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katibee82
Reviews
Un homme et une femme (1966)
One of the Most Beautiful Movies
After reading a few of the comments, I am disappointed that some people just did not understand this movie. To me, this is one of the most beautiful, romantic movies made. And I was not even born yet when this was made, so I believe that if one tries, this movie can be relevant to many generations.
At its heart, it's a love story. But not just any love story. The two leads are falling in love with each other, madly yet cautiously, but the two leads also have other loves. They each are still in love with their deceased spouses, who died too suddenly and at such young ages. Each lead is also in love with their children, around whom they build their worlds, and act as both mother and father--they are both single parents. The way the grieving process is treated in this movie is realistic and heartwarming. And both children are adorable, their scenes being natural and just plain cute. The children are interesting elements in the movie. They are both links to the past (links to the deceased spouses) and also the reason the two leads met.
I have never seen more beautiful scenes than when Jean-Louis is driving his Mustang on the beach (Deauville, I think), when they are hanging out at the shore watching an old man and his dog, and when they go on a date and take the kids. The date with the kids is such a real scene, the dialogue being both meaningless and meaningful, as it's the WAY they speak to each other that is the interesting thing in that scene. That is why a lot of it is silent--it is beautiful how Jean-Louis grips Anne's chair, as if he cannot be close enough to her. Also, when Anne remembers life with her husband--in Brazil, with him singing a Samba and them riding horses--yes, it may be a bit overly romantic for some people, but it is beautiful nonetheless.
I also have to say that the theme music is very pretty, classic, and has stood the test of time. Such a simple tune, and it goes well with the simple beauty of this movie.
The Best of Everything (1959)
The BEST of Everything
If this is not my favorite movie of all time, it definitely is in the top five. I love this. Everything about this is perfect--the clothes, the set, the lines--yes, they're not how normal people talk, but... Right down to the small scenes, especially at the beginning of the office girls changing their shoes, picking a wedgie, watering the office ivy plant, putting lunch in the fridge... Identical to what us office girls do today in the year 2005. I think all the minor characters are wonderful. If someone like Joan Crawford is over the top, it's all part of the package. If you pick out many things in the movie, it is very evident that this was the beginning of the sixties as women were starting to not "take it lying down," at least not if they didn't want to. As far as characters being contradictory, for instance, Suzy Parker's character acting like she's all for flings, but then getting too attached to Louis Jourdan's character, isn't that what many people are like--contradictory? They mix in real stuff with scenes like Diane Baker's character finding the love of her life after miscarrying her illegitimate baby in an accident--lying in the hospital with a big old bandage around her head. This is part of the package too, it's charm--glossy escapism. I like the mix of real stories pertinent today (the stereotypical career woman who only has affairs with married men, therefore doesn't have a family when she is older) with ones that make you wish, "ah, if only I could fall in love with a doctor and he'll love me even though he knows my sordid past, and saw me all messed up after the scandalous accident!!" Also, I just got the DVD, widescreen, it's yet even more beautiful than full screen... Yay!