Change Your Image
Patti-Gaston
Reviews
Do the Right Thing (1989)
Intense
This movie addresses racial tension head on and it is the kind of movie that has you thinking and talking about it long after you see it. The big question the movie raises is did Mookie do the right thing by inciting a riot after Radio Rahem was killed, in front of everyone, by a police officer. My immediate reaction was no, he did not do the right thing but it was pointed out in class that Mookie may have saved Sal and his sons' lives by doing exactly what he did. What is apparent is that in these situations it is very difficult to know what the right thing to do is and they very rapidly can get out of control. This is a movie that relates to our current time and should be watched and discussed again and again.
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Jaw dropping
Quentin Tarantino takes you on one wild ride in this movie with the out there dialogue, the violence, the music, the drugs, the dancing and the 50's themed diner! The overall message of this spectacle in my opinion is that eventually you have to come down,whether it is from the high of blowing people away, from snorting heroin and over dosing and getting a shot of adrenaline in your heart to going back into a dangerous situation to do the right thing even when you want to run away. This movie is fast paced, laugh at loud funny at times and sometimes blush worthy but most importantly it is unforgettable. This is a modern classic that should not be missed.
Taxi Driver (1976)
Disturbing
I did not like this movie and I will be happy if I never see it again. The ONLY bright spot was Travis saving the 12 year old prostitute and sending her back home to her parents but I have to say I found the rest of the movie very confusing. For example, for a man who thought the city was full of immorality and degenerates why did he think it was all right to spent his free time in X Rated theaters? And what made him think it was OK to take a girl he just met to a porn film? Also, what possessed him to cut his hair into a mohawk and why did it appear that he was going to kill the nominee for president when he ended up killing Iris's pimp? The only answers I was able to come up with was as a former Marine, he needed to validate himself once he re-entered society. Since the secret service were onto him he went for the next best thing and managed to save a young girl in the process. Thank God all that porn didn't cloud the inappropriateness of a 12 year old turning tricks!
Annie Hall (1977)
Witty and Inventive
After watching this film it is easy to see why it won Best Picture; the love story between Alvy (Woody Allen) and Annie (Diane Keaton) provided the audience with hilarious dialogue and very funny scenes. The creative elements of the film brought it over the top. As Woody Allen's character, Alvy has been stuck in therapy since he was a kid, it's not surprising that he feels the constant need to analyze his relationship with Annie, it's eventual demise and his part in their breakup. Allen breaking the 4th wall to talk directly to the audience was brilliant and made you feel like you were part of the action. The split screens, subtitles and the Wicked Queen cartoon added additional layers to the story. The scenery of Manhattan was pretty awesome too. If you want to see a clever, well written and funny movie you cannot do better than Annie Hall.
The Naked Kiss (1964)
Surprising
A beautiful woman comes to a new town after a violent encounter with her former boss and procurer in an attempt to start over and ends up committing murder. After her initial arrival and brief encounter with Captain Griff, Kelly decides to ignore the advice of the captain who suggests she look up the local "candy shop" for a job and she gets a job at the local hospital instead working with disabled children. She loves her work and the children and then meets the handsome and rich J.L. Grant and after a world wind courtship, Grant asks Kelly to marry him. After some soul searching she decides to say yes but before they walk down the aisle she uncovers a terrible secret about her lover and she kills him. Fortunately, she is cleared of the charges after finally remembering the little girl that her fiancé was "attempting to play a game with" and Griff is able to track down the little girl who confirms Kelly's story. This is a powerful story about a woman who refuses to get beat down anymore and fights back, not only for herself but for those unable to protect themselves.
The Graduate (1967)
Fresh and Funny
This movie definitely takes a different approach from movies in the past but provides a fresh and humorous view of an adulterous relationship. As Ben becomes entangled with the provocative Mrs. Robinson his emotions take him on a roller coaster ride of highs and lows. Add to the mix, Mrs. Robinson's beautiful daughter Elaine and dear Ben becomes a frantic mess. Eventually Ben realizes that it's time to step out of the manipulative shadows of the adults and follow his heart. There are many clever shots throughout the movie, especially Mrs Robinson's bent leg framing Ben and the underwater swimming pool scenes and the dialogue is witty and funny. An abundance of water is also seen in this film and I was curious to the symbolism regarding all the water; I googled it and one theory suggests that the water is the womb and Ben as a recent grad going through an existential crisis is reluctant to come out of the water and leave the womb. My feelings are that the water represents the innocence of youth which Ben clearly had until Mrs. Robinson decided to make a man out of him. Well written and beautifully filmed it is definitely a must see.
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)
Meaningful
I loved this movie for many reasons but most importantly for the message of the movie and Spencer Tracy's moving speech at the end. As I believe all of us have been exposed to prejudice in one form or another this movie tackles a issue many parents have sometimes wondered about and sometimes faced, head on. What if my son/daughter wants to marry a white/black person. This movie addresses parents first reactions, second reactions and ultimate decisions when a black man wants the approval of his fiancé's white parents before getting married. Equally dismayed are his parents and in the space of 4 hours they need to come to a decision before the couple leaves for New York and then Switzerland. Love ultimately triumphs despite the prejudices the couple will face but you cannot help but cheering for them in the end and for the parents who were able to open their hearts to their future family. No surprise Sidney Poitier won an Oscar but be sure and have a box of tissues handy cause you'll need them.
The Bad Seed (1956)
Surprising
What is surprising about this film is the way Mervyn LeRoy was able to blend the ordinary with the unthinkable so seamlessly. A beautiful family living in a lovely apartment in a lovely neighborhood with helpful neighbors and the little girl with the pigtails is a ruthless killer. As Mom puts the pieces together her sanity is tested and she makes an extreme decision that doesn't work out the way she plans but I won't give away the ending because it's a "shocker". The movie is suspenseful and brilliantly acted especially by the little girl's mother whose name is Christine and she is played by Nancy Kelly. Also noteworthy is Eileen Heckart who plays the distraught and always drunk mother whose son was murdered by the little girl, Rhoda. This movie is worth watching not only for the performances but for the theme that a child can inherit sociopathic tendencies from a distant relative. Suspenseful and well executed, you will definitely be entertained.
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
Action packed
What does a young, bored waitress and a recently released ex convict in 1934 Texas do for fun? Rob banks of course! Bonnie and Clyde start out as bumbling inexperienced thieves who actually attempt to rob a bank with no money! As they get better at robbing banks their infamy and likability increases with the everyday folk but the law is determined to catch the pair as they are made fools of from one state to another. Bonnie and Clyde are young and invincible however and they don't think anyone can stop them. Unfortunately nothing lasts forever and the couple that gained so much popularity are betrayed in the end and they meet the fate that everyone but them seemed to know is coming. Aside from being a crime drama the love story that unfolds between Bonnie and Clyde is interesting and raises a few questions. The movie is fast paced and interesting and I especially liked how each scene had a different car in it! A great moral tale.
The Night of the Hunter (1955)
Edge of your seat!
Robert Mitchum was brilliant as the greedy, murderous preacher and I was on the edge of my seat as he chased after two children who were carrying around $10,000 that their father lost his life over. Mitchum easily charmed the children's widowed mother and it wasn't long before they were married but is wasn't for love that he got married but for the money that Mitchum learned about when he met the children's father in prison. Fortunately the children are rescued by a feisty old woman who takes in orphans and is not afraid to stand up to Mitchum with her shotgun in hand. Night of the Hunter is a suspenseful thriller and one that proves that evil doesn't stand a chance against a little old woman with a shotgun.
Double Indemnity (1944)
Thrilling
Beautifully shot film noir that has you on the edge of your seat from the very beginning. Fred MacMurray playing Walter Neff, an insurance salesman, is willingly seduced into committing murder for a $100,000 double indemnity insurance policy and the opportunity to have the beautiful Phyllis Dietrichson, played by Barbara Stanwick, to himself. Phyllis skillfully traps Walter into coming up with a "foolproof" plan to kill her husband and collect the insurance money without being suspected of fraud or worse, murder. Unfortunately, Walter works with a very clever investigator (Edward G. Robinson as Barton Keyes) whose "Little Man" and 20 plus years of experience, figures out the scheme. Because Neff and Keyes are friends, Keyes does not suspect Walter and it is not until Walter and Phyllis confront each other, with words and bullets, that Neff finally comes clean. Gripping and suspenseful, brilliantly acted, this film has some twists that you won't see coming right away and you'll be glad you spent the time to watch it.
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
Delightful
This movie will have you singing the title song for days after seeing the movie and every time you hear the title! This movie is more than a singing and dancing sensation however as it is the story of two silent film stars who must transition into the world of talking pictures. The transition is hilarious as the female lead, the glamorous Lina Lamont has a voice that could easily be compared to nails on a chalkboard. Gene Kelly, portraying the male lead Don Lockwood and his brilliant childhood friend Cosmo, played by the wonderful Donald O'Connor, come up with the brilliant idea to use the voice of the beautiful Kathy Selden, played by Debbie Reynolds, for Lina's in the movie. Of course Lina has been jealous of Kathy's involvement from the start and that's when the real fun begins. In addition to the hilarious storyline this picture includes some of the best dance moves I've ever seen and the singing talent is legendary. Shot is beautiful Technicolor this movie is not to be missed.
Mildred Pierce (1945)
How NOT to raise your children
The story of Mildred Pierce is a great lesson in parenting styles and how NOT to raise your children. While we all want to give our children all the things we never had, Mildred takes it to the extreme, even marrying and giving up a third of her hard earned business to please her incredibly selfish daughter Veda. She even goes so far as to try a take a murder rap for her! I think Mildred was trying to live vicariously through Veda by providing her with the opulent life style she never had and in the end she and her daughter realized it wasn't going to work. Beautifully filmed by Michael Curtiz, terrific acting and laugh out loud one liners by the one and only Eve Arden, this movie is definitely a must see.
Citizen Kane (1941)
Remarkable!
I can see why this movie is on the top of everyone's lists; I can't stop thinking about it! "Citizen Kane is rich with symbolism, layers upon layers of meaning and incredible cinematography. From Kane's death bed utterance to the final scene I was spellbound! I keep thinking about why Kane did what he did, who he was trying to replace with all the life size statues he brought back from Europe and what Kane's life might have looked like if his parents didn't send him packing for a neat $50,000 a year. My interpretation of Citizen Kane is this: the man, Charles Foster Kane seeks desperately to replace his mother who sent him away as a young boy but no amount of expensive statuary can replace the love he was denied as a child. His youth went up in smoke just as all his childhood treasures in the movie's final scene. A must see film, not only is the story thought provoking, the camera work, lighting and each frame from the film is a treasure.
The Cat and the Canary (1927)
Spooky
This movie set the bar for the "who-done-its" and may very well be the inspiration for the game of "Clue". The death of a rich uncle brings the family to a crumbling and of course, dark mansion for a reading of the will. The uncle who was driven crazy by his greedy family put a stipulation on the will that it could not be opened until 20 years after his death. As the family gathers together along with the family lawyer a second will is discovered in the locked safe with the original will. This mysterious second will claims a second heir if the first one cannot meet the conditions of the first will. The condition set by Uncle Cyrus was the sanity of the heir must be proved by a doctor. You can all guess what happens next, all sorts of spooky goings on that test the sanity of the heir including lawyers disappearing through secret passageways, diamond necklaces being stolen in the middle of the night and lunatics escaping from the asylum and taking up residency in the mansion. A terrific thriller, dark and brooding, terrific overacting by the lead character and inheritor of the fortune, Annabelle West and the brilliant portrayal of the housekeeper named Mammy. The movie is made better by the fact that it is a silent film. I highly recommend watching it with the lights on.
The Women (1939)
Funny but outdated views
A funny, sometimes touching movie with an all-female cast about a naive woman who learns from a manicurist that her husband is having an affair. The movie focuses on a group of Park Avenue women who have nothing better to do all day than lunch, get their nails done and go to fashion shows; the only part of the movie in full color. Mary the protagonist, is the least gossipy of the group and genuinely in love with her husband Steven when she learns of the affair. Mary manages to stay dignified throughout the ordeal and even through the divorce and thankfully Steven's mistress (played by a beautiful Joan Crawford) gets her comeuppance in the end. The movie is beautifully done with lavish sets and expensive fashions and it was refreshing not to see a single male in the picture; however as a modern woman I cannot help but take offense to the portrayal of women as gossipy, materialistic and petty. Thank heavens for comedic portrayal of Sylvia (Mary's so-called friend) by Rosalind Russell and The Countess De Lave ("l'amore") and Miriam, who Mary meets on the train to Reno, for providing some intelligence to the shallowness portrayed by the other characters.
Fantasia (1940)
Ageless
What can I say about this movie that hasn't already been said? I saw this picture for the first time when my 2 daughters were in grade school, back in 1992 and I thought it had recently been released. I find the fact that this was made in 1940 astonishing and I believe it deserves the highest praise because of that! The compositional pieces accompanied by brilliantly colored, animated, abstract scenery just increases my admiration for this film. The Philadelphia orchestra tuning up, Mickey's reactions and the wonderful sound quality make this a movie for the ages and I can say that because my grandchildren are now watching it and hopefully instilling in them a life long love of classical music.
Stagecoach (1939)
Exciting and memorable
The film that launched John Wayne's career and raised the bar on the American Western, "Stagecoach" is a spectacle and thrilling achievement. Filmed in Monument Valley the vistas are the perfect backdrop for a motley crew of people on a stagecoach traveling through Indian territory. The group of passengers include an alcoholic doctor, a pregnant woman with a chip on her shoulder, a prostitute who has just been thrown out of town for immorality, a gambler from the south, a banker who has just fled with $50,000 that does not belong to him, a whiskey salesman and the one and only Ringo Kid, played by John Wayne. Along the way, prejudices are revealed, a baby is born, people are shot and two people fall in love. For me the best part of the movie was the fantastic chase scene with the Indians and the amazing stunts performed during the chase. Of course there is a lot to be said about the ending. If you love Westerns, and who doesn't, this is a must see film.
Casablanca (1942)
Timeless classic
Truly one of the most remarkable films ever made; from the witty dialogue to the stunning photography to the beautiful acting, I cannot praise this movie too much. Almost immediately you enter into a visual spectacle from the beautiful reflections on the walls of the Cafe Americain to beautiful women dressed in sparkly costumes to Rick in his perfectly pressed, white dinner jacket we enter a world of sophistication and beauty. We quickly learn however that there are real troubles just beneath the surface. Immediately we learn that 2 German couriers have been murdered. The police suspect the murderer is at Rick's café but before the police arrest the suspect he asks Rick to hold the transport papers he stole from the Germans which are the keys to freedom from the German controlled, but unoccupied French Moroccan city of Casablanca. Rick is suave, sophisticated and clever until Ilsa walks in,the woman who broke his heart. We learn that the two had a love affair in Paris and as they were about to leave Paris together right before the German occupation Ilsa did not meet Rick at the train station when she was supposed to. She sent a note along with Sam that said she was not coming. Needless to say Rick was bitter when she shows up in his Cafe but over time he does find out why Ilsa left him. He is also inspired on how to use the transport papers. While the overall focus of the movie is the love story between Rick and Ilsa and the sacrifices made for love, the Nazi threat is made all to real. The release of the movie 6 months after the United States' involvement in WWII, shined a light on how terrifying it must have been for people trying to escape. I think everyone should watch this movie again and again to remind us all that even in the absolutely worst of times love can conquer anything.
His Girl Friday (1940)
Hilarious and fast paced
The story of two reporters who recently divorced come together again as the story of a death row prisoner unfolds. Hildy, played by Rosalind Russell arrives to tell her ex husband Walter, played by Cary Grant that she is done with the newspaper business and is getting re married. Desperate to keep Hildy around Walter invites her and her fiancé Bruce out to lunch. Through the manipulative touch of Walter, Hildy begs to interview the prisoner who shot a "colored" police officer who was trying to calm him down, in the hopes of getting him a reprieve from the governor. Bruce reluctantly agrees since they were scheduled to take the afternoon train to Albany, along with his mother and he gives Hildy all their money. Hildy bribes the guard to let her talk to the prisoner, Earl Williams, who is scheduled to hang the next morning. During the interview Hildy discovers that Williams shot the police officer because he had just listened to a soap box speaker talking about "production for use". He said he had never had a gun in his hand before and that was the reason he shot the cop. Hildy returns to the press room to type up her interview when Bruce calls to say he is in jail. He's been set up by the ever clever Walter. Hildy bails out Bruce and leaves him waiting in a cab while she returns to the press room where her story is being ridiculed by the reporters who are there. She tears up the story, calls Walter and tells him she's leaving "in twenty minutes" and he can forget about the story. As she's getting her coat on gun shots ring out, all hell breaks lose and Hildy finds out that the prisoner has escaped. She forgets about leaving, calls Walter and promises him an exclusive for $450 which she wants right away. Meanwhile, Walter gets Bruce arrested again, this time for consorting with a prostitute. Hildy needs the $450 to bail Bruce out and Walter's henchman, Diamond shows up and hands her $450 worth of counterfeit money (which gets Bruce in trouble again). After Diamond leaves, Earl Williams appears outside the press room window and Hildy hides him in the roll top desk. Walter shows up next and soon after all the press show up. Williams stays hidden in the desk until Walter raps on the desk and Williams bangs back. Finally, Hildy cannot refuse her love for the scoop or for Walter any longer and Bruce and his mother go back to Albany without her. Throughout the film, the characters are constantly talking over each other, Walter is cleverly manipulating the situation to keep Hildy in town, the Mayor and Sheriff should win awards for stupidity and Walter and Hildy's constant back and forth make for some great comic relief. Underlying all the humor however is the underlying decision that women of the 1940's were forced to make; home and family or a career. It was unheard of at the time for a woman to have both. Hildy chose her career which no doubt surprised many women of the time but it was a courageous decision that many women would have loved to make.
My Man Godfrey (1936)
Screwball comedy with a message
"My Man Godfrey" is a beautiful film set mostly in a Fifth Avenue mansion where the whims of 2 rich sisters are indulged to the point of lawlessness. The film opens with the 2 sisters lavishly dressed, at the city dump, to bring a "forgotten man" to the "Waldorf-Ritz" as part of a scavenger hunt. Sister Cornelia insults the man named Godfrey and he pushes her into an ash pile. Sister Irene takes a genuine interest in him and he decides to go with her to the hotel. After Irene wins the contest Godfrey is asked to say a few words and he rightfully puts all the rich people in their places. Irene is intrigued by Godfrey and hires him as their new butler. Despite Molly the maid's advice that Godfrey keep his hat and coat by the door for a quick get away he manages to put up with the crazy antics of the family and he becomes a model of decorum and efficiency while Irene becomes quite infatuated with him. Everything isn't quite as it seems however and we learn that Godfrey comes from a very wealthy family from Boston and that he gave his fortune away to a woman who ran off on him. Because of his bitter experience he is not interested in Irene's advances. Meanwhile Cornelia becomes jealous and tries to get Godfrey arrested for stealing a necklace of hers but Godfrey is too smart for her and the police do not turn up the necklace. While the sisters are frittering away the family fortune, Godfrey uses the necklace to buy the family company's stock and return it Irene and Cornelia's indulgent father just before the brink of ruin. He also used the money he made to built a nightclub on the site of the city dump and build housing for the homeless men. He also bought back Cornelia's necklace and returned it to her. But Irene could not live without her man and she followed him to his office and had the mayor marry them. This movie is a brilliant contrast of the rich and the poor during the height of the Depression. It highlighted the wastefulness of the rich and their objectification of the homeless and it shined a light on the simple but profound line that "the only difference between a derelict and a man is a job". Godfrey's transformation from a bum to a butler to a man of means and an agent for societal change was surely a hopeful message to the audiences who viewed the film in 1936 and no doubt left an indelible message for all future generations of movie goers.
Frankenstein (1931)
First of many
I am generally not a monster movie fan but James Whale's "Frankenstein" is the first of this genre and not to be missed. The special effects and cinematography alone are worth the viewing time not to mention one very famous line, "It's Alive!". The story of the German doctor intent on creating life from dead body parts is one that most of us are familiar with but the back-story involving Dr. Frankenstein's father and the doctor's fiancé plays an intricate role in the decisions of the fine doctor and it's thrilling conclusion. Boris Karloff as the monster did an outstanding job as did the mean and insensitive assistant Fritz. The sets and costumes were also outstanding. "Frankenstein" set the bar high and as we've seen since this movie premiered the monster movie isn't going anywhere and will continue to bring people into the theater.
Hell's House (1932)
Innocence lost
I thought "Hell's House" mirrored "I am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang" (1932) directed by Mervyn LeRoy in it's message of institutional abuse and where the wrong guy gets stuck serving the time. In "Hell's House" it is a young boy who ends up in Reform school for working for a bootlegger who doesn't find his conscience until the very end of the movie. The boy, whose name is Jimmy, doesn't realize he's working for a bootlegger and is arrested his very first day; his only job is to answer the phone. Despite the cops insistence that Jimmy tell them who he's working for he refuses, naively believing that his "friend" and boss is going to come and save him. When he doesn't, Jimmy ends up hauling bricks as his punishment. When a newspaper man suspects the school is mistreating the boys and visits the "school" the superintendent shines things up and hides what is really going on including keeping a dying boy in solitary. The dying boy, Shorty, is a friend of Jimmy's and when Shorty does die, Jimmy is able to escape and he goes right to his backstabbing, bootlegging friend. Fortunately for Jimmy, Matt's girlfriend, played by a very young and beautiful Bette Davis, convinces Matt to bring Jimmy to the newspaper man trying to expose the conditions at the school. It came down to the wire but Matt eventually does the right thing and Jimmy is released. My hope is that after this film was released there was a genuine interest in the improvement of these schools and conditions were improved to the ideals captured in the movie. I would also hope that anyone watching this film would realize how easily innocence is lost.
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)
Powerful and emotional
Paul Muni's portrayal of real life fugitive Robert Elliot Burns is flawless. At every unbelievable twist and turn I was able to feel the anguish, despair, disbelief and pain. The story of a decorated WWI veteran who comes home and is urged to pick up where he left off with his dull, desk job by his mother and Reverend brother but really wants to apply the engineering skills he learned in the war ends up an unwilling partner in a petty theft. He is sentenced to 10 years on a chain gang where the men work 16 hours a day, eat the same disgusting food day after day and violence is a common occurrence. After much abuse Muni, whose character is named James Allen, decides to make a run for it and he makes his way to Chicago where he lands a job and works his way up to become a much respected manager. Unfortunately he had been blackmailed earlier in his career by a greedy female into marriage and when he tries to end the marriage because he's met someone he truly loves his wife turns him in. He agrees to go back to serve 90 days in return for a full pardon but 90 days turn into one year and one year turns into a suspended sentence and his pardon is never granted. Remarkably Allen escapes again but the authorities refuse to stop searching for him because he exposed the cruelty and the conditions he endured and has to spend the rest of his life in obscurity and is forced to steal to survive. This story is so gritty and real and the audience cannot help but feel sorry for Allen and sympathize with his predicament. The movie exposes the truth about power and corruption in a way that is unforgettable and moving. I recommend this movie for its realism and emotional impact and for the simple lesson, if you ever escape from a chain gang don't go back no matter what they offer you!
The Gold Rush (1925)
Heartwarming & Funny
Another classic by the great Charlie Chaplin! Gold Rush includes everything from Chaplin's classic humor, danger, murder, love and a very happy ending that I didn't think was going to happen. Charlie stars again as the Tramp and finds himself in Alaska to prospect for gold and along the way he finds himself in a variety of situations and he meets a lot of characters along the way. Regardless of the situation, the Tramp always manages to stay true to himself and his ideals and Chaplin's characters always stand up for themselves and for the leading lady, in this film her name is Georgia. Despite the dangers that the Alaskan frontier poses, from bears to storms to murderers and falling cabins, Chaplin always manages to bring his unique laugh out loud humor to nearly every scene. At the end of the movie when Big Jim and the Tramp sail home as millionaires and the Tramp was asked to dress up in his prospecting clothes for a photo shoot I thought for sure the authorities were going to arrest him as a stowaway but happily he wasn't and he even reunited with Georgia. The last scene with the two of them kissing was so touching it made me think that maybe Chaplin had an affair with the actress in real life. I hope so because they looked great together. Also impressive is the scenery and the special effects. I loved the storms which seemed very real and the snow covered mountains which could be an image even today's sophisticated person would associate with Alaska. A well done and enjoyable film, I would recommend to everyone.