I Don't Know Why You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello

So I recently caught the end of the the 1977 "The Goodbye Girl"on television, and then decided to watch the whole movie again because I remembered how much I love it. I have never been a huge fan of Richard Dreyfuss, but watching this again when I am past my phase where I think in order to be hot you had to look like Leonardo DiCaprio (oh, Titanic, how you messed with my fickle 14 year old self), he is definitely rising on my list of stars. He is not what you would call really handsome I don't think, but I have to say that his role in "The Goodbye Girl" is so wonderful, and he is so charming in it, that I can see how anyone would be attracted to him (hello Elliot Garfield!). He's so cute in that movie, and you just don't expect it because come on, it's Richard Dreyfuss.

Neil Simon, who wrote the play that this movie is a version of, is probably one of the best playwrights of modern stage/film. His work is infused with wit and humor, and has an incredible sense of lightness while dealing with serious, everyday issues. It is my belief that you only get through the hard times with laughter and optimism, so obviously his work attracts me.

For example, the scene where Paula gets her purse and all her money stolen, Neil Simon lightens it up with Elliot's personality making it amusing for the viewers, even though Paula is about to break down. However, she picks herself up and tries to find a solution, which is very admirable and real for a woman in the situation she is in in the film.

Anyway, I don't have much criticism. I love this movie that is about two people who are not beautiful in the way that movies about two people starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are. They are normal people in normal(ish) situations who try so hard that you can't not like them. I give this movie 5 stars out of 5, it might become one of my favorite comedies, and is also moving up on my favorite movies list. That scene with Marsha Mason in the face mast when Elliot has just gotten punched, and he finally makes a move is one of the most romantic scenes that I have ever seen on film.

The Path of Love!

I went to see Watchmen at the midnight opening this weekend. It was very good, and I recommend it. I think I would like to see it again (which is, well let's face it, not unusual for me, but still...). Good music, a wonderful adaptation as far as they go, and well performed by the actors. I actually felt more about the characters in the movie--they seemed more human (imagine that, actors seeming more human than characters on a page--I think it's because they turned up the hotness factor on everyone!) Anyway, that is all I will say about it for now, because I want to get on to more important matters, and that is Bollywood!

As you can already see, I talk about this constantly. The poor people around me must listen to me prattle on. Oh well. I just watched a film that I have not seen for about a year, and that is Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, with who else but my favorite, Aamir Khan. I liked it a bunch more the second time around, and I know that it is on many people's top 5 list of his films. However, this leads me to a post that I was going to do earlier, but didn't have time. This is my post about Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (I've heard it translated as "We Are Traveller's on the Path of Love", although I'm not positive as to how acurate this is...although it makes sense).

Anyone who knows anything about Hindi cinema knows that most films of this industry have a love story (in my opinion, they're usually pretty good, although they do veer dangerously into "cheese" territory sometimes). This story is about Rahul, a young man who has to give up his education because his sister and brother-in-law just died in a car accident, and he has to take care of their three children and the factory that they left behind. He enlists the help of a runaway heiress, Vyjantin(Juhi Chawla) with the children, and of course they fall in love! It's a loose remake of Houseboat with Cary Grant, and if you've seen Raising Helen (shudder), it's kind of the same idea.

From 1993, it is my second favorite of his films. I've read rumors that he helped write it, but again, they're just rumors. I believe this film was his fifth film with Juhi Chawla (they made seven together if my counting is correct), and they are simply fabulous in it. They were quite a popular pairing, after they both made breakout performances in the 1988 Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. Think along the lines of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, or some other really popular pairing. Hum Hain...is in my opinion their best film together because the writing and the set design, the story and their performances all just click together beautifully. They do not live in the super rich houses of later Bollywood (see virtually all big blockbuster films today), although they are rich enough to employ a servant. However there is the ever present lurking of poverty in all that Rahul does. Also, the low budget for the film and the set design give the story a simplicity and realism that, despite the complexity of the twists the plot takes, grounds the film in a certain sense of reality (at least, in relation to films like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham).

The hilarity of this film cannot be underestimated, especially if you are unused to Bollywood humor (it takes a while to get comedies such as Andaz Apna Apna for some people I think). Note especially the long time it takes for Rahul to discover that the kids are hiding Vyjanti in his house because he is just clueless...it's not like they're hiding her well! See also the scene where everyone somehow ends up in Rahul's house in the middle of the night chasing each other. It's classic! Lots of great musical numbers, and a happy ending make this movie nearly perfect in my opinion. I could watch it over and over again continuously.

Also, one little note...I love Aamir Khan, obviously, but the person who really makes this movie is Juhi Chawla. She's just so cute in it! Her expressions, her comedic timing, is all so wonderful that I think that she steals the show in this film. She also has to speak two different languages in it (which may or may not be impressive to you, as I believe this is common in most parts of the world except America...but I'm impressed because I'm American and can thus only speak one language fluently), and according to some web posters that I have read, she does a good job of it. Anyway, it's hard to find (although there are sites you can get it on), but I highly recommend this movie! Mostly, the feeling it leaves you with is one of pure, undiluted happiness!

P.S. Check out the three or four scenes in which giant egg fights ensue!

Skim or 2 %?

And the winner for most horrid dress ever is.....drumroll...Tilda Swinton! Now I know she didn't pick it, but it was still just so bad.

Okay, so we'll touch briefly on a new film in this post, Milk, starring Sean Penn and James Franco.

I saw Milk last week after Sean Penn won the Oscar. Since everybody thought that would go to Mickey Rourke (who was very good in The Wrestler) I thought it was time to stop putting off the film and go see it (now I have to stop putting off Frost/Nixon. Why is it so hard to make yourself go see the serious, good films?)

Anyway, Sean Penn definitely deserved the Oscar. Milk was a fabulous film, and he was wonderful in it. While it's hard bringing fictional characters to life on film, it has to be even harder to try and imitate and breath life into the film projection of a real person. Sean Penn was able to do that so well. He made you care deeply about this person who was basically a regular person trying to make a difference. There wasn't much special about him (no freakish talent) except that he was a kind, decent human being willing to stand up for what is right.

Now I've heard arguments that the award was just political since California just voted down gay marriage. All I have to say is I think this is baloney. Sean Penn deserved that award. When people say "the Oscar's are political" they don't mean that the people voting are voting on a candidate or film because of the way legislation goes through in the United States. When they say that in the film industry (or in things like student elections, church elections, etc.) what they mean is that there is more involved than who deserves it: who's more popular, who scratches whose back, etc.

Anyway, I loved this movie, and hope it does well, because I believe that it has one of the most important messages of any film this year. The script is very nice, and all the actors deserve kudos for their wonderful performances. I do recommend it because it is such a well made film, although it is also very sad.