You’ll notice a new widget in my sidebar … right above the Red River Reviews (which I need to update). It’s a link for leaving me a message on Google Voice.
Here’s how it works (as they explain it) …
Voicemail Widgets can be put on any web page, and allow people to leave you a voicemail from that web page. When somebody clicks on the widget, we call them and connect them to your voicemail. Your number is always kept private. You can create multiple voicemail widgets and have different settings for each of them.
So, you click the widget and some little boxes appear where you can enter your name and phone number. That’s so my voicemail on Google Voice can call you. You then leave me a message. And don’t worry … I’ll see whatever name you enter, but not your number.
The reason I am experimenting with this is because I often receive voicemails related to my on-line work that include information that I need to write out in some way. The very, very cool thing about Google Voice is that it offers the ablity to receive voicemail messages transcribed in my in-box. I can both listen to them and have a transcribed version to look at.
That way, if I need to, I can just cut-and-paste the contents of the message into Word (or whatever) and edit there.
It’s looking to me like a MAJOR time-saver. We shall see. The service itself is free … but I am still a little unclear on what kind of impact it’s going to have on my phone bill. Some things I’ve read say there’s no impact … and some seem to indicate that there may be some cost (not from Google, but from my carrier).
We shall see … and as long as the cost isn’t huge, I suspect that the functionality will be well worth it to me.
Want to learn more about Google Voice? Here’s their blog … and here’s the part of Google Voice that drew me …
The WPS All Stars face off this evening in a unique format that pits Abby’s team against Marta’s team … with Breakers spread around generously on both sides! Tune in to Fox Soccer Channel at 7:30 PM EDT to start the festivities. Game time is 8PM.
Here’s Charlie Rose interviewing The Wall Street Journal’s Walter Mossberg about the new iPhone and other smart phones … give it a look. (And thanks, PB …. kudos to you for watching the whole damn thing!)
Meanwhile, here’s TNR on John Edwards … who is apparently partying-on … hard to imagine John and Elizabeth in the White House, eh? Ugh!!
Went to see Mother and Child last night … and am shocked by the positive reviews. A pretty decisive thumbs down from yours truly.
The New Hampshire Community Load Fund is a wonderful organization, based in Concord, that, among other things, bridges the loan gap for people who can’t get loans from conventional sources. I hadn’t visited their site in awhile … but recently learned that they now offer a blog! Check it out … and sign up for their feed if you like. You can also become a fan on Facebook … or follow their Tweets on Twitter … or watch the latest and greatest on YouTube.
Check out the NHCLF … and here’s a shameless plug. Consider becoming a lender or making a donation … it’s an amazing organization – all the more important as our government(s) take less and less responsibility for any kinds of safety nets. The Loan Fund gives people a chance to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. Not even she-whose-name-shall-remain-unspoken can argue with that!
Listening to Neko Case this morning as I write … a new favorite whose music and lyrics are kinda hard to categorize (for me at any rate). She’s from Vermont .. and “haunting” is the main word that comes to mind. Loving it!
It’s a misty, dampish Monday – the kind of morning that I imagine the plants love. Such a contrast to last Friday evening, when I took some time to sit out on the deck and just be out there in the twilight. The light and shadow played across the lawn – staunch maples round and full in silohuette against the bright sun still dancing across the sheep’s pasture. Cacaphony of birdsong … soft voices down the hill at the neighbors … clouds floating in the sky above the far hill. As the light sank, the birdsong retreated deeper into the woods … and as it receded, the mosquitoes arrived … and I retreated into the house.
Boy did I feel grateful and lucky … for friends … family … a place to live … food to eat .. beauty .. health … time.
Then I went and ruined it all yesterday!
Yup … I got the idea in my head that it would be neat to have an arbor out by the chiminea.
This was in part born of the need to give a grape vine that I’ve been nurturing a place to grow into.
It also relates to my love of gates/openings … how they frame the landscape and evoke feelings of … adventure, I guess … hopefulness and mystery. Wondering and wandering.
It was also inspired by Nourishing Words’ wattle fence post (although Nourishing Words had absolutely nothing to do with what I created … let me be absolutely clear about that).
Also … those of you who have seen HollyCornblog’s handiwork will probably note a significant difference in the final output. (I think I was probably more damaged by my upbringing than she was … that’s the best I can come up with.)
All that being said, I had a blast creating the arbor … lurching into the project with no planning to speak of … and making it up as I went along.
I used wood that we were saving to cut up for the chiminea, and fit it together more or less randomly … sweating and wrestling it into place while the chickens milled around underfoot and the dogs watched from the deck. Did they look disdainful? Worried? Nah – I think that was my imagination.
Here’s the vine (a gift from DaddyCornblog many, many years ago) that I’m hoping to see grow up the arbor and, perhaps even hold it together!
In the background, if you look carefully, you can see Topanga … the eldest of our chickens … a survivor of many, many seasons here.
As people trickled home yesterday afternoon, I was heartened and a little surprised that no one exclaimed in horror or demanded that I pull down this rickety ediface. (See what happens when you leave JordanCornblog home alone?!)
Will it survive today’s predicted thunderstorms?
The next 48 hours?
The winter?
I shall keep you posted… and in the meantime, please stop by for a visit sometime … you can’t miss it!
😉
I leave you with this haunting poem from today’s Writer’s Almanac …
Wow … an hour can go by so damn fast here, just going from one thing to another. I started out down in the kitchen this morning … helping JBD decide what kind of sun tea to make. Then she started talking about her plans for dinner. “I’m going to use what we have,” she said.
Hmmm, I thought, that sounds familiar. Deja vue? No, the e-mail feed of Nourishing Words that I’d glanced at last night before bed … “Using What I Have.” From there I went to the other food/sustainability blog that I follow … Howling Hill (love the new look – at least new to me) … and then to some other blogs on my blogroll to see what was new.
Truth be told … I’m a little tired of my usual MSNBC and HuffPo routine … too much sensationalism and celebrity fluff, if you ask me. So maybe I need to try a different morning routine for awhile.
I have also been thinking that I really need to pay more attention to what I eat. But for some reason, thinking too much about that starts bringing out my inner rebel pretty quickly. Guess that’ll be a process, eh? So maybe focusing on Nourishing Words and Howling Hill will help … worth a try! But I digress …
Anyway, as I checked out other spots I came upon The Impolitic … an old favorite that I hadn’t visited in awhile. Sad to read about the impact that our ongoing economic troubles have had on yet another steady, trenchant, insightful blogger. I’ll be keeping an eye on how things unfold for our strapped friend … and sent some cash in the meantime! Best of luck to you … and hang in there!
Of course, I visited Just Keep Swimming … and learned that to really be up on what’s going on in that corner of cyberspace, you’ve gotta follow jsperber on Twitter! The blog just won’t do it.
And then, of course, there is Boltgirl … who you can also follow on Twitter. But in her case the blog will keep you more up to date. For the latest on Abby, this is the place!
Okay – I am starving and the morning is slipping by. Have a good one!!
I will refrain from saying ‘most everything that I am thinking, because it is a lovely morning and the air is soft and the day is new. And who can know the fibrillating vagaries of another’s heart? All I can say is that when Dick meets his maker … I hope his maker is a nicer dude than Dick was … for Dick’s sake. (And yes, I did say was.)
There … a positive thought (you be the decider re. what, in particular, about the above is positive). Positive thoughts are important today, as the USMNT faces off against Ghana in game one of the knockout Round. And this is when our World Cup Pool starts yielding some results … so let the fun begin! (And I think you should be able to see everyone’s picks here … if you dare. Lots of France and Italy in the mix … sadly.)
The Breakers continue to baffle … losing to Chicago in a yellow-card studded match. I am particularly worried at the low attendance. (Our seats were filled, albeit not by us.) Here’s the Breakers’ thread on BigSoccer … strangely quiet there this morning.
The Phillies battered the Blue Jays as Roy Halliday and their bullpen kept the Jays scoreless. Moving up in the standings … what we like to see! Meanwhile the Red Sox lost a real close one to the Giants … and kudos to the D-backs Edwin Johnson on his no-hitter … the 4th this year, so far, in a stellar pitching year in MLB.
But here’s the thing. I am worried.
Worried about sun storms that are apparently looming on the horizen … threatening us with havoc and devastation. Just when I am about to get a damn smartphone … crap! It sounds within the realm of possiblity that the entire internet could be kaput before my 2-year commitment is done. Experts are saying don’t panic …. but don’t ignore the warnings, either.
Great – that’s helpful!
Hmmmm … if I keep my phone under my bed when I’m not using it, will that help?
So before the sun storms bring YouTube to its knees, check out these two videos … Ellen at LSU in 2006 and again in 2009. She had me laughing out loud …
Friday sure came fast this week, didn’t it? I’m honestly not that sure about what happened over the course of the past several days … but we seem to have survived it. (And the US Men’s Soccer team did, too … so it’s all good!)
In the sporting world I see that the Phillies’ and Red Sox’ bats are alive and well, as both teams are moving up in the standings (and heading for a World Series showdown – mark my words.) And speaking of showdowns, the Breakers and Red Stars clash at Harvard Stadium this evening in a game which the B’s really, really need to win (as do the Red Stars). It’s going to be a beautiful evening for soccer … and is a damn shame that none of us can make it down for the game. Anyway – let’s score some, Breakers … okay?
Next week Breakers Lauren Cheney, Kristine Lilly, Alex Scott, Kelly Smith, and Amy LePeilbet will be among the league’s All-Stars as they battle in “Marta’s XI” versus “Abby’s XI” in the 2010 WPS All-Star Game. The match kicks off on June 30 at KSU Soccer Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia. You can watch the 7:30 pm pre-show on FSC and 8:00 pm kick off.
On Monday the 28th, Abby and Marta will be choosing their teams (great idea, if you ask me) … and you can follow it here or on Twitter, here!
But before that all gets underway … there’s that USA-Ghana game to contend with. I am guessing that, by now, you know where to find it!
And here’s an interesting tidbit from Mudflats about she who will remain unnamed. All I can say is, “Ooops!”
Oh .. and here’s what looks to be an excellent printer deal on Woot … (Canon PIXMA Wireless All-In-One Printer for $79.99) if you see it in time (and need a printer)!
You thought I’d be writing about the USA, didn’t you? But this 10-hour, still-undecided tennis match, tops the list of sporting news, I’m afraid. These guys … John Isner and Nicholas Mahut … are in the throes of qualifying for Wimbledon. But it appears that they may also be in the throes of forcing the entire tournament to be delayed! 😉
Never before in the history of Wimbledon, which first was contested in 1877, had any match — singles or doubles, men or women — lasted more than 112 games, a mark set in 1969. Isner and Mahut played more games than that in just the fifth set, and still did not determine a victor, although the American came close: He had four match points — four chances to end things by winning the next point — but Mahut saved each one.
Presumably, the match will end today … if both men can walk themselves onto the court to finish the thing! The following video is long … amazing … exhausting …
Jimmy Rollins boosted the Phillies with his first-ever walk off home run last night … in the second game he’s played since being on the disabled list forEVER!
And Obama relieved General McChrystal of his duties following McChrystal’s Rolling Stone interview heard round the world. Bad enough, I’m thinking, what he said … but how dumb (or cocky) must you be to share stuff like that with a news venue?
I understand people kvetching about their bosses … but to the press? At that level? If that’s a reflection of his judgment … then I don’t want him in charge of a war. (Leaving out the fact that I’d rather not have the war in the first place.)
Here’s another great photo sent along by HollyCornblog … imagine it gracing your notecard collection! 😉
Who would you send this beauty to? Or maybe you’d want to just frame it and keep it for yourself!
(Can you tell that I am working on honing my marketing skills?)
On the soccer front (not that I’ve exhausted the above topic, mind you) Les Bleus are gone (mercifully, it would seem) and the US Men need a big win! (Okay … they don’t actually need a win … or a big win .. but it sure would help some of us relax! (Ski, are you with me there?)
Don’t they seem like a better team than their record would imply? Why can’t they score more goals?
The defense is solid … but their scoring output … and I’m not just talking this year … is abysmal.
Breakers fans on BigSoccer are getting restless and testy … and I find myself annoyed with Tony. Not just because they’re not scoring but because he seems generally petulant. I have not liked watching him walk away from the team after a tough loss. Didn’t like what I observed of his treatment of A-Rod last year.
It leads me to wonder about him as a coach. Maybe all that success back in the day was more attributable to the players and the leadership from within the team than to Tony’s genius. Seems he’s good on the defensive side of the field … but maybe he needs to bring in some offensive expertise to spark the team.
Remember how they looked under Pia? They are working damn hard out there, from what I can tell … but under pressure … as opposed to with encouragement to take risks and be creative … oh, and joy. Makes a world of difference, I’m thinking.
On the HollyCornblog front … check out more of her artistry with the sindow and sill.
Artistry with the plane, sandpaper and brush … AND with the camera.
I’m thinking of getting her to sell HollyCornblog notecards here on the blog.
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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