I watched these films recently:
Mr. Skeffington (1944) Bette Davis, Claude Rains. Beauty marries for money and has to live with the consequences, including a daughter she never wanted. A meditation on beauty, wealth, selfishness and fantasy lives. Begins in horse and buggy days and ends during WWII. Rains as the title character, a Jewish banker, is great as always. The story is a good 'Matinee' Ladies' film. My only quibble is Bette's high pitched delivery of her lines. Fanny is fake, but the voice is like chalk on a blackboard. Thanks goodness the writers delivered the daughter to a husband who takes her far, far away. Still for a afternoon by the fire I give it - 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037094/
Nights of Cabiria (1957) Guilietta Masina. I tried to enjoy seeing this film because it is praised to the heavens. Another of the prostitute films where we are forced to watch her being mistreated, cheated, almost killed. All the while the actress is screeching half the time and crying and acting all coy the rest of the time. Geezus in a pancake! If this was an USA film with Julia Roberts screaming her lines, and acting this stupid - all Hell would be rained on her head. But the fanboys have anointed Fellini and his wife above reproach. Well, eeeexxxxcuse me! 3/10 Bad, bad, bad! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050783/
Taken (2008) Liam Neeson in a great action film about a former spy, retired and trying to reenter his estranged daughters life, who has to use his old skills to rescue her when she is kidnapped on a trip to Europe with a girlfriend. Action, start to finish. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0936501/
Lovely Bones (2009) Lots of fine actors take part in a film about a serial killer. We are guided through the film by one of the victims as she watches and waits for her body to be found because then she......ah what? I was stupefied. And have forgotten it already! 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0380510/
Con't another day....
December 11, 2010
December 06, 2010
A classic and 2 newbys---
--I have recently watched:
Daisy Kenyon (1945) Joan Crawford, Dana Andrews, Henry Fonda. My collection, but watched on FMC. Wonderful Crawford "matinee' ladies" film. Dana Andrews does a wonderful cad role, and Fonda has some of his most romantic lines. Joan suffers beautifully. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039294/
New In Town (2009) Renee Zellweger, Harry Connick, Jr. Renee as Lucy Hill, rising star on the corporate ladder, is sent from the home office in sunny Miami, to a frigid Minnesota town to downsize and restructure the plant, the main source of income for the locals. A fish out of water film, with our gal arriving in snow and ice covered streets in 3 inch heels and no warm coat. Some of the locals are eccentric in the extreme and Connick as the local labor leader is gruff but cute. Not a great rom/com, but not too bad. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1095174/
Super Size Me (2004) Morgan Spurlock's saga of eating nothing but McDonalds food for a month. It ain't pretty! While I know he was making a point that too much is not good, and fast food should not be allowed into schools as a regular lunch choice, occasional indulgence cannot be a killer. The film itself becomes repetitious and is rather sickening after a while, but worth seeing. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390521/
To be cont'.....
Daisy Kenyon (1945) Joan Crawford, Dana Andrews, Henry Fonda. My collection, but watched on FMC. Wonderful Crawford "matinee' ladies" film. Dana Andrews does a wonderful cad role, and Fonda has some of his most romantic lines. Joan suffers beautifully. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039294/
New In Town (2009) Renee Zellweger, Harry Connick, Jr. Renee as Lucy Hill, rising star on the corporate ladder, is sent from the home office in sunny Miami, to a frigid Minnesota town to downsize and restructure the plant, the main source of income for the locals. A fish out of water film, with our gal arriving in snow and ice covered streets in 3 inch heels and no warm coat. Some of the locals are eccentric in the extreme and Connick as the local labor leader is gruff but cute. Not a great rom/com, but not too bad. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1095174/
Super Size Me (2004) Morgan Spurlock's saga of eating nothing but McDonalds food for a month. It ain't pretty! While I know he was making a point that too much is not good, and fast food should not be allowed into schools as a regular lunch choice, occasional indulgence cannot be a killer. The film itself becomes repetitious and is rather sickening after a while, but worth seeing. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390521/
To be cont'.....
November 30, 2010
Four that I have watched before----
---three I like a lot. The fourth is a mess:
Class Action (1991) Gene Hackman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Lawrence Fishburne. Rewatch often. Great courtroom battle. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101590/
Sleeping With The Enemy (1991) Julia Roberts. Favorite Roberts film. And that house by the sea! And the theme music! 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102945/
Mr. Hollands Opus (1995) Richard Dreyfuss, Glenne Headly. Nice film about a dedicated music teacher in a high school. Takes him through his career until he is downsized out with the whole arts department, in budget cuts made by the school board. Apropo of what is happening in schools today. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113862/
A Perfect Murder (1998) Gwyneth Paltrow, Michael Douglas, Viggo Mortensen. Saw it before but thought I'd give it another try. After seeing Dial M For Murder a few weeks ago, this remake just is bad and the stars look silly. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120787/
To be con't...
Class Action (1991) Gene Hackman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Lawrence Fishburne. Rewatch often. Great courtroom battle. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101590/
Sleeping With The Enemy (1991) Julia Roberts. Favorite Roberts film. And that house by the sea! And the theme music! 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102945/
Mr. Hollands Opus (1995) Richard Dreyfuss, Glenne Headly. Nice film about a dedicated music teacher in a high school. Takes him through his career until he is downsized out with the whole arts department, in budget cuts made by the school board. Apropo of what is happening in schools today. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113862/
A Perfect Murder (1998) Gwyneth Paltrow, Michael Douglas, Viggo Mortensen. Saw it before but thought I'd give it another try. After seeing Dial M For Murder a few weeks ago, this remake just is bad and the stars look silly. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120787/
To be con't...
November 29, 2010
A triumph & a dud-----
--the triumph----
The Mudlark (1950) Irene Dunne, Alec Guinness, Andrew Ray, Finlay Currie. Young Mr. Ray, as the Mudlark of the title, is wonderful. An orphan boy, he lives along the banks of the Thames scavenging to survive. He finds a cameo brooch with Queen Victoria's picture and one of the older boys tells him it is "the mother of us all." Wheeler takes that literally and decides to walk to Windsor Castle to see her. How he gets into the palace, not once, but twice, is so amusing we must let each person discover for themselves this delightful and heartwarming story. Dunne as the Queen and Guinness as Prime Minister Disraeli, acquit themselves with their usual outstanding performances. And Currie as John Brown, the Queens confidant, is amusing and superb. The social commentary on conditions of the youth of Britain in 1875 is there for all to see, but we are not bludgeoned over the head. Almost perfect in every way. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042757/
---and the dud----
Blonde Fever (1944) Mary Astor, Phillip Dorn, Gloria Graham, Marshall Thompson. Tedious until late in the film when Mary Astors character gets even and with her sparkle and verve, she takes over the film. Dorn was supposed to be the star, and his character of the husband who develops 'blond fever' for the young, pouty Gloria Graham, is written as a "Cary Grant" type of bumbling rake who takes himself too seriously. Which no one else does. Sadly, Dorn is just not up to it and is all wrong for the part. Which makes the film slog along, until we get to the wife who sees all, knows all and gets what she wants. Graham is a sex kitten and goes on to bigger and better films. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036651/
--to be con't...
The Mudlark (1950) Irene Dunne, Alec Guinness, Andrew Ray, Finlay Currie. Young Mr. Ray, as the Mudlark of the title, is wonderful. An orphan boy, he lives along the banks of the Thames scavenging to survive. He finds a cameo brooch with Queen Victoria's picture and one of the older boys tells him it is "the mother of us all." Wheeler takes that literally and decides to walk to Windsor Castle to see her. How he gets into the palace, not once, but twice, is so amusing we must let each person discover for themselves this delightful and heartwarming story. Dunne as the Queen and Guinness as Prime Minister Disraeli, acquit themselves with their usual outstanding performances. And Currie as John Brown, the Queens confidant, is amusing and superb. The social commentary on conditions of the youth of Britain in 1875 is there for all to see, but we are not bludgeoned over the head. Almost perfect in every way. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042757/
---and the dud----
Blonde Fever (1944) Mary Astor, Phillip Dorn, Gloria Graham, Marshall Thompson. Tedious until late in the film when Mary Astors character gets even and with her sparkle and verve, she takes over the film. Dorn was supposed to be the star, and his character of the husband who develops 'blond fever' for the young, pouty Gloria Graham, is written as a "Cary Grant" type of bumbling rake who takes himself too seriously. Which no one else does. Sadly, Dorn is just not up to it and is all wrong for the part. Which makes the film slog along, until we get to the wife who sees all, knows all and gets what she wants. Graham is a sex kitten and goes on to bigger and better films. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036651/
--to be con't...
November 26, 2010
Demi Moore, Grace Kelly in peril------
---I recently watched two good mysteries:
Half Light (2006) Demi Moore, Henry Ian Cusick, Hans Matheson, James Cosmo. The film was originally to be shot in Canada but due to the cold weather the film was moved to a location in northern Wales and England, although it is set in Scotland. Nice little mystery thriller about a mystery writer, whose son is killed in a drowning accident at the beginning of the film. Unable to get started back writing after eight months, she decides to rent a house, away from everything on the coast of a Scottish village. And trouble begins. The actors are all pros and we are in good hands. Demi looks great. But it is the cinematography that is the *star* with great shots of the rolling waves crashing along the shore, and a wonderful light house playing a prominent role, and island horses along the shore. Worth the time just to watch them and the sea. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0412798/
Dial M For Murder (1954) Grace Kelly, Ray Milland, Robert Cummings, John Williams. Alfred Hitchcock film shot in 3D which adds very little to the enjoyment of the film. Even on it's first run, when I saw it in a movie palace, that was not what we talked about after the show. It was the fact that mild John Williams, pro that he is, stole the picture from the stars. He is that good as the inspector who makes it all come out right. Milland has the showey role as the diabolical husband; Grace is properly confused and bitter; and Cummings is just wrong for the hero role, IMHO. But the whole thing is just done so well, you can't help but keep watching. Not favorite Hich for me, but better than most who-done-its. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046912/
More to come----
Half Light (2006) Demi Moore, Henry Ian Cusick, Hans Matheson, James Cosmo. The film was originally to be shot in Canada but due to the cold weather the film was moved to a location in northern Wales and England, although it is set in Scotland. Nice little mystery thriller about a mystery writer, whose son is killed in a drowning accident at the beginning of the film. Unable to get started back writing after eight months, she decides to rent a house, away from everything on the coast of a Scottish village. And trouble begins. The actors are all pros and we are in good hands. Demi looks great. But it is the cinematography that is the *star* with great shots of the rolling waves crashing along the shore, and a wonderful light house playing a prominent role, and island horses along the shore. Worth the time just to watch them and the sea. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0412798/
Dial M For Murder (1954) Grace Kelly, Ray Milland, Robert Cummings, John Williams. Alfred Hitchcock film shot in 3D which adds very little to the enjoyment of the film. Even on it's first run, when I saw it in a movie palace, that was not what we talked about after the show. It was the fact that mild John Williams, pro that he is, stole the picture from the stars. He is that good as the inspector who makes it all come out right. Milland has the showey role as the diabolical husband; Grace is properly confused and bitter; and Cummings is just wrong for the hero role, IMHO. But the whole thing is just done so well, you can't help but keep watching. Not favorite Hich for me, but better than most who-done-its. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046912/
More to come----
November 21, 2010
Halloween film; Crawford silents; the Rolls----
---these are a few if the films I have watched in November:
Dracula (2000) Gerard Butler, Christopher Plummer, Justine Waddell, & a whole lot of other actors. My last movie of Oct. And my annual Holloween film. The scenes in New Orleans French Quarter with the celebration is a highlight. Perfect to answer the door and pass out treats, and see the local goblins. You can miss whole parts and it won't make any difference. Haha 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0219653/
Our Dancing Daughters (1928 silent) Joan Crawford, Anita Page, Johnny Mack Brown. Joans first big break. There are sound effects and music but no dialog. But she dances up a storm as a rich society girl in a cat fight over a man both want. Page is her adversary and Brown the guy. Fun. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0019237/
Our Modern Maidens (1928 silent) Joan Crawford, Anita Page, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Rod La Rocque. More flapper fun, but a little more serious. Joan and Anita want the same guy again, and Page ends up pregnant. A quick marriage and Joan suffering, and eventually finds the right guy's arms. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0020247/
The Yellow Rolls-Royce (1964) Ingrid Bergman, Omar Sharif, Shirley MacLean, George C. Scott, Art Carney, Rex Harrison, Jeanne Moreau. Three stories involving people with a car. The first story is about the purchase of the brand new car, just arrived at the London dealership, by Lord Frinton for his wife. She is having an affair with a flunkey in her husbands office. Naughty things in the back seat of the Rolls make hubby very unhappy. He has the car returned to the dealer.
After a dozen years the car ends up in Italy during the 1930's where an American gangster and his 'fiance' rent it to sight see the Riviera. Scott, as Maltese, has to go back to the States and that leaves his doll and henchman to get into mischief, which they do. Scott returns and figures things out and gets rid of the car.
Which turns up in Yugoslavia just in time to help the resistance get organized at the start of WWII. With the help of Gerda Millet(Bergman) and her little dog, Sharif gets the men all ferried up to the mountain stonghold. Where love again happens in the back seat of our Rolls. But by now Gerda has to get back to the States to spread the word about the Nazis. Not bad for a film whose only connecting thread is where the Yellow Rolls will show up next. Stars are all fine. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059927/
More comments on more November films to come.
Dracula (2000) Gerard Butler, Christopher Plummer, Justine Waddell, & a whole lot of other actors. My last movie of Oct. And my annual Holloween film. The scenes in New Orleans French Quarter with the celebration is a highlight. Perfect to answer the door and pass out treats, and see the local goblins. You can miss whole parts and it won't make any difference. Haha 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0219653/
Our Dancing Daughters (1928 silent) Joan Crawford, Anita Page, Johnny Mack Brown. Joans first big break. There are sound effects and music but no dialog. But she dances up a storm as a rich society girl in a cat fight over a man both want. Page is her adversary and Brown the guy. Fun. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0019237/
Our Modern Maidens (1928 silent) Joan Crawford, Anita Page, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Rod La Rocque. More flapper fun, but a little more serious. Joan and Anita want the same guy again, and Page ends up pregnant. A quick marriage and Joan suffering, and eventually finds the right guy's arms. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0020247/
The Yellow Rolls-Royce (1964) Ingrid Bergman, Omar Sharif, Shirley MacLean, George C. Scott, Art Carney, Rex Harrison, Jeanne Moreau. Three stories involving people with a car. The first story is about the purchase of the brand new car, just arrived at the London dealership, by Lord Frinton for his wife. She is having an affair with a flunkey in her husbands office. Naughty things in the back seat of the Rolls make hubby very unhappy. He has the car returned to the dealer.
After a dozen years the car ends up in Italy during the 1930's where an American gangster and his 'fiance' rent it to sight see the Riviera. Scott, as Maltese, has to go back to the States and that leaves his doll and henchman to get into mischief, which they do. Scott returns and figures things out and gets rid of the car.
Which turns up in Yugoslavia just in time to help the resistance get organized at the start of WWII. With the help of Gerda Millet(Bergman) and her little dog, Sharif gets the men all ferried up to the mountain stonghold. Where love again happens in the back seat of our Rolls. But by now Gerda has to get back to the States to spread the word about the Nazis. Not bad for a film whose only connecting thread is where the Yellow Rolls will show up next. Stars are all fine. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059927/
More comments on more November films to come.
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