Guy Richie's RockNRolla------

A few comments about RockNRolla. I love gangster/mob films (Hong Kong over-the-top stylized violence), if they are not too bloody and not too much nasty language. So I was expecting RnR to be what it is - a gangster film with lots of cussin' and shootin' etc. Actually, I was surprised it was shot in such a way that some of the mayhem is off screen and you just hear it or the others are talking about it. There is a lot to be said for quick cuts.

The cast are all so good it is a pleasure to watch them morph into these mobsters, lowlifes and druggies. Gerard Butler is One-Two, the leader of The Wild Bunch, and is full of doofus charm.. The character isn't brilliant, but he is good-hearted to his mates. His dancing scene with Stella (Thandie Newton) the crooked bookkeeper for the Russian mobster, is very funny. He is either a good dancer and playing an awkward one; or really a bit awkward. Anyway, it is very cute and he and Thandie are darling together.

Idris Elba (Mumbles) & Handsome Bob (Tom Hardy) are the rest of The Wild Bunch. The encounter between One-Two and Handsome Bob is funny and sweet and even though One-two is shocked at first, he handles it so well and the two actors are just very good. Nice script writing. Or did the actors improvise some? Then One-Twos conversation with Mumbles about Bob is so funny and puts a human face on these violent criminals.

Other acting standouts are Toby Kebbell as Johnnie Quid (the RockNRolla) as the druggie step-son of Tom Wilkinsons mob boss (although I did get tired of Tom acting at the top of his voice), and his right-hand man Archie played by Mark Stong, who is a violent man, but Stong's expressions as things take crazy twists and turns are priceless. Another good performance.

The Russian mob after The Wild Bunch, who have stolen from them, is the funniest chase in a long time, which just ends because they all are so tired they can't run anymore. Oh, and the McGuffin priceless painting, which we never see except from the back, which is stolen many times, ends up at Stella's place. The Russian kingpin is not happy when he sees it (originally it belonged to him and he wants it back.) Will he have Stella killed? He's just asked her to marry him - but now, here's his painting - what's a billionaire mobster to do? We'll have to wait for RnR2 "The Real RockNRolla," to find out.

Since this is an ensemble film, no one is featured more than The Wild Bunch, I like that. I love The Wild Bunch, and hope they get to make 2 more films, writer/director Guy Richie has already written. They're cooool, just not as cool as they think they are. And when they ramp up the music near the end, it is a like a jolt of caffeine to the brain. WOW! Once around again!
8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1032755/

Election Day makes slow film week----

I was so surprised and happy on election night I stayed up and watched all the celebrations from Chicagos Grant Park to New York City's Times Square to Washington D.C. in front of the White House. I was in tears just like the folks at the parties.

So it has been a week when the TV news was on most of the time but I finally got around to seeing a couple of films too:

Open Range (2003) Kevin Costner directs and stars. With Robert Duvall and Annette Benning. The opening shots of the beautiful scenery; and the great gunfight for the finale are topnotch movie making. The sound in this film is the most realistic for a gunfight I have ever heard. One of my favorite westerns of the last 25 years. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0316356/

Inside Man (2006) Denzel Washington, Clive Owen & Jodie Foster in a caper film. Confused and confusing film. I've seen it twice and I'm still not sure what's going on. But Denzel is fine as the policeman trying to negotiate for the many hostages holed up in a bank with some crazy theives, who all are masked through most of the film so we don't get to feel anything for them. Jodie Forster and Christopher Plummer are good in strange roles - almost cameos - that almost could be from another film. All these stars do what stars do - keep you watching because they are so charismatic. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454848/

We are having frosty days and very cold nights. I've had my gas logs in the fireplace on the last 2 days to take the chill off the living room and my viewing chair. Dug up and brought in the canna bulbs and some other tender plants. Gardening is over for this year.

Two week report....

Over the last two weeks, while the weather was nice, I spent a lot of time outdoors. But I did watch these films:

Private Life Of Henry VIII (1933) Charles Laughton IS The King! And Elsa Lancaster as Anne Of Cleves is a match. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024473/

Dracula 2000 Gerard Butler, Christopher Plummer. Over the top, with way too many starletts and wannabe's during the first 30 minutes. Then it settles down to a new take on the Drac legend and with a mesmerizing Gerard Butler as the title character, becomes a worthy entry in the list of films about the undead one. Great for Halloween - with all things that go *bump* in the night.......8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0219653/

Pearl Harbor (2001) A love triangle between two flyboys and a nurse and Hawaii is bombed by the Japanese. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0213149/

Confessions Of A Dangersous Mind (2002) This dangerous mind couldn't get into it - it is very weird. No rating. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0270288/

V For Vendetta (2005) Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving. A strange film. Is it a romance, a horror, or ... what? Interesting. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0434409/

Babel (2006) Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett on a trip to Morocco when suddenly the bus window breaks and she discovers she has been shot. Many entwining stories start from this incident and it is soon so muddled it becomes boring. I really didn't care about the two yuppies and felt sorry for most of the rest of the characters. But by the end I was just glad it was over. What a mess! 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0449467/

The DaVinci Code (2006) Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen. I saw this in theater when it was first released and was disappointed. Decided to give it another try. I was completely bored and went to sleep. Maybe I should read the book? 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382625/

Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day (2008) Enchanting fable about a beautiful girl, Delysia (Amy Adams) who has a few too many lovers. But it is Frances McDormand as Miss Pettigrew, a nanny who has been fired, and a lingerie manufacturer Joe, (Ciaran Hinds) who find each other in this magical day, that are the great joys. Their scenes together are just perfect and very romantic. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970468/

RockNRolla (2008) Gerard Butler, Thandie Newton, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Strong. Guy Ritchie film about the criminals in merry ole England. Wonderful ensemble cast of pros brings to life the scoundrels and theives and violent thugs of the "new" and "old" school of gangsters. Lenny and Archie (Tom Wilkinson and Mark Strong) are the old school; One-two, Mumbles and Handsome Bob (Gerard Butler, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy) The Wild Bunch, are for hire; and Stella (Thandie Newton) the accountant who is up to no good. The Russian mobsters are "the new school" and have no rules. Toby Kebbell is Johnny Quid - the RocknRolla - and is a standout. The plot revolves around a painting that goes missing; along with some serious money. Chases and mayhem ensue. But it is the droll byplay between the Wild Bunch and between Stella and One Two that are the highlights. And a dance scene, the shortest sex scene ever in movies, and a chase scene that will have you laughing a lot. A very funny film. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1032755/

Well, I did it - I voted at election headquarters because I can't stand for very long and ask to vote early. However it turns out, I know one thing. Our presidential elections are too long. It becomes a joke for our comedians to mock.



See you at the movies.

Ginger, Gerry, Greg and Conte....

Not much, but what there is is "cherce"........

Roxie Hart (1942) Ginger Rogers and Adolph Menjou in the original screenplay that became "Chicago." Very broad satire, with everyone over the top. Good fun. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035272/

Yellow Sky (1948) Anne Baxter, Gregory Peck, Richard Widmark. A western with grit - you can almost taste the sand and feel the heat. Gang robs a bank and is chased into the salt flats and rides and walks 80 miles until they stumble into the 'ghost town' where Baxter and her grandpa live and mine for gold. Trouble insues. Peck outstanding as a bad boy gone good for a woman. Baxter good as the tough gal. Widmark has little to do but does it well. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040978/

20th Century Hours Of Stars "Overnight Hall" (1956) Richard Conte, Lizabeth Scott. During the 1950's and 60's Conte was almost a weekly star on one program or another. In this, the scipt defeats him. Story of a man and his stepson on a trip in dad's truck, when there is a blowout. The boy crawls under the truck to get his dog, and the jack suddenly gives way and he is trapped, not hurt, but wedged in. The rest of the story is Conte's frantic journey back along deserted road to find help, but he never tells people why he is doing what he is doing. Ends up in jail. Very poor writing, with huge gaps in believeability. But Conte is fun to watch. 5/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0501923/

Young Persons Guide To Becoming A Rock Star (1998) UK Television series featuring Gerard Butler. This was a 3 part series. Very well done story of the trials and tribulations of a group trying to get a band together and get an agent. Highlight is Butler's cameo of a rock star's meltdown in the agents office, because there wasn't a private loo for him on the plane to Japan, and "no avacados; I specifically ask for avacados." "Nobody loves me" he ends his rant. Very funny and him ending in the hotel bed with a bowl of fruit all that is covering his 'bits' and the girls have tied him up, doublecrossing the sorry ass, is worth the price of the DVD. Early in his career he had that something that makes you watch him when he is on screen. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0178167/

Dear Frankie (2003) Emily Mortimer, Gerard Butler, Jack McElhone. Almost perfect little film of a mother keeping her son safe from an abusive situation. Her story of the father being on a ship called the "Accra" and it turning up in the port town where she has settled her Mom and son, makes her have to find some man to pose for just one day, and visit the boy. She finds "The Stranger" Butler, who is quiet, but a strong presense. All the actors are spot on. The location shooting in Glasgow, Scotland, and the lovely score, make this a real joy to watch.
9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0377752/

Lovely Autumn weather keeps me out and about. Have some of my collection sitting on the table by my viewing chair, so the predicted rainy weather will have me watching favorites.

Carole Lombard & Alice Faye films...

This week I spent out and about, mostly puttering in my flower borders, transplanting, etc. Such glorious weather - Indian summer - just had to be outdoors. The maples are turning bright orange, crimson and gold.

But I did manage to watch three of my Matinee' Ladies films:

20th Century (1934) Carole Lombard, John Barrymore. Very dissapointing. Lombard, as an actress, spends the entire film screaming - or it seems that way. Tiresome. 6/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025919/

Hands Across The Table (1935) Carole Lombard, Fred MacMurray, Ralph Bellamy . Cute romantic comedy about a manicurist trying to snag a rich husband. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026452/

Hello, Frisco, Hello (1943) Newly restored on DVD. Alice Faye musical in gorgeous technicolor. Her signature song, "You'll Never Know" is discussed in the extras; how and why it was written; that it was the number one song in America for almost a year. John Payne, Jack Oakey, June Havoc and Lynn Bari round out the cast. Interviews with Alice Fayes daughter and film historians. The cleaned up picture and sound are first rate. 9/10 for the restoration. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035982/

This week we are supposed to have some rainey days, good for watching films. Time will tell.

A couple of musicals, lust, romance and murder---

---a little of everything this week. I watched:

Somethings In The Wind (1947) Deanna Durbin, Donald O'Conner, John Dall, Charles Winniger. Deanna is all grown up and handles the role of a radio disk jockey who sings along with the records she plays, well. As in all her films. there is a mixup and she is required to set everything right by the final reel. Her songs are more up tempo and modern. She does have one aria with the great Jan Peerce of the Metropolitan Opera. Donald O'Conner does almost the entire routine from "Singing In The Rain" in this film, 10 years before it is perfected as "Make 'Um Laugh." Nice for a Sat. afternoon at home. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039847/

Victor Victoria (1983) Julie Andrews is both title characters and is just fine. James Garner and Robert Preston give very good support and the music, costumes and cinematography is first rate. The standout performance is by Leslie Anne Warren as the chorus girl friend of Garners Chicago nightclub owner. Sparkle and dazzle, no holds barred - she makes you sit up and take notice. The 1920's in Paris through the eyes of Blake Edwards. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084865/

An Autumns Tale (1987 Hong Kong "Chou tin dik tong wah") Chow Yun Fat & Cherie Chung in a sweet tale of a young girl who comes to NYC to go to college, relying on 13th cousin Figgy (Chow) to furnish her with a place to live. He has written back home how well he is doing, so she thinks she will have a nice apartment. Actually, it is a dump amd Figgy is a gambling happy-go-lucky n'er-do-well. The ups and downs of life in a unfamiliar place, and getting to know each other is played out very nicely and of course, true love prevails. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093426/

Vantage Point (2008) Dennis Quaid, Forest Whitaker, Sigourney Weaver and William Hurt. Interesting way of telling about an event, an assassination attempt on the U.S. President, through the eyes of various people witnessing it and the different prospectives. But it is also a true summer action film, with the required car chases, explosions, shootouts, etc. Good cast helps. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443274/

Closer (2004) Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Clive Owen A good cast in a story of love, lust, lies and deception. The story is a bit muddled mid-way through, as to who is with who. But you keep watching - like watching a train wreck you just want to know what happens. 7/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0376541/

Smart People (2008) Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ellen Page, Thomas Haden Church Story of a widowed college professor who is so rigid and exacting that his family are like robots. No one can stand him - family, students. or faculty. Then his slacker brother shows up for a handout and a place to stay and shakes things up. Ellen Page does her "Juno" persona again. One wonders if she has any range. Enjoyable enough. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0858479/

The cooler weather has people out cleaning up for the winter to come. I am still planting marcissus bulbs and moving a few plants. But mostly just enjoying these lovely days - not too hot, but warm enough to sit in a rocking chair and watch the birds come and go.

The mums are in full bloom and are lovely, bright, warm, clear colors.