March 28

My quote this week was an easy one for a lot of you Carol Frank, Betty, Bill, Sara, Florrie, Wendy, Yolanda, Lucy Kathy Luke and David all correctly identified "Wax on....wax off" coming from the Karate Kid. Bill also said it was quoted in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Try this one:"Divine decadence darling!"

On Netflix:

Brigadoon - This is the second musical we showed at our class. Once again it starred Gene Kelly and his time his leading lady was Cyd Charisse. Van Johnson was his sidekick. It is a fantasy. The town of Brigadoon appears every hundred years and the two main male leads come across it as they get lost in the highlands of Scotland. The story of course is implausible, but in this case the dancing is the spotlight. Although there are memorable songs like, "Heather on the Hill", "I'll Go Home with Bonnie Jean" and "Almost Like Being in Love." the dancing is the star of this film. Cyd Charisse's legs are a mile long and when she and Kelly do any of their ballet numbers it is beauty in motion. I am reminded why movies of this era last; their appeal is universal. You could watch this film with your young child as well as your grandmother. My one complaint was that the lighting of the film was very dark. But for a feel good movie either rent this one or wait until it appears on TCM.

At the Arena Stage:

The Chosen - This play based on the book of the same title by Chaim Potok is presently showing in the newly renovated Arena Stage in Washington DC. It is the first joint production in their new quarters with the Arena stage and the DC JCC. The play is marvelous, acting is superb, staging imaginative and the story engrossing. My only complaint is that I do not prefer theater in the round. Although the actors did a fine job moving around the stage so that they continued to face different parts of the audience throughout, when they don't fact you even though they are well miked, it can be hard to hear especially as their characters have accents. It is well worth going to even with this one concern.

A good read:

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson - This novel is a quiet read. By that I mean it was not the type of book I could not put down, but it was comforting. Ms. Simonson takes time (in my opinion too much time) to create the setting and her characters. Once the real story begins which was about three quarters into the book, I then could not put it down. One of my friends loved it so much, she bought a copy to keep. I had another friend who hated it. I can't say I love it or disliked it, but in the end did find it a nice book to read.So.....make up your own mind and either get it on your kindle or other reading device or take it out of your local library.

DWTS Update:

Tonight is the elimination night. Last night I thought the judges were particularly hard on some contestants and soft on others. I believe the radio guy will go. Don't even know his name! Wendy Williams is a close second, but has a broader (no pun intended) fan base. Sy was especially delighted to see Cheryl's partner, the wrestler, do so much better. I feel the leaders right now are Hynes the football player, Romeo and The Karate Kid. Let's see how I do tonight. I have to do better than my picks for the NCAA March Madness tournament!

Roberta

March 22

Congratulations to Lucy. She was the only one who correctly identified last week's quote as coming from The Godfather. Although she didn't know which one, she was close enough. "When they come.....they come at what you love." came from The Godfather, Part III.

Try this one:

"Wax on....wax off."

In Theaters:

The Lincoln Lawyer - I debated about going to this movie or The Adjustment Bureau and chose this one and I wasn't sorry. It was a very good film with an engaging story and characters you cared about. Matthew McConaughey does a fine job as the lawyer. In fact, as the review today said, I could see him reprising this role for future films. He plays an unorthodox lawyer who makes things happen. The case he has finds him in a tricky situation that requires him to use his guile to make things right. Marissa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe and William H. Macy co-star.

On Netflix:

Singing in the Rain - This week started my class of movie musicals that I am facilitating with Carol Flicker. Today's offering was Singing in the Rain. Believe it or not, I had never seen it in its entirety so I settled down with the class and watched it with them. Needless to say, the plot is lame, but the music is wonderful and dancing superb. Although Gene Kelly is the star and dances his heart out, I felt that Donald O'Connor as his best friend was a delight - what a dancer and a terrific comic. Debbie Reynolds as the love interest has a nice voice and did a fine job with the dancing. Jean Hagen was wonderful as the villainous leading lady and Cyd Charisse has a fantastic dance number as Kelly's mysterious lady in the dream sequence. Her legs are so long! People in the class commented that in those days women looked like women, not sticks! For a movie that will put a smile on your face either put this on your netflix cue or wait for it to be on TCM. (not for the story, but the music and dancing!)

DWTS Update:

I can't resist. I did watch the premiere last night. I expected Kirstie Alley to bomb, but to my surprise, she was quite good. Other good dancers are the football player Hines and Ralph M. from the original Karate Kid. The person to go is Wendy Williams. That's just one gal's opinion!

Roberta

March 13

Florrie, Yolanda, Betty and Carol Frank correctly identified ""Some places are like people: some shine and some don't." coming from The Shining.

Try this one:

"When they come....they come at what you love."

On Netflix and Instant Streaming:

The Kings of Pastry - If you like to watch the food network channel, this documentary is for you. It follows three finalists as they vie for the prestigious MOF pastry award given in France for the best pastry chefs. This three day competition is grueling. As you watch this film, you get inside their heads and feel their heartache as they work so hard for this coveted award. I don't rate documentaries, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Mother and Child - This film starring Annette Benning and Naomi Watts is thought provoking. It is the type of movie that stays with you long after your have finished viewing it. The story is of a woman who gives up her child and spends a good deal of her life being miserable and wondering what happened to her. At the same time, you are introduced to the daughter and see how she is managing her life. In addition, this story intersects with a woman who wants to adopt since she cannot have a baby of her own. It is well worth the two hours it runs.

Local Community Theater:

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - The Reston Players have done it again with this wonderful production of The Spelling Bee. All the actors are fine singers, actors as well as having great comedic skills. The story is about a spelling bee and its participants. Do yourself a favor if you live in the Reston area and see this production. A word of caution; although it does appeal to children, there is a song about an erection that is not child appropriate.

For the next few weeks, I will facilitating a movie series on older movie musicals. Be prepared to see my reviews of some wonderful films.

Roberta