The Fortune Cookie
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Movie Reviews of The Fortune Cookie
Movie Review: Good Movie but about 20 minutes too long
Summary: 4 Stars
I remember when "The Fortune Cookie" came out and I assumed that I would see it sooner or later but it wasn't until tonight that I had the opportunity. I was aware of the storyline and I knew that Lemmon and Matthau would make quite a team and I was right. The "Odd Couple" personalities are in view and the writing is excellent with Billy Wilder replacing Neil Simon. However, I kept getting the sense that this movie is too long. There are some side stories that could be diminished or even eliminated. I'm not talking about the "Boom Boom" Jackson character. Rather, there seemed to be a lot of redundencies throughout the movie. The private eye gets too much coverage as does the insurance company representatives. The ex-wife is a nice twist to the plot but we got the idea early and didn't need such an extensive development of the renewed relationship. There are other examples as well but I think I may be emphasizing this too much.
The end was not as I had expected although not greatly off the mark. However, the movie is not centered around the plot so much as it is around the interaction between Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon. Matthau won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his preformance in what would appear to have been a leading role. I have no problem with that (although I really was impressed that year with Mako in "The Sand Pebbles"). I guess that's the core of my objection to the length of the movie; too much subplot interrupting the Matthau/Lemmon chemistry.
Movie Review: Not really a comedy, not romantic, however this is a classic.
Summary: 4 Stars
A football player Luther 'Boom Boom' Jackson (Ron Rich) accidentally knocks down Harry Hinkle (Jack Lemmon) a television camera operator. Learning of Harry's childhood injury brother-in-law Willie Gingrich (Walter Matthau) a lawyer sees an opportunity and seizes that opportunity. Willie with the assistance of Hinkle's ex-wife Sandy Hinkle (Judi West) railroads him into faking an injury.
Will Harry succumb to their will?
Will Luther 'Boom Boom' Jackson ever play again?
Will Willie and Sandy realize the fruits of their efforts?
This movie is not so much of a comedy as it is an interaction between people and ideals. We as observers are taken along for the ride. However, you may find yourselves kibitzing occasionally.
The movie is worth watching at least once. Everyone does a fine job of acting. You will feel like you are back in 1966 and waiting for the big game. You will not be disappointed.
Movie Review: Beginning of a Beautiful Relationship
Summary: 4 Stars
This is average endeavor for director Billy Wilder and his co-scenarist I.A.L. Diamond. That is to say that this is above average for most filmmakers. The obvious distinction of the film is the initial teaming of Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. In this case, though, Lemmon wisely defers to Matthau's shyster lawyer and plays straight man. Matthau shines here and steals every scene he's in. Matthau won the Oscar in a supporting role which I find curious because it seemed to me to be a co-lead role. Cliff Osmond was pretty funny, too, as an insurance fraud investigator. The film drags in part particularly when Matthau isn't on screen but it does suffer from overlength. Two hours plus is a little long. Recommended with slight reservation.Movie Review: Four stars for content, but........
Summary: 4 Stars
"The Fortune Cookie" has long been one of my favorite Billy Wilder movies, and I was pleased to see it's release on DVD, especially in the original widescreen format. While the movie and performances are great (especially Walter Matthau in his Oscar-winning turn), and the script by Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond hits the target, I was very disappointed in the lackluster transfer to disc that this unqualified classic received. Sure, the letterboxing is great, but halfway through the film, the sound quality takes a turn for the worse - less audible, and almost scratchy at times. Plus, the only "extra" is the original trailer, and there is no additional booklet. Surely a genius like Wilder deserves better preservation than this!Movie Review: What is Truth?
Summary: 4 Stars
Walter Matthau joins Jack Lemon to present a look into, albeit a comedic look, the profession of the shyster lawyer or legal chiseler. Harry Hinkle(Jack Lemon) is accidently knocked over by a 220lb half back and only suffers a slight concussion. Then, Whiplash Willie(Walter Matthau) arrives on the scene and he proposes a scheme to garner millions of dollars in phony insurance claims if Harry claims to have suffered a crippling injury. There you have it; but, you can't fool all of the people all of the time so says Harry's fortune cookie on his plate while in the hospital. You have to laugh at the performance of these two first class comedians as they wrestle with their consciences.