review - The Artist (2012)

Michel Hazanavicius' The Artist, which won a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Comedy, is a great homage not only to the silent film era but also to fine movie making period. This elegant black and white, edge-of-your-seat romance stars handsome Jean Dujardin, who resembles matinee idol Gilbert Roland and Berenice Bejo, both of whom show that emotions engage sans dialogue.

One of my very favorite scenes is when Peppy ( Bejo) sneaks into Valentin 's (Dujardin) dressing room on the lot of Kinograph Studios, starts touching the jacket he wears and finds herself wrapped up in it literally feigning his arm around her. (picture below) It's funny, alluring and delightfully original. It's great to see character actors John Goodman - looks fantastic! - James Cromwell, Penelope Ann Miller and Beth Grant in featured roles, but Uggie as Valentin's best friend - you've got it, his dog - steals every scene he's in and saves the day more than once.

This is entertainment at its very best and should be used in film class to show students just how important subtext is in preparing a role ... and being able to use your eyes and body language effectively!

5 out of 5 stars

review - My Week with Marilyn

It is difficult to believe that this is Simon Curtis' first directorial film assignment, as My Week with Marilyn is an amazingly lovely movie. Michelle Williams' performance, needless to say, is delectable. No over-the-top mannerisms or false moves: it's about as natural as one might see. She transforms into Marilyn effortlessly, or so it seems. I also enjoyed the work of Eddie Redmayne as Colin Clark, documentary film maker, who worked as third AD on The Prince and the Showgirl (1956) and whose diaries supplied the basis for the story, screenplay by Adrian Hodges. Monroe loved Clark's youthful attraction to her and used it to her advantage. It freed her from the insecurities that were bogging her down and preventing her from giving the ultimate performance in The Prince and the Showgirl. She needed to relax and be supported in the positive way that Clark provided. Although their little 'affair' cooled down, she ended up giving a great performance, topping that of Sir Laurence Olivier, who so wanted to become a big box office star. Ironic, that both actors deeply wanted what they didn't have: Monroe to be considered a great actress and Olivier, the actor of all time, a big movie star.

Also wonderful in the film are Kenneth Branagh as Olivier, Dame Judi Dench, always a standout even in the smallest of roles as Dame Sybil Thorndike, Julia Ormond a charmer as Vivien Leigh, Emily Watson grownup and beautiful as Colin's girlfriend Lucy and Zoe Wanamaker so good as the clutching Paula Strasberg, who was like Marilyn's third arm.
This is a  loving portrait of the iconic star, who despite her well-known insecurities, was sweet and caring, adored by millions. Cinematography is gorgeous; the story attractive and playful, and Williams' work sublime, capturing in detail Monroe's genuine nature on and off screen.
5 stars

eddie redmayne and emily watson

Golden Globe Nominations 2012

http://broadwayworld.com/article/2012-GOLDEN-GLOBE-Nominations-Announced-20111215

review - Walk a Mile in My Pradas (2011)

tom arnold with nathaniel marston & tom archdeacon

RECOMMENDED
Walk a Mile in My Pradas (2011)
written by Rick Sudi Karatas & Tom Archdeacon
directed by Joey Sylvester

We can all stand a little magic in our lives this Christmas. Walk a Mile in My Pradas is just the kind of holiday film to brighten your day and put a smile on your face. It pretty much concerns a macho homophobe construction worker Tony (Nathaniel Marston) and a gay coworker on a new job site named Steve (Tom Archdeacon) who cannot get along. Through vengeful spite, each wishes that the other would switch lifestyles, and in the presence of a Christmas tree angel that blinks on and off, puf! the transformation inexplicably takes place. Suddenly Tony starts acting weird - like cooking and cruising guys in Gay bars, and Steve, to the dismay of lover Michael (Emrhys Cooper), begins to check out and fancy chicks. The film's unpredictability is somewhat in the vein of Big, where Tom Hanks' innocent wish comes true and he must face the consequences, no matter how bizarre or uncomfortable!

Growing up Catholic and realizing you're gay is a nightmare. Well, Tony's family (Dee Wallace, Mike Starr) are Italian Catholics and teacher Sister Betty (Bunny Levine) taught Tony as a boy that "gay is evil". Therein lie the roots of his intolerance. Capiche? When Tony encounters Sister Betty in the present - 20 years later - her response? "Times have changed. Get with it!" Oh, these fickle Catholics and their hypocritical devotion! This is but one example of ...Prada's topical hilarity.

Under Joey Sylvester's caring direction, the entire cast is delightful. Marston rightfully underplays his newfound weirdness, as does Archdeacon with his attraction to women. Relying on overly swishy or super macho behavior just would not work, period. Cooper adds color to Michael, who is appropriately baffled and heartbroken at his lover's sudden lack of interest. Equally confused is Tony's fiance Sarah played with restraint by Kirsten Lea. Dee Wallace hasn't been this funny since 10 as the obsessive English teacher/momma who starts mopping the floor incessantly when she even conceptualizes her son as gay. Tom Arnold is a hoot as the laid-back boss sort of caught in the middle of the sexual issue. Poker-faced Levine is a scream as Sister Betty, and kudos as well to writer Rick Karatas as friend Brian and especially to Lindsay Hollister as Laura. Overweight and out of place, she has one of the funniest lines in the movie regarding consternation with bulemia. Bruce Vilanch has a cute cameo as himself.

dee wallace with marston

Of course, there's a happy ending and everyone gets what they want - c'mon, it's Christmas! Is it possible to be lightweight, yet high on sweet? If so,

Walk a Mile in My Pradas fits the bill and makes for perfect holiday fare. It's breezy and uplifting!

4/5 stars

Walk a Mile in My Pradas was a winner in the 2011 Hoboken International Film Festival for Best Trailer and Best Supporting Actor Tom Archdeacon.

lindsay hollister & bruce vilanch

bunny levine as sister betty & rick karatas

emrhys cooper as michael

Press Screening : Walk a Mile in My Pradas

costars emrhys cooper and tom archdeacon flank me

costar and co-writer tom archdeacon

co-writer Rick Sudi Karatas

executive producer cooper selling the DVD

review above!

Special Screenings of Disney's Lion King

Hollywood’s legendary El Capitan Theatre welcomes The Lion King for the first time ever in Disney Digital 3D^™ from September 16 through October 6, 2011,The El Capitan will even provide “Kid Sized” 3D glasses for this one of a kind experience. A special live appearance by Timon is also featured at every performance.

news - The Help

(Viola Davis pictured)

This film based on the bestseller by Kathryn Stockett is causing a sensation and the Oscar buzz is that all actresses, including Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer should be nominated. Film also costars Sissy Spacek, Allison Janney, Mary Steenburgen and Cicely Tyson.