FARINELLI -- Gérard Corbiau

©1994
studio: Sony Pictures
production company: Canal+
dir: Gérard Corbiau
cast: Stefano Dionisi, Enrico Lo Verso, Elsa Zylberstein, Jeroen Krabbe, Caroline Cellier, Renaud du Peloux de Saint Romain, Omero Antonutti, Marianne Basler
screeplay: Marcel Beaulieu and Andrée Corbiau
subtitled

Farinelli, is the artistic name of Carlo Broschi, a young singer in Handel's time. He was castrated in his childhood in order to preserve his voice. During his life he becomes a very famous opera singer, managed by his mediocre [aspiring composer] brother (Riccardo). [from imdb.com]

*****

I wasn't really expecting to enjoy this movie too much, but found myself rewinding more than once to make sure I had picked up on what was happening ... I was very engrossed in this.

I did feel that the lip-synching was not particularly great, and it seemed more than obvious that it really was a woman's voice that was being used, rather than a true castrati, but that aside, the performances were quite top-notch.

The relationship between the brothers was wonderfully played. What kept them together? Did Riccardo know that he was mediocre? There was never a sense that Riccardo was using his brother (except for sexual conquests), and one wonders what Carlo could have achieved without Riccardo attached. Yet, would Carlo even have gotten as far without Riccardo?

Throwing in the relationship with Handel was fascinating. The love/hate professional relationship was intriguing.

If you don't mind foreign films (and the need for reading subtitles [and I don't]), then this is really a film worth watching.

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME -- Busby Berkeley, dir

©1949
studio: Warner Home Video
production company: Metro-Goldywn-Mayer
dir: Busby Berkely
cast: Frank Sinatra, Esther Williams, Gene Kelly, Betty Garrett, Edward Arnold, Jules Munshin
screenplay: Harry Tugend and George Wells

The Wolves baseball team gets steamed when they find they've been inherited by one K.C. Higgins, a suspected "fathead" who intends to take an active interest in running the team. But K.C. turns outs to be a beautiful woman who really knows her baseball. Second baseman Dennis Ryan promptly falls in love. But his playboy roommate Eddie O'Brien has his own notions about how to treat the new lady owner and some unsavory gamblers have their own ideas about how to handle Eddie. [from imdb.com]

*****

Let me start out by saying that I'm a huge fan of Gene Kelly. I will like any movie that he's in, and this is no exception. I don't know that I had ever seen this film, but for no reason other than a lack of accessibility to the flick.

While there's nothing here that will be particularly memorable, there's also nothing here that will be particularly offensive, and it is incredibly delightful.

Neither Sinatra, nor Kelly, are great actors, but Sinatra sure can sing, and Kelly is, in my opinion, the best all-around male dancer who's ever lived. This alone makes the movie worth watching.

Esther Williams does a really fine job, and Betty Garrett always delivers a wonderful performance. If you're looking for a movie for just pure entertainment value for some cold, winter evening, this is a great choice.