Rating: Summary: Benning is luminous but Katharine Hepburn steals this one Review: "Love Affair" is a remake of an "Affair to Remember" which was made popular because it was rather important in the plot of "Sleepless in Seattle." Just to make it more interesting, "Affair to Remember" was a remake of the original "Love Affair." Warren Beatty plays Mike Gambril, an ex-football star (an obvious allusion to Beatty's "Heaven Can Wait," which was a much more successful remake of an older film) who meets Terry McKay, played by Annette Benning, on a flight to Sydney. The plane is forced down and the two end up on a slow boat back to civilization. Both are engaged to other people, but since these two are married in real life and since very few people will have seen "Love Affair" without having seen or heard about the earlier versions, it is pretty clear this is not going to work out. But they want to take time to be sure, and so an ill-fated rendezvous at the Empire State Building is set up to confirm their destinies. Katharine Hepburn's performance as Michael's Aunt Ginny is touted on the box cover, not just because "Love Affair" proved to be the final theatrical film in her storied career (she did appear in one more made for television movie), but because she steals the show in her brief scene. Hepburn is abetted in this effort by the local, a glorious beautiful South Pacific island as lush and as a green as any you have ever seen. There is also a wonderful set up for her scene, where Beatty asks Benning to go see his aunt and the couple take a series of scenic jaunts to the mountainside home, punctuated by Benning's comic asides. The role of the hero's aunt has always been a wonderful character piece for an older actress in every one of the film versions of this story, but certainly Hepburn is given more interesting things to say. For those who are shocked to hear Hepburn use foul language, you should remember that thirty years earlier she was probably the first person to say the word "fornication" on film in "The Lion in Winter." As Ginny explains her perspective on what type of bird Beatty happens to be and what that means for his future, there is no difference between Benning and her character, both of whom are clearly basking in Hepburn's presence. As always, Beatty surrounds his main characters without outstanding supporting players, from Kate Capshaw and Pierce Brosnan as the original intendeds with whom no one can find fault, to Brenda Vaccaro and Paul Mazursky as other couple on the boat, to Garry Shandling and Harold Ramis as Mike's agent and financial adviser, to Chloe Webb as Terry's confidant after "the accident." If, in the final analysis, Beatty is not up to the pivotal moment in the climax where the pieces come together, then it is because the memory of Cary Grant's performance in the previous remake is just too overwhelming. Certainly Benning shines throughout the film, so there is no doubt why he is after her even if the opposite is established more by Beatty's reputation, wonderfully established in a series of news flashes in the film's opening, than by anything the actor actually does in the film itself. He looks good, but she looks great and you end up thinking Beatty remade this film not just because its story hits home to him but also because he really wants to show off his wife. Ultimately it is the women in this film who redeem it and make it more than what Annette and Warren did on their summer vacation, although the fact that the woman is the more appealing character this time is probably not enough to make it come out ahead of the Grant/Kerr version for most of us.
Rating: Summary: 2 ships in the night Review: A favorite romance movie of mine. 2 high class people meet on a ship, both engaged to other people, find themselves very attracted to each other. 1 thing I will never forget: when Warren Beatty takes Annette Benning to visit his aunt Katherin Hepburn on a remote island, through conversation, Hepburn asks Benning if she's happy, & Benning says she ought to be, she's getting everything she ever wanted. & Hepburn says, the trick is to still want it after you get it. I like movies that give you something to think about. After there chance meeting on the ship, do these 2 marry their fiances? Or, will they meet again? 2 worlds collide in this little cheerful/tearful romance.
Rating: Summary: PREDICTABLE, SAPPY..... LOVED IT. Review: A MOVIE THAT SEEMS TO BRING OUT VOCAL SUPPORTERS AS WELL AS CRITICS, "LOVE AFFAIR" IS OBVIOUSLY DOING WHAT IT SUPPOSED TO DO - MOVE THE AUDIENCE. PERHAPS THOSE WHO WISH TO ANALYZE AND COMPARE ARE DISAPPOINTED IN THE PRODUCTION AND ACTING, THOSE OF US WHO STILL WATCH MOVIES TO BE MOVED LOVED IT. IT IS, ABOVE ALL ELSE, A TIMELESS STORY OF LOVE FOUND,LOST,AND THEN FOUND AGAIN. A HAPPY ENDING. HOW CAN WE EVER TIRE OF THAT? BENING/BEATTY WERE BELIEVEABLE. AS ALWAYS, HEPBURN WAS GREAT THOUGH IT PAINS ME TO SEE HER FRAILTY. WHO CARES HOW GOOD A 1939 VERSION WAS? THIS MOVIE STANDS ON IT'S OWN, AND IT BELONGS IN THE COLLECTION OF EVERY TRUE ROMANTIC....THE CRITICS CAN GO PLAY POLO OR SOMETHING EQUALLY SNOOTY.
Rating: Summary: Fell short from An Affair to Remember Review: A remake is a remake is a remake. So, I have quite accepted that the plot would have been almost carbon-copy-identical. Except for Pierce Brosnan, who may have added a few more mileage to the original & the original-remake characters, everything else seemed the same. The setting is enthralling & yes, romantic. But I think they have focused too much on the setting, especially the part where they had to visit the aunt. Annette Benning was ok but Warren Beatty was far too short compared with Carey Grant. One particular scene I would like to bring your attention to was his discovery of his painting in Annette's room. In "An Affair to Remember", Carey's expression was so intense & heartbreaking but Warren's was quite short in delivery. Overall, this version is a nice movie though & of course, romantic. Nice soundtrack too.
Rating: Summary: Laughable Review: A ridiculous would-be romance that manages the truly remarkable feat of being completely sterile, cold, and non-human. There isn't a single moment of warmth or recognizable humanity in this pompous load of nonsense. The attempts at humor remain attempts, and the love stories (all four of them) completely lack heat. Mr. Beatty is so busy standing and posing just so to catch the most flattering light that he forgets to act. He is like some old fading movie diva determined to look good one last time and hide those wrinkles. Annette Bening is her usual barely there self. Avoid this film.
Rating: Summary: Looking for name of Theme Song Review: Desparately trying to find the actual name of the THEME song for this movie. It is played on several tracks of the CD. Help!!
Rating: Summary: Looking for name of Theme Song Review: Desparately trying to find the actual name of the THEME song for this movie. It is played on several tracks of the CD. Help!!
Rating: Summary: I still think "An Affair to Remember" is better. Review: First off, I only saw the last half of the movie. (That's okay, I knew most of what happened.) Second, I missed the part I wanted to see. I COULD KICK MYSELF IN THE SEAT OF THE PANTS FOR MISSING KATHARINE HEPBURN!!!!!!!!!!! Obviously, that's the part I wanted to see. Anyway, the last half was pretty good (even though I missed the best part, dang drat it).
Rating: Summary: Money isn't everything Review: Gee, if Mike and Terry could learn this, why couldn't Warren and Annette? It doesn't matter how much money was thrown into this movie, it just doesn't work. Look, before you get all defensive, I love a good chick flick and 'An Affair to Remember' is the all-time champion in my book. Grant and Kerr had the panache to carry it off. Too, this was a product of its time - two people wake up long enough to realize they love each other and they've been far too dependent on others. The characters of suave international playboy and chanteuse with a questionable past and a heart of gold don't play now. Huge sections of dialogue were brought over from 'An Affair' to this film and they don't play either. There are some unintentionally funny moments - watch Annette Benning's hand make spidery shadows on her face as she's gesturing during one ship-board conversation...
Rating: Summary: ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES OF ALL TIME! Review: I CANT HELP SEE THIS MOVIE AGAIN AND AGAIN. THE ACTING IS SO BELIEVABLE AND THE STORY SO HONEST AND ENCHANTING. THE MORE I SEE THIS MOVIE THE MORE I LIKE IT.
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