Mrs. Parkington (1944) Greer Garson, Walter Pigeon, Agnes Moorhead, Edward Arnold. Episodic story of a mine owner and the boarding housemaid from the town he marries. Begins with the 80 year old head of the family telling the rest of the clan the story of their marriage. There is a crisis because of a family member's banking practices that could come from today's headlines. He will be arrested if he can't come up with missing funds. The clan is not willing to give up their way of life to save him. Many complications and Greer in makeup to age her, but the film is stolen by Moorheads french countess. MGM had the contract players to make films like this as soon as the 2 stars said yes. I shudder to think what this would be like if filmed today. In the first 15 minutes we would have a nude scene of the Col. and the maid romping in bed. As it is, it is too long and parts are boring. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037096/
Three Days Of The Condor (1975) Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson, Max von Sydow. A favorite and still master story telling. About a government agency that checks through all written material looking for anything that might be spy related. Joe Turner (Redford) reads everything. That's his job. One day, it is his turn to go get lunch. While he is out, (he uses the basement door to get to an alley that is closer to the eatery, because it is raining), we see men come into the house and murder everyone. Joe comes back and is stunned. From that opening we follow Joe's next couple of days trying to find who he can trust and what is happening. As relevant for today's crazy world as it was then. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073802/
The Saint (1997) Val Kilmar, Elizabeth Shue. Confusing. The Saint of the old studio days has been updated and made so confusing I lost track of what was going on. Lots of chases. Something about fusion, secret formula, and who can get it first. I like the 2 leads but not the story. But this ain't MY Simon Templar. 6/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120053/
Must Love Dogs (2005) Diane Lane, John Cusack, Elizabeth Perkins, Christopher Plummer. Preschool teacher and boat designer meet through PerfectMatch.com where helpful people have posted ads for them. Passable romantic comedy because the leads are likable. BTW, the dogs are borrowed because neither character has one of their own. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417001/
French Film (2008/British) Hugh Bonneville (who won for Best Actor at Monte Carlo) as the lead character Jed. Douglas Henshall is his best friend Marcus and Anne-Marie Duff and Victoria Hamilton are the girlfriends. Nice relationship film. Bonneville is very engaging. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0986230/
I Hate Valentines Day (2009) Nia Vardalos, John Corbett. Not bad, not good. Okay. She is a florist. He owns a restaurant. She has a rule; five dates and it's over, Jack. But---something goes awry and we have 'love' enter the picture. I would say you have to like the leads to enjoy their story. I did. 6/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0762105/
Something Borrowed (2011) Gennifer Goodwin, Kate Hudson, John Krasinsky, Colin Egglesfield. Hudson is Darcy, in the same kind of role she always does. Goodwin is Rachel, ditto. Egglesfield is Dex, the hunk both woman want - why? is the question. He has no personality. John K is Ethan, Dex's friend and the one we like and want to see win. Formula, except that the 3 leads are all unlikeable and we don't pull for them at all. At least I didn't. I am dismayed that the script and novel were both written by women. Is this what they think of young women today? 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0491152/
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