What's not to love? An Alan Rudolph film produced by Robert Altman and starring the remarkable Jennifer Jason Leigh as one of the 20th Century's greatest wits and best critics. "Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle" is as smart as the characters sitting around that round table in the Algonquin Hotel. Of course, it won't be to everyone's taste. This is a niche product full of bitchy intellectuals being intellectual, (and bitchy), but who can deny the skill with which it's done or the superb performances by a cast very well used to this sort of thing. Most of the fun, of course, is identifying who's who and if Campbell Scott doesn't look much like the real Robert Benchley, who cares when he's this good. As for Leigh, she's terrific, (and Oscar-worthy), and Matthew Broderick is a revelation as Charles MacArthur. Hugely enjoyable.
The films reviewed here represent those I have liked or loved over the years. It is not a list of my favourite films but all the films reviewed here are worth seeing and worth seeking out. I know many of you won't agree with me on a lot of these but hopefully you will grant me, and the films that appear here, our place in the sun. Thanks for reading.
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