GreyDiva Reviews

Hot in Cleveland (2010–2015)

Wonderfully Nostalgic

[10/10 · 8 August 2010]

This show is written and produced and STARS all my old favorites. As a woman of "a certain age" I can tell you...I am tired of shows I am embarrassed to watch with my 15 year old or with my mother.

This show reminds me of when T.V. was funny, actors were talented, and t.v. didn't have to be a guilty pleasure. I want EVERYONE to know that I am a Hot in Cleveland fan. And how great is it to see Betty White, yet once again? I hope this show has a great run! One of the posters said she hated that it wasn't on a bigger network, so that it could attract more viewers. I don't. A bigger network would cancel this show in a heartbeat - there are no loud, drunk fistfights, no whorish sluts cursing each other out, no vampires, half dressed girls, no misogynistic men,or gratuitous sex.

For those who don't have the cable network, the way to see this show is to join Netflicks, MegaVideo, or I-tunes. The price is worth it to keep this show coming.

Madagascar (2005)

You Can Take The Kids

[10/10 · 13 June 2005]

I normally HATE kids movies, and feel tortured when I must accompany my godchildren. But this movie made the laugh out loud. REALLY laugh. I was awake, amused, and engaged. By the way, my 10-year old god-daughter liked it too.

Once you get past the prerequisite cutesiness, you can appreciate the multiple levels of humor, the intelligence, the pace and length of the movie, and the good clean fun.

There are plenty of jokes than are relevant to adult pop culture without leaving the kids out. There were definite Ben Stiller, Dave Schimmer, Ced the Entertainer moments. If you are a fan of any of these comedians, you will not be disappointed. The minor characters were just as funny as the major ones were.

Sabrina (1995)

What went wrong???

[3/10 · 26 May 2003]

I am a fan of the movie "Sabrina". I am a fan of Harrison Ford and Greg Kennear. Sidney Pollack is a great director. So what happened? There is a saying "Say nothing if your words cannot improve the silence." That is my sentiment on remakes - especially in the case of this movie. Stick to the original !! How could such an "A list" cast yield such a lemon, I will never know. So much of what made the original movie endearing or humorous was removed for the sake of modernization, and never replaced by anything nearly as engaging or romantic.

Nancy Marchand as the family matriarch, while killing off the hailarious father of the original movie was abrasive and garish. Harrison Ford's attempt to be distant and lonely came off as grimacing pain. Maybe he was attempting to imitate Bogart's trademark facial expression, but even Bogie shelved his famous facial tics to play Linus Larrabee. Kennear, who came off hapless and vulnerable in "As Good As it Gets" just seems feckless and pathetic in this role. There is no way anyone could understand why Sabrina has loved this man all her life without once seeing his true faults. There is not enough chemistry between our modern Cinderella and either brother to create a tug of war in Sabrina's heart. If I were she, I would have dumped both the Larrabee duds of this update and run off with Papa's secretly stashed $2 million (another addition of the update).

The only thing they updated well was Julia Ormand's startling transformation once she reached Paris, and the ingenious idea of making her a photographer. The point that "love conquers class" was downplayed for modern audiences. But the remaining themes play lukewarm and weak.

In a Lonely Place (1950)

"Anger Management" is nothing new...

[9/10 · 25 May 2003]

...and this movie proves it. Watch out Adam Sandler because Bogie beat you to the punch (literally). This is not one of Bogart's more famous works, but for fans of his romantic works, it's a must. There are some great snappy one-liners. The bittersweet ending comes as a surprise. The tense final few minutes are theatrical directing genius, but it also works pretty well for film.

The only thing missing was a motivation/explanation for Dix's short fuse, but juxtaposition of Bogart's fury and Gloria Grahame's gentle, faithful love is spell binding. Gloria Grahame is a perfect leading lady for Bogart. It's a pity this combination wasn't repeated, because their chemistry rivals Bogart/Bacall, and Bogart/Hepburn for sure.

Two Moon Junction (1988)

Best Acted Porn Movie I've Ever Seen!!

[16 March 2003]

The leads are charismatic and the story -- though cliched, is charming. The pathos of the double-minded complexities traditional southern family is interspersed with good old knee quivering sex!! As all have commented, Sherilyn Fenn and Richard Tyson make it impossible to take your eyes off them. Otherwise, hit the FF button until they appear again. Burl Ives and Louise Fletcher make wonderful villians.

I would love to learn how they keep all that white clean -- I can't wear white for more than five minutes, much less all the exertion these folks keep up!!

Under the Cherry Moon (1986)

If you don't like it, it's because you don't get it

[16 March 2003]

I grew up watching Black and White romances with utterly charming leading men and hopelessly beautiful women who fall in love in a space and time that doesn't exist in the real world. I miss that element from modern movies. Although a tad bit inept as a film-maker, Prince more than adequately conveys mood, sensuality, humor, glamour, and plain fun in this HIGHLY stylized B&W movie. He captured the capriciousness of old B&W studio films that were totally star driven. He gets away with it all because HE IS PRINCE.

Prince fans hated with movie and album. For me, the reverse was true. It was this film and this soundtrack that turned me into a Prince fan. When I want a good laugh and a poignant cry, I pop in this movie and remember "sometimes it snows in April".

The Long Walk Home (1990)

This is an oft overlooked gem !!

[9/10 · 21 August 2000]

Whoopie Goldberg got gypped in 1990, when she was nominated for, and won Best SUPPORTING actress for the movie "Ghost". THIS was the movie she should have been nominated for; in the BEST ACTRESS category. This was one of the finest performances of the year, and definitely of Ms. Goldberg's career. Regrettably, she is too well remembered as a comedienne. People forget how well she handles drama. This is a performance worth seeing. Sissy Spacek is fresh and forthright; and the story manages to be didactic without being heavy handed.

13 Frightened Girls (1963)

One young girl saves the day !!!

[8/10 · 13 June 1999]

This movie has gotten terrible reviews. Leonard Maltin called it "juvenile" and "pure camp" as did T.V. guide.

I saw it for the first time when I was about ten years old. I have never forgotten this movie, and it stands in my mind as one of my most beloved childhood movies. (So I supposed the "juvenile" is appros.)

This movie is fresh and fun. If you loved movies such as "The Trouble With Angels" or The "Tammy" series, for you this is a must see. Or if you're a Sandra Dee fan, you'll enjoy Kathy Dunn as Candy.

A young diplomat's daughter tries to play grown up as a spy. Of course she gets in over her head. And watching her get out of it is all the fun. Enjoy!!!!