Friday, August 31, 2012
Friday, June 15, 2012
Temple Hopping: An Itinerary
Temple Hopping: An Itinerary: I figure every itinerant needs an itinerary—however sketchy—so here’s mine. Some dates are firm; some are still TBD. June 19 ...
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The Bohemian Girl
Back in the two thousands I gathered up my oldest grandson and took the two of us down to El Segundo to view "The Bohemian Girl." I don't remember exactly how we got there which could have been by train into L.A. by subway to the rail line that goes to Long Beach, and then climbing down a station below that line, to take another separate line to El Segundo. That's rather involved, so I think that we probably drove the 50 miles. I queried Tyler, and he doesn't remember either.
The theatre is a small show house off the main drag. It mainly shows old classic films. the owner was the one who took the tickets to get in and then provided about a 15 minute organ concert before playing the film. It's a massive concert organ that originally was located in one of the First run theater's in Long Beach, CA. It was kind of fun to hear and watch an organist playing in that environment. If you think you might be interested in checking out the theater it is called "The Old Time Music Hall." They regularly have films and also musical entertainments as well. In addition they have a Laurel and Hardy festival scheduled for this Fall.
The film was the third in the series of long features, over an hour, done by the pair following the very funny "Sons of the Desert" the latter of which I had decided was world class funny. The Bohemian Girl tuned out to be funny as well and was typical of Laurel and Hardy in the parts that featured them. There were a lot of incidents of significance to the film and its final release version that I was unaware of. This past Christmas my son and his wife gave me a huge collection of Laurel and Hardy films and the Bohemian Girl was one of them. Re-viewing the film led me to note more details that had not occurred to me before and also led me to read up more about the production. These readings revealed that there was a lot more interesting history as to the original product and it's final appearance.
The film completed shooting in late 1935. It's leading female star was Thelma Todd a woman who had been in several Laurel and Hardy films and who had her own series that she had done with Zasu Pitts on occasion and Patsy Kelly. Todd had also appeared in several other big productions. In addition Todd had opened a night club out on the Pacific Coast Highway which was largely known by her nickname of Toddy's. In mid December of 1935 Todd was discovered dead in her car, a big chocolate colored Lincoln. It was parked in her garage and she apparently died because of carbon monoxide poisoning. Though the death was finally listed as suicide there were many questions as to this conclusion. There is still a controversy as to who and why. There is much information on the internet about her death, and I'll let you do what ever investigations you might want to pursue.
Hal Roach, the Bohemian Girls producer was in a quandary. There was much controversy over Todd's death and he decided because of that it might be inappropriate to release the film with her as the star, so he re-shot all the parts that Todd played in except for one segment where she sang. In her place he brought in Mae Busch who had played in several of the Laurel and Hardy films usually and most notably as Hardy's hardnosed wife. She was a classic performer in this kind of role with pursed lips and an aggressive threatening way about her.
The change in lead actresses worked well with most people including yours truly being unaware of the change. It also required some changes in role identification which went with such a change as causing Busch's role to be changed from Todd's gypsy queen to Busch's turn as the daughter of the gypsy queen.
The Bohemian Queen film was based on an operetta of the same title which had been written in the mid 1800's by Irish composer Michael Balfe. The story, or operetta, concerned the kidnapping of a Count's very young daughter in what today would be the Czech Republic. This child was to end up being raised in the Gypsy camp. Her kidnapping was in revenge for a flogging that the gypsy received for a transgression as ordered by the Count. Late in the story the daughter is restored to her father because of the discovery that she was wearing a necklace he had given her shortly before her kidnapping.
When Roach remade the story as a vehicle for his top humor team Laurel and Hardy he kept many aspects of the story with the comedy duo playing a couple of gypsy's. There is much singing in the film a product of the original compositions. Mae Busch in the role that was originated by Thelma Todd plays the gypsy wife of Oliver Hardy. She is the gypsy Queen's daughter. Antonio Moreno is her secret lover who is playing fast and loose with Busch. Moreno, with the film name of Devil's Hoof is caught illegally on the Count's castle grounds and is given a flogging for that transgression which accounts for his hatred of the Count.
The kidnapped little girl, played by the delightful Darla Hood of Our Gang Comedy fame, is deposited with Busch and is dressed in a gypsy costume. Finally, she and Moreno decide to run away together. Up to this time Hardy had not noticed that he has a little child in the gypsy wagon he calls home. When he asks Busch who the child is she tells him she is his. He is shocked by this and asks why neither he or the child has been told. Busch tells him that she felt the child was to young to stand the shock.
The film segues up nearly 15 years and the little girl is now a beautiful young woman. Julie Bishop plays this role, but this being early in her career, she had opted for a different name and is identified as Jacqueline Wells. She also is captured for transgression on to the Count's property and is about to be lashed for her transgression when he discovers that she still has the locket he had given her years ago.
Everyone is very happy now except for Stanley and Oliver who had been subjected to a special brand of torture which you will have to see to understand and see the result of this particular kind of brutality.
The film includes one other Laurel and Hardy regular, the dramatically over acting Jimmy Finlayson who plays a Captain in the Count's guard. In one scene Stan pulls his trick of a poke in the eye and Finlayson responds, "He poked me in my good eye." You may recall that Finlayson's stock in trade was a one eyed squint. In addition to Finlayson there were two other performers of interest who I failed to note or identify either time I saw the film. They are Paulette Goddard playing a gypsy woman and L.A. Disc Jockey Peter Potter playing a soldier.
It's fairly typical Laurel and Hardy material but the background story makes in more interesting than a lot of films. Thelma Todd was still shown in the scene where she sings. She and Busch wear the exact same dress. Actually, it is rather difficult to tell them apart dressed the same and Todd wearing a wig to cover her blond hair. I guess I'll have to give the film another viewing to see if I can identify some of the changes that took place and special cast members.
The theatre is a small show house off the main drag. It mainly shows old classic films. the owner was the one who took the tickets to get in and then provided about a 15 minute organ concert before playing the film. It's a massive concert organ that originally was located in one of the First run theater's in Long Beach, CA. It was kind of fun to hear and watch an organist playing in that environment. If you think you might be interested in checking out the theater it is called "The Old Time Music Hall." They regularly have films and also musical entertainments as well. In addition they have a Laurel and Hardy festival scheduled for this Fall.
The film was the third in the series of long features, over an hour, done by the pair following the very funny "Sons of the Desert" the latter of which I had decided was world class funny. The Bohemian Girl tuned out to be funny as well and was typical of Laurel and Hardy in the parts that featured them. There were a lot of incidents of significance to the film and its final release version that I was unaware of. This past Christmas my son and his wife gave me a huge collection of Laurel and Hardy films and the Bohemian Girl was one of them. Re-viewing the film led me to note more details that had not occurred to me before and also led me to read up more about the production. These readings revealed that there was a lot more interesting history as to the original product and it's final appearance.
The film completed shooting in late 1935. It's leading female star was Thelma Todd a woman who had been in several Laurel and Hardy films and who had her own series that she had done with Zasu Pitts on occasion and Patsy Kelly. Todd had also appeared in several other big productions. In addition Todd had opened a night club out on the Pacific Coast Highway which was largely known by her nickname of Toddy's. In mid December of 1935 Todd was discovered dead in her car, a big chocolate colored Lincoln. It was parked in her garage and she apparently died because of carbon monoxide poisoning. Though the death was finally listed as suicide there were many questions as to this conclusion. There is still a controversy as to who and why. There is much information on the internet about her death, and I'll let you do what ever investigations you might want to pursue.
Hal Roach, the Bohemian Girls producer was in a quandary. There was much controversy over Todd's death and he decided because of that it might be inappropriate to release the film with her as the star, so he re-shot all the parts that Todd played in except for one segment where she sang. In her place he brought in Mae Busch who had played in several of the Laurel and Hardy films usually and most notably as Hardy's hardnosed wife. She was a classic performer in this kind of role with pursed lips and an aggressive threatening way about her.
The change in lead actresses worked well with most people including yours truly being unaware of the change. It also required some changes in role identification which went with such a change as causing Busch's role to be changed from Todd's gypsy queen to Busch's turn as the daughter of the gypsy queen.
The Bohemian Queen film was based on an operetta of the same title which had been written in the mid 1800's by Irish composer Michael Balfe. The story, or operetta, concerned the kidnapping of a Count's very young daughter in what today would be the Czech Republic. This child was to end up being raised in the Gypsy camp. Her kidnapping was in revenge for a flogging that the gypsy received for a transgression as ordered by the Count. Late in the story the daughter is restored to her father because of the discovery that she was wearing a necklace he had given her shortly before her kidnapping.
When Roach remade the story as a vehicle for his top humor team Laurel and Hardy he kept many aspects of the story with the comedy duo playing a couple of gypsy's. There is much singing in the film a product of the original compositions. Mae Busch in the role that was originated by Thelma Todd plays the gypsy wife of Oliver Hardy. She is the gypsy Queen's daughter. Antonio Moreno is her secret lover who is playing fast and loose with Busch. Moreno, with the film name of Devil's Hoof is caught illegally on the Count's castle grounds and is given a flogging for that transgression which accounts for his hatred of the Count.
The kidnapped little girl, played by the delightful Darla Hood of Our Gang Comedy fame, is deposited with Busch and is dressed in a gypsy costume. Finally, she and Moreno decide to run away together. Up to this time Hardy had not noticed that he has a little child in the gypsy wagon he calls home. When he asks Busch who the child is she tells him she is his. He is shocked by this and asks why neither he or the child has been told. Busch tells him that she felt the child was to young to stand the shock.
The film segues up nearly 15 years and the little girl is now a beautiful young woman. Julie Bishop plays this role, but this being early in her career, she had opted for a different name and is identified as Jacqueline Wells. She also is captured for transgression on to the Count's property and is about to be lashed for her transgression when he discovers that she still has the locket he had given her years ago.
Everyone is very happy now except for Stanley and Oliver who had been subjected to a special brand of torture which you will have to see to understand and see the result of this particular kind of brutality.
The film includes one other Laurel and Hardy regular, the dramatically over acting Jimmy Finlayson who plays a Captain in the Count's guard. In one scene Stan pulls his trick of a poke in the eye and Finlayson responds, "He poked me in my good eye." You may recall that Finlayson's stock in trade was a one eyed squint. In addition to Finlayson there were two other performers of interest who I failed to note or identify either time I saw the film. They are Paulette Goddard playing a gypsy woman and L.A. Disc Jockey Peter Potter playing a soldier.
It's fairly typical Laurel and Hardy material but the background story makes in more interesting than a lot of films. Thelma Todd was still shown in the scene where she sings. She and Busch wear the exact same dress. Actually, it is rather difficult to tell them apart dressed the same and Todd wearing a wig to cover her blond hair. I guess I'll have to give the film another viewing to see if I can identify some of the changes that took place and special cast members.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Dead Again
Back in the 1980's Masterpiece Theatre presented a seven part program called the "Fortune's of War." It starred among others Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson. This supposedly was the first meeting of the pair and resulted in a marriage two years later. It was a series set initially in the Balkans, specifically Rumania, and involved British members of government and private citizens and their relationships and experiences in World War II. The initial series moved to Greece after the Germans moved into the Balkans. When the Germans next moved into the Greek peninsula, the series moved to Egypt where the Brits were enveloped in the war in North Africa and Near East. It was a terrific series and provided an perfect introduction to the skills in acting, directing, producing and writing of Branagh and Thompson.
Through the years both together and separately have provided a wide range of performances. Branagh, in particular, did Shakespeare with great flair including "Henry V" a really worthy yet very different interpretation than that of Olivier's Academy Award winning version of the 1940's. Branagh also did "Hamlet" and a particularly humorous version of "Much Ado About Nothing." Wife Emma had key roles in both the latter film and Henvy V. Branagh also provided versatility with a very different performance in the Australian based film "Rabbit Proof Fence," a story about the Crown's nearly perfect example of how to do things wrong to the native Australian people and those children who were products of both cultures. In "Peter's Friends" he worked again with Emma Thompson and some of their earlier pre-film friends Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie in a really nice film that encompassed Christmas and a lovely rendition of "The Way You Look Tonight," with Laurie playing the piano and Imelda Staunton singing lead.
Thompson had an even more extensive career in films including besides those mentioned above "The Remains of the Day," in which she co-starred with Anthony Hopkins. In "Love Actually" she played the sister of the British Prime Minister played by Hugh Grant in a film that had only about twelve other well known co-stars. It's a really nice Christmas film. Her most famous effort was in Jane Austin's "Sense and Sensibility" where she played the elder Dashwood sister and in which she also wrote the script. She not only played leads but in the film "An Education" she played the principal of a girls school in Britain who had to deal with a student, an outstanding student, who was seduced by a married con-artist. It's another excellent effort. Carey Mulligan plays the unfortunate school girl. And finally it should be remembered that Thompson also played again most successfully with Anthony Hopkins in E. M. Forester's classic novel "Howard's End,"
In "Dead Again" Branagh and Thompson appear together again in a film that is part mystery and part fantasy. And, interestingly enough, the two Brits easily handle American accents required for it's setting in the United States, Los Angeles to be exact. The picture's fantasy is a depiction of reincarnation, or perhaps not really reincarnation. It is really difficult to tell. In it both actors play two roles. Branagh in the early part which is shot in black and white plays Roman Strauss, a famous conductor of the Los Angeles symphony orchestra who is married to an outstanding pianist, Margaret. Forty years later Branagh plays, this time in color, a private eye named Mike Church hired to try to identify a young woman who has wandered into a Catholic School and who has lost her memory. The pictures concept is that the woman is the re-incarnation of Margaret the pianist who was murdered back in the 1940's a crime that was committed by her husband the conductor who was executed for the murder.
The supposition is played out with Branagh as detective Mike, watching out for Thompson known as Grace in this part of the story. After she is refused admittance back at the Catholic facility he takes her into his home and eventually decides to run an ad in the L.A. Times with a picture in an attempt to identify the person. The first person answering the ad is an antique shop dealer, Derick Jacoby, who also is apparently a hypnotist. He is finally hired to see if he can coach Grace out of her amnesia in order to see if she can then identify herself.
This process is an important part of the film and eventually we learn more about who Grace is and what her real name is and what leads up to an amazing confrontation at Branagh's house where the truth or at least some of is resolved. Believe me, the film is very interesting in the development of this eventual closure or semi-closure of the films issues.
Several other people are of interest in the film. Cuban-American Andy Garcia has an important role as an L.A. newspaper man who wrote extensively about the case at the time of the murder. Campbell Scott has a small role as man who attempts to prove he knows who Grace is. Miriam Gargolyes is very amusing as a woman hypnotised by Jacobi who apparently uses his hypnotic skills to identify and locate antique items. And finally Hannah Schygulla plays Jacobi's mother. There are also short segments involving Wayne Knight known principally as Jerry Seinfeld's irritating mail carrier neighbor and Robin Williams.
For an Angeleno and one who lived largely in much of the area where the film is shot it is an extra pleasure. Branagh's house is an interesting Mission style residence located on the side of hill with a tower supposedly holding a staircase. The actual house is about three blocks from Marshall high school in L.A. where I attended in the early 40's. Also a part of the action is filmed on the so-called Shakespeare Bridge which is just another block away. The bridge is over a small gorge which leads out to what eventually became the site of ABC television studios and which earlier had been the site of the Vitagraph film company. The tower structure elevator is located just off Highland avenue in Hollywood and is not a part of the Branagh residence in the film.
The park where Branagh and Thompson visit next to a lake is Echo Park Lake. The old Pacific Electric subway line ran by here before it's one mile journey underground to downtown Los Angeles. The Echo Park district which when the film was shot was a somewhat rundown area has now been revitalized. Old structures there were rebuilt and modernized. It's kind of an in place to live for those who like a more avant-garde environment.
I might also note that Branagh as detective Mike drives a beautiful Chevrolet Corvette of earlier vintage. One of my best friends had exactly the same car and I remember greatly admiring it.
You do not have to be a resident of L.A. to enjoy this film. You can watch it and wonder what it all means and the meanings of the reincarnation episodes as to whether they existed or were just a demonstration of interesting story telling.
Through the years both together and separately have provided a wide range of performances. Branagh, in particular, did Shakespeare with great flair including "Henry V" a really worthy yet very different interpretation than that of Olivier's Academy Award winning version of the 1940's. Branagh also did "Hamlet" and a particularly humorous version of "Much Ado About Nothing." Wife Emma had key roles in both the latter film and Henvy V. Branagh also provided versatility with a very different performance in the Australian based film "Rabbit Proof Fence," a story about the Crown's nearly perfect example of how to do things wrong to the native Australian people and those children who were products of both cultures. In "Peter's Friends" he worked again with Emma Thompson and some of their earlier pre-film friends Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie in a really nice film that encompassed Christmas and a lovely rendition of "The Way You Look Tonight," with Laurie playing the piano and Imelda Staunton singing lead.
Thompson had an even more extensive career in films including besides those mentioned above "The Remains of the Day," in which she co-starred with Anthony Hopkins. In "Love Actually" she played the sister of the British Prime Minister played by Hugh Grant in a film that had only about twelve other well known co-stars. It's a really nice Christmas film. Her most famous effort was in Jane Austin's "Sense and Sensibility" where she played the elder Dashwood sister and in which she also wrote the script. She not only played leads but in the film "An Education" she played the principal of a girls school in Britain who had to deal with a student, an outstanding student, who was seduced by a married con-artist. It's another excellent effort. Carey Mulligan plays the unfortunate school girl. And finally it should be remembered that Thompson also played again most successfully with Anthony Hopkins in E. M. Forester's classic novel "Howard's End,"
In "Dead Again" Branagh and Thompson appear together again in a film that is part mystery and part fantasy. And, interestingly enough, the two Brits easily handle American accents required for it's setting in the United States, Los Angeles to be exact. The picture's fantasy is a depiction of reincarnation, or perhaps not really reincarnation. It is really difficult to tell. In it both actors play two roles. Branagh in the early part which is shot in black and white plays Roman Strauss, a famous conductor of the Los Angeles symphony orchestra who is married to an outstanding pianist, Margaret. Forty years later Branagh plays, this time in color, a private eye named Mike Church hired to try to identify a young woman who has wandered into a Catholic School and who has lost her memory. The pictures concept is that the woman is the re-incarnation of Margaret the pianist who was murdered back in the 1940's a crime that was committed by her husband the conductor who was executed for the murder.
The supposition is played out with Branagh as detective Mike, watching out for Thompson known as Grace in this part of the story. After she is refused admittance back at the Catholic facility he takes her into his home and eventually decides to run an ad in the L.A. Times with a picture in an attempt to identify the person. The first person answering the ad is an antique shop dealer, Derick Jacoby, who also is apparently a hypnotist. He is finally hired to see if he can coach Grace out of her amnesia in order to see if she can then identify herself.
This process is an important part of the film and eventually we learn more about who Grace is and what her real name is and what leads up to an amazing confrontation at Branagh's house where the truth or at least some of is resolved. Believe me, the film is very interesting in the development of this eventual closure or semi-closure of the films issues.
Several other people are of interest in the film. Cuban-American Andy Garcia has an important role as an L.A. newspaper man who wrote extensively about the case at the time of the murder. Campbell Scott has a small role as man who attempts to prove he knows who Grace is. Miriam Gargolyes is very amusing as a woman hypnotised by Jacobi who apparently uses his hypnotic skills to identify and locate antique items. And finally Hannah Schygulla plays Jacobi's mother. There are also short segments involving Wayne Knight known principally as Jerry Seinfeld's irritating mail carrier neighbor and Robin Williams.
For an Angeleno and one who lived largely in much of the area where the film is shot it is an extra pleasure. Branagh's house is an interesting Mission style residence located on the side of hill with a tower supposedly holding a staircase. The actual house is about three blocks from Marshall high school in L.A. where I attended in the early 40's. Also a part of the action is filmed on the so-called Shakespeare Bridge which is just another block away. The bridge is over a small gorge which leads out to what eventually became the site of ABC television studios and which earlier had been the site of the Vitagraph film company. The tower structure elevator is located just off Highland avenue in Hollywood and is not a part of the Branagh residence in the film.
The park where Branagh and Thompson visit next to a lake is Echo Park Lake. The old Pacific Electric subway line ran by here before it's one mile journey underground to downtown Los Angeles. The Echo Park district which when the film was shot was a somewhat rundown area has now been revitalized. Old structures there were rebuilt and modernized. It's kind of an in place to live for those who like a more avant-garde environment.
I might also note that Branagh as detective Mike drives a beautiful Chevrolet Corvette of earlier vintage. One of my best friends had exactly the same car and I remember greatly admiring it.
You do not have to be a resident of L.A. to enjoy this film. You can watch it and wonder what it all means and the meanings of the reincarnation episodes as to whether they existed or were just a demonstration of interesting story telling.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
2011 Golden Year for Films
There is no real explanation for my recent lack of updates to Mensa Classic Films. No, I did not take the Grand Tour of Europe, take a World Tour that included Victoria, British Columbia, the Falkland Islands, Easter Island or other such world wide locales. I was not seriously ill at any time except for a broken wrist. In fact my failure could only be blamed on laziness. But I'm amending that now to note that this past year has produced more films that I want to see than any other recent year.
This will not be a full review but rather a touch on titles and a short comment on why I want to see them. I will note, that so far I have seen "THE HELP" which I thoroughly enjoyed. I have liked Viola Davis in the few films I've seen her in and this film is no exception.
I should note one caveat on why I haven't seen more. My hearing problems which I apparently inherited from my mother's father have grown much worse in recent years so that I really can't go to the theatre for a film. If it ain't got sub-titles/close captions, I don't know what they are talking about. So that means, watching on TV when I can put the words on the bottom of the screen. It has one bad feature in that I am so busy reading that I'm not always seeing the action. Certainly a disadvantage. Anyhow, I'll provide a short list and commentary on everything I'm looking forward to seeing and principally in order of my desire to see them.
THE ARTIST - First on my list. Actually my wife says I could see it in the theatre without sub-titles and probably not miss anything. I will note that the ads I have seen have been very enticing. Both the two French leads seem to be charming and attractive. The lead gentleman, and I apologize for not giving his or for that matter her name reminds me a lot of John Gilbert who had a similar problem when talkie's came in, though in his case I am under the impression that his voice was sabotaged when he spoke by some faulty equipment. At least I have read that.
HUGO - This picture seems to be particularly delightful from the interesting setting of a Paris train station. It also deals to a certain extent with an earlier period in the life of the movies and with the added advantage of dealing with trains.
MIDNIGHT IN PARIS - I have long been a fan of Woody Allen films from his earliest days. Do you recall his first film, "What's up Fortune Cookie" or something like that where he dubbed English on to a Japanese cloak and dagger film of not necessarily high quality and made a very funny vehicle out of it. The Midnight in Paris film also has a nostalgia ring to it and is set in Paris, neither of which is bad in my book.
THE DESCENDANTS - I have long been a fan of George Clooney and this film shows him in good though not typical form. He's one of those actors who seemingly can do almost any genre with ease. The story has it's twists and turns which makes it more interesting at least in my analysis of various reviews and short cuts I've seen on the tube.
TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY - This story was outstanding in it's original novel form as written by John Le Carre and in a four part serious on PBS. The film's lead at that time starred Alec Guinness as master spy George Smiley and included a really top set of supporting players. Oldman who carries the Smiley role in this shorter film version apparently has all the skills demonstrated by Guinness in his performance of the original.
EXTREMELY LOUD AND TERRIBLY CLOSE - This film features two of my favorite artists, Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock. Hanks seems to have the singular ability to play almost any kind of role without seeming to go out of character. Sandra Bullock has perfected her screen image so well that you know what you can expect but because she does it so well you're not disappointed. This film is mostly about a boy and elderly man. The latter is up for an Academy Award as a supporting actor, Christopher Plumber.
There are a number of other films of interest to me including the foreign film entry from Iran, "A SEPARATION." "SHAME," a film with a strong sexual emphasis. "THE TREE OF A LIFE" a complicated film that stars Brad Pitt. "MELANCHOLIA" a downer starring Dirst. "MARTHA, MARCEY, MAY MARLENE," another downer and the final film of the "HARRY POTTER" series "THE DEATHLY HOLLOWS - PART 2" with the last gathering of Radcliffe and his friends. And there's a World War I film "THE WAR HORSE" which essentially stars a horse. Tilda Swinton in her usual good form in "WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN" a world class downer if there ever was one and two outstanding actresses, Glenn Close and Janet McTeer in a story about a woman called NOBBS who is living as a man. And lastly the almost always reliable Paul Giamatti in a sports film called "WIN WIN."
All in all it is truly an outstanding years. I'm sure that those of you who are really into films will find that several of these will take more than a couple viewings to really digest what they have to say.
This will not be a full review but rather a touch on titles and a short comment on why I want to see them. I will note, that so far I have seen "THE HELP" which I thoroughly enjoyed. I have liked Viola Davis in the few films I've seen her in and this film is no exception.
I should note one caveat on why I haven't seen more. My hearing problems which I apparently inherited from my mother's father have grown much worse in recent years so that I really can't go to the theatre for a film. If it ain't got sub-titles/close captions, I don't know what they are talking about. So that means, watching on TV when I can put the words on the bottom of the screen. It has one bad feature in that I am so busy reading that I'm not always seeing the action. Certainly a disadvantage. Anyhow, I'll provide a short list and commentary on everything I'm looking forward to seeing and principally in order of my desire to see them.
THE ARTIST - First on my list. Actually my wife says I could see it in the theatre without sub-titles and probably not miss anything. I will note that the ads I have seen have been very enticing. Both the two French leads seem to be charming and attractive. The lead gentleman, and I apologize for not giving his or for that matter her name reminds me a lot of John Gilbert who had a similar problem when talkie's came in, though in his case I am under the impression that his voice was sabotaged when he spoke by some faulty equipment. At least I have read that.
HUGO - This picture seems to be particularly delightful from the interesting setting of a Paris train station. It also deals to a certain extent with an earlier period in the life of the movies and with the added advantage of dealing with trains.
MIDNIGHT IN PARIS - I have long been a fan of Woody Allen films from his earliest days. Do you recall his first film, "What's up Fortune Cookie" or something like that where he dubbed English on to a Japanese cloak and dagger film of not necessarily high quality and made a very funny vehicle out of it. The Midnight in Paris film also has a nostalgia ring to it and is set in Paris, neither of which is bad in my book.
THE DESCENDANTS - I have long been a fan of George Clooney and this film shows him in good though not typical form. He's one of those actors who seemingly can do almost any genre with ease. The story has it's twists and turns which makes it more interesting at least in my analysis of various reviews and short cuts I've seen on the tube.
TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY - This story was outstanding in it's original novel form as written by John Le Carre and in a four part serious on PBS. The film's lead at that time starred Alec Guinness as master spy George Smiley and included a really top set of supporting players. Oldman who carries the Smiley role in this shorter film version apparently has all the skills demonstrated by Guinness in his performance of the original.
EXTREMELY LOUD AND TERRIBLY CLOSE - This film features two of my favorite artists, Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock. Hanks seems to have the singular ability to play almost any kind of role without seeming to go out of character. Sandra Bullock has perfected her screen image so well that you know what you can expect but because she does it so well you're not disappointed. This film is mostly about a boy and elderly man. The latter is up for an Academy Award as a supporting actor, Christopher Plumber.
There are a number of other films of interest to me including the foreign film entry from Iran, "A SEPARATION." "SHAME," a film with a strong sexual emphasis. "THE TREE OF A LIFE" a complicated film that stars Brad Pitt. "MELANCHOLIA" a downer starring Dirst. "MARTHA, MARCEY, MAY MARLENE," another downer and the final film of the "HARRY POTTER" series "THE DEATHLY HOLLOWS - PART 2" with the last gathering of Radcliffe and his friends. And there's a World War I film "THE WAR HORSE" which essentially stars a horse. Tilda Swinton in her usual good form in "WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN" a world class downer if there ever was one and two outstanding actresses, Glenn Close and Janet McTeer in a story about a woman called NOBBS who is living as a man. And lastly the almost always reliable Paul Giamatti in a sports film called "WIN WIN."
All in all it is truly an outstanding years. I'm sure that those of you who are really into films will find that several of these will take more than a couple viewings to really digest what they have to say.
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