Since we're not ready to post a new joint review in the next few days, I've been trying work up a few reserve reviews for just such a short-handed time as this. Of course, if Sir Scribe-a-lot has seen this film and wants to add his own review at some point, well then so be it.GREEN'S STOP THE PRESSES REVIEW:
Former Ace newspaper reporter Hildy Johnson (Rosalind Russell) comes back to the office of her ex-editor Walter Burns (Cary Grant) to announce that she's getting married to mild mannered Bruce Baldwin (Ralph Bellamy), much to Walter's surprise, because he's also her ex-husband. But Walter will have none of it as he slyly dangles the carrot of a lifetime under her nose, unwillingly but forcefully making her reassess her priorities and former relationship.
The only other time I'd ever watched this movie was in a film critique/history of film type class in college, more than 20 years ago. At that time I really didn't care for black and white movies, because my exposure to them was really limited only to the beginning and ending sequences in "The Wizard of Oz."
One of the all time classic films in American history, "His Girl Friday" (1940), sets the tone for snappy dialogue and a quick pace that is rarely matched in today's cinema. Other films, such as "Broadcast News" have tried and come close but just fall short.
The script is excellently written by Charles Lederer who adapted it from the highly successful 1931 play "The Front Page," by Ben Hecht. Howard Hawks was simply one of the greatest directors in any era and this film showcases his ability to get the most from his actors. Cary Grant is his usual suave, confident self, and he builds that into his character.
Having only seen Ralph Bellamy in two of his later movies, ("Trading Places" and "Pretty Woman"), I was impressed with his small but crucial role here and should make a note to self to see some of his other work. I'd never seen anything Rosalind Russell was in before but judging by her performance here, she was an actress who could stand up to the big boys and dish out as well as she could take. The supporting cast may not be as well known but are equally as effective in making this movie the classic that it has become.
Interestingly, Russell was not director Hawks first choice for the feisty Hildy Johnson. Hawks preferred Jean Arthur, who turned the part down for whatever reasons. I think Arthur would have done just fine with this role, but Russell does a great job in her own right.
This is a movie that you must see at least once in your lifetime and if the price is right, add it to your movie collection. Classic top notch entertainment.***** out of *****
Labels: review
SCRIBE'S SO THAT'S WHY I NEVER GOT HERPES WHEN I WAS A FOOTBALL PLAYER REVIEW:
When the subject of the best comic book movie comes up, I usually mention Unbreakable.
Although not a film based on a comic book, it is a film about the mythology and various archetypes found in their pages. This is no Kevin Smith fanboy flick giving shout-outs, this is a film dealing with the essential themes in comics which, the movie argues, are merely an extension of a vaguely remembered fact of human existence.
The plot concerns a normal guy (Willis) with an abnormally high tolerance for pain and illness and an abnormal guy (Jackson) whose bones are so brittle, he is born with a broken arm. The former spends his life seeking fulfillment that never seems to come unless he’s helping people, and the latter spends his seeking answers to why he was born with such a horrible weakness.
(Jackson’s) mother realizes early on he is well on his way to becoming a hermit and decides to use comic books as a method for enticing him to leave their apartment. Soon the boy is deeply enmeshed in comic book lore and, unsurprisingly, grows up to become an advocate of comic books as an art form, even going so far as to open a gallery.
In the meantime, (Willis) winds up taking a train from New York back to Pittsburgh that derails and kills everyone except him. Not only is he not killed, he also isn’t hurt. The same can’t be said for his emotions, however, as we soon get a look at his dying marriage.
In the midst of all this misery and quiet introspection, a startling fact begins to emerge. (Jackson) is convinced that (Willis) is the hero written of in comic books as some type of half-remembered being from the distant past. Heroes, he theorizes, arise in nature as a form of species protection. Comic books are just an outrageous, four-color extension of a very real fact.
The question, “Have you ever been sick?” becomes the running theme of the film. It is a deceptively simple question that portends huge developments through the course of the story.
Unbreakable is an excellent film and should be used as an example whenever someone doubts M. Night Shama-lama-lama-ding-dong’s inherent brilliance as a storyteller. Yes, he has become more focused on his trademark trick ending nowadays, but this was his second big film and the ending is effectively shocking and disturbing unlike “The Sixth Sense” with its predictable final moment.
The actors are all excellent, from Bruce Willis’ understated everyman to Samuel L. Jackson’s tormented loner to Robin Wright Penn’s conflicted good-wife. Even the kid is good. Shamalyan wisely chose not to make this a super-hero film and instead told an extended origin story. It was a wise choice in light of the flood of costumed hero films that have cropped up during the New Millennium.
Perfect mood, perfect atmosphere, none of that adolescent angst over death crap from the Sixth Sense, and the actors all know their roles inside and out. ***** out of *****
GREEN'S FOOTBALL STADIUM SECURITY GUARD BLUES REVIEW:
Wow. For a movie with a run time of 106 minutes, this movie seemed to drag on for-ever.
The only other M. Night Shamalyan movie I had seen before this was the excellent thriller "Sixth Sense", which gave me confidence that this film would be up to the task.
Not quite.
I'm not disrespecting this movie, because I thought it was good - but not great. I thought the story had an interesting premise; that there is a balance between Bruce Willis' and Samuel L. Jackson's characters- perfectly opposite in every way, most notably health-wise, as noted by scribe-o-rama in his review. However, there are some dead spots in the film where I had to shake myself awake and go back to make sure I didn't miss anything.
Willis and Jackson are excellent as usual. Having worked together before, they have a good feel for each other's talents and can play off of each other in a way that you may not get with other actors. In the same way, Willis had worked with Shamalyan before so had an idea of what the director was looking for. There really weren't enough scenes with Robin Wright Penn's character to judge her performance as either good or bad.
Shamalyan is a good storyteller but has a tendency to get caught up in his own cleverness. I do like that he writes himself small parts in his films, which is slightly more than Hitchcock's trademark cameos.
My favorite scene in this film was when an indignant Elijah kicks that potential customer out of his gallery because he was going to buy the comic art for his four year old son (presumably to color on, thus ruining it.)***½ out of *****
Labels: review
Bluez first suggested that we review this film back in March. Since Scribe-o and I try to stick with the free library rentals, it has taken us a while to check out this apparently immensely popular movie. So without delaying the inevitable any longer and for your reading pleasure, I present to you the following reviews:
GREEN'S EVERY DECISION HAS ITS CONSEQUENCES REVIEW:
Riveting.
I don’t say that about many movies, but this one definitely is.
About a month and a half ago when I watched this movie for the first time, from the opening scene to the end of the film I was on the edge of my seat. Even though the subject matter is, shall we say, less than savory, I liked this film enough that I bought it for my DVD collection. I watched it again a few days ago to refresh my memory and found it just as riveting as the first time.
The cast is superb. Casey Affleck proves here that he can be a leading actor, instead of just a bit player as he has been in most of his movies. Ed Harris gives his usual excellent performance and may be one of the most underrated actors in the last fifteen years. What can you say about Morgan Freeman? The man exudes class, even in his relatively small but vital role. Michelle Monaghan, John Ashton, Amy Ryan and Amy Madigan are also good in their respective roles. One of the things I like about this movie is that the bit parts are played by non professional actors; just real people from real Boston area neighborhoods getting their chance at acting. I also like movies filmed entirely on location in Massachusetts (and New England in general) and not on some sound stage in Hollywood or some location other than where the action is supposed to take place.
I was a little bit concerned going in to this film when I heard that the director was Mr. Jennifer Garner, my not so favorite actor with local roots- Ben Affleck. However, I seriously underestimated him as a director and if this film is any indication of his future behind the camera, then he’s off to a very good start. Of course it helps to have good source material. Affleck and Aaron Stockard did a great job adapting Dennis Lehane’s novel to the big screen.
The DVD extras are also worthwhile viewing.
This is a movie that is well worth the 114 minutes of your life that it will take to watch.***** out of *****SCRIBE'S DESCENT INTO MORAL AMBIGUITY REVIEW:
Loathe as I am to agree with Green these days, "Gone Baby Gone" is a very good movie. I wouldn't classify it as "riveting," however, unless that word's definition can be strectched to include the fact that I feel asleep on the really quiet part for a couple minutes during the day and had to rewind an important plot point.
The acting is superb, especially on the part of Casey Affleck, whose portrayal makes me forget how annoying the Boston accent really is. It's difficult to understand some of the dialogue and Boston people in general tend to come across as crass, classless and bigoted as hell, but it works in this film about the missing child of a piece of garbage coke-head. The other actors are dependable and it would've been shocking if they hadn't been good. Morgan Freeman (who seems a bit out of place) Ed Harris and John Ashton are great.
Ben Affleck's direction is excellent. He truly has an eye and a future in feature film making. Dennis Lehane's source material is far superior to the greatly disappointing, Clint Eastwood directed, Mystic River with its total lack of a third act.
My only complaint about this film is the so-called "conspiracy." Although effective, its roots are not properly foreshadowed throughout the film and come dangeorusly close to left field territory when revealed. The moral choice the hero must make at the end is what makes the film work so well. The consequences of his choice are exactly what is expected.**** out of *****
Labels: review
Former Ace newspaper reporter Hildy Johnson (Rosalind Russell) comes back to the office of her ex-editor Walter Burns (Cary Grant) to announce that she's getting married to mild mannered Bruce Baldwin (Ralph Bellamy), much to Walter's surprise, because he's also her ex-husband. But Walter will have none of it as he slyly dangles the carrot of a lifetime under her nose, unwillingly but forcefully making her reassess her priorities and former relationship. 
Having only seen Ralph Bellamy in two of his later movies, ("Trading Places" and "Pretty Woman"), I was impressed with his small but crucial role here and should make a note to self to see some of his other work. I'd never seen anything Rosalind Russell was in before but judging by her performance here, she was an actress who could stand up to the big boys and dish out as well as she could take. The supporting cast may not be as well known but are equally as effective in making this movie the classic that it has become.
