June 3, 2011: The Day the Sun Shone

There is sun today.  No clouds, no rain.  The weather men told us this wouldn't happen to until tomorrow!

 Since the sun was out I thought I would take a look at my garden bed in the light to see what had happened in the week of darkness and rain. Sadly all of my very, very tiny (think 1/4") lettuce sprouts have disappeared.  I have. No. Idea. What. Happened.  So, I will have to plant lettuce for the 6th time this spring.

Boba Fett was pretty disappointed this morning when what he thought was a leaf turned out to be a frog and the frog escaped before he could catch it.  He is in the market for a frog so if you manage to catch one you know where to send it.

Pretty Purple Chives

And finally, after 2 years of waiting and searching for lovely mums, today, I am going to Kings Mum's in Oregon City to pick up my beautiful Chrysanthemums!!!

Oh, and I had 4 inches of my hair cut off this morning.  Thanks Melissa! Grace Kelly Hair, here I come!

Thoughts on "The King's Speech"

 Date: 2010
Director: Tom Hooper
Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter

Colin Firth in a kilt.  Discuss.

Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth on screen together again.  Discuss.

The years seem to have been kinder to Colin Firth than Jennifer Ehle.  Makeup or age?  Discuss.

Helena Bonham Carter was neither insipid or creepy as I feared she would be.

Geoffrey Rush. Hearts!

Worst Winston Churchill portrayal ever? Likely.

I want the shabby wall in Lionel's office.  Moose said "No."


The "scene"  Oh. My.  It was nothing.  It was even interlaced with British swears which are so ridiculously funny that you weren't even offended by the real swears.  Seriously, this movie would have a PG rating if not for that scene.  I think a brief discussion with the kids about how this is not appropriate language even for adults and why it is not appropriate would be fine.  You could also mute it and not miss the impact.

Overall it was a really good story about courage, trust and duty, but NOT a good film about stuttering.  As the mother of a stammerer I was very annoyed that the film insinuated that the MAIN cause of stuttering is a trauma of some sort.  That is NOT TRUE.  It may be the cause in some cases but not in all or even in most.

I realize that this is a historical film espousing the science of the time but most people don't know anything about stuttering and will not know that the film's message about stuttering is outdated. 

Every parent of a stammerer is afraid that something they did caused their child's dis-fluency and it is unfair to perpetuate those false fears.

What parents of stammerers do need is immense gifts of patience from the almighty and a loving "listening" face.

If I ever hear my kid or anyone else's kid making fun of a child's stutter like David did of Bertie's.  They are going to get a tongue lashing that will make them wish THEY had never learned to talk. 

5 out of 7 thimbles.

Saturday Night Cinema

I meant to get this up earlier but I did yard work in the SUNSHINE all day long.

Bella
Date: 2006
Director: Alejandro Gomez Monteverde
Starring: Eduardo Verástegui and Tammy Blanchard


It has been some months since I watched this film so I am a bit fuzzy on the details but this movie was just a simple good movie.  A gently moving story about one day in the life of two people and the amazing influence they make on each other's lives in that time.  It is a movie about how precious life is and nearly scary moment when you think that Nina has gone through with an abortion, but she couldn't.  Amen.

5 out of 7 thimbles

Saturday Night Cinema

Me and Orson Welles
Date: 2009
Director: Richard Linklater
Starring: Zac Efron, Claire Daines and Christian Mckay

A teenager suddenly finds himself cast in the revolutionary  1937 production the Mercury Theatre and more importantly Orson Welles' production  of Julius Caesar.

I wouldn't watch this with my kids but all in all it is a pretty clean movie.  Miracle of miracles a modern day production about show business that DOES NOT have a homosexual story line.  Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. 

An odd choice for the revival of Saturday Night Cinema, perhaps, but I recommend this movie for two reasons; the first being that for the first time since 1997 I found myself wanting to be part of a play again.  To be in the rehearsal process, even to act again.  That is powerful stuff. 

Second, I completely forgot that I wasn't actually wasn't actually watching Orson Welles.  After I watched the movie I was looking up the cast and saw the credit "Christian McKay."  "Who was that?" I asked myself when it dawned on me that Orson Welles was actually played by an actor, not himself.

I think that completely forgetting that one of the most distinctive film personas in history was being acted by an actor is a reason to watch a movie.

5 out of 7 thimbles for the film 7 out of 7 for Christian McKay.

P.S.  This is actually Orson Welles in case you forget what he looks like.

Starlings Cinema Presents

 Last Friday we strung a sheet between the trees, borrowed a projector,

 Moved all the furniture out on the porch, popped popcorn, invited all the neighbors,

And watched a movie.

A neighbor said that from across the street it looked like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting - if there had been home movie projectors then.

Mission accomplished.

I only wish that it got darker earlier in the summer and we could do this all the time.

Saturday Night Cinema: The Bollywood Awards

After months of hard work the "Bollywood Pre-Screen" has finally ended. I did it for you gentle reader and because I wanted to find a great film for Cinema Domingo: Bollywood Edition. I have watched a lot on Indian sillyness and shed a great deal of tears. I have read many, many subtitles and I may be able to understand a bit of Hindi. I have a working knowledge of the Hindu godhead, I know Krishna from Vishnu from Ganesha.
I AM counting Bride and Prejudice and Bend it Like Beckham because they started me on this crazy Bollywood quest. I am NOT counting Indian Films like Water or Earth because they contain no singing nor dancing.
As the judge panel consists solely of myself let the ceremony begin.
Bend it like Beckham for "Darshan" B21 for "My Favorite Indian Song."

Bride and Prejudice for "No Life Without Wife" wins the "Song That Has Stuck in My Head the Most" award.
Runner up: Saawaryia for "Saawaryia"

Shahrukh Khan is known as "The King of Bollywood" for a reason, he is good, but he drives me nuts. He seems to excel in slapstick and goofiness. I do not appreciate slapstick or goofiness. He gets the award for "NOT Best Actor."
Zohra Sehgal wins "The Most Frequently Recognized Character Actor" award.

Aishwarya Rai gets the award for the "Most Beautiful Woman on the Planet."
This is of course self explanatory.

Lagaan gets the award for "Most Evil British Stereotype" and an honorable mention for teaching me about cricket, a sport that hitherto was a complete enigma and now is merely a puzzle.Jodhaa Akbar wins the award for "My Favorite Bollywood Film," for the story, the costumes, the leading lady and of course
honest to goodness Whirling Dervishes.

Guru receives the award for "Most Thought Provoking" I am not sure if this successfully bridged the gap between Bollywood and Film. The songs seemed very out of place with the tone of the movie. Abhishek Bachchan played the role of "Guru" very nicely.Saawariya receives the award for "Most Interesting Art Direction"
and also for "Man singing and dancing in a towel."
Kal Ho Naa Ho (Tomorrow May Never Come) wins the award for "The Most Tears Shed by the Judge" seriously touching yet ridiculous at the same time as it stars Shahrukh Khan.

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge recives the "Booby Prize" being the only film I could not finish because it was so bad. Shahrukh Khan strikes again.

Purab Aur Pachhim (East Meets West) wins the awards for "The Most Disturbing Movie I Have Ever Watched," "Least Sympathetic Leading Lady," and "Creepiest Villain Ever" Swinging London in the late 60's, micro mini skirts, moustaches gone wild and so many other things I can't even type them. I thought that I might need an eye transplant after watching this movie. But again, for you gentle reader. The song Hari Krishna wins the award for "The Most Brainwashing Song." I will not link to it because I only believe in brainwashing when it involves Cary Grant. Kuch Naa Kaho - Was the Runner Up for the Cinema Domingo Prize. It had all the elements: costumes, set in India, Aishwarya Rai, crazy love triangle, stellar dance scenes and a smoking hot villain to boot but alas it was out done byHum Dil De Chuke Sanam wins "The Cinema Domingo Prize" for meeting the initial criteria of starring Aishwaryia Rai, being set in India, compelling story as well as winning"Best Costumes," "My Favorite Saree Ever,""Outstanding Dance Numbers,""Most Interesting Love Triangle,""Lovely Sets,"
and "Most Potential for Post Movie Discussion."

Saturday Night Cinema

This week: Room for One More
Starring: Cary Grant and Betsy Drake also George Winslow
Director: Norman Taurog
Date: 1952

This movie was hard to find, I have been hoping to see it for years. Luckily it was released on DVD last year and my library got a copy of it early this year which was great news for me because I loved it. "Delightful" is an appropriate adjective for this movie. I am thinking about purchasing this movie I because I want my kids to internalize the messages.

"Room for One More" is saccharine sweet but Cary Grant manages to balance it out with his characteristic delivery. The youngest child "Teenie" is played by George Winslow, the ordinary looking little boy with the "froggy bass voice."
Betsy Drake was married to Cary Grant at the time so it is interesting to watch their interaction.

This movie exemplifies 1952 America. I am surprised that there wasn't an apple pie served.

Anne Rose has a big heart and is always taking in strays, one day the "stray" is a troubled girl from the orphanage, then it is a handicapped boy. Anne and "Poppy" show incredible patience and insight and help these two children become well adjusted young people as well as continue to raise their own three children.

What I loved about this is that they were not afraid to let the children fail.

There is an unabashed plug for the Foster care system as well as what might have well been an advertisement for the Boy Scouts of America including an Eagle Scout Court of Honor.

Cary Grant explains the birds and the bees to "Jimmy John" in a scene that explains everything and nothing all at once and another scene where a litter of kittens is actually being born.

There is another scene which I can't mention here because this is a family blog but when you watch the movie you will get it but the kids won't. Hilarious.

Based on the foster care and Boy Scouts of America I have a feeling that my Hanna friends are going to give this a huge thumbs up.

As for me I give it 6 out of 7 thimbles which is very, very good.

3 Mildly Entertaining Films

I have been listening to Atlas Shrugged on the iPod, it is around 63 hours or so. Listening to so much obejectivism and drooling over Francisco Domingo Carlos Andres Sebastián d'Anconia combined with putting our house up for sale hasn't left much time for movie watching, however; last weekend I watched a few flicks. They were...okay. I don't know that they were well done, two of them were low budget films and only one was mildly exciting. But they all made me think.
The first was "Arranged," a sleepy film about an Orthodox Jewish girl and a Muslim girl who are teachers in the same school. They find that they have a lot in common not the least of which being that they are both expecting arranged marriages.

I liked this film because I definitely see the wisdom in arranged marriages, and this movie didn't make them look weird just different. The acting was okay in some spots and bad in others. Obviously, a low budget film but not painful to watch like "Fireproof" (which I loved but can't stand to watch because of the poor acting.)
The second was "War Bride," again low budget and kind of sleepy.
Mostly I was confused?
What was the mother doing upstairs while she was crying and looking at her wedding picture? I don't think I want to know. What did she put in the little tin and then bury on her husband's grave? Why? What did any of this have to do with the film? Do Lily and Charlie ever discuss "Joe?" Why was Charlie so messed up after the war?? Yeah, yeah, PTSD but why? Why is Sophie going back to London? Are you trying to tell me that the family lavishes her with kindness and furs and then kicks her to the curb when her husband is killed?

None of these things are explained. Usually when a movie has gaping holes like this it means it was adapted from a book. As far as I can tell this is not, so those questions - just wasted celluloid.

A movie about a war bride could have been better. A war bride is a great plot device how can you ruin that?


The last was the BBC's production of "The 39 Steps" an adaptation of the book by John Buchan. You may remember that Hitchcock's The 39 Steps is one of my favorite movies and I was hoping for a modern remake. I was disappointed.
The most exciting part of this movie was when Rupert Penry-Jones took his shirt off and that WAS exciting. Can I just ask, if they had to go with a Blond James Bond couldn't they have chosen Rupert Penry-Jones instead of that blue collar worker they put in a tux and handed and Aston Martin?

Hitchcock always called North by Northwest the American version of The 39 Steps.

So what is this?











The British version of North by Northwest?

If so they didn't do a very good job. As much as I love Hitchcock's The 39 Steps I have to admit that North by Northwest is a better movie so it was an improvement on The 39 Steps. The BBC's The 39 Steps is in no way better than North by Northwest or even Hitchcock's The 39 Steps.

I would have thought that the BBC wouldn't tackle a remake unless they could do it better OR stay faithful to the book. They did neither. Bad form.

Just a handful of thimbles out of a possible 21 for all 3 films.

Pssssss...It's My Birthday

Still shockingly close to Thirty. No, I did not get lingerie for my birthday, those were the only gift bags Moose could find. I did get my favorite film "Notorious" on DVD and a bias tape maker. Keep your eyes open for detailed trims!

Saturday Night Cinema

Neitzsche and the Nazis
Date: 2006

This is possibly the most annoying documentary ever filmed. Actually, it is hardly a documentary, it is really a lecture on film with abrupt cuts, strange back grounds and expressive eyebrows.
Why am I recommending this for this weeks Saturday Night Cinema? Because the content is outstanding. The first hour or so is a detailed explanation of the principles of the Nazi party and their rise to power; completely fascinating and to be honest, chilling. I am not going to tell you what the parallels are, I am sure you can connect the dots your self.
The second part is an overview of Philospher Freidrich Neitzsche's whacked out view of humanity. Based on the very little I know of Neitzsche I think he was a nut. But that is beside the point.
The third part of the film is Professor Stephen Hicks ideas on how the Nazi's were influenced by Neitzsche.
I recommend this film for the first part and its application to current events, and the second if you want to broaden your knowledge of German philosophers.
Please be brave in watching think of it as a taped lecture and turn off the picture if you can't stand to watch the floating head or bouncing eybrows. If you do have the courage to keep the picture on try not to be driven mad by attempting to read the titles on the bookshelves, I couldn't make out a single one.

Find it on netflix and Netflix Instant!

Saturday Night Cinema

Last night we went to a movie in the park. It was magical, it was The Wizard of Oz. Watching it on a large movie screen with an audience and my children seeing it for the first time was amazing. I have never been crazy about The Wizard of Oz before, I liked it alright but nothing special. But last night was extraordinary. The audience cheered each time Toto escaped the Miss Gulch/the Wicked Witch of the West, clapped at the end of songs and after every performance of the Cowardly Lion. Boba Fett and Nutmeg were entranced.
The Wizard of Oz
Date: 1939
Starring: Judy Garland
Directed by: Victor Flemming

This film won 2 Oscars in 1939 for Original Song and Original Song. It was up for several other things but it was competing with Gone With the Wind. Judy Garland's baby talk is a bit irritating but she is a competent actress at only 16 years, and I thank my luck stars a million times that they didn't choose Shirley Temple for the role as originally planned. I can't think of anyone more annoying than Shirley Temple and her baby talk (except John Malcovich) The role of The Cowardly Lion played by Bert Lahr is outstanding. I think he was my favorite character last night. The costumes are really quite brilliant.

Watch The Wizard of Oz again. Sit still and don't get up and if possible watch it with a child who has never seen it before.

6.5 out of 7 thimbles

Saturday Night Cinema

Charade
Date: 1963
Starring: Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn and a host of other great actors as well as a marginal to poor little boy actor with a French accent.
Directed by: Stanley Donen
Music by: Henry Mancini

I love this movie when I am in the mood for a spy type thriller with a lighthearted touch. There is mystery and some suspense, many laughs and a whole lot of wonderful Cary Grant.
I am not a huge fan of Audrey Hepburn, I think she is good in some things but in a lot of movies she annoys me. In Charade I like her. Cary Grant was uncomfortable because of the age difference between him and Audrey Hepburn so they made Audrey Hepburn's character chase after him with a lot of jokes fron Grant about his age.
The soundtrack is superb, Henry Mancini you know. Many wonderful lines including but not limited to Audrey Hepburn's character touching Cary Grant's chin and asking him, "How do you shave in there?" My 9 year old likes it too.

6 out of 7 thimbles

Saturday Night Cinema

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Starring: John Wayne, James Stewart
Directed By: John Ford
Date: 1962

This film has some interesting themes on statesmanship and citizenship. Stoddard is a reluctant statesman yet he does his duty. There is also a question about the rule of law and what is right and what keeps you alive when there is no law.

The set is very minimal, almost campy but it works leaving you to focus on the characters and story rather than be distracted by the set. Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne are two of the best hands down and this film is easy to watch even if the leading lady they are scrapping over is a little abrasive.

I think this is one of Boss Moss' favorite films.

6 out of 7 thimbles

Saturday Night Cinema

Since I last mentioned Severus Snape, I have finished reading the Harry Potter books and just this afternoon watched Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

How do I feel about Snape now that I have read all of the books? I just want to say that "I knew it!" and if I were to have another son I would name him Severus.
How was Alan Rickman in HBP? Snapeish and Snapetastic.
How did I like the movie HBP? It was good but a bit underwhelming. I think many of the parts of the book that they skipped were key to the story. I thought that it lacked a lot of emotion. Daniel Radcliff's "Felix Felicis Harry" was hilarious.
What magic spell would I most like to have? The one where Dumbledore cleans up the room with a flick of his wand.

7 out of 7 thimbles for the book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
and 5 out of 7 thimbles for the movie Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Saturday Night Cinema

Gone With The Wind
Starring: Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable, Olivia de Havilland and Leslie Howard
Directed by: Victor Fleming
Date: 1939

This is the film that fueled my adolescence, a scary thought, I know, but a woman can get a lot of tips, good and bad, from Scarlett O'Hara.

This film ranks as AFI's #4 best film ever. And why not? It has costumes, passion, war, accents and women who don't care about their reputation. It has blockade running, and epic score and the Virginia Reel.

This is the only movie I like Clark Gable in; I think he is a little goofy looking, but not in Gone With the Wind, oh no.

Vivien Leigh is amazing, it's no wonder the greatest actor ever fell in love with and married her.

I hope you have seen this already, if not you should make no delay in doing so. This movie is the definition of iconic. There have been countless books, and articles and whole movies made about the making of this movie. It is a long movie at 238 minutes but there is a nice intermission.

One of my favorite lines is this: "No, I don't think I will kiss you, although you need kissing, badly. That's what's wrong with you. You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how. "
7 out of 7 thimbles

Saturday Night Cinema

Tonight, as I am busy celebrating the signing of The Declaration of Independence by watching my boys blow things up on the beach and as I am busy with my top secret mission, I am outsourcing my film recommendation. I have not yet seen it but La Keira recommends it as a top notch 4th of July film. I have it at the top of my Netflix queue.

Meet John Doe
Date: 1941
Starring: Barbara Stanwyck and Gary Cooper (super duper)
Directed by: Frank Capra

Apparently the story of how the media puts a man in office to do their bidding. Timely?
Read a review here. You can watch it instantly on Netflix.
Barbara Stanwyck and Gary Cooper together, how could it go wrong?

***Update: I watched this last night and it is very nice. 6 out of 7 thimbles.***

Saturday Night Cinema

Three Violent People
Date: 1956
Starring: Charlton Heston, Anne Baxter, Gilbert Roland, Tom Tryon
Directed By:Rudoph Maté"
A fabulous film recommended to me by Keira.
It is the story of a Texan who returns to home after the Civil War to his ranch. Along the way he hastily picks himself up a wife without bothering to look into her past. Back at the ranch we meet the black sheep of the family and the poet of a Grand Vacaro and his 5 sons. While all the ranchers in the area prepare to fight the carpetbaggers our hero discovers his wife's past. . .

Fans of M.A.S.H. might notice a familiar nose on Pedro, he is played by Jamie Farr though credited as Jameel Farah.
The Grand Vacaro possibly has the best role in the film and certainly the best lines, for example:
"At times a Saunders does not live well, but he always dies well."

7 out of 7 stars, one of my favorite Westerns. Boss Moss approved.

Saturday Night Cinema

Oh yes.
North By Northwest
Starring: Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint
Directed By: Alfred Hitchcock
Date: 1959

Espionage, mistaken identity, unidentified (possibly communist) foreign bad guys. Cary Grant. Sleeper Trains. Steamy.

You simply have to see this film. It is iconic. Literally.

Hitchcock referred to this film as "the American 39 Steps."

This was my Grandma's favorite film. She also loved Cary Grant because "He is so handsome!"

Saturday Night Cinema

We have been mad for all things Miniver around here of late. La Keira and I have been reading and raving about the book Mrs. Miniver by Jan Struther. I was very concerned about the film afraid that I would hate it. I watched it last night and the verdict is 6.5 out of 7 thimbles! And so I submit Mrs. Miniver for your Saturday Night Cinema pleasure.
Date: 1942
Starring: Greer Garson, Water Pidgeon, and Teresa Wright
Directed by: William Wyler

This movie is fantastic if you forget about the book. Nothing that is in the movie is in the book, apart from names and general spirit. It works because Mrs. Miniver is written as little snippets in a woman's life over a couple of years so you can imagine that the movie just carries on in the parts you don't read. You also have to make Vin 5 or so years older. The fil is sweet, exciting and a little suspenseful. The actor who plays "Clarence" in "It's a Wonderful Life," Henry Travers is in the movie too. Greer Garson is outstanding as Mrs. Miniver.

The book is so soft and pastoral. The way the author writes of a HAPPY marriage is refreshing and hits home. The book is very centered on little insignificant details. There isn't much of a plot just little scenes and thoughts in the life of an ordinary British woman.

It is.

6.5 out of 7 thimbles for the film, 7 out of 7 thimbles for the book.

P.S. The movie has German Bad Guys!

Saturday Night Cinema Update

2 of my Saturday Night Cinema recommendations recently became available on Netflix's watch Instantly feature The Third Man and The 39 Steps. How fabulous!