Tina's February 2012 Movies

February, 2012

14. Namath* (2012) – This HBO documentary takes a frank look at Joe Namath, former quarterback for the New York Jets. From a star athlete at Beaver Falls, PA, High School through his career at Alabama, to his emergence as Broadway Joe, Namath became a legend. His then-whopping contract with the Jets contributed to the credibility of the American Football League, and his “guarantee” that the Jets would beat the Colts in the Super Bowl in 1967 helped popularize the sport to the fanatical level it enjoys today. His charisma made him one of the first true star pitchmen, memorably shaving with Noxema and wearing pantyhose in TV commercials. But all of that fame and notoriety didn’t make him immune to devastating injuries and his habit of suppressing the pain with alcohol. Still stoop-shouldered and now with a craggy face, Namath recalls his good times and bad with candor and a smile. He is the stuff of legends. 4 cans.
15. My Week With Marilyn* (2012) – I couldn’t imagine the waif-like Michelle Williams as the voluptuous Marylyn Monroe, but she pulls it off neatly in this look at the vulnerable and insecure actress. Just married to author Arthur Miller, Marilyn goes in England to star with Sir Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branaugh) in a trifle of a movie later named “The Prince and the Showgirl.” She totes along her acting coach and production guy, who attempt to give her confidence, encouragement and drugs to get her through the task at hand. But it is Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne) a lowly “third” – a third assistant director who is nothing more than a gofer with a penchant for the movies – who becomes her ally and friend. You know she will break his heart as he comforts and supports her through her near-breakdown. Colin is a cute young innocent himself, albeit the scion of a wealthy and connected family, and he enjoys this very special time with Marilyn. You can feel the fallibility of the shooting star that was Marilyn, a character of sorts that she herself felt she had to play. 4 cans.
16. Catfish* (2011) – Professional photographer Nev Schulman is flattered when a young girl sends him a painting she created from one of his photographs in this documentary. He strikes up an on-line relationship with young Abby, her mother, Angela, and her older sister, Megan. But as this cautionary tale shows, your Facebook friends may not turn out to be friends – or actual people – at all. When Nev and Megan get serious on-line, his filmmaker partners (brother Rel and friend Henry) decide to record the first meeting between them. Nev is left to figure out exactly what happened to a once-promising relationship and why. So do we, and that’s what makes this movie worth watching. 3½ cans.
17. The Descendents (2011) – Since I saw this movie last year, I won’t review it again except to say that I enjoyed it more the second time around. George Clooney was nominated for an Oscar in a role that I personally think falls short of providing the challenges worthy of such an accolade, but he delivers a solid performance. This isn’t a great movie even though we might want it to be, but it is worth seeing for Clooney and the young actresses who play his daughters, both of whom are outstanding.
18. The Best of Everything (1959) – A girl needs a good, trashy B-movie once in a while, and this melodrama fits the bill. Watching it is like seeing the prequel to “Mad Men,” with its coterie of women slaving away as unappreciated office workers while the men in the adjacent offices attempt to prey on them. The office bitch is played by Joan Crawford, who, in a “Devil Wears Prada” moment, instructs her new assistant, a hopeful Hope Lange, to simultaneously review scripts for the publishing company, straighten out the files and get her coffee. Does Lange’s character, armed with a degree from Radcliffe, aspire to the lonely heights of Crawford’s position, or does she really want to settle down with her boyfriend? Meanwhile, Suzy Parker’s character wants to be an actress and is willing to do anything for a part; Diane Baker falls for the wrong guy (played by Robert Evans, before he became a mega-producer and studio mogul); and Stephen Boyd’s executive drinks too much and chases Hope Lange. Juicy stuff, in a relatively tame 1959 way. 3½ cans.
19. The Wedding Date (2005) – If your sister were getting married and your ex was the best man, wouldn’t you want to show up and dazzle him to make him regret dumping you? Debra Messing’s Kat Ellis hires male escort Nick (Dermot Mulrooney) to play her new boyfriend, and the handsome and buff hooker with a heart lives up to the role. The plot is so obvious you can see it coming through a blizzard, but this is still a pleasant comedy with good turns by Messing, Mulrooney and Amy Adams as the sister. Another chick flick, yes, but with more laughs than “The Best of Everything.” 3½ cans.
20. Hugo* (2012) – This is a pretty good season for young, waif-like characters who spend a lot of time on their own searching for keys and clues (see “Extremely Close and Incredibly Loud”). Director Martin Scorsese’s title character is an orphan living in the Paris train station, keeping the clocks running and trying to avoid the mean man who runs the toy counter (Ben Kingsley) and the local police officer (Sacha Baron Cohen, complete with a Snively Whiplash mustache). The plot ambles along so slowly that I dozed during the first half of the movie. The story only began to catch my interest and keep me awake when it turned out to be related to making movies. As much as Scorsese would like this to be his “Cinema Paradiso,” it doesn’t compare to that beautiful paean to movies. The boy is trying to put things together (an automaton, primarily) and understand some old drawings and images. He partners with the nasty old man’s god-daughter on his adventure, but the plot is difficult to follow and in no way entertaining for kids. Maybe if I had seen this movie in 3D I would have enjoyed it more. Or maybe if I could ever enjoy fantasy, I could have gotten more out of it. But I will give it high praise for the incredible camera work and special effects, and some of the visual imagery is stunning. But overall, I just couldn’t connect with the boy and his strange 1930s world. For that matter, if the story took place in Paris, why did everyone sound English? 3½ cans, all for the brilliant visual work.
21. Same Time, Next Year (1978) – I could watch this movie same time, any year. Even though I know it is about infidelity, the relationship between George (Alan Alda) and Doris (Ellen Burstyn) is just so warm and genuine. They meet at a seaside resort, where George is staying on business and Doris stops on her way to a religious retreat. They instantly bond, despite having spouses they love, and pledge to meet each year for more trysts. Their separate lives intersect through stories about their families and events they could not have anticipated. I find this movie moving, funny and heart-warming. 4 cans.