Cinema

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Comment by roknrolhrt on April 30, 2009 at 8:56pm

I can't imagine anyone other than Scarlett Johansson in that role. Her look, demeanor. Perfect. Thanks for the review, Ms. Bop.

Comment by Bebop on April 30, 2009 at 8:49pm

Last night we watched Girl with a Pearl Earring. This was filmed in 2004. It is the story of how Jan Vermeer came to paint the picture of the same name. I just love good cinematography and this one really ranks among the best. Eduardo Serra's artistic filming recreated Vermeer's Northern Renaissance paintings. I thought Scarlett Johansson was perfect as the girl in the painting. Colin Firth did a good job as Vermeer. Highly recommended. It's a feast for the eyes.

Comment by roknrolhrt on April 26, 2009 at 8:10am

SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES:

We reached back to 1954 for the classic suspense movie, Dial M For Murder. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring the ever-so-suave Ray Milland, the beautiful Grace Kelly, and devilishly handsome Robert Cummings, the story is set in London and was originally released in 3D. A former tennis pro, Ray Milland, plots to have his wife, Grace Kelly, murdered. His seemingly well-hatched plan hits some bumps along the way and the remainder of the film builds suspense until we ultimately learn whether or not Milland gets away with his crime. The quality of the color in a movie some 55 years old was truly wonderful. Subtle. Hitchcock preserved some of the camera angles and lighting techniques used in the black & white renditions of film noir era despite the "handicap" of color film. The cast was marvelously camp at the same time being supremely elegant and fascinating. The British actors playing both villains and police were perfectly cast for the time and theme. This film was more fun than we expected and certainly worth investing 105 minutes. Four of five stars.

Comment by Bebop on April 19, 2009 at 9:42am

We also watched The Reader last night. You beat me to the accolades! I was impressed with the honest way this film was handled. Characters were not all good or all bad, something that turns me off a lot of standard Hollywood-style movies. The actors were subtle and superb.

Comment by roknrolhrt on April 19, 2009 at 9:32am

Last night we watched, The Reader. It stars Kate Winslet (who won the Best Actess Oscar for this performance), Ralph Fiennes, and David Cross. It is directed with great sensitivity by Stephen Daldry. Nicole Kidman turned down the role played by Ms. Winslet.

This is a truly remarkable film, in my view, but I shall not write a personal review. Rather, I invite you to read these comments made by "dvhermann-1" at The Internet Movie Database:

"As a child of parents who witnessed the devastation (both moral and material) from both sides of the issue, mother a concentration camp survivor, father a pilot in the German Luftwaffe. I grew up with deep gut wrenching aftereffects of this period. Until this day, I keep asking myself the question what would I have done. Would I have had the civil courage to speak out against the crimes committed in my name by my government? For me no other movie has even come close to touching on the emotional and moral context of the subject. No surprise coming from a collaboration that includes the late Anthony Minghella whose extraordinary understanding of the human condition was something I deeply admired. His exquisite sensibilities, visualized, were a true gift to us all.

The performances are so deeply moving and finely crafted, with such great insight into our human frailties and shortcomings to use words to describe them are only for those who have not had to suffer through extraordinary times.

Remember the Chinese curse – 'May you live in interesting times' My thanks to all that collaborated on this project to give voice to a most painful subject."

Comment by roknrolhrt on April 17, 2009 at 7:51am

Children of Men is on Deb's favorites list so we took our cue from her and watched it this week. Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, this is a futuristic story about a society without hope because humans no longer have the ability to procreate. One part Soylent Green and another part Bladerunner, it stars Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, and Sir Michael Caine (as an eccentric, somewhat vulgar, and delightfully charming recluse). This is a tense movie with lots of gunfire, chasing, and sci-fi grit. We enjoyed it!

Comment by roknrolhrt on April 17, 2009 at 7:27am

This is a must see movie for dog lovers; Marley and Me. It will engage you and, ultimately, break your heart. It stars Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, and Eric Dane ("McSteamy" from Grey's Anatomy) as well as several dogs as Marley. The movie tells the life story of Marley, the dog, and his people. This sort of sneaks up on you as you develop a relationship with Marley and the growing family. Based on the best-selling book by columnist John Grogan (portrayed by Wilson), this is a humorous and touching real life love story. I recommend lots of Kleenex.

Comment by roknrolhrt on April 8, 2009 at 8:26pm

I haven't seen Captain Abu Raed, but will look for it locally. Welcome to the group!

Comment by GTO on April 7, 2009 at 11:36pm

the other night we watched Passchendaele a 2008 Canadian war film from Alliance Films, written, directed by and starring Paul Gross. The film, which was shot in Calgary, Alberta, Fort Macleod, Alberta, CFB Suffield, and in Belgium, focuses on the experiences of Gross's grandfather, Michael Dunne, a soldier who served in the 10th Battalion, CEF in the First World War at the Battle of Passchendaele (also known as the Third Battle of Ypres). The film opened at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 4, 2008 and was released in Canada on October 17, 2008. the other night it won the Genie Award the Canadian counterpart to the Oscars...

tonight we watched Oliver Stone's Wand learned a lot about GW that we didn't know

Comment by GTO on April 5, 2009 at 9:53am

we watched the Secret Life of Bees with Queen Latifa, Dakota Fanning and Alicia Keys.....been following Dakota since her first movie and she's quite the young actress....

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