December 24

arol Frank, Yolanda, Betty, Kathy Luke, Florrie and Martha Hutchinson correctly identified "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, please give me a call." coming from When Harry Met Sally.

Try this:

"...Greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms-greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge-has marked the upward surge of mankind."



On Netflix:

Incendies - This film was nominated for best foreign film in 2010. It is an intriguing story of twins who are directed by their mother's will, to deliver letters to their father, who they thought was dead, and a brother who they never knew. Much of the film takes place during the Lebanese civil war in the 1970's. The story takes many twists and turns and flashes back and forth from present day to the past. It can be confusing at times. The daughter and mother look a lot alike so you need to be patient until you get to know who is who. A story that grows on you; worth the time.

On Netflix and HBO:

The Adjustment Bureau - Normally this is not my type of movie; a sci-fi thriller with a love story thrown in for good measure is not for me, but Matt Damon and Emily Blunt are such a convincing couple, it was worth the time spent watching. The story is improbable, but the message that love conquers all and can change your fate, is eternal. If you want to escape from reality, it is a fine film to see.

Las Vegas: As many of you know, Sy and I took a short trip to Las Vegas the week of December 19 and had a lot of fun. Just in case any of you are planning a trip there, here are some hints:

Shows: We saw three shows while we were there:
The Magic of Rick Thomas - Before you say how lame, think about seeing a tiger disappear. No matter how many of these shows we go to, we are always amazed. There are a number of magic shows on the strip and downtown. This one is at the Tropicana Hotel and is mid-priced at about $40
The Improv - Whenever we go to Vegas we go to Harrah's Improv Comedy Club. Three comedians usually are on the bill. This time we saw Lachlan Patterson, the headliner, Steve Mittleman and Dava Krouse the emcee. They were all funny with Patterson the funniest. This show was $37, but we laughed the entire hour.
Lastly we were able to get tickets to The Lion King at the Mandalay Bay Hotel. This is a full Broadway scale production. The theater holds about 1000 and all the seats were filled. In fact, Sy and I could not get seats together, but we loved the production, music and dancing. A must especially if you have little ones. We sat pretty far up as I got the tickets the day before for $75 a piece.
I did want to go to see O, but it was sold out. I hate to buy tickets in advance. If something happens and you don't make the trip, you are out of luck. There is a concession called Tickets4Tonite that sells tickets for shows at a discount, but they don't have all the shows. We did get the magic show from them, but I think we could have done better by ourselves.

Food and Exercise:Vegas is a great walking city so even though we overate at many restaurants and buffets, we walked a lot of it off. We stay at Harrah's which is right in the middle of the strip. We averaged at least four miles a day of walking, but with stops in casinos along the way. Note about buffets - if you get there right before they change to their next meal, you pay that price, but reap the benefits and selections of the next meal. A waiter at the Golden Nugget told us this when we were heading in for a late lunch. There are many fine dining restaurants in the hotels along the strip. So whatever your taste, you'll find something to fit you.

Casinos: I did find my $5 blackjack tables in some of the big hotels. I especially liked the casinos at Monte Carlo, Excalibur, Tropicana and Harrahs on the strip and Four Queens downtown. $5 can change to $10, but with some warning and can be $5 one day and $10 the next (that happened at Tropicana) If you play the cheaper tables, the dealers and participants are usually friendlier as not as much money is being bet. You won't break the bank, but you won't lose your shirt either. This time we came out ahead by winning a little more than $200.

Hotels: Every time we go to Vegas the skyline changes with bigger and more elaborate hotels. As I said before, we tend to stay at Harrah's because of its location. The price this time was also unbeatable. I got the hotel for $27 a night. It is older, but still nice, clean and for the most part quiet. There are some new hotels like Aria, Cosmopolitan and Encore which are quite lovely. There is also a very upscale shopping center in front of Aria called City Center for those of you who like to shop.

As you can see, there is something for everyone. The one group I would keep away from Vegas are children. It blows my mind every time we go to see kids walking with parents along the strip. Although there are things for them to do, the atmosphere is not what I think appropriate for children; gambling, drinking and sex!

I hope everyone is enjoying their holidays. Happy New Year.

Roberta

December 12

Yolanda, Carol Frank, Betty, and Florrie correctly identified "God, she's beautiful. She's got the prettiest eyes. She looks so sexy in that sweater. I just want to be alone with her and hold her and kiss her, tell her how much I love her, take care of her. Stop it you idiot, she's your wife's sister." coming from Hannah and Her Sisters.

Try this:

"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 take to me, or C) You're home, desperately want to talke to me, but you're trapped under something heavy. If it's either a or c, please give me a call."

At Theaters:

J. Edgar - Although the critics gave this film a less than stellar rating, I enjoyed it very much. Leonardo DiCaprio did a fine job playing the lead character. The supporting actors were very good as well. The make up job on DeCaprio was outstanding, but for his right hand man, it was not very good unless this gentleman really did age so poorly. I learned a great deal, although I probably should check the facts with another source. The one complaint I had was the film jumped back and forth from his early years to the years just before he died. All in all, a good film.

Guest Reviewers - Sy, Amanda and Sarah

Jack and Jill - Since I had to go out and the girls were staying with us, the decision was made to go to the movies. Amanda wanted to see The Muppet Movie, Sarah wanted to see New Year's Eve and Sy didn't care. Since we didn't want Sarah to be alone and Amanda didn't want to see her movie they settled for Jack and Jill. They were the only people in the theater and during the film Sy texted Sarah with the message: "This is the worse film I have every seen." The girls agreed with him. Although they said it was funny at times, they said it was stupid - this coming from a ten and thirteen year old, One wonders why Al Pacino took the role he did! Save your money, your Netflix pick and your time if it ever appears on TV! Don't see it. (would have given no smiles, but Amanda said it was somewhat funny.)


On Netflix:

The Next Three Days - This film starring Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks, although improbable, was quite engaging. Banks is arrested for a murder and Crowe, as her husband, plans a daring escape. The trial is not developed at all. The majority of the film deals with Crowe's plan. Sy thought it stole a lot from The Fugitive, but it kept our interest and kept up at the edge of our seats until the end.

Good Place to Visit:

National Gallery of Art:

For a lovely afternoon, take a ride into DC and visit the National Gallery of Art. Presently they have an Andy Warhol exhibit featuring his headline artwork. My friends and I latched on to a tour that we thought was for the general public. Little did we know that the women had bid on this private tour given my the museum's curator who actually put this show together. Further coincidence was the group was from Great Falls Elementary where I had taught. What a wonderful coincidence! We learned so much on the tour. This exhibit last until the beginning of January. Next we headed to West Wing to see a painting of Samuel Morse entitled "Gallery of the Louvre." Who knew he was a painter before he became inventor of the Morse Code. A very interesting piece. This exhibit is here until July 8. Lastly, we went back to the East Wing to see an exhibit by Mel Bochner. This artist uses synonyms for his paintings. It is something we ask all our students to do when we ask them to elaborate on their writing. For example his Unnameable is a list of words in a vivid colors. The title word is followed by nameless and anonymous and so on. I was fascinated with it. If you go, you won't be disappointed. This exhibit lasts until April 8.

On another note:

Once again I would like to apologize for the email sent out today. AOL said I probably opened something I should not have and the hackers were able to get into my address book. I certainly learned my lesson!

For those of you who will be celebrating Chanukah next week - Happy Chanukah; for those of you celebrating Christmas - Merry Christmas and for those of you who just aren't celebrating - Happy New Year. We will be Las Vegas next week, but hope to see some shows while we are there. Look for my reviews then.

Roberta

December 1

Mark, David, Pat,Gil, Sara, Carol Frank, Paula, Alison, Caroline, Estelle, Florrie, Betty and Lucy were correct in identifying "You know what you look like to me, with your good bag and your cheap shoes? You look like a rube. A well-scrubbed, hustling rube with a little taste...Good nutrition has given you some length of bone, but you're not more than one generation from poor white trash, are you, Officer Starling?" coming from Silence of the Lamb.

Try this one:

"God, she's beautiful. She's got the prettiest eyes. She looks so sexy in that sweater. I just want to be alone with her and hold her and kiss her, tell her how much I love her, take care of her. Stop it you idiot, she's your wife's sister."

In Theaters:

The Descendents - Let me first say that I can watch George Clooney read the telephone book, but I found this film a bit slow. It is VERY depressing. Without giving the story away, if you have problems with seeing movies about death and dying, this is not for you. There are two side stories regarding his wife and extended family and the land they own in Hawaii. The star of this movie, in my opinion, is Hawaii. Having spent some time there, it was lovely to see the scenery and remember places we visited. The young actors playing his daughters and jerky friend are well cast and give solid performances. Is it well acted? yes. Were the characters likable? yes. Is it a downer? yes. Will you like it? perhaps. See it for yourself and decide.


On Netflix:

Win, Win- This heartwarming story stars Paul Giamatti as an attorney and wrestling coach. His practice is in trouble and he takes on the guardianship of an old man, whose grandson appears out of nowhere. The relationships bloom and a lovely story unfolds. I like how Giamatti never type casts himself. We just saw him in Ides of March and who can forget him as John Adams. Once again he shines in this role. The supporting cast is solid including: Jeffrey Tambor, Amy Ryan, Burt Young and Alex Shaffer. Bobby Cannavale is a hoot as Giamatti's best friend. For a feel good movie, see this one.

When we went to the theater this week, the previews for the holidays looked promising. So take some time to see some of the new films out there.

Roberta

November 22

Jen Kenney, Betty, Sara, Alison, Carol Frank, David, Jeff and Estelle were correct in identifying "I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under a blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said, "Thank you." and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post.". coming from A Few Good Men.

Try this one:

"You know what you look like to me, with your good bag and your cheap shoes? You look like a rube. A well-scrubbed, hustling rube with a little taste...Good nutrition has given you some length of bone, but you're not more than one generation from poor white trash, are you, Officer Starling?"

On Netflix and HBO:

Love and Other Drugs - This film starring Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal is a poignant story about a woman living with Parkinson's and a playboy pharmacy rep who finally finds his match in her. It is based on the book Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman by Jamie Reidy. There is much nudity and sex in the film, so it is not for your children, but it is a good story. The chemistry between the two is good and believable. This is a reunion of Hathaway and Gyllenhaal as they co-starred in Brokeback Mountain. The side story of Gyllenhaal's brother is lame and unnecessary, but as a film it held my interest and is worth seeing.

At Signature Theater:

A Second Chance - This two person play tells the story of people who find love the second time around. She is divorced and he is a widow. Before they can make a commitment, they have to work through issues and leave old baggage behind. It is done all in song. The main players, Brian and Diane Sutherland are husband and wife in real life, but the play is not based on their story. Both actors have lovely voices and the five piece band, who are on stage throughout, do a wonderful job. Scenes are changed through large photographs projected across the back wall of the stage. It is a very effective use of minimalism. Not sure how long it will be there, but if you get a chance, see it. We did get our tickets through Goldstar at a discount and it is being played in the small intimate theater of Signature. This play has played Broadway,so if you are in the New York area, check to see if it is still there. It is probably an off Broadway production.

More notes about Signature and the Shirlington area:

Betsy Kemp's daughter Erin Driscoll will be in Signature's next performance - Hairspray which actually has previews this week. Signature also has "Brown Bag Thursdays" from 1-2 on the first Thursday of the month. You will get a behind the scenes glimpse into the current productions and events at the theater. The next one is December 1 about the current show A Second Chance and on January 5 they will be discussing Hairspray. A nice way to spend an hour and the Shirlington area is chocked full of great restaurants. Two of our favorites are: Carlyle Grand and Extra Virgin. We have never had a bad meal at the Carlyle and Extra Virgin has a great lunch special. All you can eat pasta (the mushroom ravioli is to die for!) that includes salad and dessert. The food is not you typical all you can eat, but quality. Unfortunately, the special is only good on week days. (Sorry Bill!)

With the start of the holiday season, many good movies will premiere this weekend. After the holiday feast, you might want to catch one of those movies.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Roberta

November 16

Carol Frank, Betty and Lucy correctly identified "For a painter, the Mecca of the world, for study, for inspiration, and for living is here on this star called Paris. Just look at it. No wonder so many artists have come here and called it home. Brother, if you can't paint in Paris, you'd better give up and marry the boss's daughter." coming from An American In Paris

Try this one:

"I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under a blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said, "Thank you." and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post.".

In Theaters:

Tower Heist - This is a fun movie starring Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy. Ben Stiller is perfectly cast as the manager of an upscale apartment building owned by Alan Alda. Alda is a Bernie Madoff character who swindles investors especially the employees of the building out of their pension monies. What follows is predictable, but funny. The supporting cast is very good too including Casey Affleck, Matthew Broderick, Tia Leone and Michael Pena The one we both particularly liked was the gal from Precious Gabourey Sidibe. For a feel good movie, see this one.

Around DC:

The National Building Museum - Last week I went to the National Building Museum. This museum is off the beaten path, but is a worthwhile place to go. They have daily tours of the building and the docents are quite knowledgeable. It is the only Civil War monument in the city. There is a fee to view the exhibits, but the big draw is the building itself. Another plus is their gift shop. It has been written up as the most interesting and unusual one in the city. I picked up some great gifts for the holidays.

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial - Judiciary Square - Right across the street from the Building Museum is a Memorial garden to fallen officers. It reminds me of the Vietnam Memorial off Constitution Avenue. It is a lovely garden with reflecting pool and a wall that goes around with the names of the fallen officers. There is a brochure that takes you on a walking tour and you can use your phone for a tour as well. On a beautiful afternoon, as we had that day, it is a lovely way to spend some time.

Interesting books:

Appetite for America: How Visionary Businessman Fred Harvey Built a Railroad Hospitality Empire That Civilized the Wild West by Stephen Fried - Last week I went to an author luncheon with this author. The lecture about the book was both informative and delightful. Although I have not read the book yet, it really piqued my interest and am going to look for it on Amazon or the library. As the title indicates, it tells the story of Fred Harvey and three generations of his family as they build a hospitality empire along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad including the historic lodges still in use at the Grand Canyon. The name Harvey might sound familiar as this is the man who instituted hiring women to work in his restaurants and were later called "The Harvey Girls." A movie starring Judy Garland was made about them. I believe it will be an interesting read.

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain - My book group just finished reading this historical fiction novel about Hadley Richardson, Ernest Hemingway's first wife. It was not my favorite, but a best seller. There's was a love affair, although intense, could not endure Paris of the 1920's. One wonders how those people survived based on their very excessive lifestyle. If you want to get another view of Paris of that time and not the Woody Allen version, pick up this novel.

DWTS Update:

Well the finals will be next week and the surprise survivor is Rob Kardashian. I believe he is still there due to the choreography of his partner Cheryl Burke. The other two were predictable - JR Martinez and Ricki Lake. The judges seem to favor Lake, but I believe that Martinez is the best dancer. When he is not injured, he is graceful and light on his feet. It is also a factor that his professional partner, Karina Smirnoff, has never won. So I believe JR should win. Whether he does, you will have to watch next week.

November 5

Carol Frank, Florrie, Mark Bunney and Betty were correct in identifying "They're skilled munitions workers. They're essential. Essential girls. Their fingers polish the insides of shell metal casings. How else am I to polish the insides of a forty-five millimeter shell casing? You tell me, you tell me." coming from Schlinder's List.

Try this one:

"For a painter, the Mecca of the world, for study, for inspiration, and for living is here on this star called Paris. Just look at it. No wonder so many artists have come here and called it home. Brother, if you can't paint in Paris, you'd better give up and marry the boss's daughter."

On Netflix:

Country Strong - Although this film got panned by the critics, it is a movie chock full with wonderful country music sung by its stars: Gwyneth Paltrow, Leighton Meester and Garrett Hedlund. It is interesting to note that Tim McGraw who is a country singer is the only lead to not sing. All the vocals were fantastic. I am not a country music fan, but would love to own the soundtrack of this film. The movie is interesting and has a disturbing and unexpected ending. We enjoyed it.

On Netflix and EPIX:

From Prada to Nada - This story has been done over and over again. Rich sisters lose everything after father dies and have to move in with relatives on the wrong side of the tracks. Finds out the true meaning of life. Supposedly loosely based on Sense and Sensibility. Nothing new, but nothing offensive. Cast was mostly unknown except for one who was on a sitcom awhile back. If you have nothing to do and get this channel for free, not a bad way to spend time, but if you have to pay or use one of your choices on Netflix, skip it.

At Ford's Theater:

Parade - By the time you receive this email, this play will be gone from Ford's, but it is an amazing production. We wondered how the horrible story of the unjust conviction of Leo Frank in Georgia could be done, but it was done and done so well. It is a heart wrenching story about injustice. The play is more of a light operetta as the story moves along through song. The actors are simply divine. Betsy Kemp's daughter Erin was in the cast. As the group talked about the play over lunch, we all said there was not a weak link anywhere in the play. Wonder why the Washington Post did not give it a stellar review - what do they know! If you see it around, do yourself a favor and see it.

Around DC:

The Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show - Every year Wendy and I attend this event at the DC convention center. It is full of vendors with great samples, Workshops like tea and chocolate pairing and cooking demonstrations like Joan Nathan the Jewish cooking author. Tickets are $27.00 at the door and that includes all the above. You don't have to buy lunch as the samples will fill you up. There is an extra charge for the celebrity chef like Paula Dean that are very expensive. We have a great time walking around the center, eating food and enjoying the vendors. Groupon had a buy one get one half price I believe, but we didn't see it. At the ticket booth a vendor gave us a $7 off price so that was a nice surprise. We were there for about five hours and saw it all. For a fun day for a foodie, check this out when they come back next year.

Lots of good movies around the corner!

Roberta

October 23

Carol Frank and Mark Bunney were the only two who correctly identified "Today everything is different. There's no action. I have to wait around like everyone else. Can't even get decent food. Right after I got here I ordered some spaghetti with marinara sauce and I got egg noodles and catsup. I'm an average nobody."coming from Good Fellas

Try This one:

"They're skilled munitions workers. They're essential. Essential girls. Their fingers polish the insides of shell metal casings. How else am I to polish the insides of a forty-five millimeter shell casing? You tell me, you tell me."

At local theaters:

The Ides of March - This is the Ryan Gosling season. First we saw him in Drive and now The Ides of March. What a different role and what a good job he did with it. This is a great movie to see if you love the workings of politics and a political campaign. It is said to be based on the Howard Dean campaign manager. The cast is first rate. George Clooney looks presidential and Philip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Giamatti as opposing campaign managers are super as well. Marisa Tomei has a small role, but does it well. A movie worth seeing.

On Netflix:

The Concert - This French film is billed as a comedy, but at most it is a dramady. It is a story about a maestro who had been disgraced 30 years prior during a performance by the Russians due to his resistance in letting go his Jewish musicians. It tells how he gathers his former colleagues together to play for the French. He also has another secret which comes out in the movie. The music is glorious and the film engaging. It was up for a Foreign Film Academy Award.

On Netflix and the New channel I found:

No Strings Attached - This movie came out before Friends With Benefits which is a much better film. The real problem here is that I felt there was a lack of chemistry between the leads: Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher. Kutcher does not do it for me as a leading romantic male star. Portman does best in dramas. It is not a horrible film, but since the other has come out, it pales in comparison. Kevin Kline does a good job as Kutcher's father. See both and decide for yourself.

The choice of films is slim this week. I hope some better ones arrive at the theaters soon!

Roberta

October 16

Carol Frank, Betty, Yolanda were correct in identifying "But there is one way in this country in which all men are created equal. An institution that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller, the ignorant man the equal of any president, and the stupid man the equal of Einstein. That institution is the court." from To Kill a Mockingbird.

Try this one:

"Today everything is different. There's no action. I have to wait around like everyone else. Can't even get decent food. Right after I got here I ordered some spaghetti with marinara sauce and I got egg noodles and catsup. I'm an average nobody."

On Netflix:

Barney's Version - I must admit that I like Paul Giamatti and he stars in this film as Barney Panofsky a Jewish Canadian television producer who recalls his life with his three wives. I didn't recognize Minnie Driver as his second wife. The story really focuses on his life with his third wife. Throughout, he tends to hurt those who love him the most. It is a poignant story. Dustin Hoffman plays his father and is wonderful in the role.

Just Go With It - Although you will know the ending of the film as soon as it begins, it was quite enjoyable. Jennifer Aniston plays Sandler's assistant and Adam Sandler is a plastic surgeon. Brooklyn Decker ss Sandler's latest love interest. You won't recognize Nicole Kidman as Aniston's college roommate.. Although I usually don't like Adam Sandler, he is very good in this role, but the scene stealers are the two actors playing Aniston's children. They are wonderful. Sy and I laughed out loud. Gone With The Wind it isn't, but for an enjoyable movie, rent this one.

Community Theater:

The Drowsy Chaperone at the Reston Community Center - This play first appeared on Broadway in 2006 and ran for over 600 performances. It did win some minor Tony Awards. The Reston Players did a fine job with it. It is a homage to musicals of old. The main character is listening to the recording of this play and it comes to life in his living room. Although the songs are forgettable, it was an enjoyable way to spend an evening. Our only complaint was the projection of some of the actors as we could not hear their voices when they sang or spoke and we were sitting in the sixth row! For a cheap night of theater, see this performance.

Nice Place to Visit:

Gettysburg - This week some friends and I went to Gettysburg. Believe it or not, Sy and I had never been there. It is a short ride from Norther Virginia about 90 minutes. We chose to stay over in a Bed and Breakfast. We started our day at the visitor's center with their movie, cyclorama and museum. This gave us a wonderful overview of this famous battle. The museum is first rate and we spent more than two hours there. That evening we ate in a wonderful restaurant and enjoyed the company of our friends. The next day we had an unusual type of tour. We had a personal tour of the battlegrounds. The guide actually came into our car and drove it to all the important sites of the battle ground. He was so knowledgeable and we learned so much. As I said it is only about 90 minutes away, so you could do it in a day. You won't be disappointed!

DWTS:

Can't believe that Chaz is still on and the last two stars voted off. Although Ricki Lake and RJ Martinez are good, I can't think of a third star who deserves to make the finals. Every season I say this is the last for me, but I keep coming back!

Enjoy the lovely fall weather at least until it starts to rain again here in the east.

Roberta

October 7

Carol Frank, Yolanda and Betty correctly identified "I have plenty to say to women. I've been an unemployed actor for twenty years, George. You know that. I know what it's like to sit by the phone waiting...for it to ring. And when I finally get a job, I have no control. Everybody else has the power and I got zip." coming from Tootsie.

Try this one:

"But there is one way in this country in which all men are created equal. An institution that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller, the ignorant man the equal of any president, and the stupid man the equal of Einstein. That institution is the court."


On Netflix:

Made in Dagenham - This film is based on the true story of the 1968 labor strike by hundreds of women who rebelled against discrimination and demanded the same pay as men for their work in a London Ford manufacturing plant. Their success led to the equal pay law in England which spread to all industrialized countries at that time. The film has an entire English cast. Sally Hawkins stars with Miranda Richardson and Bob Hoskins as her co stars. It is a bit slow and I watched it in two sittings to make it more watchable. I also put the subtitles on to make sure I didn't miss any of the dialogue. Can't say if I really liked it or not, so see for yourself.

Waiting for Superman - I actually watched this on a new network I found recently on my Cox subscription. It is call Epix who show pretty new movies. Unfortunately for those of you who have Comcast or Direct TV, they are not offering this channel. Anyway, I recorded this documentary a few nights ago and boy did it hit home. As an educator, I found it something that I knew, but also disturbing. Believe it or not, I do not believe in tenure. When people do not have to earn their jobs day by day or year by year, some tend to become lazy. This is not only in schools, but look at our government! I am sure all my teacher friends can think of one or two teachers who are in the system and should not be there. The people who suffer are the kids. Some schools are doing amazing things, but remember all charter schools are not alike. So although I applaud this film, you have to take it with a grain of salt too. If you are an educator, do yourself a favor and see it with an open mind and if you are not, please do not categorize all teachers who teach in the public schools as bad and/or lazy.

On Netflix and Instant Streaming:

Shine of Rainbows - Since I had to stay indoors and relax while recuperating from some dental surgery, I watched this film on instant streaming through our Wii. It is an Irish movie starring Connie Nielsen and Aiden Quinn. Since you cannot show subtitles on the Wii system. (I don't know how to do it and if someone does, please let me know.) at times it was hard to understand the actors. It is a tearjerker with Quinn playing the brooding husband, a part he tends to play, who has trouble accepting the 8 year old orphan his wife,(Nielsen) wants to adopt. It is a bit schmaltzy and would be better set as a Lifetime movie, but did pass the afternoon in a fine way.

A few good movies are headed our way, so catch one soon.

Roberta

October 2

Jen, Wendy, Kathy Luke, Florrie, Carol Frank, Carla and David, and Martha Hutchinson correctly identified "Sometimes when I've got a ballplayer alone, I'll just read Emily Dickinson or Walt Whitman to him, and the guys are so sweet, they always stay and listen. Of course, a guy will listen to anything if he thinks it's foreplay. " coming from Bull Durham

Try this one:

"I have plenty to say to women. I've been an unemployed actor for twenty years, George. You know that. I know what it's like to sit by the phone waiting...for it to ring. And when I finally get a job, I have no control. Everybody else has the power and I got zip."

In Theaters:

Moneyball - If you like baseball, Brad Pitt or both you will enjoy this film. It is the true story of General Manager Billy Beane and how he changed the face of baseball by using sabermetrics to choose players and make up a winning team. The relationship between Pitt and Jonah Hill playing Peter Brand is good and the story is engrossing for both men and women. My only suggestion is that it could have been 30 minutes shorter. It runs over two hours and the last 30 minutes or so tend to drag on. Nevertheless it is still a fine movie. A few tidbits about the real people: Peter Brand is not the real name of Billy Bean's Assistant. It is Paul DePodesta who requested his real name not be used as he felt his character portrayal was too fictitious. He is presently VP of Player Development with the Mets. He left Bean 18 months after the 2002 season. Beane is still with the A's and is a minority owner of the team.

On Netflix:

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger - This is classic Woody Allen. This film tells the intertwined story of a woman, Gemma Jones, whose husband, Anthony Hopkins, leaves her for a younger woman and she consults a psychic to learn her fate. At the same time her daughter, Naomi Watts and her husband, Josh Brolin, are dealing with their own extramarital attractions. The story is funny, poignant and convoluted. Fun to watch.

Interesting Book

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot - This book tells the true story of Henrietta Lack of the famous HeLa cells. In 1951 cells were taken from her body and still survive today. The book tells Henrietta's story and that of her family and explains the scientific significance of her cells. The underlying issue was who owns the cells and was it ethical to take them. An interesting read.

Another rainy day on the east coast - enjoy a movie or read a book.

September 19

Carol Frank and Betty correctly identified "Love don't make things nice. It ruins everything. It breaks your heart. It makes things a mess. We aren't here to make things perfect. The snowflake is perfect. The stars are perfect. Not us. We are here to ruin ourselves and to break our hearts and love the wrong people and die."coming from Moonstruck

Try this one:

"Sometimes when I've got a ballplayer alone, I'll just read Emily Dickinson or Walt Whitman to him, and the guys are so sweet, they always stay and listen. Of course, a guy will listen to anything if he thinks it's foreplay. "

In Theaters:

Drive - This movie starring Ryan Gosling got rave reviews from critics alike so when we were deciding what film to see and our friends had seen ones we wanted to see, we chose this one. Although the acting is good, cannot recommend this film to the faint of heart. It is VERY violent. The review in The Washington Post did not indicate this at all. Blood is everywhere!!! I also found it slow. I know that sounds odd, there are many moments where I wanted to shake the Gosling character and say. say something. If violence doesn't bother you, you'll probably like this film. It is a bit of an art house film. In fact, Carol Flicker, thought it should have played in Cinema Arts. See for yourself.

On Netflix:

Tamara Drewe - After seeing such a violent movie, see above, Sy and I were ready for something light. This English export is thought provoking, but fun. The story is adapted from a comic strip and explores themes such as unrequited love, envy and lust. The ending, as most English comedies, ends up in a bit of a farce, but picks up all the loose ends quite nicely. All of the cast are English actors so no one I knew, but all did a fine job. I think the young girl who pines for the rock star steals the movie. See it for yourself.

On Netflix and Instant Streaming:

I Love You Philip Morris - For anyone who is homophobic, this is not the movie for you. Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor star as lovers. It seems a bit far fetched, but I went back and checked and was surprised to learn it is based on a true story. What happens to the Carrey character and what he does for love is fascinating. He reminds me of the character in Catch Me If You Can, but the movie is not as good.

DWTS:

Well it is that time again and Dancing With The Stars returns tonight. At this point, I don't have a clue who will be contending, but think Ricky Lake might be good as she starred in "Hairspray." We will all have to wait and see.