And here we are with our last Tuesday Night is Film Night before our summer break. And ironically, tonights' film, is a twist on an old Christmas classic. So will it be "deck the halls" or will Charles Dickens be spinning in his grave, as we settle down to watch;
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
So, you may guess from the title, that Ghosts of Girlfriends Past takes it's ideas from the Dickens' classic; A Christmas Carol. As womanising, serial philanderer and devout batchelor Connor Mead (played by the drawling Matthew McConaughey), attempts to right the wrongs of his past life, when he is visited by the requisite three ghosts, on the eve of his brother's wedding.
Mead's love interest, takes the form of Jenny Perotti, played the always gorgeous Jennifer Garner.
Jenny and Connor are childhood sweethearts, until Jenny goes off with another boy at the school dance. Conner is distraught and turns to the doyen of love, his womanising Uncle Wayne! Who is played by inimitable Michael Douglas. Together they forge a lifestyle for the young Connor that leads him through relationship after relationship, settling for the option of casual sex, rather than the temptation of love and longterm relationship.
So that sets the scene for the film and we know the story, as it follows the same thread as A Christmas Carol;
Connor Mead, wicked man (in the love sense), needs to repent and mend his ways. He's sent three (four if you count his now dead Uncle Wayne), ghosts to assist.
And yes, it all comes good in the end. There are some nice twists and some funny moments. And it's your run of the mill rom-com, with a feelgood twist.
The downsides for me, were the awful southern drawl that "the McConaughey" spouts, I know it's his accent, but it's not endearing and can grate somewhat.
Also, throughout the film the "Steadi-cam" operator, wasn't holding the camera very steady! There seems to be a bit of a thing for handheld camera work in some modern movies, but when they wave it around the place, it can induce motion sickness!!
All in all, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, is a jolly, albeit predictable jaunt.
Enjoy!
Tuesday 31 July 2012
Tuesday 24 July 2012
When Harry Met Sally - 24th July 2012
Tuesday Night is Film Night goes way back to 1989 for tonight's film, when we get to see;
When Harry Met Sally
First off, 23 years after release, we have not seen this film at all, so were not sure what was to be made of it. The story is basic, the film starts, Harry meets Sally and they take 13 years and 3 months (and the entire film) before they get married!
Hope that doesn't spoil it for you.
How they get there is another matter. Sally is played the ever so gorgeous and cute Meg Ryan and she is ably assisted in the the joint title role, by the sharp and quick talking Billy Crystal, playing Sally Albright and Harry Burns respectively.
The first third of the film was distinctly wordy, there seemed to be a great deal of dialogue, which you must stick with. Luckily the superb writing of Nora Ephron makes it very easy to stay with it. And it takes you through the initial stages of Harry and Sally's relationship.
One of the taglines to the movie is; "Can men and women be friends or does sex always get in the way?" and this is discussed, elaborated on and referenced to, many times as Harry and Sally's friendship blossoms, wanes, relaxes, renews and falters all the way through the film.
There are some memorable scenes in the film, the quite obvious one being the cafe scene where Meg Ryan......... well you know the rest.
All in all we're glad to have seen the film, but whether it's a classic, that's up to you to decide. We liked it.
When Harry Met Sally
First off, 23 years after release, we have not seen this film at all, so were not sure what was to be made of it. The story is basic, the film starts, Harry meets Sally and they take 13 years and 3 months (and the entire film) before they get married!
Hope that doesn't spoil it for you.
How they get there is another matter. Sally is played the ever so gorgeous and cute Meg Ryan and she is ably assisted in the the joint title role, by the sharp and quick talking Billy Crystal, playing Sally Albright and Harry Burns respectively.
The first third of the film was distinctly wordy, there seemed to be a great deal of dialogue, which you must stick with. Luckily the superb writing of Nora Ephron makes it very easy to stay with it. And it takes you through the initial stages of Harry and Sally's relationship.
One of the taglines to the movie is; "Can men and women be friends or does sex always get in the way?" and this is discussed, elaborated on and referenced to, many times as Harry and Sally's friendship blossoms, wanes, relaxes, renews and falters all the way through the film.
There are some memorable scenes in the film, the quite obvious one being the cafe scene where Meg Ryan......... well you know the rest.
All in all we're glad to have seen the film, but whether it's a classic, that's up to you to decide. We liked it.
Tuesday 17 July 2012
Monster-in-Law - 17th July 2012
Tuesday Night is Film Night carries on a-pace with the comedy romance movie that is;
Monster-in-Law
Monster-in-Law sees Jennifer Lopez take a leading role as the hapless Charlotte 'Charlie' Cantilini, unlucky in love until she bumps into Kevin (Michael Vartan) and a whirlwind romance ensues. It all looks rosy until Charlie meets her Mother-in-Law to be!
Kevin's Mother; Viola Fields is a TV presenter of high standing, but has been recently fired and is very protective of her precious son, so much so she sets out to prevent the wedding. In any way she can.
OK, that's the basic synopsis, nothing too remarkable there, however and this is what makes Monster-in-Law really good, is that actors are really quite good.
For a kick off Viola is played the magnificent and ever so gorgeous looking, even at her age; Jane Fonda!
Fonda is superb as the acidic, malicious, conniving, underhand, scheming wicked witch of a Mother-in-Law.
Lopez, provides a marvellous counterpoint, as the cutesy Charlie, who can also turn her hand to some snide trickery to get back at the Mother-in-Law to be!
However, one stand out character for me, who provides a fantastic juxtaposition to the frightfully rich and famous Viola, is her assistant of many years; Ruby, who is a plain talking, no nonsense, down to hearth feisty woman, who gives Viola as good as she gets!
Ruby is played by the marvellous Wanda Sykes, who has appeared in films such as Evan Almighty and My Super Ex-Girlfriend, and is also ranked as one of America's funniest stand-ups. She certainly injects some great lines into this film.
Monster-in-Law is a bit of slapstick fun, with a great cast, look out for a cameo appearance from Elaine Stritch. It is laugh out loud funny in places and is a good comedic romp. Well worth a watch if you haven't seen it and will be on the list of films to see again.
Monster-in-Law
Monster-in-Law sees Jennifer Lopez take a leading role as the hapless Charlotte 'Charlie' Cantilini, unlucky in love until she bumps into Kevin (Michael Vartan) and a whirlwind romance ensues. It all looks rosy until Charlie meets her Mother-in-Law to be!
Kevin's Mother; Viola Fields is a TV presenter of high standing, but has been recently fired and is very protective of her precious son, so much so she sets out to prevent the wedding. In any way she can.
OK, that's the basic synopsis, nothing too remarkable there, however and this is what makes Monster-in-Law really good, is that actors are really quite good.
For a kick off Viola is played the magnificent and ever so gorgeous looking, even at her age; Jane Fonda!
Fonda is superb as the acidic, malicious, conniving, underhand, scheming wicked witch of a Mother-in-Law.
Lopez, provides a marvellous counterpoint, as the cutesy Charlie, who can also turn her hand to some snide trickery to get back at the Mother-in-Law to be!
However, one stand out character for me, who provides a fantastic juxtaposition to the frightfully rich and famous Viola, is her assistant of many years; Ruby, who is a plain talking, no nonsense, down to hearth feisty woman, who gives Viola as good as she gets!
Ruby is played by the marvellous Wanda Sykes, who has appeared in films such as Evan Almighty and My Super Ex-Girlfriend, and is also ranked as one of America's funniest stand-ups. She certainly injects some great lines into this film.
Monster-in-Law is a bit of slapstick fun, with a great cast, look out for a cameo appearance from Elaine Stritch. It is laugh out loud funny in places and is a good comedic romp. Well worth a watch if you haven't seen it and will be on the list of films to see again.
Tuesday 10 July 2012
The Holiday - 10th July 2012
Tuesday Night is Film Night continues with yet another romantic comedy, this time we get to go on;
The Holiday
Well, first off The Holiday is set at Christmas, so it's really a bit like Love Actually in that respect and would be a great movie to watch at the festive season.
However, and also like Love Actually, it's stands up on it's own, as a great romantic comedy to watch at any time of the year.
Also, and this is the last comparison I'll draw with Love Actually, The Holiday is about multiple relationships that intertwine and interact throughout the story.
Oh and one last comparison to Love Actually, really I mean it, The Holiday is really rather good!
OK let's cut to the chase and tell you what the stories are about, yes stories, with have multiple relationships going on in The Holiday, with two lives, running parallel stories throughout the film.
Firstly we have Amanda Woods portrayed by the delightful Cameron Diaz. Secondly we have Iris Simpkins, played by the equally delightful and lovely, Kate Winslet. Both characters kick off the story with men trouble. Amanda discovers her partner has cheated on her and Iris discovers the man she has been in "unrequited" love with, is getting engaged to another woman.
Unable to bear being upset, alone, lonely and at home at the holiday season they chance upon a holiday exchange, where they swap houses. I should point out at this juncture, that Iris is in England and is now heading for LA. While Amanda is based in the US and is now heading for rural Surrey.
So, the two ladies are now alone and in somebody else's home at Christmas. So not really further forward.
Until that is they meet, by chance, their soon to be, "love interest".
Jude Law plays Graham, who just happens to be Iris's brother and bumps into Amanda, who is staying at Iris's cottage remember?
Whereas, in LA Iris meets Miles, played by the inimitable Jack Black, who happens to be a friend of Amanda's ex.
It's not too confusing really.
The Holiday is a rather long film, running as it does at 2 hours and 10 minutes, but it is worth every single minute of those 130 minutes. This in part thanks to a very exceptional thread to the story where Iris befriends an elderly neighbour in LA, played by Eli Wallach, this gives the intertwined love stories another level and a great feelgood feeling to the film, because you know it will all come good at the end! And if you juxtapose this thread with the discovery that Graham (Jude Law) has kids, then you're on to a sure fire tear jerker of a finale.
Which of course there is, but I don't want to spoil that for you!
The Holiday
Well, first off The Holiday is set at Christmas, so it's really a bit like Love Actually in that respect and would be a great movie to watch at the festive season.
However, and also like Love Actually, it's stands up on it's own, as a great romantic comedy to watch at any time of the year.
Also, and this is the last comparison I'll draw with Love Actually, The Holiday is about multiple relationships that intertwine and interact throughout the story.
Oh and one last comparison to Love Actually, really I mean it, The Holiday is really rather good!
OK let's cut to the chase and tell you what the stories are about, yes stories, with have multiple relationships going on in The Holiday, with two lives, running parallel stories throughout the film.
Firstly we have Amanda Woods portrayed by the delightful Cameron Diaz. Secondly we have Iris Simpkins, played by the equally delightful and lovely, Kate Winslet. Both characters kick off the story with men trouble. Amanda discovers her partner has cheated on her and Iris discovers the man she has been in "unrequited" love with, is getting engaged to another woman.
Unable to bear being upset, alone, lonely and at home at the holiday season they chance upon a holiday exchange, where they swap houses. I should point out at this juncture, that Iris is in England and is now heading for LA. While Amanda is based in the US and is now heading for rural Surrey.
So, the two ladies are now alone and in somebody else's home at Christmas. So not really further forward.
Until that is they meet, by chance, their soon to be, "love interest".
Jude Law plays Graham, who just happens to be Iris's brother and bumps into Amanda, who is staying at Iris's cottage remember?
Whereas, in LA Iris meets Miles, played by the inimitable Jack Black, who happens to be a friend of Amanda's ex.
It's not too confusing really.
The Holiday is a rather long film, running as it does at 2 hours and 10 minutes, but it is worth every single minute of those 130 minutes. This in part thanks to a very exceptional thread to the story where Iris befriends an elderly neighbour in LA, played by Eli Wallach, this gives the intertwined love stories another level and a great feelgood feeling to the film, because you know it will all come good at the end! And if you juxtapose this thread with the discovery that Graham (Jude Law) has kids, then you're on to a sure fire tear jerker of a finale.
Which of course there is, but I don't want to spoil that for you!
Wednesday 4 July 2012
Friends with Benefits - 3rd July 2012
Tuesday Night is Film Night has been on tour, going out and then back in again, to someone else's house, to watch;
Friends with Benefits
A quick synopsis of the film.
Dylan (Justin Timberlake) is done with relationships.
Jamie (Mila Kunis) decides to stop buying into the Hollywood clichés of true love.
When the two become friends they decide to try something new and take advantage of their mutual attraction – but without any emotional attachment. Physical pleasure without the entanglements. Sounds easy enough for two logical adults, right?
OK, the first thing about this film, for me anyway is that Mila Kunis is the voice of Meg, in Family Guy! Which was quite off putting, in a fun sort of way, especially in the sex scenes, of which there are quite a few! Although, there is nothing wrong with that! Mila Kunis is after all very cute especially when she is down to her knickers!!
OK, OK. Just so there is a balance, Justin Timberlake, I'm sure, is quite cute as well.
Anyway, if you can see through the body of Jamie / voice of Meg issue, the Timberlake and Kunis partnership is a good one and they provide some great entertainment throughout the film, playing the friendly couple, who are not "in love" but are happy to have sex when they desire, with no strings attached.
However, it's not that easy is it?
Friends with Benefits, differs somewhat from other recent chick flick / rom-com's as it has a good storyline, which hooks you into the film. You feel happy that Dylan and Jamie can have this free relationship, but all the while you secretly want them to get together in the end.
The story is padded out to great effect by Dylan's and Jamie's family, who knit themselves into the story and provide some gravitas and emotion into the mix. Particularly poignant and magnificently played by Richard Jenkins, is Dylan's father. Playing a character not dissimilar to the one the one he played in Dear John.
On the whole, Friends with Benefits is a real romp, in more ways than one! The comedy is good, the romance fitting and the feelgood factor is a winner. And like a really good feelgood movie, it lifts your spirits, makes you hit rock bottom and picks you up again, whilst you smile, laugh, cry and cheer!
Watch this film.
Friends with Benefits
A quick synopsis of the film.
Dylan (Justin Timberlake) is done with relationships.
Jamie (Mila Kunis) decides to stop buying into the Hollywood clichés of true love.
When the two become friends they decide to try something new and take advantage of their mutual attraction – but without any emotional attachment. Physical pleasure without the entanglements. Sounds easy enough for two logical adults, right?
OK, the first thing about this film, for me anyway is that Mila Kunis is the voice of Meg, in Family Guy! Which was quite off putting, in a fun sort of way, especially in the sex scenes, of which there are quite a few! Although, there is nothing wrong with that! Mila Kunis is after all very cute especially when she is down to her knickers!!
OK, OK. Just so there is a balance, Justin Timberlake, I'm sure, is quite cute as well.
Anyway, if you can see through the body of Jamie / voice of Meg issue, the Timberlake and Kunis partnership is a good one and they provide some great entertainment throughout the film, playing the friendly couple, who are not "in love" but are happy to have sex when they desire, with no strings attached.
However, it's not that easy is it?
Friends with Benefits, differs somewhat from other recent chick flick / rom-com's as it has a good storyline, which hooks you into the film. You feel happy that Dylan and Jamie can have this free relationship, but all the while you secretly want them to get together in the end.
The story is padded out to great effect by Dylan's and Jamie's family, who knit themselves into the story and provide some gravitas and emotion into the mix. Particularly poignant and magnificently played by Richard Jenkins, is Dylan's father. Playing a character not dissimilar to the one the one he played in Dear John.
On the whole, Friends with Benefits is a real romp, in more ways than one! The comedy is good, the romance fitting and the feelgood factor is a winner. And like a really good feelgood movie, it lifts your spirits, makes you hit rock bottom and picks you up again, whilst you smile, laugh, cry and cheer!
Watch this film.
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