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Christmas at the Plaza (2019)
There's something at the Plaza
Notwithstanding the oft-mentioned thrown in reference to Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece "North By Northwest" (1959), the movie's nod is clearly to such pieces as "Grand Hotel" (1932) and "Week-end at the Waldorf" (1945) in which the buildings almost take on the form of real characters. Although in unassuming Hallmark territory, that aspect gives this entry a refreshing change of pace, aided by the casting of a newcomer to these proceedings (Elizabeth Henstridge, in a sweetly unaffected performance) paired with a solid and likeable regular (Ryan Paevey). A good one to re-watch.
Before We Go (2014)
The seeds of love
The night of New York is the perfect set-up for the meeting of two people trapped in their own lives, unable or unwilling to make choices that allow them to plunge ahead and have a more fulfilling existence. Over the course of some hours, glances are taken (Brook's) and words are spoken (Nick's) in such a heartfelt manner, ultimately, giving way to the arising of new possibilities as a couple.
Chris Evans' directorial debut is a gem of sensibility and commitment to the romantic genre, treating the viewer to an intimate perspective of two souls whose felicitous chance encounter has them looking at themselves and each other, while opening meaningful paths they never thought would be there to be taken.
Evans and the gorgeous Alice Eve have great chemistry and play of each other beautifully, while never drawing attention to themselves. It's the message that matters, one that's eloquently delivered by this film.
As a blind character said in a recent movie I watched: "Every time you walk in this room you make me feel something I thought I never would again: possibilities.". In this department, "Before We Go" is unmistakable.
An Affair to Remember (1957)
Rather good but...
MOVIE TITLE: An Affair to Remember COUNTRY: USA YEAR: 1957 RATING: 7/10
I'm writing this review after watching back-to-back this and Warren Beatty's "Love Affair" (1994) which, in my opinion, is a direct remake of "An Affair to Remember" rather than "Love Affair" (1939), starring Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer. The 1957 picture starts rather strongly with all those exchanges between Kerr and Grant in the ocean-liner, culminating with their visit to Janou, after which they realize they cannot escape each other anymore. This "crescendo" is very well done. The dialog is nice, Grant and Kerr have chemistry and the Janou episode has the necessary impact. On the other hand, "Love Affair", surely trying to give a more contemporary feeling, opts to create a plot involving a rather turbulent plane trip in way to get the characters into the boat which will lead them to the "old lady" scene. For someone who does not know the plot this can seem almost a mess, but comes to work fairly, not more. Up to this point, "An Affair to Remember" is more interesting than "Love Affair". However, as soon the 1994 film gets to the scene with Ginny (wonderful Katharine Hepburn) it gets a 360 degrees turn, truly becoming a great romantic story. And it's precisely at this moment that the movie reviewed here starts to loose its charm. The second half of the film has much more strength on the Beatty/Bening version. In the 1957 picture everything becomes more tame, even Terry's accident, much more meaningful in 1994. The same for the concert hall scene. Warren Beatty and Annette Bening outdo Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr in most of the scenes. In this second half, the writing is also clearly more interesting in "Love Affair". Both movies end with the exact same scene. Although I have a slight preference for the 1957 version, I find both male actors could have been a little better in this particular moment. They don't fail to deliver, it's just both Kerr and Bening appear more at home here. All in all, "An Affair to Remember" is a rather good romantic movie let down by a slightly inferior second half. Maybe it was the shooting, maybe the writing. It just doesn't work as well for me.