February 28

Carol Frank, Yolanda, Betty, Eric, Florrie, and Lucy correctly identified  "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." coming frrom Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
Try this one: " I shall call him Squishy. And he shall be mine.And he shall be MY Squishy."

I shall call him Squishy. And he shall be mine. And he shall be MY Squishy.” — Finding Nemo - See more at: http://www.pajiba.com/guides/the-other-100-best-movie-quotes-of-all-time.php#sthash.T3S0XnZm.dpuf

shall call him Squishy. And he shall be mine. And he shall be MY Squishy.” — Finding Nem - See more at: http://www.pajiba.com/guides/the-other-100-best-movie-quotes-of-all-time.php#sthash.1sRA8cj3.dpuf

shall call him Squishy. And he shall be mine. And he shall be MY Squishy.” — Finding Nem - See more at: http://www.pajiba.com/guides/the-other-100-best-movie-quotes-of-all-time.php#sthash.1sRA8cj3.dpuf

In Theaters:

Quartet -   I had hoped this film would be like the Marigold Hotel from last year and although it dealt with the same issues, the former was a bit lighter.   The cast and acting is excellent.  I love Maggie Smith in everything she does and Billy Connolly is a hoot.  Tom Courtenay is still a very handsome man and good actor.  The premise is that a retirement home for musicians is putting on its annual celebration on Verdi's birthday and the quartet who sang this are residents at the facility.  Smith and Courtenay have history and that's all I will say.  Perhaps if I were 40 and not closer in age to the people in the movie, I would have enjoyed it better.  That being said, it was a good movie.  During the credits, photographs of the actors as they were in their younger days appears next to their present photos.  Many of the ensemble are actual performers.  The music is lovely. 

On Netflix:

Flight - Denzel Washington was up for the Academy Award for his portrayal of the alcoholic pilot.  Does Denzel Washington ever do anything poorly?   His character does a stunning job landing a plane and the action goes from there.  John Goodman is wonderful in a quirky role as his friend and "dealer." He has portrayed some very interesting characters this year.   Don Cheadle is also a good steady actor and he proves his worth in this film as well as the strong, no nonsense attorney. and Melissa Leo, who was unrecognizable to me,  also appears as the official from the National Board investigating the accident.  For an exciting, thought provoking film, put this one on your list. 

An Odd Read:

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - This was the latest book I read with my book group.  To say it is odd is an understatement.  It is a mystery, suspense thriller.  The best way I can describe it is that is it like a car accident - you shouldn't look, but can't help yourself.  In this case, I didn't like the characters or story, but could not put it down.  Does that make it a good book?  Not sure.  Flynn said in an interview she wanted to explore violent women, not violence on women; simply violent women.  If that was her goal, she accomplished it in spades!  It is about two dysfunctional adults who find each other and so that I don't spoil the story, that is all I will say.   One person in our group described it as "beach" read.  I understand Reese Witherspoon has picked up the options on the book and I will be anxious to see it although many in the group said they would avoid it.

Well the Academy Awards were handed out and for the most part not many surprises.  No one film took it away and I agree as there were so many good films and performances.  I am very happy Argo won for best picture.  And even though the Post wrote a real snarky account of Seth MacFarland's job as host, I thought he did a great job.

Believe it or not Dancing With The Stars returns soon.  The new cast of "dancers" was revealed earlier this week.  Will I watch it - you betcha!

Roberta

February 14

Carol Frank, Florrie and Yolanda correctly identified "Sometimes I wish I had never met you. Because then I could go to sleep at night not knowing there was someone like you out there." coming from Good Will Hunting. 

Try this one:

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

On Netflix:

21 Jump Street - Do yourself a favor and do not, I repeat,  do not see this film.  I thought it would be a good way to relive the TV program and I like the two stars in it -  Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum.  It turned out to be crude, lewd and rude.  The story juvenile, gags gross and just plain stupid.  The target audience is for individuals with limited taste.  I can't even give it any stars!!

On Netflix and Instant Streaming:

Vanity Fair - As I mentioned earlier, I am taking a class about this novel.  We have been reading it and seeing clips of this film and the BBC version. Since I was strapped for time and there was no way I would finish the book by the next class, I sat down and watch the film.  It is quite good, but not as good as the novel.  Reese Witherspoon does a wonderful job as the sneaky Becky Thacker.  The other actors are quite good as well although I think the actor who plays George is miscast.  I do intend to read the rest of the novel over the next few weeks.  Lots of scenes and characters were left out of the film which was disappointing, but then the film would have run more than three hours.  For a lovely adaptation of a novel, see this film. 

1st Stage in Tysons

I had heard about this venue, but never thought to go until Goldstar had a deal I couldn't refuse.  For $33 including service fee, Sy and I saw Italian American Reconciliation a play written by John Patrick Shanley who wrote Moonstruck and Doubt.  There was an 18 year gap between these two productions.  This play was performed beautifully by a fine troupe of actors.  The story had many themes from Moonstruck. It is a dramady about an Italian man divorced from his abusive wife who decides he cannot live without her and tries to win her back with the aid of his lifelong friend.   This play was first performed in 1988 a year after Moonstruck.  All that being said, it is worthwhile to make your way to this out of the way strip mall to see the production.  It will be there until February 24.

Once again the pickings are slim at the theaters, but still want to see Quartet.

Roberta

February 7

Juli and Betty correctly identified  "Do, or do not. There is no "try" coming from The Empire Strikes Back.

Try this one:
"Sometimes I wish I had never met you. Because then I could go to sleep at night not knowing there was someone like you out there."

I am taking a few classes at OLLI (Osher Life Long Learners) that are showing films.  One class had us reading Goodbye Columbus and then we watched the film and the final week we will be comparing the two. Another class we are reading Vanity Fair and clips have been shown in the class.  I will watch it on Netflix after the class is over and the last class is just showing films to warm the heart.  Here are some of them.

On Netflix:

The Girl in the Cafe - This is an older film that  was originally shown on HBO in 2005.  It is a sweet story about a lonely civil servant played by Bill Nighy from Hotel Marigold who meets a young girl played by Kelly Macdonald of "Boardwalk Empire" and how she influences not only him, but the United Kingdom members at the G8 summit in Iceland.  Macdonald was nominated for an Emmy for her performance. The May December romance is tender and sweet.

Goodbye Columbus - This film was released in 1969.  As I watched the film, I thought it was a very true adaptation of the novella.  I was surprised that  this film was the one in which  Ali MacGraw' made her debut performance. It did bring back memories of the late '60's and '70's and showed how film making has changed.  If it were done today, the nudity would be much more obvious..  I enjoyed seeing both Richard Benjamin and Jack Klugman. This is a satire that touches on boundaries of class, race and religion as seen through a romance between two Jewish individuals; one who is a struggling librarian and the other a wealthy college student.   For a walk down memory lane, see this film.  The novella is very short so you can read it and compare the two as well.  I'll give you an update about the classes' reaction next posting.    

On Netflix and Instant Streaming:

Cosi - This 1996 Australian/New Zealand film is a touching story about an unemployed director who takes a job at a psychiatric hospital to stage Mozart's Cosi fan tute.  The story does not make fun of these people, but tells how through the arts they start to cope with their problems.  Of course the plot is predictable, but enjoyable just the same.  The cast includes Toni Collette, Rachel Griffiths and Jacki Weaver who is up for an Academy Award for her portrayal of Bradley Cooper's mother in Silver Lining Playbook.  The other actors were not familiar to me.  This was a lovely film that will leave you smiling at its end. 

High School Theater:

Once again I need to give a shout out to my friend Bill P. who directs the annual H-B Woodlawn musical production.  This year the students staged How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.  The show was originally on Broadway with Robert Morse in the 60's and I remember it well.  The students did a lovely job with the play. I particularly liked the clever staging.  My granddaughters enjoyed it; especially the choreography.  The finale with the singing and dancing of of "Brotherhood of Man" was a hoot.  Way to go Bill and your talented cast and crew!

Not much at the theater, but I do hope to see Quartet as a number of you have told me how much you enjoyed it!  To my friends in the Northeast, stay safe and warm.  The weather forecast is not good!

Roberta