Only You (Review)

Only You

Directed By: Norman Jewison
Starring: Marisa Tomei, Robert Downey Jr., Bonnie Hunt
Year of Release: 1994


What’s It About

Through a game on a Ouija board and a Gypsy, Faith (played by the lovely Marisa Tomei) discovers that she is meant to spend the rest of her life with a man by the name of Damon Bradley. Life goes on, Faith is engaged and ten days before her wedding, she receives a phone call from… you guessed it, Damon himself! He’s on his way to Italy, so she… you guessed it, goes after him!

Thoughts

I was thirteen when I saw this film. It was the first romantic comedy I had ever seen and like so many other males, this was the film that made me fall in love with Marisa Tomei! Fifteen years later my wife and I decided to rent it, though I was hesitant. I mean, it’s been fifteen years! Certain films age horribly in that time (I still cringe when I remember going back recently to watch Face Off. I should’ve left the good memories I had of this crappy film alone…). Well, while the first five minutes where Faith is eleven look pretty dated, and kind of cheesy, everything after that works wonderfully.

A lot of the charm in Only You is in Italy itself. Cinematographer Sven Nykvist (who’s noted for working with director Ingmar Bergman) paints a simple Italy, showcasing small details like alleys, fountains, all while still retaining the romance that comes with the country. That is not to say that there aren’t moments where were swept away by the vistas of the countryside, or that we don’t get panned out shots of the city, we do. But what makes this trip so special are the small details, the details that take us into the film to the point where, by the end, we could almost swear we were there ourselves.

This movie wouldn’t be what it is without the great performances by Robert Downey Jr. and… of course, Marisa Tomei. There is not a moment that you’re not rooting for them, and even if Downey’s character uses sleazy methods to try to get to the girl, you can’t help but to cheer for his efforts! Adding to the mix is Bonnie Hunt as Faith’s sister in law and best friend Kate. She played a similar role to this in Jerry Maguire and it’s a role she knows how to do well. My only gripe is Stephen Fisher who plays Kates husband. He annoyed me since he seemed to come on too strong in his few scenes, almost throwing away the feel Only You was trying to go for.

You can’t go wrong with Only You. It’s a perfect companion for a Date Night at the house. It will also motivate you to want to see Italy, trust me; my wife has been taking about going since!

Memorable Moment

As Faith is running to find Damon Bradley, one of her shoes comes off, a la Cinderella, Downey’s character grabs the shoe, finds her and that’s when she gets the surprise of her life!

FYI

Apparently, Downey and Tomei were an item during filming. Must be nice Downey!

Score

8 out of 10

Love Story (Review)

Love Story

Directed By: Arthur Hiller
Starring: Ali McGraw & Ryan O’Neal
Year of Release: 1970


Whats It About

A Harvard Student who comes from a very wealthy family falls in love with a working class girl. Though this causes a fallout between the young man and his father, there is no stoping the love between the two. Setting out to make it on their own without the wealth of the family, the two soon discover what love is really about. Love means never having to say you’re sorry.

Thoughts

I came across this film by complete coincidence. I went to go visit my mom for Mother’s Day and she was watching it on her big screen. Now, my mom is not the kind of person who watches artsy films, so I knew this movie had to be special, it was.

The first thing that grabs you is the performance by the stars of the film. Ali McGraw and Ryan O’Neal bring a purity that is not normally seen in other films of its kind and pour so much emotion into what they’re going through, that if you have ever fought for the one you love, you will be moved to tears. There is a reason why both of them were nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor and Actress in a Leading Role.

Though I thought that a couple of the shots were edited in a sloppy manner, for the most part, they are beautiful. There is a scene where Oliver (O’Neal) takes Jennifer (McGraw) go visit his parents. The way the film switches between the meeting and the drive back home just makes that whole scene come alive in a way that puts a lot of modern day films to shame. Also, the cinematography is romantic one moment, and raw, the next. It accomplishes the task with ease and really sets the tone for how you should be feeling while you’re watching.

A special notice should be given to the soundtrack. The theme song “(Where Do I Begin?) Love Song” will be instantly recognizable the minute you hear it. This soundtrack has been played in numerous other films, TV commercials, and has been covered by dozens of other artists. It is gorgeous.

This film really caught me off guard in terms of its beauty, its emotional message, and its powerful soundtrack. I highly recommend this to anyone who is involved in a relationship. You could always afford to learn a thing or two. I did.

Memorable Moment

The trademark line for this film was, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”. Without spoiling anything, it’s the moment that leads up to Jennifer saying that line.

FYI

There was a sequel to this called Oliver’s Story. Don’t watch it.

Score

7 out of 10

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (Review)

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner

Directed by: Stanley Kramer
Starring: Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier, & Katharine Hepburn
Year of Release: 1967


What’s It About

Boy meets girl. Boy and girl fall in love. Boy meets parents. Boy is black, girl is white. Boy oh boy…

Thoughts

At the time of this films release, interracial marriage was still illegal in 17 states in the US. I wanted to throw this little fact out there because I want you to understand, really, how important this film was for it’s time.

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner has many elements that just work so well. Though it’s a drama piece, it knows when it can be funny and lighthearted and when it needs to be serious to send its message across. There is absolutely never a dull moment on screen, and that’s saying a lot considering that 95 percent of the movie takes place in one house!

Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, (Both recognized as the best actors of all time), were just so believable as a couple struggling with the idea of their daughter dating a black man. Sidney Poitier, the man who is unfortunately the source of the conflict, played his part with so much class and charm that it does not allow the audience to have anything negative to say about him, other than his skin color (Remember what I stated about America’s attitude at the time.). Katharine Houghton as the naïve girlfriend who just can’t seem to understand what all the fuss is about, was the only sore spot for me. She just irritated me, and although I assume that was part of the filmmaker’s intent, I believe a more seasoned actress could have pulled this off better.

Memorable Moment

The speech that Spencer Tracy gives at the end and the reaction he gets from his costar Katharine Hepburn. It could possibly have you in tears.

FYI

You wouldn’t know by watching this, but Spencer’s health was so bad, he was literally counting his last days while filming. He died 17 days after shooting this film.

Score

8 out of 10

*A special thanks goes out to my friend, Megan Beasley, who introduced me to this film. Thanks roomy.*