HOW MUCH SPIN DOES IT TAKE TO WIN? In 1996, the novel ”Primary Colors” was published, a roman à clef depicting then-Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign, with a Southern governor called Jack Stanton standing in for Clinton. The author was anonymous, but considering the insight into the campaign it had to be someone… … Continue reading Primary Colors: All the Governor’s Men
SOMETIMES, AN ACCIDENT CAN BE AN UNHAPPY WOMAN’S BEST FRIEND. During a critical scene between Dolores Claiborne (Kathy Bates) and her abusive husband Joe (David Strathairn), she tells him that he’s likely to end up in Shawshank Prison. Fans of Stephen King will recognize this as a typical sign that the story takes place in … Continue reading Dolores Claiborne: Island of Misery
PAUL SHELDON USED TO WRITE FOR A LIVING. NOW, HE’S WRITING TO STAY ALIVE. After finishing his last novel starring the popular romantic character Misery, Paul Sheldon (James Caan) has a traffic accident in the snowy Colorado wilderness and is rescued by his number one fan (Kathy Bates), a woman with a dark past. The … Continue reading Misery
NOTHING ON EARTH COULD COME BETWEEN THEM. Twentieth Century Fox wasn’t sure about letting James Cameron make an epic movie about the 1912 sinking of Titanic – especially since the director wanted it to be a romance. In other words, there would be no box-office-friendly terminators or aliens on this voyage. Fox eventually agreed to … Continue reading Titanic: A Wreck Comes Alive
SHE HIT THE ROAD. THE ROAD HIT BACK. After losing her job, car and husband on the same day, Tammy Banks (Melissa McCarthy) goes on a road trip and reluctantly brings her grandmother (Susan Sarandon)… because it’s her car… and she has cash. The first major star vehicle for McCarthy was a box-office hit, which … Continue reading Tammy
CAN HE GO STRAIGHT OR WILL HE GO STRAIGHT BACK INSIDE? After six years in prison, Max Dembo (Dustin Hoffman) is released and makes a genuine attempt to go straight; he finds a job and starts dating a girl (Theresa Russell), but his parole officer becomes a problem… Hoffman started directing this drama, but handed … Continue reading Straight Time
Another legal series from David E. Kelley, this time focusing on a recently fired patent lawyer (Kathy Bates) who formed a small law firm in a shoe store in one of Cincinnati’s worst districts. As usual, stories revolved around cases that were either just offbeat or touching on the political and societal issues of the … Continue reading Harry’s Law
LET YOUR IMAGINATION SOAR. In 1872, inventor Phileas Fogg (Steve Coogan) wagers that he can travel around the world in 80 days; he’s accompanied by his recently hired manservant (Jackie Chan) who has an agenda of his own. Another adaptation of the Jules Verne perennial, one that takes a lot of liberties but not in a … Continue reading Around the World in 80 Days
On a visit to Paris, Hollywood screenwriter and would-be novelist Gil Pender (Owen Wilson) falls in love with the city to the degree that he actually journeys to the 1920s and the city’s community of famous artists… One of those rare things, a Woody Allen box-office hit, perhaps because of its light touch, romantic portrayal of … Continue reading Midnight in Paris
Director Sam Mendes returned to American Beauty (1999) territory with this compelling adaptation of Richard Yates’s landmark novel that addressed a crisis in marriage at a time when it was not quite socially acceptable to talk about what might go on behind the façade of idyllic 1950s suburbia. Mendes brought his wife Kate Winslet along for the … Continue reading Revolutionary Road
A LOVE STORY. MORE OR LESS. If Hallmark Valentine’s Day cards make you go “aww”, then this is a movie for you. Director Garry Marshall and his star-studded cast introduce us to a great number of stories about people and their romantic relationships on the supposedly most love-filled day of the year, most of them … Continue reading Valentine’s Day
SANTA’S BROTHER IS COMING TO TOWN. Fred Claus (Vince Vaughn) is in trouble and needs money; his brother (Paul Giamatti), who happens to be Santa, is willing to give him a loan only if he comes to the North Pole and works for it. Director David Dobkin reunited with Vaughn after Wedding Crashers (2005), but there isn’t a … Continue reading Fred Claus
HIS LIFE ENDED. NOW, A NEW ONE WILL BEGIN. Shortly after Gerry Kennedy (Gerard Butler) dies, his widow (Hilary Swank) learns that he has left her a series of messages to help her move on with life. Director Richard LaGravenese is quite the romantic, but not every movie he writes turns out as good as … Continue reading P.S. I Love You
