28 posts tagged “movies”

Would y'all do me a favor? My movie friend Jeff is at it again. I received this email today:

I saw The Bell Jar and the Butterfly today.

I'm trying to decide if I liked it or not. Similar to Margot at the Wedding. The performances were powerful. This story was unbelievable. I don't know that I would've had the fortitude.

But I'm not sure if I liked it.

Wow, three days since a post. It's not that I haven't been thinking about it. I've thought of many a post. Transferring from my brain to the keyboard is something else.

Let's see . . .

I've gone back to work. Thank heavens for the three-day workweek.

I did like National Treasure.

I threw away any make-up or face product that could've been a year older away.

Conversation with mom: (holding up handicapped parking hanger) "This thing has been a lifesaver!" So I guess I don't have to say 'I told you so!'? "No."

I got a Ninetendo for Christmas. With a Brain Game 2. My starting mental age is 80. I've been doing the training every day and really enjoy it.

I'm going to try out list-making.

I really enjoyed The Thirteenth Tale.

I've been updating my music collection. Love the Public Library: Spoon, Fall Out Boy, Robin Thicke, Rascal Flats, Carrie Underwood, Chris Rice, Amy Winehouse and a couple of Grammy compilations.

Based on a recommendation from Baylor Girl, I bought the starter set of Bare Minerals/Escentuals. So far, I love it.

My new TV Guide subscription started. It was free, but I realize now with the writer's strike that a different choice might've been the better option.

My friend Jill has back surgery tomorrow. If you gotta sec, would you mind sending up a prayer?

OK, I just wandered off and got lost reading about the Iowa Caucus's tonight. Anyone else think our Electoral process could use an overhaul?

I saw Juno last night at a free screening.

It was lovely. In a poignant, complex, funny, heartbreaking kind of way.

Ellen Page is outstanding. And wow, my girl Jennifer Garner. In a particular scene at the mall I could just feel her anguish, fear and hope for a baby.

It was definitely as good as the reviews make it sound.

My famous friend Jeff is featured in another movie-related publication, Backstage. It's a pretty terrific article about "accidental actors." His section is under "Chalk It Up."

Once Chalk became a hit on the festival circuit, word began filtering back to Guerrero that audiences were enjoying Mr. G. "They'd come back from festivals and say, 'People love you!'" Guerrero says. "It wasn't until I went to the Boston Independent Film Festival that I really heard the laughter. It was so rewarding — not just for me but to know people were getting the film and loving it."

Somehow, I don't think I have kept good track of all the movies I have seen this year -- in the theater, on DVD or TV. And as I looked at the list, it's really hard to narrow down which might be my favorite.

The Lives of Others is an Academy Award winning movie that probably almost no one heard of. But I loved it. Thought it was awesome. Recommend it totally. Although I do recognize this is a "not for everyone" kind of flick.

What else did I like this year?  Near the top of the list are four movies that were up for the Academy Awards. All well deserving.

Gosh, I really keep thinking there were some other really good movies, but my list seems limited. I'd definitely recommend:

I know it's impossible to read, but that's an A-!!

Saw The Heartbreak Kid today. Boy, was it ever awful.

The Lives of Others won the Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards this year. It certainly deserved it.

At the heart of a movie is a Stasi officer spying on a playwrite. He eventually discovers the only reason he was ordered to spy on this guy is because the lead of the Stasi wants the writer's girlfriend as his own.

Ulrich Mühe plays the Stasi officer who spies on the couple. His performance is absolutely riveting. Beyond his masterful acting, he drew on the fact that he was spied on by the Stasi.

It was only after German reunification, that the actor discovered evidence in his Stasi file that he had been under surveillance since he graduated from school. He was being watched simply because he was an actor (he was aware he was under surveillance, but not to what extent). The file also listed informants against him that included four of his fellow actors in the East Berlin theatre and by his wife.

I read an article a few weeks ago that I wish I could find again. It was an interview with Ulrich about his days of being spied on. Friends quoted in the article mentioned how he worried about the Stasi so much that he gave himself stomach ulcers. Thos ulcers eventually turned into cancer. He died in July at the age of 54.

The movie was, to me, a love story almost. Between the playwrite and his girlfriend, and between the spy and the couple. It is beautifully written and the music is perfection.

I highly recommend this film. It is in German and just over two hours, but I promise the time will be well-spent.

And I am on vacation! Frankly, my brain has been on vacay for a while now. I am so ready to be off. I won't be going anywhere since I just spent $350 on my car (and $90 on the dog), but it will be nice to not be at work.

My big goal for the week? To clean.

• the house
• the car

This is a big task. I want to get everything put away so I feel "clearer" for lack of a better term. I am feeling bogged down by stuff. I think I should just accept that I am stuck with the majority of the stuff while mom is alive because she pretty much won't let me get rid of it. Maybe I just need to buy some industrial size trash bags and sneak it out. Sad, huh? 41 and still hiding shit from my mom. :-)

I'd also like to hit a couple matinees. Mostly Ratatouille and Life Free or Die Harder. I told someone the second one today and she looked at me incredously, "Really??" Yeah. I heart Bruce Willis.

I want to spend some time adding to my pantry and planning out some meals for the following week. The veggie thing is going well and I am moving slowly away from processed foods (although I really heart Amy's). That's really my goal to move to a better overall nutrition plan. Cleaning is part of that. So my kitchen is more condusive to cooking, chopping, etc...

I have to say that everytime I eat a veggie meal I feel really good about myself. It's affecting my psyche way more than I thought it would. One of my friends asked this week if it would bother me if she ate meat in front of me. I told her no, but later teased her about the pile of chicken bones on her plate. She thought I meant it, but I again promised not to go "all PETA" on anyone. I think they're a little on the militant side. They have great info on their website about vegetarianism and veganism, but I almost feel guilty looking at them because I do think the group does as much harm as good.

I am up to seven minute intervals on the elliptical. My legs give out before my heart and breathing does. I've found I kind of enjoy it while watching TV. (Yes, that means it's in the middle of my living room.)

I've been reading a lot. Up to Book Five now. I'm going to wait until after the movie (bought my tickets today) to read Book Six. Which is good, because I've got some books ready at the library.

Oh, and today is my fifth anniversary in this house.