Monday, May 31st, 2010
Review:
Unemployed and unemployable actor Dustin Hoffman decides to dress up as a woman in order to get work. Surprisingly, this works out as he is given a part in a daytime drama (those things commonly known as “daily soaps”). Through it, he discovers the sexism of men, the advantages of being a woman and the gentler side in himself. Too bad that he falls in love with one of his co-stars… The film, directed by the legendary Sidney Pollack, is both extremely funny and an engaging examination of gender roles. Hoffman is utterly brilliant as both a man and a woman and with a great supporting cast he makes this film truly memorable.
Random Observations:
Tootsie at the IMDb
This continues Dustin Hoffman Week. Two more instalments to come!
Bill Murray plays Hoffman’s room-mate - his name was omitted from the opening credits so that audience wouldn’t think this was one of his typical comedies. He is also extremely funny, playing the straight man to Hoffman’s antics.
“I was a better man with you as a woman than I ever was with a woman as a man. Know what I mean?”
This was the first film for Geena Davis, who went on to an illustrious career (and less appearances in her underwear).
Tags: 1982, American Film, Bill Murray, Charles Durning, Comedy, Dabney Coleman, Don McGuire, Doris Belack, Drama, Dustin Hoffman, Dustin Hoffman Week, english, Geena Davis, George Gaynes, Jessica Lange, Larry Gelbart, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Murray Schisgal, Oscar, romance, Sydney Pollack, Teri Garr, Tootsie
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Monday, April 19th, 2010
Review:
After his partner is killed for taking on the wrong mark, a small-time con man throws in with a big-timer and together they set out to take the mob boss without him ever being the wiser. The film is a deft combination of comedy and drama, telling a serious story with a light-hearted touch that befits it’s theme. Robert Redford and Paul Newman are brilliant in the lead roles together, for a uniquely entertaining film.
Random Observations:
The Sting at the IMDb
The film won a boatload of Oscars, including one for Best Score for Marvin Hamlisch, who mostly opted for adapting Scott Joplin’s ragtime music, which works surprisingly well despite the fact that the film is set two decades after they were made (and popular).
This was also the film that netted Edith Head her eighth and final Oscar. To this day, she remains the only costume designer whose name I know and remember.
Watching Paul Newman and Robert Redford together is always a joy, so I also highly recommend Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
A bunch of great (70s) character actors in this film, including Harold Gould and Ray Walston.
Tags: 1973, American Film, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Charles Dierkop, Charles Durning, Comedy, crime movie, Dana Elcar, David S. Ward, Dimitra Arliss, Drama, Edith Head, Eileen Brennan, english, George Roy Hill, Harold Gould, Jack Kehoe, James Sloyan, John Heffernan, Marvin Hamlisch, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Oscar, Paul Newman, Ray Walston, Robert Earl Jones, Robert Redford, Robert Shaw, Scott Joplin, The Sting
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Sunday, February 7th, 2010
Review:
After the owner and president of Hudsucker Industries jumps out of a window, the board decides to install an imbecile in the job to devalue the stock so they can buy the majority chair. But the man comes up with a brilliant idea (if you have seen the poster, you can guess what it is) and saves the company - at least for a while. But things never work out the way one expects. The film is a hilariously funny comedy that is somewhat diminished by the need to have a halfway coherent plot with a happy ending, resorting to fantasy to manage to get out of the many holes it dug. Nevertheless, the film is absolutely brilliant and should have firmly established the Coen Brothers as the leading comedy filmmakers of their time.
Random Observations:
The Hudsucker Proxy at the IMDb
John Goodman has a small cameo here and is credited as Karl Mundt, the name of his character in Barton Fink.
Also with a small cameo: the always awesome Steve Buscemi.
The dialogue in this film may be some of the funniest in the history of the medium.
I love how Tim Robbins, playing the lead guy, goes around showing people his circle, claiming that it is a great idea.
Sam Raimi, acclaimed horror (and Spider-Man) director, co-wrote the script with the Coen Brothers, almost ten years before the film was made.
I’m fairly certain that this film will prove to be even better on repeat viewings. It seems like one of the things it has in common with The Big Lebowski, which it precedes in many ways.
Tags: 1994, American Film, Barton Fink, Bill Cobbs, Bruce Campbell, Charles Durning, Christopher Darga, Coen Brothers, Comedy, David Byrd, english, Ethan Coen, fantasy movie, Gary Allen, Harry Bugin, I.M. Hobson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jerome Dempsey, Jim True, Joe Grifasi, Joel Coen, John Goodman, John Mahoney, John Scanlan, John Seitz, John Wylie, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Patrick Cranshaw, Paul Newman, Peter McPherson, Richard Woods, Roy Brocksmith, Sam Raimi, Spider-Man, Steve Buscemi, The Big Lebowski, The Hudsucker Proxy, Tim Robbins
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