Lesbian Ghosts in Hitchcock's Rebecca (1940)

Title: Rebecca 
Year: 1940
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Country: US
Language: English

During the Golden Age of Hollywood the Hays code forbid same sex relationships in American films. This did not deter the most creative, as filmmakers often found subtle and creative ways to inject queerness into their movies. Hitchcock's Rebecca (1940) is a remarkable queer-coded film; winning Best Picture decades before any openly LGBTT movie.  

In Rebecca (1940) a  self-conscious woman (Joan Fontaine) juggles adjusting to her new role as an aristocrat's wife and avoiding being intimidated by his first wife's spectral presence.

Based off the 1938 novel of the same name by noted bisexual Daphne du Maurier, Hitchcock's Rebecca can be viewed as a cautionary tale of patriarchy and heteronormativity. The wife dies shortly after an argument with her husband Maxim de Winter (Laurence Olivier), who says she told him things that can't be told to any other  human being, because it could ruin his life. In addition, he claims their marriage was void of affection. They hated each other. 

One person who didn't hate Rebecca was the housemaid Mrs. Danvers (Judith Anderson). She was infatuated with Rebecca and does everything she can to show Fontaine that she can't compare to Rebecca.

In the film's most famous scene Mrs. Danvers  holds Rebeeca's underwear, asking "Did you ever see anything so delicate? Look, you can see my hand through it!” Emphasizing the see-through quality of Rebecca’s lace nightgown, Mrs. Danvers implies the intimacy of her relationship with Rebecca De Winter by suggesting her mesmerization with Rebecca’s naked body. 

Similar to how The Shining's Overlook Hotel brings about the worst for out characters, so does the castle-like Manderlay in Rebecca. Mrs. Danver is haunted by the memory of her forbidden love. Maxim De Winter struggles with his masculinity & Fontaine struggles to adapt to her femininity. These are characters who can't survive in a heteronormative world. 

Unfortunately the censors were wise to Hitchcock's subtext & had to make Mrs. Danver the villain of the film. As the villain, she was not allowed to live. Dressed like a witch, the scene evokes the Salem Witch Trials of the 1690's wherein many lgbt folk were put on trial. 

While Vertigo is still my favorite Hitchock picture, followed by Rear Window & 39 Steps, Rebecca is a great film that is certainly rewatchable especially with a queer context in mind. 

All the King's Men (1949) Review

Title: All the King's Men
Year: 1949
Director: Robber Rosson
Country: US
Language: English

All the King's Men (1949) is a timeless picture due to its ever-relevant political discourse regarding the dangers of populism, The main character, Willie Stark (Broderick Crawford), seems to harbor the same personality that many current politicians have. The film serves as a good warning that it's fairly easy to slip into fascism. 

The film portrays the rise and fall of a corrupt politician, who makes his friends richer and retains power by dint of a populist appeal.

The power of populism seems to engulf Willie Stark, whose good intentions have been devoured by the cynicism and harsh realities of the political system. The polarization of politics give the audience an uneasy feeling regarding the nature of his character. Did he ever have morals? Does he have morals? Is he a dictator or is he the voice of the people?  Sadly the film doesn't show much of his journey. We see him as an honest man & then corrupt. 

The film's documentary-style shooting, combined with a noir atmosphere, create a unique looking film for the time. The cinematography and set design are adequate. All the King's Men is an intelligent film, but I found Citizen Kane (1941) and A Face in the Crowd (1957) to be far more entertaining pictures that capture nearly the same idea. 

All the King's Men was a dangerous and incendiary picture for the time. It was risky to make this picture as many people, including John Wayne, considered it communist propaganda. There's a lot to appreciate about the film, but I understand why it hasn't stood the test of time. 

The Little Mermaid (2023) Review

Title: The Little Mermaid
Year: 2023
Director: Rob Marshall
Country: US
Language: English

When Halle Bailey was announced as being Ariel in the live action remake of Disney's The Little Mermaid (1989), the internet had a giant hissy There was outrage over Bailey's skin colour (she doesn't look like the original!) and outrage over the outrage. Twitter would not shut up for several weeks. Was this film worth the memes? Lets see.

A young mermaid (Halle Bailey) makes a deal with a sea witch (Melissa McCarthy) to trade her beautiful voice for human legs so she can discover the world above water and impress a prince.

Halle Bailey's acting is the ONLY good part about this film. She brings a youthful exuberance; a much needed energy for this dull picture. Her looks strike a good balance betwen innocent & provocative. 

The lighting in this- and all of Disney's live action remakes - is absolutely dreadful. So many scenes are lit so poorly that you have to squint to see what's going on. The set design is garbage. This is a story about Kings and Princes and yet we have no sense of the scope of their Kingdoms. Whenever we see King Triton he's sitting on a rock in the middle of nowhere. Is he homeless? How come I have a better housing situation than he does!? 

Melissa McCarthy's Ursula lacks sass and her lines are sarcasm free. The animals (Sebastian, Flounder etc) have no real emotional weight or charisma. By now we know these live action remakes are half-assed productions, so why do they make so much money? It would be a sad state of cinema if not for the success of Barbenheimmer. 

ZERO STARS 

All That Heaven Allowed (2023) Review

Title: All That Heaven Allowed
Year: 2023
Director: Stephen Kijack
Country: US
Languge: English

The AIDS epidemic began with the first reported case in 1981 and quickly spread throughout the world. The epidemic peaked in 1995 when over 40,000 people died of the disease anually. Originally thought of as "the gay disease", politicians like Ronald Reagan would refuse to acknowledge the crisis. Rock Hudson's untimely death from AIDS created more awareness of the disease than any campaign at the time. 

Renowned actor Rock Hudson is examined in this relevant investigation of Hollywood and LGBTQ+ identity, from his public "ladies' man" character to his private life as a gay closeted man. 

Using a vast amount of archival footage and photography, All That Heaven Allowed begins as an intriguing look at the Queer community of Hollywood and the vast amount of work it took to keep the truth from spreading via gossip magazines. Golden Hollywood is far more gay than most people think. 

The film begins to lose me when we focus on Hudson's sexuality and Director Stephen Kijack uses Hudon's film footage (Giant, Magnificent Obsession) out of context to make sly double entedres & lazy queer readings of those films. It cheapens the overall picture and makes it hard to take the rest of it seriously. 

I was touched by the interviews with his friends, particularly George Nader. The excepts from his diary do a great deal in regards to showing the type of man Hudson was. I hope new generations watch this film & rejuvinate an interest in Hudson's filmography. 

 

You Can't Take it With You (1938) Review

Title: You Can't Take It With You
Year: 1938
Director: Frank Capra
Country: US
Language: English

James Stewart is an acting legend, but at the time he wasn't a well known actor because Studio Executives didn't believe he could be a lead actor. His sincerity impressed Oscar Winning It Happened One Night Director Frank Capra and Capra was determined to have him star in You Can't Take it With You (1938)/ Stewart was so successful in his role, and their next picture Mr.Smith Goes to Washington (1939), that he became a household name.

The son (James Stewart) of a snobbish Wall Street banker (Edward Arnold) becomes engaged to a woman (Jean Arthur) from a good-natured but decidedly eccentric family, not realizing that his father is trying to force her family from their home for his company's gain. 

You Can't Take it With You earned seven Oscar nominations and is an often revived stage-play. It is a sort-of precursor to It's a Wonderful Life in regards to its themes revolving around love, family, and greed. It is earnest, charming, witty and will strike a cord for those who desire a little Capra-corn. 

Perhaps the weak part of this picture is that it lays out the film's conclusive message (a character says "you can't take it with you.") and then the story somehow continues for another 40 minutes. The script has nowhere to go, but keeps going. Its momentum stalls to a halt and the film begins to feel quite dated. 

You Can't Take it With You (1938) is well acted, with decent cinematography, and a fun score, The editing and screenplay could have been improved to make a more compact picture that ended in a more satisfying way. It's a nice viewing, but I think I'd only watch it once. 

Mrs.Miniver (1942) Review

Title: Mrs. Miniver
Year: 1942
Director: William Wyler
Country: US
Language: English

In 1937 Mrs.Miniver began as a series of newspaper columns through the Times. These were adapted into a feature film and production began in 1941 prior to the United States' entry into the war. When it was released it became the highest grossing film of 1942 & Churchill credited it as doing an incredible amount to improve British morale. 

The Minivers, an English "middle-class" family experience life in the first months of World War II. While dodging bombs, the Minivers' son (Richard Ney) courts Lady Beldon's granddaughter (Teresa Wright) . 

Mrs/Miniver is one of the few contemporary films to focus on the domestic struggles of WWII. It isn't about battlefields or politics, but rather about how civilian lives were affected. It's also one of the rare Hollywood productions that show conflictthrough a woman's eyes. Everything we witness is through a woman's perspective. In this film the victims of war aren't men. they are women. 

Made during a time when the outcome of WWII wasn't certain, Mrs. Miniver represents a snapshot of the uncertainty associated with a global conflict. William Wyler's superb direction is combined with remarkable cinematography and an atmospheric score. Albeit filmed far from where the real-life conflict takes place, the set design gives an incredible amount of authenticity to the production. 

Mts. Miniver is one of the rare pre-60's Best Picture winners that will improve with age. Aside from this, I have yet to see another war film that focuses so much on the female perspective. It's a must watch. 

Gentleman's Agreement (1947) Review

Title: Gentleman's Agreement
Year: 1947
Director: Elia Kazan
Country: US
Language: English

Post World War II we see less escapism in Cinema and a lot more interest in realism. The first post-war film to win Best Picture was the honest, unflinching The Best Years of Our Lives (1946). The popularity of Italian Neorealism (Bicycle Thieves) helped bring in a wave of social commentary at the box office. 

In Gentleman's Agreement a reporter (Gregory Peck)  pretends to be Jewish in order to cover a story on anti-Semitism, and personally discovers the true depths of bigotry and hatred.

The social commentary in this film is quite in your face in regards to how clear it is. Once you see how intolerance acts, you can't pretend not to see it. Even the well meaning, "good" citizens can spread anti-Semitism by being too complacent about it. It's certainly an important message, but it is quite preachy. In addition, showing us this prejudice through the eyes of a gentile pretending to be Jewish is a little cringy.
 

Disctimination is not as obvious as the actions depicted in Gentleman's Agreement. It isn't as easy as "hotel manager decides to not rent a room to Jewish people." It is more subtle & hidden. The films good intentions are appreciated & I don't doubt that this film was innovative at the time, but presently the execution of the subject matter is problematic. It's not a film that will be viewed favourably as time goes on. 

Though Gregory Peck's acting is a little wooden, I do like the acting by Celeste Holm, John Garfield, and Dorothy McGuire. It's not Kazan's best work, but I do appreciate his direction. Cinematographer Arthur Miller's are quite remarkable and the highlight of this film. 

THE BARBENHEIMER EXPERIENCE (2023)

Title: THE BARBEN HEIMER EXPERIENCE 

Year: 2023

Directors: Greta Gerwig & Christopher Nolan

Presently the future of Hollywood is uncertain because SAG (Screen Actors' Guild) and WGA (Writer's Guild of America) are on strike for the first time since 1960. 

Due to the rise of streaming services & the complications surrounding a dcline in wages and residuals, SAG and WGA are seeking better compensation and benefit plans with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

As a result of this strike film production has halted. Actors cannot promot their work, appear in any film festivals, attend screenings or participate in any conventions. The Oppenheimer cast attended the red carpet of their first screening and then left the scene at midnight before the film began. 

News reports have been circulating about the Barbenheimer phenomena. Greta Gerwig's Barbie and Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer both premiered on the same weekend and the internet has made memes about going to both as a double feature. 

These two films couldn't be more different in tone. One is a glitzy glamourous production of cotton candy fluff and the other is an apocalyptic nightmare about the potential for global destruction. I suppose the stark contrast is the appeal? I went to both because I'm a film nerd and I like both directors. Going to Barbie was a bit weird considering I'm a 32yr old male & most of the audience were pre-teen girls in pink shirts. 

Connecting Oppenheimer and Barbie are themes of Americana. Barbie is classic American, as is  the Nuke. Both are part of American history for good and bad reasons. Both reperesent the best and worst of the Western Hemisphere. Both are bound to make a killing at the box office. 

My reviews of each are below:  

Title: Oppenheimer
Year: 2023
Director: Chritopher Nolan
Country: US
Language: English






In 2020 Warner Bros. botched the distribution of Christopher Nolan's Tenet and as a result Nolan decided to leave his longtime studio for the greener pastures of Universal Studios. There he developed Oppenheimer - albeit with a smaller budget than he was accustomed to. Even with more restrictions placed upon him he was able to create a fairly memorable epic.

This is the story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.

Drawing from the 2005 biography American Prometheus:The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer Nolan and editor Jennifer larner create a non-linear narrative from fragmented information spanning a lifetime. Strucuted aroudn two proceedings that switch from monochrome to color, Oppenheimer evokes the political films of Oliver Stone (JFK, 1991)

Oppenheimer is an incredibly cerebral film that has the feel of an epic. It's scary, insightful, imaginative, haunting, vulnerable and powerful. There are a few scenes that left me in awe. The cinematography, sound design, score, production design and editing are exquisite; each pulling their weight to give us an edge-of-your-seat film.

I'm not a big fan of Chrisopher Nolan, I hated Inception (2010), but I must admit there is something really special about this picture. I think it will win many awards and be known as one of the best films of the 2020's

Title: Barbie

Year: 2023

Director: Greta Gerwig

Country: US

Language: English

 In any other hands Barbie (2023) would be a soulless corporate cash grab, but Greta Gerwig & screenwriter Noah Baumbach are self-aware and talented enough to create nn impressive artistic endeavour out of the material. Her previous pictures, Lady Bird (2017) & Little Women (2019), were nominated for many Oscars. Barbie (2023) will likely be nominated for Oscars too.

In this, Barbie (Margot Robbie) suffers a crisis that leads her to question her world and her existence.

Subversive, satirical and silly - Barbie's spectacular production is the stuff of dreams. Gerwig lets her creative impulses run wild with impressive set design, remarkable choreography, and jaw dropping cinematography. It's a Grade 'A' Hollywood treatment that is sure to stun audiences. 

Baumbach and Gerwig's script gives Barbie (and Ken) some much needed dimension. The characters' have profound conversations regarding gender roles and woman/manhood. Gerwig's treatment isn't necessarily kind to the Barbie brand, as criticism regarding the dolls' negative influence on society is laid out. 

Margot Robbie's incredible performance is nearly overshadowed by Ryan Gosling as the mimbo Ken. His charming stupidity is a highlight in this film; I particularly like his obsession with singing his emotions out. Barbie is a fun film. I hope Gerwig continues with her success.

Oppenheimer (2023) Review

Title: Oppenheimer
Year: 2023
Director: Chritopher Nolan
Country: US
Language: English

In 2020 Warner Bros. botched the distribution of Christopher Nolan's Tenet and as a result Nolan decided to leave his longtime studio for the greener pastures of Universal Studios. There he developed Oppenheimer - albeit with a smaller budget than he was accustomed to. Even with more restrictions placed upon him he was able to create a fairly memorable epic. 

This is the story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.

Drawing from the 2005 biography American Prometheus:The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer Nolan and editor Jennifer larner create a non-linear narrative from fragmented information spanning a lifetime. Strucuted aroudn two proceedings that switch from monochrome to color, Oppenheimer evokes the political films of Oliver Stone (JFK, 1991) 

Oppenheimer is an incredibly cerebral film that has the feel of an epic. It's scary, insightful, imaginative, haunting, vulnerable and powerful. There are a few scenes that left me in awe. The cinematography, sound design, score, production design and editing are exquisite; each pulling their weight to give us an edge-of-your-seat film. 

I'm not a big fan of Chrisopher Nolan, I hated Inception (2010), but I must admit there is something really special about this picture. I think it will win many awards and be known as one of the best films of the 2020's

Barbie (2023) Review

Title: Barbie
Year: 2023
Director: Greta Gerwig
Country: US
Language: English

 In any other hands Barbie (2023) would be a soulless corporate cash grab, but Greta Gerwig & screenwriter Noah Baumbach are self-aware and talented enough to create nn impressive artistic endeavour out of the material. Her previous pictures, Lady Bird (2017) & Little Women (2019), were nominated for many Oscars. Barbie (2023) will likely be nominated for Oscars too.

In this, Barbie (Margot Robbie) suffers a crisis that leads her to question her world and her existence.

Subversive, satirical and silly - Barbie's spectacular production is the stuff of dreams. Gerwig lets her creative impulses run wild with impressive set design, remarkable choreography, and jaw dropping cinematography. It's a Grade 'A' Hollywood treatment that is sure to stun audiences. 

Baumbach and Gerwig's script gives Barbie (and Ken) some much needed dimension. The characters' have profound conversations regarding gender roles and woman/manhood. Gerwig's treatment isn't necessarily kind to the Barbie brand, as criticism regarding the dolls' negative influence on society is laid out. 

Margot Robbie's incredible performance is nearly overshadowed by Ryan Gosling as the mimbo Ken. His charming stupidity is a highlight in this film; I particularly like his obsession with singing his emotions out. Barbie is a fun film. I hope Gerwig continues with her success. 

Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) Review

Title: Mutiny on the Bounty
Year: 1935
Director: Frank Lloyd
Country: US
Language: English

Directed by Frank Lloyd, Mutiny on the Bounty is loosely based on real events that happened in 1789. It was the 8th picture to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards, and was nominated for Best Director, Best Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Score and Best Editing. It was fairly commercially and critically successful when it was first released. 

First mate Fletcher Christian (Clark Gable) leads a revolt against his sadistic commander, Captain Bligh (Charles Laughton) , in this classic seafaring adventure.

The sets were full scale converted ships, and the scenes on land were actually shot on location. This made the film feel authentic compared to the cheaper looking productions at the time. The cinematography is remarkable; every shot captures the motion of the ship. 

Herbert Stothart score is a bombastic medley of nautical themes and emotional underscoring. The editing is sharp, full of montages that add to an overall tense atmosphere. The acting, particularly by Laughton & Gable, is remarkable. Munity on the Bounty certainly has the scope and feel of a big Hollywood production. 

The effects of Mutiny on the Bounty do feel a bit dated and if you are looking for a more dramatic high-seas Best Picture Winner then you might go for Titanic (1997).. There's no doubt that it was a great picture for the time, but in 2023 the story leaves a lot to be desired. 

Oliver! (1968) Review

Title: Oliver!
Year: 1968
Director: Carol Reed
Country: UK
Language: English

In the 60's Academy Award voters fell in love with movie musicals as Best Picture went to a musical 4 times (West Side Story, My Fair Lady, Sound of Music & Oliver!) in a 6 year period (1962-1968). Oliver! would be the last musical to win the prestigious award until 2002's Chicago.

After being sold to a mortician, young orphan Oliver Twist (Mark Lester) runs away and meets a group of boys trained to be pickpockets by an elderly mentor in 1830s London.

Directed by Carol Reed, who is known for The Third Man, Oliver! is an adaptation of a stageplay, which is an adaptation of Charles Dicken's novel. Oliver Twist was meant to be an indictment regarding the poor treatment of the working class, whereas Oliver! takes dark subject matter and removes its social critique; making material escapist entertainment. 

As escapist entertainment it is quite joyful. I loved the musical numbers like Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two & Who Will Buy?  The latter is absolutely astonishing when it comes to choreography, cinematography and set design. I can't imagine how difficult it was to film that number. This is a musical that will leave you in awe. 

Oliver! has some great acting; I was especially amused by Ron Moody as Fagin. He deservedly won his Oscar for Best Actor as he is one of cinema's best anti-hero's. I was very impressed by this picture and would recommend repeated viewings. 

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The Lost Weekend (1945) Review

Title: The Lost Weekend
Year: 1945
Director: Billy Wilder
Country: US
Language: English 

Billy Wilder's fourth directorial effort, The Lost Weekend was a critical and commercial hit which won 4 Oscars at that years' Academy Awards. It had an enormous impact on the public, especially veterans who were combat fatigued and at-risk for addiction. 

Don Birnam (Ray Milland), long-time alcoholic, has been "on the wagon" for ten days and seems to be over the worst; but his craving has just become more insidious. 

The Lost Weekend was a groundbreaking picture because it was the first time Hollywood had tackled the subject of alcoholism in such a frank and honest way. Its uncompromising view was controversial for the time, and helped bring social awareness of the disease.

The black and white cinematography was incredibly expressionistic; creating an atmophere of dread and despair. The score, which had the first use of electronic music in film, is eerie and adds to the characters' distorted reality. 

The Lost Weekend may deter some viewers as it's not light entertainment, like Going My Way (1944)/. It is a somber, somewhat difficult viewing, but it has aged well  & its message is incredibly important. 

The Hurt Locker (2009) Review

Title: The Hurt Locker
Year: 2009
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Country: US
Language: English

In the past when I reviewed war films I'd look for the pollical commentary. Is this film pro-war (American Sniper) or anti-war (All Quiet on the Western Front) ? Hollywood can't help but choose a side for us. Katheryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker is the rare war picture that lacks political commentary & seeks to examine the effect of such violence on mankind. 

During the Iraq War, a Sergeant (Jeremy Renner) recently assigned to an army bomb squad is put at odds with his squad mates due to his maverick way of handling his work.

Like Wages of Fear (1955) much of the film is tense, due to  suspenseful atmosphere stemming from explosive personalities who are one wrong choice away from being blown to smithereens. We hold our breath and are on the edge of our seat as this episodic military drama unfolds onscreen. 

The Hurt Locker has the feel of a documentary. Indeed, it was written by a journalist of the Iraq war, who's first hand experiences helped shape the film. The film's cinematographer frames each scene using four handheld cameras; giving us an - at the time- unique point of view that captures the chaos of the story.

The Hurt Locker is worth a secondary viewing because one may be turned off by the film's repetition. The repetition is essential to the slow boil of tension. It's a fine film, but I'm more impressed by it as a technical achievement rather than entertainment. 

Shakespeare in Love (1998) Review

Title: Shakespeare in Love
Year: 1998
Director: John Madden
Country: US
Language: English

In 1998 Steven Spielberg directed an incredible World War Two movie called Saving Private Ryan. The opening D-Day scene was so shocking that people still talk about it today. That movie won 5 Oscars, but it did not win Best Picture. Shakespeare in Love did. Time has not been kind to Shakespeare in Love. 

William Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes) , is young, out of ideas and short of cash, but meets his ideal woman (Gwyneth Paltrow) and is inspired to write one of his most famous plays.

Shakespeare in Love is a film that uses concepts & themes of the artists' work (doomed romance, swordfights, cross-dressing) to mold a s story about the artist. It does so without much historical context however; using our modern perception of the artist as a tortured, romantic individual rather than a person who is paid to write plays.

Shakespeare in Love will certainly make Historians & English Majors cringe, but I think the film did a good job at shaping our perception of Shakespeare by being Shakespearean. The film has good cinematography, set design, score, makeup, costume and makeup. The chemistry between Paltrow & Fiennes is quite moving. 

Should Shakespeare in Love have won Best Picture? No, I still think Saving Private Ryan should have won. This film doesn't deserve the groans it gets though, as it is quite creative and feels fairly quick paced. It's worth viewing at least once. 

Going My Way (1944) Review

Title: Going My Way

Year: 1944
Director: Leo McCarey
Country: US
Language: English

I would have loved to be Bing Crosby in the 1940's. In 1945 Life Magazine called him "America's number one star, Bing Crosby, has won more fans, made more money than any entertainer in history." Between 1931-1956 he had 396 chart singles and 41 number 1 hits. In the 40's his films were in the top ten of the box office & he won 3 Oscars.


When young Father O'Malley (Bing Crosby) arrives at St. Dominic's, old Father Fitzgibbon (Barry Fitgerald) doesn't think much of the church's newest member.


Going My Way is a charming, deeply sentimental film that addresses inner city in a heartfelt - albeit naïve- way. It is about priests, but the religious aspect is toned down, and the film makes great emphasis on community more than belief. It certainly gave an important lesson while WWII was raging throughout.


Going My Way was an odd Best Picture Winner. Despite winning 7 Oscars (Picture, Song, Actor, Supporting Actor, Director, Story, Screenplay) it wasn't technically innovative and it wasn't a visual feast. The camera is often still; the sets look like sets; the cinematography ix quite unimpressive. The main appealing part of this picture is the acting. Bing Crosby breathes life into a film that would have likely floundered without him.


This film lost me in the middle. I found the pace too slow and the plot a bit meandering. The last 30 minutes brought my interest back as it packed a decent emotional punch. If the film was 40 minutes shorter I would have certainly been keen to re-watch this.

How Green Was My Valley (1941) Review

Title: How Green Was My Valley
Year: 1941
Director: John Ford
Country: US
Language: English

It's hard to believe that any film could beat Citizen Kane (1941) for Best Picture. William Randolph Hearts' campaign to bury the film was a little successful, as Orson Welles was booed during the Oscars ceremony. How Green Was My Valley won the prestigious award instead and, despite very little discussion of it nowadays, I found it to be a pretty heartfelt film. 

At the turn of the century in a Welsh mining village, the Morgans, he stern, she gentle, raise coal-mining sons and hope their youngest will find a better life.

Originally meant to be directed by William Wyler, and shot as a 4hr technicolor epic akin to Gone With the Wind, John Ford scaled down the production and made the picture a more intimate story. Even this "scaled down" version has amazing cinematography, art direction and set design. They spent $110K  & 20,000 gallons in paint in effort to build an 80 Acre set that replicated a real Welsh village. 

Ford does a magnificent job capturing a bygone era; depicting the lives of a family held together by community and shared spirituality. How Green Was My Valley is a socio-political picture that accurately portrays  the hardship of the lower class in the early 1900's. It's quite a bold picture that innovates in its storytelling & camerawork. 

How Green Was My Valley is a great picture that certainly deserves its Best Picture award. If any film could stand toe-to-toe with Citizen Kane, this would be it. I urge cinephiles to seek this picture out as it is certainly one of John Ford's best. 

Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning (2023) Review

Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Year: 2023
Director: US
Language: English

I have tremendous respect for Tom Cruise and his commitment to showmanship. His passion for giving the audience a spectacle that demands to be seen in theatres has no bounds. He is a creative force that pushes the envelope regarding breathtaking stunts that must be seen on the biggest screen to be appreciated.  Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning is a sight to behold. 

Ethan Hunt  (Tom Cruise) and his IMF team must track down  the keys to a dangerous weapon before it falls into the wrong hand.

Boasting several impressive action sequences, Dead Reckoning has an unrelenting pace that feels intense throughout. The cinematography is remarkable; giving us everything from vast desert landscapes to lush Swiss forests. The score is foreboding; it adds to the gripping atmosphere and adds keeps us to the edge on our seat.

The threat that has to be dealt with in this film is very relevant in 2023. Essentially an AI has gone rogue & has access to every classified piece of information in the world. The stakes Tom Cruise & Christopher McQuarrie have set are incredibly high. If these two films are Cruises' Mission Impossible send-off, then it's one hell of a send-off.

Dead Reckoning is a film that absolutely must be seen in I-Max. It's popcorn munching entertainment at its best. Tom Cruise's career is winding down; we may only be getting a couple more years of him. 

Wham! (2023) Review

Title: Wham!
Year: 2023
Director: Chris Smith
Country: US
Language: English

Wham! made international stars out of George Michael and AndrewRidgeley in the early-mid eighties. Songs like Careless Whisper, Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go and Club Tropicana  rose in the charts and became timeless pop hits. How did their success originate? Lets ' explore. 

Through archival interviews and footage, George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley relive the arc of their Wham career, from '70s best buds to '80s pop icons.

Wham! does a tremendous job at bringing light to the importance of Andrew Ridgeley's contributions to the group. George Michael became such a big star post-Wham than his fame has entirely eclipsed Andrew. He was a great friend, a talented artist and essential to the early success of the group. 
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I also appreciated learning about the socio-political context in which the band strived in. They spoke to the youth of their generation, who stopped caring about their economic fate ("do you enjoy what you do?") and sought escapism. If they had been on the scene a few years prior they would have been buried by the punk scene. 

The Broadway Melody (1929) Review

Title: The Broadway Melody
Year: 1929
Director: Harry Beaumont
Country: US
Language: English

 In 1927 Warner Brothers' The Jazz Singer became the first picture with sound to hit theatres. Shortly after, audiences everywhere were clamouring for "Talkies" and silent movies became a financial detriment. Studios struggled to meet the demand as the technology was fairly new & had a tremendous amount of limitations. In 1929 we had the first "all talkie" winner at the Oscars. 

In The Broadway Melody, a  pair of sisters from the vaudeville circuit try to make it big time on Broadway, but matters of the heart complicate the attempt.

The Broadway Melody (1929) was billed as the first ALL Talking, ALL Dancing motion picture event. It was an incredibly big deal; a huge footnote in the history of cinema. It was the highest grossing picture of 1929 and helped paved the way for talkies in Cinema.
 

Despite it being revolutionary at the time, The Broadway Melody is extremely dated for Modern audiences. The acting is terrible, as is the cliche riddled writing. The cinematography is average - at best- and the editing is pretty poor. I fell asleep while watching the movie & had to start over. 

You'd think a musical would have memorable music, but I can't remember a single tune. At the time The Broadway Melody should have won Best Picture, but it's a relic that feels older than movies made in the 1910's! 

Asteroid City (2023) Review

Title: Asteroid City
Year: 2023
Director: Wes Anderson 
Country: US
Language: English

In 2010, Michael W. Boyce introduced me to Wes Andersons' work with Royal Tenenbaums (2001) in relation to his Mise-En-Scene lesson for Introuduction to Cinema, I immediately became a fan & made effort to see Anderson's newest pictures in the theatre. 

A grieving writer (Jason Schwartzman) travels with his tech-obsessed family to a small rural town called Asteroid City. The narrative is framed through an Inside the Actor's Studio show, in which a narrator (Bryan Cranston) is framing everything we experience as a play.

Post his most artistic (Royal Tenenbaums) and most profitable (Grand Budapest Hotel) pictures, an aging Wes Anderson is finding himself in his twilight years and wondering "why?", What is the purpose of film-making? Is Wes Anderson just imitating Wes Anderson?  It's a very self aware, self- reflective movie. 

Asteroid City is not an easy viewing. Many people are turned off by the "play within a movie" aspect and the shift from play to broadcast to play can make the picture feel unevenly paced. I didn't mind the change, but I would have preferred if we just stayed in the whimsical pastel-fused Asteroid City. 

Even though it doesn't fully work the way Anderson would like it to, I appreciate a film-maker who is willing to experiment & create a narrative that is different from the norm. I hope he continues to be creative and finds a way to change the Wes Anderson style, 

The Great Ziegfeld (1936) Review

Title: The Great Ziegfeld
Tear: 1936
Director: Robert Z. Leonard
Country: US
Language: English

The Great Ziegfeld is not a film that is mentioned nowadays, even when the subject of Best Picture Winners comes up. I went into the film with little expectations, but was pleasantly surprised by how lavish and spectacular the entire show was. Considering this was in theatres during the Depsression era- 30's there's no wonder as to why it was so financially successful at the time. 

This picture depicts the ups-and-downs of the legendary showman  Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.

Clocking in at 3 hours long, The Great Ziegfeld is not a breezy film to get through,, but it does provide a welcome escapism through fantastic and gorgeous musical numbers that are exquisitely produced. The costume design, editing, directing, score and acting are remarkable. 

The Dazzling sets show the best of what Golden Hollywood - and by extension MGM- had to offer. It's unfortunate that the rest of the script is a bit clunky and doesn't offer any meaninful character development. We are shown how "great" Ziegfeld's artistic endeavors are, but as a person he comes off as a pompous jerk and doesn't have any arc. 

2001: A Space Odyssey is an easier watch than The Great Ziegfeld. in terms of how long the movie feels. Instead of watching the entire movie, I'd recommend viewing clips of the most outrageous sets (such as the big cake number)  on Youtube.