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litlover12Today we have one of the most heartwarming movies ever made -- and one of the least heartwarming movies ever made. We'll start with the latter.
12. The Lion in Winter (1968; dir. Anthony Harvey; starring Peter O'Toole, Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins)
The year is 1183, and King Henry II of England has decided to let his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, out of prison for Christmas.
Yes, you read that right.
The power struggle among Henry, Eleanor, and their three sons is unflinchingly brutal. It involves threats, bribes, accusations, betrayals, infidelities, eavesdropping, and (as I've already mentioned) a tendency to lock each other up. And so much lying that you can never be sure that any given character is ever telling the truth. I tell people that I love this movie because it makes my relatives look almost normal. But the main reason I love it is the script -- wickedly witty when it's not bleak and sad -- and the way the actors tear into it with relish. Interesting note: Hepburn's performance here resulted in the only tie for the Best Actress Oscar in history. She shared it with Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl.
(Also recommended: Peter O'Toole also played Henry II in another excellent film, Becket, with Richard Burton playing the archbishop who became a thorn in his side. The only major flaw is that Eleanor (played by Pamela Brown this time) doesn't get to say or do very much in that one . . . and a quiet Eleanor is no fun at all!)
11. It's a Wonderful Life (1946; dir. Frank Capra; starring James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore)
Few movies have ever shown the value of one human life so convincingly, or done it with such warmth, humor, or heart. Joke all you like about "Capra-corn," but It's a Wonderful Life isn't just some sappy feel-good movie. There are moments of such darkness and despair here, that the moments of love and joy are all the richer and more meaningful by contrast.
Tomorrow: The King's Speech and 1776. (By the way, if anyone's had trouble viewing the post about The Princess Bride and Charade, sorry about that -- one of the embedded videos went kerflooey, and for some reason that messed with the text. I'm trying to fix it.)
12. The Lion in Winter (1968; dir. Anthony Harvey; starring Peter O'Toole, Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins)
The year is 1183, and King Henry II of England has decided to let his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, out of prison for Christmas.
Yes, you read that right.
The power struggle among Henry, Eleanor, and their three sons is unflinchingly brutal. It involves threats, bribes, accusations, betrayals, infidelities, eavesdropping, and (as I've already mentioned) a tendency to lock each other up. And so much lying that you can never be sure that any given character is ever telling the truth. I tell people that I love this movie because it makes my relatives look almost normal. But the main reason I love it is the script -- wickedly witty when it's not bleak and sad -- and the way the actors tear into it with relish. Interesting note: Hepburn's performance here resulted in the only tie for the Best Actress Oscar in history. She shared it with Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl.
(Also recommended: Peter O'Toole also played Henry II in another excellent film, Becket, with Richard Burton playing the archbishop who became a thorn in his side. The only major flaw is that Eleanor (played by Pamela Brown this time) doesn't get to say or do very much in that one . . . and a quiet Eleanor is no fun at all!)
11. It's a Wonderful Life (1946; dir. Frank Capra; starring James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore)
Few movies have ever shown the value of one human life so convincingly, or done it with such warmth, humor, or heart. Joke all you like about "Capra-corn," but It's a Wonderful Life isn't just some sappy feel-good movie. There are moments of such darkness and despair here, that the moments of love and joy are all the richer and more meaningful by contrast.
Tomorrow: The King's Speech and 1776. (By the way, if anyone's had trouble viewing the post about The Princess Bride and Charade, sorry about that -- one of the embedded videos went kerflooey, and for some reason that messed with the text. I'm trying to fix it.)
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George Bailey, I'll love you 'til the day I die!
Date: 2011-03-28 02:35 am (UTC)***
Yay, one of the ones I've seen, though only... 10 or so years ago. Well into adulthood.
This is one of those classics that while I missed it not-on-purpose growing up, at some point I did choose to avoid it. So often movies (and books) have such a reputation that you wonder if, after ALL THE HYPE, you will be disappointed. It's happened before.
But not with this one. I sobbed my way through the entire darned thing. I can't even watch this scene. I know just what it is, and it hurts my heart like a physical pain. HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE THIS MAN?!
***
As a side note, I so appreciated that they treated the situation of someone being suicidal in a serious way, but not in the way that says, 'Everyone who ever considers suicide is crazy/mentally ill'.
You're not crazy to consider suicide. You just have to have serious problems that you can't handle anymore. And if you have an insurance policy on yourself, it sure looks appealing. (Tho' of course they don't pay if you kill yourself. But when you're desperate, it sure does look like the solution, if you can just work out those pesky details!)
Re: George Bailey, I'll love you 'til the day I die!
Date: 2011-03-28 12:11 pm (UTC)I've always heard that the movie has given a lot of people hope and courage, and I believe it.
no subject
Date: 2011-03-28 02:02 pm (UTC)