Reviews

Like most of Virginia Woolf's literary output, I appreciated the film-version of "Mrs. Dalloway" more than I enjoyed it. There are flashes of blinding beauty in this movie, however, the film's "sum" is not equal to its "parts". Of course, Vanessa Redgrave continues to astound me with her talent. And ---yes, the film is beautifully made and attention to period detail is evident. And --- yes, parts of the story are very heart-rending. Yet.... why does this film satisfy me but not move me? Like a guest at one of Mrs. Dalloway's parties, I am more impressed with the effort that went into the production than the product itself.

Star! is publicized as the flop that ended Julie Andrews' career. None of the blame should be laid at Julie's feet however. Her performance, especially in the musical numbers, is unparalleled. Julie WAS the greatest musical star of her day: if you don't believe me, imagine Barbra (whom I adore also) being tossed around by chorus boys in the "Jenny" finale. Also, kudos must go to Daniel Massey as Noel Coward: he could have really "camped" up the role but, thankfully, he played it with restraint. The problem with the movie is that it is constructed with the great musical numbers connected by a very flawed & minimal plot. Furthermore, the musical numbers don't advance the plot at all (only in a few spots do they even parallel Gertrude Lawrence's life-situations of the moment). So, what we're left with is a revue...a pastiche of musical numbers..a Ziegfield Follies of 1968!! So, the character of Gertrude Lawrence isn't fleshed out enough for audience sympathy to develop. Finally, the choice of imitating b&w newsreel footage just doesn't work and further distances the audience from the movie. Check it out though---the musical numbers are super-spectacular and Julie Andrews gives a Star!-performance

Rented the DVD last night. The film is visually arresting in the "psyche" sequences. Underneath all of the sensory impact however is the implied message that evil is created by circumstances in one's past. Controversial stuff for the society we live in today. Unfortunately, most of the acting talent is wasted because character development is nil. Wonderful actress Marianne Jean-Baptiste ("Secrets & Lies") is especially under-used as Doctor #2---of it she #3???

As an aside, I couldn't help thinking about "Psycho": how it was so revolutionary, how it spawned a whole genre of movies (including the Cell), and how it affected such horror with so little gore. Have we come to the decadence of the genre when a movie like "The Cell" is merely a montage of images designed to shock-- no matter how beautifully contrived it is or no matter how little plot there really exists within it?

In "Love Me or Leave Me", it's all about Doris. Even though Cagney gives a first-rate performance as Day's mobster husband, the film is a showcase for Day's talents--which are considerable here. Certainly, pre-"Pillow Talk", Day never looked lovelier. Plus, Day was given A+ song material to work with. I was trying to explain this movie to a friend and told her that it's not a musical like "Singin in the Rain"--there's no ensemble numbers in "Love Me of Leave Me": it's merely Day belting out her tunes. However, that's satisfying enough for me. And how refreshing is it to watch a musical where the protagonist can really sing---and not be dubbed or worse..not dubbed (just watched that remake of "South Pacific" with Glenn [Mr. DeMille, I'm Ready for My] Close [Up] ---Ugh). Brava, Doris!

In a world saturated with "Dawson Creek"s and Britney-Spears-wannabes, it's refreshing to revisit "Adult" entertainment (when the word wasn't associated with skin-flicks). "A Letter To Three Wives" is about adults dealing with relationships; best of all, it never insults your intelligence. It's an incredible well-told story and an incredible well-crafted film...I guess, we can thank director Mankiewicz for that! However, it's also really well-acted: an endearing Ann Sothern, a fresh Kirk Douglas, a smoldering Linda Darnell, and Connie Gilchrist and Thelma Ritter in inimitable comic supporting roles. Only Jeanne Crain comes across as brittle and unsympathetic. Wondering what to do when the kids are at the N-Sync concert? Watch this one!

I watched this movie for the first time this weekend (on DVD). It's been troubling me ever since because I still don't know how I feel about the last Czar: flawed man trapped by circumstance or bumbling autocrat responsible for countless deaths, including his own family's??? The movie doesn't portray the last Romanovs as absolute heroes or absolute villains. And this, my friends, is the sign of a well-crafted historical epic!! I've read Robert K. Massie's book; while it is overwhelmingly historically detailed, I think some of the humanity of the characters is lost. That is where this movie excels: it reminds us that Nicholas, Alexandra, Lenin, Rasputin, etc. were flesh-and-blood and not mere historical paper-dolls. I'm not going to comment on the individual actors because this movie is great because of the sum of its parts. The bottom line: I'm still haunted by this movie and I'm deeply affected by the tragedy of errors which affected so many people during this time. I've read many books on the Russian Revolution, but I've never felt the human tragedy as much as when I watched this movie. It may not be the most conventional movie, but it's worth spending the time to get through it.