Laura (1944 B/W) Movie Classic

If there is anyone out there who has not seen the film classic Laura, run, do not walk, to your closest rent-a-movie shop. This is film-making at its best.

Police Detective Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) investigates the murder of a beautiful woman and becomes obsessed with her portrait. The woman, Laura Hunt, is played superbly the actress Gene Tierney. The story unfolds through a series of voice-overs and replays of her past with the men and women in her life. Her career as a high fashion artist begins with a snub from the very uptight and snobbish Waldo Lydecker, a society newspaper columnist. The Lydecker character is played to the hilt by Clifton Webb. Webb brings his comedic nose-in-the-air Mr. Belvedere character to Waldo Lydecker, except here he is not just a witty snob, he is obnoxious and controlling. His wit is mean spirited.

After a faulty start, Lydecker becomes Laura's mentor and eventually falls in love with her. Under Lydecker's wing Laura Hunt goes to the right parties and meets the right people. Along the way she meets Shelby Carpenter (Vincent Price) who is involved with wealthy Ann Treadwell (Judith Anderson) but also has his eye on Laura. Laura now tired of being under the watchful eye of Waldo Lydecker befriends Carpenter. She is aware that he is a has no money of his own and is a gigolo but he is elegant and charming. She enjoys his company.

So who killed Laura? Was it Ann Treadwell in a fit of jealousy? Was it Waldo Lydecker, the man who brought her to where she is now or was it Shelby Carpenter because she spurned his advances? It's up to Lt. Mark McPherson to find out. This may be one of Dana Andrews finest performances as the love stricken cop trying to get to the truth, while trying also to get past Laura's lovely face in the portrait hanging on her living room wall.

This is is top notch Otto Preminger. This is a lighter noir, the only darkness here is the obsessive behaviors of the characters. Much of the mood of this film comes from its music that flows through the film. Song writer Johnny Mercer was brought in to write the words to David Raskin's haunting melody. It was his job to write the words that would fit the music and the theme of the movie. The result is a perfect match of music, lyrics and film. Lt. Mcpherson stares at the portrait of Laura, a woman he has never met - [lyrics] Laura is the face in the misty light, Footsteps that you hear down the hall, The laugh that floats on a summer night That you can never quite recall. And you see Laura on the train that is passing through, Those eyes, how familiar they seem; She gave your very first kiss to you, that was Laura but she's only a dream. [end lyrics].

Movie classic.

88 Minutes (2008) Al Pacino

Al Pacino is doomed professor Jack Gramm in 88 Minutes. Apparently someone does not like Professor Gram sticking his knowledgable nose into police matters.

The FBI often asks Gramm for assistance when they need help in the area of forensic psychiatry. According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, forensic psychiatry is the application of psychiatry in courts of law (as for the determination of criminal responsibility or liability to commitment for insanity).

Based on this information, we know where this is going and that the professor is in real danger, he has received a cryptic message that he will be killed in 88 minutes. Can he locate the person or persons who have given him just over one hour to live?

I did not recognize Al Pacino in this trailer, he is much thinner than I remember him, and like everyone else has aged a bit. I am anxious to see this film, I have finally admitted to myself that I like man-on-the-run-to-find-justice flicks. 88 Minutes will be in theaters April 18. Others in the cast are Alicia Witt, Leelee Sobieski and Neal McDonough. The early reviews have not been good for the film, however, I often like what the masses do not.

When the film 88 Minutes trailer was first shown on television and in movie theaters I imagine other classic film fans first thoughts were similar to mine, this sounds like the old Edmond O'Brien movie, DOA.

DOA, the 1950 black and white noir classic is about a man (Edmond O'Brien) who finds out that he has been poisoned and is determined to find his killer before his time runs out. His first step is to report his own murder to the local police. Dennis Quaid is the protagonist in the 1988 remake of the same name.

James Bond 007

There is another Bond movie in the works, the title is Quantum of Solace. It stars yummy Daniel Craig, however, from everything I have read at IMDB Trivia for Quantum of Solace, I am tempted to say, Uh Oh. Still I will cross my fingers and hope for the best, because Craig brought new life to the 007 franchise. I would love to see it continue.

I was surprised that I enjoyed the last Bond entry Casino Royale (2006). I had been disappointed so often with the casting, but I thought this time they got it right. For me, Daniel Craig brought James Bond back in full-force. Nevermind that he is not tall, dark and handsome. Instead he is good-looking in a boyish Steve McQueen way, think The Thomas Crown Affair (1968).

Casino Royale shows a different Bond. Everything about Craig's Bond is different, his manner of dress, his actions and the way he handles himself. He has just received his “00” credentials and has not yet become “Bond, James Bond.” He is more of a tough street fighter. He is disrespectful of M (Judi Dench reprises her role as M). Also, there are no high-tech gadgets for this Bond, his only tools are his fists and his keen mind. He is street-brawler good as he chases criminals on and over shaky scaffolds and crashes through windows.

The signature smoothness and sophistication that we have come to expect when we watch a James Bond film is nowhere to be found. You do not get that sophisticated veneer here. In one scene Bond asks for a martini, and is asked, "Shaken or stirred?" he looks at the server and asks, "Do I look like I give a damn?"

Early in the film, Bond is spying on a terrorist named Mollaka (Sebastein Foucan). When things go wrong he sets out, without the blessing of M, to continue his investigation of Mollaka’s group. His lead takes him to the Bahamas where he meets beautiful Solange (Caterina Murino) and Alex Dimitrios (Simon Abkarian). He learns that Dimitrios is linked to a casino owner named Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), who is a banker to terrorist groups. Le Chiffre is holding a high-stakes poker game to raise money for his terrorist cause and M assigns Bond to sit in on the game. Unbeknownst to Bond, agent Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) is sent to supply gambling money and to stay close to him, because of his loose cannon actions.

James Bond has always been his own man, but Casino Royale shows him before he has learned the subtleties of being a successful 00 agent. And before he has understood that accomplishing a mission is sometimes a waiting game. It is interesting to watch his transition in the film. Surprisingly, there is real romance in Casino Royale and we see yet another side of Bond.

I loved this movie and the new bond. Actor Jeffrey Wright returns as CIA agent Felix Leiter. Fans may recall that Jack Lord (Hawaii Five-O) appeared as Leiter in the first Bond film, Dr. No.

Rated PG-13. Some nudity, torture and violence.

Ian Fleming wrote other novels in addition to the popular 007 series: List of Ian Fleming Novels.

Casino Royale Official Site.