Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Nebraska - movie review


          If you escape to the movies as a respite from some of the harsher aspects of the real world, you might want to skip “Nebraska” starring Bruce Dern. It’s a bleak movie with a lot of nothing: no color (filmed entirely in black and white), flat landscape-less scenery of Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana and lots of actors playing friends and relatives taking up space in living rooms or at dinner tables but saying little, stuck in their own worlds of … of what? I couldn’t even imagine. Grunts and vapid stares replaced any kind of recognizable conversation.
          At the same time, this movie is filled with a powerful story of love and hope and getting older and care giving and friendship and family. The blank openness of the film leaves much for your imagination to create the scenario of what it must have been like for the Grant family living a tough existence in Billings, Montana.
          Bruce Dern plays the patriarch, Woody Grant, who is singularly focused on getting to Lincoln, Nebraska to claim his sweepstakes prize of one million dollars from a magazine sweepstake promotional company.  His son David, played lovingly by Will Forte, tries to explain to his dad that the sweepstake is a scam and that his dad has not, in fact, won anything.  David is constantly tracking down his dad who is repeatedly escaping his home or the hospital to hit the road to Nebraska.
          I didn’t really begin to ‘get’ this movie until one hour and fifteen minutes into it when Kate Grant (June Squibb), who plays the wife of Woody, delivers a shocking and wake-up line in the film – I won’t spoil the surprise here. June Squibb’s performance is outstanding as she plays all the mid-western wives rolled into one who are fed up with vacant spouses that, on the surface, cause more grief than they appear to be worth. Ms. Squibb has played in a few movies (About Schmidt and Scent of a Woman, Meet Joe Black) and appears equally noted for her TV work in Getting On (a new HBO series) and Mike and Molly and Castle. I intend to check out her work; she’s that good.

          I’m not sure how to rate this film. On the one hand, it’s compelling and makes you think. On the other hand, all the components used to convey the bleakness (filming style, landscape, casting, story line) took a toll on my ‘enjoyment’ of the film, and perhaps that’s just the way it was supposed to be.
Three ticket stubs out of a possible five

 

 
 
 
 


Monday, November 4, 2013

Enough Said - movie review


          “Enough Said” is the story of the relationship of Eva, played by Julia Louis Dreyfus, and Albert, played by James Gandolfini. Eva is a divorced single parent who works as a masseuse and has a daughter who is headed out of the nest for college, and Albert, also a divorcee, is a somewhat slovenly, but imminently likeable, cinematic librarian. They meet at a party and begin an intimate and highly unlikely (my opinion) relationship.
          Separate from meeting Albert, Eva also meets Marianne at this party and she becomes a friend and client of Eva’s . During the tenure of their friendship and client relationship, Eva listens to Marianne complain in painful detail about her ex.  I doubt it’ll be much of a spoiler to say that in the most uncomfortable meeting, Albert and his ex, Marianne, find out that Eva has known both of them throughout their respective associations. This all happens at Marianne’s house, in front of Eva.

          What I won’t spoil is how it is all ends. For that, you need to take the time to see this charming, intelligent and refreshingly mature flick.

         
Honestly, I went to see this movie partly because it is James Gandolfini’s last. I must admit, he didn’t look well, sort of bloated and fairly unhealthy, which he actually was or portrayed so convincingly. There’ll probably be no accolades for “Enough Said,” but I found it a nice break from all the loud, metallic, zombie crap we’re being bombarded with currently at the theater. Oh, that made me sound sort of old, didn’t it?

                                                                       
                                                                                           Three ticket stubs out of possible five stubs


 
 
 


Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Defending Jacob - book review


        
          Wow. That’s the word that immediately escapes my mouth as I close the back cover of a page-turning legal thriller involving a family that, under different circumstances, would look like any other that you might know.

          This is the story of Andy Barber who is an assistant DA in a rural Massachusetts community. He is well known and respected in his position and enjoys a happy home life with wife, Laurie, and 14 year old son, Jacob.

          The entire Barber family’s life is turned upside down when Jacob is accused of murder of one of his classmates. While this obviously tears up the Barber family emotionally, it presents a special wrinkle because of Andy’s position in the DA’s office.

          Andy understandably wants to believe his son is innocent but damning facts and shocking revelations make both parents wonder how well they know their son. This sounds like an open and shut case of a fast-moving thriller to be enjoyed over a weekend or on a sick day from the office.

          There are, however, a whole load of things that happen that are difficult to conceive but, to reveal them here, would spoil this excellent mystery/thriller. Suffice it to say, I’m going to recommend you get to the library or bookstore and read this entertaining story.

          Defending Jacob has been named “One of the Best Books of the Year” by Entertainment Weekly. The author, William Landay, is a Harvard graduate and a former attorney, like John Grisham and Scott Turow.
 
Four bookmarks out of possible five

 
 

Sunday, September 8, 2013

The Spectacular Now - movie review



          “The Spectacular Now” is a wonderful movie of a book by the same name written by Tim Tharp. It’s the story of two unlikely teenagers who meet and fall in love.  One is out-going and practically an alcoholic and the other is quiet, a peripheral nerd with little life experience.
          The movie stars Miles Teller as the outgoing Sutter and Shailene Woodley as the quiet Aimee.  (Shailene played the older daughter in “The Descendants” with George Clooney.) While Aimee has dreams of a future, Sutter lives in the splendor of what he perceives to be a spectacular now. Both have family issues, but what teenager doesn’t?
          “The Spectacular Now” is a John Huston redux – a coming-of-age movie which comes of age with sophisticated acting and a more complicated story line. It wasn’t  as predictable as such classics as “You’ve Got Mail” and “The Breakfast Club” but it was just as entertaining if not more so. I believe this flick will appeal to people of all ages. It got rave reviews at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival with critics gushing great things for the film and its actors.

          I loved it…I probably will see it again. Even though I know what happens I’ll probably still hold my breath a little when each of these two young people comes to their own personal fork in the road.

Four out of five possible ticket stubs







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Saturday, August 17, 2013

Lee Daniels' The Butler - movie review

                                                                               
         First of all, you may wonder why it’s titled “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” instead of just “The Butler.” Evidently Warner Brothers claimed they owned the rights to a 1916 silent film entitled “The Butler.”  Seems like a stretch to me that the two might be confused but, hey, it turned out good for Lee Daniels, the director.
 
          This movie tells the story of black butler, Cecil Gains played by Forest Whitaker, who served eight presidents in the White House. The story was inspired by Eugene Allen, the real White House butler who served throughout the civil rights era as well as during Vietnam. He died in 2010. The movie does an excellent job of showing what it must have been like during the civil rights movement from an African-American point of view.

          The huge back story of this film is the relationship between Cecil and his son, Louis. While father is keeping quiet as he serves a master he may not agree with, the son goes the Black Panther route against oppression. This conflict between the two, which runs the entire length of the film, is the best story being told and, in the end, both are able to see each other’s side of the issue.
          The following stars appear in the film:  Mariah Carrey, Vanessa Redgrave, Oprah Winfrey (as Cecil’s wife), Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding Jr., Lenny Kravitz, Robin Williams, John Cusack, Minka Kelly Live Schreiber, Alan Rickman, Clarence Williams III and Jane Fonda (who, ironically plays the arch enemy of her real life Hanoi persona, Nancy Reagan). Whitaker and Gooding and Howard gave excellent performances but most of the rest detracted from the movie. Instead of paying attention, I was dissecting Robin Williams as Eisenhower, or wondering why Lenny Kravitz had been chosen to play just another butler or how Oprah, an avid non-smoker, couldn’t have been given a prop she could inhale, or maybe she didn’t remember how to inhale. Anyway, she smokes throughout the film and is accompanied by a portable oxygen tank toward the end but we never see the smoke go anywhere other than just in her mouth.
          I found “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” a little boring and, overall, an excellent opportunity to make a highly entertaining movie was squandered on big names and a predictable storyline. With the exception of a few of the freedom rider scenes of violence, I didn’t feel it was as gut wrenching and evocative as billed. Without Whitaker playing the title role, this film would have been a complete waste.
          If you’re like me and want to get in on something big in the beginning, go and see it now, so you can at least say you've seen it. On the other hand, now that I’ve been there, I can encourage you to stay outdoors in the sunshine and wait for it to come out on video.
Two of five possible ticket stubs



 

Friday, July 12, 2013

What Maise Knew - movie review

         
           What Maise Knew is taken from the novel of the same name written by Henry James in 1898. The movie tells the story of six-year-old Maise (Onata Aprile) who becomes the human volleyball between bitterly divorcing parents, played by Steve Coogan and Julianne Moore.  Maise has that wide-eyed innocence and purity of a child who has done no wrong and who deserves the best love and attention any child should have. Maise does get some of that devotion from the new spouses of her divorced parents; she smiles and comes alive under their care, and they instantly become her loving caregivers.  

          The ill-suited parents can do nothing right, saying “I love you,” but leaving – or rather dumping – Maise on the street with no assurance of anyone to care for her, or forgetting her at school hours after she was supposed to be picked up by mom.  Their shallowness occurs throughout the entire movie, and Coogan and Moore do an outstanding job as neglectful, self-centered and angry people who stop at nothing to lash out at each other even if it means torment and misery for their precious child.
          It pained me to watch this movie as it might any child who has ever been the object of two warring parents. Neither one has the time or true desire to keep Maise emotionally healthy and happy but she’s almost too valuable to let go of in terms of being a tool for taunting the other parent.  Onata plays the innocent victim with minimal ‘acting’ relying mostly upon haunting looks that require little or no dialogue.

          A little research showed me that James wrote this story as a thorough condemnation of parents abandoning their responsibilities to their children. During his time, he saw English society as becoming more corrupt and decadent and What Maise Knew was his harshest indictment of these kinds of parents.
          Could I recommend this movie? Yes, in terms of the acting by all players, however, no, if you’re likely to be waiting for a bigger shoe to drop than is delivered in this film, or if you’re one of the walking wounded from a crummy childhood and/or split home. When I escaped to the movies in this film I wound up in a place I didn't really enjoy being.
Two out of five possible ticket stubs




Saturday, July 6, 2013

20 Feet From Stardom – movie review

          Award-winning director Morgan Neville created this documentary about the untold yet true story of the backup singers who performed with some of the greatest singing legends including Frank Sinatra, Sting, Elton John, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder and the Rolling Stones. The film joyously shows the power of many singers whose names we never knew and also shows the heartbreak of their endeavors to stand alone in front of the audience….most were not successful in their efforts to perform as headliners.

          The first 30 minutes of this documentary drag a little until Lisa Fischer appears. Her story about singing behind major headliners to her struggles to make it out in front are told in more depth, and the focus of her journey is highlighted. At this point I began to recognize more of the songs and the story is enhanced by the appearance of Bette Midler. Other great input is provided by Bruce Springsteen and Mick Jagger.

          I’m a documentary junkie, so it’s easy to entertain me when I'm learning something new. I learned a lot about these unsung heroes (sorry about that pun). Anytime I can learn while tapping my toe to fabulous R&B and rock music, it’s a good thing.
 
Four out of possible five ticket stubs

 
 

Friday, June 21, 2013

Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake by Anna Quindlen – book review

 
          Anna Quindlen, the venerable baby boomer author and Pulitzer Prize winner, has written a memoir that strings together pearls of wisdom from an older – she’s now 60 – mother, wife, friend, daughter, sister and career writer. With all this experience she’s got a lot to say on myriad subjects and, as a 60+ woman myself who also had an involving career, I am interested. She’s such an excellent writer that I would probably be interested if she was detailing her lifetime relationship with laundry. She has been described as America’s laureate of real life.

          Most of what Ms. Quindlen speaks of in this book is through the filter of aging, how things are different as an older woman versus the gung ho youngster. She starts off saying, “You don’t know what you don’t know when you’re young.” I love how she speaks warmly and humorously about getting older, for instance, depicting the cuteness some of our youthful characteristics were and how they often became irritating in old age – a flirtatious nature evolving into unattractive lecherous behavior. At the same time, she reminds us that the older we get, the better we get at being ourselves. Gone are the concerns about being judged, disliked, or not enough.
          Among other topics, she waxes so eloquently:

          - downsizing:   As we age the value of possessions lessens and it’s easy to get
                    rid of clutter. “Stuff is not salvation.”

          - marriage: “A safety net of small white lies can be the bedrock of a successful
                    marriage,” and “The long sound journey of a long marriage outweighs
                    romantic love.”

          - girlfriends: In youth, other women can be viewed as a threat or competitor.
                    Over time, girlfriends are the placeholders of support and less criticism
                    and more cheerleading.

          - work: Anna admits her generation felt that they had ‘invented’ the whole work
                    and family dual opportunity for women, forgetting all about the previous
                    generation’s contribution. Later she regretted never asking her mother
                    about the drafting table that sat stored in their basement for her entire life
                    at home (her mother was the only female engineer in a prestigious firm in
                    the 1930’s.).

          - the aging process: When we’re babies and youngsters we have tantrums about
                    doing what we want to do when we want to do it and, as we age, we
                    gradually go back to that, minus the tantrums hopefully. We have become
                    the older generation we criticized so vehemently.

          The book contains an insurmountable amount of relatable moments for anyone 55 and older, even if you did have kids or a high-powered career or a marriage. This book also contains “gobsmacked,” which is a literary first for me. Look for this word to appear in a future blog post.

          Finally, in a final chapter, Anna Quindlen writes about mortality, but you’ll have to read the book – I don’t want to give away the ending.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Love is All You Need – movie review


          “Love is All You Need” is a film about an Englishman played by Pierce Brosnan living in Denmark where he runs a large produce business. He is a widower, a loner, and an emotionally absent single father to Patrick who brings everyone together in Italy for his wedding to Astrid. Things get complicated when, two days before the wedding, Astrid’s mother, Ida (Danish actress Trine Dyrholm), splits from Astrid’s father due to his affair with a much younger woman.

          This movie is a wild combination of “Under the Tuscan Sun” meets “It’s Complicated” meets “Threesome.” It’s an entertaining romp where much is predictable but that’s okay with me as long as it turns out well for all (or most) of the parties involved. Brosnan, the bride’s father, for instance, comes off so crass and closed off in the beginning of the movie you just KNOW he’s going to loosen up and be a hero in the end.

          While the title and premise of the movie are certainly not unique or new, a lemony fresh tartness is detected throughout because of the unknown (to me anyway) actors who bring a juiciness to their roles. In addition, after the sun would set over the Cinque Terre-like Italian backdrop of seaside hilly homes, I could practically feel the dewy new mornings in the picturesque garden where everyone gathers.

           Both English and Danish are spoke in this film, with easy-to-follow subtitles. One reviewer says of the movie’s Danish filmmaker, “Susanne Bier has shaken a cocktail of love, loss, absurdity, humor, and delicately drawn characters that will leave only the hardest heart untouched.” I couldn’t have said it better myself!

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Patience: The Art of Peaceful Living – book review

Three out of possible five bookmarks
          This book couldn’t have come to me at a better time. I’d just been experiencing problems with my computer and had been working with barely understandable techs in foreign countries for the last month. If this situation doesn’t cry for the need of patience, I don’t know what does.

          You should know I’m not a patient person to begin with. In fact, this book was recommended by someone I’m working with who also happens to be a friend. At first, I thought his recommendation might have been a joke, but looking back now I can see the real value that I’m sure he knew would be of benefit to me.

          The author, Allan Lokos, writes from a very calm and spiritual place, which is outstanding considering the title of the book. He steps the reader through the benefits and, yes, necessity of coming from a patient point of view of you want a happy life. He says, “Inner peace can be seen as the ultimate benefit of practicing patience.” He also shares that the Dalai Lama has expressed we are here to be happy and that impatience greatly detracts from that happiness.

          The first part of the book deals with learning patience for yourself, which I have yet to master. In the second part of the book, Lokos discusses patience in relationships, and this, as we all know, is an excellent place to experience lack of patience, especially with spouses and friends. Next, the author addresses children, again where it’s obvious that a great deal of patience is not only required for yourself but in serving as a role model to blossoming children. Finally, the discussion moves to the workplace – dealing with co-workers, and bosses and subordinates – and technology. Who hasn’t come unhinged dealing with technology?

          Patience comes from seeing and accepting things as they are. Knowing that things are always changing also aides in accepting that what is before us won’t last forever. One of the best tools I received from this book was creating a pause between my experience of a feeling and my response to that feeling. Having said that, I must admit as soon as I finished the book and completed this short review, I experienced the most absurd exhibition of my own lack of patience at my gym. I was petulant, rude and certainly didn’t pause between my feelings and my responses to those feelings when someone was using equipment I wanted. It took me hours to calm down enough to forgive myself and laugh a little about not being perfect right off the bat. This incident certainly pointed out my need of focus and the practice of mindfulness. At least I have more tools to work with in increasing my patience in this world. I just have to take them out and try them on a little more.









Sunday, May 26, 2013

At Any Price - movie review


          “At Any Price” stars Dennis Quaid and Zac Efron as Henry and Dean Whipple, father and son seed farmers in rural Iowa. The son, Dean, aspires to a different career in race car driving and eschews anything related to the farm, including his father, who he has no respect for. Father Henry calls into question some of his own techniques in the highly competitive field of selling genetically modified seeds to farmers in the surrounding counties, which brings the unwanted scrutiny of the government.
          Henry desperately wants one of his sons to continue the multi-generational business but with his oldest son, Grant, climbing mountains in Argentina and Dean, rejecting him and his business outright, we see him walk out further on an ever narrowing plank over tumultuous water.
          I found myself holding my breath for much of this Greek tragedy of a movie, with its modernist meditations on death, loss and suffering. There is nothing subtle about its themes of love, aguish and the cost of success.  I was totally engaged in this film, so wanting it to go one way but knowing in my heart it would probably go another way.
          At the risk if giving away much of the enticing tension of this film, suffice it to say, while there may be questions about what happens after it’s over, there’s no question about what the conflicts are that surrounds Whipple and his family.
          Both Quaid and Efron are very believable in their performances of father and son determined to be together in a family yet individual enough to do things their own way, all the while wanting the approval from the other. Henry’s wife, Irene, played by Kim Dickens and his biggest seed competitor, Jim Johnson, played by Clancy Brown, strongly support the main characters and the quintessential “everything is at stake” story line.
          I recommend this film, not because it’s a blockbuster, which it isn’t, but because it’s yet another look into a different life than the one I live, a life that I can imagine exists yet am glad I’m just watching on the screen and not being a part of it myself. To see something different is the reason I go to the movies!
Four out of five possible ticket stubs.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Mud - movie review

          Mud, staring Matthew McConaughey as the title character, is a love story. It tells the tale of two 14 year-old boys, Ellis and Neckbone, who live in grimy, makeshift houseboats in Arkansas. The boys buzz around their Mississippi River ‘backyard' in a aluminum dory and one day discover, on a small island nearby, the unusual sight of a small cabin boat suspended high in the trees, obviously left over from a previous flood. That’s where they meet Mud who is hiding out in the cabin of the boat.

          Mud is in love with Juniper (Reese Witherspoon) and is being pursued by bounty hunters for killing a man in Texas who hurt her. The young boys, believing true love is paramount, become inextricably involved in helping Mud find Juniper and in evading the gang who is after him. Interwoven around this main theme is the story of other love relationships:  Ellis’ parents’ struggle with love for each other, Ellis for an ‘older’ girl at school, and Miller (Mud’s father or uncle?) for Mud.

          As the first half hour of the film flows as slowly as the Mississippi past their houseboats, it picks up speed as the boys run messages between Mud and Juniper, who is at a dive motel in town and as they steal all the necessary equipment Mud needs in order to get the boat-in-the-trees running and as they sneak in and out of their homes with food and tools for Mud.

          The film does an excellent job of meshing potent love into a gritty story of disappointment, death and destruction. Ellis’ dad says, “You can’t trust love,” but Ellis risks his young neck exactly for the powerful pull of romantic love, both Mud and Juniper’s and his own for the girl at school.

          I really enjoyed this film. I am especially impressed when actors truly become the characters. Instead of Matthew McConaughey made up to be Mud, he truly was the complicated and violent man driven to rash actions by love. Tye Sheridan, who plays 14-year-old Ellis does an outstandingly convincing job of portraying a young boy who is struggling to find examples of love that have meaning for him. In addition, he gets a slew of examples of the hurt and pain that is also created by love.

Four out of possible five ticket stubs
 
 

Friday, April 19, 2013

The Sapphires - movie review


          “I’m white, but my blood runs negro,” says Dave the group’s manager, played by Chris O’Dowd. While this film is loosely based on true events, it’s especially fun to see an Irish person manage a group of four Aboriginal girls, three sisters and a cousin, as they transform into a singing soul group. It was very reminiscent of “The Commitments” movie.

          In addition to Chris O’Dowd (“The Bridesmaids”), the film stars Jessica Mauboy, Mianda Tapsell, Deborah Mailman and Shari Sebbens as the four girl performers. It’s 1968, and the fledgling group gets sent to Vietnam to entertain the troops.

          The story about how Dave meets the girls and becomes their manager is pretty thin, but I was there for the music mostly. I just didn’t realize it was going to be performed by four black Supremes-like Aboriginal girls. I was not disappointed…neither in the entertaining storyline nor in the Sam and Dave, Wilson Pickett era music.


Four out of five possible ticket stubs

 
 



 
 


Sunday, April 14, 2013

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail – book review


          Wild is a true story of one woman’s three month solo hike along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), a 2 foot wide, 2,663 mile long path, which runs from the Mexican boarder in California to just beyond the Canadian border to the north.

          The author, Cheryl Strayed, was in her twenties when she began this grueling journey through the wilderness and through her life. Her mother had died at the age of 45 just four years before, and Cheryl struggled to come to grips with her life as it unraveled. She was estranged from her step-father and physically apart from her brother and sister. After multiple affairs, she divorced her loving husband, Paul, and had sunk into heroin up until just days before she began her trek.

          The reader doesn’t get through even the first paragraph in the prologue when Cheryl, high atop the Sierra’s in Northern California, loses irretrievably one of the hiking boots she has just removed from her aching feet. That gives you a sense of how shocking this journey and the story around it will be.

          The story of what led to her making this three month trek is a novel in itself. And, while the prologue portends a scary tale of heights and depths and aloneness, it’s the solitude and confusion of trying to heal from life itself that is a major portion of this narrative.

          The year is 1995, well before the abundance of online information and communications technology that would have eased the vast majority of her difficult trip. One glaring exception to this is when Cheryl finally gives up on her hiking boots because their improper fitting is causing her toenails to turn black and fall out. At one of the rest stops she calls REI and they agree to send her a new pair of the boots in a larger size, overnight and at no cost to her.

          I found myself looking back numerous times at her picture on the book’s jacket. I was incredulous that this young, pretty and conservative looking woman could be the hippie who set out on such a massive project without the necessary training and preparation.

          The struggles encountered along the trail enable Cheryl to sort out the struggles she is trying to deal with in life. For instance, she goes from being a self-imposed objectified woman in her life back home to a comfortable and together single woman, at one point, hiking PCT with six men. It takes the vastness of the adventure to realize the vastness of her life and how it extends beyond her mother’s death or the disappointment of her divorce.

          When she comes to the end of the trek at the Bridge of the Gods at the Columbia River in Washington, she holds her emotions in check, not crying. But I cried, feeling the weight of her journey within a journey, the emotional and the physical.

          Wild is a wonderful book, and I highly recommend it. Now I’m off to get The Dream of a Common Language by Adrienne Rich. This was the only book Cheryl carried the entire 1,100 miles, cherishing it so much she didn’t lighten her load by burning the pages as she went.

Five out of possible five bookmarks

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Saturday, April 13, 2013

42 - Movie Review

          42, which was one of the last movies reviewed by Roger Ebert before his recent death, is the inspirational sports film starring Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson and Harrison Ford as Dodgers executive Branch Rickey. Nicole Beharie plays Jackie’s wife, Rachel.

          Jackie Robinson has been called one of the most important American pioneers of the 20th century and “42” is important for that reason alone. Playing baseball, or any professional sport, is tough enough without it being about the first black man to be in that position. In my opinion, this film does an excellent job of putting the viewer into Jackie’s shoes to experience what that must have felt like. The jeers and name calling not only from the stands but, at first, from within his own team was uncomfortable to watch. Prejudice is always hard to watch. The “N” obviously shows up a lot, so be warned if it bothers you even in this logical context.

          The year is 1947. The theory of why Rickey chose that black man at that time in history to be brought into the all-white professional sport of baseball was a recurring question throughout the film. While there was no definitive answer, Rickey did say that he loved the game of baseball and had always felt there was something unfair at the heart of this game that he loved, which was the lack of other players of different races who were just as qualified and could do as much if not more to help the team. Jackie Robinson opened the door to men of color being welcomed into the pro sport.

          Because I wasn’t a witness to the true greatness of Jackie Robinson, I can’t say if this film does him and his career breakthroughs justice. I saw a recent interview with Robinson’s widow, Rachel, now in her 90’s and I could match up the way she seems now with the way she was portrayed in the film. I’m hoping the rest of the characters were as well matched.

          Speaking of all these characters, names like Jackie’s, or Red Barber, the Dodgers announcer, or Durocher, the manager suspended for a year for having an affair, are all just names to me. I didn’t know of them in the news or on TV or even the radio, but the importance of them in sports history is well depicted in “42.”

          I’m so pleased to see a film about a sport personality who was a hero regardless of the amount of money he had, who he was married to or what kind of car he drove. While I didn’t know of Jackie Robinson as being the great player we learn he was, the movie is good enough to both entertain and educate, a homerun in my book.

          Oh, and just a funny aside:  I got shushed during the movie by some people behind us. I’ll tell you, it sure can make a 65 year old senior feel like a shameful kid pretty darn quick!
Four out of possible five ticket stubs
 

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Monday, April 1, 2013

Admission - movie review


          This movie is the comedy/drama story of admissions officer Portia (Tina Fey) as she follows strict guidelines for evaluating acceptance of select students into Princeton. Part of her job requires visiting various high schools to recruit applicants and, in the process, she runs into a former college classmate and headmaster, John (Paul Rudd,) of an alternate school. The headmaster is grooming one student in particular, Jeremiah, from his school who he thinks is, in fact, the child of Portia who was adopted out at birth.

          Extremely straitlaced Portia, looking to be the predecessor to her boss when he leaves at the end of the current term, ultimately bends the rules to garner the admission of Jeremiah.

          I love Tina Fey and I love Paul Rudd, but surprisingly, I don’t love them in this movie, and I don’t think it’s their fault. I think it’s the confusion of this neither comedy nor drama format that left me feeling flat. Perhaps I kept waiting for Tina to burst forth with some sort of SNL routine. Also, because it was produced by Ron Howard, among others, I expected it to be just plain more entertaining.

          In any case, I’m not recommending seeing Admission in the theater. Perhaps a year from now when you run across it at the video store or on Netflix and have nothing better to do….

Two out of five possible ticket stubs
 

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Happy People: A Year in Taiga - movie review

Four of five possible ticket stubs
          Munich born Werner Herzog produced, directed and narrates this haunting film about the small village of ermine and sable trappers in the foreboding Siberian countryside. This subtitled documentary focuses on the arduous life of one veteran fur trader who spends most of the year away from his family in order to support an austere and colorless lifestyle. And he is happy doing so although, compared to our raucous lifestyle, the existence of the village members looks depressingly difficult.



          While we may work to get ahead, to have vacations, to enjoy a comfortable life, and perhaps to make things more luxurious for our families, these men work in order to survive. Everything is done by hand:  houses are built, boats are carved, traps are made each year and frozen water and land is confronted and conquered ...continuously. Food for themselves and their priceless dogs is a focal point.

          As the title suggests, the time span of a year is viewed with only a slight dot of green appearing in mid-summer. The other three seasons are gray, gray, and gray decorated with brown houses and muddy farm yards with snow on them almost all year. The long summer nights do make growing vegetables in protected pens very rewarding. Along with an abbreviated summer comes hoards of mosquitoes that made me itch just to see them swarming the men and their dogs.

          I enjoyed this documentary very much….not in the National Geographic way but in the way that sidestepped any major tragedies in order to give me an interesting glimpse into a lifestyle I’d never heard of nor seen before. I believe the happiness these men and their families have comes from being completely self-reliant. They pride themselves on not having to deal with laws, taxes, phones, traffic or any of the modern day things that we’ve embraced in order to simplify -  but often complicating -  our lives.

          The lives of the people in Taiga are not so difficult that they miss the beauty of nature, that they don’t have time to appreciate a simple cup of delicious tea. They love that hunting brings them closer to nature. I was convinced when the veteran trader says, “…industry and perseverance are at the top of our agenda.”

          I recommend this movie to anyone who wants a break from the routine “Escape to the Movies” sort of film. I don’t think you’ll regret this stirring field of vision into the human spirit in unyielding conditions.

 

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

"Quartet" - movie review


          Spoiler Alert:  This is a feel-good movie!

          Bravo, bravo, Dustin Hoffman, for your directorial debut of this wonderful movie! Also to Ronald Harwood for his charming screenplay.

          This movie starring Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Billy Connolly and Pauline Collins, is about a chateau-like retirement home for retired musicians. Verdi’s birthday is celebrated annually with performances by residents doing different musical numbers. Jean, the perfectly characterized diva, is a recent arrival to the home and is surprised when she is confronted by one of the residents who turns out to be her former husband, Reggie.

          Jean is approached by Reggie and Wilf and Cissy to perform at the event and reluctantly agrees. The movie ends with strains of the four in the quartet singing as the camera leaves the home and fades to black.

          But the movie isn’t over until credit after credit shows pictures of the current actors in the film along side pictures of themselves from bygone years in various theatrical and operatic performances.

          I loved this movie; it made me smile and laugh and tap my toe to some pretty recognizable classical music. The part of Cissy, played by Pauline Collins, is the most endearing and charming of them all.

          I want to live at this retirement home. I want to know these people. I want to hear myriad performances being practiced in all corners of this mansion in England.

          Compare this ‘old folks film’ with the likes of Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones experiencing sexual dysfunction in “Hope Springs” and I’ll take this one a thousand times over!

BRAVO!

                                                                                     
                                                                                                            Five out of possible five ticket stubs
                                                    
 
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Sunday, January 13, 2013

“Zero Dark Thirty” – movie review


          We know the story. I should say, we heard reports about what happened. “Zero Dark Thirty” takes you inside the killing of Osama bin Laden and all that led up to finding him. This process took the diligence of CIA operative, Maya, over a 10 year period. In the end, she was the only one of all the government personnel including the Navy S.E.A.L.S. on the project, who was completely convinced bin Laden would be found at the compound that was raided.

          “Zero Dark Thirty” is produced and directed by Kathryn Bigelow of “The Hurt Locker,” and the movie is up for a Best Picture Oscar. The film stars Jessica Chastain as Maya, the CIA operative, as well as Joel Edgerton and Chris Pratt as other geeky government types. These geeky types were also highly skilled at the art of torture for information, which I found disconcerting. I’ve never heard of any of these actors but their performances were convincing enough to make the film work well. Ms. Chastain is nominated for Best Actress for her performance.

          I wanted to see this inside look at a monumental operation. For that reason alone, I appreciated “Zero Dark Thirty.”  I don’t think this movie has a chance in heck of taking the Oscar from the other nominees in the Best Picture category. But it is worth seeing, even if you wait until it is released on DVD.
Three out of possible ticket stubs.

Saturday, January 12, 2013

“Django Unchained” – movie review


          The year is 1858. Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz), a dentist turned bounty hunter, purchases and ultimately sets free a slave named Django (“the D is silent”) to help him track down and identify his latest quarry. Dr. Schultz talks Django (Jamie Foxx) into sticking with him as a partner for future bounties and, in return, the good doctor will help Django reunite with his slave wife, Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), who was sold separately. Sounds simple enough, no?

          No! This is a Quentin Tarantino movie. Need I say more? Everything is over the top and, thus, becomes funny. It’s not a comedy, but I laughed more than I have in a long time.

          Not being a Tarantino fan, I didn’t even want to see “Django Unchained.” My friend and movie partner, Kristie, did see it and loved it. So much so that she wanted to see it again. Well, I couldn’t refuse. And boy am I glad I didn’t refuse.

          I loved this movie. Yeah, sure, I covered my eyes when the blood and gore was rampant, but it was done so majestically and dramatically it was awe inspiring…kind of like a 4th of July fireworks display. Ohhhhhh, ahhhhhh. Be warned: the “f” bomb gets tossed in there a lot as well and the infamous “n” word.

          Leonardo DeCaprio does an outstanding job playing the wife’s owner, Calvin Candie. And Bruce Dern even makes an up close appearance. Don Johnson, THE Don Johnson, is also in this movie, playing a southern plantation owner.

          “Django Unchained” is my new favorite for Best Movie at the Academy Awards. Christoph Waltz is up for Best Supporting Actor too. And then there’s Quentin’s Best Original Screenplay nomination.

          See this movie, but take it lightheartedly. Enjoy it for what it is rather than looking at it with a critical eye.  
                                                                   
                                                                                 Five out of five possible ticket stubs
                                                                                    
 
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"Silver Linings Playbook" - movie review


          “Silver Linings Playbook” is a movie about dysfunction, sometimes funny and sometimes sad. The sad parts may have been because a few times they hit too close to home for me to laugh at. It has been nominated for eight 2013 Academy Awards, including best picture.

          The movie is the story of Pat Jr. and his relationships with father (Pat Sr.), mother, and girlfriend, Tiffany. Pat Jr., labeled bipolar, has been sprung from a mental institution by his mother on the condition that he remain in therapy, take his meds and honor the restraining order his wife has against him. He winds up at the institution in the first place for severely beating up his wife’s lover when he finds them in the shower together.

          In spite of moments of logical behavior, Pat Jr. acts very crazy, as do his father and Tiffany, the girl he meets his first week home. Pat needs Tiffany to do something for him that he hopes will reunite him with his wife. In return he agrees to be Tiffany’s dance partner in an upcoming semi-professional contest. Pat Sr. also wants something of Pat Jr. and that is to spend time with him watching Philadelphia Eagles football games. The father feels the team will win if Pat Jr. watches the games with him.

         The movie culminates with the final Eagles game taking place at the same time as the dance contest.

          The acting in this movie is outstanding. Bradley Cooper as Pat Jr. is up for Best Actor, Jennifer Lawrence as Tiffany for Best Actress, while  Robert DeNiro, as Pat Sr. is up for Best Supporting Actor and finally Jacki Weaver, as Pat Jr.’s mother  is up for Best Supporting Actress. Cooper and Lawrence give convincing portrayals of people with mental issues. As the movie progresses, all the characters fade in and out of clear and rational thinking. It’s easy to believe Pat Jr. would be crazy just growing up around his parents.

          It seems to me that anything with silver linings also leaves room for doubts. While Pat Jr. and Tiffany seem to be perfect for each other, their ‘relationship’ is clouded by a mish mash of deception, misplaced hopes and a general lack of anger management. At the same time, Pat Jr. and his father could strengthen their bond or completely blow it up based on the outcome of wagers. I found myself rooting for it all to work out for everyone, and, if it hadn’t turned out as it did, I would have been extremely disappointed.

          I liked the movie but wasn’t crazy about the story. Personally, I’m not convinced that two deeply troubled people can find complete healing in each other. In the end, however, it won me over, and I would recommend “Silver Linings Playbook” on the acting alone. Oh and, crazy or not, Bradley Cooper is still a hunk!

                                                                               
                                                                                                      Three out of five possible ticket stubs.
 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, January 5, 2013

“The Impossible” – movie review

          The notorious Indian Ocean tsunami killed 240,000 people in 2004. “The Impossible” is the true story of one family’s ordeal in the middle of this tragedy. Henry (Quique) and Marie Alvarez and their three sons were staying at a comfortable resort on a beach in Thailland for a few days during the Christmas holidays.

          On the morning of December 26th, while the family frolicked in the warm sunshine and aqua pools, a deafening roar mounts and we clench the arms of the movie theater chair as the catastrophe unfolds. We know what’s beginning to happen and, with a modicum of relief, we know at least this family ultimately survives.

          What does a tsunami look like? How can one grasp the feeling of being frozen, unable to move as a wall of water many stories high and totally inescapable rushes toward us? I  can’t imagine, but ‘The Impossible” gave me a pretty good idea of what it might have been like. The musical score, or I should say, taut violin sounds, blended excellently with the emotional tension all throughout the 114 minute film. Viewers not used to conditions in Southeast Asian countries may be surprised at the lack of cleanliness and sanitary conditions at the hospitals during this holocaust. It was a pleasant reminder to me that third world countries can do pretty well without our hyper vigilant, almost OCD, approach to wellness.

          The movie is very well done. It’s graphic, ugly, tense, and brown; everything is coated in thick brown mud. Even at the end when the Alvarez family is flying out of Thailand to safety, the brown mud and muck is still clinging to their bodies and clothes. How many times during the movie did I want to just get them cleaned up? Then everything would have been alright.

          “The Impossible” stars Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts as the mother and father, but the acting accolades in this film belong to the three young the boys. Tom Holland plays the eldest son, Lucas. Samuel Joslin plays the middle child, Thomas. Oaklee Pendergast plays Simon, the youngest. In the film their characters are 10, 8 and 5 respectively. Their acting skills were outstanding. I was totally pulled in to what it must have been like to live through this terrifying situation. At more than one time during this experience they all are separated, except the two youngest. It is very heart warming to see 8 year old Thomas console and comfort 5 year old Simon when they are separated from the rest.

          This movie did not disappoint. But it’s not the kind of film you’ll want to see more than once. I was exhausted after it was over. It felt like I held my breath through the entire time.

                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                  Four out of Five Possible Ticket Stubs