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This show has so many levels and layers of humor, it is impossible to get everything is one viewing. I can watch the episodes over and over and see things I have never seen before. Amy Sedaris's comic creation, Jerri Blank, is comic genius. So fully does she become the cartoonishly ugly Jerri, that you cannot even picture the actress and being vaguely human looking (she is actually quite attractive!). But the entire cast is great and are all on the same sick and twisted wave length. The show is also so politically incorrect, it would be impossible to be offended unless you have no sense of humor at all. If your sense of humor runs on the dark side, by all means, watch this show!

If she never again acted, she would still have a legacy with this film (provided enough people actually see it). Of course, as we know, she has gone on to give other great performances (Election, Cruel Intentions), but this is definitely the jewel her crown. I had never heard of her before I stumbled upon this gem (it actually played in a real theater here in San Francisco for several months) and was simply blown away. She somehow takes a cartoon-like character and makes her into a multi-dimensional person that you care about and sympathize with. All of her scenes are priceless, especially her scenes with Keifer Sutherland as the "big bad wolf" (this is a Little Red Riding parable, after all). If you have not seen this film, please go do yourself a favor and rent it asap. (There is violent content for those who are sensitive to it) It is truly a dark comic masterpiece!

Ok, I'm only kidding but it has to be, at least, one of the funniest! Joan stars as Jennie Stewart and out of control ego maniacal Broadway star attempting a comeback (hmmm, life imitating art much?) Actually, it is too easy to dismiss this as Crawford playing herself here...I choose to believe that she is not and is playing a very specific Broadway type actress (think Helen Lawson from Valley of the Dolls). Anyway, this movie is chock full of garish colors (raven haired Joan, with blood red lips and a canary colored full length dressing gown that matches her curtains is a stupendous sight), wicked, campy dialogue and the infamous blackface "musical" number, "Two Faced Woman" add up to an hilarious and entertaining movie watching experience.

I usually do not go for these "based on a true story" tv movie like dramas (i.e. Mr. Holland's Opus) but this one was so full of truth and humor that I found myself completely captivated. It wasn't just a "white teacher saves the poor children" type story because the teacher herself was messed up and poor herself. And, naturally, Meryl Streep is able to play people who are not perfect better than anyone. I love the scene when she tries to be "nicer" to the children after a parent complains that she is the hard on her students. Everyone in the movie is fabulous and seeing Streep and Angela Bassett acting together is a definite treat). And it is always good to see Chloris Leachman working. All and all, a very well made film that never goes overboard trying to pull on your heart strings but manages to do so, nonetheless.

I saw this movie several times in the theater (I have many friends who won't go to the movies unless I drag them) and each time I left the theater exhilarated. It takes the movie a little while to take it's footing but once it got ahold, it was great. The acting is, at first, self conscious but gets better as time goes by. I think the first dinner party scene is where it all comes together. I really appreciated the honest, moving portrayals by Jennifer Tilly and Lori Petty, they both added so much life to the movie. I especially like the scene where Lori Petty overhears the conversation, that got me every time! I cried each time I saw it and so did the rest of the audience. My favorite thing was coming out of it the first time and there were 2 burly leather guys standing at the door, wiping away each others tears. Definitely recommended.

Now, I am a big Joan Crawford fan and have been since I was 12 (don't ask) and this has to be my favorite film of hers, which is saying a lot. It is so campy and over the top, it's hard to believe that everyone was taking themselves so seriously. From Joan's drag queen gowns (check out the black sequin number she wears just to eat dinner in!) to her bitchy, back stabbing dialogue: "Carol, don't you look sweet, even in those tacky old riding clothes" and "Darling, parties are to women what battlefields are to men but then... you weren't in the war were you? Something about drinking..." And just wait for the scene were Joan destroys a room with a riding crop. Not to mention where she smears her vanity mirror with cold cream in order to cover her over emoting reflection. This is a camp classic of monumental proportions and one that you will want to watch several times!!!

This movie always amazes me. It is Douglas Sirk at the height of his powers. It is so campy that you have to laugh at half of it (Lana Turner to Juanita Moore as Juanita tells her that she wants to invite all of her friends to her funeral "It never occurred to me that you had friends", Juanita to Lana, "Well, you never asked!") but it really does have an emotional pull that leaves you in tears. I love that they have Mahalia Jackson singing at the funeral. And Lana Turner's outfits!!! This is definitely an alltime favorite!!!

This is one of the wierdest film noirs I have seen. Claire Trevor gives one of her greatest performances (and this says a lot because she was always good and underrated) and Lawrence Tierney is oddly charasmatic while giving a very bad performance. The scene where they "take care" of the weird old woman is just sick. And when Trevor calls Alish Cook, Jr. a "pug ugly" it's hilarious. A true undiscovered gem by the great director Robert Wise. You would NEVER think that the same person could make both this and "The Sound of Music". A true original!