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.

TWO SNOW WHITES

MIRROR, MIRROR (Opening March 30 Lily Collins/Julia Roberts/Nathan Lane) looks like so much more fun than the dark, dark  SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN (Opening June 1 with Kristen Stewart/Charlize Theron/Chris Hemsworth).  Plenty of time for both with that time between openings.

First Mirror, Mirror has a couple of videos:A "Social Media Queen"video and a Lily Collins Featurette:





 

AND A Japanese, slightly longer trailer, for SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN

Mirror Mirror Which is the Better Movie of them all?

Image by rachel sian via Flickr

Two count 'em two Snow White movies coming out in 2012. One, of course, is the dark, dark, Snow White and The Huntsman, with Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron. I love the trailer for it and wonder how many times they had to shoot Charlize's Evil Queen asking the mirror who is the fairest of them all. It has got to be one of the most cliche'd lines an actor would have to say.  Of course she says it in that plummy accent and you realize this queen is playing for keeps—she is dead serious about wanting Snow White gone (For the trailer starting at that line click HERE. I have embedded it several times and I don't want to be too repetitive) Snow White and the Huntsman is set to release on June 1.

Less dark, more of a farce is Mirror Mirror with Lilly Collins, Julia Roberts and Nathan Lane. The beginning of the trailer is Mamma Mia via Bollywood. Mirror Mirror releases on March 16, 2012.  Surprise! Relativity Media also put out Mamma Mia.  Weird, Mirror Mirror has a Facebook Page but no official website that I can find (none is listed on IMDB or ComingSoon.com). 

I think the Theron/Stewart/Hemsworth version is the one I am more interested in. How about you.