What Was The Last Movie You Watched?

[AmateisGal]

A Little Chaos with Kate Winslet and Alan Rickman. The concept is absolutely divine - a female gardener wins a contract to construct some of the gardens at Versailles under the Sun King (King Louis XIV) - but the film didn't quite measure up to its potential. It's a real shame because the talent is wonderful - Stanley Tucci, Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet, and Belgium actor Matthias Schoenaerts. The scenery is sumptuous as are the costumes.

Still, I enjoyed this film as I love the time period.

 

[AmateisGal]

I've had TCM on all afternoon, so there was lots of Cary Grant movies! Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (one of my favorites), The Talk of the Town, and now Mr. Lucky.

 

[Fading Fast]

I've had TCM on all afternoon, so there was lots of Cary Grant movies! Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (one of my favorites), The Talk of the Town, and now Mr. Lucky.

Caught parts of the first two as well. I have seen "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House" too many times to count. Have you read the book - it equals the movie? "Mr. Lucky" is the weakest of the three, but Cary Grant is enough to hold your interest.

 

[scottyrocks]

I've had TCM on all afternoon, so there was lots of Cary Grant movies! Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (one of my favorites), The Talk of the Town, and now Mr. Lucky.

Yes, I watched Mr. Lucky (1943) yesterday, as well. I love Mr. Grant in just about everything he has been in (except the one where he and his wife adopt a child. I can't watch that one and I'm not sure why).

I think Mr. Lucky shows Grant at his best. Suave good guy/bad guy role that he carries off with aplomb. Loved it.

 

[Fading Fast]

Yes, I watched Mr. Lucky (1943) yesterday, as well. I love Mr. Grant in just about everything he has been in (except the one where he and his wife adopt a child. I can't watch that one and I'm not sure why).....

You might be referring to "Penny Serenade," which includes an adoption, but is, overall, a brutally sad movie. I respect it as a movie - strong writing and acting - but I have no desire to sit through the sadness again.

 

[Doctor Strange]

A Little Chaos with Kate Winslet and Alan Rickman. The concept is absolutely divine - a female gardener wins a contract to construct some of the gardens at Versailles under the Sun King (King Louis XIV) - but the film didn't quite measure up to its potential. It's a real shame because the talent is wonderful - Stanley Tucci, Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet, and Belgium actor Matthias Schoenaerts. The scenery is sumptuous as are the costumes.

Still, I enjoyed this film as I love the time period.

I saw this a while ago and totally agree. The film was reasonably enjoyable - if not entirely believable - but it didn't amount to much. While it's not a complete period film disaster (a la Tulip Fever, oy), it didn't satisfy. And it's a shame, because every additional Alan Rickman performance has become so much more precious since we lost him.

 

[Julian Shellhammer]

Yes, I watched Mr. Lucky (1943) yesterday, as well. I love Mr. Grant in just about everything he has been in (except the one where he and his wife adopt a child. I can't watch that one and I'm not sure why).

I think Mr. Lucky shows Grant at his best. Suave good guy/bad guy role that he carries off with aplomb. Loved it.

Is that Room for One More ? Grant and Betsey Drake take in troubled children?

 

[Julian Shellhammer]

Saturday night, Ocean's 11 (1960). The Missus prefers the remake. If you see it, watch for the dominant color schemes in the different sets - gray-walled apartments, blue-walled apartments, nearly completely white mansions. Also, there is something the color of orange in nearly every scene.

 

[scottyrocks]

Is that Room for One More ? Grant and Betsey Drake take in troubled children?

No, I believe it was Penny Serenade. The child they adopt is an infant girl.

 

[Zombie_61]

Rock Around the Clock (1956) on TCM. Big band manager Steve Hollis (Johnny Johnston) and his mostly-comic-relief buddy Corny LaSalle (Henry Slate) "discover" rock and roll when they stumble across a small-town Saturday night dance with music provided by a "local unknown" band called Bill Haley and the Comets. Badly written and not particularly well acted, except for the occasional glimpse into Hollywood's idea of what a few early-50s rock and roll performances might have been like it's mildly interesting in a "time capsule" sort of way with a thin premise, stereotypical characters and dialogue ("Say, what do you call that style of music/dance?"), and occasional performances by Bill Haley and the Comets, The Platters, the Ernie Freeman Combo, and Tony Martinez and His Band. Allegedly the first full-length "rock'n'roll" movie, it's mostly pointless and if you ever decide to watch it you might want to have something to read handy.

 

[AmateisGal]

Caught parts of the first two as well. I have seen "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House" too many times to count. Have you read the book - it equals the movie? "Mr. Lucky" is the weakest of the three, but Cary Grant is enough to hold your interest.

Haven't read the book Mr. Blandings is based on, though I should remedy that...

 

[AmateisGal]

You might be referring to "Penny Serenade," which includes an adoption, but is, overall, a brutally sad movie. I respect it as a movie - strong writing and acting - but I have no desire to sit through the sadness again.

I watched Penny Serenade once - and I won't watch it again. It is indeed very sad, though Grant gives a superb performance, especially the moment when he's pleading with the judge.

 

[Fading Fast]

Haven't read the book Mr. Blandings is based on, though I should remedy that...

It's a fun read, but as oppose to many book-vs-movie debates - it's not better or worse.

 

[Julian Shellhammer]

Sometime last week, Reckless (1934) with Jean Harlow, William Powell, and Franchot Tone. Victor Fleming directed. Despite a power-packed cast and a story written pseudonymously by David Selznick, it lacks the punch and entertainment value it should. Admittedly, the two-tier Broadway sequence was engaging, but Harlow couldn't dance or sing: while a huge crowd of dancers back her up, she sort of high-steps and prances around in time to the music.

 

[Fading Fast]

"Lady Bird"

This is a good, solid movie with smart observations and impressive acting, but I did not enjoy it as I felt keelhauled through an angry, passive-aggressive mother-late-teenage-daughter relationship that didn't provide a payoff worth the exhausting fights, screaming and emotional blackmail.

But that's just my thing as I have no desire to be taken on a gut-wrenching family drama (spoiler alert) only to be told at the end that most families continue to love each other no matter how ugly they've behaved toward each other. Okay, got it, but I knew that before.

Also, I kept thinking that if John Hughes of "Sixteen Candles" and "The Breakfast Club" fame was alive and making movies today about teenage angst, broken families,"wrong side of the tracks" insecurities and confused parents, "Lady Bird" would be the result. His movies covered the same material, but with less fighting and more hope - but we live in an angrier and more negative time.

Closing thought: There's no original thinking here, but star Saoirse Ronan should have a long and successful career.

 

[Julian Shellhammer]

The Whole Town's Talking (1935). John Ford directs Edward G. Robinson in a dual-character role comedy, with excellent trick photography. Jean Arthur plays the wise-cracking co-worker of Robinson's who delivers zingers with an arch smile.
I didn't have on the subtitles, but I am almost positive the phrase "coked-up bank robber" could be heard.

 

[Trenchfriend]

The James Cromwell-factor.

I would say, when James Cromwell is in a movie, the movie can't be bad. Is there any movie with him, which is not entertaining?

 

[Zombie_61]

The James Cromwell-factor.

I would say, when James Cromwell is in a movie, the movie can't be bad. Is there any movie with him, which is not entertaining?

James Cromwell has been in at least two bad movies (Nobody's Perfekt, The Man With Two Brains), but his performance is always worth watching regardless of the size of his role. I first became aware of him when he played Archie Bunker's pal Stretch Cunningham on All in the Family back in 1974, and I've been a fan ever since.

 

[EngProf]

James Cromwell has been in at least two bad movies (Nobody's Perfekt, The Man With Two Brains), but his performance is always worth watching regardless of the size of his role. I first became aware of him when he played Archie Bunker's pal Stretch Cunningham on All in the Family back in 1974, and I've been a fan ever since.

Two sides of James Cromwell - both very good:
1) Kind and gentle farmer in "Babe"
2) Evil crooked cop in "L.A. Confidential"

 

[3fingers]

The Best Years of Our Lives A great movie even after I don't know how many times.