Tag: Marraige

“Unfaithfully Yours” (1948) starring Rex Harrison, Linda Darnell, Rudy Vallee, & Barbara Lawrence

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A Funloaded story against a Backdrop of Magnificent Music! -A tagline for the film

Barbara [to her husband, after seeing Sir Alfred being romantic]: You see, some men just naturally make you think of Brut champagne. With others you think of prune juice.
August, her husband: Oh, ho!
Barbara: You have nothing to laugh at!

While conducting a symphony orchestra, Sir Alfred De Carter (Rex Harrison), imagines 3 different ways of dealing w/ his wife Daphne’s (Linda Darnell) suspected infidelity. When he tries acting out his fantasies, things don’t go how he saw in his imagination! I rented this movie from Amazon Prime; it was also recently part of the Noir City DC Film Fest. Unfaithfully Yours was written/produced/directed by one of the early auteurs in Hollywood- Preston Sturges. As y’all cinephiles may know, Sturges also worked on w/ Remember the Night (1939), The Lady Eve (1941), and Sullivan’s Travels (1941) among other films. The music primarily used is from 3 composers: Rossini, Tchaikovsky, and Wagner.

Sir Alfred [to his wife, Daphne]: A thousand poets dreamed a thousand years, and you were born, my love.

The release of Unfaithfully Yours was delayed for several mos. b/c studio officials feared a backlash from the negative publicity surrounding the drug overdose/suicide of actress Carole Landis in July 1948. She was involved in an affair w/ Harrison; her body was found by him at her house. Although considered a classic today, the movie was a box office failure. The fantasy flashbacks were thought to be too experimental for its time and in poor taste. Fans of the (usually suave) Harrison objected to how he was portrayed here (doing pratfalls; behaving frenzied). The actor later called Sturges one of the V few men of genius he’d met in Hollywood.

Det. Sweeney [being a fanboy of Sir Alfred]: You handle Handel like nobody handles Handel. And your Delius – delirious!

[1] Preston Sturges, the creative mind behind this enjoyable film, was at the top of his profession. With this film, he solidified his position as one of the most innovative directors of that era in Hollywood. He wrote and directed with impeccable style that characterized most of the work he did for the cinema.

Rex Harrison gave an amazing performance as Alfred, the conductor whose jealousy gets the best of him. The last sequence at his apartment, after the concert is one of the best comic turns by this actor who goes through all the emotions, and furniture, in a frenzied manner.

[2] This movie is, at times, very black. It starts out pretty funny with Harrison spitting out his lines rapidly and his sense of comic timing was just perfect. When he has the fantasies though it turns dark and is pretty gruesome–especially for 1948. However, when he tries to carry them out and things go wrong, the film is uproarious.

[3] Rex Harrison comedy in films was mostly of the tongue and mind. He is known in most of his comedic roles for the witty quips, humorous repartee and funny dialogue. While there’s a smattering of that here, “Unfaithfully Yours” is mostly a departure from the normal Harrison persona. Here, he is very funny for his antics and the fumbling, bumbling and pratfalls. He reminds one instantly of the Three Stooges and the Marx Brothers.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

“Passages” (2023) starring Franz Rogowski, Ben Whishaw, & Adele Exarchopoulos

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SPOILER ALERT: Don’t read this post if you haven’t seen, or don’t want to know, details from the movie Passages (2023) streaming on MUBI.

…a form of cultural censorship that is quite dangerous, particularly in a culture which is already battling, in such extreme ways, the possibility of LGBT imagery to exist. -Ira Sachs (co-writer/director) on the NC-17 rating given to the film by the MPAA

At the wrap party for his latest movie, 30-something director, Tomas (Franz Rogowski- a German actor), celebrates w/ his hubby, Martin (Ben Whishaw- a British character actor), the film crew, and their guests. Among these guests is a 20-ish teacher, Agathe (Adèle Exarchopoulos- a Frenchwoman), who invites Tomas to dance. Soon, the two begin an affair, which puts strain on the relationship btwn Tomas, Martin, and their wider social circle.

I really liked how in this story the 3rd person is a woman. Because it shows how awkward it is to maybe try to have that balance of freedom and being open to people exploring, but also wanting traditional needs met. […]

He [Tomas] is not interested in making anyone else comfortable but himself.

-Excerpts from YouTube video by Jelly Fish Reviews (8/1/23)

This indie film was rejected by both Cannes and the Venice film fests; it had its world premiere at Sundance. Ira Sachs (who is American) and the film’s distributor, MUBI, rejected the NC-17 rating; it was released in theaters (unrated) in AUG 2023. I heard some positive things from media critics I follow, so had high hopes for this movie. I think many ppl are hungry for mature dramas w/ serious themes. This story has a V unusual/interesting premise, BUT there is little in the way of character development. Polyamory is NOT a topic we see discussed much in media.

The unlikeable protagonist (NOT a hero) doesn’t grow/learn/change by the end. FYI: Ragowski speaks w/ a lisp, which is his natural speaking manner (hard to understand at times IF you’re not using subtitles). Tomas is a narcissist who causes havoc w/ his words/actions wherever he goes. Some viewers commented that he isn’t “conventionally handsome”; Tomas has a patchy beard, gaunt features, dresses in mismatched clothing, and moves in a “snake-like manner.” We may wonder why Martin (a successful artist/business owner) and Agathe (an independent-minded/strong woman) found him SO appealing! After all, it’s easier for the audience to relate when a baddie IF he also happens to be a hottie (i.e. Brando in Streetcar; Newman in Hud).

The visual style of the film is NOT impressive; there are even scenes where the framing seems off and a character is hidden from view (while speaking). There are no camera “tricks,” which could’ve made this film a BIT more effective. The pacing is slow and I didn’t sense tension building as the story went on; there are common issue in (modern) movies. As for the “controversial” scenes, the sex looks “animalistic” (NOT romantic), as a few viewers commented. I saw little passion/connection btwn the characters.

[1] Not all films need to be message driven, but I think any director or writer makes a film because they have something to say. In that sense, I’m not sure what ‘Passages’ wanted to say.

[2] …a rather dull introspective of characters that didn’t really leap off the screen at me. […] The production and pacing all contribute to the general ennui of the whole thing and to be honest, I was just a bit disappointed with this whole thing.

[3] Without style, the absence of substance dominates this lackluster experience.

[4] The movie transcends type and finds the truth in its relationships, it dotes on and suffers with its protagonists in a manner that does feel intimate, both emotionally and physically.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

Two Films Directed by Christopher Nolan: “Inception” (2010) & “Dunkirk” (2017)

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Inception (2010) starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elliot Page, Ken Watanabe, Tom Hardy & Cillian Murphy

Your mind is the scene of the crime. -Tagline

Dom Cobb (DiCaprio) is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep w/in the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb’s rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back, but only if he can accomplish the impossible, inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea, but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming. -Synopsis (Warner Bros.)

What to say about this movie!? Did y’all understand what was going on (w/o a re-watch)? I felt nothing- to keep it short! OK, that’s NOT quite true; I did enjoy seeing ’80s star Tom Berenger (Browning), Tom Hardy (Eames), and Cillian Murphy (Robert Fischer). Hardy gets to be funny/quirky; he has good banter w/ Joseph Gordon-Levitt. As the uber-rich businessman who the gang kidnap, Murphy speaks w/ an American accent (which is flawless). Marion Cottilard doesn’t have much to do in the (undercooked) role of Dom’s wife. Maybe she wanted more (international) exposure? A LOT of media critics commented that Nolan is NOT good at writing female characters. The CGI was somewhat interesting, though since I saw it last month on Max (on TV), it didn’t make a huge impression. I’m sure many viewers (back in 2010) were more impressed. This is a prime case of style over substance, sad to say!

Dunkirk (2017) starring Fionn Whitehead, Barry Keoghan, Mark Rylance, Harry Styles, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jack Lowden, Tom Hardy, & Cillian Murphy

When 400,000 men couldn’t get home, home came for them. -Tagline

Allied soldiers from Belgium, the British Commonwealth and Empire, and France are surrounded by the German Army and evacuated during a fierce battle in World War II. -Synopsis

The Mole [beach]: One Week, The Sea: One Day, and The Air: One Hour. -The 3 timelines of the film

Thank goodness- this movie (shot on the actual beach at Dunkirk) was a LOT better than Inception! There were camera operators floating in the water w/ actors. For many of the cockpit shots, Nolan had a two-seat plane rigged, so that the front canopy and cockpit looked like a real Spitfire (BUT w/ non-functioning flying controls). The actual pilot was flying the plane from the rear cockpit, so that the actor could play the pilot (as the plane actually flew). Nolan mounted front and rear-facing cameras on a reconditioned Spitfire. This movie is focused on the experience of battle (incl. its sounds and sights). The individual characters don’t have many lines. Germans are heard/talked about, BUT never seen; this story is NOT about them. The ticking sounds in the score were recorded by Hans Zimmer from one of Nolan‘s own pocket watches; the composer then put the sounds into synthesizers and altered them for the soundtrack.

This is an essential moment in the history of World War II. If this evacuation had not been a success, Great Britain would have been obliged to capitulate, and the whole world would have been lost, or would have known a different fate. The Germans would undoubtedly have conquered Europe, the U.S. would not have returned to war. It is a true point of rupture in war and in history of the world. A decisive moment. And the success of the evacuation allowed (Sir Winston Churchill) to impose the idea of a moral victory, which allowed him to galvanize his troops like civilians and to impose a spirit of resistance while the logic of this sequence should have been that of surrender. Militarily, it is a defeat. On the human plane, it is a colossal victory. -Christopher Nolan (director) re: importance of this battle

While scouting locations, Nolan found a button from an English soldier’s uniform in the sand. After first-hand accounts of this evacuation revealed how young/inexperienced the soldiers were, Nolan decided to cast young/unknowns (aside from pop star Harry Styles- of course). Tommy (Fionn Whitehead) and a French deserter in the uniform of a dead Englishman- Gibson (Aneurin Barnard)- are among the many young soldiers trapped on the beach (The Mole). Styles does a good job in his small role; he should stick to those. Mr. Dawson (veteran character actor Mark Rylance), his son Peter (Tom Glynn Carney- before House of the Dragon), and his 17 y.o. pal George (Barry Keoghan- before fame) are the civilians on the sea. They rescue Cillian Murphy, an (unnamed) soldier shaken by the cold and PTSD; he was the most interesting character. Farrier (Tom Hardy) is the RAF pilot in the air in his Spitfire plane; he liked working w/ Nolan (so took this small role). As w/ Bane (in the Batman movies), he wears a mask most of the time- LOL!

Who are the heroes of Dunkirk? Tommy and Gibson (scared/hungry) try to hide/preserve their lives however they can. George jumps aboard the boat b/c he wants to contribute. We learn that the sub the survivor was on got destroyed by German bombs; also the boat he was escaping in was also destroyed. Murphy’s character has reached his limit; he attacks Mr. Dawson (who was empathetic toward him). George quickly stops him, BUT is grievously injured in a fall! If (eager/naive) George hadn’t sacrificed himself, a LOT of men could’ve died (3rd act). Tommy doesn’t tell the survivor that he caused the death of George. Mr. Dawson remains even-keeled and stoic; we eventually learn that he lost his (older) son in war. Though Farrier’s plane runs out of gas, he continues to protect the beach from attack. In the last scene, he’s forced to land on a small strip of land, then captured by Germans. I almost cried at the end; it was (quietly) emotional. This is unlike what I experienced in 1917.

“Outlaw King” (2018) starring Chris Pine, Stephen Dillane, Billy Howle, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, & Florence Pugh

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A true David vs. Goliath story of how the 14th C. Scottish “Outlaw King” Robert the Bruce used cunning and bravery to defeat the much larger and better equipped occupying English army. -Synopsis

Are you a fan of the epic movie Braveheart (1995), like me? To recap that story: A commoner, William Wallace (Mel Gibson), led a rebellion against Longshanks, AKA King Edward I of England (Patrick McGoohan), who wished to inherit the crown of Scotland for himself. When he was a boy, William’s father, brother, and many men of his village lost their lives trying to free Scotland. Once his wife, Murron (Catherine McCormack), is killed by a British soldier, William begins his quest to make his country free once and for all. He seeks to make an alliance w/ a young nobleman, Robert the Bruce (Angus Macfadyen), who yearns for the love/respect of his people (which William has). This recent Netflix movie is the (unofficial) sequel to Braveheart.

Robert the Bruce: It is our feudal duty to provide fighting men for our overlord, King Edward.
Villager: You assured us these obligations would be over!
Robert: I’d hoped they were.

I always wanted to know what happened to Robert; he was a complicated character. His father grew up partly in the English court w/ King Edward I; they fought in “the holy lands” as young men. I enjoyed this movie (for the most part); I learned that some of it is NOT historically accurate. Hey, the filmmakers of Braveheart changed a LOT of that story! The look is simply beautiful; some viewers felt that it was TOO “nice-looking” for the subject matter. I don’t agree w/ that; I’m tired of the modern trend of gray-ish/blue-tinted historical pieces! This film was shot on location in Scotland. Director David Mackenzie is known for small budget/indies; he does a good job here. However, I felt some scenes were a BIT too long or too short; I learned that the original version was quite a BIT longer (40 more mins.) As for those of you who’re sensitive to blood/gore, this is NOT the movie for you!

King Edward: It was my hope to grow old and not die on the battlefield, but I see now that the great danger in a death from natural causes is that one may be lying in one’s bed chamber thinking of all the things that have been left undone.

I was surprised to discover that the love story btwn Robert and his young/2nd wife, Elizabeth Burgh (Florence Pugh), was more interesting than the war (action) elements. Yeah, they have an arranged marriage and are separated by more than a decade, BUT slowly fall in love over several mos. However, it is NOT probable that ppl lived chastely for long, as a marriage wasn’t considered “real” until it was consummated. I’m sure the “slow burn” romance was written to appeal to modern audiences. Pine (w/ a NOT so glam haircut) does a fine job; he gets to show his range as an actor. As you may’ve heard, there is one scene where (pun intended) we glimpse the full Pine. Pugh is always FAB, no matter what material she is given! Now y’all understand why Pine and Pugh had such great chemistry in their scenes together in Don’t Worry Darling (2022).

James Douglas: Thinking about revenge? It tears on the soul, but it can also be a weapon.

When it comes to the (baddie) Brits- whoa boy- they’re ALL evil! Did you expect subtlety from a Netflix production? Edward, Prince of Wales (Billy Howle) has some serious “daddy issues” (as we saw in Braveheart); however, here he is violent and desperate to prove himself. King Edward I (Stephane Dillane) is cold/power-hungry; he can still fight at his (advanced) age. One of the allies of Bruce is James Douglas, Lord of Douglas (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), a wild-eyed/bushy bearded Scotsman bent on revenge. When I see this actor’s name, I have to cringe a little. Though James is a tough warrior w/ some cool sword skills, he doesn’t get much characterization. Taylor-Johnson will star in a superhero movie soon (no shocker). If you’re a fan of dramas like Game of Thrones, then you should check it out. I want to learn more re: Scotland’s history.

[1] …everything is crammed together quickly, if they had made a mini series they could have showed more of the story. […]

The action scenes are brilliant in the Outlaw King, and you can tell that most of it was inspired by Braveheart, from the gore, to the realism. However, I feel the movie put style over story and characters. I would watch it just for its visuals alone.

[2] A great story, impressive fight and battle scenes, care for details and a powerful, convincing lesson about fundamental values. In the age of blockbusters, it is a “must see.”

[3] The film does take certain liberties with historical accuracy, namely certain events either merged together or moved around on the timeline – all in aid of dramatic effect. Nonetheless, this does not shadow the realism that does exist, especially in terms of the savagery of warfare and intrigue, as well as the superb set pieces and costume designs that accompany the productions heavy attention to detail.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

#Noirvember: “Crime Wave” (1953) starring Gene Wilson, Sterling Hayden, & Phyllis Kirk

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Before your shocked eyes- the city blasted SIN-SIDE OUT! -Tagline for the movie

Ellen Lacey: But you haven’t done anything! You’re innocent!

Steve Lacey: Once you do a stretch, you’re never clean again! You’re never free! They’ve always got a string on you, and they tug, tug, tug! Before you know it, you’re back again!

Three men: “Doc” Penny (Ted de Corsia), Ben Hastings (Charles Bronson- in his 1st credited role), and Gat Morgan (Nedrick Young) escape from San Quentin and kill a cop during a gas station robbery. Wounded by the cop’s bullet, Morgan runs through dark streets of L.A. until reaching the apt. of a former cellmate, Steve Lacey (Gene Nelson- known as a dancer in comedies), Steve is one parole for 2 yrs, works as an airplane repairman, and is supported by a loving wife, Ellen (Phyllis Kirk). He can’t afford to be found associating w/ criminals. However, a homicide detective, Lt. Sims (Sterling Hayden), wants to use Steve to catch Penny and Hastings.

Life is goddam black, and I photograph life. -Andre De Toth, director

Jack L. Warner wanted Humphrey Bogart and Ava Gardner to star, BUT director André De Toth (who was married to Veronica Lake from 1944-1952) strongly protested this. De Toth realized that w/ such famous stars, he’s lose control of the film. After a long argument, Warner decided that De Toth could make the movie any way he wanted, BUT it had to be done in 2 wks! De Toth finished under schedule (13 days) and under budget w/ his chosen lead- Hayden. Although he got a law degree from the Univ. of Budapest, De Toth decided to become an actor (against the wishes of his father); he spent several yrs. on the stage. He then entered the Hungarian film industry, working as writer, editor, 2nd unit director and actor before becoming a director. De Toth directed a few films just before WWII, then fled to England; Alexander Korda gave him a job. When he emigrated to the US in 1942, Korda got him a job as 2nd unit director on The Jungle Book. De Toth made his debut in America in 1944; he became known for hard-edged movies depicting violence in a realistic manner.

Lt. Sims: You know, it isn’t what a man wants to do, Lacey, but what he has to do. Now take me – I love to smoke cigarettes, but the doctors say I can’t have them. So what do I do? I chew toothpicks, tons of them.

Eddie Muller (TCM) explained that the sets were constructed on a small scale w/ low ceilings to make Hayden (6’5″) appear even larger/more imposing when next to other actors. Also, De Toth forbid Hayden from smoking during filming; that helped create the tense/angry attitude needed for Lt. Sims. James Ellroy names this as one of his fave films; he used Hayden’s performance as the model for Bud White in his novel L.A. Confidential. Bronson (then known by his real last name- Buchinsky) was an unknown; he’d go on to fame in the ’60s. Bronson grew up in a poor, Lithuanian immigrant family; after HS, he worked in the coal mines (like his father), then went into the Army. He has screen presence and makes a believable baddie here.

[1] “Crime Wave” is a very good example of a forgotten film noir picture that deserves to be seen. Its strengths are its directness–it is compactly told, brutally violent and lacking in the glamor and glitz you find in some of the “pretty” examples of noir.

[2] Aces all around. Too bad this crime drama came along in the twilight of B b&w because it’s in the best tradition—fast, tough, and unsentimental. Director De Toth is a perfect shaper with his cynical European style.

[3] There’s much more attention to character in the film’s 1 hr. 25 mins. running time than in many full-length features of the era; Jay Novello, as an alcoholic veterinarian who doubles as an underworld sawbones, is especially memorable.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews