Friday, December 19, 2008

Goodfellas

1990 - Color - Drama - Starring Ray Liotta, Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci, & Lorraine Bracco - Directed by Martin Scorsese

A bio of Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), an Irish-Italian American who tells his story of being in the mob. He always dreamed of being a gangster and became a very important member of Paul Cicero's crew. Henry narrates throughout the movie of the day-to-day happenings while he was a mobster. Between theft, lies, drugs, and murder, it all seems too good to be true, until life crashes all around him. The movie was based on Nicholas Pileggi's book "Wiseguy" and stays true to the book and real life of Henry Hill.

My Review
One word: AWESOME! One of the all-time best bios on the mobster lifestyle. Some may say the Godfather is better, but Goodfellas was based on true events that changed the whole mob world. So, in my opinion, it stands a little taller. Plus, you gotta love Tommy's character, played by Joe Pesci, as he keeps saying "I'm funny, how? Like I'm a clown...I'm here to amuse you? How am I funny?". And Jimmy (played by DeNiro) is just excellent in his role as the guy who loves to steal. My favorite scene is when Jimmy finds out the fate of Tommy on the payphone...the true emotion he delivers is real and heartfelt. Of course, I give 5 stars to this masterpiece. Please check it out and read Pileggi's "Wiseguy" also, it provides more information and further insight into Henry Hill's dark world.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

The Philadelphia Story

1940 - B & W - Comedy/Romance - Starring Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, James Stewart, & John Howard - Directed by George Cuckor

C.K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant) hires a tabloid writer & photographer to visit his ex wife Tracy just before she is to be married to her current beau. This happens 2 years after Tracy kicked Haven out. What ensues is a quirky love triangle filled with jealously and lots of booze. Tracy must decide who she wants to marry as the wedding is about to commence.

My Review:
This is a true gem. The cast is excellent as they work so well together in bringing this story to life. Grant and Stewart are 2 of my favorites, and seeing them on screen together in this is a work of true comedic art. My favorite part of this movie is when an inebriated Stewart pays a visit to Grant's place and attempts to carry on a conversation. This is a lol moment, but not the only one. Katherine Hepburn is masterful, and a beauty as well. She makes the love triangle so good, that you really don't know who she will choose. I give this 5 stars for the great cast chemistry, classic laugh out loud moments, and the fact that movies are not made this way anymore.

Arsenic and Old Lace

1944 - B & W - Comedy - Starring Cary Grant, Priscilla Lane, & Raymond Massey - Directed by Frank Capra

A famous drama critic, Mortimer Brewster (played by Cary Grant), discovers, on his wedding day, that his 2 beloved aunts have a morbid hobby of poisoning local widowers. He attempts to piece it all together, while his older long-lost brother shows up unexpectedly, and while trying to get his younger brother committed to a psychiatric hospital. It's a non-stop laugh fest to see it play out.

My Review
I did not read a review or synopsis before viewing this classic (or any other movie). I am glad of this, because I was so pleasantly surprised by the true genius of this movie. Cary Grant delivers a hilarious performance as he finds out the real truth about his family...mostly his homicidal aunts. What I liked the most was the pure chemistry between the cast as they hit a home run in this classic. And it's ok to laugh out loud during this one, cause I did many times. I give this 5 stars for the superb storytelling this genius cast delivers, along with the pure funny moments I will remember and enjoy over and over.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

1974 - Color - Horror - Starring Marilyn Burns, Edwin Neal, & Gunnar Hansen - Directed by Tobe Hooper

Five friends on a road trip through Texas to visit their Grandfather's old house run into a hitchhiker who's family likes meat a little too much. The hitchhiker's brother, Leatherface, wields a chainsaw to terrorize his new prey. Who will survive, and what will be left of them?

My Review
I was actually nervous as I started to watch this classic horror film. The very beginning grabbed me and did not let go, until like 10 minutes after the film was over. Never have I seen a horror film so raw and unnerving as TCM. I was also shocked by how much blood and gore is absent from it. This is what makes it even scarier, in my opinion. It's what you don't see that scares the hell out of you...like a child and the unseen monster under the bed. The cast of youths is superb as the unsuspecting friends who discover true macabre and real-life hell. If Leatherface does not scare you chasing Sally through the woods with his chainsaw, then you truly cannot appreciate a true horror film. Without this film, there would not have been a Freddy, Jason, or Myers. My rating for TCM is a full 5 stars for the shock and wow factor. My jaw was on the floor after the film concluded, and still scares me to this day.

Rear Window

1954 - Color - Thriller - Starring James Stewart, Grace Kelly, & Raymond Burr - Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

James Stewart portrays L.B. Jefferies, a wheelchair-bound photographer who takes up a new hobby of spying on his neighbors. He is convinced that a terrible act of murder has taken place and attempts to sway his friends to believe him. Sometimes, curiosity is just too overwhelming.

My Review
This was one of Hitchcock's masterpieces. I was immediately wrapped into this movie...it captured me and allowed me to feel the tension building slowly until the terrifying climax. James Stewart is wonderful and as loveable as always. And Grace Kelly...omg, Grace Kelly is so stunning as Jefferies' girlfriend. Many people may be turned off by the fact this film almost exclusively takes place from Jefferies' apartment, but I really could feel just how "trapped" he had to feel. I give this a full 5 Stars for the great acting, incredible suspense, and true Hitchcockian feel this movie delivers.