Synopsis:
Alice's husband dies and she finds herself a single mother without an income. Having given up a singing career when she got married she hopes to return to that, but to do so she has to travel back to the city she last worked in. Along the way she takes a number of jobs and soon finds that sometimes when you go after your dreams you realize that your happy where you are.
Review:
I really liked this movie...until the end. Basically it's a "day-in-the-life-of" movie. Normally I don't care for those sort of movies, but I liked this one. I was a bit disappointed with the ending because it just sort of ends and leaves you with questions, but I guess that's where the series "Alice" picks up at. I don't know if the series was known about when this was made (I highly doubt it), but I remember watching the series. I may have even seen every episode, but I don't remember because it was a long time ago. Although the series was more of a sit-com and this was more of a drama with comedy thrown in there, it doesn't surprise me that I liked it.
Ellen Burstyn plays Alice in this. The only other thing I know her in is The Exorcist (my favorite movie). I think the job she did in this was great. The way she and Alfred Lutter III, who plays her son, play off of each other is really great. They have a great chemistry together. And Diane Ladd as the tough talking, sometimes vulgar Flo is awsome. Oh yeah, and Kris Kristofferson and Harvey Keitel were in this also.
All in all it was a well written, well directed (Martin Scorsese) well funded, well acted movie.
Kid safe: Hmm...there is some colorful language and some scenes where people are fighting and throwing things in anger, but no nudity or gore. I wouldn't let my 12 year old watch it, but she could still probably talk me into it if she really wanted to see it.
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071115/
Showing posts with label Drama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Drama. Show all posts
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
A Streetcar Named Desire
Synopsis:
Um...I'm still not sure what this movie is about. Apparently it's about a crazy delusional woman who goes to live with her sister and the sisters abusive husband. I think. You may want to look it up.
Review:
I don't get this movie. I am so glad I never wasted the money to sit through a theatrical production of it. But I just don't get the hype. Why is this so popular?
What I can say about this is that I loved Vivien Leigh as the delusional woman. I mean LOVED her. It actually took me quite a while to realize that that was her. I knew going in that she was in the movie, but the only real experience I had with her was from Gone With the Wind and this is a pretty good departure from that. Marlon Brando does well at playing the bad-guy, abusive husband who keeps no secrets about not wanting the sister around.
The problem I have with this comes from the story-line. It doesn't seem to go anywhere. It's more of a day-in-the-life type movie and that might be where my confusion is coming in. I never really understand those types of movies. But I find myself still wondering what caused the sisters mind to warp She came into the story already messed up and we discover she is there due to losing the family home, but throughout the movie certain things come up that you think are delusions just to find out they're not and think things are true just to discover they're false. It makes it hard to really figure out what it was that fractured this girls mind and it seems that that is a very important part of the story.
The other problem I have with this is the violence and how the neighbors are so accepting of it. Don't get me wrong, I understand that years ago it was normal for a man to beat his wife and for everyone to just brush it off because it was accepted, but they handle it in a very confusing way. Fist the husband goes nuts and everyone tries to stop him form hitting his wife. Then they all just give up and go home. Then the wife goes back to the husband and complains about how he hits her, then makes excuses for him. Then everyone tries to stop him again. I know that stuff like that happens in real-life abusive relationships, it's just the way it is played out in this movie. Almost like when the writers couldn't think of what to put in there they just threw in a beating and then back-peddled in the next scene because it didn't fit.
Without giving away too much, I will say that at the end of the movie there is an insinuated rape. That makes this the first movie to get my "Rape" tag. Just to warn you. They don't actually show anything, you just hear her screaming, but the next scene confirms that that is what has taken place.
Kid safe: I would have to say no. Although there is no nudity or foul language, the subject matter is at times disturbing and the way the women are treated is not the kind of thing I would want my daughter to think is acceptable or my son to think is an okay treatment of women. Plus, insinuated or graphic, I will never suggest a movie with any type of rape for children of any age to watch. I'm an adult and it bothers me.
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044081/
Um...I'm still not sure what this movie is about. Apparently it's about a crazy delusional woman who goes to live with her sister and the sisters abusive husband. I think. You may want to look it up.
Review:
I don't get this movie. I am so glad I never wasted the money to sit through a theatrical production of it. But I just don't get the hype. Why is this so popular?
What I can say about this is that I loved Vivien Leigh as the delusional woman. I mean LOVED her. It actually took me quite a while to realize that that was her. I knew going in that she was in the movie, but the only real experience I had with her was from Gone With the Wind and this is a pretty good departure from that. Marlon Brando does well at playing the bad-guy, abusive husband who keeps no secrets about not wanting the sister around.
The problem I have with this comes from the story-line. It doesn't seem to go anywhere. It's more of a day-in-the-life type movie and that might be where my confusion is coming in. I never really understand those types of movies. But I find myself still wondering what caused the sisters mind to warp She came into the story already messed up and we discover she is there due to losing the family home, but throughout the movie certain things come up that you think are delusions just to find out they're not and think things are true just to discover they're false. It makes it hard to really figure out what it was that fractured this girls mind and it seems that that is a very important part of the story.
The other problem I have with this is the violence and how the neighbors are so accepting of it. Don't get me wrong, I understand that years ago it was normal for a man to beat his wife and for everyone to just brush it off because it was accepted, but they handle it in a very confusing way. Fist the husband goes nuts and everyone tries to stop him form hitting his wife. Then they all just give up and go home. Then the wife goes back to the husband and complains about how he hits her, then makes excuses for him. Then everyone tries to stop him again. I know that stuff like that happens in real-life abusive relationships, it's just the way it is played out in this movie. Almost like when the writers couldn't think of what to put in there they just threw in a beating and then back-peddled in the next scene because it didn't fit.
Without giving away too much, I will say that at the end of the movie there is an insinuated rape. That makes this the first movie to get my "Rape" tag. Just to warn you. They don't actually show anything, you just hear her screaming, but the next scene confirms that that is what has taken place.
Kid safe: I would have to say no. Although there is no nudity or foul language, the subject matter is at times disturbing and the way the women are treated is not the kind of thing I would want my daughter to think is acceptable or my son to think is an okay treatment of women. Plus, insinuated or graphic, I will never suggest a movie with any type of rape for children of any age to watch. I'm an adult and it bothers me.
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044081/
Edward Scissorhands
Synopsis:
An inventor creates a man, a la Frankenstein, and before he can give him real hands and replace the scissors he originally used, the inventor dies. Years later a woman selling beauty products knocks on the door and finds the creation and takes him back home with her and introduces him into society where he falls in love with her daughter.
Review:
When I first saw this movie I didn't like it. I thought it was supposed to be a scary movie and it didn't live up to that. Of course, at that time I also didn't understand Tim Burton and the difference between scary and dark. Since then I have come to appreciate Mr. Burton and love most of his work. After re-watching this, I have a new appreciation for this film.
I don't know if it was what Mr. Burton was going for, or if I'm just reading too much into things, but this is a great story about the downfalls of suburban gossip and the ability to fit in when you are different from those around you.
Edward is welcomed into this society of housewives after they discover what he can do for them and just as quickly ostracized after rejecting one of them. Instead of accepting him for who he is, one slight turns his world upside down from the whispered gossip that spreads like wildfire until he is eventually hunted down and chased back to his house to once again live all alone. Anyone who has been in high-school will recognize this. The popular people have the power to make you and then break you. Only your true friends will stand by your side and help you through your troubles because they accept you for who you truly are and not what you can provide for them. This is what happens with Edward when the woman who found him and her daughter, who Edward falls in love with and she in return, stage Edwards death to get the neighbor hood man-hunt to back down.
On a brighter note, this movie is full of funny moments. Watching Edward try to fit in is full of its quirks and make for some good laughs. Watching him try to eat peas is downright hilarious.
Johnny Depp plays Edward Scissorhands and does a kick-ass job at it. I love Johnny Depp. He is one of those actors that has a versatility rarely seen in actors. Who else can go from playing Willy Wonka to George Jung (Blow)? The way Depp plays Edward is great. He puts just enough shyness and vulnerability into the character to make him believable. His ability to deliver well-timed surprise and react to the things Edward is experiencing is just awsome. Winona Ryder? Well, I never did like her. She is one of those bad actresses that gets good roles. However, she doesn't do such a bad job in this either. Possibly because she and Depp were dating at the time so their relationship is a bit more believable. It could also be because she hadn't been in a whole lot up to that point so we didn't realize she always plays the same character no matter what she's in, but she did seem to have some deviation in this one. Whatever the reason, I don't have much trouble overlooking the fact that she's in this and can concentrate on her character. And Anthony Micheal Hall. I like him. I really do. He makes my list of "Actors I Like." (It's a short list.) But he falls a little in this one for me. He does a good job playing the popular football-star boyfriend to Winona Ryder. He's always played a good kiss-ass, goody two-shoes, but when it comes to portraying the bullying bad-boy to Edward I just don't buy it. Even after beefing up after his Breakfast Club days, he doesn't pull off the asshole role.
Like with other Burton films, the sets and costumes in this are top-notch and quirky as ever. Classic Tim Burton with the odd angles and bright colors that we have come to know, identify and love so well.
The story is also a good one. I won't go into it more here, but also remember that this is also a love story. It's about loving someone in spite of their differences. It's about loving them for who they are. It's about losing your love and dealing with loss. But it's not a romantic comedy and the love story doesn't get in the way or get too mushy.
Kid safe: I would say yes, but for older kids. I let my 12 year old watch it, but there is some language and sexual suggestiveness that may not be appropriate for younger kids.
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099487/
An inventor creates a man, a la Frankenstein, and before he can give him real hands and replace the scissors he originally used, the inventor dies. Years later a woman selling beauty products knocks on the door and finds the creation and takes him back home with her and introduces him into society where he falls in love with her daughter.
Review:
When I first saw this movie I didn't like it. I thought it was supposed to be a scary movie and it didn't live up to that. Of course, at that time I also didn't understand Tim Burton and the difference between scary and dark. Since then I have come to appreciate Mr. Burton and love most of his work. After re-watching this, I have a new appreciation for this film.
I don't know if it was what Mr. Burton was going for, or if I'm just reading too much into things, but this is a great story about the downfalls of suburban gossip and the ability to fit in when you are different from those around you.
Edward is welcomed into this society of housewives after they discover what he can do for them and just as quickly ostracized after rejecting one of them. Instead of accepting him for who he is, one slight turns his world upside down from the whispered gossip that spreads like wildfire until he is eventually hunted down and chased back to his house to once again live all alone. Anyone who has been in high-school will recognize this. The popular people have the power to make you and then break you. Only your true friends will stand by your side and help you through your troubles because they accept you for who you truly are and not what you can provide for them. This is what happens with Edward when the woman who found him and her daughter, who Edward falls in love with and she in return, stage Edwards death to get the neighbor hood man-hunt to back down.
On a brighter note, this movie is full of funny moments. Watching Edward try to fit in is full of its quirks and make for some good laughs. Watching him try to eat peas is downright hilarious.
Johnny Depp plays Edward Scissorhands and does a kick-ass job at it. I love Johnny Depp. He is one of those actors that has a versatility rarely seen in actors. Who else can go from playing Willy Wonka to George Jung (Blow)? The way Depp plays Edward is great. He puts just enough shyness and vulnerability into the character to make him believable. His ability to deliver well-timed surprise and react to the things Edward is experiencing is just awsome. Winona Ryder? Well, I never did like her. She is one of those bad actresses that gets good roles. However, she doesn't do such a bad job in this either. Possibly because she and Depp were dating at the time so their relationship is a bit more believable. It could also be because she hadn't been in a whole lot up to that point so we didn't realize she always plays the same character no matter what she's in, but she did seem to have some deviation in this one. Whatever the reason, I don't have much trouble overlooking the fact that she's in this and can concentrate on her character. And Anthony Micheal Hall. I like him. I really do. He makes my list of "Actors I Like." (It's a short list.) But he falls a little in this one for me. He does a good job playing the popular football-star boyfriend to Winona Ryder. He's always played a good kiss-ass, goody two-shoes, but when it comes to portraying the bullying bad-boy to Edward I just don't buy it. Even after beefing up after his Breakfast Club days, he doesn't pull off the asshole role.
Like with other Burton films, the sets and costumes in this are top-notch and quirky as ever. Classic Tim Burton with the odd angles and bright colors that we have come to know, identify and love so well.
The story is also a good one. I won't go into it more here, but also remember that this is also a love story. It's about loving someone in spite of their differences. It's about loving them for who they are. It's about losing your love and dealing with loss. But it's not a romantic comedy and the love story doesn't get in the way or get too mushy.
Kid safe: I would say yes, but for older kids. I let my 12 year old watch it, but there is some language and sexual suggestiveness that may not be appropriate for younger kids.
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099487/
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