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North by Northwest , a review by Dragonfire

North by Northwest



Cary Grant is the screen's supreme man-on-the-run in his fourth and final teaming with Master of Suspense Alfred Hitchcock.  He plays a Manhattan adman plunged into a realm of spy (James Mason) and counterspy (Eva Marie Saint) and variously abducted, framed for murder, chased, and in a signature set-piece, crop-dusted.  He also hangs for dear life from the facial features of Mount Rushmore's Presidents.  Savor one of Hollywood's most enjoyable thrillers ever in this State-of-the-Art Restoration:  its Renewed Picture Vitality will leave you just as breathless as the chase itself.

My Thoughts

I've seen this one a few different times, mostly when I found it on tv.  I picked up the DVD when I found it fairly cheap and was happy with that.  However, that didn't stop me from heading to double dip city for the Blu-ray.  And I'm glad I did.  The movie looks absolutely gorgeous and is definitely worth getting on Blu-ray.  One or two shots don't look as good, but otherwise, everything looks amazing. 

The plot for this one is very interesting, with a decent mix of action and some humor.  The plot with Roger being mistaken for someone else is a bit similar to some of Hitchcock's other movies, but it works very well and is extremely entertaining.  Some of what happens does push believability a bit, but it still works for what is going on.  Roger is a very interesting character and he manages to deal with the strange situation he is in fairly well.  He does get in some unique situations.  I do think there is a decent amount of mystery to what is going on tied to who is after Roger because of the mistaken identity. 

Some scenes have a decent amount of action in them, like the one with the crop duster or the climax at Mount Rushmore.  Those scenes are very well done.  A little bit of violence turns up a few scenes without it being too explicit or graphic.  Humor turns up every so often as well as a way to lighten the mood.  Roger makes a very funny drunk, especially when he calls his mother from the police station.  The two of them are really good together, so it is too bad that she isn't in more of the movie.  Roger does come up with some funny lines at different points, like about how he has people to support who would be upset if he got dead.  Even with the touches of humor, there is still a lot of suspense and tension to several scenes.

The characters are interesting and interact together well.  I do like Roger and Cary Grant is wonderful in the part.  Eve is a beautiful, mysterious woman who gets mixed up in what is happening.  She is a wonderfully complex character and Eva Marie Saint is great in the part.  She has some wonderful outfits to wear that do fit her character.  The bit of romance between her and Roger works well without detracting from everything else that is going on.  Things do develop somewhat fast between them, but it still works.

On the Blu-ray, there is a great documentary, The Master Touch: Hitchcock's Signature Style that has several directors talking about Hitchcock and things he did in his movies.  It is very interesting and entertaining.  There is another featurette on the career of Cary Grant that I haven't watched yet.

I love this movie and the Blu-ray is absolutely freaking awesome. 



I posted a review a few years ago on Epinions after I got the DVD.

North by Northwest



(From Alfred Hitchcock Marathon on July 21st, 2010)

White Oleander, a review by Rich

Title: White Oleander

Runtime:109
Certificate:PG-13
Year:2002
Genres:Drama

Plot:Oleander can be poisonous. So can a mother's love. Flamboyant, self-centered Ingrid is jailed for the murder of her lover. Yet she still controls the life of her impressionable 15-year-old daughter Astrid.
Based on the popular bestseller by Janet Fitch, White Oleander traces Astrid's remarkable journey to independence. Alison Lohman portrays Astrid, struggling to get a foothold in life as she copes with her manipulative mother (Michelle Pfeiffer) and with the challenges of living in a succession of foster homes (Robin Wright Penn and Renée Zellweger play two of the foster mothers). Energized by the real and revealing performances of a stellar cast, White Oleander bewitches – and haunts – from beginning to end.

My Review:
Hard to describe this film, very grim but at the same time compelling, depressing but memorable, agonising but uplifting.
A host of female stars perform throughout the movie, but the star of the film is left to the main lead Alison Lohman, who superbly handles a very difficult and emotional part and never appears overawed in such lofty company. Pfeiffer is unusually gritty and severe as the domineering and at times heartless mother, who the viewer slowly hates more and more through the storytelling.
A steady methodical pace helps a sympathetic direction, and the emotional setbacks through murder, suicide, abuse and foster homes are not overwrung, so you never tire of the material.
A realistically tough tale of a mother/daughter relationship, above average fare.


(From December Marathons - DISCUSSION AND REVIEW THREAD on December 9th, 2009)

Pete's Pilots, a review by addicted2dvd

Fear Itself
Terror has a new name: "Fear Itself"! A 13-episode suspence and horror anthology series, "Fear Itself" takes horror to shocking new heights with its mix of mind-bending stories, spine-tingling chills, and top Hollywood talent including acclaimed directors John Landis (An American Werewolf in London), Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II, Saw III and Saw IV) and Ronnie Yu (Bride of Chucky); actors Brandon Routh (Superman Returns), Shiri Appleby (Charlie Wilson's War), Elizabeth Moss ("Mad Men"), Cynthia Watros ("Lost"), Eric Roberts ("Heroes") and John Billingsley ("Star Trek: Enterprise"); and writers Joe Gangemi (Wind Chill, the novel "Inamorata"), Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) and Dan Knauf ("Carnivale," "Supernatural").

The Sacrifice
Two brothers, Point and Lemon, along with two of their friends, end up stranded at an old fort and slowly discover that the three sisters who reside there are hiding a deadly secret.

My Thoughts:
I am sure it is of no surprise that I enjoyed this episode a lot. Of course I like most shows about vampires. You never really get that good of a look at the creature in this episode... it is always either out of view or the views are so quick that you don't get a good look at him.

My Rating:

NOTE: This episode review taken from my Fear Itself Marathon Thread

(From Pete's Pilots on January 25th, 2010)