---finds frigid cold temps but the sun is shining. The past week has has snow and frozen fog. So it is a dead car in the garage, and me by the fire watching these films:
Fracture (2007) Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling. Cat and mouse game. Assistant D.A. Willy Beachum gets assigned a murder case of a wealthy man, Ted Crawford, who has shot and killed his wife. Who is innocent and who is guilty? As in most cases involving humans, all are a little bit of both. Proving that Crawford should be behind bars is not easy. Or pretty. Good. Easily keeps you watching the old pro and the new kid do their roles. A companion film on 'cheating' and the consequences is "Shattered" with Pierce Brosnan, Gerard Butler and Maria Bello. There the 'cheated on' get their revenge without any killing, but it is just as devastating. Fracture I rate a 7/10. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0488120/
Seven Sweethearts (1942) Kathryn Grayson & Van Heflin. This was filmed before we entered WWII but was released after. And even then seemed out of place. But it was one of MGMs vehicles to introduce lots of their contract players to an audience. They were especially wanting to see if Grayson could take Jeanette MacDonalds place as the queen of musicals for the studio. Van Heflin won an Oscar in '42 for Johnny Eager, but was wasted here as a reporter romancing the youngest daughter.. The setting at a tulip festival is quaint, but there really are such festivals in Dutch/German communities to this day. In Iowa, too. I went to one. Pleasant. 7/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035309/
Two Sisters From Boston (1946) Kathryn Grayson & June Allyson. Very proper turn of the century young women go to New York. One to study and become an opera singer. When she ends up in a saloon singing with Jimmy Darante, the other sister has to go to her rescue. Funny scenes, good music and cast, make an enjoyable time at the movies. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039054/
Bachelor Mother (1939) Ginger Rogers, David Niven. Enjoyable romantic comedy about a saleswoman mistaken for a baby's mother. Much superior to the remakes. Screenplay by Norman Krasna from an original story by Felix Jackson(Oscar), and directed by Garson Kanin, it bubbles along with chuckles and laughs from beginning to end. There is a wonderful scene of Times Square on New Years, intercut with the sound stage recreation. All in all, a wonderful holiday film. Charles Coburn as the would-be grandpa is a delight. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031067/
In Name Only (1939} Carole Lombard, Cary Grant. One of the few dramas Lombard made. She is very good as a young mother who falls for a wealthy married man (Grant). As the wife from hell, the great Kay Francis is sweet and manipulative, and uses her guile on his parents and her friends to keep her husband in line. Cary is Cary - and gorgeous. Top supporting cast, production values, make an above average melodrama. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031477/
Four days to go for the big HOLIDAY. Since it is going to be bitterly cold, we are going to be playing getogethers by ear. On the day, we will decide. That fireplace will be going every day.
December 21, 2008
December 14, 2008
A few films this week....
....with lots of sitting by the fireplace and keeping up with the awful news on the economy. And also the weather.
This week I watched:
Remember The Night (1940) Barbara Stanwyke, Fred MacMurray going home for Christmas. He's the assistant D.A., John Sargent. She is a thief, Lee Leander, he is prosecuting just before Christmas. The Judge releases her on bail for the Christmas holiday. She ends up being delivered to the D.A. who is going home for the holidays and he ends up taking charge of her. Sweet, sentimental and with the great Beulah Bondi as his Mom, Elizabeth Patterson as Aunt Emma, and Sterling Holloway as Willie. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032981/
The Jungle Book (1942) Sabu in the live action version. Kiplings childrens story in beautiful technicolor. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034928/
Little Women (1949) June Allyson, Janet Leigh, Elizabeth Taylor, Margaret O'Brien and Mary Astor as Marmee. Each generation seems to get their version of this story. This one was shot entirely on MGM sound stages. No realism. No dirt roads billowing dust. Just beautiful technicolor, cinematography, authentic costumes, and score. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041594/
Iris (2001) Judi Dench, Jim Broadbent (Oscar, Best Supporting) in story about novelist Iris Murdoch. It jumps between the young couple's story and the couple dealing with Iris' onset of Alzheimers. Sad. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0280778/0.
Middle of the month and 10 days before Christmas. Need to get last minute shopping done. But with the weather turning bad again, may just forget it. And watch films.
This week I watched:
Remember The Night (1940) Barbara Stanwyke, Fred MacMurray going home for Christmas. He's the assistant D.A., John Sargent. She is a thief, Lee Leander, he is prosecuting just before Christmas. The Judge releases her on bail for the Christmas holiday. She ends up being delivered to the D.A. who is going home for the holidays and he ends up taking charge of her. Sweet, sentimental and with the great Beulah Bondi as his Mom, Elizabeth Patterson as Aunt Emma, and Sterling Holloway as Willie. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032981/
The Jungle Book (1942) Sabu in the live action version. Kiplings childrens story in beautiful technicolor. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034928/
Little Women (1949) June Allyson, Janet Leigh, Elizabeth Taylor, Margaret O'Brien and Mary Astor as Marmee. Each generation seems to get their version of this story. This one was shot entirely on MGM sound stages. No realism. No dirt roads billowing dust. Just beautiful technicolor, cinematography, authentic costumes, and score. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041594/
Iris (2001) Judi Dench, Jim Broadbent (Oscar, Best Supporting) in story about novelist Iris Murdoch. It jumps between the young couple's story and the couple dealing with Iris' onset of Alzheimers. Sad. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0280778/0.
Middle of the month and 10 days before Christmas. Need to get last minute shopping done. But with the weather turning bad again, may just forget it. And watch films.
December 08, 2008
Holiday films; TV series.......
......were my viewing highlights this week. Lots of news shows also. Our poor country it back to my childhood with people losing jobs and others worried they will be next. Hope and pray our new President and his team can get us back to safety. War isn't the only thing to fear. Poverty is just as horrible. I'm praying!
Videos from my collection:
Christmas In Conn. (1945) Barbara Stanwyke, Dennis Morgan, S. Z. "Cuddles" Sakall, and a great house. Babs is a writer of a feature in a womans magazine about hearth and home. Her publisher (Sydney Greenstreet) gets a letter from a nurse who has hero who was shot down and survived 3 weeks in a raft. She wants to give him a great Christmas and from the pictures with the article decides to see if she can get an invitation for a Christmas In Conn. for her patient, who she thinks wants to marry her. Of course, The writer can't cook, isn't married, doesn't live on a farm as the article said, and how it all works out is the rest of the story. Loits of fun and charm. The sleigh coming up to the house, the first look at the lovely great room with blazing fire - everyone should have Christmas there! 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037595/
Miracle On 34th Street (1947) It's the best! Edmund Guinn is Kris Kringle; is hired to ride in Macy's parade and work in the store. Maureen O'Hara is the personel officer who hires him; Natalie Wood, her daughter; and John Payne the lawyer who gets the court to declare him the one and only Santa Claus. Charming fable to start off the Season to be merry. Perfect! 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039628/
In The Good Old Summertime (1949) Judy Garland at the Christmas Party in red velvet singing "I Don't Care" is a highlight.. S. Z. "Cuddles" Sakall is the store owner, Van Johnson is the head clerk, Spring Byington, the cashier at Oberkugens Music Store. A remake of "The Shop Around The Corner" with a crazy title, because almost the whole film is in winter, ending on Christmas eve, with Judy and Van kissing under the Christmas tree. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041507/
Rented DVD
NCIS-Season 1 (2003) 4 episodes and commentary by director. Mark Harmon is Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs of the Navy Criminal Investigative Service.
Michael Weatherly is Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo; Pauley Perrette is Abby Sciuto, forensics; David McCallum is Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard, coroner; Sean Murray, Special Agent Timothy McGee; and Cote de Pable is Mossad Liaison Officer Ziva David.
Great cast make each episode interesting and fun, even when the subject matter is gruesome. Very good series that I have just discovered. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364845/
The women of the clan are going to see "The Nutcracker Ballet" during the season. Gives a good feeling and is a beautiful experience.
More of my Holiday films are on my table ready to watch this coming week.
Videos from my collection:
Christmas In Conn. (1945) Barbara Stanwyke, Dennis Morgan, S. Z. "Cuddles" Sakall, and a great house. Babs is a writer of a feature in a womans magazine about hearth and home. Her publisher (Sydney Greenstreet) gets a letter from a nurse who has hero who was shot down and survived 3 weeks in a raft. She wants to give him a great Christmas and from the pictures with the article decides to see if she can get an invitation for a Christmas In Conn. for her patient, who she thinks wants to marry her. Of course, The writer can't cook, isn't married, doesn't live on a farm as the article said, and how it all works out is the rest of the story. Loits of fun and charm. The sleigh coming up to the house, the first look at the lovely great room with blazing fire - everyone should have Christmas there! 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037595/
Miracle On 34th Street (1947) It's the best! Edmund Guinn is Kris Kringle; is hired to ride in Macy's parade and work in the store. Maureen O'Hara is the personel officer who hires him; Natalie Wood, her daughter; and John Payne the lawyer who gets the court to declare him the one and only Santa Claus. Charming fable to start off the Season to be merry. Perfect! 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039628/
In The Good Old Summertime (1949) Judy Garland at the Christmas Party in red velvet singing "I Don't Care" is a highlight.. S. Z. "Cuddles" Sakall is the store owner, Van Johnson is the head clerk, Spring Byington, the cashier at Oberkugens Music Store. A remake of "The Shop Around The Corner" with a crazy title, because almost the whole film is in winter, ending on Christmas eve, with Judy and Van kissing under the Christmas tree. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041507/
Rented DVD
NCIS-Season 1 (2003) 4 episodes and commentary by director. Mark Harmon is Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs of the Navy Criminal Investigative Service.
Michael Weatherly is Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo; Pauley Perrette is Abby Sciuto, forensics; David McCallum is Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard, coroner; Sean Murray, Special Agent Timothy McGee; and Cote de Pable is Mossad Liaison Officer Ziva David.
Great cast make each episode interesting and fun, even when the subject matter is gruesome. Very good series that I have just discovered. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364845/
The women of the clan are going to see "The Nutcracker Ballet" during the season. Gives a good feeling and is a beautiful experience.
More of my Holiday films are on my table ready to watch this coming week.
December 01, 2008
Melodramas, a musical & a Seasonal film.....
......start off December. Also, sleet, snow flurries and cold, cold, cold. Nice by the fire to see these films:
Mad About Music (1938) Deanna Durbin fluff but she is darling and sings a lovely Ave Maria. Deanna {Gloria) was 14 and just delightful as a pupil at a Swiss boarding school who makes up stories about her father. Her mother (Gail Patric) is a famous movie star, who in those days "couldn't" have a grown daughter. Herbert Marshall is a composer who chances to be on a train as the girls all come to meet this 'father.' One mixup after another has Gloria busy until the final song. A treat for her fans. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030395/
Mildred Pierce (1945) Joan Crawford's Oscar performance. She is a mother who will, and does, do anything for her oldest daughter, the evil Veda (Ann Blyth). Great cast doing great melodrama. Jack Carson (Wally), is terrific, and never gets enough recognition for his acting. Zachary Scott, Eve Arden, and Bruce Bennett round out the top players. Story of a woman's rise from housewife/waitress to owner of a chain of restaurants, and the bad choices she makes that finally bring her down, was way before women in films were usually this strong without some man behind them. One of the 1st showing a determined, smart, ambitious female. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037913/
Possessed (1947) Joan Crawford, another Oscar nominated performance. The gradual desent into madness, is Joan at her best. Van Heflin is the object of her desire; Raymond Massey is the stalwart husband; Geraldine Brooks, his daughter. Story of a nurse taking care of an invalid wife, who ends up marrying the husband after the wife dies, but who really wants to stay in contact with her former lover. Murder happens. Collapse happens. Semi-happy ending happens. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039725/
The Bishops Wife (1947) Loretta Young, Cary Grant, David Niven. Starts my Christmas season films. Cary's the angel, Loretta the bishop's wife, David the bishop. The character actors are delightful: Elsa Lancaster, the maid; Gladys Cooper, Mrs. Hamilton, the grande dame; James Gleason, the cabby who almost steals the show; Monty Woolley, the professor; Sara Haden, the bishops' secretary; Karolyn Grimes, daughter Debby. What a cast! A fable - done with great seriousness, and good humor, to continue to delight even our cynical age. The final lines are for all times, everywhere. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039190/
Into The Wild (2007) Beautiful and sad true story. . Emile Hirsch plays Chris McCandless, the college graduate who decides he doesn't want or need modern life and really wants to 'get away from it all.' His trip across country and the folks he meets is wonderful and entertaining. His final trip to Alaska and trekking out into the wilderness, to find an old bus sitting miles from anywhere, where he settles down for the season is interesting and hopeful. The final days of his life are heartbreaking. Can't say I admire his attitude, but his courage is great. Extremism, no matter what the cause, is bad. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758758/
"24"-Redemption" (2008-2 hr. TVmovie) Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) kicking ass and saving African children. After a year and a half of no new episodes, this is the reintroduction of badass Jack in his life under the radar of his former CTU agency. Story is about African warlords and the fact that militias round up children from all over the countryside and make them into soldiers, teaching them to shoot guns and kill. Jack's friend, a school teacher, is targeted because of the young boys at his village school. They try to get the children to the embassy miles away, and finally make it after much mayhem. Still like Jack and his "just get it done" attitude. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0813980/
My daughters helped me get my lights up along the front walk and driveway. Just have a scene with trees, a deer and big presents on the lawn. The two small spruce trees at the ends of the house have white lights. So that afternoon as they were finishing - the sleet/snow began falling. Great gobs, but it melted on the concrete. Stuck to the lawn and trees. A true holiday start to the season. Fireplace on, supper and a good movie. I'm happy!
Mad About Music (1938) Deanna Durbin fluff but she is darling and sings a lovely Ave Maria. Deanna {Gloria) was 14 and just delightful as a pupil at a Swiss boarding school who makes up stories about her father. Her mother (Gail Patric) is a famous movie star, who in those days "couldn't" have a grown daughter. Herbert Marshall is a composer who chances to be on a train as the girls all come to meet this 'father.' One mixup after another has Gloria busy until the final song. A treat for her fans. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030395/
Mildred Pierce (1945) Joan Crawford's Oscar performance. She is a mother who will, and does, do anything for her oldest daughter, the evil Veda (Ann Blyth). Great cast doing great melodrama. Jack Carson (Wally), is terrific, and never gets enough recognition for his acting. Zachary Scott, Eve Arden, and Bruce Bennett round out the top players. Story of a woman's rise from housewife/waitress to owner of a chain of restaurants, and the bad choices she makes that finally bring her down, was way before women in films were usually this strong without some man behind them. One of the 1st showing a determined, smart, ambitious female. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037913/
Possessed (1947) Joan Crawford, another Oscar nominated performance. The gradual desent into madness, is Joan at her best. Van Heflin is the object of her desire; Raymond Massey is the stalwart husband; Geraldine Brooks, his daughter. Story of a nurse taking care of an invalid wife, who ends up marrying the husband after the wife dies, but who really wants to stay in contact with her former lover. Murder happens. Collapse happens. Semi-happy ending happens. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039725/
The Bishops Wife (1947) Loretta Young, Cary Grant, David Niven. Starts my Christmas season films. Cary's the angel, Loretta the bishop's wife, David the bishop. The character actors are delightful: Elsa Lancaster, the maid; Gladys Cooper, Mrs. Hamilton, the grande dame; James Gleason, the cabby who almost steals the show; Monty Woolley, the professor; Sara Haden, the bishops' secretary; Karolyn Grimes, daughter Debby. What a cast! A fable - done with great seriousness, and good humor, to continue to delight even our cynical age. The final lines are for all times, everywhere. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039190/
Into The Wild (2007) Beautiful and sad true story. . Emile Hirsch plays Chris McCandless, the college graduate who decides he doesn't want or need modern life and really wants to 'get away from it all.' His trip across country and the folks he meets is wonderful and entertaining. His final trip to Alaska and trekking out into the wilderness, to find an old bus sitting miles from anywhere, where he settles down for the season is interesting and hopeful. The final days of his life are heartbreaking. Can't say I admire his attitude, but his courage is great. Extremism, no matter what the cause, is bad. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758758/
"24"-Redemption" (2008-2 hr. TVmovie) Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) kicking ass and saving African children. After a year and a half of no new episodes, this is the reintroduction of badass Jack in his life under the radar of his former CTU agency. Story is about African warlords and the fact that militias round up children from all over the countryside and make them into soldiers, teaching them to shoot guns and kill. Jack's friend, a school teacher, is targeted because of the young boys at his village school. They try to get the children to the embassy miles away, and finally make it after much mayhem. Still like Jack and his "just get it done" attitude. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0813980/
My daughters helped me get my lights up along the front walk and driveway. Just have a scene with trees, a deer and big presents on the lawn. The two small spruce trees at the ends of the house have white lights. So that afternoon as they were finishing - the sleet/snow began falling. Great gobs, but it melted on the concrete. Stuck to the lawn and trees. A true holiday start to the season. Fireplace on, supper and a good movie. I'm happy!
November 24, 2008
TV week
Very few films this week because I have become hooked on the TV show "NCIS" which began in 2003 starring Mark Harmon. The USA network is playing 3 hours of the show each day, and on Sat. 11/22, had a marathon 9 hours of shows from 2005. Great cast make the formula of the show fresh almost every episode. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364845/
Diving Bell & The Butterfly/Scaphandre et le papillon, Le (2007-French) True story of a writer for Elle who has a stroke and is paralyzed except he can blink one eye. Very slow, but interesting. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401383/
Definitely, Maybe (2008) Abigail Breslin is a doll. The usual romantic comedy stuff, but the hook is the young daughter is trying to find out about the three women her father has talked about having known. The adult cast is passable. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0832266/
We are going into the deep freeze this week - 3 straight nights down in the 20s. Fireplace, wine and favorite shows and movies. That's a plan!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364845/
Diving Bell & The Butterfly/Scaphandre et le papillon, Le (2007-French) True story of a writer for Elle who has a stroke and is paralyzed except he can blink one eye. Very slow, but interesting. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401383/
Definitely, Maybe (2008) Abigail Breslin is a doll. The usual romantic comedy stuff, but the hook is the young daughter is trying to find out about the three women her father has talked about having known. The adult cast is passable. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0832266/
We are going into the deep freeze this week - 3 straight nights down in the 20s. Fireplace, wine and favorite shows and movies. That's a plan!
November 17, 2008
This week-----
---I watched a few films, but mainly was catching up on series TV. Watched a lot of NCIS reruns on the USA channel. Very good cast and interesting characters. Also, a few episodes of loopy Monk. Very funny at times. And, of course, Law & Order and all its' spin offs. Lots of talent on all these shows.
The few films I watched:
Phenomenon (1996) John Travolta and Kyra Sedgwick. A small town guy gets a bolt from the blue and seems to be able to learn & master any number of subjects. Enjoyable paranormal story. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117333/
The Queen (2007) Helen Mirren IS Queen Elizabeth II. Michael Sheen and Helen McCrory, as Tony and Cherie Blair, are also standouts. The story concentrates on the days just preceding and the day of Princess Diana's death and what the Royals did and didn't do. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436697/
Failure To Launch (2006) Sarah Jessica Parker & Matthew McConaughey. Such a lame story to waste the leads in, let alone Kathy Bates. Zooey Deschanel steals every scene she is in and if the story was about her character, we might have something worth watching. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427229/
Another rather cold, damp week predicted, with just one day with full sunshine and warm enough to finish getting the garden tools cleaned and back in the garage; and do some final cleanup of frosted plants. Then it is on to getting the holiday decorations out and up before it gets too cold to bother. So the fire and some movies, etc. on the agenda.
The few films I watched:
Phenomenon (1996) John Travolta and Kyra Sedgwick. A small town guy gets a bolt from the blue and seems to be able to learn & master any number of subjects. Enjoyable paranormal story. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117333/
The Queen (2007) Helen Mirren IS Queen Elizabeth II. Michael Sheen and Helen McCrory, as Tony and Cherie Blair, are also standouts. The story concentrates on the days just preceding and the day of Princess Diana's death and what the Royals did and didn't do. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436697/
Failure To Launch (2006) Sarah Jessica Parker & Matthew McConaughey. Such a lame story to waste the leads in, let alone Kathy Bates. Zooey Deschanel steals every scene she is in and if the story was about her character, we might have something worth watching. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427229/
Another rather cold, damp week predicted, with just one day with full sunshine and warm enough to finish getting the garden tools cleaned and back in the garage; and do some final cleanup of frosted plants. Then it is on to getting the holiday decorations out and up before it gets too cold to bother. So the fire and some movies, etc. on the agenda.
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