The announcement yesterday of Obama’s national security team brought no surprises, but it wil surely be interesting to see how things unfold – most particularly between Obama and Clinton. This piece from the Washington Post (by Michael Abramowitz and Glenn Kessler) emphasizes the importance of the Obama-Clinton relationship – and the challenges they will confront in forging it.
I watched Hardball last night on MSNBC and wanted to jump through the TV and strangle Christopher Hitchens – who seems to be verging on the delusional (and certainly the obsessive) when it comes to the Clintons. Watch Obama respond to the press … then Hitchens spewing – and then (FINALLY) Joan Walsh smacking him down!
What a precious, polemical twit he is, huh? At least it gets the blood flowing on a chilly morning.
Yup, it’s December 2. I’m coming to the end of a very long string of vacation days (Thanks, Riverbend! And hey – that Annual Report is looking good!) and predictably feeling some remorse about the things on my To Do List that I didn’t get to. Today I’ve gotta make a dent in that pile of chiminea wood that needs to be sawed up before the snow flies. And I wish I could take some prophylactic naps, to pile up “savings” in my sleep account – but unfortunately it doesn’t work that way, huh? I’m trying not to focus on the books I didn’t read, the exercise I didn’t get, etc. It’s amazing, eh? How reflexively we undermine ourselves?
I was thinking yesterday that a vacation is a little like a small lifetime … filled with hopes, expectations, plans, disappointments. Okay – I realize it’s a little overblown – but I’m seeing the way I approach the end of a vacation as a cautionary preview of the way I might approach the end of my life. Good to see it now and be able to prepare, so that I’m not filled with regret or berating myself as I prepare to greet St. Peter! Sheesh!
So I’m off to saw up some wood and savor these last couple of days. You?
October
The orange moon crisps the garden parsley and
bright marigolds shadow blue on white pickets and
sunlight stipples slow turning greenery and
from cedar-smelling caches come courderoys and comforters.
November
Grey trees honed sharp tangle high cirrus wisps and
the lavender west lights windows sealed against the season and
woodsmoke speaks warm hearths, Russian novels, and steeped tea,
whie in dusky gusts staccato leaves crackle, gutter strewn.
December
Between steel earth and crystal sky
no impediments now. No soft draperies.
Only the secret snow massing somewhere,
poised over the dark Solstice, waiting to pour.
by moi 😉
Oops – and I nearly forgot – the song for today. here’s to working it out!
We’ve got a dusting of snow to start us off in December. Warmish temps today will make it all go away – but I am hopeful that this augers another snow-filled winter (like last year). The snow shoes are out and ready for whatever the skies bring!
First off, congratulations to CB for making a miraculous turn-around on the civics front.
I did a little bit of research on Stephen’s comment re. Firefox and discovered what I had feared … sarcasm! 😉 The meaning of PEBKAC? “Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair.” (It’s a NEW chair, I might add!) For A/V I didn’t find anything very interesting.
My Firefox still is screwy and annoying … but in researching Stephen’s input I did find All Acronyms – a nice site for figuring out what people are saying to you!
So, what have we this morning? On the Huffington Post you can peruse Obama’s “Seventies Style” – for those feeling nostalgic.
One of the oddest stories I noticed yesterday was about Plaxico Burress shooting himself in the leg. That seems a particularly inept and bizarre move in a strange year for Plaxico. The Redskins-Giants game was looking like a close call anyway – but now that Mr. Burress has removed himself from the field again (I’m assuming you don’t play after shooting yourself in the leg) my money is definitely on the Redskins.
Then there’s the interesting, ongoing back and forth about whether or not Chris Matthews is going to run for the Senate in Pennsylvania. He’d be a Democrat – and I surely wouldn’t mind another Dem in there … but I’d miss Hardball! Arlen Specter sure doesn’t look well, does he? Of the Republican pool, I’ve always appreciated Specter as a pro-choice moderate who would stand up to the right wing of his party. But another 6 years at 78 and with a recurrence of Hodgkin’s disease this year .. seems a tough sell. Chris is denying the rumors – but that just seems de rigeur at this point in the process. Who knows what’s really up.
I got very involved (overly involved, some might say) in updating my Firefox Browser – adding all sorts of bells and whistles that now have me pretty thoroughly confused. I am so protected against phishing and viruses and other nasty intruders that it can take several tries to even get a new site opened. Then there’s the weird behavior of my tabs. I won’t bore you with the details …
I managed to watch a couple of episodes of 30 Rock on Cooliris yesterday and that was very cool. The possibilities (for eating up time) are endless!
On the DI NCAA Women’s soccer front, the final four are set. They are (drumroll): Notre Dame-Stanford and UCLA-UNC. (UCLA was the last to take a slot – after drubbing Duke 6-1 – yikes!) The upcoming games are on ESPNU and ESPN2 on Friday and Sunday.
Time to get moving on the day. Since the Eagles have already taken care of business for the week, all I really have on my football To Do list is to root against the Giants. Or I wonder if I should actually be rooting against the Redskins, to help the birds’ play-off hopes. Gosh – that would be difficult!)
Went to see Rachel Getting Married at the Red River Theatres last night – and I would HIGHLY recommend it. Here’s a link to a bunch of reviews … nearly all just as positive as the one I have in my head (and will add to the sidebar sometime today). 😉
From ChristopherCornblog, here’s a Civics Quiz found on the Civics Literacy Report site. It was a challenge. Take it a post your results in the Comments if you dare! (I’ll share mine, too … but someone else has to go first!)
We’re going to be closely following the NikeCross Nationals – Northeast Regional Cross Country Race this morning … and rooting madly for therunner who broke bread with us on Thursday. You go girl!!
Today is Bronson Alcott’s birthday (Amos Bronson Alcott to be precise). Along with Abraham Lincoln and Walt Whitman, he was a high school hero of mine. (In college I took a turn to the darker side … Plath, Sexton, etc. Even with antidotes like the Berrigan brothers and Thomas Merton, it took awhile to dig out after that!)
Last but not least – here’s a poem cribbed from this morning’s posting on The Writer’s Almanac. It captures a certain feel that November has, don’t you think? The greyness (or grayness). The feeling of portent. It all sounds so negative on its face – but I don’t find it so. Not at all.
Purgatory Is Nearer in November by Josephine Jacobsen
November is beautiful as the word sounds, is gray, is bare,
Is compact of wind, of leaves blown and the thin, tall rain;
Brought back to our care are the dead in November,
and the air of these days is charged with their pain.
For these are not the free dead, not the remote, bright crowd
Of our picture-book, or our image of nebulous heaven:
These are caught, tangled in a web comfortless as a shroud-
These have not familiar place, nor flight, nor oblivion, even.
They have not escaped yet-they are close in the clouds massing together;
At the cold first drop you will stare on the dark ground and remember.
They are the accent of autumn, they are the source of the tone of this weather.
The heart is reached by the waiting dead, in their month, in November.
This isn’t funny at all. It’s bizarre. Unfathomable. It’s one of those incidents that makes me feel like America is just a big, mindless appetite, ravening and rampaging.
Suddenly, witnesses and the police said, the doors shattered, and the shrieking mob surged through in a blind rush for holiday bargains. One worker, Jdimytai Damour, 34, was thrown back onto the black linoleum tiles and trampled in the stampede that streamed over and around him. Others who had stood alongside Mr. Damour trying to hold the doors were also hurled back and run over, witnesses said.
And the worst of it is that, even after the tragedy, people wanted to keep shopping. As one bystander reported:“When they were saying they had to leave, that an employee got killed, people were yelling, ‘I’ve been on line since yesterday morning,’ ” Ms. Cribbs told The Associated Press. “They kept shopping.”
My initial reaction to this was to think that, as I said above, America is a nation addicted, not just to oil, but to consuming. I believe that is true – and can see ways that I am touched by the bug myself (can you say electronic gadgets?). We’ve long been consumed with consuming, and it seems like it’s been accelerating in recent years. Hell, in times of crisis, our asinine-addict-in-chief has told us all to go shopping. Talk about appealing to our better angels! Yeah – that’s a great idea Dubya – thanks for the inspiring leadership.
Anyway – so I do see us as desperately addicted to consuming. It’s one reason that this economic downturn is going to be so challenging. People who have been self-medicating with gee-gaws are not going to have the same access to their drug-of-choice. So what will happen? Well, maybe stuff like this.
The tragedy in Valley Stream also made me think about how much of a daily battle life actually is for many. Is it coldness or desperation, despair, and battle-hardened toughness that drives a crowd in this way? What experiences, over the course of a lifetime, lead to statements like the one above? This leads me to wonder how much our very culture traumatizes people on a daily basis. Not just around the world, but here in the USA. PTSD? I wonder.
The tragic and dastardly attacks in Mumbai bring to mind the attacks of 9/11. And it feels like there’s an echo in Valley Stream, somehow. And thinking on all of these things, I am reminded that the past eight years of Bush/Cheney and their cronies have done more damage to this country than Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaida ever did, or could. They have damaged our standing in the world, our infrastructure, our economic status, our national soul. None of these things were in great shape to begin with, but the Bushies looted and pillaged and tortured and distracted us with fear and self-righteous platitudes, and all the while pointed their fingers at Al-Qaida. And we, in the meantime, ran up our credit card debt and went along with it, more or less.
So now we have underpaid Wal-Mart workers being trampled by desperate shoppers. And we have an entire world that sees us pretty much through that lens. And it’s a pretty accurate lens. Sadly.
Here in Canterbury, we gathered with family and friends, food, frivolity, and football. A wonderful day was capped off with some rousing games of Bananagrams — and then a big Eagles win!
Dinner table conversation was wide-ranging and included, of course, the recent election, Ann Coulter’s jaw, Sarah Palin’s wardrobe (and the irony that we are still talking about her and it).
Stepping away from irony for a moment, I need to rant about Joe Lieberman. I was trying to understand and appreciate the very practical, strategic reasons for the Democrats to “forgive” him and not boot him out of the caucus. Now I read, in The Washington Post, that not only did he support John McCain in a way that it basically thumbed his nose at Obama and the Democrats — but he also actually contributed money to Republican campaigns further down on the ticket.
This dude is so self-righteous and smarmy, I want to puke every time I hear his voice. I don’t care what he thinks. I don’t trust him. He strikes me as opportunistic and slimy. I’m sputtering, can you tell? Damn — being practical, taking the long view, and rising above “politics as usual” sure can be unsatisfying sometimes. I feel so vindictive and immature!
That story from the Post has pretty much erased my Thanksgiving spirit for the moment. Maybe it’s time to go get some exercise or something!
But first, what will be my song for this morning? Hmmmm …
PS Sorry to be late again, Al! (Hope you’re enjoying Pandora.)
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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