“Oh really?” you reply, eying her mistrustfully. “Nice to see you …” turning back to the Parcheesi Board.
“No, I’m really back, I swear. I’m over Bejeweled Blitz and Baseball and all that stuff. Yeah, well, there’s Fantasy Football, but I’m not obsessed. The Eagles kinda suck and my fantasy team loses pretty much all the time so …”
“So you have no place else to go and you’re back here expecting a big welcome are you?”
“Yeah, kinda.”
“Let me think about it. I was pissed, you know. The way you dropped out of sight was very, very irresponsible for a blogger. Someone could have gotten hurt. Know what I mean?”
“Not really.”
“Never mind. Just tell me why I should trust you now.”
“Because I am telling you that you can?”
“Yeah … right.”
“Okay, just watch … you’ll see. And it won’t be the kind of superficial crap that I’d been writing there at the end, either. I’m getting too old to waste my time on stuff like baseball scores and Dancing With the Stars. Nope – we’re going for deep thoughts and political commentary … the kind of stuff Alice likes … and Boltgirl writes about.”
“Boltgirl? If you’d been paying attention you’d know that she’s been gone, too. You guys both suck if you ask me, and I’ll believe it when I see it. Deep thoughts … yeah … right.”
“Okay, fair enough. Maybe deep thoughts and political commentary is a tall order, even for JordanCornblog. How about we go for the middle ground? I think you can expect at least 2 moderately engaging posts of at least 3 paragraphs every week. And let’s just say, if one of the posts contains a thought that we can agree qualifies as deep, then that will count as two posts. Can we go with that?”
Got back Sunday afternoon after a really beautiful weekend with HollyCornblog and CharlieHopBrew. There was swimming and talking and reading and relaxing … oh, and of course a bit of beer tasting.
And then, at night, there was the opportunity to indulge in our tendencies toward pyromania … who could ask for more? And since we are older … and the beer tasting a bit more staid than it used to be, the house was never in any danger from the pyromania!
So, what’s up now? Well, the Breakers are in the play-offs … miraculously and, one has to fear, briefly. The match against the evil Magic Jack will be televised tonight on the evil Fox (okay, not the really, really evil Fox … but, still …). Let’s hope Kelly Smith is able to join the B’s for this play-off run … starting at 7:30 PM ET.
Otherwise, I am on vacation … sort of. With a puppy in the house, “vacation” is a relative term. I’m on duty pretty much all day … and thoroughly entertained by the antics of Caleb and Ruby. Have learned that, it’s when it gets quiet that you need to stop-whatever-you’re doing and rush off to wherever that silence is coming from!
The horrific events in Norway … and the apparent culprit … yes, a blond, Nordic, right-winger who calls himself a Christian … can we open our eyes? Please?
Can this, just maybe, be a wake up call for the people, world-wide, who believe that they absolutely know what is best for everyone? I’m talking to you, Mr. and Mrs. Bachmann. It doesn’t matter … Christians, Muslims, Jews … when you put on that fundamentalist mantle, you are really all alike … and all so very hateful and dangerous.
There should be, I have often thought, a diagnostic term for fundamentalism … for, a disorder it surely is. A childish worldview in the hands of adults … and unfortunately, quite often now, adults with guns.
Anyway, while one can wish and hope for miracles … and while one or two souls may be pulled up short by vicious murder in the name of Christianity and the Right …. it’s highly unlikely that introspection will suddenly become a character trait for the most entrenched of this crew.
No, instead, they will point fingers and separate themselves from the terrible, terrible things this man has done.
Reflection, soul-searching … nah … these will not be indulged in or encouraged. The leading lights will wring their hands briefly … and find some “other” to blame this on.
And that’s just the way it has to work when you live in a black and white world. Nuances cannot be entertained. Subtleties can’t be considered. Doubts can’t be harbored. One small seed like that can bring the whole thing toppling down.
The nastiness that is fundamentalism is actually a rather fragile thing … and that’s what makes it so viciously scary.
“Cherish those who seek the truth but beware of those who find it.”
— Voltaire
Last night as I ate dinner and attempted to keep my sweaty self from sticking to random objects around the house, I watched a snippet of Hardball (without Chris Matthews – so the decibels were a little lower – a blessing in the heat).
One of the stories, earnestly conveyed by the temporary host, was about Michelle Bachmann’s migraines. I guess one of the burning questions yesterday was whether her headaches disqualify her from being President … and whether the question unfairly targets her and would not be asked of, say, a man.
So … what fascinates me … no, let me change that … what TERRIFIES me … is that the questioning of her qualification to be President seems to have been boiled down to this one, soon-to-be-discredited-as-unfair misgiving.
Have we all moved beyond being slightly concerned that she doesn’t know the most basic facts about our history and about how our government functions? Or the small fact that she is kinda not a believer in basic science. Or the fact that her oh-so-gay husband is a crackpot dealing with his own repression by trying to teach others how to do the same? (Check out how the good people of Minnesota are dealing with bad therapy … love it!)
So, is it really the migraines, folks?
And then there’s all this Rupert Murdoch stench starting to leak out all over the place. I am so enjoying that and hoping that is crosses over here and infects Fox and all its minions.
Finally, HollyCornblog shared a truly wonderful piece about a small newspaper in upstate NY, owned by Roger Ailes (talk about stench), that has been kinda coming apart at the seams since back in April. It appears that Roger is a rather paranoid dude, and was caught spying on his employees, among other acts of nasty bizarreness.
These guys are such bullies … Murdoch and Ailes … that I really think once this festering stuff starts coming to light, others will feel empowered to speak. So, no telling where it might go. I do get the feeling that even among their so-called allies, they are not much liked.
Keep going folks … this is really fun! It has cheered my up immensely in the wake of the USWNT not … exactly … winning the WWC. (And if you’re looking for lots of great stuff on the USWNT’s return to the States … here’s a compilation of things you can read and watch.)
Here’s Beulah’s take on it all … and I’ll just add … er … yeah … what she said.
Oh, and much to my delight (and the chagrin of nearly everyone I know in this far northern place) … Phillies 5, BoSox 0. Oh, and make that another shutout for Cliff Lee!
Finally, a tidbit from Alice, who clearly can no longer rely on yours truly to keep her entertained and has picked up the slack nicely!
FORWARDS (4): Lauren Cheney (Boston Breakers), Alex Morgan (Western New York Flash), Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence), Abby Wambach (magicJack)
There are some cute/funny videos posted for some of the players on the roster … here … just click on a player name and watch. (Some don’t have ’em – looks like it’s more of the Vets who’ve put these together.)
Another soggy-looking day here in NH, as I get cozy in sweats and smart wool … and try to remember that it’s June 25th in the Northern Hemisphere.
I see that the great state of NY has legalized Gay Marriage … which will set off lots of howling, as if someone were actually being wounded (gravely wounded, I might add) by this development. Have to say that if behavior is any measure, marriage and the white male ego are among the most fragile things in the universe.
Meanwhile, over at Glenisk, they are giving out samples of yogurt in Churchtown today – ;~)
So, here’s the deal. HollyCornblog has got me thinking about dropping out of Fantasy Football this year. The more I think about it, the more I like the idea.
You see, I grew up in a dysfunctional family … one in which Mom pretty much took care of the dys while Dad had the functional part covered.
As is the case when one develops and evolves in such an atmosphere, the temptation to escape into worlds other than the “real” can be a strong one. And I find that even though today, at the ripe old age of however old I am, I am far from the turmoils and turgidities of 110 East Park Road, Havertown, PA … I still drag the baggage with me … and am still drawn to otherworldly pleasures such as FFootball.
So, in the interest of spending more time in the company of everyday reality, I am seriously considering a break from the whole fantasy thing.
Who knows … I might exercise … or weed … or simply BE! What do you think? Ready to join me and HollyCornblog and let go of the FFootball … at least for this season? (And aren’t you kinda pissed at them anyway?)
In the meantime, if you are planning your schedule, here’s what the USWNT is up to in the first round of the Women’s World Cup in Germany … starting on Tuesday:
June 28, 2011 vs. Korea DPR Women 11:45 a.m. ET ESPN, ESPN3.com / Galavision July 2, 2011 vs. Colombia Women 11:30 a.m. ET ESPN, ESPN3.com / Galavision July 6, 2011 vs. Sweden Women 2:30 p.m. ET ESPN, ESPN3.com / Galavision
Aside from the fact that it can feel an awful lot like summer has flown by too fast, don’t you just love these Septemberish days? Clear air, yellow sun, brilliant blue skies … and that cool breeze! Couldn’t ask for more – especially after the very, very strange and dangerous weather that we’ve been having.
I read last night that the Breakers’ Kelley O’Hara has been called in to train with the USWNT in NJ and could get the call for the WWC, which would be very cool. (Sadly, this opportunity arises only because Lindsay Tarpley tore her ACL in a match against Japan last month … after spending many months rehabbing from knee surgery.
The USA opens the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup against Korea DPR on June 28 at Rudolf Harbig Stadium in Dresden, Germany. So the clock’s ticking, as Pia works to finalize her roster. Here’s more detail from the USSF website:
Sundhage and her staff head into the week of training with several unsettled issues on the final Women’s World Cup roster. The U.S. lost veteran midfielder Lindsay Tarpley to a torn ACL in the match against Japan on May 14 and Sundhage is still considering replacements while veteran defender Heather Mitts is still trying to bounce back from a hamstring injury. Defender Whitney Engen and midfielder Kelley O’Hara have been called in to train with the team during the week and should be available for selection against Mexico.
Meanwhile, the NH Legislature continues to embarrass the State … except among the most radical right-wingers. According to Blue Hampshire, they have “passed SB 88 by a 248-111 margin. The bill eliminates the requirement for a permit to carry a concealed weapon, allows gun owners to brandish their weapon, and permits use of deadly force without retreat.”
Maybe I am paranoid … but does sh*t like this prepare the way for militia-type folks to kinda, sorta take over if they feel like they need to?
Paranoia aside, don’t you just love the feeling that, when you walk down the street, lots and lots of people are probably toting handguns? I know it definitely makes me feel a lot safer.
Ugh!
And speaking of Ugh … Tim Tebow has written a “love letter to God” that chronicles his (Tim’s, not God’s) life to this point. He visited The Daily Show last night to peddle this tome.
I hate to admit it … but I kinda liked him. The book (this is for Boltgirl’s info in particular) is available at Amazon … the Kindle edition looks like the way to go!
Finally, RPE is somewhere in Dublin … looking for housing and starting her internship. So don’t forget to Like Glenisk on Facebook … and if you’re over there, check out the Bloom Festival! Look for the redhead (yeah, right) in Phoenix Park from 2 to 6 June 2011 … there’s probably about a 2% chance that it’ll be RPE!! 😉
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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