Cinema Paradiso | The Commitments

Thanks to Ginny and Don for hosting dinner in their new home and what a meal (mashed potatoes amazing !).  Meeting our new member Larry was the best, we were invited to watch Widow's Peak at Larry's personal movie theatre.  How great is that ?   Movies for the month of March are Cinema Paradiso, a 1988 film about a young man who loves the movies and the projectionist he becomes close to in the theatre.   The film was not considered a great success when first released.  It was reedited and several minutes of the film were cut, and then it became a success.  It won the 1989 Best Foreign Language film Oscar.

The next film, being that it is the month of March is an Irish film called The Commitments; it is considered a dramedy.  Filmed entirely in Dublin, it tells the story of a young man named Jimmy who wants to manage a band that plays soul music.  In 2005 it was considered the best Irish film of all time.   Now I know there is a long wait on Netflix to get this film.  Carl has suggested that you go to your library and ask them to order it for you.  Or...you can watch the movie at Tom & Carl's house during the next movie club dinner on Saturday, March 22 at 5:30 pm.  Knowing Carl he will find a way to get the film.

One more thing,  I would like to thank all the  members who have hosted dinners, brought food, and wine and appetizers, and all the great conversations we have about the movies.  As of this month Moviemainers is two years old and I have had the best time writing these little intros to the films and planning the dinners.  Everyone has something that they are passionate about and since I was a little kid the movies are the one thing without skipping a beat that I truly love.  I am looking forward to seeing everyone on March 22.   Your movie diva Movielynne

PS - Remember to RSVP for the next dinner.

Click here to check out "Cinema Paradiso" in IMDB.com

Click here to check out "The Commitments" in IMDB.com

Alfie | Widow's Peak

The first movie for the month of February is the 1966 "Alfie" with Micheal Caine.  I  have chosen this film because I have got that song stuck in my head.  It is about a womanizing man who couldn't care less about other peoples' feelings.  It was the first film to get suggested for mature audiences, which eventually became P.G. rating.  A must see that you can watch on YouTube is Cilla Black recording "Alfie" with Burt Bacharach in Abbey Studios in London: Click here to watch. In my opinion it is the best of all the recordings of that song.  

The next film on the agenda is "Widow's Peak" from 1994, starring Mia Farrow, Natasha Richardson and Joan Plowright.  It is about a little village in Ireland in the 1920's after WW1. It  just so happens that everyone in this little village is a widow, and what happens when a new widow shows up and stirs the pot. My husband asked me what is the theme of this month's movies; I guess I would have to say "Just British".  

The next movie club meeting will be an afternoon luncheon at Don & Ginny's new home on Sunday 2/23 at 3:00 pm. Their address is: 11 Bramblewood Lane, Gorham, ME 04038.  Afterwards, we will go to Larry's house to view "Widow's Peak".  Larry is a new member who lives near Don & Ginny and has a movie theatre in his house; how lucky are we?!?! Your only assignment is to see "Alfie", and then we will watch "Widow's Peak" together at Larry's.  Movielynne 

PS from Carl...How appropriate it is to do British movies this month! February 9th is the 50th anniversary of the Beatles appearance on Ed Sullivan, which sparked the British Invasion.  Coincidentally there's a Beatle connection in each of Movielynne's choices: Cilla Black was a coatroom girl at Liverpool's Cavern Club where she met the Beatles, who introduced her to Brian Epstein and George Martin which led to her first recording contract.  And Jane Asher (who was engaged to Paul McCartney for several years before he met his future wife Linda) is in the cast of "Alfie". Jane inspired many of Paul's early love songs, such as "And I Love Her".  Plus..."Widow's Peak" features Mia Farrow (who joined the Beatles in India, along with her sister Prudence, in 1968 to study meditation with the Maharishi).  While in India, Prudence inspired the song "Dear Prudence" which appeared on the White Album.   

Check out "Alfie" on IMDB.com

Check out "Widow's Peak" in IMDB.com

Love Me Tonight | All About Eve

Hello Movie people, I thought this month it would be fun to have great character actors in film.  These are actors that you might not remember their name but you hear their voice and see their face and you say oh yes I have seen that guy before.  First on the list is Charlie Ruggles in Love Me Tonight, it is about a tailor who pretends to be a nobleman falling in love with a princess.  It has Rodgers and Hart songs and Maurice Chavalier and my personal favorite Myrna Loy.  One more thing people might not know he did the narrartion voice in the fractured fairy tale in my favorite Bullwinkle and Rocky cartoons   ( the cartoon has adult humor and goes over childrens head highly recommended  you will get it

Second on my list is George Sanders in All About Eve he plays a notorious talent agent .  It is about an aging actress and a woman who is a fan and she starts to manipulate herself into the actresses life.  Famous line is Fasten your seatbelt it is going to be a bumpy night.  It won six academy awards including best picture.  George Sanders was married to one of the Gabor sisters and when he said he had had enough of life he killed himself leaving a note that said he was tired of living, goodbye world .  Angela and Arthur will host the dinner this month on Thursday 1/9 at 6:30 to discuss the December movies Gigi and Joyeaux Noel.  Please RSVP to Angela at seascapes@roadrunner.com.  Movielynne 

Check out "Love Me Tonight" on IMDB.com

Check out "All About Eve" on IMDB.com

Gigi | Joyeux Noel

Dear Moviemainers,  As Christmas rolls upon us so quickly this year faster every year as I get older.  Leslie chose the movie Gigi, in memory of her poodle Gigi who passed away recently.  The 1958 musical originally cast Audrey Hepburn, but when she decided not to do the role it then went to Leslie Caron.  The story is about a young girl being raised by her grandmother who is trying to prepare her granddaughter for life in early 1900's Paris, when a young woman is either set to marry or become a mistress.  Needless to say the hunk Louis Jordan falls in love with her, and cannot bear thinking of her as a mistress someday.  Gigi won nine academy awards and is considered the last great MGM musical produced.

Next on the list is the movie Joyeux Noel.  It is about a World War 1 Christmas truce in December 1914. Soldiers on both sides of the war come together for a short  time to sing and celebrate Christmas.  It is touching and, yes, I shed a tear; ok more than one tear at this film.  It is based on a true story and it is sad to me to think they all got punished for their act of kindness to one another. 

We will not meet for dinner this month as we hurry from one event to another.  I will let you know when in January our next dinner club will meet.   May you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Your  Movie Diva, Movielynne. 

Check out Gigi on IMDB.com

Check out Joyeux Noel on IMDB.com

Home For The Holidays | Hannah & Her Sisters

Dear Moviemainers,  Let's Talk Turkey !  The first film is Home For The Holidays 1995  It stars Holly Hunter Robert Downey jr. Ann Bancroft and Charles Durning.  The film is about a women, that goes home for Thanksgiving depressed that she has been fired from her job and the wacky film she deals with.  Now I have not seen this film is years I forgot how touching the scene with Charles Durning is in the basement.  The next film is a Woody Allen favorite to me it is Hannah And Her Sisters.  The film is shown in three Thanksgiving dinners with this family and what happens in between.  Allen let us say borrowed Ingmar Bergman's film Fanny And Alexandra about a family who celebrate three consecutive holiday together and the family dynamics.  At the Academy Awards Allen received the Oscar for the best original screenplay and what is really rare the film won Best Supporting actor Micheal Caine, Best Supporting actress Dianne Wiest.  Remember we meet on November 15 for dinner at the Rutherford's.  If you have not seen these movies I hope you do so toot sweet !  Remember the library is a place to look if you do not have Netflix.  Yes, do not beg, I will make my homemade cranberry relish.  See you there,  Movielynne

PS from Carl...Did you know that "toot sweet" comes from the French expression "tout de suite", meaning "at once" or "right away"? During WWI British soldiers serving in France, most of whom could not speak French, adopted the phrase as "toot sweet" to mean "hurry up" or "look smart".  This has Tom's name all over it! 

Check out "Home For The Holidays" on IMDB.com

Check out "Hannah & Her Sisters" on IMDB.com

Rosemary's Baby | Storm of the Century

 As Halloween appproches I feel the need to bring you two films on the scary side of town.  Last year we dealt with ghost stories this year we are going for thriller moviesThe First is Rosemary's Baby  1968  I had not seen it in years and as I  watched it I felt , wow this had to be really really scary in 1968.  The film deals with Satan and how just moving into a certain building and meeting the neighbors changes  their lives.  It stares Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes and my personal favorite Ruth Gordan.   Unlike a lot of Hollywood movies that do not mirror the book, Roman Polanski's   screenplay  follows the book.  A little movie trivia, Mia Farrow was married to Frank Sinatra at the time of this film.  Frank wanted Mia to quit on this film as he was working on a film of his own, she did not want to leave in the middle of production so Frank filed divorce papers right on the set right in front of the crew.  Frank liked to do things his way.  Next on the list is Storm Of The Century 1999, written for tv by Steven King it was made into a three part mini series I own it and will lend it just let me know.  It is almost four hours long but when you break it up it moves quickly.  The basic story line is a small island off the coast of Maine is Hit with a major snowstorm power is cut from the mainland.  A stranger comes to  the island and wrecks havoc, he seems to know all the personal secrets of the islanders.  He keeps repeating the same line Give me what I want and  I will go away.  Lock the doors and keep the lights on .  Movielynne

Check out Rosemary's Baby on IMDB.com

Check out Storm of the Century on IMDB.com

The Player | Bowfinger | Silent Movie

ok folks September is here!  Where did the summer go?  As we prepare for fall I thought it would be interesting to show films on making films so here we go.  We start with the Player 1992this is the Robert Altman film that got him back into the support of major motion pictures after several flops.  This film has a romance a murder  a comedy all going on.  Tim Robbins was nominated for Best Actor also nominated for best screenplay and one awards at the Cannes Film Festival.  The amount of stars doing a cameo are numerous.  Next film will be one of my top ten funniest film in my opinion ever made that is Bowfinger.  Starring Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy about a group of people who have been trying for years to get a film made how they get a star to be in their film when he doesn't even know he is in it.  Eddie Murphy should have gotten a Oscar for this film playing two characters (seldom are comedies ever to win an Oscar but in my opinion it is much harder to make a truly funny film  then most people think ).  Favorite scene has to be Betsy the dog in the parking garage, don't miss this film.  Last but not least is members choice Skip Walsh chose Mel Brools's Silent Movie truly a classic Mel Brools film everything that happens in Hollywood lots of spoofs and gags that only Mel could do.  It is considered one of his best I hope you agree I haven't seen it in years.  We are not having a pot luck supper to discuss August movies as some of the group is away and we will discuss the two Sherlock Holmes films the end of September with the movies for this month.  I hope you can at least watch one of these films as in my opinion they are worth watching.  I will let you know when the end of September the pot luck supper will be stay tuned.  Get your popcorn and a comfy chair sit back and get ready to laugh Movielynne

Check out "The Player" in IMDB.com

Check out "Bowfinger" in IMDB.com

Check out "Silent Movie" in IMDB.com