Working Girl

Been a bit preoccupied lately - but that’s a good thing when you’re out there ‘working towards your dream’ - had the pleasure on my down-time to watch this lovely 1988 classic ‘Working Girl’ written by Kevin Wade and Directed by Mike Nichols. Recommended to me by a lovely lady, this Comedy-Drama-Romance was an ordinary story re-told in a wonderful way. Some of us know what it’s like to be taken advantage of; and some still know what it’s like to feel like your world’s been pulled out from underneath you. 

Melanie Griffith, Harrison Ford, Sigourney Weaver and Alec Baldwin come together with exceptional comic-timing, passion and commitment to make the audience entranced all of the way. With an estimated budget of $28 million USD they made $64 million USD at the box-office, won an Oscar that year with another 10 wins and 14 nominations. Not bad at all for the usual ‘under-dog’ story told the right way.

Chock-full of hilarious and wise dialogue and a message that will make anyone’s heart soar; it’s a “feel-good” and inspirational movie that’s entertaining  to the max! I’ll leave you with a few quotes, but this is a good one to enjoy on a night you’re feeling a tad bit ‘down in the dumps’.

“Can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea? Me?”

“Sometimes I sing and dance around the house in my underwear. Doesn’t make me Madonna. Never will.”

“You want another answer, ask another girl.”

“Dress shabbily, they notice the dress. Dress impeccably, they notice the woman - Coco Chanel!”

“The earth moved. The angels wept. The Polaroids are, are, uh…”

“You’re the first woman I’ve seen at one of these things that dresses like a woman, not like a woman thinks a man would dress if he was a woman.”

“Whaddya need speech class for, ya talk fine!”

All of Me

**Beautiful song by a beautiful man ~ Enjoy the lyrics and soul of John Legend as he sings to his wife :))

Don Jon

“You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”

“You like movies?”

Yes, we do!!! Movies mimic life! 

Who didn’t have a crush on the adorable Joseph Gordon-Levitt while they were growing up? Levitt wrote, directed and starred in this 2013 dramatic comedy/romance, and has been keeping quite busy overall, with film projects flowing from his veins as if he were made up of only good ideas! Don Jon was a successful idea and it not only brought in 3 wins and 7 nominations but also a hefty $24 million USD at the box-office after beginning with a small $6 million USD.

Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore, Tony Danza, and Glenne Headly joined in to make this one memorable and entertaining. Funnily enough I wasn’t thrilled to see this film when I saw the previews because of it’s subject matter - but with a smile like Joseph Gordon-Levitt - it just brought me in! I’m happy it did though because this film is a lot more than meets the eye. It sheds light on a very serious topic and gives the audience a profound message about how to take control of your life and find eternal happiness. 

It was quite funny with the heavy New Jersey accents, wonderfully magnetic with the subject matter, and enormously genuine and sincere with the heavy subject matter of addiction and unrealistic expectations which made viewers feel for our main character ‘Jon’ played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Rated R for strong graphic sexual material and dialogue throughout, nudity, language and some drug-use, so this is not one for the children. But for adults who can handle it, it’ll make you laugh and teary-eyed at the same time. Enjoy & Bravo Levitt on a job well-done!

LUV

“Follow your hero. Or become your own man.”

What an extraordinary crime-drama, phenomenal acting, exquisite story, and intense subject matter. Dare I say it’s one of the best movies I’ve seen in a while. Written and Directed by Sheldon Candis whose relatively new on the film scene (2002); he brings this 2012 film about a day in an 11 year old’s eyes as he spends time with his uncle whose just got out of jail. 

Chock-full of great actors like: Common, Charles S. Dutton, Danny Glover, Dennis Haysbert (“are you in good hands” - State Farm advertisements), beauties Tracey Heggins and Megan Good and our little star Michael Rainey Jr. who stole the audience’s hearts with his laughter and tears.

Expertly shot, beautifully framed, wonderful dialogue and powerful message, this film got a lot of buzz at the American Sundance Film Festival and received one win and 4 other nominations. Rated R for violence, language, child endangerment and drug content it isn’t a film for 11 year olds. Surprisingly it didn’t make much at the box-office but it spoke to everyone who had the opportunity to watch it.  They may not have won Oscars but this film kept viewers on the edge of their seats and was an amazing ride into a dark world. Heavy but definitely a peek into how the youth of our planet is affected and hardened in society today. I absolutely loved this movie. Enjoy!!

Keep Smiling

**A hilarious scene, in my opinion from the film 'I Give it a Year' starring Rose Byrne - life may be hilly and filled with stresses at time; but you got to keep stress at bay and keep a smile on your face ~ Enjoy! **

Tommy Boy

A beloved American comedy; quite different from the last film reviewed with dry and witty humor, this one was active humor or slap-stick comedy but very well done. Written by Bonnie Turner and Terry Turner and directed by Peter Segal, this 1995 ‘Tommy Boy’ had a remarkable mix of very funny situations as well as dewy-eyed scenes to keep our main character lovable enough for the audience.

With 2 nominations and 1 win, this film grossed a whopping $32 million USD that year and the ultra-talented and late Chris Farley (who died at the tender age of 33) and straight man David Spade made the perfect combination on their journey to success. The tag-line for this story was: “If at first you don’t succeed, lower your standards,” but I think it really should be, “Don’t believe what people tell you, believe in yourself.”

Enjoyable from beginning till end. Farley certainly carried the film with high energy and quirky comedic movements, but he also showed range in his acting by also appearing sentimental and tender at some moments too. Certainly a great film to garner girly giggles! Enjoy! I’ll leave you with one of the many great scenes throughout the film:

I Give it a Year

Perfectly possible scenario and yet this simple tale kept the audience at bay for the entire 97 minutes. Starring strong regulars like, Aussies Rose Byrne, and Simon Baker, English Rafe Spall, and Alex Macqueen, and American Anna Faris, all showcased wonderful comic timing and complete commitments with their characters. Englishman Stephen Merchant though, in my opinion, stole the show with his preposterous and outrageous banter at the most inopportune times. 

This 2013 romantic comedy written and directed by English Dan Mazer surely had a lot of heart. The questions posed in this film are ones quite real and for the most part dreaded to be answered if put in similar situations. Despite the laughs, sentimental moments, and smooth transitions and camera framing and techniques this film failed to do well at the box-office. Grossing a measly $32,000 at the box-office.  My only inkling on why it may have not done well was because perhaps American audiences don’t identify with the European sense of dry humour. It played a lot more witty and clever and for some, it may go straight over their heads.

Certainly my cup of tea. I laughed heartily and wondered also a great deal! Makes for a cute date-night!