Month: May 2023

Today’s quick review: True Romance. Clarence Worley (Christian Slater), a comic book store clerk with an impulsive streak, meets the love of his life when he bumps into Alabama Whitman (Patricia Arquette), a call girl with the same taste in movies and music. Hoping to make a fresh start for both of them, Clarence kills Alabama’s pimp Drexl (Gary Oldman) and steals a suitcase full of uncut cocaine that will be worth a fortune—if they can sell it.

True Romance is a crime drama and romance about a newlywed couple with half a million dollars in stolen cocaine. Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette star as Clarence and Alabama, whose good chemistry and bad judgment land them at the center of a web of crime and violence. True Romance is a chaotic crime saga with a wry tone and undercurrents of love and loyalty. Its distinctive characters and writing make it a fun pick for the right viewer.

True Romance has the same sprawling plot and skewed perspective as a Tarantino movie, but with a greater sense of restraint. Clarence and Alabama are nobodies until their resourcefulness, their love for each other, and a little bit of luck gives them a shot at happiness. The story follows them as they dabble in drug dealing, shake off the police, and try to stay one step ahead of the mob as they follow their dream.

True Romance handles itself well. The pieces it has to work with are modest: a little love, some quirky dialogue, and characters who are more unhinged than they first let on. The movie’s skill lies in assembling those pieces into a cohesive whole. Clarence and Alabama are easy to like in spite of their bad decisions, and while the scope of the plot isn’t as grand as some crime movies, it’s interesting to watch the threads come together.

The result is an oddly charming movie for viewers who don’t mind a bit of violence. True Romance combines the visceral appeal of a crime drama with the lighter flourishes of a romance or a comedy, yielding a story that’s hard to predict but easy to watch. Fans of violent but upbeat crime movies will find True Romance to be a worthy pick. Sensitive viewers or fans of more conventional heroes will find it a little too far afield.

For a much more violent, surreal movie about a pair of criminals in love, try Natural Born Killers. For a sprawling crime saga in a similar vein, try Jackie Brown, Pulp Fiction, or Way of the Gun. For an action movie with some of the same quirkiness, try Desperado. For a crime comedy with an even more chaotic plot, try Snatch or Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels.

[7.9 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108399/). I give it a 7.5 for likable characters and a strong plot.

“Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death!” —Mame Dennis

Today’s quick review: Auntie Mame. After the untimely death of his father, Patrick Dennis (Jan Handzlik) is sent to live with his Auntie Mame (Rosalind Russell), a rich socialite with a flighty personality and eccentric friends. Not one to commit to any project for long, Mame nevertheless takes a liking to her young nephew and does her best to raise him well, even when hard times force her to give up her lavish lifestyle and seek an honest living.

Auntie Mame is a classic comedy about the changing fortunes of a middle-aged socialite and her loving nephew. The movie centers on the larger-than-life personality of Mame Dennis, whose friendly demeanor and broad but shallow interests make her the life of any party. Mame soon puts her own stamp on motherhood, and her relationship with Patrick endures through thick and thin. Light humor and a dash of heart make Auntie Mame a decent pick.

Auntie Mame’s strength lies with its main character. Mame is a dynamic character whose friends, life experiences, and lack of practical skills spice up any situation she’s in. The movie is a little too reliant on her for its comedy, gambling everything on a personality that simply won’t click with some viewers. The upshot is that Mame is an ample source of gags, and the film’s more dramatic scenes give her some much-needed depth.

Where Auntie Mame suffers is its story structure. The story is long and meandering, covering several distinct phases in Mame and Patrick’s lives. The different eras have very little to do with each other apart from the characters involved, and the tone vacillates between breezy comedy and borderline tragedy with little rhyme or reason. As a result, it can be hard to get into the larger rhythm of the movie beyond its individual scenes.

Auntie Mame is a hit-or-miss movie that will either be the touching tale of an optimistic woman finding her family or the rambling misadventures of a shallow socialite. Those with a taste for classic comedies who are willing to take a chance on an extravagant character may find that Auntie Mame finds a good balance of comedy and emotional impact. However, anyone who dislikes the main character will find that the humor and the story miss the mark.

[7.9 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051383/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for interesting character dynamics embedded in a messy story.

“Objection, Your Honor! Strangling the witness!” —Freddy Bender

Today’s quick review: Intolerable Cruelty. After five years of marriage, Marylin Rexroth (Catherine Zeta-Jones) finally has what she wants: proof that her wealthy husband Rex (Edward Herman) is cheating on her. Poised to make a fortune in the divorce, Marylin hits a roadblock when Rex hires Miles Massey (George Clooney), a suave and amoral divorce attorney who’s every bit as savvy as she is, to represent him.

Intolerable Cruelty is a romantic comedy from the Coen Brothers. George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones play opposite each other as two alluring foes: a ruthless divorce attorney and cunning wife of his client. As Miles and Marylin match wits in the courtroom, they realize that they are a perfect fit for each other romantically—if they can find a way to make it work. Subtle humor, a quirky world, and an upbeat story make the movie a fun pick.

Intolerable Cruelty taps into the same style of humor as other Coen Brothers movies. The story takes place in a world that’s just a little exaggerated, full of slick lawyers, greedy wives, and wealthy, foolish husbands. Characters like Miles and Marylin hit a sweet spot: cartoonish enough to be funny, but human enough to be relatable. Seeing two masterful manipulators fight, flirt, and fall in love gives Intolerable Cruelty plenty of appeal.

For better or for worse, Intolerable Cruelty does not go as far as other Coen Brothers movies. The plot has plenty of moving pieces, but it is simple compared to the chaos seen in films like O Brother, Where Art Thou? or Burn After Reading. The script runs on absurdity and irony, taking the bitter and acrimonious divorce process and turning it into a playful competition. The jokes are subtle, numerous, and fly by quickly.

Intolerable Cruelty does not reach the heights of the Coen Brothers’ best work, either in terms of its script or its overall vision, but it has enough of their quirky charm to be a thoroughly enjoyable watch. For the right viewer, Intolerable Cruelty will be a lighthearted romp that mixes absurdity, romance, and satire in equal measure. Skip it if you want a more overt comedy or you dislike the Coen Brothers’ style.

For a more subdued George Clooney movie that explores a similarly superficial character, check out Up in the Air. For a Coen Brothers movie with some of the same tone to it, try Burn After Reading or Hail, Caesar!. For a raunchier comedy about divorce attorneys finding love, try Wedding Crashers.

[6.2 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0138524/). I give it a 7.0 for clever humor and a fun story.