Category Archives: films

Jan3

The Black Swan- A Review

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I went to see The Black Swan based on the fact that Vincent Cassel was in it. I love him. He’s an awesome actor and sexy to boot.  He didn’t disappoint.  He was amazing and there was one scene in particular that was spectacular.

Natalie Portman is excellent in this  movie as well.  She nails her part.  It was quite intriguing and I enjoyed watching her. The dancing was well done even though  it was clear that Natalie didn’t do the more intricate steps. The director did a great job of showing her with the hand movements which she nailed.  The feet movements were shown separate. It was seamless.  I find it interesting that she seemed to have a dancer’s body in this film as well.  She must have trained for a while for the role.

Winona Ryder did a great job as well in the role of an aging ballerina. She was  too briefly shown, though.

This film was a bit of a tragedy but I enjoyed it. And Vincent? He was wicked cool!! Tres sexy.

Dec29

“The King’s Speech”- a Review

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Went to see The King’s Speech on my birthday after  lunch. I enjoyed the movie immensely. Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush played off of each other quite well. They had a great chemistry and it seemed like they really enjoyed their scenes together. It was also nice to see Helena Bonham Carter back in a role where she seemed normal. She used to always be so diginified and lately, she seems like the odd, eccentric aunt that should be hiding in the cupboard.

I especially enjoyed the scenes where Bertie was cussing and it was helping him speak clearer. Those were priceless. Laugh out loud funny.  There were also a few places in the film where I got chills.

Michael Gambon as George V was excellent. Loved the actors playing Edward VIII (David- Guy Pearce) and Churchill (Timothy Spall) as well. Interesting side note- the actress that played Geoffrey’s wife in the movie was Jennifer Ehle.  She was Elizabeth Bennett to Colin’s Fitzwilliam Darcy in Pride and Prejudice in 1995 and they had an off screen relationship then.   A great little movie that I highly recommend.

Oct28

Suspiria- The Movie

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Just watched a horrendous horror  movie called Suspiria. AND I do  mean horrendous.  I say watched but I really wasn’t watching. I was finishing the edits on a book I have coming out in January, 2011 and adding an additional love scene at the recommendation of my editor.  The movie was on in the background and oh. dear. God.  It was awful! Horrible. The music was like damn Chinese water torture. My head still hurts from it.  The gore was so badly faked and the wolf? Let’s not even go there on the fakeness (is that a word? If not, it should be just for purposes of this wolf) of the canine. It was atrocious. 

The funny thing (and I mean the only funny thing)  is that the movie was directed by a dude named Dario and the hero in the book  I was editing is named Dario. 

Never, never, never watch this flick. As Nancy Reagan used to say, “just say no.”  Really, trust me on this one.

Oct27

Vincent Price

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I’ve had Vincent Price on my mind the last few days. I loved that man. He was such a great actor and his voice was awesomely wicked.  I’ve been hearing Thriller on the radio a  lot the last few days and I just adore the part where Vincent recites the poem. When he says, “the foulest stench is in the air, the funk of 40,00o years…” I can almost smell of whence he speaks. 

I was watching Laura the other day and was surprised to see him. It had been so long since I’d seen  it, I forgot he played one of the characters. It’s a great story. A cop falls in love with a murder victim. 

Vincent in "Laura"

Who could forget him in House of Wax? If you never saw that one, it is particularly creepy. Check it out. He was also a great villain- Professor Ratigan- in The Great Mouse Detective– my Number One son’s second favorite animated movie (right behind The Sword and the Stone).

Betcha didn’t know this- Vincent Price was a gourmet cook and wrote several cook books. He also appeared on television cooking shows.  I think  that’s pretty cool.

Vincent as chef? Or serial killer? Or both?

Oct20

Sherlock Holmes Part II

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I follow Stephen Fry on Twitter. Or, I should say, my alter ego does.  Love him- he is so witty. Have loved him since his Jeeves and Wooster days with Hugh Laurie.  He’s been tweeting today about filming part two of the new Sherlock Holmes movies by Guy Ritchie. It’s the first day of filming and they’re working at night – he’s cold.  So, we know there’s a night scene and it’s cold. What does that get us? Nothing.

Seems Mr. Fry is playing Sherlock’s brother, Mycroft.  AND Robert Downey, Jr and Jude Law are reprising their roles. 

I loved the first one, except for the chick that played Irene Adler- let’s hope they re-cast her or that she can tone down her modernism for the role better than she did before.  Or maybe Irene won’t be in this one.

Can’t wait. Adore the charming Robert Downey, Jr. and the first movie was a fun romp.

Oct15

Long Week

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Had a long week this week.  I’m worn out. Planned to read a while tonight but am just putzing around on the computer. I can’t seem to focus for longer than a few minutes at a time. I woke up this morning needing a nap and I felt that way all day. My staff gave me some great bosses’ day goodies and I even got a cake. It was nice.

I’m watching a movie called Circle of Friends from 2006. Not the one from 1995 with Chris O’Donnell, Minnie Driver and Colin Firth.  This one has a guy named Chris Kramer. Funny how the hero in each one played by a Chris.  Totally different plots, though.  The Chris in this one is very handsome. I like the scruffy look. Check him out.

Aug30

I’m a sucker for this movie

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The crazy thing is, I know how it ends. I’ve seen it many, many times. I own it. But I cry at the end. Every. Single. time. Yes, every time. When Cary Grant looks from Deborah Kerr sitting on the couch and back up at the painting and back to her and he realizes why she didn’t come to him at the Empire State Building, I break down every time. It’s crazy, I know but what can I say, I’m a sucker.

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Aug29

The Other Guys

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Got done with the marathon editing session yesterday and started reading a book instead of writing one.  It is one written by one of my friends and I’m loving it.

Today,  after lunch with the parents, I decided to treat myself for getting the story done by going to a movie I’d been wanting to see.  I went to see The Other Guys.  I love Mark Walhberg (in all his incarnations) and Michael Keaton.  I’m not such a big Will Ferrell fan. I like some of his stuff but some of it is too goofy/weird for me. 

This movie was really fun. Totally bizarre premise but the humor was great. Mark Wahlberg was too funny in his role.  He was just laugh out loud funny.  I loved Michael Keaton as the captain with a side job at Bed, Bath and Beyond.  Will Ferrell was more subdued than he normally is (except for one scene) and so I was able to enjoy his humor as well. 

And Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson’s characters jumping off the building was priceless.  Enjoyed the narration by Ice-T as well. 

I liked the end where I spotted, across the street from Nathan’s on Coney Island, the Popeye’s chicken where #2 son and I ate when we were there. I  also liked the up close view of#1 son’s favorite Frank Gehry designed building.  Those were fun glimpses of the city I love.

I recommend this one for a mindless, laughter filled, two hours.

Aug18

An Epic of Epic Epicness

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http://www.comicsbeat.com/2010/03/19/the-scott-pilgrim-movie-poster/

An Epic of Epic Epicness is the tag line for the film Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.  I took the day off work today to spend with my sons since one goes back to college this weekend and the other starts 11th grade on Monday. The younger kiddo decided he would just stay home with his music/guitar. So, older kiddo picks the place for lunch and the movie.  We went to one of my least favorite places on Earth to eat- Chili’s-  I had a chicken/ranch quesadilla.  For the life of me, I didn’t see or taste any ranch dressing. 

Then we went to the movie. The one I didn’t want to see and was counting myself lucky to have missed it yesterday when my 2 girlfriends went. Alas, I found that I was not to have dodged that bullet like I thought I had. Off we went to see Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.  It was actually kind of witty and cute.   I didn’t like some of the elements- such as the coins falling in certain parts. I liked the band- they were actually pretty good. Jason Schwartzman was excellent as was the guy that played the gay room mate of Michael Cera’s character. It was Kieran Culkin.  Hate to say it though, I’m still not a big fan of Michael Cera.  He just seems so blah. No personality.
Enjoyed the day off with the kid. We went to Target and Sam’s, too. And now he’s cooked dinner. He’s handy to have around.
Aug16

The Funniest Movie Ever

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Who loves ya, Victor?

Who couldn’t love this movie? It has some really great lines- Like when Igor got the brain and said it was from “Abbie someone.” “Abbie who?” “Abbie Normal.”

and the lines about  “roll in the hay” and “werewolf?” and “There wolf.”

The horses neighing whenever the housekeeper’s name was said was hilarious. Madelyn Khan’s entire role. There is so much to love in this movie-like the line  “put the candle back.”

This was just classically a riot. Loved it. Still watch it a lot. If you haven’t seen it lately, watch it again, it’ll make you happy.

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