FIRST TIMERS:
Hackers (1995) Angelina Jolie, Jonny Lee Miller, Fisher Stevens. 5/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113243/combined
The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) Geena Davis, Samuel L. Jackson, Brian Cox, David Morse. Story of a woman who has amnesia who begins to get flashbacks after a bump on the head, and has to go back to her spy life because someone is trying to kill her. Fun to see Geena as an action heroine. Jackson is great as the detective she hires to help her. 6/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116908/combined
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Tom Wilkerson. Somehow I just don't enjoy seeing films about the squalor and noise of India, so that ruined this film for me. Always love Maggie Smith though and as usual, she steals the show. 6/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1412386/combined
Show Boat (1936) Irene Dunne, Allan Jones, Charles Winniger, Paul Robeson, Helen Morgan. Awful version of the play. Dunne is okay but what's with that shufflin' dance she does. And the blackface part of the show is disturbing and bad. Morgan may be famous for her rendition of "My Bill" but it is staged and acted better by Ava Gardner in the '51 version. And what is that warble in Jones voice. Sounds like he can not hold a note. Howard Keel is a much more dashing Ravenal. And sings better too. Of course, Kathryn Grayson is more age appropriate as Nolie. Childlike in the beginning, she is wonderful in "Make Believe" with Keel. Robeson is fine as Joe, but I heard him many times on radio when I was growing up singing "Old Man River" so it was a treat to see how it was filmed in this version. And this one does age the characters as in the original play, which is fine. But I like the '51 version much more, and the final scene with Ava blowing a kiss to the Show Boat and Nolie always has me in tears. This one has a fade out with Gay and Nolie together again at the theater watching their daughter - all grown up and a stage success. Not nearly as affecting, at least to me. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028249/combined
ENCORES:
Saratoga Trunk (1945) Ingrid Bergman, Gary Cooper, Flora Robeson, Jerry Austin, Florence Bates. Ingrid is gorgeous and Gary is grand. All time favorite I watch often. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038053/combined
Where The Sidewalk Ends (1950) Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, Gary Merrill, Tom Tully, Karl Malden. A cop goes to the dark side but redeems himself for beautiful girl. Noirish drama. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043132/combined
Ace In The Hole (1951) Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling, Robert Arthur, Ray Teal. One of the darkest newsmen ever depicted on film. One of the most dirty and dusty locations, filmed in New Mexico. A man trapped in a cave is at the mercy of a guy who takes over the rescue and plays it for what it will do for his career. He wants to get back to the big time in NYC and decides this human interest story will get him there. From the day in 1951 I first saw this film, I have never thought of newsmen the same. Billy Wilder directs and Douglas was never better being a mean bastard. Sterling is terrific as the wife who just wants out. One of my favorites from the 1950s. And tell me there aren't people in the press who are just as corrupt as Chuck Tatum. Maybe that is why the film did so poorly - newspapers didn't like it then and probably still don't. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043338/combined
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