Mount! m-o-n-t-e, MOUNT!

SPOILER ALERT: Don't read the third review if you're planning to watch the movie without having seen it before. 

Average rating: 6.75

A Walk in the Clouds (1995) - "When soldier Paul Sutton (Keanu Reeves) is on his way home after World War II, he realizes that he barely knows his young wife, Betty (Debra Messing). With the couple's relationship strained and Paul haunted by memories of the war, he is happy to have a diversion in the form of beautiful traveler Victoria Aragon (Aitana Sánchez-Gijón). Circumstances force Paul to pose as Victoria's new husband for her close-knit Mexican-American family, a situation that brings tension and unexpected results."
length: 1 hour, 42 minutes

source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: I've seen it a couple of times before, but had not

reviewed it - and remembered loving it.
IMDB: 6.7/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 46% Audience: 75%
my IMDB: 7/10

MPAA rating: PG-13

notable quote: "Talking between men and women never solves anything. Where we think, they feel. Creatures of the heart."

directed by: Alfonso Arau

my notes: beautiful, warm, romantic. Giancarlo Giannini (Alberto) is outstanding. Anthony Quinn (Don Pedro) is adorable; the scene of him teaching Keanu Reeves' Paul to sing a classic love song—both of them drunk as heck—is sweet and funny and lovely. Aitana Sánchez-Gijón (Victoria) and Angélica Aragón (Marie Jose) are gorgeous, delicate and strong, and with Evangelina Elizondo (Guadelupe) form the heart of the film. I think it's marvelous.

    Roger Ebert's delightful review is here.

overall:  recommended

 

The Searchers (1956) - "In this revered Western, Ethan Edwards returns home to Texas after the Civil War. When members of his brother's family are killed or abducted by Comanches, he vows to track down his surviving relatives and bring them home. Eventually, Edwards gets word that his niece Debbie is alive, and, along with her adopted brother, Martin Pawley, he embarks on a dangerous mission to find her, journeying deep into Comanche territory."
length: 1 hour, 59 minutes

source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: it's been years since I've seen it (never reviewed), and it's reputed to be one of John Wayne + John Ford's best collaborations
IMDB: 7.8/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 87% Audience: 88%
my IMDB: 7/10

AFI:  100 Years…100 Movies (original list 1998) #96

    100 Years…100 Movies - 10th anniversary edition (2007) #12

    10 Top 10 (2008) Western #1

MPAA rating: Approved

notable quote: "I can whup you to a frazzle."

directed by: John Ford

my notes: an old-fashioned Western can be a hard sell, given the overt and overwhelming racism at the heart. Wayne's character is middle-aged, grumpy as Hell, and (however organically, given the time period) offensively focused on revenge. It's hard to root for a guy like that. I did like Jeffrey Hunter as Martin Pawley, though Martin's relation to the rest of the cast was weirdly both focal and glossed over. Hank Worden's Mose Harper was a treat (except in the moments when he was a useless, stupid set piece). And it ought to be noted—despite billing—that this is not "a Natalie Wood movie".

    Roger Ebert's review is here—with which I agree in spirit, if not in stars.
overall:  recommended

Say Anything (1989) - "In a charming, critically acclaimed tale of first love, Lloyd, an eternal optimist, seeks to capture the heart of Diane, an unattainable high-school beauty and straight-A student. It surprises just about everyone when she returns the sentiment. But Diane's overly possessive, divorced father doesn't approve and it will take more than the power of love to conquer all."
length: 1 hour, 40 minutes

source: see below
I watched it because: I guess I've seen it (I know for sure that I bought the DVD, and the shrinkwrap was removed...?) but don't remember it at all - and it was never mentioned in the blog or on FB. How mysterious!
IMDB: 7.3/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 98% Audience: 85%
my IMDB: 5/10

MPAA rating: PG-13

notable quote: "Bitches, man . . . ."

directed by: Cameron Crowe

my notes: it's supposed to be a hallmark of my generation, but it feels forced, miscast, and worst of all boring. A decent proportion of this cast (John Mahoney, the Cusacks, Piven . . . ) are connected and even synonymous with Chicago, so the rare comments about the setting in Seattle gave a clank. 

    Though I watched the standard theatrical version, it felt like there were pieces missing. Why the jokey bit about the friend-girl's suicide? Why the flower in the hair? Why the intensely sobering side story with the dad? Does he know he did something wrong (see, e.g., the bathtub scene), or is he obnoxiously oblivious and uncaring (see the rest of the freakin' movie)? 

    Roger Ebert's review is here; we can't always agree!
overall: only barely recommended, and only because it's got a great soundtrack

Sitting Pretty (1948) - "Overworked parents Tacey (Maureen O'Hara) and Harry King (Robert Young) have three rambunctious sons and no time for themselves. So they place an ad for a live-in nanny, which is answered by one Lynn Belvedere, who they assume is a woman. The Kings are soon shocked when they discover that Lynn is actually a man (Clifton Webb). Reluctantly, they hire him anyway and are pleased when he proves a success. Unfortunately, the addition of another adult man to the house troubles the neighbors."
length: 1 hour, 23 minutes

source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: I've seen it a couple of times before (almost exactly 5 and 10 years ago, how weird!) and liked it

    (previously reviewed here)
IMDB: 7.4/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: N/A% Audience: 77%
my IMDB: 8/10

MPAA rating: Approved

notable quote: "'Don't I get a kiss?'

    'Oh, no. I'm a one-man woman, and my heart belongs to Belvedere.'"

directed by: Walter Lang

my notes: an adorable script, well played by this fun cast. The leads are terrific, as are the children (shock!) and particularly the best friends Edna and Bill Philby, played tongue-in-cheek by Louise Allbritton and John Russell. It's a charming film.

Academy Award nominee: Best Actor—Clifton Webb
overall:  recommended

 

[the title quotation is from The Searchers]