movies

Grab the Popcorn — It’s Oscar Time!

February 18, 2015 by admin

Let me tell you about our little movie theater in Port Townsend. The Rose has just three screens, yet somehow we end up seeing the best films of the year. We love walking downtown to see a movie, and before each film we’re treated to an introduction that tells us behind-the-scenes tidbits.

This year we saw all the nominated Oscar Films. I can’t begin to pick a winner, but I’ll tell you what I think of each film.

Whiplash – This is a stunning film about a wannabe jazz drummer and his hard-driving, head-game-playing, abusive teacher. Loosely based on real life, Whiplash is an intense ride. There’s an odd sag in the middle where the plot falls apart, so I wouldn’t give it a best picture nod, but it has a powerful ending and a brilliant performance by J. K. Simmons.

American Sniper – Forget the controversy and go see the film. I’m a pacifist from way back, and Clint Eastwood’s performance to an empty chair at the Republican National Convention did not impress, but holy cow, what a film. Bradley Cooper is mesmerizing as real-life sniper Chris Kyle.

Birdman – A lot of people will tell you this film is brilliant. I didn’t get it. Sorry. I love Michael Keaton and am glad he’s getting his due, but this was too “out there” for me.

The Grand Budapest Hotel – Another quirky, fun, enjoyable ride from Wes Anderson. I’m turning into a real fan. I doubt this film will win (Oscar seems to love the “serious” films), but I’m thrilled to see it nominated.

The Imitation Game – Based on the life of Alan Turing, whose contributions to the modern computer remained in obscurity for decades, and who endured unspeakable Nazi-esque “treatment” for being gay, The Imitation Game brings attention to Turing’s achievements.

Selma – My personal favorite, Selma focuses on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s protests in Selma over voting rights. David Oyelowo’s performance is not to be missed. Was he robbed? Hard to say. The Best Actor field is a tough one yet again this year, with not enough room for every great performance. Still, it’s fantastic work.

The Theory of Everything – Here’s another unbelievable acting performance, this time from Eddie Redmayne, who somehow inhabits the disease-ridden body of Stephen Hawking. Though Hawking’s real life is a bit more lurid than that which ended up on film, it’s a wonderful tribute to a brilliant man. Do nerds rule this year? We’ve got Hawking and Turing movies up for Best Picture. Maybe there’s hope that it will one day be cool to be smart.

Boyhood – A lot of people think this is the winner. I don’t know. It was…okay. It’s a unique film because the same actors were filmed over a 12-year period. The problem, for me, was some of the story got lost in the process.

Do you enjoy movies? What were your favorites this year (nominated or not)?

Random 5 Friday – Winter Has Arrived?

November 22, 2013 by admin

Hi, and welcome to another edition of Random 5 Friday. For more great Random 5s, visit Nancy at A Rural Journal.

Here’s my five for the week!

Cold weather came to visit this week. Yesterday morning it was 28 degrees. Due to a stiff back last week, I couldn’t get the gardening work done that I wanted (still battening down the hatches for winter), so I get to work in the cold. Yippee.
I’ve been working with a local environmental group, and one of my jobs has been to update a website that gives people ideas for saving energy. If you are so inclined, take a look at JeffersonCAN (Climate Action Now). We have a blog, a Facebook page, and even a Twitter account, in an effort to get the word out about how people can lower their carbon footprint.
As you may recall, I’ve been tweaking my diet of late, limiting gluten and sugar. So far I haven’t lost any weight, and I’m still waking up at night. Boo. This week I’ve been able to get back to my normal exercise routine, so hopefully that will help. I am feeling more energy during the day, especially as the week progresses, so I’m showing signs of improvement.
I’m knitting gift items as quickly as I can. I found a simple Christmas stocking pattern that I can make in a single day, and I’ll put candy in them to give as children’s gifts. I’ll post pics once I’ve done the finish work.
The other night we saw All is Lost with Robert Redford. It’s an extraordinary performance, and I applaud him for taking such a creative risk at age 77. He is silent throughout most of the movie.

Friday Fun: Let’s Go to the Movies

November 9, 2012 by admin

Happy Friday, everyone! I’m in the process of re-evaluating my writing career, so I’m a bit erratic with my blogging. I will share a guest post next week, and if anyone else would like to do the same, let me know. It’s time, though, for some Friday fun! Have a great weekend!

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Who doesn’t love a good movie? As we settle in to colder weather, I look forward to nestling in to a comfy chair in a dark, warm theater. So put on the popcorn, and I’ll tell you about some great little films I’ve seen in town, but recently and at the film festival a few months ago.

Searching for Sugarman – Recommended for all of us creative types who toil in obscurity. Sixto Rodriguez is a singer/songwriter/street poet who recorded two record albums in the early 1970s. With a fine voice and lyrics comparable to Dylan, Rodriguez seemed poised to superstardom. Alas, both albums flopped, and he disappeared — except for a few album copies that made their way to South Africa. Bootleg copies were produced, and he became bigger than Elvis as the anti-apartheid movement embraced his political spirit. Because of rumors that he had killed himself onstage, though, he didn’t know anything about his success for many years. SFS follows the story of his rediscovery and connection with fans who idolized him for decades as a voice of their generation.

Trash Dance – Choreographer Allison Orr takes a group of Austin trash collectors and turns them, and their garbage trucks, into performers. There are two stories here: one is how Orr brings the show together, and the other shows the daily lives and challenges of these unsung heroes. Recommended for anyone who thinks the 47% are all lazy!

QWERTY – A quirky story about love and — Scrabble! Two wounded people find each other and fall in love. Unlike real live, they lift each other up instead of dragging each other down. Yes, it’s a fantasy, but it’s a sweet movie. The character of Zoe will warm your heart.

Old Goats – This is a small, quiet buddy film about three men, all retired, who still embrace life and love, but find their richest moments with each other. Their lives aren’t perfect, and each one has his own disappointments…but I love how this movie shows that older people can still be vibrant, interesting, and sexual.

Chasing Ice – If you have any doubts about climate change, see this movie, which follows documentary photographer James Balog as he undertakes a massive project to photograph, over a multi-year period, the depletion of the glaciers. See this one on the big screen if you can — it opens in major markets today.

Have you seen any interesting movies lately?

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

September 26, 2012 by admin

Morning fog rolls in over the water, enveloping us in eerie mystery. The first leaves are starting to change as sunrise air brings the first shivers in months. One of the biggest festivals of the year, The Port Townsend Film Festival, has come to a close. Filmmakers have come and gone, and the downtown streets, still teeming with people just a few days ago, are quiet and subdued. For the first time in decades, after leaving Houston’s endless summer, I am experiencing the onset of fall.

Many have warned me of the rain, darkness, and gloom that are due to arrive, but I look forward to it. There is so much to do here, and it’s hard in our first year to say no to any of it. I’ve had a number of adventures, but I’m ready to turn inward again, and I find the moody mornings somehow soothing. As the pace is just starting to slow, I will keep the blog to once a week for now, until I get my “sea legs” back.

There are many stories to tell and adventures to share in the weeks to come, but I’ll start with a few photos of “what I did on my summer vacation.” Enjoy!

I watched as rainbows formed over the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

I harvested bounty from the garden.

I had my first taste of a Wooden Boat Festival.

I picked, froze, dehydrated, ate, and cooked mass quantities of figs from a backyard tree!

Here’s my first, awkward skein of homespun wool. I took a three-part class on spinning. Next up? I wash, dry, and comb a fleece from a sheep named Huckleberry.

No matter the time of day, something interesting always goes on outside my window…but I love mornings the best!

Remember way back when Madonna was still cool and she made the video “Express Yourself“? The grim images of workers slaving away in dark rooms in an expansive city were an homage to Metropolis, a silent film made in the 20s in Germany. A cinematic masterpiece, the special effects of Metropolis remain stunning 85 years later. What Madonna didn’t know was that years later, in 2008, lost footage of the film would be found in Argentina, allowing a more complete restoration. It was this version, accompanied by a live three-piece orchestra, The Alloy, that I had the pleasure of viewing at the Rose Theatre in Port Townsend.

Metropolis paints a dystopian picture that is relevant to today’s politics. A class system has workers devalued and living underground while the upper class lived and played without a care. Sound familiar? One blog, moviediva, examines the movie in the context of Germany of the 20s, with a severe depression that ultimately led to the rise of the Nazi party. It’s an interesting read. Unfortunately, unlike the benign and helpful “mediator” who was sought in the story (a savior archetype), the Germans ended up with Hitler.

From a personal standpoint, Metropolis can also represent the inner journey. The son of the aristocrat has a Buddha-like awakening while frolicking in his garden, when he is unexpectedly exposed to a group of impoverished children. Awakened to suffering, his personal journey takes him to the depths of the workers’ city, even becoming a worker himself — and in his personal growth, has the potential to change the world. I write a lot here about overcoming inner struggles, and this includes traveling to the greatest depths of our being in order to triumph.

One of the memorable characters in Metropolis is Marie, who is encouraging faith among the workers. The same actress plays another role in the movie, that of a robot made in her image to trick the workers. She follows instructions to incite them to violence; unfortunately for the workers, they do not realize that in their rebellion, they risk destroying themselves. The robot invites references to the Whore of Babylon, and perhaps can be relevant today in terms of the myth of woman as destructive temptress.

The tagline of the movie is “The mediator between the head and the hands must be the heart.” Though dismissed later by Lang himself as being silly, I think it’s true for all of us — as individuals and, collectively, as a society.

I’m unclear as to how Metropolis plays into the narrative in Madonna’s video, but oh, well. It was fun to watch it again with a greater understanding of the Metropolis references…and to tap my toes a bit.