Showing posts with label romantic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label romantic. Show all posts

Crossing Delancy (1988) - Amy Irving

Saturday, September 17, 2011 8:28 PM Posted by PolitiJim
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The Links:
IMDB | RottenTomatoes 


Streaming: Amazon, Netflix


Genre: Sweet Romantic Comedy Pitting Jewish Tradition against Urban and Worldly pursuits


STUFF:
PG, 1 hr. 37 min.


The Short Story
(Some Kind Of Wonderful meets Annie Hall)
The first Mrs. Spielberg - Amy Irving - is in love with her bookstore job where she gets to meet the most influential literary thinkers in Manhattan.  Her Bubbie, (Reizl Bozyk) hires a matchmaker who is pushing the very glamorous but quick witted pickle peddler (Peter Riegert).  


The Best Review You've Never Read
It isn't very often I like a movie that was WELL reviewed by critics (90% on Rotten Tomatoes) but not as well by the public (74%).  Maybe it's because there were less blogging reviewers and thus less morons in print.  Who knows.  It should be a sign of my love for this film that I compare it to SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL.  I don't compare ANYTHING to that masterpiece of romantic comedy.  And, while this is a much more subtle film in every way - it has a charm and sweetness to it leaves you hopefully, happy and contented.


It opens with Amy Irving's character Izzy, obviously mesmerized by the attention of a leading author and the hob nob world of upper Manhattan in which she lives.  Irving still shows a softness and femininity enhanced by an obvious love for her grandmother.  And Bubbie "makes" the film with her loving, scheming and traditional ways.


When set up with the Peter Riegert character, Izzy is not just facing the fear of a mismatch in social class, style and education, we also see her biggest fear is the lack of REAL romance.  And we are continually surprised by the depth of this pickle seller. The writer (thankfully) did not make him a closet Whitman or Joyce, but showed how often we underestimate those who are the very ones to best make our lives better. 


It's not a WOW, tear-jerking love story and not a terribly complex story.  But for those who like tradition, core values and seeing the good guy actually win - this might be one of the best movies you've never seen.


Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Ramen Girl (2008) Brittany Murphy

Sunday, August 14, 2011 4:15 PM Posted by PolitiJim
Labels: , , , , , , , 0 comments

The Links:
IMDB | RottenTomatoes | FilmCritic 


Streaming: Amazon, Netflix


Genre: Sweet Small Romantic Comedy with Foreign overtone


STUFF:
PG-13, 1 hr. 42 min.




The Short Story
(Karate Kid meets Like Water for Chocolate)
Anyway, Brittany's character follows worthless boyfriend to Japan and finds kindness from a couple that make ramen soup in their corner restaurant.  The 'ramen chef' is an art/science to be achieved and this ramen chef has no son to whom he can pass his legacy.  A rival chef will force him to sell, and the Brittany character is a total screw up


The Best Review You've Never Read
Whenever I see "sub-titles," my heart locks up like the brakes on a bad 1972 Ford Pinto. I want to be sophisticated, urbane and hip but let's face it - I'm not.  And more often than not - I'm watching this flicks to get away from pressures of life - not the challenge of catching the action on the screen, facial response and still trying to catch the words.  It takes commitment.


And the next studio/producer to release a film with WHITE subtitles against a white robe or black subtitles against the inside of a cave should have their Producers Union card revoked, shredded and fed to the Snakes on a Plane.


But I digress.  I really, really liked this film.


The Japanese subtitles are probably about 50% of the film but I didnt FEEL like it was much of an effort.  There was only one scene between two Japanese characters where I had to actually rewind to catch the dialogue, but that was only because I got distracted by my PDA.  (Damnit Sandra Bullock!  Quit calling me!! hehe).


I've NEVER been a huge Brittany Murphy fan but had no idea she was capable of this kind of work.  She is vulnerable, likeable and although there a few uneven responses - her acting never took me out of the movie.  If this movie had been built up as a something as good as NOTTING HILL or something - I probably wouldn't have liked it.  But it hit all the right buttons for a small, duck-out-of-water, romantic comedy for me.


What I liked most was the identification with someone who felt like life was screwed up, wouldn't give up (although sometimes even WE don't know why we don't), often we find the kindness and love of others packaged in ways we NEED  - rather than what we want.


And for those who need a happy ending - you get it. 

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