The Other Boleyn Girl (2008), Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana.

I recently saw this movie and fell in love with the color and the pagentry of it. Doesn't the poster shout the subject of the movie? If you are not familiar with historical novels and films about early England, you might think, "Oh my gawd, this is so over the top." I recently watched a re-run of The Queen at 80, Profile of Queen Elizabeth II, who turned 80 in 2006 and the pomp and circumstance you see is real. Although I had seen this and other programs about England's royal family, I was again captivated by the program, especially the very old footage.

The Other Boleyn Girl is excellent in a super-soap sort of way. I say this not to put it down, but it has all of the elements of a good soap, the kind we claim not to watch. The Boleyn girls, Anne (Natalie Portland) and Mary (Scarlett Johansson) are well-matched in the movie. This is good casting. You seldom Natalie Portman in a role where she is dispicable and I don't think I have ever seen Scarlett Johnasson as 'the innocent.' In the movie, she appears to be weak and easy to manipulate but in the end proves she has courage, backbone and a strong will.

This new film is a remake of BBC's The Other Boleyn Girl from a few year's ago. Both are based on Philippa Gregory's novel of the same name. The film, The Other Boleyn Girl (2003 BBC Version) and the novel, The Other Boleyn Girl are available from Amazon.com

The film has a PG-13 rating, call me old-fashioned, but I think it is a bit much for young teens to see. Rape, implied incest. See the official film site

The Solid Gold Cadillac (1956) Judy Holliday, Paul Douglas
Judy Holliday Takes On Big Business and George Burns narrates this very funny movie classic about big business, crooked executives and politics.

With so much talk about banks going under and the dismal view of stock market, it is a perfect time to dig out your dusty VHS tape player and watch The Solid Gold Cadillac again.

At the beginning of The Solid Gold Cadillac, the camera slowly pans a tall skyscraper in New York City, an unseen Burns states, "In this country today, more people are investing in the stock market than every before." This is the audience’s introduction to Laura Partridge (Judy Holliday) who is attending her first stockholder’s meeting at International Projects where she owns 10 shares of the companies stock.

Laura creates an uproar when she questions the salaries of the Chairman of Board of Directors, Jack Blessington (John Williams) and his cronies. This line of questioning is unexpected and unwelcome. The narrator has already warned the audience that these men are crooks; now that Edward McKeever former CEO (Paul Douglas) has resigned to go to Washington, the boys will have free rein of the company and its money. Unfortunately for them, Partridge turns up at subsequent meetings, generally making a nuisance of herself by putting their huge salaries and perks in jeopardy with her questions and probing.

Blessington devises a plan to keep Laura Partridge out of their hair by hiring her. The board members disagree; Blessington explains, “If you can’t crush them, join them. If you can’t kill them, acquire them.” This is met with cynicism, “How do we know [we can‘t kill her], until we’ve tried.” When Partridge asks "What sort of work would I do?" the response is vague, "It would be sort of general work—nothing specific, but you would be in charge of it." She is given an office, a secretary, but no responsibilities. However, they don’t know Laura Partridge.

The humor in The Solid Gold Cadillac is fun, light and intelligent. The board of directors, Clifford Snell (Fred Clark), John ‘Jack’ Blessington (John Williams), Alfred Metcalfe, (Ray Collins) and Warren Gillie (Ralph Dumke) are so wickedly bad, so corrupt, that it is a joy watching their antics. While they don’t exactly rub their hands together and say, “now then, what shall we do with you my pretty”, they do devise a second plan to get rid of Laura Partridge because the first one backfires and makes her exceedingly popular with the small stockholders.

The Solid Gold Cadillac is one of Judy Holliday’s best films. She won the 1956 Golden Globe for Best Actress in a musical or comedy for her portrayal of Laura Partridge.

This stylish movie classic does not feel dated. You can find the DVD The Solid Gold Cadillac at Amazon.com, but it is quite pricy. Check other sources. If you have a VHS tape player you can get a used tape at a very reasonable price at Amazon. For Holliday fans, it is well worth the effort to do some checking.

See more Judy Holliday (1921-1965) information at http://www.thegoldenyears.org/holliday.html

Denzel Washington Most Popular Film Star

If you are wondering who the most popular movie stars are, you can stop and check out top ten list:

1. Denzel Washington
2. Tom Hanks
3. Johnny Depp
4. Julia Roberts
5. Will Smith
6. John Wayne (yep. that John Wayne)
7. Matt Damon
8. Sean Connery
9. Sandra Bullock
10. Bruce Willis
    

What's even more interesting is who is # 1 among different groups and men and women. Surprisingly the men like Denzel Washington and the women prefer Tom Hanks. Well, maybe not such a surprise there. Who is most popular with Repulicans, Democrats, Independents? Different parts of the U.S? See further results in the Harris Poll below.

Source: http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=859

Michael Clayton (2007) George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton, Sydney Pollack
George Clooney as Michael Clayton is dark and edgy.

Coming attractions and film trailers often do not live up to their hype. Clooney's Michael Clayton does. The film opens with a voiceover and brings back memories of those old noir tough-guy movies we love so much. Michael Clayton is a fix-it man for his law firm. That's not his title, but it is what he does. He does not sit in courtrooms, instead he makes things right for his firm and its wealthy clients.

On the surface Clayton looks as if his life could not be better, but he is in over his head with gambling debts and he owes a large sum of money to some people after a restaurant deal turned sour. Still he looks good. He has all of the power trappings, great clothes and a great car. And, he walks the walk.

Again, think noir, blink an eye and you can almost see Michael Clayton wearing a hat pulled down over one eye, with the style of actor Robert Taylor (1911–1969) who has been called the man with the perfect profile.

Everything comes to a head when Clayton's boss Marty Bach (Sydney Pollack) calls him in to clean up the firms latest disaster. Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson) a friend and a partner of the firm seems to have lost it. While attending a deposition hearing he tears at his clothes, strips naked and runs outside. Unfortunately this shocking and pathetic scene was captured on videotape; the fallout can damage the case and the firm.

Much of the film focuses on Clayton trying to get to the cause of Edens breakdown and eventual suicide, while trying to keep his own life from imploding. Clayton appears weary as he delves into his friends' sad life, knowing his own not much better. You get a glimpse of Clayton's personal life when he takes his son to school, when you meet his needy brother and when you see him gambling.

You also sense that Clayton is already tired or getting tired of the firm and what it stands for in his life. When he discovers that Edens held proof that could bring down the firms most important corporate client and his firm as well, his life takes another path. Karen Crowder (Tilda Swinton) the client's top legal staff knows the truth about her company but is determined to win anyway. Swinton is as cool and calculating as Clooney is here, they are well paired. Actor Sydney Pollack is so right for his man-at-the-top, man-in-charge role. When his character talks to Clooney's 'Clayton', he is persuasive, without being manipulative. Will and Grace television fans will remember Pollack as Will's philandering dad. Pollack directed the legal thriller The Firm with Tom Cruise in 1993.

Michael Clayton is an excellent film and the casting is perfect. You continue to think about the film long after you have left the movie theater. One of the best and most telling scenes in the film is when Clayton parks his car and wanders into an open field.

Others in the cast are Michael O'Keefe, Ken Howard, Sean Cullen and Denis O'Hare. Highly recommended. Get more information from Warner Bros"

Michael Clayton [Blu-ray] is availble from Amazon.com.

The Lake House (2006) Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, Christopher Plummer This movie is an absolute must for romantics and those who can enjoy make-believe and the whimsy of time-travel.

The Lake House is a slow-moving, slow-paced, sweet movie about two people who fall in love. The trouble is that they cannot connect because one lives two years in the future and one lives two years in the past. Only their mailboxes and Jack, the dog, unite them. Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock are Alex Wyler and Dr. Kate Forster in this adult fairytale. Bullock was recently seen in the award winning movie Crash. She was also in Miss Congeniality (2000), Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and fabulous (2005), and Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)

When Kate moves out of an unusual and isolated glass house on a lake, she leaves a note for the next tenant. In the note, she mentions a dog and his footprints. Architect/real estate developer Alex finds the note, but is puzzled because he knows for sure that there was no recent previous tenant. Remember he is living in 2004, so she has not been to the house yet. He responds to Kate to explain that there has been no tenant in the glass house. Curiously, he does find doggy footprints. Thus begins the “once upon a time” story of Kate and Alex.

Actor Christopher Plummer seems to be showing up everywhere in film these days (Inside Man 2006 and Must Love Dogs). In The Lake House, he is Simon Wyler, Alex’s cold, authoritative and famous architect father (he is the one who built the glass house), who does not understand why his talented son is building suburban tract houses.

Romantics will understand this movie, others may pick the premise apart, the years are 2004 (his) and 2006 (hers), why snail-mail in this age of e-mail? Alex does not seem to care about politics or anything else concerning the future, at one point does ask how things are in the future, Kate simply responds that not much has changed. Surely he would be curious to know who is president now, the price of gas, something. Perhaps the fact that they are living two years apart is problematic enough. Alex and Kate do have other love interests, but now they only have 'eyes' for each other as they fall hopelessly and helplessly in love. They continue writing and they rush to their mailboxes to await replies. At one point their love becomes more complicated and hurtful when they discover that their physical paths have crossed. Fortunately, each of them has a confidante to whom they finally and hesitatingly reveal their unique love affair. Caution, The Lake House is for romantics only.

The Lake House [Blu-ray] is available from Amazon.com.

The Uninvited (B/W 1944) Ray Milland, Ruth Hussey, Cornelia Otis Skinner
A film classic. As ghost stories go, The Uninvited is by far one of the best.

A black and white classic, this mystery/paranormal movie has everything, mystery, a ghost, romance and beautiful music in the background. Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey star as brother and sister, Roderick and Pamela Fitzgerald.

When siblings buy a beautiful old house on the English coast (Windward House) overlooking the ocean, they have no idea what awaits them in their new home. However, their dog knows and he immediately runs away. After moving in, the new owners soon sense that they are not the only residents of Windward House. They awaken to the sound of sobbing, they smell the strong scent of mimosa and one room is so cold, they cannot use it. Curious to know the history of the house, they set out to get some answers from the previous owner Commander Beech (Donald Chrisp). When Rod questions the Commander, he realizes that his questions are no surprise to the Commander who believes that the house is indeed haunted and that he fears for his young granddaughter's safety.

While the Fitzgerald’s are visiting the Commander, the granddaughter, Stella Meredith (lovely Gail Russell) comes home. Stella is also curious about Winward House but her grandfather has been evasive in answering her questions and has forbidden her to enter or go near the place. Now, he wants her to stay away from the meddling Fitzgerald's as well. However, Stella’s curiosity has gotten the best of her and she disobeys her grandfather’s orders.

Neighbor Dr. Scott (Alan Napier) who has found the Fitzgerald's pet, befriends and joins them in their quest to find out the truth about Winward House. The search for information leads Rod and Pamela to a grim-faced Miss Holloway, portrayed by Cornelia Otis Skinner who is superb in this role. Holloway knows all of the answers and has held them for years; but shares them with no one, not even the Commander. She inadvertently destroys herself, as she tries vainly to keep a promise made to her good friend who died many years ago. Victor Young's haunting 'Stella By Starlight' threads through the movie as tension rises.

This is such a good ghost movie, it is the kind that makes you turn on the lights to get rid of shadowy corners. The Uninvited was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Cinematography, Black-and-White category.

The Uninvited is available in VHS format from Amazon.com through various dealers.