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What Are You Watching? Skip ‘Ghosts’
The summer’s early movies continue to roll out on DVD, but this week’s picks are not much inspiring than last week’s.
Battle for Terra: Nobody cared when this animated film made it to theaters. I doubt people will care that much more even on DVD.
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past: Recasting A Christmas Carol with a selfish playboy in the lead (Matthew McConaughey) could have worked, but the movie never connects because of an utterly pedestrian script bereft of laughs. Jennifer Garner is as appealing as ever, but not enough to make this worthwhile. GRADE: C
Next Day Air: If I were to name this movie based on my interest in it, I would call it Return to Sender.
Observe and Report: Seth Rogen has one of his best roles as a mall security guard suffering delusions of grandeur, and I admire the movie’s willingness to go out on a limb for a laugh. At the same time, I’m not sure the movie always knows whether it’s rooting for or against its lead character. The ending in particular, is a cop-out, pun slightly intended. Still, it’s funny enough to recommend it - but maybe I feel that way because I saw it immediately after Paul Blart: Mall Cop. GRADE: B
What Are You Watching?
Camille: I often do not care for costume dramas like this one, but with George Cukor directing and Greta Garbo pulling out all the stops as a lovelorn courtesan, this movie was an affecting exception. GRADE: A
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: I watched the 1931 version with Fredric March, who won an Oscar for the role(s). It’s a bit primitive by today’s standards, and the Hyde makeup is just this side of silly, but excellent performances by March, and by Miriam Hopkins as the “bad” girl Hyde goes after, sell the picture. Inventive direction from Rouben Mamoulian helps too. GRADE: A-
Johnny Guitar: This maybe the single most bizarre Western I’ve ever seen, with always the always intriguing director Nicholas Ray (Rebel Without a Cause) upending Western stereotypes, pitting Joan Crawford and Mercedes McCambridge against each other and filming the whole thing in florid Technicolor. It’s overwrought but fascinating. GRADE: A-
3:10 to Yuma: I watched the 1957 original with Glenn Ford and Van Heflin, playing, respectively, a criminal and a ranch owner trying to take him into custody. This version relies more on a psychological battle of wits between the leads than the 2007 remake does, and it works very well. However, this is a rare instance where the remake is actually a little better, with more layers to the story and characters. GRADE: B+
What have you seen lately?
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: On Video/DVD, What Are You Watching?
Comments
By ME
September 22, 2009 3:00 PM | Link to this
Was watching Olbermann the other night and obviously he had been watching TCM on this weekend as he referred to Glenn Beck as Lonesome Rhoads. He must have been watching A Face in the Crowd from 57’, which I caught. The movie was dramatic. And Griffith and Neal are excellent! I thought it was interesting that because I’m watching TCM I could pick up on such a reference … I think both 3:10 Yuma movies are good. I saw the new one first had no idea there was an original until I saw it on TCM … I think it’s equally good.By Zack
September 22, 2009 2:58 PM | Link to this
Dang, I can’t believe I missed it! I’ve got to start paying more attention to the TCM schedule.By Sheryl Cowers
September 22, 2009 1:08 PM | Link to this
That’s certainly fair. The remake is certainly a fine film in its own right. I finally caught Up at the Danbury last week. Thanks for pushing it. What an honest, unpretentious, and ultimately wonderful movie.By Sir Critic
September 22, 2009 12:13 PM | Link to this
Zack: Johnny Guitar was on TCM. I watched it because Martin Scorsese featured it in his PERSONAL JOURNEY documentary on American movies. Sheryl: The difference between the original and the remake of 3:10 isn’t that great, but I thought the added complexity made it just a little more interesting.By Sheryl Cowers
September 22, 2009 11:49 AM | Link to this
I have to disagree with you for once, Sir Critic. I preferred the original 3:10 to Yuma to the remake. I felt the violence in the newer one was a bit unneccesary, and really liked the straighforward simpleness of the 1957 version. The violence itself didn’t bother me. I’m a Peckinpah fan, after all.By Zack
September 22, 2009 11:46 AM | Link to this
Dude: How did you see JOHNNY GUITAR? Was it on cable or something?