Thursday, June 09, 2022
Raising Buchanan
- Commentary: This movie is a sweet, silly, funny movie. It is, as well, not a movie I would own if I didn't have an actor niece who played a walk-through part in it and a sister who thought to send me a copy of it. I'm also pleased I own it because it is the second to the last movie in which René Auberjonois appeared, whose work I adore. In addition, it won a slew of film festival awards across the U.S., deservedly, I can say, since I've seen it. The crux of the movie is the dilemma of seeking an ill-conceived boost to one's life. It ends poignantly and is thoroughly enjoyable, much to my delight.
Update 6/9/2022: This post was originally published on 1/16/2021 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role René Auberjonois U.S. President James Buchanan Amanda Melby Ruth Kiesling Cathy Shim Meg Terence Bernie Hines Phillip Crosby M. Emmet Walsh Larry Kiesling Robert Ben Garant Lancaster Guy Jennifer Pfalzgraff Holly Steve Briscoe Errol
Here's the Wikipedia write-up on this movie.
Release Date: 2019
Directed by Bruce Dellis.
Labels: buddy, dramedy1, psychological1, reflective, rené-auberjonois, satire1
Chaplin
- Commentary: The Roll Dance, a piece of music written for, and from, this movie, perfectly encapsulates what I love about this movie. For me, it doesn't just reflect the scene in which it's played. It reflects the entire ambience of this bio-pic: upbeat, with a hint of the unsettled, a hint of trauma, a hint of being provoked simultaneously to a need to be uplifting while also acknowledging the tragedy that dogs one's footsteps throughout life.
Robert Downey, Jr., in my opinion, was the perfect actor to play Chaplin. He has the same tendency as Julia Roberts, to be "Robert Downey, Jr. playing ... ", but, while this irritates me in Julia Roberts it delights me in Robert Downey, Jr. Robert Downey, Jr. is, for instance, Iron Man, as he says in the movie Iron Man. He is Kirk Lazarus in Tropic Thunder. And, he is Chaplin in this movie.
Granted, it is a bit disturbing to see Robert Downey, Jr. in the sequences where he is playing Chaplin as an old man; something about the make-up job. It's not bad and it's not good, but I guess aging make-up hadn't been perfected at the time of this production. Nonetheless, I believe him as old Chaplin.
Finally, it is impossible for me to watch this movie and not be transported by the scintilating perfection of its production. I've been wanting to own this movie forever. I've had it for about three months, now, and, call me crazy, but I've watched it at least three times since I received it. In fact, I think I'll watch it again, tonight!
A bynote: Roger Ebert (who's review is linked to the title of this post) did not like this movie. He considered it an insult to the man it portrayed. I have no quibble with his criticisms, but, damnit I really like the film. I've watched it a lot. I'm not opposed to Ebert's criticism, but neither am I swayed by it.
Update 6/9/2022: This post was originally published on 1/16/2021 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Robert Downey Jr. Charlie Chaplin Marisa Tomei Mabel Normand Geraldine Chaplin Hannah Chaplin Paul Rhys Sidney Chaplin John Thaw Fred Karno Moira Kelly Hetty Kelly Francesca Buller Minnie Chaplin Nancy Travis Joan Barry Anthony Hopkins George Hayden Dan Ackroyd Mack Sennett Penelope Ann Miller Edna Purviance Kevin Kline Douglas Fairbanks Matthew Cottle Stan Laurel Maria Pitillo Mary Pickford Milla Jovovich Mildred Harris Kevin Dunn J. Edgar Hoover Deborah Moore Lita Grey Diane Lane Paulette Goddard James Woods Joseph Scott David Duchovny Roland Totheroh
Here's the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 1992
Directed by Richard Attenborough.
Labels: anthony-hopkins, biography1, charlie-chaplin, dramedy1, historical1, james-woods, kevin-kline, period1, political1, reflective, robert-downey-jr
Monday, May 23, 2022
The Jane Austen Book Club
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: none
- Commentary: This is a delightful pastiche of a movie with some very good ensemble acting and an interesting interlinkage of romantic stories that simply captured us. Look, especially, at Lynn Redgrave's performance as the mother of one of the characters. Brave and brilliant! I've watched this movie several times on my own, as well as the special features, because it, well, it feels good to watch it.
Update 5/23/22: Yet another post that "disappeared" and I had to recapture. I think I finally figured an easy process, now. That should help.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Maria Bello Jocelyn Emily Blunt Prudie Kathy Baker Bernadette Hugh Dancy Grigg Amy Brenneman Sylvia Maggie Grace Allegra Jimmy Smits Daniel Marc Blucas Dean Lynn Redgrave Mama Skye Nancy Travis Cat Harris Parisa Fitz-Henley Corinne Gwendoline Yeo Dr. Samantha Yep
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2007
Directed by Robin Swicord.
Labels: dramedy1, emily-blunt, female-director3, popcorn-and-soda3, romance2, women's-movie1
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
Birdman
- Commentary: A sophisticated movie about a completely unsophisticated man in a completely unsophisticated predicament. I watched the movie with enjoyment the first time, without any inkling that I might want to own it. Then came the surprising, delightful ending and I watched it again, immediately. I knew I'd be adding it to my collection. And, dear reader, I did.
By the way, two writers at RogerEbert.com chose to weigh in on this movie. The first, linked to the title of this post, weighed in after the movie's success at Telluride. The second review was written about a month and a half later, once the movie had saturated American theater screens.
Update 11/17/2021: This post was originally published February August 14, 2016. It was one of the accidental deletions that occurred, which is covered in this post.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Michael Keaton Riggan Thomson Benjamin Kanes Young Riggan/Birdman Zach Galifianakis Jake Edward Norton Mike Shine Andrea Riseborough Laura Alburn Amy Ryan Sylvia Thomson Emma Stone Sam Thomson Naomi Watts Lesley Truman Lindsay Duncan Tabitha Dickinson Merritt Wever Annie Jeremy Shamos Ralph Bill Camp Crazy Man
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2014
Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu.
Labels: dramedy1, edward-norton, film-art1, satire1, spiritual1, super-hero2
Monday, May 10, 2021
Lady Bird
- Commentary: Under construction.
Once again, a loaded list over at RogerEbert.com when pulling a search on this movie, including an interview with Greta Gerwig.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Saoirse Ronan Christine MacPherson Laurie Metcalf Marion MacPherson Tracy Letts Larry MacPherson Lucas Hedges Daniel O'Neill Timothée Chalamet Kyle Scheible Beanie Feldstein Julianne Steffans Lois Smith Sister Sarah Joan Stephen McKinley Henderson Father Leviatch Odeya Rush Jenna Walton Jordan Rodrigues Miguel MacPherson Marielle Scott Shelly Yuhan Jake McDorman Mr. Bruno
Here is the Wikipedia write-up on this movie.
Release Date: 2017
Directed by Greta Gerwig.
Labels: §2, A24, coming-of-age1, dramedy1, female-director2, greta-gerwig, laurie-metcalf, lois-smith, saoirse-ronan
Friday, May 07, 2021
Dance, Girl, Dance
- Commentary: Under Construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Maureen O'Hara Judy O'Brien Louis Hayward James Harris Jr. Lucille Ball Bubbles/Tiger Lily White Virginia Field Elinor Harris Ralph Bellamy Steve Adams Maria Ouspenskaya Madame Lydia Basilova Mary Carlisle Sally Katharine Alexander Miss Olmstead Edward Brophy Dwarfie Humblewinger Walter Abel Judge Harold Huber Kashulian Sidney Blackmer Puss in Boots
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1940
Directed by Dorothy Arzner.
Labels: §2, Criterion1, dramedy1, female-director1, feminist, pussy-flick
Sunday, January 17, 2021
Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Margot Robbie Dr. Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn Mary Elizabeth Winstead Helena Bertinelli/The Huntress Jurnee Smollett-Bell Dinah Lance/Black Canary Rosie Perez Renee Montoya Chris Messina Victor Zsasz Ella Jay Basco Cassandra Cain Ali Wong Ellen Yee Ewan McGregor Roman Sionis/Black Mask
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up on this movie.
Release Date: 2020
Directed by Cathy Yan.
Labels: §2, dramedy1, female-director1, super-hero1
Good Morning Vietnam
- Commentary: It's true. This movie is peculiar in the way it serves up the Vietnam war. Some critics found it offensive, in the light of the "serious" Vietnam war movies such as Full Metal Jacket, Platoon, Jacob's Ladder [yes, Virginia, it's a Vietnam war movie] and Apocalypse Now (which I do not own; I intend to own it but so many versions have proliferated I simply haven't settled on which package of versions to purchase.).
What attracts me to this movie is its approach to the war not from the perspective of daily fighting but from the perspective of daily living in a war zone. In a way, I appreciate that it confuses the Vietnam War issue more than any other movie, because it's clear, to me, through this movie, that, no matter what the characters are doing because of the existence of war, they are, bottom line, people, trying to negotiate every day existence in the middle of an unwanted, unasked for emergency.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Robin Williams Adrian Cronauer Forest Whitaker Pvt. Edward Garlick Tung Thanh Tran Phan Duc To/Tuan Chintara Sukapatana Trinh Bruno Kirby Lt. Steven Hauk Robert Wuhl Marty Lee Dreiwitz J. T. Walsh Sgt. Mjr. Phillip Dickerson Noble Willingham General Taylor Richard Edson Pvt. Abersold Richard Portnow Dan Levitan Floyd Vivino Eddie Kirk Củ Bà Nguyễn Jimmy Wah
Here's the Wikipedia link for the write-up of this movie.
Release Date: 1987
Directed by Barry Levinson.
Labels: dramedy1, forest-whitaker, historical1, military, political1, popcorn-and-soda1, robin-williams, war1
Tuesday, November 05, 2019
Monty Python's Life of Brian
- Commentary: O.K. Look. Considering how Christianity has had an extraordinary impact on several branches of my family (one of my great grandfathers and one of my great uncles were Methodist preachers, the first of whom was a fire-and-brimstone circuit rider), I could not not own this movie, eventually. Yes, I have reverence for spirituality, but I have none for the institution of Christianity. I don't even agree with everything Jesus was purported to have said. So, this movie is a vigorous, always laughter-provoking, head nod for me.
Would my mother have enjoyed it (she never saw it), being a woman of faith? Yes, I think so. One of my sisters once pronounced her a "pure spirit". I agree with that assessment. The solemnity of her faith, though, was liberally mixed with realism and a questioning attitude. She was not averse to bringing Jesus to task. Maybe she's who taught me how to lean into irreverence.
Once again, Roger Ebert wrote two reviews of this movie: the first in 1979, linked to this post title, the second on its re-release in 2004.
By the way, all members of Monty Python and a few other actors played multiple roles in this movie. I'm listing only one per member.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Graham Chapman Brian Cohen John Cleese High Priest Terry Gilliam Mount Sermon attendee Eric Idle Mr Cheeky Terry Jones Mandy Cohen Michael Palin Mr. Big Nose Terence Bayler Mr. Gregory Carol Cleveland Mrs. Gregory Charles McKeown False Prophet Kenneth Colley Jesus Sue Jones-Davies Judas Iscariot John Young Matthius
Just in case, here's the Wikipedia link to this movie.
Release Date: 1979 & 2004
Directed by Terry Jones.
Labels: bible-movies1, comedy1, dramedy1, fantasy1, film-art1, jesus-dvds, me-favorite1, religion1, satire1
Swing Time
- Commentary: The story is silly and forgettable but the dancing is divine - "an exuberant celebration of its stars' chemistry, grace, and sheer joy in the act of performance", per the back of the movie case. This movie remains one of the standards of dance musicals. It may be old, it may be black & white, but it is, as I note in the labels, a spectacle. Such a spectacle, in fact, that Roger Ebert has named it one of his "Great Movies", as the link affixed to the title of this post will explain.
And, yes, Mom loved this movie, too. We didn't own it, but it was ever-available through our county library system and we liberally took advantage of that. That's why I decided to own it, now. Since my mother's death, it's been a frequent check-out of mine. Why not own it?!? In fact, why not own the Criterion edition of it?!?
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Fred Astaire John Garnett Ginger Rogers Penelope Carroll Victor Moore Edwin Cardetti Eric Blore Mr. Gordon Helen Broderick Mabel Anderson Betty Furness Margaret Watson Georges Metaxa Ricardo Romero Landers Stevens Judge Watson
Here's the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 1936
Directed by George Stevens.
Labels: Criterion1, dance, dramedy1, fred-astaire, me-favorite1, musical1, popcorn-and-soda1, romance1, spectacle1
Monday, February 05, 2018
Kiki's Delivery Service
- Commentary: I was a long time coming to own this film, even though I'd seen it more than a few times, including, and mostly, when my mother was alive. I came, in fact, very close to not owning it. I've seen several of Miyazaki's films but own only three: this one, Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro. I often enjoy Miyazaki films but, except for the last two in my list, they seem a bit stodgy and predictable, regardless of the seductive animation, contraptions and spirits. Yes, this one seemed stodgy and predictable to me, too, which is why I didn't previously own it. Two conversations and one event occurred, though, that finally convinced me, a few months ago, that I should add it to my collection.
The first conversation took place a few years ago. My Arizona niece told me that she had organized a film club that was going to feature only films written, produced, directed and acted primarily by women. Kiki's Delivery Service was going to be their first feature. "Oh!" I said. "That movie is primarily created by a man, Hayao Miyazaki!" My Arizona niece argued with me that it couldn't be, so I looked it up online while on the phone with her and gave her all the details. I don't know if that film was cancelled from their repertoire. After that incident, she and I didn't discuss the film club, anymore.
The second conversation was an extended one between myself and my Colorado sister. In telling me about her grandson and what he was learning in school, she mentioned that in one of his classes they studied the significance of the female archetypes portrayed in Kiki's Delivery Service. Although I'd seen the movie more than once with Mom, I couldn't remember much about it, it never made much of an impression on me except that Mom loved it. My sister butted up against a brick wall when trying to remember anything about the movie.
The incident was that, because of my conversation with my sister, I decided to check the movie out of the library. The entire system owned only one copy, secured at an obscure branch library, so I had to put it on hold. This copy had been checked out and mishandled so many times that it was unplayable. That's when I decided to order a copy, thinking that, once I viewed it a few times, I'd donate it to the library. I'm sure they would be pleased to own a brand spanking new copy and, being a Disney movie, it's not cheap for them to obtain. So, I've owned the movie for a few months and watched it a couple of times, keeping in mind both conversations I've had about it. I may keep it, I'm not sure. My interest in it, at the moment, is mostly "scholarly", but, after a few more playings, we'll see whether the library ends up with my copy or I do.
By the way, I'm instituting a new category for this movie, coming-of-age. I'm not sure how many movies I own that would fit into that category. It wouldn't surprise me if this is the only one. But, I'll do a quick check.
Update 6/4/2022: I've kept the movie. I will not be turning it over to the library. And, yes, I continue to watch it, at least once a year.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Kiki Kirsten Dunst Jiji Phil Hartman Osono Tress MacNeille Ursula Janeane Garofalo Tombo Matthew Lawrence Fukuo Brian Cummings Kokiri, Kiki's Mother Kath Soucie Okino, Kiki's Father Jeff Bennett Madame Debbie Reynolds Barsa Edie McClurg Senior Witch Debi Derryberry Madame's Grandaughter Sherry Lynn
Release Date: 1989
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
Labels: anime, coming-of-age1, debbie-reynolds, dramedy1, fantasy2, kirsten-dunst, mom-favorite1, super-hero2
Saturday, June 12, 2010
The Devil Wears Prada
- Who's watched: Bought this movie AMD
- Mentions: none
- Commentary: It seems, after my mother died, I ended up buying a pretty few of these movies that are pure fluff, either emotional, visual or both! Here's another. Actually, Mom saw this movie and liked it so much that if we noticed it playing when we were channel surfing we'd click into it, to the satisfaction of both of us. I linked it to Roger Ebert's review because one of the things I like about it is the "gee-whiz" quality he identifies in the movie. I also like the opening title sequence and the emphasis on fashion. My favorite aspect of the movie, though, is Meryl Streep's performance. She imbued her character with astonishing dignity, to the point where it almost made me wish I'd decided to become a corporate dragoness! I also consider this a type of pussy-flick...substituting "fashion" for "pussy"...but it carries the same watchable quality as pussy-flicks.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Meryl Streep Amanda Priestly Anne Hathaway Andrea Sachs Emily Blunt Emily Charlton Stanley Tucci Nigel Kipling Simon Baker Christian Thompson Adrian Grenier Nate Cooper Daniel Sunjata James Holt James Naughton Stephen
As always, just in case, here's the Wikipedia page on this film.
Release Date: 2006
Directed by David Frankel.
Labels: dramedy1, emily-blunt, meryl-streep, popcorn-and-soda3, pussy-flick, women's-movie1
Friday, April 10, 2009
The Women (2008)
- Who's watched: G
- Mentions: none
- Commentary: This is one of the few movies I've purchased since Mom died. It came out the Tuesday after she died. We'd talked about getting it so that we could compare it with the first version and looked forward to seeing it. I'd talked, the week before she died, about it's release coming up the next week. Thus, of course, I bought it.
There are two critical schools of thought on this remake. The first is echoed in the link to the title of the movie above. The second is here, courtesy of The New York Times. The former expresses my sentiments, although not completely. Roger Ebert seems not to have watched either movie closely enough to realize that the remake actually follows the structure of the first one very closely. Some of the dialogue is even repeated. The resolution is completely different and the satire is toned down significantly so, yes, these are two "different" movies. And, I definitely missed the presence of the hats and the silly clothes that Sylvia wears in the first movie. I also missed the hilarious actress credit sequence from the first movie that wasn't even attempted in the second. I was curious to see what the producers of the remake would do with that. The second movie also explores the eternal mother character much better than the first, and I like the twist in the remake on the relationship between the mother and daughter. The first is much cattier, but the second portrays deeper friendships which would be trivialized by the catty fast talk of the first. Both movies, as well, have interesting fashion runway sequences. My preference is for the first. I prefer the context, love the fact that the movie switches to color for that sequence, and I love the clothes in the first movies' fashion sequence much better than the clothes in the second. I should have been born so that I could have been in my clothes-horse prime during the thirties through the early forties. For satiric dazzle I prefer the first movie. For emotional satisfaction I prefer the second. I'd love to know which my mother would have preferred. I will be keeping both movies.
You'll notice that I categorized the first as a romance. It was. I can't categorize the second as such, because it isn't; unless you count romancing one's friends, and one's self, which is a clear slant of the second movie. Ah, what the hell; why not. It's a romance. Just not the usual kind.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Meg Ryan Mary Haines Annette Bening Sylvia Fowler Eva Mendes Crystal Allen Debra Messing Edie Cohen Jada Pinkett Smith Alex Fisher Candice Bergen Catherine Frazier Cloris Leachman Maggie Debi Mazar Tanya Bette Midler Leah Miller Carrie Fisher Bailey Smith India Ennenga Molly Haines Lynn Whitfield Glenda Hill
In case you have trouble accessing the NYT review of this movie, above [NYT is now a major butt about free access to their newspaper. They weren't when I originally wrote this post. When will these oligarchic publishers learn! Probably not until the people with pitchforks come for them.], there are two alternate links, one to the Wikipedia article and the refreshed link (my former link had gone bad) in the title to Roger Ebert's review.
Release Date: 2008
Directed by Diane English.
Labels: 21st-century-chick-flicks, annette-bening, candice-bergen, debi-mazar, dramedy1, female-director3, meg-ryan, popcorn-and-soda2, romance2, satire1, women's-movie1
Spanglish
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This movie is purely Mom's delight. From the beginning, when the narrator begins to tell the story of what her mother means to her, my mother follows the movie all the way through. That's why I decided to purchase a copy one day when I saw it selling at the grocery store at a ridiculously cheap price.
I enjoy it, too...even though my Adam Sandler fandom runs more to movies like Punch Drunk Love. It was fun for me to watch Mom watching this movie, though. She just beamed through the entire show. I think she identified strongly with Flor.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Adam Sandler John Clasky Téa Leoni Deborah Clasky Paz Vega Flor Moreno Aimee Garcia Cristina Moreno Narrator Shelbie Bruce 12 year old Cristina Cloris Leachman Evelyn Wright Sarah Steele Bernice Clasky Cecilia Suárez Monica
Aside from Roger Ebert's review of the movie linked to the title, above, here's the Wikipedia article on the movie.
Release Date: 2004
Directed by James L. Brooks.
Labels: dramedy1
Sex and the City, The Movie
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: My reaction to this movie is complicated.
- I'm sure you've heard the following: "If you love the series, you'll love the movie." Not so. I agree that in order to become involved in the movie one has to be familiar with the series, but I love the series and the movie was a disappointment. I can see how my mother liked the movie. Aside from her reaction noted above, it was so colorful and splashed so broadly on such a huge canvas that it was kind of like watching a cartoon. That having been said,
- I was deeply affected, after my mother's death, by the scenes involving Carrie's mourning of what she assumed to be the definitive death of her relationship with Mr. Big. These scenes tugged mercilessly at my heart. At one point, the week after the first group of visitors left, I would watch the series of scenes, from her phone dropping at the wedding site when she hears that John has decided not to come to the wedding, straight through to her finally arising from an emotionally drugged three day sleeping binge in Mexico and joining the rest of her friends, endlessly. I would weep uncontrollably throughout...then continue my own mourning, which while it didn't include constant sleep, did include loss of appetite, drawing all drapes, extinguishing all sources of light and a strict isolation from everything that implies the continuation of life. That part of the movie continues to tug at my heart. On bad days, I make it a point to watch that series of scenes, yet again.
- I was completely disappointed in something about the movie, but I couldn't place my finger on what until MCS and MCNC came to visit in early spring and we watched the movie (they hadn't seen it). When MCS pronounced it, after having watched about a half hour of it, "a bunch of privileged women buying things", I realized what bothered me about the movie: the hard-driven focus on fashion, which is so relentless that the story lines get lost in the shuffle. Although the series has a pronounced fashion thrust, it isn't relentless; nor does it obscure story lines and ideas. The movie, unfortunately, took the fashion/money thrust to the limit and, in doing so, limited the ability of the story lines to come through.
In honor of my sister's thoughts, though, I am linking to an excellent article with which she would probably agree, if she watched more of the series. Or well, maybe she doesn't actually have to watch any of the series to agree. The writer of this article is not a fan and my sister will quickly pick up on that.
Update 8/2/21: The proverbial "they" did come out with a second SATC movie. I watched it. I think I checked it out of the library. I was not impressed. It was, in fact, an effort to watch it to the end. I did not add it to my collection.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Sarah Jessica Parker Carrie Bradshaw Kim Catrall Samantha Jones Kristin Davis Charlotte York Goldenblatt Cynthia Nixon Miranda Hobbes Chris Noth John James Preston Jennifer Hudson Louise David Eigenberg Steve Brady Jason Lewis Smith Jerrod Evan Handler Harry Goldenblatt Willie Garson Stanford Blatch Mario Cantone Anthony Marentino Lynn Cohen Magda Candice Bergen Enid Frick Gilles Marini Dante Julie Halston Bitsy Von Muffling Bridget Everett Drunk Party Girl
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2008
Directed by Michael Patrick King.
Labels: 21st-century-chick-flicks, buddy, candice-bergen, cynthia-nixon, dramedy1, romance2, women's-movie1
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: none
- Commentary: I resisted placing this movie in our collection for some years, even though Mom insisted on watching it every time it came on TV and, I have to admit, I love the dancing, especially the "athletic" (as one critic called it) sequence involving the testosterone soaked brothers against suitors of the town vying for the affections of seven sprightly town maidens. Finally, winter before this last, I found it at Costco and brought it home for a weekend surprise. We watched the movie twice in a row, at Mom's request (and have watched it several times since). I was fascinated to discover that my mother's favorite dance sequence was the one done in the dead of winter while the seven brothers are chopping wood and bemoaning their singular (pun intended) fate. As she would watch that sequence, every time, she'd mention how much she liked it, her body would weave to the adagio accompaniment of the silken cowboy ballad and she'd swing her arm in an arc from her elbow each time an axe swung to a down beat. She loved the rest of the movie, as well, the Sabine Women sequence, in particular, and I loved watching her watch it. I will continue to love watching it and remembering the her high pleasure in the production.
Update 5/18/2022: By the way, here's a YouTube video by coldcrashpictures in which he talks with his mom (for a long time) about why she likes this movie. I loved listening to it! It took me back ...
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Howard Keel Adam Pontipee Jane Powell Milly Pontipee Jeff Richards Benjamin Pontipee Julie Newmar Dorcas Gaylen Matt Mattox Caleb Pontipee Ruta Lee Ruth Jepson Marc Platt Daniel Pontipee Norma Doggett Martha Jacques d'Amboise Ephraim Pontipee Virginia Gibson Liza Tommy Rall Frank Pontipee Betty Carr Sarah Kine Russ Tamblyn Gideon Pontipee Nancy Kilgas Alice Elcott Ian Wolfe Reverend Elcott Howard Petrie Pete Perkins
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1954
Directed by Stanley Donen.
Labels: action1, dance, dramedy1, musical1, period3, popcorn-and-soda3, romance2, shared-favorite, spectacle1
Persuasion
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: none
- Commentary: I picked this up because Mom and I so enjoyed the video versions of Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility that we own. A friend told me that I'd probably like this version of the Jane Austen novel, too. I'm usually wary of friends recommending movies to me, but she was right. Mom and I both enjoyed this one. Film adaptations of Jane Austen and others' works can be disappointing; Mom and I have been disappointed before. This one isn't. I still prefer the books, but this movie and the other two JA adaptations we own bring the characters and environments to life.
You'll notice I've sorted this movie into my "20th-century-chick-flicks1" category. Yes, I know, it's based on an 1817 novel, which indicates that the peculiar type of romance depicted here is, in essence century-less. All I can say in my defense it, they didn't make movies in 1817.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Amanda Root Anne Elliot Ciarán Hinds Frank Wentworth Susan Fleetwood Lady Russell Corin Redgrave Sir Walter Scott Fiona Shaw Mrs. Croft John Woodvine Admiral Croft Phoebe Nicholls Elizabeth Elliot Samuel West Mr. Elliot Sophie Thompson Mary Musgrove Judy Cornwell Mrs. Musgrove Roger Hammond Mr. Musgrove Simon Russell Beale Charles Musgrove
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1995
Directed by Roger Michell.
Labels: 20th-century-chick-flicks1, dramedy1, period3, romance2
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Northern Exposure 6th Season
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None specific to this season
- Commentary: We now have completed our collection of Northern Exposure seasons. This last season was, for many people, the most confusing. It's definitely the season I love the most, because of the many, many dream and fantasy sequences. I remember when this season first aired. Lots of people were put off by the appearance of the new doctor and his wife. The show stayed on its wide, every winding track, though, and the final episode was a credit to the entire series.
For a list of recurring actors/characters, see this post.
Here is the Wikipedia write-up for the sixth season.
Release Date: 1994-1995
This is not Mom's favorite season, because she has trouble following all the dream and fantasy sequences. She watched it through like the moose-trooper she is, though, and I'm sure we'll watch all these episodes again and again.
Directed by various people, two of whom were women.
Labels: dramedy1, dream1, fantasy2, female-director3, haunting2, TV1
Friday, March 09, 2007
Funny Lady
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Mom like this one better than Funny Girl. I'm not sure which I like more. From my point of view, these two movies are completely different and this one almost doesn't, in my mind, qualify as a sequel to the first. Everything seems different about the Fanny Brice character Barbra Streisand plays in this one; so much so that her continued infatuation for Nicky Arnstein seems unbelievable. There are some splendid production numbers in this movie, Ben Vereen is incredible and James Caan is a huge surprise. We watched this on TCM during their "31 Days of Oscar" this year and Mom's eyes popped when she watched it. They're still popping...we've watched this movie a couple of times since I purchased it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Barbra Streisand Fanny Brice James Caan Billy Rose Omar Sharif Nick Arnstein Roddy McDowall Bobby Moore Ben Vereen Bert Robbins Carole Wells Norma Butler Larry Gates Bernard Baruch Eugene Troobnick Ned
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1975
Directed by Herbert Ross.
Labels: barbra-streisand, biography1, dance, dramedy1, musical1, romance2
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: I was surprised to see that I mentioned this movie in my journals, albeit some time ago. I'd forgotten about it until some cable channel showed it not too long ago, I clicked into it and Mom was not only thoroughly entertained by it but enjoyed the idea that time can collapse forward as well as backward. It's very dated, true, and the singing is not well woven into the movie, but Streisand's performance, especially as her re- and pre-incarnated personalities, is riveting. Jack Nicholson has a forgotten part in this movie, as well, which renders it fun to watch, simply because he participated in this movie long before he became known for his portrayals of ticklish, "Nicholsonian" characters.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Barbra Streisand Daisy Gamble/Lady Tentrees Yves Montand Marc Chabot Larry Blyden Warren Pratt Bob Newhart Dr. Mason Hume Simon Oakland Dr. Conrad Fuller John Richardson Sir Robert Tentrees Jack Nicholson Tad Pringle Mabel Albertson Mrs. Hatch
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1970
Directed by Vincente Minnelli.
Labels: barbra-streisand, coming-of-age1, dramedy1, fantasy2, jack-nicholson, period4, popcorn-and-soda3
