Happiness is Having a Hickey!

There you have it folks. The secret to a happy life declared on a license plate frame I saw today.

Ahhh, the pain and suffering I could have avoided all of these years. If only I had known.

A Man for All Seasons

"When Henry VIII (Robert Shaw) seeks approval from the aristocracy to divorce his wife and marry Anne Boleyn, Sir Thomas More (Paul Scofield) finds himself caught between a murderous king and the powerful Roman Catholic Church. Richly crafted with spectacular period details and a fine supporting cast, director Paul Zinnemann's drama swept the Oscars for 1966, winning six golden statuettes, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director."

I would say for the average, non-history-nerd, it might be pretty boring. However, as the European history lover that I am, I really enjoyed this film. Last summer I read an historical fiction that dug into the life and perspective of Anne Boleyn (some true, some creative interpretations, but well researched). And also having covered England's break from the Catholic Church in AP Euro, I knew quite a bit around the story of Henry VIII. An aspect of the period that I was not fully clear on was the experience of Sir Thomas More. This film does an excellent job of depicting the pressures, difficult choices, and ultimately fatal stance of this man of the church. Bottom line, if you have any interest in this period and controversy, this film does a really good job of conveying the story.

Rating: * * * *

Manon Lescaut

"In one of Puccini’s first great works that led to La Bohéme and Madama Butterfly, the delectable Manon elopes to Paris with the Chevalier des Grieux, but soon leaves him to become the mistress of the wealthy but lecherous Geronte. Nostalgic for true love, she resolves to return to des Grieux, but not before swiping all the jewelry Geronte had lavished upon her. Caught in the act, she is convicted of theft and banished to the far-off and desolate land of Louisiana where her first love seeks to reclaim her."

So slight deviation from my standard review, but last night instead of watching another movie I took some of my students to the Fresno Grand Opera at William Saroyan Theater. I had never been to the opera and was very unsure of how I would like it. To be honest, I was not loving it throughout the first act. It was a bit hard to follow, and it is hard to buy in when the plot is unclear. However, once it got to the next act it definitely picked up. The story was much clearer, and even humorous at times. The vocal range of the performers was truly amazing even if the sound isn't my favorite. I think I really enjoyed the orchestra the most. The emotion that the music was able to portray and evoke was really beautiful. I would not go so far as to say that the opera is my favorite performance art, but I would definitely like to go back and see another.

The kids had very mixed responses, but they all appreciated it, which was the goal. I was very proud of how they behaved and were mature in their assessment of the production regardless of their personal feelings about it.

Rating: * * * (I think but I have nothing to compare it to)

Volver

"Written and directed by Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar, this humorous fantasy stars Carmen Maura as Abuela Irene, who revisits her hometown in the La Mancha region -- in spectral form -- to resolve problems she couldn't settle during her life. Abuela's spirit gradually becomes a reassuring presence to her daughters (Penélope Cruz, in an Oscar-nominated performance, and Lola Dueñas) and granddaughter (Yohana Cobo)."

This movie was fantastic! I CAN do subtitles when the film is captivating, and this one really was. I honestly didn't move from the tv for the entire 2 hours. There are so many great little mini stories that are woven together to form the larger story of three generations of women in a Spanish family. I found it unpredictable and refreshing. I didn't even realize that I was reading the subtitles I was that engaged. Seriously recommend this one!

Rating: * * * * *

La Dolce Vita

"Federico Fellini's lush and intoxicating masterpiece, La Dolce Vita, is a meditation on the meaning of life and love and stars Marcello Mastroianni as Marcello, a gossip writer who seeks the fleeting excesses and decadence of life and sex. He sleeps with the beautiful Maddalena (Anouk Aimee), alienating and driving his lover, Emma (Yvonne Furneaux), to suicide. When he meets an elusive actress, Sylvia (Anita Ekberg), he dives deep into the abyss."

This movie is possibly a very creative work of art. As I watched much of it I wanted to better understand the deeper underlying themes. Unfortunately I was not able to stick through 2 hours and 50 minutes of quick Italian subtitles. I tried to get through this film throughout this last week and I have finally decided to throw in the towel. I may try again sometime as this movie seemed to have some redeeming qualities, but the subtitles were too much for my eyes and attention span at the present moment.

Rating: Incomplete, but I would guess * * *

Chariots of Fire

"Fueled by disparate desires, long-distance runners Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson) and Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross) face off in a quest to bring Olympic glory to Great Britain. Liddell -- a staunch Christian -- seeks victory as a tribute to God, while Jewish student Abrahams views winning as a repudiation of anti-Semitism. A riveting drama based on a true story, Chariots of Fire won the 1981 Academy Award for Best Picture."

Maybe I wasn't in the right mood, maybe I should have watched it on a bigger screen, or maybe this was just a really boring movie. The story that it is based on sounds "riveting" but the film was not. I didn't care about the characters, I didn't understand their relationships, and the impassioned pursuit for victory for their different causes were lost on me. I didn't care. And the song that I once thought was a classic now gets on my nerves.

Rating: * *

p.s. the British accents didn't even help!

Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam

"The gamut of emotion experienced by Vietnam veterans is strikingly captured in filmmaker Bill Couturie's poignant documentary, which features a host of celebrated actors -- including Robert DeNiro and Sean Penn -- reciting selected correspondence from American participants in the conflict. Set to a 1960s soundtrack and accompanied by news footage, still photos and home movies, these readings create an honest snapshot of a tumultuous time."

This is a great documentary that I have seen a few times before but rented to show to my World History class. It does a great job of showing all aspects of the American experience: good, bad, and ugly. It is organized in a fast paced entertaining way with the reading selections and video clips partnered with the great music. However, what makes it even better is that around the micro-focused letters the bigger story of the war is told through news footage, statistics, and film clips. If you are at all curious as to the American experience in Vietnam but don't feel like picking up a book, this film really does a great job. Possibly even better at depicting the experience because it attacks most of your senses rather than just spouting facts.

Rating: * * * * *

To Kill A Mockingbird

"Southern comforts abound in this classic adaptation of Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Gregory Peck won an oscar for his role as Atticus Finch, a widowed lawyer who takes on the task of defending an innocent black man against rape charges, only to wind up in a maelstrom of hate and prejudice that threatens to invade the lives of his children Jem and Scout."

I loved this movie. I don't really know what I expected, but it was better than that. Obviously I enjoyed it for all of the important moral and social issues that are prevelent in this Depression era setting. However beyond that I loved how the story was told through the eyes of Atticus's children, untainted by the prejudice of the world around them. It really is a great piece with depth that I am certain that I missed. I loved how his children called his Atticus rather than dad or pa. I am now very interested to read the book to pick up the relevance of all of these nuances that make this such an interesting story and not just a social critique. Needless to say, I highly recommend seeing the film, reading the book, or both!

This movie made me shed a tear, which doesn't happen often, and is a clear mark of a good film.

Rating: * * * * *

Waking Ned Devine

"How can dead Irishman Ned Devine collect his lottery winnings? Well, longtime cronies Jackie O'Shea and Michael O'Sullivan have the answer. After discovering that Ned croaked from the shock of hitting the jackpot, Jackie and Michael mastermind a scheme to impersonate the lucky stiff and collect his prize money. Now all they need to do is persuade the rest of Tulaign Mohr's denizens to go along."

Continuing my Irish themed movie night, I watched this geriatric comedy. Perhaps it is the multiple generation gaps, but despite the lovely accents, music, and funny old Irish men, I could not get into this movie. Not a horrible film, just couldn't keep my attention.

Note: If you do feel inclined to hang out with these Irish grandparents, I'd recommend you use the subtitles to catch it all.

Rating: * * *

The Magdalene Sisters

"This unflinching drama charts several years in the young lives of four "fallen women" who were rejected by their families and abandoned to the mercy of the Catholic Church in 1960s Ireland. While women's liberation sweeps the globe, these women are stripped of their liberty and dignity and condemned to indefinite servitude in the Magdalene Laundries, so that they may atone for their 'sins'."

My first movie choice was inspired by my upcoming trip to Ireland. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. This true story was extremely heavy but well done and educational. The film starts by introducing the three main women in their lives before they were sent to the Laundry. The first is sent off by her father because she was raped. The second was sent for being flirtatious and vain (she was seen as a temptress). And the third was sent after giving birth to a son out of wedlock. The film then follows their experience for over four years in this church run laundry. Throughout the film, the cruelty of some of the nuns and the unholy behavior of the clergy are exposed.

I believe this is definitely a film to see, but be prepared for some pretty heavy and disturbing material.

Rating: * * * *

Gonna Try This Again

I have been out of the blogging loop after my short return not because of busy-ness but rather because I don't often feel I have much to talk about. However, I had an idea. I just signed up for NetFlix after Kasey and I decided to cancel HBO. I have a list going of over 150 movies that I will be watching in the coming months. Many of these movies are know but there are others that are more obscure. So my new blog focus will be my thoughts on the films that I see. I will also continue to blog about other new, but seeing as I haven't blogged in nearly a month, I figure this is at least a little more consistent. And who knows, I might introduce you to something you haven't seen or heard of.

Rating System:

* * * * * Must see! I love, love, loved it!
* * * * Good film. You should see it, but don't rush to Blockbuster right this minute.
* * * Ehh. It wasn't a total waste of time. There were redeemable moments, but all in all, I could take it or leave it.
* * Not the worst, but I wouldn't waste my time if I were you. My wasted time was enough.
* Don't even bother reading this post... it was THAT bad.