REVIEW: Hyde Park on Hudson

Directed by Roger Michell
2012 Drama
1 hour 34 minutes
From Focus Features

Starring
Bill Murray
Laura Linney
Samuel West
Olivia Williams
Olivia Colman
Elizabeth Marvel
Elizabeth Wilson
Eleanor Bron

REVIEW: Django Unchained

Directed by Quentin Tarantino
2012 Western Action Drama
2 hours 45 minutes
From The Weinstein Company
and Columbia Pictures

Starring
Jamie Foxx
Christoph Waltz
Leonardo DiCaprio
Kerry Washington
Samuel L. Jackson
Walton Goggins
Dennis Christopher
Don Johnson

South Pacific: Favorite Movie #18

1958 Musical
From 20th Century Fox and
Magna Theater Corporation
Directed by Joshua Logan

Starring
Rossano Brazzi
Mitzi Gaynor
John Kerr
Ray Walston
Juanita Hall
France Nuyen
Russ Brown

Audrey

This is tough to say but I do not think Audrey Hepburn was a great actress.  I thought she was a good actress.  I thought she was a great human being, immensely interested in world suffering, particularly children.   She exuded grace and charm.  She was an undeniable icon of style.  Over the years when I asked people who their favorite actress was, hers was the name I heard the most, mainly, if not exclusively, with women.  Women championed her more than men although I think a lot of gay men attached themselves to her.

Jeff Chandler

I write about all kinds of actors.  Some are those A-list actors... those gods and goddesses who either have the looks or talent or both to ignite in audiences a passion that compels us to want to see their films.  In my case I have always wanted to enhance that movie-going experience with wanting to learn more about them.  I have also written about character actors and actresses, people not as well known.  I always hope that I might remind some of you of a few folks whose work you have enjoyed countless times, although not in all cases have you remembered their names.

L.A. Confidential: Favorite Movie #19

1997 Crime Drama
From Regency Enterprises
Directed by Curtis Hanson

Starring
Kevin Spacey
Russell Crowe
Guy Pearce
Kim Basinger
James Cromwell
David Strathairn
Danny DeVito
Ron Rifkin
Matt McCoy
Simon Baker
Graham Beckel

Mrs. Hughes

As a teenager I was friendly with a girl who wanted more than anything to be a movie star.  She had come from Ohio to Los Angeles and thought the move would be a sure-fire guarantee to movie stardom.  We lived a mile from 20th Century Fox studios  and we would sneak in and watch as much as we could and ogle movie stars.  She said there was nothing she wouldn't do to realize her glittery dream.  My hunch is she didn't make it as most dreamy-eyed girls didn't and still don't.  There was another young girl from Ohio who never had a dream of being a movie star yet became one and easily so.  The gates at 20th Century Fox magically opened for her, she had a pretty good run with 19 films, and then she vanished.

What a Sissy

Who else could I be referring to other than Sissy Spacek?  This is one of filmdom's most reliable of actresses.  You can count on her to deliver the goods always.  Seeing her in a new movie is like seeing a longtime, dear friend again.  Don't you agree?  With no disrespect intended, she is rather un-movie star-looking.  I speak of male actors who have an everyman look; Sissy Spacek has an everywoman look. 

REVIEW: Anna Karenina

Directed by Joe Wright
2012 Costume Drama
2 hours 9 minutes
From Focus Features

Starring
Keira Knightley
Jude Law
Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Matthew McFadyen
Domhnall Gleeson
Kelly Macdonald
Emily Watson
Michelle Dockery
Olivia Williams

ET the Extra-Terrestrial: Favorite Movie #20

1982 Fantasy Comedy Drama
From Universal Studios
Directed by Steven Spielberg

Starring
Henry Thomas
Dee Wallace
Peter Coyote
Drew Barrymore
Robert MacNaughton

REVIEW: Hitchcock

Directed by Sacha Gervasi
2012 Drama
1 hour 38 mins
From 20th Century Fox

Starring
Anthony Hopkins
Helen Mirren
Scarlett Johansson
Toni Collette
Danny Huston
Jessica Biel
Michael Stuhlbarg
James D'Arcy
Richard Portnow