Stats: 2008. Starring Uma Thurman, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Colin Firth. PG-13.
Background: Sometime in 2007 or 2008, I saw a preview for The Accidental Husband while at the movies. It sounded like a movie I would love, but then I never heard anything more about it. Finally I was able to get it on Netflix … and sure enough, I loved it! This is one I actually didn’t pick up out of Walmart’s $5 bin—I used credit card rewards to get it.
Plot: Dr. Emma Lloyd (Thurman) gives relationship advice on the radio. When Patrick’s fiancée decides to call off their wedding thanks to Emma’s advice, Patrick (Morgan) goes looking for revenge. His computer-whiz friend hacks into New York’s records department and “marries” Patrick and Emma. Emma, who is about to marry her kind but boring British boyfriend (Firth), tries to straighten the mess out—not knowing Patrick is to blame—and ends up discovering the joy in living outside her ordered existence.
Reactions: Yes, this movie is completely implausible to the point of ridiculousness, but it’s still an enjoyable way to spend an evening. It doesn’t hurt that Jeffrey Dean Morgan has never looked better than he does here! I do hate to see Mr. Darcy not get the girl, but his character is one you don’t really root for, anyway.
Verdict: Keep
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
#49 "An American in Paris"
Stats: 1951. Starring Gene Kelly & Leslie Caron. Not Rated.
Background: When I was in upper elementary or junior high, my cousins checked out three Gene Kelly movies from the library: An American in Paris, On the Town, and Singin’ in the Rain. We watched the three at their house (I think it was during summer break), and I loved Singin’ in the Rain (who doesn’t?), laughed through On the Town, and barely tolerated An American in Paris. It just seemed so boring! I’ve watched the first two multiple times since that day, but I never again bothered with An American in Paris … until I came across it in Walmart’s $5 bin. (My name is Becky, and I can’t resist the $5 bin—admitting you have a problem is the first step, right?)
Plot: Jerry (Kelly) is a WWII vet who stays in Paris after the war and becomes a struggling painter. He meets and woos Lise, a perfume salesgirl, despite the fact that she is engaged and he’s being pursued by a rich American woman. However, the plot is basically an excuse to fill a film with Gershwin music and showcase Kelly’s dancing talents.
Reactions: The music—all by Gershwin—is fantastic. I especially enjoyed the “I’ve Got Rhythm” sequence where Kelly teaches French children to say “I’ve got” and then sings and dances his way through the street. Also, the dream sequence/dance scene common in many musicals of the time is actually tolerable (even enjoyable) as set to “An American in Paris.” Normally I just fast forward through them (can we say Oklahoma?), but I actually paid attention here, due in large part to the music, I’m sure. The film as a whole was much more entertaining than I remembered—perhaps because my attention span is a bit longer than it was at age 13!
Verdict: Keep
Fun Fact: One of the special features on the dvd is an old MGM cartoon short--Symphony in Slang. It is a perfect introduction to American idioms (though some are incredibly outdated) that I think I'll start showing in my ESL classes.
Background: When I was in upper elementary or junior high, my cousins checked out three Gene Kelly movies from the library: An American in Paris, On the Town, and Singin’ in the Rain. We watched the three at their house (I think it was during summer break), and I loved Singin’ in the Rain (who doesn’t?), laughed through On the Town, and barely tolerated An American in Paris. It just seemed so boring! I’ve watched the first two multiple times since that day, but I never again bothered with An American in Paris … until I came across it in Walmart’s $5 bin. (My name is Becky, and I can’t resist the $5 bin—admitting you have a problem is the first step, right?)
Plot: Jerry (Kelly) is a WWII vet who stays in Paris after the war and becomes a struggling painter. He meets and woos Lise, a perfume salesgirl, despite the fact that she is engaged and he’s being pursued by a rich American woman. However, the plot is basically an excuse to fill a film with Gershwin music and showcase Kelly’s dancing talents.
Reactions: The music—all by Gershwin—is fantastic. I especially enjoyed the “I’ve Got Rhythm” sequence where Kelly teaches French children to say “I’ve got” and then sings and dances his way through the street. Also, the dream sequence/dance scene common in many musicals of the time is actually tolerable (even enjoyable) as set to “An American in Paris.” Normally I just fast forward through them (can we say Oklahoma?), but I actually paid attention here, due in large part to the music, I’m sure. The film as a whole was much more entertaining than I remembered—perhaps because my attention span is a bit longer than it was at age 13!
Verdict: Keep
Fun Fact: One of the special features on the dvd is an old MGM cartoon short--Symphony in Slang. It is a perfect introduction to American idioms (though some are incredibly outdated) that I think I'll start showing in my ESL classes.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
#48 "Far and Away"
Side Note: Here's how far behind I am on my blogging--I watched Far and Away while I was cleaning my apartment after I moved into my house last August. It's now June, and I'm preparing to move from this house into another one a few blocks away. I probably should have rewatched the movie before writing about it, but I didn't want to spend another 2-1/2 hours on it!
Stats: 1992. Starring Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, and Thomas Gibson. PG-13.
Background: I first saw Far and Away in early high school with my friend Angie. It was one of our many summer movie nights at her house. I may or may not have fallen asleep! I remember really liking the fact that Tom & Nicole were married in real life. So, yeah, that didn’t really work out … (Also, I was all excited to see “that guy from Star Trek.” Yes, I am—and have long been—a sci-fi nerd.)
Plot: After his father’s death, Joseph (Cruise) goes to confront his landlord, whom he holds responsible. He ends up fleeing to America with Shannon, the landlord’s daughter. They hear about free land in Oklahoma and plan to stake a claim. But life—and Joseph’s skill as a boxer—gets in the way, and they separate, only to reunite in Oklahoma.
Reaction: As I started writing this, I had every intention of getting rid of the movie. After all, I’ve owned it for several years and only watched it once in that time. But as I wrote the summary, I started remembering parts of the film I really enjoyed. No, it’s not a movie I’ll watch all the time, but it’s a nice historical film, and I really do like it. (It's gotten kind of a bad rap from critics, but I just came across this on ew.com--I'm not the only one who likes it!)
Verdict: Keep
Stats: 1992. Starring Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, and Thomas Gibson. PG-13.
Background: I first saw Far and Away in early high school with my friend Angie. It was one of our many summer movie nights at her house. I may or may not have fallen asleep! I remember really liking the fact that Tom & Nicole were married in real life. So, yeah, that didn’t really work out … (Also, I was all excited to see “that guy from Star Trek.” Yes, I am—and have long been—a sci-fi nerd.)
Plot: After his father’s death, Joseph (Cruise) goes to confront his landlord, whom he holds responsible. He ends up fleeing to America with Shannon, the landlord’s daughter. They hear about free land in Oklahoma and plan to stake a claim. But life—and Joseph’s skill as a boxer—gets in the way, and they separate, only to reunite in Oklahoma.
Reaction: As I started writing this, I had every intention of getting rid of the movie. After all, I’ve owned it for several years and only watched it once in that time. But as I wrote the summary, I started remembering parts of the film I really enjoyed. No, it’s not a movie I’ll watch all the time, but it’s a nice historical film, and I really do like it. (It's gotten kind of a bad rap from critics, but I just came across this on ew.com--I'm not the only one who likes it!)
Verdict: Keep
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