Happy December everybody? It’s a nice clear, crisp morning here in NH as I collect my wits and get ready to take my car in for its inspection and a new set of snow tires. (Come 4PM, I’ll be ready for the skies to open and the winter’s first snows to arrive!)
What a football game that was last night, eh? The Saints made the Patriots’ offense look a little lost out there. Meanwhile, Drew Brees was almost flawless, connecting with so many different receivers that (luckily) HollyCornblog was only able to pull out a tie in her attempt to unseat JBD and me as the reigning queens of FFootball. (It was close … and one more receiving yard for Robert Meacham would have made all the difference.) Meanwhile, SirHitsAlot (aka Mo) went down in flames at the hands of Maddog (aka ChristopherCornblog) who owns Drew Brees.
Note to self … next year try to draft Drew Brees and Chris Johnson!
The disconnects verge on dissociation … but hose GOPers just don’t seem to mind.
Finally, here’s Tony DiCicco on TV coverage of soccer … and the WPS referees. Guess he’s softened his stance a wee bit .. having had time to reflect … or something! (What I’d actually like to hear about is what happened with you and A-Rod this past season. I’ve a feeling she’s gonna be amazing for Philly come spring. Just a feeling … err pheeling!)
Always a bit of a challenge, getting back in the swing of things after a nice long break, isn’t it?
I always feel a little Oliver Twistish … holding out my bowl of time to Chronos (or whomever) and asking, plaintively, “More, please?”
And truth be told, I am lucky in that I don’t work on Monday’s – so actually do have a wee bit more time. Although with everyone else back at work (or school), I feel the hot breath of harsh reality warming my neck. Kvetch, kvetch, kvetch. Now that you know I’ve got today off, any whining on my part will surely fall on deaf ears … fair enough.
Yesterday we got a ton of work done around here as it finally clicked in the winter is on the way and we’d best get our acts together before the snow flies.
So out marched the snow shovels – ready for action …
… and in went the driveway markers (thanks for the help, RPE) …
The kayaks moved into the barn with their two wintertime buddies, Pokey and Scout (peeking out from between the fence slats) …
… and we sawed up and stacked a pile of birch logs that had been languishing since early summer! Now we’ll have plenty of nice wood to split in the spring (or sooner) and use in the chiminea. Let the wintertime grillling begin!
Meanwhile, HollyCornblog and CharlieHopbrew spent Saturday night up at the lake where they added some insulation to keep the heat from going up the steps to the second floor … and managed to get the temperature up above 70. (Amazing, given that it was 20 degrees outside Saturday night up there … with wicked winds!)
So, ignoring the day’s news … I say onward! Here’s to a wonderful week, everybody!
Just as we thought might be the case, there is more to the tale of Tiger than first met the eye. I am so sorry to hear some of the tired phrases that are reportedly popping out of his mouth. And it’s all so boring, really. Especially on a beautiful Sunday morning, as November wanes and December waits to emerge with its icy winds and snows (hopefully).
After a warm and wonderful dinner, great conversation, and several rousing rounds of Bananagrams, some of us stayed up later-than-intended last night to see whether Notre Dame could pull one out.
But, not surprisingly, they lost it in the end as Toby Gerhart and his Stanford Cardinal put on a show that not only won the game but could also cement his Heisman hopes.
This leaves it highly likely that Charlie Weis (who headed back to Indiana rather than staying out west to do some recruiting) will be looking for a job.
It seems a little unfair to me, as clearly it’s the Catholic heirarchy’s obnoxious and wrong-headed political stances that are finally causing God to transform the storied ND football program into a losing enterprise. It is actually that simple – and has nothing to do with coaching ineptitude. The most ept coach in the world would not be able to win – God is just very, very pissed – and understandably so.
But, as unfair as it may be, Charlie is definitely on his way out.
Who’ll be his replacement? Hard to say for sure, but my money’s on Chaz …
What do you think?
It’d definitely loosen things up in South Bend. God would like that.
Meanwhile, Obama and family attended a b-ball game down at George Washington … very cool. I am glad to see him enjoying himself! (I know, I know – it annoyed me when Bush did the same … but Bush wasn’t actually working the rest of the time.)
So I’m off. Want to get in some time outdoors today. Maybe a trip to the track? Definitely some outdoor chores, like putting the kayaks away and pulling the sleds and snowshoes out.
RPE heads back to school tonight after a nice visit … and so, the first of the winter holidays comes to an end and the new week begins.
You might expect that I’d be writing about Tiger Woods this morning … but actually, the allusion is to William Blake, who was born on this day in 1757. (Sorry, it’s too early in the morning for me to do the math.)
489. The Tiger
TIGER, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder and what art
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand and what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
When the stars threw down their spears,
And water’d heaven with their tears,
Did He smile His work to see?
Did He who made the lamb make thee?
Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
Before we move on, did you check out the video that AMR posted yesterday? It’s definitely an appetite suppressant.
My goodness … there are so many interesting people in the world. Ya gotta wonder what immortal hand or eye dared frame their fearful symmetry.
For further commentary on such things I am always very thankful that Jon Stewart is around. He, too, was born on this day – but it was only back in 1962 – when I was enjoying 5th grade, and there was no thought that President Kennedy would be dead in a bit less than a year. And how different the world would be after that, eh? But on November 28, 1962, there was still a certain innocence about life in the ’60’s. Little lamb, who made thee …
Moving deeper into the weeds, I read on Huffington Post this morning that Ralph Nadar is contemplating a Senate run in Connecticut. What would definitely get me interested (and possibly even supportive) would be if you ran against Joe Lieberman, Ralph. Now that would be fun! Chris Dodd? Not so much.
And, even more randomly … here’s a site I read about this morning. It lists free movies available on line … and looks fascinating. Be sure to scroll down, as there are lots of good sites listed, along with the films collected there.
So – off to the races today. Hope it’s a good one for you!
But wait a second. What’s up with Dubai? Notable books – I hardly recognize one of those titles! Yikes – I feel so out of it. (Although I am much more up on FFootball than most women in my age cohort.)
But why so competitive on the day after Thanksgiving? What a way to wake up! Bad dreams, JordanCornblog? Too much pie?
Maybe it’s reading too much about Sarah Palin first thing in the morning. Yeah – that’s got to be a contributing factor!
She got punked again! Those deceptively mild-mannered Canadians seem to have it in for her. While she’s got her eye on the ever-pesky Russians, Canadians keep sneaking up behind her. Maybe Todd and Sarah need to build a porch facing in Canada’s direction so they can monitor movement on THAT front, too! They could do it with her book money, I’m sure.
Oh, and Glenn Beck has apparently ruled out running with the great ex-Governor. Is it not frightening that Sarah liked the idea of running with Glenn … leaving Mr. Beck appearing to be the more grounded of the two?
Don’t worry, Sarah – when the time comes, I’m thinking that Joe Lieberman will be available. Then we’ll be able to listen to TWO gratingly annoying voices giving stump speeches through the summer and fall of 2012. (Forget the movie – this is a scenario that actually could bring about the end of the world as we know it, I’m thinking.)
As for yesterday …. we had a really warm, fun, wonderful gathering at the house … which I am still savoring this morning. I even got out for a quick run, too … up at the high school, on the blessedly empty track!
What was I saying a few days ago? It still stands – I feel so lucky! (And grateful.) See, all that competitive stuff I was feeling earlier? Gone. Gratitude does that. Like magic. Poof!
I am not even thinking about Bush and Cheney …
.. okay, maybe a little. But now I know how to stop it, when it ceases to give me evil pleasure!
What a difference a year makes. As I get ready to sit down with my small (but growing) family, I have lots to be thankful for. Some examples include:
– Thankful for still being able to participate in the sports and activities I love the most;
– Thankful for meeting new people and re-establishing relationships with old friends;
– Thankful that hard-work usually does pay off in the end;
– Thankful for my pooch, nephew, family and friends;
– Thankful for a career and lifestyle that afforded me the opportunity to buy my first home!
This last one may seem a bit silly but it’s been a long time coming. I’m thankful for being able to eat cherry pie!
Stuffing, pies, rolls and so much more have been excluded from my diet for many years with the whole gluten-intolerance thing. Thanks to efforts made locally and nationally, I can begin enjoying the simpler things in life.
Here is to appreciating all aspects of our lives – big or small!
Gratitude is the watchword today in the US of A, as we gather around tables in towns and cities throughout this country. Perhaps even more in tough times than times of plenty, the gifts of this life shine forth … good friends, family, work, food, a warm place to sleep. Simple things – and not to be taken lightly. Not any more.
I am thankful that our president is not an embarrassment of such magnitude that Americans overseas might be prone to pretend they were from somewhere else.
I am disappointed that he appears to capitulate, too often, to the demons of our lesser natures … and I still am hopeful that Obama will come through on the bright and expansive promises that he made as he worked to be elected. Here’s a speech about the war in Afghanistan that he won’t give – but I wish he would …
… let me say as bluntly as I can that I have decided to send no more troops to Afghanistan. Beyond that, I believe it is in the national interest of the American people that this war, like the Iraq War, be drawn down. Over time, our troops and resources will be brought home in an orderly fashion, while we ensure that we provide adequate security for the men and women of our Armed Forces. Ours will be an administration that will stand or fall, as of today, on this essential position: that we ended, rather than extended, two wars.
Hard to fault him too much – the mess he walked into was of such gargantuan proportions.
Where is Bush today? Laughing and smirking at some dinner table, untouched and unbothered by the havoc that he wrought. (I take some small pleasure in imagining that, at the very least, Dick Cheney has digestive problems and likely doesn’t enjoy his food … or anything … very much. Hope that’s true.)
If I were anywhere near Bush today, I’d be offering him pretzels and waiting hopefully.
I should probably let it go … take a deep breath … return to thoughts of gratitude.
Yes, there is an awful lot to be grateful for, as the sun breaches the bare trees on the near horizon and this new day begins!
Here’s Paula Poundstone with her version of the first Thanksgiving …
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCYVc2f9oBE
…
…
…
Oh, and did I mention that I am thankful phor the Phillies? ;>)
Great trip and great to be home – I feel lucky! Very, very lucky!
HollyCornblog gave me some more photos of the work at the lake and I’ll share one of them here – amazing to look at the place, sans floor.
Now it’s all cozy and insulated and feeling sturdier than ever. But this gives an idea of the kind of work that was involved. And it’s weird to think that that ground that you see under the house, hadn’t had a human foot touch it for more than 100 years.
Gives me pause, anyway.
Now it’s back to work for a couple of days … lots of catching up to do.
Oh, and thanks, AMR, for jumping in with your first post. It’s so jarring and discouraging to bump into Fox News out in public like that, eh?!
I remember back during the 2008 election seeing that a favorite apple orchard of mine had posted a humongous McCain sign at their entrance.
I believe in freedom of expression – and I also believe in voting with my feet. Haven’t been back there since.
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!
s last one may seem a bit silly but it’s been a long time coming. I’m thankful for being able to eat cherry pie!
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