Reel Corner - May 2017

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MOVIE TRENDS:


— Gender Swaps and Movies for Grown-Ups —

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
(1988) is one of The Reel Corner’s favorite comedies. The original was Bed Time Story with David Niven and Marlon Brando. The remake titled Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with Michael Caine and Steve Martin kept the same story line. Two con artists who plot to swindle heiresses. I was delighted to hear there would be an updated version coming out this year about two con artists who plot to swindle a tech prodigy out of his fortune. To my surprise, the director will take the same plot line but gender swap the leads with two women, Ann Hathaway and Rebel Wilson. Titling the film Nasty Women.

Then the Reel Corner discovered this was one of many remakes coming out this year with gender swap characters. Last year there was the all-female cast for Ghostbusters, starring Kate McKinnon, Kristin Wiig, Melissa McCarthy and Leslie Jones. This year looks like the trend will continue.

Ocean’s Eight will have an all-female cast staring Sandra Bullock, a reboot of the heist movie Ocean’s Eleven. Also in production are gender swapped versions of the action film Road House, starring mixed martial arts athlete Ronda Rousey in the role first played Patrick Swayze. And the fantasy comedy about a man who falls in love with a mermaid, Splash, will gender swap Channing Tatum as the mermaid, played in the original by Daryl Hannah.

Movies for Grown Ups
Historically, Hollywood has done a pretty poor job of portraying the aging process in a fair and accurate way. Older people in the movies are usually grumpy, mean, forgetful and tired. They are seldom adventurous, energetic, funny or wise. Well, there are signs that Hollywood may finally be getting the message about aging. While aging stereotypes are still pervasive in the entertainment industry, studios are at least experimenting with more positive films about older people.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was a surprise hit, and as a result, it was responsible for much of Hollywood’s newfound interest in positive aging.

The Age if Adeline: This film takes a fresh look at the aging process and asks the question, would you give up immortality for love? Beyond that, it invites the question of whether we would really want to stay young forever.

Five Flights Up: On the surface, Five Flights Up, is a film about moving. But, at its heart, it is a movie about moving forward. The film asks the question that many baby boomers are pondering as they approach retirement, “Where do we go from here?”

The Hundred Foot Journey: The Kadam family leaves India for France, where they open a restaurant directly across the road from Madame Mallory’s Michelin-starred eatery. A reluctant romance ensues between two seniors.

Last Vegas: Four older friends take a break from their day-to-day lives to throw a bachelor party in Las Vegas for their last remaining single pal.

GOING IN STYLE (2017) 3 STARS
PG-13  |  Starring Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Alan Arkin
The latest entry in movies for grown ups, Going in Style, is a pleasant, nontaxing romp of three old friends, who plan a bank heist. It is a remake of a 1979 movie of the same name. These types of films always take pains to point out that gray hair and wrinkles don’t equal comatose—before the story is through, pot has been smoked, vigorous sex has been enjoyed and the gents have done an almost perfect job of outsmarting the detective (Matt Dillon), who is investigating the robbery.
All of these films represent a positive trend in the entertainment industry. While it still has a long way to go, it is clear that Hollywood is at least starting to rethink their outdated views on aging. Since baby boomers make up one of the biggest groups of moviegoers, this is good news for everyone.

Reference: www.imbd.com, www.sixtyandme.com,www.aarp.com, www.nyt.com, www.ljp.com

Reel Corner 2Donne Paine, film enthusiast, once lived around the corner from the Orson Wells Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts where her strong interest in films, especially independent ones, began. Supporter of the arts­—especially films—she travels to local and national film festivals including Sundance, Toronto and Tribeca. There is nothing like seeing a film on the big screen. She encourages film goers to support Hilton Head local theaters—Coligny, Park Plaza and Northridge theaters. To support her habit of frequent movie going Donne is an executive recruiter and staff development consultant. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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