Tuesday Sep 20th

The Constant Gardener (USA, 2005) at AMC CocoWalk

Wed. September 21st

Born to be Bad (USA, 1950) TCM
Nicholas Ray (Bitter Victory, In a Lonely Place, King of Kings) was one of the best American directors of the Golden Era. Between 1947 and 1962, he made several masterpieces. Many others came close. Born to Be Bad is merely good. Joan Fontaine, who played helpless victims in films like Rebecca and Suspicion, is cast against type as Chistabel, the small town girl of modest means bent on getting rich at any cost. She sets her sights on millionaire Curtis (Zachary Scott), who's engaged to Donna (the very beautiful Joan Leslie), but lusts after stud Nick (Robert Ryan). Ray's direction is quite dynamic and the cast is excellent, but the characters need more shading and the resolution is Hollywood-predictable.