No Strings Attached, I AM, Harry Potter Deathly Hallows, Lots of FILM NOIR, and OSCAR PREDICTIONS

It's near the end of the run for NO STRINGS ATTACHED, the Ivan Reitman directed film starring Oscar nominee Natalie (BLACK SWAN) Portman and Auston Kutcher, but I enjoyed this raunchy romantic comedy immensely. At first I thought I was just being easy--desperate for a laugh after a tough week with domestic issues, but I realized that the combination of charming actors (which include the charming Kevin Kline and amusingly affected Lake Bell) and the fast pace of the direction and editing keep this bon bon afloat---certainly much livelier than the recent, confused LOVE and OTHER DRUGS. I've watched Portman with much interest after first seeing her as the lead in DIARY OF ANNE FRANK in London many years ago, and she always impresses me with her accessibility and smart approach to her roles. Obviously, one mans comedy is another man's tedium, but if you don't go in with the most highbrow of expectations, you might really enjoy this movie. GRADE--------B

Comedy director Tom Shadyac has made some of the most financially successful comedies of all time: BRUCE ALMIGHTY, NUTTY PROFESSOR and ACE VENTURE PET DETECTIVE. His newest film is I AM----a New Age documentary about his philosophical changes after a life threatening injury caused him to rethink what life is all about. I enjoyed watching it--he mixes discussions with very thoughtful intelligent people (including Desmond Tutu, Howard Zinn and Noam Chomsky) with moving and sometimes funny scenes from news clips and movies to illustrate that, basically, all we need is love, that people are fundamentally good, and all of nature, including humans are interconnected. I agree with much of what was said. Now, whether the right people will see this well intentioned film remains to be seen, and whether it will change "diseased" people (meaning the greedy, the self-centered, the warmongers and the corrupt corporate executives and Wall Street in particular) remains to be seen. GRADE------B-

I finally caught up with the latest HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HOLLOWS--PART 1 which is finally nearing the end of its long run. I have to say that the last few Potter movies have left me confused and uninvolved---never having read the novels, I am totally lost as to what or who is doing what to whom and why. Still, they are entertaining for the special effects and intriguing production values. Now, why do the 3 main characters hold hands and zap themselves to other locations just in the nick of time, and yet in other scenes they must laboriously walk or ride broomsticks/flying horses/flying cars, etc. I fail to see too much consistent logic in all these magical shenanigans. GRADE-------B-

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Continuing my fascination with all things Katherine Hepburn, I watched, for the first time, WOMAN OF THE YEAR (1942)--her first teaming with Spencer Tracy. It's an early telling of the age old dilemma that tries to show what happens when the woman is at the top of her career and how that affects the "traditional" relationships. There are a number of outstanding, funny, witty scenes---one has sportswriter Tracy trying to explain a baseball game to the world famed political commentary Hepburn who's never been to a game before. Both actors are riveting and touching as they struggle to understand their unusual marriage. GRADE--------A-

A film I'd seen long ago, the iconic screwball comedy BRINGING UP BABY (1938) which teams Hepburn with Cary Grant to madcap effect, doesn't totally hold up for me today as the masterpiece some think it is, and I don't think I appreciated it 30 some years ago when I first saw it. It is fascinating to watch, nonetheless, due to some carefully choreographed direction by Howard Hawks, and some amusing supporting characterizations including Charlie Ruggles and May Robson. Most of the dialogue is witty and quickly delivered, but the pacing seemed uneven, and there is a long sequence before the ending where Hepburn and Grant are marching around in the dark meadow/woods looking for "Baby"--a leopard (!?!--you'd have to see it to understand)--but their interactions falls flat and the movie nearly grinds to a halt. There are a couple of other places that also seemed too broad, too obvious --ie. running around after the dog to find a buried bone. Still.....the set-up is a riot, as the madcap heiress totally upsets the life of the uptight and absent minded zoologist. Perhaps you need to be in the right frame of mind to really get into such wackiness. GRADE--------B
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Lots of FILM NOIR viewed on screen and DVD in the last two weeks. Top of the bunch is
THE DARK MIRROR (1946) in which Olivia de Havilland plays twin sisters, one good and the other disturbed, who are implicated in murder. The film creates tension and mystery, and the twin conceit is well acted and portrayed. (Not yet on DVD) GRADE----A-

A well written (based on a stage play) and acted (by Robert Ryan and Ida Lupino) drama features a widowed woman who fails to verify the references of her newly hired handyman, who is a psychopathic murderer and traps her in her own house, in the thriller BEWARE MY LOVELY (1952). There is consistent suspense and some surprises in the turn of events. Not a true FILM NOIR, but very entertaining and twisted in it's way. (Not yet on DVD.) GRADE------B+

CRACK UP (1946) features Pat O'Brien and Claire Trevor as a married couple--he seems to be having a nervous breakdown and feels his co-workers are trying to sabotage his efforts to run a prestigious museum. Is he insane and paranoid, or is there a vast insidious plot to discredit him????? I liked the way that you could never be sure about the cool Trevor's alliances. GRADE------B

I'd never seen Steve Brodie before, but he comes across as a naturalistic Gary Cooper, down home type and I like him. He's an innocent who gets involved with a violent ex-friend racketeer (Raymond Burr) in a robbery that results in the death of a cop, and ends up on the lam with his pregnant wife-- with the police AND the criminals chasing him. The film is called DESPERATE (1947) and directed by the excellent Anthony Mann who made such fine films as T-MEN (1945), THE FURIES and WINCHESTER '73 (1950), MAN FROM LARAMIE (1955), EL CID (1961) and FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE (1964) among many others. GRADE----B

Dick Powell has a beefed up tough guy look in CORNERED (1945) but the confused and awkward plot has him chasing the Nazi (who may have killed his wife) after WWII to Buenos Aires--it becomes rather ludicrous as be barges around accusing and nearly trying to kill several men before he finds the actual man he is searching for. I wasn't exactly bored, but the story didn't make a lot of sense and I was finally glad for the film to be over. GRADE-----C+

I was really bored with a rare Film Noir that is not available on DVD at this time, but directed by the famous French director Jean Renoir, who was responsible for some major cinematic classics like GRAND ILLUSION (1937), RULES OF THE GAME (1939) and THE RIVER (1951). This was the first film he made in the US--he soon returned back to France, since Hollywood didn't seem to agree with him. The film is called THE WOMAN ON THE BEACH (1947) and features Robert Ryan, Joan Bennett and Charles Bickford. It's a great cast, but the drama of a mentally disturbed soldier who hooks up with a famous blind painter and his spiteful, adulterous wife just didn't generate any sparks or interest. Even though the film was supposedly re-edited and cut by 20 minutes by Renoir himself, it is still a lethargic and dull experience. GRADE-------D

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The OSCARS are presented on Sunday at 5pm Pacific time, and although there are often some major upsets, I will let you know my opinion. The energy and timing seems to be in favor of THE KING'S SPEECH to win Best Picture, because SOCIAL NETWORK seems a long time ago, but I think NETWORKS David Fincher will take the Oscar for Best Direction, as well as music and script and probably editing. SPEECH will get the Best Actor nod for Colin Firth--a well deserved award (see also his superb role in last year's A SINGLE MAN) and for costumes and set design/art direction. INCEPTION will have to settle for some technical awards, like special effects, and sound. Christian Bale seems to have a lock on the Best supporting Actor Oscar for THE FIGHTER, and in spite of some complaining about her obnoxious Oscar ad campaign, I think Melissa Leo should prevail for supporting actress--also for THE FIGHTER. But if there is an upset--this could be the category, since she has strong competition from Amy Adams in the same film, and Hailee Steinfeld from TRUE GRIT carried the strong emotional core in what really should have been a best actress nomination---she was in virtually every scene. TRUE GRIT may end up with the Cinematography Oscar. Toss a coin for the foreign film category since only two have played in Seattle. Of the 3 documentaries I've seen, my favorite is WASTE LAND, but the others have their supporters.

Sometimes, lately, I'm much more excited about the Independent Spirit Awards, which honors low budget, independent films. These will be televised on Saturday night Feb 27 starting a 7pm Pacific on the IFC channel. Major nominees that night are centered around 127 HOURS, BLACK SWAN, KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT, GREENBERG, PLEASE GIVE, WINTER'S BONE, and RABBIT HOLE among others, and there is a hip, exciting vibe and lots of unrehearsed, spontaneous and irreverent merry making.



For the TOP FILMS OF 2010, see my previous February blog...........................

The Last Station, Valentine's Day, Film Noir

Christopher Plummer and Helen Mirren are both nominated for acting Oscars playing Russian writer Tolstoy and his wife just before his death, but much credit must go to James McAvoy (ATONEMENT) through whose eyes the story unfolds. He is a young innocent who becomes Tolstoy's last secretary, but he also becomes a pawn in the political maneuverings over Tolstoy's estate and writings. THE LAST STATION chronicles the tension between the married couple--he wants the "people" to have his written work and money made from it---she wants the profits to stay in the family. It seemed to me an odd disagreement, with such persuasion coming from politicos outside the family, but having McAvoy trying to remain (somewhat unsuccessfully) neutral gives the film some heart. Mirren is fun to watch--she gives each scene her all, and Plummer has the more subtle role--but still very effective. This is not a great epic type film, but more personal, and fans of the actors (which also include Paul Giamatti) will find the film very satisfying.

VALENTINE'S DAY started off making me wince, as Ashton Kuscher wakes to present his girlfriend a wedding ring on this special "romantic" day, and as the nearly 2 dozen other characters are introduced I thought to myself, OH NO this is going to be treacly. Because there are so many characters, you never have a chance to invest much empathy in anyone in particular, and soon the plotting just moves you onto the next relationship and the next and so on. It is good that the writers of this mishmash at least present some cynical and unsuccessful trysts so as not to poison us with sweetness. By the end we are mildly entertained because some secrets have been revealed, some relationships have failed and several twists have given us a laugh or a sigh of relief. The large and mostly talented cast including Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Alba, Jamie Foxx, Kathy Bates, et al, win us over in spite of our resistance to such schmaltz.

Watched a second time on DVD, last summers big hit THE HANGOVER remains a clever, wickedly funny adult comedy about three men who wake up after a Las Vegas bachelor party and can't remember a thing about the night before, and must become detectives to find the answer to several riddles: Where is the groom???? Why does the dentist have a tooth missing???? How did a tiger get into their bathroom??? What is a baby doing in the closet????
Why is a stripper wearing the dentist's antique wedding ring???? Well, the answers to these and other questions provide plenty of laughs.

SIFF Cinema features a yearly week of fantastic Film Noir on the big screen, and as usual these films are mostly rarely seen and not yet available on DVD. First up was PITFALL (1948) with suburbanite Dick Powell casually falling into an affair with struggling model Lizabeth Scott, which ends up threatening his marriage to the stalwart Jane Wyatt and his boring life, because two other men-- one deranged and the other incarcerated, also want Ms Scott. The second film on the program (all double-billed!) was LARCENY (1948) with John Payne and Dan Duryea as con men intent on cheating a war widow out of money directed to building a home for wayward boys. The best thing about the film is the young and very voluptuous Shelley Winters who plays the bombshell "girlfriend" to both con men--she throws out the one line zingers with zesty gusto and a playful sexuality that is rarely seen these days.

The next day I watched CRY DANGER (1951), again with Dick Powell, as a man just released from prison for a robbery he didn't commit, so he tries to find out who indeed has the missing money (100g's--a grand amount in those days...) and he's helped (!?!) by the wife (Rhonda Fleming) of his best friend still serving time. Best of the four was THE MOB (1951) with a hard boiled Broderick Crawford as an undercover cop on the trail of the boss of some waterfront racketeers. All four films were written by scripter William Bowers, who has a way with the double-entendre and witty comebacks, and all feature the typical film noir style--crisp black and white photography, shadowy locations and foreboding, hard edged down on luck characters, and themes of lust, larceny and murder. Hopefully with these films being restored so well, they will soon be available on DVD and/or appear soon on TCM.