favorite movie #94 - election edition: shampoo

Favorite movies that have had an impact on me - #94 - Shampoo (1975) - Although not primarily about an election, the 1968 election of Richard Nixon as president starts the film, and the characters change partners to the backdrop of politics: Hairdresser George (Warren Beatty) escorts Jackie (Julie Christie) and Jill (Goldie Hawn)to a Republican election night party. The film is set at the beginning of Nixon's presidency, but the audience knows that Watergate and the disillusionment that scandal had on the office of president is in its characters' future. Shampoo is not just a great film, but a glimpse into the American public and personal politics of the Seventies.

favorite movie #58: heaven can wait

Favorite movies that have had an impact on me - #58 - Heaven Can Wait (1978) - Warren Beatty directed, produced, co-wrote, and starred in this remake of 1941's Here Comes Mr. Jordan. He plays a football player, Joe Pendleton, who is mistakenly taken to heaven before his time — by his officious guardian angel (Buck Henry). Mr. Jordan (James Mason) is called in to rectify the situation and find Joe a body so that he can return to Earth and fulfill his dreams of going to the Super Bowl. "Temporarily" installed in the body of an almost-murdered industrialist, Leo Farnsworth, Joe meets activist Betty Logan (Julie Christie) who makes him think less about sports and more about saving her little town  and the environment. Dyan Cannon and Charles Grodin are hysterical as Farnsworth's murderous wife and her lover (also his assistant). Jack Warden brings heart as Joe's mentor, coach, and surrogate father. Warren Beatty is able to balance the comedy, drama, fantasy, and romance deftly, and he's got a great arm — he's quite believable as a would-be quarterback vying for his last shot at the super Bowl before he ages out of the game. A real charmer.

The film won the Academy Award for Best Art Direction, as is evidenced by Dyan Cannon's bedroom and its riot of florals.

You'd never forget me either, would you? That thing you said you saw in me. Something in my eyes, remember? If some day somebody came up to you, maybe a football player, and he acted like he'd seen you before, you'd notice that same thing, right? You'd give him a chance? He might be a good guy. — He could even be a quarterback.

favorite movie #38: what's new pussycat?

Favorite movies that have had an impact on me - #38 - What's New Pussycat? (1965) - Originally intended as a vehicle for Warren Beatty, What's New Pussycat? is a rollicking, comedic sex farce. Nothing is sacred, but everything and everyone is funny. Written (mostly) by Woody Allen, the silly script also featured contributions from Beatty's replacement Peter O'Toole (never lovelier), a wonderfully be-wigged Peter Sellers, and director Clive Donner. O'Toole plays an unabashed womanizer who is trying to stay faithful to his fiancée (Romy Schneider). This proves an increasingly difficult proposition as a bevy of beauties (Paula Prentiss, Ursula Andress, Capucine) meet and immediately fall in love with him. Complicating matters is his girl crazy psychiatrist (Peter Sellers), who is being stalked by his Wagnerian wife. Michael's fiancée tries to make him jealous by flirting with his neurotic friend (Woody Allen). Everything comes to a head when all the parties decide to go away for le weekend to the French countryside. Tom Jones sings the wonderful title song.

favorite song friday

Following up yesterday's post about Carly Simon, I couldn't resist checking out this song. After all these years, it still holds up. As does its mystery man (or men). Never tell, Carly.


Of course I can't resist adding my guess. I think that the subject of the song is a composite, but that the spur for writing such a song was most likely Warren Beatty, who Carly briefly dated, and then was reportedly passed along from him to some of his Hollywood pals, including Jack Nicholson. We'll never know, and we shouldn't, because isn't the imaging and wondering part of the fun of the song? It also lets that mysterious man with the apricot scarf and curious taste in antiques dances (Gavotte!) remain a legend and not a reality.

new year's movie meme

The Girl with the White Parasol has posted a New Year's Movie Meme, which I thought would be fun to do. I write about books and television and lots of other things that come into my head, but my love of pop culture originated with watching old movies with my parents. These days I watch them with my daughter.

Feel free to pass on the meme or post your answers to the ten questions in the comments section.

Happy New Year!

1. What is your all-time favorite Grace Kelly costume?

The woman could wear clothes like few others, but my favorite is the first fabulous gown she wears in Rear Window, when she sweeps into Jimmy Stewart's apartment, and Hitchcock just lets her get closer and closer as she goes in for a kiss and fills the camera screen. The audience can't help but immediately fal in love with her. The dress is as wonderful as its wearer. It's the ultimate '50s glamour look, with cinched waist, full skirt, and accented with red, red lipstick and pearls.

2. What classic film would you nominate for a remake?

This is a tough one. I generally don't like remakes. It's not exactly a classic, but Dune might benefit from a remake. The David Lynch version is just gross and cheesy. With today's special effects it might be a pretty cool sci-fi film.

3. Name your favorite femme fatale.

Its hard to top Mary Astor as Brigid O'Shaughnessey in The Maltese Falcon. She isn't the typical voluptuous figure that we might first think of with the term femme fatale, but she uses her mind and her feminine wiles and leaves a trail of sorry males in her wake.

4. Name the best movie with the word "heaven" in its title.

Warren Beatty's Heaven Can Wait, with Steve Martin's Pennies from Heaven a close second.

5. Describe the worst performance by a child actor that you’ve ever seen.

I know people love this movie, but I'm not that fond of Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense (he's great in A.I.) I also can't stand the forced cuteness of Jonathan Lipnicki in Jerry Maguire. It's less the kids' fault than the roles they play.

6. Who gets your vote for most tragic movie monster?

I think Irena (Simone Simone), from Cat People is the most tragic. She so wants to live a normal life and fall in love, but she can't deny her feline impulses and heritage. Violence stalks her.

7. What is the one Western that you would recommend to anybody?

I don't consider myself a Western fan, but thinking about this question made me realize that there are a lot of great Westerns for non-Western fans to enjoy. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is probably the one I would recommend to anyone, as the charming combination of Paul Newman and Robert Redford is hard to beat. But other non-traditional Westerns that are great movies are Bad Day at Black Rock with Spencer Tracy, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral with Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster, comic western 4 for Texas with Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, and the recent animated Rango, featuring Johnny Depp.

8. Who is your ideal movie-viewing partner?

I've had many. My movie buff dad was my first. He let me watch everything — horror films, epics, gangster movies, epics. In my 20s my best bud Mary and I were great movie watching companions. These days I like watching my daughter discover Judy Garland, Gene Kelly and lots of other favorites.

9. Has a film ever made you want to change your life? If so, what was the film?

I don't think a specific film has made me want to change my life, but there are some that have had an almost visceral effect on me (A Clockwork Orange, Vertigo). Movies have always been a huge part of my life — watching, talking, and now writing about them.

10. Think of one performer that you truly love. Now think of one scene/movie/performance of theirs that is too uncomfortable for you to watch.

I love Gene Kelly, and although he had nothing to be ashamed of, Xanadu didn't need to be made.

11. On the flip side, think of one really good scene/performance/movie from a performer that you truly loathe.

It's hard to think of an actor or actress that I loathe — that's such a strong word. I'm not a huge fan of Christian Bale, but there's no denying he's good in the Batman films.

12. And finally, since it will be New Year's soon, do you have any movie or blogging-related resolutions for 2012?

I would like to write more in-depth, detailed pieces on some of my favorite films. I've actually just started to do that. My first one, On Nicholas Ray's In A Lonely Place, starring Humphrey Bogart, will run on January 2.