Wednesday, October 11, 2006
The World's Fastest Indian
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I rented this movie out of dim curiosity because I enjoy Anthony Hopkins' work and like to see everything in which he acts. Lo and behold, I know this man. This man is my very extraordinary Chandler nephew and this is a portrait of what he will be like when he is middle aged and old. He is in his 20's, now, and is such a natural, as well as, now, well-trained and highly skilled inventor/repairer, and such an adventurer that it could be said that he does both in his sleep. Both Mom and I were astonished at this portrait and practically fell over each other exclaiming, "That's [nephew's name] in sixty or seventy years!" That's why we own this movie. And, yes, I recommended it to the nephew in question. I figured he'd get a kick out of seeing himself in the future.
Labels: adventure, biography, docu-drama, shared-favorite
Why We Fight
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: I think my "mention" says it all. We have, by the way, seen this movie twice since purchasing it. The second time I cued it immediately after we sat through a viewing of The Fog of War, using it as a painlessly painful history reminder.
Labels: documentary, war
United 93
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: The "mention" is so complete that it may as well be a review of how Mom and I related to this movie. No need to add anything, I think.
Labels: docu-drama, historical, political, violence
Take the Lead
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is strictly a "Mom" movie. She saw a couple of ads on TV after the video was released and was mesmerized by the dance sequence used, in which Antonio Bandaras demonstrates what an impeccable dance relationship can be by doing a sizzling tango with a professional dancer. So, when I saw the movie for sale, I got it. Mom loves it, and, as is typical for her, is especially fond of the dance class venue, a high school detention class full of unruly kids. I like watching some of the dance sequences but, for the most part, this is a forgettable dance movie for me. We'll keep it, though, as it speaks to Mom on a couple of levels. It has become one of those "Now, what?" movies, useful when I am having trouble keeping Mom from sneaking in for a nap.
Labels: dance, drama, mom-favorite
Strictly Ballroom
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: Both Mom and I could watch this movie every day for a year, then turn around and watch to celebrate the following New Year's Day. Plus, this video includes the full length docu-video about the Kendall's School of Dance, which inspired Baz Lurhmann to write this story. This documentary, alone, is worth the price of the video...and then, you get the main feature! What a treat!
Labels: dance, drama, romance, satire, shared-favorite
The Star
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: Both Mom and I found this movie odd, but stayed with it, almost with bated breath. I'm not sure how often we'll watch it. Davis' performance is definitely transfixing. The story of her fall from fame and grace is interesting and well-played. The romance is a little over the top, though.
This movie is a part of the Bette Davis Collection.
Labels: collection, drama, satire
The Sixth Sense
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: I've assiduously avoided owning this movie for a long time, thus, although I was mesmerized by it when I saw it in the theater (not so much by the story, but the technique, the acting, and the interplay between the characters) and my intrigue about M. Night Shyamalan began with this movie, I just never thought I'd own it. Then, Mom expressed interest in it once when it was on cable and she was fascinated with it. Soon after, someone had it on deep sale, so I picked it up. Shyamalan has made enough movies now, so that my initial intrigue with his career has cooled considerably, starting with Signs. Although I am devoted to Unbreakable, I don't know, I was expecting something, hmmm...more, I guess, from him, and he hasn't delivered for me for a long time. I tried The Village, too, and it did nothing for me.
So, here I am, supposedly writing about The Sixth Sense, but saying absolutely nothing about it. I love Bruce Willis' performance. I love Toni Collette's performance. I love the way it's framed. I love what it promised about Shyamalan. I like the solution to the young medium's problem. Mom and I have watched it twice since I bought it and both watchings have been satisfying. When I watch it, though, I mourn my expectations of Shyamalan that this movie provoked and Unbreakable seemed to underline. Maybe he has more in him. I hope so.
Labels: drama, fantasy, suspense
Now, Voyager
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2* *3*
- Commentary: Ahhh...be still my heart! I love this movie so much it's hard for me to decide whether this or All About Eve is my favorite Bette Davis movie. First, of course, Bette Davis. What a character she plays in this! What a wonderful job she does! Second, the story. I consider the end strikingly unusual, but, I reminded myself that this movie played in 1942: Women were losing men to war, revelling in their independence and sudden ability to make a living and be both needed and wanted by the workforce...I guess I shouldn't consider it quite so striking. And then, of course, there's Claude Rains. My infatuation with this man is absolutely unreasonable. I kept wanting and expecting Davis' character to become romantically involved with his character, a psychiatrist. And, then, of course, the cigarettes. Read the mentions for information about how they went over in our household...definitely a surprise.
I can't, unfortunately, comment much about Paul Henreid's performance. For me, he was simply an object off which Davis bounced. However, there was one other performance in the movie I considered devastating: Gladys Cooper as Mrs. Vale. Not only was her character wickedly written, her performance was flawless. her portrayal was so subtle, she transformed Mrs. Vale into a quiet horror; always much better than an obvious horror.
This movie is a part of the Bette Davis Collection.
Labels: collection, drama, romance, shared-favorite
Mr. Skeffington
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Although I'm nowhere near a Bette Davis expert, this movie seemed to me like a Bette Davis miscast, at first, although my inordinate love of Claude Rains took my mind off this for quite awhile. Despite this, it didn't take long for me to believe her portrayal; a credit to Davis, not the casting, I think. Mom loved the intense, obvious melodrama. She also got lost in the lush period flavor and imagined, afterward, that the movie had been in color; which I understand is a typical reaction to both this movie and Jezebel. I'd watch this movie again, just for the pleasure of watching Claude Rains again.
This movie is a part of the Bette Davis Collection.
Labels: collection, drama, period, romance, shared-favorite
A Man for All Seasons
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is one of those movies that, when we stumble across it on TV we always watch. It enthralls both of us. We never tire of it. There isn't a false note in the casting. As well, Shaw brings a special, light, provocative touch of madness to his portrayal of Henry VIII that is thrilling to glimpse. This will be a perennial favorite of ours.
Labels: drama, historical, political, royals, shared-favorite
The Letter
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: It took us two tries to get through this one, even though it was the shortest of the Bette Davis movies we bought in the collection with which this one came. Neither of us found it disturbing, but we just couldn't get into the story. When we finally watched it, at the end Mom and I looked at one another.
"Well," she said, "we don't have to do that again."
"Yeah, I know what you mean."
I'm not sure what our problem with it was. It could simply be that we're both hard sells for this type of movie. I have to say, though, since watching it, I've found that several of the scenes have continued to haunt me, probably because of both the staging and framing. As well, I have to admit, Bette Davis was, as usual, a dazzling intepreter of this character. I may, indeed, watch it again. Not soon, though.
This movie is a part of the Bette Davis Collection.
Labels: collection, drama, suspense
Jeremiah Johnson
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: This was the other movie I ordered for Mom's birthday. Truth is, I could only vaguely remember whether she had a marked interest in it. As it turns out, she did. When I cued it, she remembered, almost immediately, having seen it.
"Oh," I said, "I hope it isn't one of those movies you only wanted to see once."
"Oh, no," she replied, "I think I remembered liking this movie."
She loved it, maybe even more than How the West Was Won. We saw the movies back to back and she even mentioned, regarding the portrayals of Native Americans, "Yes, now this seems more realistic."
Since I'd never watched the entire movie, I settled down and was surprised, pleased and inspired. "Well, Mom, that's what I'd like to do, figure out how to be completely self-sufficient, in landscape similar to that."
She looked at me approvingly. "I know what you mean," she said. "So would I. Even with all the problems and difficulties."
I know we'll be watching this one again...probably every time I have multiple Abandoning Fantasies.
Labels: adventure, biography, period, western
Japanese Story
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: The above comment pretty much says it all.
Labels: drama, dream, me-favorite
How the West Was Won
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: This is one of my parents' historical favorites. I remember watching it in the theater but discovered, upon rewatching it (I got it for my mother's birthday this year) that I'd misremembered quite a bit of it and apparently mixed it up with another movie that featured the great prairie land grab, which isn't covered in this film. My mother, who has become much more sophisticated about the depictions of Native Americans in movies, although there is actually little in this film but N.A. hearsay, was unsettled enough by what it included to voice her objections. Otherwise, we both enjoyed the sprawl, became surprisingly involved in the stories, loved some of the individual performances (Will Geer's, in particular, as the patriach of a river pirate family and Carroll Baker's surprisingly subtle performance as a pioneer wife). I was intrigued by the Civil War sequence, as well. My mother devoured the entire movie and breathed a satisfied sigh through a satisfied smile when it was over. "Let's start that again," she said. Luckily, we had another movie which she was equally anticipating, Jeremiah Johnson. This movie will be one of those "snowy/rainy day when I'm baking" movies, I'm sure. I don't think I'll become as fascinated with it as I have The Ten Commandments, of which I often find myself needing a fix, but I don't think I'll ignore it when I'm playing it for Mom, as I do some movies.
Labels: adventure, dad-favorite, drama, mom-favorite, period, spectacle, western
Elizabeth I
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: See, also, commentary on Elizabeth R. Although I confessed to preferring, by a minor edge, Glenda Jackson's epic, truth is, it depends on my mood. They are both lush, but in this HBO production the lushness is almost touchable. The are both dramatic but, in this production, there is more emphasis on Elizabeth's emotional life. The curiosity, to me, is that Mirren's and Jackson's portrayals are side-by-side excellent and, rather than competing with one another, it is as though one fleshes out the other. Neither my mother nor I ever tire of watching either.
Sidebar: My mother prefers the hairstyles in this one.
Labels: biography, drama, historical, period, political, royals, TV
Dog Whisperer
- Who's watched: M & G (marginally)
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: This video was a surprise I would not have considered on my own. One of my sisters sent it to me for my 2006 birthday. It was an excellent choice. Aside from the comments above, I think it is turning Mom into a water of the TV show. I noticed, when she watched the video, that she smiled through the entire three episodes, which were watched, pretty much, back to back. The reason I list myself as having watched it "marginally" is that I was doing chores and preparing dinner while it was on. However, I caught quite a bit of the episodes; enough so that, Mom and I had extended conversations about dogs, our previous ownership of dogs and possible future ownership (I'm still thinking, out of the question, but, you never know).
Labels: animal, audio-visual, TV
Dark Victory
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: We watch this one more than I'd like, as it is one of my mother's favorites. I enjoy Davis' portrayal of the character but I have trouble with the quick switch from breezy, self-involved young heiress to philosophical, unselfishly doomed young matron. I've never known my mother to be an easy touch for movies about young, tragic death, but this one gets her every time. I'm not sure why. Maybe, if I would pay more attention to her as she watches it I'd discover the reason. Good idea. I know I'll have plenty of chances to do this.
This movie is a part of the Bette Davis collection.
Labels: collection, drama
Commander in Chief - Parts 1 & 2
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Mom initially discovered this series through her tabloids, insisted we tune in from the very first episode and was so addicted to it that she actually registered the news that it would be cancelled and was heartbroken. Thus, it was necessary, when it came up for sale, that we purchase it.
I can watch it, and often do, with her. It's more interesting to me than some series: For me, a cut above, for instance, Murder, She Wrote. I am not, though, generally, a fan of Bellisario series; they all have a fawning quality that bothers me. As well, I am not nearly as fascinated with the idea of a woman U.S. president as my mother is; just surprised, continually, that we haven't yet had one. I think my mother forgets that, in the history of the world, female rulers are not an anomaly, though certainly not as frequent as men. She also tends to think that just the fact that a ruler is a woman somehow means that ruler will be "better". I do not nurse similar sentiments.
Labels: drama, mom-favorite, political, presidential, TV
The Birdcage
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I think Mom considers this a type of gender bender movie. It's one of her favorites, one of those that, when ever it played on television previous to us buying it, I'd cue it, knowing that Mom would love it, yet again. I like it. There are certain scenes, in this movie, like the dance direction scene, the initial diva-trauma scene and the reminscing dance scene between Val's mother and father that I never get tired of watching. I saw the original La Cage aux folles many, many years ago, enjoyed that movie, and have no problem with the existence of both, although I tend to consider them different movies. For some reason, though, certain scenes in this movie grate on me and, when Mom wants to watch it, I find it a good time to catch up on chores or my journals.
Labels: comedy, gender-bender, mom-favorite
All About Eve
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: I think this is the first Bette Davis movie I watched with attention, and it will remain my all time favorite of hers, edging out Now, Voyager only because I saw this one first. I love the presentation of the story; I love the way Davis plays the part; I love all the supporting characters, including Eve. Addison DeWitt strikes exactly the right tone, from beginning to end. It's funny, in the review to which I connect in the title, much mention is made of Marilyn Monroe's bit part, how her legendary luminosity is evident in this movie, how she steals all her scenes and how this appearance pre-figures her stardom. When she is in scene with Davis, though, I only have eyes for Davis. Monroe's luminosity may have drawing power, but it doesn't compare to Davis', which, I suppose, could be compared to that of a black hole, sucking viewers in beyond the power of a nascent star.
Mom, of course, loves this movie because it features Bette Davis.
Labels: drama, me-favorite
