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Hello and welcome
to this weekly blogathon where each blogger selects three films that relates to
a particular theme, this week it is unseen narrators.
Check out - http://wanderingthroughtheshelves.blogspot.co.uk/
The first pick this
week is Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums, for which he won the Oscar for Best
Original Screenplay. Narrated by Alec Baldwin, The Royal Tenenbaums is quirky
as Anderson’s other films and the narration fits the style perfectly.
This little
discussed film (because it isn't anything special) set in Germany during the Second World War is narrated by Death
(he was also the narrator for the novel), which is fitting as we see a great deal of death
but never in the physical form. Young Sophie Nélisse and Nico Liersch give two terrific
central performances and give the film its heart.
A very recent pick now
because I am lacking in imagination, the Coen Brothers’ recent film is narrated
by Michael Gambon. Whilst the film isn’t the Coen Brothers' greatest (it’s a
little too jam packed with random characters and random scenes) it’s still pretty good
fun for most part.
I wasn't a fan of Royal Tenenbaums when I saw it in high school, but I think it's one of those movies I need to watch again now that my tastes in film have dramatically changed. I haven't seen the other two.
ReplyDeleteI certainly recommend giving it another go
DeleteI have a feeling The Royal Tenenbaums is going to SLAY this week. Didn't even think of The Book Thief, but nice to see another flick get a mention!
ReplyDeleteYes. I can imagine is being a popular choice.
DeleteHaven't seen any of these. Especially sad in the case of The Royal Tenenbaums which is popping up all over today.
ReplyDelete*gasp*
DeleteGet to seeing The Royal Tenenbaum!
I love The Royal Tenenbaums, but The Book Thief was horrible, probably because I read the book and really loved it. I haven't seen Hail, Caesar yet but seems like a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteI didn't read the book, may have looked on it less favorably if I did
DeleteI just recently saw Tenebaums and while I didn't love it it was better than I expected though once was enough for me. Same with The Book Thief. I'm anxious to see Hail, Caesar! even if its reviews have been middling. I'm a classic film junkie so I suspect I might get a bit more fun out of it than others who are not. Nice picks.
ReplyDeleteI wrestled with this one a bit but managed to come up with three even if my third stretches a bit since the narrator is the voice of the main child character as an adult.
Ever After (1998)-Charming rethink of the Cinderella tale with Drew Barrymore a sweet but tough Cinder substitute now named Danielle, Anjelica Huston rockin’ it as a total bitch of a stepmother in whom she still manages to find nuance and Judy Parfitt and Timothy West a highly entertaining Queen and King. Somehow it also finds a way to include Leonardo da Vinci in the story too! Excellent production design. Jeanne Moreau narrates the tale as a reverie.
How the West Was Won (1962)-Sprawling multi-generational saga with a cast full of legends (James Stewart, Henry Fonda, John Wayne, Debbie Reynolds, Gregory Peck plus about 20 other recognizable names) tells of the settling of the West in amazing Cinerama. Follows the Prescott family and their descendants through the hardships and joys of taming the wild land. Broken into three segments each helmed by a different director (John Ford, Henry Hathaway, George Marshall) this has stunning vistas and a great many excellent performances. Spencer Tracy provides the off-screen narration that connects the vignettes as well as the introduction and denouement.
So Dear to My Heart (1949)-Wholesome Disney entertainment of poor country boy Jeremiah (the ill-fated Bobby Driscoll) adopting a black lamb rejected by its mother. As the mischievous lamb christened Danny grows Jeremiah determines to enter him in the county fair but that takes money he doesn’t have. He uses his daydreams-complete with animated Disney characters-to figure out ways to achieve his goal. Good family film with old reliables Burl Ives and Beulah Bondi filling out the cast. The unseen John Beal narrates as the grown Jeremiah.
That cast list in How the West Was Won is to die for..
DeleteI must be the only one who really likes The Book Thief. I didn't read the book so that is better since the books are almost always better. I picked The Royal Tennenbaums also-great movie, to me anyway. I haven't seen the last film but want to
ReplyDeleteYeah. The books are often always better. More time to develop character and story.
DeleteThe Royal Tenenbaums seems like a popular pick this week, it's one of my favorite Wes Anderson movies. I have yet to read The Book Thief, though I heard that the movie doesn't do justice to the book. I haven't seen Hail Caesar, but it's on my watch list.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the book either, but they rarely do, do they? But I found it a nice enough film despite that.
Delete