Garbo46 Reviews

The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

Would Rather See a Concert with Margaret Preece

[4/10 · 29 August 2007]

What drew me to watch this movie on DVD was Emmy Rossum. I listened to a song that she recently released, and liked it. Plus, she made a comment about not becoming a "slutty singer," which appealed to my sensibilities. I thought she did a good job in Phantom.

The most enjoyable character for me was Carlotta. Driver was funny, and before learning that she did not do her own singing, I thought she was phenomenal. Margaret Preece has a more operatic voice than Rossum, and I liked her numbers more.

I guess you have to be into musicals to enjoy all the singing. I would have chosen to make a movie more like "Cabaret," where the singing occurs in a place where you'd expect it to, a cabaret. There is plenty of plot off stage to provide the drama and dialogue for a movie without characters bursting into song every minute or so. The sword fight in the cemetery is a good non-musical scene, and about the only exciting part for me.

I also did not quite understand why all the characters and audience in the film would recoil so dramatically because of the phantom's disfigurement. He didn't look that bad to me.

Anyway, even with those familiar tunes from the stage play, I was still yawning way before the movie finished.

The Mystic Masseur (2001)

Much Ado About Nothing

[1/10 · 21 August 2007]

Some of the reviews I read are so intellectual and consider all sorts of aspects, which I suppose is the mark of a true movie lover. I am not an intellectual and rarely read more things into a script than I see. This movie just seemed silly to me, with village folks putting great emphasis on what, admittedly to me, are small things. I thought it made a general statement that these people are cheap, always concerned with the cost of everything and resentful of spending. I doubt that is an overall characteristic of Trinidadians. My other half and I both began falling asleep watching this. We finally decided to watch the rest of it the next morning. Sure enough, we were yawning and staring blankly until the end while enjoying our morning coffee. I am glad there are folks who enjoyed it, and agree that it is definitely not commercial.

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

Oh brother is right!

[3/10 · 8 July 2007]

Thought I would give a comment to balance out all those glowing reviews. When I watch a movie, I don't try to find a lot of symbolism or try to tie the scenes to great literature of the past. I just watch movies to see what I see, and enjoy it or not. This was an "or not" for me. There were very few scenes that were funny to me. I did not find myself caring for any of the characters. When Everett just sat like an idiot while Big Dan clubbed his companion, I lost whatever sympathy I may have had for Everett. I also cannot imagine that the participants in a KKK rally would march around like a high school band from the land of Oz. Maybe that was supposed to be humorous, I don't know. Being from Mississippi, I also did not appreciate that the state was presented as some exaggerated, grotesque caricature of how some people probably perceive the state. The scenery was also not as attractive as what I've personally seen in the state. I'm sorry, I just thought all the characters were stupid, foolish, self-centered and with no common sense. Again, maybe that was supposed to be humorous. I did enjoy some of the singing, but since I knew Clooney was lip-synching, I didn't have to be impressed with him. These are not characters I would want to know nor have around me. Oh brother is right!

The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax (1999 TV Movie)

Go, Granny, Go!!

[8/10 · 8 May 2007]

Thought I'd write about this movie to balance out some of the more negative reviews. I really enjoyed this movie. For those of us who do NOT read the novel and then kavetch about how it was portrayed on film, this is a perfectly entertaining offer. Yes, Lansbury is good in the title role. She seems slightly more vulnerable than in her "Murder She Wrote" series, but her spirit drives her on. I find Thomas Ian Griffith most affable in this, and his concern for Mrs. Polifax is almost like a son loving his mother. I particularly enjoyed John Light as Robin Hughes-Wright. He's got the most adorable grin. Just found out he married the actress Neve Campbell recently, too. For me, all the twists and turns and changes in locales were all interesting. I liked this TV movie, and if your expectations are not all tied up in your literary pursuits, perhaps you will also.

Daddy and Them (2001)

A Little Less Than OK

[2/10 · 16 March 2007]

After reading a number of IMDb reviews, I looked forward to this movie. I'm from the deep south, Mississippi, and love southern stories with eccentric characters. However, I did not identify with much in this movie. First of all, the dialogue is so heavy on the f-word that I felt embarrassed and annoyed. Southerners have more dignity and elegance. These are characters I would never want to live next door. I don't really know people quite so rude, and openly discussing sex in public is a no-no for southerners I have known. Of course, maybe I know more of those for whom the Bible-belt actually has meaning. Even when the moments become more tender towards the end, the scenes are too long and soon become boring. For me, the movie "Sordid Lives" offers a better depiction of colorful southern characters, and if you really want an odd role for Andy Griffith, see "Rustlers' Rhapsody." I can see why there was a problem with distribution of this picture. After we'd seen "Daddy & Them," my little southern group agreed that the movie is "a little less than OK."

Do Not Disturb (1965)

My Favorite Doris Day Entrance

[9/10 · 14 September 2006]

Doris Day's later films were routinely criticized by critics. However, as a fan, I found many of them to be sublime. Just watching Doris was a wonder for me as a teenager. I rather enjoyed Doris in this film, trying to turn an old house into a palace for her husband, Rod Taylor. I enjoyed Hermione Baddeley as her caring landlady. For me, the whole point of this film was Doris' entrance into the no-wives party for wool distributors. When she arrives, takes off her white coat to reveal a figure-clinging, gold sequined gown, I was absolutely captivated! Of course, I'm a big Doris Day fan, and the sight of her walking down steps into the party was a special highlight for all my years of adoring Doris! It's not a bad film, I just think people expect too much of a romantic romp. Doris is superb at playing someone who has had too much to drink. Actually, she is superb at just about everything she does. That's my take on it.

Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)

A Big Disappointment to Me

[4/10 · 20 July 2006]

I don't know about the book this movie was based upon or anything like that. My partner and I had seen previews in various places and thought the movie would be exciting and colorful, but we only watched the DVD recently. Wow, what a disappointment! I know women probably had few choices during this time period, but a movie based on a small girl carrying a crush for so long on a man who bought her a snowball seemed lame to me. Behind the scenes at the geisha house seemed like drag queens squabbling. I kept thinking that Joan Collins kind of looks like a geisha nowadays! Or a mime, I can't decide. Geishas may have been artists and not courtesans, but the movie made it seem the ultimate was still to find a rich man to finance the "eel and the cave" story. The cinematography was interesting; and the music was beautiful, although overblown for the story I thought. If you don't like ritual and cultures that do not allow for showing your true feelings, then you may not enjoy this movie.

Sordid Lives (2000)

If you're deep-south southern, someone will remind you of somebody.

[9/10 · 11 July 2006]

After many viewings, this has become my favorite movie. I was born in Mississippi, so I can detect semblances of relatives in all the characters! Beth Grant is a gem, probably the best actress to ever play a deep south character. If you watch repeatedly you start to appreciate the nuances of the phrasing, the gestures, and facial expression. Newton-John's singing is pivotal in the staging of important scenes. I would think "Ain't It a Bitch" would make a great song to sing in taverns and hillbilly bars to get the action flowing, and her song in the credits is fantastic. Don't know why it wasn't pushed to be a pop hit. All the actors are superb, fleshing out their characters with great aplomb. Relatives getting together for a funeral provides a great premise for messages of self-acceptance, being non-judgmental, spotting hypocrisy, being fabulous, and seeing the absurdity and joy of life even in an atmosphere of death. Good show!