Tina's April Movies 2011

Between rainy days and still being sick, I saw 24 movies in April. Numbering picks up from last month, asterisks indicate movies I had not seen previously, and ratings are based on a scale of 1-5 cans of tuna.

34. Love & Other Drugs* (2010) – The combination of Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhall proves deadly dull in this would-be romantic comedy/drama about a sick woman and a pharmaceutical sales rep. She’s a free spirit, which is just what the doctor ordered for the commitment-phobic, skirt-chasing drug rep. So, of course, they fall in love, even though he is warned that taking care of her is something he won’t want to do. Raise your hand if you didn’t see any of this coming. Anyone? Hathaway, showing considerably more skin than in “The Princess Diaries,” is no more appealing than Gyllenhall in this downer of a movie, which, by the way, may cause drowsiness (it sure made me fall asleep). 2½ cans.
35. Topper* (1931) – Cary Grant and Constance Bennett team up in this spirited comedy as ghosts. A couple of bon vivants who die in an automobile accident, they come back as apparitions, intent on being erstwhile guardian angels for an uptight banker named Cosmo Topper. Their materializing and dematerializing on film must have represented very advanced special effects at the time, and the comedy of this farce was probably considered pure hilarity in its day. It’s hard not to like anything with Cary Grant, a leading man who can wear a suit or a tux better than anyone in film history. 3 cans.
36. Who Am I This Time?* (1982) – The play’s the thing for shy and awkward Harry Nash (Christopher Walken), who lets loose his inner Stanley Kowalski in local community theater productions. A hardware clerk by day, Harry transforms into whatever character he plays and then recedes back to his quiet persona when the curtain comes down. Helene (Susan Sarandon) is passing through town but is there long enough to be persuaded by the local theater director to audition for the part of Stella in the troupe’s version of “A Streetcar Named Desire.” She falls hard for Harry, not understanding that her leading man is nothing like the part he plays. This is a sweet little movie, and as long as Harry and Helene can play their parts, their collaboration can have a long run. 3 cans.
37. Splendor in the Grass (1961) – Teenager Deani Loomis (Natalie Wood) has a problem – several, in fact. She has an overbearing, over-protective mother who is determined that she remain “unspoiled” and a hot boyfriend named Bud (Warren Beatty) who has other ideas. The two kids really love each other and they wrestle with the limits placed on their relationship by Deani’s mother and the mores of society as the Roaring 20s comes to an end. Bud has an overbearing father who encourages his son to find a girl not so set on remaining chaste. This is the ultimate tale of teenage angst and frustration and how your mother really can drive you crazy. Well played, and Beatty never looked better. 4½ cans.
38. His Way* (HBO 2011) – Jerry Weintraub is a movie producer, a concert promoter and music maker. He is also one of the great characters of the entertainment industry, as revealed in this documentary about how a kid from the Bronx worked his way up the ladder of success from the mailroom at the William Morris agency with chutzpah, hard work and good luck. Among his claims to fame are working with Elvis (he created Elvis’ memorable tour), Frank Sinatra (he produced Sinatra’s legendary concert at Madison Square Garden called “The Main Event”) and George Clooney (he produced the “Ocean 11/12/13” series with Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon). A natural raconteur, Jerry tells juicy stories about working with the stars, and they, in turn, love to dish about him. If you liked “The Kid Stays in the Picture” about Robert Evans, you’re bound to enjoy this gem about a guy who won’t take no for an answer. 4 cans.
39. 36 Hours (1964) – It is 1944, and U.S. Army Major Jeff Pike (James Garner) knows all the details of the upcoming D-Day invasion of Normandy. Unfortunately, the Germans know all about Jeff Pike. He is drugged and captured in Lisbon only a few days before D-Day and brought to what looks just like a U.S. Army hospital. When he wakes up, the staff there convinces him that six years have elapsed and engages him in conversation about the D-Day maneuvers. Will he disclose the details in time to prevent the invasion? Will the doubting German brass believe the experiment works and that Pike is telling the truth? Lots of intrigue here, and solid performances by Garner, Eva Marie Saint as the German nurse who helps him and Rod Taylor as the plotting German doctor who might not be trustworthy himself. 4 cans.
40. The Lincoln Lawyer* (2011) – Matthew McConaughey plays a wise-ass defense attorney with a creepy clientele and not necessarily the best ethical standards in this intriguing drama. When a case falls into his lap to defend Ryan Philippe on charges of assault, his only requirements are a fat fee from the client’s wealthy family and the real story from the accused, who claims to have been set up by a prostitute. The lawyer and his investigator (William Macy) aren’t completely convinced but are forced to defend him in the face of evidence to the contrary. This is an absorbing drama and McConaughey – not one of my favorite actors – does a believable job with his role. There are definitely holes in the story that ask you to not question the script, but I gave it 4 cans anyway.
41. The Dresser* (1983) – Tom Courtney is Norman, the manservant to a man-child Shakespearean actor played by Albert Finney. Alternately butler, secretary and all-around nanny to the increasingly mad actor, Norman flits around backstage, cajoling, obeying and bossing his boss in a love-hate relationship. As the actor’s mind and body begin to betray him, Norman’s workload increases and he feels even less appreciated. This is a comedy-drama that shows the demands of the theater and how they take their toll on all of the major players. Finney, a versatile and accomplished actor, plays his over-the-top actor with wit and determination, and Courtney is outstanding. The story? Not something I’d want to see again. 3½ cans, all for the actors.
42. The Young Philadelphians (1959) – On a rainy day when I am stuck at home with bronchitis, I can think of nothing better than immersing myself in a juicy melodrama starring one of my all-time favorite actors, Paul Newman. Here he plays Anthony Judson Lawrence, son of a social climbing mother who clings to the Lawrence name despite the fact that Tony’s father isn’t actually a Lawrence, a secret known only to a select few. Tony grows up on the Mainline in Philadelphia, eventually becoming a prominent and ambitious attorney who travels in all the right social circles. But how many compromises must he make to get to the top and stay there? Is he willing to give up the girl he loves for a better offer? Will he stick by his desperate friend in spite of the risk to his social standing? This is juicy stuff indeed, complete with a courtroom scene and a “whodunit” that makes it all the more interesting. I love this movie and was so excited to see that TCM was finally airing it. I haven’t seen it in years but it is always worth the wait. 4½ cans.
43. & 44. Schmatta: From Rags to Riches (2009) and Triangle: Remembering the Fire* (2011) – I am reviewing these movies together because they are both woven around the rag trade – the garment industry in New York City. In both films, the tragic 1911 fire at the Triangle Waist Factory plays a central role. “Schmatta” reviews the growth of the garment industry from its early days through its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s to its denouement today, when only 5% of all clothes sold in the U.S. are made in the U.S. Before 1911, we learn in “Triangle,” there were no laws governing the industry and its factories, most of which were in Manhattan. The 18-minute fire that swept through the Triangle Waist Company ended with 146 deaths, 90 from people jumping out of 8th &9th floor windows when they couldn’t access the crowded narrow staircases and the elevators broke down. Afterwards, much needed legislation addressed safety issues and the International Ladies Garment Workers Union swiftly moved in to protect the young and mostly immigrant workforce. Both of these documentaries offer a glimpse into history that is as fascinating as it is sad. 4 cans.
45. Being There (1979) – Chance is a gardener. He has spent his life tending to the garden of a rich old man and living in one room in his Washington, D.C., house, where he watches TV incessantly. He has never been in a car, talked on a phone or learned to read or write. So when the old man dies and a young attorney evicts him from the house, he has nowhere to go. He is hit by a car owned by a wealthy couple who take him home to care for him while he recovers. Because he is well dressed (thanks to the old man), they assume he is rich, and his simple ways impress them as wisdom. Through a series of misunderstandings, he becomes a celebrity, his wisdom pursued by high society and even by the President himself. People believe the man they call Chauncey Gardener is a messiah. There is even a scene where he walks across water, in case the audience doesn’t get it. Peter Sellars gives a remarkable performance as a guileless innocent, preyed upon by Shirley McLaine and trusted by her elderly, dying husband, Melvyn Douglas. This is a good satire, an indictment of the rich and of what happens when we watch just a little too much TV. 4 cans.
46. Absolute Power* (1994) – I have to plan my own Clint Eastwood film festival, because the more of his movies I watch, the more I like him as an actor and director. Here he gives his typical understated performance as Luther Whiting, a professional thief who is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Luther breaks into a mansion, and when the lady of the house returns unexpectedly with her inebriated lover, Luther is trapped behind a mirror that allows him to see all the action in the bedroom. A fight between the couple turns violent, and the man is about to be stabbed by his lover when two men burst into the room and kill her. It doesn’t spoil the movie to tell you that the man (Gene Hackman) is the President of the United States and the gunmen are his Secret Service agents. They spend the rest of the movie protecting the president and trying to track down Luther. Everybody is after the old guy, who resorts to every trick in his book to outwit, outplay and outlast them. Great cast (Ed Harris, Laura Linney, Dennis Haysbert, Scott Glen, Judy Davis) and plenty of twists and turns makes this a taut and absorbing tale. 4 cans.
47. Back to School (1986) – There is no sophistication, subtlety or even a modicum of good taste in this hilarious comedy, which is one of the reasons I love it. Rodney Dangerfield is all bugged-eyed and twitchy as a self-made businessman who decides at an advanced age to join his son in college. Defying all logic and reason, he gains admission by donating a building. Ignore the weak and unbelievable plot and watch this movie on your DVR or DVD so you can repeat the fast, furious and funny lines you will miss while laughing at the previous lines. The movie attempts to be heart-warming, but mainly it is a vehicle for Dangerfield’s blowhard and amusing character, and it cracks me up. My favorite line? Dangerfield to the teacher (Sally Kellerman) he is attempting to date despite her heavy schedule: “Why don’t you call me some time when you have no class?” That’s perfect, because nothing here has class. 4 cans.
48. Win Win* (2011) – Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti) is anything but a winner. His law practice is failing, as is the clanging boiler in his basement, and he is determined not to have to resort to supplementing his income to support the family he loves by bartending. So when an opportunity to become the legal guardian of an elderly man with the onset of dementia comes up, Mike convinces the court he’s the man for the ($1500 a month) job. Life gets complicated for the part-time high school wrestling coach when the old man’s grandson, Kyle (Alex Shaffer), shows up and Mike and his wife are forced to take care of him. The kid, an accomplished wrestler, goes out for the team, and Mike’s luck seems to change. Giamatti plays the hang-dog everyman with aplomb, Amy Ryan is perfectly cast as his wife, and Bobby Cannavale provides comic relief as Mike’s friend. The young actor who plays the wrestler actually was a wrestler from New Jersey and pulls off the part of Kyle credibly since he knows all the right moves. “Win Win” is a winner. 4 cans.
49. Susan Slade (1961) – Another rainy day, another melodrama for me. Susan Slade (Connie Stevens) is the 17-year old daughter of a loving and wealthy couple (Lloyd Nolan and Dorothy McGuire) who adore her. She meets a handsome, rich mountain climber on a cruise and goes where Deani Loomis’ mother (see “Splendor in the Grass,” above) wouldn’t let her go. If you’re guessing complications ensue, you’d be right. Troy Donahue plays a handsome horseman and would-be author with a crush on the lovely Ms. Stevens, and Bert Convy, the son of her parents’ best friends, is a suitor. This movie features soaring music and beautiful scenery enhanced by lush Technicolor. It tries mightily to overcome the trite script and the stiff acting, especially from Troy Donahue, who, as an actor, can best be described as very tall. 3 cans.
50. Cinema Verite* (HBO 2011) – Long before “Cops” started arresting bad boys on the street and hordes of housewives invaded American cities, the aptly-named Loud family became stars of “An American Family,” the first reality show on TV. This is a dramatization of the story behind the landmark 1973 PBS 10-hour documentary on what turned out to be a dysfunctional American family. Producer Craig Gilbert (James Gandolfini) is the heavy (literally), charming Pat Loud (Diane Lane, one of my favorite actresses) and her smarmy husband Bill (Tim Robbins) into allowing his cameras to capture their lives. The Louds warm to the cameras quickly, never forgetting they are being recorded, but not seeming to mind. I don’t know who is the bigger villain here – Gilbert, who manipulates Pat into more reality than she imagined, or the philandering husband she is encouraged to kick out of the house while the cameras roll. When the original show aired on PBS, it drew the highest ratings ever on what was then considered “educational” TV. This is an effective look back at that time and these people, who set the stage for TV reality that now includes such abominable fare as “Real World” and “Jersey Shore.” 4 cans.
51. Dial M for Murder* (1954) – A retired tennis pro (Ray Milland) plots the murder of his wealthy wife (Grace Kelly) in this stylish mystery directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The husband knows his wife has been cheating on him with an American mystery writer (Robert Cummings) and has a love letter to prove it. So he “persuades” a man from his past to do the deed, but not everything goes according to plan. There is much ado about telephone calls and latch keys and changing the story to accomplish the ultimate goal. Based on a play, the movie takes place almost entirely within the main characters’ apartment, but that just keeps the story taut. Excellent performances and Grace Kelly is gorgeous. Dial H for Hitchcock hit. 4 cans.
52. Dog Day Afternoon (1975) – On a sweltering New York day, a pair of armed robbers attempts the heist of a Brooklyn bank. But this is the gang that couldn’t shoot straight and they have arrived after most of the cash has left the building. Sonny (Al Pacino), a skittish and scared loser, is the “mastermind,“ aided by silent Sal (John Cazale), and soon they and their hostages are surrounded by legions of police and media. Sonny doesn’t really have a plan B – as he is reminded by one of the tellers he takes hostage – and he attempts to negotiate with the head cop (Charles Durning) while becoming part of the media circus assembling outside the bank. The steady parade of people in his life shows up – his wife, his mother, and his gay lover, for whom he decided to rob the bank to fund a sex-change operation – all with advice that makes the situation go from bad to worse. You can’t make this stuff up, and director Sidney Lumet (who recently passed away) didn’t have to. This story was “ripped from the headlines.” The most iconic scene is Pacino as Sonny taunting the cops by chanting “Attica, Attica,” a reference to a revolt at the New York prison that resulted in numerous deaths at the hands of anxious police. 4 cans.
53. The Jagged Edge (1985) – Jagged-edged knives, a violent murder, a handsome suspect and a “smoking gun” combine in this courtroom drama/mystery/suspense movie starring Glenn Close and Jeff Bridges. Bridges, a wealthy and charismatic publisher, hires Close, a former prosecutor who hasn’t been in a courtroom for 4 years, to defend him against charges he murdered his wife. There are plenty of red herrings here, and plenty of predictable scenarios. If you pay close attention, you can probably figure out whodunit. 3 cans.
54. The Big Chill (1983) – Before Glenn Close became a lawyer with large shoulder pads in “The Jagged Edge,” she appeared in this ensemble of attractive 30-somethings gathered for the funeral of one of their own. All college pals, they have gone on to various lives of their own, keeping in touch only here and there, but when unseen Alex kills himself, they turn up at the home of Close and her husband, played by Kevin Kline, to mourn the loss of their friend and their youth. Yes, it is a bit pretentious, but as someone about the same age as these friends, I remember appreciating the exploration of relationships and memories. And the soundtrack can’t be beat. It is true, as one of the first songs reminds us, “you can’t always get what you want, but if you try some time, you just might find you get what you need.” I needed and loved this dose of nostalgia. And I remembered that I love Kevin Kline. Also starring William Hurt, Mary Kay Place, Jeff Goldblum, JoBeth Williams, Tom Berenger and a very young Meg Tilly. Almost starring Kevin Costner, who plays the dead body of Alex and whose face is never seen. 4½ cans.
55. Gentlemen’s Agreement* (1947) – Gregory Peck stars as Phil Green, an earnest magazine writer in this somewhat preachy drama that examines the prevalence of anti-Semitism. Green’s angle on his story is to pretend he is Jewish so he can experience first-hand the prejudice of the day – being denied entry into everything from colleges to restaurants to communities. His premise works, even revealing the subtle prejudices of people he knows who swear they know better. This well-intentioned but overwrought drama gets extra credit for tackling an important subject and winning the Oscar for Best Movie. 3½ cans.
56. Private Benjamin (1980) – There are few movies I enjoy more than this comedy starring the adorable Goldie Hawn in the title role. Judy Benjamin is a young Jewish woman totally spoiled by her parents and whose mission in life is to land the right man. When her lawyer husband dies on their wedding night, she is inconsolable and, in her grief, is talked into joining the Army. After initial troubles fitting in, she eventually bonds with her platoon and begins to emerge as her own person – until she meets the French, Jewish gynecologist of her dreams (Armand Assante) and reverts to worrying about the color of the napkins. Hawn is either the best actress in the world or she genuinely loved playing this part, because when she and her troop dance to “We Are Family” in the barracks, it is totally joyful. There are great lines here and enough silliness and substance to make the movie worthwhile. I love this movie. 4½ cans.
57. William and Kate* (2011) – Since the Royal Wedding took place yesterday, I thought I would sit through this Lifetime TV docudrama about the courtship of the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Of course, I have no way to determine the authenticity of this depiction of the start of the love affair, but I also know I won’t ruin it by revealing that they have their ups and downs. Since the movie ends with William on bended knee, and since the wedding took place yesterday, we can only hope for a happy ever after. The actors playing the leads were appealing and the story caught me up on any unknown drama that may have taken place. Still, Citizen Kane it was not. 3 cans.
58. An American in Paris* (1951) – For a movie buff like me not to have seen this classic film is really unforgivable. Yet, I have to state frankly that there isn’t much of a movie here. The majority of the film is an homage to Gershwin music and the genius of Gene Kelly as a choreographer and dancer. Everything in the film leads up to magical 17-minute fantasy dance sequence, when Paris itself comes to life, seemingly leaping off the canvases of French painters with vibrant colors and exuberant dancing by Kelly and waif-like co-star Leslie Caron. The plot is as thin as Caron, who only comes alive when dancing. Still, the climactic dance, shot in a series of long, unedited scenes, is breathtaking. Kelly’s more athletic than balletic, and he shines here. Now I have to find “Singing in the Rain” and my obligations as a film buff will be complete. 4 cans.