All This and Heaven Too

Will it be any comfort to you to know that when you’re gone my only happiness will be in knowing I’m sharing your loneliness?

13th Academy Awards (1940)

Nominated:

1) Best Supporting Actress (Barbara O’Neil)

2) Best Black-and -White film

3) Best Motion Picture.

Maybe a year ago when I first started to appreciate Bette Davis films, I watched this movie. I was captivated by the acting, costumes and the storyline. This movie is based on the novel with the same title by Rachel Fields, which the author based on true events.

The movie starts with a woman played by Bette Davis, Henriette Deluzy-Desportes, being introduced to a class of young American girls. The girls treat her with disrespect because there have been many rumors and gossip circulating regarding Henriette’s past. She wants the girls to understand the untold side of her story.

She was once employed as a governess to the four children of Charles Laure Hugues Theobald, a nobleman with the title Duc de Choiseul-Praslin and his wife Frances Altarice Rosalba Sebastiani. Why the complicated names? The movie, after all, takes place in Paris in the 1800s.

Duc de Praslin and Duchess de Praslin have been stuck in loveless marriage for many years and have stayed together, for the sake of their children and to avoid scandal. Their children: Isabelle, Luis, Beth, and little Renald are far from happy from the constant neglect of their mother.

The Duchess de Praslin took a stroll with her youngest child, Renald, after Henriette’s warning that Renald is not feeling to well. Only a few days on the job and Henriette was already telling the Duchess what to do – this did not fly by too well with the Duchess. She ignored her protest.

When the two return, Renald complains of his pains and ailments. This soon escalades to, what I think is pneumonia. If it were not for the nurturing love and care that Henriette and his father provided, the poor kid would have greeted the grim reaper.

From then on, Duke de Praslin has grown to love Henriette because she has something that his wife did not posses – compassion. If it were not for her, he would not be spending so much time with his children who are in desperate need of love from at least of their parents. More than one occasion, he had to control his urges and love towards her. Even though Henriette’s feelings for the Duke increase every time she is with him, she had to keep it professional between the two for the sake of the children.

The uncontrollable Duchess is filled with intense jealousy and hate towards Henriette, her competitor for her children and husband’s affection. The hostile woman fires her employee and refuses to give her a letter of recommendation. The Duchess’ argument behind the method to her madness is she is protecting future employers’ family from a gold-digging woman who will potentially ruin a family.

But what the Duchess does not realize is that from the start, long before Henriette entered the picture, her family was already broken mainly because of her own doing. She neglects her children and is hostile towards her husband thus putting a strain on the family.

(angry Duchess. Yikes!)

When the Duke asks if she has written the letter for his lost love, she of course, lies and says she did so. The only consolation for not being with Henriette is knowing that she is doing fine on her own and not facing any type of struggle. The Duke and his children visit Henriette in the room that she is renting. He was surprised that she was not yet employed since he thought she had a letter of recommendation. He was furious at this wife when he heard that she lied to him about the letter.

When he returned to his home he begged, pleaded, bribed, blackmailed, reasoned, bargained, and any other methods that would force his wife to write the letter. Not shaken by his threats or flattered with his pleas, she still stood by her original position.

The duchess should have written the letter because I think that she’s going to regret it later. She screams as her husband chases her with a gun, where the audience is left to believe that he murder his wife. That’s what you get for being unreasonable.

Everything started to spiral down for the Duke. His children were taken away from his custody and placed under the care of a relative in another country. The Duke was arrested and well as Henriette who actually had no idea of the Duchess’ death until the police took her under custody. Since the Duke held such a high, respectable position in society, speculation of love between the Duke and his governess became known to the public, being the headline of every newspaper in the country. Such scandal! But from what the movie depicted, their love is nothing of the such because they never pursued it. But in the history books, it may say the opposite. Who know?

The Duke refuses to confess to his crime nor does he openly express his love for Henriette. He does this to protect her from being arrested. He knows that if he were to confess to the crime, the police would try to link her to the crime. It does look pretty suspicious – a wife murdered, and a husband who loves another woman. In order to prevent the secret to come out, the Duke committed suicide by taking large dosages of poision. Since the police could no longer tie Henriette to the crime she was freed.

The little American felt the heartache and sadness their teacher felt. All of them cried and asked for her to pardon their ignorance. The end.

The storyline was interesting – it’s the classic tale of forbidden love. The dialogue is so poetic, every line has a certain sweetness but this could counteract since at times, I did feel that it was overdone.

Oh my, Charles Boyer is one handsome actor! I think it’s his accent that makes you melt. My main motivation to watch to this film was because Bette Davis, one of my favorite actresses, was in it. This was the first Charles Boyer movie I saw. I’m proud to say that because of this movie, he is one of my favorite actors.

I love how his face can appear serious but soft at the same – in a way, it also appears misunderstood. This must have helped him throughout his acting career.

Bette Davis’ character in the film was pretty much expressionless mainly because her character is suppose to be very wise, virtueous, and honorable – kind of like a prude. Yet Davis puts warmness in the character, especially in the scenes where she and Charles Boyer’s character were together.

Barbara O’Neil, who played the Duchess, was satisfactory in her performance. I felt somewhat uncomfortable watching her play a nasty bitchy character manily because it seemed forced and unnatural to the actress. How and why she was nominated for supporting actress, is a puzzle to me. Thank goodness, she did not take home that Oscar.

Such a pity it did not win Best Motion Picture but I think its worthy for Oscar.

This movie was actually running against Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator for Best Motion Picture (I reviewed that movie in an earlier post. So, check it out!)

The Nutty Professor (1996)

When the good Lord made you, He made you beautiful inside and out.

69th Academy Awards (1997)

Won:

1) Best Make- up

The movie was based on another movie from 1963, with the same title. But this version is more updated. Instead of using the all white cast as they did in the 1963 version, in this version the cast is predominately black. Eddie Murphy played numerous roles in this film including the title character Professor Sherman Klump and his alter ego Buddy Love including the family members in the Klump family.

Professor Klump, an obese genetics professor, is conducting research on obesity. The rather shy professor develops feelings for a graduate student named Carla Purty who’s a big fan of his work. He mustered up the courage to ask her on a date to a restaurant/club that Carla suggested called “The Scream”

Meanwhile, Sherman daydreams of her and fears that he may crush her to death with his big body so he decides to lose weight. He tried multiple diets, various exercises, seeing a chiropractor to manipulate his hunger, and cutting back on greasy food.It was hard for him since his dysfunctional family teases him thus lowering his self esteem.

On his date with Carla, they shared stories and laughter while enjoying the live music. When the next performer came on, a comedian named Reggie Warrington,  Sherman tries to excuse himself in fear that Reggie may target him as the butt of his jokes.  But, his attempt was unsuccessful. Reggie taunted him about his weight, embarrassing the professor in front his date.

This was the last straw for Sherman. He locked himself in the lab and started formulating a concoction that will make him loose all his excess weight.

(the professor drinking the concoction)

When he wakes up, Sheldon transforms into a thin petite man called Buddy Love. He introduces himself to others as the professor’s assistant. Buddy love is the complete opposite of Sheldon Klump. He’s loud, obnoxious, rude, and brash.

(Buddy Love holding the formula)

Carla goes on a date with Buddy after Professor Klump encouraged her to so since he figures that she would want to be with a more healthy man. On their date to “The Scream,” Buddy drives recklessly and comes to their date an hour late. Meanwhile, Reggie was performing that day. Even before Reggie could say anything, Buddy laughs obnoxiously non-stop, interrupting the performance. Reggie became mad at attempted to insult Buddy but because of Buddy’s laughter, the audience did not hear. In turn, Buddy starts insulting Reggie but he caught the attention of the audience. Reggie even attempted to fight him on the stage but Buddy was able to knock him out while making it entertaining for his audience.

The concotion wears off and Buddy leaves abruptly. Sherman who has a hangover from Buddy’s drinking goes to work the next day where the dean of the college approaches him and tells him that he arranged dinner for himself, the professor and Harlan Hartley, a rich benefactor who will donate a substantial amount of money to the college if he likes Sherman’s research. This is pretty big for the dean of course who needs the money for the school to thrive but also for Professor Klump since he could share his work with the public.

But, there’s a conflict. Buddy has another date with Carla at the same day and time as the dinner with Harlan Hartly. But Buddy’s selfishness overpowers the professor’s thoughts and action, forcing him to drink the concoction and go on the date.

While waiting in the lobby of the hotel, the dean who was there sees Carla and asks Carla about the whereabouts of Professor Klump who was already late. Carla, worried that the professor’s long research might go to waste, offers Buddy as a replacement since he’s familiar with the research. Buddy reluctantly agrees thus winning the approval of Hartley. The dean even offers Buddy the professor’s job and invites him to the alumni ball. Buddy neglects his date and starts flirting with three other women, which upsets Carla.

The next day, Carla visits the professor feeling responsible that she may have been the cause that the professor lost his job. She sees the professor with other girls, who she recognized from the other night. She then accuses the professor for objectifying and sharing women like Buddy.

The concoction is actually dangerous for his body because of its high levels of testosterone. Disregarding the advise of his assistant, Jason, he took the concoction once more. During the ball, the Buddy starts presenting the professor’s research but is interrupted by the professor from within trying to fight him off. The crowd witnesses the transformation of Buddy Love to the the Professor which of course surprises everyone.

Professor Sherman Klump realizes that in order to love another, one must love and accept themselves for who they are. Carla Purty, loves him for the way he is. And the movie ends with the two dancing.

Overall, the movie seems like a movie a person watches just to pass the time. There is nothing spectacular about it. The storyline was bland, even though it did have a good moral lesson. Eddie Murphy’s acting was more obnoxious than anything. Jada Pinkett’s performance was satisfactory but it was not her best performance. The only the movie had going for it was the make- up. I agree that with the ones who voted to give this film the Academy Award for Best-make-up.

  In my opinion, if it were not for the make-up, this movie would have never even been nominated for an academy award.

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By the way, Eddie Murphy was supposed to  host the next Academy Award Ceremony but he decline only a few months before the ceremony. I was utterly disappointed when I heard the news because i was actually looking forward to it. I’m not actually sure of the details but from what I understand, the director of Tower Heist, a movie in which Murphy was in said a derogatory remark about homosexuals. As a result, he was fired. Murphy then announced that he too will not be part of the upcoming ceremony, maybe because he wanted to defend his friend. Anyways,  I feel that the Academy Awards have had too many white host for the past years, like where’s the diversity? Billy Crystal is now going to host the event.

A Patch of Blue

Love is Blind…literally.

Won:
Best Supporting Actress (Shelley Winters)

Nominated:

1) Actress in a Leading Role

2) Best Cinematography

3) Best Music Score

4) Best Art Direction

This movie screams controvery.

Selina D’Arcey, a poor white girl living the 1960s, is often neglected by her mother, Rose-Ann and her grandfather, Ole Pa. Whenever her prostitute mother was out getting clients or her drunkard grandfather were out, they would lock Selina in her apartment to string beads, clean, and prepare their supper.

On occasion her grandfather and neighbor would bring her to the park which she learns to love. Selina convinces her mother and grandfather for her to visit there on the condition she does all her chores.

While she basks in the sun’s warm rays, a caterpillar drops from the tree where she was leaning on and onto her back. Selina, naive of the world outside her apartment, creates a scene believing she’s in danger. Gordon Ralfe, a young black man, sees her distress and helps her.

Naively, Selina asks Gordon if she was beautiful after being ridiculed by her own mother. Gordon gives her sunglasses to cover her scars around her eyes and she automatically feels beautiful and radiant.

Losing track of the time, Selina forgets to prepare supper causing Rose-Ann to be furious. Rose-Ann then confiscates Selina’s sunglasses and puts it in a jar. This is her way to dominate her daughter by taking advantage of her disability and to keep her ignorant of the world around her so Selina would solely depend on Rose-Ann.

But Selina this does not stop Selina from meeting Gordon. Soon, the two meet up regularly. Gordon takes pity on Selina because he sees so much potential in her. So, he decides to help  her by teaching her simple things like picking groceries and waiting  for the right moment to cross a busy intersection – things Selina should be able to do regardless of her blindness. Gordon discovers that Selina never heard of Braille and is unaware that there are various schools that specialize in helping the blind.

Gordon and Selina become close friends to the point they tell each other secrets. For example, Selina tells Gordon how she became blind. Selina was born with sight but it was taken away from her at the age of five. Her father who was MIA in her childhood returned from serving in WWII, to disgruntle Rose-Ann who commanded him to leave. But he refused promting Rose-Ann to grab the nearest thing around her – a bottle of acid- and threw it at her husband’s direction. He was able to dodge Rose-Ann’s pitch but Selina who was nearby, was not as lucky. She became permanently blind.

Gordon brings Selina to his home, after buying groceries. Mark, Gordon’s brother who was present advises his brother not to see Selina anymore because he opposes interracial relationships. Gordon reassures the two are just friend, nothing more. However, Selina is head over heels for Gordon and believes she is in love. Maybe she’s blurring the lines between friendship and love but the two seem to have a connection. They are both disadvantaged at the times, both wanting more in life but pushed aside because of factors they cannot control such as skin color and blindness.

Another time, she tells Gordon that she used to have a friend who was black named Pearl but her mother forbade them to resume their friendship. She blindly (no pun intended) tells him this without the knowledge that he is black.

Selina finds Gordon’s grandmother’s music box and is drawn to its musical beauty. Gordon tells her that someone who admired and loved his grandmother gave the music box to her but because of numerous factors his grandmother did not end up happy with the man who gave her the music box. Selina protest and says that if two people are in love, nothing should stop them from being together.

   (music box –not the same one from the movie but it’s just as beautiful.)

On another occasion, the two have a romantic moment and kiss. Selina tells Gordon that she is no stranger to sex because one of her mother’s drunken clients once raped her before. Gordon realized that Selina needs to leave her home as soon as possible.

^kiss scene

As Gordon and Selina were walking in the streets together, Rose-Ann and her prostitute friend discuss moving away and making Selina into a prostitue, see them. Rose-Ann is humiliated by her daughter’s actions and beats Selina. She prohibits Selina from meeting with Gordon again and locks her up in the apartment as she use to do before.

Selina leaves her apartment feaful since this was really her first time without guidance. She goes to her usual meeting place with Gordon, by the tree where they first met, and buries the music box because she’s afraid her mother would confiscate it just as she did with the sunglasses before. This symbolizes her being forced to hide her love.

Gordon sees Selina in distress once again, where she tells him of Rose-Ann’s plans. He reassures her she has nothing to worry about because he contacted and enrolled Selina in a blind school. Their problems aren’t over yet. Rose-Ann tracked down her daughter and creates a scene when she sees Gordon and Selina embracing. She attempts to beat Selina but Gordon interferes and protects Selina. By this time, a crowd of people are witnessing this. Rose-Ann tries to take advantage of the situation and screams that her daughter is being kidnapped by a black man. But the people witnessing the argument saw Gordon and Selina in the park numerous times before so it did not cause any alarm. They ignore Rose-Ann.

Selina runs towards Rose-Ann’s direction but not to make amend with her mother. No, she runs past her to the tree where tshe buried the music box in order to retrieve it.

Selina now stays with Gordon until the bus from the blind school picks her up. She confesses her love to Gordon, who tells her that they should wait until a year to see if they should pursue a relationship. Selina reveals that she is aware of Gordon’s skin color and it does not bother her (but in a more romantic way.)

Within a matter of minutes the bus arrives and Selina sadly departs. Gordon notices she left the music box and runs down the stairs, in hopes of catching the bus. But he was too late.

Such a sad way to end a movie! But I guess the film makers wanted to give such an ambiguous ending to show that there’s hope for the two.

Main Title – A Patch of Blue

The kissing scene was a risk for the film makers. The movie was made in 1965, when the anti-miscegenation laws were still in effect. It was only two years later, in 1967 where the law was overruled in the case Loving v. Virginia. Milred Loving, a black woman married a white man, Richard Loving. The two were criminalized and arrested under the grounds the two broke the Anti-Miscegenation Act of 1924. Together the couple fought this law case and eventually won. Now, that’s what I call love.

    (Richard and Mildred Loving)

I love the music from this movie, the soft xylophone sounds like rain drops cascade gently to the ground. It sounds peaceful, whimsical, and hopeful. Very fitting for the movie, because the filmmakers want to convey hope for change – that love be allowed regardless of color or race.

Analyzing the title, blue may symbolize hope. During a storm, the sky would be dark and gray. But when the clouds start to break, you would see a patch of blue, giving you hope that the storm would end.

The option of creating the film in color was available at the time but the director decided against it. Choosing to film the entire movie in black and white was genius. In many ways it helps us view the way Selina views the world – without color. There was even a scene in the movie where she describes how she miss seeing them. Also, the directors do not want the audience to see them as different colors but as human beings longing for love.

When I saw this movie, it aired on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) the commentator, Ben Mankiewicz, said Shelly Winters – the one who played Rose-Ann- was an advocate for equal rights. It must have been difficult to play a character whose opinions vastly differs from her own. Well, she must be one hell of an actress because she won the Academy Award for Best female Supporting Role.

Yes, this movie is worthy for Oscar.

In my opinion, it is very deserving of best supporting actress, best music score, best original story, best cinematography.

The Phantom of the Opera

The phantom of the opera is there…inside your mind.

76th Academy Awards (2004)

Nominated

1) Best Cinematography

2) Best Achievement in Art Direction

3) Best Original Song

There are different variations of the tale of the phantom of the opera. But for the musical and film, Andrew Lloyd Webber wanted to portray the phantom as a sad individual who is condemned by a physical deformity.
The phantom (who is nameless through the film) was once part of freak show where people would laugh and taunt him. Madame Giry, who was studying to be a ballerina at the time, witness one of these acts and took pity on him. She helped him escape by hiding him underneath the opera house. This became his new  playground where he played pranks and tricks.

Years later, Madame Giry, who is now a choreographer, took in a musically talented orphan named Christine Daae under her care. (she’s running an opera house, not an orphanage. I just don’t understand her.) But this story doesn’t end up like “Little Orphan Annie”

Before Christine’s father died, he promised to sent an “Angel of Music” to guide and protect her. Bad idea. Years pass, Christine is now a young adult. She harbors a secret – she has seen and met her “Angel of Music” in her dreams and in her bedroom. The angel gives her private singing lessons so she could be the Prima Dona instead of the less talented Carlotta. Little  does Christine know,  her protector and guardian of an angel is just the phantom masquerading around pretending he is the presence of her father.

The phantom has been watching and observing her from afar from when she was younger. It grew into some sort of obsession. For example, he started to make her wedding dress and he has a wax mannequin of her in his bedroom. God knows what he does to it!

The phantom, a master manipulator was able to terrorize Carlotta into not performing in the opening of a new opera. Christine subsequently was the replacement. During the night of the performance, she caught the attention of an audience member sitting in box 5, Raoul de Chagny, a viscount and childhood friend of Christine.

After the performance, Christine and Raoul reconnected and started reminiscing of the past. The two soon fall deeply and passionately in love leading to their engagement.

Now, then phantom never liked pretty boy Raoul  from the start. First, Raoul took the phantom’s usual seat in box 5. Second, Raoul is a dashingly handsome lad sporting the latest fashion. Third and most importantly, Raoul and Christine are spending too much together. Neglected and ignored, the phantom tries to ruin their romance.

My theory is the phantom is insanely jealous of Raoul. He is everything the phantom is not. Raoul lived an affluent life. He’s rich, successful, powerful, and attractive. Raoul’s life is placed on a silver platter. Raoul didn’t even have to do much to win Christine’s heart. With the flash of his smile and the stride in his walk (Maya Angelou reference), he has Christine hooked to his love compared to the Phantom who had to deceive her.

The Phantom angered by Christine’s neglect,  took advantage of Christine’s vulnerability by forbidding her to communicate with Raoul or else here angel of music will stop appearing. Fearful for losing her “father” again she reluctantly agrees even after he calls her a “lying pandora, little demon.” Pretty harsh, imagine your parent saying that to your face. But the Phantom sort of disappears and everything seems to be fine.

Unexpectedly, the Phantom announces that he has written an Opera entitled “Don Juan Triumphant.” He even requested Christine to be the leading lady. Raoul and the opera house managers and owners found this to be a perfect opportunity to capture the Phantom. Easier said than done. During the performance, the Phantom murders the leading male and replaces him, signaling to Raoul and the others that their plan was in the verge of failure. Christine and the Phantom sing passionate to another, where Christine removes the mask. Everyone shrieks in horror. The removal of the mask is a metaphor for revealing the phantom’s true nature and colors.

The Phantom then creates a diversion by cutting the rope which suspends the chandelier thus causing a fire and chaos.

The Phantom kidnaps Christine and brings her to the catacombs of the opera house. He’s convinced she will never love him after seeing his face and asked her “WHY?!,”meaning “why wont you love the same way as Raoul?” Meanwhile, Raoul searches for Christine, risking everything including his life just to save her and perhaps even have his happy ending with her.

Christine tells the Phantom that he’s ugly not because of his face but because he has no heart. Soon after Raoul reaches Christine, where he begs for Christine’s freedom. The Phantom makes Christine make a decision – be with the phantom and he shall spare Raoul’s life or she could be with Raoul but the phantom would murder him. Christine loves Raoul and chooses to sacrifice her freedom for the life of her lover. The Phantom had, what i like to call a “Grinch moment” (where the Grinch was deeply touched that the citizens of Whoville still thrived after he attempted to take that away from them) because instantly he allows the Raoul and Christine to be with one another, even helping them nagivate their way out of the catacombs. This gesture was the Phantom’s way of showing that he loves Christine.

The Phantom is left pitying himself when he hears an angry mob approaching. He knows that they are after him so he destroys everything in his “home”

He breaks mirrors – showing that he hates his disfigurement and how he wants to start anew. I kept tabs, he broke seven mirrors, guess that means 49 years bad luck.

The phantom was never to be heard of again until years later when Raoul who is elderly and handicapped visits his Christine’s, his deceased wife, grave. He sees this:

a rose and the engagement ring that the phantom once gave. Even after all these years, he still loved Christine.

Beautiful…not really. I actually have issues with the storyline.

A red flag should have been raised in Christine’s head long ago. If a strange older male is watching you sleep as a child, wouldn’t you think PEDOPHILE? And if a man claiming to be your father’s ghost, wouldn’t you find it suspicious why he wants to marry you. Eww, INCEST much?

I think we learned a valuable lesson here- don’t keep promises you cannot keep. It would have saved so much trouble.

Wow, is it me or did the phantom get sexier? He got younger and less disfigured. To be honest in the 2004 version, the phantom’s “abnormality” doesn’t look too bad.The 2004 movie seemed to have a sexy, young cast. I mean really let’s compare the phantom from the 1925 version to the musical version to the 2004 movie version.

   VS.  

Really now? The 2004 Phantom doesn’t even look too bad. It’s only half  a quarter of his face that’s “deformed” I guess the producers wanted a young sexy cast because after all, sex sells. But some people still look handsome even with scars on their face. I mean look at J.R. Martinez from Dancing with the Stars. Martinez has 40 percent of his body burned but he still looks good.

If there is a future production of the Phantom of the Opera, they should definitely consider the actor J.R Martinez. He would make one sexy phantom, just putting it out there.

Thank goodness the movie was not nominated for best make-up because seriously, there was minimal make-up to distort his face.

Acting wise, the performance was good but I seen better.

The music of course was beautiful since it was after all crafted by a musical genius – Andrew Lloyd Weber.  (I thought the song “Creep” by Radiohead would be fitting for this movie. The song is about an individual with an unhealthy obsession to another. Maybe if there was a modern adaptation, they should use this song.)

I believe this movie should have a least been nominated for best costume design.

Look at how beautiful they are:

 

I love this movie and actually recommend others to watch it too.

Yes, this movie is Worthy for Oscar.

(at least for costume design).