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The Return of Dracula (1958)
Enjoyable film
I liked it! This film is a late 1950s take on the Dracula tale, involving teenagers, a local parish house and its denizen, including the reverend in charge. Dracula, as portrayed by Francis Lederer, is handsome and menacing. The story moves along quickly and kept me interested throughout. The finale is a horror story classic.
The Actress (1953)
Tedious
The is story could have been told in ten minutes. I love Ruth Gordon, but her early days, at least as acted by Ms. Simmons, were one high-pitched rant after another. I am an "old movie buff," but this one left me flat. Spencer Tracy's character, like Ruth's character, was one rant after another.
Margarita with a Straw (2014)
Outstanding acting; wonderful perspective on abled/disabled young adults and their relationships
I saw this film at the closing night of the Long Island Gay & Lesbian Film Festival on November 16, 2015. For a good portion of the movie, I had no idea what the title had to do with the film or why it was selected for this festival. I should have known that there was much to be learned during the second half of the film.
The acting is nothing less than superb. Only after I read the review on Variety.com, did I learn that the lead actress, Kalki Koechlin, is much more than a performer. She truly inhabited the role of Laila. Every mannerism, every bit of emotion was so authentic that I thought this was a true story about Kalki, herself. The relationships throughout the film are well-defined, from the father who initially seems stubborn and a bit detached to the beautiful (inside and out) mother to the very modern younger brother to the boys who either love or break Kalki's heart. And then there is Sayani Gupta as Khanum, who becomes Laila's soul mate. There are many charming moments; funny scenes; and plenty of opportunity for a good cry. In the end, Laila learns to love herself. she is not just a brave young woman, she is a delight. And you won't want to miss the steady stream of fabulous hanging earrings - pretty much a new pair are worn in every scene. They seem to represent Laila's emergence as she finds her true self.