Flashback Friday: "The Women" (1939) - "I've had two years to grow claws, mother. Jungle Red."

It's a woman's world, us men are just living in it! With it being Friday, it's time for a look back on a classic movie, fresh from 1939.

George Cukor ("Gone with the Wind", "My Fair Lady") brings together a ensemble of elegant, beautiful, and classy ladies...or so we think! Peaking behind the curtain into the life of Mary Haines(Norma Shearer) and her journey through the change of a lifetime.

Acting: "Women: can't live with them, can't live without them!" Well, that's how the saying goes, but in my case, I CAN live with them, and I can't live without them! A cast of talented women, and only women, and this movie couldn't look any better if it tried. Each actress from Joan Crawford's character of the seductive Crystal Allen to Rosalind Russell as Sylvia Fowler, the witty and passionate friend. This cast was full of talent, and I couldn't have seen a better choice for these roles.
Fun Fact: not only were all the actresses in the film female, but the animals used in the scenes were female as well. Consistency!

Editing/Cinematography: The first thing I think of when I think of the editing and the cinematography of this film is the fashion show. By far, one of the most beautiful displays of fashion and color in a movie. Throughout this film, it's black and white, but during the fashion show, we see vibrant reds, cool blues, vicious greens, and then gowns upon gowns of amazing taste. Robert Kern, the editor made wonderful choices on the entire film, wonderful close ups of emotion, and a long shot of an army of women surrounding Mary Haines (Shearer) as she faces the harsh truth of her marriage.

Musics/Sound Editing: The sound editing was well done. I appreciated that the editor was able to save the music for very crucial moments in the film, such as moments of realization and other times of absolute panic. The piece featured some very lovely music, nothing that would truly stand out to me, but I did appreciate the effect it had on a particular set of lines. But it was also the lack of music that drew attention to the lines. As the saying goes, "Less is more."

Production: In addition to putting together a cast of beautiful and talented actresses, the sets were impeccable dressed, but the costuming was phenomenal. According to sources, the costume designer Adrian ("The Wizard of Oz") in addition to making the costumes for the main cast, had to make additional gowns and costumes for a Techincolor fashion show, totaling at 200 gowns! Wonderfully put together pieces that made everything expensive and made me want to be a rich housewife too!

Writing: The story and the dialogue has got to be one of my favorite parts of this piece. The lines were some of the best parts, especially considering the cleverness of the play on words used. Paired with the delivery from the actresses, and it makes for a fantastic web of gossip and intrigue, love and passion. I particularly love the look at how love is treated, especially from the female perspective. Women have always been seen as kind, gentle creatures. But "The Women" shows that they hurt too, and when you mess with the bull you get the horns! Amazingly put together dialogue with fantastic story and passionate deliveries.

Final Grade: This film always makes me giddy and happy. The gossip, the fashion, the pure unadulterated image of women in an exaggerated, but true to real life depiction. It's a jungle out there, Jungle Red.

FINAL GRADE= A

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"The Man From U.N.C.L.E." (2015) - "America teaming up with Russia. That doesn't sound very friendly."

This movie, not knowing of it's origin from the popular 70's television series, was a risk for me to see, at risk for losing interest. Little did I know, I'd find one of my favorite films of this year!

Director Guy Ritchie ("Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows", "Snatch") gives us look back into the 1960's espionage: we have an American CIA Agent, Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer) teaming up to take down the threat of a nuclear weapon, while still protecting the beautiful chop-shop girl, Gaby Teller (Alicia Vikander).

Acting: I read on the internet a lovely synopsis of the actors and their characters in the film: "a Brit playing an American, an American playing a Russian, a Swede playing a German, and an Australian playing an Italian." If that doesn't impress you, then I don't know what does. The tension between Hammer and Cavill was both intense, and comical at the same time. In addition, the attraction between Vikander and Hammer's characters was sweet and playful. Basically, what I have to say is there was top acting within this piece. Every character had me hooked, and had me rooting for the CIA and KGB! ...wait...

Editing/Cinematography: I have to say, the editing style in this movie is one of my favorite parts! The editor for this film, James Herbert, paid important detail to what this film was about. The use of the quick close ups and zoom outs was very quintessential for the 60's. This mixed with the montage of shots in one frame were amazing! I felt as though I were watching Sunday evening action shows about to eat some Ruffles and drink Diet Pepsi! (Read about it: http://www.bonappetit.com/restaurants-travel/article/a-history-of-american-snack-foods-from-waffle-cones-to-doritos)

Music/Sound Editing: The music choice was one of my favorite parts of the film. Going with the classic 60's trope would have been too easy. Instead, our ears are treated with some fantastic over the top, inspired pieces that really take the fun, happy 60's and puts it in the modern 2010's! I thoroughly enjoyed this piece. Kudos to Daniel Pemberton, the composer for the film.

Production: Any good filmmaker knows that creating something that has props, sets, and clothes from a different time period is going to cost you a pretty penny. And the later you go, the more expensive it gets. The car that drove Gaby Teller (Vikander) to her important lunch was a Jaguar MK9, with a price of around $50k, alone. Impeccable attention to detail and an exquisite choice in fashion, this piece was as if it were pulled through a time machine, and given a hint of modern flair.

Writing: Story, I'll be honest was a little hinky to me. While I enjoyed the dialogue and the lines, especially when presented by the actors, the story was not my favorite. The whole idea of the threat of nuclear war was a little too easy for me to take. It's hard to describe, but in all honesty, what I wrote down in my notebook was the word "convoluted."

Final Grade: Even though this piece had amazing actors and fantastic costumes and scenery, I feel that that was all that was holding it up. Story wasn't amazing, but it was a feast for the eyes and has made me want to be a spy in the 60's more than ever (and I never thought I'd actually say that)!

FINAL GRADE= A-

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