Europe '51 1952

     Irene Girard is the wife of an ambassador, she is used to giving dinner parties and living in luxury.  He son Michele is demanding her attention on one evening when she is late getting home and having unexpected guests.  He is tucked into bed but he suddenly falls down the stairs.  He is immediately taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a hip fracture.  He is recovering at home and seems to be doing well but a blood clot causes him to die.  Irene is grief stricken and she can’t seem to recover from the shock.  She begins trying to help a boy whose family cannot afford his medicine.  She moves on to going out every day to help others.  Her mother and husband are beside themselves and they don’t know what can be done to bring her back to herself.

     At least times have changed from 1952 and it doesn’t mean a person has a mental illness when they desire to help those less fortunate!!  Gossip and social propriety are more important than relationships and family ties.  3 1/2* (I liked this movie)

  

113 min, Drama directed by Roberto Rossellini with Ingrid Bergman, Alexander Knox, Ettore Giannini, Giulietta Masina, Teresa Pellati, Marcella Rovena, Tina Perna, Sandro Franchina, Maria Zanoli.

Note:  Imdb 7.6 out of 10, 77% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Film Crave 2/4.

(I'm Crazy About) Iris Blond 1996

     Romeo consults a fortuneteller in Brussels.  He is a musician in his 40’s without a hit in 20 years.  She tells him he will meet a foreign woman who is a singer named for a flower.  Right away he meets, Marguerite.  She is a singer named for a flower and she loves her barking dog, Corneille.  Things are going well for a while until they go on a diet together.  Romeo heads out to walk Corneille so he can stuff himself with food at nearby café.  He meets Iris, she is a 25 year-old waitress, singer and named after a flower.  Romeo breaks it off with Marguerite and moves in with Iris.  They work together creating songs, music and a persona for Iris.

     There isn’t very much going for this movie.  Not even really a comedy.  I did enjoy seeing the scenery of Brussels but that was about all.  Corneille is the best actor!!  2 ½* (This movie is so-so)  

110 min, Comedy directed by Carlo Verdone with Caludia Gerini, Andrea Ferreol, Carlo Verdone, Nello Mascia, Nuccia Furno, Mino Reitano.

Note:  Imdb 6.2 out of 10, 55% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Film Crave 2.00/4.

Special Note:  The DVD I watched does not have “I’m Crazy About” on the cover but only Iris Blond?

Golden Door 2006

     Salvatore is a very poor farmer during the beginning of the 20^th century in Sicily.  He has decided to journey to the United States with all of his family.  While they are being inspected before boarding ship, they meet Lucy.  She is British and would like to return to the States.  She has a problem, she will need to marry someone since unmarried women are not allowed to immigrate.  The custom officers perform many physical and mental tests before they allow entrance.

     It is interesting to see the Sicilian immigrants before and after their arrival in this country.  They have a lot of images in their minds about life here that aren’t true.  It takes a LONG time to make this trip in this movie.   3* (This movie is OK)

118 min, Drama directed by Emanuele Crialese with Charlotte Gainsbourg, Vincenzo Amato, Aurora Quattrocchi, Francesco Cassia, Fillippo Pucillo, Federica De Cola, Isabella Ragonese, Filippo Luna.

Note:  Imdb 6.9 out of 10, 72% critic 69% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Film Crave 2.00/4.

Journey to Italy 1954

     Catherine and Alexander Joyce drive to Naples to arrange the sale of a home belonging to a recently deceased uncle.  They have decided to travel by car instead of taking a flight and are wondering if this was the wrong decision.  They are not used to being together this much in close quarters and discover they don’t know each other as well as they thought.  He’s sarcastic which causes her to react with criticism.  She thinks of a young man she knew who died and realizes she doesn’t have romance in her life.  He goes alone to Capri and flirts with the women he meets there.

     This film is the last film of three films made by Rossellini with Bergman.  Also, the end of their working relationship and their marriage.  I knew early on how this film would conclude but not how it would finally get to this destination.  In black and white with many scenes of tourist areas in the region.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

97 min, Drama directed by Roberto Rossellini with Ingrid Bergman, George Sanders,

Maria Mauban, Anna Proclemer, Paul Muller, Anthony La Penna, Natalia Ray.
 

Note:  Imdb 7.6 out of 10, 95% critic 75% audience on Rotten Tomatoes

Special Note:  I wonder how much of the disintegration of their  marriage was portrayed in this film?

The Wolverine 2013

     Logan has been living alone in the woods following the death of the woman he loved, Jean Grey.  A Japanese girl has been looking for him.  She has been sent on a mission to bring Logan to Japan to say goodbye to a man he knew in WWII.  They talk to each other but the man dies soon after Logan arrives.  At the funeral, the man’s daughter is kidnapped but Logan saves her.  Everything begins changing for him, he begins to feel mortality and he isn’t healing immediately from his wounds.

     This is one battle and fight after another.  If you remove just half of the battles, there is a tiny plot left behind.  If you want action, this is for you but if you are interested in anything serious, forget it!!  3* (This movie is OK)

126 min, Action directed by James Mangold with Hugh Jackman, Will Yun Lee, Tao Okamoto, Rila Fukushima, Hiroyuki Sanada, Svetlana Khodchenkova, Brian Tee, Hal Yamanouchi, Will Yun Lee.

Note:  Imdb 6.8 of 10, 69% critic 70% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3*.

Special Note:  I cannot help but think it's funny that Jackman as the points on the top sides of his hair!!

Time to Leave 2005

     Romain is a fashion photographer living in Paris.  He passed out at one of his photo shoots and after tests learns he has cancer.  He has less than 5% chance of a cure and he refuses radiation and chemotherapy.  Of course, he is struggling with a limited time to live and he’s having difficulty telling his parents and sister.  He finds peace from a visit with his grandmother Laura.  They are kindred spirits and she understands his feelings.

     I could not help but think how I would react and behave after a diagnosis such as this.  I would’ve liked for Romain to be kinder to his family and ask for help in this journey.  The storyline seems like this film would be a downer but it isn't.  3* (This movie is OK)  

81 min, Drama directed by Francois Ozon with Melvil Poupaud, Jeanne Moreau, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Daniel Duval, Marie Riviere, Christian Sengewald, Louise-Anne Hippeau.

Note:  Imdb 7.2 out of 10, 76% critic 80% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Film Crave 2.58/4.

Special Note:  This film is part two of a trilogy with Under the Sand as the first installment.  I could not find information about the third movie, perhaps it has not been filmed or was cancelled?

The Hangover III 2013

     Alan’s father passes away and the group holds an intervention for him because of his behavior and he's off his meds.  They are taking him away to a hospital in Arizona for treatment.  Their car is run off the road and Doug is kidnapped.  Mr. Chow has stolen half of a $42 million shipment of gold bars.  Alan has been corresponding with Chow and they have some clues about how to find him.

     When you can’t write dialogue, all you can do is use f word over and over!!  This could’ve had a chance to be a good movie but you become completely tired of the characters having nothing to say?  Also, the continually forced tension of the circumstances becomes tedious too.  2* (I didn’t like this movie)

100 min, Comedy directed by Todd Phillips with Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong, John Goodman, Melissa McCarthy.

Note:  Imdb 5.9 of 10,19% critic 45% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 1½*.