Posts Tagged ‘romance’
Monday, August 23rd, 2010
Review:
Burt Lancaster is an ageing petty criminal with delusions of grandeur. He takes care of his dead friend’s widow, works as a small time bookie and dreams of the golden days when Atlantic City was run by the mob. Susan Sarandon works as a waitress in one of the casinos and dreams of being a blackjack dealer. When her husband and sister, who ran away together, arrive in town hoping to sell some drugs, all their lives will be changed. Louis Malle’s film is a harsh and bitter look at small time life in the once great city. There is no room here for greatness, just for everyday hopes and dreams, most of which are ultimately squashed. The plot or rather some behaviour of the characters is not quite consistent, but it detracts little from the otherwise very good film. Surprisingly sweet and funny, this 1980 film is a forerunner for the crime revival of the 1990s - just without the delusion of grandeur.
Random Observations:
Atlantic City at the IMDb
“I never wear a seatbelt. I don’t believe in gravity.” How’s that for a great line?
In the great tradition of themed weeks at Fabricated Truth, I have deemed this Louis Malle Week.
The film is a French-Canadian co-production, but was shot on location in Atlantic City, USA. (Which, incidentally, is the German title of the film.)
The great Wallace Shawn has one of his earliest roles in the film as a waiter. It’s always interesting to see such “big name actors” in their humble beginnings. And yes, I am aware that only one of regular readers has any idea who Wallace Shawn is.
Tags: 1980, Al Waxman, Angus MacInnes, Atlantic City, Burt Lancaster, Canadian Film, crime movie, Drama, english, French film, Hollis McLaren, John Guare, Kate Reid, Louis Malle, Louis Malle Week, Michel Piccoli, minute movie review, Moses Znaimer, movie review, Movies, Robert Goulet, Robert Joy, romance, Sean Sullivan, Susan Sarandon, Wallace Shawn
Posted in Minute Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010
Review:
Stevens (Anthony Hopkins) is the butler of the well-meaning Lord Darlington (James Fox), who is a strong proponent of appeasement to Nazi Germany. Stevens has dedicated his life to his work and is a perfect example of those old school British butlers. Meanwhile, a new housekeeper (Emma Thompson) arrives, but her love for him is not requited since he does not allow himself any feelings, also turning a blind eye to his master’s folly. The film is essentially a costume drama that is elevated by the strong theme of loyalty, dedication, servitude and their ultimate futility. Great performances elevate the romantic sub plot, which is perfectly underplayed.
Random Observations:
The Remains of the Day at the IMDb
Based on the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, whose When We Were Orphans I always thought was the first novel I ever read in English outside of school. However, since it was only published in 2000 (and I have the paperback, no less), this simply can not be. Further proof that my memory is horrible - how’s that for a completely pointless insight into my life?
Hugh Grant is in this and on the record as stating that this was the best film he ever made.
I never thought much of Anthony Hopkins as an actor, finding him vastly overrated. This film, however, is almost enough to make me change my mind.
Tags: 1993, Anthony Hopkins, Ben Chaplin, book adaptation, Brigitte Kahn, British Film, Christopher Reeve, Drama, Emma Thompson, english, Hugh Grant, James Fox, James Ivory, John Savident, Kazuo Ishiguro, Lena Headey, Michael Lonsdale, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Peter Vaughan, romance, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, The Remains of the Day, Tim Pigott-Smith, When We Were Orphans
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Thursday, August 12th, 2010
Review:
In a small Irish town in 1916, resentment over the British occupation is growing. Rose Ryan, meanwhile, is unhappy with how boring life in the town is, wanting something more. She marries the school teacher (Robert Mitchum), a widower who loves her dearly. But still, life isn’t as interesting as it should be, so it’s only natural that she engages in an affair with a British officer - something that surely can’t end well. Director David Lean was criticized for making a terribly expensive film about essentially nothing, but that misses the point. It is actually a beautiful, slowly paced film about love in its many variations, an engaging drama with a plot that keeps you interested despite - or because of - long stretches of nothing much happening. The Irish freedom fight simply serves as the backdrop and catalyst for the story, which is probably how it actually appeared in many of the small towns far removed from the struggle.
Random Observations:
Ryan’s Daughter at the IMDb
The film, or rather it’s negative critical reception, especially by Pauline Kael and the likes, pretty much ended David Lean’s career, prompting him to stop making films for 14 years. It’s a real shame, for if there is one director who knew how to make a truly epic film, it was him.
And yes, this film is not of the same quality as Lawrence of Arabia or The Bridge on the River Kwai, but it’s still very good.
John Mills won an Oscar for his painfully realistic portrayal of a mute, mentally handicapped men who is mistreated by the entire village - and who is one of the five men who love Rose, each in their own way.
This is a film that one really should see on the big screen, preferably the original 70mm print. But since this should be close to impossible, the DVD transfer is actually of decent quality and gives an idea of the beautiful cinematography.
The story is based on or at least very similar to Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary, an excellent book that I remember very little of.
Two films (in this review cycle) ago, Mitchum played the adulterer, now he is the loving husband who sticks with his wife despite her adultery. And yes, he manages to convince in both roles.
Tags: 1970, Arthur O'Sullivan, Barry Foster, Barry Jackson, Brian O'Higgins, British Film, Christopher Jones, David Lean, Des Keogh, Donal Neligan, Douglas Sheldon, Drama, english, Evin Crowley, Gerald Sim, Gustave Flaubert, John Mills, Lawrence of Arabia, Leo McKern, Madama Bovary, Marie Kean, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Niall O'Brien, Niall Toibin, Oscar, Owen Sullivan, Philip O'Flynn, Robert Bolt, Robert Mitchum, romance, Ryan's Daughter, Sarah Miles, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Trevor Howard
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Friday, August 6th, 2010
Review:
New York advertising men Cary Grant is mistaken for somebody else and set up to be killed. He barely escapes, but nobody believes his story. As things move along, he gets more and more drawn into the plot, desperately trying to both find out what is going on and simply staying alive. The script was written especially for Alfred Hitchcock to make “the Hitchcock film to end all Hitchcock films” and it largely succeeds. It perfectly showcases Hitchcock’s humorous and fantastic side, while also being an excellent thriller.
Random Observations:
North by Northwest at the IMDb
This is the 21st Alfred Hitchcock film I’ve reviewed for this here publication. It’s also the first Hitchcock film I ever saw, many years before I ever decided to write my opinions on films down.
Saul Bass is probably the most underrated “signature” artist of the 20th century. The moment I saw the opening titles, I knew he had designed them. And this despite the fact that his titles for different films never look the same, he just has a very unique style.
This concludes our four week marathon of American Cinema of the 1950s. And what a high note to go out on!
Tags: 1959, action movie, Adam Williams, adventure movie, Alfred Hitchcock, American Film, Cary Grant, Drama, Edward Binns, Edward Platt, english, Ernest Lehman, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Jessie Royce Landis, Josephine Hutchinson, Ken Lynch, Leo G. Carroll, Les Tremayne, Martin Landau, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, North by Northwest, Patrick McVey, Philip Coolidge, Philip Ober, Robert Ellenstein, romance, Saul Bass, Thriller
Posted in Minute Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies | No Comments »
Monday, July 26th, 2010
Review:
Gene Kelly and Van Johnson, two American hunters, come to Brigadoon, a magical town in Scotland that seems stuck in the 17th century. Kelly promptly falls in love with Cyd Charisse, a local girl, everybody sings and dances a bit, before the villain of the story, the only clear thinker in the town, threatens everything, there is some heartache and a happy ending. The story is filled with plot holes, horribly sappy and clichéd. Do not watch!
Random Observations:
Brigadoon at the IMDb
In our ongoing series of comparing two idols of American Cinema of the 1950s, Gene Kelly and Alfred Hitchcock, we have the first really bad film courtesy of Kelly.
Director Vincente Minnelli (yes, he is the father of Liza Minnelli) and Kelly both wanted to film in Scotland, but the studio objected. This is the reason why the town and Scotland look so unnatural - it was filmed entirely on stage.
Tags: 1954, Alan Jay Lerner, Albert Sharpe, American Film, Barry Jones, based on stage musical, Brigadoon, Cyd Charisse, Dee Turnell, Dodie Heath, Eddie Quillan, Elaine Stewart, english, fantasy movie, Gene Kelly, Hugh Laing, Jimmy Thompson, Liza Minnelli, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, musical, Owen McGiveney, romance, Tudor Owen, Van Johnson, Vincente Minnelli, Virginia Bosler
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Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
Review:
Even if you haven’t seen the film, you know the song and you probably know the iconic scene where Gene Kelly sings it while dancing through the rain. What you might not yet know is that the surrounding film is pretty great. Kelly plays a silent film star that has to deal with the move to the talkies, which proves easier for him that for his co-star Jean Hagen, who not only has a horrible voice, but also a horrible personality. Meanwhile, he also falls in love with a woman who doesn’t fawn all over him, which hasn’t happened since he was four. The film is a great comedy filled with good to bearable musical numbers, one of those films where the kitsch doesn’t bother you all that much because it’s just too much fun.
Random Observations:
Singin’ in the Rain at the IMDb
The film was “suggested by the song Singin’ in the Rain“, possibly making it the only film in history to be based on a song.
The best thing about the film is Donald O’Connor as Kelly’s sidekick, who can not only sing and dance, but is also extremely funny.
There is one lengthy (five minutes plus) dance sequence that I personally could have done without, but the film manages to get back on track pretty quickly.
I have decided that Gene Kelly’s charm is best described as “rakish”.
Tags: 1952, Adolph Green, American Film, Arthur Freed, Betty Comden, Comedy, Cyd Charisse, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, Douglas Fowley, english, Gene Kelly, Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, musical, Nacio Herb Brown, Rita Moreno, romance, Singin' in the Rain, Singing in the Rain, Stanley Donen
Posted in Minute Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies | No Comments »
Monday, July 19th, 2010
Review:
When tennis player Guy meets strange guy Bruno on the train, he is presented with the idea for a perfect murder: each would commit the other’s murder, thereby erasing all motive from the equation. But when Bruno actually goes through with the plan and kills Guy’s cheating wife, so that he can marry the woman he loves, things start to unravel, since Guy has no intention to commit murder. The film, based on a novel by acclaimed American crime writer Patricia Highsmith, is a prime example of why Alfred Hitchcock is called “the master of suspense”. It’s an engaging thrill ride with many twists and turns and by the time the climatic finish comes along, you’ve become heavily involved in the story. Plus, it’s a really neat idea for the perfect murder.
Random Observations:
Strangers on a Train at the IMDb
Now here is proof that 1951 produced better films than the Best Picture Oscar winner An American in Paris. After two films each, Hitchcock has taken a clear lead.
Raymond Chandler worked on the screenplay. Chandler is of course best known for creating Philip Marlowe, the greatest hard-boiled detective of all time. While the books are much better, I can also recommend the film version of The Big Sleep.
Once you have seen a few (in my case, that’s 17) of Hitchcock’s films, it becomes real fun to spot his cameos.
Can someone explain to me why actress Laura Elliott (whose birth name, incidentally, was Imogene Rogers), changed her stage name to Kasey Rogers in 1956? She played the murdered wife here in a truly memorable turn. Neither of her two husbands was called Elliott either.
Tags: 1951, Alfred Hitchcock, American Film, An American in Paris, book adaptation, crime movie, Czenzi Ormonde, Drama, english, Farley Granger, film noir, Howard St. John, John Brown, Jonathan Hale, Kasey Rogers, Laura Elliott, Leo G. Carroll, Marion Lorne, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Norma Varden, Patricia Highsmith, Patricia Hitchcock, Raymond Chandler, Robert Gist, Robert Walker, romance, Ruth Roman, Strangers on a Train, The Big Sleep, Thriller, Whitfield Cook
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Friday, July 16th, 2010
Review:
Gene Kelly is an American painter in Paris, barely scraping by. Things change, however, when a rich young woman becomes his sponsor - and romantically interested in him. Meanwhile, he falls for a girl that is, unknown to him, already engaged to another man. Along the way, they song Gershwin songs while Gershwin music plays and dance a little, before the film appears headed for a dramatic ending, at which point everything stops for fifteen minutes for the most elaborate dance sequence of all time, at the end of which Hollywood gets its happy ending. The film features great music and some nice scenes, but overall it is tiresome, boring and that last sequence actually put me to sleep. Instead of the light entertainment that musicals can be, this tries to add gravitas, but fails spectacularly.
Random Observations:
An American in Paris at the IMDb
This concludes the first week of our studies of American Cinema of the 1950s. What have we learned so far? Mostly that 1951 most either have been a horrible year for film or that the Academy was seriously whacked when it awarded this film the Best Picture Oscar. Just a hint: some great movies were made in 1951.
The final dance sequence (which actually clocks in at over 15 minutes, I was not exaggerating) is impressive, with spectacular sets and amazing choreography, but unless you are a fan of interpretative dance, you will be bored beyond belief.
First film for Leslie Caron, who was discovered by Gene Kelly while in Paris, and got the part for her actually being French.
The film was shot entirely on set, except for some aerial footage of Paris.
Tags: 1951, Alan Jay Lerner, American Film, An American in Paris, english, Gene Kelly, George Gershwin, Georges Guétary, Ira Gershwin, Leslie Caron, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, musical, Nina Foch, Oscar, Oscar Levant, romance, Vincente Minnelli
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Monday, July 12th, 2010
Review:
Three sailors on shore leave have only twenty-four hours in New York; time they plan to use to see all the sights and get a date for the night. Naturally, that doesn’t prove quite as easy as planned. The plot of the film - based on the stage show - is little more than an excuse for Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra et al to sing and dance and have fun. The film is corny, campy, cheesy and silly, but it’s also good, innocent, light-hearted entertainment. You’ll be hard-pressed not to simply enjoy their antics, which is all the film asks for and is exactly what it delivers.
Random Observations:
On the Town at the IMDb
The next four weeks will be a celebration of American Cinema of the 1950s here at Fabricated Truth. For that purpose, we will take a closer look at two very different icons who shaped that decade, alternating between their films: Gene Kelly and Alfred Hitchcock. I hope you’ll enjoy the ride - and maybe we’ll learn something about cinema history along the way.
And yes, I am aware that this film was made in 1949.
I’m still having a little trouble getting used to seeing Frank Sinatra in this incredibly cheesy films, what with his mob connections and tough guy persona and all.
The first film where Gene Kelly is credited as a director, together with Stanley Donen.
Tags: 1949, Adolph Green, Alice Pearce, American Film, Ann Miller, based on stage musical, Betty Comden, Betty Garrett, Comedy, english, Florence Bates, Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, George Meader, Jerome Robbins, Jules Munshin, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, musical, On the Town, romance, Stanley Donen, Vera Ellen
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Friday, July 9th, 2010
Review:
In the early 1930s, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow decide to become bank robbers. And so that is what they do, escaping the police time and time again in bloody shoot outs, accompanied by their gang, always on the run from the law. Naturally, such a thing must lead to disaster, creating the set-up for one of the most memorable final scenes in film history. Otherwise, the film is a slightly above average gangster drama that, apart from emphasizing that the two were just kids out there having fun, has little to do with the true story. This was, however, the film that in 1967 marked the end of the Production Code and the beginning of the new Hollywood, paving the way for some of the greatest films America ever produced.
Random Observations:
Bonnie and Clyde at the IMDb
The extreme violence and realistic depiction of it throughout the film was one of the reasons the studio initially wanted to bury the film. It went on to become the second most successful film Warner Bros. ever produced.
Film debut of Gene Wilder, whose supporting turn as a kidnapped man bares little resemblance to his later, largely comedic, work.
Producer Warren Beatty initially considered Shirley MacLaine as Bonnie, but opted for Faye Dunaway when he decided to play Clyde.
In the first draft of the script, Clyde was bisexual, not impotent. In real life, he probably was neither.
Tags: 1967, American Film, Arthur Penn, based on true story, biography, Bonnie and Clyde, crime movie, David Newman, Denver Pyle, Drama, Dub Taylor, english, Estelle Parsons, Evans Evans, Faye Dunaway, Gene Hackman, Gene Wilder, Michael J. Pollard, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Robert Benton, romance, Shirley MacLaine, Thriller, Warner Brothers, Warren Beatty
Posted in Minute Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies | No Comments »
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