hardyic Reviews

Sex and the City (2008)

Sex and the City a stylish must see

[9/10 · 30 May 2008]

Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda move to the big screen with the assistance of Darren Star and Michael Patrick King. The transition is seamless and you did not have to see the HBO series to "get" the movie. New York City is the fifth main character in this well written, well acted and beautifully filmed movie. The costumes are stupendous, by Patricia Field, another contributor from the HBO series. The movie picks up a few years after the series ended. We learn what has been keeping the girls busy and what lies ahead. Carrie is to marry Big. That is NOT a spoiler if you have watched the previews on any TV in the land. Samantha is preoccupied with Smith and LA life. Once again, NOT a spoiler if you have seen the previews. Miranda, Steve, Brady and Magda are in Brooklyn. Charlotte and Harry have Lily. And from there, the plot thickens, twists, turns and it is all about finding love in the City. At 148 minutes it is a bit long. The R rating is terrific. I am tired of the vanilla rerun versions on regular TV. Give me the R stuff. Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie has a few very "brave" scenes, sans makeup and with bad lighting. Parker can open a film and does this one proud. Kim Cattrall is Samantha Jones, in all of her perverse glory. Kristin Davis as Charlotte York is charming as always. Cynthia Nixon as Miranda Hobbes (the character I most identify with) is terrific. The supporting cast includes most of the regulars, Chris Noth as Big, Evan Handler as Harry,m David Eigenberg as Steve, Jason Lewis as Smith, Willie Garson as Stanford, Mario Cantone as Anthony, and Candice Bergen as Enid. Added to the cast is Jenifer Hudson as Carrie's assistant Louise from St. Louis. She comes to NYC to find love. The audience was screaming Carrie's name as the lights dimmed. They cheered as the movie started. They cried and laughed at all the right moments. SJP had 85+ costume changes. I want to know the story behind her pearls. The movie is a chick flick deluxe. Don't miss it. It is all that and a bag of chips.

Jana Hardy Oakland, California

Fog City Mavericks (2007)

Fog City Mavericks

[30 April 2007]

I just attended the World Premiere of Fog City Mavericks at the Castro Theatre, San Francisco, last night, April 29, 2007. The documentary was a Spotlight Film of the 50th San Francisco International Film Festival. Most of those featured film makers from the movie were present in the audience and participated in a Q&A following the screening. It was an amazing experience and excellent film. Directed by Gary Leva, who previously directed A Legacy of Filmmakers: The Early Years of American Zoetrope premiered at Telluride and is part of several film school curriculum, directed, wrote, edited and produced this new film. The movie is a history of film in the San Francsico Bay Area, as early as 1850 with Eadweard Muybridge, followed by Charlie Chaplin, the Essanay Company and Bronco Billy. The amazing last 40 years were chronicled with appearances and interviews by George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola, Saul Zaentz, Philip Kaufman, Chris Columbus, Clint Eastwood, Walter Murch,John Lasseter, Carroll Ballard, John Korty, Sofia Coppola, Brad Bird, Robin Williams, Peter Coyote (the narrator)Steve Jobs, among others. The key films from their bodies of work were included in Fog City Mavericks. These lions that refused to submit to the Hollywood machine in the late 60's struck out on their own to create an environment where the film school experience could continue without the worry of box office, budgets nor their creative endeavors being spliced and diced by studio editors. Their groundbreaking achievements were chronicled in this excellent documentary. Don't miss it. Jana Hardy