I do not want to discuss the plot elements for fear of divulging too many details. If you have seen the trailer, that should provide an interesting entree into what you can expect from the film. Anything else I would attempt to articulate would do not do the movie justice and possibly spoil it for others.

As for the performances, everyone seemed properly cast in their roles. Leonardo DiCaprio has really come into his own as an actor and he is going to go from strength to strength. There is no mistaking that this is an ensemble cast anchored by a central character’s conflict. They all do a magnificent job in orbiting this world that Nolan has created; how could you really go wrong with talents such as Cillian Murphy, Ellen Paige, Michael Caine, Marion Cotillard et al? A stand out performance for me was that of Joseph Gordon Levitt (dude from the television series 3rd Rock from the Sun). He provided more than one chuckle-worthy moment and had probably the best “action” sequence (non-CGI) in recent memory. At the end of one of the longer parts of the sequence, the audience ripped into rapturous applause.

As for the auteur, writer/director Christopher Nolan – I will not belabor you all by talking about what a genius he is, etc. I think enough has been said in that regard. Just know that this film does not disappoint and adds to the tremendous filmography that he has produced over the couple of decades.

In the end, I am recommending that you do go into watching the movie bearing this in mind – it is a story of ideas. Yes it maybe could have been presented in a less mind-bending manner but that is part of the fun – it is a thought exercise in which you are left to answer questions about the plot – are we dreaming, etc. They leave you wondering what way is up and exactly what is that line between reality and what we want to be real. And we arrive at that place exhilarated and wanting more.

*Side note: in some ways I am reminded of The Twilight Zone in particular episodes such as “Perchance to Dream,” “Shadow Play” and the like. Those are just the ones that immediately come to mind.

However as I am watching it I am a little let down; my expectations were of an authentic, gritty crime thriller of sorts but that is not what I have watched. Sure there are dramatic and somewhat tense moments but nothing on the scale that I was looking for in a noir drama. Of particular interest to me was the performance of John Dall. As the male lead I assumed that his character “Bart” would be the primary catalyst of the criminal action – similar to his portrayal of “Brandon” of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rope” (another personal favorite of mine). But instead, he is the trigger-happy, yet reasonable in some ways foil to his more ruthless partner in crime, “Laurie” (Ms. Cummins).

I am still happy that I saw it because in spite of my original expectations being altered as a result of the viewing it is notable in my estimation for one reason – the fact that the female (femme fatale) is so dominant in the relationship and really the one that we should look out for.

As you can see I have not been posting regularly in the past month or so … stay tuned to my blog for a July 31st special post that will explain my recent scant postings.

Until then ….

So in short, that is my travel advisory when you are “scouting” locations that have been featured in famous films: Know where you are going!

Happy Travels and Filmgoing!

This past weekend I saw the A-Team. Basically it was great escapist entertainment heightened by the gratuitist display of Bradley Cooper’s rockin’ bod.

Bradley Cooper in "The A-Team" (Dune Entertainment, Scott Free Productions, Stephen J. Cannell Productions, Top Cow Productions, 20th Century Fox Film Corporation)

Still taken from the internet - Wikimedia

What first comes to mind when I think of Lena Horne I think of her singing primarily, but the song is not is not “Stormy Weather.” but rather a Sanka jingle from the 1980’s.

The second thing that comes to mind when I think of Ms. Horne is the 5th grade. As part of Black History Month, our teacher had each of us do a project – we had to pick a famous African American and create a presentation to give in front of the class. The twist was that we had to deliver the presentation in the form of a biography in the first person. In other words we had to take on the persona of our selected historical figure and tell our classmates about our lives – costumes included. I of course chose Lena Horne.

In doing research about her life and work, I discovered that she was a trailblazer in terms of her contribution to the music and film and film industry. Her career definitely paved the way first, for performers such as Dorothy Dandridge in the 1950’s, and many of our contemporary artists (the list is too numerous to name here). I also realized that her work extended beyond mere entertainment.

As an adult I learned to appreciate her in a way that my eleven year old mind could not possibly fathom. She was a principled woman who, in some aspects of her life and career could have probably taken an easier route. But instead she stood her ground in spite of the consequences. Obviously in the outpouring of reflections of appreciation that came with her passing she was admired for who she was and her impact is not forgotten.

In closing, here is a sample recording (from iTunes) which I have had on my iPod for some time; she originally sang it in the film, Till the Clouds Roll By. It is from the musical Showboat. It would be the only time she would be able to sing the song of the character Julie; several years later, Ms. Horne lobbied to play Julie in the remake of Showboat but lost out on the role to Ava Gardner, who was dubbed in the final cut of the film.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/cant-help-lovin-that-man/id332120184?i=332120600

As I am working on the finishing touches to my own personal tribute to the late Lena Horne, I direct your attention to TCM’s 4-movie tribute scheduled for Friday May 21st.

http://www.tcm.com/movienews/index/?cid=317069

The films featured will be:
The Duke is Tops
Cabin in the Sky
Panama Hattie
Swing Fever

• Bridget Jones’ Diary (2001) - Just saw this again last night (for the 1000th time) and still cannot get enough of it! Actually the inspiration for this blog post.
  
• Muriel’s Wedding (1994) – See previous blog post for my feelings about this Aussie gem!
  
• Love Actually (2003) - Is love actually all around? Who knows? Still a cute movie.
  
• Sense and Sensibility (1995) - Part of the “Year of Austen” – 1995; great Thompson script and film that helped launch Winslet’s A-List career.
  
• Love Jones (1997) - I love this movie because post-watching it definitely sends your mind/heart a flutter.
  
• Sleeping with the Enemy (1991) – the end is the best part!
  
• Notorious (1946) – Bergman, Grant …. Hitchcock. Easily one of my all-time favorites
  
• Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (1962) – HUGE camp element
• Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) – the eye candy which is Paul Newman
• Thelma and Louise (1991) – ladies on the run
• Notting Hill (1999) – several of my favorite elements thrown together – romantic comedy, Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts and London
• The Philadelphia Story (1940) – classic romp sure to please!
• The Women (1939) – the claws are out and they are painted JUNGLE RED
• A Room With a View (1985) - no matter what “best” list I come up with I feel like I need to add this film
• Brief Encounter (1945) – Of course very chaste by today’s standards, but still a fine weepie

Now it is your turn; what are some of your favorite GIRLS’ NIGHT IN movie suggestions? If I take you up on your recommendation, there may be a prize in it for you

The example that immediately comes to my mind is kne of my favorite Shakespearean screen adaptations, “Much Ado About Nothing” in which Denzel Washington is cast as Prince John. Another example of Branagh’s naturally diverse casting choices is in the HBO adaptation of ” As You Like It,” in which David Oyelowo and Adrian Lester as featured performers. Furthermore, he has even shifted the setting of the play in this adaptation to turn-of-the-century Japan.

One final example that springs to mind in a film I have not seen in it’s entirety -Love’s Labours Lost”. This relatively young cast featured Adrian Lester (again) and Alicia Silverstone. One can argue that even his selection at various times of American actors in British productions is equally dubious. If anything, these casting decisions symbolize the non-tradiontional (NOT necessarily PC) process of combining star power with talent as Mr. Branagh sees it.

Film after all is the director’s domain; s/he is the creative force of its universe. And in the case of Kenneth Branagh, I would recommend that we wait until we see the finished profit before making any judgements.