METROPOLIS

Metropolis is a silent film that was released in Germany in 1927. It was directed by Fritz Lang. It is regarded by many film historians as one of the greatest and most influential films ever made… for good reason. This movie is magnificent. Despite being nearly a century old, it is still smart and dynamic. The special effects and the variety of innovative filming techniques are a marvel of ingenuity. This movie would influence other iconic films for years to come, including Mad Max, Star Wars, Batman (1989), and Parasite.

THE PHILADELPHIA STORY

It may be difficult to imagine now, but in 1938 and 1939, Katharine Hepburn was extremely unpopular with Hollywood and with the American public. A string of box office failures, coupled with her abrasive and combative behavior with the press and fans, had garnered her a reputation for being extremely arrogant. Seeking to reignite her career she returned to the stage, starring in a new play by Philip Barry. That play was The Philadelphia Story. She would perform the role of socialite Tracy Lord in two tours and on Broadway for over a year. When Hollywood decided to produce the play as a movie, Hepburn had already purchased the rights to the story (thanks to help from Howard Hughes), so she was guaranteed the role. Teaming with Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart for the movie version of the play, Hepburn’s shrewd selection of this vehicle paid off. The Philadelphia Story would become one of the biggest movies of 1940, and Hepburn’s career and public perception were back on track.

HOPE AND GLORY

For Hope and Glory (1987), its writer/director/producer John Boorman called upon his personal experiences as a child growing up in England during the early days of World War II. The movie revolves around the Rohan family as seen through the view of 9-year-old Rohan son, Billy (Sebastian Rice-Edwards).

THE COMMITMENTS

Musical anhedonia is a neurological condition that affects 3 to 5% of the Earth’s population. The people who suffer from this condition derive no pleasure from music of any kind. If you are one of the small percentage of people who suffer from this condition, then you should skip reading the rest of this review. On the other hand, if you are one of the majority of humans who can partake in the almost-universal experience of enjoying great music (along with terrific storytelling) then you should make it a goal to see The Commitments, an Irish film directed by Alan Parker, released in 1991.

BOYZ N THE HOOD

For his first film outing, John Singleton chose to drop his viewers smack dab into the Crenshaw ghetto of South Central Los Angeles. The movie was Boyz n the Hood (released in 1991), and it would earn him two Oscar nominations. One nom was for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen. The other was for Best Director, making Singleton the very first Black director to earn this nomination. To date, a Black artist has yet to win this award.

LA VIE EN ROSE

La Vie en Rose is a biographical film that highlights the life of Edith Piaf, one of France’s most popular singers of the 20th century. The movie made its way to theaters in 2007 and stars Marion Cotillard as the central character.

AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER

I don’t like Sleepless in Seattle. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I don’t like romcoms, chick flicks, or love stories. That’s not the issue at all. I simply don’t like Sleepless in Seattle and never did. I don’t think it is a good movie and I find the character of Annie Reed to be a vexatious ninny, and quite frankly, a little creepy. Because of this, I’ve never really had much of an ambition to see An Affair to Remember, a movie that is referenced and quoted ad nauseam throughout Sleepless in Seattle.

That being said, An Affair to Remember ended up on my 2023 film journey through recommendation. And I must admit that I’m glad that it did! Sure, it’s a bit saccharin and astoundingly chaste, but damn, the acting is magnificent. The chemistry between Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr is phenomenal (Grant took the role just so he could act with Kerr again). Both actors are at the top of their game.