Paradise Now | Revisited

I originally posted an article on Paradise Now, the 2005 Golden Globe Winner – Best Foreign Film, in 2009. With the conflict between the Israelis and Hamas, it might be time to revisit the movie. It allows you to consider the world from a point of view that is not often taken into account in the West, the Palestinian.

Disclaimer: One should not be necessary, tis not the world we live in, though.  I have written a few sharply clever – IMHO – satirical pieces that a small number of folks took way too seriously. This led to a  smattering of vile comments as they did not appreciate my finely honed sense of ironic humor. While I approve most comments, a few went across the line.

This article deals with a movie that tells the story of two  young men from the West Bank recruited to become suicide bombers.  I am in no way condoning terrorism or violence of any sort.  There is never a valid reason for it, although many groups and individuals will jump through intellectual hoops to do so.  The movie explores why someone would be so radicalized as to commit such an action.  It is something that we need  to think about, what pushes people  over this horrendous edge that they become terrorists.

I don’t quite remember why this Continue reading “Paradise Now | Revisited”

So When May I?

I just finished watching a documentary, Bill Cunningham: New York. Bill was a fashion photographer for the New York Times. While he shot photos at runways in New York and Paris, he was most famous for his street photos of fashion on the New York streets, especially around Manhattan.  He did this for decades and was a fixture in the New York fashion industry and at the New York Times.

His photography was of some interest to me, but what engaged me most in this short film was the photographer and his exceedingly quirky personality.  He had one function in life, Continue reading “So When May I?”

My Fair Lady

I’m not a huge show tune fan, but I do enjoy some.  I definitely enjoy musical theatre, and the occasional musical film from days of yore.  One of my favorites is My Fair Lady starring Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison.  I am sure that everyone knows the tale; it is a retelling of the Greek myth of Pygmalion.  Who better to retell this tale than Bernard Bernard Shaw?

I watched the movie again this weekend.  It had been years since I had seen it.  I enjoyed the acting, the music and the movie.  While I could not sing all the songs like Robin, I did recognize all the tunes.

The film is from 1964 and the Shaw’s original play was written in 1912.  These are certainly different times when it comes to the relationship between men and women in the Western world.  I say this because I had forgotten the ending.  As it turned out it was very unsatisfying to me. Continue reading “My Fair Lady”

True Grit

True GritWe were walking outside the theatre.  I had purposely waited this long to comment on the movie to Robin as I wanted our conversation to be private.  No particular reason, it is just my preference.  I begin gushing about the movie and how much I enjoyed it.  I think I may have used the word fantastic in there somewhere.  I ended my spontaneous critique with the comment, “But then I do not go to a lot of movies.”  And I do not.  Last movie I saw in a theatre before True Grit was Avatar.

There was a “gentleman” walking in front of us.  He turns around and asks, “What movie did you see?”  I’m thinking I did not invite you into the conversation, but politeness lead me to answer, “True Grit.”  Continue reading “True Grit”

Renée Fleming, Hallelujah

While I do enjoy the occasional opera, I am not a big fan of opera.  Outside of my girlfriend’s friend, Frances Ginsberg, I cannot name very many opera stars. 

I do love classical music though, and listen to classical music stations frequently.    On one of these stations I discovered Renée Fleming.  She has been called America’s Soprano or The People’s Diva.   This station played Hallelujah from the pop album of indie rock songs that she has recently released, Dark Hope.   I bought the CD based one that one song.  The whole album is wonderful, but Hallelujah goes to a whole different plane. I have listened to it multiple times, and I alternate between having the hair on my neck stand up and wanting to tear up.  It is an absolutely wonderful piece of music, performed by a marvelous talent. 

Below is from a BBC show and has Renée Fleming singing an abbreviated version of the song.  On the CD it runs a very, very short 7:39.  This version is enough to give you a taste though.  Absolutely marvelous…if I were in the audience I would be on my feet screaming bravo between the tears.

Plus she is just so damn beautiful it hurts.

Another wonderful Renee Fleming video can be found at Renée Fleming sings Amazing Grace at WTC

Winter’s Bone

Winter’s Bone

I was curious when scanning the local theater offerings to find a movie that was not on my radar.  Reading the first few lines of the synopsis, I became curiouser and curiouser.  The film was shot in Southwest Missouri, directed by a woman and winner at Sundance.  My hubby, being of a good nature, often lets me drag him to the latest movie that I want to see.  But he does tend to like little known, artsy and foreign films.  We have an agreement that certain percentage of rentals must be in English.

Continue reading “Winter’s Bone”

Avatar

Movie Review by Sister Lorie

avatar_poster5_imaxYou can’t miss the trailers and commercials, so you know the drill. Ten foot tall blue folks don’t like it when humans invade and want to strip mine their world. Evil humans don’t care; they just want the goods. Sounds like ‘Dances With Wolves’ in space. Maybe so, but there is no new story, only new applications of stories. With that said, I liked it. I liked the wonder of a place that was like no other. Animals that were similar enough and different enough at the same time. The wonder of a damaged human who discovers his soul.

Now for the presentation. This movie is what 3-d should have been all along. I found myself wanting to swipe at the ‘floating things’ that got too close to my face. The detail is amazing. I didn’t find anything to nit-pick in the more than 2.5 hours I sat stone still. Ok, maybe a quick intermission for a pit stop would have been useful.

This is a must see in 3-d, don’t be cheap.

Men Who Stare at Goats

men_who_stare_at_goats-posterThis movie has an all star cast that includes George Clooney, Kevin Spacey, Jeff Bridges and one of my favorite character actors, Stephen Root.  It was released November, 2009. 

I’m not big on going to movies for various reasons, but the trailers for this movie tempted.  What I expected to see, based on the trailers, was a good belly laughing comedy.  While there were a few laughs to be had it was mostly a trite drama. 

Basic premise of the movie is a down and out reporter Continue reading “Men Who Stare at Goats”

The Soloist

Movie Review by Sister Lorie 

thesoloistThe Soloist.

 Available on DVD, staring Jamie Foxx (Mr. Ayers) and Robert Downey Jr. (Mr. Lopez)

 The movie tells the tale, based on a true story, of a Los Angeles columnist looking for a story that finds a life lesson in his own back yard.  Stopping by a statue of Beethoven, he finds a homeless man playing beautiful violin music on a instrument with two strings.  The reporter is curious and tries to strike up a conversation with the musician.  He soon realizes that the angelic music has been produced by a man with many demons.  The strangely fluid, mind bending  information bursts forth from Nathaniel Anthony Ayers.  Mr. Lopez is amazed to hear that Mr. Ayers attended Julliard. 

 Thinking that the journey from Julliard to the mean streets of L.A. would be a great piece, he called Julliard to confirm Mr. Ayers status as an alumni.  I don’t wish to spoil the story and tell all, so I will cut to the end.  Mr. Lopez learns and astounding life lesson from his homeless mentally ill friend that gives him a joy and enjoyment of life.

Movie Review: 10 Questions for the Dalai Lama

Movie Review by Sister Lorie

10 Questions for the Dalai Lama.  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0819354/

dalailamaLet’s just say I am somewhat fascinated by the Dalai Lama as a person and as a religious leader. To those of us that know little about Buddhism, he seems strange and somewhat exotic. From the prayer flags waving in the breeze to the remote barren moon-scape of a land that he once ruled, every thing about this man is foreign. This film is a tale of two journeys. The journey of a documentary film maker with a life long dream to interview his personal hero and the hero. The hero is at once a simple monk who lives on $10/day and only travels economy and the political and spiritual leader of a country and an age old people. Continue reading “Movie Review: 10 Questions for the Dalai Lama”