Lost in Translation

YEAR 1988

DIRECTOR Sofia Coppola

STARRING Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson and Giovanni Ribisi 

WRITER Sofia Coppola

OVERVIEW A movie star in Tokyo to do a whisky ad and a neglected newlywed meet up as strangers.

OPINION  Bill Murray is mesmorizing…. It’s like watching bubbles float through the air…you cannot take your eyes off them, wondering when they will pop and surprise you. Such a genus!! My own personal feeling is Johansson is propped up by some very big talents, in all her movies and that her bubble will eventually burst – but not in a good way. Beautiful, compelling direction by Coppola and wonderful writing.

RATING YYYYY

 

 

Broken Flowers

YEAR 1988

DIRECTOR Jim Jarmusch

STARRING Bill Murray, Jessica Lange and Sharon Stone

WRITER Jim Jarmusch, Bill Raden (inspired by an idea from),

OVERVIEW Murray embarks on a cross-country journey to track down four of his former lovers after receiving an anonymous letter stating that he has a son

OPINION  touching and Bill Murray is understated and realistic…good choice . we wait for a laugh and don’t get one, but it keeps us waiting the whole movie. I like the thinking; putting sharon Stone and Jessica Lange together in the same movie.

RATING YYY1/2

 

 

What about Bob?

YEAR 1991

DIRECTOR Frank Oz

STARRING Bill Murray, Richard Dreyfuss and Julie Hagerty 

WRITER Alvin Sargent (story), Laura Ziskin (story),

OVERVIEW A psychiatrist’s most dependent patients, tracks him down during his family vacation.

OPINION  Bill Murray is a comic genius. The innocent face and the sweet demeanour hide his demonic side. I think this is one of the worst titles in the history of movie-making. Should have been ‘ Baby Steps’.

RATING YYYY1/2

 

 

The Way We Were

YEAR 1973

DIRECTOR Sydney Pollack

STARRING Barbra Streisand, Robert Redford

WRITER Arthur Laurents

OVERVIEW Two people form opposite worlds and political views and convictions find it hard to stay together.

OPINION  What to say. I watched this only a month ago. How marvelous the flow, the acting, the song-‘Memories’ made for the movie by Steisand, Barbara Streisand, Bob Redford, the dialogue, the angst, the tears. Just wonderful. a little dated but I was surprised not as much as I would have expected.  You really want them to make it.

RATING YYYYY

 

 

Little White Lies

YEAR 2010

DIRECTOR Guillaume Canet

STARRING François Cluzet, Marion Cotillard and Benoît Magimel

WRITER Guillaume Canet

OVERVIEW Every year, Max (Cluzet), a successful restaurant owner, and his wife invite a close group of friends to their beach house to celebrate a birthday and kick-start the holiday. But, this year, before they all leave Paris, their close friend Ludo (Jean Dujardin) is hurt in a serious accident. Friendships are tested.

OPINION  There are 2 of the most brilliant moments in this movie…one a shock and one a big laugh, but apart from that I have to say French comedy doesn’t often do a lot for me, with the exception of Jacque Tati. There are the predictable affairs of the heart…French-style. I felt no compassion for the friend who has the accident ; he is an arrogant arsehole. The restaurant owner is a prize prat. The slapstick is generally a little tired. All in all this heavy- handed comedy with typical French sophistication does not gel for me. Long too. Too long? ?You decide. I have to add Marion Cotillard is luminous and riveting as usual.(3 ½ because of her…otherwise a 3)

RATING YYY1/2

 

 

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

YEAR 1988

DIRECTOR Frank Oz

STARRING Steve Martin, Michael Caine and Glenne Headly

WRITER Dale Launer, Stanley Shapiro

OVERVIEW Lawrence (Caine) and Freddie (Martin) are con-men; big-time and small time, then they meet.

OPINION  We all needed a laugh after ’87 and the worst meltdown since the 20’s .What a brilliant pairing …whoever put these two together deserves an Oscar! Dry and elegant Caine, meets goofy and quirky Martin. Terrific plot, masterpiece of dialogue and slapstick equaled- but never bettered. This movie took the lead from ‘Being There’ and  remained my favourite comedy until ‘ Four Weddings and a Funeral’ came a long…a huge 6 years later….

RATING YYYYY

 

 

Old School

YEAR 2003

DIRECTOR Todd Phillips

STARRING Luke Wilson, Vince Vaughn and Will Ferrell

WRITER Court Crandall (story), Todd Phillips (story),

OVERVIEW Three men are disenchanted with their lives, try to recapture their college days, by opening a fraternity .

OPINION  Ferrell is in his element running down the road naked and arms flapping. A great college movie!!!

RATING YYYY1/2