First of all, pundits will say McCain had his “best” debate, and they’re right — all things being relative. He really did have some good moments, made some salient points, and sounded reasonable from time to time (despite my not agreeing with any of those points, while also being firmly convinced that he was probably lying most of the time).
HOWEVER…
First and foremost, FIRE YOUR MAKEUP ARTIST! Whoever decided on “bubblegum pink” lipstick obviously never watched Queer Eye for the Straight (Talker) Guy.
Second, maybe atropine eye drops were NOT such a good idea last night. It was hard to tell if crazy, wide-eyed Johnny Mac was trying to communicate with us using morse code, or if he was just lying so damn much that his eyes were suffering from severe blepharospasm. Apparantly, Botox can resolve this issue for you John!
Speaking of lying, here’s an interesting excerpt on the science of lying:
“Physicals cues believed to be associated with lying include an increased incidence of leaning forward, licking the lips, touching the nose, averting the gaze and handling objects. An insincere smile, characterized by lack of movement of the wrinkle lines around the eyes is another well know indicator of lying. People who are lying also often reveal themselves verbally. Verbal cues include the increased use of verbal qualifiers or modifiers, the use of expanded contractions (e.g. I did not rather than I didn’t), stuttering, throat clearing and speech errors.” Sourced here.
Kind of sums up McCain’s entire night.
Third, in a weird twist, McCain was doing his best to channel Sarah Palin last night. He frequently fell into spells of stream-of-consciousness, sound-bite regurgitation. He tripped over his tongue a lot. Generally, it seemed like McCain hadn’t done anything to prepare for this debate at all. He definitely won the Most Non-Sequiturs category last night!
The final word on McCain: it was nice that he got an early jump on Halloween, but he really needs to not smile. Ever. Again. His creepy, wide-eyed, maniacal, sarcastic, snarky, yellow-toothed grins really wigged me out. I would have called my mommy for comfort if it wasn’t so late at night. Thank God the kids were in bed already!
On Obama: some of us would have liked to see him either (verbally) smack McCain in the mouth, or fire a few broadsides of his own regarding McCain’s personality (Keating 5, first wife, etc). This certainly would have appealed to the Democratic base and the disenfranchised of whatever party who want to see that little punkass put in his place. However, as I had a chance to sleep on it, I think Obama did exactly the right thing: he never left the high road, didn’t take McCain’s bait on personal attacks, and was calm and composed all night. I thought he answered the stupid Ayers/ACORN thing fairly well, and was far more on-topic with the majority of the questions all night. All this in spite of Scheifer giving McCain the “last jab” on almost every topic. Kudos to Obama for understanding the power of the unsaid!
One thing is clear, the more people see McCain for extended periods of time, the more he appears to be a snearing, sarcastic, condescending old man with a major chip on his shoulder. And Obama seems more and more like a man with the temperment and composure we’ll need to begin unraveling George W. Bush’s disaster of a presidency.
It really wasn’t a contest at Dodger Stadium last night … and wasn’t one at Hofstra, either.
The Phillies clinched their sixth-ever World Series berth in just five games, with a 5-1 win over the Dodgers, behind good offensive production and the strong arm of NLCS MVP Cole Hamels! I’d love to see them face the Red Sox in the World Series … so we need Terry Francona and his guys to muster a big comeback! Hey … it’s been known to happen!
On the political front, the debate was a clear win for Obama. That ain’t just my humble opinion, believe me. Check out the great stuff on Boltgirl, including her live blogging, and the clickable tour of “President Palin’s Office” (also posted here in a comment by Stephen)!
There were so many bad moments in McCain’s night, it’s hard to pick just one or two. But here’s a sampling …
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao5V66m5FaA
Oh, and then there’s his absolute disdain for the “health of the mother” …
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGZOyxfiNoU
McSame blinked and grimaced through the entire debate, and there were moments when it was distracting as hell. Did it mean he was lying? Confused? Feeling stressed? All of the above? Hardly matters, as it was just a damn poor performance .. not Presidential (unless, of course, Dubya is the measure – in which case it was very much so.)
I’m on the run this morning – but wanted to share this great tool posted in the NY Times that lets you look at a myriad of polling sources and see their results over time. I’ve bookmarked it, and am looking forward to seeing how the trending continues after last night’s debate.
Peace out!
Oops, no – one final, very odd tidbit. It kinda made me sad … as the fallout from this is going to continue for a lifetime … I quote, from USA Today:
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (AP) — A new father has secretly named his baby girl Sarah McCain Palin after the Republican ticket for president and vice president.
Mark Ciptak of Elizabethton put that name on the documents for the girl’s birth certificate, ignoring the name Ava Grace, which he and his wife had picked earlier.
“I don’t think she believes me yet,” he told the Kingsport Times-News. “It’s going to take some more convincing.”
Ciptak, a blood bank employee for the American Red Cross, said he named his third child after John McCain and Sarah Palin to “to get the word out” about the campaign.
“I took one for the cause,” he said. “I can’t give a lot of financial support for the (McCain/Palin) campaign. I do have a sign up in my yard, but I can do very little.”
I, for one, can’t wait for tonight’s debate and Obama’s response when McCain goes after him. How Big Mac will work his fringe issues into the format should be interesting to see. The GOP has been thrusting Ayers and Acorn at us for too long to let this last debate pass by without trying to exploit them one more time – whatever logical and linguistic contortions it may require.
Personally, I think it’s a bad move on their part, as it hands Obama the opportunity to respond (something he doesn’t have when they’re just smearing him in ads). But cleverly, Barack pretty much called John out. (And John, being the hot-head that he is, appears to have taken the bait.) So be it.
Gawker has posted a good Fact Sheet about Acorn and the reason(s) it’s suddenly a cause célèbre for the GOP. From the Fact sheet …
Why do Republicans need to attack and delegitimize a damn voter registration drive??
Because a certain amount of passive voter suppression is built in to the Republican campaign strategy. If all the disenfranchised and disenchanted voters were organized and registered and informed, we’d probably be a crazy socialist 10-party country like Italy or something. The GOP engages in active voter suppression-voter ID laws and legal challenges-and the more passive kind built into the democratic process, like engendering cynicism about the democratic process.
Nice …
On the sporting front, the Rays have pushed the Sox to the brink, with more carnage at Fenway last night. (Happily, the Sox have a break and can regroup … hopefully.) The Phillies have a chance to clinch their first World Series berth in 15 years tonight! Go Phillies (you might want to try watching ’em in one of the Phillies bars listed here … did I mention that’s tonight????!!!)
The last word? Let’s have a little something from Monty Python’s John Cleese …
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMyNk8J1c8g
Actually, I take it back … John Cleese doesn’t get the last word. Here’s Rachel Maddow on The Tonight Show (thanks, Boltgirl!) …
It wasn’t looking good for Chase Utley and crew when yours truly hit the hay last night. But 40 year old Matt Stairs’ 2-run homer put the Phillies in the win column for the 3rd time in the NLCS – and on the brink of their first World Series since 1993.
Speaking of 1993 made me nostalgic for the bad old days, so I googled Wild Thing and Phillies. Sounds like Mitch Williams is doing well – and in Philly no less. There’s hope for all of us! 😉
Continuing on a Philly note, HollyCornblog sent me a piece from The Nation in which Dave Zirin and Daniel Denvir futher explicate “Puckgate.” I hadn’t picked up on the most despicable part of the story – in which the Governor drags her daughter onto the ice with her, pretty much as a shield, it sounds like. Inspiring stuff, Sarah.
It’s way too close to the election. She’s not a known enough quantity as it is – having sat for only a couple of interviews and participated in only one debate. Giving her the stage in this way is just wrong and will carry far too much weight heading toward November 4th, IMHO. Not a good idea, folks!
If you google “NBC contact” there will be a drop-down menu of programs—just click onto Saturday Night Live and write your message.
Yesterday was a wild one in the sports world, with lots of last-second heroics on the gridiron, and a lopsided loss for the Phillies.
On the political front, the NY Times published a profile of the inspiring individual who is apparently behind many of the spurious rumors that have circulated about Obama on the internet. Andy Martin had been busily working in the shadows ’til Fox “News” recently gave him a big stage in “Hannity’s America” – a place I’m sure I would find most appealing!
The program allowed Mr. Martin to assert falsely and without challenge that Mr. Obama had once trained to overthrow the government.
An examination of legal documents and election filings, along with interviews with his acquaintances, revealed Mr. Martin, 62, to be a man with a history of scintillating if not always factual claims. He has left a trail of animosity – some of it provoked by anti-Jewish comments – among political leaders, lawyers and judges in three states over more than 30 years.
Thanks, Fox – you continue to deliver!
Speaking of delivering – here’s the pdf of the “Troopergate” investigation. Far from sounding partisan, it seems a very thorough and reasoned look at a situation that was, at best, “sketchy. The Conclusion reads, in part:
CONCLUSION
Governor Sarah Palin
The policy underlying Alaska’s Ethics Act is to discourage executive branch employees from acting upon personal interests in the performance of their public responsibilities and to avoid conflicts of interest in the performance of duty. The Act makes clear that compliance with the code of ethics creates a burden on each executive branch employee that is personal in nature.
Compliance with the code of ethics is not optional. It is an individual responsibility imposed by law, and any effort to benefit a personal interest through official action is a violation of that trust. As explained above, the term “benefit’ is very broadly defined, and includes anything that is to the person’s advantage or personal self-interest. The term “personal interest” as used in the Ethics Act means any interest held by the public officer or the public officer’s immediate family, including a sibling such as Governor Palin’s sister Molly, Molly’s children, her father Mr. Heath or any other family member. AS 39.52.960(11).
As defined in AS 39.52.960(14), the term “official action” means “advice, participation, or assistance, including, for example, a recommendation, decision, approval, disapproval, vote, or other similar action, including inaction, by a public officer.”
The evidence supports the conclusion that Governor Palin, at the least, engaged in “official action” by her inaction if not her active participation or assistance to her husband in attempting to get Trooper Wooten fired [and there is evidence of her active participation]. She knowingly, as that term is defined in the above cited statutes, permitted Todd Palin to use the Governor’s office and the resources of the Governor’s office, including access to state employees, to continue to contact subordinate state employees in an effort to find some way to get Trooper Wooten fired. Her conduct violated AS 39.52.110(a) of the Ethics Act. That statute provides that:
“The legislature reaffirms that each public officer holds office as a public trust, and any effort to benefit a personal or financial interest through official action is a violation of that trust.”
Uh, sorry, Sarah, it does say “personal or financial interest.” (Oh, snap!) Meanwhile, the McCain camp’s response is (predictably) inaccurate and off-the-mark.
And speaking of financial interests – apparently NH’s Senator John Sununu is taking some heat for expenses incurred on a fishing trip to Alaska. He, of course, says everything is copacetic. Given the Republican track record in matters of ethics, we take that with a BIG grain of salt.
Finally, I want to share some info about a great piece of software I am experimenting with. It’s called Omni Page 16 (from Nuance – the makers of Dragon Naturally Speaking). Using OCR technology it converts scanned materials and pdf’s, etc. into editable, formatted text. I used it on the Troopergate report and it worked like a charm – converting it from a pdf to Word while I boiled some water for tea. (Then, while my tea steeped I pulled out a passage in word and posted it here … voila!)
While the economy and the McCain campaign tank we are experiencing some of the most amazing foliage and autumn weather in recent memory.
Witness this photo by HollyCornblog, taken not far from her house in upstate NY …
… beautiful, eh? (Double click on the photo to get a better view.)
Today looks to be much the same sort of day that yesterday was. We’ll be planting bulbs here, in celebration of ChristopherCornblog’s birthday earlier this month. But I’m getting ahead of myself. First, let’s scan the news and see what’s afoot in the world!
Salon has published a very interesting article by Nick Jans offering an Alaskan’s perspective on the Governor. It’s a thoughtful and measured perspective – and as damning as anything that I have read about Ms. Palin.
Like many Alaskans, I resent Palin’s claims that she speaks for all of us, and cringe when she tosses off her stump speech line, “Well, up in Alaska, we….” Not only did I not vote for her, she represents the antithesis of the Alaska I love. As mayor, she helped shape Wasilla into the chaotic, poorly planned strip mall that it is; as governor, she’s promoted that same headlong drive toward development and despoilment on a grand scale, while paying lip service to her love of the place.
Then (also from Salon) we’ve got Garrison Keillor weighing in from Lake Woebegon. I hope he is correct in his assertion that “Low dishonesty and craven cynicism sometimes win the day but not inevitably.” After eight years, it has begun to feel just a tad inevitable… but “Eight is Enough” may trump inevitability. The boos that greeted Sarah Palin at the Philadelphia Flyers’ opening game give me hope. Maybe folks are starting to see through the spin and obfuscation. Maybe.
The Washington Monthly points out an interesting, little known fact about McSame/Palin – they are the first national ticket to be headed by two individuals who share the dubious honor of having both been cited for ethics violations. Nice work, GOP.
On the ethics front, Mudflats continues to explore interesting avenues and twisting by-ways in the Palin family’s contorted relationship with the rules. Next up? Housegate! Below is the Fox News Interview cited in Mudflats. At @ 2 minutes, Todd talks about the house – and we see some footage of it.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcNpFShO5k0
On the hypocrisy front, here’s Palin’s message to the Alaska Independence Party. This is the woman trying to skewer Obama for having an acquaintance with William Ayers. A’Palin’ … just a’Palin’!
The Phillies – behind 3 RBI’s by Brett Myers for goodness sake – are now up 2-0 on Manny and the Dodgers as they head out to LA for game 3 tomorrow night at 8:22 ET. Dice K, meanwhile, pitched his way out of several jams and shut down the Rays, giving the Sox an important victory away. They play again tonight, looking to get a serious leg up on the Rays.
Sarah Palin, on the other hand, has been having a rough 24-hours. Up there in Alaska, they are being kinda picky about ethics and such, doncha think? I mean, lighten up, folks – it’s when you use your power to benefit financially that there’s a problem. The Gov and first Dude were just protecting their family, dang it. Anybody would do the same, doncha think? You betcha!
On the other hand, here’s a little exercise for GOPers. Just try substituting Obama’s name in any emerging stories about Governor Palin and see how you feel about ’em. Try it … see what ya think. Okay Joe Six Pack, want an example? (You betcha.) 😉
Branchflower was investigating Obama’s involvement in an effort to get state trooper Mike Wooten fired. Wooten was involved in a nasty divorce from Obama’s sister. Obama and his wife, Michelle, have accused Wooten of threatening Obama’s father.
The investigation also looked into whether Obama dismissed public safety commissioner Walt Monegan because he resisted pressure to fire Wooten.
The report says Obama failed to rein in his wife’s inappropriate efforts to use the senator’s office to contact trooper employees in her attempts to have Wooten fired.
“Senator Obama knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda … to get Trooper Michael Wooten fired,” Branchflower’s report says.
“Compliance with the code of ethics is not optional. It is an individual responsibility imposed by law, and any effort to benefit a personal interest through official action is a violation of that trust. … The term ‘benefit’ is very broadly defined, and includes anything that is to the person’s advantage or personal self-interest.”
Oh the horror and indignation! Oh the fear mongering! Can’t you just imagine the Republican response if they had anything like this on Obama? Picture Fox News dealing with the explosive new allegations and the threat they present to the country. Come on, GOP – I know it’s politics and all, but let’s get real, folks. Meanwhile – imagine Palin’s own words about the faux Obama-Ayers controversy directed at her ownself, dang it!
“It’s relevant to connect that association he has with Ayers, not so much he as a person Ayers, but the whole situation and the truthfulness and the judgment there that you must question if again he’s not being forthright in all of his answers, “Palin said. “It makes you wonder about the forthrightness, the truthfulness of the plans he’s telling Americans with regards to the economic recovery.”
Pressed on whether she was saying Obama was dishonest, Palin said no.
“But in terms of judgment, in terms of being able to answer a question forthrightly, it has two different parts to it, that judgment and that truthfulness,” she said.
Yes, Sarah, yes! It’s the whole situation and the truthfulness and the judgment. Yes!
You know the other thing I find really irksome? The way Palin is basically inciting the mob and playing to the worst, most divisive tendencies in our body politic (yes, unfortunately, can you say fascism?). With pretty much nothing to offer herself, she manages to get in there and debase the process and its participants to a truly frightening degree. As Jeffrey Feldman writes of Palin (and fascism) in the article linked above …
What she does bring is a noteworthy skill with extreme, often violent populism. As a result, she has succeeded at creating intense loyalty to her personally, and deep antipathy for Sen. Obama — also on a personal level. And while this populism has succeeded only amongst small core of the Republican base, the fervency of Palin’s supporters has been amplified a thousand times over by the obsessive media coverage that she enjoys.
So, Sarah Palin is not ‘fascist,’ but that does not mean her language and her events have not had a dangerous impact on our democracy.
And McCain lets it continue. Oh yeah – he said something yesterday – but has he told Palin to zip it? No.
Instead, his campaign continues to muster weak and spurious attacks on Obama’s character – and now is even questioning Michelle’s supposed “association” with Ayers’ wife! Sheeeeite! This is too stupid for words. I hope it doesn’t go over with the American people (who presumably have more important things – like the tanking economy – on their minds)!
The Phillies pulled out a 3-2 win with a big sixth inning and so are up 1-0 over Manny and the Dodgers (a sixties Motown group that some of you may remember fondly – I certainly do). Cole Hamels looked a little shakier than I like him to, but he got the win, and I’m lovin’ these Phillies!
On the political front, there’s lots to report – perhaps most notably the Troopergate news that’s set to come out of Alaska today. Ms. Palin has gotten on the board first with her own report on the matter. Her report, not very surprisingly, exonerates her. I think I’ll wait to hear from someone else, thank you very much.
David Brooks continues to speak candidly about Palin, McCain, Obama, and the ’08 race. Watch/listen below … “She represents a fatal cancer to the Republican Party.”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvxQwNqZSOQ
I wish that the video had continued and included the question that it cuts off at the end… ah well.
As for Troopergate, here’s yesterday’s NY Times report which reviews the whole affair and notes that in the 19 months of her reign, Sarah, the First Dude, and other officials of her administration contacted the commissioner and his aids @ 36 times about Trooper Wooten. Her explanations have been tortured and inconsistent. Can’t wait to see today’s report!
Overall, as the timeframe shortens and Obama’s lead widens, the campaign tactics of McSame and Palin continue to get uglier and uglier. The hidden hand of Karl Rove, no doubt – as well as the raw ambition of a 72 year old man with father issues similar to Dubya’s (maybe even worse) and his last chance for glory. That’s my take on it all this morning.
Hate seeing voters disenfranchised? Want to do something about it? Check out the Election Protection Wiki. It’s “a non-partisan, non-profit collaboration of citizens, activists and researchers to build a one-stop-shop for reports of voter suppression and the systemic threats to election integrity. We collect just the straight facts that are fully referenced to external, verifiable sources, and we need your help.”
Sounds like they’ll need all the help they can get from us all. The New York Times’ article, States’ Actions to Block Voters Appear Illegal, begins, “Tens of thousands of eligible voters in at least six swing states have been removed from the rolls or have been blocked from registering in ways that appear to violate federal law…” That much of this is due to mistakes and mishandling rather than deliberate fraud is no cause for complacency. From the same article: “for every voter added to the rolls in the past two months in some states, election officials have removed two, a review of the records shows.” Ack!
Such irregularities were not mentioned for New Hampshire, the latest addition to the Blue States on 270toWin (Yay, NH!). According to this site, Obama now has 264 of the 270 states needed to win. But a fair electoral count in any race will apparently require ongoing vigilance and work. I’m glad that those who work for Obama have not slackened their pace. I’ve volunteered to drive voters to the polls.
How ironic that Jefferson was a consummate conspirator and mudslinger, according to David McCullough in his biography, John Adams. For Jefferson himself has been credited with the quote, (according to some), that “The eternal price of freedom is vigilance.”
Well, here’s to aligning intention with action. Full-time work for me, at any rate!
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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