Leonardo DiCaprio

A word about Leo's movies. I loved Leo when he played nice, sweet, young guy roles. He was good. And cute. Some serious roles and he has been fantastic. I can't believe he hasn't won an academy award by now (since he has been nominated.)

But I don't trust his movies anymore. I think maybe he's stuck in the horror genre.

First it was Titanic, that started it all for me. I refused to see it until someone told me the end. They advertised it as a "love story." I know enough to know the difference between love stories and romances. Romances have happy endings. In love stories, one or both of them die. so I knew in advance his character didn't survive the north Atlantic icy waters.

Then was in that true story where he played the guy who went through life as an impostor and forger, Catch Me If You Can. (By the way, I can remember seeing the original guy on "What's My Line" about a hundred years ago.) Leo's character languished in a foreign jail for years and nearly starved. Icky. However, my BFF movie star Amy Adams is in this one too. Brava.

Then it was Blood Diamond. It was a violent, politically apropos story. And he dies at the end. Heart breaking. Horrible.

And then The Departed. I should have known better. Hel-lo!!! Departed means dead. Everyone died at the end but that one guy and I can't remember if he was one of the good guys or bad guys. They had undercover good guys in the nest of bad guys, and bad guys serving as cops. Leo was an undercover good guy but did everything the bad guys did, so it was hard to decide. I was disappointed to see Leo bite the dust but glad to see Matt Damon finished off. (I seriously don't like Matt. It's not that he's a bad actor. He just doesn't act at all. He may have made a turn for the better in Hearafter. Clint Eastwood actually squeezed a real performance out of Matt.)

I was recently freaked out by the DVD of Shutter Island. This movie makes Leo a bonafied horror movie star. He is insane in this movie and undergoing some weird & awful therapy. When he remembers the real circumstance of why he is in an asylum for the criminally insane, believe me, the most sane thing he could have done was go insane. It was genuinely horrible. And it's unusual that I saw it in the movie theater about a year ago and don't even remember it. Maybe I belong in an asylum for the forgetfully insane. (Is bonafied a word?)

So, I would love to see Leo in a romantic comedy. Come on, all the other popular actors have had to endure them, why not you? Get into a chick flick and learn to be a little lighthearted for us women. Laugh it up a little.

Jane Langton books

I have been watching movies (quality ones) that I have forgotten about books.

That's a joke because even tho I have recently donated about 500 books to thrift stores in my neighborhood, I still read despite the movies that are keeping me enthralled.

Just for the record, I love Jane Langton's books. They are loosely described as mysteries, are well-written, the characters are charming, the author is delightful and witty with her descriptions.

Thankfully these books are older and might be out of print, but you can look for them in the thrift and used book stores.

And I wonder if Amy Adams has read any Jane Langton? (See my movie reviews below.)

I know authors don't like used book sales, but if it turns on the readers to a certain author so that they begin to buy the new editions, I say "Why not?"

Julie and Julia, Meryl Streep and Amy Adams

To rent or buy. Go for it.

I have been watching several movies with Amy Adams and feel, by now, that Amy Adams is my best friend.

I absolutely love Julie and Julia. Both actresses are wonderful.

It's well done and parts of it are delicious.

It is destined to sell a lot of books..Julia Child's cook books, memoires, and bios, and Julie Powell's books, too, if you like her sort of book. I am told not to base her readability on this movie, but you may if you prefer.

As the credits say at the beginning, the movie is based on two true stories.

In my opinion this movie, as far as true stories go, is more entertaining that Eat, Pray, Love.

Don't miss it. Fun movie and good acting all around.

I can't be called a critic because I love most movies. Except The Departed. Even Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is better than The Departed. Oh, that goes for the HORROR movie, too, Shatter Island. Horrid movie. Broke my heart. Avoid it.

Leap Year --Good Movie with Amy Adams and Matthew Goode

Leap Year is now on DVD and HBO with Amy Adams and Matthew Goode in leading roles.

The last time I fell totally in love with a movie as much as I have Leap Year it was The Phantom the Opera. (As some of my friends remember, I fell totally in love with Gerard Butler too, but that's another story.)

I LOVE this movie. I might have set a world record in how many times I've seen it. Every time I see it, I still enjoy it. It's cute and funny but often serious and sensitive.

It's a "feel-good movie." I know it might be classified as a romantic comedy and a chick flick. But it's a genuine, enjoyable entertainment. The plot goes much deeper than just a formula romance.

Amy Adams is always good. She put in a perfect performance and made the movie into a worthwhile & mainstream movie.(Amy Adams could be in a movie about dead mice and still be great.)

Adam Scott was good playing the rather bland boyfriend...I mean that's what he was supposed to be and did it well.

I haven't seen any of Matthew Goode's other movies yet, but all I can say based on Leap Year is that Matthew Goode is an AMAZING actor.

I fell in-love with his character Declan O'Callaghan Matthew created. Matthew is a creative genius. What makes him even more amazing is the fact that he completely submerged himself into Declan O'Callaghan. I couldn't find any resemblance whatsoever between the character and the actor.

Declan is a scruffy, obnoxious, quiet man with an Irish accent. I was surprised to see Matthew is a young, clean cut, witty, Englishman (and a bit stuck on himself in my opinion.) He acting such a feat of magic, a conjuring trick, he completely submerged himself into the character. (Even with 300 I could still see Gerry Butler inside that costume.)

I think the story is best revealed in the facial expressions, so watch carefully. Matthew Goode is excellent in conveying so much more than expected with a look and body language.

One of the most important keys to the story is what happens in the B & B. If you decide it's "yes" the rest of the movie and the interplay between the characters makes absolute sense. If you think it's "no" then watch it again assuming you're wrong, and you'll see what I mean. Many things after that become clear.(I have a list of 38 "hints" that support a "yes" decision on my other blog Advising Myself.) An example of how good Goode is at conveying what's really going on between the main characters, watch his expression in the scene on the bridge when Declan says, "Apparently not" and first looks towards Anna and then directly at her. He's saying so much more than "apparently not."

I can't really say anymore without giving it all away. (Well, we know a romance has a happy ending, the enjoyment is seeing just how that unfolds. In this case, I think the romance is done with a reverse plot--a man is waiting for a girl to grown up and take things seriously, rather than the typical plot of the girl waiting for a guy to come to his senses. Very innovative.)

If you are good at reading hidden clues and facial expressions, you are going to like this movie. It's well written with good direction as well as being extremely well acted. Director: Anand Tucker and Writers: Deborah Kaplan, Harry Elfont.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I give it a 9 (less than a 10 because of some cutting/editing problems that aren't that noticeable.)

Hearafter

Hearafter: GOOD movie. Even Matt Damon was good. I thank Clint Eastwood for getting Matt to act. Wonderfully done movie. Loved it. Go see it.

NaNoWriMo

I am taking the challenge. National Novel Writing Month 2010. I am writing a novel in Nov. I have two rought drafts under the bed but must come up with a new idea by Nov. 1 and write my fingers to the bone all of November. I hope a character speaks to me in my dreams tonight and lets me know what s/he thinks the plot should be, heck, the genre. Wish me luck.

I have been reading a lot of non-fiction books

Hello. I am out searching for my true self. If I should get back before I return, please keep me here and ask me to wait. Confusing? Yeah, tell me about it...

OK. I am reading a lot of non-fiction books. Mostly to help me with my tendency to get depressed. I mean, basically, to deal with it and get over it!!! Believe me an illness and a compulsion is not something people do to enjoy themselves. We don't intend to get depressed and don't choose it and when we try to stop it--it's nearly impossible. Unfortunately it gets worse if we try to ignore it.

My doc took me off the antidepressants and my depression lifted immediately. It also stopped my compulsive eating. I wish I had realized this would happen. I would have stopped my meds (and emotional eating) 10 pounds ago.

I am on a low dosage of mood stabilizers and thank goodness I am feeling hopeful now and occasionally joyful.

Wowee.

I am currently reading, among other books by Beverly Engle and Pia Melody about emotional healing and codependency, FACING LOVE ADDICTION.

All can say is "WHEW." I thought I was going crazy. I have been under the influence of a an addiction of sorts, similar to overeating, codependency, and alcoholism, and attempting to relate to a person who has some "addictions" that mesh with mine and trap us both in a toxic non-relationship.

I decided to be the wise and strong one and break out of the pattern and call it quits. It is out of respect for myself and my buddy. The relationship was working, just in a way opposite the way we hoped and wanted. Sort of love/hate relationship with attraction/avoidance cycles that were making us both worse and worse.

I am wanting to recommend that my partner in crime, my former bestfriend will read it too, but it's not my job anymore to fix him anymore that it was my job to contribute to the whole relationship of love/avoidance addictions in the first place.

I want to thank the author Pia Mellody with Andrea and J. Keith Miller co-authors as well as my therapist who recommended the book.

I feel like I am born-again and on the verge of a new style of life as a single/widowed middle-aged woman.

I am thinking of changing my name to JOY like I always wanted to.

Hope and Joy, Ahhhhhhhhhh

Sandy

DVD & VHS movies at the Library

The Rio Grande Library system has movies to "rent" for free. They are donated, so if you have some movies you don't want anymore, drop them off at the library.

I go to the Tijeras Branch of the Bernalillo County Rio Grande Library System.

I redcently watched:

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Really really good. Amy Adams was adorable. Frances Dormand was wonderful. It's a chick flick but especially for everyone of all ages.

Also:

An Unmarried Woman

Wow. Jill Clayburg was in great shape back then. What ever happened to her? Don't see her in movies now. It was good to watch because I am single now that I am a widow. But I'm a little bit older than she was. It was a good movie.

Of course, I've seen some movies at the theater. Avatar in 3D twice. Loved it.

And Shutter Island with Leo. He's one of my favorites along with Johnny Depp and Gerard Butler. Leo D. sure did a lot of frowning in that movie. I liked it a lot because it kept me guessing. As a writer I love to watch a screenplay that is new and different and keeps me guessing. It's a good movie when I can't guess what's coming next and don't guess the ending. WQrth watching. It's a suspense/thriller and detective mystery (maybe) not a horror movie like the trailers on TV seemed to present.

I watched a movie I'd seen before. I always enjoy watching Gerry Butler in anything. I could watch him just standing on the stage smiling.

Movies: Our modern mythology where we learn about the secret meanings of life.

Avatar

Awesome. Fabulous. See it twice, better the second time. 3D is wonderful. And I am going to see it in HD 3D on a Dynamax screen (Century Rio 24) next. Then prob. buy it. I think it should be KEPT on a screen at all times for the next 20 years...especially in 3D.

See it.