Thursday, August 08, 2019
The Pelican Brief
- Commentary: So, considering how much I love movies, I had not watched this movie, anywhere, before receiving it in the aforementioned set. I don't know why. I was familiar with the name, with the stars, knew it was a legal thriller, and I'm a fan of this genre. But, it just had never appeared on my movie-going plate, so to speak. And, it's an enjoyable film. The "thrill" is involving enough. I wouldn't give it a top ranking, though. I like the way both actors, Denzel Washington and Julia Roberts, strut their stuff in this film. It was made in 1993. Roberts had not yet entered her "god, I'm great" phase (a good example of Roberts in this phase as an actor is Mona Lisa Smile, a movie which I love, anyway), so she and Washington play well together and the story is interesting. Still, I'd sooner watch Fallen again, just for the astonished giggling it provokes, before I'd watch this movie again. It's ho-hum-good. Just.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Denzel Washington Gray Grantham Julia Roberts Darby Shaw Sam Shepard Thomas Callahan John Heard Gavin Verheek Tony Goldwyn Fletcher Coal James Sikking FBI Dir. Denton Voyles John Finn Matthew Barr William Atherton Bob Gminski Robert Culp President Stanley Tucci Khamel Hume Cronyn Justice Rosenberg John Lithgow Smith Keen Anthony Heald Marty Velmano Cynthia Nixon Alex Stark Jake Weber Curtis Morgan/Garcia Ralph Cosham Justice Jensen
The Wikipedia write-up for this movie is here.
Release Date: 1993
Directed by Alan J. Pakula.
Labels: alan-j-pakula, cynthia-nixon, denzel-washington, drama3, hume-cronyn, john-heard, john-lithgow, journalism, julia-roberts, legal, political1, sam-shepard, thriller1
Friday, February 10, 2006
Notting Hill
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This came with About a Boy. If it hadn't, I probably would never have viewed this one, certainly wouldn't have bought it. It's definitely another frippery, but not exactly my style, although Mom liked it very much, so much that when I asked her, after our viewing, if we should keep it or trade it in, she looked at me as though I was crazy and said, "Keep it! Of course!". So, we're keeping it. I have to say, I very much enjoy the roommate. There are parts of the movie, though, that are distinct rip offs of Four Weddings and a Funeral. I enjoy those parts much more in FWAAF than I do here. As well, in FWAAF Hugh Grant is fresh. In this movie he seems to be leaning on past performances, to the detriment of this movie. He tends to be one note, anyway. Although I like his note, I prefer it well played.
Update 7/31/21: Just a self-actualizing note here. I chucked FWAAF to the library and kept this! Have I watched it since I got rid of FWAAF? No. So, the next time I thin my collection, perhaps you should expect this movie's title to be changed to garish yellow. I'll watch it first, though, just to make sure. Maybe there's something about it I'll like that I didn't like, or, at least, couldn't handle, through another watching of FWAAF. We'll see.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Julia Roberts Anna Scott Hugh Grant William Thacker Hugh Bonneville Bernie Emma Chambers Honey Thacker James Dreyfus Martin Rhys Ifans Spike Tim McInnerny Max Emily Mortimer Perfect Girl
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1999
Directed by Roger Michell.
Labels: 20th-century-chick-flicks1, emily-mortimer, julia-roberts, popcorn-and-soda4, romance2
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Mona Lisa Smile
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is one of those movies that has a magnetic affect on both my mother and me. Although it's not the best school movie I've ever seen (my vote on this score is for The Paper Chase, although I'd consider The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, as well, and, a few others, come to think of it, The Blackboard Jungle, Goodbye Mr. Chips), from the cords of the opening music it drafts both of us into college, again, from our own perspetives. When we view this movie we always review the featurettes.
I have to admit, though, she and I are both suckers for school and education movies. Sometimes it's pathetic.
Directed by Mike Newell.
Update 6/13/2006: Since I first wrote this short review we've watched this movie on the average of once a month, at my suggestion. During tonight's watching I was uncustomarily analytical about some of the aspects of this movie that I love.
- All the performances are a delight to watch and utterly convincing, with the exception of Julia Roberts' performance. Tonight I finally figured out why, in this movie of incredibly performed roles (even the bartender at the wedding and "Mrs. Stone" the waitress are spot on) the star fell just short of matching her colleagues' level: She's, well, Julia Roberts and, as such, is no longer able to be a character. She is always Julia Roberts playing a character. This is unfortunate in movies such as this.
- The romance between Roberts' character and West's character is inauthentic, unconvincing, distracting and boring. It's possible that Roberts' character needs some sort of quickie affair in this movie as a device to underline her single status and her attitudes toward sexual attachment, but the one written and acted didn't work.
- The background music is both unobtrusive and evocative; so much so that the strains of the theme played behind the menu evoke pleasurable anticipation for the movie.
- The subject matter, despite being heavily covered in many other movies and, at the time of this movie's release, seemingly dated, lurks in women's souls deeply and is still not well addressed by society, thus, continues to have a powerful effect. As well, the characters and the story are so well developed that the period piece effect actually contributes to the emotional effect of the layout of the issues.
- The camera work is subtle and masterful. No camera effect is used for the sake of the effect alone.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Julia Roberts Katherine Watson Kirsten Dunst Betty Warren Julia Stiles Joan Brandwyn Maggie Gyllenhaal Giselle Levy Ginnifer Goodwin Connie Baker Laura Allen Susan Delacorte Marcia Gay Harden Nancy Abbey Donna Mitchell Mrs. Warren Marian Seldes President Jocelyn Carr Juliet Stevenson Amanda Armstrong Dominic West Bill Dunbar Topher Grace Tommy Donegal Ebon Moss-Bachrach Charlie Stewart Jordan Bridges Spencer Jones John Slattery Paul Moore Tori Amos Wedding Singer
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2003
Directed by Mike Newell.
Labels: dramaB, julia-roberts, kirsten-dunst, maggie-gyllenhaal, marsha-gay-harden, period5, political4, shared-favorite, teaching, women's-movie1
Pretty Woman
- Who's watched: M & G, several times
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: Considering how many times over the years with my mother I have been put to the task of finding "the next showing" of this movie, renting this movie, watching this movie and, finally, purchasing this movie, I'm truly surprised I haven't mentioned it more in my journals. I think the hardest thing for me to admit about this movie is that as much as it offends me, I also enjoy it. Some years ago I took a romance novel writing class and this movie was held up as the perfect structure for any romance story. And, I have to admit, as much as details about it irritate me, much of it is very satisfying for me to watch, including the end. Funny how cultures imbue people with even personally disagreeable characteristics. It's important to note, my mother loves this movie, despite the fact that she has never been a typical woman on a typical trajectory.
I took a class in writing romances (novels, short stories, "true confession", movies, whatever). My instructor said, at the beginning of the class, that this movie is an example of "a perfect romance". As we went through our book and learned the dynamics of writing a romance (a book, by the way, she did not like and did not recommend, but was stuck with by the English department), sure enough, turns out, this movie follows the formula exactly!
You'll notice, as well, that I did not thin this movie out of my collection after my mother died. And, yes, in case you're curious, I occasionally still watch this movie. And, no, I've never been a typical woman on a typical trajectory, either. Go figure. Maybe I will figure this one out, sometime later in my life.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Richard Gere Edward Lewis Julia Roberts Vivian Ward Héctor Elizondo Barnard Thompson Laura San Giacomo Kit De Luca Ralph Bellamy James Morse Jason Alexander Phillip Stuckey Dey Young snobbish saleswoman Hank Azaria a detective
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1990
Directed by Gary Marshall.
Labels: julia-roberts, mom-favorite2, richard-gere, romance3
Sunday, February 13, 2005
My Best Friend's Wedding
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: When we are in the mood to be perfectly delighted, we watch this movie. Before we owned it, I even went out of my way to rent it when I thought we needed a shot of what it offers. It worked for us last night when we watched it.
Update 5/9/2022: I still find myself needing this movie, enjoying this movie, watching this movie. The comedy and hilarity is this movie is so well done, so deadpan. Julianne's reaction to hearing her best friend, Michael, is getting married? Priceless. The scene where one of the bridesmaids accidentally freezes her tongue to an ice sculpture? Priceless. The I Say a Little Prayer scene? Priceless. And then, and then, the movie wraps up in a sweet, realistic, dignified manner. Priceless.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Julia Roberts Julianne Potter Dermot Mulroney Michael O'Neal Cameron Diaz Kimmy Wallace Rupert Everett George Downes Philip Bosco Walter Wallace M. Emmet Walsh Joe O'Neal Rachel Griffiths Samantha Newhouse Carrie Preston Amanda Newhouse
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1997
Directed by P.J. Hogan.
Labels: 20th-century-chick-flicks1, buddy, comedy2, julia-roberts, paul-giamatti, romance3, shared-favorite
