August 28

Note: Last week instead of pressing "Save Draft", I pressed "Send" so you all received just an email with the people who correctly identified the quote. Sorry!

Once again, Sandy Esterson, Florrie and Betty all correctly identified "The only arithmetic he ever got was hearing the referee count to ten." coming from On the Waterfront.

Try this one:

"He's more machine now than man; twisted and evil."

On Netflix:

The Ghost Writer - This film directed by Roman Polanski and starring Ewan McGregor is very good for seven eighths of the movie. It is suspenseful, well acted and intelligent. The last few minutes, once the mystery is solved, is very unsatisfying and the last scene confusing and unnecessary. The actors are quite good especially Olivia Williams who reminds me of Annette Benning. It was nice to see Kim Cattrall in a film where she isn't playing a sex crazed female, but her English accent didn't quite ring true. Not a bad movie, but could have been so much better!

In Theaters:

Eat Pray Love - I have to start out by saying I didn't particularly like the book. Although Julia Roberts does a fine job, she is miscast as Liz who is supposed to be in her thirties. Javiar Bardan is also miscast as he plays Liz's love who is much older. In fact, Julia Roberta is 43 and Javiar Bardan is 41. (Thanks Carol Frank for the information.) Directors can take liberties and if this was an outstanding movie you could overlook this and if you didn't read the book, you wouldn't know. That being said, the movie is VERY long - over two hours and a bit slow. The best thing about the movie is the scenery - Italy, India and Bali should be giving this director and producer part of their tourism budget. The places look fantastic.

Get Low - This indie movie starring Robert Duvall had many of my friends telling me I had to see it; so I did. Let me say that Robert Duvall, an actor who I have always felt did not get the recognition he deserves, is wonderful in this move that he not only stars in, but produces. Bill Murray and Sissy Spacek co-star as the funeral director and an old flame. They both are very good, with Murray adding a bit of humor. This is the true story of Felix Bush a backwoodsman in the 1930's who wants to stage his own funeral so he can attend it. The story is a bit slow, but engrossing. Duvall will probably be nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of Bush. It didn't knock my socks off as it did of my friends, but I found it to be a very tender movie.

This coming week I have the "girls" and we will be seeing an older movie at the University Theater in Fairfax (only $2.00 on Tuesdays) The Karate Kid. I know some of you really enjoyed it so look for my take in the next review.

Roberta

August 20, 2010

Florrie and Yolanda correctly identified "When you have a defining moment, you either define the moment or the moment defines you." coming from one of Sy's favorite movies, Tin Cup. The both of them also mentioned that this was a Walt Whitman quote. Good Going Ladies!

Try this one; it's an oldie but goodie:

"The only arithmetic he ever got was hearing the referee count to ten."


This week we went for two films that could typically be categorized as one for the testosterone set and the other a chick flick.

On Netflix:

From Paris With Love - Save your time and a Netflix choice and don't put this film on your list. John Travolta, looking like the character he played in Pelham 1,2,3, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers team together as an uncouth American operative and a low level intelligence agent to destroy a terrorist plot. The plot is thin, there is a ridiculous amount of violence and the only good thing I can say it was only 93 minutes. This teaming did have some nice give and take, but I'd like them to have a better storyline to act in so they wouldn't have to depend on violence to capture an audience.

Leap Year - And now for the Chick Flick - Although it certainly won't win any awards, this was a pleasant way for females, I know I am being stereotypical, to spend 97 minutes. Amy Adams, who is so adorable, plays a woman who is waiting patiently to be asked to be married by her long time doctor boyfriend. When he goes to Ireland for a medical convention, she decided to surprise him and ask him to marry her since there is an Irish custom that women can ask men to marry them on Leap Day. Her plane has to land in Wales due to weather and she has a hard time getting to Ireland, but meets up with the local bartender, hotel owner, taxi driver who helps her get to Ireland. I don't have to tell you the rest, but Matthew Goode is easy on the eyes. Better than the previous film, but not for everyone.

Wonderful Read:

The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff - This novel is actually two stories in one that combines historical fiction with a modern murder mystery. The first story is of Ann Eliza Young who was Brigham Young's 19th wife. She leaves him and becomes a champion against polygamy, but before that the story the family's polygamous history is told.

Sprinkled in between this story is the story of a murder involving a polygamist family in present day Utah in which Jordan Scott a young man who was thrown out of his fundamentalist sect years earlier and has to reenter this world to discover the truth behind his father's death. It is a great window into this religion that is portrayed today on HBO's "Big Love". Although in the acknowledgments Ebershoff does admit to taking some liberties in filling in facts he could verify, it is a good look into the religion and its practices. I enjoyed the historical fiction more than the mystery. Read it and decide for yourself.

This week I am going to see Eat, Pray, Love with my friends from Great Falls ES. I didn't particularly like the book, and wasn't anxious to see the film, but seeing friends tipped the balance for me. I know many of you have seen it so it will be fun to compare notes. There are a number of movies of interest coming out, so take time, cool off and enjoy a movie.

Roberta

August 8

Carol Frank, Estelle, Martha Furniss, Lisa, Paula, Bill and Yolanda correctly identified "I wish we could chat longer, but I am having a an old friend for dinner. Bye." coming from Silence of the Lambs

This quote is courtesy of Sy:

"When you have a defining moment, you either define the moment or the moment defines you."

Extraordinary Measures - This film, based on true events, is a heart tugging movie. Brendan Fraser and Keri Russell star as the parents of two children with Pompe disease and Harrison Ford as the unorthodox scientist/doctor they put their hope and faith in. I have been a Harrison Ford fan forever and I still enjoy him although his role in this film was very stereotypical. I knew the story ended well so I wasn't upset as I watched it. It does show what persistence can do, but at the same time can give other parents false hope. For a feel good movie, put this one on your list.

Valentine's Day - This large ensemble cast tells the intertwining story of people on Valentine's Day. Although it got mixed reviews by the critics, it is a feel good movie that is lighthearted and turns out exactly as you want and can figure out if you have seen any romantic comedy. The main story revolves around Ashton Kutcher who is a florist and his love life, friends and clients. The cast includes Kutcher, Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Garner, Jennifer Biel, Patrick Demsey, Jamie Farr and a host of others. Julia Roberts makes a very brief appearance, but it is touching. For a nice movie, rent this one.

At the Herndon Industrial Theater:

Rent - The Elden Street Players have embarked on a very ambitious play and I was a little skeptical about how they were going to execute it. My fears were unfounded with the first chord played and the song sung. This is a local theater group that could go toe to toe with actors who are equity members. The voices of all the actors from leads to ensemble were first rate. The creative set was a wonder in itself and the story, although a bit dated, is one of love and hope. If you live in the Northern Virginia area, do yourself a favor and get tickets. I know many of the shows are sold out already due in part to the great reviews the play has received, but try, you won't be sorry.

David Heymseld sent this to me and he thought as I do that many of you would like it. It comes from the movie, A Day in Hollywood. Enjoy:

"I Love a Film Cliche"

Every time they open the door,
As I stand in the lobby.
Little lovely snatches of soundtrack come floating through the air.

Those time honored cinema phrases,
entertain me all day long

End of verse,
Beginning of song


I love a film cliche,
Because a film cliche
Is the best entertainment I know

A nice familiar phrase like

"Hey, why don't we put on a show"

My kind of dialogue

"Please don't shoot my dog, Lassie couldn't have eaten those sheep"

Then there's that deathless line

"We mustn't Charles. I'd only feel cheap"

I love the faithless wife takes her lover's life. But she's

"glad, glad, glad"

I love a line like

"Gee, why can't I make you see I got music inside of me,Pa"

Or when the witness says

" The killer's name Inspector is ...arghh"

Or how about

"Oh please-a Judge. My Tony,he's a good-a boy"


"I can't believe it. Why these creatures have been extinct for millions of years"


"Well Tex. Looks like those Apaches got us outnumbered. Wait a minute.Do you hear a bugle"


"I'm no good for ya Steve. It took alot of guys to get me the name ,Frisco Kate"


"Oh please. Blackmail is such an ugly word"


"Kiss. Me only simple jungle princess. What mean this word kiss"


"It's no use Johnny. I'm done for.You save yourself"


"Nice little place ya got here Mendoza. Too bad if something was to happen to it"


"Say, Hank. I think Rin-Tin-Tin is trying to tell you something."


"Why look.I can walk"


Then there's the Western cuss who says

"No trial for us. We're all for stringing him up right away"


And let us not forget

"You've got til noon to leave Santa Fe"

Yipeh yi ya.
I never tire of a
How I love a film cliche

"But why am I telling you all this. And you a perfect stranger"

Love a movie cliche.

Roberta

August 2, 2010

Eric, Yolanda, and Florrie identified "Whatever life holds in store for me, I will never forget these words: "with great power comes great responsibility" coming from Spiderman.

Try this one:

"I wish we could chat longer, but I am having a an old friend for dinner. Bye."

On Netflix:

The Lovely Bones - I admit I did not read this very popular novel so only knew the story from others. Sy and I found it much too long and way too esoteric for our taste. Those of you who know Sy's leaning about the hereafter know that if he thought it was too out there is was! I will acknowledge that it could have been much gorier and the "hard" scenes were tastefully done. Since I knew about the girl's fate, I found the beginning almost too tense to watch as I put every little girl in her place. The actors did a fine job and I think Stanley Tucci, who was nominated for best supporting actor, played his difficult part with great finesse. I remember either seeing or reading that he had a difficult time accepting the role and his wife convinced him to do it. So....read the book, but don't waste over two hours watching this film.

Instantly or on Netflix:

Strangers - This Israeli film was shown at the Israeli Film Festival at the JCC last year. It tells the story of a Palestinian female and Israeli male who meet accidentally on a train while in Germany for the World Cup. It follows their intense six day relationship and the problems that go along with their differences. Although it was good, it was not fully developed especially the ending.

Outsourced - One of the member in OLLI suggested I see this film. A new comedy airing this fall on NBC is also based on it. The premise is that a US call center is being outsourced to India and the present call center manger is sent there to train his replacement as well as the workers. There is much humor that could have been culled from this premise, but the film doesn't quite deliver. The main star, Josh Hamilton, is pleasant enough and there is a nice relationship that develops between him and his replacement as well as a slight romantic story, but it never reached the potential it could have. In fact the ending of this film is unsatisfying as was my previously viewed film. The previews for the Fall program looks quite funny, politically incorrect, but funny. You might want to see this film before the TV program starts. It too was instantly on Netflix.

From the above ratings you can see that I was not impressed with the films I viewed this week, but I did see a very good TV program on the cable station AMC. It is called "Rubicon" and reminds me of the tight storyline of "Damages." The story takes place in an intelligence agency where an analyst (James Badge Dale) finds himself trying to figure out some strange coincidences. The first two episodes were Sunday and I am sure they will repeat them many times this week. The series is on Sunday at 9:00, but check your local listing to be sure.

Enjoy,

Roberta