Despite its title, this film has no scenes that occur in a laundromat.
Despite its bizarre structure, the film mostly flows well. It starts out simple enough, Ellen and Joe Martin (Meryl Streep and James Cromwell) go on a riverboat cruise but somehow, for some odd reason, a wave comes along, forcing the tour boat to tip over, killing 21 souls.
But things get complicated quick. The tour boat company bought its insurance from a fake company, which means that the case settles for far less than what it was worth. And the film just expands from there, forcing us to scratch our heads at to how people are getting away with all these fake companies. And where does all the money come from? But at least there is some justice in the end, though the corrupt laws do not get changed, but at least several people in several different countries are arrested.
Still, there are good performances to spare, with Streep in a shocking duel role, thanks to the WTF ending, the narrators/lawyers Gary Oldman and Antonio Banderas not to mention cameos from Melissa Rauch, Chris Parnell, Will Forte, Jeffrey Wright (who has a second family), Larry Wilmore, David Schwimmer, Cristela Alonzo and Robert Patrick. What a power cast.
Sure, the ending is completely weird and makes you second guess the whole film, but this film is needed to expose the businesses and to call them out for being corrupt and screwing with other people's money. Grade: B+
-Is Meryl Streep capable of a bad performance?
-Also, a lot of men cheat on their wives, two in this film at least.
-The sets are gorgeous and look like a million bucks, which they probably are.
-It is nice seeing a multicultural cast in a major Hollywood film, too bad most of the characters are criminals.
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Saturday, October 12, 2019
The White Cliffs of Dover (1944)
First of all, you never see the white cliffs of Dover in the film, so that's not good. I'm displeased.
Now, to the film. The plot is oddly paced, focusing greatly on the chase between stubborn American Susan Dunn (the great Irene Dunne) and the Brit John Ashwood (Alan Marshal). They love each other and though Susan loves England and its culture and history, she also finds it bizarre and old-fashioned. But he loves her and wants her to be his wife so he won't let her board the ship to America, so she marries him. He tragically dies in the first world war, but not before knocking her up which leads to the next plot.
Naturally, Susan's little boy grows up, first portrayed as a young teenager by Roddy McDowell and then as a young man by the wooden Peter Lawford. The plot also picks up speed rather rapidly. Though a new war is brewing in Germany, young John can't leave the land of his father. The estate is similar to Downton Abbey but not nearly as grand looking in mere black and white. He learns how to work the land and when war returns, he enlists. Susan becomes a nurse and when John is injured in battle, he miraculously ends up at the hospital where Susan is working where he passes away.
So, while Dunne is simply marvelous, the film doesn't add up to much and the male performances aren't inspiring nor are the characters worthy of any interest and worst of all, this is a romance film without any sort of happy ending. Both Johns are dead. Susan is utterly alone in the world, in a land far from home. It's sad all around. Grade: B
Side Notes:
-Keep an eye out for a young unbilled Elizabeth Taylor as the village girl, Betsy.
-Also nitpick. the only scene where John wears a wedding ring is when he's in a bunker, never in the scenes actually with his wife.
-There are good supporting turns by Gladys Cooper as Susan's mother-in-law and Dame May Whitty as the nanny. When Susan goes to visit John in France, Nanny says that John had better do his duty as her arms are empty. Yeah, that was a somewhat odd scene.
-Though I did want John and Susan to end up together, I can't get behind a relationship where the guy forces the woman to pick something against her wishes.
-Despite being set entirely in England (except for the boat scene), the film has a lot of American nationalism throughout as America is portrayed as the hero who helps Europe win the wars, which may or may not be true.
Now, to the film. The plot is oddly paced, focusing greatly on the chase between stubborn American Susan Dunn (the great Irene Dunne) and the Brit John Ashwood (Alan Marshal). They love each other and though Susan loves England and its culture and history, she also finds it bizarre and old-fashioned. But he loves her and wants her to be his wife so he won't let her board the ship to America, so she marries him. He tragically dies in the first world war, but not before knocking her up which leads to the next plot.
Naturally, Susan's little boy grows up, first portrayed as a young teenager by Roddy McDowell and then as a young man by the wooden Peter Lawford. The plot also picks up speed rather rapidly. Though a new war is brewing in Germany, young John can't leave the land of his father. The estate is similar to Downton Abbey but not nearly as grand looking in mere black and white. He learns how to work the land and when war returns, he enlists. Susan becomes a nurse and when John is injured in battle, he miraculously ends up at the hospital where Susan is working where he passes away.
So, while Dunne is simply marvelous, the film doesn't add up to much and the male performances aren't inspiring nor are the characters worthy of any interest and worst of all, this is a romance film without any sort of happy ending. Both Johns are dead. Susan is utterly alone in the world, in a land far from home. It's sad all around. Grade: B
Side Notes:
-Keep an eye out for a young unbilled Elizabeth Taylor as the village girl, Betsy.
-Also nitpick. the only scene where John wears a wedding ring is when he's in a bunker, never in the scenes actually with his wife.
-There are good supporting turns by Gladys Cooper as Susan's mother-in-law and Dame May Whitty as the nanny. When Susan goes to visit John in France, Nanny says that John had better do his duty as her arms are empty. Yeah, that was a somewhat odd scene.
-Though I did want John and Susan to end up together, I can't get behind a relationship where the guy forces the woman to pick something against her wishes.
-Despite being set entirely in England (except for the boat scene), the film has a lot of American nationalism throughout as America is portrayed as the hero who helps Europe win the wars, which may or may not be true.
Sunday, October 6, 2019
Judy (2019)
Let me set the record straight, I do not like Renee Zellweger. Bridget Jones's Diary is not a good film and I've never been terribly impressed with Renee's acting.
That being said, she is brilliant as the deeply troubled and fraying Judy Garland toward the end of her career, struggling to earn enough money to keep her children.
She has to leave them behind to do shows in London, where she is mostly beloved. However, on the inside, Judy's a huge mess thanks to the cruel ways of Louis B. Mayer (Richard Cordery) and MGM, forcing her to take pills to curb her appetite, then she needed more pills to counterattack the tiredness so now, she rarely sleeps. Judy is also needy and fails to understand how the real world works. When new husband, Mickey Deans's (Finn Wittrock's) plan fails. Instead of also blaming herself and reevaluating everything with him, she snaps and kicks him out. We don't see him again.
Still, when Judy is on, she is on. She wants so desperately to be loved, which is something that she never really had and those that she is with, don't understand her true needs.
While the plot is simple and doesn't have a happy ending, of Judy getting full custody of her children, she is thrilled that she ended London on a high note. But unfortunately, given everything, she didn't have much longer to live. She died just months after leaving London.
Fortunately, while the story is known, this film is worth watching. Zellweger is a revelation, in fact, she's so good you almost believe that you're watching Judy Garland on the screen, not Zellweger acting as Garland. The sets and costumes are also brilliant. This film is a must-watch. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Jessie Buckley is assigned as Judy's handler, Roslyn Wilder, who could have had the chance to truly get Judy help. Her character is, sad but true, largely wasted space.
-Darci Shaw shines as the young Judy Garland, who buys into Louis B. Mayer's complete and utter crap.
-Rufus Sewell is rather good as Judy's third husband, Sid Luft, who might care about his children, but he nevertheless gambled away plenty of her money at the racetracks.
That being said, she is brilliant as the deeply troubled and fraying Judy Garland toward the end of her career, struggling to earn enough money to keep her children.
She has to leave them behind to do shows in London, where she is mostly beloved. However, on the inside, Judy's a huge mess thanks to the cruel ways of Louis B. Mayer (Richard Cordery) and MGM, forcing her to take pills to curb her appetite, then she needed more pills to counterattack the tiredness so now, she rarely sleeps. Judy is also needy and fails to understand how the real world works. When new husband, Mickey Deans's (Finn Wittrock's) plan fails. Instead of also blaming herself and reevaluating everything with him, she snaps and kicks him out. We don't see him again.
Still, when Judy is on, she is on. She wants so desperately to be loved, which is something that she never really had and those that she is with, don't understand her true needs.
While the plot is simple and doesn't have a happy ending, of Judy getting full custody of her children, she is thrilled that she ended London on a high note. But unfortunately, given everything, she didn't have much longer to live. She died just months after leaving London.
Fortunately, while the story is known, this film is worth watching. Zellweger is a revelation, in fact, she's so good you almost believe that you're watching Judy Garland on the screen, not Zellweger acting as Garland. The sets and costumes are also brilliant. This film is a must-watch. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Jessie Buckley is assigned as Judy's handler, Roslyn Wilder, who could have had the chance to truly get Judy help. Her character is, sad but true, largely wasted space.
-Darci Shaw shines as the young Judy Garland, who buys into Louis B. Mayer's complete and utter crap.
-Rufus Sewell is rather good as Judy's third husband, Sid Luft, who might care about his children, but he nevertheless gambled away plenty of her money at the racetracks.
Saturday, October 5, 2019
The Clock (1945)
This is basically a two person drama with two troubled stars: Judy Garland and Robert Walker.
Robert is Joe Allen, a soldier who has two days leave in New York City, a huge place where he's never been before. Judy is Alice Maybery, another transplant who has lived there for three years.
While Joe is figuring out how to spend the day, Alice trips over him and breaks her shoe's heal, leading them to spend the rest of the day together and gradually fall in love as the night turns light again.
Then they get separated and that is a huge deal, considering they don't even know each other's last names but fortunately, they reunite and decide to get married right away and boy, is that a big deal, having to jump through many hoops just to get married later that day. And they do, in the most unromantic ceremony of all time.
Sure, Alice found the whole thing ugly, but words of God and a lovely evening and the realization that she's truly in love and fate will bring him back after his tour of duty, after all, fate brought them together.
Now, while the film is dated (aren't all pre-1970 films?), it does bring up some timeless issues, including how quickly can two people fall in love with each other and how much do you really need to know about a person before you should marry them?
But it is lovely seeing Judy Garland in a non-singing role which shows off her acting chops, which are also brilliant. She and Walker are very nature in their parts and have great chemistry, which is the most important thing for this film as that is needed for this film to work and it truly works. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Ruth Brady also shines in the small role of Helen, Alice's roommate who has done so much for Alice since her arrival to New York and doesn't approve of Alice dating a soldier. She also doesn't let anyone else get a word in edgewise.
-When Alice's heel breaks and she needs to get done from the ledge, instead of just offering her a hand, Joe picks her up and sets her down. I don't know how I feel about that.
-If Joe returns (which I hope he does), they will have some issues to work out. Alice wants to live in the city for the rest of her life while Joe has a plot of land set aside in his hometown to build his dream house.
-The film has a slightly optimistic, open-ended ending which is rare, but you are rooting for those two to be together forever, though they are also painfully naive.
-
Robert is Joe Allen, a soldier who has two days leave in New York City, a huge place where he's never been before. Judy is Alice Maybery, another transplant who has lived there for three years.
While Joe is figuring out how to spend the day, Alice trips over him and breaks her shoe's heal, leading them to spend the rest of the day together and gradually fall in love as the night turns light again.
Then they get separated and that is a huge deal, considering they don't even know each other's last names but fortunately, they reunite and decide to get married right away and boy, is that a big deal, having to jump through many hoops just to get married later that day. And they do, in the most unromantic ceremony of all time.
Sure, Alice found the whole thing ugly, but words of God and a lovely evening and the realization that she's truly in love and fate will bring him back after his tour of duty, after all, fate brought them together.
Now, while the film is dated (aren't all pre-1970 films?), it does bring up some timeless issues, including how quickly can two people fall in love with each other and how much do you really need to know about a person before you should marry them?
But it is lovely seeing Judy Garland in a non-singing role which shows off her acting chops, which are also brilliant. She and Walker are very nature in their parts and have great chemistry, which is the most important thing for this film as that is needed for this film to work and it truly works. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Ruth Brady also shines in the small role of Helen, Alice's roommate who has done so much for Alice since her arrival to New York and doesn't approve of Alice dating a soldier. She also doesn't let anyone else get a word in edgewise.
-When Alice's heel breaks and she needs to get done from the ledge, instead of just offering her a hand, Joe picks her up and sets her down. I don't know how I feel about that.
-If Joe returns (which I hope he does), they will have some issues to work out. Alice wants to live in the city for the rest of her life while Joe has a plot of land set aside in his hometown to build his dream house.
-The film has a slightly optimistic, open-ended ending which is rare, but you are rooting for those two to be together forever, though they are also painfully naive.
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