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Reviews
The Great Race (1965)
"Push the button Max!"
Marvelous romp!A classic I've loved since the first time I saw this one in the real movie theatre when it was first released. And I've waited for years to meet people who would admit to loving this movie-and now I am so surprised at just *who* is a fan-intellectuals, serious 'cinephiles'! Wow!
It's amazing how they fit in almost every, single movie cliche in this movie! It's fun just to count them! And it *is* a fun movie-I rank it miles ahead of that other 60s favourite that's always mentioned alongside-"It's a Mad, Mad..." The music is great! (Listen to how many traditional patriotic songs are in the Great Leslie medley!) The acting is fun-and appropriate-though Jack Lemmon is more then appropriate-he's superb! (You almost find yourself cheering on the Evil Professor Fate as much as the Great Leslie.) And I love the look in Ross Martin's eyes when he realizes that this is one duel in which he's met his match! Add in the scenery and the cars and you have a classic.
Let's hope this one gets the restoration treatment it so richly deserves!
The Italian Job (2003)
As much fun as a Mini!
I saw this last night-what a treat! I went with an open mind, being a fan of the original. In fact, I wasn't going to see it, because I am a fan of the original. But the previews, the publicity-it all got to me.
It was good! It was more than good-it was enjoyable. Heck, if it hadn't been a discounted matinee, I would have paid full price! (Something I cannot say about some other recent films...)
Yes, it's not a LBF (Little British Film) even though there are LBCs. No, it's not the same plot-just a few things borrowed from the original and a couple of names carried over. And yes, Mark Wahlberg is not the most charismatic of actors-but, compared to Keanu Reeves-he emotes nicely.
Speaking of Reeves, the last movie I went to see was "The Matrix Reloaded" and I have see several reviews for "The Italian Job" comparing it unfairly with "Reloaded". I think they're entirely different types of movies and how can the two be compared except to say that "The Italian Job" was enjoyable and the audience reacted during it and APPLAUDED at the end, whilst "The Matrix Reloaded" had the double whammy of Mr. Reeves terrible acting and an indecipherable story. THe audience left that one looking stunned and exhausted.
So, comparisions to "The Matirx Reloaded" aside, and forgetting about the original movie, as I loved the old "Italian Job", this one stands on it's own-wonderful locales (hey, some of us really do love L.A.); car chases that actually seem to be for a reason; clever thievery; a fun cast-and a spirit that seemed to carry the (mostly over 30 year old) audience that I saw it with all the way through-I'd give this one two thumbs way up for a fun time at the movies.
Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows (2001)
Judy Davis IS Judy Garland
I don't often watch an entire movie and feel satisfied. And it's not often that a movie that runs two hours will hold my attention all the way to the end-especially if I already know the story. But this one does. The time flew by!
Both Tammy Blanchard and Judy Davis are mesmerizing-I couldn't look away. I have a few Garland movies, been a fan since I can remember and loved her tv show when I was little. (And she died on my birthday-so, I'll always feel a certain connection there.) And I'm very familiar with the Garland story. These two women were channeling Garland! I loved the scenes where they recreated the scenes from movies-in fact I had just watched "Meet Me in St. Louis" the night before-I was astounded at the detail! The costumes in this trolley scene match the costumes in the original! This costume designer was nothing if not thorough!
One of the scenes I loved was looking around the studio, but you hear Judy, as Esther Blodgett, talking about Norman Maine's faults but that she loves him...and slowly the camera comes around, over the shoulder of Cukor and Luft and Jack Warner, and we see the scene she's playing in the dressing room from "A Star is Born" (another favourite film)-every nuance, every gesture was there-and it wasn't empty-Davis really WAS Garland filming that scene and giving it all her emotion as Esther! Dizzying!
There are only two reasons I could not give this a 10, but a 9-
1.) I really like Hugh Laurie, but he was woefully miscast as Vicente Minnelli, I thought. And he performed as if he knew it-as if he was trying to figure out what he was doing there!
And the second reason is because in all the interveiws with Lorna Luft, she talks about what a wonderful person her mother was and how she wanted people to see her how Lorna knew her-her joy, her humour. The scale seemed to tip a bit too much in the opposite direction.
All in all, a wonderful effort-every person invlolved in this project should be so very proud!
Evil Roy Slade (1972)
A Classic
I was actually looking up Dick Shawn (a great favourite of my late mum's and mine-she used to let me stay up late to watch The Tonight show the nights he was on with Johnny Carson-cool mom!) when I found the reviews for Evil Roy Slade-and the memories came flooding back! I have never been able to hear a door bell with out thinkng of Bing Bell!
Anyway, what a thrill to see that there are so many fans of this little gem out there-and an even bigger thrill to learn that it's available on video!
I have fond memories of My sister and I singing "Evil Roy Slade".
Really great to know that others share in the laughter over this one!
Ice Castles (1978)
Memories...
I loved this movie when it came out and I still love it all these years later-flaws and all.
First of all, the book was so great in it's depiction of competetive skating and the machinations that sometimes go on behind the scenes. That said, the movie was actually a pretty good adaptation.
But, probably the main reason I loved this movie was because I was there when they filmed many of the Broadmoor World Arena scenes. It was my home rink, and it's a blast to see old coaches, old skating friends. And to see the World Arena, which sadly was torn down a few years back. A sad day...
I remember that practice times were a mess because of the shooting schedule-some of us had our practice time in between scenes-lights and all! I remember watching the scene where the "French" skater falls in the middle of a show-and watching the skater playing that part throwing herself onto the ice, over and over again. Ouch! I remember Lynn-Holly seeming a bit nervous; Robby Benson as a bit shy, but very nice (and patient-when introduced, I couldn't remember my name!); David Huffman was very cute and Jennifer Warren was friendly, charming, modest and gorgeous! She didn't know how to skate very well and came out with some of us to learn! She became something of a rink rat while there!
Having been there for some of that, it changes one's perspective a bit, but still, I feel myself drawn into the story-and I cry at the end just like everyone else.
Dead Again (1991)
A modern classic?
The first time I saw this, I had been living out of the country for a long time and didn't really know who Kenneth Branagh or Emma Thompson were. Halfway through the movie, my girlfriend said to me-isn't he great as an American?
This is good, old fashioned entertainment-superbly acted. And the L.A. scenes are so affectionately photographed. I love L.A. so it was a delight to see sort of a "real L.A.". (Love the scenes at Greystone!) There's wit, mystery, desolation (the Robin Williams role, the scenes in the mental hospital), treachery, loyalty (Mike's to the priest and nun's, the housekeeper to Roman), love, passion, mysticism, art and tenderness. With great acting, an entrancing mystery all set against beautiful and fascinating scenery! Whew! What a ride! (An 'E' ticket ride!)
I sometimes think that the people who like this movie or not can be divided between the people who can suspend disbelief in Karma and Re-incarnation and those who cannot. I found it refreshing to see a film which deals with questions of past life regression, re-incarnation and karma with grace-not as some sort of weirdo underworld populated by crazies and freaks, but as something that's part of the everyday world around us. That person sitting next to you on the couch, watching a movie with you-who was that person before? And who were you?
9/10
The Great Race (1965)
"Push the button Max!"
Marvelous romp!A classic I've loved since the first time I saw this one in the real movie theatre when it was first released. And I've waited for years to meet people who would admit to loving this movie-and now I am so surprised at just *who* is a fan-intellectuals, serious 'cinephiles'! Wow!
It's amazing how they fit in almost every, single movie cliche in this movie! It's fun just to count them! And it *is* a fun movie-I rank it miles ahead of that other 60s favourite that's always mentioned alongside-"It's a Mad, Mad..." The music is great! (Listen to how many traditional patriotic songs are in the Great Leslie medley!) The acting is fun-and appropriate-though Jack Lemmon is more then appropriate-he's superb! (You almost find yourself cheering on the Evil Professor Fate as much as the Great Leslie.) And I love the look in Ross Martin's eyes when he realizes that this is one duel in which he's met his match! Add in the scenery and the cars and you have a classic.
Let's hope this one gets the restoration treatment it so richly deserves!
C'était un rendez-vous (1976)
Vrrroooooooom!!!!
This short (approx 15-20 minutes) film is right up there with the car chase from "Bullit". If you're into fast cars-this is for you! Lelouch borrowed a friends Ferrari, strapped a camera on the front and took a high speed drive through the streets of Paris at daybreak. Thrilling! Listen as he goes through the gears. We have a tradition in my (British) car club of showing this at the last meeting of the year-and no one has tired of it yet! (Equally as exciting backward as it is forward!) Credits should read-"Sound track by Enzo"!