The Help

As good as the book.  Really!

The casting?  Unbelievable.  I knew who every character was as soon as they were on the screen.  (Did I mention that I read the book?)

This book/movie was set in 1961.  I was 13 years old then.  There was certainly racial tension in the East in 1961, but thankfully, nothing like what was found in Mississippi.  I watched this movie with a heavy heart that any of God's children would have to feel what the ladies in this movie (and many like them) felt at the time.

Although the story was full of grit, character, and courage, there was a heavy undercurrent of sadness.  I felt it even more in the movie than in the book:  to actually see faces show the pain of racism - to see bodies portray the weariness of their daily existence - to see the hateful smirks and self-righteous attitudes of women who had (and were very aware of) the power to make life miserable for another human being.   I was silent - speechless - thoughtful - and grateful for the strength of the human spirit.

In the end, the story, for me, was about courage, about "right", and about human connections - regardless of race.  And most of all, about hope. 

Well done!

* * * * * * * * * * *

Red

Let's hear it for old people!!!  This movie was soooooooo good!!! 

Michael and I laughed until we cried.  It was a good story - lots of action - and tons of humor. 

All I have to do is look at Bruce Willis and I laugh.  His eyes laugh even when his face doesn't.  And John Malkovich?  OMG!  John Malkovich was born to play a crazy person.  (Is he playing?????)  Morgan Freeman is one of my favorites and there just wasn't enough of him in this movie to suit me, but a little Morgan Freeman is worth more than a lot of many other people.  I've been a fan of Helen Mirren since "Calendar Girls".  She was exceptional in this film!  She is one sexy senior - for sure!

This is one I will definitely watch again and again when it becomes available on cable. 

You HAVE to go see it!!!  GO!  Today!!

Going The Distance

It was crude. Very crude.

I love Justin Long and Drew Barrymore - still do, but I don't know if I mentioned this.  The movie was very crude.  And in my opinion (and what other opinion counts, after all???), it wasn't necessary.

I don't consider myself a prude or anything... but I found this movie offensive - and it was not integral to the story line.  I mean... I'm sure I'll live and everything but when it comes out on video, I doubt if I'll watch it. 

I liked the story.  I liked the premise.  There were lots of good things about this movie and I wouldn't say "Don't go", but I would say... be prepared.  And maybe wait for the video.

i still love Drew Barrymore and Justin Long and if they happen to be in a movie together again some time, I'm sure I'll go. But I was disappointed this one.

I'll give it a generous 2 Go's.

The Expendables

Rocky with guns! Corny - predictable - silly.  But it was also hysterically funny - witty - even better than expected.  You could feel the comradery between these longtime friends, These old guys know how to do it right!  I LOVED it!!!!!

And the scene with Arnold Schwarzteneger?  I almost fell out of my seat laughing.  Okay... that may be a little over the top, but you get the idea.  Very clever... and what a good sport ol' Arnie is!  I didn't think Bruce Willis was going to make it through that one.  (I'd love to see the out takes)

When this one comes out on video, I'll see it again - probably more than once.  The action won't be nearly as good on TV as it is on the big screen, but the people - the characters (and... oh... are they characters) will always be bigger than life.

If you haven't seen it yet, then you have to go before it's gone.   You won't be sorry.

I'm giving it 4 Go's!

Inception

I was sitting at my computer at work.  The next thing I knew, I was watching a movie with Michael... but... I didn't remember how I got there... and... Michael was not really Michael... he was a projection (I think).  And then... the music started...

I can't tell you any more, though - really.  No... really.  I'd wreck it.

So... go!    4 Gos - at least!

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Just about everyone I talked to about this insisted that I should go - that it was the best Twilight film yet.  Well... I don't agree.

I mean... don't get me wrong.  It was good.  But not the best.  And if you didn't read the book... don't bother going.  You'll be lost.  That may be a little harsh. It was a good action movie kind of thing, but there was SO much missing that was in the book but not in the movie.

To my taste, I don't think Edward came off as protective.  He felt more like a controlling stalker to me.  I understand that Bella was in danger... blah blah blah... but I think he would be just as stalkerish if she wasn't in danger.

And besides... Jacob is WAY hotter!  Really!  I think the whole Edward thing must be a mind control issue.  I just don't see it. 

Those of us who are  ::::cough cough::: more mature... know the difference between love and obsession. 

She should have called me. I'd have helped.  But then... she doesn't listen much to anyone. 

If you're into the Twilight thing, you have to see the movie, but I'm only giving it 3 Go's! 

Killers

* * * * * * * W A R N I N G * * * * * * *

Suspend any faint expectatiion of reality that you may be tempted to take into this movie with you.  Step away from reality! Then ----- Enjoy!

I was never a big fan of Katherine Heigl (Do you remember her comment about not deserving an Emmy nomination for Grey's Anatomy - because the scripts were not Emmy worthy?).  I may change my mind, though.

First of all, I'm not generally a good grudge-carrier.  Oh!  Don't get me wrong.  I've carried a grudge or two in my day - over rocks - through water - up mountains - when dropping the doggone grudge would have been SO much easier.

ANYWAY... I think I'm ready to drop my Katherine Heigl grudge. I really liked this movie and I really liked HER in this movie.  I think she got this part just right! 

And Ashton Kutcher?  Okay.. we all know the ol' "hot" thing (Back in the olden days we would have called him a "hunk".  Stop laughing!).  He is without a doubt, a good looking guy, but he is also funny!  REALLY funny!

I laughed!  I cried!  Hmmmm No... I didn't cry.  But I did laugh - a lot!

In fact, I was still smiling when I left.  All in all, a nice afternoon!

I'm giving it 4 GO's! 

Letters To Juliet

I don't have to worry about giving away any secrets because you've seen this movie and/or read the book many, many times if you've ever read a "Romance" book or watched a "Romance" movie.

Don't get me wrong, predictable is not necessarily a bad thing for me, if done well.  Anyway...

• Girl meets boy
• Boy is an arrogant, miserable pain in the ass
• Boy dislikes girl
• Girl dislikes boy back
• Over time they grow to love each other but they don't want to admit it
• They "accidentally" kiss
• Boy loses girl
• Girl thinks she lost boy, but it's a miscommunication (There's always a miscommunication)
• Boy gets girl
• Girl gets boy
• They live happily ever after

Meanwhile... back at the vineyard...

• Woman makes huge mistake 50 years previous
• Woman tries to right mistake
• Blah blah blah - happily ever after

So... "girl" is Amanda Seyfried.  Throughout this movie we focused on "girl's" boobs:

• Bouncing in her t-shirt when she runs
• Jiggling in her scoop neck dress (she's braless in this one)
• Almost falling out of her v-neck dress at the wedding, when she runs - bent over with her boobs right there on the center of the screen (boy had to fall on the ground for "gir" to bend over and accomplish this look properly)
• Bouncing, jiggling and/or generally being exposed in almost everything else she wears

So.. if there are any "guys" out there who are being pressured to go see this "chick flick", you might consider going.  The view isn't too bad. 

"Woman" is Vanessa Redgrave and they turned her into an absolute frump-a-dump wearing beige, round-toed, mary-jane type flats with an ankle strap - skirts that hung about 4 inches above her ankles - baggy shapeless tops and baggy, ugly jackets.  I mean really!  If this is the main love interest of the movie, shouldn't she have been somewhat of a hot granny?

I don't care how old she is, Vanessa Redgrave is beautiful, but they did everything they could to disguise that - at least until her wedding (*gasp* are you shocked?  Did I give it away?).  For her wedding they at least pulled that long, stringy hair - normally held back in barrettes on the sides (please!) - into an up-do, reminiscent of the 60's (can you say French Twist?) but respectably sophisticated - and flattering.

I think that long, gray hair was supposed to romantic.  Nah - not so much.  In one scene - where she recognizes her true love (Aw shucks!  I did it again - gave away a surprise plot twist.), they manage 30 seconds where her hair blows in the breeze around her face and is somewhat flattering.  The rest of the movie?  I'd sue them, if I were her!

The men in the movie were appropriately hot. If it were a book, they'd have rippling biceps, blah blah blah.  The "man" was way hotter than the "boy", I thought.  But then... I'm old.

When I started this, I was thinking 3 Go's.  After reliving the movie in this post, I'm changing my mind... 2 Go's. 

The Back-Up Plan

I never used to be a fan of J Lo but I've become one.  I like her movies. I mean don't like them 5 Go's usually, but I enjoy them.  The usually provide a pleasant afternoon.  I guess that sound a little like toast for breakfast, but they're better than that.  Add some Polanar all-fruit and you have a J Lo movie. 

Jennifer Lopez was terrific. She looks great! The guy who was the lead was very good - handsome - would you say "hot"?  Not a word I usually use.  It's generational, I guess, but anyway, I think you could fairly say that he was "hot".  (Okay... all that word stuff is for a different day - and then we'll get into "whack", "crispy". "sleepy" - all those goodies)

Soo anyway... it was a good story - predictable, but I never mind predictable  (If I did, would I have watched Sleepless In Seattle at least a dozen times???)  It wasn't a PERFECT ending, but it was a good one.

When it comes on TV, I'll watch it again, I'm sure.  Go see it.  Tell me what you think!

3 Go's for me!

The Last Song

Well... I'm schmaltzy, so it's no real surprise that I really liked this movie.  In fact, surprises were not the order of the day, but that never ruins a movie for me.

The title of the movie was "The Last Song".  Hmmmm I wonder what THAT could mean.  Like... maybe someone was going to die?  Like... that kind of last song?  Or maybe it was even more literal.  Like... maybe someone was going to die and it had something to do with a song.  Hmmmmm Maybe.

It took a little more than a millisecond to find out that Miley Cyrus, A.K.A. Ronnie hated her father.  We didn't know why at first but we could tell by her stomping around... her rebellious attitude... you know, all those subtle signs that clue us in that, yes, she hated her father. 

So!  Ronnie hated her father.  I was really stumped at that point, trying to figure out who was going to die.  I sure hoped it wasn't her father, because it would be awful for him to die with all that conflict between Ronnie and him.

WAIT!  I'll bet it IS the father!  And the fact that Ronnie's mother dropped her off at her father's house for the summer MIGHT have been a clue.  Why was it so important for hateful Ronnie to spend the summer with her father??  It adds up, doesn't it?

BUT!  How would they EVER resolve their relationship?  Could they before he died?  Is it possible?  And what WAS the last song??? 

:::: wringing of hands ::::

And did I cry?  Nope. 

Sounds like I didn't like the movie.  I did, though.  Really!   Well, it IS Nicholas Sparks, which leaves me with certain warm, fuzzy expectations. 

I thought Greg Kinnear was very good in this.  I like him anyway, though.  I'm not a huge Miley Cyrus fan (...other than the fact that the girl can sing.  If I were Taylor Swift, I wouldn't sing any more duets with ol' Miley) I thought she was pretty good in this.  Not "give-her-an-Emmy" good, but she was okay - believable.  She always sounds tough... or "hard" to me and that worked well for the "hate your dad" parts of this movie.

It was a good afternoon. I'm glad I went.  Although the main plot was predictable (shocked, eh?), it was done well - and there were some interesting sub-plots that kept things going.  I don't think I'd bother with the book, but I'd recommend the movie.

I'd give it 4 Go's! Go see it!

Avatar

That's it! I know!  I know!  I KNOW!

Everybody's favorite picture and I give it 3 Go's. 

I was impressed with the technology.  But otherwise... not so much. AND I thought it was at least a half hour too long.

About that time thing... I didn't see it in 3D. I was too late for that.  So I get it that if I had seen it in 3D, I probably wouldn't have thought it was too long.  But I didn't see it in 3D and it was too long.

The big war at the end???  Really!  This is THE movie with a message (I also felt "preached to") and that war kind of blew the whole thing for me.  Maybe because I was expecting something more peaceful.  Silly me!

Was the message that the side with the most guys is the side that will win? I don't know. I just got so many mixed messages.  Maybe my brain was cross-wired that day. I think there are days that's true. 

Maybe there was just too much hype.  A mild case of "The Emperor's New Clothes"?  I'm not sure what bothed me, but something did. 

If you haven't seen it yet... go... but only because it's such a "thing" this year. 

As Scott would say... "It sure wasn't Rocky".

Alice In Wonderland

FIRST of all... I absolutely hated "Alice In Wonderland" when I was a kid.  Hated the story!  Maybe it was just too dark for me. I don't know, but I may have told you - - - - I hated it!

We had a whole set of Childcraft books. I devoured all of the fairy tales - all of Aesop's fables - the volumes with poetry - just about everything.  But I avoided "Alice In Wonderland" - wouldn't even look at the pictures.  Really.

So, I guess the point is... I debated whether to go see this movie or not.  I missed "Avatar" in 3D and decided that I didn't want to miss another 3D movie that I might regret.

So I went to see it today.  (Whew! Took a long time to get here, didn't it?)

I LOVED it!  It may have been a tad too Tim Burtonish to get 5 Go's, but it was a solid 4 Go's. 

Johnny Depp - the more over-the-top he is - the better I like it.  And he was plenty over the top in this one.  Blue eye shadow and a lisp - a Mad Hatter - a crazy milliner - loved it - loved him.

And Helena Bonham Carter was FANTASTIC as the Red Queen.  No one will ever say "Off with their heads" without making me think of the big-headed Red Queen.  (Not that I hear that often)  I have to say that the Red Queen reminded me ever-so-slightly of Bernadette Peters.  I'm not sure why - maybe it was the mouth. 

Anne Hathaway was as over-the-top as the White Queen as Johnny Depp was as the Mad Hatter.  She made me laugh out loud (always a treat when you go to the movies alone).  I had no idea she was THAT funny. 

As far as the 3D?  I spent an hour and fourty-some minutes ducking flying teacups, reaching out for a feather that LOOKED like it was right there in front of me and almost feeling the wings of a blue butterfly on my face.  This is NOT your grandmother's 3D! 

So... go see it - in 3D!  This weekend!

P.S.  Oh!  Alice!!  She was good, too.  Pretty girl. 

Crazy Heart

Defiinitely 5 Go's! Definitely!

Jeff Bridges earned and deserved his Oscar.  There are those who say that he was rewarded as much for his body of work as for Crazy Heart.  That may be true.  But Crazy Heart was enough. 

If you're looking for a happy, "feel good" movie, this ain't it.  You'll have to get your rainbows and "white horse into the sunset" somewhere else.  Okay... you may get a rusty ol' truck into the sunset at the end of this one.  And the truck may have a li'l hope shoved in the back, but... well... I'll leave it there.

Maggie Gyllenhaal is extraordinary.  I mean... I don't know her or anything, but she was extraordinary in the movie - and I'm guessing that if you were lucky enough to run into her today at say... the grocery store... I'd bet she'd still be extraordinary.  Just guessing.

At first, I thought it was a very unlikely pairing, but not for long.  I think I'd like to see the movie again - to watch it develop again.  What man wouldn't/couldn't fall in love with Maggie Gyllenhall?  That's a "duh"!  But the other way around?  Interesting, to say the least.

The time flew by.  I tend to watch the time when I watch a movie (bad habit) to judge how far along we are in plot resolution, but not on this one.  I totally forgot about the time.

Oh! By the way, I Googled Maggie Gyllenhall to see what I could find out and I found her in Wiki with this note:

"Margaret Ruth "Maggie" Gyllenhall, pronounced /ˈdʒɪlənhɑːl/...."

Go ahead.  Pronounce that. I dare you!  The artist formerly known as Maggie Ruth???

I digress!

SO... the music!  I heard Jeff Bridges say that he turned down the script at first - because there was no music in the movie.  Hellllooooooo?  No music in a movie about a Country Western musician?  No wonder he turned it down.  Makes sense to me.  He didn't even have to call for my opinion on that one!

When Jeff (no more Mr. Bridges for us.  I'm jane - he's Jeff) talked about the music in the interview I watched - and talked about T-Bone Burnett getting involved - his face was just one big grin.  But then, how could it NOT be?  T-Bone Burnett?? 

So... T-Bone and Jeff agreed to do the movie.  T-Bone and an old friend, guitarist, and songwriter: Stephen Bruton, co-wrote most of the music for the movie.  T-Bone said that the following two lines from one of the songs were the fulcrum for the movie:

"I used to be somebody

Now I'm somebody else"

So... Ryan Bingham, a young musician from New Mexico, landed a part as a member of Bad Blake's pickup band.  He played a portion of his incomplete song, "The Weary Kind" for T-Bone.  T-Bone told him immediately that it would be the title song for the movie.  Can you imagine how that young man must have felt?  28 years old - the title song for a movie.  Pretty cool.

And now... the winner of an Academy Award for best original song.  Life changing, for sure. 

 "And this ain’t no place for the weary kind
And this ain’t no place to lose your mind
And this ain’t no place to fall behind
Pick up your crazy heart and give it one more try"
 by Ryan Bingham

So if you're getting the message that I think  you should go, you are soooooo right!  (If you already saw the movie, let me know what you think about it)

Go!  Go!  Go!  Go!  Go!

Valentine's Day

The movie... not the day.

We went to see Valentine's Day. We got more than we expected.  I'd give it 4 Go's!

While trying to decide what to see, Michael said, "If Julia Roberts is in it, we can't go wrong".  I agreed so that was our scientific and extremely thorough method of picking the movie to go see.

Surprisingly, Julia Roberts wasn't in it very much.  Scott told me that he heard that she made over $200,000 a minute for the time she was on screen.  (Good thing she didn't work for the state, she would have only gotten $194,500 a minute - that 2.75% decrease in pay we got, you know?).  ANYWAY, she's Julia Roberts and she's always a treat to see, but she was just a tiny part. 

We hadn't heard all the hype about the movie - didn't know that everyone in the world (ok.. that's figurative. You know that. Don't hassle me!) was in that movie.

We thought the movie was a little slow, but it was so much fun everytime someone else we knew came on screen that we forgot it was a little slow (except for the times that Michael dozed off). 

I have never been a Taylor Swift fan, but after this movie? Sign me up.  In my opinion, she stole the movie.  When she danced in her track suit, I almost fell out of my seat, laughing (in the handicapped section - which could have really caused a disturbance). 

Ashton Kutcher?  I want to think that IS Ashton Kutcher - that he played himself (leave me alone with my pollyanna fantasies, thank you).  And Anne Hathaway???  Hysterical. 

Every time the scene changed, we laughed again.  If you don't already know everyone who's in the movie, don't bother finding out. Just enjoy the ride!


You really have to see this one!  If there was more of a story, rather than feeling like connected vignettes, I would probably have given it 5 Go's. (or maybe if I see it again, I'll change my mind and bump it up)

Go! You won't be sorry!

Dear John

I KNOW!  3 Go's!  I mean... really... it's Nicholas Sparks.  It was good.  It really was, but I dunno, it wasn't "The Notebook" - for sure.

There were two couples sitting behind me that were teen-like (I mean, I didn't ask them their ages, but they looked young [but then who doesn't] and school WAS off for President's Day.)

ANYWAY... both of the girls were crying loud enough to hear. So either they were really into the movie or they were being tortured silently. (I'm voting for "into" the movie) Everyone I talked to who saw it said that they cried and cried.  I didn't.

I'm capable (I think).  But this one didn't do it for me.  ALTHOUGH... I was most impressed with Channing Tatum (that's old lady for "he's hot"!!!!).  I've never been a huge fan of Amanda Seyfried (except in Mama Mia) - even though she's almost a local girl.  (Which counts for a lot with me. I'm a "home team" kinda gal).

Someone told the that the book was much different than the movie which means that my next BOMC2 (Book of the Month Club 2) purchase will be "Dear John".

It was okay. I'd say... go see it.  You may like it better than I did.  After all, it IS Nicholas Sparks.

Extraordinary Measures

I took the afternoon off today and Michael and I went to the movies to see Extraordinary Measures with Brendan Fraser, Harrison Ford, and Keri Russell.

This is the true story of John Crowley and his race against time to find a cure for his children who have Pompe disease. 

I won't tell you all about the disease. You'll get the message when you go see the movie.  (And you SHOULD see the movie.) 

ANYWAY... the real John Crowley is better looking than Brendan Fraser.  I'd have cast him as himself.  They didn't ask me, though.  What's up with that??

And Harrison Ford? I think he rations himself 3 smiles per movie - two crooked half smiles and one "throw-your-head-back-and-smile" smile. 

So... yeah.  You should go. If you have children, you will really feel this one. 

If the movie isn't enough for you or if it leaves you thinking... "Hmmm I wonder what the Crowley's are up to now", the Crowley's have a website that tells you what they're up to.  And of course, I DO have the URL:  The Crowley Family

And if THAT isn't enough... John (with some help) has written a book. You can find it at Amazon (among other places, I'm sure):  Chasing Miracles

(I mean... really... is this thorough or what???)

So... go see it.  It's a 4 GO movie.  Let me know what you think.

The Blindside

Oh yeah! FIVE - 5 - CINCO - 5 - CINQ - 5 - FÜNF - GO's! 

I can't imagine anyone but Sandra Bullock playing the part of Leigh Anne Tuohy.  FANTASTIC!  Kathy Bates was terrific as Miss Sue.  (but then I've always loved Kathy Bates)  Tim McGraw was okay... kind of blah... but okay as Sean Tuohy.  Quinton Aaron was a wonderful Michael Oher - a true gentle giant.  But the scene stealer was Jae Head as S.J. Tuohy!  I don't think they could have found anyone cuter.  It was just a great cast!

The story of Michael Oher is an amazing story - and stories with a happy ending are always the best ones for me.

Thanks to Richard, I read the book, which I think, made the movie even better.

I would recommend this one to everyone - men, women, kids - EVERYONE. 

Go!

In fact GO GO GO GO GO!

TODAY!

Amelia

Went to see "Amelia" today.  Hillary Swank was perfect!!!  I don't think there could possibly be a better Amelia!  Richard Gere was wonderful, too! 
Amelia Earhart had always been a sentence before (or maybe two).  I really didn't know much about her life - why she flew - what she was like.  So, this movie was not just entertainment.  It was also history.  An easy way to learn.  :)

The time flew.  When the movie was over, I had to look at my watch to check the time.  I couldn't believe it was over already.

My only complaint was the ending.  I know!  I know!  But, I hoped that this time it might end differently.  Maybe they'd have enough gas.  Maybe they'd find that island.  But nooooooooooo!

If it ended differently, I'd have given it 5 Go's!  I would have!  (Please!  It's a movie!!!!)

Invention of Lying

This movie made my day - maybe my week - or possibly my month.  Michael and I laughed out loud.

What a concept!  As Richard said, though - not only did everyone tell the truth.  They said it with zero tact.  Blunt truth - no sugar coating - nothing held back.  Was part of the deal that they couldn't hold anything back?  Pretty funny!  I think that if we lived that way, we'd kill each other by the end of the first week.  Or we'd live in a land of deeeeeep depression.  OR, we'd develop VERY thick skins! 

I though Ricky Gervais was hysterical!  There is a scene in a bar that is one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time. I laughed so hard, I thought I might fall out of my seat.  (okay... not quite, but I don't have to follow the rules in the movie)

You HAVE to go see this one!  REALLY!  GO!!!!

The Informant

Okay... so it wasn't "the best" but it WAS Matt Damon and I really liked it. I think I'd give it 3 Go's.  It was a little slow in parts (Michael fell asleep - shhhhh) but it was funny.  Matt Damon was great, I thought!   Would I watch it again?  (I watch the movies I like - over and over again) No... I don't think I would.  And maybe you can wait for this to come out in DVD, but why wait?  It's good - really!