TEA WITH THE DAMES: What do you do if four legends of the British stage and screen get together? If they are Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Eileen Atkins and Joan Plowright, you put on the kettle and make a documentary! And what a splendid doc it is! Loaded with reminiscences, it uses all the adverbs......funny, sarcastic, poignant, clever, smart, caustic, irreverent, savage, iconic, old and unbelievably fresh. The film also has wonderful clips from their early careers working with the likes of Olivier and Gielgud (and a particularly funny story about Dame Edith Evans)You will leave the theater wishing the film had been longer so you could savor these wonderful women and their incredible careers. If you love the theater and/or the Brits, this is a must see. I'm still smiling.!
THE OLD MAN AND THE GUN: Robert Redford has announced his retirement and ordained this to be his last film...….and he goes out with a bang! What a wonderful career culminating in this slow moving but splendid outing. Based on the true story of Forrest Tucker who escaped from San Quentin at age 70 and precede to carry out a string of heists that confounded the authorities and enchanted the public at large. In his pursuit is Detective John Hunt (Casey Afflek) And a woman named Jewel (Sissy Spacek) that he meets along the way and loves him in spite of (but also doubting the truth of) his profession. Other supporting roles are filled by Tom Waits and Danny Glover as accomplices to the robberies. Part "make you smile" Comedy with a touch of suspense, and all good, the film is easily paced to let you relish the acting of it's star. He is underplaying almost every scene but with a tenderness and charm that are winning. And, if is his last performance on the silver screen, it is a remarkable lovely swan song.
COLETTE: Keira Knightley portrays the French authoress as if she was born for the role and it is a lovely performance in this rather slow moving but nonetheless enthralling film. It traces her life from her rural upbringing through the marriage to an older man who convinces her to write and publishes her work under his name (Women were frowned upon as writers in the 1900's France.) And ultimately coming into her own amid some debauchery with both sexes. This may not be for everyone's taste but it is clearly an accurate accounting of the life and times of this extraordinary woman.
A STAR IS BORN: I had a bit of trepidation going in to this newest version of this well-known story. We had the first telling with Janet Gaynor and Frederic March, another (my favorite) with Judy Garland and James Mason and a third with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. So why not a version for today's audience? First time director (and co-star) Bradley Cooper took the project on and he's made it shine! Lady Gaga (in her film debut) quite possibly will be Oscar nominated for this breakout performance and quite possibly Cooper as well. Sam Elliot leads the supporting cast of first rate performers. But this film works because of the "chemistry" between the two stars. They are simply wonderful together. Another plus for me was the way Cooper chose to end the film and it brought me to tears. Put this on your list of must-sees and revel in the outstanding performances. It is as good as the previous versions and in some ways, better.
