Sax von Stroheim writes:
I keep looking for the modern day equivalent of those Douglas Sirk-Ross Hunter movies: weepies, melodramas, and “women’s pictures” that are stylish and smart without skimping on the sentimentality. I haven’t found one yet, but I did like Safe Haven, which was adapted from a Nicholas Sparks novel (Sparks took a more active role in the production of this film, too). Lasse Hallström directs in a very square, straightforward, old-fashioned style, making for an effective, conventional tear-jerker. Or, at least, I can honestly say that it worked on me. I infinitely prefer this kind of corny, heartfelt romantic melodrama to “indie” romances about two special snowflakes meeting and falling in love with each other’s quirkiness. I’m glad this movie found an audience despite getting trashed by critics. I guess Nicholas Sparks is the white Tyler Perry.
Related
- Safe Haven is currently on Netflix Instant, here.
- So far, my favorite of the contemporary not-quite-Sirks is The Vow, which isn’t actually based on a Nicholas Sparks novel, although it feels like it could have been. It stars Channing Tatum in hunky-sad-guy mode and Rachel McAdams in a role that gives her more to do than her usual girl-next-door schtick. It isn’t on Netflix Instant, but it’s a popular, contemporary movie that shouldn’t be too hard to track down. (Edit: Hey, I just realized this is the second time I’ve mentioned The Vow on this blog. Here’s the first.)
Blowhard, Esq.
Callowman
Sherbrooke
Eddie Pensier
Enzo Nakamura
Epaminondas
Fabrizio del Wrongo
Fenster
Brundle Guy
Glynn Marshes
Paleo Retiree
Atypical Neurotic
Question Lady
Sax von Stroheim
Sir Barken Hyena
The Mistaken
Uncouth Reflections 
I often like Hallstrom’s directing: reserved an immaculate but very emotional at the same time. How’s Julianne? I know nothing about her save for pix in the tabloid press, but she wears a bikini well. Can she act?
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She is, as they say, used well in the movie, though I don’t think it’s much of a performance (especially compared to Rachel McAdams in The Vow). Josh Duhamel does the heavy lifting for both of them, as far as the acting goes.
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Speaking of Sirk, how’d you respond to that Todd Haynes Sirk-esque thing from a few years back? I thought it was awful.
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I thought it was pointless. It’s far more simpleminded than any of Sirk’s movies. Hmmm… posing as being more sophisticated, more knowing, with a more comprehensive grasp of all the important issues, while really having far less understanding of the complexities of human nature than they did in the ’50s: Far From Heaven could be in the running for the movie that sums up 21st Century America.
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