Travis Simpkins

Pot O' Gold (1941): James Stewart and Paulette Goddard

Despite it's lame title and somewhat less than stellar musical numbers, Pot O' Gold (1941) does possess some redeeming qualities... mainly Jimmy Stewart as his likable everyman character, and the beautiful Paulette Goddard as his love interest.

Jimmy Stewart plays a music store owner in a small town. The business is doing poorly and is on the verge of being closed for back payments.

Pot O' Gold. 1941: James Stewart

When Jimmy's uncle, a well-to-do factory owner, offers him a job, he is left with little choice but to take it. He journeys to the big City, accepting his new role, but still carrying his love for music.

Pot O' Gold. 1941: James Stewart

Turns out there is a feud going on between his uncle and the neighbors of the factory, who own a dwelling his uncle wishes to acquire so he can expand the factory. These neighbors play loud band music and constantly drive the uncle nuts. One of the residents of this house, the lovely Paulette Goddard, quickly captures Jimmy's interest.

Pot O' Gold. 1941: James Stewart and Paulette Goddard

Lot's of amusing scenarios take place (including Jimmy himself, trying to convince his uncle he is going insane).

Pot O' Gold. 1941: James Stewart

In the end, the likable Jimmy must figure out a way for these neighborly tensions to cease, so that they all might prosper and he can have the girl.

Pot O' Gold. 1941: James Stewart and Paulette Goddard

Wonder Boys (2000): Michael Douglas, Robert Downey Jr (and Marilyn Monroe's Jacket)

Adapted from the great Michael Chabon novel of the same name, Wonder Boys (2000) had all the elements in place to make it a huge success. When Wonder Boys failed to impress audiences upon it's February, 2000 release, Studio execs were still determined to make it happen and, in a rare move, re-released the film nine months later in November, 2000. It still did not fare well the second time... the reason is a mystery. Directed by Curtis Hanson, Wonder Boys is a truly amazing film, with great cinematography and interesting Pittsburgh, PA locations. The ensemble cast is stellar, with some of the principles delivering their best work in years, including Michael Douglas, Frances McDormand, Katie Holmes and Rip Torn. It is Tobey Maguire and Robert Downey Jr., however, that really steal the show as a morose aspiring author and a flamboyant editor, respectively. The small amount of recognition Wonder Boys did receive was largely due to the tight musical soundtrack, led by the incomparable Bob Dylan... with Dylan's original song, "Things Have Changed" winning the Academy Award that year. In the more-than-dozen years since it's release, Wonder Boys has gained some acclaim, and a well-deserved amount of belated attention.

Michael Douglas plays Grady Tripp, a novelist and college professor who has reached an impasse. His wife left him, his mistress, the University Chencellor (Frances McDormand), is pregnant and he has been unable to finish writing his new novel for the past seven years...

Wonder Boys. 2000: Michael Douglas

A Word fest event brings his flamboyantly gay editor, Terry Crabtree (Robert Downey Jr.) and other literati to the University for the weekend...

Wonder Boys. 2000: Robert Downey, Jr.

One of Grady's students, James Leer (Toby Maguire), is fascinated by old Hollywood deaths and suicides. Grady's troubles are multiplied when, at the Chancellor's house party, he points out a valuable jacket worn by Marilyn Monroe on her wedding day to his student. James Leer consequently steals the jacket and some of the future events of the film hinge on this act...

Wonder Boys. 2000: Tobey Maguire and Marilyn Monroe's jacket

Meanwhile Grady has more problems... with a dead dog in his trunk... and his young tenant, Hannah (Katie Holmes), has a crush on him...

Wonder Boys. 2000: Katie Holmes

Terry Crabtree is corrupting the impressionable James Leer...

Wonder Boys. 2000: Robert Downey, Jr.

And Grady's novel is still unfinished...

Wonder Boys. 2000: Michael Douglas

Can all these interesting characters resolve the assorted problems in their lives and find a way to make everything work out for good or ill?

Wonder Boys. 2000: Robert Downey, Jr.

Wonder Boys. 2000: Michael Douglas

Fargo (1996): The Coen Brothers and Frances McDormand

Certain films are able to perfectly capture the mood and atmosphere of Winter. With it's depictions of the desolate snow-covered landscape, and it's foreboding aura, Fargo (1996) does just that.

Fargo. 1996

Jerry Lundegaard is in trouble financially. He is desperate.

Fargo. 1996

His monetary woes have forced him to come up with a drastic plan to have his own wife kidnapped, then have his father in law unwittingly pay the ransom.

Fargo. 1996

Jerry hires two bumbling thugs to undertake the part of snatching his wife.

Fargo. 1996

Nothing goes according to plan.

Fargo. 1996

The abduction is sloppy, and in the process of escape, the two criminals are pulled over by the police.

Fargo. 1996

The police officer and two bystanders are killed, victims of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Here, enters the film's main heroine... police chief Marge Gundersen.

Fargo. 1996

Through her diligent and persistent efforts, the story behind all this mischief begins to unravel. The ransom is paid, but the amount was more than Steve Buscemi's character had anticipated.