Tag: Alec Baldwin

Suzanne Dutchman (Demi Moore) walks in park with blind Bill Oakland (Alec Baldwin).

BLIND

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

I found myself becoming fond of the film “Blind,” in which Alec Baldwin and Demi Moore give it their best try to make being blind sexy. And, Dylan McDermott makes being a white collar financial criminal into a scary, vicious thug.

Baldwin plays Bill Oakland, a novelist/ college professor, who has community service volunteers read his student papers for him at a Center for the Blind, which is where he meets Suzanne Dutchman (Demi Moore).

Suzanne gets 100 hours of community service, just for being married to Mark Dutchman (Dylan McDermott).

The female judge says that she does not believe that Suzanne knew what her husband was accused of doing, but dishes out the punishment anyway.

If anyone is a selfish, narcissistic psychopath, it is McDermott’s character, Mark. There is one scene in prison, where he effectively shows his colors. I was really frightened for Suzanne, when her husband, Mark, gets himself out of jail.

Never confront a narcissist about anything, because they will come at you with their teeth bared. McDermott does a great job of demonstrating this principle, while in prison.

This film tries to demonstrate that even though a man or woman is blind, they can still lead a meaningful life that contributes positively to life.

A future prospect of driverless autos could really enable the blind, who could get from place to place without depending so heavily on others.

In the film, “Blind,” Suzanne gets to know Bill, while her husband is in jail. She reads his student’s papers, looks up Bill’s novel, then visits his classroom, while he is teaching.

The major flaw of this film is too much explanation about being blind in the dialogue. The point being made is that they are just like everyone else, except they do not see.

This film would have been far more romantic, if the characters just acted out the situations. The audience gets it.

Why does Suzanne find Bill attractive? Bill gains her respect, and her husband, Mark, loses her respect. Her skin begins to crawl under the shame of her husband’s jewels.

Baldwin is drop dead handsome as a blind man. I was surprised to see him in such a vulnerable role.

Baldwin’s character is very frustrated having to depend on others, until Suzanne shows up.

In one scene, he keeps the office hot, and refuses to open the windows for Suzanne, which forces her to start shedding clothing. He also uses his novelist skills to paint a very romantic possibility of a life in France.

One of Bill’s male readers gains his trust enough to be invited to help him out at his home. This worker takes advantage of that trust by taking one of Bill’s manuscripts without asking.

Bill lost his sight in an auto crash, which also killed his wife. I got the impression that he was about to ask for a separation, when this accident occurred.

Michael Mailer (son of novelist Norman Mailer, 4^th marriage) is the producer and director of “Blind.” His half-brother, John Buffalo Mailer (Norman Mailer’s son, 6^th marriage) wrote the script and performs in the film. He plays Jimmy, an attendant at the Center for the Blind.

And, we also get to catch a glimpse of Baldwin’s real life wife, Hilaria Baldwin, as Susanne’s yoga teacher.

“Blind” is fun to watch, and makes it easy to understand the world of blindness.

Suzanne Dutchman (Demi Moore) receives a necklace from her husband, Mark (Dylan McDermott).

Dylan McDermott BIO:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dylan_McDermott

Screenplay by John Buffalo Mailer:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Buffalo_Mailer

Directed and produced by Michael Mailer:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Mailer

Norman Mailer Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Mailer

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7/19/2017 # Blind

Michael (Alec Baldwin) waves goodbye.

Jacque (Arnaud Viard) drives Anne (Diane Lane), who is holding a rose.

PARIS CAN WAIT

Film review by Marlene Ardoin

Eleanor Coppola, wife of renowned filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, had an experience, which caused her to write her own script, then to direct her own film, “Paris Can Wait,” which gives a voice to all middle-aged women, who suddenly feel invisible.

I loved this film. And in my opinion, she needs to keep going, even if she is 81 years old.

Eleanor Coppola has a successful marriage, successful children, and now, I feel that it is never too late to become a successful filmmaker/writer/director.

In her film, Diane Lane plays Anne, the wife of a successful movie producer, who decides to join her husband in Europe, while he is on location. She soon discovers that this may be a bad idea.

Alec Baldwin plays Michael, the movie producer husband, who, when he does get off the cell phone, is criticizing his third wheel wife for ordering two sandwiches. He shames her ruthlessly.

It seems that she does not know French well enough to communicate that she wanted cheese on her hamburger, hence the second cheese sandwich.

And to compound his error, her husband leaves her alone with his luggage, telling her to call the bellman. She tries using the phone, but, again the language barrier. She ends up becoming the bellman, instead.

By the time Anne makes it to the airport, she has a pounding earache. Her husband does not notice her distress, but his French business associate, Jacques (Arnaud Viard), does notice.

Jacque offers to drive Anne to Paris, rather than have her take the small plane to Budapest with her husband.

And to compound his error even further, her husband shows no signs of jealousy, concern or caring for her. He essentially throws her under the influence of a total male stranger.

Her husband, Michael, seems oblivious to the fact that she may be experiencing some distress, because her daughter is now no longer at home and her dress shop business has just closed.

She was hoping to connect with her husband, who is revealing that he is a total asshole.

Luckily, Jacques is a kind and generous soul, who is everything that her husband is not, except, maybe not as rich.

Jacques starts off by taking care of her earache.

And to compound that, he turns out to be a good travel mate. He is sensitive to her needs. He asks questions and shows interest in her. He is not stingy with food. He takes special care to see that she is served the finest of French food.

What is endearing about him, is that he agreed to drive her to Paris, even though the car that he owns, probably will not make it.

He stops every hour on the road, telling her that he needs to stretch his legs and have a cigarette. I’m not buying it. He is seeing that his engine is heating up, because the fan is about to go out.

It becomes apparent that these two are very compatible. They are comfortable in each other’s company. And, their level of emotional intimacy is reached at warp speed.

So, if you are married, divorced, or hoping to stay married, may I suggest going to see this film.

Eleanor Coppola.

Interview with Eleanor Coppola and Arnaud Viard:

http://deadline.com/2016/09/eleanor-coppola-paris-can-wait-arnaud-viard-tiff-

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6/14/17 # Paris Can Wait