40 Year Old Virgin ~ 2005

The break-out film for comedian Steve Carrell, 40 Year Old Virgin is the story of the 40 year old man who has not “done the deed” and his buddies try and convince him he needs to “do it”.

What happens next is a compilation of comedic errors including a waxing of Andy Stizer’s (Carrell) chest and Andy’s friend Jay (Romany Malco) hires Andy a prostitute who turns out to be a transvestite. Not only is the movie hilarious, but also touching and even emotional at times. Andy’s other two friends David and Cal, (played by Paul Rudd and Seth Rogen) are just as funny as Carrell and add the needed touch. Even though there was a script for this film, much of it was improvisational, which gives a realistic view to the film. Catherine Keener gives a great performance in this comedy, showing how versatile of an actress she really is.

I loved the ending of the film, which I thought was a perfect way to end the film. Very light and fun; it leaves you laughing and smiling, which is exactly how you should feel when you finish a comedy. B-

 

Fav Films of the 60’s ~#6~ Bonnie & Clyde

Bonnie and Clyde (1967) is a film about Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, the bank robbers who roamed the central United States during the Great Depression. The film was directed by Arthur Penn, and starred Warren Beatty as Clyde Barrow and Faye Dunaway as Bonnie Parker.

Warner Bros.-Seven Arts had so little faith in the film that, in a then-unprecedented move, they offered its first-time producer Warren Beatty 40% of the gross instead of a minimal fee. The movie then went on to gross over $70 million world-wide by 1973.

The film was controversial on its original release for its supposed glorificaton of murderers, and for its level of graphic violence and gore, which was unprecedented at the time. Bosley Crowther of the New York Times was so appalled that he began to campaign against the increasing brutality of American films.

I remember seeing the film around 1972, and I became immersed in finding out everything I could about Bonnie and Clyde. I was disappointed when I found a picture of them in a book at the library and they ddin’t look like Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty.

Estelle Parsons won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Blanche Barrow, Clyde’s sister-in-law, and Burnett Guffey won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography. The film was also nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Warren Beatty), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Michael J. Pollard), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Gene Hackman), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Faye Dunaway), Best Costume Design (Theadora Van Runkle), Best Director (Arthur Penn), Best Picture (Warren Beatty) and Best Writing, Story and Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen (David Newman and Robert Benton)
The film is #27 on the American Film Institute’s “100 Years, 100 Movies”, #13 on its list of 100 American thrillers, and #65 on its list of 100 American romances. The line “We rob banks” was also ranked at #41 on the American Film Institute’s list of the 100 Greatest Movie Quotes. Bonnie and Clyde has been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.

One of my favorite films of all time, Bonnie & Clyde is a definite classic.

 

28 Days Later ~ 2002

Set in England, during the early 21st century, 28 Days Later concerns the breakdown of society following the accidental release of a virus known as “Rage”, which makes people mindlessly violent, and the struggle of four survivors to come to terms with the ruins of everything they once knew.

This was my first glimpse of Cillian Murphy on film, and I must say he is an outstanding actor. Full of emotion and raw energy. 28 Days Later reminded me of the original Dawn of the Dead, but with more emotion and plot. The cinematography and the digital video was extremely good and an empty London was so realistic it was almost eerie.

Not being a huge Sci-Fi fan as is my partner DJ, this was not a great movie to me, but a good film nonetheless, and it kept my interest without being way out Sci-fi. C+

 

Favs of the 60’s ~#6~ Julie Andrews

“The hills are alive, with the sound of music…” or

“Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down…” or

“Chim chimmery Chim chimmery…”

What do you think of?
Julie Andrews. In the 1960’s she was the star that everyone loved. From Mary Poppins to Americanization of Emily, Sound of Music, and Thoroughly Modern Millie, Julie Andrews took America and Hollywood by storm. in 1964, her first successful film she walked away with an Academy Award for her role in Mary Poppins. She also possessed a five-octave coloratura soprano range until a vocal nodule surgery mishap ruined her singing voice.

 

#6 Favorite Actor of the 1960′s ~ Clint Eastwood

In 1959, Clint Eastwood got his first break with the long-running television series, Rawhide. As Rowdy Yates (whom Eastwood would later refer to in interviews as “the idiot of the plains”), he made the show his own and became a household name across the country. But in the 60’s he became a common face on the big screen in what would come to be known as Spaghetti Westerns, as “the Man with no Name” in Sergio Leone’s loose trilogy of westerns A Fistful of Dollars (1964), For a Few Dollars More (1965), and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966). I saw every one of those films from the backseat of my dad’s car at what was known then as the Valley Drive-In. My Dad loved Clint Eastwood, almost as much as he loved John Wayne and as soon as they hit the drive-in theater we were there. There was nothing more bigger than life than Clint Eastwood. Especially on that huge white screen! As kids we would dress like Clint Eastwood did in those films when we would play Cowboy and Indians.

Clint went on into the 70’s and 80’s making an even bigger name for himself, and today is one of the most accomplished and respected director/producers of our age.

 

13 Going on 30 ~ 2004

This film took me back to the 1980’s when there were a slew of movies about kids becoming an adult, like BIG, with Tom Hanks; or 18 Again with George Burns and Charlie Schlatter, and Vice Versa with Judge Reinhold and Fred Savage. 13 Going on 30, was more like Big, as it dealt with issues facing adults and the consequences of our actions in a real dramatic fashion. It was almost believable.

Jennifer Garner, fresh from her success as a TV star in Alias and her 2003 bomb, Daredevil, hits the mark on this cute fresh comedy as the supposedly 13 year old in a 30 year old’s body. Her whole body gives you that naivete of a 13 year old trapped in a 30 year old’s body. Especially the scene in the elevator when she shares with the young girl that she has boobs.

Mark Ruffalo brings home a winning performance as Jenna’s childhood friend and neighbor, Matt Flamhaff all grown up. You know that he cares for this girl immensely but you can also see the hurt that she caused him 18 years earlier. As always, Judy Greer gives an outstanding performance of Jenna’s teen nemesis grown up into her best friend that ultimately back stabs her to move her own career.

An entertaining film, with entertaining characters and performances. C+

 

10 Things I Hate About You ~ 1999

Comparison of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew and 10 Things I Hate About You reveals some similarities, mostly in character names, general plot ideas, and themes. This film is not a theatrical remake of the play by no means.

This was the first film that I had the pleasure of seeing both Heath Ledger (who played Patrick Verona) and Julia Stiles (who played Katarina Stratford). I was pleasantly surprised by their talent, however I did not see them going on to become what they are today in terms of talent. The other stars of the film, Joseph Gordon-Levitt (had already made a name for himself in TV’s 3rd Rock from the Sun), and Gabrielle Union (who had starred in another teen romance the same year, She’s All That), were okay, but again not over the edge, top notch performances. Andrew Keegan, as the yuppie, hot Joey Donner was by far the worst performance he has ever given.

Released in March, 1999, 10 Things I Hate About You, dealt with teen romance, teen pregnancy, the teen cliche’ regarding cliques and angst. Overall it was an entertaining film. Allison Janey giving a hilarious performance as the guidance counselor, Ms. Perky and Larry Miller as the father to the Stratford daughters. C-

 

Fav Films of the 60’s ~ #7 ~ Rosemary’s Baby

Before The Exorcist and Nightmare on Elm Street, there was Rosemary’s Baby. Directed by Roman Polanski based on the Ira Levin novel of the same name. Mia Farrow played the unsuspecting naive mother of the son of Satan. At the time she was married to the great Frank Sinatra, and the director was married to the beautiful Sharon Tate.

One of the first horror films I remember watching as a kid was Rosemary’s Baby. It scared the shit out of me! I watch it now and laugh thinking how could this have scared anyone. Ruth Gordon won the 1968 Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her role as the nosy neighbor Minnie Castevet.
Polanski wanted Robert Redford to play the role of Mia’s husband, but was unable as he was filming Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Burt Reynolds, Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson were also considered, but John Cassavetes, stars as Guy Woodhouse. Jane Fonda was offered the role of Rosemary but turned it down to film Barbarella (1968) in Europe. Tuesday Weld was second choice (and Polański’s preference) but refused to test for the role.