As has been pointed out to me by several people at this point … one of my clues was sorely misleading … a fact of which I am now sorely aware. I am feeling sorely ashamed and sorely sorry about misleading you, as I write this mea culpa.
Pia, of course, as I now see quite clearly, has two syllables. Pee-ah! What was I thinking? (Guess I was thinking it’s such a freaking tiny word … how could it have more than one syllable. I mean, really?!)
ChristopherCornblog still gets the fabulous prize, as is only fair. But if you decide that you can no longer visit or read this blog, I will certainly understand. I’ll be very sad, but I will understand.
As 2008 draws to a close, along with the nightmare that has been the Bush Presidency, we see a resurgence of violence in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Not so surprising, given the complex and festering problems in the region, and the incredibly superficial, simplistic, neocon approach touted by the Bushies. Obama takes office with a laundry list of problems either created, exacerbated or neglected by the idiot currently vacationing in Crawford, Texas … and his posse. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is right in there with the economy, Iraq, global-warming, etc. How many days do we have left?
In other tales of neglect verging on the criminal, it is noteworthy that, according to a Northeastern University study, murders among young black men have increased a staggering 40% since the Bush Administration stole the White House in 2000.
Seizing on President-elect Barack Obama’s incoming administration as an opportunity for more funding, Fox added: “There is an urgency for reinvestment in children and families. In essence, we need a bailout for kids at risk.”
Obama will be the nation’s first black president.
The study partly blamed Bush administration grant cuts to local police and juvenile crime prevention programs for the surge in crimes by young black men and teens.
Partly? How about cuts to Medicaid, education, mental health services? The list goes on and on and on. One can only fervently hope that the new year (and new administration) will bring better things to our yearning world.
Sorry to say it’s another one of those mornings when the household internet connection isn’t making it all the way to my computer, so I’m entering this post into Notepad and will upload it as soon as the connection is back.
Grey morning and very damp, English-looking outside. Willie is snoozing on my bed, and his twitching paws tell me that he is dreaming of chasing tennis balls or sticks – swimming, perhaps. It was this time of year back in 1998 – Christmas night, actually, that we lost our eight year old Yellow Lab Woody to cancer. He was a sweet, gentle, Lab-Samoyed mix and it was terribly sad to lose him so young. I find that, this time of year, I tend to look at nine-year old Willie with a touch of apprehension. Once we’ve made it through the holidays, I relax … as if getting through that time makes him magically safe for another year. Anyway, Willie sleeps and dreams, in his spot on my morning bed – quite oblivious to the nagging human thoughts about mortality that are focused on him. (Lucky dog.)
I read, last night, the further secret word guesses by Alice and CB … all quite impressive one-syllable words starting with “p” – but sadly, none correct.
Depending on your perspective, CB came frighteningly (or happily) close a few times. But so far, the fabulous JordanCornblog prize remains unclaimed!
Who will win? And what will we think when all is said and done? Was the prize claimed because he/she:
a) Cheated?
b) Was lucky?
c) Is a genius?
d) It was her/his destiny?
Weighty questions, eh? Let’s see what today brings …
There’s a very interesting article posted on Christmas Eve in the NY Times about Elizabeth Alexander – the poet who’ll be reading at Obama’s Inauguration.
… and here is a reading by aichlee of the venus hottentot by Ms. Alexander. The reading by aichlee reminds me a little of Jill Scott’s musical voice – lovely.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziDenpK_mZM
… and here is a lovely, disturbing poem by EA titled Blues …from Poets.org …
Blues by Elizabeth Alexander
I am lazy, the laziest
girl in the world. I sleep during
the day when I want to, ’til
my face is creased and swollen,
’til my lips are dry and hot. I
eat as I please: cookies and milk
after lunch, butter and sour cream
on my baked potato, foods that
slothful people eat, that turn
yellow and opaque beneath the skin.
Sometimes come dinnertime Sunday
I am still in my nightgown, the one
with the lace trim listing because
I have not mended it. Many days
I do not exercise, only
consider it, then rub my curdy
belly and lie down. Even
my poems are lazy. I use
syllabics instead of iambs,
prefer slant to the gong of full rhyme,
write briefly while others go
for pages. And yesterday,
for example, I did not work at all!
I got in my car and I drove
to factory outlet stores, purchased
stockings and panties and socks
with my father’s money.
To think, in childhood I missed only
one day of school per year. I went
to ballet class four days a week
at four-forty-five and on
Saturdays, beginning always
with plie, ending with curtsy.
To think, I knew only industry,
the industry of my race
and of immigrants, the radio
tuned always to the station
that said, Line up your summer
job months in advance. Work hard
and do not shame your family,
who worked hard to give you what you have.
There is no sin but sloth. Burn
to a wick and keep moving.
I avoided sleep for years,
up at night replaying
evening news stories about
nearby jailbreaks, fat people
who ate fried chicken and woke up
dead. In sleep I am looking
for poems in the shape of open
V’s of birds flying in formation,
or open arms saying, I forgive you, all.
Last … but surely not least … an inspiring piece about Obama’s work-out regimen – that I will assuredly be taking to heart in a few days when the resolutions kick in (as I have every confidence they will this year)!
First off, Chip Saltsmann. The candidate for the chairmanship of the RNC sent around a Holiday CD that reminds us all, yet again, of why the Republican Party is having such a hard time these days. Here’s one of the songs (brought to us via You Tube) …
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvXz2xaLNMQ
I am not surprised that the RNC would have its head up its butt … but the truly amazing thing is how FAR up its butt that old GOP head can get!
Meanwhile, in a turn of events that is probably quite shocking for President Bush (although we suspect he is unaware of it), recent polls indicate that 3/4 of the American people are glad to see the Prez go. We hate him – we hate him! An even larger percentage hope that he pretty much disappears and is never heard from again. (I actually hope that we hear a LOT about him and his cronies in the coming years, as they are indicted and tried for crimes they committed while in office.)
And I have to say that it kinda bugs me that we, as a nation, are not doing some soul-searching as we repudiate the guy. I certainly don’t mind the repudiation – but we are a populace that elected Dubya twice. Okay – once – and maybe not even that. But the fact that he ever got enough votes to even make it close – either time – is an indictment of us – not just him. I hope that we have learned something over the past eight years – and will start listening to the angels of our better natures as we cast our votes (rather than the fears and hatreds stirred up by “mongerers” of various stripes – like the dude running for the RNC chair – just for instance.)
I read on Politico that Jeb Bush is looking like a candidate for the Florida Senate. Enough already. Really. Enough.
HollyCornblog sent along another sunrise photo from Cape May … taken yesterday morning. Today they are in Philly – and tomorrow they head home.
Here in NH, the movie-going at Red River has been especially enjoyable of late, with Slumdog Millionaire before Christmas, and Doubt last night. Both were excellent – and I was particularly blown away by Meryl Streep’s nuanced performance. Pat Summitt in a habit … not someone to mess with, that’s for sure!
Okay – so I promised another clue in the very exciting JordanCornblog secret word contest. Hmmmm. Don’t want to give it away Let’s just say that when you hear what the word is, you’ll realize that it’s something that JordanCornblog and Boltgirl are pretty much on the same page about – and Princess Sparkle Pony wouldn’t even wave a sparkly hoof at. Good luck – I’m sure it’s right on the tip of your tongue!
Here’s hoping you had a nice holiday … as the sun rises on December 26, 2008. I thought I’d share a couple of photos that HollyCornblog sent along from Cape May, New Jersey. Here’s sunrise on the beach (yesterday). Check out the gulls silhouetted against the waves.
It sounded like it was a gorgeous day for strolling along the beach. Here in NH it was pretty warm and sunny – and much of the snow that we all shoveled or blew or otherwise removed just a few days ago – disappeared.
So anyway – here’s HollyCornblog’s second beach picture – this of the sunset – looking South toward Cape May Point and its lighthouse … and Delaware Bay.
You probably need to click on both pictures to be able to see any kind of detail.
I see from the Visitor Locations in the sidebar (that misspelling is an artifact of the widget, by the way … wish I could fix it but I can’t). Anyway, I see a visitor from Havertown … Hi CB! I hope you made it to the Llanerch Diner this trip! It sounds like it isn’t exactly the same (based on some of the reviews on Yelp) – but it sure looks the same. Especially on the inside 😉
Sorry, guys – not much is striking me today, news-wise. I’ll have to get back up to speed tomorrow morning (when I don’t have to run off to work). 😦
In the meantime, here’s a special JordanCornblog offer for the new year. (This springs from my fond memory of an offer CB made in the midst of a yard sale at our house back in 1977 or 78 … one summer Saturday … not far from the Llanerch Diner, by the way. She put up a sign at the table where we were taking money. It said, “Say the Secret Word and Win a Prize.” No one won that day, as I remember … but CB’s (and Groucho’s) idea stuck with me.
So that’s the offer, here – say the secret word – and win a wonderful product from the JordanCornblog Store. (And no, dear reader … it won’t be a thong!)
I have a secret word in mind … really … and have even written it down, so I don’t forget. Write the secret word in a comment … and a fabulous prize will be yours!
What can I say? Bah Humbug, maybe? The Compassionate Conservative took back one of his pardons yesterday to avoid the appearance of impropriety. Who knows what’s really going on with all that … all I can see is yet another example of the sloppiness and ineptitude of this administration. Still counting the days here.
And the episode reminds me of one of my favorite HollyCornblog sayings …when, in the midst of some childhood argument, someone said to her, “What’s given is given.” She retorted, “What’s tooken back is tooken back!” You go girl!
Love this video sent to me by HollyCornblog – a lovely tribute to the late Israel Kamakawiwo’ole featuring his rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
little tree
little silent Christmas tree
you are so little
you are more like a flower
who found you in the green forest
and were you very sorry to come away?
see i will comfort you
because you smell so sweetly
i will kiss your cool bark
and hug you safe and tight
just as your mother would,
only don’t be afraid
look the spangles
that sleep all the year in a dark box
dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,
the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,
put up your little arms
and i’ll give them all to you to hold
every finger shall have its ring
and there won’t be a single place dark or unhappy
then when you’re quite dressed
you’ll stand in the window for everyone to see
and how they’ll stare!
oh but you’ll be very proud
and my little sister and i will take hands
and looking up at our beautiful tree
we’ll dance and sing
“Noel Noel”
Hey – thanks for the game, Stephen. Very satisfying (especially with the sound turned up)!
What else have we today? A brief comment from Nate Silver that takes a slightly different perspective on the Rick Warren controversy – basically looking at what it reflects about shifting public opinion and the increased energy coming form the left. My only question, though … who is this John Kerry that he mentions? 😉
Meanwhile we read of the difficulties that the GOP is having finding anything to criticize about the President-Elect. This is good news as a reflection of Obama’s adroitness – although much of the”quiet” is also attributable to the country’s dire circumstances. (Hopefully, as he takes office and begins to steer the ship of state, the left will be happier and the GOP will find much more to criticize.)
Of course, it does no harm that Obama’s physique, as well as his decisions, have been difficult to criticize so far. (Wish the same could be said for the security surrounding him. Come on guys – how does someone just walk up and snap a photo of the President-Elect?) meanwhile, the slide show of other shirtless Presidents really puts it all into perspective.
Finally, in the spirit of Christmas Bush continues to issue pardons – with 19 yesterday and more to come. (And as Cheney admits to more and more wrongdoing doesn’t it feel like he’s gonna be added to the list sooner or later? And then of course there’s Scooter – whose sentence was commuted by Bush, but who still needs to be pardoned. Ugh.
It’s indictments we need, not pardons …
Damn, I was starting to feel kinda good … now I feel like Scrooge!
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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