Tom Jones (1963) [unrated; my rating: PG-17]

One of the most critically acclaimed movies of its time, this movie is a romp.  An English costume comedy, this movie tells a lusty story of a young man of less than savory beginnings who is forced out to find his place in the world. The movie is full of the usual misadventures and coincidences, but this is not your usual Masterpiece Theater. This is a bawdy movie, even by today's standards!

Albert Finney has a ball as Tom Jones in the role that made his career. Susannah York (who passed away earlier this week) is simply gorgeous as Tom's innocent, true love, Sophie(She turned the part down three times before she finally signed on.). Both Lynn Redgrave and David Warner made their film debuts. Everyone goes at it full blast and great fun is had by all.

This movie also had some unusual film techniques for its time. It starts out as a silent movie! At times the characters break the fourth wall and speak to the audience. There is even a time when Tom notices the camera and covers the lens to hide the proceedings.

Tom Jones also boasts the most lusty meal ever eaten on screen! As Tom and Mrs. Waters eat their meal, they stare deeply into each others eyes. They tear at their food, enjoying every single mouthful, doing to the food what we know they will soon be doing to each other.

Don't be put off by the fact that the movie is almost 50 years old. There is nothing old-fashioned here except for the time period depicted. Watch it with your partner and see if you can resist each other after the food scene!

DIRECTOR: Tony Richardson.  CAST: Albert Finney, Susannah York, Hugh Griffith, Edith Evans, Joyce Redman, Diane Cilento, Joan Greenwood, David Tomlinson, Peter Bull, David Warner.

Won 4 Oscars. Another 17 wins and 17 nominations.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) [R]

Original, confusing, amazing, romantic, sad, funny movie about love and memory. Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet as Joel and Clementine, play against type and deliver wonderful performances. Written by Charlie Kaufman, you know it's going to be a crazy ride.

After a bad breakup, Clementine decides to undergo a process where all her memories of Joel will be erased. When Joel finds out, he decides to do the same. Most of the movie takes place inside Joel's mind as he goes through the procedure. The result is dreamy, in reverse time sequence, and full of surprises.

It also turns out that the employees of the company which performs the memory erasure are all pretty self-serving and affect what happens to Clementine and Joel.

The movie is out of time sequence, so keep track by the color of Clementine's hair which at various times is blue, orange, red, or green. 

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind takes a look at the love relationship. Is it inevitable that relationships go through ups and downs? When do we stay and when do we give up? Are we fated to find each other? Are we our memories and who are we without them?

Watch with someone you love...

DIRECTOR: Michel Gondry.  CAST: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood, Tom Wilkinson, Jane Adams, David Cross, Deirdre O'Connell.

AWARDS: Won Oscar. Another 38 wins and 50 nominations.

Jump Tomorrow (2001) [PG]

A sweet little indie movie, Jump Tomorrow has a European sensibility to it. Although it takes place in upstate New York, most of the characters are from other countries.

Shy George (Tunde Adebimpe), a Nigerian, is about to take part in an arranged marriage. On his way to his wedding, he comes across Gerard (Hippolyte Girardot), a Frenchman, who is about to jump off the roof to kill himself because he has been turned down on his marriage proposal. George suggests he jump tomorrow, which becomes the theme of the movie.

George also meets Alicia (Natalia Verbeke), a Spanish woman. For him, it is love at first sight. He can't stop thinking about her and imagines her and himself in funny, overdramatic romantic scenes from novellas. Ever the romantic, Gerard convinces George to follow Alicia, although she is traveling with her boyfriend. Will George win Alicia's heart?

This is an enjoyable movie. You will find yourself smiling as you watch, and still smiling hours after it is over. It is fun to watch the various cultures as both Alicia and George are traveling to their families and communities. This is a comedy, light and frothy, very different from the usual romantic comedies put out by Hollywood.

DIRECTOR: Joel Hopkins.  CAST: Tunde Adebimpe, Natalia Verbeke, Hippolyte Girardot, James Wilby, Patricia Maureci, Isiah Whitlock, Jr.

AWARDS: 3 wins and 6 nominations.

Frailty (2002) [R]

This is a great, creepy movie, with a huge twist at the end. Bill Paxton, directing for the first time, plays Dad, a widower with two young sons. One day he tells them that he has received a vision from God. He has been tasked to destroy demons. Is he insane? His "tools" come to him in a way with mystical overtones.

It seems that Dad can tell if someone is a demon by shaking hands. Once he finds one, he believes he must fulfill his mission. He drags his sons with him on these missions, where they witness terrifying deeds. Remarkably, he is never caught.

The movie starts with one of the brothers, now grown up, going to the FBI to report that he believes his brother is the serial killer who is called God's Hand. He tells his story in flashbacks and when he is finished, the story gets even more exciting.

I am not really a fan of horror movies. I cover my eyes when there is blood, and I never appreciate that trick they do with someone jumping out unexpectedly. This is movie is not really part of that genre. It tells a gruesome story, but throws enough doubt that you are not sure if Dad is insane or really doing God's work.

I love twists and turns in my movies. I like when movies try to trick us and then surprise us with what is really going on. This movie does that excellently. Paxton did a great job with his first stint as a director!

DIRECTOR: Bill Paxton.  CAST: Bill Paxton, Matthew McConaughey, Powers Boothe, Matt O'Leary, Luke Askew, Jeremy Sumpter, Derk Cheetwood, Melissa Crider.

AWARDS: 3 wins and 8 nominations.

The Pawnbroker (1965) [unrated; my rating: R]

This was the first American movie to deal with the Holocaust from a survivor's point of view. Rod Steiger, in the role of his life, portrays Sol Nazerman, a German-Jewish university professor, who was taken to a concentration camp during WWII, where his family was killed in front of him. Now he is a pawnbroker in Harlem.

Having lost faith in humans, Sol has shut down. No emotion is allowed to be felt, relationships are shunned. Yet, there are some around him who want to connect with him, including his apprentice, Jesus (Jaime Sanchez). It will take a tragedy for Sol to become human again.

Throughout the movie we see Sol's flashbacks to the concentration camp. They are juxtaposed with the things going on around him in the ghetto. This is perhaps not too subtle, but certainly effective.

I was just 12 years old when I saw this movie for the first time. It made a huge impact on me and I have never forgotten it. This movie was also the turning point in my feelings about the Academy Awards. When Lee Marvin won Best Actor for Cat Ballou, rather than Steiger for this movie, I never trusted or enjoyed the Oscars again. Rod Steiger was CHEATED!! I know, he can be a terrible overacter, no one can chew scenery like Steiger, but his performance in this movie is perfect. He will break your heart.

The Pawnbroker was among the first American movies to feature nudity during the Production Code and was the first film featuring bare breasts to receive Production Code approval, which made it very controversial. However, the movie was so brilliant and meaningful that although condemned by the Catholic Legion of Decency, the National Council of Churches gave the film an award for best picture of the year. I still remember my mother going "Whoops!" and suddenly putting her hand over my eyes. I was annoyed, not because I couldn't see the breasts, but because she had disturbed my concentration on the movie.

This is not an easy movie to watch, but it is important. Unlike Europe, Hollywood doesn't make many movies about the impact of WWII and the Holocaust on individuals. Our WWII movies tend to be about the war and battle. But war is not a concept, it is a real life event that affects individuals. This is the sad and tragic story of one of these people. 


DIRECTOR: Sidney Lumet.  CAST: Rod Steiger, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Brock Peters, Jaime Sanchez, Thelma Oliver, Juano Hernandez, Raymond St. Jacques.

AWARDS:  Nominated for Oscar. Another 7 wins and 5 nominations.

The Commitments (1991) [R]

A great music movie. This movie is a real delight from the first moment to the last. The story is about a young man who decides to put together a soul music band...in Dublin! We know we are in for a treat when the movie starts with Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins) interviewing himself, while in the tub, for his imagined interview with Rolling Stone Magazine. Periodically, throughout the movie, he continues this imaginary interview.

The story seems to be a typical story of a group coming together and then falling apart. But what a band this is! We go through the entire adventure with them, from the hilarious auditions, to the founding of the group of 10, including 3 female back-up singers, to the eventual falling apart, through egos and romance.

The music is fantastic. The lead singer, Andrew Strong, sure can wail. He was only 16 when the movie was shot! The rest of the musicians hold their own. You will find yourself tapping your feet, if not actually singing along, to the excellent old-school soul music.

The movie is full of unknown actors. The only face you may recognize is Colm Meany, best known for playing Miles O'Brien in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He is hilarious as Rabbitte's father, an Elvis-crazy cursing fan, and so far removed from the character O'Brien that it adds to the fun.

This movie was voted in 2005 as the best Irish film of all time. 

DIRECTOR: Alan Parker.  CAST: Robert Arkins, Michael Aherne, Angeline Ball, Maria Doyle, Dave Finnegan, Bronagh Gallagher, Felim Gormley, Glen Hansard, Dick Massey, Johhny Murphy, Kenneth McCluskey, Andrew Strong, Colm Meany.

AWARDS: Nominated for Oscar. Another 10 wins and 4 nominations.