This 1960 movie had me hooked after just the first ten minutes. An ambitious Paul Newman goes off to the big city where he finds an array of candy colored skirts, one shining brighter than all the rest. That would be Joanne Woodward, of course (Paul Newman’s wife in real life). At the beginning of the movie there is lots of champagne, lofty ideals, and plenty of goose-bump inducing love scenes.

Things become a wee bit more complicated when David Alfred Eaton (Newman’s character) becomes more interested in his booming career than the red blooded women he had chased after in his youth. She’s still drinking champagne while he spends his days and months of the road. A recipe for disaster.

All of the characters are quite sympathetic, yet so frustrating as well. You love them, you hate them. The presence of both of these emotions make great characters and interesting plots, in my experience. It was a sad and happy movie- much like a cross between The Last Time I Saw Paris and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, I think. I quite enjoyed the performance of Paul and Joanne and the story was interesting enough- if not a strange mix of depressing and delightful.

It’s so lovely to look at the candy-coated images of these two French sisters. But to think about the tragedy of Francoise’s death is enough to turn any mood into melancholy. Drive safely, my friends, and be be gorgeous.

images: toutlecine, somebodystolemythunder

Perhaps you may have read the novel by John Steinbeck, as most publicly educated American youths have. But until last night, I had neither read the book or seen the movie. So, I knew nothing of what to expect from Of Mice and Men.

I was rather hoping the story would be pretty to look at and visually entertaining. There was a bit of that- as I really enjoy any period film. But this story revolved around the characters of two dirty men… so, as you can guess, not a lot of eye candy. But there was plenty of room for character development, foreshadowing, and symbolism. Now you know why English teachers make this one required reading.

The story moves pretty slowly, and I typically get easily bored during such films. Especially when there’s not a lot of lovely scenery to oogle (believe me, there wasn’t much more than what you see in these screen shots). But I will say, if you are in the introspective mood, this movie may be a winner.