Happy Saturday everyone! Looks like it’s going to be one beauty of a day. HollyCornblog and CharlieHopbrew should be on their way in another couple of hours and if I disappear for a while after they arrive, well, you’ll know what I’m up to!
Let’s see what’s happening in the world of soccer, first. I see that US soccer is finally formally announcing that Hege Riise is joining the USWNT coaching staff. She’ll be joining the team over in Portugal for the Algarve Cup, and then resettling in the US to help Pia scout players during the WPS season. She sounds like a great addition to an already excellent coaching staff!
The Chicago Red Stars have signed Cristiane — another dazzling and flamboyant member of the Brazilian soccer team. It’s going to be so amazing to be able to see these women play live — and up close — at Harvard Stadium! I’m hoping to work, this morning, on beginning to create/add WPS team blogs to my sidebar – to faclitate trash talking!
Back to Portugal, and catching up with the US women’s national team, who arrived on February 26 and began their preparation for the Algarve Cup (which includes devouring crepes, apparently). Their first match is on Wednesday, March 4 against Denmark. This could actually be the most difficult game of the tournament for them — certainly in their group. (I say certainly, although Iceland and Norway are no slouches — and we all remember what happened with Norway in the Olympics!)
The USWNT matches are as follows: March 4 Denmark 7 AM Eastern Time, March 6 Iceland 10 AM Eastern time, and March 9 Norway 11 AM Eastern time. All of these matches, I believe, will be available via MatchTracker – unfortunately it doesn’t look like anything is going to be on TV.
Speaking of TV – here’s the women’s b-ball slate for the weekend:
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28
Kent State at Bowling Green State 12:00 Fox Sports Net
Pitt at Louisville 1:00 Big East Sports Network
Syracuse at West Virginia 1:00 WVPBS
BYU at Utah 2:30 The Mtn.
Missouri at Colorado 5:00 Fox Sports Net
Seton Hall at UConn 6:30 CPTV SUNDAY, MARCH 1
Big Ten Conference Wildcard Game TBD Big Ten Network
Temple at George Washington 12:00 CBS College Sports
Virginia at Georgia Tech 12:00 Fox/Comcast/NE Sports Net
Texas A&M at Kansas State 12:00 Fox Sports Net
Kentucky at South Carolina 2:00 Fox Sports Net
Pac-10 wildcard game 2:00 Fox Sports Net
MVC wildcard game 2:05 Fox/Comcast/Metro Sports
North Carolina at Duke 4:00 Fox Sports Net
Vanderbilt at Tennessee 6:00 ESPN2
In political news, Jim Bunning continues to be an embarrassment, albeit one that I am beginning to enjoy a little bit as he gives his Republican handlers a run for their money. Now he’s threatening to resign, apparently. This would allow Kentucky’s governor, Steve Beshear, a Democrat, to appoint his replacement. Stay tuned!
Meanwhile, here’s a controversy for you! Is it okay for Michelle Obama to go sleeveless? I’m glad to see that our country (and our nation’s press) continue their lazer-like focus on issues of substance. Good grief. (It was okay for the White House to be brainless for 8 years – but sleeveless? Shite!)
Finally, as I ramble on, a few thoughts on the new administration. There have certainly been some missteps, as well as some things that I’ve been disappointed in. But overall, what an amazing month-plus it’s been! One of the things that I realize as I watch Obama stepping into the role of president is how LITTLE was done/accomplished during the Bush years. There were plenty of negatives, and much of what was done was horrific, but Bush was, overall, a pretty lazy bastard, wasn’t he? I guess we should count our blessings and be thankful that he spent as much time riding his bike as he did.
As I scan the news these days, I’m amazed at the sheer volume of the work that is being done in this new administration. Not just the big stuff, but the “smaller” things – the Bushie regulations that are being overturned on multiple fronts – the reinstatement of morality and sanity – logic, responsibility – even science, for goodness sake – on the national scene. It ain’t perfect, but it sure is a world of difference!
There’s lots of news this morning on the Boston Breakers front, starting with the fact that an agreement has been reached between the Boston Aztecs and the Boston Breakers. Under the agreement the Aztecs will become the reserve team of the Breakers. Seems like a positive for both teams.
In other Breakers news, I see that Candace Chapman is now the second Canadian international joining the Breakers. In addition, the Breakers have signed Brazilian forward Fabiana. That leaves the Breakers with five internationals — Fabiana, Chapman, Christine Latham, Kelly Smith, and Alex Scott. The Breakers open their season in April at Harvard Stadium!
In national news, I see that the Senate is set to investigate the CIA’s actions under George W. Bush. I hope that their focus will not be so much on what the CIA did as on where the orders came from that got them doing it. A thorough and unflinching investigation into these matters will go far, I think, in helping us to assign responsibility, punish where necessary, and move on from the dark deeds and dark days of the Bush administration.
I see, too, that LSU beat Tennessee last night. Poor Lady Vols! Check out the article cited in the USA Today sidebar widget.
It’s looking like a gray day — but no matter — HollyCornblog and CharlieHopbrew will be here soon. Let the good times roll! 🙂
Okay, checking out the scene here on a Thursday morning. I am (of course) in a hurry. So here are some quick updates:
HollyCornblog and CharlieHopbrew will be here this weekend! Hooray! Hopefully the snowstorm/rainstorm that appears to be brewing (get it?) won’t interfere.
The reviews of the new WPS uniforms have been decidedly mixed. Here are a couple of articles one from The Snitch, out of San Francisco and the other from Unprofessional Foul. Personally, I think the Breakers kits look cool — but then I’m a little bit biased.
Too late to do a lot of exploring on the national news front, but I love it that one of the first people to be honored at the White House is Stevie wonder. We surely are in a new era!
Finally, check out this amazing video (sent to me by none other than HollyCornblog). Really amazing!
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwts3qtnKs0
Oh yeah – and my Kindle arrived … and we’ve got some b-ball on tap (more beer imagery … ;)) all Central Time, remember! On the b-ball front, gotta check out the Class M girls’ tournament results from last night, too. Any upsets? We shall see .
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26
Big Ten Conference Wildcard Game TBD Big Ten Network
Georgia at Kentucky 6:00 Fox Sports Net
Tennessee at LSU 8:00 Fox Sports Net FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27
Boston College at Maryland 6:00 Fox/Comcast /NE Sports Net
MVC wildcard game 7:35 Fox/Comcast/Metro Sports Net
Okay, so did you watch Obama last night? Was it not amazing to witness the president speaking in complete sentences and clearly able to think about complex ideas and issues?
Also amazing to see the partisanship so visible at certain points. Who were those people who weren’t applauding, anyway? They need to get on the bandwagon, don’t you think? More and more, the Republican naysayers appear to be merely blocking progress and acting childish. How can they be suddenly so concerned about the deficit, when they were blithely spending billions just a few months ago? Their capacity for violent cognitive dissonance is something that I don’t think I’ll ever be able to fathom.
In other news, Women’s Professional Soccer and PUMA unveiled their new kits in Manhattan last night. Looks like it was a very nice event — and it’s amazing to think that the first game of the new WPS schedule is a little more than a month away. Nice photos here … check out Hope’s hair!!!
Of course I’m in a rush this morning, as usual. Rumor has it that a new Kindle 2 is going to be arriving here sometime today. Can’t wait to check it out!
So here we are back at Tuesday again! I managed to get myself onto the treadmill this morning, and so am feeling quite cocky and proud of myself!
Let’s see what’s out there in the news this morning. We’ve got polls showing that the majority of Americans are supporting Obama’s decisions on the economy — and don’t want him to seek a middle ground with the GOP. Can’t wait to see what he says tonight!
In an interesting story on the Huffington Post I’m reading that CBS news has named Jeff Ballabon to be their senior vice president of communications. He sounds like a real right-wing partisan oddball. Apparently some years ago, after he had worked for a while in Washington DC, he came away believing that Democrats are bad and Republicans are good. I guess I can sort of understand the sentiment, but it’s unfortunate that he has it backwards. Scary to think that he’s going to be a major player now with CBS news.
What else? Well, Boltgirl is back — after what sounds like a difficult time — but still not quite ready to dive into her political blogging. Sounds like it’s spring in Arizona — one can only continue to hope, here in NH!
HollyCornblog and CharlieHopbrew are coming to visit this weekend. There will be lots of home brews to sample, and lots of things to catch up on. I still have to dig out the chiminea (unless the snow gets melted by the sun that looks like could get nice and strong today.) It’s going to be a full weekend — and I shall keep you posted!
The snows aren’t as deep as expected, but they led to power outages in these parts, and lots and lots of birches bent to the ground. We had to saw the ends off of some branches on one birch near the bottom of our hill so that it’d pop up enough to let cars through … to get to work … of all things. It is Monday, after all. Now the sun is starting to stream – and hopefully that will melt the ice and allow the trees and bushes to straighten up on their own (without our rather violent assistance).
I’ve been wrestling with (and learning a bit more about) WordPrtess Themes and CSS Styles. Interesting – and very gratifying when what I do (semi-blindly) actually works.
Meanwhile, Jim Bunning (whose connection with the Phillies I would love to deny if I could) continues to amaze with his wrong-headed, right-wing rhetoric – this time going so far as to predict the timing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s demise.
Why is it that those who stridently profess religion (in his case Catholicism) as a source for their values, and tend to be exceedingly self-righteous and judgmental of others … are also often huge sleazeballs in their own right?
I submit to you this article about Senator Bunning’s “Foundation” – a so-called charitable organization that pays out more to him in his annual salary than it does to charities! Check out the wonderfully telling graphic from the article.
Lots of other stuff in the news – like Slumdog sweeping up lots of little statues last night – and the UConn women rolling to another victory, while the Maryland women made Duke’s defense look like anything but Duke’s defense!
But you know what? I need to get moving here and go outside and get some snow shoveled. Be back later, perhaps. Have a great day!
First off – congratulations to Swarthmore College on selecting its 14th president – and to Rebecca S. Chopp on being that person. She is currently the President of Colgate … and a scholar of religion and American Culture. Nice to have a woman there – and she sounds like a great choice.
Second – I heard a story on NPR while I was out and about shopping today … the kind of brief snippet that sets me to gnashing my teeth and/or wanting to scream. Apparently our ex-prez – Dubya, I mean – took a little trip to a Dallas hardware store this weekend. Joking in his back-slapping, towel-snapping way, he told the good folks at the store that he was looking for a job.
Yup – looking for a job. Hah, hah, hah.
This from the tin-eared, uncurious and morally bankrupt doofus who presided over the loss of million upon million of jobs. I do wish that he had to look for work. Any way we can cut off his pension and put it toward the deficit? Hah, hah, hah.
Oh my god. All I can say is “Oh, my god!” We added a wireless access point on the third floor of our house yesterday (where I am writing) and it has opened up whole new vistas! No longer do I wait for seemingly interminable minutes as screens open or posts get saved. No longer do I see that little red “X” that tells me I’m off line. Oh the sinking feelings gone! Oh the frustration erased from my days. Like the WordPress upgrade plugin I found earlier this week … this has been a time of technological magic. Ah February! Tho’ the economy may be continuing its dive, with no bottom in sight … I am happy in the knowledge that I can “watch” … uninterrupted … now.
So – what’s happening? Well, Obama is giving a big speech on Tuesday night … and yes, I definitely plan on watching. The stimulus bill that he signed into law will be rolling out with varying degrees of speed in the coming months – and there’s still lots of debate about its anticipated efficacy. I love the split that seems to be emerging between Republican Governors and mayors … and the GOPers in Congress.
Truth, on Main Street USA has offered a very succinct post (Hell No!) re. the rumored plan being touted by some – that would loot Social Security to address the deficit. William Greider, in The Nation, sounds the alarm …
“Governing elites in Washington and Wall Street have devised a fiendishly clever “grand bargain” they want President Obama to embrace in the name of “fiscal responsibility.” The government, they argue, having spent billions on bailing out the banks, can recover its costs by looting the Social Security system. They are also targeting Medicare and Medicaid. The pitch sounds preposterous to millions of ordinary working people anxious about their economic security and worried about their retirement years. But an impressive armada is lined up to push the idea–Washington’s leading think tanks, the prestige media, tax-exempt foundations, skillful propagandists posing as economic experts and a self-righteous billionaire spending his fortune to save the nation from the elderly.”
Read on, it’s an excellent and sobering piece. His proposed solution? That we begin contacting Obama now – supporting him in standing up to the pressure – putting millions of voices (and votes) behind him as the pressure mounts.
Meanwhile – on the stimulus front – I was psyched to see on Huffington Post a map of the proposed new and/or improved high speed rail lines. Can you imagine where we would be now if we hadn’t wasted 8 years mired in Bush-world? Ah – to be able to get places on trains – what a concept!
Women’s soccer is undergoing its own version of the stimulus as WPS gets into gear. This post from Stars and Stripes on BigSoccer outlines the potential impact of the new league on USWNT players’ pocketbooks. Nice to see these women able to make some $$.
And speaking of women (lame segue, I know) … March 8 is International Women’s Day. I’ve never been a big fan of “days” and “weeks” and “months” – as they seem at once marginalizing and celebratory. But it looks like some cool stuff is happening … and the site is interesting … and I guess it never hurts to pause and reflect, acknowledge, celebrate, and maybe even agitate!
Oh my god – and speaking of women – is it not totally refreshing to have Michelle Obama in the White House? Check out this recent event – where she invited 180 kids to the House and they toured and heard Sweet Honey in the Rock and had what sounds like an amazing and “real” time. Read the transcript of her remarks in the link. Authenticity in the White House … I could weep with relief (and with sadness, that it has been so long absent). Thanks, Michelle!
Phew – I feel like it’s been a long time since I sat down with some good strong coffee and just caught up here.
There’s lots of news in the soccer world as the WPS season kick-off is just weeks away! March 29th, to be exact. (I should probably think about taking a day or two off from work, as the convergence of the start of WPS and the crescendo of March Madness kinds of scares me … from a time/energy standpoint.
Anyway – on the WPS front, some quick notes:
The WPS Pre-season schedules have been posted on Women’s Soccer Show (GREAT place for women’s soccer info) with the final schedules due to be set by Monday. For Breakers fans, it looks like there could be a couple of matches here in New England – dates not yet set, though.
Japan’s Homere Sawa has signed her contract with the Freedom and is joined by French women’s national team captain Sonia Bompastor – the other international to sign with the Freedom so far.
Not only does the WPS draw from national teams around the world – it also gives opportunities to up and coming players, as the teams hold local, open try-outs prior to starting their training camps. The Chicago Red Stars, for example, have invited some local talent including Erin Walter and Tina Estrada and to try out … as are other teams around the country. What an opportunity!
I Am That Girl has put up a piece giving an overview of the league …
I don’t know if I’ve posted this or not, but here’s the Breakers’ write up re. the signing of Kelly Smith. (She is going to be fun to watch with A-Rod!)
Remember the WPS Game of the week – every Sunday, beginning March 29 on Fox Soccer Channel!
Sweden’s Caroline Jönsson has retired as goalkeeper for the Swedish National Team and is coming to the US to play for the Red Stars (Chicago) along with former Swedish Captain Frida Ostberg.
I was wondering whether Hanna Ljunberg had been signed anywhere yet and came upon this great listing of WPS players on the site. Nothing about Hanna, though. And where are the Germans? Birgit Prinz? Others? Maybe Birgit is waiting for Atlanta to come on line … 😉 (Oh, and Maren … won’t you come back to the Breakers?)
On the Germany front, I found my answer here … based on Lauren Gregg’s research, quoted in the linked piece, “players were under contract for long periods of time and have been requested to remain in Germany through World Cup 2011 by their national team coach.” That’s a drag!
Meanwhile – in International soccer news, the Algarve Cup kicks off …
Here’s the schedule on “And Nothing Less” – a nice Women’s Soccer Blog that I’ll add to my sidebar …
Here’s Pia’s 18-woman roster for the Algarve: GOALKEEPERS (2): Nicole Barnhart (3) (FC Gold Pride), Hope Solo (6) (St. Louis Athletica); DEFENDERS (5): Rachel Buehler (2) (FC Gold Pride), Lori Chalupny (6) (St. Louis Athletica), Kendall Fletcher (1) (Los Angeles Sol), Heather Mitts (5) (Boston Breakers), Christie Rampone (9) (Sky Blue FC); MIDFIELDERS (7): Shannon Boxx (6) (Los Angeles Sol), Tina DiMartino (1) (FC Gold Pride), Carli Lloyd (4) (Chicago Red Stars), Heather O’Reilly (7) (Sky Blue FC), Lindsay Tarpley (7) (Chicago Red Stars), Kacey White (1) (Sky Blue FC), Angie Woznuk (2) (St. Louis Athletica); FORWARDS (4): Angela Hucles (5) (Boston Breakers), Natasha Kai (4) (Sky Blue FC), Megan Rapinoe (1) (Chicago Red Stars), Amy Rodriguez (4) (Boston Breakers).
There wasn’t very much women’s college b-ball action (that I know of) last night. Here’s what we’ve got through Monday night on the TV schedule … remember the times shown are all Central!
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21
Texas at Texas A&M 11:00am Fox Sports Net
St. John’s at Marquette 1:00 Big East Sports Network
UNLV at BYU 4:00 CBS College Sports
Air Force at Colorado State 5:00 The Mtn.
South Florida at West Virginia 6:00 WVPBS
Oregon State at Cal Berkeley 8:00 Fox Sports Net
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22
Rhode Island at UMass 12:00 CBS College Sports
Boston College at Virginia 12:00 Fox /Comcast /NE Sports Net
Iowa State at Kansas 12:00 Fox Sports Net
Notre Dame at UConn 1:00 ESPNU
Georgia at Auburn 2:00 Fox Sports Net
Ohio State at Indiana 3:00 ESPN2
Duke at Maryland 4:00 Fox Sports Net
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23
Morgan State at Hampton 3:30 ESPNU
North Carolina at NC State 6:00 Fox /Comcast t/NE Sports Net
Oklahoma at Texas A&M 6:30 ESPN2
Minnesota at Northwestern 7:00 Big Ten Network
On the NH high school b-ball front, tournament time is upon us … and PaulaLR has quite a few tournament games on her officiating schedule this year Congratulations, Paula!
Was going to do a wee bit on the national news … and the depressing fact that Obama seems to be falling in line with some Bush doctines re. detainees … but I need to move on this morning … and frankly, it’s too depressing to open up that can of worms right now. Maybe tomorrow …
First off – if you use IE and can’t load JordanCornblog, please note that WordPress developers and designers have been fighting with Internet Explorer browser design issues and they recommend that you use the most recent browsers available, specifically FireFox 3, Google Chrome, and Safari 3.
I was having trouble opening this on my laptop and switched to Firefox … it then worked just fine.
In other news I see that The Post offered a grudging apology for that cartoon. Not enough. Not nearly enough.
On the b-ball front I see that Vandy upset Auburn – muust’ve been a great game! It’s gonna be a fascinating tournament!
Licorice Pizza: I'm starting anew here and have now been, twice, to Vax and Snax at Red River. These are Thursday night movies for vaccinated and masked folks, and you can get POPCORN! But I digress...Licorice Pizza was a sweet, coming-of-age in The Valley in the Seventies sort of movie that managed to include waterbeds and Jon Peters and two new stars -- Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman (son of Philip Seymour Hoffman).
If Beale Street Could Talk: Quiet, beautiful, heartfelt, devastating. America wears many masks. This movie strips a few of them away. It shines a light on quite a lot of ugliness. As well, it illuminates dignity and resilience in the face of a system built on the abuse of privilege and power. A perfect movie to see on the eve of what is hopefully Donald Trump's last SOTU.
Shoplifters: A beautifully honest, quiet movie that is at once uplifting and devastating. Universal questions are raised and left open for pondering. What is a family? How do people survive in our world today? And how do we judge their choices?
Green Book: Very enjoyable movie and yet deeply flawed. The white guy comes across as the hero in ways that are typical for the American movie industry, and comfortably misleading in terms of the realities of our culture. Especially in the current socio/political atmosphere, can't we do better than this?
On the Basis of Sex: We applauded, we cried, we felt so glad that RBG was as prescient as she was. And I felt personally glad that her love of opera clearly predates her connection with Scalia. What an inspiring woman -- and a good movie about her early years as a student, professor, and attorney.
The Favourite: Did I say that being a queen was no fun? This definitely seems to have carried forward to Queen Anne's reign. Strong performances again, and more belly laughs than you'd think. And right along with it, grief, emptiness, ambition, and gouty excess.
Mary Queen of Scots: Being a queen was no fun in the 16th century. Excellent, complex performances in this one. I found Elizabeth especially compelling. Very unclear who actually wins out in this one.
Another Year: Loved this one! It's about a couple, and their friends, and their lives – painful in spots, and wonderfully everyday and enriching, to my mind. Great performances – and who knew there was so much wine being drunk in England!?
Tiny Furniture: A young woman (aka Lena Dunham) comes home after graduating from college and tries to find herself – or not. A character study that I found humorous and touching – and sometimes a little disturbing and/or self-indulgent. It's definitely a privilege to have the leisure to "find oneself." After this..."Girls."
Rabbit Hole: Painful/powerful movie about loss and grieving. Hard to watch but well worth the effort, with a strong cast and an especially on the mark performance by Nicole Kidman. I continue to be glad to see that she is clearly outstripping Tom Cruise as an artist. You go girl!
The Kids Are Alright: Very enjoyable movie with great performances and an excellent cast. Two kids whose moms are lesbians decide they want to find out something about their "father" – and everything moves on from that point.
The King's Speech: Warm, funny, inspiring – and apparently a bit of a rewrite of history, to boot! Colin Firth puts out an amazing performance – and was well rewarded for it. Everyone else is great too, and if you're one of the few people left who hasn't seen it, it's definitely worth a look!
Black Swan: This is a disturbing movie that I really loved – and in case you haven't noticed, I do have a tendency to like disturbing movies. What's real and what isn't? You be the judge. Also, be on the lookout for Winona Ryder – you'll never recognize her!
Blue Valentine: A couple in trouble – how they started and how they got to where they are. A good movie with excellent performances that left me wondering, especially in Michelle Williams' case, whether she was thinking about what's his name (her partner who died suddenly – the guy who starred in Broke Back Mountain – for some reason I can't remember his name – oh yeah, Heath Ledger).
Shutter Island: A dark period piece that has the creepy feel of the 1950s (creepy to me at any rate) and has stayed with me more than I would've thought. A movie with surprises – definitely worth a look.
Cyrus: I don't remember this one so well, but have a vague recollection of walking out of the theater feeling not so enthralled. I believe it's supposed to be funny – but as you can tell it didn't really make an impression.
I Am Love: Really beautiful, sumptuous movie that made me hungry, just watching it. A keeper!
The Girl Who Played with Fire: The second in the three part series involving the girl with the dragon tattoo, this movie was much harder to watch than the first, as Salander's triumph isn't quite so clear at the end. Painful, painful, painful.
Scott Pilgrim Versus the World: I loved this comic book take on young love. Went to the movie on a whim and came away very happy to have seen it! Quite a few laugh out loud moments – and touching, as well.
Going the Distance: A very lightweight romcom that kinda left me feeling like I had just spent an hour and a half reading People magazine. In other words, pretty much a waste of time.
Never Let Me Go: Wow! This was an amazing, stark, and moving movie about kids who are basically raised to become organ donors. Very much worth seeing.
The Town: Ben Affleck's movie about bank robbers. It's okay. Not great, but okay. It does make me curious about Charlestown – will have to go there one day.
You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger: A Woody Allen movie that I honestly don't remember very well. It's pretty much about adults behaving badly – something that Woody knows a little something about.
The Social Network: The movie about Facebook. I found it very interesting and well done, and was especially fascinated/disturbed by the window on the incredible privilege and elitism still thriving at undergrad Harvard.
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest: Number three in the Dragon trilogy. I found this, in many ways, the weakest of the three movies – although that's not to say that it was weak. Perhaps my enjoyment was affected by the fact that I hadn't read the book. Anyway, it's a great trilogy and I was sorry to see it come to an end.
Fair Game: The movie about the Valerie Plame affair. One of the things that I found most interesting was how it uncovered my own biases, as she was clearly a very serious and talented agent, but because of her blonde haired beauty, I pretty much assumed that she was a lightweight in real life. I appreciated, also, the depiction of her husband as a bit of a media hound, which was how he seemed to me at the time. And of course, there are the despicable characters of the Bush administration. Glad they were on display in all their glory!
City Island: This was a fine, if predictable, movie about a family in which everyone has a secret and is telling lies. I mostly loved it because it gave me a glimpse of where my friend CB lives!
Winter's Bone: Wow! Unrelenting, stark, and ultimately uplifting – at least to my mind. This is a painful movie about life when you're the daughter of someone who runs a meth lab. Winter's Bone is a perfect title. J-Law is amazing!
Please Give: Quirky, sweet, slice-of-life movie. I loved the low-key character development and good humor of it all. Enjoyable, with a great cast and few false notes.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo: Tho' parts of the book were missing, this was an excellent rendition of an excellent book. Not for the faint of heart, tho'! Lisbeth Salander is an Emma Peel for the 21st Century (watch for more from Noomi Rapace - I will be)!
Me and Orson Welles: Or was it Orson Welles and me? (If Orson had anything to do with the title, I'm guessing the latter.) I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, even as it reminded me of why the world of the theatre holds absolutely no appeal for yours truly! Nice to see Claire Danes back ... still have to finish watching Temple Grandin, too!
Crazy Heart: I left this movie thinking ... "Eh?" but it has stayed with me. Jeff Bridges does give a wonderful performance. The amount of smoking and drinking was nauseating - as I guess it was supposed to be - all in an understated, Jeff Bridges sort of a way.
A Single Man: One of the best movies of the year in my book. Haunting, beautifully acted and filmed ... marred only by an unnecessarily heavy-handed ending, IMHO. That was the only flaw in an otherwise brilliant bit of artistry. Colin Firth was perfect, and this was an amazing writing/directing debut for Tom Ford! See it!!!
Young Victoria: I am eternally grateful to have not been born the heir to a throne. Life was confusing enough! This was an enjoyable, tear-jerker of a movie that left me wanting to know more about the details. Perhaps a bio for Bookeaters?
Precious: Wow, wow, wow. Two weeks in a row - another amazing movie at Red River. This is a challenging and important movie ... about life in America ... every single day ... everywhere.
The Messenger: Wow, wow, wow. This is one of the best movies I have seen in quite some time. Its focus is on two men who notifiy NOK (next of kin) when a soldier dies. It is a raw, wrenching, unflinching and uplifting journey - not to be missed. Seriously
Damned United: This was a study in soccer, ambition, and friendship. For soccer buffs who actually know the players (I'm a late-comer to the game) the movie would be that much better. I loved it, though - and recommend it highly.
A Serious Man: The Book of Job envisioned by the Coen brothers evoked the early sixties and suburbia with humor, pathos ... and a slightly nauseating quality that tells me they pretty much hit the nail on the head. As one of the goyim, I am sure there were hundreds of nuances that were lost on me ... but I loved it (nausea aside) nonetheless!
Cold Souls: The premise of this movie is deeply strange, yet it is presented in an entirely believable way. It's by turns very moving and then hilarious (in ways that, in retrospect, are hard to capture/explain). The ending leaves a puzzled feeling - but that's not really bothersome. In many ways, puzzled is the appropriate way to walk out of the theater after "Cold Souls." Check it out!
Adam: Nicely done! Not a movie that will stay with you for a long time, but I liked it. The father (Peter Gallagher) seemed a tad overdone -and unnecessarily so. Unmemorable soundtrack - but since I mention it, does that make it memorable? Now I'm starting to feel like Steven Wright - not necessarily a bad thing!
Taking Woodstock: Even going in with low expectations, this offering from Ang Lee just wasn't good. Vilma was a high point in an otherwise shoddy effort. Harsh, eh? And watch out, world - it's only 6:30 AM!
Julie and Julia: I was not as bothered by Julie as some reviewers were - maybe because I liked seeing a blogger hit the big time. Meryl Streep was amazing as Julia .. and this is definitely not a movie to see on an empty stomach! Never have I enjoyed watching people eat as much as I did watching this flick!
500 Days of Summer: I think I wasn't supposed to, but I loved it. Engaging characters and script, great soundtrack. Not as quirky and lovable as "Away We Go" - but not far behind, either.
Whatever Works: People either like or hate this latest offering from Woody Allen. I must admit that it's a little weird to see this May-December relationship on-screen, feeling so creeped out by Woody's real-life choices. But I'd say he pulls it off. There are some really great lines throughout the movie, and while not entirely believable, I didn't mind being along for the ride. A pleasant diversion for sure.
Goodbye, Solo: Interesting movie that basically contrasts life energy and death energy, IMHO. Solo is the epitome of resilience - love him! Meanwhile William seems bent on being miserable, for reasons that the movie leaves mysterious. I didn't find him very a likable or compelling character - but Solo makes up for it.
Moon: I hesitate to write this one up, as I was tired when I saw it - and missed portions. But form my bleary vantage point, this seemed an intriguing movie set on the moon and exploring themes of identity, isolation, etc. It was not my usual fare - and I wasn't up to snuff - but at least had the wherewithall to be able tell that it was quality work!
Cheri: I liked this a lot better than Easy Virtue - maybe because I went into it having already seen EV and had my expectations lowered. Michelle Pfeiffer and Kathy Bates are fun to watch as always - and I liked Rupert Friend in the title role. It all got a little too serious at the end - a tone-shift that didn't quite fit with the bulk of the movie. Still - a pleasant diversion on a rainy July evening!
Away We Go: This was an excellent movie in every regard. Great dialogue and plot line, endearing cast/characters, heartwarming/funny story that avoids tipping over into overly-sweet territory ... and great soundtrack, to boot! See it, if you haven't already.
Easy Virtue: Not my cup of tea - but I suspect it would have helped, going in, to know that this was a movie based on a Noel Coward play. The characters felt stilted and unbelievable to me, as it was - and I couldn't muster much concern for what became of them. All things considered, I'd rather have been in Philadelphia!
Sugar: Sugar is a baseball flick that is sweetly and realistically done - and definitely like no Hollywood film on the subject. The characters are real and the life is hard - and the film depicts it all in a matter-of-fact way that brings the realities home more surely than something more "dramatic" ever could. Two thumbs up on this one!
Sunshine Cleaning: Director Christine Jeffs has a winner in this tale about the hard times and resiliency of the Lorkowski family. Amy Adams, Emily Blunt and Alan Arkin shine in this movie about a bio-hazard clean-up company. Yes, that's correct. And the movie had the potential to cross the line into sappiness several times but demurred. For that I am eternally thankful. (Okay, eternally may be a little over the top.) Darn good flick, though - check it out.
Milk: Sean Penn deserves an Oscar for his amazing portrayal of Harvey Milk. It actually didn't even feel like a portrayal - more a channeling. Such a loss - that yet another creative and energetic and good leader, was senselessly murdered all those years ago. Fear, hatred and guns - why don't we remove at least the last ingredient in the tragic mix?
Doubt: Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman are amazing, and Viola Davis is a heartbreaking revelation in this battle royale. I was left with less doubt at the end than some of my compatriots ... but that took nothing away from the experience. Meryl Streep deserves an Oscar, IMHO ... and I definitely want her on my side, always!
Slumdog Millionaire: Just a great movie, start to finish. Magical,epic, and a nail-biter (even though you know what's going to happen ... pretty much. The dancing at the end did my heart good - and having M.I.A. in the soundtrack didn't hurt, either!
The Secret Life of Bees: Or was it The Secret Lives of Bees? Anyway, whatever - I want Queen Latifah to be my mother!!! (What was Bill Clinton thinking, throwing her under the bus all those years ago?) The movie was entertaining but not a home run by any means. Too predictable ... but Alicia Keys was wonderfully cranky-verging-on-scary and the Queen was queenly and the honey looked delicious and it was nice hearing India Arie in the soundtrack!
Happy Go Lucky: I think I was supposed to like this more than I did. Perhaps it suffered by being seen pretty much on the heels of Rachel. I found Poppy to be a sometimes intriguing and sometimes annoying character. The relentless joking and "upbeatness" felt distancing and unnecessary. I didn't hate this movie by any means - but something was missing for me.
Rachel Getting Married: Jonathan Demme and an amazing script and cast just blew me away with this effort. The characters are fascinating and complicated and most every interaction in the film left me engaged and wanting to know more! Debra Winger was stupendous - although it's been so long since I've seen her that I kept trying to find the bull-riding Urban Cowboy persona within the steely, distant mother of this wedding movie. (She's not there.) Margot at the Wedding was very good - but Rachel puts her in her place. I highly recommend this to everyone!
Religulous: Bill Maher skewers the rampant "illogic" of religion in this free-wheeling film. His wit is right on target and as barbed as you'd expect. I found myself squirming every once in awhile. I don't mind you picking on the Pope, Bill ... but same as with Michael Moore ... sometimes when you set up "common folks" to look like fools, I cringe. Still, Religulous is worth a look for sure. The best point Bill makes? That conservatives of a religulous bent are about finding answers - while liberals are about asking questions. I can go with that!
Roman de gare: This was an intriguing, surprising, suspenseful, funny, quirky movie that I thoroughly enjoyed. The characters and plot lines are deftly developed. You should definitely check it out if you get the chance!
Young at Heart: YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS MOVIE! It's a documentary about a choral group of octogenarians in Northampton, MA. Very inspiring ... definitely something to check out!
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day: Enjoyable, light fare with a stellar performance by my favorite police chief, Frances McDormand!
The Visitor: Now this was an excellent movie ... from start to finish. It was similar to Smart People in that it had an academic as the main character. However, all similarities ended pretty much right there. In this warm, funny, and wrenching movie, the characters are well and subtly developed, the plot is (unfortunately) believable ... and there are no false notes. I would urge you to see it - you won't be sorry!
Smart People: Looks like we're getting back on track with our Tuesday night movie schedule ... for the time being. Smart People was enjoyable but left me unenthralled. (It probably didn't help that we ran into a totally enthralled movie-goer on the way in who was seeing it for the second time. High expectations may have killed this one for me.) Overall, I found the characters exaggerated and mildly unlikeable ... the dialogue stilted and self-conscious, perhaps just the way smart people talk. But then the lessons about loosening up and being less self-absorbed weren't exactly ground-breaking. Overall, it wasn't a wasted evening ... but not a movie I'll be putting at the top of my list, either.
4 luni, 3 saptamani si 2 zile (4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days): Winner of the Palm D'Or at Cannes, this film by Romania's Cristian Mungiu certainly deserves the accolades it receives. It's a realistic and emotionally unflinching story of a woman who helps her friend obtain an illegal abortion in 1987 Romania. The story is harrowing, the acting wonderful, and the cinematography amazing. This film makes Juno look like Disney pablum!
Taxi to the Dark Side: This was a harrowing and eye-opening look at what our country has become under the leadership of Bush/Cheney after 9/11. The "road taken" has definitely been a trip to the dark side. Disgusting and important to see ... as we make our way back toward the light!
Michael Clayton: What an excellent movie! Engaging, engrossing, well-acted. Tilda Swinton certainly deserved an award for her protrayal of what I have to think must be the secret, inner life of Condi Rice.
Persepolis: This animated memoir is an engaging, heartbreaking, uplifting, realistic look at life in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. Go see it! It humanizes what our current regime so consistently tries to dehumanize. An important movie, Persepolis is based on the book by Marjane Satrapi.
Margot at the Wedding: Dark, funny, tough to watch and very well acted.
I'm Not There: Bob Dylan's not my favorite, but this was a fascinating movie to watch (albeit long) and since he wasn't there, I couldn't very well feel annoyed by him. Cate Blanchette was just amazing - and I loved the surreal, Fellini-esque feel of the Richard Gere parts.
Atonement: Lush, compelling, painful - I especially loved Vanessa Redgrave's starkly powerful 5 minutes - and the Fellini-esque (can you tell I love Fellini?) flavor of the scenes of the evacuating troops on the beach - complete with ferris wheels - somehow depicting the disorienting horror of war in ways that blood and gore never could. Great movie!
Juno: Well, I went to see it. I totally agree with my friends who found the clinic scene extremely misleading, off-base, and gratuitously negative in its depiction of the women's health movement and its workers. In an otherwise nice movie, this was a thoughtless lapse ... and I was sad to see so many women in Juno's age group in the theater (one of them actually pregnant) ... who'll be coming away with a false impression that could so seriously affect their lives!
The Savages: Wow, what a good movie! Philip Seymour Hoffman has had an amazing run this year between this, "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead," and that other movie with Tom Hanks ... the name of which is escaping me at the moment ... Charlie Somebody's War. Anyway - he and Laura Linney are just wonderful as siblings dealing with their aging/ailing father. Painful and real ... and set in gritty, wintry Buffalo ... in perfect contrast to Sun City. (The latter looks like a setting that would do David Lynch proud.) Check it out if you haven't seen it!
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