Plot: Bishop Henry Brougham troubled with funding for a new cathedral, prays divine guidance. His plea is answered by a suave angel named Dudley, who reveals his identity only to the clergyman. 

However, Dudley is not there to help with the construction of the cathedral, but to help guide Henry and the people around him. Since Henry has become obsessed with the cathedral, his marriage is unhappy, and his relationship with his young daughter is leading towards disaster. Everyone, except Henry, has become charmed by the new-comer. However, when Dudley spends time cheering up Henry's wife, Julia, Dudley finds himself attracted to her. Sensing this, Henry becomes jealous, and anxious for Dudley to depart. 

Following the events during the writing of Truman Capote's book In Cold Blood, Capote is a biographical film about Truman Capote, based off Gerald Clarke's biography, Capote. Did you get all of that?

Truman Capote becomes interested in the murder of four of the members of the Clutter family, and plans to document a story for the New York Times. He brings along his childhood friend Harper Lee as a go-between, and help him with the story. The more information Capote discovers about the case, the more he becomes intrigued. He decides instead of a story,  he is going to write a book. When the murder victims are caught however, that is when events start to become a little strange. 

Capote gets the opportunity to meet the the murder suspects, Perry Smith and Dick Hickcock. He  begins to form an attachment to Perry, having come from similar backgrounds. He tells Perry and Dick that they are his friends, and plans to help them in every way possible, everything from getting them a better lawyer, to getting an appeal. The legal appeals drag on for years, causing Capote much distress, as he cannot finish his book without an ending. Capote's obsession with his novel and his attachment for Perry (despite the fact that he is a murderer) starts to weigh on him as he cannot decide what is really the right thing to do in the end, and if his own motives for helping these men are for the reasons they appear. 

In truth, this film is haunting. However, I cannot help but admire how real all of the characters were portrayed. Shock, anger, and pity are the emotions played up in this film, so prepare yourself. 

A few weeks ago, I was whining on Twitter about how there were no good movies left on Netflix for me to watch. My Friend Neil then shot a list of movies at me in three different tweets, Duck Soup being one of them. I had forgotten that I had wanted to see this movie, and was excited to see that Neil was correct when I searched and found this movie. 

By the insistence of wealthy Mrs. Teasdale, Rufus T. Firefly becomes leader of the small, bankrupt country of Freedonia in order for the country to receive any more financial backing from her. At the same time, the neighboring country Sylvania is attempting to take over Freedonia. The Sylcanian ambassador continuously attempts to woo Mrs. Teasdale, as well as dig up any dirt he can find on Firefly by hiring two spies.

After a continuous run of not following any plans, as well as failing at any attempts to get anything done, Freedonia and Sylvania find themselves at war. Dancing, singing, and the throwing of fruit ensues.

 Honestly, this movie was very cute. Yes, most of the comedy was a bit cheesy and predictable, but in a charming way. I giggled at all of the "cutting" and hat-stealing, as well as the rapid-fire one-liners. I am looking forward to seeing more movies by the Marx brothers. Way to not be entirely lame Netflix!

Sabrina Fairchild is a chauffeur's daughter, young, and in love. However, there are a few issues: the first being that the person who Sabrina is so smitten with, hardly pays any attention to her. The second, this person, David Larrabee, is the very wealthy son of  the family who employees Sabrina's father as their personal chauffeur, so there are some class issues here. The third problem being: Sabrina won't be there for long. 

Wanting a better life for his daughter, Thomas Fairchild squirrels away enough money to send Sabrina off to Paris to learn how to become a chef, like her late mother. He also secretly hopes that her time away from the mansion will help null her feelings for David. After two years away, Sabrina comes back as a mature, grown adult.

Her father misses the correct time to pick Sabrina up to take her home, and who should come to her rescue?  David, of course. Ever the playboy, he does not recognize Sabrina, but is very eager to get to know her. It is not until he pulls up into the garage to realize that this beautiful young woman was Sabrina all along. So of course he invites her to his parents elegant party that evening, with the hopes of getting to know her more. 

However, there is another issue to work through: The first one being, that David is actually engaged to someone else, who will also be at the same party. Sabrina already knows this, but feels that she is finally getting her chance, so she proceeds to let David take advantage of her. The family does not approve of his behavior, although they do admire Sabrina greatly. Enter Linus, David's older brother to save the day. He plots to woo Sabrina over himself, and then somehow ship her off, back to Paris and out of the family's way. The problem is, the more time he spends with Sabrina, the more he starts to have feelings for her. 

So that leaves one last problem: Which one will she choose?

When I pulled this movie out, Kyle exclaimed: "Hey! I only like MODERN chick-flicks, what is this?". OF COURSE 20 minutes into it, he was glued. Personally, I have always had a soft spot for the more classic romantic comedies. Of course it is cheesy, and predictable, but the witty banter, crafty scheming, adorable outfits, and facial expressions are fantastic in this film. 

I am not going to lie, I was a little too geeked upon discovering two minor characters from Gilmore Girls had small roles in this film, together of course. Hello 1950's broadcast journalism!

This film chronicles the real-life conflict between television newsman Edward R. Murrow, and Senator Joseph McCarthy and the Permanent Sub-committee on Investigations. Murrow, along with the majority of his dedicated staff, strive to bring the public real, truthful journalism, despite losing major corporate sponsorship. A very public feud develops when the senator accuses the anchor of being a communist, and the CBS crew continues on despite fear and reprisal. 

In short, this movie brings fourth the vast difference between journalism then and now. I was quite pleased with the cast, it was a bit odd seeing Robert Downey Jr. in a role not saturated with snark and sarcasm...or maybe I have just watched The Avengers too many times (but there is no such thing, let's be real).  Another plus to this film? Dianne Reeves. She sings, and it is perfection. 

Friday night dinners with family are something Kyle and I have established in order to see our families on a regular basis, as well as preventing them from calling every single day. Last week was with my parents, and as usual, we talked about what we like to watch on TV. My Dad has brought up time and again; "Arsenic and Old Lace", insisting it is the funniest movie known to man. Then proceeded to find it on On Demand, so we watched it. 

The movie stars Cary Grant, as a man who secretly weds his next-door neighbor, and comes home to surprise his two old, but lovable aunts who raised him, with the news. He soon learns that these two "darlings" are actually responsible for the 12 bodies buried in the cellar, after discovering one of them in the window seat. 

The movie then proceeds to be a giant bag of mixed nuts, quite literally, with an almost witch-hunt for the maddest member of the family. The film is hilarious, not only for the plot, memorable one-liners, and the addition of "Teddy Roosevelt". However, Cary Grant's facial expressions are what really make the movie. So yeah, add this to your Netflix list, because I said so. 

"CHAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGE!!!" 

Teenage love and social clicks, high school in a nutshell. Andie Walsh has both on her mind as she is a working-class girl from "the wrong side of the tracks" who is smitten with a rich preppy kid at her high school., Blane McDonough. Blane seems to be a little different than the other "richies" at school, he is more sensitive and he is openly nice to Andie, unlike the other rich-kids.

When things start to become too much, Andie and Blane stop seeing each other, even though they obviously still want to be together. Andie turns to her boss and mentor Iona for some much needed guidance and ends up with a vintage pink prom dress for a dance she wasn't intending on going to. Her Father surprises her with a second pink prom dress in an effort to let Andie know that even though they struggle, he is still her Father and he is still there for her. 

So Andie does what she does best, she creates something new and pretty out of the things given to her in her life. She decided to attend prom, to show that she is not broken.

I would have picked Ducky ;)

In the year 1941, in the midst of World War II, in a city in western Morocco called "Casablanca", resides an upscale night-club called "Rick's Cafe Americain". This night club attracts a very electric clientele, from French, Italian, and Nazi officials, as well as refugees trying to buy passage to the United States, all in the melting-pot city of Casablanca, finding some small comfort in a night-club owned by one Rick Blaine. Rick, ever the cynical American expatriate, remains neutral in all matters, at least in the eyes of those who enter Rick's Cafe Americain.  

The questions soon pour out; what makes Rick so cynical? How is he neutral if he has this persona? Do people trust him because of this, or do they judge him? Some of these questions are slowly strung together when Ugarte, a petty criminal, arrives at Rick's night-club and entrusts Rick with papers obtained from a murder of German couriers. These papers are highly valuable because they allow the owner to fly freely around Europe and eventually to America, something highly valuable to the refugees who inhabit the night-club most evenings. Ugarte is eventually killed by the police, but the papers remain in Rick's possession, the key to testing this neutrality of his.  

What is the one thing that can usually shake someone's confidence? The unexpected arrival of an old flame. Enter Norwegian Ilsa Lund,  ex-lover of Rick who he had every intention of marrying in another life in Paris. Ilsa's arrival also concludes that Rick still has love for her, yet learns that she is in fact married to Victor Laszlo, a fugitive Czech Resistance leader, who is hoping to make it to America with Ilsa.  

Rick's cynicism evolves to bitterness as he ponders why Ilsa suddenly left him in Paris when they loved each other, with no word, and also how she came to be in Casablanca with this man as her husband. Ilsa however, is not the classic heart breaker as she is made out to be in Rick's mind. She learns of the papers in Rick's possession and steals into the cafe at night when it is closed and demands them from Rick, gun in hand. 

 Rick is convinced that Ilsa still loves him, as much as he loves her and she finally breaks down revealing the truth. That she does indeed still love him. She explains that while in Paris she learned that her husband had died in a concentration camp, and while making plans with Rick to leave occupied France together, she discovered that he was alive. Ilsa is torn on what to do as she has strong love for both men, and finally comes to an agreement with Rick that it would only be right if he still gave the papers to Laszlo, so he could continue his work.

Elwood P. Dowd wants to introduce you to his friend, you can't see him? He's a 6ft 3.5" tall rabbit, and his name is Harvey. Elwood and Harvey are best friends, they do everything together, they run errands, they meet people, and they hangout at bars and drink. They really like to drink. Although Harvey and Elwood are close, Harvey has not always been in Elwood's life, and Elwood's family is unsure if Harvey is a result of excessive drinking (which Elwood admits to) or of mental illness.


Elwood's sister Veta acknowledges Harvey, yet tries to help Elwood rid of him by committing him to a sanitarium, but ends up getting herself committed instead.  When the doctor realizes his terrible mistake a wild goose-chase ensues to track down Elwood, return Veta home, and to get the bottom of Harvey's existence.  In the process of attempting closure on Harvey, Elwood's niece falls for an employee of the sanitarium, the doctor rekindles a fizzled romance with his nurse and Veta slowly becomes aware that she does believe in Harvey, who if it were not for, none of this would have come to be.


In a last effort to save Elwood's sanity, a serum is produced. With it's injection he will lose Harvey, and also his wondrous outlook on life and his natural ability to make people love and trust him. It then becomes a battle of which Elwood to keep, the one who functions in a normal society without the aide of  giant rabbit at his side or the Elwood with Harvey, who is essentially over 6ft of what Elwood is. 

If you could inherit $175 million dollars from your family by simply marrying the woman they chose, would you do it? What if that woman was dull? Not only dull, but her father expected you to actually work for a living, and to give up alcohol? What if you met an amazing girl that shared your sense of humor, who could laugh at the seriousness of life, yet still work hard, take care of her father and have the quick bold personality that is so fresh in comparison to your humdrum betrothed? Would you trade in that $175 million?

This is the dilemma that Arthur Bach faces. Arthur is a drunk playboy with quick wit, even when inebriated, who's humor and lifestyle is only understood and tolerated by his personal servant and best friend Hobson. Arthur is the representation of a modern libertine rake, he does not necessarily do anything significant to gain appreciation from the audience. He drinks to get drunk, he insults his family with his lifestyle, he spends money just to spend it, he spends his evenings with prostitutes and has an outlook on life that reads: money is meant to be enjoyed. Upon visiting his father's work place, Arthur turns to Hobson and asks: "Why doesn't anyone ever smile here?" In which Hobson replies "They smile at lunch" because Arthur has no comprehension of what hard work is. Yet, the audience likes him. An acceptance is acknowledged that Arthur is simply meant to be what he is: the ideal dream of having everything in life without having to work for it.  

Hobson balances Arthur's crude humor with his own dry sarcasm. When Arthur announces that he is going to take a bath, Hobson responds with: "I'll alert the media". Hobson is more than just a best friend to Arthur, he looks out for him, even goes out of his way to help him be with the lovely, yet poor Linda.

Linda is a waitress and aspiring actress who first catches Arthur's attention when she unsuccessfully shoplifts a tie for her father. Arthur has already agreed to his family to marry Susan, a fellow offspring of a Billionaire, yet when he sets his eyes on Linda, he cannot bear to marry Susan. Yet, the thought of living a life without the $175 million is even more unfathomable. 

What makes Arthur more appealing then say, Paris Hilton, is his character. Not giving up $175 is understandable because Arthur is meant to live his life making himself and the people he likes happy. Yet, finding that one person that is capable of spending the rest of your life with, because you love them and they love you is understandable in return. Arthur Bach is a man that is ideal for both, but money and love are obstacles for each other in his case.

If you are a fan of Liza Minnelli, or especially of the late Dudley Moore, then I highly recommend this movie! Both performances are amusing to watch, and play along nicely with the ever predictable romantic comedy, that mimics the plays of the restoration period. Definitely a classic, and I am very happy to have made this my first movie review of 2011, taking a small chip into the new resolutions.

One of the things I have added to my personal goals list is to watch a movie a week and last week when I was at Target I found two really cheap movies that I had never seen but I have always wanted to. So last Sunday, after I trudged through hours of homework, Kyle and I plopped our butts on the couch and watched Bell, Book and Candle.

Shepard "Shep" Henderson is a publisher and an ordinary enough man, ordinary enough to catch New Yorker Gil Holroyd's attention. Why would an ordinary guy catch the attention of a beautiful, barefoot owner of an exotic goods shop? Because ordinary is the opposite of Gil, she belongs to a clique of people who are equiped with special talents, and frequent The Zodiac, a dive of a nightclub where they can share their talents with one another. They are Witches, and Gil is among those who are the strongest in this group, and her closest companions, her Aunt Queenie and Brother Nicky, admire her powers and strength.

When Gil learns that Shep is engaged to her college nemesis, Merle Kitteridge, she proceeds to cast a spell on Shep, with the assistance of her familair cat Pyewacket, convincing him to fall in love with her. The next two weeks are a whirlwind of events, with Sidny Redlitch, a known author on a mission to expose the Witches of New York and Nicky's alliance with him, Shep's undying devotion, and Gil's contemplation of giving up her craft for marriage. The catch? Witches cannot fall in love. Gil tries her best to reveal the truth to Shep, and in the process drives him away, making him second-guess his feelings for her and his proposal of marriage. Gil, in frantic desecration attempts to cast spells on Shep and Merle to spite him, but is unable to coax Pyewacket to come to her. Gil is distraught over the loss of both the loss of her familiar and her lover the loss of her craft, and the discovery that she really is in love with Shep. When Shep sees her again months later, it is the predictable love-at-first-sight round two, and asks "Who's to say what magic really is anyway?" and the two que the credits with the final kiss of passion and promise that everyone is happy.

Shep Henderson is played by favorite classic hHollywoodactor, the adorable Jimmy Stewart. Mr. Stewart keeps the audience charmed with his iconic smile and goofy facial expressions, which play along nicely next to the beautiful and sincere Kim Novak.

I was pleased to discover another one of my favorite actors of that time also starred next to this dynamic duo, Jack Lemmon played the perfect rebel Nicky with his screw-ball comedy  antics. 

Needless to say, I really enjoyed this movie. The only set-back that Kyle had was that the theme of the movie clashed with the Christmas setting. According to Kyle the Christmas setting should have been omitted but I think it was used to further enhance the oddity of the witches so it did not bother me too much.

I really enjoy having a movie to end the weekend with and I would really like to make this a regular thing, so lets hope my insane workload permits it this week :D

Taking another stab at our goal to get through the Hitchcock movies, Kyle & I rented both The Birds and Rear Window.

I had seen The Birds quite a few times when I was younger, and I remember liking it a lot each time. Released in 1963, Tippi Hendren and Rod Taylor star in this thriller as two people persuing each other in a small town in California, known as Bodega Bay. The town suddenly starts getting attacked by birds. Birds of different types, and in increasing quantities, that terrorize the inhabitants of Bodega Bay.

*Image from thegazz.com

"Suspense and shock beyond anything you have seen or imagined!"

Rear Window on the other hand, I had not had the chance to see before. So far it is my favorite. Released in 1954 and staring (my favorite) Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly, Rear Window channels the events that occur when a photographer is confined to his appartment because of a leg injury and entertaines himself by watching his neighbors. This seems rather harmless until he convinces himself that one of his neighbors commits murder.

*image from hitchcocktv.com
"Through his rear window and the eye of his powerful camera he watched a great city tell on itself, expose its cheating ways...and Murder!"

*PS Grace Kelly's ‘fresh from the Paris plane’ dress designed by Edith Head is beautiful and I am in love with it.

=]

Decided to get a jump on the resolutions early! (That and Hollywood video is the only place I know where I can take Louie indoors.) After running back & forth through the aisles a few times, Kyle & I agreed on "The man who knew too much"  for the first in our Hitchcock viewing series. (We also rented "mixed nuts" for the holidays & "lilo & stitch" because kids movies are free).

A little knowledge can be a deadly thing.

"The man who knew too much" was actually made into a movie twice. Once in 1934, once in 1956. Hitchcock claimed that the 1954 version was "Superior".  We rented the 1956 version, because that is what they had in stock, and I can also never say no to Jimmy Stewart. Doris Day stars alongside the puppy-eyed, handsome actor as Jo McKenna, Stewart as Ben, a married couple visiting Morocco with their son Hank. The vacation turns traumatic when they meet mysterious Louis Bernard and their son Hank gets kidnapped, and taken to England. While the McKenna's are trying desperately to reunite with their son, they stumble upon an assassination plot which prevents them from getting to their beloved child. 

The plot is superb, as well as the acting.  The film won an academy award for best song for "Que Sera, Sera" (whatever will be, will be) sung by Doris Day. It has been stuck in my head all day and co-workers kept asking me if I was singing my name to myself.