December 27

Jen Kenny was first to identify "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain." from The Wizard of Oz with Kathy Luke very close behind. Wendy told me I gave the answer away in the last paragraph of my review.

Think the season when trying to guess where this quote came from:
Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?

Melanie Stanley writes: "Just saw Avatar with my husband Tim, and son, Aaron. It was totally wonderful, awesome, and amazing. Go see it in 3D! "

In Theaters

Up in the Air - There is a lot of Oscar buzz for this movie starring George Clooney. The cast is first rate and Anna Kendrick is a good partner to Clooney's character. The other lead is Vera Framiga as Clooney's love interest. The story is not what you think and that makes it even better. The title has a double meaning as Clooney plays a character who spends most of his time on airplanes while his personal life is up in the air. Clooney is the Cary Grant of this generation; suave, cool, funny and extremely easy on the eyes. See this movie before the awards are given and make you own decision.

On Netflix:

Duplicity - Playing spies for the government and then corporate world, Julia Roberts and Clive Owens star in this film filled with twists and turns.
In supporting roles Paul Giamatti and Tom Wilkinson round out a fine cast. Sy said he was happy to have me watch it with him to explain how everything was related. It is not a movie to watch when sleepy as you will say to yourself, "What is going on?" It is worth aNetflix choice.


Another Good Read:

Now that I am in three book groups, I find myself not only reading all the time, but reading things I would not have read. The latest book to read was Plainsong by Kent Haruf. It was published in 1999 so many of you may have read it already. It is the story of a small town in Holt, Colorado and how the lives of its inhabitants are intertwined. It is touching and a very easy read.. Pick it up in the library you won't be sorry.

I hope to see at least another first run film before the end of the year. Have a very Happy and Healthy New Year.

Roberta

December 20

Mark Bunney was the first to correctly identify "You see Mr. Scott? In the water, I'm a very skinny lady!" coming from Poseidon Adventure. Good Job! I must note that Florrie Cohen a recent addition to Roberta's Reviews was a close second.

Try this one:

"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."

On Netflix:

The First Basket - This is a documentary that was shown during the Jewish Film Festival last Spring. I thought it would be of interest and put it on my Netflix list. When you think of basketball you don't necessarily think of Jews, but believe it or not the first basket made in professional basketball was made by a Jew, Ossie Scheotman. The documentary takes you through the link between basketball and the Jewish culture. Anyone interested in Jewish history or the game of basketball will enjoy this informative documentary. It is unfair to rate documentaries, so I just give it a thumbs up.

Believe In Me - This is a feel good movie based on the real life story of Jim Keith who led the Middletown Oklahoma girls team to victory. When he first accepted the job, he thought he would be coaching boys, but that didn't turn out. Without giving much away, he has great success and is in the Hall of Fame for his career successes. Jeffrey Donovan, the actor from "Burn Notice", plays the coach and Bruce Dern the town baddie. It is a great movie to see with your children, especially daughters.


Must Read:

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford - This is a first novel by Mr. Ford who is Chinese. His family changed their name when they emigrated from China to San Francisco. It deals with an unlikely friendship and love story between a young Chinese boy and Japanese girl during WWII. Although I was familiar with the internment of Japanese Americans, I was so upset as I read this novel. It also reminded me how we treated Muslims after 911 although not to the extent of internment camps and how fragile our freedom is. The story is beautiful going back and forth from the 1980's to the 1940's as Henry tells his wonderful story. By the end I was in tears. If you have the opportunity, read this book; it is marvelous.

As many of you know the east coast is digging out from a blizzard. It is a good time to catch up on movies and not clog the roads. Yesterday Carol Flicker told me that one of my all time favorite movies (Wendy's too) was on Turner Classic Movie Channel Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Although the story is hokey, the music is wonderful. My granddaughters liked it as well. Also TNT just had a showing of The Wizard of Oz, one of Sy's favorites. Lifetime also had an original story of Thomas Kincaid's life called Christmas Cottage which for them was good. So take a few minutes to see what the cable stations are offering.

Happy Holidays to all.

Roberta

December 14

Well this is a first for Roberta's Reviews, two people answered the quote at the exact same . Congratulations to Lucy Cannon and MarkBunney for correctly identifying
"Well, this is not a boat accident! And it wasn't any propeller; and it wasn't any coral reef, and it wasn't Jack the ripper. It was a shark." coming from Jaws. Wendy thought it was too easy to answer and Paula thought I wouldn't use another Jaws quote so soon.

Try this one and I promise it is not from Jaws and a bit harder:

"You see, Mr. Scott? In the water, I'm a very skinny lady!"

In local theaters:

The Blind Side - Based on the true story of Michael Oher the offensive left tackle for the Baltimore Ravens, this movie is a winner. It will pull at your heartstrings, but more importantly make you think about what you might do to help others. Leigh AnneTuohy is a remarkable woman. She took this gentle giant into her home and made him one of the family. I wonder how much was white-washed for the theater as Michael appeared to have a smooth transition from homelessness to living in the home of affluent people. The cynic will even shed a tear while watching this film. Sandra Bullock has transformed herself to look very much like Leigh Anne and Tim McGraw does a nice job as her husband Sean. The newcomer who plays Michael is fine in the role. See it with your family!

On Netflix:

The Proposal - This was my Sandra Bullock week. This light comedy is predictable, but fun. Bullock is a great comedic actress and Ryan Reynolds is adorable playing against her. The story is thin and if you've seen the trailers, your know the premise. I enjoyed seeingSitka , Alaska where most of the action takes place. I am assuming it was filmed there, but what do I know. For an enjoyable two hours, rent this film.

Interesting read:

Loving Frank by Nancy Horan - This novel is the story of Mamah Borthwick Cheney and Frank Lloyd Wright's love affair. Cheney was a liberal thinking woman believing in women's rights and that her happiness eclipsed all those around her. This took place in the early part of the 20th century. She leaves her husband and children to spend her life with Wright. AsI I read the book, I kept thinking they deserved each other as neither one of them were people I would hold in high regard. The ending is heartbreaking. I did admire how the author weaved actual facts into a readable novel.

New on TV:

"Men of a Certain Age" - The previews looked promising and the critics raved about it, but it left me cold. In fact, I didn't even watch the entire episode. You might want to see for yourself and make your own decision. It is on Monday evenings at 10:00 on TNT right after "The Closer."

We haven't had time to go to the movies or view our Netflix items as much as we'd like. There are so many good movies out there and I am sure over the holidays, we'll get to see some of them. Enjoy all the holiday festivities in the coming weeks.

Roberta

December 1

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Yolanda was the first to correctly identify

"The fact that you're not answering leads me to believe that a.  You're not home.  b. You're home but you don't want to talk to me or c. You're home,
desperately want to talk to me, but you're trapped under something heavy.  If it's either a or c, give me a call.

coming from When Harry Met Sally., Martha Hutchinson was the first to answer once she got back to her school email account, so a joint congratulations to you both.

Try this one:

"Well, this is not a boat accident! And it wasn't any propeller; and it wasn't any coral reef, and it wasn't Jack the ripper. It was a shark."

In Theaters:

Sy and I had Amanda and Sarah for Saturday night so we went to the movies. Sy and Sarah to Old Dogs and Amanda and I to Fantastic Mr. Fox. These are our thoughts:

Fantastic Mr. Fox - Amanda loved it and Wendy said her friend's children loved it too. I hated it. It was slow moving, not funny and I had to prevent myself from falling asleep. Apparently it has some magic for kids, but unless you are entertaining the under 10 set find something else to see. I also wonder who paid off the critics as they all seem to like it as well. for kids, for adults.

Old Dogs - Although I personally did not see it, both Sy and Sarah liked it. Sy thought it was cute with a good moral ending. Sarah thought it was hilarious. So you might want to put it on your Netflix list.

On Netflix

Crossing Over - The set up of this movie reminds me of Crash. There are many stories this time about immigration that first run side by side, but finally come together at the end. Although Harrison Ford, Ashley Judd and Ray Liotta get star billing no one has a very large role. It is interesting and has you think about our immigration policies and what we do with people who are here illegally or have lapsed green cards. I enjoyed the movie.

Roberta

November 25

Happy Thanksgiving

I guess that everyone is busy or didn't know that "Well, Denham, the airplanes got him. Oh, no. It wasn't the airplanes. It was beauty killed the beast." came from King Kong. Someone did answer correctly, but said to let someone else have the honor.

See if you know where this one came from:

"The fact that you're not answering leads me to believe that a. You're not home. b. You're home but you don't want to talk to me or c. You're home,
desperately want to talk to me, but you're trapped under something heavy. If it's either a or c, give me a call."

On Netflix:

My Life In Ruins - This movie stars Nia Vardalos from My Big Fat Greek Wedding and many reviews said she was simply playing the same role this time in Greece. Although it is a lightweight movie, I enjoyed it. Having been to Greece, it was lovely to see the sights once again. Also having been a tour participant many times, it struck a funny chord seeing her manage a variety of different personalities. RichardDreyfuss plays one of the tourists and he is quite touching. The plot is predictable, but still I shed a tear and laughed out loud. So if you want to just enjoy a movie and not think about its hidden meaning, rent this one. Also the leading actor who I did not know, looked a lot like GillesMarini of DWTS last season.

A Must Read:

World Without End by Ken Follett - This is a sequel to his novel The Pillars of the Earth. I did not read that one and you don't have to read them in order. They take place in the same town, but 300 years later. The book of over 1000 pages is a page turner. Follett weaves the story of four children and their lives as they grow up during the 1300's. As adults they are brought together by ambition, love, greed andrevenge. You learn so much about this time in history as you read the novel. Follett is a wonderful storyteller and you won't be disappointed. Don't let its size deter you from reading this book.

DWTS Update

Well the finals were broadcast last night and Maya and Donny were the finalists. It did not surprise me that Donny was the winner. Although I thought Maya deserved it as she was the better dancer, Donny did an admirable job and has a bigger fan base. I hope with their next season they go back to a smaller cast of characters and focus more on dancing.

Roberta

November 21

Congratulations to Lucy Cannon who correctly identified "He says the sun came out last night. He says it sang to him." coming from Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

This one is easy, but every now and again I like to throw these in to give people like me a chance.
"Well, Denham, the airplanes got him. Oh, no. It wasn't the airplanes. It was beauty killed the beast."

On Netflix:

Revolutionary Road - This was a strong contender for a possible Academy Award and many were surprised when it wasn't even nominated. Kate Winslet and Leonardo di Capria give memorable performances as the Wheelers. They are a young idealistic couple living in the 50's and living the American Dream. Unfortunately that dream is not enough and the story goes from there. It is powerful and a bit surprising, but a highly charged film. I believe Winslet won the Academy Award for her performance in The Reader and this role combined.

On Netflix and HBO:

Bride Wars - As I was surfing the channels, I noticed that this film was being shown on HBO and decided to tape it and watch it at my leisure. I am glad I didn't pay to see it in the movie or waste a Netflix choice for it. That being said, it was a predictable movie starring two actresses who have done much better work. I like Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson so that was an asset and Candice Bergen played a similar role as the one in Miss Congeniality. As the trailers revealed, two best friends are booked accidentally to have their weddings at their dream venue, The Plaza, on the same day. When neither one of them refuses to change their date, the mayhem begins. Predictable and not really funny.

DWTS Update:

The finals are now upon us and I am disappointed that the three most talented couples are not in it. As I predicted, Joanna Krupa was eliminated, although I thought she would be in the finals. For some reason, the judges like Kelly Osbourne, but looking at her dancing she doesn't dance anywhere near to the level of the other three. Donny Osmond really bombed his tango last week, but came back strong. I feel Maya deserves to win, but with half of the votes belonging to the public, anything is possible. Stay tuned.

Enjoy the holidays and if you have time there are lots of good movies that have come out this week and probably for the four day weekend.

Roberta

November 15

I need to acknowledge three people who correctly identified the quote this week within just a few minutes of each other. "The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball" came from Field of Dreams starring Kevin Cosner. Congratulations to Kathy Luke who was first, Eric Sherman second and Martha Furniss third. This is the first time for both Kathy and Martha although Eric has been first west coaster before.

Try this one (I think it is hard, but what do I know!):

"He says the sun came out last night. He says it sang to him."

National Theater:

Jersey Boys - "Oh What A Night....." That is how to describe the night we had as we watched this show. Run don't walk to the theater to see this production. I could hardly contain myself during the performance as I sang each song quietly to myself. The actors are marvelous. They all had wonderful voices and if you closed your eyes you thought the original Four Seasons were singing. Whenever I see something like this, I realize how many talented people there are and it is simply the toss of the dice as to who gets the breaks. The show is not just their music, but how they got together, their lives then and now. If you live in a city where the road company stops, get tickets and if you live in NY or in DC get tickets today before it's too late.

Instant on Netflix

Seven Pounds - Someone spoiled the ending for me so I won't. There was lots of buzz about this film and people were surprised that Will Smith was not nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of the main character. It is a moving story and once you get into it is quite engaging. I warn you you won't be singing and dancing after viewing this film, but it gives you lots to think about.

Community Theater:

The Musical of Musicals The Musical! - Once again we ventured to our local community theater the Elden Street Players. They are known for putting on less known works and this one is no different. The premise of the show is that the same plot: girl can't pay the rent, sinister landlord demands the rent, boyfriend comes to the rescue is performed in the style of Rogers and Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, Jerry Herman, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Kander and Ebb. It is so clever! The only one I didn't care for is the Stephen Sondheim version since I don't care for his brand of music. This play recently was performed at the Signature Theater in DC and I can't imagine the cast was any better then these five actors.

DWTS Update:

Well we are down to the semi finals and the only surprise contestant left, in my opinion, is Kelly Osborne. I believe she will be eliminated this week leaving Donnie Osmond, Maya and the model whose name I always forget. That being said, if I forget her name so often, I think the two remaining stars will be Donnie and Maya. We shall see.

Today was such a beautiful day, I spent most of it outdoors, but the weather will be changing and with the holiday season just around the corner many great movies are in store!

Roberta

November 1

Yolanda was the first to correctly identify "Don't cry at the beginning of a date." "Cry at the end, like I do." coming from Jerry Maguire, and I thought this was a hard one!

Try this one:

"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball.

On Netflix:

The International - This film stars Clive Owens and Naomi Watts in a thriller that takes place all over Europe and New York. It keeps you interested, but the story is one you've seen time and again. There really are no twists to the plot and there is quite a bit of violence. Owens is saving the world from bad bankers. Unless you are into these types of movies and have to see them all, there are better movies and ways to spend your time (see below).

Community Theater:

"Curtains" - The Reston Players is staging "Curtains" the Tony award winning play through November 8. It is an extremely ambitious play for a community theater. The dance numbers were well choreographed and some of the actors had beautiful voices. That being said, I found the play tired and uninteresting. I guess I would say it was a good performance, but poor story. It is a play within a play where a wannabe actor/detective solves the murder while falling in love with the leading lady. Been there, done that. On Broadway it starred David Hyde Pierce of Fraiser. It is very long - running more than three hours.

Places to go of interest:

Westminister Hall and Burying Ground - If you have a few hours this is an interesting place to go to. It is right in the middle of Baltimore and it's most famous "resident" is Edgar Allan Poe. It is one of Baltimore's oldest cemeteries. In addition to Poe it contains many prominent political and military figures of Maryland's early history. Below the building are the catacombs which is quite unique. Our tour guide was full of lots of stories about Poe, Frank the grave robber and of course ghosts. It was fun to be there on a rainy day which added to the ambiance. For more information you can call: 410-706-2072.

Sometimes it is the movies that allows us to escape from the realities of life. I know many of you are trying to figure out why bad things happen to good people especially when a young person dies. This week many of us are mourning the loss of a colleague's child and a colleague to others. The movies are diversions that take us away from our grief for just a brief period of time.

Roberta

October 26

Last week Laurie Podell, a first time winner, was correct in identifying the quote ""That's some bad hat Harry!" coming from Jaws. In addition to Jaws the other movie was Superman Returns. Kudos to both Carol Frank and Paula Rubin for additionally identifying "House" as the TV program that has the quote at the end of each program as it is the name of the production company.

Try this one:

"Don't cry at the beginning of a date." "Cry at the end, like I do."

On Netflix:

The Secrets - After the Jewish Film Festival every year I put films on my Netflix list that I didn't get to see and looked interesting. This is one I missed. The film is in both Hebrew and French, so subtitles allow you to follow. It is the story of three women, Naomi a brilliant scholar, Michelle, a rebellious sort and a sickly FrenchwomanAnouk. All meet in the city of Safed . The girls are attending an all female seminary and they meet the Frenchwoman when they are assigned to bring her food. The story is actually two parts; part one involves the girls helping Anouk in unusual ways and the second part is the relationship between the two students. It was surprising and Sy , who didn't really want to watch the movie, was totally engaged. You don't have to be Jewish to enjoy this film. Highly recommended.

Smithsonian Lecture:

Irving Berlin - The last lecture of famous modern composers was this past week at the Smithsonian. As usual it was wonderful. Dr. Wyatt did a marvelous job depicting the life of Irving Berlin. It was difficult not to sing along to the many tunes he wrote, although the women in front of me had an issue with that! Dr. Wyatt is lecturing on Elivs Presley on March 30. I am so disappointed as it is the second night of Passover and I don't think my family would understand if I chose the lecture over the seder. That being said, if you like music, want to learn a bit more about a composer, performer go on to the Smithsonianwebsite and get tickets for any lecture this gentlemen gives; you won't be disappointed!!

Regional Theater: Theater J Washington DC

Lost in Yonkers - Running through the end of November this Neil Simon play is a compelling story of a family who are forced to live together. It is one of Simon's more serious plays which earned him the Pulitzer Prize. The story is thought provoking and will make you laugh as well as bring a tear to your eye. The actress playingBella is wonderful. Although I thought the two young cast members were quite good, my friend Bill who was also in attendance, and with a director's eye, thought the younger boy overacted a bit. I did think the father, who has a minor role, was miscast. He is supposed to be a New York Jew and sounded Irish to me. My friends thought the uncle looked more Italian than German Jew. As you can see we are all critics. That being said, it is well worth your time and money to go see this production. TheDupont Circle area where Theater J is located is a great place to walk around and there are great restaurants in the surrounding area. In addition, if you go on a Sunday afternoon and get there thirty minutes before the production and they still have tickets, you can get them for half price. You can call the box office in the morning to find out about ticket availability. Support the arts, see this production.

DWTS Update:

Fortunately I was not home for the result show as I probably would have thrown my shoe at the TV. I couldn't believe when I read online that Natalie the swimmer was eliminated. What are these people thinking!!! The football player and the snowboarder are poorer dancers than she. In fact, I had her pegged for the final five. I can't complain really as I don't vote, but this is nuts!!

This coming week we will be attending the Reston Community Players version of "Curtains." Look for my review next week. Also a new program called "White Collar" is on the USA network on Friday nights at 10. I have itDVRed and haven't watched it yet, but the previews looked promising. Will give you my take next week. In the meantime, enjoy the arts!

Roberta

October 20

Yolanda was the first to identify "I know you don't think I'm giving this four million dollars to a bunch of nuns!"
coming from Ghost starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoppi Goldberg. What a great date movie!

Recently at a dinner party, Sy asked some of the guests if they knew where the following quote came from. To his and our surprise, it was featured in not one, but two movies. See if you can guess at least one.

"That's some bad hat Harry!"

On Netflix:

He's Just Not That Into You - Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connelly, Scarlett Johansson, Kevin Connelly (from Entourage) Ben Affeck, Bradley Cooper, Justin Long, Gennifer Goodwin (third wife in Big Love) and Drew Barrymore star in this nice romantic comedy. It is about the challenges couples go through as they learn how to read human behavior. We especially enjoyed the story involvingGennifer Goodwin and Justin Long. They made an adorable couple. All the actors are easy on the eyes and it is a nice way to spend two hours.

On Netflix and Instant Viewing:

Lymetime - Another all star cast in this movie involving two families and their problems. It was interesting to see Long Island in the early 1970's. The story was a bit odd and the ending unusual. One of the characters getsLyme disease on a hunting trip hence the title. A major flaw in the film is that you never really care about any of the characters. In fact, I felt they all got what they deserved. The only reason I would recommend it is to ask others what they thought the ending meant. It starred Alex Baldwin who was also one of the producers. The cast included Timothy Hutton, JillHennessey, Cynthia Nixon and Kieran Culkin. Watch it online.

Spinning Into Butter - I must start off by saying I like Sarah Jessica Parker and I guess I put this on my Netflix list simply on the basis that she was in it. Once again I watched this on my computer and once again I am glad I didn't waste a mail delivery for it. This is a drama about racism and how it effects everyone in a small Vermont college campus when a black student receives threats. A black reporter played byMykelti Williamson and one of the administrators, Parker, try to get to the bottom of it. It does have an interesting, but predictable twist at the end. Watch it online if you have 89 minutes to share.

DWTS Update:

Although the rose has lost it's bloom on this show, I do still watch or more accurately DVR this show. As it has come to the midpoint of the run, finally many of the contestants who should go have, but two in particular need to pack their bags: Louie the snowboarder and the football player. We'll see what the public decides tonight. My top choices are still the same. Last night when the stars did the group dance of the hustle, I thought DonnyOsmond looked so much like Marie. That made me laugh!

The east is experiencing a cold fall, but good weather is on its way so enjoy the outdoors while you still can and continue to watch those movies.,

Roberta