Add another Best Picture winner to my "viewed" list! I'm so glad I decided to start keeping track of this incredibly important stuff :)
I wasn't sure whether I would like this or not, but I LOVED it. Old movies don't always hold my interest and sometimes they come off to me as being almost slapsticky because of the intensely dramatic music. In this case, it worked.
I don't know if I've ever seen Marlon Brando in anything else, but I loved his character in this movie and thought he did a fantastic job. This movie pulled off what I thought The Town did not. And I have no idea why that movie popped into my head more than once while watching On the Waterfront because the storyline wasn't even similar. But for some reason, that's what I was reminded of.
For whatever reason, I have a soft spot for boxers as movie characters. Maybe it's because Rocky was so popular when I was growing up. But I'm a big fan of boxing movies (and, strangely, not a huge fan of the sport in real life.) I've heard the "I coulda been a contenda" speech before, but never in the context of the movie itself. Awesome.
Karl Malden was awesome as Father Barry and I fell completely head-over-heels in love with Eva Marie Saint. I've seen her in more recent stuff, but this role was incredible. Her bio on IMDb says that she "brought 'real acting' in a time when melodrama still ran rampant in the industry" and I completely understand what is meant by that. Phenomenal job. Looks like I need to rent North by Northwest sometime soon!
I haven't seen any of the other 1954 movies nominated for Best Picture, but I can absolutely see why this won the awards it did. Almost 60 years later, it's still relevant and still packs a huge emotional punch.
Can't wait to watch this again!
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
The American President
Oh how I love Michael Douglas. I don't think I've ever disliked his acting in a movie. I've disliked his characters; but never his acting. And honestly, he's so good that sometimes I like the unlikeable characters just because he plays them.
I noticed the last couple years that I've never seen Annette Bening NOT smile. She must be the happiest person in the world.
I loved this storyline and really enjoyed the movie. I think it would be very interesting to have a non-married president. Things are so different than they were in 1985 that I imagine it would be very difficult to date.
Loved seeing all of the realistic stuff in the movie... and the scene where he stops to buy flowers is priceless.
I noticed the last couple years that I've never seen Annette Bening NOT smile. She must be the happiest person in the world.
I loved this storyline and really enjoyed the movie. I think it would be very interesting to have a non-married president. Things are so different than they were in 1985 that I imagine it would be very difficult to date.
Loved seeing all of the realistic stuff in the movie... and the scene where he stops to buy flowers is priceless.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
The Way We Were
I love Family Video. It's not too close to my house, so I don't go there very often but I always pick up something fun when I do go.
What I wanted was either The Big Lebowski or Jurassic Park, so I'm not sure how I wound up with Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand. I'm not even close to being a fan of hers. But my first two choices weren't available, so somehow I stumbled onto this.
I recently read a book that took place in the McCarthy era, and I've gotta say that I'm fascinated with that time period. So I think reading the little blurb on the back of the movie box that mentioned that time is what prompted me to pick it up. (I also rented The American President, so at some point I'll be reviewing that as well. Assuming that I get around to watching it.)
Barbra's character in the movie reminded me a lot of what I expect her to be like in real life. Which I'm sure isn't an entirely fair assessment, but what can I say. She's always come across to me as being incredibly political and I have a feeling that Barbra's views are pretty in line with Katie's.
It was mentioned more than once during the movie that her character ironed her hair. And I must admit that I liked it much better in those scenes. (Not sure why "hair" is such a sticking point for me lately!)
I much preferred Robert's character (although I think "Hubbell" has got to be one of the worst character names EVER.) He was a lot more fun, and a lot easier to watch.
Barbra's singing usually doesn't excite me, but I do like her song of the same name. So dramatic.
All in all, it was an interesting depiction of how differing viewpoints and, more importantly, how you deal with those differences can work against a relationship. Makes me wonder how James Carville and Mary Matalin make things work. I guess they must be a lot better at the "dealing" part of it than Katie and Hubbell were.
What I wanted was either The Big Lebowski or Jurassic Park, so I'm not sure how I wound up with Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand. I'm not even close to being a fan of hers. But my first two choices weren't available, so somehow I stumbled onto this.
I recently read a book that took place in the McCarthy era, and I've gotta say that I'm fascinated with that time period. So I think reading the little blurb on the back of the movie box that mentioned that time is what prompted me to pick it up. (I also rented The American President, so at some point I'll be reviewing that as well. Assuming that I get around to watching it.)
Barbra's character in the movie reminded me a lot of what I expect her to be like in real life. Which I'm sure isn't an entirely fair assessment, but what can I say. She's always come across to me as being incredibly political and I have a feeling that Barbra's views are pretty in line with Katie's.
It was mentioned more than once during the movie that her character ironed her hair. And I must admit that I liked it much better in those scenes. (Not sure why "hair" is such a sticking point for me lately!)
I much preferred Robert's character (although I think "Hubbell" has got to be one of the worst character names EVER.) He was a lot more fun, and a lot easier to watch.
Barbra's singing usually doesn't excite me, but I do like her song of the same name. So dramatic.
All in all, it was an interesting depiction of how differing viewpoints and, more importantly, how you deal with those differences can work against a relationship. Makes me wonder how James Carville and Mary Matalin make things work. I guess they must be a lot better at the "dealing" part of it than Katie and Hubbell were.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Country Strong
I HATE country music, but I can appreciate when someone does it well. And Gwyneth Paltrow knocked this out of the park. Now, I just need to buy her new cookbook and I'll be a happy girl.
The acting was very good, but this was another one of those movies where none of the characters are very likable. I think we were supposed to like Garrett Hedlund's character, but I just didn't. The only character I wound up feeling any real sympathy towards was Leighton Meester's. Aside from that, they all seemed very selfish and self-absorbed. (Although there was one scene near the end of the movie where I was touched by Gwynnie's character.)
I think everyone associated with this movie did themselves a huge disservice by releasing it so soon after Crazy Heart. If they had delayed the release for a year or two, it might have done a lot better at the box office.
The acting was very good, but this was another one of those movies where none of the characters are very likable. I think we were supposed to like Garrett Hedlund's character, but I just didn't. The only character I wound up feeling any real sympathy towards was Leighton Meester's. Aside from that, they all seemed very selfish and self-absorbed. (Although there was one scene near the end of the movie where I was touched by Gwynnie's character.)
I think everyone associated with this movie did themselves a huge disservice by releasing it so soon after Crazy Heart. If they had delayed the release for a year or two, it might have done a lot better at the box office.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Tangled
When Hollywood hands you a movie that you hate, my advice is to counteract it with a Disney animation.
I've been waiting a long time for this to show up at the second-run theater, and it was well-worth the wait. I think adding a male character to the retelling of Rapunzel was a great idea. Having Zachary Levi voice said male character was an excellent idea. I don't have kids, but I think a boy would enjoy this as much as a girl, so I think they probably accomplished what they were setting out to do.
The music was great and so was the storyline. If I were in the habit of grading movies (which I'm not), I would give this an A+. Can't wait to see it again.
I've been waiting a long time for this to show up at the second-run theater, and it was well-worth the wait. I think adding a male character to the retelling of Rapunzel was a great idea. Having Zachary Levi voice said male character was an excellent idea. I don't have kids, but I think a boy would enjoy this as much as a girl, so I think they probably accomplished what they were setting out to do.
The music was great and so was the storyline. If I were in the habit of grading movies (which I'm not), I would give this an A+. Can't wait to see it again.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Casablanca
Can you believe I've never seen this until tonight?!
I recorded it from TCM's 31 Days of Oscar... and I almost turned if off. This was a very weird movie for me, because I really didn't like it. Until the end. Now I'm obsessed with it and want to watch it again!!!
(I'm trying to label my tags, but some of the categories have changed since 1943. I'm matching them up as closely as I can with the modern categories to make it easier to search.)
I recorded it from TCM's 31 Days of Oscar... and I almost turned if off. This was a very weird movie for me, because I really didn't like it. Until the end. Now I'm obsessed with it and want to watch it again!!!
(I'm trying to label my tags, but some of the categories have changed since 1943. I'm matching them up as closely as I can with the modern categories to make it easier to search.)
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