Accidental Obsession - 2015 ****

 

A beautiful, intelligent lawyer named Heather believes she is finally riding high after winning the biggest legal case in her career. She has her eye on a handsome new man and has just met a potential new friend Vanessa after a minor car crash. The only negative pointer is her old flame Ray, who seems intent on restarting their relationship to the point of obsession. Oh, and then there's Vanessa, who seems to be a bit over keen on Heather and is starting to invade all her personal time, dress like her, walk like her, act like her. She is also furious that Heather's ex is sniffing around. What could she possibly want?

I really enjoyed this, I found the acting great, and Josie Davis is strangely becoming one of my most liked actors in lifetime movies. She's got a strong, independent vibe which I am drawn to.

(NOIR) The Sleeping Tiger - 1954 ***

This was Joseph Losey's first British production after being blacklisted from America. Sadly he had to direct the film under a pseudonym for fear of being outed which I find such a terrible shame.

Dirk Bogarde is a boorish thug who attempts to steal from a prestigious psychiatrist at gunpoint. Luckily, the psychiatrist overpowers him, and presents him with two options - either Frank can go to jail or he can come to stay at Dr Edmonds' house and be the subject of tests and analysis in an attempt to reform him. Frank agrees to come home with Dr Edmonds, but comes as quite a surprise to Dr Edmonds' wife Glenda who is only learning first-hand of the situation. Understandably, she behaves in a cold manner to Frank, and cannot understand why her husband has taken this step.

As time goes by however, Glenda starts to soften towards Frank, a decision that could lead to tragic consequences.

Bogarde and Smith are excellent. Alexis Smith is beautiful and performs with charm and suitable dry wit.

The Man Who Played God - 1932 ****

 

'The Man Who Played God' is a rather sad, poignant little piece. Bette Davis isn't the standout performance here, she is gently pushed aside by George Arliss who plays a wonderful concert pianist Montgomery Royale who tragically goes deaf after a bomb goes off whilst he is performing. Initially  distraught, Montgomery gradually starts to begin to learn how to lip read, picking up conversations between people of a private nature. Instead of this upsetting him, Montgomery decides to use his newfound gift in a selfless, positive light to help people with their problems. One of these selfless acts involves his relationship with fiancée Grace, who has fallen for another man.

A little known gem, and worth a watch.

Obvious Child - 2014 *****

 

 

 

Donna's world of quirky fantasy suddenly comes crashing in around her when she finds out that she is pregnant after a one night stand with a graduate student named Max.

As a stand up comedienne, Donna is used to having people laugh at her, and she doesn't mind laughing alongside them, but when her boyfriend leaves her because of her constant referral to their private life in her sketches and then she loses her job, she begins to realise that the world isn't all about non stop jokes and amusing insults. She needs to take control and grow up for the first time. Add a pregnancy into the mix and things are going to get really messy.

Quite a good film, I liked it's originality and enjoyed the adlibbed interaction between the characters.

Falling in Love - 1984 ***

 

Not a bad film really. Quite a sweet attempt by De Niro and Streep, but it really cannot compare to 'Bridges of Madison County' which can make me weep and weep uncontrollably.

Molly and Frank are two married commuters on the same train everyday, but they have never really had anything to do with each other. Neither is fulfilled in their relationship, and both feel lost and unappreciated. That is until they bump into each other whilst out Christmas shopping and realise they have more in common than they first realised. The two actors don't make a particularly good couple, and I wouldn't rate the chemistry highly in the slightest, but it's a fluffy rom-com that leaves you with a bit of a warm glow afterwards and it's not a bad film overall.