Naneaux Reviews

I Thank You (1941)

Vaudeville Fun

[7/10 · 25 January 2014]

If you ever wondered what British music hall or American vaudeville was all about, this is a pretty good representation of the styles of humor and performance from those circles. The plot is so old, it creaks; jokes are corny and people break into song all the time, but everyone is so committed to what they're doing, you're completely entertained. You'll remember Arthur Askey's delivery of the line "I thank you" for a long time.

The vaudeville team of Forsythe, Seamon & Farrell get some nice showcasing here. While Charles Forsythe and Eleanor Farrell can sing and deliver a punchline, Addie Seamon plays "Peaches", a Gracie Allen ditz who can dance up a storm. You won't forget her.

Great fun for a Saturday afternoon.

Love, Wedding, Marriage (2011)

Trite, clumsy & preposterous

[2/10 · 18 March 2011]

If this is the best that Dermot Mulroney can do as a director, then I can safely say that I'll pass on any future projects to which he is attached. This is another "Pottery Barn/cashmere throw" style rom com a la Nancy Meyers (with his and hers convertibles!), but her scripts are superior. This one ranks with the worst offerings on Lifetime TV-- superficial, dull and directed in a lumbering style. The lead is miscast: Mandy Moore is unbelievable as a marital counselor with a Ph.D and a thriving private practice. She has no intellectual weight, no emotional maturity and delivers her lines like a high school girl. It gets old fast. I'm not a Jew but I was offended by the way Brolin's character tries to "explore" his spirituality by taking on all the trappings of that faith and nothing else. If this "subplot" was supposed to be funny, it really wasn't. (Compare the scene in "Annie Hall" when Woody Allen decides to become a Catholic and unpacks white bread and mayo from a grocery bag.) In order to get to the end (which I had to do because of my work), I entertained myself by ticking off how many times Jane Seymour dropped her American accent in the middle of sentences (47). This is a waste of 90 mins and you're better off watching something else.

Home Movie (II) (2008)

Very disturbing, marvelous low-budget horror thriller

[9/10 · 12 August 2008]

After I watched this, my sleep was disturbed for several nights running. Much more interesting than any teen slasher pic you've seen, this descent into every parent's nightmare has a solid script, is full of top-notch acting from all the players, and the kind of psychological tension that makes you hold your breath. Add a big twist at the end and you've got an evening at the movies that you'll be talking about with your date for some time to come. I'd also like to say that the young Williams children, who play the roles of "Emily" and "Jack" are particularly effective.

This show is slated for airing on IFC soon, and I hope it gets the attention it deserves.

Lonely Hearts (2006)

This movie ends up being about wigs

[4/10 · 1 October 2007]

I was eager to see this thriller because of all the A-List talent in the cast. But what a crushing disappointment. The script was dull because we are TOLD everything but SHOWN relatively little... and then Gandolfini's voice-over a) kept jerking me into 21st century New Jersey (it's just too identifiable a voice) and b) stole a lot of Travolta's thunder because it became Gandolfini's story, even when it was supposed to be Travolta's. And then, tragically, I got distracted by the actors' hair-- and how wretchedly phony every toupee and wiglet looked (on Gandolfini, on Travolta, on Leto and others) and how emotional reactions were underscored-- not with great lines or indelible images-- but by pulling a forelock out of place, which made said fake hair even more fake-looking. In the end, not even Salma Hayek's ferocious sexuality could salvage this turkey. It's just not good enough. Don't waste your time.

In the Cut (2003)

Grim and ultimately dull

[4/10 · 19 June 2006]

It was easy to see that the lead role was written with Nicole Kidman in mind. This character is brainy, neurotic, emotionally isolated and very conflicted, with no comic lights in her soul or in her life... the kind of part that lets Kidman shine. Meg Ryan was an odd choice for replacement(can't blame her for wanting to do something other than romantic comedy-- she is a very, very good comedienne but this wasn't much of a showcase for her talents) and I got bored with her, I'm afraid. And what was with the stringy hair? I would have cast Jennifer Jason Leigh in the lead instead of the 2nd female, because she's also good at playing neurotics. Mark Ruffalo was as sexy as I've ever seen him. Kevin Bacon is effective in a very small part, but in the end, this thriller was all atmosphere, gross special effects and little else. Not really worth the trouble.

The New World (2005)

I'm a Malick fan, but I'm sorry, this wasn't as good as his others

[5/10 · 29 January 2006]

I am thoroughly familiar with Malick's techniques, philosophies and his previous films, and I was completely bored by "The New World." Part of it may have been the unfortunate choice of Colin Farrell to play Capt. Smith (this boy cannot carry a film) but part of it also was the ultra-slow pacing and the complete lack of an interesting plot or any real dramatic tension in the action. We had plenty of pretty pictures to look at but it's just not enough. I was hoping for a historical romance like "Days of Heaven," but TNW lacks everything the other has-- story, great performances, engaging characters, drama-- except the gorgeous photography. The Wagner in the score annoyed me too because I KNEW it was Wagner and what is 19th century music doing in a 17th century story? I won't watch this one again.

Nana (1955)

Now I understand why the Nouvelle Vague was so necessary.

[6/10 · 6 May 2005]

I waited a long time to see this adaptation of Zola's famous novel but was really disappointed by the slow pace, the stilted dialogue (badly subtitled as well, in the VHS tape I saw) and the unimaginative camera work. It's pretty clear that this is precisely the type of post-WWII studio film against which Truffaut and Godard rebelled. And thank God they did, because their work is so much more interesting than period potboilers like this one. Martine Carol is vivacious and charming, but with limited acting ability. To be fair, "Nana" is the type of actress who is renowned for her fabulous body and her bold display thereof, rather than for any kind of musical or dramatic skills. (Sound familiar, Hollywood?) Also, as a plus, the film is very frank about how Nana earns a living outside of her stage appearances, and how her entourage skims off her fees by providing either information or access. I found this candor refreshing since most Hollywood movies of this era are very coy about whoring. Think about the presentation of Jo Van Fleet in "East of Eden," for example. Charles Boyer plays the male lead here, a hypocritical aristocrat in the Emperor's employ, but it's an unsatisfying part. It's all about "Nana," and in the end, being the selfish little baggage she is, she would prefer it that way.

Anything But Love (2002)

Trite, dull vanity project

[23 November 2003]

I love musicals and cabaret theater and had high hopes for this film after reading the positive blurbs in the Times ad. It was a real let-down... our heroine deserves to remain a headliner at the JFK Skytel Lounge in Queens because she lacks the talent and charisma to do anything else. Absolutely nothing about this turkey is interesting - not the script, not the lackluster musical performances and not Andrew McCarthy who cannot stop fussing with his cruddy baseball cap. Save your time and money and go rent "Singing in the Rain" instead.