Whoo hoo! I got up early enough to do a little working out before hitting the computer – and all looks brighter. Amazing what a little circulating blood can do, eh? I am raring to go now …
But first, a few snippets of news as the sun begins to color the eastern horizon …
Here is Obama’s response to a question from The Huffington Post’s Sam Stein – about prosecuting Bushies for crimes against every last one of us:
My view is also that nobody’s above the law and, if there are clear instances of wrongdoing, that people should be prosecuted just like any ordinary citizen.
But that, generally speaking, I’m more interested in looking forward than I am in looking backwards … read on for more …
We get your drift, Mr. President. But I do hope you read Senator Leahy’s proposal and consider that moving forward, without dealing with this shit is not really moving forward.
“Many Americans feel we need to get to the bottom of what went wrong,” said Leahy. “I agree. We need to be able to read the page before we turn the page.”
I imagine the Bushies are hoping that the country is in too much economic turmoil to have the time or energy to address their illegal deeds or to come to grips with the fact that among the “evil doers” of the past decade, they are right there in the mix.
What I’m hoping is that Obama will think this through and do the right thing.
Other news? Tony DiCicco is giving a talk on Positive Coaching at Masconomet High School on 2/24 down in Massachusetts … for all you coaches out there. And I’m reading a lot on the net about Kelly Smith’s signing with the Breakers – and the reaction in England, where her club, Arsenal, was stunned by the move.
Got me thinking about the impact of the WPS around the world, as European clubs lose star players to the US franchises. I can feel myself cringing just a little – with the feeling (not unfamiliar) of the US shouldering and shoving its way to the front of the line (yet again). We can get so focused, over here, on wanting the league to survive and outstrip its predecessor WUSA … that we forget the impact that its creation has on global soccer ecology.
Of course, the other reality is that these women have every right to try to earn as much as they can at their chosen (and time-limited) careers … and if their clubs want to, they can match or better whatever the WPS is offering.
All that notwithstanding, as I watch Kelly Smith and Marta and Homere Sawa and others race around the pitch this spring, it’ll be with some acknowledgment of the fact that my seeing them is at the expense of someone seeing them in England or Sweden or … you get the picture.
Obama is on the road pushing the stimulus package – and here’s his Saturday message. While I remain somewhat mystified and somewhat uncomfortable with the banking end of things … the stimulus package seems a no-brainer to me. As Robert Kuttner writes:
As the recession deepens, if Obama does his job he will mobilize public opinion and isolate Republicans who would rather sink the economy than give a Democratic president legislative success. The current recovery bill is a good first step.
Let’s get this done, people!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqAcRb2nf0U
So why is Jeanne Shaheen on the list of Senators working to strip money out of the stimulus? Write to her and ask … I will. Here’s her contact information … and I see we’ll have to call – looks like she doesn’t have e-mail???? Wonder why she’s just about the only Senator without an e-mail address listed … very odd.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen
Democrat – New Hampshire
G55 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
DC Phone: 202-224-2841
I feel overall cranky and quick-to-anger when it comes to Shaheen. I was psyched to see her elected, given the alternative … and psyched to see her become our senior senator (again, given the alternative). But my level of trust was sorely shaken by her long ago veto – when she was Governor and NH repealed the Death Penalty and she did not let that stand. I will never understand that – and always feels disappointed/slightly mistrustful.
So anyway, Jeanne – could you get your e-mail set up and let us contact you more easily? That would be very democratic of you … thanks!
In the meantime, here’s a nice site for tracking Shaheen’s work in the Senate – from a Progressive perspective … and another
PS UNC vs Duke in women’s b-ball tonight … BE THERE!
I’m loving the warmer temps here in NH, as the sun rises on this February Sunday!
Have you heard of Jennifer Figge? She just completed the amazing feat of swimming from the Cape Verde Islands to Trinidad … at the age of 56. (And I can’t even get myself to exercise for 15 minutes these days!) She plans to continue her journey – from Trinidad to the British Virgin Islands … after a breif rest (and I do mean brief). Here’s a description of her typical day:
Figge woke most days around 7 a.m., eating pasta and baked potatoes while she and the crew assessed the weather. Her longest stint in the water was about eight hours, and her shortest was 21 minutes. Crew members would throw bottles of energy drinks as she swam; if the seas were too rough, divers would deliver them in person. At night she ate meat, fish and peanut butter, replenishing the estimated 8,000 calories she burned a day.
Figge wore a red cap and wet suit, with her only good-luck charm underneath: an old, red shirt to guard against chafing, signed by friends, relatives and her father, who recently died.
The other cherished possession she kept onboard was a picture of Gertrude Ederle, an American who became the first woman to swim across the English Channel.
“We have a few things in common,” Figge said. “She wore a red hat and she was of German descent. We both talk to the sea, and neither one of us wanted to get out.”
Figge arrived on Trinidad’s Chacachacare Island, an abandoned leper colony, at 5:20 p.m. She plans to leave Trinidad on Monday night.
You can visit her Facebook page and become a fan here …
Since my e-mail debacle, I haven’t caught up with all the feeds and e-mail updates that used to come to my Verizon address … so am a little behind on soccer news most especially. So, for example, who knew that WPS unveiled its full schedule on Thursday! Here’s the link to the actual schedule … where you can purchase tickets, see which games (so far) will be on TV … and begin tracking the Breakers’ wins for the 2009 season! Opening day is March 29th, with the Freedom playing the Sol (that’s Abby vs Marta for some). The game is at 6PM ET and will be aired on the Fox Soccer Channel (my one and only reason for appreciating Fox in any way). Date Opponent Venue Time TV
Sun, Apr 5 FC Gold Pride Santa Clara, Calif. TBA FSC
Sat, Apr 11 Saint Louis Athletica HOME 7PM
Sat, Apr 18 Washington Freedom Germantown, Md. TBA
Sat, Apr 25 Chicago Red Stars Bridgeview, Ill. TBA
Sat, May 2 Los Angeles Sol HOME 7PM
Sun, May 10 Los Angeles Sol Carson, Calif. TBA
Sun, May 17 Washington Freedom HOME TBA FSC
Sun, May 31 Sky Blue FC Bridgewater, N.J. TBA FSC
Sun, June 14 Saint Louis Athletica HOME TBA FSC
Wed, June 17 FC Gold Pride HOME 7PM
Sat, June 20 Chicago Red Stars Bridgeview, Ill. TBA
Wed, June 24 Washington Freedom HOME 7PM
Sat, July 4 Sky Blue FC Bridgewater, N.J. TBA
Sun, July 12 Sky Blue FC HOME TBA FSC
Wed, July 15 Chicago Red Stars HOME 7PM
Sun, July 19 FC Gold Pride Santa Clara, Calif. TBA
Sat, July 25 Sky Blue FC HOME 7PM
Wed, July 29 Washington Freedom Germantown, Md. TBA
Sat, Aug 1 Saint Louis Athletica Edwardsville, Ill. TBA
Sun, Aug 9 Los Angeles Sol HOME 4PM
WPS Playoffs
Sat, Aug 15 First Round (#4 at #3) Home of #3 seed TBA
Aug 18/19 Super Semifinal
(Winner at #2) Home of #2 seed TBA
Sat, Aug 22 WPS Final
(Winner at #1) Home of #1 seed TBA
Sorry for not keeping better track of the women’s b-ball slate on TV … we totally missed the boat on that Tennessee-Georgia match-up (and could easily have watched). Darn! Here’s the schedule for today (Central time … remember.)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7
MAC wildcard game
11:00am
ESPNU
Kansas State at Baylor
11:00am
Fox Sports Net
Northern Illinois at Kent State
12:00
Fox Sports Net
Villanova at Seton Hall
1:00
Big East Sports Net
Indiana State at Illinois State
1:00
ESPNU
Oregon at Arizona
1:00
Fox Sports Net
Kansas at Missouri
1:00
Fox Sports Net
Northwest Nazarene at Seattle Pacific
2:00
CBS College Sports
Lehigh at American
3:00
ESPNU
Iowa State at Colorado
3:00
Fox Sports Net
Binghamton at Albany
3:30
TW3
UConn at Marquette
7:00
CPTV
So what else is going on today? I’m off to Portsmouth for an opera … sounds like it’ll be a LONG one (>3 hours with two intermissions). Wonder if bringing a laptop would be frowned on … hmmmm.
After that Bookeaters have a “meeting” to discuss our latest book (which I have not finished and will need to make a confession about). The book? The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. (Who knew that Junot Diaz was an MIT prof? Practically a neighbor. I could have asked him about all the stuff I didn’t understand!) Anyway – it’s a wonderful book … I’m just excruciatingly slow at getting through things these days. Oh yeah – we’re “meeting” at the Green Monkey … a great spot!
Finally, the sad news about Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s cancer brings to the fore the judicial choices that will be confronting President Obama. My modest proposal? What about appointing Anita Hill? She has kept her hand in the business and seems quite well respected. She’s a professor of social policy, law and women’s studies at Brandeis University, and was, in 2007, a visiting scholar at the Newhouse Center for the Humanities at Wellesley College. I think she’s make a nice counter-balance to Scalia and Thomas – and it would be nice to see Clarence Thomas squirm just a bit. Wouldn’t it?
Let’s buy the man a coke and watch the fun. Come on, Barack – the guy deserves to be very, very, very uncomfortable.
Pat Summitt’s Lady Vols gave her a solid, at-home victory over Georgia … and her 1000th win last night! She wanted to hit the milestone at home on the court named after her – and she did – thanks to her “Baby Vols” – a team that includes 7 freshmen!
How does she do it? Leadership – according to Mechelle Voepel. I love the snippet of a scene that Mechelle describes at the start of her post …
Wednesday during a teleconference with Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, someone who had called in apparently was in a room where people walked in and started joking around.
At least that’s what it sounded like. Summitt was talking about preparing for Georgia… and then we heard some yucking up … and then Summitt paused.
“Somebody having a party?” she asked.
OK, you can read that sentence and imagine it being said in various tones of voice.
But here’s the tone it was: “I’m not mad, but it sure wouldn’t take much.”
Can’t you just imagine yourself sitting in that room? I assure you, I’d be hitting that mute button damn fast (assuming I could find it)!
Ironically, even as they achieved this milestone, the Lady Vols may be knocked out of the top 15 for the first time in MANY years. The parity in D-1 women’s hoops seems particularly marked this year (with the possible exception of UConn – a team that is looking rater unbeatable at the moment). It could make for a very interesting tournament this year!
Other news?
Well … Fox (and other Murdoch enterprises) suffered some huge losses (can you say 6.4 billion) in this most recent quarter. (Oh, I am so sad …) And then there’s the shocking evidence of informality in the Bush White House …
Yes, it’s true – a jacketless Dubya is show here respecting the office and talking to his friend (and future Supreme Court nominee) Harriet Meiers.
Here’s Obama (part 1 of 3) rallying the troops … looks like the later “chapters” haven’t been posted yet (as of this morning). Nice job, O!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0OMIUA1SvQ
Last thing – check out Boltgirl’s post about Maddow on Martha Stewart. Wow is all I can say. Wow. Rachel mixing drinks … 😉
Thanks for the great post, Stephen. I’m in the midst of an audit at my day job, and so have been a bit neglectful of the JordanCornblog part of my life. Things should be calming down soon, though.
Been thinking about the stimulus plan and I have to say that the one I like best is the one introduced by Jon Stewart.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l54HzdbHvMM
Seriously. It gets rid of the consumer debt (no need for those bad banks) … gets money into the economy via the “trickle up” route that has worked in the past. Where’s the downside? Yeah – some folks might be getting money who “don’t deserve it.” But you know what – I’d much rather see little guys who “don’t deserve it” get the money … than fat cats who “don’t deserve it.”
I’m going to tell Obama about this, somehow … I think it’s the way to go. Trickle Up … and infrastructure, too.
(And no, I don’t personally have a lot of credit card debt … so the self-interest angle isn’t operative here.)
Barack – are you reading this? How can I get this onto your Blackberry?
So, the Republican Party opposes the stimulus package being floated by Obama and crew. Shock. They have posted their list of wasteful things from the stimulus package, in a rather transparent attempt to stir outrage in the hearts and minds of the like-minded (read: close-minded) and like-educated (read: ignorant) among us. I must say that reading this list, I did note one or two items that seem either enough outside the scope of “things that will really help the economy” or just seemed like way too much money for the work detailed. The tax break for Hollywood producers seems silly, I get that. And, $88 million seems like an awful lot of money to build a boat.
However, I think a very good argument can be made that a majority of those items listed will actually have real impact on the economy — both in terms of short-term job creation as well as long-term cost savings. Some of that savings is measurable and real (like in the case of buying hybrids for government employees — instead of gas-guzzling SUVs) and some may have an even greater, less-predictable impact (like the smoking, drug/alcohol prevention lines).
But what really gets my goose is how the Republicans can’t seem to get over the fact that their tried and true (read: truly a failure) concept that “tax cuts cure all that ails you” just plain doesn’t work. Lets look beyond the hypocrisy of “how dare you ram legislation through Congress without consulting us” that they were crying a week or so ago.
The secondary response to the stimulus was just as bogus: we want more tax cuts. You dumbasses, cutting taxes while increasing spending is a major reason we’re in such a mess right now! China practically owns us (along with Japan and a few other countries). What do you think 98.3% of Americans will do with their tax cut? Will they stimulate the economy with it? If they’re smart, they will save it or use it to pay off credit card debt. In many cases, it will go right to Wal-Mart or the local Shop N’ Save. Will they invest? Will they go buy a new car? Consumer goods? It hasn’t happened that way in the past… but don’t let history get in the way of a cool idea guys, just keep on keeping on!
Which brings me to the latest trumpeting from the right wing(nuts). Now, Republicans want to… drum roll please… put $300 billion into making it easier for people to buy homes. Yes, good idea, lets come up with cute ways to get people to buy homes they otherwise couldn’t afford! Um, a big WTF goes out to the Republican party: wasn’t it exactly that same concept — although executed differently than this plan — that most people agree triggered the global economic meltdown we’re in? We have to get people to buy up this over-supply of homes on the market. Gee, you mean your ill-advised, supply-side policies continue to backfire? To me, what they’re saying is “let’s fight fire with fire” which only seems to work when you’re actually fighting fires. Even then, I’m pretty sure that fighting fire with fire ultimately leads to an even bigger firestorm.
Trickle-down economics don’t work. Never have. Supply-side, voodoo, whatever you want to call it. These pillars of Republican economic policy have done nothing but consolidate wealth among the Rich White Men’s Club (RWMC) while sending a big, foamy middle finger out to the rest of the country. Cut taxes, wage war, deregulate, borrow and spend… as if the Republicans have even a little toe to stand on when it comes to economic policy!
Is there any chance we’ll be able to drive them into remission, if not out-right extinction???
While Tom Daschle exits stage right, head bowed, the UConn Huskies continue hold their heads very, very high as they dominate all comers on the hardwood. The women defeated Rutgers last night … quite handily. Meanwhile, the men are ranked # 1, too. Can they sustain it through March Madness?
Randomly … since I’m out of time this morning, here’s Obama singing a snippet of “Chain of Fools.” Might be something he’d like to sing these days re. some of the recent cabinet snafu’s … just thinking.
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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