Tammy (2014)

The husband & wife duo of Ben Falcone and Melissa McCarthy bring us the story of one Tammy, a deeply immature and uncultured woman. At the crossroads of her life, she makes a hard left turn into debauchery and degradation. Much like McCarthy's previous comedies, the humor is at times crass and the acting forced. Many scenes deserve trimming for the lingering improvisation. The characters are well fleshed out and quite specific. McCarthy is reminiscent of Chris Farley at his best in her role of the overzealous yet lovable Tammy. A surprisingly strong supporting cast (Susan Sarandon, Kathy Bates, Gary Cole, Allison Janney) slightly elevate the simple plot, but only enough for a handful of truly comedic moments.

2½ viking burials out of 5

The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)

A remake of TDtESS (1951) wasn't needed, but the underlying message is still pertinent, so there’s some justification for it.
Many of the same elements are in place, but most are approached from a different perspective; some are even inverted. The changes in the first hour were good, taking into account the progressions in technology and giving the film more urgency than its predecessor.
I was expecting scenes of a CGI Gort laying waste to over-familiar parts of America, but, mercifully, Gort was used only when needed. The focus is on Klaatu and his relationship with his surroundings, as it ought to be.

2½ obstacles out of 5

Diabolique (1996)

A remake of a 1955 French thriller about a murder at a boarding school that creates and sustains a thick, oppressive atmosphere. There are some superb camera movements that heighten the drama or elevate the uncertainty. It’s not unfair to say that it’s a little bit Hitchcock.
Sharon Stone occasionally slips into melodrama but mostly she does a fine job, and it goes without saying that Kathy Bates is always good, but for me it was the fragile Isabelle Adjani that stole the show.
It tries a little too hard to make the twists at the end extra twisty but that didn't detract from the quality performances of the three women that got the story to that point.

3½ baptisms out of 5

Dolores Claiborne (1995)

Dolores is practical and strong. A World War wouldn't prevent her doing her laundry. She finds herself at loggerheads with an old adversary after a tragic event puts her in the right place at the wrong time. Her past and present collide, affecting everyone around her in a small coastal town.
Kathy Bates is masterful at communicating the unsaid. She gives an even better, more nuanced performance here than she did in Misery (1990). I can’t think of anyone more suited to the role.
The film is lit in such a way that the coldness of the environment seems to permeate the film negative for the longest time, until it’s necessary for it to be removed. When the chill lifts there’s some unforgettable imagery that plays up to the era in which it’s set. It's magnificent.

4½ confessions out of 5

Misery (1990)

Dir. Rob Reiner’s vision of a different kind of terror from Stephen King is bursting with Hitchcockian style but never quite reaches the heights the fat man would’ve taken it. No matter, it has Kathy Bates to detract from that. She's simply amazing as an obsessed fan with an unpredictable on/off switch in her brain. At her mercy is a writer, whose imagination could be the only thing that saves him from her tough love.
Despite some major changes, including the addition of an entirely new character and subplot, William Goldman’s screenplay captures the essence of the novel admirably.

4  _umber o_e fa_s out of 5

Midnight in Paris (2011)

A simply delightful fantasy. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. The less you know going into it, the better. I didn't think Owen Wilson could pull off the Woody Allen role, but he manages to slip into it rather effortlessly. Reminded me a lot of the fancifulness of Stardust Memories and Purple Rose of Cairo. About as good a recommendation as you're going to get from me.

4.5 whimsical strolls along the Seine out of 5