OMG – when I got up this morning there was nary a flake. Now it’s accumulating at a pretty good clip. Should be an interesting drive to work (my maiden voyage in the new Accent with its new snow tires). Wish me luck … wish everyone luck!
Wonder how the newest woodpile will look by tomorrow …
Anyway, speaking of luck, I was thinking yesterday about things I am grateful for and oddly enough, the first thing that popped into my head was the thankfulness I feel that I am not Tiger Woods. Never occurred to me before – but it’s definitely true these days.
Meanwhile, it sounds like there is movement on healthcare reform … and the Senate has beaten back a restrictive abortion amendment … for now.
Oh, and Alice and I went to see The Damned United last night at Red River. (Sidebar review to be added tonight!) It’s a nice character study and an enjoyable soccer flick … and Red River is always worth a visit!
“A coalition of more than 100 liberal activist groups has posted a $200,000 bounty for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Tom Donohue, CEO of the Chamber of Commerce.”
Considering the Chamber has been shelling out millions upon millions of dollars to block consumer rights, this shouldn’t be too hard of an investigation.
While perusing Nourishing Words yesterday morning I came upon this wonderful link … and am adding it to JordanCornblog’s sidebar.
The New Hampshire Virtual Farmer’s Marketplace looks like a great way to combine the power of the internet with supporting local agriculture and eating locally. Now .. I wonder if they’d have any stocking stuffers … hmmm … organic beef? Maybe not this year.
While we’re on the subject of the holidays, have you seen this Christmas Decoration picture that’s been making the e-mail rounds?
Pretty amazing …
… and here’s the rest of the story …
Greg (who must be the perpetrator) sends along this DIY FYI: “Good news is that I truly out did myself this year with my Christmas decorations. The bad news is that I had to take him down after 2 days. I had more people come screaming up to my house than ever.Great stories. But two things made me take it down.
First, the cops advised me that it would cause traffic accidents as they almost wrecked when they drove by.
Second, a 55 year old lady grabbed the 75 pound ladder almost killed herself putting it against my house and didn’t realize it was fake until she climbed to the top (she was not happy). By the way, she was one of many people who attempted to do that. My yard couldn’t take it either. I have more than a few tire tracks where people literally drove up my yard.”
It would work better at our house … no one would be in danger of seeing it from the road … although it might really startle the UPS guy!
As I write, the sun is coming up over the still-snow-covered landscape. Looks chilly out there! Ah, December!
I’ll share some pictures (these from JBD and HollyCornblog) more or less randomly, as I write.
So first, AMR, I am bummed to hear about your bum shoulder. Goalkeeping … glorious and god-awful. I am glad I gave it up when I did. Seems that you and Boltgirl have been having a rough patch on the pitch. Remember, if you need a PT … there’s always Foothills! 😉
From TNR (as in The New Republic) we have this wee gem gleaned from a New Yorker review of Sarah Palin’s book.
It quotes her dad, on her reasons for leaving Hawaii back in the ’80’s after spending just a semester in college there.
Oh, and for the record, this was the first of the 4 colleges she attended. Hard to stick with things, eh Sarah? Anyway … back to Sarah’s dad …
According to him, the presence of so many Asians and Pacific Islanders made her uncomfortable: “They were a minority type thing and it wasn’t glamorous, so she came home.”
Okay, so tell me again, what of value this person has to offer? I’m waiting …
… and wating …
… yup, still waiting …
… and kinda glaring at you, too …
… just answer the question … or give me a treat … either one will do.
On the winter wonderland front, HollyCornblog reports that they had @ 6 inches of snow up at the lake (a bit southwest of Albany in the Helderbergs).
The house was cozy, though … as HollyCornblog reported: “We got the livingroom nice and toasty Saturday night … we think up to 80 degrees!
“In the middle of the night it got really windy and the temps dropped down to 55 inside, but considering it was in the teens and windy outside that was pretty good with a dying fire inside! Once we stoked it up again, things warmed up fast!”
Finally – here’s Zoey having a blast running free at the lake – tearing up the road through the snow (and back)!
May you have that kind of exhuberant energy today … whatever it brings your way!
As we prepare for the season of giving, I find it rather ironic that we, as a nation, are faced with the biggest decision of people or profits. I was going to discuss the urgent message sent out by the national leg of my organization, begging people to get in contact with their Senators to vote down an amendment by Sen. Ensign of Nevada to limit plaintiff attorney fees in medical malpractice cases. I wanted to delve into the tactic used by insurance companies to inject negativity and criticism geared towards taking away consumer rights by stripping them of their ability to hire an attorney to receive representation when they have been harmed by the actions of others.
But, I’ve decided to take a lighter route. Who really wants to hear about yet another right that the Bush Administration had worked adamantly to take away from us in its 8 years of office? You know, it’s not only those crazy liberals who want to pounce on the magnificent document laid about by our founding fathers many, many years ago. Those damn conservatives LOVE to attack the ol’ 7th Amendment Right. And rightfully so! Relying on a jury of our peers is so….so……democratic in its design and structure.
No, tonight, it’s all about me. Me and my bum shoulder, that is. Last week, I decided it would not hurt me to assume the position of goalkeeper for just one night. This, despite warnings from an orthopedic surgeon last year stating that I was not to play goalie again if I hoped to avoid further damage. But, what is one night!? Apparently, he was right.
Being the jockette that I am, it’s hard to see when I am doing things that harm my body instead of help it. Too many years of pushing through the pain has left me with a foolish mentality for pain management. I know that I messed up and I want to make it right. I want to apologize to my aching limb by doing the only thing I know will help it – more physical therapy.
In theory, I’m “better” now. I no longer resemble John McCain in that my range of motion now exceeds 90 degrees. But, it’s still “broken” and probably will be for the rest of my life. And tomorrow I will take on the daunting task of trying to get yet another referral for a few weeks of PT to make things right again.
We’ll see if good old Anthem recognizes this as preventative medicine. Given my past experience, I highly doubt that they hold the capacity for making such a logical determination. We are talking about getting back the services and care for which I am paying premiums for in the first place.
Am I grateful for having insurance coverage in the first place? Absolutely! Do I think that there is serious room for improvement in our current health care system? You betcha!
In the spirits of the holidays, let’s hope that Senate can put us one step closer towards having a system that puts the focus on the people and not on the profits that have dictated our health care system for far too long.
No pun intended (okay, it is) but Snowe’s back! (This effectively neutralizes the smarmy Joe … an especially nice development.)
And, in the natural world (as opposed to the unnatural, I guess), snow’s back, too. It’s good to know that my exercise today will consist in shoveling, as we celebrate (and clear) the first snow of the year.
It’s a March-like concoction, but no complaints from me. (Those will come in March … and you’ll all hear ’em loud and clear! But for now it’s a wonderful and welcome transformation of our world!)
Sounds like the whole east coast got this wet snowfall. We watched Villanova pulverize UNH last night in football down on a snowy Main Line (ugly, ugly game if you’re a UNH fan).
Here’s the sun coming up through the snow-covered crabapple’s branches.
One of our cats escaped onto the deck as I was taking this shot and is, I am sure, regreting her impulsive dash now … as she shivers out there under one of the Adirondak chairs and (with a singular lack of success) tries to flick the wet snow off of her paws.
HollyCornblog and CharlieHopbrew spent Saturday up at the lake and, I am sure, will have some photos of the snow up there.
And last, but not least, here is the snowy view up the hill behind the house and into the deeper woods. I sure hope hunting season ends soon, as this will make it much harder for the deer to avoid their stalkers.
On the FFoot ball front, I am in a terrible quandry about my wide receivers. Do I play Calvin Johnson (struggling with injuries but still Megatron), or Kenny Britt (on a roll, along with his Titans), or Mike Wallace (part of an angry Steelers team that is likely to put up big numbers today)?
Alice, I am counting on you to let me know what to do before noontime, okay?
In the other football world, here’s an enjoyable piece about one of the newest Breakers – Tiffany Weimer – I am SO looking forward to seeing her play!
Last night we heard femme m’amie sing at the Canterbury Shaker Village. They come out of retirement for special occasions (especially at the Village) and always wow the crowd. The woman sitting next to me last night commented, “They never should have been allowed to stop singing. There should have been a law!”
And now … to the blog. It’s a new discovery and a thoroughly enjoyable (and informative) read. Nourishing Words explores the wide world of food, gardening, the environment … and related subjects. I’m adding it to the sidebar here and have signed up for regular nourishment via the feed.
One of my personal goals for the coming year is to be more aware and thoughtful about my health (and especially what I eat – a generally neglected area for yours truly). Looking forward to perusing Nourishing Words as the coming year unfolds! As a sample of the fare on Nourishing Words, here’s a thought-provoking post on the impact of gratitude!
How the year keeps rolling along, with the holidays looming like … I dunno … something that looms!
Driving home from work yesterday I heard some comments on the public option from our smarmy, moralistic friend Joe Lieberman. He said:
“It doesn’t help one poor person get insurance who doesn’t have it now. It doesn’t compel one insurance company to provide insurance to somebody who has an illness. And . . . it doesn’t do anything to reduce the cost of insurance.”
That was it. That was what NPR put out on the airwaves. And I was infuriated. What the hell do statements like that mean? And why the hell should I believe them out of the mouth of the Senator from Connecticut? It drives me crazy when these kinds of unsubstantiated assertions get airtime without being questioned. Come on, people … he’s from Connecticut, for goodness sakes!
Connecticut has the highest U.S. concentration of insurance jobs, with the industry accounting for about 64,000 jobs as of June 2009, according to the state’s labor department. That’s down 23 percent from the 83,000 jobs in 1990, although the state projects a slow growth of 4 percent through 2014. The state is home to 72 insurance headquarters, with three times the U.S. average of insurance jobs as a percent of total state employment. The state’s unemployment rate currently stands at 8.6 percent. From The Hill.
Lieberman touts himself as an independent, but I seriously doubt him on this one. Check out his contributers at OpenSecrets.org. Interesting numbers. The Finance/Insurance/Real Estate sector is far and away his biggest backer … this is over the span of his illustrious career. And you say you’re independent, Joe?
Sector
Total
PACs
Indivs
Agribusiness
$367,947
$116,175
$251,772
Communications/Electronics
$1,419,056
$294,971
$1,124,085
Construction
$973,457
$144,099
$829,358
Defense
$592,434
$302,834
$289,600
Energy & Natural Resources
$750,271
$268,582
$481,689
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate
$10,059,492
$1,102,341
$8,957,151
Health
$2,399,701
$573,849
$1,825,852
Lawyers & Lobbyists
$4,045,367
$274,665
$3,770,702
Transportation
$467,595
$182,945
$284,650
Misc Business
$3,985,483
$533,869
$3,451,614
Labor
$489,397
$484,397
$5,000
Ideological/Single-Issue
$2,894,669
$704,287
$2,190,382
Other
$3,024,411
$2,000
$3,022,411
I wish that NPR hadn’t given him the air time without comment/question. A simple “On what basis do you make these assertions?” would have sufficed. Damn – an opportunity missed. Oh well – I do think I need to let it go.
Here in Canterbury the day is moving forward with or without me. I am in major divestiture mode for some reason – sloughing off unused belongings left and right. Definitely feels good, although there’s the potential to get carried away. So slow down, JordanCornblog. Breathe …
This morning’s Huffington Post headlines Sarah Palin’s birther tendencies … and I don’t mean her puzzling personal birthing practices. (Indeed, after her experiences you might think that she’d shy away from any subjects involving the words birth, birthing … maybe even birthday.) Not our Sarah. She’s not afraid of anything – and certainly not illogic.
In a recent radio interview she stepped in and gave the birthers a boost, indicating that she apparently thinks its a legit and still-open question, whether Obama was born in Hawaii. Here’s the interview, if you can stomach it.
If that’s how people want to spend their time, I suppose I shouldn’t complain too much. It’s keeps ’em busy and effectively removed from the real world … which is actually kind of a blessing … at least ’til election time.
Elizabeth Warren represents a member of the species from the other end of the evolutionary spectrum. Way, way far away from Sarah – although to look at them, you wouldn’t know it. Warren has written (and I suspect that she actually did write this) an article about the ongoing assault on America’s Middle Class. It’s an eye-opening confirmation of what most of us have been feeling in our guts. She writes:
Pundits talk about “populist rage” as a way to trivialize the anger and fear coursing through the middle class. But they have it wrong. Families understand with crystalline clarity that the rules they have played by are not the same rules that govern Wall Street. They understand that no American family is “too big to fail.” They recognize that business models have shifted and that big banks are pulling out all the stops to squeeze families and boost revenues. They understand that their economic security is under assault and that leaving consumer debt effectively unregulated does not work.
and:
America today has plenty of rich and super-rich. But it has far more families who did all the right things, but who still have no real security. Going to college and finding a good job no longer guarantee economic safety. Paying for a child’s education and setting aside enough for a decent retirement have become distant dreams. Tens of millions of once-secure middle class families now live paycheck to paycheck, watching as their debts pile up and worrying about whether a pink slip or a bad diagnosis will send them hurtling over an economic cliff.
Two women, same species. One might run for President in 2012.
It makes me want to go read What’s the Matter with Kansas … maybe I will! (As soon as I finish Persuasion … which might just take months at the rate I’m going.)
From a basically useless, empty-suit sort of a Senator comes a “How to Manual” that is actually pretty much in keeping with his persona.
Judd Gregg – the lame duck from NH has published some helpful hints for his fellow GOPers who wish to obstruct healthcare reform (and anything else they want to block, as well). It’s practical, detailed, and devoid of moral content and values.
Pretty much how old Judd comes across to me.
Here’s what one commenter wrote: “He’s not up for re-election. He can spend all his time now working for big business and not for the people.” My guess is that’s on the money (as it were).
I am so embarrassed … and also pissed that old Judd has distracted me from Meredith Baxter and Tiger Woods and all manner of other, much more entertaining stuff!
Meanwhile, our good friend John McCain (remember him?) has resurrected his robo-calls and is using misleading scare tactics to derail reform. Thanks, John. Knew we could count on ya to add meaningfully to the debare and elevate the discourse!
A friend and I were talking yesterday evening about our disappointments with Obama … then we brought ourselves up short, imagining John in the White House and the Divine Ms. P at his elbow. Good God – what a thought!
Man it’s cold this morning. I didn’t watch or listen to Obama’s speech. Maybe I will later. I don’t know. I’ll just stick with Michael Moore for now. Feeling discouraged about it all. I want to support you, Mr. Prez … but, but, but … sometimes I wonder if I am being duped. Hate that feeling … especially after 8 years of it.
Anyway, for a bit of better news, I read about Charles Johnson … right wing blogger and founder of Little Green Footballs … parting ways with the right. Here’s how Huffington Post summarizes it all ..
Succinctly titled “Why I Parted Ways With The Right,” Johnson’s post argues against the fanaticism of politicians like Michele Bachmann, Sarah Palin, Pat Buchanan as well as the conservative blogosphere (“Hatred for President Obama that goes far beyond simply criticizing his policies, into racism, hate speech, and bizarre conspiracy theories (see: witch doctor pictures, tea parties, Birthers, Michelle Malkin, Fox News, World Net Daily, Newsmax, and every other right wing source)”). He also cites the “anti-Islamic bigotry that goes far beyond simply criticizing radical Islam, into support for fascism, violence, and genocide.” He concludes:
The American right wing has gone off the rails, into the bushes, and off the cliff. I won’t be going over the cliff with them.
This is good … and I am thinking that the whole “Little Green Footballs” thing is probably a reference to the Eagles. Yeah.
And just because I can’t resist, here’s the latest blunder uncovered in Going Rogue … the Palin poop just keeps flowing, doesn’t it? Imagine her in charge of something more crucial than her own memoir!
Here’s some fluff about the newest Breaker from the USWNT (Leslie Osborne) – hope she’ll grow on me the way Mitts did.
And while we’re talking soccer – tune in to ESPN2 and ESPNU for the D1 women’s soccer semi-finals and finals this weekend. That’s Friday night December 4th – and then Sunday the 6th. It’ll be Stanford-UCLA at 5:30 (ET) on Friday – then UNC-Notre Dame at 8 (ET). The final is at 1PM ET in Sunday. Would be pretty amazing to see Stanford clean up in both soccer and B-ball – a distinct possibility this year!
My friend CB sent me an interesting article about a gentleman from suburban Philadelphia – Robert Landau – who’s made a career out of advocating for girls’ and women’s sports equity. He even went after my (our) alma mater, Haverford High School. I’m not entirely sure what to make of him. Pushing systems to change is always a challenge … and often a worthy cause. But it’s also important to see the bigger picture. It’s not black and white … and there’s something about this guy that sounds a little self-righteous/self-serving to me.
Oh well … off to the races – have a great 2nd day of December!
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!
OMG – when I got up this morning there was nary a flake. Now it’s accumulating at a pretty good clip. Should be an interesting drive to work (my maiden voyage in the new Accent with its new snow tires). Wish me luck … wish everyone luck!
JordanCornblog 