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The Big Chill starring Kevin Kline, Glenn Close and William Hurt

Posted on August 24, 2010 Written by ripitup

The Big Chill starring Glenn Close, Kevin Kline, William Hurt, Jobeth Williams, Mary Kay Place, Tom Berenger, Meg Tilly, Jeff Goldblum. Image: s11.allstarpics.net

Harold, Sarah, Sam, Nick, Michael, Meg, Karen are old college friends who haven’t been able to keep in contact as they planned, apart from Harold (Kevin Kline) and Sarah (Glenn Close)- who married each other and started a family together.

These old friends reunite at a funeral- the other member of the old gang, Alex, has committed suicide. After the funeral, they spend the weekend at Harold and Sarah’s place and try to get over Alex’s death, times and identities lost and catch up.

Now their friendships are as “complicated” as the ones in Grey’s Anatomy or Dawson’s Creek– here’s what I mean:

– Nick (William Hurt) and Karen used to be an item but Karen (Jobeth Williams) and Sam (Tom Berenger) always had an eye for each other.

– Meg (Mary Kay Place) has a little history with Michael (Jeff Goldblum), who is busy chasing Chloe (Meg Tilly)- Alex’s young girlfriend who’s staying at the house as well. Chloe isn’t interested in Michael but she seems to be into Nick (William Hurt).

– Nick is Meg’s first choice as a sperm donor. Oh yes, it is the 80s, she is the modern working woman who is sick of dating and wants a kid from a friend. But of course Nick can’t help since he can’t function down there, a gift from Vietnam. And Sam already had a broken marriage and a daughter he barely sees so he may not exactly jump at the offer and Karen doesn’t love the idea either as she seems to want Sam for herself. Sam is into Karen too, but Karen has a husband and two kids.

– Oh and then there is Sarah, who seems more shaken up by Alex’s death. As Harold reveals to us, she had an affair with him but she and Harold got over it…

So here we have a 8 people with complicated friendships and pasts, a weekend fuelled with conflicted emotions, drugs, alcohol, fun, nostalgia, sadness, broken dreams, love and confrontations.

The movie is one of the earliest works for the most of the cast, most of who are considered to be the finest actors of Hollywood. It is worth noting that Glenn Close was nominated for Best Supporting Actress Oscar and the movie also was also nominated for Best Film and Best Screenplay. The movie was written by Lawrence Kasdan and Barbara Benedek and directed by Lawrence Kasdan.

The movie has its flaws and charms, just like the characters. There are things in the movie that almost every one can related to: How you can lose contact with your best friends when life gets in the way or how your life may not turn out the way you hoped it would. And I am guessing the actors’ generation will identify with the story even more.

However the characters- despite the identity issues- didn’t really feel real to me. And no matter how charming the actors are, the characters are just…off. I mean, if your best friend kills himself, would your immediate reaction would be to have a baby with one of his other friends and start making the baby right after the funeral? Not to mention their soap-opera type of histories. And what kind of prick hits on his recently dead friend’s girlfriend, who almost seems jovial at all times? And would you really be that upset if your best who killed himself was banging your wife behind your back? And then there is the lecturing attitude Harold gives Nick when a cop brings him over- about being a part of the community, respecting the cops and whatever while they were all high half the movie?

The verdict: I am not going to lie to you, I had fun watching this movie. It was nostalgic and I love the soundtrack. I like the actors and the director. Despite the reunion happens because of a suicide, the movie is more fun than emotional and sad. There are some great funny lines and scenes and it is hardly ever boring. But had the cast been different, I doubt I’d have watched it.

Overall, this is a decently-acted and entertaining film with nostalgic value. But it is well…fluff. A pretty and quality fluff. You will have fun watching it but if you don’t watch it, you won’t have missed out on a thing.

7.0 on IMDB. A 6 from me.

Fun facts About The Big Chill:

– Do you remember the last movie you saw with Tom Berenger? It is probably Inception where he plays the uncle to Cillian Murphy’s character. Out of all the cast members of The Big Chill, he is the one who bears no resemblance to his younger self.

– The little son of Harold and Sarah that appears in the beginning of the film is the real life son of director Lawrence Kasdan. His name is Jon Kasdan.

– Meg Tilly is an ex-girlfriend of Colin Firth and they have a son together.

– Lawrence Kasdan and Kevin Kline work together often. They also made French Kiss and Silverado together.0000

Moonstruck starring Cher and Nicolas Cage

Posted on August 22, 2010 Written by ripitup

Moonstruck starring Cher and Nicolas Cage

Loretta Castorini (Cher) is an Italian-American widow in her late 30s. Her husband died years ago, she is working as a bookkeeper for a funeral home and living with her colorful family members: the grandfather who is more interested in his 5 dogs than the family members, her mother Rose (Olympia Dukasis) is suspecting her husband Cosmo (Vincent Gardenia) is cheating on her, and Cosmo- Loretta’s father who is indeed cheating on Rose. Then there are the other members – Rose’s brother and his wife who are running a shop together.

Loretta is dating the square Johnny (Danny Aiello), another Italian American. When Johnny proposes, she says yes. Her mother approves, as Loretta isn’t in love with him and so he won’t have the power to drive her crazy (Rose’s theory). However before Johnny goes to Italy to be with his dying mother, he asks Loretta to call his brother Ronnie (Nicolas Cage) who he hasn’t spoken to in 5 years. So before she can make any arrangements for the wedding, she finds Ronnie, who is running a bakery in town. Ronnie, unlike his older brother, is passionate, emotional and doesn’t give a damn about what his mother thinks. He also has lost one of his hands due to an accident he blames his brother for. This has left him emotionally scarred and romantically closed off. But when Loretta challenges him in a way no one has ever done before something unexpected and exciting happens: they fall for each other. Now, Loretta is torn between making a logical decision vs. a passionate one.

While there is a strikingly huge and beautiful moon out, Loretta’s uncle is thinking the moon is the reason for everything, her mother is on a quest to understand why men chase women, and her grandfather is trying to understand what the hell is happening to the household. And what will happen to Johnny?

Moonstruck is a very charming, funny and romantic comedy. It is from 1987 but there is nothing particularly 80s about it, except from how young Nicolas Cage is. Remember, this is not to be confused for a chick flick. Yes, it is a romantic comedy in parts but it is also a very fun comedy about an adorable, larger than life and flawed Italian-American family. It has a stellar cast and while I hate Cher’s music (except her rocking duet with Meat Loaf), I do like her as an actress. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her role in this film.

The movie won two more Oscars: one for Olympia Dukasis – Best Actress in a Supporting Role and one for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen that went to John Patrick Shanley. The movie was nominated for 3 more Oscars: Best Director (Norman Jewison), Best Film and Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Vincent Gardenia). Nicolas Cage was also nominated for Golden Globe for Best Actor.

It is exaggerated, hilarious and lovely. It is one of those films you can enjoy with the whole family or just with your friends and have a laugh. But I guess it might be more enjoyable if you do have some Mediterranean blood in your body as the quirks and conversations will be familiar.

7.1 on IMDB.

Other Posts on Nicolas Cage

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice starring Nicholas Cage, Monica Belluci, Jay Baruchel and Teresa Palmer

City of Angels starring Meg Ryan and Nicolas Cage

Knowing starring Nicolas Cage

Favorite Actors to Play Villains feat. Nicolas Cage, John Travolta and more

French Kiss starring Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline

Posted on August 17, 2010 Written by ripitup

French Kiss starring Meg Ryan, Kevin Kline, Timothy Hutton, Jean Reno and Susan Anbeh. Image:farm4.static.flickr.com

American Kate (Meg Ryan) is living in Canada with her fiancé Charlie (Timothy Hutton). And as far as she is concerned, life is bliss: she is closer to Charlie’s parents than Charlie is, is about to be a Canadian citizen and she is finally able to afford the house of their dreams. Even though Charlie is a bit freaked, he seems happy and content enough…until he goes to Paris for a work event. Kate needs to stay in the country because of the immigration process and she is afraid to death of flying anyway…

However, one day she gets a phone call from Charlie that changes her life forever. He tells her that he has fallen in love with a French woman and is not coming back. Kate gets on the next plane. She just has to go to France and take Charlie back. She ends up sitting next to a French guy named Luc (Kevin Kline), who just provides a distraction for her to survive the flight. However, Luc really needs to get an item through the customs and uses Kate for it, without her knowing of course.

But it is not long before Luc loses Kate, Kate’s bags are stolen, the French police are after Luc- who is after Kate who tries to survive in Paris until she can persuade Charlie to come back…Of course many funny scenes, confusion and romantic feelings follow. Can Kate take Charlie back with Luc’s help? Or will she even want Charlie after spending all that time with Luc?

French Kiss is a really entertaining, funny and romantic film, mostly set in France. It co-stars Jean Reno as the friendly cop who owes Luc a favor and Charlie’s French goddess Juliette is played by Suzan Anbeh, an actress half-French and half-Iranian.

Admittedly, I hadn’t loved this film so much when I saw it years ago. But back then, I hadn’t been to France, met French guys, listened to many French accents, wasn’t a fan of the cast except Meg Ryan. But years later, after having done all that, and having followed the work of Timothy Hutton, Kevin Kline and Jean Reno, and well, having experience the French culture many times, I just had a blast with. I believe French Kiss to be a guy-friendly romcom. Yeah sure, you can make all the usual complaints: “I knew the ending from the get-go” (yeah, so did everybody else),” it was predictable”,” would have been more original if Luc ended up with Juliette….” . So? This might be a typical romantic comedy with some fun criminal aspects involved, but it doesn’t change the fact that it is spot on with so many jokes and it is just an overall charming and entertaining movie. Oh yes, Kate is pretty much the same gal Meg Ryan always plays but some actors do have a trademark: Sylvester has been cashing on all these years: Meg Ryan is the romcom princess and he uses the muscles. They don’t really make movies to shatter the earth, they make money and entertain by using money-making clichés.

Now, it is also fun to note that this is not the only movie where Timothy Hutton’s character wants to leave Meg Ryan’s for another woman- in 2009’s Serious Moonlight, he wants to leave their long-term marriage but suffers a totally unexpected faith. This is also not the only romcom where Meg Ryan goes by the name of Kate. She played Kate in Kate and Leopold, opposite Hugh Jackman.

You have got the clichés and the stereotypes but you also have a hilarious performance from Kevin Kline, Timothy Hutton as your scumbag, Jean Reno for an inspector and a lovely, natural Meg Ryan. And this is pretty much all I wanted from this 1995 “chick flick”, which happens to be written by a guy (Adam Brooks) and directed by another guy (Lawrence Kasdan). Just enjoy yourself. 6.1 on IMDB, 7/10 from me.

Fun note: In 2007,Meg Ryan starred in In The Land of Women, a romantic drama written and directed by Jon Kasdan, son of director Lawrence Kasdan.

Other Posts on Timothy Hutton

Ordinary People starring Timothy Hutton, Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore and Judd Hirsch

Serious Moonlight starring Timothy Hutton and Meg Ryan

Taps starring Timothy Hutton, Tom Cruise and Sean Penn

Leverage TV Series starring Timothy Hutton

The Ghost Writer starring Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan. Feat. Timothy Hutton

The Good Shepherd starring Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie. Feat. Timothy Hutton

Other Posts on Meg Ryan

You’ve Got Mail starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan

City of Angels starring Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan

Serious Moonlight starring Timothy Hutton and Meg Ryan

Posted on August 12, 2010 Written by ripitup

Serious Moonlight starring Timothy Hutton, Meg Ryan, Justin Long and Kristen Bell. Image via arti24.com

Ian (Timothy Hutton) is cheating on Louise (Meg Ryan) – his wife of 13 years with the younger Sara (Kristen Bell).He has planned to spend some romantic time at his and Louise’s summer house with Sara before they go to Paris together.

Louise is a busy and accomplished lawyer but unaware of Ian’s affair, she comes to the summer house early to surprise him. When he unwillingly confronts her, she gets upset and demands to talk things through. Ian, however, can’t wait to leave her for good. When he doesn’t want to talk it over, Louise gets mad and knocks him out. Ian wakes up, duct-taped to a chair. Louise wants Ian to think things over and she seems to think that this might actually help them save their marriage. This pisses Ian off and he tries anything to set free.

Louise does her best trying to remind him of the good times and how much they loved each other. She even manages to send Sarah away quickly after she arrives – telling her that Ian has agreed to spend one last night with her, going through the details of break-up.

Just when Ian thinks things couldn’t get any worse, he is proven wrong when Louise goes to town for shopping. The lawnmower guy (Justin Long) arrives and realizes that he has the perfect opportunity to rob the house. The only guy resident is duct-taped to a chair!

So of course by the time Louise arrives and shares the same faith with her husband, Ian has already realized that spending a couple more minutes with Louise may not be the worst thing that can happen to him. In fact, afraid for both their lives, it is beginning to seem like the only thing that matters. But will the guy let them go? Will he rape Louise? And he doesn’t seem to be in a rush to leave the house.. And what the hell will Sara do when Ian doesn’t meet her at the airport?

This is one crazy and sweet little romantic comedy, with the comedy and crazy parts being more dominant. The crime comedy parts with Justin Long are also fun. It is not exactly hilarious but it is really entertaining. I can say that guys can enjoy this one too, although I suspect women will have a little more fun with what Louise does to her cheating husband. Maybe it is not the most likely of scenarios but there is no reason it couldn’t happen either.

I read one user review that said the characters aren’t likable. I beg to differ. While Ian doesn’t exactly come off as a sweetheart, he is representing a big group of men who feel stuck in their marriages and decide they can be happier with a much younger girlfriend. And while what Louise does is a little wacky, I can’t promise I would be nice to my cheating husband either. While I may not go overboard with duct tapes and everything, I am likely to punch him in the face and kick him in the groins as hard as I can. So it is not that hard to like or at least feel a little sympathy for Louise- Ian has been her best friend and husband for 13 years, and there is a history behind it.

But boys and romcom haters, worry not! This is not typical. It has pretty funny situations and the story is more concerned about entertaining you than focusing on who Ian will end up with.

Funnily enough, this is the second time Kristen Bell plays a bitchy character with a name that sounds like Sara. Remember Forgetting Sarah Marshall?

It is fun. And it is a must see for any Timothy Hutton fan as you get to see a lot of him. As always, his performance is good and he sis at his best when his character gets emotional. And it is always fun watching Meg Ryan, Kristen Bell and Justin Long in comedies.

Warning: Cheating husbands may not enjoy this film.

Unfortunate trivia: Writer Adrienne Shelly was murdered in 2006. Directed by Cheryl Hines.

5.4/10 on IMDB

7/10 from me. They would have been better of, had they not given too many clues about the ending. Still, it is so much fun.