Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Directed by Bharat Nalluri (2008) Starring: Frances McDormand, Amy Adams, Ciaran Hinds, Shirley Henderson, Mark Strong, Lee Pace, Tom Payne

After watching Pushing Daisies, I got in a mood for Lee Pace.  (That man is adorable– Stick him in more pictures, Hollywood!  C’mon now!)  Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day seemed like just the ticket.

Guinevere Pettigrew (McDormand) is a capable governess who loses her job for being too harsh.  She’s rejected from her employment agency, but before she leaves, she overhears that a Miss Lafosse needs some help.  When she heads to her apartment, Pettigrew is stunned to realize that a governess wasn’t wanted, but a social secretary for the flighty Delysia (Amy Adams), who is busy juggling three men while furthering her career as a singer.

The three men being: Phil Goldman (Payne), young son who is launching a new musical that needs a star; Nick Cordorelli (Strong), rich nightclub owner; and Michael Pardue (Pace), her pianist, best friend, and would-be fiance.  Would be, if he hadn’t gotten drunk and tried to steal the crown jewels for Delysia.

While at a underwear fashion show, Guinevere becomes involved in the affairs of Edythe Dubarry (Henderson) and Joe Bloomfield (Hinds), who have recently split up.  Dubarry is conniving to marry Bloomfield for his fashion connections, while he is sick of her.  He compliments Guinevere and they hit it off, though she shies away, due to her frumpy outfit and unemployed state.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is cute, but doesn’t have too much that makes it unique.  Possibly my favorite part of the plot was the constantly circling around the impending war–with everyone from the younger generation ignoring it.  The only time it ever becomes apparent to Delysia & Co. was when they had a siren go off while at the night club.

Other than that, it’s a pretty sweet, rather formulaic romance comedy.  I liked that Guinevere went back and forth between being rather shy, but then very commanding when the scene needed it.  I have a feeling I would have hated the Delysia character, if it wasn’t for Amy Adams.

And just as I wanted it: Lee Pace is wonderful.

Paths of Glory

Directed by Stanley Kubrick (1957) Starring: Kirk Douglas, Ralph Meeker, Adolphe Menjou, George Macready, Joe Turkel, Timothy Carey

There are a few things that I am thankful about with regards of Paths of Glory:

1) I am so glad we covered lens and camera movement this week in Film Analysis.

2) I quite probably have a crush on Kirk Douglas.  There, I said it.

3) Criterion Collection! Behold, something I will own very soon!

In the French trenches of World War One, the 701st regiment is ordered by General Mireau (Macready) on a suicidal mission to take the Anthill, in the German territory.  While Colonel Dax (Douglas) disagrees with this course of action, he relents.  While Dax is able to get most of the soldiers into battle, a third stay in the trenches.  Mireau orders them to be shelled, and this attack is only barely prevented.  Eventually, no land is taken and the soldiers retreat.

Mireau, outraged by this show of “cowardice” wants a general court martial.  Three soldiers are picked, one from each company: Private Ferol (Carey), Corporal Paris (Meeker), and Private Arnaud (Turkel).  The film shifts from the front to a court sequence, with Dax defending his men before the council.  With testimony that it was a lost cause and evidence that Mireau was doing this to further his own career, it all comes to naught: the honor of the French army must be upheld.  The men are sentenced to be executed by the next morning.

Kubrick proves himself a master camera movement.  The sweeping shots of the battlefield and moving through the trenches are marvelous.  He uses lenses and camera angles and with just one shot, characters situations and relationships are quickly understood.  So many great things to appreciate with this movie, I tell ya.