Thursday Movie Picks: Movies with Plants/Flowers in the Title

 

For the 50th week of 2022 as part of Wandering Through the Shelves' Thursday Movie Picks. We go into the subject of films with flowers/plants in the film title based on a suggestion by Brittani of Rambling Films. Films that often have unique titles and are also interesting in their presentation. Here are my three picks:

1. The War of the Roses

Danny DeVito’s adaptation of the Warren Adler novel about a wealthy couple who seemed to have it all only to hate each other to the point that they fight each other for their material possessions including their mansion. Told from DeVito’s perspective as an attorney trying to sway a client from filing divorce from his wife, the film is a dark comedy that stars Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner as a couple that seemed to have it all but the cracks eventually emerged where the two try to kill each other and make their lives a living hell. It is one of the finest comedies of the 1980s and certainly a film people need to see more.

2. The Black Dahlia

Brian de Palma’s adaptation of the James Ellroy novel about the real-life murder of aspiring actress Elizabeth Short in 1947 was a film tailor made for de Palma in terms of its suspense and intrigue. Unfortunately, it’s a film that doesn’t have enough intrigue in favor of style over substance despite some unique visuals as it lacks the psychological elements of the book while having to have Josh Hartnett in the lead role to carry the film as he is unable to as the film also include some uninspired supporting performances from Scarlett Johansson and Hilary Swank as well as an extremely over-the-top performance from Fiona Shaw.

3. Blue Jasmine

Woody Allen’s 2013 film is definitely one of the last great films he’s done in this Tennessee Williams-inspired film about the fall of a woman who had everything until she learns that her husband is cheating on her and it lead to ruin forcing her to leave New York City to live with her stepsister in San Francisco. Starring Cate Blanchett as Jasmine, she plays a woman who is trying to get back her lifestyle but also having to deal with the more-modest lifestyle her stepsister has where she is played with great nuance by Sally Hawkins. Featuring a great ensemble cast that include Alec Baldwin, Peter Sarsgaard, Alden Ehrenreich, and a surprising performance from Andrew Dice Clay as Hawkins’ ex-husband. It is one of Allen’s quintessential films.

© thevoid99 2022