Just like a clockwork orange, Thursday has rolled back around. Speaking of time, it just keeps going, and I don't like it. I mean, 2021 will see me turn 50. Our wonderful host for Thursday Movie Picks, the wonderful Wanderer at Wandering Through the Shelves must be trying to jump start my mid-life crisis because this week's topic is movies for seniors, or the elderly.
Sigh.
I mean, I've recently watched (or rewatched) Frozen II, Little Giants, and both versions of The Witches. I don't think those qualify. Basically, this is just rant on how I still feel young. Let's cut the crap, and talk about geezers.
Recently widowed May, wonderfully played by Anne Reid finds a much younger who takes a liking to her. Soon enough, she's not only getting it on with him, but she's drawing explicit pictures of their escapades. That last part is only important because it's how her adult kids find out about it. Of course, they're salty about the age gap, but there's a bigger problem. Darren, played by then future 007 Daniel Craig, the guy she's sleeping with, is also sleeping with her daughter Paula...and he's married. Whew! It's not the melodramatic train wreck it sounds like. That said, it's still a kitchen sink drama, but it's a pretty good one.
Like a lot of older dudes, Harry's favorite past time is getting drunk with his buddy and complaining about the young thugs that have overrun his beloved neighborhood. When his wife passes away, and those young thugs kill his best friend, Harry decides to do something about it. I've said too much. What I should've said was imagine if Death Wish starred the Dark Knight era Michael Caine.
Elena is in her sixties and has been married to the wealthy Vladymir for a bit over two years. The main point of contention is her adult son Sergey. He's married and has kids, but is constantly asking her for money, which Elena then gets from Vladymir. Needless to say, Vladymir is tired of this crap. And off we go. It's a slow burn from Russia that goes in some interesting directions and is well worth sitting through.
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I've only seen Harry Brown of these three which I didn't love despite thinking Michael Caine did good work. I've heard of the first but haven't gotten to it yet. I'll put that last one on my list.
ReplyDeleteI've found that an awful lot of films about older people are depressing, dreary affairs so I tried to steer away from that.
Cocoon (1985)-A group of seniors in a Florida rest home stumble upon a swimming pool that because of an alien "cocoon" hidden within has become a fountain of youth. After taking a dip they are rejuvenated and have a great deal of fun during their second fling at being young. Don Ameche won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role.
Out to Sea (1997)-Charlie and Herb (Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon) are retired long time friends. Schemer Charlie manages to convince Herb to take a cruise as a chance to meet women but what he doesn't tell him is that they are to be dance instructors on board! Complications ensue!
Louisa (1950)-Hal Norton (Ronald Reagan) suggests to his sweet but somewhat meddlesome mother Louisa (Spring Byington) that she should find some other interests outside their home when she gets too involved in the lives of his wife and kids. Louisa takes his advice and starts dating the local grocer Henry Hammond (Edmund Gwenn-Miracle on 34th Street's Kris Kringle). All is well and good until Hal's boss Abel Burnside (Charles Coburn) takes a fancy to her too and suddenly the Norton's placid life takes a crazy turn with Louisa in the middle of a late life love triangle! Sweet film with delightful performances by the three leads.
I've seen bits and piece of Coccoon over the years, but never gave it a proper watch. One of these days I'll make it happen. Haven't seen your other picks, at all.
DeleteI saw bits of Harry Brown but not the whole thing which sucks as I was hoping to see it as a whole as I just love the idea of Michael Caine killing people. Elena I have heard about but haven't seen yet it is made by Andrey Zvyagintsev as I saw his last 2 features and liked them a lot.
ReplyDeleteThe Mother I have seen as I saw it at the Atlanta Film Festival in 2004. I liked that movie as the scene where the mother's children found those drawings was shocking. Audiences gasped and I was like... "damn... old lady still got it". And here's something I learned after I saw the film, it was directed by Roger Michel who also did Notting Hill yet there was a great reference to another project he did with the same screenwriter of this film. There's a scene of the mother singing "Space Oddity" by David Bowie and I was like.... "ah..." because Michel and the screenwriter both did a TV film in 1993 called The Buddha of Suburbia starring Naveen Andrew and it features an original music soundtrack by Bowie which is one of his most underrated albums of his career.
I hope you get to see Elena and the rest of Harry Brown. I wish I was at that festival with you for The Mother. I would've had the same reaction as you, lol. Thanks for the extra info. I didn't know any of that.
DeleteI still haven't seen Harry Brown but I really like Michael Caine, so it's definitely on my to-watch-list!
ReplyDeleteCool! Hope you get to see it soon.
Deletelol at jumping starting your midlife crisis. I haven't seen any of these but they all sound intriguing. I know Elena I've had in my queue at some point.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to see them all. Elena is fascinating, but not the easiest watch.
DeleteI have not seen any f these but I wouldn’t mind seeing Michael Caine kicking some ass.
ReplyDeleteThat's always a plus, right?
DeleteThankfully I'm avoiding old age by constantly revisiting my favourite films from the 90's LOLOLOL
ReplyDeleteThat's a great way to do it!
DeleteYou can still feel young! Fifty, schmifty :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any of these before but will give Harry Brown a go as I do like a bit of Caine.
Thanks! I hope you like Harry Brown.
DeleteAs usual, your picks are outside the box, I haven't seen these anywhere else yet, great picks, Dell.
ReplyDeleteCool! That's usually what I'm going for.
DeleteI have seen none of these. Thanks for the reminder that my work is never done!
ReplyDeleteI know that feeling all too well.
DeleteHi Dell! I haven't seen any of these but I remember seeing a trailer for Harry Brown. I like Michael Caine so I should check it out sometime. The Mother intrigues me as well because of Daniel Craig casting.
ReplyDeleteHaven't seen any but Harry Brown is the only one I've heard about though only vaguely. The Mother sounds interesting.
ReplyDelete