Category Archives: Romantic Comedy

2001 Films, Comedy, French, International, International Comedy, International Romantic Comedy, Romantic Comedy

Amelie-2001

June 27, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Amelie-2001

Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Starring Audrey Tatou

Scott’s Review #74

Reviewed June 27, 2014

Grade: C+

Amelie (2001) was a major disappointment for me. Critically acclaimed and admired, I did not get this movie at all.

First the positives: this film is French, which gives it an edge for the beautiful language and the setting of France.

The cinematography, art direction, and set design are inventive and unique. The movie has a magical, whimsical feel to it which is appealing.

The story, however, is an enormous drawback.

The central character, a waif-like, sweet, waitress is lonely and feels unloved, yet avoids meeting the man of her dreams by playing a cat-and-mouse game of leaving silly notes and sending him on wild goose chases because she is afraid of happiness, yet she does everything she can to ensure others find happiness.

The story did not work for me at all, but I admire the creativity of the film itself.

Perhaps I should allow myself a second viewing as this film received much fanfare.

Oscar Nominations: Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen/Original Screenplay, Best Foreign Language Film, Best Sound, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: 1 win-Best Foreign Film (won)

2013 Films, Anne Hathaway, Brie Larson, Channing Tatum, Comedy, Cuba Gooding Jr., Drama, Independent, Independent Comedy, Independent Drama, Independent Romantic Comedy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Julianne Moore, Romantic Comedy, Scarlett Johansson, Tony Danza

Don Jon-2013

June 17, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Don Jon-2013

Director Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Julianne Moore

Scott’s Review #27

Reviewed June 17, 2014

Grade: B+

I did not expect Don Jon (2013) to be as good as it is.

Frankly, I was expecting a by-the-numbers romantic comedy.

Written, directed by, and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, it tells the story of a twenty-something New Jersey bartender who is addicted to porn despite receiving all the female attention he can imagine.

Scarlett Johansson and Julianne Moore play two completely different women in his life.

The film contains stereotypical, though hilarious and spot-on, New Jersey trademarks. Tony Danza is effective as the brash father.

In the last thirty minutes, the film turns into a wonderful, yet hardly sappy or traditional, love story that makes Don Jon (2013) a positive experience.

Gordon-Levitt is a breath of fresh air and a young Hollywood talent getting his due.

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: Best First Screenplay

1960 Films, Best Picture Oscar Winners, Billy Wilder, Comedy, Drama, Fred MacMurray, Jack Kruschen, Jack Lemmon, Paul Picerni, Ray Walston, Romantic Comedy, Romantic Drama, Shirley MacLaine

The Apartment-1960

June 17, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

The Apartment-1960

Director Billy Wilder

Starring Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine

Scott’s Review #7

Reviewed June 17, 2014

Grade: A-

The Apartment (1960) is another gem by Billy Wilder (Sunset Boulevard, The Lost Weekend), this one is set in 1959 New York City, a setting and period I adore.

The black and white are highly effective as they portray the loneliness and bleakness of the characters who are all friendless, sad, and starved for love.

It questions social morality and getting ahead in the corporate world, but goes from drama to romantic comedy, with no sappiness.

Quite the contrary, as the film has dark moments of despair and angst.

The film influenced the television series “Mad Men”. As with most Billy Wilder films, there is a darkness of humanity, which is fascinating to watch.

Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine are terrific but knocked down a notch as I didn’t exactly see the chemistry between them, but is still an excellent film.

The Apartment (1960) won the Best Picture Oscar.

Oscar Nominations: 5 wins-Best Motion Picture (won), Best Director-Billy Wilder (won), Best Actor-Jack Lemmon, Best Actress-Shirley MacLaine, Best Supporting Actor-Jack Kruschen, Best Story and Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen (won), Best Sound, Best Art Direction, Black-and-White (won), Best Cinematography, Black-and-White, Best Film Editing (won)