Carrie Fisher

Tom Hanks (left) and Carrie Fisher in The Man with One Red Shoe
Photo courtesy of http://www.themoviescene.co.uk/reviews/the-man-with-one-red-shoe/the-man-with-one-red-shoe.html

Happy 55^th birthday to the queen of Star Wars, Carrie Fisher.  Today I chose to watch a movie that is in no way related to Star Wars.  I picked The Man with One Red Shoe from 1985.  When I chose this movie, I thought that Fisher had a large role.  Boy, was I wrong.  She is only on the screen for four scenes if you don't count her voice recordings.
Any who, on with the movie.  Carrie Fisher in this movie is a scene stealer.  She plays the wife of Jim Belushi, but is trying to start an affair with Tom Hanks (who wants nothing to do with her).  Her "Jane" outfit, when she goes to "seduce" Hanks, is top notch (see picture above).  For the Star Wars fans reading, this is your equivalent to the classic Princess Leia slave outfit for this movie.
Fisher also plays a good jealous woman.  There's a scene with the orchestra where Hanks is making eyes at Lori Singer and Fisher sees it.  You can just feel the jealousy radiating off of her.
This movie tried to be funny, but it just came off as desperate and unfunny.  I only laughed once during this comedy.  It was when Belushi was finding all the dead bodies.  Fisher did a good job in this movie, too bad she couldn't help save this movie.  And with that, I raise my lighter to light the candles on Carrie's cake.

I give this movie a disappointing 2 cakes out of 5.  I thought the combination of Belushi, Fisher, and 80's Hanks would be brilliant, but the writing just wasn't right for this amazing grouping.

Steve Coogan

Steve Coogan (left) and Amy Poehler in Hamlet 2 
Photo courtesy of http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/hamlet-2-will-rape-your-face-mind-and-soulin-a-good-way.php

Happy 46^th  birthday to our friend from across the pond, Steve Coogan.  Today I chose to watch a movie of his that has been on my "movies I want to watch" list for quite some time.  That movie is Hamlet 2, and no this movie is not a sequel.  
On with the movie.  I don't know where to start with this movie.  It was funny, had a good message, the casting was good, and Coogan was great!  
Coogan was able to hold his own with scene stealer Amy Poehler.  He didn't let her take over the scenes, which was good.  
The way Coogan carries himself and his reaction to things in this movie really brought the laughter full circle.  An example of this would be when the character Octavio says his name is "Heywood Jablowme" and Coogan thinks this is his real name.  So he calls him Heywood the whole movie, until Coogan goes over to "Heywood's" parents house and learns his name is really Octavio.  The expression on Coogan's face is priceless.
The songs in the play Hamlet 2 are so catchy that you can't help but tap along.  There is one song in particular that I can't get out of my head.  Its "Rock Me Sexy Jesus" and I am just going to say you're welcome for getting it stuck in your head right now.  You will also see Elisabeth Shue (who plays herself in the movie) in this clip in the audience and in the nurse outfit.
My favorite lines in this movie were "Raped in the face" which was repeated throughout the movie, and "You're a liar! Everyone has rain gutters!"  I don't know why I laughed so hard at the rain gutters quote, perhaps it was the delivery of it.  
And with that, I would like to raise my lighter to light the candles on Steve's cake.


I give this movie 3 ½ cakes out of 5.

June Allyson

June Allyson and David Niven in My Man Godfrey.
Photo courtesy of http://dawnschickflicks.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-man-godfrey-1957.html

Happy birthday to the late June Allyson.  Today she would have been 94.  She died in 2006 at the age of 88.   People might know her as Jo from Little Women (1949) or perhaps from the Depends commercials.  In honor of her birthday, I chose to watch her movie My Man Godfrey from 1957.

On with the movie.  I honestly don't know what to say about this movie...  It was horrible.  It was such a struggle to sit there and watch it.  June looked too old for her role.  I felt like she was trying to be the equivalent of fast talking, wise cracking Katharine Hepburn, but failed miserably.  The lines were poorly delivered by all, and the plot was boring and nonexistent.  To me, June seems more of a dramatic actress and shouldn't really do comedy.  But that is just basing it off of the two movies I have seen her in, Little Women and this one.  And with that, I raise my lighter to light the candles on June’s birthday cake.

Overall I give this movie a disappointing ½ a cake out of 5.  The only reason it got ½ was because of the maid, played by Jeff Donnell.  She had some lines in there that got a chuckle, which is more than I can say for the rest of the cast...

Marion Cotillard

Marion Cotillard in La Vie en Rose
Photo curtsy of http://marion-cotillard.org/media/displayimage.php?album=165&pid=20801#top_display_media

Marion Cotillard in La Vie en Rose
Photo curtsy of http://marion-cotillard.org/media/displayimage.php?album=165&pid=21500#top_display_media

Marion Cotillard in La Vie en Rose
Photo curtsy of http://marion-cotillard.org/media/displayimage.php?album=165&pid=21075#top_display_media

Joyeux Anniversaire Marion Cotillard!  That's french for "happy birthday Marion Cotillard."  Today is her 36^th  birthday.  To celebrate, I chose to watch the movie that brought her home the Oscar, La Vie en Rose.  It is about the life and death of Edith Piaf, a French singer.  I'm sure everyone has heard her most famous song, but didn't know it at the time.  If you have seen Inception, then you know her song.  It is the song they use to let you know the "kick" is coming.  And for those of you who haven't seen Inception or don't believe me that you have heard her song, here is a great youtube of Edith singing her most well known songs "Non, je ne regrette rien" and "La vie en Rose."


Now on with the movie.  Marion Cotillard's Oscar was well deserved.  She did an amazing job.  I could really feel her pain and love with Marcel.  I had tears in my eyes during the watch scene (I don't want to give to much of this scene away but it is a heart breaking scene).  Then the tears came again during the drawn out, yet tasteful, death scene.  Cotillard's transformation between the decades of Edith is so well done (see pictures above).  I don't know if I should credit the makeup team for the physical transformation or Cotillard for her wonderful portrayal as Edith.  Brava to both.  And with that, I raise my lighter to light the candles on Marion's birthday cake.

I give this movie 4 cakes out of 5.  It would have been a higher rating if it wasn't for all the jumping around.  It was a little difficult to follow on top of keeping up with the subtitles.    

Mickey Rooney

Mickey Rooney (left) and Art Aragon in Off Limits
Photo courtesy of http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=78351&start=34100 

Happy 91^st birthday to Mickey Rooney.  I love me some Mickey Rooney.  I just want to go pinch his chubby little cheeks.

Everyone knows Rooney from his movies with Judy Garland and the Andrew Hardy films, and those are all great don't get me wrong, but I wanted to see just how great his comedy really was, so I picked the movie  Off Limits.  I felt that this movie would really put his comedic talents to the test because he is starring with one of the comedy greats, Bob Hope.

On with the movie.  I guess I should have known that you can't have a Mickey Rooney movie without some kind of singing.  This one is no exception.  He and Hope sang an interesting song about being a MP.  Other than on the singing front, Rooney can't keep up with Hope.  I don't know if it is just the writing or if it's the acting, but Rooney and Hope aren't in the same league of comedy.
And with that, I raise my lighter to light the candles on Mickey's birthday cake. 

I give this movie 2 cakes out of 5.

Lauren Bacall

From left to right: Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall, and Betty Grable on the set of How to Marry a Millionaire
Photo courtesy of classic movie scan's photostream on http://www.flickr.com/photos/slightlyterrific/5190333781/ 

A very, very, very happy 87^th birthday to the legendary Lauren Bacall.  Yes, she is still alive and kickin' (knock on wood).  Now you might be thinking to yourself, "Great... An old dramatic/film noir movie...  Just what I want."  If you thought that, then you thought WRONG!  I chose to watch How to Marry a Millionaire from 1953, and it is a comedy about gold diggers before that phrase actually existed.  I just have to say before we go any further, that if my birth name was Betty Perske, I would totally change it.  Good move on Lauren's part.

Now on with the movie!  I've seen some Bacall movies before, but they were always the Bogart/Bacall movies.  They were full of mystery and drama, so needless to say, I've never really seen the comedic side of her.  And I guess I am going to have to wait a little longer to see the comedic side...
This movie also stars Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe leaving Bacall as kind of the "Debbie downer" of the group.  Although she is credited as the "brains" of the group, her comedic timing and delivery leaves something to be desired.  Granted Bacall does have some zingers and some well delivered lines.
I found Bacall being upstaged by Monroe every time they shared the screen, or just anytime in general.  Bacall was sort of the odd ball in this cast.  I wouldn't mind having a discussion with the casting director of this movie and ask them why they cast her in this movie.

Well even though she got upstaged in this movie, and her comedic timing in this movie was nonexistent I still say she did okay in this movie.  And with that, I raise my lighter to light the candles on Lauren's birthday cake.

I give this movie 2 ½ cakes out of 5.  If it wasn't for Marilyn, this movie would have easily been 2 cakes.

Julia Sawalha

Julia Sawalha and her character Ginger from Chicken Run
Photo courtesy of http://www.allstarpics.net/0031718/014494379/chicken-run-pic.html 

A very happy 43^rd birthday to Julia Sawalha!  You might be thinking to yourself, who?  Well I did the same thing, until I saw her most famous movie, Chicken Run.  This movie is from 2000 and from the same guys who did Wallace and Gromit, so you know it is going to be good.  I love me some British movies and this one is no exception.  Julia chose the perfect movie to do a voice in!  She delivered her lines wonderfully, and her banter with Mel Gibson and the other chickens is great.  I don't think I can say anything bad about her performance.  She played a heroine magnificently.  I found myself really hoping her escape plans would work.  Well played Julia.  And with that, I raise my lighter to light the candles on Julia's birthday cake.


I give this movie 3 ½ cakes out of 5.