1941 Review Blog
Citizen Kane
Grade: A+ 02/09/2009
Amazing cinematography, brilliant acting, PERFECT screenplay...but the Best Movie Ever Made?? I don't quite agree with that, but I can completely understand why it is usually chosen as such. The legend about Orson Welles, only in his mid-20s, having carte-blanche from his studio, came up with this Masterpiece.It is interesting that a movie without sex or violence, about a media mogul and his life, can hold such interest. The flashback nature of the screenplay is its brilliance, and I'd be pressed to find a better photographed film, EVER. I get it. I finally get the hooplah over CITIZEN KANE.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
Grade: A+ 02/09/2009
Amazing cinematography, brilliant acting, PERFECT screenplay...but the Best Movie Ever Made?? I don't quite agree with that, but I can completely understand why it is usually chosen as such. The legend about Orson Welles, only in his mid-20s, having carte-blanche from his studio, came up with this Masterpiece.It is interesting that a movie without sex or violence, about a media mogul and his life, can hold such interest. The flashback nature of the screenplay is its brilliance, and I'd be pressed to find a better photographed film, EVER. I get it. I finally get the hooplah over CITIZEN KANE.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
The Lady Eve
Grade: C 11/15/2010
This movie isn't nearly as funny as it thinks it is...or even what it is heralded as. I had a conversation with my fellow movie reviewer recently about these old movies and how sometimes...we just don't get the popularity. I think a great movie is timeless...and there is no such thing as good for its time. I can appreciate significance and historical relevance...but a bore is a bore is a bore. Countless articles about The Lady Eve talk about how it is one of the comedy greats, and Barbara Stanwyck's performace is one of the best all time. Nope. The whole movie is man falls in love with woman. Woman is a con artist. Man falls in love with the woman again later when she shows up in a new personna and man believes it CAN'T be the same woman, because they look EXACTLY alike. Meh. Some parts are silly fun and I DO like how Stanwyck and Henry Fonda play off eachother...but a classic? I don't buy it.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
Grade: C 11/15/2010
This movie isn't nearly as funny as it thinks it is...or even what it is heralded as. I had a conversation with my fellow movie reviewer recently about these old movies and how sometimes...we just don't get the popularity. I think a great movie is timeless...and there is no such thing as good for its time. I can appreciate significance and historical relevance...but a bore is a bore is a bore. Countless articles about The Lady Eve talk about how it is one of the comedy greats, and Barbara Stanwyck's performace is one of the best all time. Nope. The whole movie is man falls in love with woman. Woman is a con artist. Man falls in love with the woman again later when she shows up in a new personna and man believes it CAN'T be the same woman, because they look EXACTLY alike. Meh. Some parts are silly fun and I DO like how Stanwyck and Henry Fonda play off eachother...but a classic? I don't buy it.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
The Maltese Falcon
Grade: A- 10/18/2008
I watched this film after my complete adoration of CASABLANCA, and it can certainly be considered as a kind of unofficial prequel to that film. Bogart plays the same kind of bitter man and Peter Lorre plays basically the same part. The characters speak like they are poets, the film noir feel is more than tangible, and the danger of double/triple-crossing is apparent throughout. It isn't quite as magical as CASABLANCA, but it further shows me why Bogart is such an acting icon.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
Grade: A- 10/18/2008
I watched this film after my complete adoration of CASABLANCA, and it can certainly be considered as a kind of unofficial prequel to that film. Bogart plays the same kind of bitter man and Peter Lorre plays basically the same part. The characters speak like they are poets, the film noir feel is more than tangible, and the danger of double/triple-crossing is apparent throughout. It isn't quite as magical as CASABLANCA, but it further shows me why Bogart is such an acting icon.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die