Movies as of 12-25-20

We have been watching a lot of movies since my last posting.

No particular order, no reviews.  However, you will note there are quite a few Christmas (one Thanksgiving) related movies.........

Elf  👍👍

While You Were Sleeping 👍👍👍

Trains, Planes and Automobiles👍👍👍👍👍

The Holiday👍👍👍👍

Home Alone👍👍👍👍👍

Uncle Buck👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

The Good Liar👍👍👍

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

The Frisco Kid👍👍👍

French Kiss👍👍👍👍

Going In Style👍👍👍👍

About Schmidt👍👍👍

Logan's Run👍👍👍👍👍👍

Stripes👍👍👍👍👍

Muse👍👍👍👍👍

Hope you find something and enjoy it.

Happy New Year 2021  certainly better days must be coming! 😍
 

Recent Movies 11-16-20

 Recent movies we have watched ---- no particular order, and this time no reviews

The First Wives Club👍👍👍

Book Club     👍👍👍

Dark Passage  

Hope Gap    👍👍👍👍

It Could Happen to You👍👍

Witches of Eastwick 👍👍

NCIS   Seasons 16 & 17👍👍

Spies Like Us👍👍👍

And Then We Danced 

Carefree  👍👍👍

Shall We Dance👍👍👍

Top Hat👍👍👍

Swing Time 👍👍

And Then We Danced is a foreign film set in the country of Georgia, it had some very interesting dance scenes and music, the story wandered into territories that could make some uncomfortable.   I didn't rate it, well just because.

Dark Passage was a Humphrey Bogart/ Lauren Bacall film, that was down right weird.....  so I didn't rate it either.

The last four films are all Fred Astaire/ Ginger Rogers films, music and dancing were really great.   Although in Swing Time there was "black face" which I did not enjoy, the dance sequence could have been done without it!

Hope you will find something here you will enjoy!😉💙

Recent Movies Watched posted 10-11-20

Been awhile since I last posted movies we have recently watched, as usual not in any particular order.....

Kinky Boots   We re-watched this - based on a true story about a family owned shoe company in England.  Struggling to stay afloat, Charlie (a straight laced fella) forms a very unusual working relationship with drag queen, Lola, to save his company.  Music and dance scenes are really great, ESPECIALLY the Milan Fashion week event. 👍👍👍👍

Murder by Death   1976 film written by Neil Simon.  Murder/Comedy with an all star cast..... to name just a few Maggie Smith, David Niven, Peter Falk, Truman Capote, James Coco, Elsa Lanchester..... 5 groups of paired detectives are invited to a "dinner and a murder" by the mysterious Lionel Twain (you think you know who it is, but.......)👍👍

All of Me   Starring Lily Tomlin and Steve Martin.  Edwina Cutwater - on her deathbed for "years" wants to have her soul transported to the beautiful Terry Haskins, Steve Martin portrays Roger, Edwina's attorney.  As things happen, Edwina falls out the window of Roger's office as she is dying and falls ON ROGER transporting her soul to him....  You never know what's going to happen.....👍👍👍👍

The Jerk   Steve Martin portrays a mixed up white guy brought up in a Black family......  This is Steve's first "starring" role in a major movie ---- Directed by Carl Reiner, written by Steve.👍👍👍

Reading Room   starring James Earl Jones, as a widower fulfilling his promise to his late wife to open a reading room in a neighborhood where reading is not necessarily the first thing folks think of.  Problems occur several times throughout the movie.  We watched this at a low time during the pandemic, it was a very uplifting movie, we both enjoyed this one greatly.👍👍👍👍👍

Band of Outsiders   1964 French film by Jean-Luc Godard.  One Jim purchased years ago.  Very bizarre film about a young woman who mistakenly tells a fellow student about all the money in the house she lives in.  He in turns tells his friend, and the two launch a plot to steal the money, they involve the young woman.   In Black and White, which was probably better than had it been filmed in color.  If you can't find it, don't worry about it👎

An Affair to Remember  Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr star in possibly one of the most romantic films of all times.  It inspired Jonah (Sleepless in Seattle) to have his widower father (Tom Hanks) to meet the woman (Meg Ryan) he wants his dad to marry on top of the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day.  In one scene in "Sleepless..", Rita Wilson's character makes mention of "An Affair to Remember"....👍👍👍👍👍👍

A Special Day   1977 Italian film directed by Edoardo Ponti, Sophia Loren's son.  Considered by many to be the finest performances by Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni of their film careers.  Set on the historic day in 1938 when Mussolini welcomes Hitler to Rome, and the citizens of Rome are all expected to turn out to welcome Hitler...  With actual film footage of Hitler, Mussolini, and various other Nazi officials arriving by train in Rome. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker   supposedly the conclusion of the Star Wars films.  Pheww, glad it's over👍👍

Fruitvale Station   Long before George Floyd, there was Oscar Grant (Michael B. Jordan).  Events leading up to Oscar's death on the final day of his life  New Year's Day 2009, the actual events begin on New Year's Eve 2008.  Powerful story of how things can go very wrong, simply by being a person of color and being at the wrong place at the wrong time.  Why?👍👍👍👍👍👍

Like Crazy    2016 Italian comedy/drama, which won several foreign film awards.  Two women, from entirely different backgrounds, and different mental health issues, form an unlikely relationship while being patients at a mental institution.  Although the story is highly unusual, and often times bizarre, it also had moments of great depth of love and warmth.  The performances by the two actresses were absolutely spot on, and worthy of time spent watching.👍👍👍👍👍

That's it for now.  Hope you will find something here you might enjoy.  

Have you no sense of Decency, Mitch McConnell?

 

Mitch McConnell, to paraphrase Joe Nye Welch, HAVE YOU NO SENSE OF DECENCY?  

Your behavior of late would indicate that NO, YOU DON'T!

And to top it off, if what I just researched about you, you list being a BAPTIST!  My parents must be rolling in their graves, as they were both BAPTISTS, and REPUBLICANS!  I am thankful every day that they have met their Maker already.

When the time comes for you to meet your Maker, how will you answer Him when He inquires "why did you put POWER aboveYour FAITH?"   

Four Movie Titles You Need to See

 

It's been a while since I last wrote about any movies we have watched lately.   This is going to be short.  With the passing of Chadwick, his movies have become very popular to view.

Three were movies he made before The Black Panther - we had seen one previously, however, we were unaware of him at that time ---- so we re-watched it.  Plus one that starred Michael B Jackson, who portrayed Killmonger in The Black Panther. 

Marshall ---- based on the true story of Thurgood Marshall, Supreme Court Justice.  Trials and tribulations of becoming a lawyer recognized for a landmark decision in Connecticut.👍👍👍👍👍

Get On Up ------ based on the life of Soul singer James Brown. Although most of the singing was that of James Brown, Chadwick did all the dance scenes - amazing!👍👍👍👍👍

42, The Jackie Robinson Story ---- this is the one we had seen before, however, it took on a whole new meaning with the current rise of racism in our country.   Branch Rickie was a very courageous baseball owner to hire Jackie when NO other Major Baseball League owner would hire any person of color!  There is one connection to this movie ----- Pee Wee Reese, when James was a child living in Alabama, the Brooklyn Dodgers went down to play an exhibition game, their bus broke down, and James went up to Pee Wee, and two other Dodgers and got their autographs!  👍👍👍👍👍

And now the Michael B. Jackson movie 

Just Mercy ---- another movie based on a true story. Bryan Stevenson, lawyer from Delaware goes to Alabama to work with prisoners who have not been properly represented at their trials.  Set during a time a turmoil, when blacks still had to use separate water fountains, public rest rooms, etc.  This was an incredibly heart breaking story.  Make sure you watch the entire film, through ALL the credits, as the producers share the bio's of many people throughout the credits.  Up to the very end.👍👍👍👍👍

Chadwick's performances in 42, Get On Up and Marshall were all on different levels, yet each showcased his talent and skill of his profession.  The Movie industry and the World are a less bright place with his untimely passing.

Michael B. Jackson's performance in Just Mercy showcased his acting ability to portray an entirely different, a sympathetic person, than that of Killmonger in The Black Panther.  I will look forward to more of his films.

See you at the Movies, next time!

R.I.P., Sweet Prince

Rest In Peace

 

LET THEM EAT CAKE a new version of Marie's fateful decision

 

Well, the "R's" have finally hit rock bottom, thanks in part to the inability of this man to stand up to Draft Dodger in Chief, a man who could have saved the party, but IS more interested in saving his position in the Senate. He could have been more co-operative with the people on the other side of the aisle, but chose to tie his legacy to the most corrupt President our country has ever had, uses the names of our GREAT LEADERS, Washington, Lincoln,Jefferson, has NOT a ounce of idea what their principles were or what they stood for!

Draft Dodger in Chief has made our ONCE GREAT COUNTRY, the total laughingstock of the world, our former allies no longer can trust anything that is said from the occupant of the White House, LIES are more common coming from his mouth, he has demolished all sense of decency in our country. He is responsible for the deaths of over, as of this writing (8-27-20) 180,000 Americans who have lost their battle to COVID-19! 

So, Mitch, Lindsey, and all the rest of you so called patriots of this once GREAT country, your battle cry of "LET THEM EAT CAKE" has been heard by the many of those who have lost their jobs, lost their loved ones to COVID-19, who may very well lose their homes because YOUR $1,000 suits are more important than feeding the many children in our country.  You have NOT listened to the voices of the people - the ones who keep getting shot in the back!  

Marie lost her head, because she did NOT listen to the people, because she had NO empathy for their needs.  Mitch, it is time that you take the ear muffs off and walk among the people, listen to their needs, their heartbreaks, and show some EMPATHY!

Remember what Thomas Jefferson said  

"  All Tyranny needs to gain a FOOTHOLD is for people of GOOD Conscience to REMAIN SILENT "

So as the saying goes, "NOW IS THE TIME FOR ALL GOOD AMERICANS TO COME TO THE AID OF THEIR COUNTRY " and throw Draft Dodger in Chief out of the WH in NOVEMBER.

Movie nights continue 8-18-20

Well, Covid continues as of this writing,  currently we are putting movie night on hold while the Democratic Convention, such as it is, is being held.  However, here are some of the recent films we have watched, some NOT so good, some just fun, and some really worth while.   Some are one my husband had purchased years ago, some are library item, and as usual in no particular order........   ENJOY!

9 to 5  - Jane, Dolly and Lily were made for each other in this film.  Dabney never had a chance with this trio on hand. 👍👍👍👍👍 

Wild Tales  - a film by Damian Szifron (produced by Pedro and Agustin Almodovar, which usually is a good sign).   I had no idea that these 6 short films would be so disturbing!  This is NOT one that I would recommend to anyone.   👎👎👎👎👎

Rhapsody - an obscure Elizabeth Taylor film.  Elizabeth portrays a spoiled rich girl who falls for a musician who loves music more than her.  Music is really beautiful, some of the scenery is great, but the basic story line is disappointing.👍

Down and Out in Beverly Hills - Bette Midler, Richard Drely Hillsyfuss, Nick Nolte in this silly film about a homeless man (Nick) taken into the home of Bette and Richard, after Nick attempts to drown himself in their pool.  Little Richard appears as their next door neighbor, at this particular time in our nation's history with BLM, it was quite interesting that he would bring forth the fact that (even when this movie was made)  black people were not taken seriously when they called the police, and then we have the transgender child trying to make the statement to unhearing parents.👍👍👍👍

The Holiday -- Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn once again appear together in a light hearted comedy.  They don't make like this anymore!👍👍👍👍👍

Outrageous Fortune  -- Bette Midler, Shelley Long, 2 aspiring actresses of different talent, attending an acting school and finding that the one thing in common they do have is BOYFRIEND, oh bad things are likely to happen when the gloves come off......👍👍👍👍

For the Boys ---- Bette Midler,  James Caan meet during WWII doing USO type tours for the troops, and continue after the war is over - when a young man comes to Bette's door to escort her to a special evening to honor them, Bette goes down a painful memory lane with the young man, stating pretty powerfully why she doesn't want to be involved in the evening.....  Gosh, she's got a VOICE 👍👍👍👍👍

Punchline ---- Tom Hanks, Sally Field.  Comedy night at the Gas Station brings together these two trying to make it in the entertainment world.  We had never heard of this one, there is some rough language, but that's comedy, we found it very interesting. 👍👍👍👍👍

An American in Paris --- Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron (in her screen debut), well, Gene was always my favorite dancer of this era.  Gene is an aspiring artist in Paris taken under the wing of Nina Foch, but one glance in the direction of Leslie takes Gene's heart.  Music and dance scenes are fantastic.👍👍👍👍👍

Kitchen Stories ---- Swedish/Norwegian film.  Swedish efficiency expert "lives" with a Norwegian farmer to study his culinary habits - they are not to interact or speak with each other.  The farmer is not cooperative, and tries to undermine the study, however, in time both men come to an understanding and form a friendship which compromises the outcome of the study and the "expert's" job.👍👍👍👍👍

Last Chance Harvey ----   Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson star in this delightful film.  Dustin is in London to attend his daughter's wedding - however, the relationship is strained due to the fact her parents are divorced and she has been brought up by a step-father who takes ownership of the wedding.  Emma is a survey taker at the airport who gets turned around by Dustin and his offer of friendship.👍👍👍

Volver ----- Penelope Cruz in a GOOD Pedro Almodovar film, albeit one with the possibilities of ghosts, murder and the cover up of the crime.👍👍👍👍

The Wind Will Carry Us ----  Iranian film - a team of film-makers travel to a small remote mountain village to record a local ritual ceremony surrounding an old dying woman.  Now, I am not sure why this is supposed to be such an important event to film, however, it is the theme of the movie.  The scenery is absolutely incredible, what is not so incredible is that our one film-maker does the same thing over and over and over with no end in sight, as the old woman doesn't seem to care to die.   Can't give it thumbs up or down ----- 

MOVIES, MOVIES AND MORE MOVIES 8-1-2020

Well, we have been pretty busy watching movies ---- we skipped one evening, as we had a socially distanced out of doors supper with friends, and by the time we arrived home it was too late to start.   
As usual with the exception of the first one listed, they are in no particular order.

SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER ---- been years since we last watched this one,  however, every summer when the sky is a white hazy hot day, one scene in the film always comes to mind.  Stars Katherine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift --- set in New Orleans sometime in the 1940's or '50's, so this one is certainly not to be considered politically correct to today's norms.  That being said, the acting is LIGHT years ahead of what comes out of Hollywood these days.  There is NO ONE currently acting who can even come close to Katherine Hepburn and her craft.  It is filmed in GLORIOUS BLACK AND WHITE, and the white hot summer scene would NEVER work in color.  Due to this film, I went on an DVD ordering spree (at the library) with movies starring Katherine, Elizabeth and Montgomery!👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

STATE OF THE UNION  -----  Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracey star in this politically charged film about a businessman who is recruited by a prominent newspaper heiress and owner to run for the highest office in the land----- PRESIDENT OF THE USA! --there are so many moments of what has happened in our country's last election, crazily, the party mentioned in the film is the Republican party, which is portrayed as a sleazy, underhanded party of doing favors under the table to get their candidate elected.  Angela Lansbury stars as the newspaper "mistress" of Spencer Tracy's businessman, who starts out as a man with high morals (except for having a mistress), Katherine stars as the wife putting up with the affair - how ironic that this film mirrors what our current president is, does and was, except I don't think he ever had high morals.  👍👍👍👍👍

THE LAST TIME I SAW PARIS ----- stars Elizabeth Taylor, Van Johnson, Donna Reed and Walter Pidgeon.  Paris has just been liberated and WWII is at an end.   Van Johnson portrays a news reporter with the Stars and Stripes, when he meets and falls head over heels with Elizabeth Taylor's character - eventually the two marry and have a "fairy tale" marriage for several years, until he gives up his dream of writing a novel, after many rejections of previous novels. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT ------ this version is a remake of the original (Katherine Hepburn) starring Maggie Smith, I had hoped to get the original, so I was very disappointed when this one arrived.   As much as I LOVE Maggie Smith, I didn't enjoy this one as I had hoped.  Augusta Bertram is on a wild goose chase, trying to "save" her years ago lover by traveling on the Orient Express to a destination unknown.   👍

THE AFRICAN QUEEN ------ Katherine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart....   What can I say?  Two fantastic performances by two of the late greats.  What a marvelous "documentary" of many of Africa's "lost" animals and their habitats. 👍👍👍👍👍

DEFENDING YOUR LIFE ----- Not sure how I picked Albert Brooks, what with all the other greats.....  However, Albert and Meryl Streep were perfectly cast as two "folks" who meet in the afterlife, having to defend all the choices they made during their lifetimes - the judges give you a thumbs up, you get to go on (where they don't tell you), if they give you a thumbs down, well you have to go back (not as the same person) and try again, sometimes it takes many "goings back and trying over and over again".  👍👍👍👍👍

DEATH IN PARADISE ----SEASON 8
BBC production of a "funky" mystery series set in Saint-Marie in the Caribbean.  We have been watching this series through the progression of 3 different detective inspectors sent from London to solve the various crimes in Paradise.  My husband really liked the first DI, I have enjoyed all 3 DIs as they have all brought different personalities and crime-solving to the program.  The first actor left as he did not enjoy being separated from his family for the amount of time required to film each episode.  Usually, there are only 3 suspects who have a close connection to the victim.  Each DI had his own way of solving the crime.  In the latest episode, we have been introduced to a new member of the "squad", she is a REAL kick, also the niece of the Island's police inspector!👍👍👍👍👍👍

JULIE & JULIA   -----  based on the book with the same title.   The one thing about the movie is that Language was really cleaned up --- in the book Julie uses the "F" word so frequently, that I felt like I needed to wash out my eyes and ears!  Julie has been working the phone banks after 9/11, and needs a diversion from the stress she faces on a daily basis, and decides to spend 1 year cooking every recipe in Mastering the Art of French Cooking  by Julia Child.   As a backdrop to the film, Meryl Streep gives a superb performance as Julia, while Amy Adams portrays Julie.  Hovering between Julia's life and Julie's life, we go back and forth to Paris after WWII, and NYC after 9/11.  Food scenes bring out the aromas, and tastes of each dish.  👍👍👍👍

BROADCAST NEWS ------  William Hurt, Holly Hunter, Albert Brooks star in this film about professional news journalists, and a Johnny Come Lately.  Bittersweet moments throughout the film, as Albert's character has had a one sided love affair with Holly's character, who naturally falls for William's character ----- it all comes out in the wash.

MISS CONGENIALITY ------  Sandra Bullock portrays an FBI agent from the hard part of NYC, lacking grace and finesse, when it becomes apparent that there is "evil afoot" concerning the outcome of the Miss United States contest ---- and as the ONLY female FBI agent in the field office who could fit the bill as a contestant, Michael Caine's character has his work cut out for him...   Sandra does a really good job going from the "sloppy eating' agent to the graceful Miss New Jersey, although not without a fight!  👍👍👍👍

LOST IN AMERICA ------- another Albert Brooks film.  Albert portrays a "successful" advertising executive, who decides to drop out - with his wife, Julie Hagerty,- when he is not given the promotion he believes that he deserved.   They sell everything and buy a huge motor home and hit the road!  When they hit Reno, they come face to face with the fact that his wife is a compulsive gambler, unbeknownst to either of them previously --- the scene when he tries to convince the casino manager is classic!   Watch the interview with Albert and filmmaker Robert Weide, was really interesting.👍👍👍👍👍

ONE TRUE THING---- Meryl Streep and William Hurt star in this film, William's character is a college professor who is not always lovable to his wife Meryl, especially as she is facing an end of life illness.  Daughter Ellen is facing a crisis of her own in her journalism career, when her father calls her home to care for her mother ---- angst all around.👍👍👍

WORKING GIRL --- Harrison Ford, Sigourney Weaver, Melanie Griffin star in the comedy about moving up in the business world.  Sigoureny's character is a tough minded, hard pushing boss, who falls and breaks her leg while on a skiing trip ---- Melanie takes over the bosses house, clothes and office, puts forth a proposal to Harrison (Sigourney's invesment banker boyfriend, who did NOT go on the skiing trip)!  Let the games begin!👍👍👍

PLACE IN THE SUN-- starring Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor and Shelley Winters.  Montgomery does not play a "good guy" in this one--- stringing Shelley along, and falling for Elizabeth.  How to end the "affair" with Shelley, who happens to be carrying his child. 
Nothing good can come to anyone in this. 👍👍👍

KITCHEN STORIES  ----- Swedish/Norwegian film, set in a small village, where single men are "observed" for a survey showing how they use their kitchen space.  Slow moving, yet thoughtful look at how we all perceive others, and how we behave when we are being observed.👍👍👍👍👍👍

That's a wrap for this version.  

The Crossing of the "BARR"

Been sort of quiet, politically, during this time of crisis in our country, however, Matt Wuerker's political cartoon today was one that really "hit me".

Once again, THANKS Matt!

Movies, Movies and More Movies

👀
What cha watching?

Been awhile since I posted what we've been watching.  And as usual, in no particular order of when watched.  Some were movies I placed on hold through the library, since we are now in the soft opening phase of library service, and some were ones that my husband bought when Hollywood Video was closing, and we NEVER watched (some pleasant surprises, and some not so much).

LINDA RONSTADT, THE SOUND OF MY VOICE ----- recent documentary of Linda's  50 year career, includes interviews with such legends as Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Ry Cooder, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Kevin Kline.  No documentary would be complete without hearing so many of her best known songs ----👍👍👍👍👍.  Loved every minute of it.

LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA--- based on Gabriel Garcia Marquez's book of same title -----   listening to NPR last week, heard that this book is one of the current top books being read, due to the Covid pandemic.   Well, it was one my husband bought when it came out, still unopened, oh dear!  Filmed in Colombia, beautiful scenery, great music.   When the movie rating system came out in the 1970's this probably would have been rated XXXXXXXX!  The sex scenes were beyond......  At the end, I said "if he had had as many sexual encounters that he kept score of, he certainly would have had syphilis."  This will go in the "won't watch again pile."

AN ALMOST ORDINARY SUMMER  ---- Italian gay flick ----- an interesting look at the Italian point of view ---- GREAT scenery.  At times maddening regarding the behavior of Castelvecchios, very selfish aristocrat, with the mild mannered working class Petagnas putting up with the OLD GUY!.   Wrapped up well.

THE TERMINAL   what can I say?   Tom Hanks, we just both celebrated our joint birthday (July 9th), of course, he wouldn't know that about me😉.

NOTTING HILL ---- Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts had wonderful chemistry in this light hearted love story ---- oh to have a smile, and her laugh!  

CLOSER ----- Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Clive Owen, Natalie Portman, hard to believe this was another Julia Roberts movie - they could have taken the "C" off the word and titled it LOSER ---- it was awful, don't care what all the previous film critics rated it!   Into the "won't watch again pile."

LA VIE PROMISE ( THE PROMISED LIFE)  French flick with one of our favorite actresses  Isabelle Huppert --- Sylvia, a prostitute in Nice, goes on the run when her 14 year old daughter fatally stabs a pimp in Sylvia's apartment --- how and when they are separated on the road, and finally come back together.....   The scenery of the French countryside is FANTASTIC!!!!!   Isabelle is just wonderful in anything she does.👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

28 DAYS  One of Sandra Bullock's first movies ---  an addict and alcoholic, she arrives at her sister's high society wedding positively spaced out, while dancing with her equally high boy friend, she smashes the wedding cake, steals the wedding limousine, goes on a joy ride ending up by crashing into a house.   Given one of two choices --- jail or rehab, for 28 days.  

VOLUNTEERS --- Tom Hanks, John Candy and Rita Wilson star in this flick about the Peace Corps.  Well, Tom didn't really volunteer he was being chased by the bookies his father won't pay off,  John is Tom Tuttle from Tacoma (WSU graduate) he did volunteer, as did Rita --- let the "games" begin when they land in Thailand - oh dear!

SUMMER RENTAL ---- John Candy, air traffic controller forced to take a much needed vacation, and away they go --- had an interesting sailing race - my husband, a helmsman on a 32 foot sailboat, said they were pretty accurate with sailing terms and the race scenes.  Only John Candy could hoist his pants up the mast!

AMERICAN GRAFFITI ---- gosh, haven't seen it in years, it was every bit as good now as it was when it came out.  Today is Harrison Ford's 78 birthday, he was SO YOUNG in this flick!  The music was of our era----basically sang along with every song!  The timing between all the actors was perfect - don't make them like that anymore!

ABOUT A BOY ---- another Hugh Grant ---- and Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly"  (which we heard at a concert before it had been released, so brought back lots of memories). Marcus is a 12 year old, whose father has left, whose mother is deeply depressed towards suicidal, and Will Lightman (Hugh's character) is an unmarried bachelor always on the look-out for a new woman in his life --- this one is a love story of a different kind.

Last but not least ----

REWRITE --- yet another Hugh Grant flick.  Aging screenwriter, who has "lost" his knack for a successful movie to get produced, his agent gets him a "gig" at Binghamton University as a guest screenwriting professor ---  although he isn't really interested in teaching, he discovers that maybe this is a better life to live....    I was really interested in this film as it was filmed in Binghamton NY, which is north of where my aunt lives in Montrose PA, she has talked about the hospital there and the town.  

To Mask or Not.......

It is now time to come to the AID of YOUR country and WEAR A MASK.

Don't come knocking at my door asking for help IF you refuse to wear a mask.  

Once again, thanks to Matt Wuerker of Politico for this great cartoon.

Latest Movies watched posted 6-29-20

Latest movies watched during this time ---- once again, in no particular order.

Roma  --- Mexican film maker, Alfonso Cuaron has created a marvelous Black and White film set during the turbulent times of the 1970's in Mexico City ---- based on his memories of this time.  Make sure that you watch the interview of Alfonso, this is one of the most interesting interviews that we have ever watched - shows how the sets were made literally from scratch.

Chocolat ----- Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Juliette Binoche, Alfred Molina, and Lena Olin each give "yummy" performances, you can almost smell the Chocolate!

Mrs. Doubtfire --- I LOVE the scenes with Harvey Fierstein making Robin a "woman".
Nobody else could have played Mrs. Doubtfire like Robin.

Quigley Down Under -----  One of my most favorite scenes in any movie, is when Quigley faces down the British in the corral.   It is magic.

Book Thief -----  timely in light of the current times of the "white supremacists" raising their ugly hate.   During the times of the Nazis burning books, taking away those of Jewish heritage, destroying businesses owned by those Jewish people.  

The Barbarian Invasions ----- Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film (Canada, French).   Professor is in the final days of his cancer, his son leaves his influential job in London to care for his father - they have had less than a loving relationship.
How one deals with the death of family.

The Sea is Watching ----- Japan, 19th century, set within a brothel in a small village near the sea- what happens when the sea decides to take over.

Sleepless in Seattle ----- Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan once again have a magic chemistry, although it only comes through at the Empire State Building----- remember the film "An Affair to Remember" ?  Valentine's Day.

The Girl of Your Dreams ------  another film with a Nazi tie,  during the Spanish Civil War, a film company is invited to film a movie in Germany, what happens when the actors and the production crew have differences with their German hosts.  

Most Recent Movie List ---6-18-20

Movie night ----- once again, not in any order of viewing.  Once again, we viewed movies that we bought "years ago" and had never viewed. When our local Hollywood Video was closing, James could not resist going in and buying handfuls, when they were priced a $1 a piece.

Simone ---- Al Pacino plays a down and out Hollywood director, when a dying computer designer gives him a way back to the top.

First Daughter ---- Katie Holmes portrays the daughter of the President, just wants to drive off to college and be known for herself, well that ain't gonna happen.  Does give one a sense of what it must be like to live in a fishbowl.

Yesterday ---- what happens when the electricity world-wide goes off the grid for all of 12 seconds ---- the world never heard of THE BEATLES, and one musician starts playing his way into world wide fame with their music ----- wait for the ending! If you have watched this, but neglected to watch the out-takes and commentary, go back and watch, they are really worth the time.

The Three Amigos  --- Steve Martin, Chevy Chase and Martin Short portray silent silver screen heroes, when invited to a small Mexican village to rid the evil bullies, they believe it is simply a comedy act ----- wait until the bullets start flying.   Steve Martin has once again proved his comedic timing, along with Martin Short.

Nobody's Fool   ---- NOT the Richard Russo adaption of his novel.   This came out in 1986, starring Eric Roberts and Rosanna Arquette, set in a small town in Colorado, where everyone knows that Cassie is just a bit strange, thrown over by the town's "great catch", meets Riley a backstage hand of a traveling Shakespeare group.  Eric and Rosanna were just at the beginning of their film careers.

Mama Mia the Movie------ Meryl Streep is top notch, as usual, in this adaption of ABBA's greatest hits....   If you love their music, you will be singing along with the movie.   The scenery ain't bad either -----

My Big Fat Greek Wedding ---  apples and oranges come together in this film.  

Big ---- Tom Hanks, what can I say?  One of my favorite actors ---- well, we do have the same birthday.  Love the lunch counter scene with his buddy eating the ice cream sundae, the trampoline scene is pretty good.   But the best most be when he wakes up the first morning and looks in the mirror!

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring---- one of Jim's finds that we had never watched before.   Korean.    Scenery is SPECTACULAR ---- story surrounds a Buddhist monastery that floats on a raft, with a solitary monk and his apprentice.  Each season is a progression of age for the apprentice.   There were several scenes with snakes (I hate snakes) that caused unease for me, however, they are necessary to the story

Starting Out in the Evening --- another of Jim's finds ---- starring Frank Langella, as an aging novelist who is traveling towards the end of his literary life, when Heather, an obnoxious graduate student, approaches him with the idea of "using" him and his work as her thesis.  She drove me crazy!   Lili Taylor portrays his daughter, you might recognize her from the movie Mystic Pizza, the hyper waitress at the pizza place....

Dream House ---- another of Jim's finds ----- starring Daniel Craig (pre-James Bond).  Leaves his prestigious high profile position in Manhattan, moves,with his wife and 2 young daughters,to a small town in New England.  The reception he receives is highly unusual, one begins to have moments of unseen things to come....   The ending certainly is heart-stopping....  

Enjoy!

Recent Movies Watched

Nothing will ever be the same - between the Covid-19 pandemic, and the protests over the brutality of George Floyd's death.  

However, we have gone back to watching movies after dinner, here is the most recent list of those watched.

Once again, in no particular order.....

It's Complicated    I love the scene with Steve and Merle after they smoke a joint, go to the party and then her "bakery".....

Waitress --- makes your mouth water watching all those pies being put together.

What Have I Done to Deserve This - Spanish, with subtitles, by Pedro Almodovar, pretty dark subject.

Hidalgo --  hard to watch the opening scenes regarding the massacre at Wounded Knee.  However, as I lived in North Africa and Arabians were considered THE HORSE, it was not only interesting from the stand point of the horses, the sandstorm scene and the locust scene brought back many memories of the years I lived in North Africa ---- I witnessed MANY sandstorms, and walked home from school one day through a Locust swarm ---- noisy and when they hit you, they do hurt.

Arsenic and Old Lace ---- Cary Grant, what more needs to be said?

Napoleon Dynamite ----- one of those "cult" movies about dysfunctional teenagers.  Racism and bullies are part of the story....

On the Beach ----- apocalyptic film from the Australian author Nevil Shute - filmed in 1959.   American submarine surfaces in Australia after fleeing the destruction of the rest of the world from Nuclear War..  Filmed in black and white, spectacular cast.

Air Force One ---- Harrison Ford as President of the USA, on a flight home from Russia, the plane is hijacked by terrorists - bent on freeing their leader.  Glenn Close as the VP taking over during the crisis.

Woman In Red ----- Gene Wilder "meets" the woman of his dreams - even though he is "happily" married.  Only Gene could pull this one off.

When Harry Met Sally -- Meg Ryan's deli scene is one of the best ever!

Once --- two musicians of different backgrounds meet, come together to record an album.  The music is heart warming.

Well, that does it for the time being.

Take care, be strong, stay safe.

George Floyd

8 minutes, 46 seconds!

Joining Blackout Tuesday 6-2-20

Joining those around the world on Blackout Screen Tuesday 6-2-20

Regularly scheduled movie night interrupted by Seattle Riots

As we turned on the tv to set up the DVD player to watch our nightly movie - we were faced with the horrendous sights occurring in Seattle --- as awful as it was to watch, it was the type of event we couldn't turn away from.

The upper photo is the aftermath of the riots.
The lower photo is a Seattle Police car on fire.

2 police assault rifles were stolen during the destruction of one of the several police cars vandalized and set on fire.   Thankfully, both were recovered.

We watched a security guard, with one of the local tv stations, disarm one of the vandals of one of the rifles ---- it was amazing to watch this man walk up to a group of vandals and take the rifle away from the "kid".  Of course, since he was a security guard, he was armed with an automatic handgun, which he had aimed at the kid - we watched as he took the rifle and unloaded it.   From what we heard later, he had recovered the other one as well. As far as we could tell by the camera view of this, the KID was WHITE, and so were the vandals he was hanging with.

Whoever he is he should be awarded some sort of medal for his bravery - who knows who that kid might have wounded or killed, or how many!

The above photos are credited to mynorthwest.com and kuow.org

In watching this unfold, even though many were wearing face coverings (due to the virus), MOST OF THEM WERE NOT WEARING GLOVES, WHICH EXPOSED THEIR HANDS AND ARMS------SO VERY MANY OF THEM WERE WHITE PEOPLE.  So let it be known that they were not there to protest the George Floyd murder, they were there to create mayhem.  

Another day, another post of recently watched movies.

Never Forget

Just the latest in a long list of Black Lives lost.

MOVIES, MOVIES, and MORE MOVIES

So, Movie night has been continuing at our home, plus, I discovered several titles that I had forgotten earlier..

Fawlty Towers --- the entire series.

Baghdad Cafe   Accidental Tourist   Bringing Down The House

And now for the most recent titles.......

The Producers (original with Zero Mostel & Gene Wilder)
If you have never seen this -- it is a "black" comedy about 
a play "Springtime for Hitler" that Zero and Gene's characters produce in order for the play to fail and make them a "boatload" of money....  Dick Shawn (what a hoot when his character is in the various scenes) plays a gay Hitler.........

The Great Escape ---- my husband noted that this movie was made in 1963 ---- due to its subject matter, it remains current.

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, by Pedro Almodovar,   one day in the life of 4 women with one connection - guess what that is.  I believe that this was one of the very first movies that Antonio Banderas was in - very young.

A Song for Martin ----  beautiful music, lovely scenery, sad story about one's journey in the loss of memory.  Danish/Swedish 

Wargames ----- take note of the scene with the phone booth and mountain (Whitehorse Mtn) in the background ---- this was filmed in the community of Darrington, WA.  Also the skyline of Seattle has changed dramatically.   We think the ferry is the short one between Anacortes, WA and Guemes Island.  What happens when you try to play a game with a master computer......

Bladerunner ---- the original.  Not much can be said about this dystopian film, other than it is supposed to have occurred in 2019, fortunately we haven't quite gotten there, but it may still occur....

You've Got Mail ----- I "love" Tom Hanks, what else can I say about this - the timing between Tom and Meg Ryan was well done.

Catch Me If you Can --- another Tom Hanks, based on a true story, with Leonardo DiCaprio.

All That Jazz ----- Bob Fosse lived a high paced, excessive life within the Broadway circle - Roy Scheider, portrays Bob in this flick.   Ben Vereen and Jessica Lange have very interesting parts in this musical.  One scene has excessive nudity, however, it plays out into the story of Bob's view of what a dance scene should involve ---- for its time, that the scene was even considered to be part of a Broadway musical, well......    There are many dance scenes, we both discussed the fact that we felt they were possibly the best dance sequences of any movie we have ever seen.

Happy Viewing......

Let their Lives not be Lost in Vain

As Memorial Day is nearly upon us, let us take a moment to remember all those who have lost their fight to Covid-19, let their lives not be lost in vain, let their lives be a shining light to those they left behind - who had no chance to say good-bye to those they loved,

I discovered this farewell poem on a Native American site.  It states so well the thoughts of those left behind to grieve their loved ones.

The total loss of American combat forces in the Viet Nam war,   58,365
The total loss of American combat forces in the Korean War   33,686
Combined total  92,051

By June 1, 2020, the loss of American lives due to the Covid-19 will be over 100,000.

May they Rest in Peace.