I discovered last night that what I had been needing to do all along was ride the stationary bike during these World Series games. Sorry for the omission – I’ll be on board for games 6 and 7, guaranteed!
Oh, yeah – and I’ll try to pace myself so that I’m not on the couch for those late innings … allowing the evil-ones to catch up!
And how about Chase? Awesome job! Now, if Ryan can just get his bat going these last two games, it’ll be awesome. Just awesome.
Did I say awesome already?
Awesome.
I’d write more, but these late games are leading to late mornings … gotta rush out the door!
PS: Go Belmont girls’ soccer today! You can do it!!!!! You and the Phillies. Awesome!
There’s Manny being Manny … and then there are the Phillies being the Phillies. They blew a hard-won 8th inning tie last night in the top of the 9th and then went down quietly to defeat. The only good thing about it was (selfishly) I got to go to sleep earlier than expected.
Cliff Lee’s on the mound today. Can we turn this thing around and get back to NY? Stay tuned.
On a happier note .. congratulations to Boltgirl, who is sharing tales of her inspiring (and yes, nauseating) return to the gym after spending weeks laid up with the flu. It’s way more than 67% good … keep it up! (I’m inspired and will be joining you shortly … yup … tomorrow … definitely!)
HollyCornblog and CharlieHopbrew visited the lake this past weekend and fired up the newly re-installed woodstove. Sounds like the newly insulated floor is really helping a lot on the warmth front … maybe winter visits won’t be out of the question!
They got in some kayaking … got soaked … and came into the cozy house for cheesesteaks and beer.
It’s looking great, guys … all your hard work has certainly paid off!
Can’t wait to see it in person.
As I wait to get myself back on the exercise track, though – there’s nothing better than watching the USWNT run around on the pitch. Want to watch? How about that recent 1-0 win over Germany?
Here it is, in “chapters” on YouTube. If you double click the video below (where it says You Tube) and move over to YouTube to view it, you’ll be able to access the rest of the segments of the match.
Enjoy!
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czlXVPVvNX0
Here’s the segment with Abby’s goal – @ the 34th minute … Pia looks so happy!
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXVwGh9ZmU8
Oh yeah – and in some good Philly news (on the phootball phront) the Eagles took it to the Giants and moved into first place in the NFC East. Now THAT’S the way to play a NY team. Are you paying ttention, Philllies?
SirHitsAlot (aka Mo) rode into town yesterday with his marauding minions, used his head, and wreaked havoc in the Concord soccer world.
In plain English, his talented upstart U-13 team toppled the mighty U-14 Concord Express Team 2-1 on a windswept field where the Merrimack River meanders through Concord and soccer aficionados gather, hoping for just this sort of contest.
The Lightning struck first (according to my intrepid reporter) and then the Express came back with the equalizer. The action was furious as each team tried to push through and score the go-ahead goal … in the teeth of two staunch defenses and a howling Halloween wind.
But the game was deadlocked as the final seconds ticked down.
It’s starting to look like this will end in a tie. Then the Lightning win a corner. One more chance.
The kick goes up – a nice cross into the box. Rapt fans watch. The screaming wind blows. Out of nowhere, in comes a flying SirHitsAlot. He leaps into the air, surrounded by defenders on every side.
Suddenly time slows down. Everything goes quiet. Even the wind seems to stop.
Thunk!
Head connects with ball. Ball careens into goal. Make that 2-1 Lightning!
The final seconds tick down … and the fans go wild as humble SirHitsAlot strides off the field to celebrate this sweet victory with his marvelous marauding minions from the Upper Valley!
Wish I could have seen it … and wish the Phillies could have done, last night, something like what the Lightning did yesterday afternoon. Ah well – tonight will be different for the good guys, I am sure.
Meanwhile – congratulations to the Lightning and to you, SirHitsAlot.
Savor your win, Mo … because you are going DOWN in FFootball! The 2 Blitzen’ Babes have your number!
And I’m liking that 1-0 score this morning, as the Bates Bobcats (that’s the women’s soccer version) ended their season on a high note, beating the Colby College Mules 1-0.
Meanwhile, here in NH that 1-0 score was the result in an upset of Hopkinton by Belmont in the Class M Girls’ Soccer tournament. It’s the first time (in my recollection, at any rate) that Belmont has beaten Hopkinton in soccer. It’s also the first time since the State Championship run of 2005 that the Belmont team has made it to the final 4. Keep it going! (Next up, Campbell at 4PM on Tuesday!)
I’m superstitiously hoping that all these good results will spell a Phillies win tonight, as the World Series moves to the home field … and hopefully the Phillies bats come alive! Come on, guys … wouldn’t it be sweet to close it out at home? But one game at a time … one game at a time. So be there tonight … first pitch, 7:57 PM (ET).
Oh, and guys? While a 1-0 win is absolutely acceptable … I would greatly prefer a wider margin, okay? MUCH wider, actually.
And in other women’s soccer, news, here’s the FIFA Women’s World Player 2009 shortlist: Nadine Angerer (Germany), Sonia Bompastor (France), Cristiane (Brazil), Inka Grings (Germany), Mana Iwabuchi (Japan), Simone Laudehr (Germany), Marta (Brazil), Birgit Prinz (Germany), Kelly Smith (England), Abby Wambach (USA). A good showing by the WPS — and nicely done by the Breakers’ very own Kelly Smith!
Other news? How about this correspondence out of California?
Well, personally, I am in awe and admiration of the creativity of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s staff, who were apparently able to compose the above letter to the California Legislature … in which the first letters of each line combined to spell: “F— you.” This is an accomplishment to be celebrated, not denied, IMHO.
Score that: Schwarzenegger 1, Legislature 0.
On the Dickish front, I see that the former VP is suffering from some memory problems when it comes to the Plame Affair. Indeed, according to Mother Jones, when he was interviewed by the FBI (info recently released under the Freedom of Information Act) there were 22 things that he could not remember … just a year after the events.
I continue to have the sense that, even now, a wee bit of water-boarding might bring a few things back. Why are we dithering? Let’s do it!
And speaking of dithering ditherers, I love this bit of hypocrisy from our friend Joe Lieberman, who in 1994 came out strongly against the filibuster.
“The whole process of individual senators being able to hold up legislation, which in a sense is an extension of the filibuster because the hold has been understood in one way to be a threat to filibuster — it’s just unfair.”
Time to strip him of his chairmanship and kick him out of the caucus, folks. Seriously. Why are we dithering? Let’s do it!
As I went to sleep after the Phillies succumbed 3-1, I was reminded of a passage from “Two Tramps in Mudtime” (Robert Frost) – a great description of my feeling as the Series evened to 1-1 …
The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You’re one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
A cloud comes over the sunlit arch,
A wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you’re two months back in the middle of March.
Okay, maybe not March – but definitely not May this morning!
What else is happening? Yesterday the USWNT beat Germany 1-0 on a Wambach goal … which is about all I know. Interestingly, the Gates-Crowley Beer Summit appears to have some legs … while we are sad to report that Halloween candy is, apparently, very, very evil. Who knew?
So now I am running late, depressed, bummed about Halloween candy, AND sleep deprived … tough way to end the week.
I so love it when the Phillies pull off a win and don’t scare the bejeezus out of me in the process. And it doesn’t hurt if they make the Yankees look powerless and confused in the process. All those well-paid dudes going down swinging. Love it.
Somewhere I read that the payroll differential between the Yankees and Phillies is in the vicinity of $80,000,000. (Wonder what that comes to per strikeout?)
Anyway – let’s see what Pedro can do tonight. If the good guys prove Jimmy Rollins wrong and take it in 4, I won’t mind. (I could use the sleep!)
In other news, the USWNT faces off against Germany … some places I see it listed as 12 Noon ET and other places I see 1PM. Either way, it ain’t on TV … but you can follow it on MatchTracker (I believe) at the USSF Site. Here’s a tidbit about the coaches … which is interesting but appears to be off by at least a decade … shame on you, USSF! (I’m sending you an e-mail.)
SUNDHAGE AND NEID MEET AGAIN: The international playing careers of U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage and Germany’s Silvia Neid ran somewhat parallel courses with the Swedish international and German international crossing paths on more than several occasions. None was bigger than in first round play at the 2005 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Sweden. In its first game of the tournament, Sweden had been upset, 1-0, by Brazil and was on the verge of elimination in its own country when it fell behind Germany, 2-0, after 42 minutes. The Swedes mounted a furious comeback in the second half, scoring three times, including an 80th minute penalty from Sundhage that tied the score. Malin Andersson scored the dramatic winner in the 86th minute. Both Sundhage and Neid played the entire 90 minutes. Both teams would eventually advance out of the group, but Sweden fell in the quarterfinal to China in penalties and the Germans advanced to the championship with consecutive wins against England and China, only to fall to Norway 2-0 in the title game. Sundhage and Neid both played in the 2006 Olympics, which marked the final international matches for both players, who then launched what have become extremely successful coaching careers.
Oh, and Levi continues to go after Sarah … a squabble being played out in the press. I am thoroughly enjoying it (I know, very unChristian of me).
My new liberal fantasy involves a Hell House centered around the Palin’s – and occasionally visited by the likes of a drug-crazed Rush Limbaugh, an eating-disordered and nasty Ann Coulter, various and sundry licentious GOP law-makers, greedy Wall Street tycoons … you get the picture. I think it could catch on!
The day has arrived, as the Phillies square off with the Yankees in pursuit of a back-to-back MLB Championship. They can do it, I am confident. (And just in case they need any help, I am sure all Phillies Phans out there will be superstitiously pursuing all sorts of ritualized behaviors to help carry off the win for the good guys.) I believe that Yankees’ fans are too sophisticated and cocky to indulge in such activities, which will be their downfall. (Or is that downphall?)
In other news, I see that the BHS girls’ soccer team won their first tournament game (yesterday over White Mountain) and face off against Hopkinton on Friday. (The Gilford girls lost their opening match-up and are out of the tournament … an unusual (character-building) ending for that squad. The Red Raiders team is trying to recreat the glory days of the 2005 State Championship season … good luck ladies – you are off to a great start!
On the political front, how irksome is Joe Lieberman? Really! Self righteous twit – I wonder who is lining his pockets.
“Is the heavy concentration of the insurance industry in Connecticut influencing his vote?
“It has nothing to do with it,” he said.
Yeah, Joe … and we should believe you because … ?
Did I say self righteous twit already? It feels good.
Hell House is the Fundamentalist Christian version of the haunted house … a predictably simplistic and melodramatic effort to scare young people into accepting Jesus as their personal savior.
Hell House represents right wing views on religion, family values, morality, you name it … as true. The so-called secular world is represented by demons. What could be simpler? These Bible-thumping, mouth-frothing, shrill, narrow, moralistic views are shoved down the throats of young people in a series of gory tableaux. It’s soul-saving gone nuclear.
I see this as representative of a couple of simple, arithmetical equations:
Delusions+money+power=RELIGION
Delusions-money-power=MENTAL ILLNESS
As you can see, the only difference is whether there’s $$/power backing the delusion. The content can be pretty much the same.
And I am not slamming all religion by any means. But if the Fundamentalists’ Jesus is so great, why do people have to have the crap scared out of them to believe in him? Why all the pressure and sales/propaganda tactics?
This is sick, sick stuff. I wish there were some way to make it illegal – but while they are not shy about shoving their views down any/everyone’s throats, I do actually feel constrained by my values.
Maybe some civil lawsuits could be mustered, though. I don’t know – how about pain and suffering?
This crap certainly causes me mental anguish – it’s a shitty way to start the day!
… it’s gonna be the Yankees that the Phillies have to put in their place to take the World Series again. Be there, starting Wednesday night … as two ex-Cleveland aces go up against each other in their new(er) uniforms. That’s CC vs. Cliff Lee. Let’s go, Phillies, you can do it!
And I love hearing that George Will has gone after Dick for his “dithering” comment – noting that a little “dithering” by the Bushies might have been helpful before invading Iraq. Nicely done, George! It’s a long clip – but kinda fun – and the salient part starts at @ the 11-minute mark!
What else? The USWNT are in Germany preparing for their 10/29 match vs. the German National Team. That’s at 1PM (ET) … and no TV from what I can tell. Why not????? We’ve got the US Under-17 men on TV … no offense to the guys, but WTF??!!!
I was bummed to learn, yesterday afternoon, from my roving reporters, that Bates lost to Middlebury after a valiant and mud-spattered game that was scoreless until @ 5-minutes from the end. At that point, Middlebury took a corner after which the ball bounced around in the box and was eventually hit into the net (after what some say looked like a Middlebury hand ball). It sounded like a heart-breaking loss for the Bobcats, who hung tough with the Panthers throughout the contest. Excellent effort, ladies!
The Bookeaters met at Brazos in Portsmouth last night and had a lively discussion of The Story of Edgar Sawtelle – an ambitious book in which we were all somewhat disappointed. (And I entirely missed the fact that the plot paralleled Hamlet. I’ll blame that on the cold meds.)
Next up? Persuasion. (And the big questions will be … what sort of restaurant goes with Jane Austin?! Suggestions are welcome!)
HollyCornblog has added to her beer-making repertoire, trying her hand at making a keg! She said it turned out well. Here’s the keg in its sleeve – a neoprene KEGlove with an ice jacket inside to keep it cold (up to 8 hours). She and CharlieHopbrew are off to the lake this morning to put the rugs back down and, maybe, repaint the woodstove (which gets re-installed this Wednesday). Aside from some tree work up there, I think that means the place is all set for the winter. (Phew!)
What else today? Nice to see the sun out after some torrential rain yesterday.
We’ve got FFootball … the 2 Blitzen’ Babes are up against Brigitte’s Boys (and the Babes fully expect to lose … how’s that for trash talk?).
Yankees-Angels were postponed to tonight – and Phillies Phans the world over are rooting for this match-up to be stretched to 7 games. Go Angels!!
Licorice Pizza: I'm starting anew here and have now been, twice, to Vax and Snax at Red River. These are Thursday night movies for vaccinated and masked folks, and you can get POPCORN! But I digress...Licorice Pizza was a sweet, coming-of-age in The Valley in the Seventies sort of movie that managed to include waterbeds and Jon Peters and two new stars -- Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman (son of Philip Seymour Hoffman).
If Beale Street Could Talk: Quiet, beautiful, heartfelt, devastating. America wears many masks. This movie strips a few of them away. It shines a light on quite a lot of ugliness. As well, it illuminates dignity and resilience in the face of a system built on the abuse of privilege and power. A perfect movie to see on the eve of what is hopefully Donald Trump's last SOTU.
Shoplifters: A beautifully honest, quiet movie that is at once uplifting and devastating. Universal questions are raised and left open for pondering. What is a family? How do people survive in our world today? And how do we judge their choices?
Green Book: Very enjoyable movie and yet deeply flawed. The white guy comes across as the hero in ways that are typical for the American movie industry, and comfortably misleading in terms of the realities of our culture. Especially in the current socio/political atmosphere, can't we do better than this?
On the Basis of Sex: We applauded, we cried, we felt so glad that RBG was as prescient as she was. And I felt personally glad that her love of opera clearly predates her connection with Scalia. What an inspiring woman -- and a good movie about her early years as a student, professor, and attorney.
The Favourite: Did I say that being a queen was no fun? This definitely seems to have carried forward to Queen Anne's reign. Strong performances again, and more belly laughs than you'd think. And right along with it, grief, emptiness, ambition, and gouty excess.
Mary Queen of Scots: Being a queen was no fun in the 16th century. Excellent, complex performances in this one. I found Elizabeth especially compelling. Very unclear who actually wins out in this one.
Another Year: Loved this one! It's about a couple, and their friends, and their lives – painful in spots, and wonderfully everyday and enriching, to my mind. Great performances – and who knew there was so much wine being drunk in England!?
Tiny Furniture: A young woman (aka Lena Dunham) comes home after graduating from college and tries to find herself – or not. A character study that I found humorous and touching – and sometimes a little disturbing and/or self-indulgent. It's definitely a privilege to have the leisure to "find oneself." After this..."Girls."
Rabbit Hole: Painful/powerful movie about loss and grieving. Hard to watch but well worth the effort, with a strong cast and an especially on the mark performance by Nicole Kidman. I continue to be glad to see that she is clearly outstripping Tom Cruise as an artist. You go girl!
The Kids Are Alright: Very enjoyable movie with great performances and an excellent cast. Two kids whose moms are lesbians decide they want to find out something about their "father" – and everything moves on from that point.
The King's Speech: Warm, funny, inspiring – and apparently a bit of a rewrite of history, to boot! Colin Firth puts out an amazing performance – and was well rewarded for it. Everyone else is great too, and if you're one of the few people left who hasn't seen it, it's definitely worth a look!
Black Swan: This is a disturbing movie that I really loved – and in case you haven't noticed, I do have a tendency to like disturbing movies. What's real and what isn't? You be the judge. Also, be on the lookout for Winona Ryder – you'll never recognize her!
Blue Valentine: A couple in trouble – how they started and how they got to where they are. A good movie with excellent performances that left me wondering, especially in Michelle Williams' case, whether she was thinking about what's his name (her partner who died suddenly – the guy who starred in Broke Back Mountain – for some reason I can't remember his name – oh yeah, Heath Ledger).
Shutter Island: A dark period piece that has the creepy feel of the 1950s (creepy to me at any rate) and has stayed with me more than I would've thought. A movie with surprises – definitely worth a look.
Cyrus: I don't remember this one so well, but have a vague recollection of walking out of the theater feeling not so enthralled. I believe it's supposed to be funny – but as you can tell it didn't really make an impression.
I Am Love: Really beautiful, sumptuous movie that made me hungry, just watching it. A keeper!
The Girl Who Played with Fire: The second in the three part series involving the girl with the dragon tattoo, this movie was much harder to watch than the first, as Salander's triumph isn't quite so clear at the end. Painful, painful, painful.
Scott Pilgrim Versus the World: I loved this comic book take on young love. Went to the movie on a whim and came away very happy to have seen it! Quite a few laugh out loud moments – and touching, as well.
Going the Distance: A very lightweight romcom that kinda left me feeling like I had just spent an hour and a half reading People magazine. In other words, pretty much a waste of time.
Never Let Me Go: Wow! This was an amazing, stark, and moving movie about kids who are basically raised to become organ donors. Very much worth seeing.
The Town: Ben Affleck's movie about bank robbers. It's okay. Not great, but okay. It does make me curious about Charlestown – will have to go there one day.
You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger: A Woody Allen movie that I honestly don't remember very well. It's pretty much about adults behaving badly – something that Woody knows a little something about.
The Social Network: The movie about Facebook. I found it very interesting and well done, and was especially fascinated/disturbed by the window on the incredible privilege and elitism still thriving at undergrad Harvard.
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest: Number three in the Dragon trilogy. I found this, in many ways, the weakest of the three movies – although that's not to say that it was weak. Perhaps my enjoyment was affected by the fact that I hadn't read the book. Anyway, it's a great trilogy and I was sorry to see it come to an end.
Fair Game: The movie about the Valerie Plame affair. One of the things that I found most interesting was how it uncovered my own biases, as she was clearly a very serious and talented agent, but because of her blonde haired beauty, I pretty much assumed that she was a lightweight in real life. I appreciated, also, the depiction of her husband as a bit of a media hound, which was how he seemed to me at the time. And of course, there are the despicable characters of the Bush administration. Glad they were on display in all their glory!
City Island: This was a fine, if predictable, movie about a family in which everyone has a secret and is telling lies. I mostly loved it because it gave me a glimpse of where my friend CB lives!
Winter's Bone: Wow! Unrelenting, stark, and ultimately uplifting – at least to my mind. This is a painful movie about life when you're the daughter of someone who runs a meth lab. Winter's Bone is a perfect title. J-Law is amazing!
Please Give: Quirky, sweet, slice-of-life movie. I loved the low-key character development and good humor of it all. Enjoyable, with a great cast and few false notes.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo: Tho' parts of the book were missing, this was an excellent rendition of an excellent book. Not for the faint of heart, tho'! Lisbeth Salander is an Emma Peel for the 21st Century (watch for more from Noomi Rapace - I will be)!
Me and Orson Welles: Or was it Orson Welles and me? (If Orson had anything to do with the title, I'm guessing the latter.) I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, even as it reminded me of why the world of the theatre holds absolutely no appeal for yours truly! Nice to see Claire Danes back ... still have to finish watching Temple Grandin, too!
Crazy Heart: I left this movie thinking ... "Eh?" but it has stayed with me. Jeff Bridges does give a wonderful performance. The amount of smoking and drinking was nauseating - as I guess it was supposed to be - all in an understated, Jeff Bridges sort of a way.
A Single Man: One of the best movies of the year in my book. Haunting, beautifully acted and filmed ... marred only by an unnecessarily heavy-handed ending, IMHO. That was the only flaw in an otherwise brilliant bit of artistry. Colin Firth was perfect, and this was an amazing writing/directing debut for Tom Ford! See it!!!
Young Victoria: I am eternally grateful to have not been born the heir to a throne. Life was confusing enough! This was an enjoyable, tear-jerker of a movie that left me wanting to know more about the details. Perhaps a bio for Bookeaters?
Precious: Wow, wow, wow. Two weeks in a row - another amazing movie at Red River. This is a challenging and important movie ... about life in America ... every single day ... everywhere.
The Messenger: Wow, wow, wow. This is one of the best movies I have seen in quite some time. Its focus is on two men who notifiy NOK (next of kin) when a soldier dies. It is a raw, wrenching, unflinching and uplifting journey - not to be missed. Seriously
Damned United: This was a study in soccer, ambition, and friendship. For soccer buffs who actually know the players (I'm a late-comer to the game) the movie would be that much better. I loved it, though - and recommend it highly.
A Serious Man: The Book of Job envisioned by the Coen brothers evoked the early sixties and suburbia with humor, pathos ... and a slightly nauseating quality that tells me they pretty much hit the nail on the head. As one of the goyim, I am sure there were hundreds of nuances that were lost on me ... but I loved it (nausea aside) nonetheless!
Cold Souls: The premise of this movie is deeply strange, yet it is presented in an entirely believable way. It's by turns very moving and then hilarious (in ways that, in retrospect, are hard to capture/explain). The ending leaves a puzzled feeling - but that's not really bothersome. In many ways, puzzled is the appropriate way to walk out of the theater after "Cold Souls." Check it out!
Adam: Nicely done! Not a movie that will stay with you for a long time, but I liked it. The father (Peter Gallagher) seemed a tad overdone -and unnecessarily so. Unmemorable soundtrack - but since I mention it, does that make it memorable? Now I'm starting to feel like Steven Wright - not necessarily a bad thing!
Taking Woodstock: Even going in with low expectations, this offering from Ang Lee just wasn't good. Vilma was a high point in an otherwise shoddy effort. Harsh, eh? And watch out, world - it's only 6:30 AM!
Julie and Julia: I was not as bothered by Julie as some reviewers were - maybe because I liked seeing a blogger hit the big time. Meryl Streep was amazing as Julia .. and this is definitely not a movie to see on an empty stomach! Never have I enjoyed watching people eat as much as I did watching this flick!
500 Days of Summer: I think I wasn't supposed to, but I loved it. Engaging characters and script, great soundtrack. Not as quirky and lovable as "Away We Go" - but not far behind, either.
Whatever Works: People either like or hate this latest offering from Woody Allen. I must admit that it's a little weird to see this May-December relationship on-screen, feeling so creeped out by Woody's real-life choices. But I'd say he pulls it off. There are some really great lines throughout the movie, and while not entirely believable, I didn't mind being along for the ride. A pleasant diversion for sure.
Goodbye, Solo: Interesting movie that basically contrasts life energy and death energy, IMHO. Solo is the epitome of resilience - love him! Meanwhile William seems bent on being miserable, for reasons that the movie leaves mysterious. I didn't find him very a likable or compelling character - but Solo makes up for it.
Moon: I hesitate to write this one up, as I was tired when I saw it - and missed portions. But form my bleary vantage point, this seemed an intriguing movie set on the moon and exploring themes of identity, isolation, etc. It was not my usual fare - and I wasn't up to snuff - but at least had the wherewithall to be able tell that it was quality work!
Cheri: I liked this a lot better than Easy Virtue - maybe because I went into it having already seen EV and had my expectations lowered. Michelle Pfeiffer and Kathy Bates are fun to watch as always - and I liked Rupert Friend in the title role. It all got a little too serious at the end - a tone-shift that didn't quite fit with the bulk of the movie. Still - a pleasant diversion on a rainy July evening!
Away We Go: This was an excellent movie in every regard. Great dialogue and plot line, endearing cast/characters, heartwarming/funny story that avoids tipping over into overly-sweet territory ... and great soundtrack, to boot! See it, if you haven't already.
Easy Virtue: Not my cup of tea - but I suspect it would have helped, going in, to know that this was a movie based on a Noel Coward play. The characters felt stilted and unbelievable to me, as it was - and I couldn't muster much concern for what became of them. All things considered, I'd rather have been in Philadelphia!
Sugar: Sugar is a baseball flick that is sweetly and realistically done - and definitely like no Hollywood film on the subject. The characters are real and the life is hard - and the film depicts it all in a matter-of-fact way that brings the realities home more surely than something more "dramatic" ever could. Two thumbs up on this one!
Sunshine Cleaning: Director Christine Jeffs has a winner in this tale about the hard times and resiliency of the Lorkowski family. Amy Adams, Emily Blunt and Alan Arkin shine in this movie about a bio-hazard clean-up company. Yes, that's correct. And the movie had the potential to cross the line into sappiness several times but demurred. For that I am eternally thankful. (Okay, eternally may be a little over the top.) Darn good flick, though - check it out.
Milk: Sean Penn deserves an Oscar for his amazing portrayal of Harvey Milk. It actually didn't even feel like a portrayal - more a channeling. Such a loss - that yet another creative and energetic and good leader, was senselessly murdered all those years ago. Fear, hatred and guns - why don't we remove at least the last ingredient in the tragic mix?
Doubt: Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman are amazing, and Viola Davis is a heartbreaking revelation in this battle royale. I was left with less doubt at the end than some of my compatriots ... but that took nothing away from the experience. Meryl Streep deserves an Oscar, IMHO ... and I definitely want her on my side, always!
Slumdog Millionaire: Just a great movie, start to finish. Magical,epic, and a nail-biter (even though you know what's going to happen ... pretty much. The dancing at the end did my heart good - and having M.I.A. in the soundtrack didn't hurt, either!
The Secret Life of Bees: Or was it The Secret Lives of Bees? Anyway, whatever - I want Queen Latifah to be my mother!!! (What was Bill Clinton thinking, throwing her under the bus all those years ago?) The movie was entertaining but not a home run by any means. Too predictable ... but Alicia Keys was wonderfully cranky-verging-on-scary and the Queen was queenly and the honey looked delicious and it was nice hearing India Arie in the soundtrack!
Happy Go Lucky: I think I was supposed to like this more than I did. Perhaps it suffered by being seen pretty much on the heels of Rachel. I found Poppy to be a sometimes intriguing and sometimes annoying character. The relentless joking and "upbeatness" felt distancing and unnecessary. I didn't hate this movie by any means - but something was missing for me.
Rachel Getting Married: Jonathan Demme and an amazing script and cast just blew me away with this effort. The characters are fascinating and complicated and most every interaction in the film left me engaged and wanting to know more! Debra Winger was stupendous - although it's been so long since I've seen her that I kept trying to find the bull-riding Urban Cowboy persona within the steely, distant mother of this wedding movie. (She's not there.) Margot at the Wedding was very good - but Rachel puts her in her place. I highly recommend this to everyone!
Religulous: Bill Maher skewers the rampant "illogic" of religion in this free-wheeling film. His wit is right on target and as barbed as you'd expect. I found myself squirming every once in awhile. I don't mind you picking on the Pope, Bill ... but same as with Michael Moore ... sometimes when you set up "common folks" to look like fools, I cringe. Still, Religulous is worth a look for sure. The best point Bill makes? That conservatives of a religulous bent are about finding answers - while liberals are about asking questions. I can go with that!
Roman de gare: This was an intriguing, surprising, suspenseful, funny, quirky movie that I thoroughly enjoyed. The characters and plot lines are deftly developed. You should definitely check it out if you get the chance!
Young at Heart: YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS MOVIE! It's a documentary about a choral group of octogenarians in Northampton, MA. Very inspiring ... definitely something to check out!
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day: Enjoyable, light fare with a stellar performance by my favorite police chief, Frances McDormand!
The Visitor: Now this was an excellent movie ... from start to finish. It was similar to Smart People in that it had an academic as the main character. However, all similarities ended pretty much right there. In this warm, funny, and wrenching movie, the characters are well and subtly developed, the plot is (unfortunately) believable ... and there are no false notes. I would urge you to see it - you won't be sorry!
Smart People: Looks like we're getting back on track with our Tuesday night movie schedule ... for the time being. Smart People was enjoyable but left me unenthralled. (It probably didn't help that we ran into a totally enthralled movie-goer on the way in who was seeing it for the second time. High expectations may have killed this one for me.) Overall, I found the characters exaggerated and mildly unlikeable ... the dialogue stilted and self-conscious, perhaps just the way smart people talk. But then the lessons about loosening up and being less self-absorbed weren't exactly ground-breaking. Overall, it wasn't a wasted evening ... but not a movie I'll be putting at the top of my list, either.
4 luni, 3 saptamani si 2 zile (4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days): Winner of the Palm D'Or at Cannes, this film by Romania's Cristian Mungiu certainly deserves the accolades it receives. It's a realistic and emotionally unflinching story of a woman who helps her friend obtain an illegal abortion in 1987 Romania. The story is harrowing, the acting wonderful, and the cinematography amazing. This film makes Juno look like Disney pablum!
Taxi to the Dark Side: This was a harrowing and eye-opening look at what our country has become under the leadership of Bush/Cheney after 9/11. The "road taken" has definitely been a trip to the dark side. Disgusting and important to see ... as we make our way back toward the light!
Michael Clayton: What an excellent movie! Engaging, engrossing, well-acted. Tilda Swinton certainly deserved an award for her protrayal of what I have to think must be the secret, inner life of Condi Rice.
Persepolis: This animated memoir is an engaging, heartbreaking, uplifting, realistic look at life in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. Go see it! It humanizes what our current regime so consistently tries to dehumanize. An important movie, Persepolis is based on the book by Marjane Satrapi.
Margot at the Wedding: Dark, funny, tough to watch and very well acted.
I'm Not There: Bob Dylan's not my favorite, but this was a fascinating movie to watch (albeit long) and since he wasn't there, I couldn't very well feel annoyed by him. Cate Blanchette was just amazing - and I loved the surreal, Fellini-esque feel of the Richard Gere parts.
Atonement: Lush, compelling, painful - I especially loved Vanessa Redgrave's starkly powerful 5 minutes - and the Fellini-esque (can you tell I love Fellini?) flavor of the scenes of the evacuating troops on the beach - complete with ferris wheels - somehow depicting the disorienting horror of war in ways that blood and gore never could. Great movie!
Juno: Well, I went to see it. I totally agree with my friends who found the clinic scene extremely misleading, off-base, and gratuitously negative in its depiction of the women's health movement and its workers. In an otherwise nice movie, this was a thoughtless lapse ... and I was sad to see so many women in Juno's age group in the theater (one of them actually pregnant) ... who'll be coming away with a false impression that could so seriously affect their lives!
The Savages: Wow, what a good movie! Philip Seymour Hoffman has had an amazing run this year between this, "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead," and that other movie with Tom Hanks ... the name of which is escaping me at the moment ... Charlie Somebody's War. Anyway - he and Laura Linney are just wonderful as siblings dealing with their aging/ailing father. Painful and real ... and set in gritty, wintry Buffalo ... in perfect contrast to Sun City. (The latter looks like a setting that would do David Lynch proud.) Check it out if you haven't seen it!
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