Norman Jewison (1926–2024)

Norman Jewison created this warm and airy ode to love, giving it both the beauty and fragrance of a flower cart on the cobbled streets of Italy. The scenery will take your breath away and the story make you smile in this light romantic comedy.

The always sweet and engaging Marisa Tomei is Faith, on the verge of marriage when a phone call from her fiance's friend will stop her dead in her tracks, simply because his name is Damon Bradley. A game played when she was a child and a Gypsy fortune teller at a carnival in her teens told her the man she would love and marry would be named, Damon Bradley.

Bonnie Hunt shines as Faith's sister-in-law and best friend, who takes off to Venice with her in search of her destiny, written in the stars. When they discover Damon Bradley has left the hotel he called from, the search will go from Venice to Rome, and on to the lovely Italian coast, as Norman Jewison gives us a gorgeous view of romantic Italy.

Robert Downey Jr. is at his most charming as Damon Bradley, who Faith meets by chance, or perhaps fate, and falls in love with. Faith will discover, however, that destiny has a few twists and turns in store for her, in this truly delightful violin concerto to love.

This film will work its magic on you if you enjoy a light romantic comedy with a 1950's feel, and will surely become one of your favorites if you are seeing it for the first time. Those who enjoy films like “Roman Holiday” and “Three Coins in the Fountain” will welcome this romantic postcard from beautiful Italy with open arms and grateful hearts. It doesn’t live up to the aforementioned films, but there are echoes of them, and that’s enough.

While it certainly cannot stand beside those lovely romantic comedies from the bygone days of the 1930s and 1940s, Only You has a certain charm for our day, Marisa Tomei gives a performance both vibrant and full of magic. A refreshing and wonderful film for romantics, this is fluff, but it’s enjoyable fluff.… (meer)

CDWIL2 | Conductor, Adapted By [Music Adapted By] – John Williams | Violin [Soloist] – Isaac Stern (tracks: A1, B2, D3, D4, D5)
Vocals [Chava] – Neva Small (tracks: A2)
Vocals [Fruma-Sarah] – Ruth Madoc (tracks: C1)
Vocals [Golde] – Norma Crane (tracks: B2, C1, C2, D1, D4)
Vocals [Grandmother Tzeitel] – Patience Collier (tracks: C1)
Vocals [Hodel] – Michele Marsh (tracks: A2, C2, D2)
Vocals [Lazar Wolf] – Paul Mann (3) (tracks: B3, D4)
Vocals [Mendel] – Barry Dennen (tracks: D4)
Vocals [Mordcha] – Shimen Ruskin (tracks: D4)
Vocals [Motel] – Leonard Frey (tracks: B4)
Vocals [Perchik] – Paul-Michael Glaser (tracks: C2)
Vocals [Tevye] – Topol (tracks: A1, B1, B2, B3, C1, C2, D1, D2, D3, D4)
Vocals [Tzeitel] – Rosalind Harris (2) (tracks: A2)
Vocals [Yente] – Molly Picon (tracks: D4) |

Tracklist

A1 Prologue And "Tradition" & Main Title 11:16
A2 Matchmaker 3:55
B1 If I Were A Rich Man 5:24
B2 Sabbath Prayer 2:39
B3 To Life 6:13
B4 Miracle Of Miracles 2:04
C1 Tevye's Dream 6:42
C2 Sunrise, Sunset 3:49
C3 Wedding Celebration And "The Bottle Dance" 3:52
D1 Do You Love Me? 3:11
D2 Far From The Home I Love 3:00
D3 Chava Ballet Sequence 2:33
D4 Anatevka 3:37
D5 Finale 1:48… (meer)

A long film, nearly three hours in all. The musical style seems old fashioned at times, yet the choreography is excellent, and the scenery gorgeous. The Russian army, eventually driving the Jews out, are shown in historical context, making this useful from a social history point of view, and overall there’s much to think about. At the end, which was almost too abrupt, I found myself wishing it could be longer.

Highly recommended.

Full review here: rel="nofollow" target="_top">https://suesdvdreviews.blogspot.com/2012/10/fiddler-on-roof-starring-topol.html… (meer)