Reviews
The Moon Is Blue (1953)
Better With Age
Having not seen this film in over 50 years, I remembered it as a great bore. But I was surprised - just a bit. This is really theater with limited sets and 3 main characters who continually talk with very little physical movement. Not much for a teenager - except that it didn't receive the Breen Hollywood Seal of Approval because of the use of sexy words like virgin, pregnant, and seduce. I, like so many others, had to see this picture ( just like I had to see "The Outlaw"). Unfortunately, nothing really sexy happens and it was a real let down in more then one way.
But now, although the story is totally ridiculous (two adult men wanting to marry a 23 year old wisenheimer after just meeting her) I really enjoyed David Niven. He looks great, has the best lines in the film and drinks enormous, unbelievable amounts of alcohol. Poor Maggie McNamara (and I mean poor Maggie who committed suicide at 48) doesn't really look like Audrey Hepburn at all - her close ups are a little scary. This was her first movie after modeling (her figure makes it hard to believe). And her speaking voice is really very unusual and ultimately very annoying (yet she received an Academy nomination). William Holden is totally artificial and although he was 35 at the time he, sadly, looks so much older.
So why did I enjoy this. Niven,Niven,Niven and the 50's apartment sets, and the 50's mentality with a little bit of Dawn Addams to boot. My favorite line: Holden- Why are you so preoccupied with sex? McNamara- Isn't it better to be preoccupied than occupied?
The Sessions (2012)
A Disabled Film
This is the story of Mark O'Brien a 37 year old poet who has paralytic polio and has to be in an iron lung in order to breath. He can only move the muscles above his neck. For reasons that are not clear, he can be removed from the iron lung for 3-4 hours a day. He is clever, witty and non-complaining. His greatest desire is to experience a sexual relationship.
The story is a serious one designed to invoke compassion, laughter and hope. Yet I never cried, laughed or felt uplifted. Nothing really seems to work the way it should. It all has a superficial feeling, with some psycho-babble to boot. Mark wants what we all want - to be hugged, touched, loved and have sex. The nudity, however, is beautiful.
The three major actors really don't seem to be working very hard. John Hawkes is horizontal and smiles a lot. Helen Hunt's body is beautiful but her forehead never moves and William H Macy has amazingly long hair for a priest and smokes. Not quite Karl Malden's Father Barry. The simplicity of the story line makes it difficult to create something substantial. It's a shame that a film about such a serious disability is itself so seriously disabled.
Moon Bloodgood, Rhea Perlman, and Adam Arkin give great support.
Then I came home and watched Dinner For Eight (1933). Now that was great movie making. John and Lionel made me cry. Billie and May made me laugh and Jean was fabulous.
Lady Chatterley (2006)
There is only one false note in this film.
I agree with everyone who thought this was a masterful film. Marina Hands is the most beautiful woman I've seen in some time. Her portrayal of Constance was remarkable. Her loving kindness was more authentic than any performance I can remember. Jean-Louis Coullo'ch and Hippolyte Girardot are perfectly cast as lover and husband. The only false note in the film was the home movies of her trip abroad. They were filmed in color (as was the rest of the film) and I don't believe that color film was available just after World War I. On the other hand, the fact that everyone is English and they are all speaking French was not a distraction. The photography of Julien Hirsch and Pascale Ferran's direction are superb. My favorite line is when Constance says to Parkin, "Just keep your heart gentle". At 2 hours and 40 minutes, with little action other then a "whole lotta love", watching this film requires a gentle heart.
Hugo (2011)
What a waste of time.
Amazing film-making techniques, especially in 3D, but remarkably boring. A simplistic story with stereotypical acting. Without the digital effects and 3D, this would never have gotten the positive reviews it did get. One of Scorcese's worst films. The most interesting note is that the two actors from the wonderful "The History Boys", Richard Griffiths and Frances de la Tour, appear together and are terrific in this non-terrific movie. Also, Asa Butterfield has beautiful blue eyes. It also seems that dust-motes are visible throughout the film creating a visual annoyance. And finally we are allowed to see Sacha Baron Cohen spit as he speaks. Something I've waited all my life to see.
Odd Man Out (1947)
One of Reed's 3 Best Films
This is a remarkable film released in 1947. James Mason is amazing when you consider how few lines he actually speaks. The rest of the cast is extraordinary - Robert Newton, Kathleen Ryan, F.J. McCormick and W.G Fay among others.
The scene where Mason is hallucinating and sees the image of Father Tom is unforgettable. From his throne-like chair he says, "We repeated the words without thinking what they meant. But I remember when I was a boy. I remember when I was a child. I spoke as a child, I thought as a child, I understood as a child. But when I became a man, I put away childish things". Just incredible.
And the tear wrenching end - Kathleen: "It's all right Johnny. I'm here". Johnny: "Is it far"? Kathleen: "It's a long way, Johnny. But I'm going with you".
This film was followed in 1948 by "The Fallen Idol" and in 1949 "The Third Man". Three of Carol Reed's best films and perhaps three of the best films ever made.
Des hommes et des dieux (2010)
Acted like an opiate
Immediately after the opening credits this film made me feel like I was injected with a powerful opiate, putting me into a deep, sleep-like state. It was hard to understand the immediacy of this somnolence. The chanting scenes helped as sleep prolonging lullabies. Although the film was painfully slow and overly long - it did have some scenes of clarity and emotion. "The Last Supper" scene (I magically resurfaced at this point) almost brought tears my to eyeballs but after a short evaluation I realized that the word "maudlin" was more appropriate. See this film only with a well-caffeinated friend who can hold your hand and fill you in afterward with an abridged version.