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Reviews
East Lynne (1931)
Viewed this film at UCLA on January 11th, 2011.
East Lynne is an adaptation of the book. It has been made several times, but the 1931 edition is the best.
As we begin this rare film, we see Robert Carlyle and Isabella get married. They retire to Carlyle's palatial estate, East Lynne, just outside London. The residence is cared for by Cornelia, Robert's sister, who does not like Isabella at all.
As the years go by, Robert and Izzy have a son, William. But things are not rosy at East Lynne, as Cornelia snubs Izzy at every turn and treats her like dirt because, she feels, Izzy is not good enough for Robert and is hampering his political aspirations.
Izzy, a regular social butterfly, feels confined and caged at East Lynne. So when Robert's friend Captain Levison comes to visit, and agrees to take Izzy to a ball, she jumps at the chance.
However, Cornelia must got to chaperone the two (Robert is very jealous). But, at the last minute, Cornelia comes down with an "illness" and calls off the evening.
Izzy is not about to miss the ball, and goes with Levison.
But upon their return her husband finds out and unjustly accuses his wife of infidelity. He banishes her from East Lynne, and forbids her from ever seeing her son again.
Distraught, she runs off to Europe with Levison in hopes that one day, she may see her son again.
"East Lynne" is a wonderful adaptation of the book with good performances.
The film at first feels like a stuffy British drama but becomes more powerful as the film goes on with an ending you won't "see" coming.
The print of this film is in good shape, but can only be viewed at the UCLA Instructional Media Lab, Powell library.
The print was recently restored, but on three frames, inexplicably, there is an "X" drawn across the frame. One frame has a "Crosshairs" drawn on it, while several others have ink lines.
Oscar film buffs, if you have a chance to go to UCLA and view this film, do so!
The White Parade (1934)
I just watched this film at UCLA on January 11th, 2011.
"The White Parade" is a film not unlike all medical series set in a hospital that we've seen over the last half-century. Marcus Welby, MD, ER and Scrubs are just some of the shows that relate to this exceedingly rare Oscar Nominee.
The film is set in a medical training hospital, where nurses are rigorously trained for duty in real hospitals. Loretta Young is the main nurse, June Arden; there are several other we follow from inception to graduation.
The film is slow and comical at first but becomes more dramatic near the end. A fine pre-cursor to other medical dramas, with decent performances. The film is short, 80 min, and feels like it could have been longer.
"The White Parade" is indeed an extremely rare film in that the only surviving print resides at the UCLA archive. I watched this film, and, to say the least, it is in very bad shape (this is why it has never been released on home video.) The print is fuzzy and almost bleached out, yet still watchable. Near the end of the film, it inexplicably cuts to an image saying, "disc 7." Fast forward a little and we continue the film to the end.
Several frames are cut and spliced together, and some frames "jump," where we see two different frames on screen at once.
I guess UCLA hasn't had a chance to restore it yet... I'm sure they will someday.
Oscar film buffs, if you ever get a chance to go to UCLA and watch this film, do so!
The Phantom Tollbooth (1970)
Funny, funny movie with a twisted Sense of humor!
The Phantom Tollbooth is warped movie from the warped mind of the great Chuck Jones.
Milo, an ordinary boy, is bored with life. One day he receives a tollbooth as a present. This Tollbooth will supposedly take him out of his boredom.
Milo enters the Tollbooth and is instantly changed into a cartoon character. From here on in, he journeys to the "Whether" man, into the doldrums, meets tock, the watchdog, and onward to Dictionopolis and the Kingdom of Numbers in order to save Rhyme and Reason.
The movie is twisted in every which way; there are plenty of songs the make no sense but make you laugh out loud. The Animation is typical "Looney Tunes" style but works very well with the quirky plot.
The Phantom Tollbooth is a lost gem the deserves DVD treatment in the worst way. Lets hope one day soon that this diamond in the rough will find a new generation of children!
The Notebook (2004)
Great tear jerker with Oscar-caliber performances.
SPOILER!!! I saw "The Notebook" at a screening and believe me, it's a great film. There is no "Disney" style ending as both main characters DO end up living happily ever after, but not in the way one might think.
James Garner tells a story to a women in a nursing home about two lovers who manage to find them selves, loose themselves, and find themselves under the darkest of conditions. These two summer-time lovers sometimes fight and quarrel but manage to come back to each other moments later everytime, except once, and that's when they loose each other seemingly for good.
Although the story has many comic bits, the story does tug at your heartstrings towards the end of the film.
Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands and James Garner all give Oscar-worthy performances; you can see the pure emotion each character give in every scene.
It's an absolutely fantastic adaption of the book. I recommend the film to everyone.
The Champ (1979)
Not as good as the orriginal.
Wallace Beery in "The Champ" did a much better job than Jon Voight and the film was overall way better than this redo.
You can't make a better film out of an already great film (Mr. Deeds), and they don't succeed here.
Matchstick Men (2003)
WOW! IF Cage doesn't get the Oscar, then there is something WRONG!!!
Matchstick Men is a film about an obsessive - compulsive, agoraphobic, neurotic con artist who learns he has a daughter... and his whole world turns upside-down from there.
Riddley Scott did an amazing job on this film, and deserves the Oscar for director as much as cage for acting.
Alison Lohman (24 years old, would you belive!) is amazing as Cage's daughter. the story and everything works... even the music is awesome!
FIVE STARS!