Fiddler on the Roof (1971) on the big screen

I had a chance to watch this movie on the big screen when it played at Chicago's Music Box Theater on Christmas day 2016.  It's rare for this film to be screened; usually it's seen as corny and sentimental, and usually not as highly regarded as some other musicals like Sound of Music.

But when it came out in 1971, it was the biggest box-office hit of  the year. It was probably "the last hit musical" to be released for years, since musicals started to go out of fashion by the 1970s.

I had forgotten that the story deals with traditional marriage arrangements, intergenerational differences, the coming Russian revolution and new political ideas, Jewish persecution in Russia, and immigration to other countries.

At the end of the movie, one character asks another, "What city in America are you moving to?" The other responds "Chicago", and that got a loud cheer from the audience, which was pretty cool to be a part of.

Directed by Norman Jewison (an Oscar-winner for 1967's "In the Heat of the Night"). The cinematography is beautiful, and the sets and costumes and impressive.

Read Dawn's post about this movie from her blog

Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Sidney Lumet directed this film about a bank-heist gone awry based on a true incident. Al Pacino (Sonny) and John Cazelle (both from The Godfather) decide to rob a bank and take it over, holding everyone inside hostage. The robbers use guns to scare and intimidate but Pacino's character doesn't want to hurt anyone. It's a great performance and you are convinced that he's this character, who wants the money to pay for his lover's sex change surgery. Chris Sarandon plays the lover who calls Sonny on the phone a few times; it's a small part but memorable. Charles Durning is also good as a cop who wants to negotiate and deal with Sonny to let the people out. Meanwhile, the local crowd outside gathers and even cheers on Sonny as a hero, and the hostages inside are getting hungry. In one of my favorite scenes, Sonny decides to order a pizza and cokes; the pizza delivery guy comes and you get the sense that this is his greatest claim to fame so far in life. The ending is sad, as the police follow Sonny and Cazale to the airport where they think they are going to be let go and fly away. It's an interesting film that shows how one criminal incident can grow into a cultural and news media sensation. 

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)

A classic film adaptaion, and box-office smash hit for MGM, from Tennesse Williams' Pulizer Prize winning play, with great performances by leads Elizabeth Taylor (Maggie the Cat) and Paul Newman (Brick Pollitt). They are tormented souls, but nonetheless in love, regardless of Brick's lack of effection. The film (and of course, the play) is filled with so many complexities that it leaves you breathless literally and figuratively : Brick and Maggie visit his father, "Big Daddy" for his birthday, but he's dying of cancer. There's talk about inheritance and sibling rivalry. Brick is an alchoholic, temporarily disabled from an injured ankle, and is tormented by a past (his friend committed suicide) and as is non-effectionate with his wife. Maggie has demons of her own, including a revealed relationship with Brick's friend. Williams wrote the character of Brick to be gay, but this aspect was toned down in the film version. Williams had been known to say that he wrote this play to reconcile himself with his own father. Burl Ives plays "Big Daddy" in the movie, and Judith Anderson is "Big Mamma". Very good drama with two of the hottest movie stars of all time.

Going My Way (1944)

Sentimental. Sappy. Syrupy. Inspiring. Happy-go-lucky. This movie can be called all of those things.

Inspiring film comedy directed by Academy Award-winning director Leo McCarey ("The Awful Truth"). The theatrical trailer said it best, "For a world that needs the lift of its wonderful story": Bing Crosby plays happy-go-lucky young priest Father O'Malley, a new kid in town who comes to help out a struggling church shepherded by a curmudegionly old Father Fitzgibbon (Barry Fitzgerald), who is initially threatened O'Malley's optimism and enthusiasm. As the new priest settles into the neighborhood, he helps to reform some unruly neighborhood kids by getting them involved with the church. Proven to be a peacemaker in the community, he also helps out numerous other locals in need and also arranges a long overdue reunion between crusty Fitzgibbon and his elderly mother, in a very touching scene at the end. Academy members found it to be a sentimental favorite impossible not to love, and voted for it as the year's Best Picture, worthy of the honor in my opinion. Co-starring legendary Metropolitan Opera star Rise Stevens (in one of her only movie roles - she's wonderful) and Frank McHugh. 1944 was a great year for movies: "Laura", "Since You Went Away", "Double Indemnity". "Going My Way" should be seen at least once, along with its sequel, "The Bells of St. Mary's". Oscar trivia: Barry Fitzgerald was actually nominated twice this year for the same role: Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor! After this year, the rules were changed, and an actor could only be nominated once for a movie.

Read Becky's post on this movie at her blog Classic Film and TV Cafe.

Read Matt's review of Going My Way on his blog.

His Girl Friday (1940)

Howard Hawks directs this screwball comedy with a variation on "The Front Page". Cary Cary Grant is a hardboiled Managing Editor for a city newspaper, and his star reporter is Hildy, played by Rosallind Russell. (She's also his ex-wife, and wants the quiet life with a new husband (Ralph Bellamy), but can't resist the big story, nor Grant. This clever script with overlapping dialogue and simultaneous conversations has inspired many films and TV shows. (Was one of the films screened at the Chicago Outdoor film fest in Grant Park in 2004)

The Birds (1963)

Another blog post from Two Dollar Cinema here

Susanne Pleshette

Tippi Hedren stars as a carefree socialite enjoying a brief flirtation with lawyer Mitch (Rod Taylor). During a birthday party for Mitch's younger sister, a flock of birds attacks the children in what seems to be a random incident. In fact, it signals the beginning of a massive assault on the residents of the town by ordinary birds. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Co-starring Jessica Tandy and Suzanne Pleshette as the local schoolteacher. (Part of the 2004 Outdoor Film Fest in Chicago's Grant Park)

"Nosferatu" (1922)

Starring Max Schreck.

The Long Voyage Home recently published a great piece on this movie. Check it out here.

Also, Kendra has a very good post about this movie on her blog Viv and Larry.

The Gospel According to St. Matthew (1966)

Italian film about the life of Christ, it's a very faithful version, but, shot in grainy black and white, not as visually appealling as other big-budget films about the life of Christ: The Greatest Story Ever Told and The King of Kings.

Nonetheless the film is not bad, and it was nominated for Academy Awards for best Score, Costumes, and Art Direction.

Beautiful music score by Luis Enríquez Bacalov.

A very interesting temptation sequence with Christ and the devil.

Another review from the blog Film Fanatic:

Adam's Rib (1949)

Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn as husband and wife lawyers on opposing sides of the same murder case. One of Hollywood's greatest comedies about the battle of the sexes. Co-starring Judy Holiday. Directed by George Cukor.

A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

Based on a Tennessee Williams play, this searing drama is a multiple Oscar winner. It is most memorable fro the Oscar-winning turn by Vivien Leigh, as the fragile Blanche Dubois. Who could forget Marlon Brando, in one of his greatest roles. Kim Hunter as his wife and Karl Malden as Blanche's naive suitor complete the picture. Intense and tremendously moving.

Day of the Dolphin (1972) with George C. Scott

Might be enjoyable if you are into dolphins or aquatics, but I found it to be a bit dull overall, and not very believable. Surprised that it was directed by Mike Nichols; I'd be interested in reading more about why he directed it. George C. Scott (I think miscast) plays a research scientist who teaches Dolphins to communicate with humans in dolphin-like voices. One day two of his dolphins are kidnapped and they are involved in a spy plot to assassinate the President of the US. Very outlandish, and the noises they dolphins make are annoying after awhile. (Was nominated for the Best Sound Oscar, but should have been Worst Sound).

The screenplay was written by Buck Henry, which suggests some comedic elements, but there isn't any comedy to be found in it. Co-starring Paul Sorvino and Edward Herrmann.

A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935)

A Shakespeare classic adapted for the screen......a big-budget all star spectacular from MGM featuring an all star cast and fantastic scenery in glorious black and white. It's one of the first films of both Olivia de Havilland (Hermia) and young Mickey Rooney, who was only 15 when he played Puck. The young whippersnapper is amusing in the part, he really hams it up for the camera. deHavilland is good in one of her first films, as is James Cagney, who plays "Nick Bottom".

Also in the cast:
Joe E. Brown: "Francis Flute".
Dick Powell: "Lysander"

Two Academy Awards: "Best Cinematography", "Best Film Editing"

The Three Little Dwarfs - Hardrock, Coco, and Joe

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

The movie poster's tagline reads: "A Hollywood Story". It certainly is one of the most famous and best movies ever made about Hollywood life, even though fictional, and brilliantly co-written by Billy Wilder, who also directed. Much like "Streetcar Named Desire", it's a film that is just as much about the emotionally-needed and mentally-troubled leading lady (Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond) as it is about the man in her life who feels trapped and caught in the middle of something he never asked for (William Holden). Holden is an unemployed Hollywood screenwriter who accidentally enters the life of has-been silent film actress Norma Desmond, who lives in her own world and pays Holden to write her comeback film. Co-star Nancy Olsen has never been better as Holden's love interest, completely unaware that Holden has moved into Desmond's home and treated like a king while being smothered by the reclusive's love hungry tendencies. A morality play, about jealousy, neediness, fame, wealth. Billy Wilder was able to recruit some well known silent stars to appear in cameos: HB Warner ("Lost Horizon") and Buster Keaton, as well as director Cecil B. DeMille, who plays an important role in the story. Arguably, DeMille is probably most remembered for his role in this film than any of his other movies outside of "The Ten Commandments". Gloria Swanson herself was a silent film star, and this also her most famous role. Holden and Wilder worked together again in one of my favorites: "Stalag 17" two years later.

The French Connection (1971)

Two NYPD narcotics cops - Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider (from Jaws) - track down drug dealers and a shipment of heroin from France.

Spanish actor Fernando Rey plays the heroin smuggler they're after.

I didn't always understood why this movie won so many Oscars and Best Picture, and thought it might have to do with the famous car chase scene.

But watching other cop films that were made before this, I can see how different a film this is in comparison, and how it influenced later films.

I watched this film in college as part of a film appreciation course I took during my Senior year.

This film was followed by a second movie 4 years later, "The French Connection II", which I haven't seen. (Also a TV-movie "Popeye Doyle" was made in 1986 and starred Ed O'Neill).

Peter Boyle was originally cast to play the lead, but turned it down because his agent thought the movie was going to be a failure.

High Noon (1952)

President Bill Clinton's favorite movie (as he said on the AFI 100 Years...100 Movies special on CBS-TV)

On the verge of retirement, newly married lawman Will Kane (Gary Cooper) is forced to confront a murderer he once sent to prison who now seeks revenge.

Receiving no help from the townspeople, he bravely takes on the criminal and his gang.

Cooper won his second Academy Award for his portrayal of the brave hero.

With Grace Kelly, Lloyd Bridges, and Katy Jurado.

Battleground (1949)

Regarded as one of the best films made about WW2.

Most of the film takes place in the snowy woods of France. I liked the interplay between the soldiers. Ricardo Montalban plays a soldier from Los Angeles who's never seen snow before.

There's a great scene where the platoon meets up with some other soldiers in a jeep and they suspect them of being Germans in disguise. Van Johnson and the other soldiers drill them with questions about American culture, baseball, Terry and the Pirates
and the Dragon Lady, and Betty Grable's current romantic interests (Harry James now, not Cesar Romero).

James Whitmore was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor as the drill sergeant.  Also with Don Taylor, who was in Stalag 17.

The film was one of the biggest box office hits of 1949, according to the book Box Office Hits.

The movie won Oscars for Best Cinematography and Best Screenplay.

The Shootist (1976)

Wayne plays aging gunfighter who travels to a small town to visit an old doctor friend played by Jimmy Stewart who tells Wayne that he only has a few months to live.

Wayne decides to stay in the town to live out his last days.

He rents a room from Lauren Bacall who has a young son (Ron Howard).

Wayne's old enemies find out he's camping out in the town and decide to offer him one last challenge.

The movie is filled with some pretty cool shootout scenes, and gets rather bloody at times.

Kind of reminded me a little of Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven, a better movie.

Also starring Hugh O'Brian, Scatman Carothers, and Gene Barry, who passed away on Dec 9 2009.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)

Hepburn and Tracy are liberal white parents whose attitudes and beliefs are tested when their daughter announces she's marrying a black physician (Sidney Poitier).

It's an important film of its time.

Tracey died within days of completing his part and Hepburn won her third Oscar for her performance.

This was Poitier's year: He also starred in 1967's Best Picture Winner "In the Heat of the Night".

Orson Welles' The Stranger (1946)

Welles is chilling as a Nazi fugitive posing as a professor in a small New England town.

He marries a sweet Loretta Young, but she soon starts to suspect him.

On his trail is detective Edward G. Robinson who uncovers some very disturbing things about his past.

The climax involves a chase up a clock tower.

Welles' character is really nasty. Excellent post-war psychological thriller. 

Read the Wikipedia post

Read Laura's review at her blog.

Morgan! (1966) starring Vanessa Redgrave, David Warner

Madcap comedy about a guy named Morgan (David Warner) trying to win back his ex-wife (Redgrave).

Morgan has a unexplained "mental condition", as referred to in the film, and is obsessed with Marx and communism.

Redgrave is set to marry a "higher-class" gentleman, but Warner wants to break it up. He spends much of the movie jealously obsessing over Redgrave and her lover. There's some madcap comedic sequences of him speeding around town on a bike in a gorilla suit and crashing the wedding, which is funny.

What's so interesting about this 1966 British film is that the lead character here is a communist and communist ideas are spoken of highly by characters, and rather non-chalantly. In American films, pro-communist dialogue was still not heard of much during this time period, when anti-communist films such as "Pickup on South Street" and "The Manchurian Candidate" were being made.

The film was never released on VHS, but was released on DVD in 2005. The DVD has a few good special features including a few versions of the trailer.

Vanessa's role is more of a supporting one to Warner's Morgan, but her performance left an impression with many that year for her to be nominated for Best Actress Academy Award (losing to Elizabeth Taylor in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?").

Her sister Lynn Redgrave, also had a good year - her film "Georgy Girl" was a hit as well, and she too was nominated for Best Actress.

The official, UK title of this movie is Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment.

Read another review from The Magnificent 60s (blog)

Viva Zapata! (1952)

OK movie about  Mexican Emiliano Zapata who led the fight to restore land taken from the people during the dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz during the period between 1909 and 1919.

Starring Marlon Brando as Zapata, Jean Peters and Anthony Quinn (Oscar Winner - Best Supporting Actor). Directed by Elia Kazan.

I wish I could say this is a memorable film.

Otto Preminger's Skidoo (1968) with Jackie Gleason, Groucho Marx

Michael Constantine and Jackie Gleason

This is a bizarre comedy that must be seen to be believed; it's so strange and trippy. And features some legendary performers you wouldn't expect to see in a movie with pot-smoking hippies and tripping on LSD.

Actors such as Mickey Rooney, George Raft, Frankie Avalon, Carol Channing, and Jackie Gleason. Gleason was memorable as Minnesota Fats in The Hustler and from his image from 1950s television, but in this movie he goes on a full-on acid trip, which is actually pretty funny. Groucho Marx is part of the trip too.

Not on DVD, not on video. I don't really even hear this film called a "cult classic", so it seems like a forgotten film.

It showed in Chicago in September 2007 at the Music Box theater (Part of a Otto Preminger series) and everyone in the theater seemed to enjoy it. A very unusual film from Preminger, who usually made more serious films.

The Miniver Story (1950)

Filmed on location in England, 8 years after the original "Mrs. Miniver".

The director, HC Potter brings us the continuing story of the Minivers (Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon).

It's not as good as the first movie, in my opinion.

As the film opens, it's VE Day. We hear an actual radio address by Winston Churchill announcing the news.

Clem returns home from service. But we also see Mrs. Miniver going to the doctor's office, which doesn't appear to be a good sign right from the start.

There is no mention of Vincent, their son from the first movie. Did he die at war? Suicide? The writers could have at least given us just a little bit of info. It's a much sadder film than the original.

And missing is a character like Henry Travers' in the original, who provided some comedic lighthearted relief, which would have been nice to see in this film, in my opinion.

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)

The title of this disturbing film is taken directly from the 1935 novel; Jane Fonda's character Gloria, is a young, jobless, depression-era woman who at times just wants to be shot and put out of her misery.

Her character travels to Hollywood, leaving behind a miserable life and hoping to become an actress.

Struggling for work, she ends up entering a dance marathon with her new friend Robert, who is also struggling to find work in Hollywood.

I didn't know this, but during the depression, dance marathons were a craze, where people would dance hour-after-hour for a cash reward.

The marathon portrayed in the film is a fictional one, and goes on for several weeks. Every night there is an elimination race in which the couples speed-walk around a track, and the last-place couple is eliminated. The ruthless promoters generate sleazy publicity stunts as the contestants become increasingly exhausted physically and emotionally. People die in this movie that you don't want to see die.

Fonda's desperate character is one you want to root for, but she becomes increasingly disenchanted as she's trapped with the others in the claustrophobic dance hall.

This was Fonda's first breakthrough movie, and she was nominated for her first Oscar. Gig Young won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as the sadistic master of ceremonies, which in my opinion is one of the most heartless and cruel characters ever.

Depressing ending.

Directed by Sydney Pollack. Co-starring Michael Sarrazin, Susannah York, and Red Buttons, who is great and was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor.

Read Roderick's great post on this movie.

Films in the Andy Hardy series

I don't know how MGM churned out so many films, but they did. Here's a complete list of films in the series, all staring Mickey Rooney as Andy Hardy. I wish these were on DVD!


1. A Family Affair (1937)
2. You're Only Young Once (1937)
3. Judge Hardy's Children (1938)
4. Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938)
5. Out West with the Hardys (1938)
6. The Hardys Ride High (1939)
7. Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever (1939)
8. Judge Hardy and Son (1939)
9. Andy Hardy's Dilemma: A Lesson in Mathematics... and Other Things (1940)

(Short Subject)
10. Andy Hardy Meets Debutante (1940)
11. Andy Hardy's Private Secretary (1941)
12. Life Begins for Andy Hardy (1941)
13. The Courtship of Andy Hardy (1942)
14. Andy Hardy's Double Life (1942)
15. Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble (1944)
16. Love Laughs at Andy Hardy (1946)
17. Andy Hardy Comes Home (1958)

Citizen Kane (1941)

Orson Welles' great film about Charles Foster Kane, a wealthy media mogul who amassed fame, fortune and material goods, only to discover it failed to bring him happiness.

One of my favorite movies of all time.

With Joseph Cotton, Agnes Moorehead and Ruth Warrick as Kane's first wife.

Watched this movie in the summer of 2005 in Grant Park, Chicago.

Becket (1963)

Peter O'Toole is great as King Henry II, who ruled England from 1154 to 1189.

When the Archbishop of Canterbury dies, he appoints his old drinking buddy, Thomas Becket (Richard Burton) to the post.

This is an intense, emotional drama that probes the changing relationship between two young men - between two close friends bound together by similar pride of flesh and spirit who become deadly enemies as they pursue their separate destinies: that of king, and that of saint.

Nominated for 12 Academy Awards.

In High School, I had to write a report about this film and play for extra credit.

- A post about Becket here at the Critcaretro blog 

The Rose Tattoo (1955)

First watched in 2004. Takes place in an Italian neighborhood on the gulf coast in Louisiana.

This was Italian actress Anna Magnani's first English-speaking film. She is wonderful as Serafina, a single parent and strict Sicilian Catholic who begins to withdraw from the world after her husband's death; she later learns of her husband's infidelities. Daughter (Marisa Pavan) starts to see boys, to her mother's disapproval.

Her mourning leads to depression but she begins to come out of it when she meets another Italian man named Alvaro (Burt Lancaster) a handsome truck driver with a rose tattoo on his chest. He brings a little zest into her life, though she's still tormented by her past.

In October 2009, one of my favorite blogs, European Film Star Postcards, did a great piece on Italian-born actress Marisa Pavan, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for "The Rose Tattoo". Check out the post.

The Devil's Backbone (2001) and The Boy (2016)

I first saw The Devil's Backbone in 2012. It was the first Guillermo del Toro movie I had seen, and I really liked it. I liked how the film's supernatural element blends with the political story. It's not just a ghost story, but a ghost does lurks in an all-boy's orphanage/school during the Spanish Civil War. At the center of the story is a young boy who befriends other classmates. The adults in the film have differing political loyalties, which adds further tension. Pan's Labyrinth was similar in some ways but I like this film better. 

I watched The Boy in January of 2016, and I was reminded of The Devil's Backbone. There were some similarities that really stood out to me. In this movie, a woman is hired to be a nanny to a porcelain doll. The elderly owners of the house treat it like a real doll. It's a very creepy situation. Sometimes the doll moves on its own - or does it? Sometimes we hear strange noises. Sometimes other things move on its own - or do they? Is it a ghost? Is the doll possessed? It's pretty creepy. Directed by William Brent Bell. There's been some talk of a sequel but it hasn't happened yet.

The Witch (2016) and The Crucible (2006)

Saw two films recently about witches; I saw them months apart but they would make a good double feature.

First, the Crucible starring Winona Ryder, Paul Scofield, Joan Allen, Bruce Davison. In the 1690s New England United States, there's fear was witchcraft and of witches, and the religious community comes against them and brings them to trial. Based on the play and it's a good drama with good performances.

Next--- The Witch, a smart, intelligent horror film directed by Robert Eggers; it's on par with The Conjuring (one of my favorite movies of the past 10 years).  I was also very curious about the subject matter and the period setting of the film.

In the film, set in the 1600s, a family is haunted by strange occurances, and the parents fear witchcraft. Some critics might say that the film is a slam on puritan paranoia. There's alot of creepy imagery and you get a sense that the parents' fear might be justified.

Kate Dickey (from Prometheus) plays the mom; her performance is good, but I felt very bad for what happens to her character at the end. The actor who plays the dad looks a little like the late Alan Rickman; Rickman may have been perfect for this role a few years ago.

I felt sympathy for the father, too, even though he could be interpreted as being too hysterical. When your children are threatened by evil spirits, I think any parent would go a little nuts.

I found the movie to be very thought-provoking, with many interesting concepts, but I feel I missed some important dialogue due to the heavy accents used by some of the actors (will need to watch it again on DVD at home with subtitles).

Additional articles about The Witch -

• Variety film review - here
  
• The Dispatch review, calls it "Puritan paranoia" - here
  
• The Vox article: Why satanists have given new horror movie The Witch their endorsement - here | review here 
  
• Complex - Satanic temple after party - here
  
• Slate review and profile of Robert Eggers - here
  
• RogerEbert.com review - here
  
• Wired interview with the director - here 

Little Dorritt (1988)

With a 6-hour running time, 1988's Little Dorritt always seemed to be a challenging watch but it was on my list because of its acclaim and cast (including Alec Guinness). Last fall the film aired on TCM in 2 parts, and I really enjoyed it!

In his 4-star review, Roger Ebert wrote that he felt the movie might be better experienced seeing it in one day, with a break for lunch in between  (read his review here).

Part 1 is very enjoyable, as we are introduced to a kind man named Mr. Stammers (Derek Jacobi) who returns to his hometown after 20 years of being overseas. He gets reacquainted with a certain family member who has a connection to a mysterious house servant, Amy Dorritt. Stammers spends the entire half of the movie learning about the mystery behind Dorritt and building a name for himself in the community as a businessman and investor.

Part 2 was even better than the first half. The entire second half was told from Amy Dorrit's point of view, and we learn much more about her relationship with her father, splendidly played by Alec Guiness.

I haven't ever read the book, but I understand the story was adapted into a 6 part mini-series starring Tom Courtenay as father Dorritt, which would make for a great watch one day.

It would be nice if this 1988 movie were ever to be released on DVD.

I was curious to see how the film performed at the box office back in 1988, so I checked IMDB and to my surprise it grossed over $1 million. When the movie played at art house theaters in 1988, many theaters charged a separate admission for each 3-hour installment.

Patty Duke dies, she was 69

I was saddened to hear of the passing of Patty Duke, best known for her Oscar winning performance as Hellen Keller in The Miracle Worker, one of my favorite inspirational films. Her film portrayal will live on forever.

CNN.com news story
Hollywood Reporter story
NPR news story

Not too excited about the Oscars this year...

I know the Oscars are tonight, but for the first time in many years, I'm just not too excited about the show. Some of my favorite movies of the year weren't nominated or didn't get the recognition they deserve, such as Sicario, which I thought would be up for Best Picture and Best Actress for Emily Blunt and Best Supporting Actor for Benicio del Toro.

I also loved Inside Out, which may be my favorite film of last year; I thought for sure it would be nominated for Best Picture easily.

Also in my Top 5 of last year is The Stanford Prison Experiment; I haven't reviewed it yet on my blog, but the film was incredibly intense. More to come about that film in a few days.

I liked Mad Max Fury Road quite a bit, and I'll have a review of that movie on my blog soon, too.

But as far as action films, my favorite of 2015 was none other than Furious 7.  The movie ties together every previous movie so well. It's fast paced and humorous with exotic locations and a great soundtrack.  And very moving at the end. The main song "See You Again" should have been nominated for Best Song, and the film should have received some technical nominations such as Sound Editing or Visual Effects.

Also snubbed for Visual Effects is Jurassic World - that final battle sequence alone blew me away, with that whale-like dinosaur jumping out of the water going in for the kill. Why in is The Revenant nominated for Visual Effects? For a bear attacking Leonardo di Caprio?

There were also some small-scale, quieter films that came out earlier in 2015 that didn't make too many people's Top 10 lists. One was Mr Holmes, starring Ian McKellan as an older Sherlock homes attempting to solve his final case. I also was a fan of The Age of Adaline, and thought Harrison Ford was great in it-- even better than in Star Wars.  And finally, I really liked Mistress America, starring Greta Gerwig in a screwball comedy set in New York.

Steel Magnolias (1989) and Educating Rita (1983)

Last year I went to see the stage play of Steel Magnolias at a local repertory theater, and I loved comparing it with it's 1989 film counterpart. In the case of Magnolias, the film -- in my opinion -- is far better than the stage version. For one thing, there's no way you can top a cast like Sally Field, Shirley MacClaine and Julia Roberts. Also, I love how the movie breaks out of the beauty shop and explores the entire town and introduces the viewer to all the other people in the women's lives, including the suitor who charms Shirley.  And I loved Shirley's dog in the film; a nice touch. And this has got to be one of of Dolly Parton's best movie roles and the part suits her well.  A few years ago, another TV-film version came out starring Queen Latifah and Alfre Woodard and is on my to-see list.

Another stage play I saw recently was Educating Rita; I had seen the 1983 film version, one of the first movies I ever watched on a VHS tape. If you don't remember that movie, it's about a middle age professor (Michael Caine) who tutors a young, unschooled married hair stylist (Julie Walters) who dreams of becoming more cultured; in the process they change each other's lives (a premise reminiscent of Pygmalion or My Fair Lady). It's an inspiring tale, filled with witty dialogue and many references to great literature. The movie version is delightful - Caine and Walters are top-notch and deserved their Oscar nominations. And I like how the movie breaks out of the professor's office setting, taking you inside Rita's house and inside the saloons where the professor frequents. However, the movie feels dated, especially the synthetic music score. On stage, it's a different experience - only the two main characters; in the production I saw, the actors were outstanding, especially the actor who played Rita, a challenging part that she knocked out of the park. I hope she gets some local award recognition. Alas, this may be an example of where there play is actually better than the film.

Son of Saul (2015) and Hail Ceasar! (2016)

Son of Saul is a  Holocaust story, set in the Auschwicz concentration camp in Poland. It's sad, but a very well made film, directed by directed by László Nemes.

Saul is a Jewish prisoner forced to worked in a crematorium.
As he attempts to give a dead child a proper burial, he finds out that the child may or may not be his son.

As he continues to uncover the truth, he learns that either situation is likely.

The man risks his life devoting himself to the cause of a proper burial, especially during an uprising of the camp that causes many in the camp to doubt his loyalties.

The director's style is impressive; the entire film is told from Saul's perspective, with the camera focused on him the entire time, even when there's horrible violence taking place in the background of the frame.

Read a blog post by Cliched Monologues on this film here.

Read a blog post by Avvaganda.com here

Read a blog post by Korova Theater here

Another film I saw this past week was Hail Ceasar! directed by the Cohen brothers. The trailer showed some snippets of what looked like homages to old Technicolor movies of the '40s and '50s, which really intrigued me. I've seen some of the Cohen Brothers films but not all, so wasn't sure what to expect.

It's an ensemble comedy satire, and focuses on Josh Brolin's character, a Hollywood "fixer" who keeps actors' scandals out of the press. We meet some of the actors he helps, including George Clooney who's playing a Roman soldier in a Biblical epic called "Hail Caesar" (with dialogue very much - almost identical - to Ben Hur); his character is kidnapped by Communists. Yes, it's absurd. There's also a submarine in it. You have to see it to believe it.

The movie also spoofs musicals, westerns, and melodramas, as well as gossip columnists, communists, and censorship boards. There's a musical number with sailors in the bar; Channing Tatum is supposed to be playing a Gene Kelly-type sailor (like from Anchors Aweigh). I liked that the song used was an original piece, not a copycat number from a real '50s musical; kudos to the songwriters.

I have to say that George Clooney in the Roman solider uniform really looks as if he could play the part in a Roman epic from that time period.

The movie is pretty entertaining. A little crazy, but entertaining.  I enjoyed it.

Here's another review, from a blog about biblical epics.

Bobby Rivers wrote about this movie several times on his blog. Read the posts here:
Post 1 | Post 2 | Post 3

2015's Top 10 Posts from Motion Picture Gems

Most-viewed posts of 2015 (Source: Blogger Analytics)

1. My Favorite Classic Movie Blogathon: It's A Wonderful Life (205 views)
http://motionpicturegems.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-favorite-classic-movie-blogathon-its.html

2. 1947 Blogathon: Welcome Stranger (164 views)
http://motionpicturegems.blogspot.com/2015/07/welcome-stranger-1947.html

3. Java's 100 Classic Movie Blog Post Ideas (163 views)
http://motionpicturegems.blogspot.com/2015/04/javas-100-classic-movie-blog-post-ideas.html

4. Why do we eat popcorn at the movies? (159 views)
http://motionpicturegems.blogspot.com/2015/01/why-do-we-eat-popcorn-at-movies.html

5.  My Favorite Movies of All Time! (156 views)
http://motionpicturegems.blogspot.com/2015/01/my-favorite-movies-of-all-time.html

6. 1947 Blogathon: Tom & Jerry in 1947 (154 views)
http://motionpicturegems.blogspot.com/2015/07/1947-blogathon-tom-and-jerry-shorts-of.html

7. Surving Cast Members of It's A Wonderful Life (125)
http://motionpicturegems.blogspot.com/2015/05/surviving-cast-members-of-its-wonderful.html

8. The Age of Adaline (103 views)
http://motionpicturegems.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-age-of-adaline-2015.html

9. The Great Santini (97 views)
http://motionpicturegems.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-great-santini-1979-starring-robert.html

10. Classic Stars and Their Final Big Screen Appearances (90 views)
http://motionpicturegems.blogspot.com/2015/07/classic-stars-final-big-screen.html

The sinking of Titanic

Well, the numbers are in  (from box-office mojo and comic-book.com) and the latest Star Wars film - The Force Awakens - is now officially the #2 all-time box office moneymaking film in America, trailing Avatar (2009) by about $75 million dollars.

Never thought I'd rejoice over the sinking of the Titanic, but in this case I am! As you may know if you have been following my blog for awhile, Titanic (1997) is not one of my favorite movies.

I wonder if The Force Awakens can make enough to make it all the way to number 1 film of all time? With so many fans rewatching the movie multiple times, that could very well happen!

We will have to wait a few days or weeks to see!

More Star Wars links

If you're a fan of Star Wars then no doubt you're still talking about and/or pondering the latest movie and what you did and didn't like about it.

If there one's element about the new movie that irked me at all, it was all the unanswered questions...but that's OK because it provides plenty of fodder to talk about for the next 18 months.

***Warning some spoilers ahead***

One new character that many fans can't stop talking about is "Supreme Leader Snoke", the "Wizard of Oz"-like evil mastermind in the new movie, and his backstory. One theory I like is that he is really Jar Jar Binks from Episodes 1 and 2, which would make total sense and be very satisfying!! I really want that to be revealed so bad!

Another question everyone is asking is who is Rey? Is she related to anyone we already know, or was she just born with the force powers, like Anakin Skywwalker?! So many questions!

Here are some links to even more questions and theories if you dare!

18 Huge Questions we Need Answered after The Force Awakens (Cinemablend)

26 Unanswered Questions of ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’: We Have the Answers (Slashfilm)

27 Star Wars Questions answered by the Novels (Mashable)

43 Questions We Desperately Want Answered After Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Gizmodo)

Star Wars 7 Script & Tie-In Novel Clarify Force Awakens Questions (Screen Rant)