Curious about "The Great Movies" concept? Look here.--------
All About Eve
Joseph Mankiewicz (1950)
Frankly, All About Eve seems more of a good movie than a great movie. I say this with fear in my heart, though. All About Eve is famous (among old movie people) for its crackling wit and its devastating sly humor. I have seen it described as "the smartest movie ever made." This raises a question of terrifying implications: What if I missed the best jokes? What if this movie is too smart for a lummox like me to fully appreciate?
Well, it's certainly possible. Roger Ebert is a lot smarter, and knows a hell of a lot more about movies, than me. But it's my blog. Me, I admired the assured skills of a primo cast who seem to be enjoying their work. They got off some great lines. The ending, as well as the entire premise, effectively combined that particular American dream of a young person seeking celebrity with a mild horror-movie creepiness. And if the film all but offers up its own feminist critique, I'm disinclined to scold a 60 year old movie for social backwardness. Basically, you've got a very solid film here. One of The Good Movies.
Plot: A Broadway star befriends a wide-eyed girl from the country, who then embarks on a cold-blooded attempt to commandeer her life. Hijinks ensue. People say lots of witty things and, as in real life, are very funny when they are drunk.
Dialogue: Sparkling, in that mannered way of actors from the black-and-white era, when everyone sounded like they just got back from three years in England and were feeling frightfully earnest.
Visuals: There are a few exceptionally well-composed scenes. The two that involve young women trying on their idols' dresses are particularly memorable; the dresses all but become characters for the length of the scene.
Prognosis: Recommended for people who like old movies, are into "the Theater," or who think Bette Davis is awesome. She really is something, in this movie.
5 comments:
Michael5000 is my home-boy for a few reasons:
1. He knows Chuckdaddy's wife, so he must be buddies with Chuckdaddy, unless he's sleeping with Chuckdaddy's wife behind Chuckdaddy's back, in which case I don't like Michael 5000.
2. He posted a picture of a Guided By Voices album in his last post.
3. He left the funniest comment I've seen in a while on my blog just moments ago.
@Dr. Ken: Michael5000 actually introduced Mrs. ChuckDaddy to ChuckDaddy, at a party held specifically for that purpose. Best idea I ever had.
Glad you liked the comment. I was pretty pleased with myself too.
I've seen All About Eve! This is the first of the "Great Movies" that I actually know. Awesome.
Glad you're feeling better.
I love "AAE." Very rewatchable.
In other movie news: I saw "Enchanted" yesterday with Sandy and our daughter. With the exception of the last ten stupid, unnecessary, super CGI'd minutes, it's possibly the best "family" film I've seen this century - in that the whole "family" might actually enjoy it. I laughed out loud a lot. It stars Amy Adams, whom I know best as Jim's ex-girlfriend from Season 2 of the "The Office." She's stunning.
rp
PS I can't believe I just used "All About Eve," one of the Greatest films of all time, as an occasion for plugging a current Disney film ... but there it is.
PPS "Best" trailer I saw was for "College Road Trip" - I don't want to give anything away - you have to see it for yourself. Preview: it stars Martin Lawrence, and in the trailer alone there are at least two scenes of people getting tasered.
The dialogue description is so dead on.
I enjoyed the movie but good is more accurate than great imo too. But it's been a long time since I saw it.
I do remember how I was surprised that the evilness was done so well and not too cartoonish compared to others I was watching at the time.
I look forward to reading about more greats. It does make me want to rewatch.
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