Boltgirl has a nice write up of the WPS draft … a brief reminder (especially heartening to the mid-Atlantic states right about now) that baseball is on the way … and a little link at the end that you must click! All I can say is OMG. Or did I say it already? I sure hope the Phillies haven’t also discovered this niche …
How do you find that stuff, Boltgirl?
The Breakers, in addition to their dispersal draft signings (Stephanie Cox and Michelle Enyeart), re-signed Fabiana and added another international – Forward Laura Del Rio.
Looks to me like the Athletica are the hands down winners when it comes to off-season moves, though. And I am still puzzled by the Red Stars’ choice to let go of Lindsay Tarpley.
Turning to politics, the tidbit that caught my eye has to do with the former First Dude’s influence up there in Alaska, as reflected in newly-released e-mails. Are we surprised? Not really. Annoyed? You betcha!
I was going to write about the WPS’ Sol Dispersal Draft (Boxxy went first, and Marta moved up the coast) and especially how the Breakers fared … but I had a comment by a guy named Noah on my post about Obama at the Georgetown-Duke game … and just felt like I wanted to focus on THAT a little.
It’s one of those comments that comes along from time to time, and reminds me of the huge and crazy-making gulf that exists in this country. Here’s what Noah said:
How can you call this grace? O’Bummer is scrambling and he has no idea what to do. Massachusetts a red state now?!? The Democratic Party is falling on it’s face. They had the house and senate majority for years AND THEY STILL CANNOT PASS THEIR AGENDA…epic fail.
Pull your head out of the sand and come over to reality. All of O’Bummers ideas might sound good, but they are fiscally impossible. I’m no history scholar, but I’m pretty sure one of the major reasons the USSR collapsed was because they flat out went broke. Wouldn’t it be a shame if the US collapsed because we ran out of money? Or maybe all of you progressives subconsciously want this…
Noah invites me to “come over to reality” – and that’s what always brings me up short. We truly do live in different realities, I think. Noah seems to truly believe that the world as he knows it is in danger … at the hands of people like me. I am a threat to what he holds dear. (Of course I don’t actually know Noah … but I do feel, from the tone of his comment, that he is upset with me .. don’t you?)
What feels tragic to me is that the Noah’s of this world appear to me to be passionately defending people who wouldn’t even deign to spit on them … meanwhile blaming the party that actually is trying to do something to make this country livable for classes other than just the wealthiest. (And don’t get me wrong … I am probably almost as pissed at the Democrats as Noah is – but for different reasons altogether.)
Joining Noah with bizarre and disturbingly paranoid perceptions of Obama is a large percentage of self-identified GOPers, according to a recent poll. Here are a few samples from the results … they leave me speechless:
39 percent of Republicans believe Obama should be impeached, 29 percent are not sure, 32 percent said he should not be voted out of office.
36 percent of Republicans believe Obama was not born in the United States, 22 percent are not sure, 42 percent think he is a natural citizen.
31 percent of Republicans believe Obama is a “Racist who hates White people” — the description once adopted by Fox News’s Glenn Beck. 33 percent were not sure, and 36 percent said he was not a racist.
63 percent of Republicans think Obama is a socialist, 16 percent are not sure, 21 percent say he is not
24 percent of Republicans believe Obama wants “the terrorists to win,” 33 percent aren’t sure, 43 percent said he did not want the terrorist to win.
21 percent of Republicans believe ACORN stole the 2008 election, 55 percent are not sure, 24 percent said the community organizing group did not steal the election.
23 percent of Republicans believe that their state should secede from the United States, 19 percent aren’t sure, 58 percent said no.
53 percent of Republicans said they believe Sarah Palin is more qualified to be president than Obama.
The powers that be at the GOP do not actually believe any of this (they are grown-ups, after all). But they are what I would call evil, because they are perfectly willing to use fear, prejudice, and disinformation to block progress and recoup/retain power. They do this in the service of the monied elites that own the party.
People like Noah are being thoroughly duped by their craven machinations. And Noah will be angry and upset to hear this. He probably won’t believe it … but if he doesn’t wake up, he’ll need to start constructing his ark (if he hasn’t already). There ain’t a lot Obama (or the rest of us) can do in the face of this much blindness, greed, and dishonesty.
And most likely, when all’s said and done, he’ll continue to blame “progressives” – because that’ll be the lie he’s fed by the elites of the GOP – and why think beyond that?
As the sun rises on a sunny Thursday morning … some random tips and a couple of tidbits … from a fundamentally controlling and bossy blogger who woke up too late to have time to mask it!
Went to hear the Soweto Gospel Choir at the Capital Center for the Arts last night … and if they ever are in your area, you simply must see them!
Went to see A Single Man on Tuesday night … if you haven’t seen it yet, you simply must see it!
Did you know that the Winter Olympics are happening? Soon? Maybe even now? I’ve been marginally aware – and it looks like it’s not now … but soon. Like a matter of weeks.
I have very fond memories of discovering the winter games for the first time – back in, let’s see, maybe 1964. Yeah – 1964. We had our old black and white set in the living room … and some nights there was even a fire in the fireplace. It felt very special and I was enthralled. I probably wrote reports about it for school.
This was all before the Olympics, like everything else, became a commodity to be marketed to us. We had the space to sidle up to an event like that and become interested on our own – rather than being goaded and implored and having it thrust in our faces constantly.
I liked it then – having some space. Being able to “discover” things.
Now I’m more inclined to want to push things away. There’s not much you can sidle up to … it’s all already in our inboxes and on our flatscreens and dvrs. The Nokia Sugar Bowl and the Chick_Filet-Whatever-Bowl and the Bud Lite whatever … and shite!
Looks like the skies in Western PA are gonna be cloudy for Punxsutawney Phil today. The final word ain’t in, though … as I write … and I’m rooting for more winter … MORE SNOW. (After all, we’ve gotta get in some more practice time with our wovel)!
And before moving another step into today’s post … Happy Birthday, JPE! Enjoy your day – and the coming year! Looking forward to your return! 😉
On the B-ball front, we watched Rutgers nearly pull off the upset of Notre Dame last night (only to fall off in the final minutes). I also see that the Sun are signing Kara Lawson. Cool! I’d love to get down there for a game this summer … although the Breakers are likely to take up all of my fan time, realistically!
Speaking of the Breakers – here’s some more commentary from the Boston crew on the demise of the Sol. From everything I read, the league sounds like it’s in good shape, and primed for an excellent, competitive 2010 season. Stay tuned! Oh, and speaking of staying tuned, here’s the women’s b-ball TV schedule through Friday … not a lot of stations that we get, unfortunately.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2 Florida Gulf Coast at Mercer (game joined in progress)……….6:00……….CBS College Sports West Virginia at Connecticut……….6:00……….CPTV
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 Texas at Oklahoma……….7:00……….Sooner Sports Network Oklahoma State at Nebraska……….7:00……….Fox Sports Net
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4 North Carolina Central at Liberty……….4:00……….Flames Television Network Quinnipiac at Sacred Heart……….4:00……….Fox College Sports/CTSN/ESPN Full Court Arkansas at Tennessee……….6:00……….Fox Sports Net LSU at Georgia……….6:00……….CSS Hofstra at George Mason……….6:00……….FiOS1 James Madison at VCU……….6:00……….Comcast SportsNet Iowa at Ohio State……….6:30……….Big Ten Network Alabama at Mississippi State……….8:00……….ESPNU Campbell at Stetson……….8:00……….CSS Loyola Chicago at Youngstown State (tape delay)……….9:00……….My YTV
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5 Wake Forest at Virginia Tech……….5:30……….Fox Sports Net/SunSports/Comcast SportsNet Northern Iowa at Southern Illinois……….7:05……….Mediacom Creighton at Missouri State……….7:30……….MVC TV/Fox Sports Net Georgia Tech at Maryland……….7:30……….Fox Sports Net/SunSports/Comcast SportsNet
The stamina and breadth of knowledge that this man posesses, not to mention the grace under pressure – and just plain grace – are quite amazing.
First – he goes to the so-called lion’s den and schools the GOP brain trust at their annual retreat (well done Mr. President).
Then he attends the Georgetown-Duke game and shares his b-ball chops with the world (in case you were wondering if he was for real on that front).
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaBn3cVmQo0
I do wish that he would give women’s b-ball a little more time. Hopefully this year he’ll do BOTH brackets!
And now, on the snail mail vs. e-mail question, I must admit that I’ve come up empty so far.
I did find this site with lots of good ideas for reducing your carbon footprint.
It sure looks like junk mail is a big culprit, however – and I’m gonna explore this idea from the site:
Did you know that the energy used to produce, deliver and dispose of junk mail produces more greenhouse gas emissions than 2.8 million cars?! You can dramatically reduce your junk mail and offset CO2 emissions through the service of our nonprofit partner 41pounds. 41pounds will contact dozens of direct mail companies to remove your name from lists, including catalogs you specify. The cost is $41 for everyone in your household for 5 years, and 41pounds will donate $15 to Carbonfund.org to help support our mission. Sign up now!
.. except the feel good stories of the decade include has gotta the Phillies’ World Series win, too, in my book! 😉
What’s on your docket for today?
I’m gonna be doing some research … see what the info is on what’s actually got the bigger carbon footprint (after factoring in ALL of the components in the process) – sending a letter or sending an e-mail.
There’s gotta be some Google-able info on that out there womewhere!
Gotta, gonna … guess we’re gonna be folksy and colloquial this morning, eh?
Ever since I was a wee lass, I’ve loved sports. There is something about the combination of competition and camaraderie that speaks to my soul. There are miracles and feel good stories that litter the history books of amateur and professional sports. I’m hoping Super Bowl XLIV will add another chapter to this book.
I’ve never been happier to see a New England sports team NOT in the championship game. Cheering against the Saints is just not an option. The fact that they are playing the Colts is just icing on the cake. Did I mention I can’t standing Manning?? 😉
I’ll be stuffing my face with ridiculously unhealthy food next weekend as I wait (im)patiently for the game to begin. My prediction? Saints take it 34-27 with Saints holding off a Colts comeback. I don’t suspect it will be a blowout but I’m just hoping for the win – both for the team and the people of New Orleans.
If this team pulls off their victory, it could very well top the Red Sox World Series wins as the feel good story of the decade. How can you root against them? A return from shambles to the top would be the biggest F-U to the Shrub administration and the government that abandoned them when they needed their help the most.
Despite the outcome, I do know one thing. I know that as I watch this game, I’ll feel that same lump in my throat that always seems to accompany a game that means so much more than that “W”. As that final whistle blows, tears will cloud the screen as I digest what I had just witnessed. No, there’s no rooting against these boys.
Here is a short video that talks about the important role the black & gold has played in the rebuilding process of NO:
Sad news (I was too obsessed with John and Liz to pick this up when it first came out) .. the LA Sol have folded. You probably heard it from Boltgirl first! (I heard via an e-mail at work from a friend.)
At first I was horrified on hearing it – PTSD from old WUSA days. But the model is different (franchises) this time around – so what happens with the Sol doesn’t drag on the league the way it would have back in the day. And with two new teams we’re still up one from last year … and most teams (other than the Sol) have modest business models.
Breakers’ GM Andy Crossley weighed in on the situation and gave us some good news about the Breakers’ status:
Crossley is confident that WPS will continue to grow. He’s starting to see interest increase from last year.
“We’re up 20 percent in ticket sales,” Crossley said. “I feel, locally, interest is growing here. I would say the league has certainly picked up momentum from last year.”
“I can’t wait. I think we’ve got a really exciting team this year. Tony and Lisa are happy the way the draft turned out. I think now we have an opportunity to add quality players in the dispersal draft. It’s going to be very, very competitive in training camp.
It was actually that training camp that was my first thought when I heard about the Sol folding and the dispersal draft (2/4/10). Feeling kinda bummed for the just-out-of-college players who were picked late in the 1/15 draft and were probably ecstatic to be coming into camp … who now may have to compete against the likes of Boxxy, Marta and Karina LeBlanc. Yikes – talk about a roller coaster!
Oh, and having just purchased 2 more season tickets from the Breakers, I can attest to the growing interest … as it was pretty slim pickings in the section I was hoping for!
So here’s the dispersal pick order … and the rosters of the Sol and the Breakers … (FA means Free Agent) …
Round 1
Sol Roster
Breakers Roster
1. Atlanta
Liz Bogus (FA)
M
Abby Crumpton (FA)
F/D
2. Philadelphia
Brittany Cameron (FA)
GK
Fabiana (FA)
F
3. FC Gold Pride
Keri Sanchez (FA)
D
Kristin Luckenbill (FA)
GK
4. Chicago
Lisa Sari (FA)
M
Ashley Phillips (FA)
GK
5. Boston
Julia Schnugg (FA)
F
Jordan Angeli
D
6. Sky Blue
Brittany Bock
D
Casey Brown
D
7. Washington
Shannon Boxx
M
Lauren Cheney
F
8. Saint Louis
Stephanie Cox
D
Gina DiMartino
F
Round 2
Tina DiMartino
M
Christine Latham
F
9. Saint Louis
Johanna Frisk
D
Amy LePeilbet
D
10. Washington
Karina LeBlanc
GK
Kristine Lilly
M/F
11. Sky Blue FC
Manya Makoski
M
Allison Lipsher
GK
12. Boston
Marta
F
Mary-Frances Monroe
M
13. Chicago
Aya Miyama
M
Kasey Moore
D
14. FC Gold Pride
Cynthia Morote-Ariza
F
15. Philadelphia
Sol Draft (in draft order)
Alyssa Naeher
GK
16. Atlanta
Nikki Washington
M/F
Jennifer Nobis
F
Round 3
Casey Nogueira
F
Leslie Osborne
M
17. Atlanta
Kiersten Dallstream
F
Carly Peetz
D
18. Philadelphia
Michelle Enyeart
M/F
Katherine Reynolds
D
19. FC Gold Pride
Kiki Bosio
F
Alex Scott
D
20. Chicago
Estelle Johnson
D
Kelly Smith
F/M
21. Boston
Mary Casey
GK
Erika Sutton
D/M
22. Sky Blue FC
Lindsay Browne
M/F
Maggie Tomecka
M
23. Washington
Tiffany Weimer
F
24. Saint Louis
Who do we want in Boston? And who do we have room for? Will this tip Lil into retirement? (Not yet – one more year, Lil, okay? We’ll need some warning before you hang up your boots.)
Anyway – who do I want? We need scoring. Do I want Marta? Oddly enough, I’m not totally enthralled with the idea. She’d be fun to watch, don’t get me wrong … but a part of me would really like to see the Breakers do it without her … leaving a healthy Kelly Smith with the spotlight all to herself. (Do I sound like an eldest child? Worried about dispersal displacement? Yup!)
Apparently Tony likes Dallstream. Hey … we’d like forwards who can work with Tony and vice versa. So, betweem Nikki Washington, Casey Nogueira and Kiersten Dallstream … oh, and Marta … we should be able to pick up something good for the B’s, I’m thinking.
I do wish that Camille Abily were still with the Sol (and therefore being ‘dispersed’). I liked her a lot! Gold Pride lucked out on that one!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXmAiQp2V7c
Any way you look at it, the 4th should be interesting … and the Breakers will pick up some more talent … and the 2nd WPS season is getting closer and closer!
So, what you see above are the good guys. Here are the ones at the bottom of the list … with the last being the worst, and so on. Congratulations Halliburton … and Dick!
570. Barrick Gold Corporation | Basic Resources
571. Mediaset SpA | Media
572. Total SA | Oil & Gas
573. Grupo Mexico SA de CV | Basic Resources
574. Syngenta AG | Chemicals
575. Ryanair Holdings plc | Travel & Leisure
576. Occidental Petroleum Corporation | Oil & Gas
577. Philip Morris International Inc. | Personal & Household Goods
578. Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. | Basic Resources
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Looks like it would take more time than I have this morning to delve into the details, but I’m pleased that they got Halliburton nailed … Monsanto, too.
And then, if we’re talking blowing the cover off of miasma .. there’s always John and Elizabeth … good god, y’all!
It’s not that they fucked up – it’s the level of insincerity and inauthenticity. I just HATE it when Democrates behave like GOPers at their self-righteous, faux family values worst! Damn, damn, damn.
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!
So, what you see above are the good guys. Here are the ones at the bottom of the list … with the last being the worst, and so on. Congratulations Halliburton … and Dick!
And then, if we’re talking blowing the cover off of miasma .. there’s always 
JordanCornblog 