"The Gray Man" and The Week in Reviews

[I review the new Netflix original movie "The Gray Man" and Sandra Bullock's latest film "The Lost City" as well as a local theatre production of "Mary Poppins"]

The Gray Man (2022)

When a CIA operative discovers agency corruption, international assassins come after him. An around the world cat and mouse game ensues.

What do Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, Billy Bob Thornton, Rege-Jean Page (yes, the very hunky Duke from "Bridgerton," Season One - I wondered where he went!), and Ana de Armas all have in common?  They are all in this new Netflix thriller that isn't very good.

It's 2003 and a man (Gosling) is being interviewed in prison by Donald Fitzroy (Thornton). The man is in prison for murdering his Dad, though he was just a kid trying to protect his brother. That's his defense, anyway. Fitzroy is there to commute his sentence if he will come to work for him and "kill bad guys."  You see, Fitzroy is from the CIA and it seems the CIA likes to recruit from the prison pool for their Sierra program, a unit of men who "exist in the gray."  It's one of those movies where a supposed bad guy gets recruited for the CIA.  If you watch enough of these kinds of movies you would think that everyone in the CIA is an ex-con.

Fast forward, 18 years and our guy is now called Sierra Six, Six for short.

Six is now on a mission to assassinate a target suspected of selling off national security secrets. This is when we learn that Six isn't really a bad guy after all.  He  has a conscience. He is a sniper and killer but he won't take a shot at a bad guy if a little kid could possibly get hurt. He is finally able to hit the target, but before the target dies, he reveals to Six that he also worked in the Sierra program as Sierra Four, and gives Six an encrypted thumb drive that proves that CIA official Denny Carmichael (Page) is corrupt. 

Carmichael finds out about the incriminating thumb drive and hires mercenary Lloyd Hansen (Evans), a former CIA agent kicked out of the agency for being a nutter to track down Six and retrieve the drive. Hansen does so by kidnapping Fitzroy's niece Claire (Julia Butters) and then blackmailing Fitzroy to authorize Six's murder.

Now Six has to save Claire and wouldn't you know. Conveniently for Six, Claire has a pacemaker. Did you know once you have the serial number for a pacemaker, you can follow it anywhere?  I didn't.  So Six heads to Croatia to save Claire, all the while playing a cat and mouse game to escape Hanson and his goons who want him dead.

Sigh.

I admit that my mind isn't what it used to be, and I often have problems following intricate spy movie plots, but this one was ridiculously convoluted and far-fetched.

Based on the book by Mark Greaney with a screenplay written by Joe Russo, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely and directed by Joe and Anthony Russo (the Russo Brothers are also responsible for "Avengers: Endgame"), there is the usual macho snappy dialogue between the good guy and the bad guy especially when the good guy is tied up and about to be killed. Why are you exchanging snappy dialogue? Kill him already! Do you remember how many times the bad guys in the James Bond films could have killed James if they had just stopped talking?  It's like that. And spy movie tropes abound here - family member in jeopardy (it helps if it's a kid), can't tell who is the bad guy and who is the good guy (sometimes they are both), a bad ass woman or two, beautiful European locations and torture. This time lack of character development so I didn't care about any of these people, and fingernails being pulled out with pliers. Didn't like that.

Sometimes there just isn't anything playing in the theatres so when I don't feel like watching "The Bachelorette" or the cooking shows I often have on my DVR, I am happy to see that Netflix has released a new "original" feature film.  There was a lot of hype around this film because it was to be Netflix's big summer blockbuster (they spent a ton of money on it) starring Ryan Gosling, so even though I have vowed to stop promoting revenge movies that glorify gun violence, I thought I would give this one a try in case it was just the usual car chase, bomb-throwing knife wielding spy thriller. I do enjoy the occasional spy thriller, and was curious what usually intense and sensitive Gosling would do with this role as a badass action star. I also usually like Chris Evans but here he looks more like Freddie Mercury than Captain America and, for being an ex-CIA villain, he is surprisingly incompetent.

Did I enjoy this? Is Ryan Gosling our next big action star?  To quote from a movie I saw recently that I actually liked, "Nope."

Netflix, you let me down.  If I want to experience torture, I will stick with "The Bachelorette."

Rosy the Reviewer says...if you like Ryan or Chris, lots of violence, a very convoluted, far-fetched plot and characters you won't care about or you are just in the mood for a travelogue on Vienna, Prague and Croatia with some torture thrown in, this is for you.  Otherwise, you can skip this. (Netflix)

The Lost City (2022)

A reclusive romance writer finds herself living through a real life romance novel plot.

Usually when a movie is free on Amazon Prime soon after it's release in the theatres, that's not a good sign, but I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised.

Dr. Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) is a reclusive best-selling romance writer who is losing her mojo since the death of her husband. She is depressed and wants to be left alone, but she has a new book to promote - she writes a series about Dr. Angela Lovemore and her lover, Dash McMahan -  and Beth (Da'Vine Joy Randolph), her agent, tells her she has to do a book tour. So off she goes with her cover model, Dash, whose real name is Alan (Channing Tatum), a Fabio look-alike who graces the covers of her books and is the real draw on this tour, that is, until his wig falls off. Turns out Alan is kind of a dork. 

The tour is not going well and Loretta and Alan are not getting along.  Gee.  I wonder how that's going to turn out.  But then Loretta is kidnapped by Abigail Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe), a rich man (yes, you heard me, a man named Abigail), who believes Loretta can translate an ancient language (he found out she had studied dead languages in college) and lead him to the Crown of Fire, a priceless treasure located in a lost city on an island in the Atlantic.  

Alan, who has a crush on Loretta, witnesses the kidnapping so he recruits Jack Trainer (Brad Pitt), a former Navy SEAL turned CIA operative, to help him rescue Loretta. Jack is immediately on the case and doing all of the work. In fact, Jack is a one-man wrecking crew, beating up three or four guys at a time, while Alan is more of a liability than a help. But then Jack gets shot and Alan has to go on alone. He may be a dork but he wants to prove to Loretta that he is the brave romantic hero she has portrayed him as in her books, because he really cares about her.  Many hijinks ensue with lots of witty banter between Alan and Loretta, as Alan tries to save Loretta, and the two try to escape the island before a volcano erupts. Loretta finds herself the heroine in her own real life romance novel.  And Alan must prove to her that he is in fact Dash-ing.

If you were around in 1984, and this story by Seth Gordon and screenplay by Oren Uziel, Dana Fox, Adam Nee and Aaron Nee, seems strangely familiar, you are not imagining it.  This could be a remake of "Romancing the Stone," though it's not. But even though it feels like a "Romancing the Stone" derivative, it's still enjoyable and hey, "Romancing the Stone" was 38 years ago.  You aren't supposed to be able to remember that far back.

Watching this film also reminded me of how much I liked Sandra Bullock from the moment she made a big splash in "Speed."  She embodied the girl next door, a regular girl who was funny and quick-witted and not afraid to look silly now and then. We regular girls could relate to her.  But now Sandra Bullock is a superstar but, alas, an aging superstar, and it seems she is going to semi-retire and that's a shame because as this film shows, she's still got it.  She may be 58, but she looks wonderful and still has that regular girl thing, with the witty repartee and that klutzy physical humor that we other 58 year olds, er, older regular girls can relate to. Sandra, don't go!

I also remember the first time I saw Channing Tatum do his thing in "Magic Mike."  Yikes. What a specimen. A true romantic hero in real life.  I don't mean to objectify Channing.  Well, I kinda do.  Sorry.  And he certainly turns on the sex appeal during a dance that he does with Sandra in this film - ooh la la.  My little ancient heart was pounding.  But Channing also has personality and he is not above making fun of himself, too, which makes him even more lovable.

And then there is Brad, the Grand Old Man of Romantic Heroes, a real life Fabio,  who is also not afraid to make fun of himself and his image.  I think he is the one having the most fun here.

Kudos also to Randolph and Radcliffe (our little Harry Potter is all grown up).  They also add to the fun.

As I said, I did not have high hopes for this film going in, but nothing warms the heart of an avid movie fan more than starting with low expectations and being pleasantly surprised. There aren't enough rom-coms these days, so this was a breath of fresh air and a lot of fun. If you watch, be sure to hang in through the credits because there is a very cute epilogue.

Rosy the Reviewer says...if you have been missing rom-coms or just need something light to help you get away from it all, this is a very fun rom-com adventure, a romance novel come to life.

Important Note: But...it's not all about going out to the movies or Netflix and Chillin' - there is a whole other world out there waiting for you and that is local theatre.

You all know that I am a big movie and TV lover, but what you might not know is that my first love was the theatre.  I was an aspiring actress from the age of, oh, when I first saw "Gone With the Wind" at the age of 5 - and no, I didn't see it when it first came out in 1939. I'm not that old. You younguns out there might not realize that before the one million TV stations you now have, there were just three and when a movie came to your local theatre, if you missed it, you missed it - never to be seen again unless it was re-released and that's what would happen with "Gone With the Wind." It would be re-released every ten years or so. I saw it in the 1950's. So there.

Anyway, back to the theatre. I had a small student career as an actress that spanned about ten years. 

Aristophanes "The Birds" 

The highest moment of my pseudo-acting career was when Karl Malden directed a play I was in at my college. Sadly, that might have been the moment I decided I wasn't going to become a professional actress - when he didn't say, "Rosy, I'm going to make you a star."  Hey, I was 21.  What did I know? I thought that's how it worked. Famous guy saw how awesome I was, he made me a star.  That's all I had to do.  Anyway, needless to say, here I am, a retired librarian - long story - but I have always maintained my love of the theatre and all things acting and that is why you find me now writing this blog.

But despite the fact that I had only an amateur career as an actress, I have nothing but respect for those who went on to actually pursue their careers, and I am still totally in that world, if only in my mind.

Mary Poppins at the Forest Theatre

So that said, I had the pleasure this week of attending the musical, "Mary Poppins," at the Forest Theatre in Carmel-By-The-Sea, California, a place very near to where I live and very near to the heart of this once-aspiring actress.  The Forest Theatre productions are in a beautiful outdoor theatre (you can bring a picnic, and best of all, wine!), and they are professional productions with wonderfully talented actors and technical staff.

You probably all know the basic story about Mary Poppins, but what you might not know is that this musical production came after the Disney movie starring Julie Andrews and the story varies somewhat from that. The Disney movie was in 1964 and the stage musical opened in the West End in London in 2004, and you "Downton Abbey" fans will be happy to know the script was written by none other than Julian Fellowes, the creator of "Downton Abbey." 

In this wonderful Forest Theatre production, Mary Poppins is played by Malinda DeRouen, who, as Mary sings about herself, is "practically perfect."  I could listen to her gorgeous voice forever.  And Corey Wright guides us through the production as Bert, his dancing a major highlight.  The rest of the cast are also wonderful.  It's a huge cast so kudos to director and choreographer Lara Devlin and vocal director Janice Marotta-Perl. 

This version of the Mary Poppins story focuses more on the children, Jane and Michael (sharing the roles: Heidi Witten-Forsythe, Zoe Ushakoff, Caden Devlin and Daisy Pearl Ashby), and what brats they are, and the problems George (Rob Devlin) and Winifred Banks (Chrissy Brooks) are having in their marriage until Mary Poppins arrives to show them the way. There are also some new songs and other differences from the film, but if you love the character of Mary Poppins and her magical way of transforming a family, you will love this magical production produced by Stephen Moorer and the Pacific Repertory Company. The sets (Patrick McEvoy) and costumes (Ziona Goren) are amazing and that wonderful music is enhanced by sound designer, Tony Nocita. There are even special effects by ZFX.

When it comes to entertainment, it's not all about TV and movies. Don't forget you have live theatre.  There is nothing like sitting there watching it all happen live before you with your fellow humans. Theatre promotes community.

Rosy the Reviewer says...if you live on the Monterey Peninsula or in the Bay Area and want to have a lovely, magical weekend, don't miss this wonderful production.  It's "practically perfect!" (playing Thursday-Sunday through September 18.  For tickets)

It's important to support local theatre, so if you can't see this production, check to see what is playing in your community.

Thanks for reading!

See you again soon!

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to like it and share it on Facebook, Twitter, or other sites; email it to your friends and/or follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rosythereviewer 

And next time you are wondering whether or not to watch a particular film, check out my reviews on IMDB (The International Movie Database). Go to IMDB.com, find the movie you are interested in.  Scroll over to the right of the synopsis to where it says "Critic Reviews" - Click on that and if I have reviewed that film, you will find Rosy the Reviewer alphabetically on the list (NOTE:  IMDB keeps moving stuff around so if you don't find "Critics Reviews" where I am sending you, look around.  It's worth it)!

(NOTE:  If you are looking for a particular movie or series, check out this cool site: JustWatch.  It tells you where you can access all TV series and movies)

 

"Nope" and The Week in Reviews

[I review the new Jordan Peele movie "Nope" as well as the Nick Cage film "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent" and the British drama series "The Split."]

Nope (2022)

Brother and sister horse-trainers, OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and Em (Keke Palmer), are struggling to keep their horse ranch going after their father's death, but when they see what they think is a UFO flying above their ranch, they decide filming it is their way out of financial ruin. What they don't realize is that it's not your "typical" UFO.

First there was "Get Out," then there was "Us" and now here is feature film number three from the creative mind of writer/producer/director Jordan Peele.

The film begins back in 1998, when during the filming of the TV show "Gordy's Home," one of the chimpanzees playing Gordy goes berzerk and attacks the actors.  

Fast forward to the present day to a horse ranch - Hayward Hollywood Horses - owned by Otis Hayward Sr.  He and his two children are horse trainers who provide horses for movies and TV. They claim to be the ancestors of the black jockey riding a horse featured in the famous Eadweard Muybridge stop motion animation, "Horse in Motion," that was one of the earliest moving pictures. Sadly and mysteriously, Otis Sr. is killed from a flying object that falls from the sky.  

Six months later, Otis Jr. AKA OJ is in charge of the ranch and needing money.  He has been selling his horses to Jupe Park (Steven Yeun) who runs a western amusement park called "Jupiter's Claim."  It just so happens that Jupe was once a child actor and guess what?  He was in "Gordy's Home" and witnessed the chimp attack that took place.  He is now making money off of that tragedy along with providing another sort of spectacle at his amusement park that is revealed later in the film.

Back to OJ and his sister, Emerald, AKA Em. OJ is a quiet, withdrawn guy, unlike Em who is out there, trying to make it as an actress and hustling for whatever she can get in Hollywood.  One night while on the ranch, OJ and Em witness what they think is a UFO, and Em gets the idea that if they can film it, they can make some money. They can have their "Oprah moment." So that's the plan.  They go to Fry's to get cameras and when the Fry's salesman, Angel (Brandon Perea), comes to the ranch to install the equipment, he can't help himself. He is an extraterrestrial fanatic and, not only installs the electronic equipment, he installs himself into the plan. OJ and Em also enlist the help of the very strange cinematographer, Antlers Holst (Michael Wincott). But none of them know what they are getting themselves into.  This is not just any old UFO, it's a monster of a UFO...literally.

This is "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" meets "Ghostbusters" meets "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" or maybe "High Noon," whatever your favorite western shoot out movie might be. Peele pays homage to Hollywood and combines horror, humor and the African American experience to create this unique roller coaster of a film. Here he comments on how African Americans have been excluded from Hollywood as well as how we humans love spectacle, even when it celebrates tragedy.  We can't turn our eyes away (and here is a bit of a spoiler. Looking at the alien is not good)! This film is not quite as tight as "Get Out" or "Us," and there are some head-scratching moments.  It's also a bit slow to get started but once it does, it's tense and scary and Peele always gets points for originality. 

Daniel Kaluuya is perfectly deadpan, and Kiki Palmer is characteristically manic (but it works here) but the break-out star is Brandon Perea, who adds some fun to an often very tense film. 

A favorite moment...you may or may not know that Jordan Peele was on "Mad TV," once a comedy show competitor with Saturday Night Live.  In the film, Jupe regales OJ and Em with what a great send-up SNL did of the chimp attack on the TV set.  Dark, I know, but very funny that Peele would do an homage to SNL. 

Oh, in case you are wondering about the title.

You know how you might go into a room and see something you don't like...like maybe your parents having a fight or like, say, oh, maybe a really scary alien? That's when you might say "Nope," turn around, and get the hell out of there! Daniel Kaluuya's utterance of the word is classic.

Rosy the Reviewer says...should you get yourself to the theatre to see "Nope?"  Yep!

(In theatres)

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022) 

Nicolas Cage plays Nicolas Cage in this send-up of Nicolas Cage and his movies.

Nicolas Cage just might be one of the most polarizing actors on the planet.  I can't tell you now many times I've mentioned a Nicolas Cage movie that I liked ("Pig") only to get a wrinkled nose response followed by "Ew, I don't like Nicolas Cage."  Of course, he has his fan base.  I mean he won an Oscar, for god's sake, but somehow he has gotten a reputation as a mannered, over-acting, intense actory actor.

But here's where this movie comes in.

Nick knows some of this and is not above making fun of his persona in this very self-deprecating and mostly fictionalized story of an egotistical and self-obsessed actor (Cage) who is struggling artistically and financially.  His wife (Sharon Horgan) is divorcing him and his daughter (Lily Mo Sheen) thinks he is a bit of a tool, so with nothing else going on he accepts $1,000,000 to attend the birthday party of a superfan.  It's a comedown for him, of course, but it doesn't hurt that it's in Majorca. But Nick has decided after this party, he is going to retire from acting. The superfan, Javi Gutierrez (Pedro Pascal), is a charming and very rich olive exporter who has written a screenplay he wants Nick to star in.  Despite Nick's initial reluctance to do this gig, strangely, the two actually bond (Javi is a charming guy), and Nick actually is interested in Javi's screenplay and becomes hopeful about his future. What he doesn't know is that Javi is under CIA scrutiny (is he a bad guy?), and Nick will be recruited by the CIA to find a girl kidnapped by a notorious arms dealer and will have to fight off bad guys to save his own life and the lives of his wife and daughter. Whew! Who knew an invitation to a birthday party could be so stressful?  But now Nick sees a new career path!  Spy!

Of course, this story, written by Tom Gormican and Kevin Etten and directed by Gormican, gives Nick Cage the opportunity to channel some of his iconic characters as well as playing Nicky, his younger self, who keeps reminding him what a big star he is. And don't think they aren't dropping the titles of Nick Cage movies right and left here. "Face/Off," "Captain Corelli's Mandolin," "National Treasure," "Guarding Tess," "Gone in 60 Seconds," "The Rock," "Con Air." Gee, Nick's made a ton of movies, all different kinds of movies! Maybe he really is a good actor! Demi Moore even has a cameo as an homage to the 80's and 90's when she and Nick were at the height of their careers. 

Tiffany Haddish and Ike Barinholtz  play the CIA agents who recruit Nick to help them nail the bad guys. And speaking of Tiffany Haddish.  Just let me say that I feel about her how many people feel about Nick.  I am not a fan. She was funny in "Girl's Trip," but then she kept playing that character over and over. But it's not really her acting that I object to, it's her humor and how nutty she acts on talk shows.  Have you seen her on "Ellen?" But at least here, she is toned down.

 

This film is a lot of fun but the irony is that you will have had to have seen enough Nick Cage movies to get the many references to his films and if you don't like Nick Cage you probably haven't seen those films.  But here is the good part.  You don't really need to get the references to enjoy this film.  It's a fun romp through all of the thriller tropes you have come to expect from such movies and it's also very funny, especially when Nick and Javi take LSD together.

Nick is looking for the role of a lifetime and it turns out that role is playing himself!  The film is self-deprecating and self-serving all at once but always enjoyable!

Rosy the Reviewer says...I was once one of those Nick Cage critics but after seeing him in "Pig" and this one, I'm a fan.  Love him or hate him, you will enjoy this very fun film.

(Available on DVD and for rent on most streaming platforms)

***Streaming***

The Split - Season 3 (2022)

The DeFoes, a family of female divorce lawyers, must face their own relationship issues.

Nicola Walker plays Hannah DeFoe, a divorce lawyer who is going through her own divorce from her husband, Nathan.  Hannah has cheated on Nathan (Stephen Mangan), thus the divorce, but Hannah doesn't really want a divorce.  Sadly, Nathan has moved on with Kate (Lara Pulver). 

Hannah has two sisters.  Nina (Annabel Scholey) is a lawyer and is having an affair with Tyler (Damien Molony) a co-worker who just happens to be married to the boss, Zander (Chukwudi Iwuji) - a guy!  And Rose (Fiona Button), a child minder (she somehow escaped becoming a lawyer) is married to James (Rudi Dharmalingam) and experiences a tragedy in her own marriage.  Their mother, Ruth (Deborah Findlay), is one of the senior members of the firm and also has a podcast espousing "good divorces."

As you can probably tell, it's all very much a soap opera but it's a British soap opera which makes it okay.  The Brits know how to make everything classy, and this series, created by Abi Morgan, is not only classy, it's wildly addicting.

I have to say that I am hard-pressed to name another actress whose face is as expressive as Nicola Walker's.  If you watch much British drama, you will recognize her from such shows as "Last Tango in Halifax" and "The Unforgotten" and many more.  She has had a long career and this British drama series gives her a chance to really show off her acting chops and that face.  She is about as real as an actress can get. The rest of the cast are also first-rate and it's always fun to see Anna Chancellor, a British drama staple who is in practically every British series and movie out there.  She plays Nathan's rather vicious divorce lawyer who belies the idea of a "good divorce."

I got into this series in its third and last season because I found it on BBCAmerica.  Somehow I missed the first two seasons, but despite some references to the past, I was able to enjoy it without having seen those first two seasons, but now I plan to go back and start from the beginning (All three seasons are currently streaming on Hulu).  I will pretend those first two seasons are prequels (I don't mind prequels. It's sequels I hate)!

Rosy the Reviewer says...an engrossing family drama that will pull you in and keep you there.  My advice is to start with Season 1 - See you there! (Hulu)

Thanks for reading!

See you again soon!

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to like it and share it on Facebook, Twitter, or other sites; email it to your friends and/or follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rosythereviewer 

And next time you are wondering whether or not to watch a particular film, check out my reviews on IMDB (The International Movie Database). Go to IMDB.com, find the movie you are interested in.  Scroll over to the right of the synopsis to where it says "Critic Reviews" - Click on that and if I have reviewed that film, you will find Rosy the Reviewer alphabetically on the list (NOTE:  IMDB keeps moving stuff around so if you don't find "Critics Reviews" where I am sending you, look around.  It's worth it)!

(NOTE:  If you are looking for a particular movie or series, check out this cool site: JustWatch.  It tells you where you can access all TV series and movies)

"Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris" and The Week in Reviews

[I review the new movie "Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris" as well as the Paul Newman-Joanne Woodward documentary "The Last Movie Stars" and the Netflix movie "The Weekend Away."  The Book of the Week is "Apparently There Were Complaints: A Memoir" by Sharon Gless ] 

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (2022)

A cleaning lady in 1950's London decides she must go to Paris to buy a couture dress.

Sometimes I just need something light and fluffy.  With all of the bad news in the world - mass shootings, wild fires, inflation, political unrest - I want to sit in the dark and go somewhere else. The movies helped people get through the Great Depression and they will help get us through these tough times too. Movies transport us and give us a break from what's ailing us and that's why movies matter.  And this fit the bill.  So my friend and I left our cares behind and went off to Paris with Mrs. Harris!

It's 1957.  England is still recovering from WW II.  Ada Harris (Lesley Manville) is a cleaning lady whose husband has been missing in action since The War.  She cleans for an aspiring actress (Rose Williams), a bowler-wearing gentleman with a series of "nieces (Christian McKay)," and Lady Dant (Anna Chancellor), an aristocrat who is far too busy planning a wedding to pay Mrs. Harris.  Despite hanging out with her friend, Vi (Ellen Thomas) at the Legion Hall during her down time, Mrs. Harris, as a woman of a certain age, feels lonely and invisible.  

But then Mrs. Harris lays eyes on a beautiful Christian Dior gown from Paris at Lady Dant's, and she imagines what it might be like to have such a dress for herself. She would no longer be invisible! 

So that's the plan.  Go to Paris and buy a couture gown at the House of Dior. 

However, one small problem. Well, it's a big problem, actually. The dress cost Lady Dant five hundred pounds. To give you some perspective, that would be over 10,000 pounds in today's currency.  But Mrs. Harris is determined.  And through a series of ups and downs, she is able to save the money and get herself to the House of Dior on the Avenue Montaigne in Paris. But who knew you couldn't just walk into the House of Dior, plunk down your money and get a gown?  She is snubbed at first, especially by Claudine (Isabelle Huppert), the snobbish manager of the salon, but our Mrs. Harris has spunk.  She is determined to get that dress and her spunk endears her to, not only the models and seamstresses at Dior, but the Marquis de Chassagne (Lambert Wilson) who invites her to sit with him during the fashion show.

Just to give you a little history on why a Dior gown was so important to Mrs. Harris.  In 1947, Christian Dior launched a fashion collection that was deemed "The New Look."  It was a youthful, glamorous look which was a far cry from the austere clothes women had been wearing since The War. "The New Look" was so revolutionary that it was credited with reviving the fashion industry in France. By 1957, when Mrs. Harris saw Lady Dant's dress, France was once again the preeminent capitol of the fashion world and the "New Look" was influencing fashion designers around the world. Having a Dior gown from Paris would have been the top of the top for a working class woman in post-war London.  So there you have your mini-history of fashion circa 1957.

Getting back to Mrs. Harris...that dress represented much more than fashion for Mrs. Harris.  Going to Paris and getting that dress also represented a new life and, maybe, even romance.  Mrs. Harris had just found out that the Army had declared her husband dead, so after ten years of waiting she was ready for love.  When she meets the Marquis, she is hopeful but there are some bumps on the runway to love for Mrs. Harris as well as getting that dress.

There is a lovely little side romance between Natasha (Alba Baptista), a beautiful model who takes a liking to Mrs. Harris and Andre (Lucas Bravo), the handsome accountant for the salon, who discover they both love Sartre! Other characters come and go in Mrs. Harris's life, but to everyone she meets she is concerned, kind, open, and genuine and they love her.  And thanks to the beautiful performance by Leslie Manville, you will love her too.

Based on the 1958 book by Paul Gallico, "Flowers for Mrs. Harris," which was published in the U.S. under the title "Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris" (I actually read that book back when I was - mumble- er, younger), this is a feature film version of a TV movie that starred Angela Lansbury in 1992 and there was an even earlier version of this story on an installment of the Studio One TV anthology series back in 1958. But because those were not feature films, I am not going to put this film in the remake category (you know I hate remakes of perfectly good films). Besides, I didn't see those two earlier versions, so they don't count.  And though I can certainly see Angela Lansbury playing Mrs. Harris, I can't believe she would be any better than Leslie Manville, because Leslie Manville was perfection.

With a screenplay by Anthony Fabian, Carroll Cartwright, Olivia Hetreed, and Keith Thompson and directed by Fabian, this film has wonderful acting (many familiar British faces) and production values -- and FASHION!  That's about as good as it gets for me. But just because the film is all about a dress and seems to be light and fluffy, it is much more than that. 

The film addresses the age old struggle between the classes. Mrs. Harris is a woman from the working class, almost invisible to the hoity-toity upper class as she goes about her work. How dare she presume to buy a couture gown. And to add another layer of invisibility to Mrs. Harris is her age. Just like Mrs. Harris, we women of a certain age often DO feel invisible.  How many times have we been ignored at a counter or in a restaurant while the young thing next to us gets all of the attention?  But though we women may be older, we still have our dreams and deserve to be seen.  And that's what this movie validates. 

But you don't need to be a woman of a certain age to enjoy this film.  

Who wouldn't enjoy a film that is reminiscent of the movies of the Golden Age of Hollywood, where a loveable character, who despite setbacks, finds happiness? In this day and age, where so much bad stuff is happening, it makes me happy when good things happen to good people. I sat chuckling with tears of enjoyment in my eyes the whole time. I think you will too. 

Rosy the Reviewer says...a feel good film that was utterly delightful. (in theatres)

***Streaming***

The Last Movie Stars (2022)

This six-part docuseries follows the lives and careers of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.

Ethan Hawke directed this wonderful documentary about Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward that details their long careers and marriage.  Claire Newman, their daughter, contacted Hawke asking him to do a documentary on her parents.  According to him, he knew how much work that would be and wanted to say no, but couldn't.

Paul had planned to write a memoir and asked one of his friends to conduct taped interviews with friends, family and associates, but for a reason known only to him, he burned the tapes. Thankfully for us, the tapes had been transcribed and the transcripts survived.  This docuseries is based on those transcripts and Newman's journals made available by his children and are brought to life by famous actors, many who knew Paul and Joanne (George Clooney voices Paul and Laura Linney voices Joanne). Paul's and Joanne's children also weigh in.

I was a huge fan of both actors, particularly Paul, and I think I saw almost all of their movies and read about them in movie magazines (yes, people, I read movie magazines...but I was much younger then).  I thought I knew a lot about them.  Yes, I knew Paul was a race car driver in his later years and liked his beer and that they were married for a long time (50 years).  However, this documentary revealed much about them that I did not know. For example, who knew that Paul had a wife and three kids when he met Joanne?  Who knew Paul played second fiddle to James Dean? Who knew that Joanne died of Alzheimer's? And who knew that Gore Vidal and Tennessee Williams played such major roles in their lives?  Those are just some of the revelations in this series.

Paul and Joanne met while acting in New York City (they were both understudies) and fell in love.  But they were both married to other people. They carried on their affair for five years before getting married, which shows the power of the movie studios in those days to protect their stars from scandal.

Also early in their relationship, Joanne was the bigger star and accorded recognition as a great actress. Paul, not so much.  He was handsome, of course (those blue, blue eyes), and he could ac,t but he wasn't really thought of as a great actor until much later. Every part he got was one that someone else had passed on.  His biggest competition was James Dean.  Dean was getting all of the parts that Paul wanted. Seeing the two together in this docuseries was a particular treat.  Paul auditioned for "East of Eden," and, of course, didn't get it.  He also tried for Curly in "Oklahoma." That's something interesting to ponder.  Likewise, after Dean's untimely death, Paul starred in "Somebody Up There Likes Me," a film meant for Dean.  Who knows what would have happened with Paul's career had Dean not died? Something else to ponder. After that film, Paul's star rose, but then he had to contend with Brando, who was already considered one of the greats. But, like Dean and Brando, Paul was a product of the Actor's Studio, an angry young man type.  He was a pretty boy but rarely had to play a silly male ingenue role.  His characters were almost always complex and intense.

But later, of course, Paul became a superstar, finally winning an Oscar for "The Color of Money (he had been nominated nine times before that)," and Joanne's star faded, despite having won an Oscar and numerous Emmys.  She complained later that is what happens when you have kids. She admitted she wasn't "a natural mother" and that actors don't make good parents. I should add a female's star also wanes when she hits a certain age. 

But this film is not just about Paul's and Joanne's careers.  It's also about their long marriage, and though there were some hints that some cheating went on at one point, somehow the two survived together, despite both working in an industry that is not very conducive to long term marriage, despite Paul's alcoholism and Joanne's sometime bitterness about taking a back seat to Paul. There were times when she didn't like being married to THE Paul Newman, because he wasn't that guy when she married him. During one interview, they said the secret of their long marriage was that they did not have the same interests! 

Hawke does a good job of capturing the time, that time when movie stars were MOVIE STARS, hence the title.  However, I could have done without so much Ethan Hawke and his kids weighing in. I mean this was supposed to be about Paul and Joanne. But I get it.  He's an actor.  He can't help himself, but not keen on the lines blurred between actor and director.  He also used footage from their films to illustrate different times and events in their lives, and though I enjoyed all of the footage, there were times when I scratched my head.  There would be a voice over from Paul and some footage that to me had nothing to do with what he was talking about. For example, what did scenes from "Torn Curtain" have to do with Paul's regrets as a father and his only son, Scott's, problems? The movie scenes often distracted from the important narrative.  I would have preferred stills during those moments or family videos. And did this need to be over six hours long?  Probably not, but I couldn't stop watching.

There will be those who might not like knowing this much about their icons - the warts and all stuff - and I can understand that.  But I liked the reminder that even superstars are human and vulnerable to all the same human conditions as the rest of us.  And that made me like them all the more. They talk about their lives, acting, their marriage, politics, their activism and their charity, and we get to witness the wonderful film legacy they left behind. It made me want to go back and see all of their films again.  After seeing this remarkable series, I think I would now appreciate them more.

Rosy the Reviewer says...despite some of my complaints, this was a really wonderful documentary that shed light on two wonderful actors and real MOVIE STARS. (HBO Max)

The Weekend Away (2022)

A girl's weekend in Croatia goes very wrong.

New mother Beth (Leighton Meester), whose marriage is floundering a bit, flies to Croatia to hang out with her best friend Kate (Christina Wolfe). They go clubbing and meet two men who flirt with them. Little does Beth realize that the men were escorts and Kate had hired them. However, these weren't nice escorts. The next morning when Beth wakes up she realizes she had been drugged and her friend, Kate, is missing.

Beth contacts the police who start an investigation and when Kate's body is found, Beth becomes the primary suspect thanks to the overzealous detective Pavic (Amar Bukvic). He's not very nice either.  Beth's husband, Rob (Luke Norris), arrives and Beth discovers a secret he has been keeping.  Then she discovers that Kate had gone to the police station to report the escorts and detective Pavic was the last one to see her alive.  Zain (Ziad Bakri), the taxi driver who drove Beth to Kate's house from the airport and befriended her, is also under suspicion.  Who killed Kate?

Written by Sarah Alderson (based on her novel) and directed by Kim Farrrant, this is a fun little thriller that is a notch or two above a Lifetime Movie and won't take too much out of you. Leighton Meester, ex-Gossip Girl, is believable and likable. She looks and acts like a regular girl caught in a web of lies and intrigue and you root for her to get out of the mess she is in.

Rosy the Reviewer says...Lifetime movies have their purpose and the production values on this one are first rate.  If nothing else, the beautiful Croatian landscapes, are worth the ride. (Netflix)

***The Book of the Week***

Apparently There Were Complaints: A Memoir by Sharon Gless (2021)

Remember "Cagney & Lacey?" Actress Sharon Gless (she was Cagney) shares her story.

Fans of the 1980’s TV show “Cagney and Lacey (six seasons),” may have wondered what happened to Sharon Gless.  Sharon Gless was Cagney to Tyne Daly’s Lacey, and she often had to play straight woman to Daly who was A LOT of actress. I never quite got her.  But here, Gless gets to take center stage sharing her childhood growing up as a fifth generation Angelino in the shadow of celebrity (her grandfather was an attorney for the rich and famous).  She always wanted to be an actress, but, suprisingly, despite her grandfather's connections, she did not have an automatic entrée to show business. She had a rocky teenage life, her parents divorced and Gless toiled at many unrelated jobs until taking acting lessons, getting a contract at Universal, and making her way to various TV roles until finally finding her place on “Cagney and Lacey,” a ground-breaking show starring two strong females. Several unsatisfactory romantic entanglements later, she found happiness when she married Barney Rosenzweig, who just happened to be the producer of "Cagney and Lacey."  But Gless struggled with alcoholism and, though continuing to act ("Queer as Folk," "Burn Notice"), she never had the same success as she found in “Cagney and Lacey.”  

But this is not a sad story.  In fact, it's laugh out loud funny and full of juicy tidbits about the rich and famous who have crossed Gless's path.  Now in her late 70's, Gless is grateful for her life and hangs tough…just like Cagney.

Rosy the Reviewer says...“Cagney and Lacey” fans and celebrity memoir mavens alike will enjoy this candid and heartfelt memoir with all kinds of insider tidbits about the famous. (check it out at your local library)

Thanks for reading!

See you again soon!

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And next time you are wondering whether or not to watch a particular film, check out my reviews on IMDB (The International Movie Database). Go to IMDB.com, find the movie you are interested in.  Scroll over to the right of the synopsis to where it says "Critic Reviews" - Click on that and if I have reviewed that film, you will find Rosy the Reviewer alphabetically on the list (NOTE:  IMDB keeps moving stuff around so if you don't find "Critics Reviews" where I am sending you, look around.  It's worth it)!

(NOTE:  If you are looking for a particular movie or series, check out this cool site: JustWatch.  It tells you where you can access all TV series and movies)