With Ralph Nader now in the Presidential race … and the Belmont girls basketball team unfortunately out of the Class M NHIAA Tournament … it’s a rather sad Monday in JordanCornblog land.
Seventh-seeded BHS lost a hard-fought game to #2 seed Conant last night, and Conant moves on to play Newfound in the Semifinals on Wednesday. (Gilford meets Campbell in the other bracket.) It was the closest game of the evening, but Belmont’s fate was pretty much sealed when one of their stronger players fouled out with a little more than three minutes still remaining in the game. Throughout the evening the Raiders played from behind, occasionally pulling even but never (to my recollection) getting ahead. As one of the other spectators commented, it’s very difficult and draining to be constantly playing from behind. Tough ending to an excellent season, girls!
On the political front, I wish that “No Country for Old Men” had won “Best Title for an Election” … but what I wrote briefly yesterday continues to be true … like a bad dream … Ralphie is running. Here’s an article from Common Dreams. Nothing really new in it – but the comments were what I found interesting and disturbing. Those who support Nader are out in force and sound as angry, unreasonable, and narrowly-focused as I expect the far right to sound.
They absolutely deny and vociferously denigrate any assertion that his presence in the race made any difference in the 2000 election. (Here in NH, his absence would have undoubtedly meant a Gore win … and then Florida would have had no impact on the outcome … but oh, well.) They assert that there is no difference between the parties … even after these seven years. They live under the delusion that Ralph could actually DO something once in office, presumably because he is so much purer than anyone else. Ugh! They reflect the sort of rigidity and narrowness (and maybe even a wee bit of hypocrisy) that their standard-bearer suffers from according to The Skeleton Closet. (Check out Ralph’s alleged skeletons there!)
Bummer of a day … with BHS out of the race and Ralph in. Maybe some housecleaning will cheer me up! Or how about a little USWNT video? It’s billed here as pre-Algarve, but the tagline is pre-World Cup. No matter – it’s nice to see ’em!
CB’s question (see comments under WWJD) has prompted some recollecting and some research on my part (as well as a spelling correction – it’s wff, not wiff).
Anyway, the recollecting is of a brief period in late high school … very brief. My cousin, who was a year older and the son of my mother’s brother (a conservative, hypocritical, condescending prick … but I digress), had gotten a game named Wff ‘n Proof. My cousin was in the throes of applying to colleges and hadn’t done so well in high school (his father’s alcoholism was never discussed as a possible contributing factor … but there I go again). Wff ‘n Proff was this game of logic, created by a Yale professor or some equally erudite dude … and it was felt that it might give a leg up to those who played it, possibly even increasing IQ’s by some rather large increment.
My mother, for reasons I don’t know and never will (she died in 1975) thought that this game would be a good idea for our family, too. What I do know is that I was at first very excited to learn the game – and quickly found it to be an extremely frustrating, off-putting, and discouraging process. I don’t think that anyone in either our or my cousin’s family learned the game. The rule/instruction book was of an outrageous length (168 pages or something). Looking back, I believe that, the Bush family legacy aside, I developed a dislike for Yale based upon this game. Enough of that (mentioning the Bush family and my dastardly uncle in one post is a bit much for a Sunday morning).
For Pia Sundhage fans, here’s a YouTube video of Pia in 1985 (those who speak Swedish will get quite a bit more out of this than the rest of us – but still, it’s fun to see a younger Pia) … and another of an interview with Pia (apparently from/for Swedish TV). There are some comments by Kate Markgraf and Abby Wambach which will be understandable to non-Swedish speakers.
And of course, there are, today, the NHIAA Class M Girls’ Basketball quarterfinalsup at Plymouth State University. Will the Belmont HS girls defeat Conant? (You bet!) Will Epping up-end Gilford? (Oh yeah!) Will Mascoma prevail over Newfound? (This pundit says yes!) Will Hillsboro-Deering beat Campbell and keep moving toward the semi’s? (Uh huh!) Stay tuned for results … I am wrong @ 85% of the time!
And will our friend PaulaLR do an awesome job officiating the Gilford-Epping game? (Absolutely!)
Hey folks – it’s time to start gearing up for the Algarve Cup, which kicks off in Portugal soon! For those of you who don’t follow women’s soccer much – here’s a chance to hop on the bandwagon and get familiar with the coach and players as they head toward the Beijing Olympics this summer. Twelve teams are invited to the Algarve and will play March 5-12 – with Poland being the newbie this year! Here’s the match schedule.
But, some background first … as most of you know but some may not, the US Women’s National Team has a new coach (Pia Sundhage) as of this past November. Previous coach, Greg Ryan, was let go after a surprising third place finish at the Women’s World Cup – a finish which many (including myself) feel was prompted by his suspect decision-making and team management. There was much controversy in and around the team – in large part due to Ryan’s actions, with additional turmoil triggered by some subsequent comments made by Hope Solo – the #1 goalie who had been benched for the Brazil game in favor of Briana Scurry. Now Bri is sitting at home for the Algarve, while Hope and Nicole Barnhart tend the net for the Nats.
Anyway, that’s all water over the dam and under the bridge at this point, and Pia is at the helm. A search of old JordanCornblog posts, as well as a peek at the Blogroll will get you more background information if you’re interested. For now, here’s an interesting piece about Heather O’Reilly’s recent switch from forward to midfielder reflecting some of the very real positives that Pia brings to this enterprise – creative thinking, enthusiasm, and a solid, inclusive management style. What a breath of fresh air after Greg Ryan!
It’s tough finding information about the Polish Women’s team … but here’s a wee blurb from the UEFA Site. Hopefully there will be more as the Algarve gets underway. On the WPS site, there’s a great, rolling list here, of international women’s soccer news. Might want to check back and see if the Polish women make any waves!
Finally, here’s an interesting (and slightly disturbing) piece by Brandi Chastain about staying in the NOW. Good advice, to be sure- and what I found disturbing about it was her stated dream of playing again on the National Team. At age 40, that seems a dream that has stepped over the line into delusion territory.
I was a little bit at a loss this morning as to what to write. Aside from sharing the fact that the 7th seeded Belmont High School girls’ basketball team beat 10th seeded Franklin to move on in the NHIAA Class M Tournament here in NH, I wasn’t sure where to go with blogging this morning. (And I DO realize that there are only about 17 people out here who are actually interested in the above fact.) BHS will face Conant in the Quarterfinals at 6PM on Sunday … up at Plymouth State University!
Anyway, in exploring the news and such, I came upon this interesting piece of research in Newsweek. It seems there’s an apparent correlation between Bible-thumping and a high tolerance for predatory lending. (Can you say scribes and pharisees?) I hope it’s a story that gets passed around and discussed.
And in other “ethical” news, here’s a real-time response to John McCain’s denial. (I wish the camera had included his wife Cindy’s face for the entire clip … that smile looks a little frozen and a little fake to me … and what a resemblance to Vicki Iseman!) Meanwhile, Tennessee Guerilla Women has this (and it looks like TGW is another interesting site to add to the blogroll)! McCain’s track record on the affair front would have me a little worried if I were Cindy. Remember John “kinda chasing [you] around the table“?
And there was a debate last night. Another relatively civil affair between Barack and Hilary from what I hear (I was at the aforementioned basketball game). It does sound like Hillary had a big moment in the Texas debate, however … but whether it will affect the voting and the Obama juggernaut is anyone’s guess at this point.
But back to payday lending … what would Jesus do? TTFN!
Yesterday I was listening to NPR on the way home from work. I was awe-struck by the hubris and boorishness of George Bush once again, as I heard that he repeatedly describes his trip to Africa as a personal “Mission of Mercy.” That is one of the most condescending, patronizing things I have ever heard. Bad enough to say it once, but to say it repeatedly … well … it’s got me sputtering.
I hardly know where to begin … the view from inside George Bush’s head is just so foreign to anything I value or believe or aspire to. Closest I can some to describing it is to imagine the worldview of a 10-year-old boy who’s pretending to be a man. Maybe even walking around in his father’s shoes, say.
Could be that’s about where young George stopped, development-wise. It’s certainly about where his vocabulary stopped. Or maybe his vocabulary continued to evolve (poor word choice … sorry Christian Right) into his teenage years – far enough to get him a legacy-boosted admission to Yale. Then subsequent alcohol and drug-induced brain damage has led to steadily diminishing capacity. At any rate, whatever explanation works for you, isn’t it embarrassing to have such a simpleton traveling around the world, spouting platitudes, mouthing the obvious, and all the while, getting a big hard on because he is who he is?
A “Mission of Mercy,” indeed. This, from the guy whose first instinct was just to fly over New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. “Mission of Mercy” is an expression that young George probably heard back in Sunday school. It stuck with him to the degree that he is now able to repeat it to reporters in more or less appropriate contexts. Or maybe it’s a formulation that his handlers have handed him and he’s practiced in front of a mirror a few times to make sure he doesn’t stumble over that pesky alliteration. He’s practiced it enough that it comes to mind when he hears a question. He can use it to fill the yawning, empty silence that is his actual response. It’s a phrase he can parrot – along with words like freedom and democracy and terror and such – to fill the void.
That’s the extent of his understanding. That’s the measure of the depth of the man. He doesn’t get it that for him to use a word like mercy is nothing if not hypocritical, condescending, and jarring. It doesn’t occur to him to think beyond the surface … the platitude. Just like it is beyond his reach to use a multi-syllable word or a complex sentence. Whatever place it rises from in him, mercy is not connected to any actual response to the realities of this world but rather to his need to buttress his own bloated, distorted, and ultimately quite empty and fragile self-image.
Seeing him as merely stupid and cut off from reality is too kind by half. Most likely scenerio: Dubya isn’t as dumb as he seems and he’s coldly touting as “mercy” an AIDS initiative that is not at all what he’s trumped it up to be. It’s all about money and oil and him and his legacy, in the end. Mercy, indeed. Mercy for the man!
The only part of this that I take some pleasure in, as he preens and postures in Africa, is my suspicion that he is being tolerated there, taken for some bucks, and properly ridiculed as soon as his back is turned. If he is truly liked, respected and revered, as the mainstream media and the pollsters would seem to indicate, then I am truly confounded by the ways of the world.
Finally .. here’s another blog (The Impolitic) that I stumbled upon (in a manner of speaking) while noodling around on Simply Left Behind. Together with Boltgirl … and of course the inimitable Princess Sparklepony … I am in heaven! Sadly, only Boltgirl seems to have the women’s soccer scene on her radar … but then she’s a little light on the necessary daily details about Condi and her hair. The blog collection as a whole, though, is shaping up to have things nicely covered!
USWNT coach Pia Sundhage has put out her 20-player roster for the Algarve Cup. Here’s the release from US Soccer. I took a quick look just now and noticed that Nicole Barnhart is the back-up keeper. No Briana Scurry. I don’t know if this is addressed in the release … but am sure there will be LOTS of discussion. And I hope that whatever the process was, it was one that Bri felt okay about. (And my guess, given Pia’s persona, is that it was.)
It’s Wednesday, and you know what that means! Yep …. some more primaries and caucuses in the bag for Obama. Yesterday’s voting appears to have yielded Wisconsin, Washington, and Hawaii (okay, Washington doesn’t really “count”). Meanwhile, the flap about plagiarism trundles on for another couple of days but looks like it’s losing traction even as of this writing.
The excellent news, as I see it (and as previously highlighted by Rachel Maddow) is the big turnout for the Democrats pretty much EVERYWHERE … as I read it. From The Daily Kos: “Total Democratic vote in Wisconsin: 1,110,702 Total Republican vote in Wisconsin: 409,078.”
More and more, we see stunning repudiations of the past seven years … another reason Bushie and Laura may want to spend as much time as possible out of the country. But denial, repression, running away really can’t work forever… and pesky reality dogs them, wherever they go. Maybe this is why Apocalyptic drama appeals so to the Religious Right – as the ultimate escape from their loathsome deeds! Check out the new addition to my blogroll: Simply Left Behind. It’s an awesome blog for those of us who will still be here muddling along after the Rapture!
And here’s a little more more from Maddow … this time, a few things we need to know about our friend John McCain …
No word yet from US Soccer about Pia’s Algarve roster … but it’s gotta be coming out sometime today. I’ll post here, as soon as the info is released!
I’ve been thinking this morning about a book called The Finding Stone that was given to me many years ago at a workshop. It’s been out of print for quite a while, and I lament that fact periodically. Written by Christin Lore Weber, it’s an amazing parable about the harrowing and hallowed journey that is each of our lives. The first part of the book is a poetic parable and the second part takes passages from the parable and extrapolates, enlarges on each passsage. About birth, death, and everything in-between, it’s an amazing, beautiful, uplifting journey!
Here’s a passage:
“She leapt up waterfalls
And through churning rapids,
Using all the power of the sea
Stored in her heart for seven years.
“The way home is within me. I find my way like salmon smelling the waters of the place they were spawned. If there is a trickle of water from the stream of their origin, the salmon find it. They do anything to get there. And I? I am still on the move. Still catching the scent. I can say this: I have seen others find their way. Many of them are older, women and men who seem to lean back into their lives as if they could rest in themselves. They like who they are. They laugh. They do not expect to be everything to everyone. They do not expect to live forever. I learn from them. I use the power stored in my heart to find my way home.”
I do wish that one day someone would re-print this wonderful little book. In the meantime, and with great appreciation to Christin Lore Weber, I’ll occasionally post a passage here.
↔
And now, shifting gears, we move to the campaign trail, where it’s a different world entirely. Wisconsin votes today, and by reports Clinton and Obama are in a tight race up there. The Clinton camp is working to undermine Obama by accusing him of “borrowing” some of his rhetoric from Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. Frankly, I don’t think it’s going to help their cause; it’s worlds away from Joe Biden’s well-publicized entry into the annals of plagiaristic infamy.
The Clinton folks do themselves no favors with stuff like this and only appear slightly desperate and nit-picky. Meanwhile, Bill seems to be losing his temper again and himself becoming the story, rather than standing back, being supportive, and letting this be Hillary’s gig. After incidents like the recent dust-up in Ohio with the heckler I have to wonder. This is something that he should have just walked away from. Were it “his” campaign, would he have been more disciplined? In my heart, I really wonder about the amount of self-sabotage that rattles around inside of Bill … and the myriad ways it can affect Hillary’s campaign.
Finally, while the Algarve Roster isn’t posted yet, here’s some news from Heather Mitts, indicating that she’ll be traveling with the team to Portugal. It strikes me as a wise and creative move by Pia – showing her confidence and support for Mitts and perhaps relieving some of her nervousness/stress … so that she can rehab slightly more slowly and carefully (and not set herself back the way she appears to have at this recent camp). I am going to be very curious to see the roster (out today or tomorrow) and then, come early March, start tracking the Algarve results!
Pia’s training camp wrapped up with an 8:30 AM practice yesterday out in sunny California … and the announcement of the Algarve roster is expected some time tomorrow or Wednesday. All told, Pia and her staff had a chance to look over @ 40 players. Can’t wait to see what the final decisions are for this next tournament. While we’re waiting, here’s the text of a brief interview with Shannon Boxx.
On the high school girls’ basketball front here in NH, the Class M Tournament Bracket was released this morning. Belmont is ranked #7 and faces Franklin – an up-and-coming local rival (and one of the 3 teams involved in Belmont’s 4 losses this year – Somersworth and Newfound being the others). Thursday night will be the first round. As my friend Don in Erie would say, “Let the games begin!”
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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