Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Lawrence of Arabia
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: We even had, the second time we watched it, a Watching Lawrence of Arabia party. Very successful.
Both my mother and I are surprised at the things we learn about my father knowing that this movie was one of his two favorite movies, the other being Khartoum. He and I saw Khartoum together, a very memorable event, one I'll probably remember as though I'm going through it when I'm old and mentally creative. It happened in Honolulu, probably 1966, the year the movie came out, and involved a long evening stroll along the Ala Wai.
I have, however, had no desire to see that one again. Lawrence of Arabia, though, sometimes I put the disc in and zone out on it for a half hour or so. My mother doesn't do this, but she enjoys the movie.
Roger Ebert wrote about this movie twice: first in 1989 and then again in 2001 as a "Great Movie", the review for which I linked to the title of this post.
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 Peter O'Toole T. E. Lawrence Alec Guinness Prince Faisal Anthony Quinn Auda abu Tayi Jack Hawkins General Allenby Omar Sharif Sherif Ali ibn el Kharish José Ferrer The Turkish Bey Anthony Quayle Harry Brighton Claude Rains Mr. Dryden
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1962
Directed by David Lean.
Labels: adventure4, biography2, claude-rains, dad-favorite, dramaC, historical4, me-favorite4, political4, popcorn-and-soda6, war2
Dave
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is one (of the many) that Mom never has any recollection of watching, yet we watch it a lot, usually during a cold, stormy afternoon/evening binge of this movie and The American President, of which she has a somewhat better memory. She likes feeling hopeful about what's best in the U.S., so do I, and both of these movies help, while the love stories provide comedy relief.
As a footnote, may I add that I am a West Wing freak; my mother is not, but she tolerates me. No, we have not bought any collections of West Wing episodes. I have forbidden myself to do so. When, for instance, would I watch them? I watch little enough of what we have, and then, usually, only peripherally, now. It's been a hard lesson to learn that if only I like it, my indulgences in it will be few and far between. I'm okay with this; it's just been a hard learning.
Update 11/2/08: I was given the entire West Wing series for Christmas a few years ago by a friend of mine; see the link.
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 Kevin Kline Dave Kovic/Pres. William Harrison Mitchell Sigourney Weaver Ellen Mitchell Frank Langella Bob Alexander Kevin Dunn Alan Reed Ving Rhames Duane Stevensen Ben Kingsley Vice Pres. Gary Nance Charles Grodin Murray Blum Laura Linney Randi Bonnie Hunt White House Tour Guide Anna Deavere Smith Mrs. Travis Faith Prince Alice Tom Dugan Jerry
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1993
Directed by Ivan Reitman.
Labels: ben-kingsley, comedy2, kevin-kline, laura-linney, political5, popcorn-and-soda6, presidential, shared-favorite, sigourney-weaver
Calendar Girls
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: Although we haven't watched this in awhile, we've watched it more than once. It is one I know will keep Mom occupied from beginning to end when she doesn't want to do anything else but wants to remain awake; I'm able to share in movie moments with her, since the movie has a fair number of satisfying moments, and this is important. It is, for my mother, primarily a "woman's movie" in the old tradition: Women sharing the deep secrets of womanhood; comedy and triumph at the expense of the men, who are clueless; in the end, the men are proud of their women but remain clueless, the women are proud of themselves and remain a society closed to the men; and the children, if there are any, remain clueless but promising. A film of old and treasured (and sometimes questionable) sensibilities.
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 Helen Mirren Chris Harper Ciarán Hinds Rod Harper Julie Walters Annie Clarke Linda Bassett Cora Annette Crosbie Jessie Celia Imrie Celia Penelope Wilton Ruth Reynoldson Geraldine James Marie
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2003
Directed by Nigel Cole.
Labels: comedy2, helen-mirren, mom-favorite2, popcorn-and-soda6, women's-movie2
Amélie
- Who's watched: Was recently given to me as a gift by someone who thought I'd love it; finally watched over a year after we received it.
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I trust the person's judgment who gave it to me, but I haven't yet seen it. I'm trying to watch it alone and prepare myself before I spring it on Mom.
Update: We both finally watched this movie when we had nothing better to do one rainy Sunday afternoon. I think I enjoyed it more than Mom, I was charmed, but she stayed with it, despite the French-with-English-subtitles, and smiled broadly at many of the inventions. It's become one of my favorites. I love the fable atmosphere, the cartoon-like directing and filming, the inventiveness of the character, and especially love that the characterizations are not nearly as simple as one would expect from a broadly drawn canvas. On my second watching, a few days after our first watching, I paid no attention to the subtitles and simply let myself float with the screen. Absolutely magical.
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 Audrey Tautou Amélie Poulain Mathieu Kassovitz Nino Quincampoix André Dussollier The Narrator Rufus Raphaël Poulain Serge Merlin Raymond Dufayel Lorella Cravotta Amandine Poulain Clotilde Mollet Gina Claire Maurier Suzanne
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up for this film.
Release Date: 2001
Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet.
Labels: comedy2, dream2, me-favorite4, popcorn-and-soda6
Sunday, May 08, 2022
Thelma & Louise
- Commentary: Blew me away when I was watching this movie on cable, one evening, late, Mom awoke within the first 15 minutes of the movie, I decided to keep it on because I really wanted to see it again and she was riveted. She even likes the end of it, which leads me to believe that she understands the real power of this movie: that it isn't a dirge for the female spirit, but a celebration of it. She has even been heard to mutter, during the semi scene, "Good for them!"
I actually didn't consider owning this movie until, a couple of times after the above mentioned viewing, when I exclaimed that it was "on", again, Mom always has wanted to watch it.
Aside from his initial review link to the title of this post, Roger Ebert wrote yet another thought provoking review of the film six months later.
Twenty-five years later three female journalists write an article about how the film has held up, in relevence, over the last quarter century. They make a point of mentioning that the film has not engendered more women-buddy-movies. I know. I think about this every time I watch this movie, and it's one of those that I watch about once a year. It's like, someone in the male coterie that is still film production, is constantly asking about women-buddy-scripts, "What's the point?" and dropping them into the circular file. This article does, though, increase my desire to see Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road.
And, I have to ask, considering the plethora of male-buddy-movies made since the beginning of movie history and the ignoring of the fact that women do "buddy up", for all kinds of reasons, what the hell are you guys thinking?!? Do you think, as women, that we should be grateful that at least this movie was made? And, frankly, do you feel that delusionally safe because female buddy movies make up a very, very small percentage of films? Holy goddess! Are you in for a surprise!
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Susan Sarandon Louise Sawyer Geena Davis Thelma Dickinson Brad Pitt J. D. Harvey Keitel Det. Hal Slocumb Michael Madsen Jimmy Lennox Christopher McDonald Darryl Dickinson Lucinda Jenney Lena Timothy Carhart Harlan Puckett
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1991
Directed by Ridley Scott.
Update 5/8/22: This is a reposting of a previous post dated 2/7/2005 that I managed to recover.
Labels: action3, adventure4, buddy, dream2, geena-davis, harvey-keitel, me-favorite4, michael-madsen, popcorn-and-soda6, revenge2, ridley-scott, road-movie, suspense2, women's-movie1
Love Actually
- Who's watched: M & G, many times
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: Okay, I don't know whether to be ashamed or not to say that I not only love this movie, I am in love with it. It has the ability to both soothe and encourage me. So, we watch it a lot. I know my mother enjoys it and sticks with it every time. I don't know if she has the same kind of gut reactions to it that I do. Fairly recently, toward the end of the holiday season, I watched this movie on dvd in the evening with Mom then turned right around and watched the entire movie again on cable. My mother did not stay up for the cable viewing.
Again, another post, written on 2/7/2005, that I managed to delete on 5/7/2020, found the hidden original, and have reposted it.
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 Alan Rickman Harry Emma Thompson Karen Hugh Grant David Martine McCutcheon Natalie Colin Firth Jamie Lúcia Moniz Aurélia Liam Neeson Daniel Thomas Sangster Sam Bill Nighy Billy Mack Gregor Fisher Joe Chiwetel Ejiofor Peter Keira Knightley Juliet Andrew Lincoln Mark Laura Linney Rodrigo Santoro Kris Marshall Colin Abdul Salis Tony Billy Bob Thornton U. S. President Rowan Atkinson Rufus Heike Makatsch Mia Olivia Olson Joanna
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2003
Directed by Richard Curtis.
Labels: alan-rickman, Christmas, colin-firth, comedy2, emma-thompson, laura-linney, me-favorite4, popcorn-and-soda6, romance3
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
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
Saturday, July 17, 2021
The Story of Ruth
- Commentary: Yes, if you read this journal (and, if you do, you're the only one other than me who does, I think), I know you've seen this movie listed in another, frankly, miscellaneous area, when I was considering giving it to the library the year after my mother died. But, I didn't. In fact, since then, I've watched it more than I've watched many movies I've owned since before my mother's death.
As a reminder, and in the interest of historiography, let me repeat what I posted previous to mom's death and then, again, some months later when I was considering passing the movie on:
"Again, another Bible movie that I haven't yet written up and that Mom saw, a couple of times, but I was too busy to pay it much attention. I need to watch this one before I let it go. It was one of Mom's favorites. I wonder if I can guess why when I watch it.
Update 4/2/09: I ... watched this movie last night and, although I find its 1960 Bible Movie smoothness irritating and temple priestess gowns for Biblical times being cut like late-1950's-early-1960's ball gowns hilarious, the story is interesting, informative and it fits fairly nicely into the Bible Story Collections that I'm keeping (for the time being, anyway). I also like the ending genealogical recap which connects Ruth and Boaz to the House of David: Ruth and Boaz begat Obed, who begat Jesse, who begat David (who, by the way, begat Solomon). It is frequently a story's trajectory to (and from) the House of David that recommends it to the Abrahamic God story tradition. One of the reasons I find many of these videoed stories so interesting is that they easily clarify biblical ancestry and land movement among Abrahamic populations."
I watched this movie, again, a few weeks ago, just for fun. It's a great way to spend a couple of rain-soaked afternoon hours, or an evening when you're at odds with the idea of doing or watching anything "meaningful". Stuart Whitman is fun to watch. He swaggers through this movie as though it's a western. Elana's unusual beauty, is, of course, captivating. The relationship between Ruth and her mother-in-law (perfectly played by Peggy Wood) is sweet and realistic. The mother-in-law's machinations in the service of finding Ruth a husband are interesting and devious.
Both Elana Eden and Peggy Wood had continuing careers as actors, Wood's being quite a bit more hefty than Eden's, but Eden was a busy Israeli soul her entire life, if not on screen, then in real life, dying at the age of 81. Peggy Wood acted right up to her death in 1978 at the age of 86. Stuart Whitman, as well, was busy in acting all his life, right up to his death at the age of 92 in 2020.
Including the priestesses gowns, the movie has a decidedly early 60's edge all the way through, although the clothing for those of lesser means was appropriately drab and, for the women, shapeless. The movie was well liked by critics at the time, well attended, and even won some awards.
And, yes, I'm keeping it. I'm telling you, if I can figure out a way to take my movie collection beyond the grave with me, that's what I'm planning to do. This movie will be among my after-death treats.
I want to include a link to one more review from Three Movie Buffs because it nicely enlarges and balances the review linked to the title of this post.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Elana Eden Ruth Peggy Wood Naomi Viveca Lindfors Eleilat Tom Tryon Mahlon Les Tremayne Elimelech Ziva Rodann Orpah Stuart Whitman Boaz Jeff Morrow Tob
The Wikipedia write-up for this movie is here.
Release Date: 1960
Directed by Henry Koster.
Labels: bible-movies1, historical4, period6, popcorn-and-soda6, romance4
Friday, July 16, 2021
Leave Her to Heaven
- Commentary: I watched this movie last night (7/23/21). I knew nothing about it, which, I think, intensified my reaction (for the better). What an extraordinary movie! Look at all the labels I (legitimately) attached to it! It's got something for everyone, and the entire story [which is, really, a series of stories with one bright red thread (think Ellen's lipstick) running through them] attaches everything that happens to everything else! Yikes!
First of all, Gene Tierney is amazing as the antagonist. The other actors' performances are well turned out, but they are all supportive. The movie belongs to Tierney's character, and, holy jesus, what a character she plays and how well she plays her!
Secondly, when the movie starts, you'll notice it has an odd format: It's full-screen color. Once the movie starts, though, it takes no time to get used to this.
Thirdly, this is not a popcorn-and-soda movie. Go ahead and put out snacks if you want, but, I can guarantee, you will be so riveted from the very beginning to the very end that you'll forget everything except the story, including any food you've supplied.
Finally, the Criterion "special feature" material, both the film essay and the written essay, don't do justice to this movie's singularity. I've seen a lot of movies, in my time, and I am a fan of horror. The only movie I can think of that even approaches the horrific enjoyment I experienced from watching this movie is Midsommar, and, frankly, at this time, fresh from this movie, I can't tell you which I will favor. Perhaps they'll sit atop my horror genre choices in a category of their own.
This is just a gem of a horror movie, in part because it isn't marketed as a horror movie, which was a wise choice by somebody, not sure who. I didn't even realize it was headed in that direction until a little less than half the way through. The story is masterfully manipulated. The settings give absolutely no clue as to what is going to happen. The relationships between the characters start out, and continue for quite awhile, so innocently that you cannot help but be astonished at what is happening, from scene to scene, right before your eyes, and then, when you think you've reached peak astonishment, well, hang onto your hat! No wonder Criterion has this movie in their catalog. It deserves the high honor that a Criterion production confers!
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Gene Tierney Ellen Berent Harland Cornel Wilde Richard Harland Jeanne Crain Ruth Berent Vincent Price Russell Quinton Mary Philips Mrs. Berent Ray Collins Glen Robie Gene Lockhart Dr. Saunders Reed Hadley Dr. Mason Darryl Hickman Danny Harland Chill Wills Leick Thome Olive Blakeney Mrs. Louise Robie Jim Farley Train Conductor
Here's the link to the Wikipedia write-up of this movie.
Release Date: 1945
Directed by John M. Stahl.
Labels: Criterion2, film-noir3, horror1, legal, melodramaA, popcorn-and-soda6, psychological1, romance4, suspense3, thriller2, tragedy2, violence4
Saturday, July 03, 2021
Mommie Dearest
- Commentary: If this movie isn't the most controversial movie I own, it's very close to the top of that list. Check out the Wikipedia article on it linked below in the usual place and you'll see what I mean. By "controversial", I don't mean "universally panned". There are those who unabashedly love it (I belong in this category), those who four-square despise or dismiss it (think Roger Ebert in the review to which the title of this post is linked), and people who fall at all points in between.
It's not just the structure of the movie that provokes comment. Everything, including Faye Dunaway's performance (which even she has expressed reservations about), the audacity of basing it on a controversial memoir, the directing, the editing, the choice of material upon which the screenplay was based, even scene placement comes up for comment.
Well, sorry, everyone, I love, love, love this movie! I've been wanting to own it for awhile, despite the fact that I neglected to include it in Movies I've Seen, Do Not Own but Can't Forget. Ever since I began hankering for it, it's been in my "very pricey" category. Last week I noticed that, while still in that category, the price had dropped by five bucks (it didn't drop, at all, during any of those recent, much ballyhooed sales on certain purchasing sites), so I decided, okay, I'm going for it.
I received it yesterday. Watched it last night. Rarely have I been so satisfied with a purchase! The movie is so over-the-top that I was surprised to discover that, those scenes and moments I remembered previous to purchase, well, I'd remembered them exactly!
Truthfully, I'm sorry to read (in the article pegged to the title, above) that Dunaway has reservations not only about her performance, but, as well, the directing of that performance. I am not one of those who loves this movie because it's "campy", as it's been labeled numerous times, although I understand why it is so labeled. By the time this movie was initially released, Joan Crawford had become camp. She was partially responsible for this, considering the movie choices she made later in her life (think Trog and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, the latter of which, in the words of the attached Wikipedia article: "...spawned a succession of horror/thriller films featuring psychotic older women, later dubbed the psycho-biddy subgenre...").
I don't consider this movie campy. I don't necessarily consider it to be the unvarnished history of Joan Crawford's life, either. It was, after all, based on a book written by an abused and conflicted daughter. But, let's face it, people. Those who lead lives that glitter, especially those who choose those lives, in part, because of the glitter they'll don, well, the "truths" of their lives will always partly distract, as well as attract. That is, in large part, why we, as members of the audience, are hungry to know more about them and doomed to never know the unglittered truth.
Here's the interesting part: If you own a copy of Joan Crawford's Mildred Pierce © 2005 Turner Entertainment Company, check out the documentary profile included as a special feature, Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star. Although there is some information in the movie that is not addressed in the documentary (how she treated her first two children, for instance), nothing in the documentary refutes, or is refuted by, anything in Mommie Dearest. I can attest to this because, immediately after I watched the movie, last night, I was driven to watch the documentary, precisely because I wondered about this. The immediately previous link, by the way, is to a different article about the movie; here is yet another, full of interesting backstory. It looks like no one can get enough of this movie, which is fine with me because I thoroughly enjoyed it, last night, and expect to, again.
There are a couple of other articles at RogerEbert.com that meditate on the movie, while it was still in production, by Roger Ebert (although it was published after the movie was released and after Ebert's final review of the movie) and many years after it was released, by Angelica Jade Bastien. No matter what your reaction to the movie, they make for intriguing reading, especially the second article.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Faye Dunaway Joan Crawford Diana Scarwid Christina Crawford Steve Forrest Gregg Savitt Howard Da Silva Louis B. Mayer Rutanya Alda Carol Ann Harry Goz Alfred Steele Michael Edwards Ted Gilbert Jocelyn Brando Barbara Bennett Priscilla Pointer Margaret Lee Chadwick Xander Berkeley Christopher Crawford Belita Moreno Belinda Rosenberg Alice Nunn Helga
Here's the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 1981
Directed by Frank Perry.
Labels: aging, biography2, coming-of-age2, dramaD, faye-dunaway, historical4, period6, popcorn-and-soda6
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
District 9
- Commentary: I really enjoy this movie and am so pleased to finally have a copy of it. The unwitting hero, thrust into a situation that existed long before he became involved, is an average-man government drone. He starts bumbling long before he figures out that he is, indeed, bumbling and what needs to be done. He changes sides the way a self-conscious teenager changes clothes. He wants to do right by everybody, but, turns out, he's the only person involved in this scenario that is thinking in terms of what is right for the aliens as well as the humans. He spends the entire time portrayed in this movie either in misguided attempts to "do right" or exasperation. Then he starts getting to know the "prawns", and, rather than things getting better, they get worse. He learns that the plan of his alien friend is far better than any other plan but it's also fraught with extended problems for everyone, aliens and humans alike. He becomes infected with alien substance and begins transitioning to the alien species. He learns that, like all the other aliens, besides the two who manage to get the ship working, he's going to have to stay on earth and complete his transition. And, he carries with him a devotion to his wife, family and species that is truly heartbreaking. You know that, even when his alien friends return, his life will never be easy or make any sense. At the end of the film, you sense that he knows this, too.
Just a marvel of a film, with unresolved complications cropping up all over the place. I can't recommend this movie enough.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Sharlto Copley Wikus van de Merwe Jason Cope Christopher Johnson (Little CJ?) David James Col. Koobus Venter Mandla Gaduka Fundiswa Mhlanga Eugene Wanangwa Khumbanyiwa Obesandjo Vanessa Haywood Tania Smit-van de Merwe Nathalie Boltt Sarah Livingstone Louis Minnaar Piet Smit
Here's the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 2009
Directed by Neill Blomkamp.
Labels: aliens, popcorn-and-soda6, science-fiction1
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Pee Wee's Playhouse, Seasons 1 - 5
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2* *3*
- Commentary: We are hypnotized by this series, as well. I know; we should get out, more. But, what a way to go.
You will note that the images of this write-up say "#1" and "#2". That's because, initially, some years ago, when Paul Reubens released his Pee-Wee's Playhouse series, he released all the episodes in two parts. I'm not sure they are still sold this way. But, they were back then. According to Wikipedia's article, comparing it with our inventory, we own everything but the Pee-Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special.
Update 2/9/18: I have a memory ... One of the aspects of the series from which we both used to get a kick was Pee Wee's frequent admonition to "scream real loud", which we'd both do, on command, Mom much softer than me. I remember my mother saying, "Can't you just imagine what most mothers feel when their kids watch this show and 'scream real loud'?" And then she'd chuckle. One thing you can say, with authority, about my mom, she really loved kids.
Update 5/23/22: I once seriously considered ushering this series on to my local library. I decided to re-watch some of my favorite episodes from it, though, and found that my enjoyment trumped my belief that I would never watch it again. In fact, in the intervening years, I have pulled it out of my cabinet just to watch some of those favorite episodes, yet again, and "scream real loud". In case you're wondering, when Mom and I watched episodes, she, also, "screamed real loud", when Pee-Wee directed, although in a much more "lady-like" manner than me; sort of a muffled "Ahhhh...".
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Paul Reubens Pee-Wee Laurence Fishburne Cowboy Curtis Lynne Marie Stewart Miss Yvonne S. Epatha Merkerson Reba - Mail Lady
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the series.
Release Date: 1986-1990
Directed by Paul Reubens.
Labels: comedy2, kids, laurence-fishburne, popcorn-and-soda6, shared-favorite, TV2
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
Witness
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: The attraction for my mother with this movie is the wide swathes of glimpses into Amish life. I love the music [Maurice Jarre; the Jarres are my favorite father-son environmental composers] and the movie's seamless construction. We share our favorite scene: Hands down, the barn raising. My mother has been heard to say while this scene was unfolding, "Wouldn't it be nice to live that way again?" Telling comment: I believe it shows that she considers the way (and area within which) she was raised as a child culturally and spiritually similar to Amish society.
One other scene that always gets a rise out of her: When the heroine tells her father-in-law that he shames himself. "Good for her," my mother has been known to cheer.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Harrison Ford John Book Kelly McGillis Rachel Lapp Lukas Haas Samuel Lapp Jan Rubeš Eli Lapp Josef Sommer Paul Schaeffer Alexander Godunov Daniel Hochleitner Danny Glover James McFee Patti LuPone Elaine Book Viggo Mortensen Moses Hochleitner Brent Jennings Elton Carter Frederick Rolf Stoltzfus Angus MacInnes Leon Ferguson
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1985
Directed by Peter Weir.
Labels: danny-glover, dramaB, harrison-ford, mystery2, neo-noirA, peter-weir, popcorn-and-soda6, shared-favorite
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
Monday, February 07, 2005
That's Entertainment! The Complete Collection
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I supposedly got these for my mother. She haunts cable looking for replays of the That's Entertainment series. I have to admit, though, I really enjoy them. They are especially good for generating energy. My mother and I both sing along to them. Sometimes, I dance along to them, too. Just for your info, the 4th disc, "Treasures from the Vault", is repetitious and boring. Don't bother.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the series. This write-up primarily covers the 1974 production. Links to the other two are attached to their respective release dates, below.
Release Date: 1974, 1976, 1994
Part One is directed by Jack Haley, Jr. Part Two is directed by Gene Kelly. Part Three is directed by Bud Friedgen and Michael Sheridan. No indication anywhere of who is responsible for direction on "Treasures from the Vault".
Labels: dance, documentary1, fred-astaire, historical4, mom-favorite2, musical2, popcorn-and-soda6
Scarface
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: This is one of my very favorite movies. It is one of my mother's least favorite movies. She watched it once when some friends were visiting, one of them noticed I had the movie and wanted to watch it. The visit became a Scarface Fest. When the movie was over my mother turned to me and said, "I don't know why you like watching all that blood-letting, girl!" Neither do I.
Update 2/9/18: By the way, Roger Ebert wrote about this movie twice, which is why I am using his reviews (here's the other one) instead of Wikipedia's write-up (Okay, I'll link to that, too). One other thing: If you read the comments, you'll notice a link to a site called The Scarface World. The link is now dead, so I performed a cursory search and couldn't find it. [No, I have not linked to the site, only to a site that indicates that, yes, this site did exist, but has since been deprecated (who knows how long; I only now, on 6/18/21, found this site]. I noticed, however, a plethora of commentary on the movie all over the web. Just punch in its name, if you're curious, and you'll be overwhelmed with content. There's even a Scarface video game.
RE-WATCHED: 7/30-31/2020 Including bonus materials on disc 2. The bonus materials for this movie are especially interesting and there are loads of them, relatively speaking. They include one bonus on the changes made for a TV version and another on why it became so popular among gang members of the time. Al Pacino being interviewed for one of the bonuses dealing with acting the role was a treat. This movie remains an absolute favorite of mine. I can't imagine a time when I won't look forward to watching it ... again.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Al Pacino Tony Montana Steven Bauer Manny Ray Michelle Pfeiffer Elvira Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio Gina Robert Loggia Frank Lopez Míriam Colón Mama Montana F. Murray Abraham Omar Paul Shenar Alejandro Sosa
One of Roger Ebert's Great Movies.
Release Date: 1983
Directed by Brian De Palma.
Labels: action3, al-pacino, brian-de-palma, dramaC, f-murray-abraham, gang-movie, me-favorite4, neo-noirA, oliver-stone, popcorn-and-soda6, violence3
Saved!
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This was a pleasant surprise for both of us. I rented it on a hunch, since one of my sisters was a teenaged Jesus Freak and I'd had much experience with both teenage Fundamentalist Christians and Christian High Schools. I was apprehensive about how Mom would react, but she was as tickled with it as I was. When I noticed it at Costco, remembering that we'd watched it twice on rental, I bought it. We watched it again that night.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Jena Malone Mary Cummings Mandy Moore Hilary Faye Stockard Macaulay Culkin Roland Stockard Eva Amurri Cassandra Edelstein
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2004
Directed by Brian Dannelly.
Labels: popcorn-and-soda6, religion1, satire2, shared-favorite
Rear Window
- Who's watched: M
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I know, I said there isn't a movie in our collection I haven't watched, and this is it! I got this movie because Mom's mentioned it off and on throughout the years and it appeared one day on sale at Costco. The day I bought it, some weeks ago, she was excited when I told her, settled in with it zestily, then, about ⅔ of the way through decided, without warning, to take a nap. She has watched it again, since then.
Roger Ebert wrote two reviews of this film, his initial review, linked to the title of this post, and another when he christened it one of his Great Movies.
Update 2/9/18: I have, as well, watched this movie since my mother's death. I find it mildly engaging but it isn't close to my favorite Hitchcock movie. That badge of honor belongs to Vertigo, a movie I've watched more than a few times since my mother's death. Just for the record, my second favorite Hitchcock movie is The Birds, mainly because I saw it when I was a kid. Its astonishingly dark ending really made an impression on me. I should note, I read the book before seeing the movie. Ah, the good old days of multi-literacy! I should also note, I have not seen nearly all of Hitchcock's movies, although all members of my family were devotees of his television show Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role James Stewart L. B. Jefferies Grace Kelly Lisa Carol Fremont Wendell Corey Thomas J. Doyle Raymond Burr Lars Thorwald Thelma Ritter Stella Judith Evelyn Miss Lonely Hearts Ross Bagdasarian As the Songwriter Georgine Darcy Miss Torso
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1954
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
Labels: alfred-hitchcock, dramaC, james-stewart, melodramaC, mystery2, popcorn-and-soda6, suspense2, thelma-ritter
Ray
- Who's watched: Neither of us has seen this one
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is one of only two dvds I've intentionally bought without viewing the presentation.
The other was The Mosquito Coast and, being a Peter Weir movie, I was destined to own it whether I liked it or not. It is my least favorite, so far, of all the Peter Weir films I've seen. I consider Master and Commander more worth another watch than The Mosquito Coast.
Anyway, I bought this one strictly from seeing Jamie Foxx on Inside the Actors Studio a couple of Sunday's ago. Mom and I both watched that episode and when I told her last week I'd bought the movie, she was pleased. But, we haven't yet seen it. I can't wait.
We finally watched the movie. Jamie Foxx's performence is dazzling, the music is good, the story is fairly interesting. We've only seen it once. I've kept it because of the "Hit the Road Jack" sequence and some of the other music, but, well, I don't know when we'll watch it again.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Jamie Foxx Ray Charles C. J. Sanders Young Ray Kerry Washington Della Bea Robinson Clifton Powell Jeff Brown
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2004
Directed by Taylor Hackford.
Labels: biography2, dramaC, musical2, popcorn-and-soda6, taylor-hackford
