FIRST WATCHES
Persuasion (2007) Sally Hawkins, Rupert Perry-Jones. Jane Austin's novel done by excellent actors. The story is not as engaging as other films of Austin stories. 6/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025164/combined
Chasing Mavericks (2012) Gerard Butler, Jonny Weston, Elizabeth Shue. Story of surfing legend Jay Moriarity who conquered Mavericks off the California coast near his home in Santa Cruz. He is 15 when he discovers the awesome surf breaks at Mavericks and enlists the local great Frosty Hesson to teach him how to survive the huge waves. Gorgeous cinematography but the story is sort of all over the place without cohesion. But the surf and waves are awesome. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1629757/combined
Taken 2 (2012) Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Framke Janssen. Not up to the first film at all. The family is in Istanbul where Brian is working, and the father of the guy who kidnapped daughter Kim, is out to get him and the women he loves, for revenge. Lots of action but not as much story this time out. Disappointing. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1397280/combined
ENCORES:
The Gay Divorcee (1934) Rogers & Astaire, Alice Brady, Edward Everett Horton, Erik Rhodes, Eric Blore. First film starring the dancers and with a great cast of supporting players, it is a gem. 9/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025164/combined
June Bride (1948) Bette Davis, Robert Montgomery, Faye Bainter, Mary Wickes, Tom Tully. A woman's magazine editor and her staff head to a small town to do a feature on a wedding. Along for the ride is her former lover, a war correspondent being punished by the publisher for misdeeds. A look at mid-century America which I usually watch every summer. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040499/combined
The Woman In White (1948) Eleanor Parker, Alexis Smith, Gig Young, Sydney Greenstreet, Agnes Moorhead, John Emery, John Abbott. Based on Wilkey Collins mystery of 1859 and widely considered to be the first true mystery novel. Leisurely paced, great cinematography, and a marvelous cast, make it a must see for classic movie fans. Abbott as the extremely nervous Frederick Fairlie, master of the house, almost steals the film. The tutor arrives at the old dark mansion after a walk through the foggy woods at night and an encounter with a woman in a white cape. There he meets the mysterious Count Fosco, guest of the master of the house, and the lovely niece of Mr. Fairlie, and her cousin who is to be his student. He is startled by her resemblance to the "woman in white" he has just encountered. One of my favorite films and the novel on which it is based. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040974/combined
Borderline (1950) Claire Trevor, Fred MacMurray, Raymond Burr. Two undercover agents (she with the LAPD and he with the Feds) are after the same drug smuggling gangster in Mexico and don't realize they are both in disguise. Nice taut little film with the leads as good as ever. Burr in a white suit is even larger than usual. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042274/combined
The Bad & The Beautiful (1952) Lana Turner, Kirk Douglas, Barry Sullivan, Dick Powell, Walter Pigeon, Gloria Graham. Marvelous cast and great story of the rise of a Hollywood producer. He is a cad and treats everyone badly on his way to the top of the heap. One of the best films about the studio system and the people who work in films. Lana as beautiful as she ever was filmed; and Douglas as nasty/charming as he ever was in a film. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044391/combined
The Ugly Truth (2009) Gerard Butler, Kathryn Heigl. She's the producer; he's the new star of the news show; they battle, then he decides to help her get the guy she wants who lives next door. How does that work out? 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1142988/combined
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