RUBY GENTRY (1952)

3/31/2012

 
Prolific director King Vidor was a master of the melodrama, and this dark romance set in the bayou features the versatile and dynamic Jennifer Jones as a girl from the wrong wide of the swamp who refuses to be tamed, or compromise her love for young Charlton Heston. With Karl Malden. Tight at 82 minutes.

LONDON RIVER

3/28/2012

 
Two parents from different backgrounds search for their children in the aftermath of London's 2005 terrorist bombing. Brenda Blethyn is awesome, as usual. Quiet, beautiful film.
http://www.londonrivermovie.com/
 
Brilliant, funny drama; great script, characters, dialogue: loved it!
 
Susan Hayward is stunning in this drama about a promising singer who discards her talent to support her husband and his singing career. She loses it to booze. Hayward is gorgeous and vulnerable, rewarded with an Oscar nomination: love her! Cool nightclub scenes, and glimpse into the world of radio before television. Dorothy Parker and Frank Cavett nominated for best original screenplay.

IRONCLAD

3/23/2012

 
My obsession with James Purefoy has been compromised by this dreadful film that fittingly includes Paul Giamatti. Couldn't get past twenty minutes... fine for hardcore Knights Templar geeks.

LOST BOYS OF SUDAN

3/21/2012

 
Yes, you should see this documentary about Sudanese refugees in the U.S.A..
http://www.lostboysfilm.com/

OUTRAGE (2010)

3/18/2012

 
"Beat" Takeshi Kitano returns to hardcore yakuza action: lots of violence and brutality. Not a great film but worth it if you love his messed-up face, gangsters and imaginative murders.

One Year Milestone

3/16/2012

 
Today marks the one year anniversary of this blog: thanks for reading!

MATCH POINT (2005)

3/16/2012

 
Daytime drama / soap opera fans rejoice! Woody Allen has made you a two hour movie with beautiful movie stars set in London! Jonathan Rhys Meyers is perfectly cast. Typical bad romance story classed up with literature & opera-goers. The Academy thought this was worthy of a best original screenplay nomination? Did not love it.
http://www.matchpoint.dreamworks.com/main.html

TAKE SHELTER

3/15/2012

 
Michael Shannon; huge head, can speak without moving his lips, mumbles, most moodiest actor since Oliver Reed, intense, amazing: love him. This story suits him, and Jessica Chastain is good too. Excellent film.
http://www.sonyclassics.com/takeshelter/