Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Finding Nemo
- Who's watched: M & G, many times
- Mentions: *1* *2* *3*
- Commentary: As I recall, my mentions of this movie speak for both my mother's and my delight in it. Aside from my favorite scene with Bruce the Shark, which I've seen many times, I love being transported by the oceanic graphic environment of the movie, including, and especially, the background ocean music. It is truly one better than the ocean, only because it is so available. Watching the movie is practically like having a virtual experience without the nerve stimulation technology.
My mother, I should note, usually takes a nap after this movie. Perhaps, she actually lives through it.
Update 11/17/2021: This post was originally published February 6, 2005. It was one of the accidental deletions that occurred, which is covered in this post.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Albert Brooks Marlin Alexander Gould Nemo Ellen DeGeneres Dory Willem Dafoe Gill Allison Janney Peach Andrew Stanton Crush Nicholas Bird Squirt Barry Humphries Bruce Geoffrey Rush Nigel Vicki Lewis Deb & Flo John Ratzenberger Moonfish school Bill Hunter Dentist Philip Sherman
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2003
Directed by Andrew Stanton & Lee Unkrich.
Labels: animated, bill-hunter, coming-of-age2, dramedy2, kids, shared-favorite, willem-dafoe
American Splendor
- Who's watched: M & G, both more than once
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: My relationship with Harvey Pekar began through a former boyfriend of mine who was a rabid fan of his comics. He introduced me to the wonderful world of adult comics, but, more than that, he was sure I would have an affinity for American Splendor. He was right. He is also long dead as I write this, but, when I watch this movie, I imagine him looking over my shoulder approvingly and say, "I knew this was movie material! I knew they'd make a movie of it!" He did. And he was right.
Mom 'caught' me watching this the afternoon I purchased it when she was napping. I was surprised that she was as seduced by it as I am. I think his character displays a sensibility that she learned well during her young-to-middle adult years, having been born in 1917.
Update 11/17/2021: This post was originally published February 6, 2005. It was one of the accidental deletions that occurred, which is covered in this post.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Paul Giamatti Harvey Pekar Hope Davis Joyce Brabner Judah Friedlander Toby Radloff James Urbaniak Robert Crumb
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up for this film.
Release Date: 2003
Directed by Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini.
Labels: animated, biography2, dramedy2, female-director1, film-art2, hope-davis, me-favorite4, paul-giamatti
Sunday, May 08, 2022
Monsters, Inc.
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This movie is a treat for both of us. My mother is an animation fan, anyway, so she was an easy sell. She often requests this movie when I'm drying her hair, then watches it through to the end. We play the credits at least a couple of times per viewing because she and I both like the theme song (including the fact that it's written and sung by Randy Newman).
I'm a very hard animation sell, but everything about this movie charmed me, including the concept and its development. I am a devotee of children's literature, anyway (all ages), but animation has never done much for me, even as a kid. Pixar, though, seems to know exactly how to seduce my eye, and I'm a big fan of most of their stuff. I consider this movie one of their most brazen and imaginative. Even so, after Mom died, I donated it to the library. I didn't think I'd watch it again because, well, again, I'm a very hard animation sell.
Update 5/8/22: This is a reposting of a previous post dated 2/7/2005 that I managed to recover.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role John Goodman Sullivan Billy Crystal Mike Mary Gibbs Boo Steve Buscemi Randall James Coburn Waternoose Jennifer Tilly Celia Frank Oz Fungus John Ratzenberger Yeti
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2001
Directed by Pete Docter.
Labels: animated, dramedy2, kids, mom-favorite2, steve-buscemi, suspense2
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
The American President
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Another favorite that we watch fairly often, when we need to believe in political integrity.
Mom especially likes the state dinner for the French President and his wife. Every time we watch that scene she can't help but say, "Wouldn't you just love to attend one of those dinners?" The truth is, I think she would like to spend her entire life going from State Dinner to State Dinner. It would suit her.
I particularly like that, after I'd established my affection for the movie, a good friend of mine told me that he considers me the real life Sidney Allen Wade. He's wrong, of course, but, still, I spend a lot of time preening inside as I watch this movie.
Update 11/17/2021: This post was originally published February 6, 2005. It was one of the accidental deletions that occurred, which is covered in this post.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Michael Douglas U. S. President Alan Shepherd Annette Bening Sydney Allen Wade Martin Sheen A.J. MacInerney David Paymer Leon Kodak Samantha Mathis Janie Basdin Michael J. Fox Louis Rothschild John Mahoney Leo Solomon Anna Deavere Smith Robin McCall Nina Siemaszko Beth Wade Wendie Malick Susan Sloan Anne Haney Mrs. Chapil Shawna Waldron Lucy Shepherd Richard Dreyfuss Bob Rumson Beau Billingslea Agent Cooper Gail Strickland Esther MacInerney Joshua Molina David
Here's the link to the Wikipedia write-up of this movie.
Release Date: 1995
Directed by Rob Reiner.
Labels: aaron-sorkin, annette-bening, dramedy2, john-mahoney, michael-douglas, political4, presidential, richard-dreyfuss, romance3, shared-favorite
Sex and the City: Entire HBO series
- Who's watched: M & G, many times
- Mentions: *1* *2* *3* *4* *5* *6* *7* *8* *9* *10*
- Commentary: We both remain fascinated with this show and continue to watch it, and discuss it while watching it, regularly. As you can read in the mentions, we have eccentric opinions about and reactions to this show.
Update 11/17/2021: This post was originally published February 6, 2005. It was one of the accidental deletions that occurred, which is covered in this post.
Update 5/18/2022: Yes, I continue to watch this show. I am, in fact, working my way through, oh, I don't know, my 678th viewing? I can't explain why. I think, partly, it's that the episodes are a half hour and a great way to unwind right after I've tucked myself in, before I go to sleep. The acting is good. The cast is always varied. The story lines meander from dead (literally) serious to hilarious. The characterizations are on point. It's not a show to learn from, but it is a show that provides relaxation with a light touch. These people, all of them, actors, writers and crew, knew what they were doing.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Sarah Jessica Parker Carrie Bradshaw Kim Cattrall Samantha Jones Kristin Davis Charlotte York Cynthia Nixon Miranda Hobbes Willie Garson Stanford Blatch Lynn Cohen Magda Chris Noth Mr. Big Frances Sternhagen Bunny MacDougal Kyle MacLachlan Trey MacDougal Anne Meara Mary Brady Mikhail Baryshnikov Aleksandr Petrovsky Bridget Moynahan Natasha
I have two copies of Season 3.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1998-2004
Episodes directed by several people. Lots of female directors in the first seasons although not approaching half; less and less as the seasons progressed.
Labels: cynthia-nixon, dramedy2, erotic, female-director2, popcorn-and-soda6, shared-favorite, TV3, women's-movie1
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: I think I've said quite a lot about our reactions to this movie throughout the main journal. We both find it entertaining and "feel good" inspirational.
There are a lot of movies, including many from this film's era, previous, post, and all the way through to now, that focus on populist vs. elitist politics. None of them, though, has yet approached the pointedness, pertinence and perceptiveness of this all time classic. I'll bet it will never, ever, not be a popular classic, because, at least in the United States, its story will always be contemporary.
Update 11/17/2021: This post was originally published February 6, 2005. It was one of the accidental deletions that occurred, which is covered in this post.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role James Stewart Jefferson Smith Jean Arthur Clarissa Saunders Claude Rains Joseph Harrison Paine Edward Arnold Jim Taylor Thomas Mitchell Diz Moore Beulah Bondi Ma Smith Astrid Allwyn Susan Paine Ruth Donnelly Mrs. Hopper
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1939
Directed by Frank Capra.
Labels: anti-fascist, beulah-bondi, claude-rains, dramedy2, frank-capra, james-stewart, political5, romance4, shared-favorite, thomas-mitchell
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Secondhand Lions
- Who's watched: Both, partially
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Yes, although we haven't completely watched it, we own it. This is the movie with which MCF gifted us and tried to get Mom and me to watch over Christmas. Mom fell asleep on the couch. I saw parts of it and began to understand why they raved about it. I think we will enjoy this movie, too, and watch it again. From what I saw, it reminds me a little of Holes in structure, but I may be mistaken about that. Hmmm...today seems like I good day to watch this for the first time. If anything else strikes me about this movie and/or Mom's reaction to it, I'll be back. Please note, the labeling is pre-viewing.
Update 2/9/18: We never watched it. After Mom died, I didn't watch it, even though I noted that Roger Ebert liked it. Maybe it's the material. Maybe girls-and-aunts is a completely different world than that of boys-and-uncles, although I didn't much like How to Make an American Quilt, either. So, maybe not. I mean, there are plenty of guy-movies that I love, some of which are my favorites. One thing I know, I haven't, and won't, be checking this out of the library,where I took it, out of curiosity.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Haley Joel Osment Walter Caldwell Robert Duvall Hub McCann Michael Caine Garth McCann Kyra Sedgwick Mae Caldwell
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2003
Directed by Tim McCanlies.
Labels: adventure3, buddy, dramedy2, michael-caine, period4, road-movie, robert-duvall
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Northern Exposure: 5th Season
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is the season that contains one of my favorite story-in-a-stories, "The Warrior and the Stallion" told in the episode "A Bolt from the Blue", episode #14 in this season, to which I've linked the title, above. The story is contained in a blog post online.
For a table of recurring actors/characters, see this post.
Here is the list of episodes for the 5th season.
Release Date: 1993-1994
Directed by several people, including one woman who directed one episode.
Labels: dramedy2, female-director2, shared-favorite, TV2
Friday, February 10, 2006
Ghost
- Who's watched: M & G, several times
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is one of those movies that's guaranteed to please, in one way or another, both of us. Since we watch parts of it every time it appears on television, when I noticed a cheap, widescreen copy of it for sale I snatched it. We watched it that night. Much better to have constant favorites on DVD, since it's easy enough to pause them or watch only the parts we happen to be thinking about at any time.
The truth is, I'm not a fan of the after-death philosophy behind the movie, although it's pretty enough and certainly makes for a unique thriller. The famous love scene is nice but give me Diane Lane's first fuck with her extra-marital lover in Unfaithful over wet pottery clay and "Unchained Melody" any day. I especially love, though, Whoopi Goldberg's performance as Oda Mae (this character deserves mention in some tome of memorable, perfectly played movie characters) and Tony Goldwyn's performance as Carl Bruner. I read someplace that Tony Goldwyn's preference is not for acting, which is too bad. I've seen him in lots of bit parts and his performances are always memorable and enlightening.
Just for fun, I thought I'd include Roger Ebert's critical review of this movie. In a way, it's a send-up of all ghost movies.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Patrick Swayze Sam Wheat Demi Moore Molly Jensen Whoopi Goldberg Oda Mae Brown Tony Goldwyn Carl Bruner Rick Aviles Willie Lopez Vincent Schiavelli Subway Ghost Gail Boggs Louise Brown Armelia McQueen Clara Brown
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1990
Directed by Jerry Zucker.
Labels: dramedy2, fantasy3, mystery2, popcorn-and-soda4, suspense2, whoopi-goldberg
Forrest Gump
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I'm not surprised this movie hasn't been mentioned in my journals. When I bought it I thought I remembered that Mom liked it. She may have, but had little patience for it this time around. I thought I had found it interesting. I did, but immediately after watching it for the first time in a long time, I decided it would be one I'd never enter in here and would sell back as soon as I had a few other movies to turn in. Watching it made me uncomfortable. For myself. For the United States. Then, I found myself going back to the movie, replaying particular scenes, looking forward to the well planned music score, watching Gary Sinese closely...and decided, hmmm, I'd better keep this one. It does remain one of the strangest crafted-to-be-a-box-office-hit movies ever made. Being a movie maven, this is a good enough reason for me to keep it. Who knows. The next time I play it "in front of" Mom, she might like it again.
Update 8/12/21: Along with the review, above, linked to the title, and, in light of it, I want to present another few reviews published to commemorate the 25th anniversary of this movie. 'Forrest Gump,' 25 Years Later, by Eric Cohn perfectly expresses my unease with this film. Because of my ambivalence about this film, I was always surprised that Roger Ebert seemed to swallow it hook, line and sinker. Perhaps he was a Republican. Perhaps he simply enjoyed live-action that is cartoonish. I don't know. What I do know is continued occasional viewings of this film, for me, make me grateful that I remain capable of finding this movie off-putting, regardless of how much I enjoy individual scenes or pieces of actor performance.
About a year after the review immediately above came out, another, in video format, by Renegade Cut, was published. It deserves a close viewing if you find yourself uncomfortable with this movie.
Finally, a two video review was published by the website The Take in commemoration of the same anniversary: here are the first and the second. Lighter in tone than the reviews cited above, these two videos also have more clips from the movie and have a kinder, gentler interpretation of the movie's overall presentation of the United States' character and history.
It's interesting to watch this movie 25 years after its release and recontemplate it in view of the variety of quarter century anniversary videos. It's quite striking how more loquacious citizens of the United States interpret the movie and its impact on a variety of aspects of United States life, now, and citizens of this country.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Tom Hanks Forrest Gump Robin Wright Jennie Curran Gary Sinise Lt. Dan Taylor Mykelti Williamson Bubba Blue Sally Field Mrs. Gump Haley Joel Osment Forrest Gump Jr. Sam Anderson Principal Hancock Siobhan Fallon Hogan School Bus Driver
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1994
Directed by Robert Zemeckis.
Labels: biography2, dramedy2, fantasy3, period4, popcorn-and-soda4, satire2, tom-hanks
Cocoon
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: This is not an often watched movie of ours. Sometimes my mother can stand it, sometimes she can't. Same with me. We both have a little bit of a problem with the dancing couple, although they add outrageous comic relief. We both agree there are a few offensively clichéd depictions of the elderly but, overall it's clean. Mom's favorite relationship is the one between the couple whose wife has advanced dementia. Mine is the relationship between Jessica Tandy's and Hume Cronyn's characters.
Update 5/14/2020: It is interesting to note, here, that, throughout our companionship, which lasted for 15 years, my mother never thought she had dementia and acted as though she didn't. Maybe this is partly because she was only mildly demented, if you want to classify her condition (and, while she was alive and we were companions, I never did) and partly because I never treated her as though she had dementia. I mean, never. If she had some difficulty that might have been chalked up to dementia, I treated it as though it was simply a human difficulty, not a demented-human difficulty. I mean, brass tacks here: All the difficulties, all of them that manifest, sometimes profusely, when someone is demented also manifest, in lesser degrees, sometimes much lesser to non-existent degrees, in people who aren't classified as demented. And that's the truth [imagine a loud raspberry, here]!
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Don Ameche Art Selwyn Gwen Verdon Bess McCarthy Wilford Brimley Ben Luckett Maureen Stapleton Mary Luckett Hume Cronyn Joe Finley Jessica Tandy Alma Finley Jack Gilford Bernie Lefkowitz Herta Ware Rose Lefkowitz Brian Dennehy Walter Steve Guttenberg Jack Bonner Tahnee Welch Kitty Linda Harrison Susan
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1985
Directed by Ron Howard.
Labels: aliens, dramedy2, fantasy3, hume-cronyn, popcorn-and-soda4, science-fiction2
About a Boy
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is just one of my favorite little fripperies that, sight unseen, I thought Mom (and I) would enjoy when I noticed it on ridiculous sale. I was right. I especially enjoy Toni Collette's performance, but, frankly, I'm a sucker for her in any film. Mom was charmed by the premise of the film and so surprised by the ending that she said, "Well, that's what I like to see. The guy doesn't necessarily get the girl, but gets something better." My sentiments exactly.
I like, too, that the title doesn't refer to a specific "boy". In truth, there are two "boys", one who can honorably wear the appellation and one who can't. The magic of the film is that both boys learn how to become men, one right on time, one a little late, but still accomplished.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Hugh Grant Will Freeman Nicholas Hoult Marcus Brewer Toni Collette Fiona Brewer Rachel Weisz Rachel Natalia Tena Ellie Sharon Small Christine Nicholas Hutchinson John Victoria Smurfit Suzie
Here's the link to the Wikipedia write-up for this film.
Release Date: 2002
Directed by Chris Weitz & Paul Weitz.
Labels: coming-of-age1, dramedy2, rachel-weisz, romance3, toni-collette
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Shakespeare in Love
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is one of my favorites. I think we originally watched it on television without Closed Captioning. Mom isn't as familiar with Shakespeare and 17th century English as I am but I think she'll like this story, once she can read the lines. I love it. To me it's an overview of much of the best of Shakespeare.
Turns out, I was right. She did enjoy it when she could read the lines, even though she's not a Shakespeare buff. The thing about this movie is that it's colorful, there's lots of action that underlines the plot, and the acting is often, on purpose, so close to the top that it's in danger of spilling over, but, that's so much the better for the kind of movie this is.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Joseph Fiennes William Shakespeare Gwyneth Paltrow Viola de Lesseps Geoffrey Rush Philip Henslowe Colin Firth Lord Wessex Ben Affleck Ned Alleyn Judi Dench Queen Elizabeth I Simon Callow Edmund Tilney Imelda Staunton Nurse Tom Wilkinson Hugh Fennyman Daniel Brocklebank Sam Gosse Rupert Everett Christopher Marlowe John Inman Lady Capulet actor
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1998
Directed by John Madden.
Labels: ben-affleck, colin-firth, dramedy2, fantasy3, historical3, imelda-staunton, judi-dench, me-favorite4, romance3, shakespeare, tom-wilkinson
Funny Girl
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Mom has never cared for Barbra Streisand, neither her voice nor her presence. I have always adored Barbra Streisand without question. Having said this, we both enjoyed this movie and Mom has a few other Barbra Streisand favorites, like Nuts and Yentl (here's my own post about Yentl, neither of which we've yet collected (I acquired Yentl the April after Mom died). She also has a problem with Omar Shariff. She considers him overwhelming. I think he's great in this movie.
Update 7/31/21: Forgive me, but this reminds me of a funny story to tell on myself. Soon after I'd discovered Barbara Streisand, long before this movie came out, I used to wander around the house singing Streisand songs I'd heard on the radio, trying, as hard as possible, to imitate her voice. I asked my mother, once, if I sounded at all like Streisand and she replied, "Oh, much better!" I'm sure she said this because she had no love for Streisand's voice, and I knew this, so I dismissed her comment. During the same period but a bit later, though, I was told by a friend who overheard me vocalizing on "the slab" (the concrete foundation of an abandoned tennis court in our housing area), one day, that I sounded like Mahalia Jackson. Although I was startled, considering who I was trying to imitate, I was also familiar with Jackson's voice and was deeply complimented by her comment. Truth is, though, I do not have a good singing voice because I don't have a good ear for my own voice. I do for instruments being played, including when I play them, but I can't hear myself slip when my voice goes off-key. So, no chance that I'll ever be "discovered", even though I continue to sing, and hum, throughout odd moments of the day.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Barbra Streisand Fanny Brice Omar Sharif Nicky Arnstein Kay Medford Rose Brice Anne Francis Georgia James Walter Pidgeon Florenz Ziegfeld Lee Allen Eddie Ryan Mae Questel Mrs. Strakosh Gertrude Flynn Mrs. O'Malley
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1968
Directed by William Wyler.
Labels: barbra-streisand, biography2, dramedy2, musical2, period5, romance3
Don Juan DeMarco
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I'm truly surprised I've never mentioned this film in the journal. Since I saw it in the theater I've rented it for both of us to watch. We are both always delighted with it.
My mother consistently snorts her ironic disapproval during the scenes in which DeMarco talks about women. At one point, the first time she saw it, she rolled her eyes and said, "Oh, brother!" By the end, though, she is always won over. This is one of those movies that makes me wonder which I enjoy more; watching the movie or watching my mother watch the movie.
It is important to note (as I did in the table below) that Selena, yes, that Selena, appears briefly in this movie. It seems this was her only film appearance. It was noted in her Wikipedia write-up, to which I've linked in the table, below.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Marlon Brando Dr. Jack Mickler/Don Octavio de Flores Johnny Depp John Arnold DeMarco/Don Juan Faye Dunaway Marilyn Mickler Géraldine Pailhas Doña Ana Bob Dishy Dr. Paul Showalter Franc Luz Don Antonio Rachel Ticotin Doña Inez Selena Pérez Ranchera Singer
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1995
Directed by Jeremy Leven.
Labels: dramedy2, faye-dunaway, marlon-brando, me-favorite3, popcorn-and-soda5, romance3
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Northern Exposure 4th Season
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: none, yet
- Commentary: We've only watched this season informally in TV reruns. It's just one of our "must haves". I know we will watch it, probably in a marathon.
For a list of recurring actors/characters, see this post.
Here is the Wikipedia write-up for the fourth season.
Release Date: 1992-1993
Directed by various people, one woman.
Labels: bibi-besch, dramedy2, dylan-baker, female-director2, shared-favorite, TV2
Northern Exposure 3rd Season
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: We've only just received and begun to watch this season. I think this is the one where they do lots more dream work. I'm hoping this is the season when they produced the episode with Maggie and the bear.
Update: 9/23/21 Yes, this is the season in which Maggie receives a visit from a bear; a cool, sweet, mythological episode in which a lot happens to the other residents, as well. The episode is called Wake-up Call. I've linked to a complete rundown of the episode, although I don't know how long the link will exist. I hope I remember to check back, every once is awhile. Perhaps I'll need a wake-up call ...
For a list of recurring actors/characters, see this post.
Here is the Wikipedia write-up for the third season.
Release Date: 1991-1992
Directed by various people, one woman.
Labels: bibi-besch, dramedy2, female-director2, shared-favorite, TV2
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Working Girl
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is one of our feel good movies. Neither of us ever tires of watching this movie, so, when I noticed it on sale, I figured it would be a good addition.
Yes, both Mom and I find this particular "working girl" a little too good to be true; not "good" in the ethical sense, but, I mean, what were we told working women should want in the late 80's? To be successful, which this working girl becomes, smart, which she certainly is, and beautiful, which she is, as well. All layered over with a veil (and only a veil) of innocence. Mom's comment? "Nice, if you can get it." She's a lifelong "working girl". I'm a lifelong "working girl". All my sisters (I have only sisters) are lifelong "working girls". And, honey, let me tell you, not one of us thinks, sounds or looks like Tess McGill, and don't ever expect to. And, by the way, none of us has ever known a boss like Katharine Parker.
Nonetheless, it's a fun movie to watch, especially with Alec Baldwin before he became Alec Baldwin. There are, in fact, quite a few actors in this movie that weren't yet famous. In addition, Sigourney Weaver is brilliant in it.
And, anyway, we both enjoy the song.
In 2018, 30 years after Roger Ebert reviewed this movie, three of the female writers for the site gathered to ponder the issues the movie highlighted. Here is that conversation.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Name Role Name Actor Name Role Name Actor Name Role Name Actor Name Role Name Melanie Griffith Tess McGill Harrison Ford Jack Trainer Sigourney Weaver Katharine Parker Alec Baldwin Mick Dugan Joan Cusack Cynthia Philip Bosco Oren Trask Kevin Spacey Bob Speck Olympia Dukakis personnel director Nora Dunn Ginny Amy Aquino Alice Baxter Oliver Platt Lutz Zach Grenier Jim
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1988
Directed by Mike Nichols.
Labels: dramedy2, harrison-ford, popcorn-and-soda5, romance3, sigourney-weaver
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Northern Exposure: 1st & 2nd Seasons
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2* *3* *4*
- Commentary: You already know a lot about our love affair with this series. We finally saw the pilot, yes, another one of those. We were not disappointed.
My mother loves the moose. I notice that Janine Turner's name appears against the moose in a particularly gawky stance. Interesting.
This time, guys, I'm sticking, for the most part, with Wikipedia write-ups for my title links. This title covers two seasons, so I've linked the general Wikipedia write-up for the entire series. Here are the pages for the 1st season and 2nd season.
And, by the way, yes, when we obtained the 1st and 2nd seasons, we received them almost immediately after they were released, so we received them in the zippered down jackets. I can't believe the company creating the dvds for sale didn't continue this. It was not only exciting to order those seasons, it was a pleasure to receive them. I remember my mother holding and feeling the jacketed packages, zipping and unzipping them and smiling, and saying things like, "Isn't that clever!" and, "I hope the person who thought of this was well paid."
Of course, this delightful packaging was abandoned by the oligarchs who oversaw the entire dvd sale campaign. Of course. Don't delight the plebes. They might realize it's possible to enjoy life and have a little fun.
Geez. Please let plutocratic capitalism fail soon. And, no, it wasn't capitalism that made this appropriate and fun dvd jacket. It was some lowly, much less well paid than her or his overseeing oligarch employee who happened to enjoy and believe in the series ... and, as soon as this delight was detected by the oligarchs, well, it was quashed. Of fucking course.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Rob Morrow Joel Fleischman Janine Turner Maggie O'Connell John Cullum Holling Vincoeur John Corbett Chris Stevens Barry Corbin Maurice Minnifield Darren E. Burrows Ed Chigliak Elaine Miles Marilyn Whirlwind Cynthia Geary Shelly Tambo Peg Phillips Ruth-Anne Miller Diane Delano Ofc. Barbara Semanski Paul Provenza Phil Capra Teri Polo Michelle Schowdowski
Here are the Wikipedia write-ups for the 1st and 2nd seasons.
Release Date: 1990-1991
Episodes directed by several people.
Labels: dramedy2, shared-favorite, TV3
Woman of the Year
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Mom doesn't like this one as much as the other two Hepburn/Tracy movies we have. I think she considers some of the sentiment about marriage dishonest. She also, for some reason, has a hard time following the conversation in this movie; maybe because a lot of political and sports metaphors are used.
I consider it an unusually brave movie for the time because of the subject matter and for all time because it dares to complicate the issues of love and marriage for highly ambitious women, something we continue to consider daring, today.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Katharine Hepburn Tess Harding Spencer Tracy Sam Craig Fay Bainter Ellen Whitcomb Reginald Owen Clayton
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1942
Directed by George Stevens.
This movie is a part of the Tracy/Hepburn Collection.
Labels: dramedy2, katharine-hepburn, popcorn-and-soda6, shared-favorite, spencer-tracy, tracy-hepburn
