What was the last movie you've seen?

[BoringSupreez]

I just watched the Grudge 3. It reminds me of a Stephen King's 'The Shinging' with characters from the Grudge.

Did they ever do a movie where two ghosts fought?

I always wondered why do only assholes come back as ghosts in these movies?

I've always disliked that movie.

[elmagicochrisg]

I've always disliked that movie.

But, but it's got Christina Ricci in it...

Last one was Transit.

If you like a good thriller then you've got to watch this movie!...

Without a doubt sleeper hit of the year!...

[Radical Lanzar]

I just watched the Grudge 3. It reminds me of a Stephen King's 'The Shinging' with characters from the Grudge.

Did they ever do a movie where two ghosts fought?

I always wondered why do only assholes come back as ghosts in these movies?

Freddy vs Jason I believe qualifies.

[Michi]

Portrait of Jennie


Yet another gift brought to you by TCM. It should be noted that is aired at 8pm, not my usual 2am viewing time, so the quality of this film is quite a bit better than some of my previous write ups. Just a little FYI for those of you wondering where the hell I find all the stuff I watch.

Back to the movie.

It's 1934 New York, smack in the middle of the Depression and down and out artist Eben Adams is having trouble paying the rent. He manages to sell one piece to a gallery, but while his skill with his art may be top notch he is told his work lacks heart and emotion. He needs a muse, if you will and walking home that day he finds one in the form of the young girl Jennie Appleton.


Asking questions about the parents and boyfriend of a young teen girl you just met in a strangely deserted central park isn't creepy, right?

Jennie intrigues him, and why not? She's charming, bubbly and wearing some very old-fashioned clothes for a 14-year old. At last Eben has found his muse, drawing a sketch from memory of the girl once he gets home. The gallery buys it quickly.


Yes. Better. Bring us more of these and less of that still life s&%*

Eben is in high spirits and delighted when he meets up with Jennie again a couple weeks later....except this time she's older. And when he sees her again some time later older still.


The hell....?

It doesn't take a genius to know that something isn't right. Every time Eben meets up with the girl she gets suspiciously older (And I don't mean it in a "My you look so mature today" kind of way. It's more like a "Hey, weren't you 14 yesterday?" situation). And he spends the rest of the movie trying to find out exactly who Jennie is and how she keeps popping in and out of his life.


Oh, there's also some painting involved for those of you who didn't pick up on that from, you know, the title and all.

Is Jennie real? A ghost? Or just a figment of Eben's imagination? Eben sure thinks she's real, but the viewer is left to wonder.

I gotta say, Portrait of Jennie is quite beautiful to watch. There's some excellent use of light and shadow in this movie, especially in the scenes where Jennie is present.


Gorgeous, no? Now picture her moving eerily through the fog.

The city of New York is also given special attention, mostly in the films several short narration sequences, sometimes focusing on light...


New York rarely looks this clean.

While other times adding a canvas overlay to the film...


Perhaps not as impressive by today's Photoshopping standards, but in 1948 I'm sure this was the s*&#. Plus it adds a bit more artistic umph, which I also like.

I'm not usually one for romance stories, a lot of them come off as to sappy for me to really enjoy, but here I found enough fantasy and mystery for me to be entertained. Plus the sappiest thing Eben does is try to find out more about Jennie and really who wouldn't do the same if Jennifer Jones kept showing up at their apartment?

The one qualm I have with this movie is one of the later sequences where the film was tinted green. I realize their logic for doing it, but the transition is so abrupt that it's a little unsettling. I don't care if they tried to placate me with a shot of a beautiful spiral staircase, it's still bothersome.


Hmmm......twirly......

All in all, Portrait of Jennie is a beautiful film that I truly enjoyed much more than I thought I would. To me it has just the right mix of romance, fantasy, drama, and mystery. So this is a definite recommendation to anyone interested in some form of that combination.

I shall leave you with this parting shot:


See, they can use color. Much better than that sickening green hue.

[REPO Man]

I just watched the Grudge 3. It reminds me of a Stephen King's 'The Shinging' with characters from the Grudge.

Did they ever do a movie where two ghosts fought?

I always wondered why do only assholes come back as ghosts in these movies?

Freddy vs Jason I believe qualifies.

Freddy's more metaphysical than ectoplasmic.

Jason's more of a pseudo-sentient zombie with a mentally-handicapped level of intelligence.

[Radical Lanzar]

Freddy's more metaphysical than ectoplasmic.

Jason's more of a pseudo-sentient zombie with a mentally-handicapped level of intelligence.

I'm sure we can still use a proton pack and containment unit on them.

[BurningDoom]

Freddy's more metaphysical than ectoplasmic.

Jason's more of a pseudo-sentient zombie with a mentally-handicapped level of intelligence.

I'm sure we can still use a proton pack and containment unit on them.

I doubt it. They've survived 3 decades of various types of death now, and just keep coming.

[Radical Lanzar]

Freddy's more metaphysical than ectoplasmic.

Jason's more of a pseudo-sentient zombie with a mentally-handicapped level of intelligence.

I'm sure we can still use a proton pack and containment unit on them.

I doubt it. They've survived 3 decades of various types of death now, and just keep coming.

http://www.braxtanfilm.com/fvgb.html

[Golgo 14]

Portrait of Jennie

Cool (and unexpected) review. I saw this one in a theater a few years back as the second part of a double feature. It was well-done, but didn't leave much of an impression on me. Your review makes me want to see it again. The thing that stood out for me in that movie was Ethel Barrymore's performance. She's a supporting player, but really stole the show when she was on screen. Kind of the same reaction I had recently seeing John Barrymore in Grand Hotel. Those old-school Barrymores could act!

[Nintendork666]

964 Pinocchio (1991)

Damn, I love this movie. Shozin Fukui is a god.