ABOUT THIS SERIES: I’ve been watching a lot of older films lately. It’s partly an earnest effort, as a modern American actor, to further educate myself about my artistic ancestry—to better understand those who have gone before me, instead of constantly comparing myself to my contemporaries. And it’s partly an excuse to curl up on the couch with some popcorn and a cute date, and write snarky posts about it later.
This week: Hurricane movies!
Okay, not really an old movie, but I consider anything that Hayao Miyazaki does to be an instant classic. I mean, come on: Princess Mononoke? Spirited Away? The guy’s a genius; it’s no wonder John Lasseter of Pixar idolizes him, as do many other Hollywood animators. As with all Miyazaki masterpieces, Ponyo features a great story, beautifully told, in a style that is at once wildly fantastical and deeply human. Plus, the U.S. version has lots of familiar celebrity voices in it: Tina Fey, Matt Damon, Liam Neeson, Cate Blanchett and Betty White, among others (YES, please! I need more Betty White in my life). I loved this movie so much that I’ve already totally geeked out and ordered a t-shirt.
And okay, there isn’t really a hurricane in this movie—it’s more of a tsunami. But still! A water event! Totally appropriate for a weekend spent inside eating canned food and awaiting the wrath (or not) of Irene. Also, it’s a great date movie—well, a great date movie for geeks, anyway (which I totally am). The story is actually a modern reboot of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic, The Little Mermaid, except that in this version, the mermaid is a magical little fish named Ponyo, who becomes so attached to a five-year-old boy that she decides to become human herself; but he has to prove his love to her first, otherwise she becomes sea foam. Drama and cuteness ensue! My hurricane date and I both found the sweet “kid love” aspect of this film to be unbelievably adorable. We also loved the hilariously cute Ponyo theme song, which my guy has ALREADY programmed as a ringtone for me on his phone. What a geek! It’s like we were made for each other. In a geek factory.
Also, Ponyo is so magical that she RUNS ON WATER. During a TSUNAMI.
Ugh. We watched this movie, which stars Humphrey Bogart as a WWII veteran and Lauren Bacall as his war buddy’s widow, because it has a hurricane in it. Unfortunately, that’s the only interesting thing about this film (sorry, Cousin Bill—but thanks all the same for the suggestion). The storm traps Bogart and Bacall in a hotel on Key Largo with a mobster and his entourage, who are trying to escape to Cuba. Disappointingly, given the big names in the cast, most of the acting in this film is clichéd and two-dimensional—with the possible exception of Claire Trevor, who does some pretty great physical condition work as the faded alcoholic moll, Gaye Dawn. But there weren’t very many sparks flying between Bogart and Bacall, which is sad, given how great they are together in The Big Sleep. I mean, check it out:
Oh, SNAP! Now that is some hot Bogart-Bacall action.
Alright, so this IS a classic, but there is totally no hurricane, or major weather event of any kind, in this movie—unless you count the TORNADO of AWESOMENESS that is the sexy crime-solving duo of William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles. They’re rich, they’re hot, they’re witty, they drink all the time, and they fight crime. But they sleep in separate beds! Ah, the Hays Code.
The dialogue is super-snappy and full of great zingers:
Nick: I’m a hero. I was shot twice in the Tribune.
Nora: I read where you were shot 5 times in the tabloids.
Nick: It’s not true. He didn’t come anywhere near my tabloids.
No wonder Johnny Depp has already signed on to play Nick in the forthcoming remake. No word yet on who will play his wife; I just hope that they find as capable an actor as Edward Ellis to play the “Thin Man” of the title, Clyde Wynant. Ellis’ performance in the original, though brief, is a study in ease, stillness and subtlety; I found that particularly inspiring, given his significant background as a stage actor (which, these days, is annoyingly considered by some in the industry to be a hindrance, rather than a boon, to a performer trying to break into film and television). And of course, the other performance that will be hard to top in the new version is that of the impeccably trained dog who played Nick and Nora’s trusty terrier:
Who will play Asta now? I smell a great talent-search reality show idea for Animal Planet.
So what about you? What did you watch during the hurricane?
Greetings from sunny California, where Santa (wearing huaraches and board shorts) has come and gone, which means it’s time for new year’s resolutions! This year, I’ve decided to be more me: I’m going to let my authentic self shine through more in my career, craft, and personal life. That’s why I’m calling it “2012: The Olivia-en-ing!” (it’s even got its own theme song) – what’s your theme for 2012?
Anastasia (1956)
“I am totally shredding right now.” – Yul Brynner
Silk Stockings (1957)
So I thought I was done with earthquakes when I left California, and after living through 
