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!
July 20, 2011
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
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