January 7

In Theaters

 

The Wolf of Wall Street - Sy wanted to see this film and I tagged along.  It is almost three hours and it goes pretty fast.  One of my friends said she felt like she was watching a soft porn film so a word to the wise; if you don't enjoy watching nudity, seeing people abuse drugs or dislike hearing four letter words, see Frozen not this film!  The film is based on the memoirs of Jordan Belfort, a securities stock broker. Black Monday hits and he loses his job.  He starts his own firm, Stratton Oakmont,  which was your typical "boiler room, bucket shop" that hawked penny stocks to unsophisticated investors.  This type of establishment is a far cry from the major investment houses. The excesses that were depicted were common in the 1990's.  You can read what happens to him and his firm, Stratton Oakmont, I won't give it away here. The film is directed by Martin Scorsese and stars two of my favorite actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill.  Matthew McConaughey, Rob Reiner and Kyle Chandler have smaller roles.  Although it is based on a true account, I found it so over the top that it was a bit unbelievable.  Wall Street with Michael Douglas is a better film .That beings said, I would definitely put it on your Netflix list when it comes out.

 

Over the break OLLI (Ocher Life- Long Learners)  are showing movies.  This is the one I saw last week.  It is also available on Netflix::

 

The Gods Must Be Crazy - This 1980's film plays like a documentary at first then becomes a Keystone Kops, Marx Brothers silly film.  It was the perfect way to spend a cold, snowy afternoon.  This film is a South African comedy.  It is set in Botswana and tells the story of Xi a member of the bushmen and whose tribe has no knowledge of the world beyond their little piece of the world.    Many stories intertwine and play like an English farce where everyone comes together and in the end all is well. Silly, unsophisticated, but fun.

 

 

A Wonderful Read

 

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton -  This novel has it all - mystery, thievery, murder and love.  It tells the story of a daughter who has witnessed a murder and fifty years later tries to find out what really happened. The book is written in present day and flashes back to  to pre- World War II, England through the blitz to the fifties and beyond. The ending will blow you away.  For a good read, pick this one up, hang in there and you won't be sorry.

The country is going through very low temperatures even in Florida; not sure about CA, but since you will be probably staying indoors, catch up on your Netflix streaming if you have that service.  I have only two episodes left for "House of Cards."  I put off watching it when it first came out and I liken it to a car wreck, you hate it but can't stop looking.  Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright are despicable, but wonderful in their roles.  I just hope government is not run like this, but I am sure there is some truth to what the show depicts.

Stay warm,

Roberta