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. 

Favorites and others:

Watched these movies all the way through.  Lots of others just a bit or more, mainly because I was doing a little gardening which puts me right to sleep from being tired - and all the fresh air.

Virginia City (1940) Errol Flynn, Miriam Hopkins, Randolph Scott, Humphrey Bogart. The south's Civil War gold is the prize and Scott and Hopkins the ones to get it from Nevada to the south, through Union troops. Flynn is the guy sent to stop them. Okay, but not as exciting as earlier films with our heroes. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033226/

The Jungle Book (1994) Jason Scott Lee, Lena Headey, Sam Neill. Beautiful film but no where as good as the earlier version with Sabu. 7/10   http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110213/

The Crucible (1996) Winona Rider, Daniel Day Lewis. Joan Allen. Paul Scofield. Tells the horrible tale of hysteria and prejudice. Not pleasant to watch people being beastly to each other. For religion! From the play by Arthur Miller. Joan Allen (Oscar nominee) is great, as usual. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115988/

The History Boys (2006/British) Richard Griffiths, Dominic Cooper. Rather boring story of young guys getting prepped for the big exam which will get them in to Oxford - or not. And their teachers who are quirky.. 6/10   http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0464049/

Whiteout (2009) Kate Beckinsale, Tom Skerritt, Alec O'Loughlin. Too much ice and snow. In the location, the actors, the story. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365929/

Salt (2010) Angelina Jolie & Liev Schreiber. She's undercover CIA. She's a Russian spy. Then she's not. Then she is! Is he villain or hero? Around we go, with lots of action. Like both so: 7/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0944835/

How To Train Your Dragon (2010) Animation. Voices; Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson. Not my cuppa. But pretty and lovable. Okay for kids. 7/10  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0892769/

Knight And Day (2010 Cameron Diaz, Tom Cruise. Lots of action and a confused story. I didn't care. Like the stars a lot. 6/10

Clash Of The Titans (2010) Watched half and gave up. Not my cuppa and no actors thrilled me.

Too Big To Fail (2011-HBO) William Hurt, Paul Giamatti, James Woods, Billy Crudup, Cynthia Nixon, Ed Asner. Great cast playing horrible men. Best work of Hurt in years. Giamatti and Woods, great as always . Nixon is the surprise and very good doing the PR for the big man. She holds her scenes. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1742683/


Repeats _Over and Over again. DVR'd copies off various channels of:

His Kind Of Woman (1951) Jane Russell, Robert Mitchum, Vincent Price. 9/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043643/

Out Of Africa (1985) Meryl Streep, Robert Redford. Beautiful. 9/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089755/

Out Of Sight. (1998) George and JLo. Mahvelous dahlings.

Sleepless In Seattle (1991) Story is always new!  And Ryan and Hanks are so darn watchable.

August Rush (2007) Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Robin Williams, Terrence Howard.  Lovely.  9/10   http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0426931/

Taken (2009) again. Luv it! Liam Neeson. "I WILL find you and I will kill you." Great hero for his daughter, saying his great line to the bad guy.  9/10