Saturday, March 7, 2020
Ceremony (2010)
Two friends are off on a weekend outing. Marshall thinks the trip is to re-establish their friendship, but Sam has ulterior motives in mind as he crashes the wedding of a woman he still loves.
Rather unfunny romantic comedy is well directed with zest, but suffers from the male lead'S thoroughly dislikeable character.
Maltin**: "Romantic comedy almost never recovers from its introduction of Angarano who is so strident it's hard to root for him - or believe that Thurman ever cared for him. Debut feature for writer-director Winkler shows promise, but by the time his two-dimensional characters finally reveal more colors it's almost too late."
First Lines: Ben Lerner - Leaving the Atocha Station
The first phase of my research involved waking up weekday mornings in a barely furnished attic apartment, the first apartment I'd looked at after arriving in Madrid, or letting myself be woken by the noise of from La Plaza Santa Ana, failing to assimilate that noise fully into my dream, then putting on the rusty stovetop espresso machine and rolling a spliff while I waited for the coffee.
Friday, March 6, 2020
Design for Living (1933)
A woman cannot decide between two men who love her, and the trio agree to try living together in a platonic friendly relationship.
Despite censorship and unusual casting the is still an amazingly open-minded and entertaining ménage à trois comedy, made with Ernst Lubitsch's sure hand for such material.
Halliwell**: "Elegant but miscast version of a scintillating play, with all the sex and the sting removed (at the insistence of the Legion of Decency, then coming into power). Ben Hecht claimed to have removed all but one line of Coward's dialogue: 'For the good of our immortal souls!'"
Maltin***: "Most of the witty innuendos are left intact (even if the pacing isn't quite right)."
8 Femmes (2002)
A man is murdered, and the eight women in his household each seem to be more eager than the others to know the truth.
A tongue-in cheek homage to Agatha Christie-styled murder mysteries, staged as a closed-room musical and with an otherwise great cast playing their roles in exaggerated hysterics, is not really something one can feel nostalgic for.
On rewatching: Watchable, but could have been so much better...
Halliwell**: "Highly artificial, witty, enjoyable pastiche of a country house murder mystery, with bravura performances from its stellar cast, representing four generations of French acting, who burst into song at unexpected moments."
Maltin**1/2: "Wonderful opportunity to watch some of France's most formidable females in an odd whodunit-melodrama-musical...Fun to a degree, especially when the actresses sing and dance, but awfully forced."
Thursday, March 5, 2020
The Secret Life of Pets (2016)
The quiet life of a terrier named Max is upended when his owner takes in Duke, a stray whom Max instantly dislikes.
Fast-paced, hilariously funny and entertaining animal animation comedy; good family fare.
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Tri orísky pro Popelku (1973)
Life changes dramatically for a Czech housemaid when the house driver gives her three magical hazel nuts.
Arguably one of the best adaptations of the Cinderella tale, excellent cast, production design and costumes, will paced direction, and not without some humor.
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
First Lines: Rachel Cusk - Outline
Before the flight I was invited for lunch at a London club with a billionaire I'd been promised had liberal credentials.
Momentum (2015)
4 criminals steal diamonds from a safe deposit box in Cape Town - including a drive containing a US senator's evil plans who will do anything to get it back.
Standard conspiracy actioner is predictable and only mildly entertaining, despite a capable cast.
Monday, March 2, 2020
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