Fitzweldon Reviews

Too Many Husbands (1940)

Fun, carefree romp!

[6/10 · 17 January 2007]

Fred MacMurray is the long lost husband who returns to the scene to find that his wife, Jean Arthur is married to new husband, Melvyn Douglas. Arthur's character must choose which husband to keep. The viewer is compelled to want both men to win Arthur's hand; they are both charming. The plot is simple but the fun, witty dialog and situations that develop are very entertaining. I loved MacMurray and Douglas' tails and top hats. The ball gowns were lovely to look at. It's amusing to watch the dancing style in the party scene; lively, silly and fun. A fine, light movie to enjoy with popcorn and the family or champagne with a friend.

Lost in Translation (2003)

Loved It? Hated It? No, I Liked It.

[12 June 2004]

**SPOILERS** Interesting movie. Lots of looks and comments to be interpreted. Lots of things to wonder about. I really enjoyed the look into Japan. How sad, though, that a whole society is trying to emulate the USA. It looked like "Las Vegas, the Country".

I feel the movie's whole point was to provoke thought. Is this how it is; is this how it will be? Murray was very good at playing the role of Bob Harris very low key.

I was pleased that Coppola didn't fall into the usual old/young man/woman have sex thing. But I was disappointed that Murray's character ended up having sex with the lounge singer. Why? Must every man express weariness with his marriage by sleeping with somebody? It did absolutely nothing for Harris except give him the typical morning after embarrassment.

The movie is definitely worth two hours of your life.

Damage (1992)

Wonderful! Get Lost for 2 Hours!

[9/10 · 12 January 2004]

I've seen this movie several times and keep coming back to it. It's a marvelous story of obsessive love and to what it can lead. Irons is wonderfully cast as the man with a ho-hum life and what he can become. Do not watch this movie with an eye towards morality. He did wrong, period. But the exploration of the wrong deed is stunning. Malle's direction was excellent. Irons' run down the spiral staircase is permanently etched in my mind. I'll keep watching this movie over and over, over the years.

Adaptation. (2002)

Great Brain Food

[11 August 2003]

I really loved this movie. It was so much fun to try and figure out what was going on and who these people were. The relationship between Charles and Donald was great. I was thoroughly engrossed for two hours, which is something that doesn't happen to me often when I watch movies.

Hilary and Jackie (1998)

Disappointed in What Should Have Remained Hidden

[6/10 · 14 July 2003]

This movie left me with a bad impression of the cellist. Must we know everything about an artist? Is nothing to remain private? She left her beautiful music behind for generations to enjoy. Now, her brother and sister, through the book and the movie, have shared with us what should have remained hidden. Jackie tells her sister that she wants to sleep with her husband, the sister actually agrees, and the husband allows himself to be talked into it. I don't buy the idea that she was is such emotional need that only a screw with her sister's husband could "help". The fact that she ended up with a particularly dibilitating form of MS is, of course, a tragedy. But etched in my mind as I listen to her recordings will always be the tragedy of this terrible threesome.

Lost Junction (2003)

Pleasantly quirky!

[7/10 · 1 March 2003]

I was not planning on watching this movie - just happened to come across it right at the beginning on USA Channel and thought I'd sit through the first 5 minutes. I ended up with it to the very end. The best part of the movie was the excellent character development and the fascinating interactions they had with each other throughout the film.

You never knew where Neve Campbell's character was going next and Billy Burke was great being positively perplexed.

This movie is definately worth seeing.

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

Really Different & Unexpected!

[9/10 · 21 December 2001]

It started off weird, the middle was weird, and the ending was weird, but I really, really liked it. A modern day version of Homer's Odyessy but that is really irrelevant. Interesting story and casting. Clooney was great and I applaud him for taking on such an adverterous role - so unlike anything he has done or ever will do again. Lots of surprise stars - why isn't Holly Hunter in more. Do something different tonight and watch this really different and unexpected flick.

Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon (1998)

Not A Good Movie to See If You're Depressed

[5/10 · 2 August 2001]

This movie was very dark. Calling it a biography is going too far. It gave you a very small slice of Bacon's life, i.e., his affair with George. I am left with too many unanswered questions. Definitely an "art" film. Jacobi was great as he is in most all he does.