corruption is why we win

Average rating: 6.75

Out of Time (2003) - "Matt Lee Whitlock (Denzel Washington) is the police chief of a small Florida town, going through a divorce with his detective wife, Alex (Eva Mendes). He begins a passionate affair with Ann (Sanaa Lathan), only to find out that she's stricken with terminal cancer. Matt steals a large sum of money confiscated from a drug bust in order to pay for Ann's treatment—but when she apparently dies in a suspicious fire, the money disappears, and all the clues point to Matt as the culprit."
length: 1 hour, 45 minutes

source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: I hadn't seen it and am feeling disposed toward Denzel since rewatching Déjà Vu (2006; reviewed here)
IMDB: 6.5/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 65% Audience: 58%
my IMDB: 5/10

MPAA rating: PG-13 (surprising, given the lingering shots of Sanaa Lathan's breasts and of charred human remains, among other disturbing elements)

notable quote: "'Try the crab, it's real good.'

    'Nah, I'm allergic.'

    'I know.'"

directed by: Carl Franklin

my notes: as a suspense movie, it fails. The broad idea of the ending is obvious. As a crime movie, it fails. The police and various other agencies are a mishmash of bad investigation, ridiculous "chain of evidence", and loads of lying. As a romance, it fails. There is no chemistry between any of the main characters, particularly the married ones. 

    It is sort of an unintentional comedy/drama and there are more painful ways to spend a couple of hours, but it's not a good movie.

    Roger Ebert's extremely forgiving and open-minded review is here, with which I firmly disagree.

overall: not much recommended

 

The Woman in the Window (1944) - "His family packed off to Maine, Professor Richard Wanley (Edward G. Robinson) is anticipating some quiet time alone. Then he meets Alice (Joan Bennett), the model for a portrait he admires, and can't resist her offer of a drink. No sooner do they get to her place, however, than her jealous boyfriend arrives in a rage. Richard kills him in self-defense, and they decide to hide the body. Things go smoothly until Richard's D.A. friend invites him to tag along on the investigation of his own crime."
length: 1 hour, 47 minutes

source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: I'd liked it before (previously reviewed here) but couldn't recall much
IMDB: 7.6/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 83% Audience: 83%
my IMDB: 8/10

MPAA rating: Approved

notable quote: "The flesh is still strong, but the spirit grows weaker by the hour. You know, even if the spirit of adventure should rise up before me and beckon, even in the form of that alluring young woman in the window next door, I'm afraid that all I'll do is clutch my coat a little tighter, mutter something idiotic and run like the devil."

directed by: Fritz Lang

my notes: it's a curious, quite different classic thriller. Edward G. Robinson is an unexpected romantic hero. Joan Bennett is suitably beautiful and tragic as the titular woman. My favorite is Raymond Massey as the investigator Frank Lalor. The film is gorgeously lit and shot, ramping up the tension right up to the awesome, surprising ending.

Academy Award nominee: Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture—Hugo Friedhofer, Arthur Lange
overall: strongly recommended

Syriana (2005) - "The Middle Eastern oil industry is the backdrop of this tense drama, which weaves together numerous story lines. Bennett Holiday (Jeffrey Wright) is an American lawyer in charge of facilitating a dubious merger of oil companies, while Bryan Woodman (Matt Damon), a Switzerland-based energy analyst, experiences both personal tragedy and opportunity during a visit with Arabian royalty. Meanwhile, veteran CIA agent Bob Barnes (George Clooney) uncovers an assassination plot with unsettling origins."
length: 2 hours, 8 minutes

source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: I sometimes really like George Clooney's films
IMDB: 6.9/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 72% Audience: 67%
my IMDB: 7/10

MPAA rating: R

notable quote: "Americans love to drill holes in other people's countries."

directed by: Stephen Gaghan

my notes: profoundly violent, disturbing, and anxiety-producing.

    Roger Ebert's review is here, from which I have to share this: "The movie’s plot is so complex we’re not really supposed to follow it, we’re supposed to be surrounded by it. Since none of the characters understand the whole picture, why should we?" Ayup. 

    Some terrific performances, the twistiest plot I've ever seen, and insanely intense directing make for an overwhelmingly intense film. I hope I never see this again.

Academy Award winner: Best Supporting Actor—Clooney
Academy Award nominee: Best Writing, Original Screenplay—Stephen Gaghan
overall:  recommended with huge reservations

Top Hat (1935) - "The story centers on wealthy Dale Tremont (Ginger Rogers), on holiday in London and Venice. She assumes that American entertainer Jerry Travers (Fred Astaire) is the husband of her friend Madge (Helen Broderick)—who's actually the wife of Jerry's business manager Horace Hardwick (Edward Everett Horton)."
length: 1 hour, 41 minutes

source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: after the last one, I needed something light
IMDB: 7.7/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 100% Audience: 90%
my IMDB: 7/10

AFI: 25 Greatest Movie Musicals (2006) #15

MPAA rating: Approved

notable quote: "My dear, when you're as old as I am, you take your men as you find them—if you can find them."

directed by: Mark Sandrich

my notes: a silly, fun, ridiculous movie. The costumes are terrific, the dance is magnificent, the music is catchy. The leads are fine, but the beauty of this film is in Madge Hardwick (played perfectly by Helen Broderick), the valet Bates (by the deadpan Eric Blore), and deliciously swish Alberto Beddini (the exquisite Erik Rhodes).

    Roger Ebert's review is here, with which I completely agree.

Academy Award nominee:
• Best Picture

• Best Art Direction—Carroll Clark, Van Nest Polglase

• Best Dance Direction—Hermes Pan, for 'Piccolino' and 'Top Hat'

• Best Music, Original song—Irving Berlin, for 'Cheek to Cheek'
overall:  recommended

 

[the title quotation is from Syriana]