Category Archives: Flirting

1956, Black and White Film, Car Chase, Classic, Conspiracy, Dark, Flirting, Grim, Horror, Old-Fashioned, Sci-Fi, Suspense

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Something is amiss in the sleepy California hamlet of Santa Mira. Initially, Dr. Miles Bennell (Kevin McCarthy) dismisses reports from the citizenry accusing friends and family of behaving like automatons. But the doctor soon makes a startling discovery. Extraterrestrials capable of replicating humans and assuming their identities have invaded Santa Mira. It’s up to Bennell to sound the alarm and almost single-handedly battle the alien forces.

Suppose you could trust no one around you, could you survive ? Of course, wartime spies are somewhat in that position. But this story is a famous extreme example. As an experiment in film comparison (which I also did with True Grit (1969) and True Grit (2010)) I decided to watch at least two if not three versions of this film.

For those of you too young to remember, Kevin McCarthy played many roles in the 1960 TV series “Twilight Zone”. Dana Wynter (the female lead) played Eva Wainwright in the 1966 TV series “The Man Who Never Was”.

What makes this film seem old ?

  • Black and white
  • Real orchestra music composed by Carmon Dragon that seems corny by today’s standards.
  • Precious few special effects except for the pods bursting open
  • The actors themselves actually had to run on streets and hills
  • Unfortunately in this version, the ending is a terrible cop-out

Following is an excellent review that I found in IMDB attributed to someone billed as InfoFreak:

‘Invasion Of The Body Snatcher’s is my favourite 1950s science fiction movie alongside ‘Forbidden Planet’. Both are very different movies. ‘Forbidden Planet’ is arguably the first SF blockbuster, an intergalactic adventure, in colour, with a large budget and impressive special effects. ‘Invasion Of The Body Snatcher’s is a smaller movie, a low budget black and white paranoid thriller that is a classic of its type. Many subsequent movies have been influenced by this one, and there have been at least two remakes (Philip Kaufman, Abel Ferrara), but it still takes some beating! Director Don Siegel is best known for tough guy crime dramas like ‘The Killers’ and ‘Dirty Harry’, but shows his versatility with this extremely effective and disturbing horror story. The legendary Sam Peckinpah had an uncredited hand in the script, and (keep an eye open for) a small cameo as a meter reader. Kevin McCarthy is terrific as the small town doctor turned hero. His performance is excellent, and made him a legend to SF and horror fans everywhere (he reprises it briefly in Kaufman’s excellent 1970s remake by the way). The lovely Dana Wynter leads a strong supporting cast, and buffs will get a particular kick out of seeing Carolyn Jones (a.k.a. Morticia Addams) and Whit Bissell. (‘I Was A Teenage Werewolf’, ‘Creature From The Black Lagoon’ and too many others to mention!) This movie has aged very well, much better than say, ‘The Thing From Another World’, and still stands as THE 1950s paranoid SF/horror movie. An absolute classic that I guarantee still packs a punch! Highly recommended!

Have fun!

2010, Bad high school, Drama, Drugs, Flirting, Gloomy, Love Story, Mediocre, Sad small town, Serial Killer, Sex Scenes

Daydream Nation (2010)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

City girl Caroline Wexler (Kat Dennings) feels like she’s spinning her wheels when she moves to a small rural town, where she’s got nothing in common with anyone — except her disarmingly handsome teacher, Mr. Anderson (Josh Lucas). But when Caroline tires of their clandestine affair, Mr. Anderson isn’t ready to let her go. Andie MacDowell co-stars in this humorous dark romance from writer-director Michael Goldbach.

One more entry in the list of films with the two characteristics “sad small town” and “bad high school”, this film you have seen before with different names. Unpleasantly realistic, you can only feel sorry for the characters.

As unexciting as this film was, the acting was good. Unfortunately the girl played by Kat Dennings just could not make up her mind what she wanted and dragged us along in her uncertainty. Josh Lucas did a good job as a lonely, mediocre, confused, writer wannabe, somewhat clownish high school teacher who is stupid enough to have an affair with one of his students.

Reece Thompson (22 years old at time of filming and without many credits in his resume) did a good job as a sad, drug using, insecure high school student who has lost a friend and searching for something solid to hold onto. Are our high school students (at least the males depicted in this film) really so drugged out?

While not a complete waste of time, you could find a better film to watch. In this category of film you might choose the classic “The Last Picture Show” from 1971.

2008, Acceptable for children, British Mystery Series, Car Chase, Corny, Drama, Flirting, Love Story, Made For TV, Melodrama, Mystery Film, Old-Fashioned, Plot Twist, Suspense, Trains, Wonderful photography

The 39 Steps (2008)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Richard Hannay (Rupert Penry-Jones) has his holiday interrupted when secret agent Scudder (Eddie Marsan) bursts into his apartment, staying alive just long enough to deposit a notebook. Pegged with murder, Hannay must decode the book and nab the culprits — before they find him first. In this nimble BBC update of John Buchan’s novel, German spies and British police give chase as Hannay races to deliver the coveted code and avert a world war.

Rupert Penry-Jones and Matthew MacFadyen take turns starring in the excellent British TV series MI-5 . That series started in 2002. Since this Masterpiece Classic was made in 2008, I assume these two actors rotate in order to give them time to do other acting.

Think of “The 39 Steps” as a Harlequin Spy Romance with possibly its tongue in its cheek. Penry-Jones is accidentally thrust into an effort to prevent Germany from attacking the British navy just prior to World War I. He gets to run up and down hills, run through woods, drive vintage cars in exciting 20 mph car chases, solve encrypted messages, discover spies, and woo a winsome maiden, all the while remaining a presentable handsome Brit with a flare for witty comebacks.

If you can stand not having digital special effects enhance the performance of the actors, then you might enjoy this melodrama, despite a few “aw shucks!” moments.

2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, British, Complicated, Computer geeks, Conspiracy, Cynical, DO NOT MISS, Flirting, Love Story, Made For TV, Political Suspense, Suspense, Terrorist Attack, Torture, TV Series, Wonderful acting

MI-5

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

This award-winning series dramatizes the professional exploits and personal lives of the “spooks” of MI-5, the British equivalent of the FBI. No-nonsense head officer Harry Pearce (Peter Firth) guides a band of dedicated spies who risk their lives every day. The team includes expert and junior members who must balance real life with the job’s requirement for complete secrecy, no matter the cost. Matthew Macfadyen and Richard Armitage co-star.

Beginning in 2002 and continuing at least to 2010, this British TV-series is “utterly smashing”. Intense, sometimes hard to watch, but incredibly exciting in just about every episode. What makes some episodes difficult to watch is that the members of MI-5 are forced at times to make hard decisions that involve “collateral damage” (meaning some poor soul dies), so much so that those members are often damaged themselves and actually leave MI-5 (i.e. leave the show). In fact, be prepared for many, sometimes disappointing cast changes. For example Rupert William Penry-Jones (the character Adam Carter) started the show and then disappeared for awhile to be replaced by Matthew Macfadyen (the character Tom Quinn) who then leaves the show and is replaced by Rupert William Penry-Jones.

There are too many wonderful characters to even mention them. You can find them all listed in IMDB.

In addition to spook plots, there are also many romances. But any romance for a member of MI-5 is next to impossible because even their significant others cannot know what these spooks do for a living.

2011, Complicated, Disturbing Image, DO NOT MISS, Fantasy, Feel Good Not For Children, Flirting, Love Story, Sci-Fi, Suspense, Terrorist Attack, Trains

Source Code (2011)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Jake Gyllenhaal portrays a soldier recruited for a time-bending government investigation that places him in another man’s mind and body, reliving the same traumatic event repeatedly in an effort to identify the perpetrators of a terrorist bombing. Vera Farmiga plays a communications specialist who provides the vital link to the soldier’s primary reality as he searches for critical clues within a recurring nightmare.

Jake Gyllenhaal has done it again, or at least his agent has. Somehow Gyllenhaal finds vehicles that for the most part suit him perfectly.

Although Michelle Monaghan does a perfectly acceptable job as Jake’s love interest, Vera Farmiga does an outstanding job as a conflicted member of the military whose human values eventually trump the self-promotion of the ever preening Jeffrey Wright (Dr. Rutledge).

WARNING: Although this film rates as a “feel good”, it is probably NOT for children because (without spoiling anything) there is one disturbing film shot involving a human body that is a shocker.

Why see this great film ?

  • Fun flirtatious love story
  • Clever sci-fi plot
  • Heart-warming interaction between Jake and his dad
  • Exciting action
  • Feel-good film

If any of the above interests you, DO NOT MISS THIS FILM !

2011, Ballet, Complicated, Could be boring, Fantasy, Flirting, Imperfect, Love Story, Religious Theme, Suspense

The Adjustment Bureau (2011)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

A congressman (Matt Damon) who’s a rising star on the political scene finds himself entranced by a beautiful ballerina (Emily Blunt), but mysterious circumstances ensure that their love affair is predestined to be a non-starter. Screenwriter George Nolfi (The Bourne Ultimatum) makes his directorial debut with this romantic adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s classic sci-fi short story “Adjustment Team.”

Matt Damon comes across as a nice down-to-earth person. For years I have tried to convince myself that he can act. I am still trying. It is true that his flirting conversations with Emily Blunt come off as being very authentic and natural. Perhaps he was chosen for this role because there is a lot of running involved, something he does in many of his films (example, the “Bourne” movies). At 41 years of age I suppose he can still run.

Based on a pseudo-religious gimmicky idea, for me the film got tiresome if for no other reason than there were just too many doors to open. Of course, there was no way David (Damon) could explain his behavior to Elise (Blunt) without showing her all those doors.

Finally, I really did not need a final sermon on free will (of which I am a big fan despite the film).

Emily Blunt was another Emily in “The Devil Wears Prada” and was also “The Young Victoria”.

John Slattery, who played the angel Richardson, for me will always be one of the “Mad Men” of HBO fame.

An acceptable film on a night when you just don’t want to exert any effort thinking.

2010, Comedy, Cooking and food, Drugs, Feel Good Not For Children, Flirting, Love Story, Medical Theme

Life As We Know It (2010)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Caterer Holly Berenson (Katherine Heigl) and network sports director Eric Messer (Josh Duhamel) discover a reciprocal hatred during an ill-fated first date — but are forced to put their feelings aside when their mutual friends die and they become the guardians for orphaned Sophie. Now, Holly and Eric must learn to live with each other and juggle their promising careers while taking care of the little girl in this romantic comedy.

If you are searching for a good date movie AND you are wild about infants and children, then I have a good film for you. If anything this film shows in a realistic way just how all-consuming a task it is to raise a child, let alone to also want a career. In a way, the only contrived part of the scheme was that a dead couple’s will could stipulate guardians for the orphans without the consent of those guardians. And how realistic is it that the man and woman guardians (who supposedly dislike each other) would consent to the idea AND share the house of the deceased parents ? Who cares! It is a fun film with lots of pleasing sight gags.

Katherine Heigl, who plays the woman Holly, played opposite Gerard Butler in “The Ugly Truth”. Josh Duhamel, who plays the man Eric, so far seems to be mostly Major Lennox in the Transformers films. Josh Lucas had significant roles in The Weight of Water (2001) and Around the Bend (2004).

In some way I resent these films in which the characters, of course, live in a million dollar house deep in wooded suburbia. But then wife Kathy says people watch movies for escape. Good luck on that mortgage!

2010, Comedy, Corny, Feel Good For All, Flirting, Love Story, Mediocre, Slapstick

Morning Glory (2010)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Whiz-kid producer Becky Fuller (Rachel McAdams) finds her abilities put to the test when she’s charged with bringing a network morning show back from ratings purgatory. Her first job: getting the show’s feuding, acid-tongued co-hosts (Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton) under control. Jeff Goldblum co-stars as Fuller’s network-exec boss and Patrick Wilson is Becky’s put-upon boyfriend in this comedy from the writer of The Devil Wears Prada.

“Why don’t we formerly successful actors get together and make some money by making a B-film?” Perhaps I am overly critical, but with a cast consisting of Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton, and Jeff Goldblum would you expect more ? Rachel McAdams seems to carry every film in which she appears. And of course there is the requisite handsome boy friend, this time barely played by Patrick Wilson.

Since playing Ira Buchman (alongside Helen Hunt) in “Mad About You”, John Pankow has had a few lean years.

You have seen Matt Malloy just about everywhere and I bet you do not know his name. As a secondary character actor he has been incredibly successful. In this film he plays Ernie Appleby and provides the best belly laughs of all. If for no other part of the film, it is worth waiting for his scenes late into the film. Hint: “amusement”.

Don’t get me wrong: I enjoyed this fun feel-good that is probably OK for kids (ignore the F-word). Don’t let me scare you off from this easy to watch film.

2010, Based on true facts, Comedy, Drugs, Explicit sex, Explicit sexual discussion, Feel Good Not For Children, Flirting, Love Story, Medical Theme, Mostly About Sex, Nudity

Love and Other Drugs (2010)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Pharmaceutical representative Jamie Randall (Jake Gyllenhaal) becomes a player in the big game of male-performance-enhancement-drug sales and, along the way, finds unexpected romance with a woman (Anne Hathaway) suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Based on the real-life Jamie Reidy’s memoir, Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman, this satirical look inside the culture of Big Pharm is directed by Edward Zwick.

Sex, sex, sex, what fun!

However, there is a bit more to the film. For one thing, the film takes a huge satirical swipe at Big Pharm (most notably Pfizer-Zoloft versus Eli Lilli-Prozac) and especially the antics of its salesmen. More sadly the film highlights the plight of those suffering from Parkinson’s for which presently there is no cure.

Which brings me to ask if this story is just a fairy tale for grownups. Jamie’s encounter with the husband of a Parkinson’s victim in Chicago is frankly brutal and really impressed me about the difficulty of having a partner with Parkinson’s disease. Is it realistic to believe that the womanizer Jamie could settle down to care for Maggie in what could be a horrific future ?

Unfortunately the Wikipedia article does not tell us whether the author Jamie Reidy was involved in any way with Parkinson’s disease.

When this film was made in 2010 Anne Hathaway (“Rachel Getting Married”, “The Devil wears Prada”) was 28 years old and Jake Gyllenhaal (“Donnie Darko”, Brokeback Mountain (2005)) was 30 years old.

At any rate just enjoy the sex scenes, the ribald script, and the feel-good nature of the film. Viagra, anyone ?

2006, Acceptable for children, Acceptable Trash, Comedy, Computer geeks, Flirting, Slapstick, Vulgar

The IT Crowd (2006)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Enter the glamorous offices of Reynholm Industries, then take the elevator to the basement, where you’ll find the decidedly unglamorous IT support team: slacker Roy (Chris O’Dowd), social misfit Moss (Richard Ayoade) and technically ignorant supervisor Jen (Katherine Parkinson). Together, they find nerd-tastic adventures in this hilarious British sitcom from the producer of “The Office.” The program won a 2008 International Emmy for Best Comedy.

British slapstick is its own type of humor (or should I say “humour”): lots of yelling, pratfalls (although strictly speaking a “pratfall” is a fall to one’s buttocks), and references to excrement. But it is worth waiting for some really funny moments that make me LOL (for those of you on Medicare, “LOL” means “laugh out loud”).

One serious note: I marvel at the wonderfully clear speech enunciation of Chris O’Dowd and of British actors in general. O’Dowd is Irish.

Children might giggle at the bathroom humor.

I LOVE TRASH !