Although they give this film a happy ending, it is real enough for a while to make anyone who was effected by the nose-dive the finanical/mortgage/investment sector took in 2009 uncomfortable. I can remember when more than half the people I knew were out of work for more than a matter of months. Qualified, well-to-do, educated people… simply could not find a job. I myself remember being used by several companies to help them form plans that they later hired “interns” to carry out because I was too expensive. It was a hideous time and we still aren’t quite clear of it, but even so or perhaps because of this.. the film was captivating though they focused mainly on the MALE experience, it was still interesting to see a story set in that time period (being that it is recent history and for some, not history at all)….

The feel good ending keeps it from being a total bummer..

3 Stars

I am watching this old flick, Four Frightened People . It is a bit of a riot. Four people leave an ocean liner after they find out there is an outbreak of bubonic plague aboard.

They end up on an island infested with cannibals, cobras and naughty monkeys. The funny thing is that the beautiful Claudette Colbert is hidden behind glasses and old bun hair and we are supposed to think she looks like a dowdy school marm. The two men who left the boat with her (Herbert Marshall and William Gargan) seem fooled, they keep referring to her as an old maid and saying rude things to her. The rich and vivacious older and plumper woman played by Mary Boland that is in the group keeps trying to get  the men to notice Claudette “Judy” to no avail.

As the story progresses, Claudette/Judy gets more make up and less old bun hair and yet the men still remain oblivious to her even when she develops a mad crush on one of them because he shot a cobra and saved her life.

After the older lady is taken hostage by the cannabals (she is really not too too upset by it), Judy is off by herself bathing nude in a waterfall (oh you know you would do that if you were stranded on cannabal island with two men) anyway, she is nude as only pre-rating system black and whites can convey. The two men are looking for her to tell her it is time to eat fried coconuts or whatever they made inbetween skinning cheetahs (it appears from their new attire) and they literally LEER at her naked form in the water and very SUDDENLY realize she is like a woman – exclaiming what a trouble it is to have this “blossoming female along”.

A naughty monkey steals her clothes (this is SO Cecil B. DeMille, which is no surprise because he directed it) and while one guy tries to chase down the monkey, the other (Herbert) runs into the waterfall claiming she will catch phemonia (good one, dude!) and grabs her naked body, carries her off and YELLS “you’re beautiful!” while she flails much like the blonde in the hand of King Kong. She gets away from him and shoos the men away….  but alas her clothes were torn to shreds by the monkey…

Because I suppose the men won’t part with their own clothes to help a naked girl cover up, she makes a dress out of leaves…  and I have to say that I think Edith Head designed it because it falls like it is cut on the bias – way to go Jungle Jane!

Anyway, from here on out it gets ever less believable as the older lady who was taken hostage leads an uprising of cannabal wives against the tireny of the men who lustfully make them have way too many babies…. and Claudette learns to spear fish and make lots of cool outfits from Cheetah skins..

In the end they are rescued and go back to England… and Herbert leaves his old wifey for Claudette who now teaches grade school wearing make up…

The moral of the story… it is better to die of bubonic plague!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025134/

 

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I really enjoyed the Julia scenes, and felt that the Julie scenes were filler and came across as an excuse to tell what would have on it’s own been an inthralling tale of a human life. I could have watched another hour of Meryl as Julia rather than the sort of “bridget jonesish” tirads of the Julie Powell character played by Amy Adams. (who was cute and fair).

I think it is sufficient to say that Julia’s cookbook has enjoyed a resurrgence of followers and buyers and there will be more french cooking going on in kitchens this fall than there has in the past five years while the Julie & Julia book rather languishes in sales…

I do adore Julia and Meryl… and Julie Powell did bring them together in a way.. and that is a great thing! So Thanks, Ladies…

Basically the film is about two brothers who deal with a number of hilarious distractions at their fathers funeral. Everything from his gay lover showing up to a drugged up funeral attendee naked on the roof.

You can wait to DVD if its not playing near you, but please DO SEE THIS FILM!

Anyway, if you just want to have flat out silly fun and are in a light hearted mood, Mad Money is sweet, simple, clean and friendly.

The basic storyline: A mature couple faces debt and possible financial ruin when after a year of looking for a new job, the husband (Ted Danson) finally admits he just cant find anything and they are now flat broke. His wife (Diane K) takes the reigns, but all she can find that matches her skills is a janitorial job in the Federal reserve bank where she quickly hatches a scheme to rob the place. After noticing they use locks just like the ones you get at any Home Depot on the carts that carry “Worn out” money that is to be shredded, she drags Queen L into the scheme and later entices Katie H as well. From there its a fun romp through the robbing, almost getting caught, more drama… finally getting caught and then … well, you’ll see..

VERY CUTE!

I absolutely fell in love with this movie. Amelie is still my favorite film, but this is a close second… i loved every moment…

20 delicious morsels of film each by a different film-maker served up with a distinct french cinematic flavor.. for those of you who have been to Paris, it will confirm your feelings, for those who have not, it will make you want to live it… each piece gives you a new emotion, a new section of the city, a new scenario … I really do Je’Taime Paris!

A romp! I loved it.
This film is literally a journey. Lovely, and funny, witty and somber. poignant and yet completely frivolous!

3 Brothers (Owen Wilson, Adrien (gorgeous) Brody and Jason Swartsman (also one of the writers) seek what they cannot find. The approval of their mother, the meaning in their fathers life and death, their relationship to eachother… in east asia they discover the answers… and it is a riot to watch…. A must see.

I love the absolute superficiality of it. The way the people just back slap eachother like crazy,.. you are fabulous darling! And the fact that it is Home for Purim is hysterical… they poke fun at all the basic stereotypes…  i love the botox and the TRL slam…  amazing…  Not everyone is going to like this film, but I loved it.