Woman of the Year Directed by: George Stevens Can I say something blasphemous? I think Katherine Hepburn was loved more for what she represented then for her actual acting ability. It's not that she's a bad actress, not at all, but she's also nowhere close to being as good as she's made out to be. Anyhow,
this movie kind of brings that to light indirectly by it's storyline. The story, minus the happy ending, could have been about Hepburn herself. It's about a modern, overachieving woman who can't seem to slow down to smell the flowers, even after she marries an earthy sports writer who's more interested in baseball then politics or social movements. I actually found this movie more dark and sad then funny. It's overriding themes are more of someone who's sold their soul for fame and glory. Oh sure, it's played with a wink and a nod, but I still found it rather sad. It's certainly a bad flick, but like Heburn, I think it's remembered more for what it represents then the pure quality of the film it's self. 6.5 Sherrybaby Directed by: Laurie Collyer This is one of those movies that's hard for me to rate. On one hand, it's very well acted, very honest and realistic, and very heartbreaking. On the other hand, I thought it messed a few things up needlessly, and while I enjoyed the style, it seems to be copying the 'hip indi' style that seems to accompany so many DVD's that have labels that speak of thing such as 'Best Picture at ______ Film Festival'. It's a good style, but it's not terribly original. You know it, the crisp cinematography shot in unstylized houses, stores and streets, the 'hip, indi' actors playing 'edgy' parts, the 'hip' underground music in the background, the 'important' issue. etc. It's a good formula, I usually enjoy it, but it's starting to get me a little weary. Maybe that's too harsh. I suppose it's as legit of a style as other archatypes, be it screwball comedy, melodrama, fast paced action etc. I guess it's just that they pride themselves on being original, and can sometimes fall into the same patterns as as other types of films. Also, I REALLY disliked the blink-and-you'll-miss-it subplot that obviously implies that Sherry is a drug addict because her dad molested her as a child (her dad, while hugging her, feels her up). It was so totally unnecessary and ruined what I thought was the more interesting tone of the film up to that point. The rest of the film was really excellent. Easily Gyllenhaal's best performance, yes, even better then Secretary. She completely transforms herself into her character, with all her anger and pain, falsity and reality, its quite good. I also really liked Danny Trejo, a minor actor I've always admired, as a man she hooks up with more out of mutual necessity then love. I've had a couple of cousins who are like Sherry. It made me understand the plight of their parents in a new light. I really appreciated what this film did, for the most part. I might be blowing it's problems out of perportion, but I guess that what happens when you get so close to something real, you notice what doesn't fit more easily. 8.5 Get Out Your Handkerchiefs Directed by: Bertrand Blier ******Spoilers******** What do you say about a sex farce about a husband who, in an attempt to cheer up his troubled wife, gets her to have an affair with another man, only to have both him and his wife's new lover wind up in the slammer while his wife ends up being pregnant with the child of a 13-year-old kid with a 153 IQ? Only in France. That's what I'll say. Anyhow, It's funny and well acted. I didn't think it was anything outstanding, and I'm not sure why it won the Best Foreign Film Oscar, but I can't say I didn't enjoy it. 7.0
March 3, 2007
