YOUNG VICTORIA...2009...Emily Blunt

Blunt is fabulous. Strong and fabulous. She gave Queen Victoria youth and life, poise and dignity, strength and wit, romance and passion. Helen Mirren, of course, opened the window into Buckingham palace, so now Emily Blunt has made public Victoria's diaries. "Even a palace can be a prison."
Rupert Friend, her Albert, unfortunately more recognized currently for his relationship with Keira Knightley than his excellent presence on screen.He is Wickham no more. I may be a bit in love with him for his devotion and strength opposite the stubborn thin shell covering the Queen's insecurities. They were a lovely match - well cast.

Some would complain that period pieces become sleepy, but this does keep moving. The tension remains long enough to enjoy the resolve. I found it transporting and truthful, and, as Matthew would say, "lovely" (pronounced: lahv -f -lay").

My lovely, late Grandma Sota was enamoured by the British monarchy. She spoke about them with awe, and I believe that this is why my mother wears large hats out in public. My Grandmother, like Victoria was genteel and proper.

I'm standing taller today. Posture = elegance. Quite right.

BAND OF BROTHERS...2001...Spielberg & Hanks produce

"He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,

Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,

And rouse him at the name of Crispian.

He that shall live this day, and see old age,

Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,

And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:'

Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.

And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'

Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,

But he'll remember with advantages

What feats he did that day: then shall our names.

Familiar in his mouth as household words

Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,

Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,

Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.

This story shall the good man teach his son;

And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,

From this day to the ending of the world,

But we in it shall be remember'd;

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;

For he to-day that sheds his blood with me

Shall be my brother;"

Shakespeare's King Henry V, Act 4, Scene 3

CLASH OF THE TITANS...2010...Liam, Sam, blockbuster remake

Today, the epic clash ensued between titans! Greek Gods, demigods, and men battled for the power over and worship of mankind. Liam Neeson (the one I deemed my 2nd Dad after Taken) plays an ever-powerful Zeus, and Ralph Fiennes (an excellent Voldemort and beautifully fascinating creature indeed) is again the antagonist as Hades. Both typecast? Not likely...but commonly cast certainly. Aslan most definately released the kraken today.

Much like the sense of familiarity when smells evoke memory, so somehow my childhood was laced with these adventures and 80's wonders. Perseus must defeat Medusa, ride the pegasus, and destroy the kraken. I've always known this somehow.

It seemed somehow appropriate that this film would come out right before Easter - the day of the resurrection of THE hero - the salvation of the world. The one sent by His Father to save us all. It was interesting that Zeus said in the film, "I will not sacrifice my son for the sake of humanity." When that is exactly what God did. The legendary superman lives on in echo through characters like Perseus, but we must never equate these to Jesus. The Greek gods were selfish, angry, too like humans.

Yet the Greeks of old constructed temples and made sacrifices to appease these gods. We see the fanatic followers on the screen and laugh because we have forgotten that so much of creation is re-creation - this was religion for so many not so long ago.

I like an epic action flick, so I again donned the 3D's

today to spend a few hours vicariously saving the

world. There was no nudity or language, and only

black blood. Don't take little kids, cause they'll pee

the $14 seats. It's fun, though. Dangerous and fun. Hmm. Two words I associate with God.

Call me unique, but I do. Happy Easter, all! Blessings.

HE is risen indeed!

ALICE IN WONDERLAND...Burton's Best story re-creation yet! 2010

Twas Alice at the midnight Lowes

Did friends and film class students vade

to see Tim Burton's modern show,

the Alice cavalcade.

 Undaunted sat we glaring up

at marvels never seen,

But it was young Miss Wasikowska

who lit up every screen

Burtonesque, you can be sure

that Edward trimmed the trees,

that skullheads skulk through eerie dreams,

and his red Helena is queen.

Anne and Johnny play their roles

as children with new stacking blocks

gallumphing through the mystic woods

and quoting Carroll's Jabberwock

I believe Jane Austen would approve 

this glam-fest period piece 3-D,

she'd thrill and push for women's rights

discussing creatures over tea.

 

 

SHUTTER ISLAND...Scorsese 2010

Scorsese, the scar-faced Santa Claus, delivers coal to sinful souls through a wet, red door in his newest film entitled Shutter Island.  Justice and mercy, forgiveness and grief - these intermingle as Leo fights demons and seeks truth.  In finding it, however, he also finds himself in interminable pain. This journey is a powerfully concocted trudge through the tortured mind, and ironically it's a thinker film without a lot of action. Are we meant to see ourselves in one of the two pairs of shoes - as potential patients? Are war "heroes" made at the price of, how did Leo put it in the film...something like, "our God-given moral code?"  

Motifs flourish in this film: water & death, fire & life, light & escape.  Most of the elements are present, but Scorsese's most impressive elements are the cast members themselves.  Each performs perfectly in his / her roles. I love this cast.  Each one would make my list of "people I would have lunch with...living, dead, fictitious..." Ben Kingsley is lovely as always - a father/mentor figure.  Mark Ruffalo has the role of "foil" down pat, and he such a handle on de-emotionalizing and controlling his characters. I feel safe in his performances - curious, but safe. A favorite and most telling scene is the conversation between Leo and Ted Levine (Monk's Captain Stottlemeyer). And I've come to expect seeing Christopher Plummer lately, so of course he was the man in the chair. Leo is stunning.  He is dangerous and unapproachable as a human being, a perfect match to the foil. He is the hero.  I love his purpose and his approach to the journey - he fears not for himself - a heroic earmark.

I am a Gretel.  I love following bread crumbs.  (Beware: light spoilers to follow.) It opens with a Hitchcockesque score, which doesn't continue, but bursts forth once again at the very end.  I was surprised to hear the conflict indicator line "A storm's coming" in the first five minutes of the film. Crumbs: Ruffalo's gun, accent, and sideways glances; the guards' boredom, the supposedly-menacing lighthouse (usually a beacon of safety), the darkly humorous interviews.  It's not a question of what is real, but what is actually unsafe? Scorsese sets the audience up well and moves the story at a digestible pace, but shows me too much gore to ever want to see it again.  Yes, Scorsese indulges in a violent commentary on life, but at the expense of all comfort.  What initially advertises as beautiful is frightfully bloody and heart-woundingly sad. 

 

LEAP YEAR...Amy Adams and newest celebrity crush...2010

Far fetched but surprisingly unpretentious.

Contrived but timely in a wish-it-was-The Quiet Man sort of a way.

Amy Adams attempts to prove to this world of romantics such as myself that it truly IS the cocky, overly-sensitive, high-maintenance perfectionists who get the hot, manly, foreign guys after all.  So, if you don't mind feeding yourself this lie for 2 hours of frosted chick-flick indulgence - eat up! Just remember that frosting is more fat than fuel.

P.S. It's exactly what you think it will be. So, no, Riley, don't bother.

VALENTINES DAY...who isn't in it? 2.14.2010

Dear Gary Marshall,

I'm glad that its' been a few days since I saw your film, and I'm equally glad that I didn't watch this on the day for which is was named. First a question, Mr. Marshall. 

Why would you choose to call in all of your favors for this film that I've heard called "fluffy?" Julia, Ashton, Jennifer, Patrick, George,

 McSteamy, Topher, Latifah, BlueEyes, both Taylors (who sadly ended their relationship about a week too early to match the film release), Anne, Jamie, the Jessicas? Wow.  Impressive cast list. But for this? ...for these empty roles?  

PS. It's amiable for you to use your entire family in your films, but I have to say that it's just not as endearing for those of us in the fold-down, popcorn-pelted seats.  Penny is the only real acting talent in the family.  Your daughter's lines make even those of legends like Julie Andrews and Shirley MacLaine feel laughable. Wooden. Truth.

A complaint = Lodged today. 2.15.10. I went expecting a light and friendly Gary Marshallesque chickflick/ romcom.  I left so saddened by the unexpected realizm, the darkness of deception, and the expectation that lust will always win over in a selfish humanity.  Is there no love? No hope for selfless affection, no joy in pleasant pink days of gifts and candy and flowers?  I walked into a Starbucks on Valentines Day and all of the women were wearing red.  There must be hope. 

A compliment = I've had time to review, to ask, to ponder your reasonings.  You are obviously a family man, and I am going to venture a guess that this film was made as a personal commentary - almost your version of a documentary - to show your perspectives on love and marriage to your family.  To the oldest in the family =true love stays with it despite disappointment and allows the years of faithfulness and acceptance of quirks to cover the momentary afflictions and poor choices.  To the young and ready to marry = don't be stupid, and make sure you marry your best friend.  To youth - sex before commitment is just sex, not love, and frivolous sex destroys people.  Your other possible messages, I'm afraid, faded beneath a star-studded quilt of wish-it-was-funny jokes about phone sex and pent-up frustrations.  So, Mr. Marshall, perhaps it's not too late to call in that one last favor and make a film that's funny and fun without the stifling edge of painful relational disappointment. 

Sincerely,

me.