When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Running Time: 96 mins
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Estimated Budget: $16, 000,000
Estimated Gross (USA 1990): $92, 823,546
Awards: Academy Award Nomination for Best Screenplay - Nora Ephron

Director: Rob Reiner
Writer: Nora Ephron
Stars: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher

When Harry Met Sally is in my top 3 all time favourite movies. I could watch this film at any time of any day over and over on a loop. It never gets old, and never loses its charm. This is due to one woman and one woman only; Nora Ephron. One of the best women in the industry, she was responsible for writing Silkwood (1983) and writing and directing Sleepless in Seattle (1993), You've Got Mail (1998) and Julie and Julia (2009) she has proven that women can have careers behind the camera in Hollywood and bloody good ones too.

The film spans 12 years in the life of Harry Burns (Crystal) and Sally Albright (Ryan) they meet when they drive across country together from Chicago to New York after college, they discover on the drive that they don't like each other very much especially after Harry states that men and women simply can't be friends because sex always gets in the way. This simple fact is the basis for the film, the two meet briefly again a few years later and the subject is brought up, they have both started living their lives happy with both career and love life but still don't particularly like each other. They part ways each fairly glad to see the back of the other. It is not until they enter their 30's that they meet again each having reached a crossroads in their life and are at their most vulnerable and lowest. They become friends and the statement that Harry made all those years before is tested in their relationship. Can they be friends or will sex get in the way?

Ephron wrote the screenplay for When Harry Met Sally with the film's director Rob Reiner, both Harry and Sally have characteristics that came from both writers, for example Reiner was love sick at the time and his attitude was written into the script as was Ephron's picky eating habits which are one of Sally's most annoying but endearing qualities. The script for this movie I believe is one of the greatest ever written. You can hear the magic in every line, it is faultless. You almost can feel that every piece of dialogue has been painstakingly thought about and placed in order excluding the improvisation from the genius Crystal which is as good as any script could ever be. It is essentially the script that puts the film leagues above other chick-flicks and why it is so loved by audiences and critics.

In his portrayal of Harry Burns I honestly believe it is the best performance Billy Crystal has ever given including the little green eyeball with legs that was Mike Wazowski from Pixar's Monsters Inc. (2001). Crystal seems like the oddest choice for the part, especially in a romantic comedy, he is no Johnny Depp or Brad Pitt lets face it. But he totally suits the part, even though realistically he is slightly too old and wears one of Hollywood's worst wigs in history. You forgive all this because he is perfect and his chemistry with his leading lady is perfection itself, however odd a couple they look and seem.

Speaking of the leading lady, Meg Ryan will forever be remembered for the orgasm diner scene in this film. It is probably the first thing that audiences connect with her and rightly so, it is one of the funniest scenes ever committed to film and Ryan should be proud not only for pulling it off but also for coming up with the idea to play out the scene rather than just talk about it as was written in the original script. She is responsible for the most memorable scene in the movie and subsequently the infamous line in response to it; "I'll have what she's having" number #33 on the AFI's list of Best 100 Movie Quotes in American Film, and it wasn't even uttered by an actor but the director Rob Reiner's own mother.

Carrie fisher and Bruno Kirby are brilliant co-stars in the film as Marie and Jess best friends of Sally and Harry and their sounding boards for their problems with life and each other, they also have great chemistry and are a believable couple. But it is the chemistry of  Crystal and Ryan (who lets face it you would not ordinarily put together) which makes the film so successful and the way they are able to play off each other gives the film its sparkle. I think it is the fact that you would not see them as a couple that makes the film so hilarious and yet so original, for some reason, defying all odds the pairing works remarkably well. The last scene at New Year is one of my favouites in any movie I've ever seen. You laugh and you cry (but happy cry of course) and it is moving and funny all at the same time, a priceless effect.

The soundtrack is also something to listen out for, full of old 1930's classics that remind you of Fred and Ginger in their heyday. A memorable effect was the choice to add romantic stories from the elder generation to split the years and scenes. Reiner personally collected these true stories and then had actors perform them in the movie. It is a moving and often hilarious touch.


Just writing about this film brings back all my favourite moments, if you haven't seen it I could not tell you more strongly that you have been wasting your life up until now, if you don't marvel at the sheer brilliance of the script and revel in the great chemistry between Crystal's Harry and Ryan's Sally then, my friend, there is something not quite right with you, and thats the truth :D

I hope you've enjoyed the review, I hope you love the film as much as I do and if you haven't seen it I sincerely hope you run out to purchase it as soon as you possibly can and get from it what I have. In my opinion the greatest romantic comedy of all time and one of the greatest scripts ever written, I think I'm going to go and watch the film right now actually, I've talked myself into it. Enjoy.

A New York Winter's Tale (2014)

Running Time: 1 Hour 55 mins
Genre: Fantasy/Romance
Estimated Budget: $60, 000,000
Estimated Gross (USA 28th Feb): $12, 314,242

Director: Akiva Goldsman
Writer: Akiva Goldsman (Screenplay) Mark Helprin (Novel)
Stars: Colin Farrell, Jessica Brown Findlay, Russell Crowe

I'm very behind on my writing of late; I saw A New York Winter's Tale (or Winter's Tale if your in the USA) weeks ago and I cannot stop thinking about it. This does happen every so often, but rarely. I'll see a film and something about it will stick with me. I have been listening to the score from the film in my car for over a week and am simply enchanted with it. I am currently reading the book, there is a lot to be said for the imagination and the book spurs you on to dream up all the most magnificent images. But there is nothing like seeing your imagination come to life with the visual magic of the cinema screen.

Akiva Goldsman the screenwriter who has given us A Beautiful Mind (2001), I, Robot (2004), The Da Vinci Code (2006) and I Am Legend (2007) to name a few has made his directing début adapting Mark Helprin's 1983 novel of the same name. Now if your a fan of Helprin's novel I must warn you there is little that you will recognise. What Goldsman has done is take a very particular and relatively small section from the epic story and focused or rather adapted that. He has centred his film on the first passage of the great winter epic the beauty and the beast aspect you might say; Colin Farrell is Peter Lake a thief in Manhattan in the early 19th century, he is on the run from a mob of gangsters led by the demonic Pearly Soames (Russell Crowe) he is saved by an otherworldly white horse which takes him to safety. The horse leads him to the house of Beverly Penn (Brown Findlay) a young woman dying from consumption (TB), whilst attempting to rob her house he finds her at home alone and the pair fall in love over a cup of tea. Thus begins a romantic relationship between the two characters with great chemistry on-screen between the leads, despite the obvious age difference.

Now you can see by the poster and the tag line that this is a particular type of movie and the director and stars have themselves stated that to enjoy it you simply need to leave your cynicism at the door. I am very fortunate to be able to do this fairly easily, because of it I seem to enjoy a lot of films many people cannot abide, all the more unfortunate for them. The cast and director are right, you cannot sit through this film and judge it on surface value, it spans time and introduces magic to an otherwise normal world. It has not received the greatest of reactions from either critics or fans of the book, personally I loved the film and having seen it before I read the book I can honestly say that I prefer the film to the book, that is not to say that the book does not have it's merits. It is a epic story with an enormous scale, but I personally find that the simplified and focused story of Peter Lake and Beverly Penn caught my imagination more.

However there is no denying that Goldsman has created a beautiful film, the cinematography in my opinion is spectacular he has given New York a life of its own and after watching the film I wanted to jump onto a plane or a time machine for that matter and travel to the 19th century city portrayed on-screen. The score especially the theme played for the two lovers is magnificent it perfectly captures the nature of the strong but brief relationship and sticks with you after you've left the cinema as all good scores should. The performances in A New York Winter's Tale really struck me; Colin Farrell is obviously comfortable in his native accent and his portrayal of Peter Lake is almost like an extension of himself - excluding the stealing of course. Jessica Brown Findlay was clearly born in the wrong era, coming from Downton Abbey playing Lady Sybil Crawley Branson (my absolute favourite character from the show) she has a natural affinity for playing 19th century women. Her performance as Beverly is a breath of fresh air amid the gangsters and drama, she brings a realistic element to the film despite the magical events surrounding her.

The supporting cast in the form of Jennifer Connelly, William Hurt and the Golden Age beauty Eva Marie Saint are brilliant but brief as the story rushes on focusing intently on Peter Lake and his experiences. My only complaint for this film is that certain characters have been miscast, mainly Russell Crowe as Pearly Soames, he does not seem comfortable in the role and is basically hamming it up. The make-up and effects are great but the Irish (if that is what it is supposed to be) accent does not work, it is rather hard to understand him at times. This and his boss a surprising and miscast cameo (I won't spoil it) bring you out of the experience slightly, something that never helps a film. I believe you should be totally engrossed in a film and if something pulls you out of that trance like excitement and concentration then it does not work for the film.

Apart from this small negative, which is strictly a personal opinion I would strongly recommend this film, however I would watch the movie before reading the book if that is something you wish to do. As the reader would surely be disappointed in the simplistic tale after the large expansive world created by Helprin. If your a fan of the wondrous and fantastical and you love a good romance then this is a film for you. I hope you enjoy.

Let me know what you thought of the film in the comments below.

Notting Hill (1999)

Running Time: 124 mins
Genre: Romance/Comedy
Estimated Budget: $42, 000,000
Estimated Gross (World Wide & US 2001): $363, 006,080

Director: Roger Michell
Stars: Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant

Can you believe it, Notting Hill is 15 years old this year. It was 1999 that a girl stood in front of a boy and asked him to love her and we are still coming back for more with this classic rom-com. Notting Hill is such a great movie for making the audience laugh and feel good. Richard Curtis is a master at writing great relationships for the screen and this is no different.

Hugh Grant is William Thacker a divorced travel bookshop owner living in Notting Hill. His world is turned upside down one morning when he bumps (literally) into Julia Roberts' Anna Scott, currently the biggest movie star in the world. To his utter surprise Anna sees something in him that she likes and something of a relationship begins. A normal man and a movie star does not seem like a natural and smooth partnership and you would be right. Stumbling and faltering the two try to make things work against all odds.

Notting Hill has long been on the list of favourite romantic comedies of all time. Written by the incomparable Richard Curtis who wrote Hugh Grant's first big screen effort Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) Grant again plays the loveable slightly goofy Englishman, this time the American who he falls in love with happens to be a movie star. And who better to play the biggest star in films but Julia Roberts who was at the time one of the biggest stars on the planet after the likes of Steel Magnolias (1989) and Pretty Woman (1990)  put her on the map. The part she plays in the film is close to how the media focused on her at the time of filming, no doubt this performance was not much of a stretch for her in that respect.

As is Curtis' habit, the script is filled with a great British humour from beginning to end, and believe me this is a funny film. There are so many quotable lines in Notting Hill that are still repeated with joy by fans today. As well as the great humour Richard Curtis blends his screenplays with moving/sad and meaningful scenes. It is this mix which I believe makes his films so successful; he always gets the right balance. Curtis has always had the ability to create wholesome characters with a lot of depth, they are not superficial or surface characters, they are complicated and we plainly witness their faults.

Noticeable from the get-go with Notting Hill is the fantastic co-stars that bring the script to life, in the shape of Rhys Ifans, Tim McInnery, Emma Chambers, Hugh Bonneville and Gina McKee. As Friends and family of Hugh Grant's William. I love that each supporting character has its own story, faults and foibles and you connect with all of them, this is not always the case with films, the support can be lost behind the focus of the stars, but not with Curtis.

This film was extremely successful and has kept it's stars in business every since, the following year Julia Roberts went on to win a Best Actress Oscar for Erin Brockovich (2000) in which she was superb and was nominated in the Supporting category this year for August: Osage County (2014) opposite Meryl Streep. Hugh Grant has continued with what he knows best, though adding edgier performances in the likes of About a Boy (2001)  and completely against type in an array of performances in Cloud Atlas (2012). Richard Curtis added directing to his many talents creating the star filled Christmas classic Love Actually (2003) and last years About Time (2013) with Domhnall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams (one of my absolute favourites of the year, I thoroughly recommend, who doesn't like a bit of time travel) he has only got better with age and experience and I believe he creates some of the most believable and real characters on film.

If you haven't seen Notting Hill, where the heck have you been, it's friday soon and a chilled evening in with a glass of wine and this movie will cure any stressful week you've had. Trust me, give it a try.

Awards Season - Academy Awards 2014 - Winners

So last night was the 86th Annual Academy Awards Ceremony with Ellen Degeneres hosting and some of the greatest films and stars in living memory going head to head for that little golden statue. My review of the show; one of the best in years and the figures prove that, it was the highest viewed Oscars show in a decade.

I previously stated that I thought Ellen would be hilarious as the host, well was I right or was I right. Unlike last years Seth MacFarlane who was shall we say risqué with the majority of his monologue and jokes throughout last years ceremony, Ellen on the other hand played it safe on the whole but gave the stars and the 43 million people watching at home many memorable stand out moments. For example the 86th Oscars has got to be the first to have pizza delivered to the auditorium and served to the hungry stars; Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt were among many who helped themselves gratefully to a slice served by Ellen and her delivery man.

Ellen managed to break another record last night by achieving the most re-tweeted selfie in Twitter history. Starting with an innocent photo with Meryl turned into a group photo with the world's hottest stars and managed not only to break the Obama's record of 781,759 for his re-election photo but surpassed it in half an hour and crashed Twitter in the process. It now has, with my help 2, 872,451 re-tweets and counting. So overall review of the hosting, fantastic, couldn't have done a better job and actually would not mind at all seeing her back next year.

The In Memorium section of the show was introduced fittingly by an all in black clad Glenn Close and ended with Bette Midler given a wrenching rendition of Wind Beneath My Wings, I was already close to tears before she came on. We really have lost so many great stars and talents this year, it was sad to see so many faces up there. Bill Murray went one step further whilst presenting the cinematography award by mentioning Harold Ramis' work for his films; Caddyshack (1980), Ghostbusters (1984) and Groundhog Day (1993). 

Another highlight for me was the tribute to The Wizard of Oz which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year and was introduced by Whoopi Goldberg wearing her very own pair of ruby slippers. As one of my own personal inspirations and heroes it was a joy to see Judy Garland's children Liza Minnelli, Lorna Luft and Joey Luft attend the ceremony and get a special mention. Pink gave a moving performance of Somewhere Over the Rainbow as memorable scenes from the 1939 film flashed on the enormous screen behind her. She is no Judy Garland but she showed the beauty of the song in her performance.

Now for the all important awards, there were not many surprises during the night though no doubt many disappointments, American Hustle though leading the nominations with 10 along with Gravity went home with not a single award, as did The Wolf of Wall Street and Nebraska to name but a few deserving films. Gravity was the big winner of the night with a total 7 Oscars including Best Director - Alfonso Cuaron, Best Cinematography and Best Editing.

As I predicted it might 12 Years a Slave did not pick up many of the awards but it got a total of 3 along with Dallas Buyers Club drawing in second place for most awards received. But 12 Years a Slave did win the big one Best Picture, it also won Best Supporting Actress for the very grateful and deserving Lupita Nyong'o, she also gave the best and most emotional speech of the night, adding to the many great speeches that were given during the show.

There was absolutely no surprise when Cate Blanchett won the Best Actress award for Blue Jasmine, personally not sure how I feel about her speech, mostly complimentary with a few head scratchers (an inside joke with Julia Roberts) and possibly a dig at Sandra Bullock, who knows. But on the whole, she was deserving and paid tribute to everyone who helped her on her journey including the Sydney Theatre Company, I particularly liked her statement about women's roles in film and how female driven films are not a niche market, they do make money and people do want to see them, well said Miss Blanchett. Another no-brainer were both Jared Leto winning Best Supporting Actor for Dallas Buyers Club and Matthew McConaughey winning Best Actor again for Dallas. The two men in white suits looked suave and charming and both gave incredibly moving and exceptional performances and Oscar speeches.

Overall the big awards of the night, in fact all awards received, were expected and truly deserved, as were all those films nominated. It has been said countless times during this awards season but this really has been an exceptional year for films. You only had to look at the montages shown at the ceremony and the films nominated and the stars on stage to figure that out. If this is what the film industry can achieve in just one year then I simply cannot wait to see what is on offer to us next year. As always I thoroughly enjoyed the awards season especially the Academy Awards it definitely is my favourite time of year, excepting Christmas of course. I hope you enjoyed it too.

For the full list of winners click in the link below:
Full List of Oscar Winners 2014

Awards Season - Academy Award Nominations 2014

OK this is it, officially the best day of the year, (in my calender anyway). The Oscars are here !!!!

Tonight the cream of Hollywood's talent and glamour will be hitting that red carpet outside the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Some will be entering mere nominees and coming out Academy Award winners. Something I'm sure is going through all of the nominees minds as they get ready for the big night.

I personally am thrilled to see Ellen DeGeneres hosting again, she was hosting the first time I ever sat and watched the Oscars and she was hilarious. With lots of celebrity friends in the audience no doubt she will be on fine form with lots of support and endless material.

As we have seen throughout awards season the pattern has once again been fairly familiar, but will there be any surprises tonight. Many Leo fans will hoping for a win for the Wolf of Wall Street Actor, myself included. I think Cate Blanchett has almost completely assured herself a Best Actress Oscar after bagging every major award so far for her performance in Blue Jasmine. The big question will be can 12 Years a Slave pull in Best Picture, it seems to have done well in that category up to now without winning many other awards. Though Chiwetel Ejiofor won the BAFTA for Best Actor so could he cause an upset to Matthew McConaughey and steal the Oscar from under him. Another tight category is Best Supporting Actress, with Jennifer Lawrence currently the favourite but Lupita Nyong'o very close behind her, I can't wait to see who'll bag the award. We'll have to wait and see.

Best Picture

American Hustle
Captain Phillips
Dallas Buyers Club
Gravity
Her
Nebraska
Philomena
12 Years a Slave
The Wolf of Wall Street


Best Director

Alfonso Cuaron - Gravity
Steve McQueen - 12 Years a Slave
Alexander Payne - Nebraska
David O. Russell - American Hustle
Martin Scorsese - The Wolf of Wall Street


Best Actor in a Leading Role

Christian Bale - American Hustle
Bruce Dern - Nebraska
Leonardo DiCaprio - The Wolf of Wall Street
Chiwetel Ejiofor - 12 Years a Slave
Matthew McConaughey - Dallas Buyers Club


Best Actress in a Leading Role

Amy Adams - American Hustle
Cate Blanchett - Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock  - Gravity
Judi Dench - Philomena
Meryl Streep - August: Osage County


Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Barkhad Abdi - Captain Phillips
Bradley Cooper - American Hustle
Michael Fassbender - 12 Years a Slave
Jonah Hill - The Wolf of Wall Street
Jared Leto - Dallas Buyers Club


Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Sally Hawkins - Blue Jasmine
Jennifer Lawrence - American Hustle
Lupita Nyong'o - 12 Years a Slave
Julia Roberts - August: Osage County
June Squibb - Nebraska

So there is the list of the big categories for tonight, check out the list below for the full list of nominations.
Oscar Nominations 2014

If your as excited as I am you'll be watching the clock waiting for the show to start. The ceremony will be shown on Sky movies tonight at 1.30am with the red carpet showing before hand.

Come back tomorrow for a review of the show and a list of winners. Happy Oscars everyone.