Watching - October 2023

Goldfinger (1964)

Strange to think that once this was state-of-the-art film making - it all looks so pedestrian now, and dated in a way that the book isn't.

The Map of Tiny Perfect Things (2021)

Obviously a metaphor for, er, something, and couldn't be more YA if it tried (the magical reality music etc) ... but somehow it still strikes a note for me. Clearly enough to watch again very soon after the first time, anyway. Some nice choices of tracks too.

Last Action Hero (1993)

Fourteen years before Enchanted, Arnold Schwarzenegger played a film character who finds himself in the real world, with all the opportunity for confusion and comedy that entails. Apparently a flop when it came out, this is now a bit of a cult classic and it's easy to see why: it rolls along nicely, there's plenty of action and laughs, and fun spotting all the references to movie tropes and clichés along the way.

Definitely, Maybe (2008)

Felt like watching a sweet film again. The format - father tells his daughter how he met her mother - is sweet and if the ending isn't quite expected, well maybe that's a good thing. I like the way it acknowledges that perhaps the "love of your life" is more a factor of time and place than "destiny" - and that this is both fine and reality. (While I was looking for more information about the film, I came across Caroline Siede's review, which says this and more, much better than I can.)

Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

It turns out that the review I mentioned above is actually part of a whole series, When Romance Met Comedy, which is fantastic reading. So much so, that her article on this film persuaded me to watch it again. Mitsake! Although there are lots of good lines and scenes, it suffers badly in two respects: firstly, the central two characters don't meet until right at the end, so we don't get to see them actually make a relationship (You've Got Mail is much better in this respect); and secondly, Meg Ryan is ridiculously stalker-y and way to cutesy. Not as good as its reputation.

The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

I was reading Caroline Siede's article on You've Got Mail and was reminded that it was based on this James Stewart film, which I'd not seen before. It's a lovely, witty and very watchable classic, with some great performances. It's also fun to spot the snippets and references lifted by Nora Ephron for her remake. Certain moments are underplayed, compared with how I think they'd probably be done in a more modern film, and it's also fascinating that it keeps the same setting as the original play - Budapest - despite that having no relevance to the plot whatsoever. That wouldn't happen now!

The Philadelphia Story (1940)

Another black and white classic, and an odd kind of love triangle - or possibly a rectangle or pentangle. Lots of great lines and wonderfully stylised acting. Cary Grant and James Stewart are great (the latter's acting drunk is a delight), but Ruth Hussey as a cynical photographer who is (not so) secretly in love with Stewart is my favourite - her look of vulnerability at the end when she thinks the man she loves might be lost is very moving (she was nominated for an Oscar for her performance). The final scene turnaround is a bit too quick and pat for me, but I'm glad to have seen it.

You've Got Mail (1999)

Although I'd seen this recently, I started it again to listen to the directory's commentary. Unfortunately it turns out I don't have that, so I carried on watched it to spot references to The Shop Around the Corner ... and then just because it's a nice story. I don't actually quite believe in the Tom Hanks character as someone the Meg Ryan character could fall for, but this is almost certainly a sign that I've watched it too many times and am starting to over-analyse. Still a sweet film.

Set It Up (2018)

Very colour-by-numbers romcom from Netflix. Passed the time.

Love at First Sight (2023)

On the other hand, this is more like it - not perfect, as you can kind of see the joins between each act. But the two leads are great (Haley Lu Richardson in particular capturing a slightly gawky, girl-next-door appeal that I thought worked really well) and if the film perhaps tries a bit hard to set a dreamy, slightly unreal atmosphere - well, it works for soppy old me. Original book now ordered from the library!

Ghosts (Series 5) (2023)

The last series of Ghosts, apart from a Christmas Special in a couple of months, and it will be much missed in our house, where it's been a reliable family favourite. A great central concept, brilliant characters and consistently amusing plots. What more do you need?