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Of the last four pictures I have seen three are referred to as 'small', independent pictures in the sense that they weren't made at major studios but in no sense are they small pictures. In "the Extra Man" it was joyous watching Kevin Kline ham it up and the story of "Mao's Last Dancer" just pulled me in from beginning to end. Today I saw "Get Low" and there wasn't a false note by any of the actors.
I like Robert Duvall as an actor and he always comes through with a fine job but I wouldn't normally go to see a movie just because he was in it. In "Get Low" he is giving the performance of his career, over shadowing his Oscar win for "Tender Mercies", or his much acclaimed performance in "The Apostle", and will deserve every award he gets.
An actor I definitely don't care for is Bill Murray but he reigns in his schtick in this movie and gives a low key performance providing sharp humor when it is called for and doesn't overdo the drama. Lucas Black gives top support to both Duvall and Murray.
Now, on the other hand, I will, and do, go to any picture Sissy Spacek is in and she does not let me, or anyone else in the audience, down in her quiet, sweet role which could easily have been played for melodrama.
Others in the cast such as Gerald NcRaney and Bill Cobbs come across strong in their roles when they are on the screen not taking away but adding to the other actors performances.
The screenplay by Chris Provenzano and C. Gaby Mitchell, from a story by the former, gets under the characters skins. It only falters at the ending which is seen coming too soon which leads to a let down but not enough to negate what has come before. Aaron Schneider, in his first directing job, either had a sure hand with his professional cast or he had enough faith in them to not direct them too much.
This is defintely another film to see which is on a short list the first 8 months of this year.
Martin D. Goodkin, formerly of Manhattan, is retired in Fort Lauderdale where he pursuing his writing, reading, going to the theatre, movies, beach and dining out. He can be reached at GreatMartin2003@yahoo.com
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The Travel Inn
The Convenient Choice Among Midtown Manhattan Hotels
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A friend recently admired the way I draped a scarf. She bemoaned the fact that she herself lacked all style and fashion sense. She asked whether I knew of any course she could take to learn style, and I said I didn’t. But that got me thinking.
I don’t think style or good taste are subjects like Spanish that you can learn. I think you’re either born with style and taste or you’re not. In my case, fortunately, it’s part of my DNA. Both my parents were very stylish and interested in clothes.
But what if you’re not? Are you condemned to a life of wearing frou-frou—ruffles and ribbons and bows (all at once)? Or wearing neon clashing colors and wondering why people put on their sunglasses before speaking to you?
Not necessarily. There are things you can do to acquire some style or refine the style you do have.
Many actresses have no style at all. Before the era of stylists, it was very obvious. Some, who were clever, befriended designers, wore only their clothes, and avoided the most egregious faux pas.
One actress, with her modeling background and style sense, wore primarily Halston, but even she made a mistake. Due to appear at the Oscars, she asked Halston to make a dress for her. Having her measurements in New York, he did and shipped it to her. He watched her on television, and the next morning called her angrily and told her she had worn the dress back to front!
Since that happened to me once, I know it’s very easy to do. Another actress who wore Halston clothes had him post a list on her closet door: Wear this dress with these shoes, this blouse and skirt with this purse, and so on.
What can we who don’t have access to fashion designer friends do? Study fashion magazines. Don’t just idly turn the pages and dream, but actually study them. You may not instinctively understand why navy blue and brown don’t go together, but you can remember not to mix them. And you can remember that navy and black go beautifully because you saw examples in the fashion pages.
Look for my next column, which will be Part 2 of Learning Style.
