Bull Durham

Bull Durham is on Netflix and I watched it again for the first time in years. A film about baseball that is most enjoyable. This is the ultimate sexy Kevin Costner film. At one point Susan Sarandon says to him "God, you're gorgeous" and one can only agree. He is divine in this.

Susan is, naturally, also wonderful and Tim Robbins is perfect as the oafish young player. I was interested to note it was rated an 18 when it came out in 1988. I think now it would barely rate a 12. 

Anyway, if you've never seen it or not seen it for a while then I am here to tell you it's still excellent.

80s throwback

I pretty much live my life in the 80s so to call this a throwback is a little misleading. However, I flew to New York for two days earlier this week for work. Nothing exciting about it, I was in New Jersey in all day meetings and then back to the airport. I flew Delta. My experience of American airlines is they have terrible lounges, they give you ALL the food in the world but they have great old movies on the inflight entertainment.

I found myself idly flicking through the options and decided to watch Moonstruck. I've not seen it since it was released in 1987. I had little hope of it actually being any good and I was utterly charmed. It's a very slight story but Cher and Nicolas Cage are wonderful.

I used to have a crush on Nicolas Cage and it was 99% down to his performance in this.  He's all muscly, sweaty and cute. (1% for Wild At Heart - snakeskin jacket). The shots of New York and Cher being all mousey only to become a goddess after having sex with her fiance's brother. It's truly a delight and worth rewatching if you've not seen it for a while.

Bolstered by this success I moved on to Tootsie. A confession, I've never seen Tootsie. I have no idea how I have this gap in my key 80s film oeuvre but there it is. I've literally not even seen five minutes.

I was bowled over. I knew it was a good film but nobody told me it was awesome! Plus Bill Murray is in it. Dustin Hoffman thoroughly deserved his Oscar, he is just so good. Men dressing up as women is as old as the hills in Hollywood but his performance is genuinely very touching and not just played for laughs. I enjoyed every moment.

On my flight back, I watched Say Anything. Again, I've not seen this for a very long time. This film is all about John Cusack. Without him, not much is going on but he's marvellous. The good guy Lloyd, adored by his female friends, winning over the class goddess. It's not one of my favourite 80s films but it's thoroughly enjoyable. And it has Frasier's dad in it!

I was reminded of these movies after reading Hadley Freeman's new book, Life Moves Pretty Fast. Unsurprisingly it's about 80s movies and how good they were. It's not just a blind adoration though, she calls out the sexism, racism and other isms of 80s films but she also talks about how Dirty Dancing would simply never get made today. It's well worth a read.

Romancing the Stone

On Friday I found myself at Dubai airport having missed my connecting flight home (thanks for nothing BA) and had to spend five hours there. There are worse places to be stranded that Dubai airport but I was exhausted and for once, didn't want to shop. So I waited patiently and finally boarded my Emirates flight feeling very jaded with life.

I perked up because Emirates business class is delightful. Properly decadent, you get your own little bar! I sipped some champagne and casually looked at the in-flight entertainment. New films are a given on all flights, I judge an airline on the classic films. BA is woeful at this (of course). American Airlines had Gone With The Wind which made up for the fact I had to ask for my glass of champagne. Emirates had dozens and dozens of classics and I may have actually squealed when I saw it had Romancing the Stone. When you are travel-weary and your eyes hurt because you are so tired, you don't want anything worthy or new. You want your old friends to soothe you. I settled down with my lunch and wine and revisited this absolute classic.

It's never going to win any awards and it's super-cheesy but I have always loved this film because of the two leads. Kathleen Turner is quite simply, wonderful and gorgeous. Michael Douglas is sexy, funny and divine. They cavort round the Colombian jungle, running into trouble and Joan is a timid romance writer sexually awakened by Jack. Danny DeVito is after them as well as other baddies. It's all most pleasing and charming. It rattles along at a fair old pace and it still makes me laugh. The Jewel Of The Nile, its sequel was nowhere near as good but I would still happily watch it.

Michael Douglas is a bit weird these days (he is 70 which is a bit freaky to think about) but for me, this is his best film. He is charming and sexy. Watch it if you don't believe me. And Kathleen Turner is always wonderful. God bless the 80s.

ETA: I'd already blogged about this, I thought I had, I did a search and it didn't come up. Anyway, it's so good, I've talked about it twice.

The Secret Of My Success

I can't believe I've not blogged about this yet. I adore this film, it's one of my favourites from the 80s. Last night I watched it again and I still love it! Michael J Fox looks about 14 in it but he's so good. He's a great actor, I am thoroughly enjoying him in The Good Wife at the moment.

Brantley comes to New York from Kansas determined to make a success of himself. Cue big scary city montages. He has a job lined up but the company goes under before he can begin so he asks his uncle for a job who puts him in the mailroom. This is the days before emails so much of the mail is internal memos. The depiction of corporate life is totally hilarious and not always intentionally. Anyway, our hero reads a memo or two, manages to work out a genius plan, pretends to be a hot young executive - Carlton Whitfield - and leads a double life. This requires him to change into suits in the elevator and run around the building a lot.

It's wafer thin but it's charming because of MJF and Margaret Whitton who plays Vera, his aunt. She is perfect. She should have had a great career because she steals the show in this.

The weakness is Helen Slater, aka the woman who cannot act at all. She gives Andie MacDowall a run for her money. She is terrible and it is no surprise that she did not have a wonderful career. In fact, a quick search tells me she was in The Young and the Restless.

I love the New York setting, the evilness of his uncle, Howard and the pure 80sness of it all. It's marvellous and well worth 90 minutes of your time if you've not seen it.

Trading Places

I am having something of an Eddie Murphy moment. Last week TeenBoy and I settled down to watch Trading Places since it was on Tivo and we felt like some comedy. I have a confession to make, I have never watched this film all the way through. I've seen snippets of course but somehow this passed me by. I don't know how since it has Jamie Lee Curtis in it and she is one of my favourite actresses.

Better late than never and it's a total hoot. Once you get over how young they all look that is, especially Dan Ackroyd. What a cast! Denholm Elliot is wonderful. James Belushi turns up in the train scene, this scene was stupid, sorry but it was. But I love James Belushi. Also, it has the principal from The Breakfast Club in it! Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy are both stellar, playing with lives for the fun of it. All in all, it was a perfect couple of hours and it made me want to go and do some exercise as Jamie Lee Curtis's body is unbelievable. I say want to, I didn't of course...

ET, phone home

I recently watched Super 8, JJ Abrams homage to ET and Spielberg generally. It's quite a good film, the first hour is very good and then it gets stupid. Is it anywhere nearly as good as ET? Of course not! Nothing is as good as ET, a film to soften the hardest of hearts. How can you not cry when watching this? I start welling up when ET first lifts the bikes up into the air and I don't really stop until the closing credits. And I am not someone who cries much when watching films. I've been called Stoney Heart by some of my closest friends. Like I say, ET will touch cynics.

What I love about ET is that it is told completely from a child's point of view, the camera angle is famously at a child's height. The children aren't made to seem ridiculous nor are they precocious. Well, Elliot is kind of annoying actually but the old brother Greg is great. The actor who plays Greg has done no acting work since 1992. I call that a crying shame. Gertie is of course played by Drew Barrymore and I don't think there is a cuter kid in film history.

She's adorable. And she's great in this. Everyone is great in this. The slightly harassed mother, the policeman who hints at romance towards her, Erika Eleniak, the boys who help them rescue ET. It's simply a wonderful film, directed by Spielberg at the top of his game and was a mega-hit. I can remember being taken to see this by my dad at Leicester Square and being so excited. And if I recall, he was a little damp about the eyes afterwards.

Thank goodness a sequel was never made. It stays perfect and a masterpiece.

Broadcast News

Yet another Netflix treasure, I've not seen this since it came out (ummmm, 26 years ago). This is one of those intelligent mainstream films that just don't get made anymore. Albert Brooks is wonderful, I don't know why he isn't in more, he's a fantastic actor. Of course some might say his high point is being the voice of Marlin in Finding Nemo but I think this comes close.

Holly Hunter is also a complete joy. She's one of my favourite actresses; smart, cute and funny. I have issues with the William Hurt character, he just isn't very nice and I don't think Jane would be interested in him. Is he really that handsome? I don't get it.

Now, a confession, all this time I thought Albert Brooks directed this but it was James L. Brooks. You can see why I was confused. He also directed Terms of Endearment (which I can't watch without becoming a basket case) and As Good As It Gets (which I've never seen but it's on Netflix so it's only a matter of time). The guy has only directed six films one of which is an Adam Sandler film called Spanglish. Truly, Hollywood works in mysterious ways.

This is still an excellent film. It is clever, thought-provoking and it has Joan Cusack. That makes two Joan Cusack films in a row! Joan with big hair, again:

Love her. I am considering having a Joan Cusack season.

Finally, it has Lois Chiles in it. Her from The Way We Were, Moonraker and Dallas. Did you know she had a relationship with Don Henley? Never say I don't educate you.

Working Girl

Working Girl is a film I've pretty much ignored because of my intense dislike of Melanie Griffith. However, thanks to Netflix, I watched this last night and it was a hoot. I don't think I've seen a film that simply has one song they play over and over again, in this case Carly Simon's Let The River Run. They really wanted to make that a hit. Other observations:

• Sigourney Weaver is fantastic in this and wears red to great effect.
• Joan Cusack is someone you'd like as your best friend.
• It has Kevin Spacey in it!
• And Alec Baldwin looking so young. And thin.
• David Duchovny is an extra!
• Oliver Platt!
• It's a six degrees of separation dream of a film.
• Melanie Griffith is obliged to wear horrible underwear in many shots.
• Harrison Ford is dreamy.

However, TeenBoy and I were mainly distracted by the hair.

I repeat, the hair:

Look, I lived through the 80s and I really don't think anybody had hair like this. I'm not saying it was a good decade for hair but really? TeenBoy was transfixed and asked me "how would anyone get their hair to do that?" Awwwwww, I love how men know so little about the wonders of back combing, perming and hairspray.

Anyway, in conclusion this is thoroughly entertaining and well worth another viewing. When you all get Netflix.

Happy birthday to me! And Will, Phoebe and Corey

Today is my birthday. I love birthdays, I don't understand people who gloss over them or don't make a fuss. They come once a year and it's your day. What's not to love? People give you presents, send you cards and write messages on your Facebook wall. It's all good.

I've always been interested in those lucky enough to share my day. I don't have a stellar list of movie and rock stars however I I think these three are pretty damn good by anyone's standards.

First up it's Buddy Elf!

Yes, Will Ferrell shares my birthday! Are you jealous? I still love him although I've not quite managed to see Step Brothers yet.

Next, Phoebe Cates.

"Which one of you bitches is my mother?" Phoebe retired from acting after she married Kevin Kline to bring up her family. How yawnsome. At least they are still together.

I've saved the best for last. Corey Feldman!

I love this picture, it's so 80s. Corey is exactly my age which makes him extra special. In an alternative universe I was hanging out with Michael Jackson at Neverland and making Stand By Me.

Sheena Easton

Back in time we go to the early 80s when Sheena was a big star. Ahhhh, such innocent times. The Scottish lass who made it big on The Big Time. Whenever I think of Sheena, I think of my nan disapprovingly saying that she'd ruined herself with all that make-up and she looked much better with a natural pretty face! Grandmothers are on this earth to make such comments.

What to make of Sheena? Did you know she'd been married four times? That is was watching The Way We Were that made her want to be a singer? She was huge in America of course and the fact is, she could actually, properly sing.

This video is hilarious, she looks strangely contemporary in it with her turquoise jumpsuit.

 

Sheena did two songs for the About Last Night album (one of my favourite albums, obviously) and both are songs I still listen to. It formed a montage in the film and wouldn't you know, here it is. Bonus Rob Lowe in this post.

Natural Love. Another montage scene but I can't find it on YouTube. I could describe it scene by scene but I will spare you. Suffice to say, it's the song they move in together to. And a giant bear is involved. It's very bouncy - the song, not the bear.

You haven't really made it until you've done a Bond theme. It's not a total classic but it's still pretty good. Very slinky.

However, her highpoint for me will always be U Got The Look. Your body's heck a slammin'. Only Prince could write such a lyric. This is when she sexed up. Of course Prince doesn't allow his songs on YouTube so I can't show you a proper version of it but hey, we all know it right? It's a brilliant song.

I am a bit disappointed to see what she looks like now. Housewife of New Jersey springs to mind. Sheena, go and find your Prince again.

Ferris gifs

It's what gifs were made for. Oh yes.

































Those last four crack me up. One of my favourite scenes in a film, ever.

Hannah and Her Sisters

You can tell it is January, I've not been out for ages. I am hibernating with hot water bottles and old movies. Let me start by saying I love Woody Allen movies. Even the bad ones. And Hannah and Her Sisters is one of his best.

This is 80s-tastic. The hair, the hair. Everyone has bad hair and the women have perms from hell. Except Carrie Fisher who manages to escape relatively unscathed. Yes, it has Carrie in it. What reason could there be to not love it? This is a fun Woody film and rewatching it at the weekend reminded me how much When Harry Met Sally owes to it. The Manhattan scenes, the standard songs, the neurotic male who is obsessed with death. I've always loved this film because everyone in it is just so good. Did you know it has Mia Farrow's kids in it? Including the one that went on to pair up with Woody? Really icky when you realise he was directing her as a child.

Anyway, the lines. My favourite is: "How the hell do I know why there were Nazis, I don't even know how the can opener works!" There are dozens more, it's really hilarious. If you've not seen it, ummm why not? And please do.

Now then, I am going to say it here. I don't like Michael Caine. He's just so Michael Caine in every film he makes and he's horrible in this, I mean the character is horrible. Not his fault I know but also, check out his hair. No. No to Michael. Apart from that, this is wonderful.

Happy 2013

Well dear readers, another year draws to a close. It's been a ball reminiscing with you all. I am closing the year with a viewing of Top Gun with my husband and sister after I've taken money off them in poker. If you have better plans, I can't imagine what they are.

I look forward to another year debating top songs by bands and who annoys me most on television. I just don't think we can discuss this enough. Please do comment, I love reading what you have to say. Have a very happy new year and thanks for reading. I leave you with Maverick and Goose (RIP). From the sublime Mr Scott (RIP).

Gremlins

Gremlins has been rereleased! Much jubilation at Teen Towers. This is a great film and one that I feel never gets quite enough attention. It's delightfully dark and really quite nasty but done with humour. The story of how Kate learns there is no Father Christmas is horrifying yet funny.

In 1984, this was the film to go and see. Everyone knew the three rules to gremlins: no sunlight, no food after midnight and no water! Of course, our hero manages to screw this up and unleashes gremlin hell on the little town. The scene I always remember is the mother liquidising a gremlin in the kitchen. Like I say, it's a gruesome film but so much fun. My favourite scene is when they are watching Snow White and The Seven Dwarves. Here it is:

If you've never seen Gremlins, then get yourself to the cinema soon before it leaves town. You won't regret it.

Top Ten Female Film Characters

Sisters unite! It's time to celebrate our favourite celluloid women. This list was, naturally enough, difficult. There are plenty of female characters I enjoy but who are, well, a bit wet when it comes down to it. Tracy Lord in High Society is a good example. Grace Kelly is at her most glorious, has some wonderful lines and she's a likeable character but she's all about the men in her life. I wanted my list to be a bit more kick-ass, a bit more feminist, a bit more fierce if you will. There is no order to this list and so we start with the fiercest of them all.

Sarah Connor: Terminator 2

This changed everything. I remember everyone in the cinema gasping when she came on screen; pretty little Linda got some muscles! And she got hard because she had to. Her breaking out of the mental institution is one of my all-time favourite scenes in cinema. Nobody understands that we're all about to die! Looking at a list of some of my favourite films, it's depressing to realise there are few female characters to emulate. Women are usually there to simper, look pretty and be rescued. Sarah Connor was a breath of fresh air. She strides around this film like she owns it.

Susan: Desperately Seeking Susan

Played to perfection by Madonna, every teenage girl of the 80s wanted to be Susan. She was so cool. Her clothes, her attitude, her living out of that suitcase, her swapping her jacket for the rhinestone boots, her wit: "this has to be a cover-up, nobody's life could be this boring!" She didn't need men, she knew what to do with them but she didn't need them. Sometimes I still wish I could dress like Susan.

Marie: When Harry Met Sally

Rob Reiner hit gold with this casting, who wouldn't want Carrie Fisher in their rom com? I adore Carrie Fisher, I want to be friends with her, I know we'd get on just darlin'. As Marie, she gets all the truly great lines in this movie. My favourite is "somebody is staring at you in Personal Growth!" The best scene is the lunch with the girls when Marie goes through her cards of men for Sally and folds one over saying 'married!" I am breaking my own rules a little here as she is a bit desperate for a man but only because of the stupid married man she's been having an affair with, "he's never going to leave her!" However, I am going to make an exception because once she meets Bruno Kirby, it's all wonderful.

Baby: Dirty Dancing

Baby was an activist, a detective (she worked out who was stealing the money!) and she stood up for her beliefs. Most of all Baby learned how to dance and deep down I believe if Patrick Swayze was teaching me, I could dance like that too. She gives as good as she gets with Johnny ("spaghetti arms!") and Jennifer Grey has never been better. I like to imagine that Baby would have married a human rights lawyer and lived in Greenwich Village. No, I don't think her and Johnny would have lasted, it's a classic summer romance!

Mia: Pulp Fiction

It's fair to say that Mia is no role model but man alive, is she cool. From the moment she talks into that microphone and Dusty Springfield is playing, you know she's going to be awesome. Uma Thurman oozes sex appeal in this and just looks so classy. No plunging short dresses for her, just a simple white shirt and black trousers but has anyone ever worn an outfit so well? She has some wonderful lines: "why do we feel it necessary to yak about bullshit in order to feel comfortable?" and she dances a dream. Ok, ok, she overdoses on drugs but I am willing to overlook that. She isn't afraid to stand up to Vincent and therefore she makes my list.

Rizzo: Grease

I am not sure an explanation is even necessary however to avoid any doubt, here goes. She dates Keneckie, she rules the school, she wears tight black clothes to school and a crazy red dress to the prom, she chucks milkshakes around, she thinks Sandy's summer romance sounds like a drag, she feels like a defective typewriter, she knows there are worst things she could do than go with a boy or two and she sings Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee with gusto. No character in a high school film has ever been better than Rizzo. And nobody could have played her better than Stockard.

Vickie: Reality Bites

While Lelaina drips around the movie being angsty about her work, her love life, Troy etc, Vickie works at The Gap and steals all the good lines. She's hilarious, just looking at her face makes me giggle. "He's so cheesy, I can't watch him without crackers" "I'm late for a jean-folding seminar, let's locomote!" Because of this movie, I will watch anything Janeane Garofalo is in. She's fabulous and so is Vickie.

Trinity: The Matrix and Matrix Reloaded

The Matrix is just a fabulous film from start to finish. Everyone in it is on top form but nobody is quite as cool as Trinity. She is icily efficient and totally on top of everything. She's also good in the sequel but gets a teeny bit drippy however she is with Keanu so she's forgiven.

Thelma: Thelma and Louise

It's very hard to pick Thelma over Louise. Obviously both of them are great but for me, Thelma's journey is more interesting. She starts as a rather pathetic, downtrodden housewife and ends up robbing a store at gunpoint. "My husband wasn't nice to me and look what happened!" She discovers that actually she's hot, she's funny and she's got a talent for being on the run. And she gets to have sex with Brad Pitt.

Scarlett: Gone with the Wind

If I had to pick one favourite from this list, it would be Scarlett O'Hara. Scarlett isn't always very nice, in fact often she's downright mean and nasty but she's such a survivor. She keeps her promises, she loves her mother and she provides for her pretty hopeless family after the war and yes, she has to make some tough decisions to do it but it's do or die in this land. She marries a man she doesn't love to ensure she has a roof over her head and that Tara can survive. She delivers Melanie's baby with a war raging around her. So I won't hear a word against Miss Katie Scarlett. She is the original feisty woman and much as we love Melanie, we'd all rather be Scarlett surely?

Who have I missed? Tell me.