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Reviews
Dinner at Eight (1933)
A sparkly diamond of 1930s Hollywood
What a charming, witty classic. The thin veneer of Park Avenue society is crumbling in hard economic times. So many of the characters are struggling financially and each, in their own way, is hoping for their next dollar. Oliver Jordan (Lionel Barrymore) hopes to be saved from financial ruin by mining magnate Dan Packard (Wallace Beery). Packard hopes to profit from misery by buying a majority shareholding in Jordan's company. Fading actress Carlotta Vance (Marie Dressler) has returned to New York to see who she can hit for a bit of cash to fund her lifestyle. Failing alcoholic actor Larry Renault (John Barrymore) is desperately grasping at his next role, but doesn't make the cut and the consequences are tragic (if a little melodramatic). Millicent Jordan (Billy Burke) focuses on the kind of dinner party trivialities that are important to a society matron to amusing effect. Jean Harlow does a marvelous job as the dumb but beautiful trophy wife Kitty Packard. Dialogue, acting and comic timing is impeccable. There are some beautifully observed moments - especially with the maids and cooks (servants) of the rich folk. Marie Dressler gets the funniest lines by far - but Harlow and Burke come a close second in showing their comedy credentials. I was so pleasantly surprised with this one - a sparkly diamond of 1930s Hollywood.
Eternity (2012)
Lead actors manage to transcend stilted dialogue
The three stars are for Elliot Travers and Dean Knowsley who saved this movie. If the movie had been a two-hander, it would have been much better. Really, that's the best thing I can say about this movie. The other actors simply fail to engage or deliver. I must live on a completely different planet to the Cannes Jury - because I don't think I've experienced such stilted acting and badly written conversation since high school. The story is prosaic and predictable, the dialogue is dreadful - but Travers and Knowsley manage to transcend the words so well you actually care about them. But the other actors do not manage the same feat with the badly written repartee. I can't really blame them, but I was a little embarrassed to watch them. I kept thinking of those kids in school plays who try a bit too hard. I had no interest in the other characters' lives and found myself wanting them to keep quiet. I did want it all to be better, and I expected better - but I guess all NZ films can't be independent masterpieces. The premise was promising - but I felt I'd seen this story before.
Girl Most Likely (2012)
Coming of age RomCom for generation X
I do love a coming of age story - and this movie does not disappoint.I find it interesting that the characters in these kinds of stories are getting older. All those teenage coming of age stories of times past are making way for new life transition. In this case, it's a career meltdown for Imogene (Kristen Wiig) who is in her late thirties. It's not new to see Wiig playing an annoying, selfish character - but it's refreshing to see her play it "straight" rather than for cheap laughs. Annette Benning is wonderful as the mother and I really enjoyed Darren Criss's easy going nice-guy performance. A special mention goes to Christopher Fitzgerald for his heartwarming portrayal of brother Ralph. Thankfully this is no paint-by- numbers romcom. It's intelligent, funny, heartwarming and worth a watch.