Bowfinger

How do you film an action movie if the star of it doesn't know he's in it? That's the main premise of Bowfinger directed by Frank Oz and starring Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy. Steve Martin plays Bobby Bowfinger, a producer who, when turned down by the movie star of the day (Eddie Murphy), decides to shoot a film around him without him knowing. The result is a quirky movie similar to the The Truman Show. This movie is one that is made for watching on a slow weekend or when your sick. I wouldn't go out directly to find this movie but if you happen across it on tv, it's worth a glace.

Darcy Darcy, where for art thou Darcy?

I love late nights, sifting through the channels in search of a movie. Often times, I find a movie that enchants me but have forgotten how much I love it. Tonight is one such night where I've happened across Pride and Prejudice. It was directed by Joe Wright and stars Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen. I've read the book, written by Jane Austen and the film contains in some cases, the exact wording. English spoken in the 19th century seems much wordier than the vernacular of today however it contains a lot of charm. Along with the wording, the film contains an excellent love story. There's nothing better then watching two people fall in love and not recognize it. The audience begins rooting for the two lovers and when they finally realize they're meant for each other, both the characters and the viewers are content. All of Jane Austen's stories share a certain style and reflect the times in which they were written. Her books and films are definite classics which have withstood the test of time and worth experiencing.

What goes around comes around-literally

As many people know, I'm a Disney fan. I grew up on the Disney Classics and I refuse to throw out my old vhs tapes. One of my old favorites, The Jungle Book, went missing, oh maybe 7 years ago. I was heartbroken. I loved that movie and because of that love, I kept the video case in hopes that the lost tape would resurface some day. Do any of you out there know how depressing it can be when you reach for a tape cover or cd case and open it and it's empty? Especially when you wanted to watch that particular movie at the moment. This occurred every time I opened that empty Jungle Book video case.

Two days ago, I decided to do some spring cleaning and sort through my mess of a movie collection. I made a pile of empty vhs cases that, like the Jungle Book case, were waiting for their tape to reappear. I made a pile of vhs tapes and dvds I wanted to keep. And finally, I made a pile of movies that were labeled, "Why on earth would I watch this movie let a lone buy it?" As I looked forlornly at the pile of empty cases, I decided on one last search for my missing Disney Classic. I went through all of my old video tapes, opened every single one. Finally, I found the tape, hiding in a different movie case that I haven't touch in 7 years.

My movie had been found! The whole event has restored my faith in the saying "What goes around comes around." For those of you who have not taken the time to watch The Jungle Book I suggest you watch it. It's only 80 mins or so and it can bring back good old childhood memories.

Young Mr. Lincoln

I'm constantly confusing Tom Ford with John Ford. For those with the same confusion, Tom Ford is the fashion designer and John Ford is the director. I recently watched a film by John Ford called Young Mr. Lincoln. It stars Henry Fonda who has a striking resemblance to the real Abraham Lincoln. John Ford is known for his westerns so I was not sure what to expect when watching the film. I was pleasantly surprised. Tom Ford's style shines through however, it does not overshadow Henry Fonda's performance. I believe he plays Lincoln perfectly-a good old southern boy who has wit and knowledge too. I was also impressed because in the early days of sound films, actors, usually having to overact for the silent films, would overact in the sound films which makes them appear slightly cheesy. Henry Fonda does not overact which makes the whole performance refreshing. I definitely recommend this film if you're curious about good old Abe or if you want a good laugh.

Like Disney

On a mellow Tuesday night searching channels, I came across Showtime. Stardust was playing. I'd seen it when it came out but it had been a while, so I tuned in. After minutes of watching this movie, I remembered why I loved it. Stardust, directed by Matthew Vaughn and starring Charlie Cox, Claire Danes, Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro, is a fantasy story of a young man searching for a fallen star that comes in the form of a woman. He is seeking the star to win the love of a girl from the town of Wall however, 7 brothers and a band of witches are also racing to find the star. The plot is utterly unbelievable but the movie allows the viewer to get lost in a make believe world and escape our own for 2 hours. The movie reminds me of the Disney classics that we all know and love-So get lost in the fantasy world and give the film a gander when you get the chance.

Bob's Your Uncle

After watching an Alfred Hitchcock movie, a common patter arises. Most often in the movie, a murder occurs and an innocent man is imprisoned wrongfully for the crime. Frenzy directed by Hitchcock does not disappoint. The movie takes place in London, England during the early 70s. The protagonist is Richard Blaney, a man who is divorced, recently fired, and down on his luck. There's a "necktie murder" running amok and women are dropping like flies. When Richard Blaney is in the wrong place at the wrong time, he is accused of being the serial killer. The movie flows nicely and the plot, although dark, has a touch of comedy noir which keeps the subject of murder light. There are a couple hilarious moments, particularly the scene in a bed of a potato truck and the scenery of London is interesting. I recommend this film for anyone who likes a good mystery, enjoys the London scene, or appreciates sound and film technique attributed to Mr. Hitchcock.

Changeling

Angelina Jolie-Action babe and one half of Brangelina. I've never been an uber fan however, I do admire her humanitarian efforts. I recently watched Changeling directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Angie herself. It looked like a decent movie-mother loses son and never gives up her search for him, despite a police conspiracy. To my surprise, I really enjoyed the film and it didn't have the ending I expected it to. I most enjoyed how genuine all of the costumes were. The movie takes place in 1928 and ends in 1935 (if I remember correctly). The fashions change as time goes by and each looks is the epitome of that time period. Clint Eastwood has yet to disappoint me as a director and Angelina has impressed me. My recommendation is see the movie and enjoy : )