Movie review - "Dumbo" (2019) **

 This isn't a very good movie. It's gloomily shot, everything seems overcast. There's no sense of wonder. There's two cute kids and Colin Farrell as a one armed WW1 veteran, who suck up screentime from Dumbo who is very much a supporting character. Effects are ordinary. Dumbo doesn't have much personality here. I was longing for some old school Burton effects or imagery.

Films that killed the Brat Pack

 1) Out of Bounds (1986) - Anthony Michael Hall is not an action star, at least not then

2) Johnny B Goode (1988) - Anthony Michael Hall is not a sports star

3) Blue City (1986) Judd Nelson is not an action star

4)  Kansas (1988) - Matt and Andy but the public didn't like it

5) Fresh Horses (1988) - they did not want to see Blaine and Andy in heavy sex mode

6) From the Hip (1987) - the one film on this list I think was really unfairly a flop

7)The Pick Up Artst (1987) - Molly tries to grow up

8) For Keeps (1988) - John Hughes without John Hughes

9) Maid to Order (1987) - Ally Sheedy had heaps of appeal this was her only real vehicle - unfairly, I think she deserved another shot

10) That was then this is now (1985) - an obscure SE hinton work... not bad but kind of disappeared

Special exemptions

- Wisdom (1986) - Estevez got a pass because he directed it... also Estevez had a decent record as star with Stakeout, Young Guns

- Rob Lowe made smart choices, I feel: About Last Night, Masquerade, Bad Influence... even Illegally Yours was an attempt at doing something decent

- marriage to Bruce Willis helped Demi Moore stay in the spotlight through some late 80s flops til Ghost

 - taking off to Europe for extended periods of time doesn't help your career, eg Molly, Andy

Movie review - "Dungeons and Dragons Honor Among Thieves" (2023) ***

 Sometimes this is gloriously right - some action sequences like with the deer, the magic battles, the jokes, the smarts, the fun of seeing Michelle Rodriguez in fantasy, Bradley Cooper's cameo, Hugh Grant having fun again as a villain, the village atmosphere.

The film doesn't quite nail it - so much plot and exposition, it couldn't find a way to streamline. Rene Page's character is a little dull.

TV review - "Barry - Season 4" (2023) ***** (warning: spoilers)

 Satisfying wrap up. It starts with Barry busted, finally, and plays that out - prison, turning evidence, escapes. Does a fabulous eight year time jump. Heartbreaking (yet appropriate) end for Noho Hank. It was suitable that Henry Winkler killed Barry. Big emotional stakes with appearance of Barry's son who loves him.

Movie review - "Gold Diggers of 1933" (1933) ***

 Some of this is amazing - Joan Blondell, Aline MacMahon and Ginger Rogers as chorus girls (Ruby Keeler is also in it), some fun character actors, excellent songs - 'We're in the Money', 'My Forgotten Man'.

It's weird script wise. It's set up there's a Depression (great), then a producer wants to put on a show (great), then in one scene he hears Dick Powell play tunes and gets him to do the score only he's got no money and Powell says he's got money. So the show goes on, Powell steps up for the lead as well, the show's a hit, Powell gets outed as a rich boy... and his brother and lawyer turn up hoping to break up Powell and Keeler. So Joan Blondell and Aline MacMahon decide to "take them for a ride" by having Blondell pretend to be Keeler and have Williams and Kibee buy them things. Powell is all for it. Williams and Blondell fall in love sometime (they don't even have a nice scene or song... just a few lines would've done it) and so do Kibbee and MacMahon (ditto)..

There's no stakes because the show's a hit and Powell won't break up with Keeler. They needed to have the show be the stakes... so easy to fix up! Have them need money, send in the girls to raise it off the guys... complicated by love.

Anyway so much talent involved. The ending number thrown in 'My Forgotten Man' has power but it is this random dose of hardness.

Ginger Rogers pops in and out- as if she wasn't in the film originally but they kept finding upsestt o put her in.

Movie review - "42nd Street" (1932) ***** (re-watching)

 Great musical. Aged well due to its accepting look at humanity - George Brent is a gigolo basically, Guy Kibbee only invests in a musical bc he wants Bebe Daniel, Ginger Rogers is on the make, Una Merkel gets a part because she's sleeping with the dance director, men are lechy to Ruby Keeler such as dancer Edward Nugent.

It's also very positive - Daniels supports Keeler, Rogers gives up the lead for Keeler, Merkel pushes for Keeler to get in the chorus... actually the whole film is about people helping Keeler (Dick Powell too) who can't really act or sing that well but she is sweet. But really Rogers should've played that lead she was prettier, a better singer, and dancer.

Warner Baxter smokes and waves his arms around. I'm not sure he's a very good director too panicky but it is great at the end, he's slumped in the staircase listening to people say he did nothing.

Dick Powell smiles and croons but his pan faced sincerety is a nice  break from all the cynicism. Bebe Daniels is splendid. George Brent is fine. Merkel and Rogers are great fun. Ditto Guy Kibbee.

The numbers are stunning - Busby Berkley throwing away the rule book and going full cinema. Some first rate songs. There's even a few black people in it - playing maids and singing but they are at least there.

I clapped at the end. The film deserved it.

Movie review - Spitfire#2 - "Mexican Spitfire" (1940) **

 Sequel to The Girl from Mexico with Donald Woods and Lupe Velez back from their honeymoon. An aunt and his ex tries to break them up. Woods isn't in this much instead Leon Errol is back as his uncle... and this time plays a double role as a duffer English lord.

The film has three Aussies in it - Errol, Cecil Kellaway (in a small part he's only at the end) and Charles Coleman (who plays a butler). There's a lot of Errl and if you find him funny and I think people did you'll like it. He leaves me a little cold.

There's a food fight at the end and Velez burts into Spanish every now and then - it gives the piece energy.