Wednesday, February 16, 2005
The Life of Emile Zola
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: My mother has no memory of this movie, although it was she who recommended it to me, back in the days when I was reading obscure 'biographies' like Mika Waltari's The Egyptian. I had to haunt art movie theaters for it and was magnetized by Muni's performance in parts of this movie much as I was by Robert De Niro's stirring scene in Once Upon a Time in America.
I got the thing on sale, ridiculous price. I think it was the only copy. Otherwise, I would not thought to have purchased it. It's been quite a while, since before I went to Seattle, that I've seen the movie, so it exists larger than movie-life for me. It'll be interesting to see it again.
Groundhog Day
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I have fond memories of Mom and me watching this movie. Mom does not. That's okay, though. Despite her lack of time acuity, she has a peculiar ability to grasp this movie and delight in it's circularity. But, she never remembers seeing it. Which, I suppose, is a plus.
Labels: comedy, fantasy, mystery
Mona Lisa Smile
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is one of those movies that has a magnetic affect on both my mother and me. Although it's not the best school movie I've ever seen (my vote on this score is for The Paper Chase, although I'd consider The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, as well, and, a few others, come to think of it, The Blackboard Jungle, Goodbye Mr. Chips), from the cords of the opening music it drafts both of us into college, again, from our own perspetives. When we view this movie we always review the featurettes.
I have to admit, though, and here is a good place, she and I are both suckers for school and education movies. Sometimes it's pathetic.
Update 6/13/06: Since I first wrote this short review we've watched this movie on the average of once a month, at my suggestion. During tonight's watching I was uncustomarily analytical about some of the aspects of this movie that I love.- All the performances are a delight to watch and utterly convincing, with the exception of Julia Roberts' performance. Tonight I finally figured out why, in this movie of incredibly performed roles (even the bartender at the wedding and "Mrs. Stone" the waitress are spot on) the star fell just short of matching her colleagues' level: She's, well, Julia Roberts and, as such, is no longer able to be a character. She is always Julia Roberts playing a character. This is unfortunate in movies such as this.
- The romance between Roberts' character and West's character is inauthentic, unconvincing, distracting and boring. It's possible that Roberts' character needs some sort of quickie affair in this movie as a device to underline her single status and her attitudes toward sexual attachment, but the one written and acted didn't work.
- The background music is both unobtrusive and evocative; so much so that the strains of the theme played behind the menu evoke pleasurable anticipation for the movie.
- The subject matter, despite being heavily covered in many other movies and, at the time of this movie's release, seemingly dated, lurks in women's souls deeply and is still not well addressed by society, thus, continues to have a powerful effect. As well, the characters and the story are so well developed that the period piece effect actually contributes to the emotional effect of the layout of the issues.
- The camera work is subtle and masterful. No camera effect is used for the sake of the effect alone.
Labels: drama, period, political, shared-favorite
Casablanca
- Who's watched: M & G (finally)
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: The truth is, if this movie hadn't come bundled with four others we wanted, we wouldn't own it. I know, stating this is probably blasphemy. I had never seen the movie all the way through until maybe a month ago. Although, when I mention the movie to my mother off the cable schedule, she expresses interest in it and often watches it, it's not one either of us yearns to so and, often as not, when it's on the cable schedule, in this house, Animal Planet trumps it.
When we viewed this film the last (aforementioned) time, I remember Sidney Pollack, who introduced it as one of TCM's Essentials, then slipped into a blur of words raphsodizing Ingrid Bergman and her performance in this movie, nodding, as well, to his life long crush on Ms. Bergman. Anyway, from what he said I thought, "Oh, okay, well I'll watch the whooole thiiing and, if what he says about Ingrid Bergman's performance is true, I should really enjoy this. At the end of the movie I was thinking, well, I think men go crazy when they see Bergman on the screen and think her a better actor than she was. She was very good, obviously stellar, but not transcendental, like, say Streep or Kingsley.
I'll probably be lynched by the Klassic Movie Klan before morning.
Mrs. Miniver
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Mom introduced me to this movie, and Greer Garson, soon after I moved in with her. Although the relentlessly chin-up attitude of this movie may seem hard to tolerate, these days, I think what I enjoy most about this movie is that it is, as I believe Winston Churchill pointed out, clearly England's and America's secret weapon.
One more footnote, Greer Garson, I think, is probably the only actress with whom I've ever been familiar who can pull off the perfect, long suffering war-heroine-on-the-homefront.
Pretty Woman
- Who's watched: M & G, several times
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: Considering how many times over the years I've been put to the task of finding "the next showing" of this movie, rent this movie and watch this movie, I'm truly surprised I haven't mentioned it more in this journal. I think the hardest thing for me to admit about this movie is that as much as it offends me, I also enjoy it. Some years ago I took a romance novel writing class and this movie was held up as the perfect structure for any romance story. And, I have to admit, as much as details about it irritate me, much of it is very satisfying for me to watch, including the end.
Labels: mom-favorite, romance
Driving Miss Daisy
- Who's watched: M & G, both more than many times
- Mentions: *1* *2* *3* *4* *5* *6*
- Commentary: That's right, we've finally got it, watched it the same day I purchased it for us, and enjoyed it, once again, as though we only vaguely remembered it.
Labels: caregiver, drama, period, shared-favorite
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Amadeus
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: This is one of our Spectacle Movies, sort of like Gone with the Wind. It's too lavish and bright to watch often, but it makes a great dessert. It's one of those movies where we often catch ourselves saying, during the viewing, "Oh, yeah, I forgot about that! I love that!"
Labels: biography, historical, shared-favorite, spectacle
My Best Friends Wedding
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: When we are in the mood to be perfectly delighted, we watch this movie. I've even gone out of my way to rent it when I think we need a shot of what it offers. It worked for us last night when we watched it.
Labels: buddy, comedy, romance, shared-favorite
Gandhi
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I'll bet we've seen this movie, on cable, at least four times. When we notice it, anywhere, commercials or not, we watch it. We forget it between being seredipitiously reminded, though. It is a movie that fascinates us at several levels, though.
Labels: biography, historical, political, spectacle, spiritual
A Simple Twist of Fate
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is one of those accidental gems I found when trying the dregs of a video store back in 2002, I think it was, when Mom had no energy but would stay up for movies and TV. I'm familiar with the story of Silas Marner, and I'm impressed with what Steve Martin does in film. I remember watching it by myself, first, then enthusiastically turning it over to Mom, then taping it off a calbe network (bad copy). It's muddled melodrama doesn't bother me. Mom and I consider it an 'up' movie.
Boys on the Side
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Here's another one where I'm stunned I've never mentioned it in this journal. We've been regular renters of this movie since one of my nieces introduced us to it when it first came out on video. We don't quote dialog from it, yet, but, there is that danger.
Labels: buddy, shared-favorite
What Dreams May Come
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This movie was recommended to me by another customer looking for movies as Valentine's Day gifts. She and I explained to one another what we were looking for. I had a list...she did not. But, she suggested this movie, and another, which I'm going to return as, after I came home I remembered Mom and I had 'tried' the movie on cable and couldn't get into it. Not even with Gena Rowlands, who we'll usually watch in anything.
Anyway, I remember being suspicious of this movie when it first came out, around the time that John Edwards became very popular. Not that I didn't find him fascinating, too, for awhile, and my mother was hooked on his shows, but, for some reason that I can't remember, I dismissed the movie without seeing it.
So, neither of us has seen it, it should be interesting, and I don't know if we'll be keeping it or passing it on to someone else.
2/14/05: We watched this movie last night. We both found the special effects fascinating, although we made the mistake of watching the movie mid-late afternoon and we definitely have a sun and glare problem in our living/dining area.
Mom had trouble keeping in her head that most of the movie was taking place in "heaven" and most of the people were dead. First, too, when she oriented herself, she thought Cuba Gooding, Jr. was god, then Max von Sydow (who played Jesus in one of her beloved Bible Movies). She also noticed that Robin Williams mugs his way through the emotional scenes in serious pictures. I'd never noticed this, but she's right. He does. He has an "emotional scenes mask" that is clearly detectable. I remember it, some, from a very obscure picture her made: Being Human; less so, interestingly, in Good Morning, Vietnam.
She also has her own very specific and very liberal ideas of "heaven"; some of which dovetail with some of the ideas in the movie...some of which don't.
I found the theology/spirituality interesting, considering that it is being put forth before the public (which wasn't all that risky in 1998; I don't think this is why the movie didn't do all that well), but not as daring as my own. Truth is, I'm not sure whether we'll watch this one again.
Labels: drama, fantasy, romance, spiritual
Patton
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: Mom doesn't remember this movie from watching to watching, but, each viewing rivets her, nonetheless. Her memory of WWII and her service in the Navy snap to attention in frequent spasms throughout the movie.
Me? It's one of my all time favorites, not just for performance, or other film-making qualities, but I often think of this movie when I meditate on the subject of Conflict.
Labels: biography, historical, me-favorite, war
Working Girl
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is one of our feel good movies. Neither of us ever tires of watching this movie, so, when I noticed it on sale, I figured it would be a good addition.
Dances with Wolves
- Who's watched: M [lots more than] G
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: This is one of my mother's haunting movies. Her reaction to this movie is similar to my reaction to Little Buddha: During some parts, she experiences trance-like states; during others, she becomes fully engaged in the finest detail of the culture of the Native American community portrayed in the movie; throughout, she follows the story meticulously and often attempts to engage other viewers in conversation about the movie, which means that she remembers enough of it from viewing to viewing not to feel as though she has to pay close attention every minute.
Sometime in late 2007 "they" finally came out with the widescreen version, which I quickly snatched up. This version also cuts in close to an hour of extended footage. I was surprised how much of the original cut the extended footage explained and very pleased with the additions
Labels: action, adventure, drama, haunting, mom-favorite, period, spectacle, war
