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Review: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) (1)

4 Star Films Posted by 4 Star Film Fan on Jan 3, 2018

The opening credits roll and recognition comes with each name that pops on the screen. Jean Arthur, James Stewart, Claude Rains, Edward Arnold, Guy Kibbee, Thomas Mitchell, Eugene Palette, Beulah Bondi, H.B. Warner, Harry Carey, Porter Hall, Charles Lane, William Demarest, Jack Carson, and of course read more

Review: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) (2)

4 Star Films Posted by 4 Star Film Fan on Jan 3, 2018

The opening credits roll and recognition comes with each name that pops on the screen. Jean Arthur, James Stewart, Claude Rains, Edward Arnold, Guy Kibbee, Thomas Mitchell, Eugene Palette, Beulah Bondi, H.B. Warner, Harry Carey, Porter Hall, Charles Lane, William Demarest, Jack Carson, and of course read more

Review: Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) (2)

4 Star Films Posted by 4 Star Film Fan on Jan 2, 2018

“He could never fit in with our distorted viewpoint, because he’s honest, and sincere, and good. If that man’s crazy, Your Honor, the rest of us belong in straitjackets!” ~ Jean Arthur as Babe Bennett Mr. Deeds Goes to Town is a true treasure of idealism and Americana. People read more

Review: Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) (1)

4 Star Films Posted by 4 Star Film Fan on Jan 2, 2018

“He could never fit in with our distorted viewpoint, because he’s honest, and sincere, and good. If that man’s crazy, Your Honor, the rest of us belong in straitjackets!” ~ Jean Arthur as Babe Bennett Mr. Deeds Goes to Town is a true treasure of idealism and Americana. People read more

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) (1)

4 Star Films Posted by 4 Star Film Fan on Dec 29, 2017

“Let the past die.”  – Adam Driver as Kylo Ren I left the theater feeling completely taciturn. It’s an onerous task to begin articulating all the jumbled fragments circulating through my mind but I will try my very best.  Certainly, there is a great deal to be enjoyed and read more

Bachelor Mother (1939) (2) (2)

4 Star Films Posted by 4 Star Film Fan on Dec 29, 2017

Of course, Bachelor Mother is a blatant oxymoron and it’s a perfect summation of that vestige of a genre the screwball comedy — a genre that’s about marriage and divorce and the gray areas in between conveniently skirting past issues such as adultery or people “living in sin read more

Bachelor Mother (1939) (3)

4 Star Films Posted by 4 Star Film Fan on Dec 29, 2017

Of course, Bachelor Mother is a blatant oxymoron and it’s a perfect summation of that vestige of a genre the screwball comedy — a genre that’s about marriage and divorce and the gray areas in between conveniently skirting past issues such as adultery or people “living in sin read more

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) (2)

4 Star Films Posted by 4 Star Film Fan on Dec 29, 2017

“Let the past die.”  – Adam Driver as Kylo Ren I left the theater feeling completely taciturn. It’s an onerous task to begin articulating all the jumbled fragments circulating through my mind but I will try my very best.  Certainly, there is a great deal to be enjoyed and read more

Vivacious Lady (1938) (2)

4 Star Films Posted by 4 Star Film Fan on Dec 27, 2017

The first moment Pete Morgan (James Stewart) actually catches sight of alluring nightclub singer Francey (Ginger Rogers), the gangly botany professor proceeds to knock over a drink cooler. He’s enamored. In the movies, it’s that magical trope called “love at first sight.” Fo read more

Vivacious Lady (1938) (3)

4 Star Films Posted by 4 Star Film Fan on Dec 27, 2017

The first moment Pete Morgan (James Stewart) actually catches sight of alluring nightclub singer Francey (Ginger Rogers), the gangly botany professor proceeds to knock over a drink cooler. He’s enamored. In the movies, it’s that magical trope called “love at first sight.” Fo read more

A Christmas Tale (2008) (1)

4 Star Films Posted by 4 Star Film Fan on Dec 24, 2017

The initial inclination for seeing Arnaud Desplechin’s sprawling family drama was the presence of the estimable Catherine Deneuve. And she’s truly wonderful giving a shining, nuanced performance that makes the audience respect her, sympathize with her, and even dislike her a little bit. read more

A Christmas Tale (2008) (2)

4 Star Films Posted by 4 Star Film Fan on Dec 24, 2017

The initial inclination for seeing Arnaud Desplechin’s sprawling family drama was the presence of the estimable Catherine Deneuve. And she’s truly wonderful giving a shining, nuanced performance that makes the audience respect her, sympathize with her, and even dislike her a little bit. read more

A Tale of Two Cities (1935) (2)

4 Star Films Posted by 4 Star Film Fan on Dec 23, 2017

It’s no surprise that this adaptation begins with that oft-repeated bit of poetic parallelism. “It was the best of times it was the worst of times” etc. Of course, in its abridged format the opening suggests the universal quality of those iconic words. It was a period very much li read more

A Tale of Two Cities (1935) (3)

4 Star Films Posted by 4 Star Film Fan on Dec 23, 2017

It’s no surprise that this adaptation begins with that oft-repeated bit of poetic parallelism. “It was the best of times it was the worst of times” etc. Of course, in its abridged format the opening suggests the universal quality of those iconic words. It was a period very much li read more

Almost Famous (2000) (2)

4 Star Films Posted by 4 Star Film Fan on Dec 21, 2017

Almost Famous is almost so many things. There are truly wonderful moments that channel certain aspects of our culture’s infatuation with rock n roll. It’s easy to become entranced with the opening moments, not necessarily because we are introduced to William, his protective mother (Franc read more

Almost Famous (2000) (3)

4 Star Films Posted by 4 Star Film Fan on Dec 21, 2017

Almost Famous is almost so many things. There are truly wonderful moments that channel certain aspects of our culture’s infatuation with rock n roll. It’s easy to become entranced with the opening moments, not necessarily because we are introduced to William, his protective mother (Franc read more

The Circus (1928) (2)

4 Star Films Posted by 4 Star Film Fan on Dec 19, 2017

Charlie Chaplin always puts his Tramp in very simple situations that also happen to reap marvelous results both in the realms of humor and heartfelt drama. He follows up The Kid and The Gold Rush with the next iteration in the Little Man’s adventures which find him unwittingly joining the circ read more

The Circus (1928) (1)

4 Star Films Posted by 4 Star Film Fan on Dec 19, 2017

Charlie Chaplin always puts his Tramp in very simple situations that also happen to reap marvelous results both in the realms of humor and heartfelt drama. He follows up The Kid and The Gold Rush with the next iteration in the Little Man’s adventures which find him unwittingly joining the circ read more

The Commitments (1991) (1)

4 Star Films Posted by 4 Star Film Fan on Dec 17, 2017

The Commitments is a very coarse film, extremely rough around the edges, and yet to its credit, the real appeal of this crowd-pleaser from Alan Curtis is the way that music is able to bring so much good into a dire situation. Because in some ways The Commitments are not just the christened “Sa read more

The Commitments (1991) (2)

4 Star Films Posted by 4 Star Film Fan on Dec 17, 2017

The Commitments is a very coarse film, extremely rough around the edges, and yet to its credit, the real appeal of this crowd-pleaser from Alan Curtis is the way that music is able to bring so much good into a dire situation. Because in some ways The Commitments are not just the christened “Sa read more
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