December 26

Florrie actually corrected the quote to read "In case I forget to tell you later - I had a really good time tonight." which came from Pretty Woman. In addition to
Florrie, Yolanda, Jen, Betty and Lucy were correct in identifying this quote.

Try this:

"I swear to GOD, George, if you ever EXISTED I'd divorce you."

Linda Kamen writes:

"Just saw "True Grit" with my movie group. It was good. We all enjoyed it very much(12 of us).The acting was great and there were many scenes that we all laughed at. Although the story is basically the same as the movie with John Wayne, there were many changes as to how the characters acted. Jeff Bridges was very good and the young girl was perfect for the part. It was funny and well acted. I would recommend this movie as good fun,and light hearted."

Sy and I plan on seeing this film shortly. If the snows stay away, we'll go sooner than later. I'll give you my take next time.

In Theaters:

Burlesque - It is wonderful to see Cher in a movie again and she is wonderful. Her solo is terrific and I am sure it will be nominated for best song at the Academy Awards along with many of the other songs in this film. Christina Aguileia is marvelous. Her singing and dancing is superb. The story is predictable, but kept my attention. The supporting cast of Stanley Tucci, Alan Cummings, Kristen Bell, Cam Gigandet, Eric Dane and Julianne Hough (from DWTS) are all wonderful. For a feel good movie that will make you tap your feet, go see this film.

The Fighter - This is another wonderful film in local theaters this holiday season. It tells the true story of how Micky Ward captures the welter weight title with the help of his drug addicted half brother Dicky Eklund. Although Mark Wahlberg does an admirable job as Micky, Christian Bale steals the movie as Dicky. If the Academy Awards was fair, Bale would be nominated for best actor, but will probably be nominated for best supporting actor. Melissa Leo as their mother is a standout as well and over-shines Amy Adams who does a good job too. Even though it is a bit gory, it is worth the price of admission. Sy thinks it was better than three smiles, but I still give it

On Netflix:

Killers - This is the silliest movie I've seen in a long time. Although Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcner make a cute couple and it is fun to see Tom Sellick and Catherine O'Hara, their talents are wasted in this silly movie. There is a lot of shooting, car chasing and mass confusion, but all that cannot help this convoluted plot that doesn't make any sense. Don't bother with this film.



In the meantime, enjoy the movies and have a very Happy and Healthy New Year.

Roberta

December 21

Betty, Yolanda, Wendy and ,Lucy were correct in identifying "

Two characters are talking. If I give you their names, it will give you unfair advantage.

"I wish every day was Negro day."
"In my house it is."
coming from Hairspray.

Try this one: "In case I forget to tell you later - I had a good time tonight."

On Netflix:

Date Night - This delightful comedy starring Steve Carrell and Tina Fey is a lovely way to wile away a cold evening. Since most shows on TV this week are reruns, Sy and I watched this movie tonight. Both of these actors are accomplished comedians and they prove their worth in this comedy. Although the story is implausable, it is fun to watch the two of them go from silly situation to yet sillier ones, but it does put a smile on your face. It won't win any award or make anyone's top ten list of films of 2010,but it will allow you to escape from the stresses of the day.

On Netflix and Instantly:

Inheritance - Paula suggested this documentary to me. It is of Monika Hertwig and her journey to help her understand her background. Her father was Amon Goeth, a Nazi responsible for killing thousands of Jews. As a young girl she does not know her father's background, but through some circumstances, she finds out about his horrible past. To help her come to terms with the guilt of being this monster's daughter, she finds Helen Jonas-Rosezweig, her father's Jewish maid and slave during the war. She arranges a meeting with her which is quite emotional. It was interesting to note that Goeth was portrayed by Ralph Fiennes in Shindler's List and that Helen was one of the people on Shindler's list. It is a powerful documentary.

Hopefully I will get to the movies over this holiday weekend and there are many movies I'd like to see. To my friends celebrating Christmas, Merry Christmas.

Roberta

December 18

With having a job once again for a while and attending a class, my movie time has been cut down a bit, but I am home sick and have had the opportunity to catch up on some of the movies I have backlogged especially on my instant list.

Carol Frank, Florrie, Betty,and Lucy correctly identified "The best good-byes are short. Adieu." coming from the classic The Maltese Falcon.

David Heymsfeld gave me the following quote. See if you know where it came from.

Two characters are talking. If I give you their names, it will give you unfair advantage.

"I wish every day was Negro day."
"In my house it is."

On Netflix:

Why Did I Get Married Too - This is a sequel to Tyler Perry's movie of the same name without the too. It stars the same actors and is a good movie. Once again the couples reconvene for an annual retreat and hash out their problems which extend after they return home. It is a bit melodramatic and a little too long, but somehow I relate to them. Sy swears in a former life I was African American. It is a good way to wile away two hours especially when you aren't feeling well.

On Netflix and Instant:

The Boys: The Sherman Brothers Story - This documentary produced by the sons of Richard and Robert Sherman is an interesting look into this song writing team. As in most collaborators, these two did not get along outside their business relationship. One was outgoing and the other pensive, but they wrote some of the most wonderful music. Their crowning achievement was Mary Poppins. I don't think there is anyone on the planet who does not know at least one song from the score. During their many years working with Disney, they produced songs that are part of the Disney experience like the Tiki Tiki room and for the World's Fair and then incorporated into the Disney ride "It's a Small World After all." I know that song will live within me having spent many turns on the ride the first time we visited Disney World and Eric found this to be his favorite (sorry Eric!) I don't rate documentaries, but if you are interested in music and how collaboration works, see this film.

I Am Loved - This Italian movie with subtitles stars Tilda Swinton about a family and all their pent up emotions. It is VERY slow with lots of atmospheric drawn out scenes. In fact I could walk away from the TV and come back and miss none of the dialogue. The ending left me cold and the story a bit incoherent. Save yourself about two hours and don't watch it.

Joan Rivers; A Piece of Work - This documentary was overlooked by the Academy Awards for best documentary this year. Although I did not see most of the documentaries nominated, this should have been up there. Rivers is a woman who is clinging to this life on the show biz merry go round even at age 75. Most of you know her story; how she was blackballed by Johnny Carson after taking a job at FOX; her numerous plastic surgeries and her need to work. It is a sad story, but engrossing.

I know there are many good movies in the theaters right now and hopefully over the winter break, I'll get to see some of them too. In the meantime enjoy the holidays.

Roberta

December 3

Mark Bunney, Yolanda and Florrie correctly identified ""God made man.' "Man made slaves." coming from The Ten Commandments. (Can't believe that was first shown in 1956!)

Try this one:
"The best goodbyes are short. Adieu."

Sandy Esterson writes: "I just watched a very moving Chinese film on Netflix called Not One Less. I watched it on my computer..you might want to check it out."

In Theaters:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 - I have to come clean and tell you I am a huge Harry Potter fan. I've read all the books and seen all the movies. That being said, if you didn't read the book, you will be lost in this movie. It is difficult to follow and the actors mumble their words at times. On the other hand, if you have read the books, you won't be disappointed. It stays true to the book, moves at a rapid pace and holds your attention throughout the two and half hours. It is nice to see the three main characters, whose names escape me, grow into their parts and do a fine job with it. Lots of past characters are in this next to last chapter. The final film will be released in the summer. For Harry Potter fans, it is a must see. Those of you who have not read the book, stay home and wait for it to come out on DVD.


On Netflix:

The Last Station -This film explores the last year of Leo Tolstoy. It is a wonderful film starring Helen Mirren as his wife, Christopher Plummer as Tolstoy and Paul Giamatti as Vladimir Chertknv a Tolstoy devotee. Rounding out the cast is James McAvoy who plays the writer's assistant Valentin. In addition to learning a lot about Tolstoy and the movement he founded in his later years, you get a glimpse into his personal life, his wife and how Chertkov influenced him. Both Mirren and Plummer were nominated for Academy Awards which they both deserved. Although a bit slow at times, an excellent film to see.

A Classic Book:

East of Eden - Our book group just finished discussing this Steinbeck classic. I had never read it before and it is a page turner. The question was asked, "What makes a classic?" We decided that not only does it endure the test of time, but the themes therein are relevant to readers today. This novel meets both criteria. The modern day Cain and Abel story is set at the end of the 19th century beginning of the 20th century in California. Steinbeck's family plays a role in the novel. I won't give any more away, but even it you read it in High School or College, it is worth the time to read it again. If you haven't read it at all, by all means get a copy out of the local library and you won't be disappointed.

In the meantime enjoy some of the very good movies out now.

Roberta

November 27

Betty, Allison and Lucy correctly identified, "You get what you settled for." coming from Thelma and Louise.

Try this one: "God made men." "Men made slaves."

In Theaters:

Unstoppable - Since I spent Black Friday shopping with my family, Sy and the "guys" went to this movie. This is his guest review. (after reading it, I think I need to up my game!)

Based on a true story, Denzel Washington and Chris Pine are truly “Unstoppable” as they chase Locomotive 777 and 39 freight cars filled with explosive toxins at high speed across the state of Pennsylvania. It’s a frenetic, heart-pounding 90 minutes that holds your attention throughout. Chris Pine, alias Captain Kirk from the Star Trek prequel, is well cast as the young brash train engineer, feverishly working with the seasoned veteran, Washington, and the local train yard manager, the beautiful Rosario Dawson, as they pull out all the stops trying to avert one of the worst train disasters in American history.

On Netflix:

The Back Up Plan - Save your netflix choice and don't rent this DVD. The story has been done time and time again with just a little twist. Jennifer Lopez is artificially inseminated on the very day she meets the man of her dreams. Needless to say she becomes pregnant, like that usually happens on the first try, and at the same time tries to start a relationship with this guy. The story is dumb and the two leads don't have chemistry. Although I usually like light romantic comedies, this one did not fill the bill.

DWTS Update:

For those of you who have been following the show, the viewers finally got it right and crowned Jennifer Gray as the new champion. She was everything you want in a champion; elegant and can actually dance. Kyle Massey was an honorable runner up. I swore if Bristol Palin won, I would never watch the show again. Even though I never vote, it is not a political contest, but dance one. They will be back in the Spring I believe. I won't be watching "Skating With The Stars." I do have some taste!

We will be seeing the new Harry Potter tomorrow, so look for my review. There are a number of movies I am interested in seeing as this is the movie season. So enjoy the movies.

Roberta

November 14

Florrie, Yolanda, Carol Frank and Allsion were correct in identifying "They asked me if I'd seen any strangers in the neighborhood." coming from Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Try this one:

"You get what you settle for."

On Netflix:

The Secret in their Eyes - This foreign film is an engrossing story about a retired criminal investigator in Argentina who is writing a novel about a case that has haunted him throughout the years into his retirement. There are twists and turns and the action goes back and forth from present day to the past, but it holds your interest throughout. It won an Academy Award for best foreign picture in 2010. Since there are subtitles, you need to watch this when you are alert as the subtitles go fast at times.

At Theater J in Washington DC:

"The Odd Couple" - Sy is a huge Neil Simon fan so when I saw this on Goldstar, I ordered tickets. As an aside, if you haven't used Goldstar yet and see tickets for productions you are interested in, use them. I have never been disappointed. Anyhow, "The Odd Couple" is one of Sy's favorites. In fact, throughout the production, he was saying the lines with the actors. The play is wonderful and the storyline is timeless. They performed the original script which seemed a bit dated with references and costs of items (where can you get a brisket for $9.00) Anyhow, the actors are very good. It is difficult to do a play where the original cast is the ones you relate to. Who doesn't think of Tony Randall when they think of Felix or Walter Mathau when you think of Oscar, but the actors were all quite accomplished and did a very good job. For a fun evening or afternoon, get tickets to this show.

Next week Sarah Kamen makes her debut in her school's Fall production of skits. You can bet I will be there to see how she does!

Roberta

November 6

Carol Frank, Betty and Yolanda correctly identified "Twelve dwarves took turns doing handstands on the carpet." coming from Bugsy.

Try this one:

"They asked me if I had seen any strangers in the neighborhood."

Betty Jenkins commented on the Hair production currently playing at Kennedy Center in Washington DC: "I saw Hair again this afternoon. If you enjoyed it in 1968, you'll love the energy of this new production." "Goldstar has reduced price tickets for some performances, too. "

On Netflix:

Death at a Funeral - Sy and I both were not sure if we had seen this film or not, but we enjoyed it just the same. I have a soft spot for black comedies and I don't mean dark ones; ones that have a majority of African American actors. Perhaps in my former life, I was African American, but that's another story. This is a silly film starring some of my favorite comedians; Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence and Tracy Morgan. It felt like a poor man's English farce. Someone dies, someone is given potent drugs and acts crazy and a secret is revealed. Great movie - by no means, but a fun way to wile away 90 minutes - yes.

On Netflix and Instantly:

Babies - This documentary follows the first year of four babies in San Francisco, Tokyo, Mongolia and Somalia. It is delightful especially if you have recently had a baby or in our case a grandchild. It is amazing to see how the four develop with and without the "things" we think you must have. I was particularly interested in how the children were surrounded by animals of all kinds and how the animals intuitively knew how to react. For a feel good film, see this film.

Holy Rolers - This 2010 film stars Jesse Eisenberg, from Social Network fame, as Hasidic Jew Sam Gold who gets mixed up in an international ecstasy ring. Although you may be saying this is far fetched, it is based on a true story. Being from New York and Jewish, I found the film fascinating and engrossing. Since it is instantly on Netflix, you might want to sample it. It is only 88 minutes so you don't have to invest a great deal of time watching it. Watching Eisenberg in this film shows me that he has a lack of depth in his acting. He looked and acted very much like his character in The Social Network in this film as well.

DWTS Update:

This is usually the time of the competition where I swear I will never watch the program again. Although Rick Fox is no dancer, he certainly can dance better than Bristol Palin. Not that I want to offend anyone, but I thought it would have been sweet justice if she had been booted out on election day, but not so. Her days are numbered as is Curt Warner, but what do I know? I really shouldn't complain as I never vote on DWTS, but I did vote on Election Day.

Tomorrow we are off to see "The Odd Couple" at Theater J in DC. Look for my posting next time for my review.

Roberta

October 30 revised

It has been a while since I posted. As some of you know I was in California and to my surprise Virgin America does not have free movies. In fact they charge $7 or $8 for a movie I could get on Netflix or HBO so I spent the flight going out watching four episodes of "Law and Order SVU" and coming back my set didn't work properly so I just read my magazines therefore there were no movies for me to review.

Carol Frank, Florrie and Lucy correctly identified "When a man says "no" to Champagne, he says "no" to life coming from The Deer Hunter."

Try this one (I think it is very hard!):

"Twenty dwarves took turns doing handstands on the carpet."

In Theaters:

Hereafter - As many of you know, Sy is very interested in psychics and I knew we would be seeing this film when it came out. It is directed by Clint Eastwood so I was game to go. Matt Damon stars as a psychic who has given up the trade. Of course, situations arise that change that. There are two additional stories that come together at the end with the Damon character. The set up is way too long. Eastwood needs a much better editor! The story is engrossing, but lagged. All the actors are good. A few of the major players were unknowns to me. Interesting, yes - must see, no.

Community Theater:

Reston Players' Production of "Wonderful Town" - This is the musical version of "My Sister Eileen." Although the story is quite dated, the actors are marvelous especially the lead female. I would like to remind you to not overlook the talent in your backyard.

DWTS Update:

I cant believe Bristol Palin is still on and they booted off Audrina. I need to remember it is first and foremost a popularity contest. Apparently all the conservatives are working overtime with their voting. I do have to admit Palin has improved over the weeks. The two athletes are so stiff; they need to go. The final three should be: Brandi, Corey and Jennifer. We will just have to wait and see.

In the meantime, enjoy the movies.

Roberta

October 30

It has been a while since I posted. As some of you know I was in California and to my surprise Virgin America does not have free movies. In fact they charge $7 or $8 for a movie I could get on Netflix or HBO so I spent the flight going out watching four episodes of "Law and Order SVU" and coming back my set didn't work properly so I just read my magazines therefore there were no movies for me to review.

Carol Frank, Florrie and Lucy correctly identified "When a man says "no" to Champagne, he says "no" to life coming from The Deer Hunter."

Try this one (I think it is very hard!):

"Twenty dwarves took turns doing handstands on the carpet."

In Theaters:

Hereafter - As many of you know, Sy is very interested in psychics and I knew we would be seeing this film when it came out. It is directed by Clint Eastwood so I was game to go. Matt Damon stars as a psychic who has given up the trade. Of course, situations arise that change that. There are two additional stories that come together at the end with the Damon character. The set up is way too long. Eastwood needs a much better editor! The story is engrossing, but lagged. All the actors are good. A few of the major players were unknowns to me. Interesting, yes - must see, no.

Community Theater:

Reston Players' Production of "Wonderful Town" - This is the musical version of "My Sister Eileen." Although the story is quite dated, the actors are marvelous especially the lead female. I would like to remind you to not overlook the talent in your backyard.

DWTS Update:

I cant believe Bristol Palin is still on and they booted off Audrina. I need to remember it is first and foremost a popularity contest. Apparently all the conservatives are working overtime with their voting. I do have to admit Palin has improved over the weeks. The two athletes are so stiff; they need to go. The final three should be: Brandi, Corey and Jennifer. We will just have to wait and see.

In the meantime, enjoy the movies.

Roberta

October 11

Carol Frank, Betty, Yolanda, and Wendy correctly identified "Might as well call it white jack!" coming from Ocean's Eleven.

Try this one:

"When a man say"no" to Champagne, he say "no" to his life."

In Movie Theaters:

Secretariat - This is this year's Seabiscuit. It is heartwarming, exciting and a feel good movie. You know how the story ends, but how it all began was news to me. Diane Lane does a fine job as Penny Tweedy Chenery and John Malkovich is wonderful as the trainer. The buzz is that he will be nominated for an Academy Award for best supporting actor. I really enjoyed Margo Martindale playing Miss Ham, the secretary. Do yourself a favor and see this film.

On TCM and Netflix:

The Man Who Knew Too Much - This 1956 Alfred Hitchcock thriller starring Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day was our third movie in our Doris Day retrospect. I watched it this weekend to review it before showing it to the class. Although it is a bit dated, it does hold up. The story is good and Stewart and Day make a good pair. This is the movie where Day sings "Que Sera, Sera" in its entirety. It is interesting to see how far technology has come in making movies. As the actors are driving through French Morocco,
it is obvious that they have been planted in front of a moving picture of the country. Although the film had some upsetting themes of assignation and kidnapping, it was done in the gentlest way. At the class, we had a discussion about how women were portrayed in not only this film, but the previous one Please Don't Eat the Daisies. It is worth a rental.

Interesting Read:

Tulipomania by Mike Dash - Although this is not a page turner, it is an interesting read. It tells of the history of the tulip and the eventual mania it caused in the Northern Province in the early 1600's. History does repeat itself as you can make many comparisons to the stock market's rise and fall in the 1920's to this tulip mania.

Sy and I have seen the three big movies these last three weeks and if we had to prioritize which we liked best this is it: Go to The Social Network first and depending upon your mood and audience see either Wall Street or Secretariat. You can't go wrong with any of the three. I am happy to be able to say this as the movies have had a dry spell for adult entertainment for some time and it is so nice to have choices.

Roberta

October 4

Carol Frank, Betty and Florrie identified "Don't kid yourself Francessca. You are anything but a simple woman." coming from Bridges of Madison County.

Try this one:

"Might as well call it white jack!"

At Your Local Theater:

The Social Network - As most of you know, this is the story of the founders of Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg, Eduardo Saverin and Sean Parker. The film flashes back and forth from how the idea and company was formed to the present day legal battles. Aaron Sorkin of "The West Wing" wrote the screenplay and even at two hours, it is very engrossing. Since so many people are on Facebook, it is sure to capture the attention of many. Jesse Eisenberg plays Zuckerberg and is wonderful as is Justin Timberlake as Sean Parker who also was the founder of Napster. For those of you who live in Northern Virginia you might be interested to know that Sean Parker graduated from Oakton High School, my son's alma mater. This film is going to win lots of awards come Academy Award time.


On Netflix:

When In Rome - The best thing I can say about this film is that it was only 91 minutes long. It was dreadful. The story was ridiculous even for a light romantic comedy. The two stars, Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel although nice looking people did not have any chemistry. Danny Devito has a small role in this film. One wonders if he needs money to have made such a poor choice in roles. Do yourself a favor and don't see this movie.

On Second Thought:

Please Don't Eat The Daisies - As I mentioned in my review of this film, I was going to show it to a group of people and then discuss it. It surprised me that after watching it a second time, I actually enjoyed it much better. It will never win any awards, but it was a nice way to spend two hours. The moral of the story - sometimes films deserve a second viewing.

With Wall Street, The Social Network, The Town and some good ones not even out yet, there are a bumper crop of films to see so enjoy the movies!!!

Roberta

September 29

Carol Frank, Betty and Florrie correctly identified "No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world." coming from Dead Poet's Society.

Try this one;

""Don't kid yourself Francesca. You are anything but a simple woman."

In Theaters:

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps - This is a sequel to the original Wall Street movie starring Michael Douglas once again. He is made for the role of Gordon Gekko. This story takes place eight years later with its main theme being revenge. I won't give the story away, but it was quite engrossing. At times it was a bit technical about stocks, buying on margin and leverage, but the story of the father, daughter, future son in law and how they enact their revenge is quite interesting. It does combine the news of the day; the downfall of Bear Sterns/Lehman Brothers into the plot. Josh Brolin plays a bad guy which he does well. I am not a fan of Shia LaBeouf and felt he was miscast. Susan Sarandon has a brief role as does Eli Wallach. The movie is long; just over two hours and I did look at my watch once. If you saw the first film, like Michael Douglas (who is looking more and more like his father as he ages) and are interested in the world of trading, this film is for you.

The Closet (Le Placard) - This was my final foreign film for the course I took from OLLI. It is a delightful French film about how a mild mannered man saves his job by pretending to be something he is not. It is set in contemporary Paris and shows typical French life at the workplace. The stars are not familiar to the American audience except for Gerard Depardieu in an unusual role. It does have subtitles, but it is worth putting on your cue.

DWTS Update:

I sometimes wonder why successful people go on this show. Do they really need the money? Michael Bolton embarrassed himself with his jive on Monday night and although Bruno was a bit harsh, he did deserve to go. In my opinion, in the next two weeks, The Situation and Margaret Cho will be dancing their swan song. Turn in next Monday and decide for yourself.

Might be of Interest:

I know I told you about the website groupon with its daily coupons. Here is another; it's a website called www.livingsocial.com. I am registered with them as well as groupon and another called specialicious whose email I do not know, but you could google it to find out. They all work the same way. They send you coupons each day for a variety of services from restaurants to hair salons to entertainment. Check it out for yourself.

There are so many good movies coming out in the next two weeks, I am sure I will be seeing another this weekend.

Roberta