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)
Katherine, thanks for the suggestion. I've never seen it. So I'll try it via Netflix:"Fly Away Home"(1996)
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Fly-Away...
"This movie is: Feel-good, Sentimental, Emotional."
My sister has suggested the following movie:"Mrs. Harris" (2005)
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Mrs.-Har...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0391353/
"Based on the sensational 1980s media event, famed cardiologist Herman Tarnower meets a particularly brutal end at the hands of his jilted lover, Jean Harris."
Annette Bening plays Mrs. Harris.
Ben Kingsley plays Herman Tarnower.
Joy H. wrote: "My sister has suggested the following movie:"Mrs. Harris" (2005)
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Mrs.-Har...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0391353/
"Based on the sensational 1980s..."
The doctor was famous for "The Scarsdale Diet". She was the headmistress of an up-scale girls school. I remember when this relationship was in the news. Subsequently, there have been many "Real TV" shows about the crime. Especially good was "City Confidential"on A&E.
I'll be watching "Mrs. Harris" today.
Netflixed Collapsehttp://www.netflix.com/Search?oq=coll...
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/p...
Michael Ruppert does a monologue about how the world oil production has peaked and is on the way down. He estimates 30-35 years before it's gone. Since EVERYTHING in our civilization is based on oil, he foresees a collapse. Ruppert is a very sharp guy. I am not smart enough to refute anything he says. I gave this dvd 4 stars out of 5, though, before I watched it, I'd anticipated giving it only 2 (I didn't think it would ENTERTAIN me, which is what I base my stars on).
He explained financial derivatives to me in a simple paragraph.
He says 2 countries had their oil tap shut off. North Korea and Cuba (when Soviet Union folded). Cuba went back to the land, a garden on every square inch of land. N Korea starved.
The only bright spot in Ruppert's scary forecast is that I'll be dead before then. But I'll still get to feel the pain as things start to come apart.
Oh yeah, he says FDIC must fail. (watch our paper, they're keeping score of how many banks are failing, a record)
I think everybody should watch this, though it'll depress you.
He uses the f word quite a bit.
Earl wrote: "Netflixed Collapsehttp://www.netflix.com/Search?oq=coll...
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/p...
Michael Ruppert does a monologue about how the world oil production has peaked and is on the way down. He estimates 30-35 years before it's gone. Since EVERYTHING in our civilization is based on oil, he foresees a collapse. ..."
Frightening stuff. Perhaps someone should suggest that the world should go back to horse-drawn vehicles, wood-burning fireplaces, and home-grown foods. Jim has a good start with his horses!
All we have are geldings, so no business opportunities there.It is amazing how much we rely on oil. People just don't realize how fragile our civilization really is. We've woven an intricate web of dependencies that no one really understands. Just listen to two economists discuss their subject some time.
Please see my new topic at:http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4...
I'd like your opinion. Please post it at the new topic.
I loved the movie and the book,The Accidental Tourist. nina
Me too, Nina. I watched the "The Accidental Tourist" (1988) yesterday via a Netflix DVD. I had read the book a while ago: The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler.I loved the part played by Geena Davis, the "kooky dog trainer"! She lightened up the heavy parts of the plot.
Here's the Netflix description:
====================================================
"An author of travel guides (William Hurt) must come to terms with the tragic murder of his young son and his estranged wife. But things begin to look up when he meets a lovely, kooky dog trainer (Geena Davis) who definitely marches to the beat of her own drum. Davis won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in this faithful adaptation of Ann Tyler's novel, which itself won A National Book Critics Circle Award."
FROM: http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/The-Ac...
=====================================================
I gave the film 4 Netflix stars.
FROM IMDb: "An emotionally distant writer of travel guides must carry on with his life after his son is killed and his marriage crumbles."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094606/
I have finally watched "Fly Away Home" (1996) via a Netflix DVD.The story is fictitious but was adapted from the non-fiction book by William Lishman:
Father Goose: One Man, a Gaggle of Geese, and Their Real Life Incredible Journey South (1992).
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Fly-Away...
"Inspired by a true story..."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116329/
"A father and daughter (Anna Paquin) decide to attempt to lead a flock of orphaned Canada Geese south by air."
(The geese bonded to the daughter as if she had been their mother because she's the one who found the abandoned eggs and nurtured them. After that, they followed her all around.)
Wiki says:
=====================================================
"The film was loosely based on the real-life experiences of Bill Lishman, a Canadian inventor, artist, and ultralight aircraft hobbyist. ... Lishman successfully led a flock of Canada Geese on a winter migration from Ontario, Canada, to Northern Virginia, United States..."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly_Away...
=====================================================
The cinematography was terrific. I don't know how they did it.
Very exciting, once you get into it. I never thought I would have such affection for a flock of geese. :)
I, too, was fascinated by the cinematography. But, this movie was originally shown around the time a young girl tried to fly cross country, urged by her father and she crashed. I was disturbed by the young girl flying alone in this true story.Yes, the geese were wonderful and yes, you wished them to be saved but not to the extent to take a chance on a young girl's life. nina
Yes, Nina, it crossed my mind that the girl's risk for fifteen geese was a bit much. But since I expected a happy ending, I didn't worry too much. It was fiction which veered on the edge of fantasy.What is amazing is that a real man accomplished the feat.
The following Netflix DVD contains two movies in one; it's a double feature:"Has Anybody Seen My Gal?" (1952) and "A Very Special Favor" (1965)
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Has-Anyb...
I enjoyed both of these light-hearted films featuring some of my favorite old-time performers.
Both movies feature Rock Hudson in a couple of lesser known screwball comedies.
The first movie has Charles Coburn playing a comedy role as "as a rich man masquarading as a poor man in order to spy on his heirs" (quoted from a Netflix customer review). Very enjoyable. Rock Hudson plays a supporting role. James Dean makes his first screen appearance in a very short one-line scene. That was a big surprise for me!
The second movie pairs Rock Hudson with Leslie Caron, whom I always enjoy. Charles Boyer plays Caron's father. He asks Rock Hudson to romance his daughter in order to "loosen her up" since she's a straight-laced, old maidish psychiatrist. It's an amusing plot device and Rock Hudson hams it up in order to do the job. It's a reminder of the movie "Pillow Talk" in which he starred with Doris Day in 1959, six years earlier.
Here are the IMDb links:
"Has Anybody Seen My Gal" (1952):
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043873/
"A Very Special Favor" (1965):
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059868/
Netflixed The Good Guyhttp://www.netflix.com/Movie/The-Good...
Really dumb 2 stars
Netflixed The Book of Eli
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The_Book...
Pretty good up until the ending - I give it 3 stars, mostly for the Mad Max stuff in the body of the flick. The ending was apparently 'phoned in' and disappointing. Mila Kunis plays the rescued damsel. It took me almost the whole movie to remember where I'd seen her - my beloved "That 70s Show" she's the ditsy Jackie. What a role change!
Thanks for your comments, Earl.I finally watched the film adaptation of the book, Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky, by Chris Greenhalgh.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1023441/
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Coco-Cha...
One of the Netflix reviewers called the film "boring and tedious". I agree. It was very slow-paced and drawn out. There really isn't much of a plot. The whole thing is very bleak.
The dissonance of Stravinky's music got on my nerves. The characters of both Coco and Igor weren't likable at all. They hardly spoke. Instead there were long, drawn out scenes of them staring stone-faced into the camera. The actress who played Coco had been a model in real life. All through the film she strutted, smug-faced, as if she were walking down the stage in a fashion show. A real turn-off.
The film tried so hard to be artsy. How boring! I gave it one Netflix star to indicate my dislike for the movie. I couldn't wait for it to be over. But at least now I know what it's all about.
I never really liked Chanel #5 perfume very much either. :)
Earl, I considered watching 'Eli' mainly because I loved Mila as Jackie in That 70s Show. One of the few American comedies I enjoy. Maybe because I was a teenager in the 70 and can relate. In the end I decided against it because I feared boring religous overtones with Eli carrying around the Bible.
The TCM Channel (Turner Classic Movies) has been airing a couple of good movies. They both had interesting plots which captured my attention and kept me interested. That's all I ask. :)To categorize them as mysteries or suspense films might be misleading because there's more to them than that. I really can't think of a word for them. So I'll just say that the plots are intriguing.
The first film is "The Scapegoat" (1959), an adaptation from Daphne du Maurier's novel, The Scapegoat (1957). It stars one of my favorite actors, Alec Guinness.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053247/
Unfortunately, Netflix doesn't carry this film. I wish it did because I'd like to watch the ending again. It has a very strange ending. That's all I can say without giving anything away. I think I'll go to the library and read the last few pages for clarification. If you can find this movie, I recommend it.
The GR description of the book says:
"Hailed by the New York Times as a masterpiece of 'artfully compulsive storytelling,' The Scapegoat brings us Daphne du Maurier at the very top of her form."
One of the GR reviewers explains the plot succinctly: "The Scapegoat is the story of a man, John, who is thrust into the life of his double, whom he stumbles upon in a small city in France. In a forced exchange of identities, John joins his double's complicated and troubled family."
Alec Guinness is the perfect actor for playing the roles of both of the look-alikes!
[See my next message for an explanation of the second movie I enjoyed at TCM recently.]
The second movie I enjoyed on TCM recently was:"The Earrings of Madame de..." (1953)
Fortunately, Netflix does have this one:
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The-Earr...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046022/
The film is adapted from the book, Madame De (1951). The story tells what happens after Madame De sells a pair of diamond earrings which had been given to her by her husband. As the earrings go from owner to owner, the life of Madame De is deeply affected. They keep coming back into her life.
The film stars Charles Boyer, Vittorio De Sica, and the beautiful Danielle Darrieux. It's done in French, but the English subtitles are effective enough to engage the viewer.
A GR reviewer says: "It won an Oscar in 1954 for Best Costume Design.".
"Basically it is a romantic triangle between ... Danielle Darrieux ... Charles Boyer, and her lover ... Vittorio De Sica."
Another GR reviewer says: "The film making is truly wondrous, with amazing camera shots, luxurious sets and costuming and top notch acting." This is true, even though it's in black and white.
As I said, this movie kept me watching and kept me engaged throughout. That's all I ask. :)
I found another good movie at Netflix. I streamed "A Foreign Field" (1993 or 1994))(Masterpiece Theatre):http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/A-Fore...
I found the film while searching for another good movie with Alec Guinness. It's the story of three old WWII veterans returning, years later, to the site of the Omaha Beach invasion. Two of them are searching for an old girlfriend. It turns out that they're both looking for the same girl. So it becomes a kind of comedy mixed in with some sad and some touching moments.
This would be a good movie to watch around Veteran's Day. Seeing Omaha Beach, hearing the old men telling of their frightening war experiences, seeing the actual gravesites of so many young men who perished, (rows and rows of white crosses), really brings home the tragic nature of D-Day in 1944.
And yet, mixed in with the sadness, are the funny interactions of the characters. It's a perfect mix, especially when Lauren Bacall has a supporting role, (not as the old girlfried, but as part of the group travelling around the area). The old girlfriend herself, played by Jeanne Moreau, is a real surprise, especially at the end. Such a satisfying ending, even though it's bittersweet.
I couldn't find the film listed at IMDb [see edit in my next message], but the TCM website describes it well:
=====================================================
"Poignant tale of love, war and camaraderie in which three vets, an American and two Brits, return to Normandy to recall their World War II experiences and join other friends and relatives in revealing secrets and rekindling memories. Alec Guinness, Jeanne Moreau, Leo McKern, Geraldine Chaplin, Lauren Bacall, and John Randolph star."
FROM: http://turnerclassic.moviesunlimited....
=====================================================
Alec Guinness plays an unusual role, perfect as always.
PS-I found the IMDb link for "A Foreign Field":http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106948/
It's listed as an episode of "Screen One", a TV Series 1985–2002):
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0297625/
How did I find it? I went to the IMDb page listing Alec Guinness's filmography:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000027/
Where there's a will, there's a way. :)
Here's another streamable film from Netflix which I found interesting:"The Butterfly" (2003)(2002)
http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/The-Bu...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0329485/
This is a sweet and simple story about an old man, a little girl, and some butterflies. It's told in French with English subtitles. I liked it.
Good acting, likable characters, lovely scenery, and an extra bonus: a close-up of an unusual butterfly emerging from its chrysalis.
One of the user reviews at IMDb says (very wisely): "The metamorphosis of the butterfly reflects the changing of the relationships between people within the story." Ah, yes, it does!
At the IMDb message board, someone wrote: "...and the actress playing Elsa [the 8 yr old girl] is simply enchanting, you want to look at her in every frame."
That's true. I did look forward to seeing that sweet little face all throughout the film.
I, too, loved The Buttterfly. Wish they made more of them like that. nina
Netflixed Red Riding Trilogy: Part 1: 1974(Red Riding: In the Year of Our Lord 1974)
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Red-Ridi...
I give 2 stars out of 5. Shot mostly in the dark, couldn't see much. Though there WERE good subtitles I only picked up about 25% of the content. That's a matter of listening to British English and sloppy story line. If I go out to a movie, in a theater, with no subtitles, I would expect to also get 25% of the content, and scramble to keep up with the plot. That's why I don't any more. I won't be renting the other 2 films of the trilogy.
I read a book about the Yorkshire Ripper back in the 80s; it was truly frightening. I can't remember the name of it. I used to read a lot of true crime, but I just can't do it anymore.
Netlixed Spartacus Blood and Sandhttp://www.netflix.com/Movie/Spartacu...
It's not bad - I give 3 stars out of 5. Not as good as HBO's Rome (or I'm not sufficiently hooked yet). The sex scenes are well-done soft porn. The cartoon blood splashing in battle scenes is a tacky turn-off. I will be watching the other 3 dvds in the series.
My tv screen in dark enough in this dvd to make me start thinking about an LED flatscreen. HiDefs are supposed to be coming down.
My screen doesn't show dark scenes well either when I'm streaming to my laptop. I just wait for the movie to show daylight scenes. I hate the dark scenes. :)
Thanks Earl, I have to give it a try one of these days. Rome sounds good too.
I've been enjoying the Netflix DVDs of "Backstairs at the White House" (1979):http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Backstai...
The Netflix description says: "... this award-winning television miniseries explores behind-the-scenes life at the White House as seen through the eyes of staffers during the course of eight different presidential administrations."
This miniseries consists of four parts, shown on four different DVDs. It stars Olivia Cole and Leslie Uggams who play two of the servants at the White House (mother and daughter). The actual mother and daughter were Maggie Rogers and Lillian Rogers Parks, author of the book on which the series was based.
The miniseries is based on the book, My Thirty Years Backstairs at the White House by Lillian Rogers Parks.
There is also a book entitled, Backstairs at the White House by Gwen Bagni. I'm not sure how Bagni fits into the picture. She probably wrote the script for the miniseries. The IMDb award page indicates this. Bagni was a writer for television shows, radio and films.
Below is the IMDb award page for the miniseries:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078565/a...
Joy,That sounds really interesting to see how things change through the eyes of a certain few who remain.
That's right, Jackie! It's also like a refresher course in American history from Presidents Taft through Eisenhower (the administrations of Taft, Wilson, Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman, and Eisenhower).I loved the dramatizations of the presidents, their wives, the cabinet members, and also of the many staff members. Cloris Leachman was perfect in the part of the overbearing and bossy head housekeeper. When she got too haughty, President Coolidge said: "Shouldn't you be working at Buckingham Palace?" LOL
The TCM Channel is currently showing "Million Dollar Mermaid" (1952) starring Esther Williams.http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Million-...
This is a story about the Australian swimmer, Annette Kellerman (1887-1975). Wiki says that Kellerman was "an Australian professional swimmer, vaudeville and film star, writer, and advocate for the change of women's swimwear. She is often credited for inventing the sport of synchronised swimming ..."
An IMDb user review says: "Wonderful film exhibiting the talents of Esther Williams portraying swimming Annette Kellerman at the turn of the 20th century.
The water sequences were never lovelier..."
From: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044903/
It's interesting to note that Wiki says: "'Million Dollar Mermaid' not only became Esther Williams' nickname around Hollywood, but it became the title of her autobiography (1999), co-written with Digby Diehl."
The Million Dollar Mermaid: An Autobiography by Esther Williams
It's also interesting to read that while making this film, "Esther Williams broke her neck diving off a 50-foot tower during the sequence in which she wears a golden swimming costume. She spent six months in a body cast before recovering to complete the film."
From IMDb Trivia: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044903/t...
(Somewhere I read that it was the heavy headpiece she was wearing during the dive which helped to caused the accident.)
I just spent an interesting 40 minutes watching History Channel's Modern Marvels. It was about tea. I learned quite a bit about tea today. For example, the three teas, black, green and oolong all come from the same plant: Camellia sinensis. It's not the plant that differs but the process of oxidation that allows for the different types of teas.The program told how tea shaped history. And the medicinal properties of green tea and herbal teas(which I already knew). Very interesting all around. Best 40 minutes I've spent in a while.
I looked it up and it's from 2006, that might make it easier to find. I've always liked Modern Marvels, depending on the subject. As well as How It's Made.
Jackie wrote: "I just spent an interesting 40 minutes watching History Channel's Modern Marvels. It was about tea. I learned quite a bit about tea today. For example, the three teas, black, green and oolong all..."Here it is as a video online, Jackie:
ONLINE VIDEO: http://www.fancast.com/tv/Modern-Marv...
I found it via IMDb:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0942654/
http://www.imdb.com/video/fancast/vi9...
I see that Netflix has a good number of the Modern Marvels episodes. It doesn't seem to have the one about tea, but it has plenty of others and some of them are streamable. So thanks for pointing the way to them.
Here's one about the Eiffel Tower:
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Modern-M...
I watch MM whever it's something that interests me. They do a wide variety of 'modern marvels' so you're sure to find something you like. The TV just happened to be on the History Channel this morning, it was just starting so I DVR'd it. I wish I had more time because there were a few good ones today: wheat, distilleries, whiskey.
Joy H. wrote: "The TCM Channel is currently showing "Million Dollar Mermaid" (1952) starring Esther Williams.http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Million-......"
Joy, I'm going to try you recommendations of Backstairs at the White House and Million Dollar Mermaid. I don't usually like 'old' movies, but you made the first sound interesting and, though I think I did see Million Dollar as a kid, I'd like to see Ester swimming now. I'm a die-hard, dedicated swimmer.(gravity-free exercise for my stenosis-challenged back!) I have studied lots of science on swimming (yes, it is a science) and am still the slowest craft in the pool. Also, I never remember hearing that she sustained such a serious injury making the movie. But then I didn't read newspapers in those days.
Earl, I hope you'll enjoy those films. Remember, don't blame the messenger! LOLI always loved swimming (used to swim lengths), but nowadays I don't do much of it. I usually just float... or wade. :)
As for the White House dramatizations, they only touch on the highlights in the Presidents' lives, but the story of the mother and daughter was touching. Also interesting were the personalities of the Presidents' wives and how they were portrayed. Here's the cast:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078565/f...
It was fun trying to imagine what it was really like working as a servant in the White House. When the Queen came to visit the White House, she brought along her own staff and servants. Those servants were used to having special servants wait on them at meals. Plush job. :)
Since Barb is an ardent horse lover from way back, when she asked me last night if I'd like to go to a movie this afternoon, I didn't have any trouble guessing what film she wanted to see: Secretariat (see the Coming Soon thread for links, including reviews). :-) However, you don't have to be a horse lover to love this movie! Nor do you have to be at all familiar with horse racing history --in fact, it actually ratchets up the suspense if (as in my case), you're not. :-)This movie, of course, is based on the career of a real-life race horse, Triple Crown winner Secretariat --but indirectly; it was actually adapted from the book Secretariat: The Making of a Champion by William Nack, which may have taken some liberties with actual events. The characters and the core of the story, though, are real. Though I'm not a horse racing fan (and have never attended a horse race), the racing scenes were genuinely exciting to me, and appeared very realistic, at least to my inexperienced eye. But what makes the movie really come alive is the well-realized human drama; it's not just a film about a horse, but about an extraordinary, admirable woman and the people around her --about family bonds, heritage, the courage to believe in yourself and to follow a dream, to be everything that's in you to be. The cast here is superb, but I have to mention Diane Lane, who's unforgettable as Secretariat's owner. This movie delivers five-star entertainment, and does it without sex, violence or bad language (it's said to be rated PG for "brief, mild language" but it had to be pretty brief and mild, because I don't recall any :-) ). If the Academy actually gave out Oscars based on quality, I'd say both the movie and the acting would be in Academy Award territory --and I say that even without having seen most of the competition!
I think I may have to see it. I remember when Secretariat won, it was quite a big deal. I don't ever remember hearing so much about a Triple Crown winner before or after. I was a teen then and not much interested, so I don't know the details or why 'Secretariat' was one everybody's lips, but it must have been a big deal.
I've always liked Diane Lane. I was just telling my son about The Outsiders movie today, which she was in.
Mom saw Secretariat last Friday, Marg & Erin saw it today. They all agree with you, Werner. Great movie. Except for the Preakness, which is shown on a TV set in the movie, all the races were redone. There were some minor bobbles with reality, that Marg caught, but she said they were pretty minor. Like in the actual Belmont, the announcer called him as winning by 25 lengths. It wasn't until well after the race that they replayed the footage & found he'd won by 31, but in the movie they just had the announcer say 31. Close enough. Marg & Erin did say that they recognized several different horses playing Secretariat, but they cast them pretty well, especially the one who did the racing, although the one they usually used off the race course wasn't enough of a ham. He didn't show the interest in cameras that the real Secretariat did.
Blue, my wife's old & favorite horse, is one of many grandsons of Secretariat. He inherited the ham gene. Like his grandfather, when a camera got pointed his way, he would preen & jump in the way. He quit doing it a few years ago when his spot as top stud got taken away by my wife's new horse, Cutter. Now Blue is camera shy & rarely allows his picture to be taken.
Thanks for the great reviews.I, too, am looking forward to seeing the film, "Secretariat". It sounds like a real feel-good movie. We'll see if Werner's Oscar prediction comes true.
It's interesting to learn how differently each horse reacts to a camera.
I wondered how they chose the name "Secretariat". So I went to Wiki and found the following:
=====================================================
"On March 30 [1970], at 12:10 a.m., Somethingroyal foaled a bright red chestnut colt with three white socks and a star with a narrow blaze. By the time the colt was a yearling, he was still unnamed. Meadow Stables' secretary, Elizabeth Ham, had submitted 10 names to the Jockey Club, all of which were denied for various reasons. Approval finally came with the 11th submission, a name Ham herself picked from a previous career association, Secretariat."
FROM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretar...
=====================================================
Here are a couple of photos showing the white socks and star:
http://richmondthenandnow.com/Images/...
http://www.secretariat.com/Secretaria...
I wonder how they duplicated that in the movie.
Here's the Google link to more photos of Secretariat:
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&am...
After reading about Secretariat on Wikipedia, I see what an extraordinary athlete he was. I definitely want to see the movie. I'm surprised there hasn't been a movie about him before this. Or was there?
Jackie, as far as I can see, IMDb doesn't show anything about Secretariat before this.
Joy, just to clarify, I wasn't predicting that Secretariat would win any Oscars --just saying that it should. From what I've observed, the movies that (in my estimation) should win Oscars rarely do, though there are exceptions to that generalization. (For some unknown reason, the Academy has never come to me and asked me to pick the winners --though I could do a much better job of it than they usually do. :-) )
Werner, let's hope that your optimistic feelings about the film prove to be correct, even if you didn't exactly predict an Oscar win for "Secretariat". Even a nomination would be close enough. Now I can't wait until the Academy Awards are given out. :)
Joy H. wrote: I always loved swimming (used to swim lengths), but nowadays I don't do much of it. I usually just float... or wade...."
Joy, I see the YMCA, pardon me the 'Y', advertises Senior Swim, 62 and up, for $2 per visit. Call ahead to see when recreational and lap swim is scheduled. (avoid various programs when you can't swim). Maybe you should get back in the 'swim of things'.
Earl, I did attend the Senior Swim at the Y occasionally years ago. However, these days I don't seem to crave swimming as I used to. I'm satisfied not to swim, especially when the weather is cold... because it makes me chilly just to think of swimming! Going out into the cold, after the dampness of swimming isn't something I relish. And in the summer, the water in Lake George is usually too cold for me. LOLThe only way I would enjoy swimming nowadays is if I had a heated pool inside my own house. :) Have you heard of the Endless Pool? It's about the size of a room and you swim against a current. Expensive, but nice:
http://www.endlesspools.com/?gclid=CI...
http://www.endlesspools.com/gallery/
This one looks nice:
http://www.endlesspools.com/gallery/d...
Actually I have swum in an Endless Pool. They had a demonstration model in Lake Placid many years ago during one of those Iron Man Races. I drove there just to try it out. That's how much I used to love swimming.
When we get old, we become different persons.
Joy H. wrote: "Earl, I did attend the Senior Swim at the Y occasionally years ago. However, these days I don't seem to crave swimming as I used to. I'm satisfied not to swim, especially when the weather is cold....."Boy, I'd have to turn that current down as far as that Endless Swim would go. I even hate to swim into one of the jets at the end of the pool when it's pumping strongly. I guess I'm desperately trying NOT to become a different person as I age. But I feel like I'm balanced on a tight rope and if just one item in my 'therapy' (swimming say) fails, I'll plunge into a downward spiral. You should still spend $2 just to try the Y's new hot tub. It has a 'stairway to the stars'. And a BIG last step down to the bottom! I wish I could say I 'love' swimming, but you have to be a GOOD swimmer to say that I think. With me it's therapy and something I HAVE to do every morning.
The hot tub sounds tempting. I've used the Y's hot tub in the past, but not the newest one.
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Gregory Maguire (other topics)Jeff Kinney (other topics)
Charles Portis (other topics)
Charles Portis (other topics)
Horton Foote (other topics)
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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116329/