September 7, 2012
If there was one movie you’d grab before running out of your burning home which would it be? Mine would be The Apartment (1960) starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine. It’s a New York love story about two nobodies working in a building filled with thousands of employees. C.C. Baxter (Lemmon) is a simple insurance paper pusher who is duped into lending his apartment to one of his many bosses. Soon all of his bosses need his place to “change into a tuxedo” and before long he realizes it’s actually for their extramarital affairs. C.C. doesn’t want to rock the boat nor lose his job and lets them. He even has to schedule a day to rest at home with a raging head cold! Also, C.C. has an adorable crush on Fran Kubelik (MacLaine), a elevator operator in his office building. She is sweet, funny and polite to C.C., who obviously goes out of his way to ride her elevator each day. He finally gets a date with her, but she stands him up. Then the poor guy finds out she is dating the top boss and he brought her to C.C.’s apartment! When Fran realizes her boyfriend has strung her along and used her like a cheap mistress she attempts suicide there. C.C. saves her life and has to cover for the boss. They have to spend Christmas in his apartment. Does this sound messy? Sure, but being made in 1960 they keep the sleaze to a minimum. C.C. and Fran don’t even kiss, much less sleep together. However they become friends and fall in love without prior carnal knowledge of each other. Can you imagine that!
Where this movie really gets me is the characters and dialogue. Lemmon’s 1,000 facial expressions and Shirley’s subdued agony are beautiful to watch. You feel the pain of C.C.’s crush and Fran’s humiliation. And they’re wonderful together. Every smile exchanged between them makes you smile. Each joke whether clever or corny is unpretentious. I love the line “Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring..Nothing, No Action, Dullsville!” There’s so much more. I watch this about every year and it hasn’t gotten old yet.
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August 20, 2012
Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility is not my favorite of her novels, but its probably my favorite Austen movie adaptation. This is mostly due to Emma Thompson’s wonderful screenplay and Ang Lee’s seamless direction. The story is about two sisters, one Sense, Elinor Dashwood, and the other Sensibility, Marianne Dashwood. Elinor is intelligent, prudent, and reserved. Marianne is outspoken, emotional, and romantic. Their fortunes are dramatically changed after their father dies and they move into a small cottage with their mother and younger sister. Before leaving their old home Elinor meets Edward Farris, her sister-in-law’s brother. Edward is kind, intelligent, and uncomplicated; perfectly matched for Elinor. Despite their growing affection for each other he doesn’t propose marriage and the Dashwoods go to begin their poorer new life. In their new neighborhood another world of people are introduced including Colonel Brandon and Mr. Wiloughby. The Colonel is considerate, respectful, and seriously hot (his voice is like omg). Mr. Wiloughby is dashing, carefree, and handsome. Both men fall in love with Marianne and its immediately obvious who she prefers. I’ll stop there and just say the movie is beautiful, moves really fast, has jaw-dropping twists, and a wonderful cast. This movie is from 1995 and stars Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet.
This is Colonel Brandon…
August 15, 2012
I love stories so it’s a given that I love books, movies, and television shows. Each week I want to feature a movie that really matters to me. These movies have shaped my memories and my thoughts, made me think, hope, laugh, and cry. I’ll try to explain why and maybe you’ll be inspired to watch or even re-watch them. First up is 12 Angry Men starring Henry Fonda. Continue reading
July 28, 2012
If you know anything about Bollywood movies, you’re sure to know about Shahrukh and Kajol. They’re the equivalent of Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, or Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart (ouch). According to the internet they’ve starred together in 6 movies, including Dilwale Dulhania le Jayenge, which ran for over 15 years in theatres! This movie couple’s chemistry is AMAZING. I’ve even had to look away during the more intense parts, not that they ever kiss! I’m currently watching Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (taking a break since its 3.5 hours!) and just had to stop and post about them. Also, I’d love to meet someone like Shahrukh. He comes across as this perfect blend of manliness, vulnerability, charm, and devotion with eyes that stare in your very soul. Superwoman from youtube was right. Bollywood movies are EVIL!
June 26, 2012
Free Speech Forever 