I saw a movie last night called The Fountain. I had heard bad reviews but it was the only movie showing when we could go and still get back to the babysitting in time so we went (and I love a good run-on sentence once and awhile).
Basically it was a bad acid trip. That's what I'm thinking now although I was enjoying parts of it when it was happening (kind of like an acid trip which always seems to turn into a bad trip eventually).
Hugh Jackman was cool to watch. Bald and creepy. On the other hand, Rachel Weisz was lovely and creepy.
Showing posts with label TV and Movie Reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TV and Movie Reviews. Show all posts
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Stranger Than Fiction (or Cheese & Broccoli......I can't decide which)
Why do movie previews always do that?? Why does the preview show all the funny parts (or use editing to create funny parts that aren't even there), when the movie is serious or depressing or heavy?? The Family Stone did that. The Weatherman did that. The Break-Up did that. And mostly, Stranger than Fiction did that. Do they think we'll only go see it if it's a comedy? Do they have to trick us into seeing a drama with life lessons that are good for us? Kinda like cheese melted all over our broccoli so we'll eat it?
Will Ferrell, Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, & Queen Latifah are the man reasons for seeing Stranger Than Fiction. Emma is amazing in her dark, British way. Dustin is less cartoonish than he's been lately. Maggie is more wonderfully likable than she normally is. The Queen has too straight and small a part but lovely. And Will is a ton more serious than usual but I personally think it suits him. I've never noticed his sweet, soft, lovable eyes before. Stranger than Fiction has some very funny parts. But it's definitely not the goofy type movie's that Will is known for, and I'm not sure the previews reveal the true nature of the movie. And even though I feel tricked, I liked it! Cheese on Broccoli is good, dammit.
On the other hand, the other movie I saw this weekend was The Break-Up and I'm glad I rented it with my magical Blockbuster-in-the-mailbox club. It really wasn't funny. It was depressing with no redemption. We get a few seconds of Vince Vaughn's charmingly quick and witty dialogue, and then we get two characters arguing for another hour or so. Ok......so we get some Jennifer nakedness for about a second too. But mostly, we just get that awkward voyeurish feeling of watching a couple argue about stupid stuff. We could have video-taped our own lives if we wanted to see that!!
I guess the Broccoli wasn't cooked enough for me (I actually like vege's cooked well and yes I know they're not as good for me). I guess you can't fool me into liking hard, microwaved Broccoli, even if you spread cheese all over it.
Will Ferrell, Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, & Queen Latifah are the man reasons for seeing Stranger Than Fiction. Emma is amazing in her dark, British way. Dustin is less cartoonish than he's been lately. Maggie is more wonderfully likable than she normally is. The Queen has too straight and small a part but lovely. And Will is a ton more serious than usual but I personally think it suits him. I've never noticed his sweet, soft, lovable eyes before. Stranger than Fiction has some very funny parts. But it's definitely not the goofy type movie's that Will is known for, and I'm not sure the previews reveal the true nature of the movie. And even though I feel tricked, I liked it! Cheese on Broccoli is good, dammit.
On the other hand, the other movie I saw this weekend was The Break-Up and I'm glad I rented it with my magical Blockbuster-in-the-mailbox club. It really wasn't funny. It was depressing with no redemption. We get a few seconds of Vince Vaughn's charmingly quick and witty dialogue, and then we get two characters arguing for another hour or so. Ok......so we get some Jennifer nakedness for about a second too. But mostly, we just get that awkward voyeurish feeling of watching a couple argue about stupid stuff. We could have video-taped our own lives if we wanted to see that!!
I guess the Broccoli wasn't cooked enough for me (I actually like vege's cooked well and yes I know they're not as good for me). I guess you can't fool me into liking hard, microwaved Broccoli, even if you spread cheese all over it.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Brothers & Sisters
Maybe I'm a sap but I love a good story about a dysfunctional family.
I TiVo so many shows from Weeds to Lost to Desperate Housewives to Ellen......... I usually don't even try new shows..............BUT Sally Fields and Ron Rifkin and Calista Flockhart and Rachel Griffiths and Patricia Wettig. WOW!!
For those of you not TiVo-ing your tele, Brothers & Sisters is on Sunday nights on ABC at 10pm Calif. time.
The "ensemble cast" is fabulous but Sally Fields is the best I've ever seen her!! She's real and sweet and funny. You can see from this picture that she has age lines and all! Her face actually moves when she's talking.
There have been 5 episodes already but START WATCHING NOW 'cause hopefully it'll be around for more than one season.
Here's what you've missed so far:
Tom Skerritt played the dad for one episode. He had a heart attack and falls in the pool. After his death we find out that he had a mistress (Patricia Wettig) for 15 years and embezzled money from the family business. His wife (Sally Fields) learns of the mistress in episode 3. In his will, he names the oldest daughter (Rachel Griffiths) as CEO. Calista, the other daughter, is a raging Republican with a TV show, and has conflict with pretty much everyone else. Sally Fields brother is played wonderfully by Ron Rifkin, and heads the family biz as the CFO (a jewish accountant.......surprise!).
Thursday, August 31, 2006
For "immature" audiences
For those of you not watching Weeds, the greatest cable series since 6 Feet Under and Queer as Folk, here is a link to one of the funniest moments on TV (or cable or whatever ya' wanna call it).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWzOQTFwRBE
For the entire episode (Season 2, show #3):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1anAxtvGCPA
And to catch up...........................................
For a review of Season 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltideBDx6VI
For Season 2, show #1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFAib3VlXhI
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9QnKoxl-lA
And Season 2, show #2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLEWVKbsaMM
WARNING: adult content and graphic language!
ENJOY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWzOQTFwRBE
For the entire episode (Season 2, show #3):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1anAxtvGCPA
And to catch up...........................................
For a review of Season 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltideBDx6VI
For Season 2, show #1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFAib3VlXhI
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9QnKoxl-lA
And Season 2, show #2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLEWVKbsaMM
WARNING: adult content and graphic language!
ENJOY
Monday, March 06, 2006
Oscars
WHAT is that on her shoulder? A pillow in case she gets sleepy during the 78 hour Academy Awards? If she needed a leftover bridesmaid dress, I have plenty. And WHERE are her boobs; I see only nipples.
The best thing about this years Oscars was that the best film of 2005 actually WON BEST PICTURE!!! CRASH is an amazing film and I said so on my blog last June. And althought I'm so glad everyone got to hear the song, In The Deep, the soundtrack (all of which is FABULOUS) is mainly moving music by Mark Isham, AND my favorite tune is Maybe Tomorrow.
I don't know about Keira or Amy whoever or Rachel, but Meryl Streep was fabulous in Prime. Totally overlooked? And although Mr & Mrs Smith is not Oscar material I suppose, it was a GREAT movie from 2005.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Brokeback Mountain
Brokeback Mountain FINALLY opened in SLO! I read about it over a year ago and waited anxiously for the Dec. 7th opening. Only it didn't get here until now. That's a whole lotta waiting. After all that waiting I decided to wait an hour in line.
Why was I so obsessed with this movie? I was so impressed that a gay romance was going mainstream; Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal for gawwds sake. A sigh of relief for breaking down prejudice.
And after all that waiting could it possibly live up to the expectation? Well it wasn't romantic........about love or life as I expected it to be. It was REAL. Love happens thru a lifetime..........thru good times and bad. As a realist, I appreciated it even more than I expected.
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Little Boxes
Have you seen the new series on Showtime called Weeds? It's really, really GOOD. The opening is GOOD. Elizabeth Perkins, Mary Louis-Parker, and the rest of the cast are GOOD.
I have the opening song stuck in my head.
LITTLE BOXES (Words and music by Malvina Reynolds)
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes made of ticky tacky
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes all the same,
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
And the people in the houses
All went to the university
Where they were put in boxes
And they came out all the same
And there's doctors and lawyers
And business executives
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
I have the opening song stuck in my head.
LITTLE BOXES (Words and music by Malvina Reynolds)
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes made of ticky tacky
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes all the same,
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
And the people in the houses
All went to the university
Where they were put in boxes
And they came out all the same
And there's doctors and lawyers
And business executives
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
1 Degree of Separation
There's only ONE degree of separation left. I've been saying that a lot lately! I saw a movie last night that made me think about it in a different way.
The movie CRASH is:
a must see
thought provoking
about human nature
about judgements
about assumptions
about "first impressions"
about the good and evil in every human being
You never know.............about people, about when and where and how your lives will intertwine.
Those are all the things that I am thinking about as I continue to feel the movie in the hours since seeing it. And yet the first thing I said when the movie was over is........."ohhhh the soundtrack is going to be great".
So I looked up the soundtrack for CRASH on iTunes and most of it is by a New Age artist named Mark Isham. His name doesn't sound familiar although I LOVE new age music. And so I purchased it and I am listening to it right now. And while on iTunes and discovered that Mark Isham did the music for the movie A River Runs Through It, Life As A House, Blade, & Last Dance. Amazing.
And then I looked at the soundtrack for Mystic River and discovered that Clint Eastwood is the musical artist. And he did the soundtrack for Million Dollar Baby. Who knew?!
And then I looked up music by Robbie Robertson because Marya can't say enough good things about him on her blog. He's Native American. I think I found his name when looking up Native American musicians with my friend Teri last month. Teri was on her way to Seattle to hook up with a group of Native American musicians. While Teri was visiting me I read her parts of Marya's blog and told her that if we had time I would have introduced them because I think they'd "click", (not knowing, of course, that they could talk about this common musical interest). And all the while reading on Marya's blog about recent re-connection with a high school buddy, at the SAME time having a similiar re-connection with Teri.
The .......evidence........that we are all inter-connected keeps building and building...........not just because I live in a small town. The UNIVERSE seems to be a small place, doesn't it????
The movie CRASH is:
a must see
thought provoking
about human nature
about judgements
about assumptions
about "first impressions"
about the good and evil in every human being
You never know.............about people, about when and where and how your lives will intertwine.
Those are all the things that I am thinking about as I continue to feel the movie in the hours since seeing it. And yet the first thing I said when the movie was over is........."ohhhh the soundtrack is going to be great".
So I looked up the soundtrack for CRASH on iTunes and most of it is by a New Age artist named Mark Isham. His name doesn't sound familiar although I LOVE new age music. And so I purchased it and I am listening to it right now. And while on iTunes and discovered that Mark Isham did the music for the movie A River Runs Through It, Life As A House, Blade, & Last Dance. Amazing.
And then I looked at the soundtrack for Mystic River and discovered that Clint Eastwood is the musical artist. And he did the soundtrack for Million Dollar Baby. Who knew?!
And then I looked up music by Robbie Robertson because Marya can't say enough good things about him on her blog. He's Native American. I think I found his name when looking up Native American musicians with my friend Teri last month. Teri was on her way to Seattle to hook up with a group of Native American musicians. While Teri was visiting me I read her parts of Marya's blog and told her that if we had time I would have introduced them because I think they'd "click", (not knowing, of course, that they could talk about this common musical interest). And all the while reading on Marya's blog about recent re-connection with a high school buddy, at the SAME time having a similiar re-connection with Teri.
The .......evidence........that we are all inter-connected keeps building and building...........not just because I live in a small town. The UNIVERSE seems to be a small place, doesn't it????
Sunday, January 30, 2005
FINDING NEVERLAND
Peta' Pan......... The child who never grew up. The boy who's imagination allowed him to fly.
IMAGINATION. Creativity. Believing..........in fairies, in flight, in magic
I will never see Peter Pan the same. I now see that sweet, blue-eyed, face of Freddie Highmore. His pain and his struggle to BELIEVE in magic. How can a child believe in magic when he's experienced the death of his parent at such a young age.
I was 12 when my mother died of leukimia. I don't know when I stopped believing in MAGIC but it was definitely before my mother died. I stopped believing in Santa when I was 5, and at 12 I was already the practical, "grounded", person I am today! I didn't have James Barrie to challenge my beliefs. Or perhaps I did; my mom's best friend who became my second-mom, somehow allowed me to be a child like only a mother can. And that was not an easy task; I sure was stubborn just like Peter.
And yet, in my DREAMS, I flew. I've had the flying dreams since I can remember. (One of my all-time FAVORITE books is my PETER PAN book, it's a bit torn up now but still with me.)
In my dreams, I'm flapping my arms with all my strength to rise off the floor, if I was inside the house (just like Wendy, Peter, & John). But when I was outside I could fly with the wind. It's scary and exhilarating. See how HIGH I can go?! Oh...no, be careful of the telephone wires and the buildings. The wind can be so strong; you must navigate carefully. I've always loved my flying dreams. I haven't had one for awhile. Perhaps tonight!
IMAGINATION. Creativity. Believing..........in fairies, in flight, in magic
I will never see Peter Pan the same. I now see that sweet, blue-eyed, face of Freddie Highmore. His pain and his struggle to BELIEVE in magic. How can a child believe in magic when he's experienced the death of his parent at such a young age.
I was 12 when my mother died of leukimia. I don't know when I stopped believing in MAGIC but it was definitely before my mother died. I stopped believing in Santa when I was 5, and at 12 I was already the practical, "grounded", person I am today! I didn't have James Barrie to challenge my beliefs. Or perhaps I did; my mom's best friend who became my second-mom, somehow allowed me to be a child like only a mother can. And that was not an easy task; I sure was stubborn just like Peter.
And yet, in my DREAMS, I flew. I've had the flying dreams since I can remember. (One of my all-time FAVORITE books is my PETER PAN book, it's a bit torn up now but still with me.)
In my dreams, I'm flapping my arms with all my strength to rise off the floor, if I was inside the house (just like Wendy, Peter, & John). But when I was outside I could fly with the wind. It's scary and exhilarating. See how HIGH I can go?! Oh...no, be careful of the telephone wires and the buildings. The wind can be so strong; you must navigate carefully. I've always loved my flying dreams. I haven't had one for awhile. Perhaps tonight!
Friday, December 17, 2004
FAVORITE MOVIES
My list of FAVORITE movies.......................
- Something's Gotta Give (we love Dianne Keaton in the nude.............WOMAN POWER, and I will confess right here and now that Keanu Reeves gets my juices flowing!!
- The Big Chill (a classic, comedic timing like no other)
- Far From Heaven (beautiful and bittersweet; just like life)
- A Home At The End Of The World (WOW)
http://wip.warnerbros.com/index.html?site=ahome - Banger Sisters (more WOMAN POWER, such a great ending)
- Moonlight Mile (speaking of Susan Sarandon, great little movie)
- Thelma & Louis (yet more WOMAN POWER, another classic)
- Bull Durham (long, slow, wet kisses that last............)
- so many others...............will post more later
MUST SEE:
We Don't Live Here Anymore
http://wip.warnerbros.com/wedontlive/
The Door in the Floor
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/door_in_the_floor/trailers.php
Facing Windows
Maria Full of Grace
America's Heart and Soul
Terminal
Shall We Dance
Searching
Searching for ways to express myself. Searching for something to do................ways to use this blog. Wishing I knew how to create an awesome space for my ramblings. I read Marya's blog and I want that; except not Marya's but mine. I won't have poetry but maybe a great quote. And links of course. How fun to write incomplete sentences. There won't be a grade on this paper.
I love movies. Movies and TV are my greatest source of escape. And not escape in the bad way people perceive it but joy and emotion and comfort and peace. Books are my meditation and my sleeping pills.
I saw the movie Closer tonight with Natalie Portman, Julia Roberts, Jude Law, & Clive Owen. AWESOME movie. I sat nestled in my seat transfixed, transported. My heart was heavy but an emotional depth that feels good! Lust and falling in love are fleeting; they come and go.
Another movie I saw recently that touched me deeply was A Home at the End of the World with Colin Farrell, Robin Wright-Penn, and Sissy Spacek. AMAZING movie. Colin's character was the vulnerable and strong and sweet and lovable. Now I see why people find Colin so attractive. His character did that for me.
There are many many movies that have touched me deeply but I can never remember them. Now I will write about them here so I can remember......................those feelings.
I love movies. Movies and TV are my greatest source of escape. And not escape in the bad way people perceive it but joy and emotion and comfort and peace. Books are my meditation and my sleeping pills.
I saw the movie Closer tonight with Natalie Portman, Julia Roberts, Jude Law, & Clive Owen. AWESOME movie. I sat nestled in my seat transfixed, transported. My heart was heavy but an emotional depth that feels good! Lust and falling in love are fleeting; they come and go.
Another movie I saw recently that touched me deeply was A Home at the End of the World with Colin Farrell, Robin Wright-Penn, and Sissy Spacek. AMAZING movie. Colin's character was the vulnerable and strong and sweet and lovable. Now I see why people find Colin so attractive. His character did that for me.
There are many many movies that have touched me deeply but I can never remember them. Now I will write about them here so I can remember......................those feelings.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
