Here you go … remember, this is CENTRAL TIME … and I’m too hungry at the moment to do any reliable math so you’re on your own with any necessary translations … ;>)
SATURDAY, MARCH 26
Ohio State vs. Tennessee……….11:00am……….ESPN
Oklahoma vs. Notre Dame……….1:30……….ESPN
Gonzaga vs. Louisville……….8:00……….ESPN
North Carolina vs. Stanford……….10:30……….ESPN2
SUNDAY, MARCH 27
Georgetown vs. UConn……….11:00am……….ESPN
DePaul vs. Duke……….1:30……….ESPN2
Georgia vs. Texas A&M……….3:30……….ESPN2
UW Green Bay vs. Baylor……….6:30……….ESPN2
Meanwhile, on the men’s side things have gotten a little out of hand. VCU? Amazing. Kentucky … well done. Sorry to see Marquette and Richmond bow out after nice runs. UNC is looking a little daunting to me.
Many New Hampshire-ites are questioning the sanity of our lawmakers. The story below does nothing to derail those concerns. The voices in his head were LOUD and CLEAR!
… for the Georgetown women … and for some in our tourney, as we head into the Sweet Sixteen. Mr. Mo is at, or near, the top of the group on both the men’s and the women’s sides. Meanwhile the picture looks bleaker and bleaker for many of the rest of us (yes, that’s ME I’m talking about)!
Xavier women … I am so sorry. That was a heartbreaking loss last night … but kudos to Louisville and Concord’s own Becky Bonner.
So, take a night off tonight. Catch up on some sleep. Lick your wounds … and get ready for it all to start up again tomorrow night!
Check out the updated standings on the March Madness page … and lleevonn … who the heck are you???
When it comes to the Men’s side of the NCAA D1 tournament, my bracket is now as full of holes as the safety net in NH. Meanwhile, POTUS (as in the real POTUS) and Better Than Tyler Dewdney are right up there at the top.
On the women’s side things are looking better for yours truly … however a mystery bracketeer … lleevonn … is cleaning up and won’t say who he/she is. Pfffft!!! What is that about?!?
I’ll resurrect my special March Madness page, so you can see the details … gory and/or otherwise.
And lleevonn … who are you? Come clean … you’re driving me crazy!
Since my bracket is beyond being an embarrassment, I find myself avoiding basketball, forced back toward a contemplation of actual, real-world stuff, and feeling … ever-so-slightly cornered … I must admit.
When my mind is unoccupied, it slips back toward the NH Legislature and the absolutely horrible things that collection of human beings is doing right now. Despicable doesn’t begin to describe it (although the likes of the Republican Liberty Caucus … calling themselves “The Conscience of the Republican Party” … are no-doubt watching and feeling that the Kingdom of God is finally at hand.)
BTW – I signed up to receive the e-mail updates from the NH Republican Liberty Caucus to keep an eye on their efforts to roll back the clock on things like women’s rights and human decency … all in the guise of “liberty.” And by “liberty” I mean the 4th-grade, made-up-history, Tea-Party version of that term.
So, while ruminating about the NH Legislature, I discovered a blog (Susan the Bruce) and a recent post of hers titled “Unmasked” that was music to my ears. She notes that, as the GOPers have finally gotten their hands on all the power and control they’ve sought … their masks of “civility” have been slipping off.
I’d be more inclined to say that those masks never really existed, but the Democrats were, in the past, able to mitigate the hatefulness-in-the-guise-of-fiscal-responsibility. I mean, Neal Kurk and Tom Keane have been wanting to slash the safety net since their pointy-yet-over-sized heads came trucking on down the birth canal, don’t you think?
But let’s not quibble over details when Susan the Bruce has come up with what I think is the best-ever description of the spectacle our NH legislature is presenting to the world … “As is always the case, an exploding pimple is never pretty.” The only descriptive detail I might add would be to offer the precise location of that pimple on the body politic …
Here’s a list (from NH Journal) of what kind of putrid spew this exploding pimple has been producing … disgusting, isn’t it?
Number
Bill Description
Status
Vote Date
HB 337
Freezes school aid at current (2010) levels.
PASSED
3/17/2011
HB 540
Changes the motor vehicle inspection requirement from annual to biannual.
PASSED
3/17/2011
HB 156
Reduces the state tax on cigarettes by $0.10 per pack and lowers taxes on other tobacco products.
PASSED
3/17/2011
HB 218
Repeals the New Hampshire Rail Transit Authority
PASSED
3/17/2011
HB 442
Expands the legal usage of marijuana for medicinal purposes
PASSED
3/16/2011
SB 3
Reforms NH public employee retirement system, including increasing public workers’ contribution to their pension fund and raising the retirement age for certain public employees
PASSED
3/16/2011
CACR 12
Amends the state constitution to make all school funding decisions the direct prerogative of the legislature
PASSED
3/16/2011
HB 329
Requires parental notification of abortions performed on unemancipated minors
PASSED
3/16/2011
HB 330
Allows the concealed carrying of firearms without a permit
PASSED
3/16/2011
HB 429
Lowers the high school dropout age from 18 to 16 with parental consent required for those under 18
PASSED
3/15/2011
HB 524
Rolls back provisions in last session’s SB 500 that allowed for the automatic early release of violent criminals and sex offenders
PASSED
3/15/2011
HB 147
Expands the list of crimes punishable by the death penalty to include murders committed during premeditated home invasions
PASSED
3/15/2011
HB 89
Requires New Hampshire to join the lawsuit against the new federal health care reform law
PASSED
3/15/2011
HB 370
Overturns the provision in the recently-passed bullying legislation that requires teachers and school officials to address off-campus bullying, but adds a requirement that all known bullying instances be reported to parents
PASSED
3/15/2011
HB 416
Allows children to decline vaccinations due to consciences objections not directly health-related or religious in nature
FAILED
3/15/2011
HB 176
Prohibits out of state students attending college in New Hampshire from voting
FAILED
3/15/2011
HB 513
Legalizes doctor assisted suicide
FAILED
3/15/2011
So, where do we go from here?
Back to basketball, I guess … at least the women’s tournament gets underway today … a fresh start for yours truly – and hopefully a distraction from the terrible, unconscionable mess that is State (and Federal) politics.
Just long enough to have yours truly feeling even crankier-than-usual as I sit squarely at the bottom (yes, the VERY bottom) of my bracket group after just one day of March Madness. So, to cheer myself up, I am focusing on baseball and adding another Phillies blog to my sidebar list … this one, Beer Leaguer.
Perhaps I will be able to interest HollyCornblog …
The new .. the real news, I mean … is so sad/scary as to be virtually unreadable. There is the unfolding tragedy in Japan. And then there is the unfolding tragedy in New Hampshire … where the likes of Neal Kurk and Tom Kean and other nasty legislators would have us believe that spending cuts … and the dismantling of an already frayed and weakened safety net … is necessary in order to be responsible stewards of the State Treasury.
This is beyond despicable. NH does not have a spending problem … it has a revenue problem. This legislature is fixing N-O-T-H-I-N-G and is simply creating untold suffering while it punishes people for being poor, homeless, mentally ill, disabled … really just for not being like Neal and Tom and crew. Oh, and they also want to roll back the rights of women just a tad while they’re at it.
So what’s the truth about NH? Well, for starters, we have the highest median income in the country at $65,028 according to US Census figures published last fall. Not only that, but according to another report I read, NH ranks 8th in the country in number of millionaires, with “more than 27,000 millionaire households.” That’s 5.34% of the population. NH ranks just above California and just below Alaska in this little race.
And NH ranks just below Alaska in another little race … that for the lowest tax burden. NH’s millionaires have no income tax to worry about … and the tax burden, in total, is estimated at 8% of income. (Alaska is 6.6%.) Interesting chart here, with the rankings. And here’s Forbes’ listing of the 400 richest Americans, FWIW.
Inequality is alive and thriving in the USA … and is being foisted on us in the name of the Founding Fathers, Tea, and Apple Pie.
I, personally, do not mind contributing tax dollars to the common good. Why is it that so many of the rich apparently do? And why is it that so many of the most vociferous supporters of this inequality are the ones who suffer the most from it?
Hundreds of people stepped up to the plate yesterday afternoon and evening to protest the deep and irresponsible budget cuts being proposed by the gun-toting NH State Legislature. Dominated by newbie Tea-Partiers, Free-Staters, self-proclaimed “experts” like Tom Kean, and oldies like Weare’s Neal Kurk who’ve been waiting around for an opportunity like this for decades … the NH legislature has finally lost all its marbles.
Their values are reflected in their actions and proposed actions … you know, stuff like carrying guns to their workplace (first thing they did), narrowing the statutes that address bullying in school, changing the high school drop-out age back to 16, and of course slashing and burning the already-tattered safety net that exists in New Hampshire. But by god we’ll have no taxes on the richest among us … no, and we’ll remove rungs from the ladder so that others can’t climb toward success.
I love what Bishop Gene Robinson said at the budget hearings yesterday:
“When sacrifice is perpetrated on the vulnerable and weak by the strong and prosperous, it is social abuse,” Robinson said. “If there is belt-tightening to be done, we should be tightening our own belts and coming up with the resources to do what a civilized society does: to care for, and not cut services for, the poor, the disabled, the blind, the unemployed, the impoverished elderly, the uninsured and children living in poverty.
“Do what you are going to do,” Robinson continued, “But make no mistake: This budget is simply irresponsible and immoral.”
Immoral, indeed. So immoral that I think we should all consider visiting our legislators at their homes when we begin to personally feel the impact of their rampant irresponsibility.
If you check out the links above, you’ll see Tom and Neal’s voting records … as well as their home addresses. But heck, why don’t I just share them here – I am sure they have nice houses and yards.
Maybe it’s time they felt some personal impact from their egregious, irresponsible, and cold-hearted actions. What they are proposing not only has an immediate effect on the lives of thousands of the most vulnerable people in NH, but will not be easily repaired once they are voted out of office. These are small-minded and supercilious men … stubbornly protecting what’s theirs, and creating/exacerbating the suffering in every nook and cranny of this State. They and their opinions deserve the same consideration that they afford to others … which I am guessing is about zilch.
Is this really who we are? NH, is this really a reflection of the content of our character … these Neals’ and Tom’s and the other nasty dudes voting their heads off in Concord these days? I know that they certainly don’t represent me or my values … not even a tiny, tiny bit.
And even beyond that, I continue to be flabbergasted by the way that the Free-Staters and Tea-Partiers and Christian Right are basically, to my eye, consistently working against their own interests and doing the selfish and short-sighted bidding of the very, very wealthy in this State and the rest of the Country.
Wake up Tea-Partiers! Wake up Free-Staters! We’re in tough times and your fears are being played on bigtime. It’s nasty stuff that is being floated out and about by the likes of HuckaPalmann, folks … and the end result is that you cut your own legs out from under you — tearing up supports you and your loved ones may well need one day … while the super rich hang onto their money and thumb their noses at everyone else.
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!
JordanCornblog 