Movies, Mom & Me

• 
  Commentary:  Another classic had-to-have favorite. This movie is so good and so correctly prophetic (and so fucking well done) it still scares the bejesus out of me. I am driven to watch it at least twice a year.
    Does it surprise you to know that Roger Ebert reviewed this movie twice? He did, again, as one of his "Great Movies", linked to the title of this post, and 24 years earlier when he initially saw it on it's first release.
  Update 6/9/2022:  This post was originally published on 8/14/16 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Faye Dunaway	Diana Christensen	Wiliam Holden	Max Schumacher	Peter Finch	Howard Beale	Robert Duvall	Frank Hackett
  Wesley Addy	Nelson Chaney	Ned Beatty	Arthur Jensen	Beatrice Straight	Louise Schumacher	Jordan Charney	Harry Hunter
  Conchata Ferrell	Barbara Schlesinger	Darryl Hickman	Bill Herron	William Prince	Edward Ruddy	Ken Kercheval	Merrill Grant

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1976
    Directed by Sidney Lumet.

Labels: faye-dunaway, journalism, me-favorite1, ned-beatty, political2, prophecy, robert-duvall, satire1

# posted by gail @ 14:15    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  I would never have watched this series had not one of my sisters, the one who has been the source of more than a few of my very favorite movies, been electrified by it and started sending me the seasons. Nothing else to say. I'm like everyone else, a staunch fan. Many (if not all) of the episodes continue to stick in my head and at least once every couple of weeks I become captured by one and have to watch it. Again. And again. My sister and I are still looking to hear from Jesse.
    I want to link to one more review but, since I'm not sure how long it will be available, I'm not attaching it to the title of this post. Forbes published a review of Breaking Bad in 2013 at the end of the series. It's quite interesting. With any luck to me, and you, Dear Reader, it will remain accessible.
    Once this series got going, there were many, many notable actors who participated in small and bit parts. I picked out as many as I could without rendering the following Actor/Table overwhelming.
  Update 6/2/2022:  This post was originally published on 8/14/16 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Bryan Cranston	Walter White	Anna Gunn	Skyler White	Aaron Paul	Jesse Pinkman	Dean Norris	Hank Schrader
  Betsy Brandt	Marie Schrader	RJ Mitte	Walter White Jr.	Giancarlo Esposito	Gustavo Fring	Bob Odenkirk	Saul Goodman
  Jonathan Banks	Mike Ehrmantraut	Laura Fraser	Lydia Rodarte-Quayle	Jesse Plemons	Todd Alquist	Raymond Cruz	Tuco Salamanca
  Krysten Ritter	Jane Margolis	John de Lancie	Donald Margolis	Danny Trejo	Tortuga	Steven Bauer	Don Eladio Vuente

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the series.
    Release Date: 2008-2013
    Directed by mostly men, some women each season, a few female regulars.

Labels: action1, adventure1, drama5, female-director1, giancarlo-esposito, haunting1, john-de-lancie, me-favorite1, satire1, thriller2, tragedy1, TV1, violence2

# posted by gail @ 12:11    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  This movie is a sweet, silly, funny movie. It is, as well, not a movie I would own if I didn't have an actor niece who played a walk-through part in it and a sister who thought to send me a copy of it. I'm also pleased I own it because it is the second to the last movie in which René Auberjonois appeared, whose work I adore. In addition, it won a slew of film festival awards across the U.S., deservedly, I can say, since I've seen it. The crux of the movie is the dilemma of seeking an ill-conceived boost to one's life. It ends poignantly and is thoroughly enjoyable, much to my delight.
  Update 6/9/2022:  This post was originally published on 1/16/2021 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  René Auberjonois	U.S. President James Buchanan	Amanda Melby	Ruth Kiesling	Cathy Shim	Meg	Terence Bernie Hines	Phillip Crosby
  M. Emmet Walsh	Larry Kiesling	Robert Ben Garant	Lancaster Guy	Jennifer Pfalzgraff	Holly	Steve Briscoe	Errol

  
    Here's the Wikipedia write-up on this movie.
    Release Date: 2019
    Directed by Bruce Dellis.

Labels: buddy, dramedy1, psychological1, reflective, rené-auberjonois, satire1

# posted by gail @ 10:45    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Although it's good enough for me to own, this is not my favorite Michael Moore movie. It's funny and satirical, it's involving and I felt I owed it to my collection of his movies to own it. Maybe it's because I already knew all this stuff and, for the others of his I always learned something. Not sure, but, well, we'll just leave it at not being one of my favorites of his.
  Update 6/2/2022:  This post was originally published on 8/14/16 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2015
    Directed by Michael Moore.

Labels: documentary1, michael-moore, political2, satire1

# posted by gail @ 20:52    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  The premise of this movie has intrigued me since I first watched it, probably on cable TV, although I can't remember. I was so impressed with it that I mentioned it to one of my nephews and he enjoyed it, too. So, when I got a chance to own it, I took it. No "big deal" about this movie. It's just purely enjoyable, fanciful, very well produced fun. Excellent mood lifter, for me, anyway. I understand there is a TV series based on the movie. I'm not sure I'll watch it. I can't imagine this movie going on, and on, and on ...
    As much as I enjoy this movie, though, you'll notice that I've linked the title of this post to Roger Ebert's critical review. He brings up some good points, makes you think even further about the premise of the movie than you had. It does not, though, spoil my enjoyment.
  Update 2/10/18:  Maybe it's a stretch to label this a "super-hero" movie, since the protagonist doesn't do anything particularly heroic, but, by the end, you are left with the feeling that he could, and maybe he will.
  Update 11/17/2021:  This post was originally published August 14, 2016. It was one of the accidental deletions that occurred, which is covered in this post.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Bradley Cooper	Edward Morra	Abbie Cornish	Lindy	Robert De Niro	Carlos Van Loon	Anna Friel	Melissa Gant
  Johnny Whitworth	Vernon Gant	Richard Bekins	Henry Atwood	Robert John Burke	Donald Pierce	Tomas Arana	Man in Tan Coat
  T.V. Carpio	Valerie	Patricia Kalember	Mrs. Atwood	Andrew Howard	Gennady	Ned Eisenberg	Morris Brandt

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2011
    Directed by Neil Burger.

Labels: adventure1, drama6, fantasy2, robert-de-niro, satire1, science-fiction1, super-hero2, suspense2

# posted by gail @ 01:59    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  A sophisticated movie about a completely unsophisticated man in a completely unsophisticated predicament. I watched the movie with enjoyment the first time, without any inkling that I might want to own it. Then came the surprising, delightful ending and I watched it again, immediately. I knew I'd be adding it to my collection. And, dear reader, I did.
    By the way, two writers at RogerEbert.com chose to weigh in on this movie. The first, linked to the title of this post, weighed in after the movie's success at Telluride. The second review was written about a month and a half later, once the movie had saturated American theater screens.
  Update 11/17/2021:  This post was originally published February August 14, 2016. It was one of the accidental deletions that occurred, which is covered in this post.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Michael Keaton	Riggan Thomson	Benjamin Kanes	Young Riggan/Birdman	Zach Galifianakis	Jake	Edward Norton	Mike Shine
  Andrea Riseborough	Laura Alburn	Amy Ryan	Sylvia Thomson	Emma Stone	Sam Thomson	Naomi Watts	Lesley Truman
  Lindsay Duncan	Tabitha Dickinson	Merritt Wever	Annie	Jeremy Shamos	Ralph	Bill Camp	Crazy Man

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2014
    Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu.

Labels: dramedy1, edward-norton, film-art1, satire1, spiritual1, super-hero2

# posted by gail @ 21:38    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  I almost feel like I have to explain my affection for this movie. Michael Douglas portrays such a tortured, confused character, one with whom I don't identify. And, yet, in my opinion, he plays it brilliantly and the story within which he unfolds this character is believable and thrilling. Initially, I think he was brave to take on this role. On second and third thought, though, Michael Douglas is refreshingly ready to surprise his audience with the range of the characters he takes on. This is one of his more complicated characters. For me, it's a Michael Douglas coup. I am always ready to watch this movie, which is why I have it in my collection.
    One last mention: Roger Ebert wrote an interesting article about the rise of Donald Trump (pre-election) that used four different movies as grist for his mill. It's quite interesting. This movie is one of his four. And, BTW, all the movies he mentioned are in my collection and are favorites of mine. Who'd-a-thunk!
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Michael Douglas	William Foster	Robert Duvall	Sgt. Martin Prendergast	Barbara Hershey	Beth Trevino	Rachel Ticotin	Det. Sandra Torres
  Tuesday Weld	Amanda Prendergast	Frederic Forrest	Nick	Lois Smith	Foster's Mother	Joey Hope Singer	Adele Foster-Trevino
  Michael Paul Chan	Mr. Lee	Raymond J. Barry	Cpt. Bill Yardley	D. W. Moffett	Det. Lydecker	Steve Park	Det. Brian

  
    Here is the Wikipedia article on this film.
    Release Date: 1993
    Directed by Joel Schumacher.

Labels: action2, adventure2, barbara-hershey, drama1, economic, haunting1, lois-smith, michael-douglas, political1, psychological1, robert-duvall, satire1, thriller1, tragedy1, tuesday-weld, violence1

# posted by gail @ 23:29    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Yes, yes, yes! Spectacular film!
    Truth is, I'm not heavy into super-hero-comic-book movies, but there are a few I favor, and when I favor them, I really favor them. I'd seen trailers of this movie and my curiosity had been piqued, but, with 100 holds on the movie at the library the day it was released, and a pretty-penny-purchase-price, I knew it would be awhile before I even saw it, let alone considered owning it. My Florida Sister, though, had seen the same trailers, been similarly intrigued, and, instead of buying the movie for herself, she pleaded her work schedule, which wouldn't allow her to see it for awhile, and sent the movie to me!
    Yes, it's dark as fuck. Yes, it's not only an origin story that adds to the plausibility of The Dark Knight (which I immediately rewatched after viewing Joker for the first time; yes, Virginia, I finally did watch the entire The Dark Knight movie, thoroughly enjoyed it and have watched it twice since the first viewing just to revel in Heath Ledger's performance), the pleasure of watching Joaquin Phoenix's performance was sooo satisfying. The man, literally, danced through the story, sometimes explicitly, always implicitly. I've since read reviews of the movie and they are maniacally mixed (except for reviews of Phoenix's performance). While there were many accolades, some considered the story unforgivably incendiary. Some considered it scattershot, too obvious, and/or boring. Almost no one acknowledged the obvious connection between Gotham's Joker by Heath Ledger and Joker by Joaquin Phoenix.
    Speaking of critical constroversy, although Roger Ebert didn't live long enough to see this movie, reviewers on the site wrote not less than four pieces about the film. The initial review granted it only two stars, but, then, a second, then a third, then a fourth piece followed. Extraordinary.
    Although I am a thoughtful fan of super-hero/super-villain movies, don't own many and have seen only the few I own, I have to say, this movie renders the madness of Joker and the madness of Gotham so immediate and real that it makes me wonder, how many Jokers are out there, around the corner, in our confusion of Gothams, just waiting for an accidented (yes, Virginia, accidented) chassis to place them on the world stage?
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Joaquin Phoenix	Arthur Fleck/Joker	Robert De Niro	Murray Franklin	Zazie Beetz	Sopie Dumond	Frances Conroy	Penny Fleck
  Brett Cullen	Thomas Wayne	Carrie Louise Putrello	Martha Wayne	Douglas Hodge	Alfred Pennyworth	Dante Pereira-Olson	Bruce Wayne/Batman

  
    For the curious, here's the Wikipedia write-up for this film. Not surprisingly, considering the controversy that erupted around the film, it is a much extended piece, including the usually threadbare Critical Response section.
    Release Date: 2019
    Directed by Todd Phillips
  

Labels: action2, adventure2, cgi-animation, coming-of-age1, dance, drama2, fantasy1, film-art1, horror1, joaquin-phoenix, political1, robert-de-niro, satire1, super-hero1, violence1

# posted by gail @ 10:38    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  O.K. Look. Considering how Christianity has had an extraordinary impact on several branches of my family (one of my great grandfathers and one of my great uncles were Methodist preachers, the first of whom was a fire-and-brimstone circuit rider), I could not not own this movie, eventually. Yes, I have reverence for spirituality, but I have none for the institution of Christianity. I don't even agree with everything Jesus was purported to have said. So, this movie is a vigorous, always laughter-provoking, head nod for me.
    Would my mother have enjoyed it (she never saw it), being a woman of faith? Yes, I think so. One of my sisters once pronounced her a "pure spirit". I agree with that assessment. The solemnity of her faith, though, was liberally mixed with realism and a questioning attitude. She was not averse to bringing Jesus to task. Maybe she's who taught me how to lean into irreverence.
    Once again, Roger Ebert wrote two reviews of this movie: the first in 1979, linked to this post title, the second on its re-release in 2004.
    By the way, all members of Monty Python and a few other actors played multiple roles in this movie. I'm listing only one per member.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Graham Chapman	Brian Cohen	John Cleese	High Priest	Terry Gilliam	Mount Sermon attendee	Eric Idle	Mr Cheeky
  Terry Jones	Mandy Cohen	Michael Palin	Mr. Big Nose	Terence Bayler	Mr. Gregory	Carol Cleveland	Mrs. Gregory
  Charles McKeown	False Prophet	Kenneth Colley	Jesus	Sue Jones-Davies	Judas Iscariot	John Young	Matthius

  
    Just in case, here's the Wikipedia link to this movie.
    Release Date: 1979 & 2004
    Directed by Terry Jones.

Labels: bible-movies1, comedy1, dramedy1, fantasy1, film-art1, jesus-dvds, me-favorite1, religion1, satire1

# posted by gail @ 09:47    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  O.K. This movie is just fun for me. When I want to be jolted back into a realistic perspective about the follies of U.S. media this film is my go-to. Robert de Niro is simply superb in a role so unlike most of his other roles, whether they be serious or comedic. His renown in reality isn't beside the point, it is the point. Jerry Lewis is luscious and hilariously serious. Sarah Bernhard is perfectly cast. It's as though everyone involved in this film just got it. And gave it.
  Side Note:  Aside from the fact that this movie, in itself, is an inside/outside joke, full, as well, of inside/outside jokes, one of the broadest of these jokes is that many, many participants in this movie reprise their own performance personalities.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Robert De Niro	Rupert Pupkin	Jerry Lewis	Jerry Langford	Sandra Bernhard	Masha	Diahnne Abbott	Rita Keene
  Shelley Hack	Cathy Long	Margo Winkler	Receptionist	Kim Chan	Jonno	Frederick De Cordova	Bert Thomas

  
    Also, just in case, here's the Wikipedia write-up about this film. As well, while in Cannes for the festival that played this film, Roger Ebert interviewed Jerry Lewis. There isn't much, directly, about Lewis' appearance in the film, but a lot about the celebrity issues this film raises.
    Release Date: 1982
    Directed by Martin Scorsese.

Labels: comedy1, martin-scorsese, robert-de-niro, satire1

# posted by gail @ 09:02    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Owning this movie is a long time coming for me. I've just reviewed a list of Altman's motion pictures (vs. his "short industrial films", etc., of which there are many) and discovered that I've seen almost all of his films but do not universally love his work, although I admire and am grateful for the entire body of his motion picture work. He tried everything, tried to tackle everything, sometimes succeeded, sometimes, well, didn't, but what he finally committed to film stock was (and is) always interesting.
    I think this film, Nashville, is his greatest work. It is observant, reflective, entirely non-judgmental from the perspective of the film maker while allowing his characters and their stories to make their own judgments. Mind you, I am not a classic Country Music fan. There have been many episodes in my life when I have, literally, cringed when listening to a radio station and hearing the first few wails of a slide guitar. But, this movie isn't about country music. It's about the United States. Using the offhand medium of Country Music concerts, Altman captured the ambivalence of the United States' dual in-your-face, get-off-my-property character. The movie is gorgeous. On all levels. I never get tired of watching it; which is why, when I discovered I had a chance to own it, I jumped on it.
    In addition, Roger Ebert wrote a second review for Nashville when he christened it one of his "Great Movies" twenty five years after his first review.
    I'm inaugurating a new label with this movie: reflective. Likely, that category fits a few other movies, here. I will, eventually, get around to attaching it to the appropriate films. In the meantime, when I'm done, here, entering my new acquisitions, I think I'll settle into a viewing of this movie. Again.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  David Arkin	Norman	Barbara Baxley	Lady Pearl	Ned Beatty	Delbert Reese	Karen Black	Connie White
  Ronee Blakley	Barbara Jean	Timothy Brown	Tommy Brown	Keith Carradine	Tom Frank	Geraldine Chaplin	Opal
  Shelley Duvall	Martha	Henry Gibson	Haven Hamilton	Jeff Goldblum	Tricycle Man	Scott Glenn	Pfc. Glenn Kelly
  Michael Murphy	John Triplette	Lily Tomlin	Linnea Reese	Keenan Wynn	Mr. Green	Thomas Hal Phillips	Hal Phillip Walker (voice)

  
    Release Date: 1975
    Directed by Robert Altman.

Labels: comedy1, Criterion1, drama3, musical1, ned-beatty, reflective, road-movie, robert-altman, satire1, tragedy1

# posted by gail @ 21:10    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  I don't own a standard television, don't live in an area that has easy access to a universal television signal (like, the networks, etc) and don't subscribe to cable tv, so I almost never know what's "on the tube". My Florida Sister, though, will often tweak my consciousness on what I should look for in the DVD section of Prescott's library system (which is, surprisingly, relatively up-to-date). This time, though, she just outright sent me the first season of this show, so sure was she that I'd enjoy it. She was right! First of all, Laurence Fishburne is in it. I could watch him playing a mushroom and be satisfied. Secondly, the writing is smart and spot on. Thirdly, the actors are well-picked; not a false performance in the group. And, take note of this, I laughed out loud several times watching the episodes. If you don't think that's a high recommendation, consider how many times you laugh out loud when you are watching, reading or hearing something by yourself. Almost never happens! Laughter is generally a social signal.
    I'm looking forward to watching subsequent seasons. Much to my surprise (I live in a relatively small community), my library system has the first season in their collection. With any luck, they'll be adding seasons. Next time I'm there, I'm going to suggest it. Honks, honks, honks, again, My Florida Sister!
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Anthony Anderson	Andre Johnson Sr.	Tracee Ellis Ross	Dr. Rainbow Johnson	Yara Shahidi	Zoey Johnson	Marcus Scribner	Andre Johnson Jr.
  Miles Brown	Jack Johnson	Marsai Martin	Diane Johnson	Laurence Fishburne	Earl Johnson	Anna Deavere Smith	Alicia Johnson
  Nelson Franklin	Connor Stevens	Beau Bridges	Paul Jackson	Raven-Symoné	Rhonda Johnson	Wanda Sykes	Daphne Lido

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the series.
    Premiere Date First Season: 2014
    Episodes directed by: James Griffiths: 1, 3, 4; Rebecca Asher: 2, 8, 13; Claire Scanlon: 5; Matt Sohn: 6, 18; Victor Nelli, Jr.: 7, 19, 22; Ken Whittingham: 9, 20, 21; Elliot Hegarty: 10; Michael Schultz: 11, 16; Stuart McDonald: 12; Phil Traill: 14; Millicent Shelton: 15; John Fortenberry: 17; Anton Cropper: 23; Jonathan Groff: 24. Whew! I don't know why I bothered to list every director for each episode. I won't be doing that again!

Labels: comedy1, female-director1, laurence-fishburne, satire1, TV1

# posted by gail @ 08:24    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Ah, yes! The Group! I did not see this film until years, decades, in fact, after it came out. I believe I first saw it on TCM while my mother and I were companions. I had read the book around the time when the movie came out. And loved it. I didn't relate to the time period but the writing and story telling were so good I didn't need to. I never forgot the passages about Dottie and her initial sexual adventure. When I finally saw the movie, I was delighted with how that was portrayed in the film. I also found Joan Hackett mesmerizing in the part, although I had, for a long time, been a fan of her work, mostly through her appearance in character roles on television.
    The ensemble of actors in this movie is incredible. The story is an exceptionally thoughtful and thought provoking description of a particular period in the lives of privileged young women. The movie, itself, is so well done it is a miracle to watch. I've seen it twice since I bought it and it snatches me into it with every viewing. When it finishes, I'm ready to watch it again.
    I've been trying for some years to obtain a copy of it but, although all the places that sell movies have had it advertised, it's also been unavailable. Recently it came back on the market. I'd been keeping my eye on its availability for some years and as soon as it was re-released, I snatched up a copy.
    Watching it twice has made me hungry to read the book, again.
    As a curious side note, searching for reviews of this movie was oddly frustrating, considering my interest in it. It seems, the movie attracted more attention overseas than it did in the U.S. The one review I could find, had access to and attached to the mention of the movie in the first paragraph seems to sum up, in short shrift, the U.S. reaction to it.
    As a continuation to the above side note, TCM has a very interesting background review of the film, which I've linked to the title of this post. When the link comes up, click into the title of the review. For some reason, TCM won't let bloggers link directly into their articles.
    Rewatched: 3/5-6/22 - I've decided to reread the novel by Mary McCarthy upon which this movie is based. I've been meaning to reread the novel since I obtained a copy of the movie, but hadn't yet gotten around to it. Then, today, I read (a first reading) the story upon which another one of my [RW]s is based and the process so illuminated my understanding of the movie that I decided I should proceed apace with rereading the novel upon which this movie is based. It'll probably take me a few, or more, days. Luckily, I have a copy of that novel. I'll report back when the deed is done.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Candice Bergen	Elinor Eastlake	Joan Hackett	Dottie Renfrew Latham	Elizabeth Hartman	Priss Hartshorn Crockett	Shirley Knight	Polly Andrews Ridgeley
  Joanna Pettet	Kay Strong Peterson	Mary-Robin Redd	Mary Prothero Beauchamp	Jessica Walter	Libby MacAusland	Kathleen Widdoes	Helena Davison
  James Broderick	Dr. James Ridgeley	James Congdon	Sloan Crockett	Larry Hagman	Harald Peterson	Hal Holbrook	Gus Leroy
  Richard Mulligan	Dick Brown	Robert Emhardt	Henry Andrews	Carrie Nye	Norine Blake	Baruch Lumet	Mr. Schneider

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1966
    Directed by Sidney Lumet.

Labels: buddy, candice-bergen, coming-of-age1, drama3, historical1, joan-hackett, period1, popcorn-and-soda2, satire1, women's-movie1

# posted by gail @ 17:19    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  I never thought I'd own this movie. My reaction to it, until recently, has been ho-hum. My mother loved it, so I pseudo-watched it several times while she was alive (I think she identified with Tracy Lord), but it never occurred to me to buy it while she was alive, considering that it played regularly on TCM.
    Recently, though, I've noticed several videos on YouTube, most notably one by Camille Paglia, which is no longer available [note to self, see if someone else has posted it], which intrigued me, so I borrowed the movie from the library and watched it closely a couple of times. It not only jump-started me to prowl through all the Kathatine Hepburn movies I own, but, by the end of my considerations, I decided I wanted to own it.
    I've come to deeply appreciate the movie, and Kathatine Hepburn, as a particular type of womanhood that at least three generations of women (my mother's included) glorified and after which they wanted to model themselves. What Camille Paglia says about this movie, including the research she's done on it, is important and, I think, should have more attention paid to it. I don't always agree with Paglia, but, in the case of this movie, I do, and would further say that it was this portrayal of womanhood that led directly to second wave feminism, through the daughters of all the admirers of Tracy Lord.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  James Stewart	Macaulay Connor	Cary Grant	C.K. Dexter Haven	Katharine Hepburn	Tracy Samantha Lord	Ruth Hussey	Elizabeth Imbrie
  John Howard	George Kittredge	Roland Young	William Q. Tracy	John Halliday	Seth Lord	Mary Nash	Margaret Lord
  Virginia Weidler	Dinah Lord	Henry Daniell	Sidney Kidd	Lionel Pape	The Footman	Hilda Plowright	Librarian

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1940
    Directed by George Cukor.

Labels: cary-grant, comedy1, Criterion2, james-stewart, journalism, katharine-hepburn, romance1, satire1

# posted by gail @ 07:00    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  G
• Mentions:  none
• 
  Commentary:  I almost forgot about entering this DVD because its more or less permanent place is right by the DVD player. MFS sent this to me maybe two months ago, so, it's one of those post-Mom DVDs. I'm not sure whether she thought it was time for me to laugh, again, but that's what this DVD accomplished. I've watched it three times since she sent it. I've watched ALL the special features on this disc. I've looked up his show, Important Things (which is right now in repeat, but I still watch it, I need to be reminded of his attitude) on cable. I've watched episodes of that. This is one of my favorite types of humor: Droll, bizarre, outrageously unassuming, ridiculous...I LOVE this guy's take on the world, which, by the way, extends to his website (which is also VERY unassuming...there's almost nothing there and he appears white on white...hilarious in itself. His "music", his drawing, his skits, love 'em. This is one of the kinds of humor with which I was raised in my family. Watching Demetri Marin feels like coming home. To Laughter.
    Wait! Before you go, here's one more appreciative review of this disc.
  Update 2/7/18:  Demitri's website is no longer as I described it above (unfortunately), so I've replaced the link to it with one to this specific show on Wikipedia.
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2007
    Directed by Jay Karas.

Labels: comedy1, satire1

# posted by gail @ 07:18    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  G
• Mentions:  none
• 
  Commentary:  This is one of the few movies I've purchased since Mom died. It came out the Tuesday after she died. We'd talked about getting it so that we could compare it with the first version and looked forward to seeing it. I'd talked, the week before she died, about it's release coming up the next week. Thus, of course, I bought it.
    There are two critical schools of thought on this remake. The first is echoed in the link to the title of the movie above. The second is here, courtesy of The New York Times. The former expresses my sentiments, although not completely. Roger Ebert seems not to have watched either movie closely enough to realize that the remake actually follows the structure of the first one very closely. Some of the dialogue is even repeated. The resolution is completely different and the satire is toned down significantly so, yes, these are two "different" movies. And, I definitely missed the presence of the hats and the silly clothes that Sylvia wears in the first movie. I also missed the hilarious actress credit sequence from the first movie that wasn't even attempted in the second. I was curious to see what the producers of the remake would do with that. The second movie also explores the eternal mother character much better than the first, and I like the twist in the remake on the relationship between the mother and daughter. The first is much cattier, but the second portrays deeper friendships which would be trivialized by the catty fast talk of the first. Both movies, as well, have interesting fashion runway sequences. My preference is for the first. I prefer the context, love the fact that the movie switches to color for that sequence, and I love the clothes in the first movies' fashion sequence much better than the clothes in the second. I should have been born so that I could have been in my clothes-horse prime during the thirties through the early forties. For satiric dazzle I prefer the first movie. For emotional satisfaction I prefer the second. I'd love to know which my mother would have preferred. I will be keeping both movies.
    You'll notice that I categorized the first as a romance. It was. I can't categorize the second as such, because it isn't; unless you count romancing one's friends, and one's self, which is a clear slant of the second movie. Ah, what the hell; why not. It's a romance. Just not the usual kind.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Meg Ryan	Mary Haines	Annette Bening	Sylvia Fowler	Eva Mendes	Crystal Allen	Debra Messing	Edie Cohen
  Jada Pinkett Smith	Alex Fisher	Candice Bergen	Catherine Frazier	Cloris Leachman	Maggie	Debi Mazar	Tanya
  Bette Midler	Leah Miller	Carrie Fisher	Bailey Smith	India Ennenga	Molly Haines	Lynn Whitfield	Glenda Hill

  
    In case you have trouble accessing the NYT review of this movie, above [NYT is now a major butt about free access to their newspaper. They weren't when I originally wrote this post. When will these oligarchic publishers learn! Probably not until the people with pitchforks come for them.], there are two alternate links, one to the Wikipedia article and the refreshed link (my former link had gone bad) in the title to Roger Ebert's review.
    Release Date: 2008
    Directed by Diane English.

Labels: 21st-century-chick-flicks, annette-bening, candice-bergen, debi-mazar, dramedy1, female-director3, meg-ryan, popcorn-and-soda2, romance2, satire1, women's-movie1

# posted by gail @ 18:22    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  G
• Mentions:  none
• 
  Commentary:  I rented this, fell in love with it as the ultimate in political instruction and purchased a copy for myself as a reminder of what I'll be up against if I ever decide to enter into politics (which I may) and how to give as good as I get. Although this movie is, of course, a broad satire, it is also a case of a no holds barred portrayal of reality being the satire. It isn't that I haven't been aware that much of politics is froth...it's that this movie made me realize that one can't beat the influence of froth unless one understands it and, as well, is willing to occasionally decorate one's priorities with froth. And, no, Mom never watched it. I made the choice not to show it to her. I was concerned that the speaking was so fast and furious that she would get lost in the shuffle. I now think I may have underestimated her ability to understand the point of this movie, and enjoy it. Maybe I'll do better next life.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Aaron Eckhart	Nick Naylor	Cameron Bright	Joey Naylor	Katie Holmes	Heather Holloway	Maria Bello	Polly Bailey
  David Koechner	Bobby Jay Bliss	William H. Macy	Sen. Ortolan Finistirre	Robert Duvall	The Captain	J. K. Simmons	B. R.
  Kim Dickens	Jill Naylor	Rob Lowe	Jeff Megall	Sam Elliott	Lorne Lutch	Daniel Travis	Brad

  
    Since I linked to Roger Ebert's review up there in the title of this post, here's the Wikipedia article on the movie.
    Release Date: 2005
    Directed by Jason Reitman.

Labels: me-favorite2, political3, popcorn-and-soda3, robert-duvall, satire1

# posted by gail @ 18:09    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  G
• Mentions:  *1* *2*
• 
  Commentary:  I think I said everything that needs to be said about this film in the first of the Mentions. I am assigning it to the "caregiver" category, marginally, but I don't actually think of this as a caregiver's movie; even though most of the critics who watched it did. A lot of critics, I guess, haven't cared for elderly relatives and friends.
    To me, this movie is more about the self-care of the brother and sister as they finally have to deal with the damage inflicted upon them by their father, try to heal and not carry his brutality further as their father's legacy to them. It's not a film, to me, about giving care, it's a film about cutting loose from abusive parental care. It is, at its core, a hopeful film about renewing one's spirit.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Laura Linney	Wendy Savage	Philip Seymour Hoffman	Jon Savage	Philip Bosco	Lenny Savage	Peter Friedman	Larry
  Guy Boyd	Bill Lachman	Debra Monk	Nancy Lachman	Margo Martindale	Roz	Rosemary Murphy	Doris Metzger
  David Zayas	Eduardo	Gbenga Akinnagbe	Jimmy	Tonye Patano	Mrs. Robinson	Cara Seymour	Kasia

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2007
    Directed by Tamara Jenkins.

Labels: caregiver, drama6, female-director3, laura-linney, satire1

# posted by gail @ 15:16    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  None
• 
  Commentary:  I rented this movie for us out of curiosity. We both we so charmed by it that we decided, after watching the rental a second time in as many days, to purchase it. I was surprised at how much Mom enjoyed it. From the little I knew about it I thought I would love it and Mom would find it boring, so her interest in the movie surprised me. It's one of those movies I consider completely perfect and, of course, it features Toni Colette. It's easy for me to like movies in which she's featured. Even if the movie is a bomb (and, I have yet to consider one of the movies in which she's featured a bomb, although there are some that I wouldn't add to our collection, like In Her Shoes, which is pleasant enough but not something I'd seek to watch again), I always enjoy her performances.
    Mom was, by the way, astonished at the girls' beauty pageant. "Something's not right about that," she said. I was pleased that she was struck by this.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Greg Kinnear	Richard Hoover	Steve Carell	Dr. Frank Ginsberg	Toni Collette	Sheryl Hoover	Paul Dano	Dwayne Hoover
  Abigail Breslin	Olive Hoover	Alan Arkin	Edwin Hoover	Bryan Cranston	Stan Grossman	Dean Norris	State Trooper McCleary

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2006
    Directed by Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris.

Labels: female-director2, road-movie, satire1, shared-favorite, toni-collette

# posted by gail @ 12:38    0 comments    email......this post