This takes me right back to high school days- when riding the el was the path to urban adventure and I felt cosmopolitan and riddled with daydreams and possibilities, playing hooky and wandering the 1970’s streets of Philadelphia …
The Pennycandystore beyond the El
is where I first
fell in love
with unreality
Jellybeans glowed in the semi-gloom
of that september afternoon
A cat upon the counter moved among
the licorice sticks
and tootsie rolls
and Oh Boy Gum
Outside the leaves were falling as they died
A wind had blown away the sun
A girl ran in
Her hair was rainy
Her breasts were breathless in the little room
Outside the leaves were falling
and they cried
Too soon! too soon!
~~~~~~~
Meanwhile … the Phillies lost yesterday and the Mets won. How quickly comes that sinking feeling!
HollyCornblog (who will be 50 tomorrow) sent along this comment she saw on The Huffington Post and found apt … “Mr. Paulson urged lawmakers “to enact this bill quickly and cleanly, and avoid slowing it down with other provisions that are unrelated or don’t have broad support.”
You know something is up when Paulson makes the rounds on TV shows to promote this bill. When Cheney gets involved we know that the WENDIGOS are hungry again.
Wendigo: noun.From native mythology: An insatiable malevolent, violent, cannibal spirit that possesses humans that have tasted human flesh and turns them into monsters. The Wendigo will devour the entire hunt, and still hungry will eat the people of the village if the hunters fail to constantly refresh the monster’s table.
Feeding the monster will not end the problem.
Oh – and here’s a good article titled “Mean Girl” from Salon offering some insight (from some who know her) into Sarah Palin’s ambition and political rise.
I’m home and still catching up, so this will be brief. We’re undergoing an audit by the State of NH at work starting tomorrow and running through the end of the week. (As Princess Sparkle Pony would say … “Yay!”).
On the actual, honest-to-goodness YAY front, I see that the Phillies won (again) over the Braves, while the Mets started a series with the Cubs last night and lost (again). The magic number is now 4 for the Phillies. (Did I say YAY already?)
When I was driving back form NY yesterday I listened to most of this segement of the Diane Rhem Show – an excellent discussion of the proposed bailout. If you have time, it’s worth checking out. In the midst of a scary situation, the truly scary/despicable/predictable thing is the way the Administration is using the meltdown to try to grab more power for the Executive branch. Under their proposal, Secretary Paulson’s decisions cannot be reviewed by anyone. No one. Nada. Sounds reminiscent of The Patriot Act to me. Yes, please, let’s hurry up and give MORE power to the folks who were asleep at the switch while this crisis was brewing!
Sad-but-true that in a crisis, the American People need protection from their own Government right now … as much as from whatever the cause of the crisis was.
On the campaign front, I watched Stephanopoulos on Sunday and was shocked that even George Will had some pretty scathing things to say about Senator McCain. It felt very odd to have my perceptions actually validated by the pundits … after years of watching Bush mangle a debate only to have the commentators talk about how well he did. Maybe something is changing, and we are actually going to get something other than spin from the mainstream news outlets. (One can dream!)
Here’s a poll sent by a friend. Apparently PBS is asking us to vote on whether Ms. Palin is qualified to be the VP. Looks like the ballot box is being stuffed – I can’t believe that a majority of PBS listeners think she’s qualified – unless that demographic has shifted significantly.
I had an e-mail from HollyCornblog with a photo of the completed shed. (Now you can see what I’ll be filing with wood, come November.) Great work, you guys! They are off to the Adirondacks for some kayaking today.
And that’s about it. Gotta go put on my audit clothes!
Another emergency lands at the feet of Congress and the taxpayers … born under the watch of this current administration. Explain again just why we should trust a plan submitted by them? I’m not saying do nothing, but sure hope Congress puts the brakes on ’em. Paul Krugman offers an interesting commentary in the Times.
I surely am scared by any plan in which this Administration (again) asks for “sweeping new powers” in order to execute an emergency plan. When will we learn?
The USWNT beat Ireland 2-0 in the final game of their post-Olympic tour. Here’s the write-up and the quote sheet from US Soccer. Kate Markgraf scored the first goal of her international career … almost on Boltgirl’s pace.
The Bobcats had a tough day down at Amherst. (Don’t worry- you’ll all bounce back!)
PS HollyCornblog wants to be clear that when she says “We” she means the American people … NOT her. She would be distraught if you thought that she ever, ever, ever voted for Dubya.
We just finished breakfast and are going to be going up to the lake shortly to work on the dock (brrrr) and some other chores. I’m picking CharlieHopbrew’s brain about good PC’s.
We’re thinking that CB has been very quiet since starting her teaching job. How’s it going? (That’s really not fair in a blog post … putting someone on the spot like that. You can ignore the question, CB.)
I’m very excited to be heading over to HollyCornblog’s house today for a weekend visit. We’ll be doing some chores at the lake like bringing in the dock, bringing in HollyCornblog’s sailboat, etc.
I’ll also be inspecting the amazing and gargantuan work that she and CharlieHopbrew did on the new woodshed up there.
As you can see, they are nearly finished … here’s CharlieHopbrew (cleverly obscured) walking down his recently-constructed ramp!
The other thing we will be doing (and this may be a secret, so don’t tell anyone) is celebrating HollyCornblog’s 50th birthday! This last fact is rather shocking for yours truly, let me tell you.
On the soccer news front, I am happy to report that Wellesley College visited Lewiston, Maine yesterday, and went home on the sad end of a 4 to 1 final score. It’s not that I’ve got anything particularly against Wellesley — it’s that other team that I’m rooting for!
🙂
The Bobcats head down to Amherst on Saturday for another NESCAC matchup.
Here’s a link to the page for the podcast of the 9/12/08 interview with Pia about this and that …as well as the report on the USWNT’s 1-0 win over Ireland at Giant’s Stadium (as Tasha Kai netted her 23rd career goal).
In psychology news (and very much in answer to yesterday’s questions), I came upon an article in Newsweek about a recent study purporting to prove that biology may have something to do with our political affiliations. Interesting stuff — and it certainly matches my perception that liberals, as a whole, may be less reactive. Or, to put it another way, it helps me to understand why the conservatives in our midst seem so fixated on making sure that they have guns available, just in case.
On the “Palin Poop” front, I’ve got an article about newly discovered records that reflect her active participation in seeking and accepting earmarks while she was the mayor of Wasilla. You just keep lying, Sarah — I think people are catching on.
The Phillies won another — but the Mets did, too. The Red Sox were idle. The Eagles and Steelers will be going at it this weekend, as will the Pats and the Dolphins (and yours truly will be entrenched on the Cornblog/Hopbrew couch … watching and sampling home brews and tracking the ffootball scores … ahhhhh! But can you tell I’m a little at loose ends this morning? Time to head to work, I’m thinking!
I’m having some difficulties uploading an Mp3 of an interview with Pia … so in the interim, here’s a good article by Tim Wise (posted on Alternet) about the special privileges that white candidates for President and Vice President seem to possess.
Unfortunately, the technology challenges that I was experiencing last night seem to have overlapped into the morning. Frustrating! I’ll wrestle with it all some more this evening.
Speaking of frustration and puzzlement, I am finding myself more and more mystified by the divergent worldviews of those who support McCain/Palin, and those who support Obama/Biden. I really, truly, don’t understand the internal world of folks who can decry unwed mothers, on the one hand — and celebrate the family values of the Palins, on the other.
It’s not that I think anyone should be dumping all over a pregnant teen — it’s the hypocrisy and the flip-flopping of the stalwart and self-righteous Republican right that totally pisses me off. Do you hear what you’re saying, folks? Do you listen to yourselves? The capacity for reflection and self examination is apparently entirely absent in the GOP.
That may be a bit extreme — but the good and reasonable folks of the GOP need to stand up to those who have hijacked their party before it’s too late. (I used to think that John McCain was one of those people, but ambition — and maybe age — seem to have stripped him of reason, and unleashed his inner Dubya.)
It’s a very, very odd feeling, though — trying to fathom what world it is that so many Americans are seeing these days. It seems a world filled with stereotypes, fear, lack of reflection, fundamentalist religiosity, family values , naïve patriotism, and lots and lots of repression … oh yeah … and rage.
I know that people holding this worldview are probably equally confounded by me – and feel that their vision of the world is consistent and logical. Best I can make of it is to see their worldview as something I might have been able to latch onto an elementary school. I don’t mean to be demeaning in that — not really. It’s just such a damn simplistic perspective – but definitely one that I would have found appealing and comforting in second grade. Bad Russians, good Americans … yeah, it would’ve made sense to me then. (And I suppose that the more scary the world becomes — and the more politicians play, oh-so-cynically, on the scariness of it all — the more appealing that second-grade worldview might be to people — especially if lots of other people seem to share that view).
So, yeah, I guess the other thing that really bothers me is that I don’t think McCain/Palin actually hold that worldview. In their ambition, they exploit it — and I’m sorry, guys, but that is evil … unforgivable.
Just rambling here, and I’m sure I’ll be offending someone. Your thoughtful comments would be welcome, because I really would like to have a better understanding of what the hell is going on in the US of A.
I read on The Writer’s Almanac that it’s William Carlos Williams’ birthday today. He wrote one of my favorite poems – The Red Wheelbarrow.
so much depends
upon
a red wheel
barrow
glazed with rain
water
beside the white
chickens.
It makes me think of looking into crystalline water … absolutely transparent and absolutely mysterious!
Sports is looking a good bit happier than politics and US news this morning, so I’ll begin with news of yesterday’s WPS allocation in NYC. Here’s the Women’s Sports Examiner’s take on the picks. I love it that the Boston Breakers have Lilly and Hucles again – and Mitts seems a solid addition on defense. Let’s go Breakers!
The Red Sox lost a close one in the 9th to the Rays (ugh). Meanwhile in the NL East the Phillies moved into first place on a Ryan Howard home run (his 45th) … while the plummeting Mets continued to plummet.
Okay – on to the political front. I learned a lesson yesterday – something I plan to 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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