Turner Classic Movies

Turner Classic Movie channel is having 31 Days of Oscar Winning movies, which started Feb. 1 through March 3. Uncut and commercial free.

Click on Turner Classic Movies above to see their website and schedule.

I like the movies from the 1930's and 1940's the best.

I was just wondering why the actors all spoke like Franklin Roosevelt. Was that supposed to be THE American accent denoting educated, upper class people? It sounds strange now.

The FX of the days weren't half bad either. I saw part of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with Fredric March (1931.) The transformation of the doctor into his "evil twin" was well done. And it was all done without animation. Cool. The make-up was very well done even though Mr. Hyde looked a bit like a glorified ape.

The old movies give us a very good idea of what the fashions, hair designs, and style of make-up were popular in those days, as well as what the various buildings, furnishings and establishments looked like in those days. This was way way before the computer graphics used today.

Some of these old movies can be quite funny especially when they are serious. The seriousness may seem overly dramatic today.

The lines, too, are just so strange to us now. Take the line from Dr. Jekyll speaking to his fiance. "Marry me, darling, marry me. Marry me. I can't WAIT any longer." Now-a-days, we don't wait...if you catch my drift.

Enjoy an old movie on a TV near you today!!!

THE CHAMBER

Click on title above for website of movie

Director: James Foley
Written by: John Grisham (novel),William Goldman & Chris Reese(screenplay)
Stars:Chris O'Donnell, Gene Hackman,Faye Dunaway & Lela Rochon

I broke one of my own rules and watched a painful drama. It was accidental. I noticed the name of the movie on HBO. I had the book by John Grisham but never read it. Probably donated it to VA hospital, whatever.

Since I have enjoyed his other novels and the movies based on them, I let it play while I was playing on the computer. After the start of the movie, it got my undivided attention. Compelling. Even when I knew what was coming & the suspense built up, I couldn't stop watching.

This was a damn good movie. It pulled no punches. Brought up some serious issues. Very thought provoking. Be warned it uses some of the words that have become politically incorrect in order to stay true-to-life.

It was about a young lawyer (Chris O'Donnell) who seeks out his family whom he has not been close to and decides to take on the death penalty (in the South) and petition for an appeal for his grandfather (Gene Hackman) who was raised in the KKK and sentenced to death for murder. The movie takes us through a great deal of emotional scenes. There is some violence but the real drama is mostly psychological and emotional. The flashbacks are intense but bearable.

Chris O'Donnell and the supporting cast were good and held their own with the big star Gene Hackman. The days are over, I suspect, when Hackman is in every other movie made. So he puts a big performance into the roles he has. You can tell he's still got it.

So does Faye Dunaway. Excellent. Best I've seen her. Great role.

I recommend it so try to catch it on HBO or rental.

CHASING LIBERTY--YUCK

I got the next Matthew Goode movie from Netflix yesterday.

Director: Andy Cadiff; Writers: Derek Guiley, David Schneiderman

Stars:Mandy Moore, Matthew Goode and Mark Harmon .

I got the feeling the cast were "phoning in" their parts.

This was one of Matthew Goode's earlier films (2004.)

Chasing Liberty was a terrible movie. The actors were totally unconvincing. They looked as bored as I was. The girl was still a teenager, the guy was a bit older and should have been ashamed of himself. The general premise was stupid. It was just not believable. No heart. No intelligence. Dumb, dumb, dumb. I got the feeling they were rushing through the movie. I am also sure that the only people who would like this movie are 12 year old girls. Maybe not.

Wait, the scenery was good. But probably faked. The best parts of the movie were done by stunt people. So much for that. The bungee jumping was cool. And the crowd scene was awesome. That was it for me.

I can understand what Matthew Goode meant when he said in an interview that Leap Year was just Chasing Liberty all over again. (I see that but disagree.)Many of scenes in Leap Year were repeats of scenes in Chasing Liberty . The big difference is, in Chasing Liberty , these scenes were awful. In fact the whole movie Chasing Liberty was awful.

In Leap Year the the script was well written, the acting was more than good especially Matthew Goode and Amy Adams. That movie showed a great deal more heart & sensitivity. The young people were older and took life a bit more seriously. It was a comedy but touching. Believable. (The only bad thing about Leap Year was the editing and cutting. Too bad.)

So if it snows here for four days like the weather channel predicts, I will be snowed in with Chasing Liberty instead of the next Matthew Goode movie on my Netflix queue. WAAAAAAAAAA

Agatha Christie

Click on title "Agatha Christie" to see internet bio and book list

I've been a long time fan of Agatha Christie. I have a library of all her books. I've read all of them and some of them more than once. She wrote a number of mystery novels and short stories (in collections) and a few other stories under a pen name.

I have decided to read my way through her books starting with the mysteries. (Since I have forgotten most of them or gotten them confused in my head. I'm reading the whole library straight through IN THE ORDER they were written (published.)

I finished THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES (1920) her first book which introduced Hercule Poirot, her famous private detective.

What I like about Agatha Christie's books is the lack of description; it's kept to a minimum. I just can't stand too much description. I am not a visual person. I am an auditory person and I prefer to read dialog. I actually hear the dialog in my head as if it were really being spoken.

I also like the fact that Poirot and her other crime solving characters think a lot. (I once submitted a story in a contest and received the comment from the critiquer/judge that my characters spent too much time thinking. I disagree. I like characters who think a lot. I once read a novel that was ALL thinking. So there!)

In Christie's novels, besides talking and thinking, there is very little cliff-hanging adventure/action. I don't like those fast paced thrillers (well, maybe Davinci Code.) Not much suspense. I get too nervous if there is too much suspense.

I perfectly enjoy joining Christie's characters in there English country estates and reading about all their family and friends as they help Poirot solve the mystery.

Agatha Christie's mysteries are amazing in that she gives tons of clues to help the reader guess the culprit, as well as lots of red-herrings (false clues to mislead readers.) In some of the books she actually tells who committed the crime, but most of us read right over those and are surprised at the end that she really DID tell us who did it.

And I have never guessed any of them (except the one that had a list of characters in the front which gave descriptions of all of them. So don't read those lists, they tend to give away too much information.)

I love mysteries. My favorite genre. I read every word and never peak at the end. That would be ruining everything for myself.

They are fun books with nothing scary or gross. So join me in reading your way through Agatha's books.

WATCHMEN

Click on title to see IMBd listing

Watchmen was shown on MAX which doesn’t repeat movies as many times as HBO does. I caught Watchmen a few days ago...missed the beginning and most of the end. (Not a good idea.) I finally got to see it from beginning to end. Whew.

Watchmen is based on a graphic novel about “retired” superheroes that come out of retirement to find the person responsible for killing them one by one.

It’s in “cartoon” cinematography but not animated, except for the usual type of FX used to make a movie more “realistic.”

It’s a GOOD movie. I couldn’t get over how good it is. It’s about 3 hours long, so do what you have to do before you sit down to watch it. (I suggest watching it on a premium channel or a DVD rather than seeing it on a channel with commercial breaks.) It’s rated R, mostly for violence and sexuality.

One thing that makes the movie so good (surprise!) it’s dark but it’s FUNNY! There’s so much satire and parody. Many of the characters look like other actors and characters, i.e., Laurie Juniper looks like Xena and Rorschach sounds like a Clint Eastwood’s character. Another word- play: vicious dogs named Fred and Barney (remember The Flintstones?) The sets are another source of humor, i.e.: the restaurant across the street called Gunga Diner (remember Gunga Din the old old movie?)

I won’t point out anymore humor. No spoilers. But keep and eye and ear out. Take a good look at Jon (he’s the big blue guy.)

The movie is a bit gory. This movie is in a category by itself, but it’s worth seeing for the overall fun of it. It’s not for everyone, especially kids or sissies. Feel free to close your eyes if you can’t stand the sight of assorted mayhem.

One more thing. As you know I am watching my way though sweetie Matthew Goode’s movies. In this, he’s blond; in his fight scenes not one strand of hair gets mussed. I knew it was him from his voice and the fact he’s tall and thin. He has an unrecognizable accent, though. Maybe it was done as humor, but it sounded like an Englishman trying to mix American and German accents and coming up with Irish. (As a matter of fact he sounded, near the end, a bit like Declan his Irish character in Leap Year. And I daresay the Irish had a good laugh at his Irish accent.) It was gratifying to hear him get mean and angry. And actually cuss—he called someone a son-of-a-bitch. So Brits can be macho. Way to go!

The Tudors

The series originally seen on Showtime is now showing on BBC America (cable and satellite) with commercial breaks, and I daresay, it's censored for adult content, but not much. It will probably never make it to network TV or PBS.)

The focus of the story is Henry the VIII played by Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, the good-looking British hunk from Match Point (already reviewed.)

I loved it on Showtime but missed a great deal of it. I was glad to see it on BBC on Wednesday nights at a reasonable hour. It’s done with big screen quality in one- hour episodes. You can see the previous episode the hour before the “new” one in case you miss an episode. I believe there are three seasons, but I’m not sure if BBC will carry all of them. It helps to start from Season 1 and Episode 1 when Henry becomes King. (I think you can see them on the internet, too.)

The acting, costumes and sets are super. It’s emotional without being painful. Literary and artistic but comprehensible. Music is period and unobtrusive, but most scenes are done with no musical background. Exceptional television show. British series often are. Try to catch it. It’s worth watching if you can on watch one episode. It’s spell-binding.

I don’t know how true to history the series is, but Jonathan is beyond good. (I’m running out of superlatives. Groan.) GOOD, truly, GOOD.

You get the message now I love movies and “critique” most of them as good (for lack of a better word.) In fact, I don’t think I’d watch a bad movie just to review it. I’m a reviewer not a critic. I think critics enjoy bad-mouthing movies. Not I.

Match Point 2005

Click on title above to see IMDb info about movie


Director: Woody Allen, Writer: Woody Allen
Stars: Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Scarlett Johansson, Emily Mortimer, and Matthew Goode

Story is about a former tennis pro who falls for a sexy American girl who happens to be involved with his friend and soon-to-be brother-in-law. It takes him into a world he has never know before. Most of the movie is about falling deeper and deeper into that world. Does he ever really get out?

There's not much more I can say about this movie other than pointing to the list of nominations and wins in the film industry. Too many to list here with the acception of the Academy Award nomination for Woody Allen. (See link to these nominations and awards on IMDb.

Previous Woody Allen movies have not been any of my favorite movies--perhaps because of their type of humor. However, this was different (a drama thriller) and one of his best if not his the best. (Woody Allen agreed with this himself. See Wikipedia entry for Match Point.)

This movie was so suspenseful I could hardly stand it. It's impossible to figure out what's going to happen in advance (and I'm usually good at guessing since I'm a writer and have studied various types of writing including screenplays.) I always appreciate a story that keeps me guessing.

Everyone's acting was exceptional. And I got to see my favorite actor Matthew Goode. He's always good. (I don't ever expect to see him do badly in a movie even a bad movie.) Definitely rent and see this one.

See Jonathan Rhys-Myers as Henry the VIII in The Tudors series now being shown on BBC. (as of Jan. 2010.)

Night at the Museum: Battle at the Smithsonian

Click title to see IMDb page for this movie















HBO puts on the same movie a number of times in a month, spreading it out onto all the HBO channels to reach viewers at all times of the day and night.

Recently I have been watching Night at the Museum: Battle at the Smithsonian (2009, Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, and Amy Adams, Robin Williams,and a large cast of other actors both big and small. (Some were very small--about 2 inches high not to mention the ones in Black and White. (You've got to see it.)

Ben Stiller is Ben Stiller. Sometimes more silly, sometimes less silly as he was in this movie. He's nearly the "straight man" which means setting up the scenes and jokes for the other characters, allowing them to be funny. He's less obnoxious in this movie than in some of his earlier movies. His newer movies seem to have more substance.

I thought the first Night at the Museum was a kid movie and wasn't impressed with it. But I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel. Enough to watch it more than once just for the enjoyment. It's one of the movie sequels that are better than the original.

First of all, the FX graphics and animation were very good. None of it looked goofy or fake. Well, maybe the Einstein bobble heads.

Hank Azaria was the funniest I've ever seen him. In fact, his acting was great. (I really haven't seen him "acting: before, he usually just plays Hank. He's done mostly television but he does well in this movie plus his costumes, the voice--all good. (Bravo, Hank. Hope to see more of that kind of role for you.)

Amy Adams did a great rendition of Amelia Earhart. She did well with speaking like Amelia and only slipped into the "Amy Adams accent" a couple of times. Though, I don't think half* the population would notice. Her clothes looked painted on. (*The men half of the population and some of the women. You know who you are.)

This is a movie worth seeing by kids and adults. Clean fun (whatever that is.)

Catch it on HBO or rent the DVD. (I love Netflix.)

Watchmen

Click title to see IMDb movie info


Oh man. I put Watchmen on my NetFlix queue and then moved it to the end of the list. But tonight I stumbled across it on MAX tonight. Missed the first 40 minutes so I am going to have to watch it again.

All I can say is this is a totally awesome. It's funny though gory. The retired superheros came out of retirement to track down the guy that was killing them off. There were flashback to things that happened when they were superheros in action.

Matthew Goode, again, is unrecognizable, hidden in his character. Blond with an American accent (sort of.) The other actors were unrecognizable, too. The girl in the movie (Malin Akerman) looked so much like Lucy Lawless (who played Xena, Warrior Princess.) Some of the puns, funny dialog, visual jokes are really funny.

One sticks out in my mind. One character asks, "What ever happened to the American Dream?" The other answers, "It came true."

Other tongue-in-cheek humor--the leader of the criminals in prison is a little person, and the Comedian wears a smiley face button (while he was shooting people.)

This movie is not for everyone. Especially not for children. Or squeamish sissies.

But it's a good movie. I say rent it if you like this genre.

Below: Malin Akerman and Matthew Goode (click to enlarge)

Imagine Me and You

As my loyal readers may remember, I fell in love with Leap Year and Matthew Goode's acting. I vowed to watch my way through all of his movies, even those in which he was a supporting actor. I joined NetFlix to expedite that end.

I recently did a review of Matthew Goode's movie Brideshead Revisited and frankly, I wasn't truly impressed with it, nor with Matthew's performance.

Tonight I watched Imagine Me and You (2005) on DVD. I thought it was a romantic comedy. Maybe it's just me being too manic-depressive, but I cried at the end. I realize now that it was a drama with a few laughs in it.

I was happy for the two women falling in love and finding a will and a way to be together. In a romance or a romantic comedy everyone ends up happily-ever-after. But not really this one. It was sad for at least one person. And for me.

It was Matthew Goode's character, Hector. The husband of one of the lead characters. In fact, he himself was one of the leads (is that...tri-stars instead of just co-stars?)

Matthew's performance was overwhelmingly good. Mainly, through his acting, I felt what Hector felt. Once again, in the same way he did in Leap Year, he convinced me that the character was completely real. Goode is a magician as I've said in other posts. He's an amazing actor. He had me in the palm of his hand. He was only 25 or 26 when this was filmed, so think how many more movies he can delight us with in the rest of his career. YES!

This movie was well done so please do watch it. (Even if you cry.) It much more than a comedy/drams It went much deeper than that. (Is that the way with European movies over American? We're spoon-feed movies in America.) And keep watching the start of the credits to see the real end of the movie.

The movie is a study in human nature. Personal. Touching. Believable. The title refers not just to a song, but to the fact that everyone imagines a relationship with a person they admire, including the 11 year old girl.

Both the woman leads in the movie are beautiful. And Matthew is gorgeous. His lovely blue eyes. And sweet smiles of which he has a magnificent repertoire, he a master at subtle but vastly varied facial expression.

I'm going to sign off now. No, not to cry but to watch it again, and as many times as I can before I need to send it back to NetFlix in order to watch the next Matthew Goode movie in my queue.

Incidentally, I told you that I have trouble understanding British accents. In this movie, the young people talk so fast, I found it impossible to listen, read the closed captioning, and watch the beautiful actresses and actor at the same time. That's a very good reason to watch it a time for each aspect.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Oh hell. I wish they would stop putting the end of a movie after the credits start. It's too easy to miss them. So be aware of this and watch it to the real ending. I'm glad I caught it after my second viewing of the movie. You will see a happier Heck. Happier ending for all. I loved Matthew's big smile at the end.

Yes. Good movie. Go for it.

Thanks and appreciation to: Director: Ol Parker, Writer: Ol Parker Stars:Piper Perabo, Lena Headey and Matthew Goode. Rated R. Fox Searchlight Movies.

Sherlock (PBS TV, Masterpiece Theater)

New series on PBS: Sherlock (a 21st century "consulting detective") starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as Dr. John Watson. EXCELLENT. WONDERFUL. FABULOUS.

I loved the "old" Sherlock, too. But this show is phenomenal.

Cumberbatch is good, fascinating, and strikingly handsome in an exotic way (love that curly hair and blue blue eyes) but Martin Freeman is funny, cute, and a wonderful actor and I adore his Dr. Watson struggling to maintain equilibrium while following along on the radical adventures of the young Sherlock Holmes.

Watch it. It's good.

MORE MORE MORE ! We want more ! Tell BBC and PBS!!!

Brideshead Revisited

I watched the Matthew Goode movie Brideshead Revisited after falling in-love with Matthew, his character Declan and his performance in Leap Year.

First of all, I must say there is no comparison between a comedy and a serious drama, especially if the drama happens to be a rather artistic, British movie, and comedy an America fantasy (which romances happen to be.) American movies might not be the height of artistic endeavor but at least Americans and "Irishmen" know how to show emotions and laugh.

The second thing, I can't get over how different Matthew Goode looks, not just from movie to movie, but scene to scene. Some scenes he looks amazingly exotic, sometimes extremely good looking, in other rather strange with his receding chin, painfully thin physique, and rounded shoulders (are tall people that way because they tried to hide their height when they were growing up?)

Brideshead Revisited is a British movie, indeed, and I think one really has to be British to appreciate it fully. It was a bit dry, if not bland. I was rather disappointed with the lack of emotion (other than the emotions that the characters were feeling but not showing by intent.) Even the sex scene wasn't particularly sexy (at least the British are finally putting sex into their movies.)

The movie was good but not great. Matthew was good but not great. It had a strange flow as if it were a documentary. The scene I liked the most was at the end when Charles comes into the chapel,dips his fingers in the holy water with which, it was revealed, he intended to snuff out the chapel candle. Good for you, Charles, diehard atheist til the end.

Quite frankly, I feel no need to ever see this movie again. I think I will go back to watching Leap Year again and again until I find another Matthew Goode movie (or any movie)I like as much. I think perhaps Matthew'll be better in movies (and even more good-looking) as he gets older.

Another thing I would like to mention. I don't know if the articles on the internet are correct saying that Matthew wasn't happy with his performance in Leap Year, and in fact, didn't like the movie. I find that insulting to the viewers that loved it and/or enjoyed.

Personally, I have something to say about that: "Matthew, you are an actor. To be in the movies you have to be a whore. Not every movie is Shakespeare."

Good and Dead by Jane Langton

Image is from Jane Langton website
.
I just finished reading an early book of Jane Langton's. It is loosely defined as a mystery and Homer Kelley as the sleuth. Good and Dead, about a group of people that all attend the same church.

It's less of a mystery than a study of human nature. Her characters are fascinating with humorous names. They do strange things. They're funny. Funny Ha-Ha, and Funny Strange. The narratives are funny.

And then, Jane's descriptions are rich and poetic. A new way of looking at things. Great metaphors and unique way of looking at things. Her stories are inventive and different. Entertaining and delightful.

It's refreshing to read a book with out a lot of creepy details about death and murder. (A few of the characters in this book die of natural causes.) It's not depressing or gory.

It's fun to read Jane's novels in the order they were written. I read one of the early ones recently (Transcendental Murders) in which Homer meets his wife Mary for the first time. I read the ones where they are a retired couple first, so it was a delight to see how they got together. Homer is a literary scholar and so is Mary. Homer is retired from the District Attorney's office as a law enforcement officer. The theme of the series revolves around people who love and study the New England poets and old American authors.

It's good to read a book from earlier years that doesn't have a lot of technology involved. The library had card files instead of computers to find a book (if you recall what they were.)

None of the characters is calling anyone from a cell phone. In fact, if cell phones had been invented, one of the guys wouldn't have gotten stuck in a snow storm.

So. Get yourself a Jane Langton novel. Enjoy yourself.

Matthew Goode

.
.
.
.
.
SEE WHAT I MEAN ABOUT MATTHEW GOODE NOT EVEN RESEMBLING HIS CHARACTER DECLAN IN LEAP YEAR AT ALL?

Picture one: Declan, Picture 2: Matthew. Picture 3: Even when Matthew is "wearing" his hair and beard like Declan's, he still doesn't look like Declan. Declan was a scruffy, surly Irishman with a broken heart and a grudge. And a rather poor attitude towards life and women, until Anna from Boston came into his life much by accident than desire.

Matthew Goode looks like a young, sweet guy in his pictures. His interviews show a soft spoken, witty man with a British accent.

I am sure Matthew has played characters in other movies where he didn't remotely resemble himself. Like Watchmen for instance. And A Single Man either for that matter.

HOW DOES HE DO THAT?!?

AMAZING.

HE'S MORE OF A MAGICIAN THAN AN ACTOR.

I guess I am one of those women who are attracted to the "bad boys." I prefer Declan to Matthew. No offence intended.

All I can say is thank you to Matthew for creating Declan.

And thanks to the screenwriters. Good script. Good job.

Movies vs. Books

Okay, I admit I am not reading as many books as I used to. I was reading 52 books a year. Average one per week. Except for Diana Gabaldon's which count as three books on my lists. In 2010 I was a bit below that goal. I have a lot of excuses. My grandkids live here...so I'm busy, distracted, interrupted, too tired at night to do anything but fall asleep. I had a serious illness and stroke in 2008 and had to learn how to read again...knew the meanings of the words but read really slow at first. I had open heart surgery and my husband died in 2009. I sit around crying a lot with grief. Going places and doing more, I think. Worrying about getting old. Who me? Never.

So. Watching movies and TV is getting me out of myself for awhile. Does it solve problems or cause them?

Anyway, I read a review someplace about Amy Adams where someone said Amy looked and sounded, in Leap Year, exactly like she did in Enchanted.

WHAT!??!?!

I'm watching Enchanted now and (besides it being a kid movie) Amy Adams isn't even recognizable in Enchanted. Not only doesn't she look and sound the same as Anna in Leap Year, she doesn't even look and sound like Amy Adams.

In Enchanted, I think she sounds and looks more like Brenda in Catch Me If You Can. Except for the braces. I think putting her in Enchanted was akin to casting a grown-up in Wizard of Oz, but okay...

Having mentioned Amy Adams my thoughts jumped right to her costar in Leap Year, Matthew Goode. I realized tonight that I when I said in an earlier blog I have never seen Matthew Goode's other movies, I was wrong. At least I have seen a couple of them. I just never noticed him. First of all, it's that British accent. I simply cannot understand, out of all the accents in the world, the British accent in movies or on TV. At least if I'm in a conversation with a Brit, I can ask them to repeat. I have to rely on closed captioning for British accents. Unfortunately they don't usually have CC on foreign movies (filmed and DVD'd in other than the United States.) And they never have closed captioning in movie theaters. YET.

Anyway, Matthew Goode has had some supporting parts in a few movies and TV shows I have seen. (Inspector Lynley on PBS for one, Match Point.) But he's starred in some artsy movies that I never considered watching. I guess I'll have to go back and try them if even to verify my assertion that he is an amazing actor.

I am sad to say, without that growling, knitted eyebrow look he used in Leap Year, he's really not appealing to me. He's so youthful looking, way too slender, and, what is it? Clean-cut? White-bread? British? And witty to the point of sounding sarcastic. Oh well. It's not like anyone is going to set me up on a blind date with him. (And good since I am old enough to be his mother. In fact, I have kids older than he.)

Regarding Enchanted. Did Amy Adams really do her own singing? (I can't believe she even did her own talking.)

I guess Amy Adams, Matthew Goode (and even Leo Dicaprio) are the lucky ones that will still look 16 when they are 50. Sigh.

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.

Star Trek

Ahhhh.

Rented it. Watching it. Loved it.

For trekkies, of course, but also good for science fiction and space adventure stories. Excellent movie.

The actors were great!!! Especially the actors playing Spock (his voice could have been a little deeper) and Bones--Dr. McCoy-- was dead-on. Delightful. The rest were good, too.

I wondered for a long time where Scotty was, then theyadded him to the crew--he was one of the cuties that played Dr. No on BBC series. Too small, too thin. But just as lovable.

And the romantic interest was a surprise as was the appearance of an actor and character from the old TV series.

The familiar Kirk personality from the 1960's was brought in by the actor at the very end of the movie when we got a glimpse of the good old Captain Kirk-to-be coming forth. It was very satisfying. (Of course I missed Jeffery Hunter as Capt. Pike but many people won't even remember him.)

Definitely worth renting and watching.

NOTE to the producers: Bring Star Trek series back to the big screen, and we wouldn't mind a weekly series with the new, younger cast.

I'm gonna buy this one.

Insomnia

My inner child is being so bad....she will NOT go to sleep.

She is playing on the computer.

It is 1:50 AM and I have to answer to NOBODY. (Except God, and I doubt He judges me for what time I fall asleep.)

Why am I worrying about I should this, and I should that?

Serious RULE: Do not should on yourself.

Sandy Insomniac and/or Night Owl

Gamer -- Possibly the best Gerard Butler movie to date

I am so glad I got to the movies to see Gamer on the big screen. It is possibly the best Gerry Butler movie to date. Not only was he exceptional, so was the entire cast. Excellent. The cinematography, the script, the acting, the FX, some of the best I've seen.

The fact it was filmed in Albuquerque made it more exciting to see our "hometown" on the screen and guess or recognize the sets in Albuquerque. I remember being in the downtown Albuquerque area when they were filming parts of the movie in Nov. two years ago, and stopped to watch with a small crowd. Unfortunately the actors were far at the end of a long street and smoke machines were puffing smoke all over the scene, so the actors were not only a half an inch high from were we stood, but were hazy too from the smoke. (Also, I think the screenwriters were on strike and picking about that time, and did see them on the streets with signs--or was that on the nightly news? I don't know who wrote this script, but I loved it. Thank you, thank you.

I fully intend to buy this movie and watch it again & again. And not just to gaze on GB's glorious muscles. It's a shame the movie wasn't more popular when it was in the theaters but should have a DVD splurge as soon as it comes out. I recommend seeing it at the "last-chance" movie theaters in your hometown. Or rent it (better yet, buy it and tell all your friends to rent or buy it too.)

Let's stop ordinary Americans from saying "Gerry who"? every time his fans mention one of his movies. He's been in over 30 movies and numerous TV shows in Scotland and England, and on recent talk show appearances here--Jay Leno even in the new 9 PM slot. Gerry does romantic comedy (PS I Love You), silly drama (RocknRolla), and ... DUH ... Gerard (pronounced Jarod) Butler, the lovable and talented Scot was THE PHANTOM OF THE "FRIGGING" OPERA. Get a clue.

He now owns production company called Evil Twins, I believe, which was listed as one of the producers of Law-Abiding Citizen. He's in that too. so he may be the only actor this week with two movies in the same theater! AND he was in nearly every scene of Gamer and was clearly the featured star. The story revolved around his character/him.


The R rating of Gamer was unfortunate. I think it's an excellent movie and the violence and sexuality wasn't any worse than that graphic-novel movie 300. (If you recall, Gerry Butler was the scrumptious King and leader of the 300!)

Gamer is fast paced and keeps your interest throughout. It keeps you guessing unlike most American movies that seem to spell everything out and clarify everything at the end. Instead it unfolds for the viewer with suspense and surprise and is never predictable. It gives you the opportunity to pay close attention so you can realize exactly what is going on and when. Very good. Very good.

And the popcorn at the dollar-movies (Cinemark) isn't bad either.

Thanks. Sandy, Critique who loves movies.

Dark Knight

I must admit I am not a fan of Batman or any of those other cartoon fantasies, although Robert Downey Jr and Iron Man were very was a good movie regardless.

My grandson loves Spiderman but I am hoping that his mommy and daddy will NOT take him to Dark Knight.

I must also admit that I wanted to see it solely for Heath Ledger's performance. After all, it was probably his best acting and as a matter of fact, he won a posthumous scar for it. Seeing throw his heart into the villain was heartbreaking when you consider his death due to overdose of medications didn't have to happen. Very tragic when we lose a young person.

Anyway, the whole movie was dark (not enough light on the set--that kind of dark.) Much of it was gory and disgustingly violent. And I basically had trouble figuring out what was going on--mostly because of the title. Did Batman want the world to think he was The Dark Knight? And if so, why?

I think the average adult would do well to skip this one. It could be handled by mature teens, but not the psycho portion of our population.

See Iron Man instead.

Sandy Schairer, DVD Critique

Rent

I had a chance to go see RENT on the stage at Popejoy Hall (UNM.) There were times when we could afford season tickets...many of the productions are just music or just dance. Some are dramas--for instance Phantom of the Opera which I have seen on stage twice.

I didn't have a clue what the movie Rent was about so when my husband brought it home, I joined him in watching it on a rental DVD.

It was very moving. The acting and songs were very positive and uplifting.

And the movie was very very sad.

It was a movie that you want to call up the author and director and tell them "Thanks."

I burst into tears when it was over and placed a call to a gay relative to see if she had seen it. Yes, she saw it on Broadway.

So, watch it if you want a more deep almost spiritual awakening from this movie.

Sandy Schairer, DVD Critic

Junkdog Millionaire

Watched the "best" movie of the year -- received Oscar at least -- on DVD a couple of weekends ago.

Several scenes of the main character's youth (movie was done with a great deal of flash-backs) were hard to watch, they were in someplace like India and very different from the United States.
It was amazing that the child survived until adulthood.

It was a well done movie but a definite eye-opener. It was not a pleasant movie to watch, so don't rent it to escape from life for a couple hours. It makes you think. And feel.

The acting was excellent. So I recommend it if you have the guts to watch it.

Sandy Schairer, DVD Critic

Bones Season Finale

Bones was becoming one of my favorite shows...mostly because of the interplay between Tempe and Booth...reminiscent of Skully and Mulder's unacknowledged attraction. (And wasn't Booth magnificent in the bathtub scene--quite a physique!!) Plus the characters are all beautiful and have delightful personalities. They were a joy to watch...

But it was ruined for me last night with the season finale. They didn't continue the suspenseful cliffhanger from last week...they just opened with everyone at Booth's funeral. I saw him wounded the week before, but it wasn't in a fatal place. So hey, when did he die? How? If he'd died, wouldn't Tempe have been at his side in the ambulance or the hospital and said good-bye? She would have known. Right?

The way they did that whole thing was harsh and unrealistic.
,
But the capper was making Zack into a hostile character before, evidently kicking that character off the show for good. There was little story line to follow there...they just summed it up and charged and convicted him in about 2 minutes at the end. It made no sense whatsoever.

There is NO WAY the real Zack would have turned evil or gone insane. That is just bad writing. They should have just killed him off if he was going off the show and let us mourn him and then wonder for a few months if he were coming back next season the way they faked Booth's death. By the next season we would have gotten over it if he were truly gone. We could have had a happy memory of him and moved on. Thanks for nothin'.

Now the show is ruined for me completely. I was going to watch all the previous shows I'd missed (like buying the DVD's of the first and second season so I could watch them over and over like I do Sex and the City.) But not now. Knowing that Zack is not what he appears to be in the previous shows, has ruined it for me past, present and future.

Hint, hint, if a character is bad, you have to write in some evidence throughout the show, not just spring it one us in the last show. DUH. It's OUT OF CHARACTER. I'm a writer, I know that element. It was just bad writing.

You'd think the writers' strike wasn't truly over yet and one of the stagehands dashed off a script, such that it was, for the last show. (No offense to stagehands. They might know better!)

Give it up. Bones is history.

It was reminiscent of the way MASH writers killed off Col. Blake when we thought he was going home. Cruel. And then they had that woman strangle what Hawkeye thought was a chicken and it was really her own baby. (Doesn't Dr. Phil say if we witness abuse we are also abused? I think so.) Tsk. Tsk.

People of intelligence do watch TV shows. We want enjoyment as well as sensibility. We don't care much for being tricked or emotionally abused. I mean isn't the viewer important to the show? Why would they risk running off viewers with stupid story lines and poor writing?

It was similar feeling for me with Numbers when they made that one FBI agent into a bad-cop in league with the terrorists. I thought the female lead with in love with him...what was that about? I couldn't watch the reruns again because he was a bad guy and by then I knew it. I didn't trust him or the writers. And up until then, he'd was one darn good agent. Not consistent.

Besides, where do the producers get off leaving the viewing public with a painful, negative view of law enforcement? Teach a whole generation of young people (who are already running wild) that law enforcement can't be trusted?

Whatever happened to promoting some respect and trust? Is there nothing to trust in America? Well, of course there is. Just not the TV industry. Not anymore.

I worked at Las Vegas Metro PD for a long time and we had only ONE cop misguided enough to commit a burglary while on duty and then got called to write up the crime report which was how they caught him...too many details that only the perp would have known. [Oh, and the one cop that married two woman at the same time and got divorced by both (not to mention fired) while he was jail.]

It was a shock to see Warick killed at the end of CSI the other night...but I saw it coming and I guessed who the bad buy really was...he was a disagreeable mean guy throughout the whole series. They had been setting up Warick for worse and worse things all season. So, it was well-written and believable when he got assassinated at the end. It was a tragedy but sympathetic for the viewers.

Thank goodness when Sarah left the show she just got in a cab and rode away. It was sad to see her go, but not traumatic. Though, I thought that she should have just married Gil and then stayed home as a housewife making pottery or doing scrapbooking. Maybe have a baby eventually. Gil could have mentioned her from time to time. They missed out on a satisfying ending for women!!!

So, I'm saying good-bye to Bones. OH, I still love Kathy Reichs and and her Temperance Brennan novels. But this TV show has little to do with them anyway. I like the Tempe in the books, older and and wiser with a daughter, ex-husband and a cat (plus part-time dog.) And she's smart enough to be in-love with her Detective Ryan. Yes!

I was thinking TV had something better to offer in recent years. Medium is good. They had a HAPPY ENDING this season. Thanks for that.

Bye for now. Live and learn from your mistakes, huh?

Nim's Island -- A Kid Movie, Sort Of

I don't think I'm the one to review Nim's Island competely because I am a dyed-in-the-wool Gerard Butler fan...and they pronounce his name right in the trailer...it sort of like Gerald except with an r or ah, or like Jared. Good.

I will say the story was good--well-done screenplay. Special effects were believable. No one was killed, even the strange lizards that allowed themselves to be lobbed at the island "invaders."

Abigail Breslin was wonderful...she is the Academy Award winner for Little Miss Sunshine. The otheractors took a back seat to her performance and allowed her to be the star. In fact, Gerry Butler took a very far back seat and downplayed his parts...he played the Dad and the character of the author's adventure novels.

Jodie Foster was wonderful. There is nothing more to say, she blew me away. Perfect in a fantastical comedy, taking it seriously throughout. Bravo, Jodie.

Worth seeing even if you aren't a child.

Go.

Books, Books, Books

I love mysteries--written, TV series, and movies (of which there are very few.)

I recently joined a large print book club -- Doubleday -- and chose a couple of mysteries in my introductory offer.

One was Bones to Ashes by Kathy Reichs.

My husband noted that the TV series Bones is based on the character from Kathy Reich's mystery series...the forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan.

After I read it, I headed to the library to find more of Kathy Reichs.

All I can say is having a Kathy Reichs book in the house is like having a bag of M & M's. Once you open it, you can't stop.

I've read three now with two more waiting in the wings.

To say Kathy Reichs is a good writer would be a watered down comment. The books are habit forming if not addictive.

Be prepared to be educated, entertained, delighted and your funny bone tickled with the author's witty metaphors that take the place of dull descriptive text.

They're not all action...but they're good, good, good.

The Holiday

I loved this movie. I saw it in the theater last Christmas time. I bought it and watched a bunch of times.

It's delightful.

See it.

Really. Rent it, better yet, buy it so you can watch it again and again.

Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet are wonderful. The boys are good, too. Best I've seen from Jude Law. And Jack Black played a wonderfully real guy. I loved all of them. I loved the story. And Eliah Wallach was great, I've been a fan of his my whole life. What can I say? I love old guys now that I'm getting up there...especially the ones with white goatees and little ole Jewish guys, wow.

Thanks. GREAT MOVIE> >>>

Sandy the movie critic

3:10 to Yuma

This was the western version of The Departed. (As you may recall, I hated The Departed.)

Everyone in 3:10 except the real bad guy got at the end. He turned himself in. Yeah, right.

I love Christian Bale. I love Russell Crowe. But this movie was sort of cold-hearted bloody.

I would say, skip it unless you are a Crowe or Bale fan.

Thanks. Sandy the movie critic

PS I LOVE YOU

PS I Loved it. I saw it twice...first time the same day it opened and took me 3 hours to drive home in the snow and ice storm...30 miles...we were going 4 miles an hour through the canyon...fun fun.

But Hillary Swank was fabulous, of course, she aways is. She was in every scene and stole the show. The other girls were good, too. I love the costumes.

2nd time I saw I took my honey. He said he liked it, it was good. it I loved the movie even more the second time. Butler can do that to me. (Yes, my honey knows about my mad crush on Butler. Heck, I'm old enough to be Gerbear's mother, duh.)

I was thrilled that Gerry Butler sang...we want more of his delicious deep sexy voice.

True the movie was a corny romantic comedy...but it had its serious side. I laughed and cried. What more could you want from a movie. Two beautiful young people doing what they love best...acting.

The guy at the end of the movie with the dimples that the girl meets in Ireland? He was cute, looks a little bit like Gerry. But Gerard Butler (actually pronounced correctly in the trailer--Jerod) can act circles around any one of those men. And they were all good, especially Harry Connet Jr.

Kathy Bates was superb as the mother. I've never seen a bad performance from her, even naked in the hot tub with

The only shortcoming of the movie was the outdoor scene depicting the day the couple met--more than 10 years before the time of the movie...they didn't even try to make the actors look younger. Swank acted a little younger with her voice and mannerisms, and let's face it, she's young and doesn't have to fake it even tho she was supposed to be about 18 or 19 then. But Bulter's face looked all craggy and wrinkled...tsk tsk for smoking all those years-- it ready does cause wrinkles--and he looked fantastically young in the other flashbacks filmed indoors.

What can I say? I would stand in line and pay a fortune to watch Gerard Butler just stand in the middle of blank stage -- quiet doing nothin'. I love the boy.

Thanks for a great romantic comedy. KEEP 'EM COMING.

Thank you, Hillary too, for bringing Gerry into the American Hollywood spotlight. Maybe someone will remember him now...if 300 and Phantom of the Opera obviously didn't make him a household name maybe this one will.

HOLLYWOOD: Put him in more movies!!!! PLEASE.

Gerry, thanks for being you. Best of everything to you. I understand you are filming in Albuquerque and quit smoking. GREAT. That makes me and all the rest of your fanatic fans happy. I live near Albuquerque. Would I like to meet you in dark elevator...

Watch the movie. It's a "feel-good" movie. Really. See it.

PS I Love Y'All.

Sandy the movie critique (I went for more than popcorn this time.)

Sweeney Todd

What was THAT!?!

A dark comedy? Goofy. Gross. Couldn't understand most of the dialog/singing or half the storyline.

And Johnny Depp nominated for best actor??? (Heck he was my favorite actor from the time of Edward Sissorshands...until I flipped for Phantom=Gerry Butler.)

We had a good laugh when Sweeney was over and laughed all the way to the car. I told my honey, as awful as that movie was, Depp will probably win the Academy award for it. That's just like Hollywood. Another group of young men leaving (heck there were at least 20 people in the theater -- it opened more than a month ago) were also quite amused when it ended...one guy sarcastically said in a little kid voice: "Hey, let's go watch it again...." NOT.

What do I know? The girl selling the tickets said she loved the movie. A friend in the popcorn line said she hated the movie. I'm still neutral. I think it has to do with age. The older you get the ickier ICK becomes. I admit I had to cover my eyes when I got the parts that made me go EWW.

Like I said, what do I know? I go to the movies for the [overpriced] popcorn. YUM.

Sandy the movie critic

V for Vendetta

V for Vendetta

The movie that almost squeaked by me.

This is a FABULOUS movie.

It is not pleasant to watch in places...most disturbing. But it is a worthy, meaningful movie and no one ought to let it slip by them without seeing it once and for all. Please rent or buy it, and watch at least once all the way through.

The Wachowski brothers, who did the Matrix Trilogy, once again showed use their genius--not only in movie making but in delivering a powerful, consistent message to speak to our times through drama, action, head and heart. It was artistic, literary, action-filled...and above all packs a high voltage shock to the mind and heart of America and all the world. It goes beyond mere story-telling, beyond movie-magic, beyond political and social commentary. It's perhaps more of a warning today than when it was made.

Please rent this DVD and watch it!!! It can influence anyone who is willing to watch it with an open mind, and has the power the change the course of history.

Aha, for me, it has yet another great, ambiguous character is a cape and mask. Just as I fell in love with the Phantom of the Opera--the "evil hero" of that movie--I must admire the man in Vendetta in the cape and mask. Is he evil? Or is he a hero? Or is he neither or both?

Either way Hugo Weaving, the actor who also played Mr. Smith in the Matrix movies and an elf in Lord of the Rings, was magnificent. He is a rare and delicious talent. I love his voice...he can say so much with his voice; in this movie alone he overcame the limits of wearing a mask throughout the entire movie and being unable to display any facial expressions whatsoever. He played his role above and beyond what a dedicated Shakespearean actor must have done in the 1400's. Bravo, Hugo. Thank you.

The only weakness of the movie was the fake blood splatters in the fights--it perhaps should have been done the way 300 was--slash and stab with painted drops of blood placed on the film without a drop on the actors. But the graphics can be over-looked with a movie as powerful and meaningful as V for Vendetta.

So get it and watch it. You might be "sorry" you did while you experience it unfolding before your eyes, but you will never see things in the world the same way again afterwards. It is much worth the investment of time, money and emotions, not to mention deep thought that will plague you for a long time afterwards.

Thanks, Sandy your movie critic

Planet of the Apes, I think

This was a strange movie. It was very, very good as far as cinematography, acting, costumes, settings--it was wonderful. The actors playing the various types of apes were amazing!!!

However, the script was, while not terrible, rather lacking.

The movie was nothing like the original Planet of the Apes. The surprise ending everyone was expecting, myself included, was a bigger surprise than we expected because it made absolutely no sense. It was beyond confusing and didn't appear to have anything to do with the movie. It didn't solve any of the mysteries, it created an even bigger one that had no solution.

So if you enjoy action and elaborate cinematography and good acting, rent this DVD (I bought it myself -- not suspecting it is probably not a keeper.) If you are the type to want some meaning and intellectual and/or philosophical stimulation from a movie, skip this one.

I ordered the original Planet of the Apes movie....awaiting it's delivery to my PO Box now.

I have a link to Amazon on this website if you'd like a shortcut to purchasing books and DVD's.

Thanks, Sandy "Movies are our modern era's mythology."

Eye Candy, and OHHH that accent!!

Well, I'm old enough to be Gerry's mum. [sniff, sniff] Anyway, here he is on Leno with a good clip from 300. He's funny and good-looking and his Scottish accent is cleaned up so much you can acutally understand him. I guess the accent from Glasgow in Scotland is a lot like the deep south accent in America...say, wha?

http://justjared.buzznet.com/2007/06/03/gerard-butler-area-nightclub/

Did you hear that 300 made over $300Million so far!!! I am going to get a big screen TV when the DVD comes out and I can get a brand new copy of 300. (Oh, heck it's mid-June now, and 300 has drawn in over $440,000 so far.)

Gerard, pronounced JERahd. See photo and his award below. Yumm. Congratulations, Gerry, in case you see this!!! WE LOVE YOU.

Premonition

“Depressed housewife learns her husband was killed in a car accident the day previously, awakens the next morning to find him alive and well at home, and then awakens the next day after to a world in which he is still dead.”

I enjoyed this movie. The screenplay was excellent. Plenty of foreshadowing. And the end was adequately supported throughout the movie and it came to an “of-course” ending.

Sandra Bullock was basically the only star of this movie. She was excellent. But I don’t think this type of thriller (hinting at paranormal? I don’t know.) is ever nominated for Academy Awards. (Well, I take that back Martin Landau won best supporting actor for that sleeper Ed Wood − which was a great movie (to some of us.)

I urge you to avoid this movie is you have suffered a loss recently. Unless you are in the mood to cry for awhile.

If you want some philosophical messages about death and living, this is the movie for you. It’s not done like a horror movie, not creepy, etc. It mostly deals with a woman desperate to handle her own feelings, and make sense of changes in her reality. And of course the inborn drive of humans to take control of their own destiny.

Worth the rental fee, especially if you are a Bullock fan. She does her acting with great natural grace and ability. She's flawless in this regardless of what reality she is dealing with.

CSI

I must make a comment here even though it's not about a movie. The CSI shows.

The original CSI is set in Las Vegas, thought I doubt it is really filmed there. Having lived there I don't think they have big or numerous trees, grassy yards, and real soil--it's all sand. We're talking about the desert, severe desert. I lived there for 14 years. And there has not been a shot of the front of any police station in Las Vegas in the show. But the illusion of being in Vegas is good, I'm okay with that. I think the police procedurals are very true to life as it pertains to crime investigation and legal matters, except when the detective sits in a room and badgers a suspect into talking without legal counsel. I worked at the LVMPD for 10 years and I know what's legal and what isn't as far as investigating and prosecuting. No, I wasn't a cop. It was "support."

Anyway, I forgive them for any errors as they appear to be minimal.

I like the dark setting. In fact, I often compare CSI show to The X-Files, one of my all-time favorites. CSI's done the same stylistic way, only without aliens. (And I think next week CSI is bringing in the aliens! YAY.) It's great that they show a little of the personal lives of the characters but nothing overwhelming, which would make it into a soap opera. One show that shows more of the personal life is Numbers. It's just enough. I really enjoy the fabulous acting of all the characters in Numbers. Although, I wish they would stop tampering with Larry's personality and keep him consistent. But that's a topic for another blog.)

CSI is stylized and creepy and sometimes tongue-in-cheek funny like the one April 26th.

I think the most handsome man and the most realistic is the coroner who does the autopsies.

The imitators of CSI: CSI NY and CSI Miami fall short of the excellence that the original CSI attains. The characters in those two spin-0ffs are wooden. The settings, especially Miami, are strange because they use the computerized backgrounds of bright yellow, as if they are in Miami and filming in bright sunlight.

The plots on CSI Miami are unrealistic and very seldom show a realism according to the way police matters are actually handled. The "star" (hat strawberry-blond man who ruined NYPD and surely must be old enough to be turning grey by now?) seems to wander into the set and make a short one line quip and that's it!!! He could phone that in. He sounds mysterious like a Dicken's character only in way fewer words.

Well, I am sticking to CSI and leaving the others to the people who think CSI Miami & NY are good.

And since I seldom watch CSI NY, I don't have any further comments on that one. I do think Without a Trace is the more realistic show set in NY.

Comments are welcome. But, no "flaming" comments, please--let's keep it academic and intellectual and refrain from flinging insults in a childish manner. Unless you are a child and what they heck are you doing watching CSI?