Wildhood

This is a pretty charming movie overall, with some strong performances and cinematography. But it also seems oddly edited at times — as if the director wants us to see something that’s not quite on the screen?

Wildhood. Bretten Hannam. 2021. ⚃

Mr. Lucky

This is an odd one. Grant plays a kind of mobster light — he only does gambling and doesn’t kill people, but he talks like he’s James Cagney, see, and it’s all very weird.

But the main point of this movie is that the US should support Europe against the Nazis. Which is a good point to make.

I’m not sure I knew who Laraine Day was, but she’s really good in this movie.

“Who me?!”

WHO ME!?

Yes, the most fun gag in this movie is Cary Grant learning how to knit.

But then his henchman picks it up, too, and he’s much better at it.

Yeah, I’m not sure about that hat, either.

There’s also this entire thing about him not tying his tie properly… that’s not a Windsor, see?

*gasp*

It’s just a very odd movie. I’m not sure it really works? It’s not screwy enough to be a screwball comedy, and it’s not touching enough to be a weepie… But still, it’s pretty entertaining.

Mr Lucky. H.C. Potter. 1943. ⚃

On the Waterfront

So this is another Elia Kazan movie where he’s trying desperately convince the FBI that he’s not a commie? It wasn’t enough to snitch on all his friends to the HUAC, or the previous movie which was all about how eeeevil communism is — now he’s doing a movie about how evil unions are?

(But it’s just one specific union, of course, which is all controlled by the mob; not that Kazan is making a more general point. He’s such a weasel.)

And that was a gambit that worked for Kazan:

It received twelve Academy Award nominations and won eight, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Brando, Best Supporting Actress for Saint, and Best Director for Kazan.

Errr:

The film is widely considered to be Elia Kazan’s answer to those who criticized him for identifying eight Communists in the film industry before the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) in 1952.

And the answer was… “Fuck yeah! I’ll snitch on all of youse!”?