I see that Tucker Carlson has finally been given the axe. I was beginning to rely on the little adrenalin jolt I got from watching him smirk about one thing or another whenever I turned on his show. And who was that guy who’d do the little fluffy news tidbits? They’d smirk together like preppy, privileged college roommates. And the bow tie … jeez. (Years ago, when we got our yellow lab Woody, we briefly considered naming him Tucker. Little did we know the kind of association that would be popping up, down the road, with that name!) Here’s something to remember Tucker by … a little spanking by Jon Stewart that Tucker clearly didn’t appreciate.
At the Algarve, Gayle Bryan has posted her match report on the Fair Game Blog (along with a PTSD-inducing mystery photo). The match quotes are up at US Soccer. I love how the players are thinking and talking about the game (check out Kate Markgraf’s quotes). Love, too, that Pia has used every sub in every match. It’s just fascinating to watch (as much as it’s possile, given the horrendous coverage) what she’s doing ith this team – and how they’re responding.
Then there’s Elliot Spitzer. Who knew that he was actually client number 9? I guess hypocrisy isn’t under the sole purview of the Republicans. Dang!
Stay tuned for news of HollyCornblog in an upcoming post, along with the Championship game at the Algarve, and the NCAA Big East Women’s Basketball Finals. It’ll all certainly be more uplifting fare than what Elliot and Tucker have to offer, I’m afraid.
So here’s what I know: After a scoreless first half, Natasha Kai opened the floodgates, scoring on a poor play by the Norwegian goalie. Unfortunately, the Fed’s MatchTracker was down for most of the second half … but below is information transcribed from MatchTracker by a BigSoccer dude (after the match). And before you head to the game details, here’s a great interview (video) with Pia that I found when I was waiting in vain for MatchTracker to come back up.
56: O’Reilly plays Wambach into box on right side by Norway GK comes out and slides to corral. Keeper puts it down to kick it from the ground, and doesn’t see Kai …
58: Lloyd bursts down the left side in the box and cuts back a driven cross then Wambach runs through and bundles into the net from close range with two Norwegian defenders hanging on her …
67: Lloyd takes corner from left corner all the way across to Osborne who heads it back to the far post and O’Reilly is there to head in front of the doorstep …
90+: Rodriguez gets behind defense on left side and hits the softest shot you could ever imagine with the outside of her right foot. It’s bouncing right to the Norwegian GK and she somehow mishandles it and it rolls over her and into the net …
I feel so sorry for that keeper … here’s the US Soccer write-up. For the second time at the Algarve this year, Christie Rampone was named Woman of the Match!
So Denmark is in the final for the 2nd consecutive year – and wll face the USWNT on Wednesday. Germany will play Norway in the 3rd place match. Sweden will face either China or Italy in the match for 5th place. (Haven’t seen anything about that match result yet.) China must beat Italy, while Italy only need a draw to enter the match for 5th place.[TABLE=8]
The USWNT plays Norway today at the Algarve, and the game kicks off at 11AM ET. Check it out on the USSF site (on Matchtracker) at gametime, and read the preview here, if you want some background.
Here’s an interview from Fair Game with Cat Whitehill … and another piece by Gayle Bryan about Leslie Osbourne’s bumps and bruises … and some pictures from the Fair game Blog: First we have the USWNT vs. Italy (from Friday), then some shots of the US training for today’s Norway game over the weekend, and then some pictures of Norway working out yesterday, getting ready for their game with the USWNT!
All 20 players on the U.S. roster have played so far in the tournament … and Pia has made all six of her allowed subs in both matches. Denmark, Norway, and the US are the only teams at the Algarve to have not yet received a yellow card (knock wood). And I believe that Norway is the only team to have scored more goals (7) than the US (6) … although they have also allowed more (3 … to the USWNT’s 0).
On the “odd” end of the spectrum, have you seen the rant by the Michigan women’s basketball coach, Kevin Borseth? Even better, look at this side-by-side view of Ed Harris and Kevin Borseth freaking out. It’s a nice, creative treatment of a weird episode. Rampant rage sucks. Anger is a legit emotion, and people (ALL people) need to find responsible ways to deal with it. Given the power dynamics involved, male rage is a particular drag in my book; and there’s something about male rage in the context of women’s sports that creeps me out even more than the usual fare.
On the b-ball front, we’re in the thick of the conference championships at the moment. Last night Tennessee eked out the final win for the SEC trophy when LSU faltered down the stretch. Connecticut seems to be on a tear. And what’s up with Rutgers? They got the boot in the quarterfinals and, from what I could tell, played oddly lackluster ball for a C. Vivian Stringer team.
Finally, while I (unsuccessfully at the moment) fight a cold, the mushers at the Iditarod are coming close to the finish, with defending champ Lance Mackey at the head of the pack (by a small margin) as they began the final leg yesterday. The first finishers could be crossing the line as early as tomorrow (Tuesday). As I sniffle and sneeze, it sure is hard to imagine being out there on a sled, heading for Nome!
To see that documentary on the same day that Bush vetoed the Torture Bill was horrifying, but not surprising.
To learn that the on the same day that Bush vetoed the Torture Bill he also entertained everyone with a song at the Gridiron Club was horrifying, but not surprising.
I have come to believe that the most horrifying changes wrought by the 9/11 attacks were not the death and destruction in NYC and DC and PA (though I do not mean to minimize their horror by any means).
No, the most horrifying changes have evolved since 9/11 in our national psyche (which is nothing more than the compendium of each of our individual psyches).
All these things that I have described as horrifying but not surprising … THAT’S the most horrifying change. How horrifying that we are not surprised at the debased place that we have fashioned for ourselves out of the tragedy of 9/11!
Sorry to be slow about the Algarve updates … but following is a collection of tidbits I’ve gleaned here and there. In Alvor, Portugal, the USWNT defeated a very feisty squad from Italy by a score of 2-0. Lindsay Tarpley scored early (6th or 7th minute) on a rebound after a shot by Lauren Cheney. Heather O’Reilly scored late (74th minute or so) and unassisted. Here’s Gayle Bryan’s Fair Game Blog write-up … it’s great to have an eye-witness account. Gayle also offers an explanation of why the US Soccer coverage has been so annoyingly slow. (This is helpful, as I was beginning to consider tempting conspiracy theories as to why US Soccer seemed to be ignoring the USWNT.)
The USWNT defense sounds like it played particularly well, with Captain Christie Rampone being named Player of the Match. Here’s US Soccer’s write-up of the match, and here are the post-game quotes, as well as the write up from Italy!
I continue to just love how Pia thinks – and how her thinking and attitude are influencing this team. How refreshing after the Ryan years (and the April years before that). For video highlights of the US v China match … or for a post-Italy interview with Pia … go here and click either on Weekend news (Pia-toward the end) or the highlights.
Cat Whitehill saw her first action in quite some time and from what I read somewhere (here’s the link) it sounded like fitness (coming back from an injury) has been the big issue for Cat. Good, steady, hard work is being done by coach and player … and it’ll be great to have Cat back on the field and at 100%.
Love this team and how it’s shaping up. Now on to what looks like a good, challenging Norway game on Monday!
In other Algarve news from Friday, Germany defeated Finland 3-0 and Denmark beat Sweden 1-0 in Group A. In the other Group B match, Norway upended China 3-1. In Group C, Portugal and Iceland remain undefeated. Portugal beat Poland 3-1 and Iceland beat Ireland 4-1.[TABLE=8]
[TABLE=9]
This morning at 8:45 ET the USWNT faces Italy in their second game at the Algarve. I realized, in reading up on this event, that I hadn’t really provided a basic overview of this competition … so here you go!
The Algarve Cup brings together the top teams in Europe with regular participants the USA and China for a weeklong tournament in southern Portugal. This year’s event takes place March 5-12 and marks the tournament’s 15th anniversary. The top eight teams, divided into two groups, will contest three group play games before placement matches are held on the Algarve Cup’s last day. Group A consists of Denmark, Finland, Germany and Sweden. The U.S. will face Norway, China and Italy in Group B. A third, weaker group will also be contested by Iceland, Ireland, Poland and Portugal. (From the WPS site!)
… and there it is!
I’ll be very curous to see who Pia starts against Italy. As noted earlier, only three players (Leslie Osbourne, Hope Solo and Cat Whitehill) didn’t get into the China game. I am really beginning to wonder what’s up with Whitehill. If I’m not mistaken, though she was there, Cat did not start (or even play at all) in the Four Nations Tournament? There’s been no mention of an injury – at least not that I’ve seen. A mystery.
Check out the WNT Blog for more of the “flavor” of the team’s experience at the Algarve. After some tought months at the end of Greg Ryan’s tenure, it’s great to see them gelling, playing like gang-busters, and having some FUN!
So on tap today at the Algarve, in addition to the US vs. Italy at 8:45, we have:
Group A: Germany v. Finland and Denmark v. Sweden.
Group B: US v. Italy and China v. Norway
Group C: Portugal v. Poland and Ireland v. Iceland
TIDBITS FROM US SOCCER …
Stat of Note
Sweden took command of Group A with a 3-1 win over Finland as their star forward Hanna Ljungberg scored her 72nd career goal, passing – you guessed it – Pia Sundhage, as the all-time leading scorer for Sweden!
19 PLAYERS, ONE GOAL: There were 19 goals scored on the first match day of the Algarve Cup, and like last year (when there were 18), all were scored by different players, meaning the race for this year’s Top Scorer Award is wide open.
When will this end? Three devastating stories of horrible and unnecessary tragedy … one in LA, one in AL, and one in NC. How do you live with yourselves … you who manufacture handguns … you who sell handguns … you who lobby and legislate and maneuver to keep them available? There is blood on your hands, this sad, sad morning – just another morning in the USA.
A loyal reader of JordanCornblog (thanks DSabler) has suggested that it would be fun and interesting to start “talking” about sibling relations and birth order here. (Thanks, I think!) As a firstborn (and a slightly defensive one at that), this is something that I have pondered at some length. (And at the risk of stating the obvious, I should add that, being the first born, I’ve had a few more years to ponder this than my sibs have!)
While on the surface it would seem that siblings are all born into the same birthfamily, it’s my belief that that actually is not the case at all. Each of us is born into a family that is significantly different, depending on its configuration when we arrive. Even our memories of shared events will differ, depending on our birth order and the way(s) that it affects our perspective, our expectations, our understanding of life.
One of the most eye-opening books I’ve read on the subject is Frank Sulloway’s Born to Rebel. About this book, the NY Times Book Review said: Frank J. Sulloway envisions families as ecosystems in which siblings compete for parental favor by occupying specialized niches. Combing through thousands of biographies in politics, science, and religion, he demonstrates that firstborn children are more likely to identify with authority whereas their younger siblings are predisposed to rise against it. Family dynamics, Sulloway concludes, is a primary engine of historical change.
That whole family-as-ecosystem idea really resonates for me. As Sulloway describes it, life in families, as in any system, is about survival. Within the family system, there are niches which are shaped by the values of the family, its cultural heritage, its particular dysfunctions, etc. The firstborn arrives in a family where all of the niches for the offspring are up for grabs and so, has a wider range of choices than later-arriving family members will. The second-born has the next widest range of choices, and so on.
So based on that, you’d think that the first-born has all the advantages. And in some ways, that is correct. However, what I see as a potential drawback (depending on the family) is that the firstborn is also the most affected by the “parental unit.” While he or she may have a wider range of choices, he or she may also experience the most pressure to succeed, conform, etc. So it’s a mixed bag for sure.
As a first born I was very disappointed to read that, as a rule, we tend to be conformist, conservative, and, if successful, we’re successful in the more mundane, banker-like ways. Those coming later in the birth order tend to be creative, artistic, rebellious, revolutionary … all the good stuff! On the other hand, I was heartened to learn that depending on the dysfunction in a family, the tendencies posited by Mr. Sulloway may not occur. (Let’s hear it for dysfunction!)
And of course there are additional layers of complexity to consider with families of choice (as with adoption) and with blended famillies. And what of only children? One would expect that they’d be more like firstborn’s, I guess. They have a wide range of niche-choices … but depending on their families, may also have inordinate amounts of pressure and parental control, meddling, expectations, etc. And none of this mitigates (to my mind) elements of chance, of choice … and perhaps of temperament … but it’s certainly interesting to think about.
So do eldest children tend to be a tad controlling? Do we sometimes behave like know-it-all’s? Did it seem like Mom and/or Dad sometimes liked us best? Probably so. But did we absorb a lot of the parental energy and leave you younger ones free to make more noise and stay out later and ride your bikes further? You betcha!
It took all day for US Soccer to get a match report posted. (Me, too – but I’ve been working at my day job – don’t know what their excuse is!) Anyway – here’s the quote sheet from US Soccer, and here’s their game report. Kudos to Carli Lloyd on being named player of the match! (She had an amazing Algarve last year, too. Hope she’s able to continue the roll through 2008!) Gayle Bryan is in Portugal and here’s her first post to the Fair Game Blog.
What is standing out for me is that the US women are playing better than they have in MANY years. They’re possessing the ball and playing with creativity and passion (this is all based on what I’m reading, of course. We’ve not actually laid eyes on ’em since Pia took the helm.) She’s mixing in new players and old, and giving lots of newbies good stretches of playing time. She’s being creative with who she plays, and where (like Heather O in the midfield) and universally, players are commenting that they are having FUN. Imagine!
The Danes surprised the German nationals with a 1-0 defeat, while the hometown Team (that’s Portugal) had a nice win over Ireland. The rest of the Algarve results from Day One are as follows: [TABLE=8]
I see that Rachel Buehler and Nicole Barnhart join Julie Foudy as Stanford University reps on the USWNT. And speaking of Jules .. looks like she’s New Jersey bound. It’ll be nice to have her here on the East Coast (clearly, she hasn’t heard a whole lot about this winter’s weather, or I’m sure she’d be having some second thoughts).
Only Hope Solo, Cat Whitehill, and Leslie Osborne did not see action in this game. I’m betitng we’ll see them in the next game, unless they’re injured. Stay tuned for more action on Friday versus Italy!
We’re off and running, as the USWNT dominates China and finishes with a 4-0 score. Denmark shocked Germany, winning 1-0. Iceland knocked off Poland 2-0. Details to follow later … or check the relevant links in the Blogroll on the right (under Soccer, etc.).
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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