Tag: Movies

Movie reviews

“The Bigamist” (1953) starring Edmond O’Brien, Joan Fontaine, Ida Lupino, & Edmund Gwenn

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Wanted by two women! -A tagline for the film

Harry Graham (Edmond O’Brien) and his wife of 8 yrs, Eve (Joan Fontaine), are trying to adopt a baby; they have a successful/small business. The head of the adoption agency, Mr. Jordan (Edmund Gwenn), senses that Harry is hiding something, so does some investigating. There are several in-jokes about Santa Claus here; Gwenn played Kris Kringle in the holiday classic Miracle on 34th Street (1947). The agent soon discovers that Harry has done a LOT of traveling from his (luxury/condo) home in San Fran to L.A. Mr. Jordan goes to a lovely house in LA, where Harry has a 2nd wife- Phyllis Martin (Ida Lupino, also the director)- and (shocker) a baby! Desperate to explain himself, Harry reveals to Mr. Jordan (via flashbacks) how he ended up w/ 2 lives.

Writer/producer Collier Young was then the husband of Fontaine; he’d previously been married to Lupino. Wow, Hollywood is a small world! This is the ONLY time Lupino directed herself; she’s one of the 1st female stars to direct herself. Her best known film is the “The Hitchhiker”(1953) which also co-starred O’Brien. All of Lupino’s (small-budget/indie) films are marked by a concern for the lives of ordinary folks.

Harry Graham [re: meeting Phyllis]: For the first time, I felt needed; I loved Eve, but I never felt she needed me.

This is a small gem of a film that MAY surprise you; the issues delved into are modern. The acting from the 3 main actors is V good. Some reviewers commented that their sympathies were mostly w/ Eve; after she became “career-focused,” Harry felt like he was NOT needed. It turns out that Eve is a great assistant to her husband, so they BOTH benefit from the resulting success. Phyllis is a waitress who lives in a rented room; she’s NOT the type of woman who’d be “threatening” to most men. As this is in the public domain, so you can watch it for free.

[1] I found this to be an interesting film; it certainly wasn’t the sort of topic I expected to be explored in a film of this era… especially given its sympathetic portrayal of Harry. […] Edmond O’Brien does an impressive job as Harry and gets fine support from Joan Fontaine and Ida Lupino as Eve and Phyllis. Ida Lupino also does an impressive directing…

[2] The movie is shown through flashbacks. And, despite the sensational plot, the movie is actually done very sedately and avoids sensationalism. Instead, it tries to portray O’Brien in a pretty sympathetic light–while not excusing his actions. And, by doing so, the movie really gets you thinking. An excellent job of acting by all, but the star of this picture is Ida Lupino…

[3] Lupino and the script manage to provide an honest look at the situation with few hindrances from the strict production code of the era. Only at a couple of odd moments can you tell that they had to shift gears slightly, so as to placate the censors. Although the movie is low-key and straightforward, it’s a commendable effort, and it makes for good drama.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

“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

“Fair Play” (2023) starring Phoebe Dynevor & Alden Ehrenreich

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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 Fair Play (2023) streaming on Netflix.

Competition is Close. -A tagline for the movie

[1] Fair Play is about the sort of guy a lot of women are uncomfortably familiar with – the one who’s perfect until he’s not, who’s an ally as long as he stays in power. 

[2] I really liked the concept, and the story up to a point, but then it careens off the rails, and becomes something altogether different. By the end, it has taken one of the leads into a place that is barely believable, and borderline absurd.

[3] It’s about how a loss in traditional balance sends a couple into their dark side.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

Emily (Phoebe Dynevor: 28 y.o.) and Luke (Alden Ehrenreich: 33 y.o.) are a smart/ambitious couple who’ve been dating for 2 yrs; they live in a spacious apt. in NYC’s Chinatown. They decide to get engaged, BUT keep their relationship a secret, as they both work as traders in the same investment firm. Suddenly, a position of PM (portfolio manager) opens up, when a co-worker is let go w/o warning (NOT unusual in this cut-throat field). Everyone in the (glass-filled/open plan) office is buzzing re: who’ll get the promotion; Emily assumes that Luke will be the one (and is happy about it). Late one night, Emily gets a (mysterious-sounding) call from a PM, Rory (Sebastien De Souza). She goes to a (speakeasy-style) bar; their boss is sitting there instead of Rory. Campbell (Eddie Marsan) reveals to Emily that he has chosen her as the new PM!

As y’all regular readers (and Twitter pals) know, I was anticipating this film for quite some time. This is the 1st movie written/directed by an American woman in her 30s, Chloe Domont; the rights were bought by Netflix for $20M. The setting is NYC (Manhattan), it was primarily shot in Serbia; Domont chose that location as it allowed her to build the sets according to her specifications. The co-leads of the movie are two up-and-comers in Hollywood: Dynevor (a Brit best known for the Netflix series Bridgerton) and Ehrenreich (an American who starred in Solo: A Star Wars Story; he recently had a supporting role in Oppenheimer). The rest of the (international/mostly male) cast are NOT well-known; they portray Americans. When it comes to the relationship element, it was effective; the leads have good chemistry (make a believable couple) and are well-suited physically. When it came to the workplace, it fell short; my mind would wander off. (I’ve known ppl who worked in finance when I lived in NYC.) The frenetic energy of NYC is missing; that is an element you can’t fake. One critic said that Lynbrook (where Emily grew up) is “a nice/middle-class town” on Long Island; Campbell made it sound like a hole to crawl out of.

This is NOT an erotic thriller, as you may’ve assumed from the marketing; however, it does contain elements of the genre. The central issue here is the fragility of the male ego. Today, there are some women who earn more than their (male) partners; this could be a point of friction in relationships. Though she never worked in finance, Domont based this story partly on her own life; she said that she “made herself small in some dating relationships” (when she had success professionally). After Emily is promoted, the relationship btwn her and Luke starts to break down. Tension builds and continues to grow in their interactions. Luke makes snide/mean comments, loses interest in sex, and gets obsessed w/ the teachings of a business guru (reminded me of Don’t Worry Darling). Emily changes her style and navigates the world of the PMs (act like “one of the guys”). In the 3rd act, Luke goes into a tailspin which came off as extreme (and unexpected) for many viewers. Do you think that any man can become a rapist? Honestly, I have to say no! There is one scene in the finale which may be troubling and (possibly) triggering to some viewers.

#Noirvember: “Abandoned” (1949) starring Dennis O’Keefe, Gale Storm, Jeff Chandler, & Raymond Burr

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NO NAME FOR HER BABY…only a PRICE! -A tagline for the movie

This B-movie delves into an unusual/sensitive topic for its day: black market baby adoptions. A young woman, Paula Considine (Gale Storm), from a small-town comes to a police station in L.A. She is looking for info on her missing younger sister; a local newspaper reporter, Mark Sitko (Dennis O’Keefe), offers to help. There is a burly/tall man, Kerric (Raymond Burr), lurking in the shadows and following Paula. Her sister’s dead body is in the morgue; there is evidence that she recently gave birth! Though it looks like suicide to the coroner, Paula insists there must’ve been foul play. Also, what happened to the baby?

Mark [to Kerric]: You couldn’t sleep, so you decided to take your gun out for a walk.

I saw this film (free on YouTube) last week; it moves along quickly, w/ snappy dialogue, and a variety of characters. Several of these actors went on to long/successful careers in TV. Burr (best known as Perry Mason) is working for the main baddie, a matronly “society lady” w/ a cane, Mrs. Donner (Marjorie Rambeau). In one tense scene, Burr fights one of her henchmen, played by Mike Mazurki (another “heavy” often in noirs). As for the good guys, Major Ross of The Salvation Army (Jeanette Nolan- looking FAB after 40), is an ally to pregnant women w/ no place to turn. Mark’s handsome/cop friend is Chief McCrae (Jeff Chandler); I hadn’t seen this actor before, BUT learned that he became a TV star.

[1] This excellent thriller deals with the sale of stolen babies by baby broker racketeers. It is thus more relevant to today, when this problem is much more widespread, than it was in 1949. The plot is sound, the script first rate, and the acting is extremely good. […]

A sinister sub-plot about the father of the two sisters making his daughter get rid of her illegitimate baby seems to have been cut because it was too shocking, but enough of it survives to show that it was clearly once there.

[2] I loved the camerawork… particularly in the early portions of the film. The angles and shadows are great… and very moody. I also loved the incredibly violent and gritty ending, where evil clearly is punished big time! Overall, a well written and acted film that never is dull and is well worth your time.

[3] Despite an obviously low budget, “Abandoned” benefits from location filming, which adds a documentary touch, enhanced by narration that implies some truth to the story. A fine cast of “B” players, memorable photography, and steady direction by Joe Newman, a veteran of modestly budgeted second features, together produced an entertaining, engaging film noir that is well worth catching.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews