My Favorite Movies

A Great Film!

Carell & Hathaway have very good chemistry. The movie does do a very good job paying homage to the 60's TV show. Saw it today, 6/29/08.

Just saw it tonight 5/24/08 on PBS. Masterful! Bruno rivals Norman.

My 1st Viewing:

Alfred Hitchcock?s Strangers on Train

I have seen Strangers on a Train (1951), on DVD for the first time on January 5th, 2005 I mention the date because it was gray, bleak snowy afternoon, adding to the ambience and mystery of the black and white film. From the very beginning, when the viewer meets the main and supporting cast of characters, one gets the immediate sense of, ?there is more here, than meets the eye.? Guy Haines (Farley Granger), a young handsome tennis star, also a bright-rising political protégé, meets by circumstance a spoiled, rich aristocratic, not living up to his potential and brooding man named Bruno Antony, (Robert Walker (I)), on a train. As always Hitchcock brilliantly starts his films off much like an innocent sparkler, Guy and Bruno?s conversation, to their final confrontation on a wildly spinning merry-go-round that goes haywire. Hence the climatic fireworks display, leaving the viewer breathless and wondering who is going to be victorious in the end! All the while, introducing us to a supporting cast of characters that propel the story forward, making the middle just as interesting as the start and finish of any Hitchcock film. Strangers is no exception, introducing us to (Kasey Rogers), as Miriam Joyce Haines, Guy?s estranged and soon to be ex-wife, (credited as Laura Elliott), or so Guy thinks. Guy?s lover or intended, Anne Morton (Ruth Roman) and (Patricia Hitchcock), Hitchcock's daughter as Barbara Morton, Anne's younger sister and hero worshipper of Guy. (Marion Lorne) as Bruno's Mother, Mrs. Antony and (Leo G. Carroll) as Senator Morton, are superbly played.

Now for a few observations, I had seen Farley Granger before in Rope. But what was a surprise to me as I later discussed the film with some friends from an old Yahoo Group, (The MacGuffin listserv) that I had recognized Marion Lorne from her work on Bewitched as Aunt Clara. An even bigger surprise was when they told me about Kasey Rogers who also starred on Bewitched as Louise Tate, wife of Larry Tate, Darren?s boss. As for the movie itself, each character is so layered and personifies certain characteristics, i.e. Bruno's evilness or cry to be noticed, Mrs. Antony's repression, or Miriam Haines conniving ways even from bad boy Bruno, which proves to be deadly. Then, there are those entertaining sequences with the key piece of evidence - a cigarette lighter!

Named #9 on AFI's Top Ten Mystery List. Have on VHS. Grace Kelly is so Sexy! Saw today, 10/30/11 on TCM. Forgot how witty it was.

Saw this movie tonight, 6/1/08.
Crosby, Kelly and Holden are all at the top of their acting prowness!

More of a full review later, saw this yesterday, 5/29/08. But for now, on a flixster scale 3 1/2 stars. The ending was a bit grandiose and typical for a Steven S. movie. However, the chemistry was quite good and is still well worth seeing.

Saw this movie yesterday, 4/12/08. Good Chemistry among the cast, solid acting. However, Rene looks like she ate a prune through most of the movie. But still would give it a B rating. Also enjoyed the soundtrack.

Saw this last night, 1/27/08. Excellent all the way.

A solid well acted movie. Funny comments/situations from the entire cast. Dennis Quaid is quite believable as a self-absorbed, burnt-out college professor.

Sarah Jessica Parker is also quite believable as his Doctor/girlfriend.

Ellen Page is his smarmy daughter, reminding me of a female Alex P. Keaton.

Thomas Hayden Church plays his hilarious directional-less, but ultimately wise adopted brother.

However, the downfall of this comedy is not with the acting. It with the very predictable ending. Despite this, it is a solid date movie and deserves a 6 out of 10 rating. Or a 3 out of 5 star rating as I gave it on herer

Probably Roger Moore's best as James Bond.

A Great Western! Superb among the top notch cast. What I liked the most about this classic film, is that what was unsaid spoke volumes just as much as the spoken parts.
For the Record: I am not big on Westerns!

Saw the 2 hour documentary on 3/22/08, of the Making of Jaws. Absolutely terrific!

Good Western about what could happen on a Cattle Drive.

All around solid cast. Good chemistry between Lemon, McLaine and McMurray. Saw tonight on PBS, for second time.

Disturbing, especially Matt Damon's character.

This was a fun movie! Saw and have the DVD.

The Good Shepherd (2006) I thought it was a bit too cloak and dagger-ish. But the acting is superb. Matt Damon plays off-kilter characters so well! What was unconvincing to me was, Damon was not aged enough, especially to have a son who ultimately also went into the Agency.

An odd mix of animation and science fiction meets sentimentality and the meaning of family which makes it work. Set in the beautiful backdrop of Hawaii. Saw 3/15/08

Another Top notch quirky, screwball, satire about the Cold War, which PBS has fallen madly in love with recently. Saw (4-19-08).

Film: What happens when A Russian submarine runs aground off the shores of small town America.

Any Warring nation should see this film!

Top notch satire. Very Quirky. A very good Screwball comedy about relationships and The Cold War. Saw on PBS.

Deceived. Starring Lou Gosset Jr. About an Observatory receiving a signal from space. A pretty good thriller, but the religion makes the movie silly.

Red Heat is a stereo-typical cop movie. Schwarzenegger and Belushi have good chemistry. But the more interesting roles to me were Lawrence Fishburne and Peter Boyle. A good rental, which I just happen to own on DVD.

Pretty much a yawner. Very predictable. No setup, so I didn't care about the characters. Good cast, although some actors sleep walked through their performances.

If you see this movie You are in Desperate Measures.

Recently saw this movie again, (11-27-08. i saw it at a friend's house. Jack Nicholson is so good as the Joker. One of his classic lines he asks, "Have you ever danced with the Devil in the pale moonlight?" Before he shoots his victims. Michael Keaton is also very good as Batman.

One of the Best Bio-Pics that really tell the struggles of people with disabilities, the way it truly is!

Saw this Saturday, (Feb. 27). I believe Jeff Bridges deserves the Oscar for his
performance. A good solid cast backs him up.

One of the best, rip-roaring classic comedies!

If you want to see how our justice system really works in its purest form, I highly recommend this classic film.

Saw this Great American classic all the through last night (6/20/10), Also reading the book. (50th Anniversary edition in paperback).

A great tale of greed, madness and friendship. Bogart's laugh is bone-chilling!

One of the Best Screwball Comedies!

One of the best movies to explore the ethics of Journalism,

A very Witty Comedy!

A very moving study of human nature.

Saw over Christmas 2010. Loved the NXNW/Hitchcock homage. But surprised Bond slapped a woman. Two disc DVD has some nice featuretes.

One of the most perfect films I've ever seen!

Great movie! Star packed Intense courtroom drama but also the Ultimate Con-game.

A really good intense drama between two friends.

Enjoyed this movie again. Did not pander to conventional types.