Tuesday, October 03, 2023
Mulan
- Who's watched: M & G, more than once
Mentions: None
- Commentary: Something about the scene in which the invading army comes over a snow ridge. Something else about that "song and dance" number about what it takes to be a man. Something else about it being a Chinese fairy tale. I don't know if Mom likes it for the same reasons I do, but I know she likes it. I've even replayed the "Be a Man" song for her when we are watching it.
Too, and I don't know if this has anything to do with my enjoyment of the film, when the movie hit the theaters in 1998 Mom and I took my Chandler niece to see it because all three of us were excited about the movie.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Ming-Na Wen Fa Mulan Eddie Murphy Mushu BD Wong Captain Li Shang Miguel Ferrer Shan Yu
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1998
Directed by Tony Bancroft & Barry Cook.
Labels: action3, adventure4, animated, coming-of-age2, father-daughter-dynamics, gender-bender, kids, period6, shared-favorite, suspense2
Friday, April 22, 2022
Silence of the Lambs
- Commentary: Iconic movie. Iconic acting performances. Iconic sets. Iconic lines. Iconic set pieces. Iconic photography. Despite PC quibbles throughout the years from feminists and LGBTQ activists regarding Foster's and Levine's characters, this movie has been assured, as well, an iconic role in filmography for the ages. It set standards for a variety of production values in film entertainment that, in many cases, haven't been superceded.
Myself? I found it even more involving and enjoyable than any previous viewings; that's right, I'm not sure whether I've only see it once before, or more. There have always been bits of it I haven't been able to release from my mind, though, which is why I finally obtained the movie and am glad I did. To me, this is one of those one-of-a-kind productions that I refer back to when watching other movies of the same genre. Although, come to think of it, as far as the horror genre goes, there is one other that stands alone, for me, and to which I compare others in this genre: Midsommar. In my mind, these two movies stand, side-by-side, atop sub-categories in horror all their own.
What a delight it was to watch this movie again! What a delight it will be to know I can watch it, yet again, any time I want!
I thought I remembered a final scene in which Lecter is on a plane seated next to a young boy and shares some liver pâté with him, presumably from his latest victim. Missing this scene in this movie bothered me so much that I looked it up. Turns out, it's in the sequel to this movie, Hannibal, a 2001 production, and it wasn't pâté Lecter shared, it was brains, presumably Krendler's. I watched this movie and, as well, enjoyed it, but not enough to be driven to obtain it. At least, though, I solved the mystery of my memory of a "missing" scene.
In 2001, Roger Ebert reconsidered his 1991 3.5 star review of this movie, rewrote the review, recalibrated it to 4 stars and assigned Silence of the Lambs Great Movies status.
This edition features a second disc loaded, I mean, loaded, with special features, including a three part documentary with Jonathan Demme and Jodie Foster about several aspects of making the movie. Way to steal my heart! I can't wait to go through them!
Update: 4/27/2022: BTW, I haven't yet cracked the special features on the second disc of this particular dvd presentation of this movie. If there's anything noteworthy that I'm provoked to write about, I'll add my comments, later.
Update: 4/28/2022: I watched all the special features for this edition last night, well over two hours of material. Many of the special features were recorded a decade or more after the initial release of the film. All the special features were worth a watch. Many of them focused on the relationships between the actors as they worked, including their surprise at and appreciation of their colleagues' bit tricks, so to speak, and their ability to encourage each others' performances with these acting tics. There was also quite a bit of eye-opening, appreciative comment on Jonathan Demme's process and procedure, as well as detailed commentary on his adaptation of the book into a movie. I love special features like this, that delve into the techniques used by actors and crew during the filming of movies. If you've got the "Collector's Edition" of this movie and you're fascinated by movies, don't ignore the special features about this movie!
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Jodie Foster Clarice Starling Anthony Hopkins Hannibal Lecter Ted Levine Jame Gumb Scott Glenn Jack Crawford Anthony Heald Frederick Chilton Brooke Smith Catherine Martin Diane Baker Ruth Martin Chris Isaak SWAT Commander
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date:1991
Directed by Jonathan Demme.
Labels: anthony-hopkins, detective1, dramaF, gender-bender, horror2, jodie-foster, mystery2, neo-noirB, psychological2, suspense3, thriller2, violence4
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Lady Snowblood: Love Song of Vengeance
- Commentary: Under construction. In same case as Lady Snowblood.
When you click into the link in the title of this post, you can access the review for Lady Snowblood: Love Song of Vengence by scrolling down the page. It is after the review for Lady Snowblood.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Meiko Kaji Yuki Kashima/Lady Snowblood Juzo Itami Ransui Tokunaga Kazuko Yoshiyuki Aya Tokunaga Yoshio Harada Shusuke Tokunaga Shin Kishida Seishiro Kikui Toru Abe Kendo Terauchi Rin'ichi Yamamoto Inspector Maruyama Kôji Nanbara Toad
The Wikipedia write-up for this movie is here.
Release Date: 1974
Directed by Toshiya Fujita.
Labels: §, action3, adventure4, Criterion2, dramaD, gender-bender, period6, revenge2, samurai, violence3
Lady Snowblood
- Commentary: Under construction. In same case as Lady Snowblood: Song of Vengeance.
When you click into the link in the title of this post, you can access the review for Lady Snowblood at the top of the page. It is before the review for Lady Snowblood: Love Song of Vengeance.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Meiko Kaji Yuki Kashima/Lady Snowblood Mayumi Maemura Young Yuki Kō Nishimura Dōkai the priest Toshio Kurosawa Ryūrei Ashio Masaaki Daimon Gō Kashima Miyoko Akaza Sayo Kashima Eiji Okada Gishirō Tsukamoto Sanae Nakahara Okono Kitahama
The Wikipedia link for this film is here.
Release Date: 1973
Directed by Toshiya Fujita.
Labels: §, action3, adventure4, Criterion2, dramaD, gender-bender, period6, revenge2, samurai, violence3
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
Mulan: Rise of a Warrior
- Commentary: I didn't know this movie existed until recently. Yes, I enjoy the Disney cartoon version of Mulan, I have it in my collection. When I discovered that this live action version existed, though, I immediately checked it out of our library system and watched it. Although it dramatizes many of the same themes, including romance, although a thwarted one, it is a much more serious take on the legend, especially since any comic elements this one contains (and, there are a few soft moments that could be considered comic) do not have anything to do with Eddie Murphy or a dragon and a chicken. However, there is a striking parallel between the portrayal of the Mulans.
Much to my surprise, I'm not sure which version I prefer. Immediately after I watched this version (when I initially checked in out of the library), I found myself hankering to watch Disney's version ... and I did. Both movies have such a high degree of respect for the heroine that I find them both satisfying, and mutually complementary. Which is why I now own a copy.
You'll notice the number of tags I have attached to this movie; and the fact that the same number is not attached to the Disney version of Mulan. I think all the tags I've attached to this version could apply to the Disney version, but I think this movie had more of an impact on me than the Disney version. Truth is, I'm curious about the 2020 live action Mulan put out by Disney. At some point I'll check it out of the library and watch it, but I'm not sure I'll purchase it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Zhao Wei Hua Mulan Chen Kun Wentai Hu Jun Mendu Jaycee Chan Fei Xiaohu Nicky Lee Hu Kui Liu Yuxin Rouran Princess Yu Rongguang Hua Hu Vitas Guide
If you feel the need, here's the sparse write-up on this film at Wikipedia.
Release Date: 2009
Directed by Jingle Ma.
Labels: §2, action2, adventure2, cgi-animation, coming-of-age1, drama2, fantasy1, father-daughter-dynamics, gender-bender, historical1, military, period1, political1, romance1, spectacle1, tragedy1, war1
Monday, January 28, 2019
A Touch of Zen
- Commentary: Welcome to the ultimate possession of my movie collection!
I'm going to quote from a few letters I sent to my sister about my discovery of and affection for this movie. Any other information you can probably glean from the Wikipedia article attached to the title of this post.
Quote 1 [dated 8/27/2009]: I've been searching for years (on the internet) for another movie I saw at a Chinese film festival in Sacramento in either 1984 or 1985. It was an old movie at the time I saw it ... although not as old as I have been thinking (I thought it was made in the early 1960's; turns out it was made in 1969 and released in 1971). It was a long and mesmerizing movie ... one of the first that used magical martial arts (although not THE first; the first Chinese martial arts movie was made in, get this, 1927; I learned that on the way to finding the movie I was looking for). For years I thought I remembered the name as being "The Golden Buddha" because at the end of the film a Buddhist monk bleeds gold ... a scene I've not been able to forget. I don't know why, but, not until today did it occur to me to try searching "classic chinese films" with a description of that scene, "golden blood" ... and, I found it, you'll never believe this, on Wikipedia (fie on those who dismiss Wikipedia): "A Touch of Zen". Seems it's actually a very popular movie; rated, among moviephiles (especially Asian moviephiles) as one of the best to come out of China. Turns out, there is a DVD available, Region 1, for rental at Netflix and to buy at Amazon. However, I'm not going to buy it (yet, anyway), because, although most of the reviews of the movie on Amazon were favorable to ecstatic, there were complaints, even in the best reviews, about the sound and the darkness of some of the more spectacular martial arts scenes and landscape scenes (I also had this memory from the movie of a river valley with spectacular oblong rock formations, sort of like natural obelisks) ... so I'm renting it on Netflix, first ... will probably get it sometime next week. It may not be worth buying if the quality is bad, but it will certainly be worth watching again. I was sad, actually, a little, finding the movie, because one of the reasons I looked so diligently for it all these years (but, obviously, not diligently enough) was because Mom loved Hero (we have a copy of it) and I figured she'd love this movie even more. Who knows, maybe she's able to look at it over my shoulder. I hope so. [This was written about 9 months after my mother's death.]
Quote 2 [dated 10/23/2018]: So, I ordered myself a "birthday present" (That's my story and I'm sticking to it; aren't birthdays handy?!?) and it came today. ... there's a little story behind it. You may know some of it.
When I lived in Sacramento from 1983 - 1985 I lived in the middle of a mixed Asian community (primarily Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese). I became acquainted and friendly with several people and was often invited over for dinner and to Asian-specific events. So, some time in 1984 the community became very excited about the possibility of a particular movie (which was around 10 years old at that time) that was going to be showing in Sacramento, "A Touch of Zen". I knew nothing about the movie. The Chinese people I knew in my neighborhood were insistent that I should go with them and the whole mixed group of Asian Americans to see the movie when it arrived. So, I did. I was mesmerized. Yes, it's a martial arts movie (of sorts). It's also this long, elegant, somewhat confusing epic story full of magnificent and evocative cinematography and thought provoking moments (not necessarily related to one another in a traditional European-centric story sense). Although I've seen the movie twice since then (one time I found it on the internet; I think I wrote you about that; at the time I was looking for it I thought it was called "The Gold Buddha", which made it somewhat harder to find), I can't tell you what it's about, although the heroine has a baby and there are some great martial arts scenes in it, full of magical moves. And, the comic relief character actually plays the second largest and most important part in the movie. The "hero" is almost a sperm donor afterthought. My neighbors and friends and I talked about the movie for days afterward.
So, about a week ago, for some reason unknown to me, although it's not unusual for it to occupy my thoughts unbidden, that movie was suddenly on my mind. I couldn't stop thinking about it, so I went on the internet and tried to find the original site where I watched it some years ago. Never found it, but, I did find that the movie has been remastered by Criterion (I love Criterion edition movies; I only own a few because they are usually very expensive, but they do a damn good job of restoration, when that's necessary, and they sponsor some excellent movies, like Antonia's Line, for instance) and was for sale at a reasonable price (reasonable compared to the prices I'd been following in previous years) AND, included a whole second disc devoted to special features about the movie! So, I decided, hmmm, my birthday's just around the corner, in fact, I see it peeking at me, so I think I'll get myself a birthday present!
Current Comment [1/28/19]: I've had the movie for just over three months, now, and have watched it three times. It remains amazing and mysterious to me and evokes all the times I've watched it and hunted for it in the past. 'Nuff said, I think.
Update 10/02/19: Well, I was wrong, Antonia's Line is not a Criterion movie. It should be. I recently signed up to their website, for the articles and newsletter about movies. Maybe I'll suggest it to them as a possible acquisition. Also, I noticed I've not labeled this movie. That is being corrected now.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Hsu Feng Yang Hui-zhen Shih Chun Gu Sheng-tsai Bai Ying General Shi Wen-qiao Xue Han General Lu Ding-an Roy Chiao Abbot Hui-yuan Tien Peng Ouyang Nian Cao Jian Xu Zheng-qing Zhang Bing-yu Sheng-tsai's mother Wang Rui Mun Ta Miao Tien Nie Qiu Han Ying-chieh Chief Cmdr. Xu Xian-chun Wan Zhong-shan Lu Qiang
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1971
Directed by King Hu.
Labels: action2, adventure2, audio-visual, Criterion2, drama3, fantasy1, film-art1, gender-bender, haunting1, historical1, period2, spectacle1, thriller1
Friday, April 10, 2009
Yentl
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: This is the second movie I've bought since Mom died, strictly in memory of Mom, this time. This was one of her favorites. Although it didn't play on the cable channels often, I doubt that we ever missed a showing of it. There are many reasons she liked it: Its portrayal of a bright, gutsy young woman refusing to give up her dreams and desires in the face of a woman-stifling culture; its periodicity; its intriguing presentation of a woman who is so successful at masquerading as a man that she marries a woman who thinks she's an exceptional (because she's a woman) man (Mom has always loved gender-benders); the very messy, thus very realistic resolution. Although its not one of my favorites, I have to say that certain scenes have the power to mesmerize me, despite the outlandishness of the story. The movie wasn't released on video until this year, some months after Mom died. When I saw it at Costco I knew it was necessary for me to purchase it. And watch it, multiple times, I'm sure. In honor of Mom...and Momandme.
Rewatched: 3/5/22 - Today, 3/6/22, I read the Isaac Bashevis Singer story upon which this movie is based. The story is much more subtle and complicated than the movie. As I rewatched the movie yesterday, I realized, and was frustrated, that Hadass is only barely drawn. This is even more true of the written story. However, I find the character of Anshel deeper and more compelling in the written story than in the movie, except that Anshel's sympathy toward Hadass is far more evident in the movie than in the written story, which is something I prefer about the movie.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Barbra Streisand Yentl Mendel Mandy Patinkin Avigdor Amy Irving Hadass Vishkower Nehemiah Persoff Rebbe Mendel Steven Hill Reb Alter Vishkower Allan Corduner Shimmele David de Keyser Rabbi Zalman Miriam Margolyes Sarah Doreen Mantle Mrs. Shaemen Lynda Baron Peshe Ruth Goring Esther Rachel Jack Lynn Bookseller
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1983
Directed by Barbra Streisand.
Labels: barbra-streisand, buddy, drama6, fantasy2, female-director3, gender-bender, mom-favorite1, nehemiah-persoff, period3, political3, popcorn-and-soda2, religion2, romance2
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Katharine Hepburn 100th Anniversary Collection
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: none
- Commentary: The Collection contains the following movies:
The Corn is Green - directed by George Cukor
This was Mom's favorite of the collection. Of course it was. Mom was a teacher, not by default, as so many are, but by choice. She believes in the importance of good teaching. When she was in the Navy she was an instructor, in fact; a gunnery instructor. She was a crack shot, in and out of uniform. That's how she met my father. He was one of her students in the Navy.
I think she would have liked to have been in a situation like the one laid out in the movie. In fact, considering that she taught in country schools in very rural areas before going into the Navy, perhaps she was.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Katharine Hepburn Lilly Moffat Ian Saynor Morgan Evans Bill Fraser The Squire Patricia Hayes Mrs. Watty Anna Massey Miss Ronberry Artro Morris John Goronwy Jones Dorothea Phillips Sarah Pugh Toyah Willcox Bessie Watty
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1979
Morning Glory - directed by Lowell Sherman
Although the idea of the movie attracted me because I have actors in my family, in many ways I find this movie uncomfortably jittery, rather like Hepburn's portrayal of Eva Lovelace. Mom found it too jittery to watch for long. I don't think she ever viewed the entire movie of a piece. I don't blame her but, frankly, I'm glad I have a copy of it, if for no other reason that to remind me of the crazier aspects of pursuing the acting profession. Not everyone who does exhibits behavior like Eva's, but, believe me, such aspiring actors are not in the minority.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Katharine Hepburn Eva Lovelace Douglas Fairbanks Jr Joseph Sheridan Adolphe Menjou Louis Easton Mary Duncan Rita Verdon C. Aubrey Smith Robert Harley Hedges Don Alvarado Pepi Velez Fredric Santley Will Seymour Richard Carle Henry Lawrence Tyler Brooke Charley Van Duesen Geneva Mitchell Gwendoline Hall Helen Ware Nellie Navarre Robert Adair Roberts
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1933
Sylvia Scarlett - directed by George Cukor
Mom didn't find this one interesting, despite her interest in gender-bender movies, but I did. The caper part of the story was beside the point, to me, but Hepburn was able to play a superb boy, I think.
Since Mom's death, though, I've learned more about the film itself and now that "we're" in an LBGTQ kind of mood, I find watching the movie for trans detail pretty interesting. I've done this twice within the last couple of years. It has a strong feminist undercurrent.
Although the movie has certain peculiarities that could be (and were, at the time of its release) considered flaws, those same pointed-out flaws now seem more like societal misunderstandings that included both critics and audiences, like it just wasn't time, yet, for this movie or this idea.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Katharine Hepburn Sylvia Scarlett Cary Grant Jimmy Monkey Brian Aherne Michael Fane Edmund Gwenn Henry Scarlett
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1935
Undercurrent - directed by Vincente Minnelli
I honestly don't remember anything about this movie, even though I'm sure we watched it. I have no idea if Mom does.
Update 5/23/2022: As of this day, I still don't know whether I, or we, ever watched this film. That's something I should do tonight. Maybe it's one of those movies, like Keeper of the Flame, that's so turgid that the only way you can remember it is by watching it yet again.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Katharine Hepburn Ann Hamilton Robert Taylor Alan Garroway Edmund Gwenn Prof. "Dink" Hamilton Marjorie Main Lucy Jayne Meadows Sylvia Lea Burton Clinton Sundberg Mr. Warmsley Dan Tobin Prof. Joseph Bangs Kathryn Card Mrs. Foster
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1946
→ film-noir2
Without Love - directed by Harold S. Bucquet
I found this movie minimally intriguing, because of Hepburn's and Tracey's IRL relationship, but for me, that was almost all that was intriguing about it. Mom liked it very much.
I was disappointed because it was one of the few Tracy/Hepburn movies I hadn't seen and the description interested me...but, I don't know, their chemistry seemed off in this film, as though they were having a long personal argument underneath the script. It was distracting. However, Lucille Ball plays a fun part in it and Gloria Grahame (Violet Bick in It's a Wonderful Life)
Mom really liked the character that Hepburn played in this movie, which didn't surprise me...I think Mom imagined herself as "that type".
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Spencer Tracy Patrick Jameson Katharine Hepburn Jamie Rowan Lucille Ball Kitty Trimble Keenan Wynn Quentin Ladd Carl Esmond Paul Carrell Patricia Morison Edwina Collins Felix Bressart Prof. Ginza Gloria Grahame Flower Girl
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1945
Dragon Seed - directed by Harold S. Bucquet & Jack Conway
I would have loved to have managed to link to a full copy of James Agee's review of this film. Not being able to find it, though, I did find a description of it that included excerpts, thank you Claude Rains Fan Club. The Dragon Seed review is the first review on this page. That being said, both Mom and I were a little off-put by this movie, almost too much to enjoy it. Both of us have always been annoyed with yellow-black-red-any/face. Although all were a common practice during a certain time period in Hollywood (and, sometimes, even now), it's very distracting. Hollywood, find actors who are of the ethnicity you need! If you can't find anyone, look harder! They're out there!
Update 5/23/20: Regarding yellow face: While putting together the Actor/Role table, below, my curiosity got the best of me and I searched for a really full cast listing of this movie to see if the one Asian American named among the first sixteen actors listed was the only Asian American. Turns out, quite a few Asian Americans appeared in this movie but, of course, not in any upper lead roles. The further down you go on the Cast & Crew list, the more likely you are to find an Asian American actor. Shameful for its time, indeed! The Asian American actors were out there, and, apparently, were enlisted in this cast, but only one appeared in an leading role.
P.S DVD Savant's article on this collection, linked to the title of this post, gives meticulous, interesting reviews for each one of the movies above. It's easy to find them in his write-up.
This collection was clearly put together to make a little money off Hepburn's lesser known works. That's okay. I'm always interested in viewing odd movies by, so to speak, "even" (in this case, meaning "famous") people. This collection is a doozy! I'm surprised The Madwoman of Chaillot wasn't included! Yes, Virginia, I saw that film. 'Nuf said.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Katharine Hepburn Jade Walter Huston Ling Tan Aline MacMahon Ling Tan's Wife Akim Tamiroff Wu Lien Turhan Bey Lao Er Tan Hurd Hatfield Lao San Tan J. Carrol Naish Japanese Kitchen Overseer Agnes Moorehead Third Cousin's Wife Henry Travers Third Cousin Robert Bice Lao Ta Tan Robert Lewis Captain Sato Frances Rafferty Japanese Official Leonard Strong Japanese Official Jacqueline deWit Wu Lien's wife Clarence Lung Fourth Cousin Paul E. Burns Neighbor Shen
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1944
Labels: cary-grant, film-noir2, gender-bender, katharine-hepburn, marjorie-main, melodramaB, pre-code, spencer-tracy, teaching, tracy-hepburn
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Mrs. Doubtfire
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: This is yet another one of those movies that I expected would have been mentioned several times in the journals, since, for years, every time I notice it on TV I cue it for both of us. Although I've gotten to the place with it that I pay attention to maybe about a third of it, the rest has gotten a bit tiresome for me, Mom remains riveted to it every time it plays. Aside from it being one of her beloved gender bender movies, she loves the story and is quite fond of the relationship between the father and the kids. I've been trying to find a decent widescreen DVD copy of it for ages. Finally, this fall, one was released and I snapped it up. It arrived about a week before this review is being published. Mom has watched it twice, with rapt attention, since it arrived. This was definitely a must have for our collection.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Robin Williams Daniel Hillard/Mrs. Doubtfire Sally Field Miranda Hillard Pierce Brosnan Stu Harvey Fierstein Frank Hillard Polly Holliday Gloria Mara Wilson Natalie Hillard Robert Prosky Mr. Lundy Anne Haney Mrs. Selner Scott Capurro Jack Martin Mull Justin Gregory Matthew Lawrence Chris Hillard William Newman Mr. Sprinkles
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1993
Directed by Chris Columbus.
Labels: comedy1, gender-bender, mom-favorite1, robin-williams
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
The Birdcage
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I think Mom considers this a type of gender bender movie. It's one of her favorites, one of those that, when ever it played on television previous to us buying it, I'd cue it, knowing that Mom would love it, yet again. I like it. There are certain scenes, in this movie, like the dance direction scene, the initial diva-trauma scene and the reminscing dance scene between Val's mother and father that I never get tired of watching. I saw the original La Cage aux Folles many, many years ago, enjoyed that movie, and have no problem with the existence of both, although I tend to consider them different movies. For some reason, though, certain scenes in this movie grate on me and, when Mom wants to watch it, I find it a good time to catch up on chores or my journals.
Update 2/6/18: Thought I should mention, in tribute, although my Chandler sister has not visited for a few years, almost every time she comes she insists on watching this movie. I think it may be one of her favorites, if not her absolute favorite. Come to think of it, I haven't watched it since one of her last visits and, now, I can't remember which of the scenes grates on me. Perhaps I should watch it again.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Robin Williams Armand Goldman Nathan Lane Albert Goldman Christine Baranski Katharine Archer Dan Futterman Val Goldman Hank Azaria Agador Spartacus Calista Flockhart Barbara Keeley Gene Hackman Sen. Kevin Keeley Dianne Wiest Louise Keeley
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1996
Directed by Mike Nichols.
Labels: comedy1, gender-bender, mom-favorite2, popcorn-and-soda4, robin-williams
Monday, November 14, 2005
Tootsie
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I'm surprised there is no mention of this movie in my journals. The reason I bought a copy is that Mom and I watch it every time we notice it playing on TV but we usually manage to cue it up after it's already begun. I'm only a fair fan of gender-bender movies. They have to have other qualities to recommend them and the gender bending performance has to be really sleek for me to enjoy it. This one qualifies on both counts. Mom always forgets that Tootsie is being played by a man until the end. The sideline performance of her surprise is a delight in itself to watch.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Dustin Hoffman Michael Dorsey Jessica Lange Julie Nichols Teri Garr Sandy Lester Dabney Coleman Ron Carlisle Charles Durning Leslie Nichols Bill Murray Jeff Slater Sydney Pollack George Fields George Gaynes John Van Horn Geena Davis April Page Doris Belack Rita Marshall Ellen Foley Jacqui Lynne Thigpen Jo
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1982
Directed by Sydney Pollack.
Labels: geena-davis, gender-bender, mom-favorite2, popcorn-and-soda4, romance3, satire2
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Kramer vs. Kramer
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This, as is turns out, is one of my mother's favorite movies, for Dustin Hoffman's performance and the character he plays. She is of the generation who considers men a little retarded (as compared to women), naturally thoughtless, not very quick, but necessary. "They have their place and are potentially redeemable" would be an excellent summation of her thoughts on men.
Interestingly, she seems not to notice Meryl Streep's character and her actions in regards to the shared child at all. I think this is a reflection of the fact that, for much of Mom's adult life, women were the do-it-alls and men were the family-moneytary-supports, so, you know, "we" know how much women do. We don't need to rehash it. "We" also know how little of consequence men do. That deserves some contemplation.
She also likes the boy, especially when he's being difficult.
She has never, by the way, expressed any opinion about the couple's divorce proceedings.
I like this movie, too. For some reason, the Bach guitar at the beginning imprinted on me.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Dustin Hoffman Ted Kramer Meryl Streep Joanna Kramer Justin Henry Billy Kramer Jane Alexander Margaret Phelps Howard Duff John Shaunessy George Coe Jim O'Connor JoBeth Williams Phyllis Bernard Howland Chamberlain Judge Atkins
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1979
Directed by Robert Benton.
Labels: dramaA, gender-bender, meryl-streep
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Victor/Victoria
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: Watching this movie is pure delight for my mother. Although she appreciates children's or 'family' musicals, considers them, "very nice", her preference is for adult musicals. Recently, when we were watching a Broadway retrospective on PBS, she mentioned, while "Sweeney Todd" was being reviewed, that she thought she'd "enjoy that one".
My mother is a big fan of cross dressing and love/gender complications in movies. Add Julie Andrews, Robert Preston and James Garner and my mother will buy a ring side seat.
Update 2/10/18: You'll notice that I linked the title to a write-up about the play, not about the movie. You'll also notice, if you read the article, that the play is based on the movie, not vice versa, which is the usual case. That's why I linked to the article. I thought this bit of information was interesting, especially considering the stage musical actors in the film.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Julie Andrews Victoria Grant James Garner King Marchand Robert Preston Carroll Todd Lesley Ann Warren Norma Cassidy Alex Karras Squash Bernstein John Rhys-Davies Andre Cassell Graham Stark The Waiter Peter Arne Labisse
If you're curious about the Wikipedia article on this film, it's here.
Release Date: 1982
Directed by Blake Edwards.
Labels: comedy2, gender-bender, julie-andrews, mom-favorite2, musical2, period5, popcorn-and-soda6
