Thursday Movie Picks: Movies set in a Hotel
1) Bobby
I thought the idea of following around a group of people who happened to be staying at the same hotel that Robert F. Kennedy would eventually be shot and killed at was a very interesting idea. The cast was mostly excellent too.
2) Lost In Translation
It's at a hotel bar were Charlotte and Bob first meet and start their beautiful friendship in this wonderful film.
3) Forgetting Sarah Marshall
You know you want to stay at the Turtle Bay resort in Hawaii after seeing this. I know I do. Especially if Paul Rudd is giving surfing lessons.
Bonus: Dunston Checks In - Okay this movie is awful, I haven't seen it since I was about 6, but I was all about it back then.
Really like Bobby and FSM, for very different reasons, of course. Believe it or not, I still haven't seen List in Translation. I should since everyone says it's the bees' knees. Great job.
ReplyDeleteYou should! It's a lovely film. I'm glad you enjoy the other two as well.
DeleteWe match on one of our picks!!
ReplyDeleteAs to the other two Lost in Translation is something I've only recently seen and perhaps it was all the buildup before I saw it but it didn't blow me away. I liked it and thought Murray was good but it was a one time watch for me.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall is strangely sweet considering some of the raunchier elements in the film. Your right it does have a beautiful setting. Speaking of beautiful this was where I became aware of Mila Kunis never having seen a single episode of That 70's Show, she's a lovely woman.
Here's what I came up with this week:
Bobby (2006)-Your right that following the intermingling stories in the Ambassador Hotel on the days leading up to the Democratic presidential primary rally at which Robert F. Kennedy will speak and be assassinated is a fascinating view. That it was filmed at the actual locations that events occurred just before the hotel was demolished adds an extra layer to the film as well.
Evil Under the Sun (1982)-In an absolutely gorgeous island hotel in the Adriatic a group of wealthy people sun themselves and bitch at each other until one of them turns up murdered. Thank goodness Hercule Poirot is among the guests and can put the "little gray cells" to use solving the crime. Hugely enjoyable version of Agatha Christie's mystery with Peter Ustinov a perfect Poirot-clever, urbane, canny and sly. The entire cast seems to be having fun with a brilliant Diana Rigg and Maggie Smith making great sparring partners with dialog dipped in venom. Amazing costume design.
Dear Heart (1964)-In New York for a postmaster's convention Geraldine Page, a single kind hearted postmistress meets traveling salesman Glenn Ford who is staying in the same hotel. Tired of the road he’s become engaged to a pushy woman more out of a longing to put down roots than passion. Now an unexpected spark ignites between the two strangers, what to do? Sweet, gentle comedy/drama of two lonely souls slowly realizing they are meant for each other. Great supporting cast includes Angela Lansbury and both the actresses, Alice Pearce and Sandra Gould that eventually played Gladys Kravitz on Bewitched.
Honorable Mention-Week-End at the Waldorf (1945)-Glossy remake and relocation of Grand Hotel to New York's Waldorf-Astoria. Slick and well-acted by a star studded cast, Ginger Rogers, Lana Turner, Walter Pidgeon, Edward Arnold and Van Johnson among them, but missing both the grit and pathos of the original.
I haven't seen the other two but I'm glad we matched on Bobby. I think that film is very underrated. Thanks for sharing your picks with me.
DeleteLost In Translation. <3. So beautiful.
ReplyDeleteForgetting Sarah Marshall is quite fun. LOVE Russell Brand in it.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall also has the best break up scene in the history of cinema. lol
DeleteLost in Translation is a beautiful quiet film as I call it. Forgetting Sarah is funny and love Russell Brand in it. I have not seen Bobby but will put this on my ever growing list
ReplyDeleteThe majority seems pretty split on Bobby, but when you see it I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
DeleteBobby is an excellent pick! I thought the film was brilliant but overlooked. A great array of characters, real or not real, I thought the stories intertwined was perefct.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I agree.
DeleteLiT.... of course, you already know what I'm going to say. Forgetting Sarah Marshall is hilarious.
ReplyDeleteBobby, poor man's Robert Altman that tries to be a lot of things but it is really one of the worst films I had ever seen in my entire life.
Really? Aww man, I enjoyed it so much. I think Parkland recently tried to do the same thing and failed at it, but I've always had a soft spot for Bobby.
DeleteGreat picks! Love Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Lost in Translation. Neither of them crossed my mind. And now I really regret not seeing Bobby. Need to see it with you and Joel both picking it.
ReplyDeleteYou should! It's a good one.
DeleteNice picks! There's something about Bobby that I've never quite forgotten about since I saw it. The movie may not be the most powerful or critic-pleasing, but focusing on so many characters surrounding Bobby's assassination was interesting. I thought it showed a genuine, unique impact on how many lives he was affecting/inspiring at that time; it also gave a sense of how much his death affected the world afterwards too.
ReplyDeleteWell said! I agree. Especially the characters that were on the campaign trail, they were so hopeful for him.
DeleteSo nearly went with Lost in Translation and Forgetting Sarah Marshall too.
ReplyDeleteThey are great ones ;)
DeleteNice to see Bobby get a mention. I really liked it, and the cast was quite good.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like it too. It seems like not many did.
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