Best Pictures From the Outside In, a weekly series in which myself, Nick's Flick Picks and Goatdog's Movies examine a best picture winner from either side of Oscar's 80 year timeline [which means we'll be finishing up in the middle, the 1960s, next summer -ed.], has hit episode #5. [click here to read]We're discussing Peter Jackson's JRR Tolkien capper Return of the King (2003) and 1932's all star ensemble drama Grand Hotel (an early prototype of what's now often referred to as the "hyperlink" film) in which several hotel guests crash into each other, their lives becoming intertwined. Almost to a one they're desperate in some way: for cash, for love, for companionship. But it's not a downer of a film so much as a soapy grabber. Joan Crawford is the bee's knees in Grand Hotel. She's glam, high spirited, funny, sexy and warm too (you heard me right) as a semi jaded stenographer whose looking for love but definitely willing to settle. Good performance, good movie. It's a happy episode of the Best Picture retros.
And, yes, Grand Hotel is the film in which Greta Garbo utters her immortal "I want to be alone". Poor sad ballerina Greta. She just wants to be left alone.the series so far
episode 1 No Country For Old Men (07) and Wings (27/28)
episode 2 The Departed (06) and Broadway Melody (28/29)
episode 3 Crash (05) and All Quiet on the Western Front (29/30)
episode 4 Million Dollar Baby (04) and Cimarron (30/31)
episode 5 over @ GOATDOG's The Lord of the Ring: The Return of the King (03) and Grand Hotel (31/32) Meanwhile Nick provides more on the 1931/1932 best picture race and its many nominees. I haven't seen enough of them. I must get on that.
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