Loving (2016)

 This is a dramatized version of Richard and Mildrid Loving, a married couple arrested for the crime of being married as a white man and black woman in the late 1950s in Virginia.  Their sentence was to leave Virginia for 25 years.  They came back to fight the conviction and the case went to the US Supreme Court, where the court in Loving v. Virginia held that marriage was a fundamental right that could not be prevented by state law based on racial classifications.

The film directed by Jeff Nichols was well done, starring Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga.  Photography was well done, lots of dark shadows, interior shots, and outdoor shots with cars, cars, cars everywhere.

* * * * * 

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

After 30+ years, it seemed time to review this classic.  I recalled one of its last lines "When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

Billy Crystal is Harry and Meg Ryan is Sally.  There's a lot of nods to the past, as the film is very reminscnent of Woody Allen's Manhattan from the scenery to the musical interludes.  It follows their 12 year relationship from screwball beginnings, to a big New Year's Eve finale.  Along the way we have several running gags:  men and women can't be friends, men leave after sex, women are picky eaters and picky when finding mates.

Some of the fun discoveries were:  Carrie Fisher as a strong support role, the subplot involving her and Bruno Kirby.  The nods to Casablanca.  The evolving hairstyles of Sally.  And of course the fake orgasm in the diner scene leads directly to many episodes of Seinfeld for which this humor certainly influenced.

A little fluffier than I recall.   But we'll still give it * * * * * as setting a standard that many others followed.

Directed by Rob Reiner, Written by Nora Ephron, Cinematography by Barry Sonnenfeld.  Good name talent at their best. 

Dead Poets Society (1989)

 Set in 1959 at a all boys private school called Welton Academy, Robin Williams is Mr. Keating, a new teacher.  One of his students is a teenaged Ethan Hawke (Tommy).  

Mr. Keating quickly shows himself to be an out-of-the-box instructor, who becomes well-followed by the boys who follow in his footsteps by forming the Dead Poets Society which has a Carpe Diem/Seize the Day mentality.   It encourages the boys to do things like ask girls out, stay out late, and act in school plays.

Needless to say this behavior is not well received by the administration and parents and it sets up a three way conflict between them and the boys.

Larger themes which have not stood the test of time are:  the conformity of the aspiring Ivy League, the all-white school, the subservient women's roles, hinged by the threat of male on female violence.

Good cinematography and an interesting plot.  1990 Oscar winner for Best Original Screenplay   If you can read this, thank a teacher!