Double Hour: A Chambermaid's Tale

No not that chambermaid. And no financier appears in this mesmerizing movie either. What we have is a puzzling story set in Turin, Italy, in which love trumps betrayal. At least that's what the Movie Slut thinks it's about.
This flick isn't exactly play fair. It tends to shift gears on a whim. One minute it's showing this, the next minute it's that.
Persnickety movie goers might balk at such shenanigans and, truth be told, MS did have moments of thinking "say what?" But then she got caught up in the slippery plot and the heart-breaking characters and her attitude changed to cheering "yes, yes, yes."
It's been a long time since such chemistry electrified the big screen. Perhaps that's why Ksemia Rappoport and Filippo Timi won best actress and best actor awards at the Venice Film Festival.

Thor: Euthoria

The Movie Slut offers her profound apologies to loyal readers. She should have seen and reviewed this crazy good movie sooner. But who knew?
It's based on a Marvel comic. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But she assumed...
Rule #1: Never assume anything.
Thor is a sci-fi flick, a thriller and a rom-com rolled into one. It takes place in two galaxies with characters who span 12 centuries.
The story is positively Shakespearean: An old king, two sons to vie for the throne and a diabolical enemy.
So much to enjoy.
The movie is directed by Kenneth Branagh, who knows his way around Shakespeare, and stars Natalie Portman and a fantastic Chris Hemsworth as the star-crossed (pun intended) lovers.

L'Amour Fou: Yves & Pierre

Legendary fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge, his partner in life and business, are the subjects of this interesting documentary that falls short of being the amazing fashaganza it should have been...considering.
Considering the homes, the objet d'art, the drugs, the glitterati, and the clothes, clothes, clothes.It's all there on the screen but muted through the prism of Pierre's mourning for his life companion, who died at the age of 71 in 2008.
The documentary is organized around the sale of art and furnishings that decorated the men's three homes, in Paris, Marrakesh and Normandy, and although they collected many of the 20th century's great artists, the furniture and accessories left the Movie Slut cold.
She wanted to see more fashions, more glamor, more models strutting down the catwalk, more celebrities sashaying in YSL's incredible creatings.
"L'Amour Fou" is a perfectly serviceable biography, but if it's chic you're craving, check out "Valentino: The Last Emperor," a veritable orgy of organza.

Everything Must Go: You should, too

So, first thing's first. Can Will Ferrel, comedian par excellence, pull off a movie with no laughs and few smiles? The Movie Slut shouts a resounding "Yes."

Stay tuned for more.

Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold

"The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" is not the greatest movie ever told. The idea: Great. But something happened on the way to the theater.
Morgan Spurlock, the guy who gave us "Super Size Me," a first person account of the gross-out danger of eating fast food, had another excellent idea. He'd make a movie about product placement and fund it completely with $ he got from placing products in his film.
Could be incredible. But it wasn't.
Too much of the movie centered around his search for companies who'd buy into his idea, which means lots of boring sitting around conference tables, chuckling about how funny this is.
Well, the Movie Slut says show me, don't tell me. She wanted to see footage of products in movies that were blatant examples of product placement. Like this.

Bridesmaids: Of Dishonor

Maybe it was great expectation that led to the Movie Slut's great disappointment in this movie. She was hoping for a female flick on par with "Wedding Crashers" or "The Hangover."
Not happening.
Oh, the critics loved this one. They thought the scene where Maya Rudolph, dressed in full bridal regalia, is hit with a sudden bout of diarrhea, forcing her to poop in the street was hysterical.
OK gals, how many of you dig scatological humor? And while you're at it, isn't shitty, shitty enough? Do we have to venture into, well, you know what.
Supposedly, "Bridesmaids" is a spoof on wedding hoopla. Unfortunately, the unappealing characters took over. Oh, they were petty, jealous, man hungry and, let's see, are there any more negative female stereotypes. Weepy, backstabbing. There must be more.
In fact, the two funniest and most endearing characters in this disappointing film are guys: Jon Hamm as the hysterically clueless selfish lover and Chris O'Dowd as a sympathetic traffic cop.

Something Borrowed: Something Blah

Rachel and Dex are locked in an on-again-off-again romanceish relationship with a few too many ons and offs to keep us caring whether they're on or off. And that's not the only problem with this tepid rom-com. Unfortunately, romance and comedy are in short supply. What's even more troubling, however, is that Rachel and Dex are just Too Darn Nice.


Sure nice is nice. But it's not enough. How about interesting, funny, smart, creative? Anything but white-bread nice. Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Dex (Colin Egglesfield) are so perniciously nice that they almost let Darcy (Kate Hudson)push them onto the terminally off ramp.

Darcy is obnoxious, loud, superficial and narcissistic. So, tell us again why she's Rachel's best friend. No matter. We need her because she keeps us from falling asleep. Especially if the theater has those really nice seats.

The Movie Slut was not impressed, but maybe this mild movie wasn't for her demographic. The 14-year-old gals in the audience actually clapped at the end, proving the old movie maxim — "You can't please all of the movie-goers, all of the time."

Bill Cunningham New York: Street Chic

For a certain gaggle of New York gals, the supreme honor is not winning a Pulitzer or Oscar. It's getting shot by New York Times street shooter Bill Cunningham. And the Movie Slut is one of these chicks. Over the years, she and Bill have smiled and nodded their greetings on Madison in front of Barneys, on Fifth near Saks or down in the Meatpacking District not far from Jeffry. Alas, he never raised the camera to his discriminating eye. Here's one of the subjects he shot instead.

No matter, MS won't hold this against him and will tell you how much she loved, loved, loved the documentary that celebrates him in all his eccentric glory. Bill pedals around town on his bicycle, wearing a street-sweeper's jacket, photographing fashionable street creatures. A true democrat, his subjects may be two or four legged, billionaires or paupers, minimalist or maximalist. He's at every fashion show. In fact, they don't start until Bill takes his front-row seat. He covers the poshest fundraisers. And yet, down to earth doesn't begin to describe this man's humility.

Hey Bill, if you read this, the Movie slut just acquired a fantabulous red sleeveless trench dress and will be on the corner of 6th and 42nd Street.