Some Like It Hot (1959)

Director: Billy Wilder

Cast: Jack Lemon, Tony Curtis, Marilyn Monroe, George Raft

Stars: 5

One problem with judging comedies is that they tend to be generational. Especially one from the 50s. However, Some Like it Hot, is an old black and white comedy that is still hilarious in 2010.

It takes place during the Prohibition Era, and follows two struggling musicians Joe (Crutis) and Jerry (Lemmon). They loose their jobs when the speakeasy they play at is raided by the police, and they narrowly escape arrest. The only job openings they hear of is an all female band. In attempting to find another job they witness a a local mob boss kill his rivals. The mob boss knows who they are and they are now desperate for jobs and to leave town. So what is their only option? To dress like women, join the all female band, and head down to Florida. Hilarity ensues! Now, Geraldine and Josephine, the two try to figure out how to maintain their disguises while trying to hit on a train full of beautiful women. Including Sugar Kane (Monroe), the most beautiful and striking of them all.

The plot of this comedy is a familiar one in 2010, but it is the first of its kind. On screen chemistry between Lemon and Curtis is great. The two play off of each other well, creating the a timeless classic in the comedy genre. The tension between Sugar Kane and Josephine/Joe is also remarkably. Joe is attempting to seduce Sugar without giving up his disguise. The lengths at which are taken show the comedic brilliance of the writers of this film. Some Like it Hot, is a must see for anyone who enjoys a good comedy.

Schindler's List (1993)

Director: Steven Speilberg

Cast: Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Embeth Davidson

Stars: 5

Schindler's List has been one of those movies that have been on my list for many many years, and only now have I gotten around to seeing it. This movie is considered an all time classic. It was ranked number 9 on AFI's greatest 100 movies and moved up to number 8 ten years later. Even the 1990's sit-com Seinfield used the movie as a joke in an episode where Jerry and his girlfriend were caught making-out during the film. And it certainly has lived up to all the hype.

Schindler's List takes us into the disturbing, emotional, and controversial topic of the Holocaust. It follows the businessman Oskar Schindler (Nesson) who becomes an unlikely humanitarian. Schindler runs his own business in Nazi Germany and is a member of the Nazi Party. He begins to use Jewish slave labor. Instead of hiring Germans to work in his factories, he uses the Jews in the ghetto's and internment camps. He can pay them cheaper or nothing at all and make pure profits during war time. He forms a relationship with one specific man, Itzhak Stern (Kingsley), Schindler's accountant and business partner, and a Jew. Stern begins to hire extra, unneeded people to save them from death camps, at the reluctance of Schindler. Soon, Schindler begins to use his business as a safe-haven for Jews. When his business is moved deeper into Germany he is allowed to take workers with him, and he creates a list of nearly 1,200 people, who says are all "essential workers," who will be saved from horrors of the camps.

It is difficult to do a movie on the Holocaust and not stir up emotions from anybody, even if you have no connection to it. Speilberg is able to sir up even stronger emotions than typical. The director captures the pure terrifying feelings of the people living from day to day wondering if this day would be their last. From a scene of a group of women being shaved and brought into the showers and an 8 year old child jumping into a cesspool to avoid capture from the Nazi's. The cinematography is great. It is shot in black and white and color is only used to highlight candles and a girl in a red coat. The contrast is incredible.

The only issue I have with this movie is the length. Just a shade under 200 minutes this movie takes a while. However, there is never a dull moment, nor does the movie drag. But, it is my opinion any movie that breaches that 3 hour mark, is generally too long. With that being the only real tarnish on an otherwise fantastic movie, it lives up to its reputation. A deeply moving and classic piece of American cinema.

Spellbound (1945)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Cast: Ingrid Bergman, Gregory Peck, Michael Chekhov, Leo Carrol

Stars: 4

Psychoanalysis is a method of therapy developed by psychologist Sigmund Freud. In general, it is defined as a method of mind investigation, especially of the unconscious mind. One of the most interesting forms of psychoanalysis is dream interpretation. Basically, dream interpreters believe that our dreams hold the key to unlocking our repressed emotions and drives. When you dream, your mind uses symbols whic can tell you plenty about your current life. Thus, it is the dream interpreters job to understand the dreams symbols and what they represent in order to learn more about the patient.

Spellbound is a psychological mystery thriller which takes you into the field of psychoanalysis and dream interpretation. The movie begins at Green Manors, a mental facility and we are introduced to the main character, Dr. Constance Peterson (Bergman), who seems to be an aberration among her colleagues not only because she is a woman, but also because she seems to be abnormally emotionless in her work. The director of the hospital is Dr. Murchinson (Caroll) who is being forced into early retirement because it is believed he is not fit for the position anymore. His replacement is much younger who has much less experience, Dr. Anthony Edwards. Peterson and Edwards immediately forge an attraction to each other. However, Edwards begins to display some rather odd mannerisms and reactions to certain things. Soon, they doctors at Green Manors learn that Edwards is not who he pretends to be, and the search begins for what happened to the real Dr. Edwards, who the impostor is and why he is impersonating Edwards.

Spellbound is a murder mystery, psychological thriller, and a love story rolled into one. The murder mystery and psychological aspects are intricately linked as they use psychoanalysis and dream interpretation to attempt to solve the mystery. The on screen chemistry between Bergman and Peck is prefect. Enough is worked in to the movie to add the relationship story-line with out making it an overbearing typical "chick-flick."

The employing of the psychoanalytical techniques to attempt to solve the mystery is a fascinating one. However, in order for the movie to work, the main character has to follow her love interest despite his deceitfulness through the entire ordeal. Its hard to understand this at that point. Why would a person, especially a psychologist, follow somebody who was so dishonest and deceitful so blindly? Overall that is my biggest problem with the movie. However moving on from that the on screen chemistry is excellent, the cinematography is visually pleasing, and the plot superb.

Spellbound is excellent murder mystery which takes us down the proverbial rabbit hole of psychoanalysis and dream interpretation. A must see for any lover of movies.