Sunday 13 October 2019

The Concierge (1993 Barry Sonnenfeld) / Doc Hollywood (1991 Michael Caton-Jones)

Two well executed star vehicles for the cherishable Michel J Fox.

The Concierge is written by Mark Rosenthal and Lawrence Konner, the latter having written one episode of the disappointing Magic City, which cropped up in conversation as a real disappointment - we need a new hotel story / series, or at least a remake of Hotel. This is very enjoyable:

"Don't you have that meeting with Julian?"
"It's next week."
"Well leave now."

The Apartment seeps through it, even in some of the music score. I don't know why different parrots keep appearing on the concierge desk.

With Gabrielle Anwar, Anthony Higgins, Michael Tucker ("I don't normally deal in loans this small"), Bob Balaban. Isaac Mizrahi (has small parts in Celebrity, Hollywood Ending  and Small Time Crooks), Udo Kier, Dan Hedaya.


The 'Doug'
Photographed by Oliver Wood.

Can still hear Fyvush Finkel as the bag man, something like "John Barrymore. 1941. 39 pieces, including Mr. Barrymore."

Doc Hollywood is also a well-crafted film, a variation on Capra's small town Americana where the Squash Festival is a big deal, and where crazy car mechanics learn German as part of their Porsche repairs. Written by Neil Shulman, Laurian Leggett and Jeffrey Price.

"Morning, Doc. Nice pig." With Julie Warner, Barnard Hughes (the doctor), Woody Harrelson, Bridget Fonda, David Ogden Stiers, Roberts Blossom.


That is indeed Buster Keaton - in The General - the townsfolk are watching (though Our Hospitality might have been more fitting).

Michael Chapman shot it.

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