JordanCornblog

Choices

Posted on December 29, 2024 by JordanCornblog

What I need, to be
Whole, may differ from what I
Want, to be happy.

Credit to HollyCornblog for the amazing photo taken this past November.

Posted in Haiku | Leave a comment

Playing the Long Game (Continued)

Posted on December 18, 2024 by JordanCornblog

So, the thing about playing the long game is…it’s LONG.

This may be a particular challenge for those of us who grew up in circumstances what felt threatening to varying degrees. We may feel hard-wired to be fearful of change and to sniff it out with avid, vigilant energy.

When I was very young and trying to understand changes in my mother wrought by alcohol, I called it ‘talking funny.’ I listened closely, and the slightest shift in her voice came to carry dread. Oh, I knew what was coming –or thought I did.

The game of life that I learned through long repetition was about trying to anticipate and either avoid or manage things that other people were doing. Change was to be feared and stopped. It’s what victims want — to have control over things they are powerless over but impacted by. An ingrained habit — it persists through time, even when one has grown years away from that place where victimization was actually happening.

So change, under certain circumstances, is just a scary thing. In reality, in the present, there are very few situations where change needs to be scary. But there are ripples and echoes from the past that infect the present…and in those circumstances, reacting to change becomes just a knee-jerk thing. I’ve had many sleepless nights, ruminating and reacting to changes as if they were emergencies. They have not been, but my lizard brain still thinks so.

Playing the long game means breathing more and reacting less. AND it means that the ‘opportunities’ to react don’t go away. Change continues to happen.

Sometimes it happens when you think you ‘deserve’ a rest. But the long game means hanging in there and letting things just be — maybe even welcoming the challenge to stretch a little bit more.

Playing the long game means you know you’re okay now, no matter what…

Posted in Living Skillfully | 1 Comment

Playing the Long Game

Posted on December 16, 2024 by JordanCornblog

I finished reading The Woman Behind the Door today. It’s Roddy Doyle’s second book featuring Paula Spencer, the protagonist in his earlier work titled, The Woman Who Walked Into Doors.

Paula is a 60-something recovering alcoholic. A survivor of a brutal marriage, the details emerge slowly and in broken pieces as we are made privy to her inner dialogue. Later, we witness the complex interchanges between Paula and her eldest daughter, all while her ongoing inner dialogue offers context and layers of complexity.

Paula’s life, on the face of it, could be called a messy failure. She’s well aware of that fact, thank you very much. Her reminiscences are harrowing and often steeped in festering shame. But she’s resilient, too, and her voice frequently takes a turn, crackling with humor and ‘feck you’ bravado. And then the book also offers glimpses of a middle ground where gentle insights emerge and you can catch your breath briefly.

I resonated with many things about Paula and also about her daughter. On the Paula side of things, I’ve no trouble feeling regret and shame about any number of episodes in my life. At this stage, I’ve gotten better at maintaining perspective (unless I’ve felt called to ‘wallow’ for some unfathomable reason). On the daughter side of things, I have sometimes wondered how I’d have reacted had my mother lived longer, worked out her issues, and wanted to be an actual mother to me. Would I have accepted? Trusted? I think it would have been very very hard. And kudos to Roddy Doyle for laying this out in all its mundane detail and painful complexity.

One of the insights that Paula has in the course of the novel is that she can ‘play the long game.’ What this means, essentially, is doing nothing. Simply letting events unfold without trying to affect them. Sometimes it meant not speaking but sitting in silence. At its base, it meant that Paula was not reacting in the moment. Whatever happened next would not have Paula’s fingerprints on it.

This is a high-level challenge for me, as I grew up with a hearty, and not unreasonable, fear of ‘whatever happened next.’ It was a knee-jerk reaction for me to try to affect events — whether that meant bringing something to a head or trying to deflect with distraction or humor.

What I absolutely could not bear was to let things unfold. I thought I knew where they were heading, and interceding in some way was the only option that made sense to me. It felt like survival depended on it.

As you might imagine, the persistence of that habit into adulthood has been very unhelpful. And that’s why I appreciated Roddy Doyle introducing (or reintroducing) the long-game idea.

And yet, it’s SO challenging to tolerate! It feels like I’m leaving myself powerless. And yet, it is powerful.

It’s so simple. It requires no effort at all. Just sit on your hands and don’t mess about with events.

The long game. I’m learning to play it.

Posted in Living Skillfully | Tagged book-review, books, fiction, literature, roddy-doyle | 4 Comments

More Curiosity

Posted on December 7, 2024 by JordanCornblog

Is the final breath
Always an exhale? If so
Big brave letting go.

Posted in Haiku | 4 Comments

Curiosity

Posted on December 2, 2024 by JordanCornblog

I will bring this to
Death. A mammoth mystery.
Life ends and then what?

Posted in Haiku | 2 Comments

Remember: 11/26/24

Posted on November 26, 2024 by JordanCornblog

I love and accept
Myself just as I am. (And
I’ve approved this ad!)

Posted in Haiku | 3 Comments

Chat GPT

Posted on November 1, 2024 by JordanCornblog

This morning I did some quick exploring of Chat GPT. I asked for help with a blog post and here’s the direction I gave: “I want to write about the WNBA for young girls who play basketball. Conversational tone with some information about Caitlin Clark’s rookie season.”

That’s it — not anything more.

And below is the text that Chat GPT came up with in @ 2 seconds. I’m amazed and…yes, really just amazed.

Title:

“Dream Big: How the WNBA Inspires the Next Generation of Female Ballers”

Intro: Why the WNBA?

Hey, future MVP! 🏆 Have you ever wondered what it would be like to play in the big leagues? To have fans cheering, cameras flashing, and people hanging onto your every move on the court? The WNBA is exactly where all that magic—and hard work—comes together. It’s proof that girls like you can make it all the way to the top in basketball!

The WNBA isn’t just a league; it’s a dream destination. It’s a place that says loud and clear, “Girls’ hoops matter!” And it’s packed with role models who started right where you are—on school and neighborhood courts, dribbling for hours, and pushing through every challenge. One of the brightest new stars in this league is Caitlin Clark, who’s already turning heads in her rookie season. Let’s take a closer look at her journey and see what you can learn from this rising star.

Why the WNBA Matters for Young Girls

The WNBA shows that girls have a place on the court—and not just any place, but a big, bright, and powerful one! When you watch WNBA games, you’re seeing some of the best players in the world, and they’re not just incredible athletes—they’re also leaders, role models, and inspirations for girls everywhere. Watching these games gives you a glimpse of what’s possible, proving that basketball dreams aren’t just for the guys.

And it’s not only about the players. The WNBA’s influence is huge: they’re partnering with brands, running community programs, and making a statement about the power of women’s sports. Every game, every season, they’re showing that there’s no limit to what female athletes can do.

Spotlight on Caitlin Clark’s Rookie Season

Now, let’s talk about someone who’s already making a splash: Caitlin Clark! Caitlin has been a highlight machine since her college days, known for her insane scoring ability, her fearless court vision, and her incredible shooting range. As a rookie in the WNBA, she’s bringing that same fire and skill, and she’s proving she’s here to stay.

In her first season, Caitlin has already given us some jaw-dropping moments. She’s not afraid to take those deep threes, make bold passes, and lead her team with confidence. Watching Caitlin play, you can see her passion and love for the game—it’s a reminder that the best way to succeed is by staying true to your style and giving your all. Caitlin’s rookie season is just beginning, but she’s already setting records and making history. Imagine where she’ll be by the end!

What Young Players Can Learn from Caitlin and the WNBA

What can you take from watching Caitlin and the other WNBA players? First, confidence is key. Caitlin Clark plays with an attitude that says, “I can handle this.” Every time you’re on the court, bring that same confidence with you.

Second, hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. Caitlin didn’t get here by accident—she’s been grinding, practicing her shooting, and putting in the hours to get where she is. So, every drill you do, every practice you attend, know that it’s building you into the player you want to be.

And finally, have fun with it! Basketball is about joy, teamwork, and self-expression. Whether you’re hitting threes, dishing out assists, or playing tough defense, find the parts of the game you love and lean into them.

Wrap-Up: Dream Big and Keep Working!

So, here’s the message: Keep dreaming big, keep working hard, and don’t ever doubt that you belong on that court! Caitlin Clark’s rookie season in the WNBA shows us that anything is possible if you put in the time and stay focused. Today, you’re practicing after school, but tomorrow? You could be lighting up the WNBA courts, too. So get out there, hoop your heart out, and show the world what you’ve got! 🌟

Posted in Writing Thoughts | Tagged basketball, caitlin-clark, wnba | 5 Comments

Question for the Buddha

Posted on October 26, 2024 by JordanCornblog

If I’m not attached,
How am I connected in
This new world of mine?

Posted in Haiku | 3 Comments

Autumn

Posted on October 10, 2024 by JordanCornblog

I love the smell of
The leaf mold in the woods as
October takes hold.

Posted in Haiku | 3 Comments

Not a Victim

Posted on October 8, 2024 by JordanCornblog

The lessons I’ve had
Offered to me in my life
Are my karmic gifts.

In therapy over the years I learned that while I was a victim once, as an adult that no longer applies.

But lately, I feel like I’ve been wending my way toward a different perspective — a bigger, broader view of my life — of life in general.

The thing that is a karmic gift today was also a karmic gift 50, 60, 70 years ago. And I came into this life with the goal of learning what I needed to for this round.

It’s just an inkling of an idea that flees before it can be adequately captured. But it feels like the beginning of a different way of seeing what happened to me, what I did with it, and what it’s all about, ultimately.

Posted in Haiku | 2 Comments

Starting Over from Square One
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December 2025

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Recently Seen at Red River
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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Choices

Playing the Long Game (Continued)

Playing the Long Game

More Curiosity

Curiosity

Remember: 11/26/24