Return from the Dead

I am sorry for my long absence on my blog.  Do not be fooled, I have still kept up with the film industry.  I have ample movie reviews to cash in but for the mean time I am going to dedicate some time and posts to the movie events that have graced our screen and future ones to come.  Of course I am referencing The Golden Globes, The Critics’ Choice Awards, and the prestigious Academy Awards.  I have plenty of thoughts on the matter: which movies I loved, which actors I am in awe of, and future predictions.  I would like to hear people’s thoughts as well while we approach the annual Oscars.  I will try posting often! 

Anthony Minghella's Cold Mountain is a mountain achievment.

                Cold Mountain is a bold and transforming movie.  Directed by Anthony Minghella and winning multiple awards including Renée Zellweger for Best Actress in a supporting Role, the movie encompasses both passion and anguish, warmth and coldness, hatred and yet love.  The film is developed in a southern town of Cold Mountain, where we see the beginning of the civil war take its toll to the end.  The audience is shown the hardships of the war through a long lost love of a woman and of a man who is sent off to the war.  The most renowned southern war movie I would argue is Gone with the Wind directed by Victor Fleming.  In that production, we feel remorse for the southern states and the plantations in which we see the slaves work on.  In Cold Mountain, I relived some of those same feelings that I were evoked in me while watching Scarlett and Rhett’s tragic love.  I would never say that Cold Mountain was just as well done as Gone with the Wind.  However, stars Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Renée Zellweger, and Philip Seymour Hoffman add a depth to the film that takes on a similar yet strangely different turn than Gone with the Wind did.  The film jumps back and forth through time, showing the audience the blooming love between Nicole Kidman and Jude Law and traveling forward to where we see Jude Law deserting the military in hopes of reaching his love; neither know what became of the other due to lost correspondence and lapse in time by three years.  Both go through unmanageable hardships that we see unravel during the film. 

           

     At first, the film did not catch my attention.  If I am being honest, I turned the movie off after ten minutes and decided to watch something else.  However, I gave another shot at the movie, due to the fact that Renée Zellweger was supposedly Oscar worthy of the role she played.  The second time I watched it, I not only loved it, but I thought that Ms. Zellweger made the movie.  All actors were wonderful in the movie and all added something to the film that couldn’t be picked up by another star in the film, but when I watched Renée Zellweger, I didn’t see Brigit Jones or Roxie Hart.  I didn’t even see the quiet girl that I witnessed in Jerry Maguire.  I actually saw the opposite; I saw a strong, independent, witty, “one of the boys” kind of girl.  She was rugged and tough and southern. 

                The movie surprised me to say the least.  A movie I found full of tragedy, darkness, and murder was a contradiction, holding also hope, lightness, and purity.  I gave the movie four stars and would gladly watch it again.  Now, though, I want to watch Gone with the Wind, so maybe after. 

True Story directed by Rupert Goold

In the independent film True Story starring Jonah Hill, James Franco, and Felicity Jones and directed by Rupert Goold, the drama filled thriller was interesting, mysterious, and kept me guessing until the end.  A man is arrested for killing his three children and wife and steals the identity of a journalist Mike Finkel.  Mike, Jonah Hill, is dealing with issues of his own, but when he hears of this unknown killer taking his identity, he is curious to find out why.  In search of the real truth of the accused murderer Christian Longo, James Franco, he is caught in between fact and fiction. 

I was pleased with this movie.  The idea of a sociopath manipulating the mind of a vulnerable writer was a different movie that I had not seen in this way before. I found myself wrestling whether to believe Christian Longo’s story alongside Mike Finkel.  The movie did not provide the action or plot twists as much as I thought necessary to give it my highest esteem in the genre but I was thoroughly enjoyed none the less, maybe due to the new way in which I saw James Franco’s acting ability.  Playing a psychotic man is no easy feat, but James Franco was able to deliver a chilling performance while still finding some way to make the audience feel sympathy for his situation or question the fact if he killed his family completely.  Jonah Hill was easily casted as the intelligent yet gullible writer who falls prey to a murderers words.  True Story may not be on the intellectual level that Inception brought to the screen, but it is a version of that sort that is easier to grasp and follow which is a nice change of be pace.  To actually sit down and be able to take a handful of popcorn without feeling like it might distract you from getting the movie in the end is nice, rather than being afraid to peel your eyes away from the movie like I often found myself in the film Inception but still managed to end up lost at the end my first time around watching it.  I would recommend this movie for family night (with your older children), a date night, or if you are looking for a good movie to watch.  It is a quick movie that allows for you keep up without being out of breath at the end. 

Monkey Business directed by Howard Hawks

We have all heard of the phrase “monkey business” or “hey, no monkey business here”, and in the classic film Monkey Business, it means exactly that.  Directed by Howard Hawks and including a cast made of Cary Grant, Ginger Rogers, and Hugh Marlowe, the movie is about a scientist looking for a formula for humans to stay younger longer.  When Cary Grant, the scientist, and Ginger Rogers, his wife, experiment and test the potion, they are surprised to find what effects it actually entails.  Through their mischievous trouble and through all their monkey business, they must find what is really important in life, happiness or eternal youth. 

picture from boredanddangerousblog.wordpress.com

 

          The comedy is a fun and light tale of love and goofy that lacks an elaborate plot, but manages to keep the audience engaged by the amazing performance by the actors in the movie.  Ginger Rogers did a marvelous job at performing all the symptoms of the formula.  From manic to serious to childlike to adult again, it seems that there was no challenge too tough for her to tackle.  Her costar Cary Grant was great in his role also, from acting like a college student to taking care of his kooky wife to joining her in youthful games.  Marilyn Monroe does her role of the naïve, young, beautiful blond very well and effortlessly that no man could resist even the scientist Cary Grant.  Even though this film was not my favorite from either Cary Grant or Ginger Rogers, it was a fun film that I could clean my room to or manage other tasks while understanding what was going on and having a laugh or two.  Not a real mind-blowing movie but it was a well enough movie where I would watch it again while tackling other house chores. 

Sabrina directed by Billy Wilder

picture from www.doctormacro.com

 

Sabrina directed by Billy Wilder and starring the ever so classy Audrey Hepburn, forever dapper Humphrey Bogart, and always charming William Holden is the tale of a young daughter of a servant to the wealthy Larrabee household.  Sabrina, played by Audrey Hepburn, is sick in love with the David Larrabee, William Holden, who has a playboy reputation.  Sent away to culinary school in France, Sabrina leaves a discouraged child but she returns as a confident and beautiful young lady.  David takes notice in Sabrina, ready to ignore any family wishes; yet, Linus Larrabee is ready to protect the family in any means necessary even if it means breaking up young love in replace of another. 

          Another idol of min, Audrey Hepburn is never without poise and grace.  Her style alone is enough to grab the attention of the public, but her presence on screen is enchanting.  My favorite of her roles, Sabrina, is one of her best and with the help of her co-stars, all give a mesmerizing performance.  Audrey Hepburn could not have been more perfect for the role in this romantic comedy.  Paired with the older yet very sophisticated Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn was perfection having the audience root for the hopelessly romantic Sabrina to find love in the end; it isn’t until the end that we find out which brother she finds love with.  The energy and liveliness that William Holden brings to the movie makes me swoon and smile every time I see him on the screen.  Humphrey Bogart’s character could not have been more different, but Billy Wilder does a remarkable job presenting him to the audience making it no problem to equally fall in love with him also. Not only do I love the actors, the comedy, and the romance that is so brilliantly done in the film, but I love the props and the costumes, and the scenery that make the movie what it is.  The dress, or more like a gown, that Audrey Hepburn wears to the Larrabee party was beyond eloquent and is alone a reason for my constant replays of the film.  An instant classic then and a remembered classic now, Sabrina takes the cake for grace, humor, and romance.

picture from www.joeslist.com

 

All About Eve directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz

 

 

 

found on en.wikipedia.org         

 

 

 

 

            After paying a slight tribute to Joan Crawford’s legacy, it is only fair that I next pay tribute to Bette Davis.  Actually, it isn’t just because I wrote a review pertaining to Bette’s other half in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane, but more importantly because Bette Davis is my idol and one of the most talented women ever to come through Hollywood.  Her presence was enough to evoke strong emotions into her co-stars whether it be anger and disgust by Miriam Hopkins in Old Maid or fear and anxiety felt by Geraldine Fitzgerald in Dark Victory.  In the future, my blog readers may find quite a few film reviews starring the one and only Bette Davis.  For now, I will begin with, some may argue her most iconic role, All About Eve directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz.  A renowned theatre actress welcomes a fan of hers into her life and that of her friends.  The aging actress doesn’t realize, though, that new talent is ready to take her place and it is closer than it may seem. 

            The film, much like Bette Davis’s career at the time, is based around the idea of an aging yet acclaimed actress trying to hold on to her profession.  Anne Baxter and Bette Davis stun the audience with a brilliant performance, Bette Davis in her strong, independent role she does so well and Anne Baxter in a more innocent role.  We also see Marilyn Monroe’s debut role in a short scene looking young and gorgeous as ever. Bette Davis plays wonderful stage actress Margo Channing and the part could not have been casted better.  Charming and ever so beautiful, the movie starts off with a confident Margo taking in a die-hard fan as her assistant.  Anne Baxter, Eve Harrington, is quiet and meek only wanting to be Margo’s loving and adoring assistant and friend.  Throughout the film, the audience has a hard time seeing what Margo sees in Eve, not an innocent girl but a conniving and vile creature.  Anne Baxter is wonderful at playing the shy and fragile girl, but her range far out reaches that and in the movie we see how talented the actress is.  Supporting roles George Sanders, Gary Merrill, and Celeste Holm play are crucial to the development and unraveling of this story as well.  This dangerously creative comedy and drama is sure to be a classic for generation after generation.  Fasten your blankets, because tonight we are watching All About Eve. 

Mommie Dearest directed by Frank Perry

Mommie Dearest, directed by Frank Perry and starring Faye Dunaway and Diana Scarwid, is a chilling and disturbing film.  The audience is shown how a much loved and admired actress Joan Crawford was so cruel and horrifying behind the scenes.  First written as a novel by adopted daughter of Joan Crawford, then turned motion picture, the movie Mommie Dearest depicts Joan Crawford in an ugly light, illustrating how the movie star abuses her daughter Christina mentally and physically throughout her life.                                                                                  nydailynews.com

         
           Before seeing this movie, it was easy to see Joan Crawford as a charming and poised actress through her acting.  From the movies I had previously seen of hers like What ever Happened to Baby Jane and Dance, Fools, Dance, I was painted a different picture of the actress then what I was given in Mommie Dearest.  There wasn’t a moment in the moving that I was not surprised at how intense and dysfunctional the home environment was for the children of Joan Crawford.  Intense all the way through, the movie never turned to a peaceful note.  Not once did I find myself feeling sorry for Joan Crawford; instead, I felt a taste of hatred that replaced the feeling of admiration I had once felt. Faye Dunaway delivered an impeccable performance.  Horrid yet believable, Faye Dunaway showed how versatile she can be as an actress from playing in Bonnie and Clyde to Network to this new performance.  Truly mesmerizing, everyone should see a once upon Hollywood queen be seen as the “dearest mommie” ever to be and the scariest mother to be seen since the movie Carrie.    

 
Joancrawfordbest.com

Yves Saint Laurent directed by Jalil Lespert

          While getting older, I have found myself becoming increasingly more in love with fashion.  I have always had my own style, but I mean couture, high fashion looks.  Unfortunately, my wallet does not allow for elaborate spends.  Now and then, though, my wallet and I splurge, that time buying Michael Kors shoes or this time purchasing a Fossil bag and perhaps next time YSL perfume.  My lack of green in the bank does not stop me from enjoying window shopping in the luxurious shops or watching films of the artists behind the name create some of their most memorable work like Yves Saint Laurent.  Watching the 2014 French movie Yves Saint Laurent directed by Jalil Lespert put a face to the images of YSL high fashion clothing I had seen in the bizarre magazines.  The movie starts Yves Saint Laurent’s life as a young man just beginning to expand on his creative eye under the tutelage of Christian Dior.  After Dior’s death, we see the true commencement of the French designer’s long and prosperous career.  However, it isn’t all bells and whistles, with love and self-destruction to the ultimate end the man behind the curtains but by no means the end of his company.                          

          The director takes a closer look at Yves Saint Laurent’s relationship with long time business and romantic partner Pierre Berge more than he goes into the creative process of the man.  Like so many fashion designer movies like that of the French film Coco before Chanel directed by Anne Fontaine, understanding the creative process of an artist, you have to understand the life events and inspirational people and things that were the meaning behind such genius works.  Showing how people and the world’s expectations swayed Yves Saint Laurent into a spiral of drugs and alcohol gave the audience a truer knowledge of the designer rather than the image they see most often, the image of a controlled and elegant man who creates such inventive and beautiful fashion.  Hiding nothing from his audience, director Jalil Lespert dives deep into Yves Saint Laurent’s life that gave me true realization of how his life might have been like.  I am not familiar with the work that actors Pierre Niney, Guillaume Guillienne, or Charlotte Le Bon have done previously, but in this film, they represent their characters great with anger and joy that accompanied the ride of visionary Yves Saint Laurent.  If you want to step out of your English movies and watch a foreign film that will keep you captured the whole time (not only because of the need to read the subtitles), then this biography will not disappoint. 

 

Splendor in the Grass directed by Elia Kazan

                                             Image found on the cite of dvdtalk.com

My passion is movies, but I first fell in love with older films specifically Shirley Temple that grew from there.  I remember first seeing Splendor in the Grass.  I had my brother watch it with me when we were ten or so.  Instantly, I adored Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty and their infuriating and once in a lifetime love.  The movie, directed by Elia Kazan, follows the struggles that follow a couple, a forbidden love that tragically allow for the young girl in the film to fall into a downward spiral.  While the man suffers difficulties from his family and father’s pressures, he does not forget his first love.  This movie highlights the mindsets of families in the later 1920s and illustrates reality of love. 

          I find myself gravitating to this film time and time again, and every time I watch it, I react the same as I did the first time I saw the picture.  A romantic drama that shows the highs and lows and the exhausting and intense feeling of love that young couples are all too familiar with.  Only wisdom that accompanies age can teach the young the lessons of love.  A wonderful tale of love and truth, this movie is a classic that ranks evenly with the big named films The Way We Were and Love Story.  This may be a well-liked film by older generations, but perhaps today’s generation has lost sight of classic films such as this one.  I recommend this film to all age groups as it will never grow old and will always be a splendid movie. 

Kingsman: The Secret Service directed by Matthew Vaughn

If you enjoy movies packed with action, sex appeal, and British humor, you will find that Kingsman: The Secret Service offers all that and more.  Director Matthew Vaughn ignites his own twist on action comedy with unique fighting scenes and witty humor.  When a young man becomes a trainee for a secret service organization, he is asked to compete against others in a series of unthinkable challenges.  However, it is nothing compared to the real test, the threat of world domination brought to the organization’s front door. 

An all-star cast, including Samuel L. Jackson, Collin Firth, and Michael Cane along with up and coming actor Taron Egerton, demonstrate a brilliant array of originality to a plot that seems to have been done time and time again.  With a crazed man consumed by the thought of world domination fought by strong, equipped, savvy agents, one would have thought that this is the same plot seen in all action movies.  Yet Matthew Vaughn does a remarkable job at introducing new ideas that separate this film from all other action films.  There is a touch of Quentin Tarantino like vibes throughout the film, especially in the individuality of the fight scenes.  It is understandable for that reason why not all would find this movie as great as I do, but if bloody great humor and bloody filled fights are your thing, I strongly recommend this terrific film.  Even if this movie does not sound like your cup of tea, the strong and sexy lead actors will change your mind with their charm and cool and collected looks, not to mention the incredible acting done by all of the cast in the movie. 

*R-rated film due to language and violence

Trainwreck directed by Judd Apatow

       I most recently saw the movie Trainwreck, directed by Judd Apatow and written by Amy Schumer who stars along side Bill Hader.  The comedy begins with two young girls taking a lesson in from their dad, subject matter being on the unnatural human tendency of monogamy.  Years later, Amy Schumer’s character, Amy, lives her ideal life by drinking and having casual sex with countless of men.  After meeting a sports doctor for an interview, new feelings emerge for Amy, and while experiencing these feelings with this new relationship, Amy realizes there could be much more to monogamy.

     The comedy brings hilarious moments while illustrating the dysfunction in Amy's life.  While delivering funny scenes to the audience, the movie dives into deeper issues without bringing in the drama that makes you or the person next to you uncomfortable.  After leaving the film, my friend and I turned to each other and both agreed that Amy Schumer was now our new role model.  She gives off an aura of confidence, femininity, strength, and humor that many women, including myself, strive to bring into their own lives.  The film's lead actor role is given to SNL and comedy man Bill Hader who adjusts perfectly into the rom-com man.  He is cute, funny, and charming, a change from the funny, interesting man we see from him in some of his other work like Forgetting Sarah Marshall and his varied SNL roles.  This movie could be the new Bridesmaids.  For a girl's night out or a romantic evening with the significant other, Trainwreck has proved to be everything but a wreck.

The Royal Tenenbaums directed by Wes Anderson

My reason for having two Wes Anderson films right off the bat is due to the fact that my uncle has a great amount of admiration for him, and while I am staying with him and my aunt in Glendale, I have been welcomed with these Wes Anderson films.  I am not opposed to watching his films, in fact I enjoy his clever and different movies, and this one is no exception.  Written by Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson and directed by Wes Anderson, The Royal Tenenbaums is about the Tenenbaum family who suffer from a father that is forced to leave the children's life early in their childhood.  Raised to be geniuses by their mother, the Tenenbaum children soon grow up, complete exceptional work, but later falter and resort to a life of a recluse.  They are all brought back together under one roof after discovering their father's terminal illness.  New discoveries are made and relationships are tested through this unique comedy.

Again, Wes Anderson demonstrates wonderfully how a movie can be funny but still presents serious problems into the film such as suicide, terminal cancer, and divorce.  We see familiar faces in the cast like Bill Murray, Luke Wilson, Seymour Cassel, Kumar Pallana, and Dipak Pallana who also were casted in Wes Anderson's film Rushmore.  All members, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Anjelica Huston, and Ben Stiller, brought serious tones to the movie, but one could not help to see the hilarity in the words and situation that we know all too well in a Wes Anderson film.  At times, however, the film lost its purpose and dragged on towards the end.  At the conclusion of the movie, though, I rather enjoyed it and would not put it pass oneself to see.

 

 

Between the two films Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums, Rushmore is my favorite.  It kept a fast pace with brilliant performance done by the entire cast especially that of Jason Schwartzman.  The writing along with the over serious note put on every line made for a ridiculous and entertaining film for me to watch.

Rushmore directed by Wes Anderson

     Rushmore, directed by Wes Anderson and written by Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson tells the story of the young student prodigy Max Fischer who attends the school of Rushmore.  As he involves himself in every extracurricular activity under the sun, he ignores his studies.  However, he cannot ignore Rushmore's newest teacher Miss Rosemary Cross.  Quickly tail spinning into a deep love, Max soon realizes love isn't all roses and blue skies and embarks on an adventure of revenge and finding himself among the muck.

     With stars Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Olivia Williams, and Brian Cox, the movie delivers revenge, love, friendship, and nerdy talk in humorous ways, all along maintaining a false serious overtone.  Wes Anderson does a splendid job of portraying the typical nerdy student in a new light. Not only is Max Fischer, the film's main character, failing classes, he is serious to the point where everything said by him, and all of the other cast members including Bill Murray's part, comes off as comic relief.  Jason Schwartzman could not have looked or acted the part better showing the wide range of intellect of Max.  The quirky tone shown in Wes Anderson pictures is true to form in this one as well.  This movie offers clever wit, unique charm and quirky humor that are to be enjoyed by older children to the old timers.  It is sure to be a classic hit!