The Family Stone

"Don't dilly-dally there, pretty lady. We're all gonna be down here talking about you"

Thank goodness this isn't my family! Practically every review I have read about this film has been negative, and most comments about the film are negative (look at the discussion boards on imdb.com). What is it that people hate about this film?

Sarah Jessica Parker stars as Meredith, an uptight workaholic and perfectionist. She dresses well and is posessive of her clothing (especially her shoes). She is dating Everett (Mulroney), the oldest son of the Stone family. He is the stereotypical perfect oldest son, good job, well-liked, attractive, etc. Everett decides to bring Meredith home with him to meet his family and get THE ring from his mother so he can propose. Of course, his family hates Meredith and they clash over just about every topic.

Although it is not revealed till later, his mother Sybil (Keaton) is dying from cancer and wants to see her son with the right girl, which is obviously not Meredith. She is very protective of her family, and does not make life easy for Meredith. His father, Kelly (Craig T. Nelson) is more of a free-spirit and is caught (or accused) or smoking pot throughout the film. His brother, Ben, follows in the footsteps of their father (also smokes pot) and is just a wild and crazy guy. His baby sister Amy (McAdams) is bitter...and coincidentally the only single member of the family. She does not like Meredith, and is the only member of the family who meets her before this "special visit". His other sister Susannah (Elizabeth Reaser) is married (although we barely see her husband), and pregnant. Her daughter Elizabeth is also around to reak havoc. Susannah is not really a major character like the rest of the family, and does not appear in as many scenes (which is sad, since she is the most likeable member of the family). His other brother, Tad (Tyrone Giordano) is deaf and gay...a deadly combination for Meredith (who manages to insult him in many different ways). Tad's boyfriend Patrick (Brian White), is a well-loved member of the family, and the most accepting of Meredith (since he knows what it's like to join the Stone family). When Meredith can't handle much more of the family, and their extreme dislike for her, she calls her sister Julie (Claire Danes) to come to her rescue. The family LOVES Julie, and she joins their ranks thus not helping Meredith at all.

My biggest problem with the film is the Stone family: they are supposed to be this loving and open family, but they are unable to accept the woman Everett wants to marry. For the majority of the film they are unwilling to even try to get to know her or like her...but, Meredith is also a difficult character to like: she makes obtuse statements without thinking and is just overly unrealistic. I can understand what Bezucha was trying to do, and I respect him for it...and the acting is excellent, BUT it is hard to empathize with these characters...

Don't waste your money: it's not a classic, there have been other family films which have been made better that deal with the same issues.
Watch while doing homework: if you do watch it...some parts are unnecessary to understand the film, so either just skip to the good parts or do something else at the same time (i know it sounds harsh...but thats how it is)

The Family Stone (2005) 103 minutes
Director: Thomas Bezucha
Starring: Diane Keaton as Sybil
Sarah Jessica Parker as Meredith
Luke Wilson as Ben
Rachel McAdams as Amy
Dermont Mulroney as Everett

Rat Race

"I can do whatever I want. I'm eccentric. Grr!"

While it will never be "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World", this film has a fun modern twist on this treasure hunt. Eccentric billionaire Donald Sinclair (Cleese) hides six golden coins in his slot machines, and challenges the finders to a race. To the winner he will award $2 million. Unknown to those people, this is an elaborate game to a group of high rolling billionaires, who are betting on the winner. This race includes the straight-laced Nick (Breckin Meyer) who believes in playing by the rules...and his eventual partner, Tracy (Amy Smart) a crazy but lovable pilot. The international sleep apnea victim Enrico (Rowan Atkinson) who randomly falls asleep throughout the film...and then wakes to yell, "It's a race". There is Owen (Cuba Gooding Jr.), an umpire who makes a bad call at a game (thus all sports fanatics hate him) and then he hijacks a bus of Lucille Ball impersonators. And a reunited mother and daughter duo Vera (Whoopi Goldberg) and Merrill (Lanei Chapman) who are complete opposites, but grow closer throughout their crazy adventures: "we should have bought a squirrel". Conartist brothers Duane (Seth Green): the "smart one" and Blain (Vince Vieluf) the crazy one with piercings (he's hard to understand b/c he just pierced his tongue). These two are my favorites! And finally the Pear family: Randy (Jon Lovitz) who has a gambling problem, his wife Bev (Kathy Najimy) who wants a nice family vacation, and their two children. As expected, along the way they encounter obstacles, in the form of comedian cameos and other crazy mishaps (flying cow anyone?). It's definetly a "must-see"!

Dude, it's quotable: where do they get this stuff?
Rent it once: at least once...more is better!!

Rat Race (2001) 112 minutes
Director: Jerry Zucker
Starring: John Cleese as Donald Sinclair

It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World

"So good luck and may the best man win!"

"Except you lady, may you just drop dead!"

They don't make comedies like this anymore (although the remake was pretty good, see "Rat Race"). This is the ultimate chase/treasure hunt film. About 15 years before the film, Smiler Grogan (Jimmy Durante) stole $350,000 and is on his way to retrieve said money when he wrecks his car. The four cars which are following him pull over and five men make their way to the crash site to check on Smiler. When they get there Smiler tells them about the treasure he was going to dig up, and tells them to get to the money before the cops do. His final advice is that it's buried under a "Big W", and then he kicks the bucket (literally). After much deliberation,

"We've figured it seventeen different ways, and each time we figured it, it was no good, because no matter how we figured it, somebody don't like the way we figured it! So now, there's only one way to figure it. And that is, every man, including the old bag, for himself!"

So it's a race. Just to make it easier for you to follow here are the major breakdowns...

Captain Culpepper (Tracy) is the police detective who has been tracking Smiler for the past 15 years. He has his men tailing each of the cars and recording their progress. This is his big break, he can retire and take his wife on a nice long vacation, which sparks new family drama.

Then there's Melville (Sid Caesar), the rational dentist, and his pretty wife Monica (Edie Adams) who are going on their second honeymoon...but this race is testing their marital bliss, "Why can't you have a little confidence in me?"

Followed by Dingy (Mickey Rooney) and his pal Benji (Buddy Hackett), who run into trouble at every turn...including a frightening plane ride, "What, am I supposed to everything? You want me to fly the airplane, you want me to work the radio, what are you gonna... What are you, the hostess?"

And the neurotic Russel (Milton Berle), wife Emeline (Dorothy Provine), and her high maintenance mother, Mrs. Marcus (Ethel Merman)...who are later joined by her crazy son Sylvester (Dick Shawn) and the anti-America, Englishman Hawthorne (Terry Thomas). They make up the most remarkable team (when they aren't trying to kill one another), "Why couldn't you listen? Why couldn't you shut up when I was trying to tell you to listen?"

And finally the truck driver Pike (Jonathan Winters), who just can't get a break...and when he finally tells someone his secret, he tells the wrong man, the swindler Otto (Phil Silvers).
Also, watch out for some fabulous cameos by the top comedians of the time: Jerry Lewis, Don Knotts, Buster Keaton, Jack Benny, and the 3 Stooges (just to name a few).

The lines are funny...the story is funny...the cast is great...what could be better??

Dude, it's quotable: with that many comedians how could it not be quotable?
Buy it without seeing it: you won't regret it (unless you have no sense of humor...in which case, why are you watching comedy?)

It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963) depending on the version it is anywhere between 154-192 minutes
Director: Stanley Kramer
Starring: Spencer Tracy as Captain Culpepper

Notorious

"Wouldn't it be a little too much if we both grinned at her like idiots"

Nazis! Uranium! Hitchcock! While the major themes and names in the film may not strike terror into the hearts of modern audiences, there is something timeless about this classic Hitchcock film. Alicia (Bergman) is the daughter of a convicted Nazi. She drinks a lot, has many male admirers, and has no sympathy for her father, or his cause. This causes her to meet Devlin (Grant), an American agent, who needs her help. She is to use her particular "skills" to infiltrate the underground Nazi plot in South America, led by her former love interest Alex Sebastian (Rains). Like all other Hitchcock films, the plans of these Nazis are not important...more important is the twisted love story (love triangle) and the amazing camera angles.

To deal with the first, prior to going to South America, Alicia falls in love with Devlin (and potentially vice-versa)...as can be illustrated through the longest kiss ever recorded. They have an interesting relationship, since he must help her "fall in love with Sebastian". When she begins seeing Sebastian, Devlin begins reacting. The man Alicia loves doesn't trust her, and the man that trusts her shouldn't. Also, thwarting Alicia at every turn is Sebastian's domineering mother (Leopoldine Konstantin). The only other main character is Captain Prescott (Louis Calhern), who is Devlin & Alicia's boss.

One of the best things about this film are the amazing shots...pay close attention to the beginning of the party at Sebastians: you start by panning down the stairs, focus on Sebastian & Alicia, and slowly zoom in on Alicia's hand and the key that is inside. It's AWESOME! Of course, that is just one...but I'll let you find the others on your own. Technically, the final scene is the best, and most memorable. I love this film...

Dude, it's quotable: the dialogue is fascinating:-)
Rent it multiple times: it's impossible to completely understand this film after only one viewing...as it is with any Hitchcock film. tis a beautiful thing

Notorious (1946) 101 minutes
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Ingrid Bergman as Alicia
Cary Grant as Devlin
Claude Rains as Sebastian

Manchurian Candidate (1962)

"Why don't you pass the time by playing a little solitaire?"

Question: when is the game of solitaire creepy? Answer: when you watch "The Manchurian Candidate". While this film was made in the sixties and the main terror of the film is no longer a threat, this film is still relevant and gripping today. The basic story, a company of men are taken kidnapped and brainwashed (during the Korean War). When they return to the states they "remember" the heroics of one of their own, Raymond Shaw (Harvey). Their commanding officer, Bennett Marco (Sinatra) has nightmares about the ACTUAL events, and confronts Shaw (who has been conditioned to forget the real incidents). The majority of the film is Marco's struggle to learn the truth and help his friend, who has been trained as an assassin (and is called through the game of solitaire).

In general the acting is pretty bad, with the exception of Angela Lansbury who plays Shaw's domineering mother Mrs. Iselin. She is ruthless and unlikeable, but she steals every scene she is in. The other two women in the film serve as the romantic foils of Shaw & Marco. Shaw's love interest is Jocelyn Jordan (Leslie Parrish): the daughter of his mother's political enemy. Jocelyn's character is not fully developed, and only appears in a few scenes, but she is a tragic character, sigh.

Marco's awkward love interest is Rose (Leigh). Their relationship is awkward since they meet on the train, and after only knowing each other for a few days are discussing marriage. It is my personal opinion (one which is shared by Roger Ebert, check it out), since Marco was conditioned about Raymond, he could potentially also be conditioned for something else. If this assumption is correct, Rose is probably his controller. Take a close look at their dialogue on the train: the random questions she asks, and the quick response and ability to remember the details, but I digress.

The only other "main" characters are Chunjin (Henry Silva) and Senator Iselin (James Gregory). Chunjin served as the companies translator in Korea (he was the one who set up their capture and subsequent brainwashing, "his brain has not only been washed, as they say... It has been dry cleaned". After the war, he becomes Shaw's manservant in order to keep an eye on him. Senator Iselin is Shaw's stepfather (whom he hates). The Senator is not the brightest man out there, "I keep telling you not to think! You're very, very good at a great many things, but thinking, hon', just simply isn't one of them", but he is good at doing what he is told, and his wife is a willing party.
It is a fascinating film...overlook the acting (or lack thereof) and you'll be hooked! I suggest seeing this film prior to the 2004 version (which stars Denzel Washington, Merle Streep, Liev Schreiber).

Watch while doing homework: if you can tune out the majority of the film it's pretty good..and its not too hard to follow, especially after you understand the flow
Wait till it comes on tv: i wouldn't pay money to see this film...(i was sorely disappointed that i paid to see the 2004 version), but it could potentially be worth it, if this is the kind of film you're interested in

The Manchurian Candidate (1962) 126 minutes
Director: John Frankenheimer
Starring: Frank Sinatra as Marco
Laurence Harvey as Shaw
Janet Leigh as Rose
Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Iselin