel, where said Dr. Harris discovers he has left his briefcase with their passports, on the cart. So he jumps in a cab to return to fetch it, leaving his wife to register for their room. There is a terrible accident and he wakes up in a hospital after a few days and has trouble remembering things. And he has no identification. But he does know who he is and who his wife is. Proving it is difficult. Eventually, he gets the cab driver - Gina - to help him remember what happened from the hotel on, and why people want him dead. Very interesting action film and Neeson is good as usual. The usual car tricks and unbelievable accidents in which the actors characters survive. But it is fun and so --- 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1401152/
Lucas Davenport: Certain Prey (2011/TV) Mark Harmon as Minneapolis Deputy Police Chief, Lucas Davenport goes after a couple of very bad ladies who murder and think they have gotten away with it. I love Mark as 'the boss' Jethro Gibbs in NCIS and watch and rewatch the series. If this is Marks new series it will be another that I will watch. His world weary Lucas is just the ticket. I thought the two female leads were very good, and were evil enough. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1864461/
The Adjustment Bureau (2011) Matt Damon, Emily Blunt. A politician and a ballerina find each other and through mysterious forces are pulled apart. Then are reunited but it was not supposed to happen. This is something about fate, predestination or whatever. Love story was sweet, but the rest is mishmash of religion, sci/fi, etc. Can't say I would ever want to see it again. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1385826/
Finally caught up on commenting on films I have watched from the middle to November to December 6th. Now for my Holiday list and just relaxing with the ones I love.
Remember, we are the 99%. At least, I am!
Kay Francis, Jane Greer, Myrna Loy----
---headline films I saw recently:
Jewel Robbery (1932) Kay Francis, William Powell, Helen Vinson. Charming jewel robber charms baroness out of her latest diamond ring and other trophies. Pre code charmer with two masters at the top of their game. Kay is gorgeous in the styles of the day. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023074/
Boy Meets Girl (1938) James Cagney, Pat O"Brien, Marie Wilson, Ralph Bellamy. Rapid fire dialog between Pat and Jimmy, playing idea men and script writers at a Hollywood studio. Waitress Marie wanders into an office with lunch for the boss, and becomes the focus of everyones concern when she says something about her baby. Complete ditziness and screwy, but the stars handle it so well, and so we go along for the ride. Short scene with Penny Singleton as a manicurist and Jimmy's pal Frank McHugh plays his usual flustered and put upon manager. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029940/
Ice Follies Of 1939 Joan Crawford, James Stewart, Lew Ayers, Lewis Stone. In 1939 the little towns, and even some larger ones in America, would not be on the circuit of The Ice Follies or any other ice show. This film would have been pretty fun for the price of admission for the whole family. The usual backstage plot of struggling act in small time shows trying to get ahead. Jimmy and Joan are married and he wants to produce their own shows. When they land in Hollywood, their car is hit by a guy who turns out to be the head man at a studio. He gives Joan his card. When they all are having a tough time, Joan goes to the studio and uses the card to get to the guy and is given a contract for some reason. That is the plot. Her star rises; his does too, but in different cities. Will they get together again? The final 15 minutes is an elaborate skating show number, supposedly in a film. It is in glorious technicolor. Louis B. Mayer's answer to 20ths Sonja Henie money makers. 20th never did a color picture for Henie. I believe it was 1945 and an Independent Film Co. "It's A Pleasure", released by RKO when she finally was in filmed in color. But Joan in her Snow White princess costume on a throne in the film within a film, is lovely. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031470/
Out Of The Past (1947) Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, Kirk Douglas, Rhonda Fleming. Favorite noir, with scene after scene near perfect for the genre. World weary Jeff has made a life as a gas station owner in a small town. His past catches up with him when henchmen for gangster Whit (Douglas) find him and bring him to his Lake Tahoe home. Whit's gal, Kathy (Greer) has gone missing with lots of his money. He wants Jeff to find her and bring her back. So Jeff heads to last known place she was seen, Mexico. He traces her to a small town on the coast and eventually they meet. And it is lust at first sight. The twists and turns of the story and the great cast, marvelous cinematography, and score, make this one just as perfect for my money, as they get. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039689/
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948) Myrna Loy, Cary Grant, Melvin Douglas, Reginald Denny, Louis Beavers. One of the best post WWII stories of a ad exec who decides to get out of NYC and build his dream house like millions of men after they got home from the war, but this guy just has a little more money. After all the problems, he says to his lawyer (Douglas), "what about all those guys who don't have $30,000 (an enormous amount for the average family back then). How will they be able to build a house?" Love this film, from it's "Zuzz-zuzz water softener" to Muriel's going into exact detail on each rooms color with the contractor, I lived or had relatives or friends who went through all the trials and tribulations. Wonderful film of the way it was. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040613/
Mr. Soft Touch (1949) Glenn Ford, Evelyn Keyes, Beulah Bondi, John Ireland. Nice romance with a noir touch. With a not so perfect guy who is running from cops and thugs because he robbed a guy who cheated him, and ends up at the local settlement home, with a sweet no nonsense lady in charge. With the fact that it is the week before Christmas and getting the tree decorated, the choir practiced, and so forth, this is a good film to start Holiday film watching. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041663/
Instant Love (1964 Brazil/ Pão de Açúcar ) Rhonda Fleming, Rosano Brazzi. Both stars went home before the last scenes were filmed because the production ran out of money and could not resolve the problems. So many years later, when Rhonda attended a showing, she was amazed they were able to use what had been filmed and make an ending that made sense. The color, the clothes and the music at the carnival is wonderful. Story of an American actress visiting a school chum in Rio, who falls for and marries a very traditional Brazilian male workaholic, who ensconces her in his plantation home with servants to wait on her, leaving her nothing to do. And he is gone for long hours every day. Bored out of her mind, she eventually has had enough and leaves, but through some plotting she gets her guy back by the end. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0353923/
Newer films are in my next post.
Jewel Robbery (1932) Kay Francis, William Powell, Helen Vinson. Charming jewel robber charms baroness out of her latest diamond ring and other trophies. Pre code charmer with two masters at the top of their game. Kay is gorgeous in the styles of the day. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023074/
Boy Meets Girl (1938) James Cagney, Pat O"Brien, Marie Wilson, Ralph Bellamy. Rapid fire dialog between Pat and Jimmy, playing idea men and script writers at a Hollywood studio. Waitress Marie wanders into an office with lunch for the boss, and becomes the focus of everyones concern when she says something about her baby. Complete ditziness and screwy, but the stars handle it so well, and so we go along for the ride. Short scene with Penny Singleton as a manicurist and Jimmy's pal Frank McHugh plays his usual flustered and put upon manager. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029940/
Ice Follies Of 1939 Joan Crawford, James Stewart, Lew Ayers, Lewis Stone. In 1939 the little towns, and even some larger ones in America, would not be on the circuit of The Ice Follies or any other ice show. This film would have been pretty fun for the price of admission for the whole family. The usual backstage plot of struggling act in small time shows trying to get ahead. Jimmy and Joan are married and he wants to produce their own shows. When they land in Hollywood, their car is hit by a guy who turns out to be the head man at a studio. He gives Joan his card. When they all are having a tough time, Joan goes to the studio and uses the card to get to the guy and is given a contract for some reason. That is the plot. Her star rises; his does too, but in different cities. Will they get together again? The final 15 minutes is an elaborate skating show number, supposedly in a film. It is in glorious technicolor. Louis B. Mayer's answer to 20ths Sonja Henie money makers. 20th never did a color picture for Henie. I believe it was 1945 and an Independent Film Co. "It's A Pleasure", released by RKO when she finally was in filmed in color. But Joan in her Snow White princess costume on a throne in the film within a film, is lovely. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031470/
Out Of The Past (1947) Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, Kirk Douglas, Rhonda Fleming. Favorite noir, with scene after scene near perfect for the genre. World weary Jeff has made a life as a gas station owner in a small town. His past catches up with him when henchmen for gangster Whit (Douglas) find him and bring him to his Lake Tahoe home. Whit's gal, Kathy (Greer) has gone missing with lots of his money. He wants Jeff to find her and bring her back. So Jeff heads to last known place she was seen, Mexico. He traces her to a small town on the coast and eventually they meet. And it is lust at first sight. The twists and turns of the story and the great cast, marvelous cinematography, and score, make this one just as perfect for my money, as they get. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039689/
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948) Myrna Loy, Cary Grant, Melvin Douglas, Reginald Denny, Louis Beavers. One of the best post WWII stories of a ad exec who decides to get out of NYC and build his dream house like millions of men after they got home from the war, but this guy just has a little more money. After all the problems, he says to his lawyer (Douglas), "what about all those guys who don't have $30,000 (an enormous amount for the average family back then). How will they be able to build a house?" Love this film, from it's "Zuzz-zuzz water softener" to Muriel's going into exact detail on each rooms color with the contractor, I lived or had relatives or friends who went through all the trials and tribulations. Wonderful film of the way it was. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040613/
Mr. Soft Touch (1949) Glenn Ford, Evelyn Keyes, Beulah Bondi, John Ireland. Nice romance with a noir touch. With a not so perfect guy who is running from cops and thugs because he robbed a guy who cheated him, and ends up at the local settlement home, with a sweet no nonsense lady in charge. With the fact that it is the week before Christmas and getting the tree decorated, the choir practiced, and so forth, this is a good film to start Holiday film watching. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041663/
Instant Love (1964 Brazil/ Pão de Açúcar ) Rhonda Fleming, Rosano Brazzi. Both stars went home before the last scenes were filmed because the production ran out of money and could not resolve the problems. So many years later, when Rhonda attended a showing, she was amazed they were able to use what had been filmed and make an ending that made sense. The color, the clothes and the music at the carnival is wonderful. Story of an American actress visiting a school chum in Rio, who falls for and marries a very traditional Brazilian male workaholic, who ensconces her in his plantation home with servants to wait on her, leaving her nothing to do. And he is gone for long hours every day. Bored out of her mind, she eventually has had enough and leaves, but through some plotting she gets her guy back by the end. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0353923/
Newer films are in my next post.
November 14, 2011
Liam Neeson & Helen Mirren - two greats---
---in good films my viewing wasn't total loss.
Well, here is what I have watched the past 2 weeks:
Tension (1949) Richard Basehart, Audrey Totter, Barry Sullivan, Cyd Charisse, William Conrad. A Pharmacist has a cheating wife. When he finds out, she takes off with the guy, and hubby decides to kill the guy, but devises a scheme to get away with it. He changes his appearance and moves to an apartment in another town. He meets his neighbor and they start a relationship so he has a change of heart. But his wife thwarts him and when he goes to tell them he is not going to bother them anymore, the other man is killed and it looks to the police like the husband did it. So, cop Sullivan has a puzzle to put together. Good 'B' noir and Totter makes a good femme fatale. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041954/
The Outlaw Josie Wales (1976) Clint Eastwood, Chief Dan George, Sondra Locke. Clint stars as the title character, and directs. He's minding his farm - out plowing - and his house and family are burned up. So he goes after them, relentlessly. Good ole western. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075029/
Les Miserables (1998) Liam Neeson, Claire Danes, Geoffrey Rush. The great Victor Hugo novel of a man imprisoned for stealing bread by breaking a store window, and the many years added to his sentence for escape attempts and other infractions, is well done especially by Neeson and Rush in the Valjean and Javert roles. Back in the ancient days, English teachers assigned this novel to students and many cheated their way through enough to get a grade. I however, loved it, and the story of good triumphant is still splendid. Here the film has been shortened and the Cosette thread made more prominent. Nevertheless, this is Neeson and Rushes film and they are fine. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119683/
Dracula (2000) Gerard Butler, Christopher Plummer, Justine Waddell. My annual Halloween film. It has gotten better as the latest howlfests have gotten worse. They threw a bunch of young actors in this film, and as far as I know the only one to become a star is Butler. As Plummer told and interviewer during the release publicity, he has a quietness and presence not usually seen in one to young and new to the business. Dracula, as Gerry plays him, is mesmerizing. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0219653/
Calendar Girls (2003) Helen Mirren, Julie Walters, Ciaran Hinds. A small village in England and the regular meeting of a ladies club. The usual speaker droning on about broccoli or something. Our two protagonists are bored to death. When the subject of the annual calendar comes up, Chris has a brain storm - they will do a nude version with themselves as the models. The rest is the actual taking the pictures and the consequences. Delightful, in all ways. Beautiful English countryside, and wonderful adventures for the middle - age, class,ect - after they are discovered by 'the media' and rushed off to Hollywood for a shoot and TV interviews. Mah-velous, darlings! 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0337909/
Flight Of The Phoenix (2004) Dennis Quaid, Giovanni Ribisi. Awful remake of the great Jimmy Stewart 1965 film. No one comes out of this without egg on their face. Some good shots of the desert, and okay version of the takeoff at the end, but the rest is truly forgettable. Which I have. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0377062/
Patriot Games (1992) Harrison Ford, Anne Archer, Thora Birch, Patrick Bergin, Sean Bean, Samuel L. Jackson. Based on Tom Clancy's novel and great character, Jack Ryan, a semi-retired CIA Analyst. He and his family are vacationing in London, when he, his wife and daughter, out sight seeing are caught by IRA terrorists in an assassination plot on a member of the Royal Family. Jack thwarts the attack, and one of the men is killed and his older brother captured. Bro vows revenge and the rest of the film is his attempts, which result causing a horrific auto crash on the freeway with wife Cathy and daughter, Sally, both severely injured. Jack comes out of retirement and goes back to the CIA and through long hours of work discovers where the group has gone - to a camp in North Africa. The final action scenes are filled with tension and by this time, we - like his wife - want Jack to destroy Sean, he is so awful. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105112/
Love & Other Drugs (2010) Anne Hathaway, Jake Gyllenhaal, Oliver Platt. A woman suffering from the onset of Parkinson's meets a wastral who is selling (or trying to) drugs by getting samples into Doctors offices. That's the set up. In order to like this film you have to like the two leads, and I did not. One is just awful and the other is annoying. But it is the story that is lame. Forget it. Which is what I did ten minutes after I turned it off. On top of that, it seems to be selling drugs because they are mentioned and shown all through the film. Is that what we are coming to? Just stay home and watch any network show and get you fill of advertisements. Much easier. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758752/
Going The Distance (2010) Drew Barrymore, Justin Long, Jason Sudiekis, Christina Applegate. They meet at a NYC bar and hit if off. But she is a grad student intern at a newspaper, and her time is just about up and she will have to return to San Francisco. He is a rep for a record company and doesn't really like his job. After a hot romance for her final 6 weeks in town, off she flies and they end up on the phone - a lot! Who is going to give up and move? Or - are they going to break up? For an R rated film, this is chock full of bad language, sex, lies and - no video tape. Since both leads are likeable (to me), I enjoyed their story. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1322312/
You know, I've had to watch a bunch of my favorites again, because nothing new has kept me glued to the TV. Why is that? I have rewatched: The Birdcage, Last Holiday, Breakfast Club, Dinner At Eight, Born Yesterday, Sex & The City 2, Here Comes Mr. Jordan, Mr. Skeffinton, and Now, Voyager; for the upmteenth times. Love them all and would rather see them in repeat that lots of stuff on my pay channels. What a thing to say!
I really can't think of any film that I'm looking forward to seeing, but maybe the previews of the holiday films will warm me up. Hmmm----
Well, here is what I have watched the past 2 weeks:
Tension (1949) Richard Basehart, Audrey Totter, Barry Sullivan, Cyd Charisse, William Conrad. A Pharmacist has a cheating wife. When he finds out, she takes off with the guy, and hubby decides to kill the guy, but devises a scheme to get away with it. He changes his appearance and moves to an apartment in another town. He meets his neighbor and they start a relationship so he has a change of heart. But his wife thwarts him and when he goes to tell them he is not going to bother them anymore, the other man is killed and it looks to the police like the husband did it. So, cop Sullivan has a puzzle to put together. Good 'B' noir and Totter makes a good femme fatale. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041954/
The Outlaw Josie Wales (1976) Clint Eastwood, Chief Dan George, Sondra Locke. Clint stars as the title character, and directs. He's minding his farm - out plowing - and his house and family are burned up. So he goes after them, relentlessly. Good ole western. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075029/
Les Miserables (1998) Liam Neeson, Claire Danes, Geoffrey Rush. The great Victor Hugo novel of a man imprisoned for stealing bread by breaking a store window, and the many years added to his sentence for escape attempts and other infractions, is well done especially by Neeson and Rush in the Valjean and Javert roles. Back in the ancient days, English teachers assigned this novel to students and many cheated their way through enough to get a grade. I however, loved it, and the story of good triumphant is still splendid. Here the film has been shortened and the Cosette thread made more prominent. Nevertheless, this is Neeson and Rushes film and they are fine. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119683/
Dracula (2000) Gerard Butler, Christopher Plummer, Justine Waddell. My annual Halloween film. It has gotten better as the latest howlfests have gotten worse. They threw a bunch of young actors in this film, and as far as I know the only one to become a star is Butler. As Plummer told and interviewer during the release publicity, he has a quietness and presence not usually seen in one to young and new to the business. Dracula, as Gerry plays him, is mesmerizing. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0219653/
Calendar Girls (2003) Helen Mirren, Julie Walters, Ciaran Hinds. A small village in England and the regular meeting of a ladies club. The usual speaker droning on about broccoli or something. Our two protagonists are bored to death. When the subject of the annual calendar comes up, Chris has a brain storm - they will do a nude version with themselves as the models. The rest is the actual taking the pictures and the consequences. Delightful, in all ways. Beautiful English countryside, and wonderful adventures for the middle - age, class,ect - after they are discovered by 'the media' and rushed off to Hollywood for a shoot and TV interviews. Mah-velous, darlings! 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0337909/
Flight Of The Phoenix (2004) Dennis Quaid, Giovanni Ribisi. Awful remake of the great Jimmy Stewart 1965 film. No one comes out of this without egg on their face. Some good shots of the desert, and okay version of the takeoff at the end, but the rest is truly forgettable. Which I have. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0377062/
Patriot Games (1992) Harrison Ford, Anne Archer, Thora Birch, Patrick Bergin, Sean Bean, Samuel L. Jackson. Based on Tom Clancy's novel and great character, Jack Ryan, a semi-retired CIA Analyst. He and his family are vacationing in London, when he, his wife and daughter, out sight seeing are caught by IRA terrorists in an assassination plot on a member of the Royal Family. Jack thwarts the attack, and one of the men is killed and his older brother captured. Bro vows revenge and the rest of the film is his attempts, which result causing a horrific auto crash on the freeway with wife Cathy and daughter, Sally, both severely injured. Jack comes out of retirement and goes back to the CIA and through long hours of work discovers where the group has gone - to a camp in North Africa. The final action scenes are filled with tension and by this time, we - like his wife - want Jack to destroy Sean, he is so awful. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105112/
Love & Other Drugs (2010) Anne Hathaway, Jake Gyllenhaal, Oliver Platt. A woman suffering from the onset of Parkinson's meets a wastral who is selling (or trying to) drugs by getting samples into Doctors offices. That's the set up. In order to like this film you have to like the two leads, and I did not. One is just awful and the other is annoying. But it is the story that is lame. Forget it. Which is what I did ten minutes after I turned it off. On top of that, it seems to be selling drugs because they are mentioned and shown all through the film. Is that what we are coming to? Just stay home and watch any network show and get you fill of advertisements. Much easier. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758752/
Going The Distance (2010) Drew Barrymore, Justin Long, Jason Sudiekis, Christina Applegate. They meet at a NYC bar and hit if off. But she is a grad student intern at a newspaper, and her time is just about up and she will have to return to San Francisco. He is a rep for a record company and doesn't really like his job. After a hot romance for her final 6 weeks in town, off she flies and they end up on the phone - a lot! Who is going to give up and move? Or - are they going to break up? For an R rated film, this is chock full of bad language, sex, lies and - no video tape. Since both leads are likeable (to me), I enjoyed their story. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1322312/
You know, I've had to watch a bunch of my favorites again, because nothing new has kept me glued to the TV. Why is that? I have rewatched: The Birdcage, Last Holiday, Breakfast Club, Dinner At Eight, Born Yesterday, Sex & The City 2, Here Comes Mr. Jordan, Mr. Skeffinton, and Now, Voyager; for the upmteenth times. Love them all and would rather see them in repeat that lots of stuff on my pay channels. What a thing to say!
I really can't think of any film that I'm looking forward to seeing, but maybe the previews of the holiday films will warm me up. Hmmm----
October 31, 2011
Titles in the A list and the b's---
The Glass Key (1942) Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, Brian Donlevy. Politicians and their fixers and dames. Good yarn in the hands of the pros. The top of the bill. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034798/
My Name Is Julia Ross (1945) Nina Foch, Dame May Whitty, George Macready. Fair suspense tale. Woman succures a job through an employment agency and goes to the home of the wealthy woman who hired her as a personal secretary. When she goes to sleep that night and wakes up and is told she is the daughter in law of the same woman, Mrs. Hughes. The son, Ralph, and all the servants try to convince her she has had a breakdown and really is Marian Hughes. She is kept in a licked room, with a window looking down to the rocky coast of the sea. How will she escape? Tightly scripted and well acted for a second feature on the bill. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037932/
Riff-Raff (1947) Pat O'Brian, Anne Jeffreys, Walter Slezak, Percy Kilbride. Confused story and dull acting by the cast. A "B" movie to fill the bill at the Bijou back in the day. Something about oil maps and the Canal zone. And a 'fixer' and assorted thugs and dames. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039772/
The Naked Jungle (1954) Charleton Heston, Eleanor Parker, William Conrad. I always liked Heston better as a man of the more recent times, as opposed to the biblical epics. This is a good old pot boiler, with repressed sex, fighting a force of nature - his bride - and the Marabunta...Nature's deadliest force, a column of army ants , 2 miles wide and 20 miles long. And it is headed straight for the plantation he spent 20 years carving out of the jungle. Well, it is going to be a fight to the death and who will win? Saw it in '54 and it still is a favorite - jes 'cause! 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047264/
Marnie (1964) Tippi Hedren, Sean Connery, Diane Baker, Louis Latham. Just about my favorite of the later Hitchcock films. Marnie steals money. Lots of money from lots of employers. Finally caught by Mark Rutland when she steals from his company, he has her trapped into marrying him or she will be turned over to the police. He is intrigued by her and also she is a babe. So he tries to figure her out on the honeymoon cruise. But she won't play. Such a sexy scene and what a kiss in Marks office while she is taking some off hours dictation. During a storm, she is so frightened he goes to comfort her and starting at her forehead and runs his lips down her entire face to her lips for a lingering kiss. Extreme closeup, Well! Talk about heat! Clothes on, no pawing and pulling at each other, but very sexy. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058329/
Emma (1996) Kate Beckinsale, Mark Strong, Samantha Morton. Made for TV the same year the Paltrow movie was shown in theaters. And the updated version Clueless was released in 1995. Do producers all have a brainstorm at the same time? This Emma is so sure of herself in the meddling she is doing with the life of her friend, and Mr. Knightley so right to dress her down for putting false hopes in the head of a "young woman of no connections and dubious lineage." Love Mark Strong as the older man who loves, and waits for the right time, to declare his love for his willful friend. The cast of English actors are all perfect in their Jane Austin world. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118308/
The Town (2010) Ben Afflect, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner. Rewatch. Commented on earlier. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0840361/
Date Night (2010) Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Mark Walberg. Suburbanites go into NYC for a dinner date and goes to a top restaurant where you book a table months in advance. Which they did not. Off to the side trying to decide what to do, a name is called over and over and no one answers. So they do. Big mistake. Even though they have a great meal, and lots of wine, they are confronted at the end of the meal by 2 men who ask them to come outside. Thinking it is management about the table they took they go willingly. But these guys are goons working for an outfit that wants the flash drive the couple they posed as have, and are in deep dodo to the boss. They get out of one mess after another and at the end when they collapse on their front lawn, safe again, we are glad. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1279935/
Greenberg (2010) Ben Stiller. I knew I probably would not like this film but since it won Independent Spirit Awards last year, decided to give it a try. Did. not. like. one. thing. about. it! Stiller is so annoying to me I almost quit at the half way point. A guy who has been in a mental hospital is house sitting at his brothers. He looks up his annoying friend. He has conversations and sex with his brothers assistant. She is also annoying. He has a party and it makes no sense. I wanted to scream. 5/10 and that is generous! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1234654/
My Name Is Julia Ross (1945) Nina Foch, Dame May Whitty, George Macready. Fair suspense tale. Woman succures a job through an employment agency and goes to the home of the wealthy woman who hired her as a personal secretary. When she goes to sleep that night and wakes up and is told she is the daughter in law of the same woman, Mrs. Hughes. The son, Ralph, and all the servants try to convince her she has had a breakdown and really is Marian Hughes. She is kept in a licked room, with a window looking down to the rocky coast of the sea. How will she escape? Tightly scripted and well acted for a second feature on the bill. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037932/
Riff-Raff (1947) Pat O'Brian, Anne Jeffreys, Walter Slezak, Percy Kilbride. Confused story and dull acting by the cast. A "B" movie to fill the bill at the Bijou back in the day. Something about oil maps and the Canal zone. And a 'fixer' and assorted thugs and dames. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039772/
The Naked Jungle (1954) Charleton Heston, Eleanor Parker, William Conrad. I always liked Heston better as a man of the more recent times, as opposed to the biblical epics. This is a good old pot boiler, with repressed sex, fighting a force of nature - his bride - and the Marabunta...Nature's deadliest force, a column of army ants , 2 miles wide and 20 miles long. And it is headed straight for the plantation he spent 20 years carving out of the jungle. Well, it is going to be a fight to the death and who will win? Saw it in '54 and it still is a favorite - jes 'cause! 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047264/
Marnie (1964) Tippi Hedren, Sean Connery, Diane Baker, Louis Latham. Just about my favorite of the later Hitchcock films. Marnie steals money. Lots of money from lots of employers. Finally caught by Mark Rutland when she steals from his company, he has her trapped into marrying him or she will be turned over to the police. He is intrigued by her and also she is a babe. So he tries to figure her out on the honeymoon cruise. But she won't play. Such a sexy scene and what a kiss in Marks office while she is taking some off hours dictation. During a storm, she is so frightened he goes to comfort her and starting at her forehead and runs his lips down her entire face to her lips for a lingering kiss. Extreme closeup, Well! Talk about heat! Clothes on, no pawing and pulling at each other, but very sexy. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058329/
Emma (1996) Kate Beckinsale, Mark Strong, Samantha Morton. Made for TV the same year the Paltrow movie was shown in theaters. And the updated version Clueless was released in 1995. Do producers all have a brainstorm at the same time? This Emma is so sure of herself in the meddling she is doing with the life of her friend, and Mr. Knightley so right to dress her down for putting false hopes in the head of a "young woman of no connections and dubious lineage." Love Mark Strong as the older man who loves, and waits for the right time, to declare his love for his willful friend. The cast of English actors are all perfect in their Jane Austin world. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118308/
The Town (2010) Ben Afflect, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner. Rewatch. Commented on earlier. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0840361/
Date Night (2010) Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Mark Walberg. Suburbanites go into NYC for a dinner date and goes to a top restaurant where you book a table months in advance. Which they did not. Off to the side trying to decide what to do, a name is called over and over and no one answers. So they do. Big mistake. Even though they have a great meal, and lots of wine, they are confronted at the end of the meal by 2 men who ask them to come outside. Thinking it is management about the table they took they go willingly. But these guys are goons working for an outfit that wants the flash drive the couple they posed as have, and are in deep dodo to the boss. They get out of one mess after another and at the end when they collapse on their front lawn, safe again, we are glad. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1279935/
Greenberg (2010) Ben Stiller. I knew I probably would not like this film but since it won Independent Spirit Awards last year, decided to give it a try. Did. not. like. one. thing. about. it! Stiller is so annoying to me I almost quit at the half way point. A guy who has been in a mental hospital is house sitting at his brothers. He looks up his annoying friend. He has conversations and sex with his brothers assistant. She is also annoying. He has a party and it makes no sense. I wanted to scream. 5/10 and that is generous! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1234654/
October 19, 2011
Lana Turner in A Life Of Her Own
A Life Of Her Own (1950) Lana Turner, Ray Milland, Tom Ewell, Louis Calhern, Ann Dvorak. A remake of 1939s "When Tomorrow Comes", is a story of a young woman from Kansas, who heads to NYC to find fame and fortune as a model. Which she does and then falls for a visiting copper mine owner from Montana. Complications ensue and Lana suffers, Milland suffers, but the best suffering is by Dvorak, in one of her last roles. The original story " A Modern Cinderella" was by James M. Cain, who also wrote The Postman Always Rings Twice, Double Indemnity, and Mildred Pierce. Lana wears beautiful '50s fashions and looks great, at least to me. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042677/
Cop Out (2010) Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan. Seann William Scott. Supposed to be a comedy but is not funny. Cop partners suspended for 30 days for something or other are taking a very rare baseball card owned by one to have it appraised so he can sell it to give his daughter a big wedding. Naturally there is a holdup and the card is taken with the rest of the loot. Much blundering around trying to get it back. Scott is stuck in some scenes annoying everyone - and the audience - repeating every word said by his target. By the end I was in a stupor. Don't encourage these people! 4/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1385867/
The American (2010) George Clooney. Really slow and mostly uninteresting story, to me anyway, of an assassin and his troubles. I could not relate to the character so it had nothing to hang on to. The cinematography of villages in the sun and cars on twisty roads, were pretty. That was it. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1440728/
Cop Out (2010) Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan. Seann William Scott. Supposed to be a comedy but is not funny. Cop partners suspended for 30 days for something or other are taking a very rare baseball card owned by one to have it appraised so he can sell it to give his daughter a big wedding. Naturally there is a holdup and the card is taken with the rest of the loot. Much blundering around trying to get it back. Scott is stuck in some scenes annoying everyone - and the audience - repeating every word said by his target. By the end I was in a stupor. Don't encourage these people! 4/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1385867/
The American (2010) George Clooney. Really slow and mostly uninteresting story, to me anyway, of an assassin and his troubles. I could not relate to the character so it had nothing to hang on to. The cinematography of villages in the sun and cars on twisty roads, were pretty. That was it. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1440728/
October 10, 2011
Lamour, Loy, & The Cats Meow---
Recently I watched:
The Hurricane (1937) Dorothy Lamour, Jon Hall, Mary Astor, C. Aubrey Smith, Raymond Massey, Thomas Mitchell. John Ford's The Hurricane is still marvelous film making. Story of the Polynesian sailor being mistreated by the French authorities and the effect his continued escapes from prison has on his sentence, is hard to take. But in typical Hollywood fashion, we get a somewhat happy ending. Lamour and Hall are beautiful to look at, and Astor is too. Mitchell does his usual drunken friend. Aubrey Smith is a good priest, and Massey a fine villain. And that storm! It's a doozy. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029030/
Another Thin Man (1939) William Powell, Myrna Loy, C. Aubrey Smith, Virginia Grey. The one with the baby birthday party thrown by the gangsters. Smith shouts all his lines and is very annoying. But 'Mommy' Loy and Powell are great, as usual. I watch it whenever it is on TCM and it is in my permanent collection. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031047/
The Cats Meow (2001) Kirsten Dunst, Edward Herrmann, Cary Elwes, Eddie Izzard, Jennifer Tilly. William Hearst, Marion Davies, Charlie Chaplin, Louella Parsons, and assorted other names in 1924 Hollywood go on a yachting holiday where someone is shot. It's the Jazz Age and these are careless and rich and empty people, spoiled by the adulation of the times. Dunst as Davies is darling. Herrmann as Hearst is sad and a boor. Chaplin is a lecher. Parsons is a blackmailer and as annoying as she was into the 1940's when I used to listen to her on radio. The costumes, set decoration and wonderful songs of the score are just wonderful. Enjoyable. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0266391/
Black Swan (2010) Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel. A portrait of a bi-polar dancer's descent into madness. I'm not sure if the end is another of her delusions or is intended to be real. My feeling - the director wants us to interpret it as we will. The fantasies that seem so real to Nina are increasingly more terrifying to her. Her controlling Mother has tried to keep her daughter childlike and along with the pressures to be perfect as a ballerina, have driven her to seek escape. Portman is very good in the role and deserves her awards. The production values are first rate. More a tale of mental illness than a dancers story, I rate it an - 8/10. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0947798/
Wall Street (1987) Michael Douglas, Charlie Sheen, Martin Sheen, Daryl Hannah. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094291/
And;
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010) Michael Douglas, Shia LeBeouf, Carey Mulligan, Frank Langella. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1027718/
I watched these back to back on HBO. As we are benefiting from the great money men gambling with other peoples money and driving our whole system to bankruptcy, I thought it was timely to see how Oliver Stone updated his story. Not true. He ends his new version with everyone reconciled and, more or less, happy. Nothing about the wrecking of others lives. LaBeouf seems like a high school kid, so was not too believable as a shark. Douglas as Gordan Gekko, is perfect as a barracuda. As Larry The Liquidator says in "Other Peoples Money" "It's a game. Washington can change the rules, but we don't go away. We adapt and the game goes on." What a world. What a country.
Cast does well with the script in Money Never Sleeps, especially Langella. Mulligan is fine too, as Gekko's daughter, Winnie.
Not the hard hitting take on the gamblers of Wall Street I thought Stone would deliver.
The Hurricane (1937) Dorothy Lamour, Jon Hall, Mary Astor, C. Aubrey Smith, Raymond Massey, Thomas Mitchell. John Ford's The Hurricane is still marvelous film making. Story of the Polynesian sailor being mistreated by the French authorities and the effect his continued escapes from prison has on his sentence, is hard to take. But in typical Hollywood fashion, we get a somewhat happy ending. Lamour and Hall are beautiful to look at, and Astor is too. Mitchell does his usual drunken friend. Aubrey Smith is a good priest, and Massey a fine villain. And that storm! It's a doozy. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029030/
Another Thin Man (1939) William Powell, Myrna Loy, C. Aubrey Smith, Virginia Grey. The one with the baby birthday party thrown by the gangsters. Smith shouts all his lines and is very annoying. But 'Mommy' Loy and Powell are great, as usual. I watch it whenever it is on TCM and it is in my permanent collection. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031047/
The Cats Meow (2001) Kirsten Dunst, Edward Herrmann, Cary Elwes, Eddie Izzard, Jennifer Tilly. William Hearst, Marion Davies, Charlie Chaplin, Louella Parsons, and assorted other names in 1924 Hollywood go on a yachting holiday where someone is shot. It's the Jazz Age and these are careless and rich and empty people, spoiled by the adulation of the times. Dunst as Davies is darling. Herrmann as Hearst is sad and a boor. Chaplin is a lecher. Parsons is a blackmailer and as annoying as she was into the 1940's when I used to listen to her on radio. The costumes, set decoration and wonderful songs of the score are just wonderful. Enjoyable. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0266391/
Black Swan (2010) Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel. A portrait of a bi-polar dancer's descent into madness. I'm not sure if the end is another of her delusions or is intended to be real. My feeling - the director wants us to interpret it as we will. The fantasies that seem so real to Nina are increasingly more terrifying to her. Her controlling Mother has tried to keep her daughter childlike and along with the pressures to be perfect as a ballerina, have driven her to seek escape. Portman is very good in the role and deserves her awards. The production values are first rate. More a tale of mental illness than a dancers story, I rate it an - 8/10. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0947798/
Wall Street (1987) Michael Douglas, Charlie Sheen, Martin Sheen, Daryl Hannah. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094291/
And;
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010) Michael Douglas, Shia LeBeouf, Carey Mulligan, Frank Langella. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1027718/
I watched these back to back on HBO. As we are benefiting from the great money men gambling with other peoples money and driving our whole system to bankruptcy, I thought it was timely to see how Oliver Stone updated his story. Not true. He ends his new version with everyone reconciled and, more or less, happy. Nothing about the wrecking of others lives. LaBeouf seems like a high school kid, so was not too believable as a shark. Douglas as Gordan Gekko, is perfect as a barracuda. As Larry The Liquidator says in "Other Peoples Money" "It's a game. Washington can change the rules, but we don't go away. We adapt and the game goes on." What a world. What a country.
Cast does well with the script in Money Never Sleeps, especially Langella. Mulligan is fine too, as Gekko's daughter, Winnie.
Not the hard hitting take on the gamblers of Wall Street I thought Stone would deliver.
September 26, 2011
Favorites watched again; and fantasy sci/fi---
This week I visited some old favorites:
Rewatches:
Three Men & A Baby (1987) Tom Selleck, Steve Gutenberg, Ted Danson, Nancy Travis. After 24 years, it is still kinda nice and funny. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094137/
Elizabeth: The Virgin Queen (1998) Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Joseph Fiennes. Beautiful cinematography. Cate is great. Geoffrey - perfect. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0127536/
Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007) Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Clive Owen, Samantha Morton. Even better than No.1. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0414055/
It's Complicated (2009) Meryl Streep, Alex Baldwin, Steve Martin. John Krazinski. A favorite from 2009. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1230414/
Sex & The City 2 (2010) Sarah Jessica Parker. Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis. I don't care what anyone else thinks, I have fun watching the girls be nuts. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1261945/
New to me:
The Eyes Of Tammy Faye (2000/Doc) Tammy Faye Bakker Messner, Jim Baker, Roe Messner. I couldn't stand the Bakkers on their various shows, but this was interesting. Tammy is ridiculous, but she is serious about it. I actually ended up sort of sorry for her. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0233687/
The Fountain (2006) Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weitz, Ellen Burstyn. Strange, confusing film. It made no sense to me. Goes back and forth in time. The various scenes are beautiful, but what does it all mean? Hard to tell. Aronofsky has made a swamp of a film, hard slogging through the muck. Rachel looks luminous! 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0414993/
The Fourth Kind (2009) Mila Jovovich, Will Patton, Charlotte Milchard. Story about alien abductions in Alaska, involving a woman whose husband was working with people who think they had been taken away. When he dies, she takes over and the film is about her taping these conversations. Then something happens and she is suspected of causing troubles. Very disturbing film. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1220198/
Hereafter (2011) Matt Damon, Cecile De France, McLaren twins. Three people's stories, who have experiences with near death. A woman is caught in a tsunami and when she is finally pulled out is just barely brought back. A twin boy cannot give up wanting to have some contact with his dead brother, and goes to many different charlatans who say they can do it for him. A man who has flashes of visions when he holds the hands of another person, seeing what will or has happened to them. All 3 end up having contact with each other by the end. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1212419/
Well, I think I've had my fill of sci/fi for a while. Need to get out some favorite comedies.
Rewatches:
Three Men & A Baby (1987) Tom Selleck, Steve Gutenberg, Ted Danson, Nancy Travis. After 24 years, it is still kinda nice and funny. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094137/
Elizabeth: The Virgin Queen (1998) Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Joseph Fiennes. Beautiful cinematography. Cate is great. Geoffrey - perfect. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0127536/
Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007) Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Clive Owen, Samantha Morton. Even better than No.1. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0414055/
It's Complicated (2009) Meryl Streep, Alex Baldwin, Steve Martin. John Krazinski. A favorite from 2009. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1230414/
Sex & The City 2 (2010) Sarah Jessica Parker. Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis. I don't care what anyone else thinks, I have fun watching the girls be nuts. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1261945/
New to me:
The Eyes Of Tammy Faye (2000/Doc) Tammy Faye Bakker Messner, Jim Baker, Roe Messner. I couldn't stand the Bakkers on their various shows, but this was interesting. Tammy is ridiculous, but she is serious about it. I actually ended up sort of sorry for her. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0233687/
The Fountain (2006) Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weitz, Ellen Burstyn. Strange, confusing film. It made no sense to me. Goes back and forth in time. The various scenes are beautiful, but what does it all mean? Hard to tell. Aronofsky has made a swamp of a film, hard slogging through the muck. Rachel looks luminous! 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0414993/
The Fourth Kind (2009) Mila Jovovich, Will Patton, Charlotte Milchard. Story about alien abductions in Alaska, involving a woman whose husband was working with people who think they had been taken away. When he dies, she takes over and the film is about her taping these conversations. Then something happens and she is suspected of causing troubles. Very disturbing film. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1220198/
Hereafter (2011) Matt Damon, Cecile De France, McLaren twins. Three people's stories, who have experiences with near death. A woman is caught in a tsunami and when she is finally pulled out is just barely brought back. A twin boy cannot give up wanting to have some contact with his dead brother, and goes to many different charlatans who say they can do it for him. A man who has flashes of visions when he holds the hands of another person, seeing what will or has happened to them. All 3 end up having contact with each other by the end. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1212419/
Well, I think I've had my fill of sci/fi for a while. Need to get out some favorite comedies.
September 22, 2011
The Depression Era and-----
You Can't Take It With You (1938) Jean Arthur, James Stewart, Lionel Barrymore, Spring Byington, Ann Miller, Edward Arnold.
Capra Corn, but for this old gal, I love the memories it jogs - of dinner tables with lots of relatives; men out of work doing crazy hobbies in the basement; and the mean, greedy people who never go away. When I was a very small child, my Dad had been ill and was put on disabled status at the post office (no pay check). Before he was reinstated in 1939, we had lived with his sister in a big ole 3 story house, because Uncle Frank was one of the only members of the clan - inlaws or ourlaws - who had a paying job in 1935. I was 3 and remember those grownups who didn't go to work or kids to school, in the morning, cleaned up the breakfast things and had a bridge game going that people sat in on when they were home. I guess it went on for weeks. I also remember the grownups turning on the radio and dancing; or listening to FDR. It was a group of people who were putting their faith in FDR, and never lost it even during war. This film with the speech by Lionel about not paying taxes because the government wasn't worth anything, would not have been liked by most of our family back in those days. I can remember my Dad's youngest sister finally got a good job as a teacher at a business school, and how proud she was of the SS # and deduction on her first check. That is the story told anyway! So, for anyone wanting a fun view of a house, that I'm sure was modeled on those the filmmakers and writers knew first hand, this is a good one and is only somewhat exaggerated. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030993/
In that big ole Victorian house that I finally re-found about 15 years ago, all those people were doing the best they could - there WERE NO JOBS! We had 2 classes - the very, very rich (ala Stewart's family in the film) and the very poor - the ones called 'socialists' by some - the Vanderhofs. Dare I say we are heading in the direction of the poor and the disgustingly rich again?
It is almost too late to talk to people who lived through those years. And lots of us don't like to tell people we were scared and didn't know if we would make it through another winter. You see, we had to buy coal and lots of people, my family among them, would have to go to a loan-shark to get through the winter. And I do remember that very well. I was 7 and getting the load of coal was a highlight of our fall season. LOL And the discussions and arguments over what should be done. And always money was uppermost in most discussions. Ah! The good ole days. Pardon me while I laugh until I cry.
Capra Corn, but for this old gal, I love the memories it jogs - of dinner tables with lots of relatives; men out of work doing crazy hobbies in the basement; and the mean, greedy people who never go away. When I was a very small child, my Dad had been ill and was put on disabled status at the post office (no pay check). Before he was reinstated in 1939, we had lived with his sister in a big ole 3 story house, because Uncle Frank was one of the only members of the clan - inlaws or ourlaws - who had a paying job in 1935. I was 3 and remember those grownups who didn't go to work or kids to school, in the morning, cleaned up the breakfast things and had a bridge game going that people sat in on when they were home. I guess it went on for weeks. I also remember the grownups turning on the radio and dancing; or listening to FDR. It was a group of people who were putting their faith in FDR, and never lost it even during war. This film with the speech by Lionel about not paying taxes because the government wasn't worth anything, would not have been liked by most of our family back in those days. I can remember my Dad's youngest sister finally got a good job as a teacher at a business school, and how proud she was of the SS # and deduction on her first check. That is the story told anyway! So, for anyone wanting a fun view of a house, that I'm sure was modeled on those the filmmakers and writers knew first hand, this is a good one and is only somewhat exaggerated. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030993/
In that big ole Victorian house that I finally re-found about 15 years ago, all those people were doing the best they could - there WERE NO JOBS! We had 2 classes - the very, very rich (ala Stewart's family in the film) and the very poor - the ones called 'socialists' by some - the Vanderhofs. Dare I say we are heading in the direction of the poor and the disgustingly rich again?
It is almost too late to talk to people who lived through those years. And lots of us don't like to tell people we were scared and didn't know if we would make it through another winter. You see, we had to buy coal and lots of people, my family among them, would have to go to a loan-shark to get through the winter. And I do remember that very well. I was 7 and getting the load of coal was a highlight of our fall season. LOL And the discussions and arguments over what should be done. And always money was uppermost in most discussions. Ah! The good ole days. Pardon me while I laugh until I cry.
September 17, 2011
Fred & Ginger, Judy, Bogart---
Follow The Fleet (1936) Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Randolph Scott, Harriet Hilliard. On TCM. Bit parts by Lucille Ball and Betty Grable. Amazing that six years after this film, Betty was the top box office star in the country; and Lucy would be the top TV star in the 1950's. And cute Harriet would become part of The Ozzie and Harriet Show with hubby and their two sons, Ricky and David, which was another top TV show for years, 1952-66.
Music by Irving Berlin with the lovely song "Lets Face The Music And Dance" a standout. I've never been a fan of the sailor suit and don't like it on Fred, a guy who looks like he was born to wear a tux or tails. Story is usual guys getting girls; losing girls; and silly mixups. The role for Scott was all wrong. He is kind of a cad, but changes to a good guy by fade out. He is better as a strong, silent hero, IMHO. 7/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0027630/
The Harvey Girls (1946) Judy Garland, Angela Lansbury, Cyd Charisse, Virginia O'Brien, John Hodiak, A favorite musical. Watch often, this time on TCM. The Atchison, Topeka and Sante Fe number was shot in one take by Judy. Amazing. Of course, there were lots of rehearsals but it is still quite a feat. Judy, in her white apron carrying the guns across the dusty street to get the meat back after it was stolen is still one of my all-time faves. The big cowpoke that is bemused and gets everyone out of her way is a riot. The beautiful waltz that they "learnt way back east in Kansas City" always makes me laugh, being as we are the Heartland and center of the USA. A good time at the movies. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038589/
The Caine Mutiny (1954) Humphrey Bogart, Van Johnson, Fred MacMurray, Jose Ferrer, Robert Francis. From a very popular book by Herman Wouk, which won the 1952 Pulitzer Prize. I devoured it when I got my book club copy. It sold more books, $5 million world wide, than any novel except Gone With The Wind, up to that time. It spawned a play "The Caine Mutiny Court Martial" that was hugely successful on Broadway and toured the country for a year or so. Lloyd Noland played Capt. Queeg in the version I saw in 1953. It became a giant industry, and even spawned byproducts, e.g., the manufacture of "Queeg balls," modeled on the two steel bearings the Capt. rolls obsessively. All this info to underscore the importance of this film to people in 1954. The film gave Johnson, Bogart and MacMurray change or pace characters and enhanced their careers. The story of the rust bucket mine sweeper The Caine and its' crew and captain starts when the ship gets a new Commander and Ensign and joins a convoy in the Pacific Theater. Their job is to escort landing craft to the beaches during invasions. The crew and the officers realize Queeg has made some bad mistakes during gunnery practice and then their first escort duty. So when a storm makes the ship list so far they are afraid of foundering and sinking, 1st officer Maryk relieves Queeg of command, in effect a mutiny. All involved are arrested and indicted. It takes reluctant lawyer Greenwald to ferret out the real reason for what has happened. His speech to the group after the trial is the payoff and just feels good. Loved the book, the play and still think the movie is fine and dandy. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046816/
The A-Team (2010) Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Patrick Wilson. Hopelessly juvenile, but I had to watch because of Liam. He is just so darned good in any role handed to him. Follows the silliness of the TV series, and makes little sense, but that is not the point. Explosions, car chases and mayhem are what fans are paying for and it delivers. The guys are Army Rangers in Iraq who have had 80 successful missions. But the CIA comes and wants them to take on the recovery of the $100 bill plates that were stolen in the explosion at the end of their last mission, which they were tried for, and imprisoned. Double crosses and bad things happen. I stayed awake. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0429493/
Up In The Air (2009) George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman. A rewatch. This is a film about the worst part of corporate America. And the people who get paid enormous sums to do the dirty work. Very well done but a bit depressing. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1193138/
Cool, fall weather is already here with need for the comforter back on the bed, and sweaters and jackets for the mornings and evenings. Feels good after the long hot summer.
Music by Irving Berlin with the lovely song "Lets Face The Music And Dance" a standout. I've never been a fan of the sailor suit and don't like it on Fred, a guy who looks like he was born to wear a tux or tails. Story is usual guys getting girls; losing girls; and silly mixups. The role for Scott was all wrong. He is kind of a cad, but changes to a good guy by fade out. He is better as a strong, silent hero, IMHO. 7/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0027630/
The Harvey Girls (1946) Judy Garland, Angela Lansbury, Cyd Charisse, Virginia O'Brien, John Hodiak, A favorite musical. Watch often, this time on TCM. The Atchison, Topeka and Sante Fe number was shot in one take by Judy. Amazing. Of course, there were lots of rehearsals but it is still quite a feat. Judy, in her white apron carrying the guns across the dusty street to get the meat back after it was stolen is still one of my all-time faves. The big cowpoke that is bemused and gets everyone out of her way is a riot. The beautiful waltz that they "learnt way back east in Kansas City" always makes me laugh, being as we are the Heartland and center of the USA. A good time at the movies. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038589/
The Caine Mutiny (1954) Humphrey Bogart, Van Johnson, Fred MacMurray, Jose Ferrer, Robert Francis. From a very popular book by Herman Wouk, which won the 1952 Pulitzer Prize. I devoured it when I got my book club copy. It sold more books, $5 million world wide, than any novel except Gone With The Wind, up to that time. It spawned a play "The Caine Mutiny Court Martial" that was hugely successful on Broadway and toured the country for a year or so. Lloyd Noland played Capt. Queeg in the version I saw in 1953. It became a giant industry, and even spawned byproducts, e.g., the manufacture of "Queeg balls," modeled on the two steel bearings the Capt. rolls obsessively. All this info to underscore the importance of this film to people in 1954. The film gave Johnson, Bogart and MacMurray change or pace characters and enhanced their careers. The story of the rust bucket mine sweeper The Caine and its' crew and captain starts when the ship gets a new Commander and Ensign and joins a convoy in the Pacific Theater. Their job is to escort landing craft to the beaches during invasions. The crew and the officers realize Queeg has made some bad mistakes during gunnery practice and then their first escort duty. So when a storm makes the ship list so far they are afraid of foundering and sinking, 1st officer Maryk relieves Queeg of command, in effect a mutiny. All involved are arrested and indicted. It takes reluctant lawyer Greenwald to ferret out the real reason for what has happened. His speech to the group after the trial is the payoff and just feels good. Loved the book, the play and still think the movie is fine and dandy. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046816/
The A-Team (2010) Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Patrick Wilson. Hopelessly juvenile, but I had to watch because of Liam. He is just so darned good in any role handed to him. Follows the silliness of the TV series, and makes little sense, but that is not the point. Explosions, car chases and mayhem are what fans are paying for and it delivers. The guys are Army Rangers in Iraq who have had 80 successful missions. But the CIA comes and wants them to take on the recovery of the $100 bill plates that were stolen in the explosion at the end of their last mission, which they were tried for, and imprisoned. Double crosses and bad things happen. I stayed awake. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0429493/
Up In The Air (2009) George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman. A rewatch. This is a film about the worst part of corporate America. And the people who get paid enormous sums to do the dirty work. Very well done but a bit depressing. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1193138/
Cool, fall weather is already here with need for the comforter back on the bed, and sweaters and jackets for the mornings and evenings. Feels good after the long hot summer.
September 08, 2011
Colman, Lombard,MacDonald/Eddy, etc---
Films I have seen the last few weeks:
The Unholy Partners (1931) Ronald Colman, Fay Wray, Estelle Corbin. Colman plays his suave gentleman thief who is after a rumored fortune hidden by the blind father of our heroine. We are at a desert hotel in the middle of the Sahara, with a motley bunch of thieves, cutthroats and ne'er do wells. There is a plot to steal the blind mans fortune if they can find it. There is also a vamp who is trying to get Colman to give it up and come back to her. In the end he is off in an open car with his untrustworthy pal leaving his love, the money, and all problems behind. Okay look at early talky and one of the great speaking voices of the era. Wray was a doll. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022523/
Hands Across The Table (1935) Carole Lombard, Fred MacMurray, Ralph Bellamy, Whitey the Cat. Gal and guy meet and are attracted to each other, but are both broke. She is a manicurist at a snooty, posh hotel; he a former rich playboy that lost it all in the stock market crash. He is setting his sights on a rich pineapple heiress. Fine and dandy because Reggie has met a rich paraplegic ex-aviator Allen Macklyn, who has an eye for Reggie. She does his nails you see. How Reggie ends up with her broke playboy is a fun romp. And Reggie's cat Whitey is bored by it all, naturally. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026452/
Girl Of The Golden West (1938) Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy, Walter Pigeon, Buddy Epson. Story of young girl and boy who become central to each others lives across the years, but only meet after they are adults. A lovely song the young Mary sings around the campfire is overheard by bandits and their young orphan protege. These two grow up to be the bandit Ramirez, and 'girl' the owner of The Poker saloon, which she inherits from her grandpa. She is romanced by the sheriff Jack Rance, but she is not in love with him. The music from this film was all composed for it and is the only one of the duo's films that did not originate on the stage. It is entertaining and the music is first rate. 9/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030182/
Cry 'Havoc' (1943) Women on Bataan at the beginning of the Japanese takeover of the island. The army nurses are short staffed because of deaths and injuries and burnout. A group of women refugees from all over the island end up at this camp and are asked to stay and help out with what are called the 'dirty' jobs. A few do and this is a film about them and the two women officer/nurses who run this so-called hospital. This was when they were sure MacArthur would be able to rescue them. But as the weeks go on, it is obvious that is unlikely. They finally get official word that the island has fallen to the enemy. All the petty jealousies and conflicts are wiped away and the final scene is the two worst antagonists, arms around each others waists, going up the stairs to their fate. It would take two long years, but MacArthur finally returned. We don't know how many nurses and civilians survived. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035770/
Callaway Went Thataway (1951) Fred MacMurray, Howard Keel, Dorothy McGuire, Jesse White. Entertaining little film with Keel playing a duo role; Stretch Barnes / Smoky Callaway. Fred and Dorothy as Mike and Deborah, ad agents who buy up some old movies starring Smokey to put on TV. Overnight success. Have to find him. Do. But he has become a drunken womanizing bum. Quick. Hire a lookalike - Stretch. Introduced on TV and then a cross country personal appearance tour, escorted by Deborah. Falls for big lug. What happens next? Guess! Nice little film. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043371/
The Dead (1987) Angelica Huston, Dan O'Herlihy. Donal McCann. I confess, I do not understand the Irish sensibilities. This is the final film of great director John Huston, and some of his family - Tony (as the screenwriter) and Angelica (as main character Gretta Conroy) - are involved in the location filming in Ireland. The story is about a Christmas dinner party at the home of musician spinster aunts for various family and friends. Remembrance's bring sadness and Gretta seems heartbroken and her husband gets her to tell a long tale of her great love when she was a girl in Galway. That's about it. Since it is from a James Joyce story with this distinguished crew, some will automatically give it a thumbs up. It is barely interesting. Costumes and sets are good. But how those ladies and gents got up and down those snowy steps without breaking something is a mystery. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092843/
Murder at 1600 (1997) Diane Lane, Wesley Snipes, Daniel Benzali. How does a local D.C. homicide detective do his job when everything is off limits and/or redacted? His liaison with the White House secret service detail is agent Nina. But she is controlled by chief-of-staff Spikings and he is arrogant and unwilling to help in any way. Good thriller with people we want to win. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119731/
The long hot spell is finally over and we have lovely evening and mornings to be outdoors.
The Unholy Partners (1931) Ronald Colman, Fay Wray, Estelle Corbin. Colman plays his suave gentleman thief who is after a rumored fortune hidden by the blind father of our heroine. We are at a desert hotel in the middle of the Sahara, with a motley bunch of thieves, cutthroats and ne'er do wells. There is a plot to steal the blind mans fortune if they can find it. There is also a vamp who is trying to get Colman to give it up and come back to her. In the end he is off in an open car with his untrustworthy pal leaving his love, the money, and all problems behind. Okay look at early talky and one of the great speaking voices of the era. Wray was a doll. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022523/
Hands Across The Table (1935) Carole Lombard, Fred MacMurray, Ralph Bellamy, Whitey the Cat. Gal and guy meet and are attracted to each other, but are both broke. She is a manicurist at a snooty, posh hotel; he a former rich playboy that lost it all in the stock market crash. He is setting his sights on a rich pineapple heiress. Fine and dandy because Reggie has met a rich paraplegic ex-aviator Allen Macklyn, who has an eye for Reggie. She does his nails you see. How Reggie ends up with her broke playboy is a fun romp. And Reggie's cat Whitey is bored by it all, naturally. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026452/
Girl Of The Golden West (1938) Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy, Walter Pigeon, Buddy Epson. Story of young girl and boy who become central to each others lives across the years, but only meet after they are adults. A lovely song the young Mary sings around the campfire is overheard by bandits and their young orphan protege. These two grow up to be the bandit Ramirez, and 'girl' the owner of The Poker saloon, which she inherits from her grandpa. She is romanced by the sheriff Jack Rance, but she is not in love with him. The music from this film was all composed for it and is the only one of the duo's films that did not originate on the stage. It is entertaining and the music is first rate. 9/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030182/
Cry 'Havoc' (1943) Women on Bataan at the beginning of the Japanese takeover of the island. The army nurses are short staffed because of deaths and injuries and burnout. A group of women refugees from all over the island end up at this camp and are asked to stay and help out with what are called the 'dirty' jobs. A few do and this is a film about them and the two women officer/nurses who run this so-called hospital. This was when they were sure MacArthur would be able to rescue them. But as the weeks go on, it is obvious that is unlikely. They finally get official word that the island has fallen to the enemy. All the petty jealousies and conflicts are wiped away and the final scene is the two worst antagonists, arms around each others waists, going up the stairs to their fate. It would take two long years, but MacArthur finally returned. We don't know how many nurses and civilians survived. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035770/
Callaway Went Thataway (1951) Fred MacMurray, Howard Keel, Dorothy McGuire, Jesse White. Entertaining little film with Keel playing a duo role; Stretch Barnes / Smoky Callaway. Fred and Dorothy as Mike and Deborah, ad agents who buy up some old movies starring Smokey to put on TV. Overnight success. Have to find him. Do. But he has become a drunken womanizing bum. Quick. Hire a lookalike - Stretch. Introduced on TV and then a cross country personal appearance tour, escorted by Deborah. Falls for big lug. What happens next? Guess! Nice little film. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043371/
The Dead (1987) Angelica Huston, Dan O'Herlihy. Donal McCann. I confess, I do not understand the Irish sensibilities. This is the final film of great director John Huston, and some of his family - Tony (as the screenwriter) and Angelica (as main character Gretta Conroy) - are involved in the location filming in Ireland. The story is about a Christmas dinner party at the home of musician spinster aunts for various family and friends. Remembrance's bring sadness and Gretta seems heartbroken and her husband gets her to tell a long tale of her great love when she was a girl in Galway. That's about it. Since it is from a James Joyce story with this distinguished crew, some will automatically give it a thumbs up. It is barely interesting. Costumes and sets are good. But how those ladies and gents got up and down those snowy steps without breaking something is a mystery. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092843/
Murder at 1600 (1997) Diane Lane, Wesley Snipes, Daniel Benzali. How does a local D.C. homicide detective do his job when everything is off limits and/or redacted? His liaison with the White House secret service detail is agent Nina. But she is controlled by chief-of-staff Spikings and he is arrogant and unwilling to help in any way. Good thriller with people we want to win. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119731/
The long hot spell is finally over and we have lovely evening and mornings to be outdoors.
September 01, 2011
Denzel times two=entertainment--
---plus a musical:
Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (1954) Jane Powell, Howard Keel. Finally sat through the whole thing again and I still feel the same. It is a musical that I'm not fond of - too much rowdiness, jumping around. And the rough housing by the 'boys' gets on my nerves. That's the way I felt after watching it long ago and I haven't changed my mind. As for the music, I cannot remember one song and never hummed any of the melodies. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047472/
Much Ado About Nothing (1993) Denzel Washington, Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Kate Beckinsale, Keanu Reeves. William Shakespeare's rom/com of Hero and Claudio, soon to wed; and Beatrice and Benedict, barely able to tolerate each other. The mix ups and partings and discovery of the evil doer leads to one of the most joyful and lovely final scenes in a recent tilm. IMHO.
"Sigh No More": during the film; what a lovely courtyard and fountain! -- and song.
The joyful finale:
http://youtu.be/gMX0fxUZEwU
And the words:
Sigh no more, ladies, sigh nor more; Men were deceivers ever;
One foot in sea and one on shore, To one thing constant never; Then sigh not so, But let them go, And be you blithe and bonny;
Converting all your sounds of woe Into. Hey nonny, nonny.
Sing no more ditties, sing no mo, Or dumps so dull and heavy;
The fraud of men was ever so, Since summer first was leavy. Then sigh not so, But let them go, And be you blithe and bonny,
Converting all your sounds of woe Into. Hey, nonny, nonny.
Love this film! Not perfect - but it'll do! 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107616/
Unstoppable (2010) Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson. I can't help it - Denzel is fun to watch in most films. This one about a train that somehow the brakeman didn't get the automatic brake set, so it just lumbers along, is a real puzzle. How to get someone on board or something in front of it to stop it in time? Going across open country is one thing; but an urban center in coming up soon. How do the guys on the front lines convince the boardroom shirt and ties to let them alone to do their job? We get more and more tense as the time goes by. Whew! A mighty fine popcorn movie. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477080/
Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (1954) Jane Powell, Howard Keel. Finally sat through the whole thing again and I still feel the same. It is a musical that I'm not fond of - too much rowdiness, jumping around. And the rough housing by the 'boys' gets on my nerves. That's the way I felt after watching it long ago and I haven't changed my mind. As for the music, I cannot remember one song and never hummed any of the melodies. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047472/
Much Ado About Nothing (1993) Denzel Washington, Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Kate Beckinsale, Keanu Reeves. William Shakespeare's rom/com of Hero and Claudio, soon to wed; and Beatrice and Benedict, barely able to tolerate each other. The mix ups and partings and discovery of the evil doer leads to one of the most joyful and lovely final scenes in a recent tilm. IMHO.
"Sigh No More": during the film; what a lovely courtyard and fountain! -- and song.
The joyful finale:
http://youtu.be/gMX0fxUZEwU
And the words:
Sigh no more, ladies, sigh nor more; Men were deceivers ever;
One foot in sea and one on shore, To one thing constant never; Then sigh not so, But let them go, And be you blithe and bonny;
Converting all your sounds of woe Into. Hey nonny, nonny.
Sing no more ditties, sing no mo, Or dumps so dull and heavy;
The fraud of men was ever so, Since summer first was leavy. Then sigh not so, But let them go, And be you blithe and bonny,
Converting all your sounds of woe Into. Hey, nonny, nonny.
Love this film! Not perfect - but it'll do! 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107616/
Unstoppable (2010) Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson. I can't help it - Denzel is fun to watch in most films. This one about a train that somehow the brakeman didn't get the automatic brake set, so it just lumbers along, is a real puzzle. How to get someone on board or something in front of it to stop it in time? Going across open country is one thing; but an urban center in coming up soon. How do the guys on the front lines convince the boardroom shirt and ties to let them alone to do their job? We get more and more tense as the time goes by. Whew! A mighty fine popcorn movie. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477080/
Joan Blondell, Deanna Durbin, Linda Darnell ---
Three great stars and their films. This week I watched
Sinners Holiday (1930) Joan Blondell, James Cagney. Marked the movie debut of Cagney and it made him a movie star. He and Blondell had both starred in the stage play on Broadway, originally titled, "Penny Arcade." Al Jolson bought the rights and insisted that they repeat their performances in the movie version, although Cagney and Jolson never met in real life. The film was a hit and Cagney was called 'electrifying.' Story of gangsters, prostitutes, Penny Arcades, rum running and other assorted under belly of life at the time. A period piece to savor. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0021381/
Footlight Parade (1933) Joan Blondell, James Cagney, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell. Great musical, one of Busby Berkley's fantastic bests, "By A Waterfall" is amazing. "Honeymoon Hotel", "Shanghai Lil" and other number not so well known make this a fun film from start to finish. Just 4 years after the studios were thrown for a loop by "sound" Warners makes this entertainment, which it is from start to finish. I always sit with a goofy grin and just enjoy the heck out of it. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024028/
He Was Her Man (1934) Joan Blondell, James Cagney, Victor Jory. Cagney is "Flicker" Hayes a bad guy, and Joan is Rose, a bad girl. They end up on the lam in a fishing village in California. Our bad boy, stays bad, but our bad girl tries to be good. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025226/
Dames (1934) Joan Blondell, Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Zazu Pitts, Guy Kebbee, Hugh Herbert. About putting on a show and the rich man who decides it is immoral and his duty to get the "filthy" forms of entertainment off Broadway. Sound familiar? Fun to see Pitts, Kebbee and Herbert in top form here. Lovely song, "I Only Have Eyes For You" is used throughout, along with title song, and "Shuffle Off Too Buffalo." 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025028/
Nice Girl? (1941) Deanna Durbin, Franchot Tone, Robert Stack, Walter Brennan, Robert Benchley Small town girl falls for her fathers associate and gets in hair brained schemes, but all is well by the fade. Deanna sings "Love At Last," "Perhaps", and a lovely version of "The Old Folks At Home." Not her best, but worth it for the singing. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033950/
Fallen Angel (1945) Linda Darnell, Alice Faye, Dana Andrews, Charles Bickford, Percy Kilbride. A con man/gambler gets thrown off a bus in a small burg in California and walks into a diner with a gorgeous babe as the waitress. She is like honey to this hive of male bees and soon our drifter is scheming to get his hands on enough money to satisfy the babe. Enter the 'good girl' who lives in a big ole house with her sister and plays the organ in church and they are rich. He decide to woo and win the blond and her sis and after he gets his hands of their money - it is bye-bye. But! Murder rears it's ugly head when our waitress Stella ends up dead. And the drifter (Eric) is the chief suspect. But June (his new wife) is true blue and knows he didn't do it. Dark shadows and gloom seem to come from the screen. Otto Preminger directed this and the great "Laura" also with Andrews. They will always have a place in the film records because of these films. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037691/
Please Believe Me (1950) Deborah Kerr, Robert Walker, Peter Lawford, Mark Stevens. Alison Kirbe of London, receives a telegram from Texas, that she has inherited a livestock ranch. It She decides to go see about it and meets men all on the make, trying to swindle her or keep her from swindling their clients. Mixups and assorted shouting matches and so forth - and a happy ending at the fade. Not very funny and the cast seems bored. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042848/
North By Northwest (1959) Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, Jessie Royce Landis. James Mason. Alfred Hitchcock's very entertaining film about an ad exec who is mistaken for a spy by another group of spies and has a heck of a time because of it. The first hour is one of the best set ups for a suspense film ever. This poor guy is kidnapped, has whiskey poured down his throat, stuffed behind the wheel of a car and sent down a winding road overlooking cliffs and the sea. And that's just the first 15 minutes. It just keeps you on pins and needles about what jam he will get in next and how he'll survive. Lots of great famous scenes, all the stars seem to be having a great time, and it is all done very well. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053125/
Bride Wars (2009) Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway, Candice Bergen. Dreams of best friends from childhood about heir weddings go horribly wrong. Love the girlie's and their wedding dresses. Story and script lets all the cast down but it's fun anyway. Call me crazy, but I'd rather see pretty girls acting silly in pretty clothes as opposed to scruffy dirty looking guys belching, scratching, peeing, cussing. But that's just me. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0901476/
"And the days dwindle down to a precious few; September....
August 29, 2011
Only Angels Have Wings, The Phantom, 300, Conviction-----
---this week I watched:
Only Angels Have Wings (1939) Jean Arthur, Cary Grant, Rita Hayworth, Richard Barthelmess, Thomas Mitchel. Great cast in a story of the early attempt to set up a flying mail service in a South American port city. It is dangerous work because of the narrow passes through the mountains and horrible rain storms that come at a moments notice, along with lots of fog. Into this setting comes showgirl Bonnie, off a boat on her way back to the States. She is immediately smitten by Geoff, the fly guy in charge, and against her better judgement, decides to stay. Into this mix comes the MacPhersons, Bat and Judy. He is disgraced for having baled out on his mechanic, who was killed. But the number two man at this air field is the dead guys brother, the Kid, Geoff's best friend. More involved and more in depth insights than most films of its' day, every character has a small but telling scene and it all adds up to a terrific movie. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031762/
Phantom Of The Opera (2004) Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossom, Minnie Driver, Now bing shown on the Cinemax channels. I DVR'd it and watch a few minutes every day. An all-time favorite film. For me - 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0293508/
300 (2006) Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, David Wenham. Shown on TNT on the 20th, so watched it even though it was cut up badly.
Still, King Leo and the 300 are worth watching in bits and pieces - and the altogether. LOL 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416449/
Conviction (2010) Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Minnie Driver, Loren Dean. Based on a real story about a man (Rockwell) who is convicted of murder. His sister (Swank) works for 15 years to prove he is not guilty. Very intense and unnerving story. She gives up almost everything to become a lawyer so she can challenge the evidence in the case and get "The Innocence Project" lawyers to take up this case. She finally succeeds in getting the DNA evidence that had been taken but not given to the defence, and her brother is set free. The followup at the end of the film say she is still taking hopeless cases to this day. Hilary, Sam and Driver are excellent. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1244754/
Only Angels Have Wings (1939) Jean Arthur, Cary Grant, Rita Hayworth, Richard Barthelmess, Thomas Mitchel. Great cast in a story of the early attempt to set up a flying mail service in a South American port city. It is dangerous work because of the narrow passes through the mountains and horrible rain storms that come at a moments notice, along with lots of fog. Into this setting comes showgirl Bonnie, off a boat on her way back to the States. She is immediately smitten by Geoff, the fly guy in charge, and against her better judgement, decides to stay. Into this mix comes the MacPhersons, Bat and Judy. He is disgraced for having baled out on his mechanic, who was killed. But the number two man at this air field is the dead guys brother, the Kid, Geoff's best friend. More involved and more in depth insights than most films of its' day, every character has a small but telling scene and it all adds up to a terrific movie. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031762/
Phantom Of The Opera (2004) Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossom, Minnie Driver, Now bing shown on the Cinemax channels. I DVR'd it and watch a few minutes every day. An all-time favorite film. For me - 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0293508/
300 (2006) Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, David Wenham. Shown on TNT on the 20th, so watched it even though it was cut up badly.
Still, King Leo and the 300 are worth watching in bits and pieces - and the altogether. LOL 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416449/
Conviction (2010) Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Minnie Driver, Loren Dean. Based on a real story about a man (Rockwell) who is convicted of murder. His sister (Swank) works for 15 years to prove he is not guilty. Very intense and unnerving story. She gives up almost everything to become a lawyer so she can challenge the evidence in the case and get "The Innocence Project" lawyers to take up this case. She finally succeeds in getting the DNA evidence that had been taken but not given to the defence, and her brother is set free. The followup at the end of the film say she is still taking hopeless cases to this day. Hilary, Sam and Driver are excellent. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1244754/
August 20, 2011
Running Scared
Running Scared(1988) Billie Crystal, Gregory Hines, Dan Hedaya, Jimmy Smits. Buddy cop film extraordinaire. Two Chicago cops and their crazy way of doing their job makes a very funny and entertaining time at the movies. They are after drug dealers killing people and get into a mess when 2 undercover cops are outed by mistake. Off on a vacation ordered by their boss, Hedaya, they find themselves in Key West. Sunshine, babes, booze and they decide the good life is for them. They'll buy a bar! But first they have to finish the drug case and nab Smits the head guy. Love the bro-love and their one brain so they finish each other sentences. Hedeya is perfect as their boss being slowly driven crazy by them. Hines and Crystal make it fun, and the great chase segment that ends up on the Chicago El is outstanding. in Fact, Chicago is a star of the film too. Great shots of some of the old north side buildings. I keep a copy in my collection to watch every few years. This time Cinemax is showing it as a hot summertime treat. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091875/
August 16, 2011
The Good Girl, Life, etc---
The Good Girl (2002) Jennifer Aniston, Jake Gyllenhaul, John C. Reilly, Zooey Deschanel. At a super discount store romance and lust bust out among the employees. Married Justine (the good girl) and the stock boy Holden, have sex wherever, and he wants her to run away with him. But they have been seen and she is blackmailed into having sex with hubby's best friend. More complications. A slice of life, and the cast is fine. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0279113/
The Life Of David Gale (2003) Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet, Laura Linney. A reporter (Winslet) goes to interview a man convicted of rape and murder and scheduled to die soon. In a series of flashbacks we see that he is a Professor of philosophy at the University Of Texas. And an activist against the death penalty. The unraveling of the story is interesting and the final revelations sad. It should have been more affecting, but whether by the actors or the director or the writing, it is sort of limp. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289992/
The American (2010) George Clooney. An assassin has his last assignment in Italy. Story is so muddled and boring that I ended up not caring who did what to whom. The scenery was pretty. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1440728/
Life As We Know It (2010) Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel, Josh Lucas, Clagett sisters. Sports Director Eric and Bakery/sandwich shop owner Holly, are best friends of the Clagetts, who have arranged a date but the two are not at all compatible. So later when the match makers die in a car accident, it is with shock that they learn from the Clagett lawyer that they have been named guardians for the year old baby girl, Sophie, who both love. The big house is paid for by the insurance, but the social worker says they must live there and show they can take care of a child. Fish out of water story for the next hour. Slowly they get to know and like each other and after a few wrong turns, we have a happy ending. Heigl is one of our loveliest stars right now. IMO. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1055292/
The Life Of David Gale (2003) Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet, Laura Linney. A reporter (Winslet) goes to interview a man convicted of rape and murder and scheduled to die soon. In a series of flashbacks we see that he is a Professor of philosophy at the University Of Texas. And an activist against the death penalty. The unraveling of the story is interesting and the final revelations sad. It should have been more affecting, but whether by the actors or the director or the writing, it is sort of limp. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289992/
The American (2010) George Clooney. An assassin has his last assignment in Italy. Story is so muddled and boring that I ended up not caring who did what to whom. The scenery was pretty. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1440728/
Life As We Know It (2010) Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel, Josh Lucas, Clagett sisters. Sports Director Eric and Bakery/sandwich shop owner Holly, are best friends of the Clagetts, who have arranged a date but the two are not at all compatible. So later when the match makers die in a car accident, it is with shock that they learn from the Clagett lawyer that they have been named guardians for the year old baby girl, Sophie, who both love. The big house is paid for by the insurance, but the social worker says they must live there and show they can take care of a child. Fish out of water story for the next hour. Slowly they get to know and like each other and after a few wrong turns, we have a happy ending. Heigl is one of our loveliest stars right now. IMO. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1055292/
August 15, 2011
Claudette Colbert: STAR; Oscar Winner; Fashion Hall Of Fame(1958); Part II,
She Married Her Boss (1935) Claudette Colbert, Melvin Douglas, Jean Dixon. Secretary(Julia) is highly efficient and runs office like a well oiled machine. Clueless owner of the department store(Barclay)s where they work, is divorced, living with his daughter(Annablle) - a spoiled brat; and his sister(Gertrude) who rules by having the vapors every ten minuites. The butler, Franklin,(Raymond Walborn) sees all and does accordingly. When boss decides to bring secretary home so they can continue working on the new store opening, she sees that he needs a wife. And who else but her? She is in love with the dolt but why is never divulged. Players are all good, but script is muddled and makes some of the actors seem like fools. Not in a funny way. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026986/
Midnight (1939) Claudette Colbert, Don Ameche, Mary Astor, John Barrymore, Francis Lederer. A true screwball comedy right up there with "Bringing Up Baby." Paris taxi driver Tibor, comes across showgirl Eve, running away from hotel and gambling debts. When he gets too involved, she skips out and gets into a society shindig and becomes a fourth in a bridge game with Helene Flammarion (Astor) and her partner, and Jacques Picot(Lederer) as her partner. This is exactly what Mr.Flammarion has been waiting for and he manages to set Eve up with a hotel suite at the Ritz, luggage and clothes. He arrives the next morning to tell her he just wants her to keep Picot interested and away from his wife. That's the set up and the next 45 minutes are some of the goofiest and funniest from that golden era. Ameche can go from a suave Count to a raving lunitic in the bat of an eye. Barrymore may have had to read his lines off giant cue-cards, but he is just perfect as the man behind the curtain pulling all the strings. Astor and Colbert never were filmed better. Great camera work. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031647/August 14, 2011
Claudette Colbert: STAR; Oscar Winner; Fashion Hall Of Fame(1958)----
 |
| The famous leg |
It Happened One Night (1934-Oscar) Colbert (Oscar), Clark Gable (Oscar). Reporter gets on a bus and gets into a fuss with a clueless young woman. As they travel down the highway, he discovers she is an heiress running away from her father. who is trying to have her runaway marriage annulled. He decides to help her get away IF he can have her story exclusive. Both stars are very likable here and very pretty, but both had to be talked into doing it. Clark took off his shirt and sales of men's undershirts took a nosedive, because he wasn't wearing one. Claudette didn't want to do the scene showing her leg, so director Capra (Oscar) shot it with a double. But when she saw the rushes, she decided it wouldn't look right without her doing it - and it is the most frequently shown scene from the film. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025316/
August 13, 2011
The Fallen Idol, a true classic; Dance, Girl Dance, Lucy as a louse!----
The following films I have seen over he last 10 days:
On TCM: first viewing
Dance, Girl, Dance (1940) Maureen O'Hara, Lucille Ball, Ralph Bellamy, Louis Hayward, Virginia Field. Innocent young woman(O'Hara) who is studying ballet, goes to big city and gets a job as a stooge for the star of the burlesque show (Lucy). She has tried to get in to see the producer of a Broadway show but been rejected. After many mixups and close calls, she finally is discovered and all is as it should be by the fadeout. Good cast makes film interesting for classis film fans. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032376/
The Fallen Idol (1948) Ralph Richardson, Bobby Henrey, Michelle Morgan, Sonia Dresdel. ---is a film I relish and have since first seeing it in 1948-49. Great atmosphere, performances and the little boy is wonderful.
A butler, Baines, in a foreign embassy in London is idolized by the lonely little son of the Ambassador, and his wife, who spends much of the time away on missions. He tells the boy fanciful stories of his life and the boy believes it all. The butler and his wife have a frosty marriage, and a new employee at the embassy and he have managed to fall in love. The boy figures in to the wife discovering the romance and when she confronts her husband there is a terrible accident. The last half of the film is the police unraveling the web of deceipt and finding the truth. An amazing performance by Henrey as the boy; Richardson is perfect as the butler Baines; the ladies Morgan and Dresdel are good/ and evil personified. Familiar faces on the police also. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040338/
Cocktail (1988) Tom Cruise, Bryan Brown, Elizabeth Shue. Veteran Brian goes to college during the day and supports himself as a bartender at night. Doug, his boss, teaches him how to be theatrical and together they are so spectacular, they become famous and draw huge crowds to the bar. Then things get complicated when Doug makes Brian so angry he leaves and goes to Jaimaca. There he meets artist Jordan, also from NYC and on holiday, and they fall in love. Again Doug shows up and dares Brian to hit on an older rich woman, and when Jordan sees the two leaving the bar together, she is outta there. How Brian gets his life back togther is the last third of the film. For a hot summer afternoon in an air-conditioned room with cold drinks, this wasn't bad. Young Tom was a smasher! 7/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094889/
Never Let Me Go (2010) Kiera Knightley, Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield. Awful story about cloning and harvesting organs. Had to quit watching half way through, it was so disturbing to me. At 79 I cannot imagine wanting to have a clone that I can canibalize so I could live to over 100. Sickening. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1334260/
On TCM: first viewing
Dance, Girl, Dance (1940) Maureen O'Hara, Lucille Ball, Ralph Bellamy, Louis Hayward, Virginia Field. Innocent young woman(O'Hara) who is studying ballet, goes to big city and gets a job as a stooge for the star of the burlesque show (Lucy). She has tried to get in to see the producer of a Broadway show but been rejected. After many mixups and close calls, she finally is discovered and all is as it should be by the fadeout. Good cast makes film interesting for classis film fans. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032376/
A butler, Baines, in a foreign embassy in London is idolized by the lonely little son of the Ambassador, and his wife, who spends much of the time away on missions. He tells the boy fanciful stories of his life and the boy believes it all. The butler and his wife have a frosty marriage, and a new employee at the embassy and he have managed to fall in love. The boy figures in to the wife discovering the romance and when she confronts her husband there is a terrible accident. The last half of the film is the police unraveling the web of deceipt and finding the truth. An amazing performance by Henrey as the boy; Richardson is perfect as the butler Baines; the ladies Morgan and Dresdel are good/ and evil personified. Familiar faces on the police also. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040338/
Cocktail (1988) Tom Cruise, Bryan Brown, Elizabeth Shue. Veteran Brian goes to college during the day and supports himself as a bartender at night. Doug, his boss, teaches him how to be theatrical and together they are so spectacular, they become famous and draw huge crowds to the bar. Then things get complicated when Doug makes Brian so angry he leaves and goes to Jaimaca. There he meets artist Jordan, also from NYC and on holiday, and they fall in love. Again Doug shows up and dares Brian to hit on an older rich woman, and when Jordan sees the two leaving the bar together, she is outta there. How Brian gets his life back togther is the last third of the film. For a hot summer afternoon in an air-conditioned room with cold drinks, this wasn't bad. Young Tom was a smasher! 7/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094889/
Never Let Me Go (2010) Kiera Knightley, Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield. Awful story about cloning and harvesting organs. Had to quit watching half way through, it was so disturbing to me. At 79 I cannot imagine wanting to have a clone that I can canibalize so I could live to over 100. Sickening. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1334260/
August 01, 2011
Anns - Sothern & Sheridan; Viviene Leigh, Sandra Bullock----
---are the ladies of the films I watched recently:
Walking On Air (1936) Ann Sothern, Gene Raymond. Slight comedy about a guy who is trying to get an audition to sing on the radio, getting mixed up with a rich deb who is trying to run away with a male gold digger. Papa doesn't approve. Hires our guy to impersonate a rich count - you get the picture. Lots of mix-ups. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028479/
Maisie Was A Lady (1941) Ann Sothern, Lew Ayers, Margaret O'Sullivan. One of the best of the Maisie series. Ann Sothern her usual spunky, brassy, no-nonsense dame. I remember seeing this one as a kid and loving her to death. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033867/
The Unfaithful (1947) Ann Sheridan, Zachary Scott, Lew Ayers. A sort of remake of "The Letter(1940)" reworked to make it up to date after the war. Instead of 1920s Indonesia, we have Los Angeles. The woman stabs a man who attacks her as she arrives home late at night. Her husband is a returned WWII serviceman, now a builder of housing additions. Her attorney friend takes over her defense when she is arrested for murdering the man and eventually finds out the truth about his client. Not nearly as good nor fraught with mystery as the Bette Davis version. I think the script and direction let the cast down. They are all good and interesting actors most of the time. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039937/
An Ideal Husband (1947) Paulette Goddard, Michael Wilding, Glynis Johns, Diana Wynyard, Hugh Williams, C, Aubrey Smith. Great cast does justice to Oscar Wilde's story of mores and manners of Victorian England. Filmed in color, with the composition of some shots like paintings, It is a treat to the eyes. The Wilde bon mots are delivered by a stellar cast and the story of the virtuous being infected by the demi monde, is entertaining. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039485/
Caesar & Cleopatra (1947) Vivien Leigh, Claude Rains, Stewart Granger, Flora Robson, Basil Sydney, Cecil Parker. A regular in my rotation of "classic films" to rewatch. First saw it on its' first run in a Kansas City, MO. movie palace, and I was enthralled to see Scarlett as Cleo. And the gorgeous Granger in his Greek God costume. Magnificent. But Rains and Leigh are so charming and the sets so enthralling, I have loved every minute for 60 some years. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038390/
The Music Man (1962) Robert Preston, Shirley Jones. "76 trombones led the big parade....."
"Oh, We got trouble - right here in River City"...
Iowa was lots of fun back then. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056262/
Hotel (1967) Rod Taylor, Merle Oberon, Michael Rennie, Catherine Spaake, Melvyn Douglas. I still don't get the appeal of Taylor, so that takes away some of the appeal of the film as a whole. Oberon and Rennie's story in interesting and she can still hold the screen in her scenes. Spaake is bland. Douglas has his craggy old guy down pat. Old buildings can be rehabbed, but only by gutting the whole insides and saving what woodwork can be reused, because with asbestos everywhere, it is dangerous otherwise. I kept thinking - tear it out and do it over. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061786/
Patriot Games (1992) Harrison Ford, Anne Archer, Sean Bean. Ford is Jack Ryan, former C.I.A. operative/analyst. When his daughter and wife as targeted by IRA extremists, and seriously hurt, Jack goes into action, finding where they are and striking back. But the main one gets away and comes after he and his family at their coastal home. Exciting finale on two power boats. 20 years and still a nail biting finish. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105112/
The Net (1995) Sandra Bullock, Jeremy Northern, Dennis Miller, Diane Baker. Computer nerd, Bullock, fixes flawed programs for games. She works from home, rarely goes outside - her neighbor lady has only seen her a couple of times in several years. When she accidentally records a code on one of the game program Cd's, she suddenly discovers she has become a non-person. All records of her name with her picture have been erased from computers everywhere. More apropos now than when it first came out. Computers have only gotten more powerful and more of our lives are exposed to hacking attacks. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113957/
Taken (2008) Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen. Favorite action film along with the Bourne trilogy. Have to watch every so often. Neeson is so good as the father who will find his daughter - in 96 hours. Wow! 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0936501/
Tenderness (2009) Russell Crowe, Jon Foster, Sophie Traub. Story of a teen-age killer of his family who is finally let out of detention, when he reaches 18. Detective who was assigned the case follows up and keeps tabs on him as he comes into society. Very disjointed. Foster has no personality. Traub is overpowering. Crowe just too muted. Story has no 'there' there. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0494864/
The Town (2010) Ben Affleck, Jeremy Renner, Jon Hamm, Rebecca Hall. Preface to film says the neighborhood in film has had more bank robbers put in prison than all the rest of Boston. This story is about one gang and the jobs they do for a powerful fence. Interesting story about the leader of the unit and his gradual romance with one of the bank employees from their last job. Very good and pacing fine up until the last gun fight and chase. Ran on too long. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0840361/
On to the the Dog Days of August. Long hot summer. Hmmmm----may have to drag out my copy and watch Paul and Joan sizzle. Haha....
Walking On Air (1936) Ann Sothern, Gene Raymond. Slight comedy about a guy who is trying to get an audition to sing on the radio, getting mixed up with a rich deb who is trying to run away with a male gold digger. Papa doesn't approve. Hires our guy to impersonate a rich count - you get the picture. Lots of mix-ups. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028479/
Maisie Was A Lady (1941) Ann Sothern, Lew Ayers, Margaret O'Sullivan. One of the best of the Maisie series. Ann Sothern her usual spunky, brassy, no-nonsense dame. I remember seeing this one as a kid and loving her to death. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033867/
The Unfaithful (1947) Ann Sheridan, Zachary Scott, Lew Ayers. A sort of remake of "The Letter(1940)" reworked to make it up to date after the war. Instead of 1920s Indonesia, we have Los Angeles. The woman stabs a man who attacks her as she arrives home late at night. Her husband is a returned WWII serviceman, now a builder of housing additions. Her attorney friend takes over her defense when she is arrested for murdering the man and eventually finds out the truth about his client. Not nearly as good nor fraught with mystery as the Bette Davis version. I think the script and direction let the cast down. They are all good and interesting actors most of the time. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039937/
An Ideal Husband (1947) Paulette Goddard, Michael Wilding, Glynis Johns, Diana Wynyard, Hugh Williams, C, Aubrey Smith. Great cast does justice to Oscar Wilde's story of mores and manners of Victorian England. Filmed in color, with the composition of some shots like paintings, It is a treat to the eyes. The Wilde bon mots are delivered by a stellar cast and the story of the virtuous being infected by the demi monde, is entertaining. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039485/
The Music Man (1962) Robert Preston, Shirley Jones. "76 trombones led the big parade....."
"Oh, We got trouble - right here in River City"...
Iowa was lots of fun back then. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056262/
Hotel (1967) Rod Taylor, Merle Oberon, Michael Rennie, Catherine Spaake, Melvyn Douglas. I still don't get the appeal of Taylor, so that takes away some of the appeal of the film as a whole. Oberon and Rennie's story in interesting and she can still hold the screen in her scenes. Spaake is bland. Douglas has his craggy old guy down pat. Old buildings can be rehabbed, but only by gutting the whole insides and saving what woodwork can be reused, because with asbestos everywhere, it is dangerous otherwise. I kept thinking - tear it out and do it over. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061786/
Patriot Games (1992) Harrison Ford, Anne Archer, Sean Bean. Ford is Jack Ryan, former C.I.A. operative/analyst. When his daughter and wife as targeted by IRA extremists, and seriously hurt, Jack goes into action, finding where they are and striking back. But the main one gets away and comes after he and his family at their coastal home. Exciting finale on two power boats. 20 years and still a nail biting finish. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105112/
The Net (1995) Sandra Bullock, Jeremy Northern, Dennis Miller, Diane Baker. Computer nerd, Bullock, fixes flawed programs for games. She works from home, rarely goes outside - her neighbor lady has only seen her a couple of times in several years. When she accidentally records a code on one of the game program Cd's, she suddenly discovers she has become a non-person. All records of her name with her picture have been erased from computers everywhere. More apropos now than when it first came out. Computers have only gotten more powerful and more of our lives are exposed to hacking attacks. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113957/
Taken (2008) Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen. Favorite action film along with the Bourne trilogy. Have to watch every so often. Neeson is so good as the father who will find his daughter - in 96 hours. Wow! 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0936501/
Tenderness (2009) Russell Crowe, Jon Foster, Sophie Traub. Story of a teen-age killer of his family who is finally let out of detention, when he reaches 18. Detective who was assigned the case follows up and keeps tabs on him as he comes into society. Very disjointed. Foster has no personality. Traub is overpowering. Crowe just too muted. Story has no 'there' there. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0494864/
The Town (2010) Ben Affleck, Jeremy Renner, Jon Hamm, Rebecca Hall. Preface to film says the neighborhood in film has had more bank robbers put in prison than all the rest of Boston. This story is about one gang and the jobs they do for a powerful fence. Interesting story about the leader of the unit and his gradual romance with one of the bank employees from their last job. Very good and pacing fine up until the last gun fight and chase. Ran on too long. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0840361/
On to the the Dog Days of August. Long hot summer. Hmmmm----may have to drag out my copy and watch Paul and Joan sizzle. Haha....
July 20, 2011
Mogambo, Ava vs. Grace ETC---
I recently watched these films:
New to me:
Off TCM:
Song Of The Gringo (1936) Tex Ritter, Joan Woodbury, Fuzzy Knight. Tex Ritter was good looking but was no actor and not much of a singer but back in the '30's my Dad would have loved this film and when we got our first TV in 1952, would have been riveted to his chair as long as they showed any western. Acting laurels go to Woodbury and Fuzzy. Both were competent. I had to laugh at the way the director framed the raining scenes with just a vine across the frame blowing in the wind and lots of rain and thunder. I'm sure kids in the audience didn't give a hoot and my Dad wouldn't either. I rate it a 5/10. And that's being generous.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028283/
HBO:
Edge Of Darkness (2010) Mel Gibson, Ray Winstone. Fairly good suspense film about a homicide detective whose daughter becomes involved in activist activies that get her killed. He goes rogue and digs through layers of corruption finding out who did what. Not original but keeps your interest so I give it a - 6/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1226273/
DO-Overs:
TCM:
Mogambo (1953) Clark Gable, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly. In the early 1950s, Hollywood was trying to find some formula to get people out of their living rooms watching TV and back to the theater, so took their top stars to Africa on safari. That'll show those upstarts! This was a big hit and is one of the better uses of the great grasslands, and uplands, of Africa and the animals who live there. The gorilla scenes are marvelous too, but the attitude that shooting animals and/or catching them for display in zoos, is backward. Gardner steals the film from goody two shoes Grace. Grace may have gotten a prince in real life, but Ava got 'The King' of films in this movie and, according to bios, in real life. There is no music score. Only the chants and sounds of Africa. So effective and one of the first films to use the system. Remake of Red Dust which also starred Gable with the blond bombshell - Jean Harlow. Earlier film was fun, but this safari is for me. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046085/
HBO:
Regarding Henry (1991) Harrison Ford, Annette Benning, Mikki Allen, Bill Nunn. One of the better films about overcoming a disability and what it takes. A successful, hard charging attorney goes out for a pack of cigarettes and is shot by a robber at the store. After months in the hospital regaining consciousness, more months in rehab learning to speak and walk, he returns to his home and then his office. Each step takes him to seeing a new person that he was and now must find how to make it himself again. Mikki, as his daughter, is wonderful. As is his physical therapist played by Nunn. Benning is the one false note. She is too intense and as one of her early frantic performances, i see where it all began. She still is giving her all with her neck tendons tense and ready to ping if touched. Ford and Mikki are great together. She never makes another film, I see, on her IMDb profile. We'll always have this nice film to remember what a sweet child she was. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102768/
Robin Hood (2010) Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Mark Strong, William Hurt. Like it better on rewatching. Guess I had to get used to the drab costumes and houses. Upgrade from 6 to 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0955308/
HOT! in the old town these days. Thanks be for air-conditioning!
New to me:
Off TCM:
Song Of The Gringo (1936) Tex Ritter, Joan Woodbury, Fuzzy Knight. Tex Ritter was good looking but was no actor and not much of a singer but back in the '30's my Dad would have loved this film and when we got our first TV in 1952, would have been riveted to his chair as long as they showed any western. Acting laurels go to Woodbury and Fuzzy. Both were competent. I had to laugh at the way the director framed the raining scenes with just a vine across the frame blowing in the wind and lots of rain and thunder. I'm sure kids in the audience didn't give a hoot and my Dad wouldn't either. I rate it a 5/10. And that's being generous.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028283/
HBO:
Edge Of Darkness (2010) Mel Gibson, Ray Winstone. Fairly good suspense film about a homicide detective whose daughter becomes involved in activist activies that get her killed. He goes rogue and digs through layers of corruption finding out who did what. Not original but keeps your interest so I give it a - 6/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1226273/
DO-Overs:
TCM:
Mogambo (1953) Clark Gable, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly. In the early 1950s, Hollywood was trying to find some formula to get people out of their living rooms watching TV and back to the theater, so took their top stars to Africa on safari. That'll show those upstarts! This was a big hit and is one of the better uses of the great grasslands, and uplands, of Africa and the animals who live there. The gorilla scenes are marvelous too, but the attitude that shooting animals and/or catching them for display in zoos, is backward. Gardner steals the film from goody two shoes Grace. Grace may have gotten a prince in real life, but Ava got 'The King' of films in this movie and, according to bios, in real life. There is no music score. Only the chants and sounds of Africa. So effective and one of the first films to use the system. Remake of Red Dust which also starred Gable with the blond bombshell - Jean Harlow. Earlier film was fun, but this safari is for me. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046085/
HBO:
Regarding Henry (1991) Harrison Ford, Annette Benning, Mikki Allen, Bill Nunn. One of the better films about overcoming a disability and what it takes. A successful, hard charging attorney goes out for a pack of cigarettes and is shot by a robber at the store. After months in the hospital regaining consciousness, more months in rehab learning to speak and walk, he returns to his home and then his office. Each step takes him to seeing a new person that he was and now must find how to make it himself again. Mikki, as his daughter, is wonderful. As is his physical therapist played by Nunn. Benning is the one false note. She is too intense and as one of her early frantic performances, i see where it all began. She still is giving her all with her neck tendons tense and ready to ping if touched. Ford and Mikki are great together. She never makes another film, I see, on her IMDb profile. We'll always have this nice film to remember what a sweet child she was. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102768/
Robin Hood (2010) Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Mark Strong, William Hurt. Like it better on rewatching. Guess I had to get used to the drab costumes and houses. Upgrade from 6 to 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0955308/
HOT! in the old town these days. Thanks be for air-conditioning!
July 13, 2011
From Brother Orchid; The Birdcage; & Dear Frankie --
--revisiting favorites the hottest week so far this summer.
NEVER SEEN BEFORE:
On HBO:
Cellular(2004) Kim Basinger, Chris Evans. All the rotten things I heard and read about this film are a bit much. It is a typical suspense story about a woman who is in danger trying to get someone to help her. She has only a cell phone and it can only be heard by a young guy in a service van. He doesn't believe what he is hearing and the film continues to make us root for her getting him to understand her plight and help her and her husband and child, being held also by thugs. Kept my interest and Evans was very entertaining. Kim was okay, but an actress can only do so much with the helpless victim role. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0337921/
REPEATS:
On TCM:
It's Love I'm After (1937) Bette Davis, Leslie Howard, Olivia de Havilland. Fluff. The troop tries but can't make this work. Famous acting couple, playing Romeo & Juliet, fight like snarling cats and dogs. Silly young woman in a box at the theater falls madly in love and makes a nuisance of herself. Her fiance and father think it a good idea to have Romeo come to the country estate and make her fall out of her nuttiness. Wife thinks all are mad. Wasn't as charming or funny this time around. Maybe my mood. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029058/
Brother Orchid (1940) Edward G Robinson, Ann Sothern, Ralph Bellamy, Humphrey Bogart. Edward G. is just wonderful as a mobster who has it all - lots of money, great fiance, his mob under his thumb. Decides to get some culture and goes to Europe for a few years. When all his money is gone to high living and at the casinos, he heads back to pick up where he left off. Too late. His mob has a new leader who has 'the boys' take him out to the country to rub him out. He gets shot but starts running through the woods and is found by a monk at a monastery. Then comes the real fun as he learns their ways and teaches them a thing or two. Ann S. as his true blue gal is fun as always. Bogie is good as the bad guy. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032285/
HBO:
The Birdcage (1996) Robin Williams, Nathan Lane. Funniest couple in a film. Just enjoy the remarkable performances. A favorite. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115685/
IFC:
Dear Frankie (2005) Emily Mortimer, Gerard Butler, Jack McElhone. One of Gerry Butlers films I keep in rotation to see at least once a year. Little boy who is deaf and is Mother and Grandmother move to a new town and take a flat near the sea. His Dad supposedly is a sailor on a ship called the Accra. He gets letters from and sends answers to a person he thinks is his father. In reality, it is his Mother who has managed a deception so she can "hear his voice" through the letters he writes back. When she is trapped into hiring a man to act as the Dad, our Stranger (Butler) appears, in a scene that is stunning. The Stranger sits down and all the air is sucked out of the room. Beautiful. The quiet performance is so strong, we have no doubt this man could change all their lives. Mortimer is perfect as is the boy McElhone. In fact, there is not a false note or performance in the film. A real gem. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0377752/
Heat and summer rains make soupy air. Mornings are the only time to be out and about. Watching old favorites and some of the lighter fare from the last few years, is all one can do to cope. LOL
NEVER SEEN BEFORE:
On HBO:
Cellular(2004) Kim Basinger, Chris Evans. All the rotten things I heard and read about this film are a bit much. It is a typical suspense story about a woman who is in danger trying to get someone to help her. She has only a cell phone and it can only be heard by a young guy in a service van. He doesn't believe what he is hearing and the film continues to make us root for her getting him to understand her plight and help her and her husband and child, being held also by thugs. Kept my interest and Evans was very entertaining. Kim was okay, but an actress can only do so much with the helpless victim role. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0337921/
REPEATS:
On TCM:
It's Love I'm After (1937) Bette Davis, Leslie Howard, Olivia de Havilland. Fluff. The troop tries but can't make this work. Famous acting couple, playing Romeo & Juliet, fight like snarling cats and dogs. Silly young woman in a box at the theater falls madly in love and makes a nuisance of herself. Her fiance and father think it a good idea to have Romeo come to the country estate and make her fall out of her nuttiness. Wife thinks all are mad. Wasn't as charming or funny this time around. Maybe my mood. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029058/
Brother Orchid (1940) Edward G Robinson, Ann Sothern, Ralph Bellamy, Humphrey Bogart. Edward G. is just wonderful as a mobster who has it all - lots of money, great fiance, his mob under his thumb. Decides to get some culture and goes to Europe for a few years. When all his money is gone to high living and at the casinos, he heads back to pick up where he left off. Too late. His mob has a new leader who has 'the boys' take him out to the country to rub him out. He gets shot but starts running through the woods and is found by a monk at a monastery. Then comes the real fun as he learns their ways and teaches them a thing or two. Ann S. as his true blue gal is fun as always. Bogie is good as the bad guy. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032285/
HBO:
The Birdcage (1996) Robin Williams, Nathan Lane. Funniest couple in a film. Just enjoy the remarkable performances. A favorite. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115685/
IFC:
Dear Frankie (2005) Emily Mortimer, Gerard Butler, Jack McElhone. One of Gerry Butlers films I keep in rotation to see at least once a year. Little boy who is deaf and is Mother and Grandmother move to a new town and take a flat near the sea. His Dad supposedly is a sailor on a ship called the Accra. He gets letters from and sends answers to a person he thinks is his father. In reality, it is his Mother who has managed a deception so she can "hear his voice" through the letters he writes back. When she is trapped into hiring a man to act as the Dad, our Stranger (Butler) appears, in a scene that is stunning. The Stranger sits down and all the air is sucked out of the room. Beautiful. The quiet performance is so strong, we have no doubt this man could change all their lives. Mortimer is perfect as is the boy McElhone. In fact, there is not a false note or performance in the film. A real gem. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0377752/
Heat and summer rains make soupy air. Mornings are the only time to be out and about. Watching old favorites and some of the lighter fare from the last few years, is all one can do to cope. LOL
June 27, 2011
A classic B plus -----
----films from the last 40 years. Since my last posting, I have seen:
New old film:
Beg, Borrow or Steal (1937) Frank Morgan, Florence Rice, John Beal. MGM b-picture - only 72 minutes long. Morgan is a rogue and with his 5 accomplices con rich people out of money and whatever they can get away with. Enter Morgans ex-wife and grown daughter who Mama wants to marry off in a lavish wedding at an estate, to impress. Morgan and cronies find one - which just happens to belong to the latest member of the group, a 'real' swell, unbeknowest to the others - and the nuptials are set. Of course, he falls for daughter dear. The usual mixups and dire straights ensue, but Papa gets through all without losing too much dignity. Would that TV comedies had as much wit and great ensemble acting as the B units at MGM and other classic studios. And Frank Morgan is a jewel. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028616/
Replays:
The Big Chill (1983) Glenn Close, Kevin Kline, William Hurt, Meg Tilly, Mary Kay Place, Jeff Goldblum, JoBeth Williams, Tom Berenger. Love the ensemble cast, the music, and the weekend the characters spend together at the South Carolina antebellum home of the doctor(Close) and businessman(Kline). These flower children have all learned about the real world and lost their idealized fantasies. Except for the suicide victim, which is why they got together again. And then Hurt the druggie, who almost gets arrested on his friends property. And then the lady lawyer, who gave up defending scum(her words) and is now a corporate hire who only wants a child. As in every group, things change, and you sink or swim. A favorite to revisit now and then. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085244/
Other Peoples Money (1991) Penelope Ann Miller, Danny DeVito, Gregory Peck, Piper Laurie, Dean Jones. A favorite about companies, lawyers, and corporate raiders. Twenty years have passed since this came out, and the speech Peck makes about "nothing is made in the country anymore" and DeVitos about moving on to a profitable enterprise and not being "the best darn buggy whip maker" in a dying market, is as relevant today and it was then. The scenes of Larry and Kate one-upping each other and using whatever it takes to get the upper hand, is fun to watch. BUT. It forgets the real people and lives that are ruined so they can have their game. All the actors are spot on. Miller is great as the "broad who did you in" and DeVito has never been better. When he plays the violin and sings "I'm in the Mood For Love" over the phone, and Miller laughs, delighted, I always do too. Great scene played perfectly. I love it. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102609/
The Hurt Locker (2008) Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty. A squad that goes out every day defusing bombs in Iraq, and then having fist fights at night to let off tension, is the focus of this well-done film. Renner, Mackie and Geraghty are simply perfect as a specialist who seemingly knows no fear, and the other two guys in the squad who are just counting down the days left on their deployment, so they can leave the 'h--- hole.' The scenes of the squad doing their routine daily mission of going out and looking for IUDs is harrowing. The tension builds and it is a relief when the tour is over and they can go home. But Renners Sgt. is so messed up he only feels alive when he is in danger. So we see he is back with an elite squad at the end, back on the front line. Well done and suspenseful. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0887912/
NEW films off HBO:
The Time Travelers Wife (2009) Rachel McAdams, Eric Bana. Fantasy, nicely done. Although this is a genre I don't always love, this was a sweet story. The main actors did well. Bana looked great! I don't think I understood what the main theme was, and it was not clear what we are supposed to 'get'. But it was shot beautifully and I enjoyed it so---- 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0452694/
Inception (2010) Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy. SciFi Fantasy. Confused. I was not amused or intrigued and did not care for the actors soooo---- 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1375666/
WE are having lovely weather to spend outdoors, so movies have given way to watching bikers and walkers on the trail, birds at the feeders, and the wind in the wil---, wait, I mean elms and sycamores.
New old film:
Beg, Borrow or Steal (1937) Frank Morgan, Florence Rice, John Beal. MGM b-picture - only 72 minutes long. Morgan is a rogue and with his 5 accomplices con rich people out of money and whatever they can get away with. Enter Morgans ex-wife and grown daughter who Mama wants to marry off in a lavish wedding at an estate, to impress. Morgan and cronies find one - which just happens to belong to the latest member of the group, a 'real' swell, unbeknowest to the others - and the nuptials are set. Of course, he falls for daughter dear. The usual mixups and dire straights ensue, but Papa gets through all without losing too much dignity. Would that TV comedies had as much wit and great ensemble acting as the B units at MGM and other classic studios. And Frank Morgan is a jewel. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028616/
Replays:
The Big Chill (1983) Glenn Close, Kevin Kline, William Hurt, Meg Tilly, Mary Kay Place, Jeff Goldblum, JoBeth Williams, Tom Berenger. Love the ensemble cast, the music, and the weekend the characters spend together at the South Carolina antebellum home of the doctor(Close) and businessman(Kline). These flower children have all learned about the real world and lost their idealized fantasies. Except for the suicide victim, which is why they got together again. And then Hurt the druggie, who almost gets arrested on his friends property. And then the lady lawyer, who gave up defending scum(her words) and is now a corporate hire who only wants a child. As in every group, things change, and you sink or swim. A favorite to revisit now and then. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085244/
Other Peoples Money (1991) Penelope Ann Miller, Danny DeVito, Gregory Peck, Piper Laurie, Dean Jones. A favorite about companies, lawyers, and corporate raiders. Twenty years have passed since this came out, and the speech Peck makes about "nothing is made in the country anymore" and DeVitos about moving on to a profitable enterprise and not being "the best darn buggy whip maker" in a dying market, is as relevant today and it was then. The scenes of Larry and Kate one-upping each other and using whatever it takes to get the upper hand, is fun to watch. BUT. It forgets the real people and lives that are ruined so they can have their game. All the actors are spot on. Miller is great as the "broad who did you in" and DeVito has never been better. When he plays the violin and sings "I'm in the Mood For Love" over the phone, and Miller laughs, delighted, I always do too. Great scene played perfectly. I love it. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102609/
The Hurt Locker (2008) Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty. A squad that goes out every day defusing bombs in Iraq, and then having fist fights at night to let off tension, is the focus of this well-done film. Renner, Mackie and Geraghty are simply perfect as a specialist who seemingly knows no fear, and the other two guys in the squad who are just counting down the days left on their deployment, so they can leave the 'h--- hole.' The scenes of the squad doing their routine daily mission of going out and looking for IUDs is harrowing. The tension builds and it is a relief when the tour is over and they can go home. But Renners Sgt. is so messed up he only feels alive when he is in danger. So we see he is back with an elite squad at the end, back on the front line. Well done and suspenseful. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0887912/
NEW films off HBO:
The Time Travelers Wife (2009) Rachel McAdams, Eric Bana. Fantasy, nicely done. Although this is a genre I don't always love, this was a sweet story. The main actors did well. Bana looked great! I don't think I understood what the main theme was, and it was not clear what we are supposed to 'get'. But it was shot beautifully and I enjoyed it so---- 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0452694/
Inception (2010) Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy. SciFi Fantasy. Confused. I was not amused or intrigued and did not care for the actors soooo---- 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1375666/
WE are having lovely weather to spend outdoors, so movies have given way to watching bikers and walkers on the trail, birds at the feeders, and the wind in the wil---, wait, I mean elms and sycamores.
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