Reviews

I'd start this review with a classic Woody Allen quote: "I though of that old joke, y'know, the, this, this guy goes to a psychiatrist and says, "Doc, uh, my brother's crazy. He thinks he's a chicken." And, uh, the doctor says, "Well, why don't you turn him in?" And the guy says, "I would, but I need the eggs." Well, I guess that's pretty much how I feel about relationships. Y'know, they're totally irrational and crazy and absurd and, but, uh, I guess we keep going through it because, uh, most of us need the eggs."

Well, this movie is like a caricature of love. Suddenly the whole world around you starts to sing (the Isn't it romantic sequence in the beginning of the movie), you do the craziest things for the loved one while not realizing how nutty you actually are ('Let me sing for you!'), and even the movie is placed in a fabled castle, but who doesn't feel like living in one while being in love?

Chevalier was perfect as the Parisian tailor and I've always thought that there's something really calming about his timbre. This is my first Jeanette McDonald movie, but she was absolutely gorgeous in this one, and has a nice soprano range. And of course the one who made me watch this 'very crazy movie', Myrna Loy in the type of role I've never seen her in before. She had some of the funniest lines in the picture and was adorable and fresh as ever.

The songs were all superb, I especially loved Isn't it romantic?, Mimi & of course Love Me Tonight.

What can I say, not a typical movie, but if you're once captured by its spell...a 10/10 romance for me.

This movie was often showed in the local TV, but somehow I always missed it. And what did I miss!

American Beauty contains some really outstanding performances, I especially liked Annette Bening's (how couldn't she win an Academy Award for THIS?), but I can tell there's no single weak link in the entire cast.

Maybe the topic of the film is not really new, but with the cleverly written dialogs and well-built scenes, the things I'm thinking about every day comes through more effectively. There are too many hypocrites and too few people who have to courage to act like how they really are, to live like how they really want to. But the film has an uplifting message as well, it also shows how can you find beauty in every little thing, just try it and you will see! This film agitates me and calms me down at the same time, The Hours is the only other movie which took this kind of effect on me.

Another notable thing is the film score, I often catch myself singing 'Don't rain on my parade'.

I recommend it with all my heart to everyone who likes philosophizing on movies, and wants to see something...well, beautiful.