Les surmenés (1958, Jacques Doniol-Valcroze) (3)
The Stop Button Posted by on Aug 19, 2019
Les surmenés answers the burning question: What if the French New Wave directors made a sitcom? In this sitcom, country girl Yane Barry comes to Paris. She’s won a typing contest, so she’s able to be a… typist, but she’s also engaged to her sister’s boss (Jean-Pierre Cassel), which is funny read more
Les surmenés (1958, Jacques Doniol-Valcroze) (4)
The Stop Button Posted by on Aug 19, 2019
Les surmenés answers the burning question: What if the French New Wave directors made a sitcom? In this sitcom, country girl Yane Barry comes to Paris. She’s won a typing contest, so she’s able to be a… typist, but she’s also engaged to her sister’s boss (Jean-Pierre Cassel), which is funny read more
Becker (1998) s01e02 – Take These Pills and Shove ‘Em (1)
The Stop Button Posted by on Aug 18, 2019
So if “Becker” is going to get on more solid ground, post-pilot, it sure isn’t happening with this second episode. It exacerbates the problems from the previous episode, without offering much in the way of improvements. Sure, Terry Farrell is a little better, but Ted Danson doesn’t get a good read more
Becker (1998) s01e02 – Take These Pills and Shove ‘Em (2)
The Stop Button Posted by on Aug 18, 2019
So if “Becker” is going to get on more solid ground, post-pilot, it sure isn’t happening with this second episode. It exacerbates the problems from the previous episode, without offering much in the way of improvements. Sure, Terry Farrell is a little better, but Ted Danson doesn’t get a good read more
Ever After (1998, Andy Tennant) (2)
The Stop Button Posted by Andrew Wickliffe on Aug 17, 2019
Ever After imagines the Cinderella story as a vaguely historically accurate period drama. It’s desperate to present itself as “realistic,” including bookends with special guest star Jeanne Moreau adding some actual French to the film, which is set in France and acted by Americans or Britons of read more
Ever After (1998, Andy Tennant) (1)
The Stop Button Posted by Andrew Wickliffe on Aug 17, 2019
Ever After imagines the Cinderella story as a vaguely historically accurate period drama. It’s desperate to present itself as “realistic,” including bookends with special guest star Jeanne Moreau adding some actual French to the film, which is set in France and acted by Americans or Britons of read more
Ever After (1998, Andy Tennant) (3)
The Stop Button Posted by on Aug 17, 2019
Ever After imagines the Cinderella story as a vaguely historically accurate period drama. It’s desperate to present itself as “realistic,” including bookends with special guest star Jeanne Moreau adding some actual French to the film, which is set in France and acted by Americans or Britons of read more
Ever After (1998, Andy Tennant) (4)
The Stop Button Posted by on Aug 17, 2019
Ever After imagines the Cinderella story as a vaguely historically accurate period drama. It’s desperate to present itself as “realistic,” including bookends with special guest star Jeanne Moreau adding some actual French to the film, which is set in France and acted by Americans or Britons of read more
Becker (1998) s01e01 – Pilot (1)
The Stop Button Posted by on Aug 16, 2019
I have a history with “Becker.” When it first came on, I was aware of it because it was the new Ted Danson show post-“Cheers,” Terry Farrell had jumped ship from “DS9,” and Alex Desert from “The Flash” was on it. I watched a lot of TV in the 1990s. But I didn’t watch “Becker.” read more
Becker (1998) s01e01 – Pilot (2)
The Stop Button Posted by on Aug 16, 2019
I have a history with “Becker.” When it first came on, I was aware of it because it was the new Ted Danson show post-“Cheers,” Terry Farrell had jumped ship from “DS9,” and Alex Desert from “The Flash” was on it. I watched a lot of TV in the 1990s. But I didn’t watch “Becker.” read more
The Tall Guy (1989, Mel Smith) (2)
The Stop Button Posted by Andrew Wickliffe on Aug 15, 2019
Mel Smith is a stunningly inept director. Especially for comedy. Though, given its awkward flashback montages, lack of supporting character resolutions, impromptu musical number, and just over ninety minute runtime, it sure seems like there might be a longer version of The Tall Guy out there. As is read more
The Tall Guy (1989, Mel Smith) (1)
The Stop Button Posted by Andrew Wickliffe on Aug 15, 2019
Mel Smith is a stunningly inept director. Especially for comedy. Though, given its awkward flashback montages, lack of supporting character resolutions, impromptu musical number, and just over ninety minute runtime, it sure seems like there might be a longer version of The Tall Guy out there. As is read more
The Tall Guy (1989, Mel Smith) (3)
The Stop Button Posted by on Aug 15, 2019
Mel Smith is a stunningly inept director. Especially for comedy. Though, given its awkward flashback montages, lack of supporting character resolutions, impromptu musical number, and just over ninety minute runtime, it sure seems like there might be a longer version of The Tall Guy out there. As is read more
The Tall Guy (1989, Mel Smith) (4)
The Stop Button Posted by on Aug 15, 2019
Mel Smith is a stunningly inept director. Especially for comedy. Though, given its awkward flashback montages, lack of supporting character resolutions, impromptu musical number, and just over ninety minute runtime, it sure seems like there might be a longer version of The Tall Guy out there. As is read more
Twentieth Century (1934, Howard Hawks) (2)
The Stop Button Posted by Andrew Wickliffe on Aug 14, 2019
Even with its way too abrupt finish, Twentieth Century is rare delight. Would it be more successful if the ending hadn’t wasted Carole Lombard? Yes, but also because it would’ve given lead John Barrymore more Lombard to act opposite and Barrymore’s best opposite Lombard. He’ read more
Twentieth Century (1934, Howard Hawks) (1)
The Stop Button Posted by Andrew Wickliffe on Aug 14, 2019
Even with its way too abrupt finish, Twentieth Century is rare delight. Would it be more successful if the ending hadn’t wasted Carole Lombard? Yes, but also because it would’ve given lead John Barrymore more Lombard to act opposite and Barrymore’s best opposite Lombard. He’ read more
Twentieth Century (1934, Howard Hawks) (3)
The Stop Button Posted by on Aug 14, 2019
Even with its way too abrupt finish, Twentieth Century is rare delight. Would it be more successful if the ending hadn’t wasted Carole Lombard? Yes, but also because it would’ve given lead John Barrymore more Lombard to act opposite and Barrymore’s best opposite Lombard. He’ read more
Twentieth Century (1934, Howard Hawks) (4)
The Stop Button Posted by on Aug 14, 2019
Even with its way too abrupt finish, Twentieth Century is rare delight. Would it be more successful if the ending hadn’t wasted Carole Lombard? Yes, but also because it would’ve given lead John Barrymore more Lombard to act opposite and Barrymore’s best opposite Lombard. He’ read more
The Great McGinty (1940, Preston Sturges) (2)
The Stop Button Posted by Andrew Wickliffe on Aug 13, 2019
The Great McGinty has a gentle surprise ending. Not a twist. More a reveal, which then recasts the previous ninety minutes and change in a slightly different light. Because McGinty has a very deliberate bookending—there’s even a title card to explain the setting. An unnamed banana republic, read more
The Great McGinty (1940, Preston Sturges) (1)
The Stop Button Posted by Andrew Wickliffe on Aug 13, 2019
The Great McGinty has a gentle surprise ending. Not a twist. More a reveal, which then recasts the previous ninety minutes and change in a slightly different light. Because McGinty has a very deliberate bookending—there’s even a title card to explain the setting. An unnamed banana republic, read more