Arsenic and Old Lace 1944

     This film is based on a play with the same title by Joseph Kesselring.  Mortimer Brewster is a newspaperman and he is well known for his rants against marriage.  In the opening scene, he is getting married at city hall?  Mortimer and his new bride go to his home to tell Mortimer’s two maiden aunts about this important event.  Mortimer is trying to tell the aunts about the wedding.  Instead, he learns that the hobby of his aunts is to kill lonely old men and bury them in the cellar?  How can this be true?  Soon after Mortimer’s discovery, his brother and a doctor show up at their home.  His brother looks like Frankenstein and the doctor may not be sane?

      There is a LOT of frantic action in this film and there is also comedy.  Mortimer can’t handle the fact that he just got married and also the secrets he learns about his aunts.  His bride lives next door and he asks her to go to her house instead of going on their honeymoon?  Mortimer is very surprised that his brother and the doctor have come to the house?  His older brother was not very kind to Mortimer when they were growing up!!  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

118 min, Comedy directed by Frank Capra with Cary Grant, Priscilla Lane, Raymond Massey, Jack Carson, Edward Everett Horton, Peter Lorre, James Cleason, Josephine Hull, Jean Adair, John Alexander, Grant Mitchell, Edward McNamara, Garry Owen, John Ridgely, Vaughan Glaser.

Note:  Imdb 8 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes, 88% critic 92% audience, Amazon 4.7* out of 5* with 1313 reviews, TCM Leonard Maltin 3.5* out of 4* average user rating 4.5* out of 5*.

Special Note:  This movie was filmed in 1941 because Cary Grant was available at this time.  It was released in 1944 and the original stage version had finished its run on Broadway.  Filmed at Warner Brothers Burbank Studios, California.  Cary Grant considered this to be his least favorite of all his movies.  He thought his acting was horribly over the top?  Twenty years before filming, Jean Adair helped nurse a very sick vaudeville performer named Archie Leach.  Adair and Leach became good friends and Leach changed his name to Cary Grant.  Originally, the role of Mortimer was for Bob Hope but he couldn’t be released from his Paramount Pictures contract.

Monsters and Men 2018

     The setting of this film is in the Bed-Stuy neighborhood of Brooklyn.  Manny Ortega is an ordinary person out in the evening.  He was at the scene and he filmed the wrongful death of a street hustler in the neighborhood.  He has two choices, release the video and expose himself or keep the video private and be a part of the injustice?  The man was a friend of Manny's and he always had a dollar to give to a child or a friend.      

     In this film, the option was with the plot to follow three main characters to get different perspectives on the same events.  The individual characters rarely interact with each other but each has a clear role with their message.  There are also permanently issues that are unresolved and they are key components.  3 1/2* (I liked this movie) 

 

96 min, Crime directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green with John David Washington, Anthony Ramos, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Chante Adams, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Nicole Beharie, Rob Morgan, Cara Buono, Grant Jaeger, Joshiah Gabriel, Emilia Allen, Brian Pollock, Joe Tippett, J.w. Cortes, Giuseppe Ardizzone.   

Note:  Imdb 5.6 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 85% critic 78% audience, Roger Ebert 3* Nick Allen, The Guardian 4* out of 5* Peter Bradshaw, RollingStone 4* out of 5* Peter Travers, CommonSenseMedia.org age 15+, 5* (3* positive, 4* role models, 2* violence, 1* sex, 4* language, 2* drinking, drugs & smoking) Michael Ordona, Amazon 4* out of 5* with 18 reviews.

Special Note:  This is the third film of 2018 with John David Washington playing a policeman.  The other films were BlacKkKlansman and The Old Man & the Gun.  The plot for this film is a direct mirroring of the real-life murders of Mike Brown, Laquan Macdonald, Botham Jean, Philando Castile, Eric Garner, Rekia Boyd, Stpehon Clark, and many others. 

When Ladies Meet 1941

     This film is based on a play by Rachel Crothers from 1932 and it is a remake of a 1933 film.  It was considered to be scandalous and the pre-Code scenes are included in this remake.  Mary Howard is a writer, her latest novel is Gods of Destiny is about a love triangle.  Mary has a love triangle of her own!!  Jimmy Lee is in love with Mary but she has become interested in her publisher Rogers Woodruf.  Rogers is married but Mary thinks this won’t be a problem??  Bridget (Bridgie) Drake has a country house outside of New York and she invites everyone (Mary, Jimmy, Rogers) to her home for the weekend.  Jimmy meets Clare Woodruf and he learns that she is the wife of Rogers.  Jimmy lets Rogers know a well known author will be available in New York.  Rogers can get an interview about his author signing with Rogers.  This isn't true and it is a trumped up excuse to keep Rogers away from the country house until later.  Jimmy introduces Claire to Mary but he doesn’t include her real surname or mention that she is married to Rogers!!

     There is a LOT going on in this film.  Spring Byington is playing a ditsy character and she usually gets this type of part or a character that’s gentle, warm and sweet.  Mary is throwing herself at Rogers but he’s a heel!!  Jimmy is a much nicer man and he truly loves Mary!!  When everyone meets Rogers’ wife, they see how beautiful, intelligent and talented she is.  They wonder what is wrong with Rogers??  3 ½* (I liked this movie) 

105 min, Comedy directed by Robert Z. Leonard with Joan Crawford, Robert Taylor, Greer Garson, Herbert Marshall, Spring Byington, Rafael Storm Mona Barrie, Max Willenz, Florence Shirley, Leslie Frances.

Note:  Imdb 6.2 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 46% audience, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* with 51 reviews, TCM Leonard Maltin 2* out of 4* average user rating 4* out of 5*.

Special Note:  Filmed at MGM Studios, 10202 W. Washington Blvd, Culver City, California.  The 1933 version starred Mryna Loy, Frank Morgan, Robert Montgomery and Ann Harding.  The canopy bed in the room where Clare is spending in the night was also used a year earlier as the bed in which Joan Crawford had slept in for the film Susan and God 1940.  This film was a hit at the box office and earned more than $1.8 million.  Originally in the 1933 version, the role of Claire was cast as a plain-featured actress.  This was supposed to emphasize Rogers’ choice of true love over beauty and romance if he chose to remain with Clare.  In this film, the women are equally beautiful to show equality in the women as his options.

Charlie Chan in Shanghai 1935

     This film is based on a novel by Earl Derr Biggers.  Upon returning to China, Charlie Chan is feted at a banquet in Shanghai for his many accomplishments.  Sir Stanley Woodland is a prominent official in the colony.  He confides to Charlie that there are some sinister activities going on.  He wants to pass the information on to Charlie as soon as they are alone.   When, Sir Stanley opens a box at the podium, a gun concealed in the box shoots him at close range?  The case for Charlie is to find out who killed Sir Stanley and what was the secret?   Col. Watkins, the police commissioner and G-Man James Andres offer to assist Charlie with his investigation.  Charlie’s son Lee is living in Shanghai and he will also help find clues. 

     There are twists and turns in this film.  You don’t know who is lying and who isn’t?  Is one of the characters an imposter or is it someone else?  There are a lot of philosophical statements such as talk cannot cook rice, silence best answer when uncertain, distance no hindrance to fond thoughts.  Warner Oland is not Oriental?  He was born Johan Verner Olund in the small village of Nyby in Bjurhold parish in the country of Vasterbotten, Sweden on October 3, 1879.  He was 56 years old in this film and he states in one scene that he is 60 years old?  3 ½* (I liked this movie) 

        

71 min, Crime directed by James Tinling with Warner Oland, Irene Hervey, Jon Hall, Russell Hicks, Keye Luke, Halliwell Hobbes, Frederick Vogeding, Neil Fitzgerald, Max Wagner.

Note:  Imdb 7.4 out of 10, Letterboxd 3.1* out of 5*, Amazon 4.4* out of 5* with 11 reviews.

Special Note:  Hallowell Hobbes plays Col. Watkins but he is listed in the closing credits as Chief of Police?  This is 12 of 47 Charlie Chan movies.  Charlie is playing with children on the ocean liner.  There is a dent in his hat, it disappears and re-appears?  Before Charlie leaves the liner, a warning note is slipped into the pocket of his suit.  The pocket has a flap and the jacket is herringbone tweed.  Later, he is wearing a different jacket with no flap and it’s not herringbone?  The note is in cursive writing and later when he shows the note the handwriting is totally different?     

The Love Letter 1999

     Helen MacFarquhar is a divorcee and she runs a bookstore in Loblolly, Massachusetts.  She runs miles a day to burn off her extra energy.  In the background is Helen’s long-time friend, George.  He is finalizing the details of his divorce and he loves Helen.  Helen’s mother abruptly left for a long trip months before.  Helen is sorting through the mail and she finds a romantic and poetic letter between the couch cushions.  The letter is unsigned and Helen thinks it must be for her?  Johnny is an employee at the bookstore and he will be going back to college at the end of the summer.  He also finds the letter and he thinks Helen wrote it to him.  Janet Hall works at the bookstore and she finds the letter.  She thinks it was written to her?  Helen and Janet argue over the letter and Janet quits her job??   

     Since the letter is not addressed to a particular person and it isn’t signed, the letter could be for anyone in the town?  I liked this movie, the scenery is very beautiful and the characters seem real.  For some reason, Helen feels old, bent and broken down but she isn’t?  The long summer days brought a feel of nostalgia and the closeness of the residents of the town was nice.  4* (I liked this movie)

88 Min, Comedy directed by Peter Ho-Sun Chan with Kate Capshaw, Tom Everett Scott, Tom Selleck, Julianne Nicholson, Blythe Danner, Ellen DeGeneres, Gloria Stuart, Bill Buell, Alice Drummond, Erik Jensen, Margaret Ann Brady, Jessica Capshaw, Walter Covell, Lucas Hall.

Note:  Imdb 5.4 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 33% critic 38% audience, MovieGuide.org quality 2* out of 4* contend -4*, no language, violence, sex, nudity, TheFilmFile.com 2* out of 4* Dustin Putman, Amazon 3.5* out of 5* with 174 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts.  Kate Capshaw is Steven Spielberg’s wife.  They have been married since October 12, 1991 and they have seven children.  Kate was 45 at the time of filming and Tom Everett Scott was 29.  Tom Selleck was 54.  Blythe Danner is in the role of Helen’s mother and she is only 10 years older than Helen in real life.  Tom Selleck intended to promote this film on the Rosie O’Donnell Show during his appearance in May 1999.  Instead there was a now famous aggressive debate over gun laws?  Johnny jumps into the ocean with his socks on?  I thought this was unusual??  When he emerges from the water seconds later, his feet are bare!  Did he lose his socks in the water?

Blue Iguana 2018

     Eddie, Paul and Katharine live in a world with absolute freedoms?  They can steal, fire a gun, kill and they can fall in love.  They also have the freedom never to be hurt or at least not seriously.  Only the people that are bad die?  Eddie and Ben are buddies but also ex-jailbirds and on parole plus they seem to be at a dead end.  They are going to London and this will be a real change for them.  They seem to always wiggle out of danger using a wisecrack, a weapon and a smile?  They are really low-level wise guys who never really have a grip on anything.  The one with the brains in this group is lawyer Katharine.  She is one step ahead of the game!!

     The action in this film is kiss, kiss, bang, bang action.  It’s also crazy and packed with dark British humor.  But, on the down side, the plot is flat, the cast tries their best, Sam Rockwell is snarky but they can’t make a miracle.  Also, annoying special effects.  It’s obvious the inspiration for this film came from other movies and comic books and not from real life??  2* (I didn’t like this movie)

100 min, Action directed by Hadi Hajaig with Sam Rockwell,l Phoebe Fox, Ben Schwartz, Peter Polycarpou, Al Weaver, Robin Hellier, Simon Callow, Martin Muncaster Amanda Donohoe, Frances Barber, Andre Flynn. 

Note:  Imdb 5.4 out of 10, Roger Ebert 2 ½* Sheila O’Malley, The Guardian 2* out of 5* Leslie Felperin, IndieWire.com C- David Ehrlich, Amazon 3.6* out of 5* with 17 reviews, Common Sense Media age 17+ 1* out of 5*, noisy, vulgar, confusing and violent!! (5* violence, 3* sex, 5* language, 2* drinking, drugs, smoking) Jeffrey Anderson.

Special Note:  Filmed in London, England, UK and Brooklyn, New York.  A blue iguana is a breed of iguana indigenous to the Grand Cayman Island.  They are an endangered species and before the survey in 1988 only three animals were observed. 

Copenhagen 2014

     William has spent weeks traveling through Europe.  He’s an American who lives in New York but he likes to claim that he is from Canada.  He finds himself at a crossroads in Copenhagen.  This is the birthplace of his father and his grandfather may still live in this city?   William doesn’t have any idea where to start to look for clues and he doesn’t speak the language.  He meets pretty local girl Effy and they work together to try to get information about his grandfather.  Effy believes they should start with the baptismal records.  They may be able to find the church where is grandfather was baptized?   

     The actress playing Effy is actually twenty years old but her character is fourteen years old.  Throughout watching this film I was wondering how Effy could relate to William?  He is so immature and he’s twenty-eight years old??  He can’t have a conversation without swearing and he has very little patience!!!  He’s always looking at women and it is actually leering!!  William needs to man up and Effy needs to remember their time together but also that she will return to her own life.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

98 min, Adventure directed by Mark Raso with Gethin Anthony, Frederikke Dahl Hansen, Sebastian Armesto, Olivia Grant, Baard Owe, Mille Dinesen, Martin Hestbaek, Tamzin Merchant, Preben Ravn, Sebastian Bull Sarning, Gordon Kennedy, Sune Kofoed.

Note:  Amazon 3.9* out of 5* with 103 reviews, Roger Ebert 3*, Rotten Tomatoes 88% critic 81% audience, Metacritc 71 out of 100 with 6 critics user score 8.5 out of 10 with 15 reviews (14 positive, 1 mixed).

Special Note:  Filmed in Skagen Jylland, The Little Mermaid Statue, Trivoli, Nyhavn, Copenhagen, Denmark and Berlin, Germany.  Filming was completed in 24 days.  William is using a pay phone at the beginning of the film and it is a 5-minute walk away to the apartment he is searching for.