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.