Style2

Laura (1944) Directed by Otto Preminger & Rouben Mamoulian

Posted by: Frank Veenstra Posted date: 5:19 AM / comment : 0 , , , , , , , , ,





(Review originally written at 30 May 2009)

What this movie makes mostly great and unique is its story. Movies like this are quite often all somewhat more of the same. The story of "Laura" however picks some interesting and original approaches, which lets also the twists of the story work out better and far more surprising than normally is the case with a genre movie like this from the '40's.

The movie is labeled as a film-noir but mystery-thriller would be a more appropriate title. Although the movie shows some film-noir tendencies it's also lacking in some fundamental themes to truly consider this to be a film-noir, by the book.

The story is great and is being told nicely throughout the movie. The movie isn't dragging in any parts and it all times keeps flowing well. It is also thanks to the characters and actors portraying them that the story remains interesting at all times.

It's a well cast movie, with yet some unlikely cast actors in it. Clifton Webb was a silent movie actor, who hadn't acted in any movie for 14 years prior to this movie. Yet he convinces in the movie and he even received an Oscar nomination for his role. The movie also features a still very young Vincent Price, who also is almost unrecognizable, due to his still very young looks. It was one of his earlier movie roles and his trademark little mustache was still missing. Only his voice at times gives away that we are dealing with Vincent Price here. .

The movie is stylish with its directing and atmosphere. It isn't as stiff as often is the case with a genre movie like this. It has some nice cinematography, for which it also won an Oscar.

Well, it still isn't exactly the greatest genre movie I have ever seen but nevertheless the fact that this movie is being original with its story and angles still make "Laura" a classic within its genre and one that certainly deserves to be seen.

8/10

Watch trailer

Titanic (1953) Directed by Jean Negulesco

Posted by: Frank Veenstra Posted date: 2:18 PM / comment : 0 , , , , , , , , , ,



(Review originally written at 14 March 2007)

 *** This review may contain spoilers ***

 You always have to watch movies in the perspective of its time and for '50's standards this is a pretty good genre movie.

 The movie is not very heavy or effective with its emotions. The movie tells a story but without much sense for the right emotions, except with its soapy dramatic elements in the beginning and the middle of the movie. The sinking itself is nothing too powerful or even spectacular looking, though the final sequence in which a large group of people, including some of the main characters are all going down signing, while the boat is starting to sink rapidly and all knowing that it's the end, is a pretty effective last sequence for the movie.

 The movie is filled with lots of melodramatic plot-lines and moments and follows (too) many different character. Luckily the movie is too short to ever allow any of this to become distracting.

 The movie follows all of the usual most famous passengers such as John Jacob Astor, Isador Straus and of course the captain Edward John Smith and First Officer Murdock. The movie throws in a lot more fictional characters that all aboard the Titanic with each their own reasons and problems, both in the upper- and lower classes. It's the reason why the movie tends to become over dramatic at times, which also causes the movie to not hold you interested entirely for its running time.

 Nevertheless the movie features some still some good moments and well developed characters.

 The overall sinking might be perhaps a bit of a deception. I mean, when the Titanic hits the iceberg, almost immediately the order is given to board the lifeboats. No time for panic or real disbelief. Everything happens so calm and rapidly at the same time. But again you have to watch the movie in perspective. In the '50's this was a normal sort of approach.

 Added to that, the movie is not that good looking with its effects. They used miniatures for most of the time. The sets and atmosphere on the other hand is good. The movie does a good job at re-creating the atmosphere of the '10's and the atmosphere at the time on board of the ship. Also the interior sets are good looking.

 The movie has a decent cast with Clifton Webb, Barbara Stanwyck and an almost unrecognizable young Robert Wagner in an early role. It's the sort of movie in which none of the actors excels, which is sort of fine and suiting for a movie with some many different characters and actors performing them in it.

 All in all a fine and perfectly watchable genre movie, as long as you can appreciate the '50's style of film-making.

 7/10

 Watch trailer
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Copyright © 2014 Boba_Fett1138's movie reviews
⬆
Top