Underrated Movies

I read another blog where a woman wrote about movies. Most of the movies she reviewed were not popular films, her choices were more like older and foreign films. Now I love older films (love, love, LOVE classic Bette Davis films like Jezebel, Now, Voyager and All This and Heaven Too) and I adore foreign films - please see Adam's Apples (available on Netflix and playing on the Sundance channel) and Reprise (in limited release but sure to be on DVD at some point). But I also love films that are, perhaps, a little less lofty in their aspirations. I love films that entertain, with no higher purpose than that.

On this particular blog, the author had a list of her most underrated movies. One of these movies was The Rapture, starring Mimi Rogers. Now I will never criticize another person's choices because movies speak to each viewer differently. But I hated The Rapture. I have seen it twice because I thought I'd give it a second chance. But I still hated it. It didn't speak to me. And that's okay. There have been lots of films that millions of people have loved that I didn't (The English Patient? Ugh. Knocked Up? So completely unbelievable to me and I so don't relate) But it got me thinking about films I liked that I don't think got any attention. So I am paying homage to those films by spreading the word. These are films I enjoy. I'd love for others to enjoy them too. But if you don't like them, that's cool by me. I'd love to hear your choices too!


The film I'm recommending today is Bride and Prejudice. I love it because it combines two of my favorite things, Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" and Bollywood. For those who are unfamiliar with Bollywood, it's a style of film making from India (which makes way more films each year than Hollywood does). Some of the key components in Bollywood films are bright costumes, large musical numbers, guest musical performances and the heroine never kisses the hero. I love these films because they are a lot like my beloved Elvis musicals of the early sixties, and I love the sweet, simple stories like Elvis in Clambake, Spinout and Viva Las Vegas.

Bride and Prejudice follows these Bollywood traditions with an added Western flair. Directed by Gurwinder Chada of Bend It Like Beckham fame (another great film, and starring the ever so handsome Irishman Jonathan Rhys-Myers) and written by her husband Paul Mayeda Berges, B&P is a comedic retelling of the Austen classic.

Acclaimed Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai (once named the most beautiful woman in the world) stars as Lalita (the Lizzie Bennett character) and Martin Henderson plays Mr. Darcy. It's a charming adaptation which spans the globe from India to London to California. The India locals are beautiful and I'd love to go visit some day. The costumes are wonderful and the musical numbers are well incorporated. If you are a fan of either Jane Austen or the Bollywood style, you'll love the films. If you just love romantic comedies and/or musicals then you should check it out as well. Available on DVD and running occasionally on cable on the Starz network.



Got a favorite film that you think is underrated dear readers? Let me know. I'll accept guest columns for this ongoing series. Next time I'll review my favorite Melanie Griffith film (who knew that was even possible!)

Sunday, Sunday

Okay, so Sunday is my day to get very little accomplished. I got no writing done...zero, zip, zilch. I read the paper, went to Best Buy where I spent money I shouldn't have (but my justification is that I had a gift certificate) had lunch with my family (a lovely little meal at Ruby Tuesday's, one of the few places where the salad bar still exists, and quite a nice one!) then spent the afternoon playing Wii, munching on the apricot torte from Trader Joe's (a la mode, of course) and then capped it off by watching a few Netflix movies.

Now I thought when I quit my job I would have lots of time to watch lots of movies. My plan was to go to the movies every Friday and watch at least six Netflix rentals a week. All of which is to be categorized under research, of course, since I am a screenwriter. Well, I haven't been to the theater at all and have watched a total of six movies. Yes, that's right, I have watched less movies since I quit that I did when I was working. Which makes me happy that I'm not sitting around watching movies instead of working but sad because I love movies. So have to get my butt in gear and do some watching! You can't write commercial schlock if you don't see what schlock is out there (remember, I aspire to be a hack).

So this weekend I watched all of my Netflix movies, one that I have had for over a month (the others I just mailed back, unwatched). First was "Dan in Real Life", starring Steve Carrel of The Office. Lovely, sweet little movie if you can get past the slight ick factor of brothers sleeping with the same woman. But other than that it's charming and I want to marry into a large Kennedy-esque clan that plays touch football in a cape type setting. It looked like so much fun to be in a big family with a talent show night. (I don't know anyone who does that in real life, but it looked idyllic.) I definitely recommend you see this film.

Next was "August Rush". Just go into it knowing it's a fairy tale in a modern setting. Completely unbelievable in every way. The music was awesome and you get to see Jonathan Rhys Myers (see previous post) looking hot, brooding a lot and singing (he was surprisingly quite good). You also get to see Kerri Russell looking doe-eyed and mostly moving zombie like through the film ("Waitress" was a much better example of her acting talents.) A nice turn from Robin Williams as the evil 'Fagin' type character and the kid who played Evan/August was really good although I would have directed his performance a bit differently.

Finally, "I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With". I wanted to like this movie, I did. It got decent reviews. And I love Chicago/Second City people (Chicago is second only to Boston on my comedy scale). I adore Bonnie Hunt, adore her. "Return to Me" is one of my favorite films and I have been a faithful follower of hers forever (anyone else remember "Davis Rules"? of "The Bonnie Hunt Show"? or "The Building"? I didn't think so) and we share the same birth date (she's older). So when I saw that she was in it I was willing to watch even if it meant sitting through Sarah Silverman playing the same creepy crazy girl she has been typecast into (or maybe she is just a creepy crazy girl). And I like Jeff Garlin and the rest of the Second City cast he brought along with him (he wrote and directed and starred). And I wanted to like this film about a chubby actor living with his mom and not dating much (hmmm, why do I relate?). But his character came off as a bit unsympathetic and sad. There were some moments of sheer brilliance - a remake of the Ernest Borgnine classic "Marty" starring Aaron Carter and Gina Gershon, big hoot! and the part with Poncho Boy was too funny. But I wanted more from the character than he wanted for himself. So I guess what I'm saying was that the side bits were funnier than the whole. I give it a 'watch it on cable' recommend. When you do watch it, grab a tub of tapioca. And people, hire Bonnie Hunt more, she's terrific!

Now about the Wii. I love the Wii (see this post) and I can't wait for the Wii Fit. But we needed some new games so I bought Game Party (don't bother) and Mario Kart. Yes, the one with the Wii wheel. Okay, can I just say my thumbs hurt? And I crashed like a million times. My brother is pretty good, my sister-in-law to be Val is really good and my mother was hysterical to watch as she crashed, bumped, got turned around and basically sucked. It was so much fun. I practiced a bit more last night and I think I might some day get to the point where I don't embarrass myself, as long as I don't play against anyone under thirty. If you don't already have a Wii, get one. They are so much fun, no matter what your age - heck Grandma is 87 and she plays with it!

Kiss the Irish

A writer friend posted on her blog about her obsession with British actors. She's right, the Brits are hot. But I have a slight preference for the Irish, myself. (It might be my Irish heritage, I am a red haired Shae after all!) She asked me who my faves are so here they are, in no particular order. (I'd be happy with any of them!)



Gabriel Byrne
I'd have to be in treatment not to make him one of my usual suspects!





Pierce Brosnan
Anyone who ever watched Remington Steele could see that he IS Bond. Mamma mia, he's adorable!





Jonathan Rhys Myers
He can make Henry VIII look hot (who knew that was even possible?) And he totally made me want to bend it like Beckham!





Cillian Murphy
Those beautiful eyes get to me every time. He plays the bad guy way too well, though. I'd sleep with him, but I'd keep one red eye open!




Kenneth Branagh
Much ado about something, I'd say. Great writer, director and actor...you'd have to be dead again not to find him a lethal combination!

And to give props to the Clendenin and McLean sides of my family, here are my pics for Great Scots!



James McAvoy
He might be the last king of Scotland but he's my favorite. I totally get why Jane Austen fell for him.




Gerard Butler
P.S. I love you too. A hot Scottish hunk but he played a hot Irish one so he's double trouble. Yum.