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Reviews
Alexander (2004)
Simply OUTSTANDING!
I, too, had heard horrendous comments about this movie and hesitated renting it for months on end. However, I did finally rent the movie...and, oh my gosh, am I glad I did! I believe that this is one of the best movies I have ever seen...and I've seen thousands. I read two novels about Alexander as a teenager, and I absolutely loved the movies historical sense. No movie is ever 100% accurate according to history, but I believe that this film gives us a great look at the life and legends of Alexander's time.
I found the acting to be simply superb! Collin Farrell provides an excellent performance as Alexander, Jared Leto is terrific as Hephaistion, Val Kilmer (Phillip), Christopher Plummer (Aristotle), Connor Paolo (Young Alexander), Rosario Dawson (Roxane), and Anthony Hopkins (Old Ptolemy) provide excellent support in their roles. Angelina Jolie is absolutely mesmerizing as Olympias; she makes this film unique with her wonderful accent and performance. It is unthinkable that this film was ignored by the Academy Awards for the performances of Collin, Angelina, and Val...all deserved nominations...Angelina certainly should have won a supporting Oscar in this role! Kudos to Oliver Stone, who certainly deserved a nomination as Best Director for this truly epic film.
There is nothing about the film that I do not enjoy. It is a film that I can watch over and over and over again, without breaks. It is completely and totally fascinating to me. The final Indian battle scene makes watching this film a treat as I believe it to be one of the very best battle scenes ever filmed.
If you were like me and listened to those around you and have not watched this film, please take the chance and view it. You will not be sorry!
Best Foot Forward (1943)
Delightful farce, full of laughs!
Based upon the 1941 Broadway musical, I found this to be a fun,charming, and well written screenplay that entertains from beginning to end. Although not her best film, Lucille Ball is more than adequate playing herself in this early teen romp. June Allyson, Gloria DeHaven, Virginia Weidler, Beverly Tyler, and Sara Haden are great as the quirky,loud-mouthed, obnoxious teenagers hell-bent on ruining Lucy's night at the prom. But, this film is completely and utterly stolen by Nancy Walker as the way-over-the-top "Blind Date" girl. She is hilarious, and talented in this, her 1943 film debut. Her comedic genius is in full view in this film for which she should have received an Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actress, but did not. Tommy Dix does a fine job as the star cadet the screenplay revolves around, and Harry James' music is more-than-worth watching the movie. When combined together, the above make this film a worthwhile watch; your belly will hurt from the hearty laughs you will emit!
Move Over, Darling (1963)
The perfect feel good movie!
This is the perfect Sunday morning movie. It is absolutely delightful with a spectacular cast that even the least devoted movie buff will recognize. The primary actors, Doris Day, James Garner, Thelma Ritter, Polly Bergen, and Don Knotts are comic masters at the very peak of their talents. Aside from Doris Day's genius, Thelma Ritter pulls off another jem as Garner's mother. Thelma Ritter is in my honest opinion, the best character actress that Hollywood has ever produced, and is allowed to perform her many talents with minimal intrusions by other actors or the movies editors. If you love Doris Day, admire great comedy movies, or just need a little entertainment, this is the perfect way to spend a couple of hours!
Gone with the Wind (1939)
An American Classic
I completely and totally disagree with the previous reviewers comments regarding "Gone With The Wind." This is a film which beautifully portrays a time in our history of great selfishness and over-indulgence. Isn't that what the Civil War was all about? A war fought by Americans that sought to curb the abhorrent, but selfish nature of slavery. The screenplay is replete with scene after scene of clever and witty banter amongst characters which were written to be overblown, caricatures of the Southerners they represented. But the actors soften their edges and bring them to a fully realized persona. Mammy, as portrayed by Hattie McDaniel, is funny, clever, brave, and utterly believable. Vivian Leigh's Scarlett O'Hara is absolutely delightful as she takes the character from her late teens through late 30's. She is coy/sassy/brave/dependent/independent on demand, throughout the movie. Olivia DeHaviland, Clark Gable, Leslie Howard, Butterfly McQueen, Evelyn Keyes, Ann Rutherford, Ona Munson, and Laura Hope Crews as Aunt Pittypat are all completely enjoyable and believable in their characters. "Gone With The Wind," directed by Victor Fleming, is an absolutely delightful movie that brings to life a long forgotten America. It is an absolute "10" and will continue to 'play well' for decades and decades to follow.