Thursday 4 May 2006

Cornucopia n. abundant supply

42nd Street (Fri 7 1250A), made in 1933, the archetype musical from which all others are derived.

Splendor in the Grass (Sat 9 2P) starring Natalie Wood and directed by Elia Kazan (he of the little known On the Waterfront, Streetcar Named Desire, East of Eden). About a young girl in love with Bud who is in love with more than her mind. Social values are challenged until the world around them changes with the market crash of 1929 forcing them to reconsider their choices.

To Be and to Have (Sun SBS 930P) is a French documentary filmed in 2002 and was released on our screens last year. It tells the sweet and endearing story of a provincial school teacher in charge of twelve, 4 to 10 year olds as this seemingly simple doco encompasses themes as broad as the French schooling system and “the enigma of childhood.”

All About My Mother (Wed SBS 10P) {another one for the punters with a role for Pen. Cruz}, this Spanish drama is directed by Pedro Almodovar who most recently has also directed Bad Education and Talk to Her, both of which have hit our screens at least for a short time. Nominated for best director at the Oscars in 2002, Almodovar actually took home the statuette for best original screenplay.
While it would be fair to say Paul Kalina in the Age is no fan of this film or its director, I think it will be worth the effort.

Swordfish (Sat 9 930P) is a pretty stupid movie but it has the most out of place, gratuitous “money shot” with Halle Berry, right in the middle of it. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I haven't seen Swordfish, isn't it meant to be about hacking or something completely stupid? Gee that makes two good reasons to see it.

Anonymous said...

Swordfish is worth a look, despite the comments of Captain Blogger.

Yes the plot is silly, and gets very silly in spots. Jackman and Travolta work well though, as does Berry and Cheadle. Travolta plays it right up. At the end of the movie Travolta's motive is clarified in a clunky fashion. Had they started with this premise as a storyline, I think it would have made for a more interesting filum.

And regarding the oft talked about "money shot" of Ms Berry, there is a later one that I think is better, and that is all I will enter into on the subject.

Suffice to say:
Hail Berry.....