Category: Best Writing

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Bachelor Mother (1939) – Rewatch

In a case of mistaken identity, newly fired saleslady Ginger Rogers is presumed to be the mother of a foundling she helped save. Complicating the situation, her attractive former boss David Niven offers to give her her job back if she continues to care for the child he presumes is hers. There’s not a lot that screams Christmas about the film as it begins at the end of the holiday season, but it is a sweet little romance with more hijinks as presumed fathers emerge once it has been settled that Ginger is the mother.  Romance  Holiday

Oscar Nomination: Best Writing, Original Story

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The Age of Innocence (1993)

In upper-class 1870s New York, Daniel Day-Lewis is engaged to marry Winona Ryder when her attractive cousin, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, comes to town after her own marriage falls apart. Daniel sees in the newcomer an appealing break from the constrains of society. He believes he’s cleverer and smarter than those around him, but he is no match for high society and their prescribed ways. It’s an appealing period piece with lavish sets and costuming. The story and the acting within is compelling. Though I found the romantic chemistry a bit lacking, it held my interest to mild twist of an ending.

Oscar Win: Best Costume Design

Oscar Nominations: Best Actress in a Supporting Role; Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published; Best Art Direction-Set Decoration; Best Music, Original Score

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What Price Hollywood? (1932)

This is essentially an early version of A Star is Born where Constance Bennett is an aspiring actress and waitress who finagles a meeting with Lowell Sherman’s famous director. While her star quickly rises, his falls. I enjoyed there not being a romance between the protégé and the mentor, keeping their relationship one of friendship and support. Unfortunately that means there is a dislikable separate romance added to the actress’s story. Constance Bennett is enjoyable in portraying the course of the character’s career from the naivety and ambition of her early career to the world weary ending.

Oscar Nomination: Best Writing, Original Story

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5 Fingers (1952)

During World War II, James Mason is valet to the British ambassador in neutral Turkey. Mason uses his connections to offer information on Allied activities to the Nazis. Based on the true story of an Albanian-born German secret agent, Mason makes an excellent spy for the Axis; he’s a perfect mix of gentleman and self-interested conniver. There are moments of great tension, particularly as the noose begins to tighten, but there’s not enough of that for the spy film. Somewhat shot on location in Ankara, it unfortunately doesn’t make great use of its unusual location.

Oscar Nominations: Best Director; Best Writing, Screenplay

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Women in Love (1969)

These very late 1960s films kill me whenever it feels like everyone was doing all the drugs and they were just trying to one-up each other with the surreal weirdness. Glenda Jackson and Jennie Linden are somewhat bohemian sisters and teachers in a coal-mining in 1920s England. Both of them become attracted to and attract the attention of two bachelors, Oliver Reed and Alan Bates. The lives of the foursome twine around each other, with the men also experiencing a connection together. There are discussions about and actions taken with regards to love and sex and commitment. Of the four characters, I most enjoyed Jennie Linden’s performance (perhaps that is telling in a pop psychology way) and find it unfortunate that there doesn’t seem to be much in her filmography to recommend itself.

Oscar Win: Best Actress in a Leading Role

Oscar Nominations: Best Director; Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium; Best Cinematography

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Crocodile Dundee (1986)

As the classic 1980s representation of Australophilia, I expected this to be much more light-hearted and fun. Instead it pushes a hyper-masculine agenda where Mick Dundee is never really a fish out of water, but always knows what to do whether in the Australian bush or in New York City, the one who shows even New Yorkers how to be a ‘real’ man and rescue all those damsels in distress that for some reason have no ability to take care of things on their own. Liz Kozlowski can’t help herself but to dump her fiancé who as a newspaper editor is obviously too soft. All that is before getting to the disgusting and repeated transphobic joke. I do wonder how much is a sign of the times, but I’m curious what I would have even found funny about this film 35 years ago.

Oscar Nomination: Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

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Baby Doll (1956)

Drunken cotton gin owner Karl Malden had promised Carroll Baker’s now deceased father that he would not consummate their marriage until her 20th birthday. On the eve of that fateful day, the future of Malden’s cotton gin has depleted while Baker’s sexuality is burgeoning. Into this disturbance appears Eli Wallach, a sexier, somewhat younger, more successful, Sicilian American competitor. It’s a very sultry movie, both in its Mississippi location and the desires burning at the surface for all three characters. Malden’s character is out-matched completely by the other two, even if it takes him until the end before he fully realizes it.

Oscar Nominations: Best Actress in a Leading Role; Best Actress in a Supporting Role; Best Writing, Best Screenplay – Adapted; Best Cinematography, Black-and-White

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The Story of Louis Pasteur (1936)

A little hyperbolic to say, but this movie should be shown in all schools these days. While questionable in the actual portrayal of Louis Pasteur and the events of his life, it does illustrate the importance of science, being open to having preconceived notions challenged, and vaccinations. It’s hard to get passed the idea that washing hands and boiling instruments would be a questionable to the field of medicine. I’m glad I watched this so soon after Scarface because the comparison really shows Paul Muni’s skills as an actor.  Best Picture Nomination

Oscar Wins: Best Actor in a Leading Role; Best Writing, Original Story; Best Writing, Screenplay

Oscar Nomination: Best Picture

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La Dolce Vita (1960)

Grappling with what to write about this, I recognize that I probably don’t understand the great majority of what the film is trying to say. Marcello Mastroianni is a journalist who is always searching for the next thing: the next big story, the next woman who excites him, the next thing that’ll bring him the best that life has to offer. Told in episodes that proceed over the course of some portion of time, he ages and progresses on this journey, using the males in his life as inspiration and caution. Every day with potential leads to an exciting, electric night that turns into the grey reality of morning. I love watching Mastroianni move, there’s a cool European smoothness, but also a bit of self-deprecation in the way he hunches his shoulders as if he’s hoping these things will just come to him. Anita Ekberg’s fountain scene is iconic for so many reasons, she exuberates with those best parts of life, fully engrossing in everything life has to offer.

Oscar Win: Best Costume Design, Black-and-White

Oscar Nominations: Best Director; Best Writing, Story and Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen; Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White

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Brubaker (1980)

In this based on a true story, Robert Redford is the new warden of an Arkansas prison, trying to reform it from the years of entrenched corruption and abuse within its walls. Unfortunately he has to contend with trustys, guards, politicians, and local businessmen who are all too happy to reap the benefits of the system as it is. Prison films are almost universally depressing to watch, especially when compared to the horrifying conditions prisoners still face. It never seems to get better. At least this had Yaphet Kotto and a small bit for Morgan Freeman as prisoners.

Oscar Nomination: Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

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