Filmy Films for Summer Viewing

Owen Wilson and Woody Allen
       Cannes (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I spent much of the day collecting my mother from some nice friends of hers who nicely included her in their trip up to Maine.  They weren't expecting as much traffic as we have coming up this way all summer.  We did get to go to the farmers' market which we found in full swing and picked up beautiful veg and some blueberries.

I want to tell you about several movies we've seen lately:

Mirror Mirror is the comic Snow White that came out in March.  With Julia Roberts and Nathan Lane the movie had some star power.  The magic mirror action and purpose in the movie is more Dorian Grey than "Who's the Fairest." And, yet, somehow it fails to gel, offering amusing moments but as a whole is somewhat insipid. The scene shot

Analeigh Tipton
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Midnight in Paris:  Woody Allen's best work since Annie Hall; Owen Wilson's best work ever.  This film actually had decent dialogue; suggesting the use of a script. but the cornerstone is Wilson's acting as he plays through a time travel scenario or the needs of his own soul over wealth or prestige.   Wilson's character, Gil, is a writer and comes to an epiphany about his life and career by traveling back to a time he thinks was the golden age; Paris with Hemingway, Stein, Fitzgerald and Picasso. My husband also enjoyed it.

Actress Analeigh Tipton attends the 'Crazy, Stupid, Love.' World Premiere July 19, 2011 in New York City. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

Crazy, Stupid, Love is crazy but not stupid.  Carrel shows us the glimmer of brilliance we saw in the Forty Year-Old Virgin.  It was hilarious and touching.  It's the first thing I had seen Ryan Gosling do.  Good acting but not my idea of the ideal male physique. The young Analeigh Tipton who played the babysitter, Jessica, was a natural at the comedic timing needed in the role of a young woman with a crush on an older man. It is also a film that men and women can enjoy.  My husband laughed hysterically. The big twist is slightly visible coming but a complete surprise to the family. 

The Iron Lady is of course another brilliant performance by Meryl Streep. The supporting cast was supportive but this is really a one woman show. Of course, the story is the life and career of the former British Prime Minister.  Well acted, well directed, brilliantly shot, sad and triumphant at the same time.  Remarkable. But, would we expect any less from Meryl Streep?  In the first scene she sneaks out to buy a pint of milk. And, even in that insignificant act she has the gesture of Lady Thatcher's walk and posture.