I Was a Male War Bride

"I wonder what the army'd do if I deserted?"

"They'd shoot you. The thought makes my mouth water."

After WWII, French Army Captain Henri Rochard (Grant) is given a special mission.  To complete his mission he needs to work with American Lieutenant Catherine Gates (Sheridan).  Rochard and Gates worked together before and do not get along.

Through a series of misadventures on their mission, they fall in love and get married.  But when it's time to return to the states they are forced to fight through a mound of red tape to stay together.


The plot of this film is based on the biography of Henri Rochard, "I Was an Alien Spouse of Female Military Personnel Enroute to the United States Under Public Law 271 of the Congress."  In the biography, Rochard documented all of the bureaucratic red tape to get married.  Director Howard Hawks and the screenwriting team turned this frustrating tale into a screwball comedy.

This film marked the fourth collaboration between Hawks and Cary Grant; they made 5 films together (Bringing Up Baby, Only Angels Have Wings, His Girl Friday, and Monkey Business).  As usual, Grant owns the screen.  He doesn't even try to be French, but that isn't a sticking point.  He dives into the character (and slapstick) with gusto.  Ann Sheridan matches his energy and delivers a strong performance.  I am not familiar with Sheridan's body of work, but I enjoy her here.

Check out this underrated gem.

I Was a Male War Bride (1949) 105 minutes
Director: Howard Hawks
Starring: Cary Grant and Captain Henri Rochard
Ann Sheridan as Lieutenant Catherine Gates
Marion Marshall as Lieutenant Kitty Lawrence
Randy Stuart as Lieutenant Eloise Billings
William Neff as Captain Jack Ramsey

Houseboat

After the death of his estranged wife, Tom Winters (Grant) decides to come back into his children's lives.  His three children want nothing to do with him, especially when he moves them into his tiny apartment in the city.  David (Petersen) steals, Elizabeth (Gibson) can't sleep by herself, and Robert (Herbert) is always angry and playing his harmonica.  One night Robert runs away and meets Cinzia (Loren), who is also running away, and convinces Tom to hire her as their maid.

After their house and car are wrecked, Tom moves the family into a houseboat.  The houseboat needs some serious work, and Cinzia doesn't cook or clean.  As Tom's sister-in-law Carolyn (Hyer) and the rest of the town watch, can they repair their relationships and their floating home?


Apparently the original script was written by Cary Grant's wife, actress Betsy Drake, and was to serve as a vehicle for them (they previously starred in Room for One More and Every Girl Should Be Married).  However, Grant was having an affair with Sophia Loren and had them change the script so that she could be the lead (Drake's version is very different from the film version).  Based on the film, it would have been better to keep Drake's version and keep as the female lead.  I like Loren, but not here.

The film is ok, but there is something off.  Most of the characters are consistently unlikeable, including the leads.  And what was the deal with Sophia Loren and anyone else on screen singing "Bing, Bang, Bong" every so many minutes?

Sure, some parts are funny and / or cute, but overall I was not impressed.  Both Grant and Loren have made better films.

Houseboat (1958) 110 minutes
Director: Melville Shavelson
Starring: Cary Grant as Tom Winters
Sophia Loren as Cinzia Zaccardi
Martha Hyer as Carolyn Gibson
Paul Petersen as David Winters
Charles Herbert as Robert Winters
Mimi Gibson as Elizabeth Winters
Harry Guardino as Angelo Donatello
Eduardo Ciannelli as Arturo Zaccardi

Father Goose

"So far you're shared me out of my clothes, my food and my house. Now, how about sharing some of my things with me."

Walter Eckland (Grant) wants to be left alone to sail around and drink.  His plans are interrupted by the Royal Australian Navy, who force him to serve as a coast watcher to report the movements of the Japanese Navy and planes.  He is stationed on Matalava Island, a deserted island, to live in a shack and communicate with Houghton and his men by radio, using the code name "Mother Goose."  To further encourage him, the Navy hide his alcohol around the island.

When the position of another watcher is compromised, he travels to another island to rescue the man and gain his freedom.  However, when he arrives at the island, the only person he finds is Catherine Freneau (Caron), the daughter of a French diplomat and her seven students, who are all daughters of diplomats.  With the Japanese closing in, he takes them back to his island.  It is too dangerous to remove the women, so they are forced to work together.


This is one of Cary Grant's last films (the last is Walk, Don't Run).  In this film he plays the most against type, shedding his typically suave and sophisticated film personality.  Apparently, Grant considered this character to be the most like his actual personality.

This film returns Grant to his comedy roots, after a dramatic turn in Charade.  He is funny and charismatic, like all good Grant characters.  He is matched by Leslie Caron, who is also funny and endearing in her role.  The girls are hilarious and work well as a team and as individuals with unique personalities.  The Navy officials are equally entertaining.  The relationship between Trevor Howard's Frank and Grant's Walter really sells the story and delivers the laughs.

An enjoyable flick with a great cast and funny story.

Father Goose (1964) 118 minutes
Director: Ralph Nelson
Starring: Cary Grant as Walter Eckland
Leslie Caron as Catherine Freneau
Trevor Howard as Frank Houghton
Jack Good as Lieutenant Stebbings
Sharyl Locke as Jenny
Pip Sparkle as Anne
Verina Greenlaw as Christine
Stephanie Berrington as Elizabeth
Jennifer Berrington as Harriet
Laurelle Felsette as Angelique
Nicole Felsette as Dominique

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House

"You've been taken to the cleaners, and you don't even know your pants are off."

Jim Blandings (Grant) is a successful advertising executive.  He and his wife Muriel (Loy), and his two daughters Joan (Moffett) and Betsy (Marshall), live in a cramped apartment in New York City.  Muriel wants to hire an interior decorator to redesign the interior of the apartment, and consults family friend and lawyer Bill Cole (Douglas) to make sure their finances can handle the expense.  Jim is livid and decides that the better decision is to purchase a home in Connecticut.  They find a historic old home, fall in love with it, and purchase it, despite the protestations of Bill.

The home is over 200 years old and in serious need of renovations.  They plan to do renovations to turn it into their dream home.  They soon learn that the home is not structurally sound and all of their experts advise them to tear it down and build from scratch.  They hire architect Mr. Simms (Denny) to service the building of their home, but nothing goes as planned.  Meanwhile, Jim is given the job of designing a new slogan for "WHAM" Brand Ham, a task that has destroyed the careers of the last few executives.  He is also concerned that Muriel is having an affair with Bill.  Can Jim and Muriel really have it all?


As I have previously state, Cary Grant is one of my favorite actors, and I have been enjoying watching his films, especially his comedies.  This film is marked as a comedy, but heavily embraces reality.  And despite the decades since it's release, the struggle of home ownership (specifically building a home of your own), is still very accurate.

Grant is at his befuddled best as Jim Blandings, constantly confused by the woman in his life and the entire process that he has gotten into.  I enjoy Myrna Loy, especially in the The Thin Man films (After the Thin Man and Another Thin Man).  However, in this film she is smidge annoying and unlikeable.  There are moments when she is funny, but overall I was not amused.  The daughters, played by Sharyn Moffett and Connie Marshall, are entertaining, although I don't think they went on to do many other films.  Melvyn Douglas rounds out the main cast as their overly pessimistic friend, who is also the voice of reason throughout.  He gets some of the best lines.

The film still holds up well after all of these years.  It is still funny and a comedy classic.

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948) 94 minutes
Director: H.C. Potter
Starring: Cary Grant as Jim Blandings
Myrna Loy as Muriel Blandings
Melvyn Douglas as Bill Cole
Reginald Denny as Simms
Sharyn Moffett as Joan Blandings
Connie Marshall as Betsy Blandings
Louise Beavers as Gussie
Ian Wolfe as Smith
Harry Shannon as Tesander

Happy Anniversary (1959)

Chris (Niven) and Alice (Gaynor) are preparing to celebrate their thirteenth year of marriage.  They are still very much in love, but don't have much time for each other.  They have two children, Ockie (Coughlin) and Debbie (Duke).  Chris is a successful lawyer, who works alongside his best friend Bud (Reiner), who also served as his best man.

On their anniversary they recreate a romantic tryst, and enjoy some time away from life.  That evening they have a party with Alice's old-fashioned parents Arthur (Smith) and Lillian (Povah), who bring a gift for the family: a television.  Chris is vehemently against owning a TV.  The evening continues to go downhill when Chris drunkenly discloses a secret to the entire family.  The ensuing arguments escalate and threaten the Walters happy marriage.


I decided to watch this film on a whim after I saw it on Amazon Instant Video and liked the main cast.  It is a cute film, but unmemorable.

This is the second film collaboration of David Niven and Mitzi Gaynor.  Their first film was The Birds and the Bees, in which Niven plays Gaynor's father, three years before.  This is the film debut of Carl Reiner, he was a writer and performer on TV.  The three leads are all talented, and do ok here.  Niven and Reiner are entertaining, especially together, and Gaynor gets one song.  The kids are entertaining, but a little grating.  Patty Duke's next film was The Miracle Worker, which was her big break.

This is not the best use of any of the stars talents, but it isn't terrible either... just dated and light.

Happy Anniversary (1959) 83 minutes
Director: David Miller
Starring: David Niven as Chris Walters
Mitzi Gaynor as Alice Gans Walters
Carl Reiner as Bud
Loring Smith as Arthur Gans
Monique van Vooren as Jeanette Revere
Phyllis Povah as Lillian Gans
Elizabeth Wilson as Millie
Patty Duke as Debbie Walters
Kevin Coughlin as Ockie Walters

Christmas in Connecticut

"I deceived you?"
"Yes! You're engaged!"
"You're married!"
"That has nothing to do with it!"

Elizabeth Lane (Stanwyck) writes one of the most popular food articles in New York.  Her articles share delicious recipes straight from her idyllic farm in Connecticut.  However, it is all a lie.  Lane lives in a small apartment in New York and can't cook.  Her recipes come from her friend Felix (Sakall), who owns a restaurant nearby.  Her magazine publisher, Alexander Yardley (Greenstreet) invites himself and war hero Jefferson Jones (Morgan) to her farm for Christmas.

Facing the end of her career, and that of her friend and editor Dudley Beecham (Shayne) if the truth should come out, she agrees to a crazy plan: she will marry John Sloan (Gardiner) and use his farm in Connecticut to host the holiday meal as requested, taking along Felix to do all of the cooking.  The farm is just as she describes in the articles, and during the day they borrow a neighbor's baby to pass off as their own.  Can Elizabeth keep up the charade, even as she falls in love with Jefferson?


A few months ago I read a synopsis of this film and bought it.  I had never seen it, but decided to take a chance.  And I loved it!

This is my second Barbara Stanwyck movie, and I love her!  She is great here.  She has a great supporting cast.  Dennis Morgan is charming as Jefferson Jones.  Reginald Gardiner is good as John Sloan, making him somewhat likeable while still showing that he isn't the right man for Stanwyck's Elizabeth.  But the best characters are Sydney Greenstreet as Yardley and S.Z. Sakall as Felix.  Greenstreet is gruff, but hilarious.  Sakall is perfect, I love him in all of his pictures.  When Sakall is introduced to Greenstreet's character, he makes a comment about a fat man...  Greenstreet played a character called "fat man" in The Maltese Falcon and Casablanca, the latter of which also starred Sakall.

The film is charming and funny, and I plan to add it to my yearly Christmas movie viewing!  Apparently they tried to remake it in 1992 as a made-for-TV movie, but it bombed.

Christmas in Connecticut (1945) 102 minutes
Director: Peter Godfrey
Starring: Barbara Stanwyck as Elizabeth Lane
Dennis Morgan as Jefferson Jones
Sydney Greenstreet as Alexander Yardley
Reginald Gardiner as John Sloan
S.Z. Sakall as Felix Bassenak
Robert Shayne as Dudley Beecham
Una O'Connor as Norah

Guardians of the Galaxy

"Metaphors go over his head."
"NOTHING goes over my head!... My reflexes are too fast, I would catch it."

When Peter Quill (Pratt) steals a mysterious orb, he becomes a target for several groups.  The orb is sought by Ronan the Accuser (Pace), a Kree warrior who needs the orb to destroy the planet Xandar.  He sends assassin Gamora (Saldana) to obtain the orb.  Quill is supposed to bring the orb to his mentor Yondu (Rooker) to take to a buyer, but Quill decides to collect the reward on his own.  Yondu puts a sizable bounty on Quill, which draws bounty hunters Rocket (Cooper), a genetically engineered racoon, and Groot (Diesel).  Soon Quill, Gamora, Groot, and Rocket are captured by Nova Corps and placed in a prison.  In the prison they meet Drax the Destroyer (Bautista) who wants to avenge the deaths of his family at the hands of Ronan.

Gamora reveals that she has a buyer for the orb, who will pay a hefty price.  They agree to team up to escape the prison and collect the reward.  As they escape, Ronan and his forces, including Gamora's sister Nebula (Gillan), are hot on their trail.  Can they stop fighting long enough to save the day?


This is the fourth film in Marvel's Phase 2, following Iron Man 3 and Thor: The Dark World, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier.  Unlike it's predecessor's, this film had the added pressure to introduce audiences to a whole new cast of characters and a new world.  And, the film had / has minimal ties to the other films and characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: the character of Thanos appears at the end of The Avengers and The Collector appears at the end of Thor: The Dark World.

The Guardians of the Galaxy comic series, created by Arnold Drake and Gene Colan, debuted in 1969 and ran until 1995.  In 2008 Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning started writing a new volume of the series, with a new team.  The series is an obscure Marvel property, but has a strong fan-base.  The series allows Marvel to explore more of the universe that might not intersect as easily with the Avenger team.  A sequel is planned for 2017.

I came into the film with minimal knowledge of the characters / series.  My only experience with the Guardians of the Galaxy characters came from their appearance on the TV show The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes (Season 2, Episode 6).  I was pleasantly surprised by the film.

The cast and their portrayals of the characters are excellent.  The film excels because it gives each of the Guardians a chance to shine and to be vulnerable.  They are fully realized characters that make you laugh and cry.  Chris Pratt, who is one of my favorite characters on Parks and Recreation, is the perfect lead here.  His Peter Quill / Star Lord is charismatic and funny, and you understand why others would follow him.  Zoe Saldana again portrays a strong warrior, while still making you care for the character.  Dave Bautista is soulful and intense as Drax, while still providing comic relife.  Bradley Cooper is hilarious as Rocket, talking a mile a minute.  Vin Diesel infuses so much into the character of Groot, although he only says "I am Groot", he is able to convey so much.  Lee Pace is intense as Ronan and Benicio del Toro is over the top as The Collector.  Karen Gillan's Nebula is an intriguing character and hopefully she will appear in the sequel.  Djimon Hounsou and Michael Rooker as welcome additions to the cast.

The visuals and effects are incredible.  The soundtrack is full of popular songs from the 1960s and 1970s, along with a great score by Tyler Bates.  Everything about the film works and once again proved that Marvel knows how to take risks and deliver quality films.

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) 121 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and for some language
Director: James Gunn
Starring: Chris Pratt as Peter Quill
Zoe Saldana as Gamora
Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer
Vin Diesel as Groot
Bradley Cooper as Rocket
Lee Pace as Ronan the Accuser
Michael Rooker as Yondu Udonta
Karen Gillan as Nebula
Djimon Hounsou as Korath
John C. Reilly as Corpsman Dey
Glenn Close as Nova Prime
Benicio del Toro as The Collector

Call Me Madam

"You are the most American American I have ever met."

"That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me."

Sally Adams (Merman), a wealthy Washington socialite, is named the ambassador to Lichtenburg.  At the farewell party, she hires reporter Kenneth Gibson (O'Connor) as her assistant.  At the Lichtenburg embassy, they meet Pemberton Maxwell (De Wolf), who is the third member of their team and a stickler for the rules and protocol.

Lichtenburg is ruled by Grand Duke Otto (Stossel) and Grand Duchess Sophia (Skala), who are brokering a marriage between their niece Princess Maria (Ellen) and Prine Hugo (Dantine).  Their advisors see Sally as the answer to all their financial issues, and a ensure that the marriage takes place.  However, Kenneth falls for the Princess, who returns his affection.  Sally is wooed by General Cosmo Constantine (Sanders), who claims that he does not want any of her money.  Pemberton warns that it is all a political ploy.  Can Sally sort out the politics and romances so that everyone gets what they want?



In 1950, composer Irving Berlin teamed up with Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse for a musical based on Perle Mesta.  Mesta was a hostess and political fundraiser who was named as ambassador of Luxembourg 1949-1953 by Harry Truman.  They thought it would make a great show and envisioned Ethel Merman in the lead role.  The show was a hit and Merman remained the star for the show's entire Broadway run of 644 performances, from 1950-1952.

Merman is the perfect choice for this role.  She has excellent comedic timing, along with a boisterous personality that work well on stage, but sometimes feel a little too big for film.  I love Merman, but her voice is huge and can be overwhelming.

Donald O'Connor is an incredible dancer.  His "Make 'Em Laugh" scene from Singin' in the Rain is my favorite moment / song from the film.  In this film he gets another chance to have a big, iconic dance that steals the show (the song starts around the 1 minute mark, he starts dancing at 1:13)

His dancing is matched by Vera-Ellen, who is a beautiful and graceful dancer.  Her songs were dubbed by someone else, but her dancing is unparalleled.  O'Connor and Ellen are a great dancing match-up, with complimentary styles.  Unfortunately, this film is the only time they appear together. This is George Sanders only musical, but he holds his own.  The rest of the cast is good as well.

This isn't a great musical.  It is fun to watch, but none of the songs are particularly memorable.  "It's a Lovely Day Today" and "You're Just in Love" are good songs, but not as good as other Berlin songs.  It is ok, but probably better on stage or live.

Call Me Madam (1953) 114 minutes
Director: Walter Lang
Starring: Ethel Merman as Sally Adams
Donald O'Connor as Kenneth Gibson
Vera-Ellen as Princess Maria
George Sanders as General Cosmo Constantine
Billy De Wolf as Pemberton Maxwell
Helmut Dantine as Prince Hugo
Walter Slezak as August Tantinnin
Steven Geray as Prime Minister Sebastian
Ludwig Stossel as Grand Duke Otto
Lilia Skala as Grand Duchess Sophie

Three Guys Named Mike

Small town girl Marcy Lewis (Wyman) is a flight attendant.  She is friendly and smart and easily charms the passengers and everyone around her.  Her first stewardess position pairs her with pilot Mike Jamison (Keel).  Despite a rocky first day, they quickly establish a light and friendly relationship.

Marcy is transferred to a different schedule, which allows her to move in with her close friends Kathy (Kirk), Jan (Sargent), and Alice (Donnell).  At her new airline, she meets and befriends passenger Mike Lawrence (Johnson), a graduate student who works as a bartender to make ends meet.  While moving, she meets successful advertiser Mike Tracy (Sullivan) and inspires his new advertising campaign.  When all of the Mikes meet, she has to decide who she really loves.


This film was recommended for me, based on my movie tastes.  It sounded good, and I had never heard of it... so I decided to give the film a chance.  It was a charming and funny film.  It was a delight to watch.

Jane Wyman is sweet and endearing here; you can completely believe that everyone loves her.  Her suitors are all entertaining, but Barry Sullivan's Mike is the least developed.  He is fine, but his character doesn't have the same amount of screen time as the other two.  Van Johnson is good.  Howard Keel had the best chemistry with Wyman, which overshadows her screen time with the other two.

A gem of a film with an excellent cast!

Three Guys Named Mike (1951) 90 minutes
Director: Charles Walters
Starring: Jane Wyman as Marcy Lewis
Van Johnson as Mike Lawrence
Howard Keel as Mike Jamison
Barry Sullivan as Mike Tracy
Phyllis Kirk as Kathy Hunter
Anne Sargent as Jan Baker
Jeff Donnell as Alice Raymend

The Grass Is Greener

"Well then, so long, be seeing you, as you say in America."
"Cheerio, as you say in Britain."

Victor (Grant) and Hilary (Kerr) Rhyall are facing financial struggles.  They cannot afford the upkeep on their lavish family estate and have allowed tourists to have guided tours of the home, while they keep to a few rooms.  One day American millionaire Charles Delacro (Mitchum) enters their private chambers and charms Hilary.

When the affair begins, Victor invites Charles to visit for the weekend.  He also invites Hilary's best friend, who also happens to be Victor's former girlfriend, Hattie (Simmons).  Will Hilary choose Victor, or will he be forced to go to drastic measures to untangle the love quandrangle?


This film marks the third collaboration between Cary Grant and Deborah (they previously starred in Dream Wife and An Affair to Remember).  I found it on Amazon Instant Video, and since it sounded too good to pass up, I added it to my queue.  And I was not disappointed.


The film is adapted from the 1958 play The Grass Is Greener which was written by Hugh Williams and Margaret Vyner.  The play was a considered one of the best plays of 1958-1959, and the studio asked Williams and Vyner to write the screenplay for the film.

The film is intriguing from the beginning.  The opening credits, which were designed by Maurice Binder, are cute and creative.  Binder created the opening titles for most of director Stanley Donen's films, and later gained notoriety for his work on the James Bond films.

The cast is excellent, and Jean Simmons received a Laurel Award nomination for her performance.  My favorite scene is the telephone call between Victor and Charles, which appears on split screen with the two couples mirroring each other.  It is a great scene, and feels like something that would work well on stage (maybe it happened in the original play, regardless it is funny).

The Grass Is Greener (1960) 104 minutes
Director: Stanley Donen
Starring: Cary Grant as Victor Rhyall, Earl
Deborah Kerr as Lady Hilary Rhyall
Robert Mitchum as Charles Delacro
Jean Simmons as Hattie Durant
Moray Watson as Trevor Sellers

Topper

"Perhaps you can explain the red on this cigarette."

"Yes, I... cut my tongue when I was shaving this morning."

George (Grant) and Marion (Bennett) Kerby are a wealthy, carefree couple.  Their partying ways are cut short by a fatal car crash that kills both.  However, since they have never been responsible enough to be too good or bad, they begin to fad away.  They decide that they need to do a good deed to get into heaven.

Meanwhile, their friend Cosmo Topper (Young) is tired of having his wife (Burke) plan his life.  He impulsively purchases the Kerby's car and gets a flat tire.  George and Marion decide to make helping Topper their good deed.  Can the Kerby's help Topper enjoy life, or will they just ruin his life and marriage?


Cary Grant is one of my favorite actors and have yet to dislike one of his films.  This month, TCM (Turner Classic Movies) is showing his films on Monday nights, and I can't pass up the chance to check out some of his films.  Topper is one that I heard of, or saw listed in his filmography, but had never gotten around to seeing.


This film was a major success and helped the careers of all of the leads.  Constance Bennett is a treat.  She and Cary Grant have charm to spare and are an entertaining pair, but the real star of the film is Roland Young as Topper.  Young was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance.  Young, who worked with Grant again in The Philadelphia Story, is a talented physical comedian, which is put to use here as he interacts with the ghosts.  His wife is played by Billie Burke, who went on to play Glinda in The Wizard of Oz, who is fine in her role.  Alan Mowbray is entertaining as their butler with an attitude.  There are other small roles that are memorable, including Arthur Lake as the confused bellhop, Eugen Pallette as the detective, and Ward Bond as one of the cab drivers.

Check out this classic screwball comedy!

Topper (1937) 97 minutes
Director: Norman McLeod
Starring: Constance Bennett as Marion Kerby
Cary Grant as George Kerby
Roland Young as Cosmo Topper
Billie Burke as Mrs. Topper
Alan Mowbray as Wilkins

Wish I Was Here

"We both spent our entire lives wishing we could be something great and now we're finally called upon to do something that requires some actual bravery."

Aidan Bloom (Braff) is a struggling actor who hasn't worked in years.  His family is financially supported by his wife Sarah (Hudson).  His children, Grace (Hudson) and Tucker (Gagnon) are in Jewish school, which is paid by his father Gabe (Patinkin).  When Gabe's cancer returns, his money goes towards his treatments and the kids are kicked out of school.  Aidan refuses to send the kids to public school and begins homeschooling them.  Aidan's brother Noah (Gad) refuses to help care for their father.  Aidan begins teaching the kids about life, while grappling with his father's illness.



This film marks Zach Braff's second time in the directors chair (following 2004's Garden State).  After the success of Veronica Mars successful Kickstarter campaign, Braff turned to Kickstarter to help fund this film.  Ultimately over 46,000 people donated to the campaign, and the film was picked up by Worldview Entertainment.

I enjoyed Braff on TV's Scrubs, but didn't love Garden State (although I am willing to give it a second try).  However, the previews looked interesting and I was intrigued to see how the Kickstarter campaign helped shape the film.  The trailers and descriptions of the film are misleading.  It seems like it should be a funny film that focuses on the relationship between Braff's Aidan and his children... nothing ever mentioned that it was also emotional.

The film tries too hard... it is ok, but not as great as it seems to think.  It has funny moments and heartwarming moments, but the story doesn't quite know what it's doing.  It is possible to have a funny moment that also deals with serious, emotional moments, but it didn't click here.  Yes, I laughed and cried, and was satisfied with the ending, but most of the characters are not fully fleshed out.  Josh Gad is completely wasted in his role, although he does get a nice moment later in the film.  I loved seeing Donald Faison in a cameo, along with other Scrubs alums in small cameos.

It's hard to describe this film.  I wouldn't recommend it... but I can't condemn it either.  It didn't leave an impression.

Wish I Was Here (2014) 106 minutes
Rating: R for language and some sexual content
Director: Zach Braff
Starring: Zach Braff as Aidan Bloom
Kate Hudson as Sarah Bloom
Joey King as Grace Bloom
Pierce Gagnon as Tucker Bloom
Mandy Patinkin as Gabe Bloom
Josh Gad as Noah Bloom
Ashley Greener as Janine

An Affair to Remember

"What makes life so difficult?"
"People."

Aboard a cruise from Europe to New York, wealthy playboy Nickie Ferrante (Grant) meets nightclub singer Terry McKay (Kerr).  Nickie is engaged to American heiress Lois Clark (Patterson) and Terry is in a serious relationship with Kenneth Bradley (Denning).  Despite their relationships, they are drawn to each other, although they try to keep it from the other passengers.

Nickie invites Terry for a day trip to visit his grandmother, Grandmother Janou (Nesbitt).  The visit changes their relationship and they realize that they are in love.  As the voyage comes to a close they agree to meet at the top of the Empire State Building in 6 months.


This film is considered one of the most romantic films of all time; it was #5 in AFI's 100 Years... 100 Passions lists (Cary Grant starred in the most films on the list: 6).  It was nominated for 4 Academy Awards.  The film is a remake of director Leo McCarey's 1939 film Love Affair, starring Irene Dunn and Charles Boyer.  It was a beloved film that was nominated for several Academy Awards.  In 1994, Warren Beatty and Annette Bening starred in a remake of Love Affair (and used the same title).

This marks the second (of 3) film collaborations between Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr.  In 1953 they starred in Dream Wife and in 1960 they starred in The Grass Is Greener.  This film is the most successful of the three.

Grant and Kerr have excellent chemistry.  They ooze charisma and are perfectly suited for their roles.  The rest of the cast pale in comparison.  The script draws you in from the beginning, with only a few rough / slow patches (is it really necessary to spend that amount of time with Terry's students... sure, they are adorable, but do we really need to see them perform twice?).  The film had a renaissance in 1993 when it was featured heavily in Nora Ephron's Sleepless in Seattle.

It is a wonderful film, that everyone should see at least once.

An Affair to Remember (1957) 119 minutes
Director: Leo McCarey
Starring: Cary Grant as Nickie Ferrante
Deborah Kerr as Terry McKay
Richard Denning as Kenneth Bradley
Neva Patterson as Lois Clark
Cathleen Nesbitt as Grandmother Janou

Snowpiercer

"My friend, you suffer from the misplaced optimism of the doomed."

In 2014 an experiment meant to counteract the effects of global warming causes a world-wide ice age that destroyed all life.  Eighteen years later, the only survivors reside on a luxury train, owned by eccentric billionaire Wilford (Harris).  The train has a special engine that allows it to travel around the globe and protect it's passengers from the frigid weather.  The occupants of the train are divided based on their location, with the wealthy and privileged in the front and the poor in the tail.  The inhabitants of the tail are preparing for a revolution.  They are tired of eating protein bars and having the guards take their children.  The revolution is orchestrated by Curtis (Evans), a quiet and thoughtful man who barely remembers life before the train.

Curtis plans to attack the train's water source so that they have bargaining power.  He is assisted by his best friend and second-in command Edgar (Bell) and their mentor Gilliam (Hurt) who also serves as the moral compass of the tail section.  After overcoming the first obstacle, they convince Namgoong Minsoo (Song), who designed the locking mechanisms for the doors, and his clairvoyant daughter Yona (Ko) to join their trip to the front of the train.  With Wilford's ruthless spokesman Mason (Swinton) and trained guards in their way, can they fight all the way to the engine?


I was skeptical about this film, but after reading several positive reviews, decided to give it a chance.  It marks the English-language debut for director Joon-ho Bong, who is a South Korean director and screenwriter with a distinctive style.  Bong based the screenplay on the French graphic novel Le Transperceneige by Jacques Lob, Benjamin Legrand, and Jean-Marc Rochette.  Prior to this, I was unfamiliar with Bong's films, but I can't wait to dive into more of his work.

Bong created a detailed world on the train, with each train having a distinct style and purpose.  It is visually stunning and creative.  They also utilized the space on the train well in the intricate and gruesome fight sequences.  Some of the action is a little far fetched, but others are impressive based on what they manage to do with the space and resources at hand (one scene is only lit by torches).

The cast list is also impressive.  Chris Evans, best know as Captain America, is the focus of the film, but the people around him are even more entertaining.  Kang-ho Song and Ah-sung Ko regularly collaborate with Bong, and are a great father-daughter team here.  Tilda Swinton has the showiest role as Mason.  She is hidden under ridiculous glasses and fascinating accent, but is still the most despicable character in the film... but you can't wait to see what she will do next.  The cast as a whole are intriguing characters, played by talented actors.

It is an interesting film.  It takes a bit to get into it, but the payoff is worth it.  A fascinating science fiction, action flick.

Snowpiercer (2013) 126 minutes
Rating: R for violence, language and drug content
Director: Joon-ho Bong
Starring: Chris Evans as Curtis
Kang-ho Song as Namgoong Minsoo
Tilda Swinton as Mason
Jamie Bell as Edgar
Octavia Spencer as Tanya
Ewen Bremner as Andrew
Ah-sung Ko as Yona
Vlad Ivanov as Franco the Elder
Luke Pasqualino as Grey
John Hurt as Gilliam
Ed Harris as Wilford

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

"You're on the 2 AM to 5 AM slot."

"What? That's the graveyard shift!"

"I ain't afraid of no ghost!"

Ron Burgundy (Ferrell) and his wife Veronica Corningstone (Applegate) are the co-anchors at a news show in New York.  When the nightly news anchor retires, the job goes to Veronica and Ron is fired from the network.  Ron leaves Veronica and their son Walter (Nelson) and returns to San Diego.  Six months later he accepts an anchor position for GNN, a new network that wants to broadcast the news 24 hours a day.  He decides to reunite the old team: reporter Brian Fantana (Rudd) who is now a famed photographer, sports guy Champ Kind (Koechner) who now owns a fast food chain, and meteorologist Brick Tamland (Carell) who is still confused.

They are given the graveyard shift and decide to use their time slot to give the people news that they actually want to hear.  With station owner Kench Allenby (Lawson) and director Linda Jackson (Good) watching their every move, and anchor Jack Lime (Marsden) mocking them, can the team beat the odds?


In 2004 Will Ferrell and director Adam McKay teamed up to bring Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy to life.  Ferrell and McKay worked together on Saturday Night Live, and have since collaborated on several films and the comedy website Funny or Die.  Nine years after the success of Anchorman, they decided to bring Ron Burgundy back to the big screen.

All of the main characters return for this film, some only for cameos.  The film also features some gags from the original.  The best use of these gags is the newscaster battle towards the end.  The scene is bursting with impressive cameos and ridiculous weapons.  It was my favorite scene.

Many of the funniest gags appeared in the film's trailer.  The film is funny, but it also drags in some scenes.  An ok sequel and comedy... funny but not great.

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013) 119 minutes
Rating: R for language, drug use, sexual material and references
Director: Adam McKay
Starring: Will Ferrell as Ron Burgundy
Steve Carell as Brick Tamland
Paul Rudd as Brian Fantana
David Koechner as Champ Kind
Christina Applegate as Veronica Corningstone
Dylan Baker as Freddie Shapp
Meagan Good as Linda Jackson
Judah Nelson as Walter Burgundy
James Marsden as Jack Lime
Greg Kinnear as Gary
Josh Lawson as Kench Allenby
Kristen Wiig as Chani Lastname

Double Indemnity

"We're both rotten."

"Only you're a little more rotten."

Walter Neff (MacMurray) is an insurance salesman, one of the best at his firm.  One day he goes to the Dietrichson home to renew an automobile insurance policy.  He is instantly smitten with Phyllis Dietrichson (Stanwyck) and they flirt.  She invites him to return the following evening to talk with her husband and then asks about getting a secret life insurance policy for her husband (Powers).  Neff guesses her intentions and leaves.

He can't get Phyllis off his mind.  A few days later she comes to his apartment to confess her love.  He agrees to help her kill her husband so they can be together.  He crafts a meticulous plan to fool the claims adjuster Barton Keyes (Robinson), who he works with and considers a close friend.  Can they fool the police, insurance agent, and Dietrichson's inquisitive daughter Lola (Heather)?


This film is considered a classic, and is often written about and talked about cinematic circles, and considered one of Roger Ebert's great movies.  I knew the basic plot, but wanted to officially watch the film, and I was not disappointed.

The story is based on the 1943 novel Double Indemnity by James M. Cain, and apparently he based the story on a 1927 murder by Ruth Snyder.  The screenplay was written by famed novelist and screenwriter Raymond Chandler and directed by Billy Wilder.  It is an incredible film, worth all of the hype it has received over the years.  The dialogue is sharp and dark, and the film is an early example of Wilder's talent and the noir genre as a whole.

The film is told as a flashback, with the end of the story happening at the beginning.  The story unfolds through voiceover narration by Fred MacMurray.  Before this I only knew MacMurray for his Disney roles, but I like him in this role as well... since it is so unexpected.  Barbara Stanwyck is the perfect femme fatale with questionable motives.  And Edward Robinson is the moral center of the film.  He is an intriguing character.

This feels like a film that gets better and better with each viewing, and I look forward to watching it again to find new things.

Double Indemnity (1944) 107 minutes
Director: Billy Wilder
Starring: Fred MacMurray as Walter Neff
Barbara Stanwyck as Phyllis Dietrichson
Edward G. Robinson as Barton Keyes
Porter Hall as Mr. Jackson
Jean Heather as Lola Dietrichson
Tom Powers as Mr. Dietrichson
Byron Barr as Nino Zachetti