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Ask FlickChick: An Oscar for Sarah Jessica Parker? And More Questions
Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex and the City courtesy New Line Cinema
Ask FlickChick: Oscar chances for Sarah Jessica Parker, what's that movie and more…
Question: I think Sarah Jessica Parker will be nominated for the Best Actress Oscar for Sex and the City, but my dad doesn't think so. What do you think? -- Lisa M
FlickChick: I'm with your dad. I don't expect to see much Oscar love generally for Sex and the City. I think it's perceived as a very TV project, which rarely translates into support from the feature-film community, and I can't say I've heard anyone talking about how wowed they were by any of the film's performances. I think that by the time the nominating process begins, the movie will be forgotten by everyone except the fans for whom it was made.
Send your movie questions to FlickChick.
Question: How did actor David Dukes, who played Dr. Miller in Rose Red, die? Was he scared and had a heart attack or what? – Scot
FlickChick: Veteran actor David Dukes did die of a heart attack, but while playing tennis on one of his days off from shooting the Steven King mini-series Rose Red (2002) in Washington State. He was 50, and had apparently had a previous heart attack, something his wife discovered when she hired her own pathologist because she was so deeply dissatisfied with the autopsy report prepared by the medical examiner of Pierce County, where Dukes died.
Send your movie questions to FlickChick.
Question: There's a movie I'd really like to see, but I don't know the title. I just remember the previews from when it was in movie theaters: There was a boy unconscious in a sewer drain who's trying to somehow reach contact a girl he knows before he dies. I hope this is enough of a description. Thanks – Killer B
FlickChick: It is: You're looking for The Invisible (2007), which is a remake of the 2002 Swedish film Den Osynlige, which means "the invisible." The basic premise is that a teenaged boy is beaten almost to death and his soul is trapped between two worlds – he's invisible to the living but not one o fthe dead.
The story revolves around his efforts to make someone see or hear him, in the ever-slimmer hope that he can lead them to his dying body in time to be saved.
I know this sounds all movie elitist, but the original -- a tough little movie that uses a fantasy twist to tell a gritty story about bad choices and lingering consequences -- is the much better version. The US version was softened and made more formulaic throughout, but the worst change is to the bittersweet ending.
Send your movie questions to FlickChick.
Question: I would have had more luck finding the title of this movie if I could remember either the lead actor or actress, but I can't! It was B&W and felt like a 1940s picture. The story, as I remember, is that a wealthy woman dies under mysterious circumstances and two beloved pets, a dog and a horse, return from the dead in human form to investigate.
I particularly remember the man, who was the dog in his previous life, occasionally playing with a ball the way a dog would and eating doggy snacks! I would love to watch this movie again as I remember being thoroughly charmed by it the first time around. Any help much appreciated! – Lesley
FlickChick: This is one of those movies I can count on getting an email about a couple of times a year: It's very low profile but seems to have made a lasting impression on the folks who stumbled across it.
You've got the story a little jumbled, But the horse and dog in human form are the giveaway: It's You Never Can Tell (1951), starring Dick Powell, Peggy Dow and Joyce Holden. Powell is the human reincarnation of King, a German Shepherd who inherits a fortune from an eccentric millionaire and is promptly poisoned for his money (a cautionary tale indeed for Trouble, the Maltese to which hotel magnate Leona Helmsley left $12 million).
The police suspect the late millionaire's pretty, animal-loving secretary, Ellen Hathaway (Dow), whom he named as King's guardian. But King doesn't believe she killed him, so he gets a special dispensation to return from animal heaven ("Beastatory") as detective Rex Shepherd and find his own killer. A dead palomino named Golden Harvest returns as Goldie (Holden), Rex's fleet-footed sidekick.
You Never Can Tell – a title that has to rank among the most useless and instantly forgettable of all time – has never been released on commercial VHS or DVD, but there are bootlegs kicking around online.
Send your movie questions to FlickChick.
See Maitland McDonagh and Ken Fox review this week's new flicks on the Movie Talk vodcast.
Check out FlickChick's weekly DVD picks and join the discussion every Tuesday.
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Jun 12, 2008 1:20 PM
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You Never Can Tell has been one of my lifelong favorite movies. I first saw it when I was a kid, and still remember the scene of all the animals gathered in Beastatory. I also remember Goldie running to catch the bus. And, we can't forget the 3rd animal - the fly. I can't remember the human name, but he was always eating cheese curls or something.
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Jun 12, 2008 2:40 PM
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Hey Maitland! I can't help but mention that the 2007 edition of The Invisible costars one Alex O'Loughlin! For that reason alone it's worth checking out. But I'm sure you're right, the original is probably better. Those usually are. Nevertheless I enjoy the 2007 release immensely.
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Jun 13, 2008 11:04 AM
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I loved the Sex and the City movie....but Oscar nominations?? I don't think so!
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Jun 13, 2008 2:37 PM
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Arelesh: You're the first person who's ever mentioned the fly!
I've been meaning to catch up with this movie, but now I think I have to do it this weekend.
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Jun 13, 2008 3:43 PM
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I hope you're wrong about Sex and the City not getting any nominations at least. SJP, who I am not normally a fan of, was fantastic, especially during the wedding day scenes. Her emotion seemed so raw. Cynthia Nixon was also fabulous. And Charlotte was such a delight as a supporting character.
I think the movie deserves at least some kind of nomination. Heck, South Park, also from a tv show, got nominated for best song.
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Jun 13, 2008 8:34 PM
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I completely think that Sarah Jessica Parker DESERVES to be nominated for her performance in Sex and the city. She is not only the driving force of the storyline but her scenes in the wedding dress on the street and her scene at the restaurant during valentine's day are so powerful that the academy needs to consider her performance. It is such a heartbreaking and moving performance, not likely that you will see from any actress this year.
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Jun 13, 2008 9:10 PM
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Arelesh: Curiouser and curiouser! I watched You Never Can Tell over the weekend and there's no fly, cheese-curl eating or otherwise. (I do love Goldie's hat, though, which is something I've never heard anyone mention -- it has two feathers that stick out from either side and look like ears.)
So now I want to know what movie the human fly comes from. Readers, help!
MM
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Jun 17, 2008 2:07 PM
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Maitland . . . I always enjoy your take on things, even if I don't always agree. I wasn't going to go into SATC with you, but after reading a few comments, I felt I had to say something. Yes, I'm a fan and yes, I realize it was a "TV Project", specifically targeted at SATC fans. BUT that doesn't automatically rule out fine acting performances. Sorry to say, but Maitland, dismissive comments such as "TV Project" sound just a bit elitist. Fine and powerful acting can be found anywhere if you take the time to see it and appreciate it. SJP really did give a powerful performance, and just because she has played the character previously doesn't take away from her acting skill in this particular situation. And, yes, Cynthia Nixon also brought her considerable acting skills to her storyline. Truthfully, I doubt if either one will be recognized by the "academy" and that's too bad. But as your column and its posters so eloquently demonstrate, variety and opinions make the world go 'round. -- Jenny D
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Jun 17, 2008 2:19 PM
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