Favorite films

Pinned reviews

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  That Man from Rio 1964

  ★★★★★ Watched 06 Sep 2021

  I'm in love.
  I'm in love with this film, Jean-Paul Belmondo and the idea of traveling to Rio de Janeiro.
  After staying up too late to finish this movie, I'm still in a glittering haze over L'homme de Rio.
  There's adventure, romance and lots of humor. I love Belmondo with the little boy Sir Winston, played by Ubiracy De Oliveira and I was laughing out loud at some of the fighting attempts.
  I'm thoroughly charmed, and this is certainly one of my favorite new-to-me films of 2021.

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  Gidget 1959

  ★★★★½ Rewatched 21 Jun 2021 1

  It's really easy to dismiss GIDGET as fluff.
  But this film (and the book it is adapted from) is what spawned the surf culture of the 1960s, including
  - The Beach Boys music
  - American International Pictures beach films with Frankie and Annette
  - And overcrowded beaches at Malibu.

  Also, Gidget is a feminist figure.

  Sure, Sandra Dee plays her as sweet and demure. But this is a girl bucking against convention and turning her back on all her boy…

Recent reviews

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  Brother Orchid 1940

  ★★★★ Rewatched 29 Mar 2023

  The breath of fresh air I needed this week. Haven't seen this in years and enjoyed this revisit.

  Only complaint is I wish we got to the monastery a bit sooner, but still fun.

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  Love in the Rough 1930

  ★★★½ Rewatched 27 Mar 2023

  There’s something about this week's Musical Monday that feels carefree, youthful and like springtime. More here:
  cometoverhollywood.com/2023/03/27/musical-monday-love-in-the-rough-1931/

Popular reviews

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  Dodsworth 1936

  ★★★★★ Rewatched 08 Jun 2022 1

  Simply one of the best films ever made - no hyperbole here. If you haven't seen it, you're missing out.

  It's a powerful look at the fear of growing old and desperately grasping for youth.
  Walter Houston, Ruth Chatterton, Mary Astor are all outstanding. (And shoutout to baby John Payne).

  Some moments I love:
  The first shot as Samuel Dodsworth (Houston) looks out his window on the day he retires. How those first shots are all from behind and we…

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  Lawrence of Arabia 1962

  ★★★★★ Watched 21 Mar 2023

  No disrespect to Gregory Peck, but Peter O'Toole should've won Best Actor for this film (instead of Peck).

  With direction by David Lean, cinematography by Freddie A. Young and editing by Ann V. Coates, this film is insanely and unbelievably stunning. There are some shots that are so beautiful (and difficult) that they are jaw dropping - the clear stars in the night sky, the blowing sand. And of course, all of the actors are fabulous, especially Peter O'Toole and…