Monday, July 01, 2019
Mary Poppins Returns
- Commentary: Yep, yep, yep, I bought this movie on a whim when I saw it at Costco (which, by the way, almost never carries movies anymore, unless the movies are theater blockbusters), without consideration, even though my initial reaction to the first Mary Poppins was disappointment (which I wrote about in the review for that movie).
Not disappointed, this time. First of all, I adore Emily Blunt's work and was excited to see her as Mary Poppins. She is, yes, Mary Poppins' (Julie Andrews') improved-edition daughter. Second, I knew that even if I was ambivalent about this one, I would watch it with much nostalgia and would want to buy it. So I didn't bother to check it out of the library (which the length of the hold list promised wouldn't be available to me for at least a couple of months) before purchasing it. Third, I don't know, something about Mom and her enjoyment of the first Mary Poppins movie, something about my sisters and me as kids in Honolulu that summer when we saw the first Mary Poppins, blah, blah, blah ... well, Mary Poppins Returns more than met my expectations. Emily Blunt kills it! The script is, well, it's a "Mary Poppins" script, but it's interesting and the historical timing works with the story. The songs are fun and catchy and, frankly, in my opinion, the musical accompaniment is better, more musically magical, than in the first Mary Poppins movie. I like Jack better in this movie than Bert in the last, but I think that's because it was impossible, in the first, to think of Bert as not-Dick-Van-Dyke. In this movie Jack is just Jack for me. I find it interesting, though, that Bert, who was a jack-of-all-trades (primarily a chimney sweep), is transformed into "Jack" in this sequel. Also, I seem to remember that Bert was more integral to the story than is Jack, but that's one of the reasons I'm planning on watching the 1964 movie again before rewatching this one. Oh, yeah, and the star cameos! Yikes! It seems that everyone wanted to get into this one, including some of the cast for the original Mary Poppins! Hello, Bert ...
I have yet to watch this new one a second time, but I want to watch the original before watching this one again. Just for some comparison fun.
You know, I'd like to see Mary Poppins updated for the 1960's ... can you imagine that? With the music and fashion revolutions that were going on, especially in England, but in the U.S., as well, and, how about an update for the 2000's ... and, say, for every thirty-five to forty years, for every generation, as MCN would say, "Wouldn't that be fun?" I wonder if anyone (with greedy pockets, of course), is considering that ...
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Emily Blunt Mary Poppins Lin-Manuel Miranda Jack Ben Whishaw Michael Banks Emily Mortimer Jane Banks Julie Walters Housekeeper Ellen Pixie Davies Annabel Banks Nathanael Saleh John Banks Joel Dawson Georgie Banks Colin Firth William Wilkins Meryl Streep Topsy David Warner Admiral Boom Jim Norton Mr. Binnacle Jeremy Swift Hamilton Gooding Kobna Holdbrook-Smith Templeton Frye Angela Lansbury Balloon Lady Dick Van Dyke Mr. Dawes Jr.
Just in case, here's the Wikipedia write-up for the movie.
Release Date: 2018
Directed by Rob Marshall.
Labels: angela-lansbury, colin-firth, emily-blunt, emily-mortimer, kids, meryl-streep, musical1, period1, popcorn-and-soda2
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
Monday, November 14, 2005
Marvin's Room
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: I absolutely had to own this movie. Read the mention linked above to see why. Mom tolerates me when I watch it and usually reads her tabloids. I think it's too quiet for her.
Miscellanous Notes: It is interesting, and curious, to see how many high profile actors were successfully solicited to perform in this relatively low profile film, even though it features what, at the time, would have been a high profile subject. Without them, this film could have turned maudlin, as so many "caregiver films" often do. This film is what I imagine must be called a "small" film, a gem surrounded by rhinestones.
In addition, Carly Simon wrote and performed the theme song "Two Little Sisters", with Meryl Streep adding background vocals.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Meryl Streep Lee Leonardo DiCaprio Hank Diane Keaton Bessie Robert De Niro Dr. Wally Hume Cronyn Marvin Gwen Verdon Ruth Hal Scardino Charlie Dan Hedaya Bob Cynthia Nixon Retirement Home Director Margo Martindale Dr. Charlotte Kelly Ripa Coral John Callahan Lance
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1996
Directed by Jerry Zaks.
Labels: caregiver, cynthia-nixon, diane-keaton, dramaA, hume-cronyn, leonardo-dicaprio, me-favorite3, meryl-streep, robert-de-niro
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Dancing at Lughnasa
- Who's watched: G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I consider this movie chiefly a tour de force for Streep. It is an incredibly dark movie, almost too dark for me, although I can't resist Michael Gambon's performance. I've gone back and forth over whether I'll keep this movie or trade it in. I doubt that I'll ever think to show it to Mom. I may not ever watch it again, either.
Stay tuned for my final decision, which I will report.
Update 2/11/21: And, Dear Reader, I didn't ever watch this film, again, and took it to the library during my first culling of my collection.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Meryl Streep Kate Mundy Michael Gambon Father Jack Mundy Catherine McCormack Christina Mundy Kathy Burke Maggie Mundy
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1998
Directed by Pat O'Connor.
Labels: dramaA, meryl-streep, period5
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
Adaptation.
- Who's watched: G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is part of that "Meryl Streep" set. I was pleased about this addition because I love this movie. It's one I've done instant replay in order to cull quotes from it.
My recollections, dim as they are, inform me that Mom did see (and, I use that word, purposely, instead of "watch", the words of which imply lesser and greater levels of mental involvement, the former more appropriately describing Mom's engagement in this film) this movie. She likely dozed through it, or worked crossword puzzles. This type of comedy and satirical rendering of character and motivation do not appeal to her. She's a Real Life Woman.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Nicolas Cage Charlie & Donald Kaufman Meryl Streep Susan Orlean Chris Cooper John Laroche Cara Seymour Amelia Kavan Brian Cox Robert McKee Tilda Swinton Valerie Thomas Ron Livingston Marty Bowen Maggie Gyllenhaal Caroline Cunningham
One of Roger Ebert's Great Movies.
Here's the link to the Wikipedia write-up on this movie.
Release Date: 2002
Directed by Spike Jonze.
Labels: chris-cooper, dramaA, maggie-gyllenhaal, me-favorite3, meryl-streep, nicolas-cage, satire2
Postcards from the Edge
- Who's watched: G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This movie is one of four "Meryl Streep" movies I deliberately bought in a set, the other three being: Adaptation, Kramer vs. Kramer and Dancing at Lughnasa. It does not contain one of my favorites, Sophie's Choice, but that'll come later. My favorite part of this movie is the Country & Western video at the end, but there are many aspects of this film I enjoy, including the chemistry between Meryl Streep and Shirley MacClaine.
This movie is distinguished in that it is the only movie I've ever watched with the commentary overdub. I felt compelled to do this, considering the stature of the mother-daughter-actor duo Street and McClaine were playing. It was worth it. I would recommend listening to the overdub (during a second watching ... please, don't spoil your first watching with it) to anyone who enjoys this movie, and I say that knowing that this movie likely has a somewhat specialized audience.
BTW, the reason I included so many actors in the table, below, is because it seems that everybody and their dogs insisted on being in this movie. It's quite astonishing, considering the low profile of its release, and subsequent viewings. I think this whole movie, and the book upon which it is based by the way, can legitimately be considered a vanity project of high order. It's like, "It's about HOLLYWOOD, Guyzzzz ...", so everyone jumped on board for a piece of the action. And, they found a role for everyone!
Turns out it was, much to my surprise after I watched it, a critical coup. Yeah, it was a fun movie, but nowhere near deserving of the praise and the push it received. To quote one of Roger Ebert's comments on the movie (cited the the Wikipedia post about this movie), "...its heart is not in the right place."
Update 8/16/21: Weird, that I've never obtained a copy of Sophie's Choice. I just checked prices and it seems everybody who has it for sale is selling it at a whopping high price, or, it's unavailable. I think I never really wanted it, anyway, even though I remember enjoying my one watching of it and marveling at Meryl Streep's and Kevin Kline's performances. If I ever really want to see it, I'm sure my library probably has several copies of it. But, I probably won't seek it out. Not sure why, but, there you have it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Meryl Streep Suzanne Vale Shirley MacLaine Doris Mann Dennis Quaid Jack Faulkner Gene Hackman Lowell Kolchek Richard Dreyfuss Dr. Frankenthal Rob Reiner Joe Pierce Annette Bening Evelyn Ames Simon Callow Simon Asquith Gary Morton Marty Wiener Mary Wickes Grandma Conrad Bain Grandpa Oliver Platt Neil Bleene C. C. H. Pounder Julie Marsden Anthony Heald George Lazan Dana Ivey Wardrobe Mistress Michael Ontkean Robert Munch
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1990
Directed by Mike Nichols.
Labels: annette-bening, biography2, meryl-streep, popcorn-and-soda5, richard-dreyfuss, satire2, shirley-maclaine
