What we Saw Early This Year & What We Thought
© A.J. Malouin 2009
Happy Chinese New Year, Everyone!
Here, then, is a chronological listing of what Caryl & Al and The Film Snob have seen during our first 10 days of 2009. (Numbers in parenthesis indicate movies & films which we did not view in their entirety)…
1. Gran Torino
2. The unforgettable Nat “King” Cole
3. Auntie Mame
4. The Beast (1988)
(1.) Three Kings
5. The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons
6. Vampyres
7. The Reader
8. True Believer
Here, then, are our ratings and thumb-nail reviews of what we’ve seen.
GRAN TORINO
Caryl & Al saw it on The Small Screen and Al rated it 15. Caryl went out and saw it, again, on The Big Screen. Read our review under “What to See Next” and under “Archives > January 2009.”
THE UNFORGETTABLE NAT “KING” COLE.
(Rating: 12 by The Film Snob.)
It’s hard to imagine and remember that this man, with his incredibly smooth voice, was a victim of the same persecution that befell poor blacks in Alabama. Somehow, we just don’t expect it. Yet, in California, it happened. Lots of great music and songs here, and a workman-like detailing of Nat King Cole’s rise to song-making immortality.
AUNTIE MAME (1958)
(Rating: 3 by The Film Snob.)
Not much to say about this screenplay translation of the stage play, both of which starred Rosalind Russell, excepting that it is irresistible and totally charming!!!
Mame’s best efforts in the High Society of raising of her orphaned nephew are the stuff of which dreams are made. Totally mesmerizing and entertaining!
THE BEAST (1988)
(Rating: 1 by The Film Snob.)
This is a totally stunning film which The Film Snob needs to see again, as soon as possible. Read his first-blush reviews of it under “What To See Next” as well as under “Archives > January 2009” and under “Rentals: Caryl & Al Tell You What Movie to Rent Next.”
THREE KINGS
This is a totally interesting film starring George Clooney and others. Under the influence of a roaring fireplace and late-night hours, however, The Film Snob fell asleep on the couch three times now while trying to watch it. It’s not the fault of this wonderful film, but the fault of [as Marley accused Jacob of being] some piece of indigestion. We’ll see this again netflixed within a little while, and post a review of how truly nice it is. Meanwhile? See it on the basis of our loverly couch dreams.
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTONS
Caryl saw this movie and rated it Very Highly. She reports that the special-effects team who put Brad Pitt’s head on the various bodies of Benjamin Buttons did a Fabulous job. She loved the story, and thought that lots of actors did Very Good jobs in this movie. Caryl recommends that The Film Snob this movie, even though that’s probably not going to happen. “I think you’d really enjoy it.”
Now that it has been nominated for a gob of Oscars (as was “Titanic,” we remind you!) The Film Snob will probably have to see it—- even though he’s not looking forward to it.
VAMPYRES
(Rating: 30 by The Film Snob.)
This thing would be a guilty pleasure if it were Any Good At All, but, as bad luck would have it, it is Merely An Eyesore. Two often naked lesbian vampires suck the life out of weary travelers who pass their way. Nothing is as weary as this snail-pacedly vacuum of an entertainment.
THE READER
(Rating: 7 by The Film Snob.)
Lots to like here, especially in the performance of Kate Winslet. Lots, however, is be dis-interested in, including that this is yet another story about the holocaust. We have had enough, thank you, and will never forget, no matter *how* many movies try to go over this material again, and again.
The Film Snob thought that Kate Winslet did a better job here than she did in “Revolutionary Road.”
There’s a lot of male and female nudity in the First Act and a lot of the holocaust in the remaining two acts. The Film Snob would have like it a lot better if neither of those two issues had been soooooo blatant, heavy-handed, and over-bearing.
Perhaps we’ll speak more of it, later.
TRUE BELIEVER
(Rating: 2 by The Film Snob.)
Ah, here is the belly of the beast wherein The Law truly resides. A stunning film starring James Wood as a hippie-type lawyer on the edge of it all, and Robert Downey, Jr., as his fresh-faced law apprentice who gets sucked down into the real world in which The Law truly functions. Stunning film with a stunning sound track…Don’t miss renting it!!!