The Majestic, 2001

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!
Sydney Pollack--David Ogden Stiers



Director: Frank Darabont

Stars: Jim Carrey, Martin Landau, David Ogden Stiers, Sydney Pollack (voice)




Peter Appleton (Carrey), a writer in 1950's Hollywood, is on the verge of being arrested for being a Communist, which he's not.  He goes for a long drive, gets in an accident, and wakes up with no memory of who he is.  The man who finds him brings him into town, where the whole town mistakes him for Luke Trimble, a man reported MIA 8 years prior.

Not knowing who he actually is, he tries to remember being Luke, and turns the town upside down in the process.

This is a slow-moving story, and I thought it was sweet.  Very unbelievable of course, but still sweet.  It's so nice to see Jim Carrey in something that isn't comedy!

NOTE:  I recognized the voice of Luke Trimble right away!  It's Matt Damon!  I love his voice.  

Made of Honor, 2008

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!
Patrick Dempsey--Sydney Pollack



Director: Paul Weiland

Stars: Patrick Dempsey, Michelle Monaghan, Kevin McKidd, Sydney Pollack





Womanizer Tom (Dempsey) met Hannah (Monaghan) in college, and since then, they've been best friends.  Tom is with a different woman practically every night, but Hannah is his special girl he can do anything with, including take home to his messed-up family.  Hannah wishes Tom would see her as more than a friend, but can't wait around forever.  While visiting Scotland for a few weeks, she meets, and gets engaged to, Colin (McKidd)-- just when Tom was thinking she was the perfect girl!

Hannah asks Tom to be her Maid of Honor, and after he discusses it with his friends, he says yes- because he wants to be in on the planning, and he really plans to steal the bride.

This is rated R, and it certainly deserves it.  It just reminds me of how much I HATE romantic comedies these days.

Enchanted, 2007

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!
Amy Adams-- Patrick Dempsey


Director: Kevin Lima

Stars: Amy Adams, Susan Sarandon, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden






Giselle (Adams) lives in a fairy-tale world, but she is banished to New York by an evil queen (Sarandon).  In the real world, Giselle meets a lawyer (Dempsey), whose daughter takes a liking to Giselle, and he soon finds himself liking her as well, though he is puzzled by her innocent outlook on life.  And her strange gift for communicating with animals.

This is a silly fairy tale movie.  Real people, cartoons, a huge musical number in Central Park, an evil queen who turns into a dragon, a hero, a princess--this one has everything!  And it's cute and funny, as well.

Julie and Julia, 2009

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!!
Stanley Tucci-- Amy Adams




Director: Nora Ephron

Stars: Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci









Julie (Adams) decides to start a blog going through Julia Child's (Streep) book "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" in one year.  To her surprise, her blog takes off and becomes very popular, soon taking over her life, in a way, and she neglects her husband, among other things.

This movie takes on Julie's story, while going back in time and going through Julia's story as she was writing the cookbook.  It's a very sweet movie, touching at times, and you should definitely have soem good food ready to eat!  You will be hungry.

Swing Vote, 2008

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!!
Kevin Costner-- Stanley Tucci



Director: Joshua Michael Stern

Stars: Kevin Costner, Madeline Carroll, Paula Patton, Kelsey Grammer, Stanley Tucci, Dennis Hopper, Nathan Lane, Judge Reinhold








Bud Johnson (Costner) is an alcoholic factory-worker, whose over-achieving daughter, Molly (Carroll), wants him to get more involved in everything, especially on Election Day.  Bud is supposed to meet her at the polls, but ends up passed out in his truck.  Molly is desperate, and when the volunteer falls asleep, she signs her father's name, takes his ballot, and prepares to cast his vote.  The ballot is in the machine, when it loses power suddenly, and Molly dashes out, the vote incomplete.

It doesn't take long for the authorities to figure out who didn't cast their vote.  And maybe it wouldn't have mattered, except the Presidential election ends up hanging on the electoral votes in New Mexico, in Bud's county, and surprise, surprise-- on Bud's vote.  Yes, it is discovered that Bud Johnson is the man who will pick the next President of the United States! 

The Bodyguard, 1992

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!
Debbie Reynolds-- Kevin Costner



Director: Mick jackson

Stars: Kevin Costner, Whitney Houston, Gary Kemp, Ralph Waite, Debbie Reynolds










This is one of those movies (like The Fugitive and Independence Day) that I can't stop watching whenever it's on tv and I am bored and channel-surfing.  This almost never happens, but still!

Former secret service agent Frank Farmer (Costner) gets a new job: he becomes a diva's bodyguard.  Rachel (Houston) has been receiving death threats and crazy letters, and although she knows she needs a bodyguard, she and frank clash instantly.  Rachel is used to having things her way, but Frank insists on certain precautions being taken.  After more attempts are made on her life, she begins to trust Frank, and do what he says.

I really enjoy watching this one.  But I can't say I like the end.  SPOILER!  Why couldn't they just end up together?  Not entirely happy....

Singin in the Rain, 1952

(Originally posted: March 11, 2012)
THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!
Gene Kelly-- Debbie Reynolds

Director: Stanley Donan, Gene Kelly

Choreographer: Gene Kelly

Stars: Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen, Cyd Charisse

Silent film star Don Lockwood (Kelly) and his on-screen partner Lina Lamont (Hagen) need to start making the transition to "talking pictures" like all the other Hollywood studios are doing. The problem is: Lina has the most awful voice! She works as a silent film star, but in public, the studio keeps her from talking at all costs!

On the way to one of his studio parties, Don meets Kathy (Reynolds), who doesn't fall for his tricks, and promptly puts the great star in his place. Then, unfortunately for her, their paths cross again at the party, where she is one of the hired dancers for entertainment.

Don can't stop thinking about Kathy, which is probably because she was the first girl not to fall for any of his lines, as his friend Cosmo (O'Connor) told him. When they accidentally meet again, he doesn't waste any time letting her know how he feels, and their romance begins. But Lina is still a problem. Not only is her voice horrendous, but she also seems to think that she and Don should be together.

This is the greatest American musical ever made! I think this one and The Sound of Music are definitely tied for my favorite musical of all time.

American Graffiti, 1973

Director: George Lucas

Stars: Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul le Mat, Cindy Williams, Harrison Ford





A bunch of teenagers cruise around Main Street showing off their cars (it's the 50's) and hanging out before leaving for college the next day.  It's one of those teenage movies, very slow, not terrible, just not terribly interesting.  I don't know, I'm just not crazy about it.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off, 1986

Director: John Hughes

Stars: Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jennifer Grey, Ben Stein





Ferris Bueller (Broderick) decides he needs a day off of high school and comes up with an elaborate scheme in order to pull it off. (Including a recorded message that plays when the doorbell rings!) He gets his best friends off, too, and together they set out for a day in Chicago, doing whatever they please, and ending the day by singing in a parade.

I love love love this movie! Ferris is hysterical. It's the perfect film for a rainy day.

Summer Stock, 1950

(Originally posted: March 9, 2012)
THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!
Eddie Bracken-- Gene Kelly

Director: Charles Walters

Choreography: Nick Castle

Stars: Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Eddie Bracken, Gloria DeHaven

Jane (Garland) has to deal with getting the crops in and taking care of her family's farm all by herself because her sister Abigail (DeHaven) has left for school. But Abigail is scheduled to return and when she does, Jane is sure she will help out. Instead, Abigail brings all her friends with her- to use the barn to put on a great production. Jane is upset, especially when she meets Joe (Kelly), the director, and they don't get along. But they workout a deal so that Joe and the rest will work on the farm every morning to earn their keep.

But when Abigail and the male lead decide to leave for a better job in New York, Joe convinces Jane to take on the female lead, so they don't have to return all the money from the ticket sales.

Sorry, Fred, but Gene is my favorite dancer! Fred was suave and elegant; Gene was athletic and powerful. And both were BRILLIANT, with all capitals. I guess Gene was better looking, anyway, and that may be part of the reason.

Oscar, 1991

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!
Tim Curry-- Eddie Bracken




Director: John Landis

Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Ornella Muti, Don Ameche, Peter Riegert, Vincent Spano, Tim Curry, Marisa Tomei, Eddie Bracken, Kurtwood Smith, Kirk Douglas




Gangster Angelo "Snaps" Provolone (Stallone) is finally going straight like he promised his dying father he would.  But the day he decides to become a banker and has the board of directors over is the very day his entire household is under police surveillance, he finds out one of his employees has been stealing from him, and the thief asks to marry his only daughter.  A few identical suitcases full of jewels and cash and women's underwear, respectively, add extra intrigue to the whole situation.

I LOVE this movie!

Charlie's Angels, 2000

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!
Bill Murray-- Tim Curry


Director: McG (We Are Marshall, This Means War)

Stars: Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu, Drew Barrymore, Bill Murray, Tim Curry






Okay, just going to be honest here: although, I've seen it, it's probably been 12 years.  As in, I saw it when it first came out, and then never bothered again since it obviously wasn't that great.  I will say that's a silly remake of an old tv show from the '70s.

It seems the "thing" these days to remake tv shows.  I can't wait for Magnum PI, the movie!  I'm thinking Bradley Cooper.....but he already someone in a tv show-turned-movie....maybe Ryan Reynolds?

The Man Who Knew Too Little, 1997

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!
Alfred Molina--Bill Murray



Director: Jon Amiel (Entrapment)

Stars: Bill Murray, Peter Gallagher, Joanne Whalley, Alfred Molina




It's his birthday, and Wallace (Murray) heads to London to visit his brother James, who unfortunately, is busy that night, so he sends his brother on a unique London experience for a few hours.  He gets him tickets for the "Theatre of Life", where you don't even have to learn your lines, and you can be an actor for a night in a thrilling plot!

James drops Wallace off at a phone booth where the "Theatre of Life" will begin, and Wallace gets  a mysterious call for "Spenser," giving him an address and instructions.  Wallace goes along with the evening, not knowing that he's in on an assassination plot, and that call was not from the "Theatre of Life!"

Obviously, this is a spy comedy of mistaken identity, and it truly is funny how it keeps going on.  It's not the cleanest, though not that dirty.  If you're in the mood for a spy comedy, you'll like it.

Chocolat, 2000

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!
Johnny Depp--Alfred Molina




Director: Lasse Hallstrom (An Unfinished Life, Something to Talk About)

Stars: Juliette Binoche, Judi Dench, Lena Olin, Johnny Depp, Alfred Molina





When Vianne (Binoche) and her daughter move into the village and open a chocolatery during Lent, the good Catholics in the village are a little upset.  And things don't get any better when a group of gypsies sails down the river and decides to stay a while.

Don't watch during Lent, and go buy some delicious chocolate to eat while watching!  I love this movie!  It's not the cleanest, just as a warning- there is a little bit of sex, and some language, but overall, it's sweet and funny.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, 2005

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!
Helena Bonham-Carter --- Johnny Depp


Director: Tim Burton (Batman Forever, Edward Scissorhands)

Stars: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter, Freddie Highmore, Christopher Lee, David Kelly





Charlie Bucket (Highmore) finds one of the golden tickets inside a chocolate Wonka Bar and goes on a tour of Wonka's Chocolate factory with 5 other lucky children.  They all get to see just how strange the mysterious Mr. Wonka really is.

I'm not a fan of Tim Burton and his strange films, but this one is kinda cute.  The Oompa Loompas are weird, but funny.

The King's Speech, 2010

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!
Guy Pearce--Helena Bonham-Carter


Director: Tom Hooper

Stars: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham-Carter, Guy Pearce





LOVE IT!

In the days before World War II, when radio broadcasts were carrying voices across nations and the world, a stammering prince (Firth) turns to a speech therapist (Rush) for help overcoming his speech problem.  And when his brother the king abdicates to marry a divorced woman, he is next in line for the  throne.

I don't want to say much because it's so wonderful you have to see it for yourself.  I will only say one thing: it is rated R for language, which is actually kind of funny, because throughout the course the speech therapy, they find that Bertie (Firth) doesn't stutter when he swears.  So at 2 or 3 points in the film, he is just swearing up a storm.  It's funny!

Gidget, 1959

Director: Paul Wendkos


Stars: Sandra Dee, James Darren, Cliff Robertson






Francie (Dee) heads to the beach for the summer and convinces Moondoggie (Darren) to teach her how to surf.

It's a bit silly, and definitely a summer movie, and the way they make it look like they're actually surfing is, of course, old school, and therefore, hilarious!  WOrth watching if you're in "summer movie" mood.

If A Man Answers, 1962

Director: Henry Levin




Stars: Sandra Dee, Bobby Darin, Stefanie Powers, Cesar Romero








Chantel (Dee) marries photographer Eugene (Darin), and, following her mother's advice, she attempts to train her new husband as if he were a dog.  When he catches on, a battle of the sexes ensues.

I love discovering silly comedies from the 50's and 60's.  This one was cute, and not too silly.  I had never seen anything with Sandra Dee before, and I thought she was funny.

L.A. Confidential, 1997

Director: Curtis Hanson



Stars: Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey, Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito









AWFUL!  I couldn't finish it.  I hated everything I saw.  It's a film noir, so obviously it's all depressing and everyone swears and dies and is naked and corrupt.  I just forgot what "film noir" meant, I guess.

Hud, 1963

Director: Martin Ritt

Stars: Paul Newman, Melvyn Douglas, Patricia Neal

Hud (Newman) can't get along with his father, or anyone else, and when he's drunk, he acts like a complete moron.  Very slow-moving, and depressing, really.  Not worth watching.  Sorry, Paul.