Category: movies

Tell No One, the movie

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Tell No One (2008) Poster

Yesterday Jean and I went to see the French film, Tell No One, adapted from Harlan Coben’s wonderful thriller.  Both Jean and I read the book a few years ago and we didn’t remember every detail so it is hard to say for certain how much was changed for the movie.  The most obvious change is the film takes place in Paris and the book in New York.

The premise is childhood sweethearts and now happily married Alex and Margot Beck are separated by murder.  Alex cannot get over Margot’s death and eight years later he is still suspected of being involved.  Then he receives an anonymous email with a link to a video that shows a very alive Margot looking at the surveillance camera.

I loved the book and really enjoyed the movie.  I didn’t even mind the subtitles.  If you watch carefully author Harlan Coben makes a cameo appearance.  Francois Cluzet and Marie-Josee Croze were Alex and Margo.  The only actor I recognized was Kristin Scott Thomas who played Alex’s best friend.

The Other Boleyn Girl, dvd

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Cover ImageThis movie is based on the the successful Phillipa Gregory series of books.  I have never read this book, but the cast intrigued me, so Jason and I watched it yesterday.  I enjoyed this movie and the cast.  I thought Natalie Portman was wonderful as the conniving Anne and Eric Bana was a great King VIII.  It was fast paced and there was never a dull moment. 

This is the twisted story of ambition and betrayal during the reign of Henry VIII.  Anne and Mary Boleyn were both sold out by the men in their lives in order to catch the King’s eye and move into his bed.  The story’s only real sympathetic character was Mary (played by Scarlet Johansen), as everyone else was a backstabber with a motive.

I liked the movie, but was curious about its accuracy, so I looked around on the internet yesterday and found that it is not all that accurate.  If you already know the story of Anne Boleyn then you might enjoy this fictional story, but for me, who has very little knowledge of the truth, the story can leave a distorted view of reality.  But, since most of us watch tv and movies specifically for a distorted view of the real world maybe that’s not a bad thing.

Pride & Prejudice, BBC 5 hour miniseries

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Cover ImageI should start by confessing that I have never read a Jane Austen novel.  I have a stack of her titles waiting to be read and I think I’ve seen all of the movie adaptations, but I have never sat down and read one.  I have no excuse.  I’ll make it my goal to get one read before the end of the year. 

I saw the most recent Pride & Prejudice with Kiera Knightly and liked it very much, but I had heard and read from many that the BBC miniseries was the very best adaptation to date.  So, as my husband has been out of town for a few days, I thought there would be no better time to check out the dvd set from the library.

It was wonderful and I highly recommend it.  I have a soft spot for Colin Firth (not sure why, but it can’t be helped) and I thought he was a perfect Mr. Darcy.  I thought a few of the dancing scenes in the beginning were a little too long, but that is my only slight complaint.  If you have only seen the 2 hour movie you really should rent this version.  I understand the story so much better after having seen it.  The characters that were only mildly annoying in the film became only more stridently so in the miniseries, but in a mostly entertaining way.  The relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy  became much more clear.  The actors were great and it was a much less ‘hollywood-ish’ movie. 

Great miniseries, but don’t expect your husband or boyfriend to sit through it, unless he really, really loves you.  But, beware, you never know what he may expect you to watch.

The Hoax, 2006

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DVD CoverRichard Gere stars as Clifford Irving, a failed writer, who writes a fake biography of the mysterious and crazy Howard Hughes.  Alfred Molina is his friend and research partner and they sell this ‘book’ to McGraw Hill using forged documents for a six figure deal.  Marcia Gay Harden is his long suffering wife who will do what she can to help, even if it is dangerous and illegal.

This is based on a true story, although as Jason and I watched it we often asked ‘how true is it?’.  The connection between Hughes and President Nixon was an interesting one that I hadn’t heard before.  Clifford Irving was bold, reckless, delusional and also a world class liar.  I find it hard to root for liars and this was no exception.  I like Richard Gere and I hated hoping for his demise.

I thought the acting was good and the story was interesting.  I won’t give away what happens at the end, but there is a nice wrap-up to satisfy your curiousity.

Becoming Jane

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Becoming Jane was released in 2007 and stars Anne Hathaway as Jane Austen (yes the Jane Austen of Sense & Sensibility, Pride & Prejudice, etc.) and James McAvoy as Thomas Lefroy.  It is inspired by the real relationship between Jane and Thomas.  They meet, sparks fly, numerous marriage proposals are offered by more than one man, and obstacles to true love abound.  It was a fun movie, especially for those who like Jane Austen or 20th century English tales.

Hathaway and McAvoy were great.  James Cromwell and Maggie Smith also make appearances.  If you want to punish your husband for not taking out the trash or some other such thing, make him watch too.  Otherwise, open up a bottle of wine, invite your book club over and have a girls night.