Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

     This adaptation of Tennessee William’s classic play is nothing short of miraculous. Director and writer, Richard Brooks, not only brought the play to life on the silver screen, he also cast the parts with the biggest names in Hollywood at the time. If I’m being completely truthful, I had never watched an Elizabeth Taylor movie. Wow, was I missing out!

     The movie begins with Brick (Paul Newman) reliving his glory days as he hurdles down the track and finally crashes to the ground in a drunken stupor. From the onset of this film, it is clear that Brick has a severe alcoholic addiction, which has taken over his very being. We are quickly transported to the next day and our leading man drowning his sorrows on his sofa with his foot in a cast. His wife, Maggie “the cat” (Taylor), enters and begins a conversation with her betrothed. Through their interaction, it is apparent that there is trouble in paradise and reconciliation does not appear to be an option. This is unfortunate as the couple are spending time at Brick’s parents home to celebrate his father’s birthday and to be there for support as Big Daddy (Burl Ives) receives the news of his current health condition.

     Brick is withdrawn and would have preferred not to return to speak to his father. However, because of the news of his father’s health and through the insistence of Maggie, he reluctantly agrees to attend the celebration. During the time with this dysfunctional family, we get a glimpse of why Brick has developed some, if not all, of his personality traits. The one most glaring trait is how similar he and his father treat their wives. That apple didn’t fall too far from the tree! His father, a narcissistic and uncaring person, considers himself a self-made man. Throughout the entire film, the father shows his favoritism towards Brick and all but ignores his other son. This creates friction between the two wives, who generally want to be included in Big Daddy’s will if and when he meets his demise.

     The story takes a unique twist as the father finds out that he is in-fact going to die an early death. He reflects on his life, with Brick, and they discuss his lack of love for the family. In the process, Big Daddy remembers his father who he indicates was a lonely hobo who couldn’t leave his son anything but a suitcase with some worthless clothes. He and Brick reflect on how his father left him with love, which is much greater than the vast fortune he is about to bestow upon his family. They both have an epiphany about the love for father and son, in addition to the love they have for their wives.

     Cat On A Hot Tin Roof should be viewed by all! This is an impeccable film that delivers on every level. Elizabeth Taylor was stunning in not only her performance, but in her sheer elegance and beauty throughout this film. Newman captured his role with the gusto worthy of an Oscar. This film took sultry and sexy to an entirely different level without being cheap and raunchy. I give it a solid five-star rating. In addition, I believe I am a Liz Taylor fan! If you’ve never seen Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, it’s a definite must see classic. Oddly enough, as Taylor passed away this year she has left us with more than just a suitcase. She has left a legacy of amazing films that will forever hold her place in American film history. Did I mention that I loved this movie! I have no idea how this movie missed out on an Oscar. Unthinkable!

That's How Matt Sees It!

Secondhand Lions

This is the kind of family movie I can appreciate. I had already seen Secondhand Lions when Matt asked me to review it; I was eager to watch it again.

The movie stars Michael Caine and Robert Duvall, two incredible actors, as eccentric brothers who are supposedly sitting on a small fortune. Walter is sent to live with his uncles by his mentally-absent mother. She asks him to find the fortune while she is in school. Unfortunately, Walter finds out that his mother has lied to him (nothing new) and is not attending school.

While he finds living with his uncles rough in the beginning, he get hooked on the stories they tell. If the stories are to be believed, his uncles were enlisted into the French Foreign Legion and fought many battles in Africa. His uncle, Hub, even fell in love with an Arabian princess and stole her from an evil sheik.

Once Walter has adjusted to living with his uncles he finds stability and peace for the first time in his life. No one has ever had time for Walter; his uncles have nothing but time. Predictably, once Walter finds happiness his mother returns and tries to remove him from his only true home. He begs her to stay and for once his mother puts him first and allows him to return to his beloved uncles.

In the end, the uncles die while attempting to fly an antique plane through the barn. Walter returns to the house and is not surprised to find the uncles have left their fortune to him. He is, however, surprised to find out their stories had all been true.

This movie is a gem. The comedy is real, not slapstick, it is shot beautifully and acted with a quiet grace. I not only give Secondhand Lions five stars, I highly recommend it to everyone, kids and grown-ups.

Michelle D. Kieffaber

Dunstin Checks In

I was not looking forward to watching this movie. I don’t have kids so I’m not a huge fan of family movies. I should always trust my instincts. Dunstin Checks In is not a terrible movie, but it is very formulaic.

The movie begins when we witness two adorable kids playing elaborate pranks in the lobby of a five star hotel. They happen to be the sons of the resident manager and live in the hotel. They are bored because Dad works too much and Mom has died.

The father promises to spend time with them once the major social event of the year, The Crystal Ball (pun intended, I’m sure) concludes. Unfortunately, the owners of the hotel have different plans for dad. Meanwhile the kids are grounded, however, they refuse to stay in the apartment.

While out and about, the little kid notices a monkey has checked into the hotel with a shady man. Of course none of the adults believe there is actually a monkey in the hotel. Therefore, the monkey and children are left to save the hotel from the exploits of the “bad man.” Yes, the hero of this movie is the monkey.

As a reward for capturing the villain, the father gets a promotion to a job where he can spend more time with the kids and … the monkey.

I’ll begrudgingly give the movie two stars. It wasn’t terrible, but there was nothing new and different. I didn’t find myself laughing at all.

Michelle D. Kieffaber

Secondhand Lions

Secondhand Lions

     Although this film is a little too sweet, Secondhand Lions is a funny, heart-warming, and charming movie that the entire family can enjoy. Haley Joel Osment stars in this film about truth and coming of age. Robert Duvall, Michael Caine, and Kyra Sedgwick round out the star-studded cast necessary to pull off this interesting if not eccentric movie.

     Secondhand Lions starts off with a phone call to Walter to let him know that both of his uncles have passed away. The story quickly shifts to his flashback of how he met and got to know these two interesting characters during a summer of self-reflection and discovery. Walter recalls the awkward trip to his great uncles’ farm with his unstable mother.

     When Walter and his mother, Mae (Sedgwick), arrive at the farm she informs her son that their visit is a surprise. The duo find Hub (Duvall) and Garth (Caine) shotgun-fishing in the pond. After explaining her situation, the two brothers seem reluctant about keeping Walter; however, Mae is unfazed by their lack of interest and just instructs her son to be on the look out for a rumored stash of cash that her uncles have amassed over time. Once she has given her final instructions, our Mother-Of-The-Year drives out of her child’s life and does not look back.

     As the movie progresses, we get a glimpse into each character and what makes them tick. Hub represents the strong alpha male who is coming to grips with his age and feelings of uselessness. Garth, on the other hand, is the glue that keeps the brothers together and grounded. Walter begins to bond with Garth and becomes concerned with Hub’s well-being. In order to help explain Hub’s state of mind, Garth reveals the story of their 40-year disappearance.

     So, where does the name of the movie come from? Well, since the two brothers do not have a phone, radio, or television they have to entertain themselves in some way. They have a lion delivered to their farm so that they can enjoy some big game hunting. However, when the aged circus lion arrives the brothers do not have the heart to shoot the beast. Osment befriends the lion and allows it to live in the closest thing to a jungle available, which is the corn field. Not surprisingly, the lion and Osment take on a mother and cub role, which culminates in the lion, Jasmine, giving up her life to save Walter.

     Ultimately, this movie delivered some great performances by some very good actors. Some have said that Osment was a distraction to this movie and I could not disagree more, I think he did a great job in relating to each and every character. There may have been a scene or two that were over-acted a bit, but it did not detract from the movie. I would rate this movie 3.5 stars. The only reason it was not a solid 4 was because the ongoing story about the brothers disappearance was a bit cheesy, which in retrospect was probably intentional. If you are looking for an exceptional family movie, I would highly recommend Secondhand Lions. It’s a roaring good time!

That's How Matt Sees It!

Dunston Checks In

Dunston Checks In

     A film for all ages, Dunston Checks In has a light-hearted and predictable story line. This quirky and sometimes funny film was directed by Ken Kwapis. This was a nice break from all of the Disney animated movies that our kids love to watch.

     Robert Grant (Jason Alexander) works for a posh New York hotel and is trying to impress his boss Mrs. Dubrow (Fayne Dunaway). The boss has let Grant know that a hotel inspector will be staying with them and reviewing the quality of the establishment. If all goes as planned the hotel will receive a six-star rating, which only a handful in the industry can obtain. Of course, along with the six-star rating, Grant is assured a huge bonus, which will hopefully allow him to take a much needed and promised vacation with his two boys Kyle and Brian. The boys always seem to be getting into mischief around the hotel in an apparent attempt to get their father’s attention (or maybe it’s just for fun).

     All is going well until Lord Rutledge (Rupert Everett) and his larcenous orangutan, Dunston, check in to the hotel. Rutledge has Dunston break into a guest’s room and pilfer some valuable items. When Dunston returns to his master, he is treated egregiously and decides to flee his life of crime and his hostile owner. As fate may have it, Dunston and Kyle bump into each other and become fast friends. For the remainder of the movie, Kyle and his brother Brian attempt to keep Dunston away from Lord Rutledge and make their father believe that they are not just monkeying around.

     In the end, it turns out just as you would expect. There are no surprises with this movie and everything you think will happen does exactly that. The acting is not great. In fact, I believe Dunaway may have been nominated for a Razzie for her role. However, with that said, my kids went ape over Dunston Checks In. The comedy was slapstick at times, but this film had it’s moments. Overall, I would give this movie 2.5 stars. It’s a great show for family movie night or if you just want something that will make you laugh a bit. I believe this will be a family favorite for a while even if it’s not one of the best pictures of all time.

That’s How Matt Sees It!

The Darjeeling Limited

I really love quirky films and have always been a fan of Wes Anderson. I was especially anxious to see this movie because it has two of my favorite actors, Owen Wilson and Adrien Brody. The Darjeeling Limited is not Anderson’s best film, but it is very interesting.

The movie begins with three brothers meeting on a train (The Darjeeling Limited). They are embarking on a spiritual journey in the wake of their father’s death. The brothers have grown apart and reunite as virtual strangers. The vibe on the train is decided offbeat which is a staple of Anderson’s work.

From the beginning of the trip you get a feel for the personalities of the brothers. Francis needs to be in charge; Jack is running from commitment; Peter is a bit befuddled and intimidated by his brothers. Watching this movie you realize that siblings may grow up, but the rivalries never die. It’s fun to watch grown men revert to children.

Francis surprises his brothers when he announces they will be visiting their mother. She left the family to live in India and didn’t bother to return for their father’s funeral. Jack and Peter are reluctant to see her; she is reluctant to see her sons. This family is a study in dysfunction but their trials are entertaining because you see they truly love each other. It’s just difficult for any of them to express it.

As the trip progresses, the brothers mix and mingle with the locals and viewers get a taste of the Indian culture. The setting lifts the film from the ordinary to the mystical. This movie just wouldn’t work if the brothers were traveling through Kansas.

I give the movie four stars. The acting is good, the writing is crisp and the cinematography is incredible. The Darjeeling Limited doesn’t provide easy answers, but this movie is definitely worth watching.

Michelle D. Kieffaber

The Darjeeling Limited

The Darjeeling Limited

     This film is not for everyone. I truly believe that is all that needs to be said. However, I feel an obligation to bring some commentary to this, well, let’s just say interesting picture that was written and directed by Wes Anderson. As a side note, I really have not had the opportunity to watch many of Anderson’s previous films, so this was a bit of a “journey” for me.

     Honestly, I really do not know how I feel about this movie. At first glance, it seems ridiculous and shallow, but as I continue to reflect on different aspects of the film I find myself curiously wondering about the metaphors and underlying story line that seemed translucent at the time. If you have not figured it out, even I am perplexed by what Anderson has produced in “The Darjeeling Limited”.

     Ok, with that being said, this movie takes off with three brothers reuniting after about a year of separation. The reason for the get-together is because of the untimely death of their father. Frances (Owen Wilson) tries to get the three brothers together to reconnect and reestablish their familial bond. He is overtly controlling, which later is revealed to be a personality flaw he inherits from his mother. Wilson invites his two other brothers, Jack (Jason Schwartzman) and Peter (Adrien Brody), to take a train ride across India in search of spiritual enlightenment. As quickly becomes apparent, all three individuals have deep seeded issues with regard to the love they did or did not receive from their parents. There seems to be some type of strange fascination with which one of the boys garnered their father’s love.

     What about mom you say? Well, mother has gone off to the Himalayas to become a Nun. Wait, what? I had to do a little research to see if that was even possible. I am not certain that the marriage ended in divorce or not, but it appears that was the case. Now, based upon some super-sleuthing on my part, it does appear that there is a remote chance that a divorced mother could become a Nun. I know, you are happy I shared that with you. What is the point? Well, mother abandoned her three boys to fulfill her spiritual calling. I feel the filmmaker took this liberty to point out the hypocrisy that is often viewed with religion. Several times throughout the movie, the director references spiritual ideas with comedy. The mocking of religion seems to be prevalent at every turn until the moment when true spiritual conviction hits.

     The show moves away from the intermittently disbursed comedy when our trio discover three children in a life threatening situation. The brothers run to the rescue only to save two of the three children. Interestingly enough, this is the most amazing part of the movie for me. If someone is moving through a spiritual journey and they cross death’s path, one would surmise it to be a life altering experience. However, later in the movie they indicate that their “spiritual journey” is not going very well. Yet again, I believe the director is pointing out how we can overlook the very thing we seek.

     As the brothers continue their journey, they continue to pick up pieces of their father’s possessions most notably his suitcases. These suitcases follow them as they travel across the country and represents years of baggage. They also track down their mother to find out why she didn’t attend their father’s funeral. Her response was simple, “…because I didn’t want too.” After her lack luster reunion with her children, dear old mom abandons them one last time as she disappears before the boys awake the next morning. Seeming unfazed by this the three boys head back to the train station. As they reach the station, the train is pulling out and the three run to catch their ride home. Each one of them are carrying several pieces of the “luggage” and realize quickly they will be unable to reach the train if they don’t drop their baggage. If nothing else, it’s symbolic of all the things they each have been holding on to during their lives.

     Nutshell, the movie was ok to watch. What I found more amazing was how much I thought about it after I watched it. The acting was good, scenery was outstanding, and the music was strange. I give this movie a three out of five stars. I liked the fact that it made me think after the movie, but in the same instance, I wish it would have captivated my attention more during the actual flick. I think the director only scratched the surface with this film. I wanted more and it just didn’t quite deliver for me. It wasn’t a complete train wreck.

That's How Matt Sees It!