A few weeks ago I wrote about the so-called Barbie-Openheimer phenomenon. I had at that point seen neither, but had every intention of doing so. I knew my daughter and grandaughter attended a local cinema, dressed in pink (or wearing a lot of pink stuff) together with another half dozen female fans. They thought it great fun. At that stage I was wary as I wanted, or needed, the film to have the right message. I was reassured by both members of my family that it did indeed have messages and the right ones.
Francis Ford Coppola, a director I admire for boldness and vision, was reportedly thankful of this phenomenon as it brings people back into cinemas. In fact he was speaking obviously about the "Barbie/Oppenheimer phenomenon" which encouraged people to see both movies back to back in one cinema. His opinion related to the more serious movie of the two, Oppenheimer, that I will not see in a cinema but by streaming.
I echo Coppola's view, because cinemas are still there, but not as visited as they should be. Streaming, although very convenient, is not the same as seeing a film in a cinema. Everyone must have (or should have) a memory of going to see a film with their parents and perhaps later with friends as teenagers, but that memory should stay with them.
My memory goes back as far as when there was an organ accompaniment, no dears, not silent films! that began the evening's viewing, two films every evening and sometimes even a newsreel.
There was usually a main event but the first and a "B" movie to go with it. Sometimes the B movie was as good as the main event.
I finally saw the Barbie movie this weekend ( not in a cinema) and thought it great fun. It was pretty to look at and had some great acting and directing. The movie drew a balance between the "Barbie world" and the "real world", or one similar to the world as we know it. Not everyone Rollerskates on Venice Beach! But the comparisons were easy to recognise and fun was made of both sides, the real and make believe.
Hats off to the talented film director and screenwriter Noah Baumbach (for his screenwriting) and his equally talented wife Greta Gerwig (for directing) and for making fun of all the things they should be making fun of in this strange but funny film. Creating the right message (the fake and perfect Barbie World, versus the real world with warts and all) without sparring one against the other was a triumph. All the little girls who love Barbie and grew out of her by their early teens would have hopefully got the message or two (about Feminism and expanding one's own ideas ) and that's good film making.
I look forward to seeing Oppenheimer soon, and the fact that the film won lots of Academy awards (the Oscars!) and kudos to the very talented director Christopher Nolan and his wife and producer Emma Thomas, with co producer Charles Roven. The lead actor Cillian Murphy has already proven himself capable of taking on any role. He won for best actor in a lead role. Yes I will enjoy this film because it is part of history and comes with a warning. If ever there was an anti-war movie, this is it. Nobody wants a Nuclear War! Anyone the least bit curious of how Nuclear weapons began should start right here,
Love Film
BREATHLESS was one of the films that impressed me when it was first shown. Very different and with the wonderful Jean Paul Belmondo, with then young newcomer Jean Seberg, in a ground breaking Jean Luc Godard film shot in Paris.
Although when I first began loving cinema as an adult, it was mainly to see my favourite film stars, or discover a new one. Most of the screen stars (or newcomers) began with Dirk Bogarde and ranged in turn from his great self to James Dean, whom I adored and frankly still do, his memory at least. The teen of today would do well to see "Rebel Without a Cause", "East of Eden", and "Giant" All good stories with very good actors and directors. I could watch any one of them again and I've seen them a couple of times each.
From Dean I moved to Rock Hudson and as he was in Giant, he was in romantic comedies and especially with Doris Day, a star in her own right. I see "Pillow Talk" every now and then just to cheer me and to see the wonderful clothes Doris wore in that film. Alongside those two great stars were Thelma Ritter (also wonderful in "The Misfits") and Tony Randall ,who was a stalwart of such comedies. He was also best known in the US TV series "The Odd Couple" playing Felix Unger, in a play by Neal Simon, although his part was played in the movie by the equally excellent Jack Lemmon with Walter Matthau.
I love movies that are often adaptations of stage plays as it's fun to compare. As I also love theatre it's easy to see both with new eyes each time. Neal Simon was a great comedy writer and one of my favourites is "The Goodbye Girl", with Marsha Mason, to whom he was once married, She was a dancer and moved into acting. Just the right amount of bathos and comedy to suit.
The next one "Barefoot in the Park" with the incomparable Jane Fonda playing with Robert Redford. Mildred Natwick and Charles Boyer also great in their roles.
I can't exactly recall when I first became interested in foreign movies but some I remember for the weirdest reasons. Polish writer/director Roman Polanski wrote and directed "Knife in the Water" filmed in black and white and very memorable. he went on to direct more and married the beautiful Sharon Tate a Texan born actress and model. Sadly her macabre death whilst pregnant with their child, made horrendous headlines and I don't wish to recall that here. I still think he's one of the best directors I'd seen.
Earlier I had seen "Ballad of a Soldier" a Russian movie that I remember for it's difference in that it showed the Soviet Union more or less as it was. Basically it was Soviet propaganda but it had a story. I then began to investigate movies by Italian directors such as Fellini and Antonioni and Luchino Visconti, but came to appreciate other directors such as Roberto Rosselini and Vittorio De Sica, who happened to be one of my favourite actors too. The actors of the day, Anna Magnani, Giulietta Massina and Sopia Loren, and Gina Lollobrigida all worth watching again and again.
