It’s day two of what continues to feel like a new era. Obama faces a plethora of daunting tasks, and we are on notice that for hope to burn bright, we need to roll up our sleeves and help. That’s the difference. Obama’s no white-haired GOP fake Father-Knows-Best, but a competent and inspiring leader who’s asking for our best!
Meanwhile, as the dust settles, the McCainiacs are starting to peck at one another in the ways that those on the losing end of the stick so often do. The Palin debacle is getting a lot of the focus – as it probably rightly should. Cable News shows and comedians will sorely miss Sarah, but the country will be well-served if she quietly recedes into the woodwork. (I doubt, however, that that will happen. She’ll disappear for awhile … but rabid supporters will keep her overblown ego fed, and she’ll re-emerge. Mark my words!) Here’s the video cited by Princess Sparkle Pony on the Think Progress site! (It’s from Fox News, no less!)
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWZHTJsR4Bc
The USWNT, I notice, played another game yesterday (as the dust settles). The result, against South Korea, was a somewhat surprising draw. Played in Heather Mitts’ hometown (Cincinnati), the game was the first in all of 2008 that didn’t include Carli Lloyd in the line-up (she’s battling a nagging injury). The team plays South Korea again in Tampa, before another break. Their last game of 2008 in in Detroit on 12/17 – against China! (Maybe President Obama should invite them to the White House after January 20th … I’m guessing that Pia would be all over it!)
Obama has announced his transition team (happy to see Chris Edley in the mix – I always feel better when he’s the Swarthmore grad in the political news – rather than Rob Zoellick. Sorry Rob!).
Here’s Chris speaking at Zeitgeist ’07 talking about how he helps his law students learn to be change agents – it’s excellent!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNrmxeOsNk4
Meanwhile, speculation abounds about his cabinet, which I’m sure will be taking shape as the week progresses. Like no time before, given the precariousness of the economy and the state of the world, he’s got to hit the ground running.
Godspeed, President Obama!
We had a sad day here yesterday, as one of our chickens (Lucy) got mauled by some predator. She survived, but the damage to her chest and neck was massive and a trip to the vet’s confirmed that there was no real hope of recovery. She was euthanized, and now rests peacefully with the myriad other beloved small animals who have passed to the other side on this hill.
I’m getting ready for some solitary time at the lake next week. It’ll be chilly (possibly snowy) and a great adventure. For the first time ever, I’ll be going without a canine companion. It’s an experiment in more significant solitude than I’m used to – and I’ll admit it’s got me a little nervous (so accustomed am I to conversing with Willie)! After the lake, I’ll be visiting HollyCornblog and CharlieHopbrew … then home to dig in for the long winter! I’ll try to load up the blog ahead of time – but If I don’t get to it, you’ll just have to join me in the quiet! 😉
I know this will never actually reach you, but I’m going to say it anyway! It has been so long since we’ve had hope: in our politics, in our elected officials, in our nation, and in our future. We have entrusted our hope with you, please don’t let us down! The road will be long and difficult, and you will slip along the way. But no matter how difficult the journey, you must keep our hope alive — we can’t afford to go back down the cynical, bitter, and divisive path we have been on. Good luck on your journey!
While we were sleeping, Obama smashed McCain in Nevada, and won Indiana for the Dems – first time since Lyndon Johnson in 1964! The turnout was the highest in US electoral history, with more than 130 million people voting! Things are still being decided in North Carolina, Montana, and Missouri … and in Georgia – an early prize in the McCain column, it’s looking like some of the early votes have not yet been counted, so hold on! Maybe Saxby Chambliss doesn’t get to celebrate just yet. Keep an eye on FiveThirtyEight.com today … as news continues to come in!
Yep – after voting Republican in the past 4 elections, Dixville Notch went blue! Hart’s Location did, too. The tally stands at 32 (Obama) to 16 (McCain) by my calculation. Dixville Notch started its early voting tradition in 1960 and has only gone for a Democrat once before – in 1968. (Let’s hope it’s a bellwether this time!)
As you settle in this evening to keep track of the results, here’s a helpful map with poll closing times. My gut tells me it’s not gonna be a long night – but you never know.
Judging from the turnout at the candidates’ final rallies, it could be a real rout. There is nothing I would like better than to see the policies of the past 8 years, as well as the negative, destructive campaign run by McPalin roundly repudiated by the voting public!
Finally, and sadly, Obama’s grandmother Madelyn Dunham died on Sunday night … not quite making it to her grandson’s moment of triumph! I hope her spirit is relishing it and watching over her grandson, still.
If you need some relief from moment-to-moment reporting of the electoral votes November 4th, you can check out the prank call to Sarah Palin, who believed she was speaking to French president Nicholas Sarkozy.
I must admit I couldn’t listen to the whole thing… I was too embarrassed for her! But given the shameless mudslinging she’s engaged in, I think she had it coming to her.
It’s all about the ground game now. To my mind, that’s gotta give Obama another leg up as the final hours tick away. For actual data, as well as some good anecdotal reportage, check out FiveThirtyEight.com – a new addition to the links here.
Wish I’d found it sooner. The polling data is in-depth – and the blogging is very interesting! (Check out “The Big Empty” about McCain forces on the ground.) Here is some analysis of this morning’s polling data from FiveThirtyEight!
As far as the ground game here in Concord is concerned, things are buzzing on the Obama front. This weekend we delivered bag lunches, apple crisp, and cases of water to the home base of the volunteer effort here – and the place was extremely busy – with cars pulling in and out of the parking area constantly – all loaded with canvassers.
Not to be complacent (goodness knows, 2000 taught us to never do that) I continue to feel like Obama is going to be to McCain as the Phillies were to the Rays (but without the rain delay … in this venue I guess they’d be hanging chads … please god).
If by some slim chance you are reading this blog and are still undecided, check out “The Choice 2008” – a production of Frontline that offers comprehensive information about the candidates and the choices they present.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpEpg12kEnc
It takes awhile to load – but is well worth the wait!
Margaret and Helen is another great find that I wish I’d stumbled upon earlier in the game. (Thanks, Princess Sparkle Pony, for giving these two great friends a shout out!)
On a lighter note – here’s a wonderful clip featuring Jimmy and Sarah. (Thanks, Al!)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91cXRQYycbM
Who knew – she played Annie in Concord, NH at age 11! And she’s from Bedford, NH. Cool stuff!
While we’re on Jimmy – here’s Barack from a June ’08 show.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuugciKjhPY
… and more – Barack dancing with Ellen …
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsWpvkLCvu4
… and then discussing balancing family with campaigning with her … Al – you got me on a roll!
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-nrjvsETQU
Finally, as Margaret and Helen would say .. GO VOTE!
Having been asleep at the switch on the soccer front for awhile, I was pleased to receive a Google Alert about the USWNT’s most recent win. This one coming in Richmond, VA, where South Korea fell to the USWNT. Vic Dorr, Jr. describes the game in the Times Dispatch. Sounds like Angela Hucles continues her run of starring turns for the USWNT, with another goal in the 3-1 effort.
U.S. coach Pia Sundhage, who used 16 of her 17 available players, said she was pleased with her club’s effort particularly since the Americans hadn’t played since a Sept. 20 exhibition victory over Ireland and had practiced only once in preparation for yesterday’s match.
“The big thing was, we wanted to have fun,” Sundhage said. “Of course, you can never expect to have fun unless you give your very best.”
The Achieve Your Gold Tour continues, with matches against South Korea in Cincinnati and Tampa, and then closes out the year with a match against China in Detroit on December 17th! Oh, and you gotta check out the WNT Blog … some great Halloween pictures and updates there!
Funny to come upon this USWNT news first thing, as I had a dream with Pia in it last night. She was visiting at the house (as she so often does) and there were some other (nameless but clearly knowledgeable) soccer coaches visiting. Everyone was deciding what beer to drink, before settling in to watch some video of a recent soccer match. I was about to ask Pia what ever happened with the team’s visit to the White House … when I woke up. (And speaking of that visit – my guess is that the economy’s meltdown trumped the team’s visit – haven’t seen a danged thing about it in the paper. I’m glad that what would likely have been an awkward moment for many, appears to have been dodged.) Anyone out there know differently?
So now, on to the political news, as we count down to Election Day … Continue reading →
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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