Movie Review: Unfaithfully Yours

While trying to explain the type of film we were about to watch to my in-laws, my wife said it was a Rex Harrison film. I immediately began thinking that I would explain that it was a Preston Sturges film, starring Rex Harrison. Not really much difference there, when you think about it, especially since the in-laws have probably never heard of Preston Sturges, not being much for film watching.

It’s not that they are opposed to film, but rather they don’t ever go to watch movies, being too expensive, or read up on them, or study weekend grosses or any such thing. They don’t really go to rent them either. They are just not that type of folk. They are pretty simple country folk, and don’t get caught up in those things.

I mean they still watch regular TV, no cable or satellite, still use the Internet via a dial-up. They only have a DVD player because I bought them one, and only then because I was tired of watching the same old VHS tapes when we came down. And that’s just it, when we come down we watch movies, and they enjoy them. So, they aren’t opposed to movie watching, they just don’t go about seeking them out.

Anyway, I would have said it was a Preston Sturges film, because when I think about film I think more about directors than stars. Directors, it seems to me, have more effect on the final outcome of a film than an actor. If I had to choose, I’d go for a film with a bad actor and a great director, rather than a great actor and bad director. Odds are a director can elevate a bad actor’s performance, more than an actor will elevate bad direction.

Article Author: Mat Brewster

Mat Brewster is a periodic ex-pat wondering if he'll ever find a home. You can find him musing on pop culture, and obsessing over concert bootlegs at The Midnight Cafe.

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