Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group discussion
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Movies, DVDs, and Theater
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Have you seen any good movies lately? (Part THREE - 2010)
Jackie wrote: "... But I can't help clicking buttons to see what it does. ..."Oi!
The worst part is, I yell at Anthony when he does it, LOL
Today I streamed a movie from Netflix. It was a film adapted from the book, Starting Out In the Evening (1997) by Brian Morton."Starting Out in the Evening" (2007):
Netflix description: http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/Starti...
Goodreads says it's "a study in the danger of expectations." I don't think that explains the story very well. Instead, I like what the NY Times review said:
"And wisdom — the chastened acceptance of limitation, the resolve to keep going anyway — is the subject of this fine, modest film."
Frank Langella was highly praised for his understated role as an elderly writer who is encouraged by an ambitious young female student to keep writing. The dialogue includes some interesting discussions about literature and writing. The story is character-driven, as opposed to plot-driven. As critic James Berardinelli says: "Not a lot happens in Starting out in the Evening, but what occurs irrevocably changes the lives of the four principals."
Berardinelli's review: http://www.reelviews.net/php_review_t...
NYTimes review: http://movies.nytimes.com/2007/11/23/...
PS: I agree with Berardinelli when he says that the ending wasn't satisfying. As he says, it felt as if something was missing. Otherwise I would have given the film 4 stars out of 5. Intead, I gave it 3 stars. Leave it to Berardinelli to zero-in on what was bothering me about the movie. He always seems to make the right points.
PPS: Below is a quote from Roger Ebert's review which contains a truth which all writers know:
====================================================
"(1) the Muse visits during, not before, the act of composition, and (2) the writer takes dictation from that place in his mind that knows what he should write next."
-from a review by Roger Ebert of movie "Starting Out In the Evening".
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/p...
I watched "Wanted" this evening. It had Morgan Freeman & what's her name with the big lips... Angelina Jolie. It was fun.The way I learn about computers is by beating them up. I had to rebuild my first Windows 2000 machine 7 times before I quit breaking it. I tend to tweak them until they frizzle up & some things you can't recover from unless you do a complete restore with something like Ghost or Clonezilla, which is what I've done with XP & Windows 7 - although I haven't had to rebuild my Win7 PC yet. I'm probably just getting lazy...
Jackie wrote: "The worst part is, I yell at Anthony when he does it, LOL"LOL
Jim wrote: "I watched "Wanted" this evening. It had Morgan Freeman & what's her name with the big lips... Angelina Jolie. It was fun.The way I learn about computers is by beating them up. I had to rebuild..."
Hmmm, Jim, computers seem to beat ME up, not the other way around. :)
Here's a link to the Netflix description of "Wanted" (2008):
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Wanted/7...
"Genres: Thrillers, Action Thrillers, Suspense, Dramas Based on the Book, Dramas Based on Contemporary Literature
This movie is: Suspenseful, Exciting, Violent"
Wanted was good in a full on action sort of way.
What's the name of the book on which "Wanted" was based? Netflix says it was "based on the book." The writing credits at IMDb aren't clear on that:http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0493464/f...
I didn't even know it was based on a book.
I guess we can't believe everything we read. :)
It must be based on a book, or they wouldn't have written it. But which one, ??? Too bad they didn't specify.This isn't a movie but a documentary series of 5 one hour parts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x2efI...
How Earth Made Us. One of the most interesting docs I ever saw! Each episode is based on one of the ancient elements, Earth, Wind, Water and Fire and how it's shaped the human race and civilization. The 5th is Humans.
What makes this doc unique from all the rest is it's not just science, rather a mix of science, history, anthropology and sociology. A Must See! Beautiful photography and really good dramatic music make this thoroughly enjoyable to watch. Prof. Ian Stewart (and his cute Scottish brogue) has an interesting way of illustrating his insights.
And speaking of awesome docs, Life premieres in the US on Discovery Channel this coming Sunday. It's been called the sequel to Planet Earth. An 11 part doc of stunning footage to be shown in 2 one hour segments. I'm so excited to see it! If it's anything like Planet Earth it will be a spectacular. Nobody does docs like the BBC.
Jackie wrote: "It must be based on a book, or they wouldn't have written it. But which one, ??? Too bad they didn't specify.This isn't a movie but a documentary series of 5 one hour parts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x2efI... ..."
Jackie, the following Netflix page seems to describe the documentary you mentioned:
"How the Earth Changed History - How Earth Made Us"(2010):
http://www.netflix.com/Search?oq=&...
It says: "Iain Stewart hosts this fascinating exploration of Earth's long history. ... "
(There are several other DVDs described at the above webpage as well.)
Here's the IMDb page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1588224/
More IMDb related links:
http://www.imdb.com/find?s=all&q=...
Thanks too for telling us about the program on the Discovery Channel this coming Sunday.
Yes, that's the one. After I posted it, I noticed his name is spelled Iain.
We went to see Shutter Island tonight, terrific film. Bought the book on the way home. :) Couldn't resist, although I didn't buy the movie version paperback. Can't wait to compare.
I really think DiCaprio is underrated as an actor, at least has been by me in the past somewhat I'm sorry to say.
I really think DiCaprio is underrated as an actor, at least has been by me in the past somewhat I'm sorry to say.
My son saw it and said it was Great! Dicaprio is definitely underrated as an actor. It's ironic because he gets recognition for films that I don't find so great, the film or the acting. But when he does an outstandind job, no one mentions it. To illustrate my point, when he was only 18 he played Arnie in What's Eating Gilbert Grape and he was phenomenal! I was awe-struck by his powerhouse performance. He should have taken an Oscar for that role. Unfortunately, he hasn't had a role equal to Arnie where he can really show his formidible talent. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying his recent movies or his performances aren't good, I'm just saying once you've seen him as Arnie, it hard to top that level of performance with the characters he's been given.I really want to see Shutter Island. Between your comment Katherine, and my son's, I'm going to have a hard time waiting for the DVD. I may not make it...Aviation Mall here I come, LOL
LOL Jackie, I know you'll enjoy it.
I haven't seen that many of his performances, but I have the DVD of Aviator, he plays Howard Hughes, and let me tell you, he captures the disintegration of Hughes. The twitchiness, the descent into madness perfectly.
You've definitely peaked my interest re Gilbert Grape though, I'll have to investigate. Thanks.
I haven't seen that many of his performances, but I have the DVD of Aviator, he plays Howard Hughes, and let me tell you, he captures the disintegration of Hughes. The twitchiness, the descent into madness perfectly.
You've definitely peaked my interest re Gilbert Grape though, I'll have to investigate. Thanks.
My sister mentioned "Shutter Island" when she was here. Since then I've heard it mentioned several other times.========================================================
"Shutter Island - Ashecliffe"(2010):
"World War II soldier-turned-U.S. marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) investigates the disappearance of a patient from a hospital for the criminally insane, but his efforts are compromised by his own troubling visions and by Dr. Cawley (Ben Kingsley). Mark Ruffalo, Michelle Williams, Emily Mortimer and Max von Sydow co-star in director Martin Scorsese's plot twist-filled psychological thriller set on a Massachusetts island in 1954.
Genre: Mystery, Crime Thrillers, Dramas Based on Contemporary Literature
This movie is: Dark, Emotional, Violent"
FROM: http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Shutter_...
=======================================================
The book (by Dennis Lehane):
Shutter Island
Shutter Island Graphic Novel
I saw "Gilbert Grape" a while ago. Can't remember much about it except that it was very sad (about two brothers).
"What's Eating Gilbert Grape" (1993):
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/What_s_E...
Book: What's Eating Gilbert Grape by Peter Hedges
I enjoyed "Aviator". Fascinating subject.
"The Aviator" (2004):
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The_Avia...
The Aviator was a good movie. Cate Blanchette as Katherine Hepburn captured my attention more than Leo did, but both were fantastic.
Another DiCaprio performance that's outstanding is in the 1997 adaptation of Dumas' novel, The Man In the Iron Mask. (I don't know how faithful it is as an adaptation, since I haven't read the book.) He plays both Louis XIV and his twin brother, separated at birth and imprisoned in an iron mask to keep him from complicating the throne succession. The two have very opposite personalities and moral characters; switching back and forth between the two, DiCaprio makes himself the perfectly believable embodiment of both, making each man come across as distinctively as if the parts were being played by two different actors --not an easy feat to pull off!
Yes, Jackie, I agree. Blanchette really latched onto Hepburn's speech and mannerisms.BTW, one of your favorite actors was on David Letterman last night... Gerald Butler.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0124930/
He's quite a character! Good sense of humor. He explained how he manages to drop his Scottish accent when acting as an American. Mimicking accents is a gift, I think.
PS-BTW, he said he had been a lawyer, but only practiced for a short time.
Werner wrote: "Another DiCaprio performance that's outstanding is in the 1997 adaptation of Dumas' novel, The Man In the Iron Mask. (I don't know how faithful it is as an adaptation, since I haven't read the boo..."Werner, I never saw that one. Now that you've explained what it was about, I'll put it on my Netflix queue. Sounds interesting. Thanks!
PS-They've even made an animated version of it! LOL
"The Man in the Iron Mask"
See both versions here:
http://www.netflix.com/Search?oq=&...
Book: The Man in the Iron Mask (first published 1847) by Alexandre Dumas
"... the magnificent concluding story of the swashbuckling Musketeers, Aramis, Athos, Porthos, and D'Artagnan."
You're welcome, Joy! I think you'll like it --Barb and I both did. Whatever its merits as an adaptation, it's a great immersion in historical, Three Musketeers derring-do.
Werner, that was another good movie; I agree with Dicaprio's performance. The difference between Louis and Phillipe was astounding and DiCaprio played it to perfection. Dual roles like that really let an actor shine.I love movies based on Dumas' works.
Joy, Gerry Butler is very funny; it's one the things I like best about him. He was also in a rock band.
Jackie, yes! she caught Hepburn's character very well indeed. I've liked her in everything I've seen. Blanchette is an amazing actress. Very flexible.
Werner, The Man in the Iron Mask was another role[s:] that DiCaprio was outstanding in. I haven't read the book either, but have it 'in the stack'. :)
Werner, The Man in the Iron Mask was another role[s:] that DiCaprio was outstanding in. I haven't read the book either, but have it 'in the stack'. :)
Blanchette is wonderful in anything. I've seen many of her movies and she's one of my favorites.
I'm slowly watching "The Changeling" starring George C. Scott. It's a good, creepy movie so far. Much better than modern horror flicks which have too much action & gore, not enough suspense.It's quite a change of pace for my experience of Scott. I always think of him as Patton or something similar. In this movie, he plays a composer & grieving father/husband, a much more sensitive role than I remember seeing him in before.
Anyone recall that cartoon movie where he was the voice of an Australian animal hunter? It had mice in it - one voiced by one of the Gahbor sisters. They flew around on a seagull. Mouse detective? Mouse rescue? Anyway, I think a caricature of Scott was used for the character & then he put his voice to it. Perfectly hard & evil!
Joy H. (of Glens Falls) wrote: "My sister mentioned "Shutter Island" when she was here. Since then I've heard it mentioned several other times.========================================================
"Shutter Island - Ashecliffe..."
I have "Shutter Island" at the library waiting for pick up. I really like Lehane's books: "Mystic River" and "Gone Baby Gone". Both were also excellent movies.
Jim, the movie you're thinking of has to be The Rescuers Down Under, where two mice, a seagull, and a kangaroo rat rescue a kidnapped boy in the Outback. Eva Gabor is the voice of the female mouse, Miss Bianca. (It's actually quite a cute movie, if you can tolerate its obviously far-fetched implausibility. :-)) I had no idea that Scott voiced the McLeech character! It's a small world (at least in Hollywood. :-))
About George C. Scott, I've never forgotten his line in a film... something to the effect of: "Nobody you ever loved, ever loved you back." I don't know what film it was, but I think he said it to Ingrid Bergman's character. Funny how we remember snippets.
Katherine wrote: "I have "Shutter Island" at the library waiting for pick up. I really like Lehane's books: "Mystic River" and "Gone Baby Gone". Both were also excellent movies."Hmmm... for reference:
The books: Mystic River and Gone, Baby, Gone by Dennis Lehane.
The movies:
"Mystic River" (2003)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0327056/
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Mystic_R...
From a Netflix member review: "First of all it must be understood that this movie is supposed to upset you. ..."
Genres: Drama, Crime Dramas, Crime Thrillers, Mystery, Dramas Based on Contemporary Literature, Psychological Thrillers, Dramas Based on the Book
This movie is: Suspenseful, Dark
"Gone Baby Gone" (2007)
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Gone_Bab...
Genres: Thrillers, Mystery, Crime Thrillers, Dramas Based on Contemporary Literature, Dramas Based on the Book
This movie is: Suspenseful, Dark
Joy, Here's a quote for you; not anyone famous or famous quote but I liked it. I rarely read the OBITS but this morning there was one about this woman who married a farmer six years her senior and off she went to live with no heat, no electricity, no running water and not once did she complain at building a wood fire, learning to cook, sewing her daughters' clothes from feed sacks and this is her well used quote according to her daughter, "If you don't have anything to smile about, smile on credit," Opal Groh. Also, she taught herself to play the violin and baked chocolate chip cookies for the children getting off the school bus. Her biggest joy was taking the children to her creek and explaing to them the critters that lived in it. nina
Nina wrote: "Joy, Here's a quote for you; not anyone famous or famous quote but I liked it. I rarely read the OBITS but this morning there was one about this woman who married a farmer six years her senior and ..."That's an excellent quote, Nina. A good attitude.
'Tis easy enough to be pleasant,
When life flows along like a song;
But the man worth while is the one who will smile
When everything goes dead wrong.
-Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850-1919)
"Looking better is a side effect. When you wear a happy face, your emotional outlook improves because smiling promotes the release of endorphins in the brain. On the other hand, frowning causes your spirits to plummet. And when you narrow your eyes in anger, your blood pressure rises." -Angela Hunt (1957- ) The Face aka Face (2008), Chapter 6
Today I enjoyed a DVD of the terrific film, "Ragtime" (1981), a drama, adapted from the book, Ragtime (1975) by E.L. Doctorow.Critic Roger Ebert wrote:
=====================================================
"He (the director) decided to set aside the book's kaleidoscopic jumble of people, places, and things, and concentrate on just one of the several narrative threads. Instead of telling dozens of stories, his film is mostly concerned with the story of Coalhouse Walker, Jr., a black piano player who insists that justice be done after he is insulted by some yahoo volunteer firemen."
FROM: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/p...
====================================================
I found this movie (set America in the early 1900s) totally absorbing. It has a great cast. I especially enjoyed Howard E. Rollins, Jr., who played the black pianist. (Too bad Rollins died comparatively young, at the age of 46.)
The musical score by Randy Newman was beautiful.
The NY Times review said (and I agree): "The movie is sorrowful, funny and beautiful."
http://www.metacritic.com/video/title...
The film was nominated for quite a few awards.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082970/a...
IMDb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082970/
Netflix description: http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Ragtime/...
There's an excellent review of the film here:
http://www.scoopy.com/ragtime.htm
Katherine M, we finally got to see Shutter Island last week and you were right! It was really good and Leo was fantastic. Excellent movie, I've already recommended it to my British friends. I can't believe I forgot to come here and report.We also saw Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief. Some changes from the book, mostly cut for time and to make some scenes less complicated. It didn't ruin the story though, I can see why they made the changes that they did. A good movie for juveniles, young teens and fantasy lovers. No swear words, no sex, and just a small amount of violence/action but no one gets hurt so the violence that's there is minimized, IMO.
Jackie wrote: "... We also saw Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief. Some changes from the book, mostly cut for time and to make some scenes less complicated. ..."I read part of The Lightning Thief but didn't finish it. So I'll look forward to the movie to see how things work out for Percy.
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Percy_Ja...
Last night, via a Netflix DVD, I thoroughly enjoyed the film, "Mr. & Mrs. Bridge" (1990), which stars Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Mr._Mrs....
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100200/e...
The film is a combined adaptation of two books:
Mrs. Bridge: A Novel and Mr. Bridge by Evan S. Connell.
The film describes "a traditional couple living in Kansas City in the 1940s" (quoted from an online synopsis). "Through it all ... facing each obstacle that emerges, Mr. and Mrs. Bridge keep their love alive. ... the film quietly celebrates the tiny threads that hold people together over the years." (from an online review by Frederic & Mary Ann Brussat)
The opposite personalities of Mr. and Mrs. Bridge are what keep the movie interesting. He is rigid and she is eager to please. Newman and Woodward are perfect in the roles.
The New York Times' Vincent Canby said: "Mr. and Mrs. Bridge is wise and funny and just a little bit scary." Julie Salamon at the Wall Street Journal said: "The movie doesn't condescend to these relics of the recent past, but treats them with poignancy and humor."
About the ending, quotes from online reviews said:
"But most bridges are built to get to the other side and this one just leaves you hanging. [Desson Howe, Washington Post Staff Writer:]
and
" ...the year's dopiest movie wrap-up. [USA Today's Mike Clark:]
Although the ending was unusual, it was strangely satisfying.
Sounds like my wife & I - opposites in a lot of ways, but with enough threads, some tiny, to keep us quite happy with each other. We're certainly miserable apart. They were a real life couple, weren't they?
Jim wrote: "Sounds like my wife & I - opposites in a lot of ways, but with enough threads, some tiny, to keep us quite happy with each other. We're certainly miserable apart. They were a real life couple, weren't they?"Jim, I didn't get the impression that Mr. & Mrs. Bridge were a real life couple. Certainly, we all could recognize parts of their personalities in real life people. :)
BTW, one of the reviews included the following quote:
"Simone Signoret once noted, 'Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years.'"
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.co...
I meant Newman & Woodward were married in real life.
Jim wrote: "I meant Newman & Woodward were married in real life."Oh, yes! Wiki says they were married until Paul Newman's death in 2008. That's fifty years of marriage (1958–2008)! I hope they were able to celebrate in that last year (unless he died before the anniversary date).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanne_W...
We saw From Paris With Love starring John Travolta. Pretty good for an action movie, predictable. It didn't run on too long with extended action and was only 1:30 hours runtime. It annoys me when they try to fill up space with longer action sequences. Travolta was fantastic, as usual, and worth watching.From imdb: In Paris, a young employee in the office of the US Ambassador hooks up with an American spy looking to stop a terrorist attack in the city.
Joy, both of the Bridge Books were good. Mrs. was better than Mr. but they were written by a wordsmith. Even Connell was the author of another wonderful book, "The Connoisseur," I thought the movie was good but would have been better if they hadn't changed the ending. That did it for me. nina ps Jim, the books were a composite of people the author knew from growing up in Kansas City. Some were offended by it but I thought it rang true as they say nina
Jackie wrote: "We saw From Paris With Love starring John Travolta. Pretty good for an action movie, predictable. It didn't run on too long with extended action and was only 1:30 hours runtime. It annoys me when...""From Paris with Love"(2009) R
http://www.netflix.com/Search?v1=From...
Genre: Action Thrillers, Espionage Action, France
This movie is: Suspenseful, Exciting, Violent
Jackie, your post prompted me to look at Roger Ebert's review of the movie. He brought up an interesting point. He said:
===================================================
"We see a dizzying cascade of images, but here's a funny thing: We don't see Travolta completing many extended physical movements, and none involving any danger. The shots of him involve movement, but in bursts of a few frames, intercut with similar bursts of action by his attackers. There is no sense of continuous physical movement taking place within a defined space. No overall sense of the choreography.
"I hasten to say this is not criticism of John Travolta. He succeeds in this movie by essentially acting in a movie of his own. The fight construction is the same with most modern action movies. In past decades, studios went so far as to run fencing classes for swordfights. Stars like Buster Keaton, Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and Errol Flynn did their own stunts and made sure you could see them doing them. Most of the stunts in classic kung-fu movies, starring such stars as Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, really happen. Sure, they used camera angles, trampolines and wires, but you try it and see how easy it is.
"CGI makes that unnecessary. The stunt work is done by computers and the editing process. I fear that classic action sequences would be too slow for today's impatient action fans, who have been schooled on impossibilities. The stunt driving done in such chase landmarks as "The French Connection" and "Bullitt," where you could observe real cars in real space and time, has been replaced by what is essentially animation."
FROM: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/p...
===================================================
Jackie, what do you think of Ebert's comments?
Nina wrote: "Joy, both of the Bridge Books were good. Mrs. was better than Mr. but they were written by a wordsmith. Even Connell was the author of another wonderful book, "The Connoisseur," I thought the movie..."Nina, the ending in the movie, "Mr. & Mrs. Bridge", was very unusual. It cut off much of the story and summarized the ending instead. I don't know if the summary was true to the book.
Below are a couple of quotes from online reviews about the ending:
"But most bridges are built to get to the other side and this one just leaves you hanging."
-Desson Howe, Washington Post Staff Writer
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/...
and
" ...the year's dopiest movie wrap-up."
-USA Today's Mike Clark
http://www.metacritic.com/video/title...
Joy, I'd say the comments are valid, but unlike Ebert, I actually liked the short sequences. The action genre has gone so over the top with fighting sequences that it has become boring to me and I find myself wishing the scene was over. Paris was a refreshing change from run of the mill action.However, there was one scene where Travolta shoots up an entire restaurant full of drug dealers all the while holding one of them hostage, it was pretty impressive. You'd have to view the scene to know what I mean.
Jackie wrote: "Joy, I'd say the comments are valid, but unlike Ebert, I actually liked the short sequences. The action genre has gone so over the top with fighting sequences that it has become boring to me and I find myself wishing the scene was over. ..."Good point, Jackie.
We watched our traditional Easter week end movie, "Forest Gump". It's always an uplifting story and I just love the soundtrack.When we were in Savannah, I learned an interesting fact about Tom Hanks. He sits on a park bench during about 80% of the movie. Everyone wanted to sit on the bench that Forest had sat on. The lines were incredibly long, interfering with production of the movie. Tom Hanks went to an adjacent park and sat on every bench there. So, now there are lots of seats where Forest sat. The original bench is now in the Savannah History Museum.
Good guy, Tom Hanks.
Interesting about the famous Savannah bench, Katherine. Reminds me of a tour of Savannah which I took in 2005. I learned that many of the parks in Savannah are called Squares. We saw Lafayette Square which is next to St. John the Baptiste Church there. It was lovely. Below is a link to a photo I took of Lafayette Square in Savannah:http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj...
Thanks for that bit of film history.
The following Wiki link tells more about the squares in Savannah:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savannah...
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It has been frustrating and stressful when I make a huge error. But I can't help clicking buttons to see what it does.