Tootsie

Dustin Hoffman and Jessica Lange star in this funny film in which Dustin Hoffman (Michael Dorsey), an out of work actor, helps his friend audition for a part in an American Soap based in a hospital where Jessica Lange plays the part of a nurse.   The part is for a hot-headed middle aged woman who doesn’t take no for an answer.  He knows that he can play the part so when his female friend is unsuccessful, he auditions dressed as a woman and this is partly to prove a point to his agent who says he will not be able to land a role, any role, because he is simply too difficult to work with.  The film works because Dustin Hoffman makes quite an attractive woman, he seems to know just what to say and how to say it and he is quite loveable in his disguise.  But other men think so too and this proves to be a little bit of a problem especially as he is living a double life now with his girl-friend thinking he is gay and his heart belonging to Jessica Lange’s character who believes he is actually a she!  Lots of belly laughs out of his physical comedy and his banter with quick bullet-like quips that make him impossible to dislike, added with a pinch of melancholy.  Went slightly flat in the middle of the film but picked up pace in the finale.   All in all I thought is was a good evenings entertainment.  I have to say that Jessica Lange won best supporting actress in this film – if anyone can tell me why exactly I would be very grateful indeed – because anyone who can grin inanely while saying her lines deserves an Oscar right?

IMDB Tootsie

Trailer

Rating 6.8/10

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The Tourist

Johnny Depp is the tourist, an American mathematics teacher who travels.  Angelina Jolie is a spy who has instructions to find a person who can impersonate her partner.  She finds Johnny Depp on a train, there is a romantic link and he ends up in a hotel by himself and more than desperate to find her again.   Depp manages to get himself embroiled in her business as the lookalike and saves the day.   Jolie  burns her instructions and the burnt fragments are found and stuck back together again – brought back from the ashes with ointment (honestly) just trying to be too be clever, especially at the ending which did not complement rest of film.  Was silly and funny at times, but lacked engagement.

IMDB The Tourist

Trailer

Rating 5.3/10

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Pirates of the Caribbean ~ On Stranger Tides

Jonny Depp reprises his role as Captain Jack Sparrow together with his trusty pirate companion (Kevin McNally) Mr Gibbs and (Geoffrey Rush) Captain Barbossa now with one wooden leg.  Penelope Cruz was wasted in her role as Black Beard’s daughter, which was far too careful not to overshadow Jonny Depp for some reason and in my opinion she should have nailed this little part but didn’t succeed! The story line is who gets to the fountain of youth first and the script was probably made up as they went along as it was non-existent really.   Nothing is subtle just blow up the whole damn set for us that is what we paid to see didn’t we? Well the fountain of youth gets the same treatment so don’t expect anything of any significance to happen there much except another fight because they all want the same thing and arrive at the same time. Fight scenes consist of arms and legs and swords flailing around and they try to talk between slashes but the camera follows all the action and makes you sick. Depp says of one lot of fighting “look the quarrel is between those two lets just stand here and get paid”, but, they have a stupid fight and more scenery gets spoiled. There are some lovely underwater special effects with the mermaids which are rather good, and expect to see a mermaid loosing her tail and gaining two legs.

Summing up:   I am very, very cross and it gets a 6 rating for being a load of noise, no swashbuckling pirates theme or proper choreography, no clever banter, no story line, no feelings for any of the characters except touchingly perhaps the missionary who falls for the mermaid.  There is nothing really much to say about Black Beard and the ending is very disappointing. No spoilers but I could sum it up in one word “cheated”. HOPE 3d VIEWERS HAD MORE FUN!!!!!

IMDB Pirates of the Caribbean ~ On Stranger Tides

Trailer

Rating 6/10

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Morning Glory

Entertaining with comedy and fun. A pure feel good movie. Definitely a family film.

Legendary tv host Harrison Ford is asked back from retirement to help an ailing show get back on the road. Harrison and co-stars Rachel McAdams and Diane Keaton carry this film, and it would not work without Harrison imho. Rachel McAdams is the workaholic producer for a morning TV show who gets involved in “Morning Glory”, a struggling TV AM show which is in competition for viewing ratings. Rachel McAdams was a good choice for the ditsy young producer who acclaims popularity for the show in her very own particular way running about with coffee in high heels and that pony tail, which suited her well!

IMDB link: Morning Glory

Trailer

Rating: 6.9/10

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