A long time educator now retired. Wife, Mother of two; Mother-in-Law to two, Grandmother of three and lover of all entertainment including but not exclusive to movies, TV, theater and music.
Martha Hutchinson, Lucy and Florrie correctly identified "A guy told me once, :Don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in thirty seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner" coming from Heat.
Try this one:
"Where the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window."
On Netflix:
The Hurt Locker - This Academy Award film tells the story of the elite military group that disables bombs. The three main characters are unknown to me, but make a lasting impression. I was concerned that it would be a hard film to watch, lots of blood and gore, but in the end it was never gratuitous, but added to the storyline. The film focus is on three soldiers whose job it is to find and disarm bombs. Not only is it an action film, but one in which you get into the heads of these soldiers. We watched it in three sittings which I would recommend to cut down on the intensity.
On Netflix and Instantly Play the Game - This delightful film stars Any Griffith, Doris Roberts. Liz Sheridan (Jerry Seinfeld's Mother in Seinfeld) Marla Sokoloff and Paul Campbell. Joe, a lonely grandfather living in a retirement home, gets pointers from his grandson David on dating and he becomes a bit hit with the women. In the meantime, David strikes out when he tried to woo Julie (coincidently Doris Roberts granddaughter who lives in the retirement home as well). It is a cute movie, but make sure to stay around for the very end as it has an adorable twist.
A Note about Netflix:
The film Play the Game was on my instant view list. A few weeks ago I received a notice from Netflix telling me I could play my instant picks through my Wii onto my TV. I ordered the disc at no charge and it was a simple set up. So instead of watching this film on my computer, I was able to watch it on the TV as if I had received the disc from Netflix. It is quite neat.
In these dreary days, it is good to catch up on some good movies.
Although I though the last quote was difficult, a few of you identified "Stanley, see this? This is this. This ain't something else. This is this. From now on you're on your own." coming from The Deer Hunter. My brother Jeff actually identified it as Robert DeNiro to Jon Cazale during their deer hunting outing. Florrie and Yolanda were also correct guessers as well.
Yet another quote:
"A guy told me one time, "Don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in thirty seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner.'"
On Netflix: My Sister's Keeper - This film based on the popular novel by Jodi Picoult stars Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, Jason Patric, Alec Baldwin and Joan Cusack. It is the story of a couple who has a designer baby for "spare parts" for their dying daughter. The daughter sues her parents for medical emancipation. There is a twist which I didn't know as I hadn't read the novel. I especially enjoyed Abigail Breslin and Alec Baldwin as her lawyer. In his later years, Baldwin has become not only a fine comedic actor, but a dramatic one as well. It is a tearjerker, but since you know the outcome, not as upsetting as I thought.
Fame - As a fan of the original movie and TV program, I was eager to see this film. I was disappointed. The storyline of the students was not well developed with little drama, the singing was OK, dancing quite good and acting sequences fine. Do yourself a favor and find the original or the TV series or better still watch "Glee" on Fox Tuesday nights at 9:00. Debbie Allen, from I believe both of the originals, makes a cameo appearance.
DWTS Update:
Tonight is the results show and at this point in the competition, Chad and Neicy are not in the same category as Erin, Evan and Nicolle so I think one of them should go. My pick would be Neicy. As far as the winner of the whole competition, Nicolle is the best dancer, but I would like to see Erin win. Both Evan and Nicolle have some dance experience and as the judges say often musicality, but Eric is a sports reporter! I couldn't believe she was in the bottom two last week. Well stayed tuned tonight to see what happens.
It has been a while since I posted as I was first in California and then didn't have time to watch any DVDs, but as they say, "I'm back!"
Florrie and Lucy correctly identified "Just how bad is it? ""It's a fire." "All fires are bad." coming from The Towering Inferno from the last postings.
See if you can identify this one: (I think it is very hard!)
"Stanley, see this? This is this. This ain't something else. This is this. From now on you're on your own."
On the plane ride to California they showed:
Me and Orson Wells - This film starring the tween star Zac Efron was so bad that even for free it wasn't worth my watching. I don't know if this is a fair review as the viewing was not the most optimal, but I wouldn't waste a Netflix pick or money to see it in the movies. It is about a youngster who secures a part in a play featuring Orson Wells and how they butt heads over his beautiful assistant.
The Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia is presenting its annual film festival and we have seen the following films which might be available on Netflix:
No. 4 Street of Our Lady - This documentary traces the story of Francisca Halamajowa a Polish-Catholic woman who hides 16 of her neighbors during the Holocaust. The director/producer Judy Maltz used her grandfather's diary to reenact this remarkable story. Since it is a documentary, it is not fair to rate it. If you are interested in this time of our history, reserve it on Netflix. At the showing, the producer Judy Maltz was in attendance and led a Q and A about making the film.
Brothers - This Israeli movie tells the story of two brothers; one a die hard Israeli who is an Israeli first and Jew second and his orthodox brother who arrives from New York to represent the orthodox community in a trial. The brothers have been apart for much of their lives and it is a tale of them discovering who they are; what makes them tick and how they can come to accept one another.
An interesting read:
Outliers by Malcomn Gladwell - This fascinating book gives insight as to why some people are fabulously successful. Although they may be intelligent, ingenious and enterprising, situations around them account for their success as well. Gladwell shares interesting stories about successful men like Bill Gates and others and how their environment allowed them to achieve the heights they did.
Wonderful read:
The Help by Kathryn Stockett - For those of you who haven't read this novel you should put it on reserve at your local library or borrow it from a friend as many book groups have read this. It is the story of Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960's and the relationship between the white folks and their "help" black women. I don't want to give much away, but the story is engrossing and makes you think even if you are a Northerner like me who didn't have help and lived in the non-segregated North. It is a quick read and one you will enjoy.
A Word About TV:
If you haven't watched "Glee" this season, set your DVR and start taping it. I spend the entire hour just smiling. Each actor is so talented and has wonderful singing voices. Two weeks ago they devoted the entire show to Madonna songs and this week I sang along as they sang some hits from the 80's. Their guest stars are great too. Kristin Chenoweth of Wicked and Pushing Daises made her second appearance and once again wowed me with her voice. If you like the theater and musical comedy, you won't be disappointed.
DWTS Update:
Although I promised that I would not comment on this show this season, I can't help myself. At last the poorer dancers are almost all gone. I believe the days are numbered for Ochocinco, the football player and Niely, the comedian. As I see it the three finalists will be the ice skater, the pussy cat doll and the ESPN reporter. There are only a few more shows and I promise not to write about it until it is the finals with my predictions.
I hope to see a few movies this weekend, but with the Diabetes walk Sunday, I will have limited time to view. In the meantime, take time to enjoy the beautiful weather we are having around the country before it gets too hot in the east and too rainy on the west coast.
Florrie, Estelle, Carla and David correctly identified "The wind opens the sea." "God opens the sea with a blast of his nostrils."coming from The Ten Commandments.
Try this one:
"Just how bad is it." "It's a fire. " "All fires are bad."
Betsy send along this information for the people on the east coast:
I'm just sending you some info about a show opening at the Signature Theater on April 6th and it runs through June, called Title of Show. Both Erin (her daughter) and James, her fiancee are in this 4 person show and it's directed by James's twin brother Matthew, you should check it out. Title of Show is about two writers who are writing a musical, and thus need to come up with a title. It's a show dedicated to the process of creating a new musical, and was on Broadway for a long time.
Estelle sent this along.
I am not sure how much longer this play is running. Today, we went to the Round House Theatre to see "My Name is Asher Lev'"-Chaim Potak. We were lucky enough to go to a performance where the cast had a session with the audiences after the performance. It was a wonderful production and a very very good story.
On Netflix:
Post Grad - I must admit I ordered this film as I was a great fan of "Gillmore Girls" and Alexis Bledel played Rory. The movie is not worth seeing. You have seen it many times. Girl graduates from college with bright future and things don't quite work out and when they do she realizes she has been following the wrong dream all along. It is sad to see actors like Michael Keaton and Carol Burnett reduced to roles like these supporting ones. On Netflix and Instantly on your Computer:
Summer Hours - This French foreign film tells the story of three siblings as they decide how to distribute their mother's extraordinary art collection and estate after her death. It stars Juliette Binoche, Charles Berling and Jérémie Renier. It is interesting to see how each of them deals with the task before them. Although beautifully shot, it was slow at times, predictable and an unsatisfying ending.
DWTS Recap:
I am glad that Buzz Aldrin was booted off last week. Kate has to go next! At this point in the competition I believe that Evan, Nicolle and Erin are the front runners. I am not as attached to the show and don't particularly think that Brooke Burke adds much to the show, but neither did Samantha Harris.
I am off to California on Wednesday so am not sure if I will get a chance to post any reviews until I return on April 22. Perhaps I'll catch some films on the flight out and back unless they start to charge ridiculous fees for that services as well.
The pickings are pretty slim at the movies, so take time to catch up on some of those movies you missed via Netflix.
Gil, Edna , Florrie and Carol Frank correctly identified David's quote, "“Don’t be stupid,be a smarty, come and join the Nazi party” coming from The Producers.
Try this one:
"The wind opens the sea." "God opens the sea with his nostrils."
On Netflix:
Everybody's Fine - This film starring Robert De Niro is a bit depressing, but in the end does make you feel good. In an all star cast, De Niro tries to reconnect with his adult children after his wife dies. It is heart breaking and heart warming at the same time. De Niro gives a wonderful performance. It was touching and hit home especially if you are approaching this age.
My friend Robert Finkelstein was amazed that I had never seen his all time favorite movie: The Maltese Falcon. To remedy this omission, he lent me his copy and I viewed it. I know most of you have seen this classic, but I'd like to give you my take on it. The Maltese Falcon - This noir classic movie starring Humphrey Bogart as private eye Sam Spade created by Dashiell Hammett features Mary Aston as a woman looking for protection from a man. The film has twists and turns as they search for a priceless statue known as the Maltese Falcon. It is extremely stylized and held my attention. As it was filmed in 1941, the story, not any special effects, carries the movie. Although it is dated, it did hold my attention and I found engaging. Would it be a hit today, not sure.
A note about the term "noir": Often times you see this term and to be honest I wasn't exactly sure what it meant, so I googled it and found the following definition. (What did we do before google??)
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywoodcrime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as stretching from the early 1940s to the late 1950s. Film noir of this era is associated with a low-keyblack-and-white visual style that has roots in German Expressionistcinematography. Many of the prototypical stories and much of the attitude of classic noir derive from the hardboiled school of crime fiction that emerged in the United States during the Depression.
The term film noir (French for "black film"),[1] first applied to Hollywood movies by French critic Nino Frank in 1946, was unknown to most American film industry professionals of the classic era.[2] Cinema historians and critics defined the noir canon in retrospect; before the notion was widely adopted in the 1970s, many of the classic film noirs were referred to as melodramas.[a] The question of whether film noir qualifies as a distinct genre is a matter of ongoing debate among scholars.
Film noirs encompass a range of plots—the central figure may be a private eye (The Big Sleep), a plainclothes policeman (The Big Heat), an aging boxer (The Set-Up), a hapless grifter (Night and the City), a law-abiding citizen lured into a life of crime (Gun Crazy), or simply a victim of circumstance (D.O.A.). Though the noir mode was originally identified among American productions, films now customarily described as noir have been made around the world. From the 1960s onward, many pictures have come out that share attributes with film noirs of the classic period, often treating noir conventions in a self-reflexive manner. Such latter-day works in a noir mode are often referred to as neo-noirs. The tropes of film noir have inspired parody since the mid-1940s.
David and Carla Heymsfeld, Lucy and Florrie identified "I pray that I may never see the desert again. Hear me, God." coming from Lawrence of Arabia.
David sent in this quote for you to try:
“don’t be stupid,be a smarty, come and join the Nazi party”
As many of you know, I have been watching Amanda and Sarah while Wendy and Howard have been in Barcelona, so I haven't had the opportunity to watch any Netflix movies this week. We did go see a kid's movie Sunday.
At your local theaters:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid - This movie is based on the very popular novels by Jeff Kinney that so many kids are reading. Sarah is a big fan and really wanted to see this movie. It is cute and the kids will like some of the gross things that happen to the main character, Greg. The characters are over the top. Sarah, who saw the author at the annual book festival in Washington, DC, said the books are based on his life and the movie left lots of things out. The girls liked it. As an adult it was tolerable so I asked the girls what they would rate it and they both said between two and three smiles so its:
"Dancing With the Stars" - As many of you know the show kicked off its season last week. I am not as engrossed with the show as in previous years, but will probably continue to watch. Some impressions from week one: 1. I thought they underrated the football player who is Cheryl's partner 2. I thought they overrated Pamela Anderson 3. Why do people subject themselves to this competition when they should just leave their reputations intact i.e. Buzz Aldrin??
It is good to be home and getting back to normal although jet lag is still effecting my sleep patterns. On my way to Spain and going home, I was able to watch four movies and during the flight and on the trip I read three books so I am happy to review them all for you.
On my last posting, the last quote was correctly identified by Florrie and Lucy. "You have brought music back in to my life. I had forgotten." as coming from one of my all time favorite movies The Sound of Music.
Try this one:
"I pray that I may never see the desert again. Hear me, God."
On Netflix and Air France: An Education - The star and film were up for academy awards,. It is an interesting story about a coming of age teen whose parents made sure she would be going to Oxford until she becomes involved with an older man and gets a different kind of education. It is a tender and poignant film that also reinforces the importance of an education. A Serious Man - I have never been a fan of the Coen Brothers movies and this one is by far the oddest. It was nominated for an academy award which blows my mind!! It is about a Jewish family unraveling with divorce, freeloading relatives, children in religious school and Bar Mitzvah in the 1960's. The ending is unsettling to say the least. I would like comments if you've seen the movie and your thoughts regarding the ending. Time Traveler's Wife - If you didn't read the book, you will be totally lost!! It does stay true to the book to a degree, but does jump around and doesn't fully develop the characters. Eric Bana and Rachael McAdams make an attractive pair. I didn't like the book and therefore didn't care for the movie. The movie is about a person who time travels and how it effects his relationships especially with his long suffering wife.
The Princess and the Frog - This Disney film was a breakthrough for Disney as it featured the first Disney Princess of color. Although they tried to make the characters realistic, the Prince, in particular, looked as the other Princes, but with a darker complexion., It takes place in New Orleans and the animation is Disney quality. Small children might be frightened by the Voo Doo characters. Music is good, but not one of Disney's best. A good movie to take children over 8.
Some Good Reads (some are more for a plane ride than literary value)
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant - This novel was written in 1992 and at that time everyone raved about it. I don't know where I was, but I didn't read it then, but thoroughly enjoyed reading it now. It was a New York Times Bestseller. It is the story of Dinah who is mentioned briefly in the Bible. Through her voice you understand what life was like in the ever growing family of Jacob. Her mothers Leah, Rachel, Zilpah and Bilhar are described and come to life as Dramant takes actual events and fleshes it out with her imagination. Even if the Bible and history is not your thing, you won't be disappointed.
The Camel Club by David Baldacci - I am a fan of Baldacci and enjoy his books as they are set in Northern Virginia. This one is a page turner with very interesting characters especially the members of the camel club. The plot is a bit unrealistic and at times confusing but engrossing nonetheless.
All Around The Town by Mary Higgins Clark - If you've ever read one of her books, you've read them all, but they are fun to read, keep your interest and a very easy read at that. This time the story is about a young woman who was kidnapped as a child and develops multiple personalities to cope with what happened to her. There are lots of twists and turns and all is resolved by book's end.
A note about books on trips:
I didn't realize that the library sells old paperbacks for $1.00 to as low as .25. We picked up these and an additional one for less than two dollars. While on the trip, as people finished a book we traded them to one another.
Tonight is the beginning of the tenth season of "Dancing With The Stars." I am getting a bit tired of it, but will probably watch it in spite of that.
Glad to be home, but won't have a lot of time to watch films as Wendy and Howard are on their way to Barcelona and I'll be staying at their house with the girls so I probably won't be posting again until after the first. For those of you celebrating Passover, have a Happy Passover and those celebrating Easter have a Happy Easter and those of you who are indifferent, Happy Spring!!
