It’s an odd feeling, realizing that nearly everyone in the country wanted the Pats to lose … a feeling that must be pretty familiar to Yankees fans. Also an odd feeling, waking up and realizing that I didn’t dream it … my sister really WAS rooting for the Giants. An Eagles fan since birth … but rooting for the Giants. This isn’t something one assimilates easily.
Today is the lull between Super Sunday and Super Tuesday. I don’t think there’s a name for it. Mundane Monday? It’ll have to do.
On the Super Tuesday front, no one’s making any big predictions. Meanwhile, fans of Girls’ Class M B-ball here in NH have their own Super Tuesday, as Belmont High plays Gilford at Belmont tomorrow night. We’ve got undefeated Gilford on the one hand … and a BHS squad that has looked like it could beat anyone on any given night. A familiar scenario, no?
Meanwhile in Women’s college b-ball it’s UNC-Duke tonight on ESPN or ESPN2 , if I’ not mistaken.
Finally, Nomar and Mia were at the Superbowl … Nicole Kidman was not spotted anywhere around those parts!
Okay … we begin with a reading of the Declaration of Independence … brought to us by Fox. Why do I feel so suspicious? Of course, if we’re taking about overthrowing governments … well … I guess I could get into it!
6:12 and the teams are on the field. Amazing to see all the flashbulbs going off. Now a commercial … per minute they’re a bit more expensive than a gallon of gas. A bit.
The coin toss … 15-minutes … and 6 commercials later. And tomorrow we’ll have the kick-off! 🙂
Interesting – Teddy Bruschi is in his 5th Superbowl. And wasn’t kick-off supposed to be at 6:17? As people leave to get food … and pee … we decide that next year we’ll get astronaut diapers for this game!
Kickoff – and Giants are down inside their 20.
WHAT is Bill Belichick wearing?? It has us all worried.
Okay – holding ’em to a field goal after that 9+ minute drive was good. Now let’s see what Tom Terrific can do. I’m rooting for a long strike to Moss, just to make a point. All right … so no strike to Moss … but the Pats look about ready to score.
TOUCHDOWN MARONEY!! PAT good. “We’ll give three and take 7,” we say, happily! Another commercial … LOVE that pigeon Fed-Ex commercial … and My Talking Stain for Tide-to-Go stick.
We’re looking for three-and-out here! YEAH – Pats interception!
Sad/inspiring Budweiser commercial … Rocky theme … reminds me that the Eagles really SHOULD be in this game! Next year!
Wow – @ 6:30 left. This looks like it’s settling down to be a tough game. Where’s Moss been? Almost the half … and the Pats aren’t moving the ball. Lots of grinding defense! The line isn’t protecting Brady. This is beginning to feel like a rust belt game … Browns-Steelers, maybe.
But no – scratch that – first down Pats.
No … now Giants ball with 10 seconds … at NE 49, INCOMPLETE. Five seconds. Let the commercials begin … errrrr … resume.
SECOND HALF! Pats just kicked it away. I may have to concentrate on the game … they seem to be missing my energy. But can’t leave without commenting on that Richard Simmons cameo … too much!
Meanwhile, NE gets the first down on the challenge resulting in the penalty … Belichick is a genius! (And, as was noted here by one of my compatriots … he was lucky to have the TV time out to figure out whether to challenge or not!)
But then they did nothing with it. Now the Giants are moving. Another first down. (“Crap,” is what folks are saying here. “Crap, crap, crap!”)
Now the Brady Bunch have the ball at the 10 … after a wonderful E*Trade commercial. Here we go … uh … false start. Back to the 5. Brady is getting NO time to look up field! Wow – what a catch by Welker! Maroney picks up 9. Another great catch by Welker. 19 yards!
Uh oh … Giants ball on their 20. Long pass … and now they’re showing Jeremy Shockey in the stands. Poor Shockey 😦 (heh heh).
But damn, the Giants are moving the ball! TOUCHDOWN! Things are very quiet here.
11:05 in the 4th. Let’s move it, Pats! First down to Moss. Good to see him getting more touches. But that was it for the first downs. (We’re starting to say, “Crap, crap, crap,” again.)
But another E*Trade commercial just cheered us all up. “I really underestimated the creepiness.”
Giants don’t move it and punt it away. Fair catch – Pats’ ball! Here we go … nice catch by Welker! Good short passes – keep it moving, Pats … and eat up time on the clock.
First down Moss! First down Faulk! Now it’s 3rd and goal. Tension mounting. TOUCHDOWN Moss!!!!! PAT good … putting the Pats up 14-10. Giants will need a touchdown – a field goal won’t help ’em.
Giants get the ball with 2:42 to work with … and they’re down at the 15. First down Giants. Now … 3rd down … and two-minute warning commercials … not such a good crop of ’em … I want that E*Trade baby again!
Back to the game. Giants first down. Weird stuff happening with the clock. Huge pass by Manning who eluded a sure sack … then amazing catch by … someone … I didn’t hear who (and too bummed to want to know). That was a 32 yard completion.
PHEW … Manning is sacked and the Giants use their last time out. We are VERY nervous here in Canterbury. 51 seconds left!
Oh my God … TOUCHDOWN Giants (Burruss). 17-14 Giants.
Here come the Pats. 29 seconds and three time outs.
Something went kerrflooey with something last night, and I’ve been receiving hundreds of e-mail notifications of my friend CB’s comment on one of my entries. She said, “What Giants?” and I responded, “They might be Giants.”
Both scintellating remarks have since been deleted in an effort to stop the e-mails.
So far, no success … and I continue to hear, “What Giants?”, “What Giants?”, “What Giants?” ad infinitim.
Maybe there’s something cosmically perfect about that – both the question and its endless repetition … WHAT GIANTS? I mean, really – the GIANTS in the Superbowl? Come on!
Meanwhile, in addition to standing on the verge of an historic season, the New England Patriots’ Choral Society continues to perform, to rave reviews, all around the country. What a talented bunch!
Returning to Nicole Kidman for a moment, I am embarrassed to say that I had not realized she was pregnant. No wonder people from Australia are not reading JordanCornblog! Here she comments on the benefits of pregnancy … in an interview that she probably will not look back on as one of her finer moments.
I suspect that if I’m going to get search engines to pick up any Australia references here I’ll need to write about someone more obsure than Nicole Kidman (sorry, Nicole). Evonne Goolagong springs to mind. Other suggestions are welcome!
After a sleet-pelted night, the day dawns fresh, with dark, dark clouds drifting toward the east. Out my window here on the third floor, I watch a thin line of orange dawn right at the horizen. It’s a Halloweenish looking morning (if you don’t look at the snow). The dogs have been up, fed, and are snoozing again. The cats are prowling. Otherwise the house is silent.
Here’s what the pre-storm, gorgeous dawn looked like yesterday out behind my sister’s house. I’m thinking of them today, as they have an appointment for the vet to see their venerable-but-ailing shephard mix Murphy. It seems highly likely that it will be a sad day over in those parts. Even when it’s the right thing, it’s excruciating.
On the political front, it sounds like Bill is going after Ted in his anger about the Obama endorsement (but maybe causing Hillary some collateral damage in the process?).
Meanwhile MoveOn went big for Obama, and if I had to guess, I’d say that there’s some significant momentum building.
And finally .. for now … here’s my world this morning … and …
I was glad to see, yesterday, that Christie Welsh has been invited to camp. Pia is clearly checking things out pretty thoroughly. Good for her … and I’d love to see Christie gain some traction with the Nats!
Meanwhile Lorrie Fair is off to play soccer in England. Never exactly my favorite (too many give-aways in the midfield IMVVHO), she always seemed a hard worker and someone who could step into a number of positions and hold her own. I definitely wish her well in this new phase of her career (but find it a little weird to see her referred to as an “icon” in the article). Marketing, I guess.
And compliments of Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS), here’s an intro (by Karyn Lush) to the goalkeepers and defenders at Pia’s Camp. If you want more from Karyn, here’s her piece about the 1991 USWNT. This is really wonderful stuff – a glimpse at the roots of it all … the early days that, transmogrified by passion, hard work, and political acumen, ended in the 1999 Rose Bowl … and then kept going toward the WUSA, and now WPS.
And here’s a nice interview with Shannon Box. She’s a great first interview for this WPS series, as her story is such a clear testament to the positive impact of the WUSA. And finally, noodling around various sites on a sleety New Hampshire Friday night, I discovered that there’s a YouTube Channel for the Women’s Professional League!
Last, and unfortunately also least, I see that Greg Ryan has found a new job … coaching … hmmmm. I suppose I should wish him well, but I’m still having a hard time swallowing the way he never owned his errors of judgment and, instead, seemed very content to let his players take the heat.
The month of Ground Hog Day and Super Tuesday … not to mention the Super Bowl begins somewhat inauspiciously here in NH with predicted snow/sleet/rain/ice storms throughout the day. Ahhh, February. Super!
So, what a civil debate it was last night, huh? I watched in wonderment as Obama and Clinton discussed issues, continuing to use complete sentences and some really big words. (The contrast to the State of the Union Message … shocking.) The civility may be but a thin veneer, however, as evidenced by this new video featuring Obama Girl.
Meanwhile, it sounds like Ralph Nader actually is lurching around out there … like some dark, dank creature emerging out of the fetid swamp of our recent, traumatic, cultural memories and making his relentless way toward a great big waking nightmare. Maybe (hopefully) progressive voters will ignore him this time around. It is hard to imagine anyone but a Republican contributing to his delusional, egotistical quest at this point … and as he starts collecting money, it will be most interesting to watch and see what names start appearing on his list.
February is also the month of the Super Bowl (in case anyone could have possibly missed that fact)! Between Britney’s hospitalization and the Super Bowl hype, it’s sometimes hard to know what else might be happening in the world. Here in New England, everyone is pretty psyched about taking it to a team from the hometown of the hated Yankees! (And as a Philadelpia native, for me it feels like a DNA-type thing to root against the Giants.)
Finally (I know you’ll be disappointed about this) I have absolutely nothing to report about Nicole Kidman.
I’m listening right now to some dark classical music on Musicovery. It’s Tchaikovsky’s Symphony #6 to be precise … conjuring highly dramatic scenes from a million movies circa 1940-1960. Anyway – you should check out the site. My sister said she read about it in Rolling Stone … so it’s gotta be okay, right?
Oh No! I see that the Belmont High Girls Basketball team lost to Franklin High by two points – after soundly beating a top team in their class (Mascoma) on Monday. Wonder what happened. (This will be of absolutely no interest to people outside of Central New Hampshire – and even here, is of marginal interest to most. It’s certainly not going to win me any points in Australia.)
Edwards is gone. Giuliani is gone. Is Romney headed out, too? (And just how much of his kids’ inheritance is going to disappear before he stops?)
And then there’s Nader and his ego … please say it ain’t so!
I couldn’t bear to watch the Republican debate last night … called it quits after The Daily Show. Tonight I will hop on the bike, though, and pedal away while Obama and Clinton go at it. Anyone know if Mike Gravel is still in? 🙂
Tom Brady’s ankle is just fine, thank you. (Next year I predict it’ll be the Eagles, not the Giants, in the big game for the NFC … surprise, surprise!) And meanwhile, baseball isn’t too far away! Washington at Philadelphia, 3:05 p.m., Monday, March 31. (By my calculation, March Madness won’t even be over … is this earlier than usual for the Boys of Summer to be getting started? Go Phillies!)
Re. Mr. Clemens … Oh boy, I do so hope that Roger gets nailed on this whole steroid HGH thing. He must be sweating it, with Andy Pettitte set to testify.
And it looks like Rudy’s hubris-filled campaign is about to grind to an ignominious halt as he slinks out of Florida and heads to CA. There, Giuliani will drop out and endorse McCain.
So yesterday morning I noticed that my knees were hurting while I was running on the treadmill. I thought, immediately, “That probably doesn’t happen to Nicole Kidman or Naomi Watts … or even Russell Crowe … or that Crocodile Dundee guy. Why me?”
Anyway, it’s not such a big surprise that my knees might hurt … given that I’m about 15 pounds heavier than I ought to be, and maybe 30 pounds heavier than I’d LIKE to be. So I rashly decided that I would start a fast. I was going to blog about it yesterday morning, and even got a paragraph into the post, when I realized that that really wasn’t something I wanted to do rashly (and if rashly, certainly not right before the Superbowl and all those snacks)!
Why is it so difficult for me to be moderate? That’s what this brings up for me. Why swing from overindulging to fasting … and back again? Extreme? You bet! I was listening to an interesting story on NHPR (that’s New Hampshire Public Radio … my demographic and proud of it) on Monday night. It was a feed from BBC radio, and was a story about the current craze for detoxing. Apparently I am not out of step with popular culture, in terms of wanting to ingest whatever I want to, and then deal with the consequences in some very structured/extreme (and hopefully quick) way, later.
I guess it’s called having your cake and eating it too. And I guess I’d actually like to be a little less cliched and a little more adult at this stage of my life than that. 🙂
The less-than-adult parts of me want immediate gratification – and are really quite horribly impatient with the slow, steady work that has half a chance of actually getting me somewhere. I want immediate gratification when I have a Hershey bar in my hand; and I also want immediate gratification when it’s almost time to put on a bathing suit. Eat the candy NOW — and lose the weight FAST afterwards. That’s the basic theory. Oh, and did I also mention that the theory doesn’t work?
It’s no accident that the middle way is the revered path in so many spiritual traditions. In part I’m guessing that has to do with the wisdom of the path – and in part, perhaps, its difficulty. Balance is seen as something to strive for, and it seems to grant entry to ever deepening spiritual truths and layers of self-knowledge. In no tradition that I have ever read about is impulsivity celebrated, nor is instant gratification sanctified. There must be a reason for that!
So, rather than starting a fast yesterday (truthfully, it was the thought of no coffee and the headaches that would ensue that quickly put the kibosh on the idea) I tried to eat more moderately. I lucked out a little bit, because I had a lot of meetings yesterday, so there were some good chunks of time when I actually COULDN’T eat. I also successfully avoided what has become my habitual afternoon visit to our snack bar … where I will often impulsively buy two candy bars (at $.50 apiece, who could pass up the deal?).
Unfortunately, as soon as I got home I downed several pretzels with some peanut butter, entirely thoughtlessly. That’s what I’ll typically do. Hold the line over a long span of time, and then without even realizing it, blow it all out of the water. Ka Boom! But at least I caught myself right afterwards. Noticing is, after all, the first step.
I did some work at the computer, went downstairs and watched a bit of the Florida Primary returns, rode the stationary bike for about 25 minutes, and then went into the kitchen and ate about three of those little miniature Mr. Goodbar’s. Oops! Clearly I am not safe wandering around on my own! So, for safety’s sake, I headed to my room after that and crawled into bed with my book. Moderation. Hmmmmmmm!
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!
Meanwhile in Women’s college b-ball it’s UNC-Duke tonight on ESPN or ESPN2 , if I’ not mistaken. 
M
JordanCornblog 
