On Movies - what?!

This week's theme:  movies with confusing plots.

After mulling this over, I've decided to post the top dog in my WTH film category. Of course it was an in-flight film.

Lady in the Water (2006)

On movies - the art of giving

Annie Hall -- How I lurve this film!

Scene - Annie and Alvy sit on the sofa. Annie's unwrapping a gift while Alvy watches.

ANNIE
(Making sounds)
This is-
(Making sounds)
Huh?

She pulls out flimsy black lingerie from the box.

ALVY
Happy birthday.

ANNIE
What is this? Is this a...Present?
(Laughing)
Are you kidding?

ALVY
Yeah, hey, why don't yuh try it on?

ANNIE
Uh, yeah, uh ... t-t-this is more like
a present for you, yeah, but it's-

ALVY
Try it ... it'll add years to our
sex life.

ANNIE
(Looking up at Alvy and laughing)
Uh huh. Yeah. Forget it.

Alvy leans over and hands her another box as she puts down the lingerie.

ALVY
Here's a real present.

ANNIE
(Opening the gift)
What... huh?

ALVY
Check it out.

ANNIE
Oh, yeah? What is this, anyway?
(continuing)
Let me see. Okay, let's... oooh, God!
(She takes out a watch from the box)
Oh, you knew I wanted this ...
(Laughing)
God, it's terrific, God!

ALVY
(Making sounds)
Yeah, I know. Just-just put on the
watch, and-and ... that thing, and
we'll just ...

ANNIE
(Laughing)
Oh! My God!
(Making sounds)

Alvy kisses Annie.

{more Monday Movies at the Bumbles blog}

On Movies - author, author

Films about writers is this week's On Movies theme at The Bumbles blog. Since women are generally over looked in film both as strong leading characters and in filmmaking, I'm going to focus on films about writers who are women. Here's a list of some acclaimed films and personal favorites:

Iris (2001)  Author: Iris Murdoch  Starring: Kate Winslet and Judi Dench

The Hours (2002) Author: Virginia Wolf  Starring: Nicole Kidman

Henry & June (1990) Author: Anais Nin  Starring: Uma Thurman

Miss Potter (2006) Author: Beatrix Potter  Starring: Renée Zellweger

Out of Africa (1985) Author: Karen Blixen/Isak Dinesen Starring: Meryl Streep

An Angel at My Table (1990) Author: Janet Frame  Starring: Kerry Fox

On Movies - Kate and Spence

This week, Molly, hostess of the Monday Movie Meme asks, what's your favorite Katharine Hepburn movie? My answer is all the Hepburn and Tracy movies. When I was a little girl, on those days when I was too sick to go to school, I'd muster the energy to check the TV Guide to see if there were any Katharine Hepburn movies scheduled that day. I'd feel that I hit the jackpot if there was, especially if it was Kate & Spence together -- my favorites!



Of course I also loved Katharine teamed up with Cary Grant (Bringing Up Baby) & James Stewart (The Philadelphia Story). But there was just something magical about Kate & Spence.

How about you...any favorite Katharine Hepburn films?

On Movies - take flight

This week, Molly at the Bumbles blog directs us to focus on "flight, things that fly or become airborne." Love this theme. Ready? Cleared for take off...

Amelia (2009) - Iconic story of a famous pilot.

Winged Migration (2001) - Beautiful film.

Always (1989) - Fire bombers in love.



Pushing Tin (1999) - Controllers make it happen.




Bobby Deerfield (1977) - Pacino plays a race car driver but I remember the hot air balloons.



On Movies - fuzzy faces

This week's focus at The Bumbles blog, "favorite characters who rocked their facial hair." I'm sticking with the one film that immediately came to mind:
Shakespeare in Love (1998).



Joseph Fiennes



Gwyneth Paltrow

A very entertaining movie in which both the male and female romantic leads sport facial hair.



On Movies - running on empty

Ever watch a film that left you feeling worn out at the end? Exhausted from identifying with the physical and emotional stresses endured by the characters in the film? That's this week's theme at The Bumbles Blog. In addition to gathering those films about running on empty, I'm focusing on women who out of desperation (poverty, threats of harm etc.) wind up in situations that make them go "on the run."

Thelma and Louise (1991) - Start out running away from their oppressive lives and end up running from the law.

Maria Full of Grace (2004) - A pregnant 17 yr old becomes a Colombian drug runner.



Run Lola Run (1998) - A woman has 20 minutes to run around (literally) and find big bucks to save her boyfriend's life.

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) - A new widow, along with her son, make a run for a fresh start in life. One of my all time favorite films.

Frozen River (2008) - A woman's dire economic circumstances compel her to run illegal immigrants across the Canadian border. Her smuggling takes her on a perilous route that includes a frozen river. Excellent film. Melissa Leo deserved the Oscar for her performance.

On Movies - it's insane!

March Madness got Molly at the Bumbles Blog to thinking about madness or rather insanity. Our task this week is to consider films in which insanity is featured. Turns out that once I started thinking about this, I recalled a flood of films. This is a popular theme it seems. With the exception of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, I'm going to focus on films which depict a true story about a woman who is thought to be "abnormal" or even insane at some point in her life -- a painter, a writer, an actress and a survivor of horrific childhood abuse.

First, I have to start with One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest (1975) because I loved both the film and the book.

But let's turn our attention now to some films about real women who were considered at the least to be eccentric and to the extreme having serious mental health issues requiring involuntary commitment.

Séraphine (2008) I just recently watched this film. It's beautiful to look at and the acting, especially by the actress in the title role is mesmerizing. Here's the trailer:



An all too familiar (and true) story of an unusually gifted woman who is institutionalized for eight years, An Angel at My Table (1990). Fantastic film!



Another film based (loosely, some would argue) on a true story about Frances Farmer, a gifted actress who is also sent to a mental institution where she endures some rather harsh treatments and abuses is Frances (1982).



And lastly, Sybil (1976). This made-for-television film created increased public awareness of multiple personality disorder similar to what The Karen Carpenter Story did for anorexia.

[Cross-posted at Sassy Banana]

On Movies - foodie films

This week we're considering the role of food in film. Molly directs us to share "movies that are about growing, cooking, serving, eating or any other function of food." Sounds good to me as for the last few days I've been restricted to yogurt and protein smoothies due to oral surgery. I can enjoy food via my film memories! Here goes:


Aaah, there he is, the delicious Stanley Tucci. [Big Night]

1. Big Night [1996] A failing Italian restaurant run by two brothers gambles on one special night to try to save the business. One of my favorite films! 

Nice looking bakery, eh?

2. It's Complicated [2009] Many of scenes in this film were set in the kitchen, around the dinner table or in the main character's bakery/cafe.

3. Botany of Desire [2009] From IMDb: "Michael Pollan, a professor of journalism and a student of food, presents the history of four plants, each of which found a way to make itself essential to humans, thus ensuring widespread propagation." Enjoyed the lush photography as much as learning about Pollan's theory.

Seduced by shrimp.

4. I Am Love [2009] It's set in Italy and the main character falls for a chef. 'Nuf said.

Do you recognize Helen Mirren?

5. The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover [1989] Shocking shenanigans at Le Hollandais Restaurant.

Be sure to check out Molly and the gang's picks at The Bumbles.