This movie is one of the few that doesn't give much away in the preview or ads you see, so there are lots of surprises that I enjoyed. There are several very sinister characters in the movie. Mel Gibson plays a good "desperate man" searching for the killer (think Law Abiding Citizen with Gerard Butler.) He's a Boston Detective so he has lots of friends in high places and lots of enemies that he has to consider. He REALLY doesn't seem to have anything to loose as he tramples over everyone and breaks more than a few rules.
Some great aspects to this movie:
1) touching flashbacks of his daughter in her youth.
2) BIG questions right from the get go to peak your interest.
3) twists.
4) it gives new meaning to "got milk"
All in all this was an enjoyable movie. Was Mel's accent perfect at all times? I'm not sure, but it sounded authentic to this Arizonan. :) Mel hasn't acted in a new movie for several years now, but he still knows how to stay in character. I thought he did a great job in his comeback film.
I'll give it 5 stars.
Flying is Pretty Cool
New venture...children's book
Monday, February 1, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
It's Complicated
It's Complicated is perfect. The actors and comedy are at the high standard that Nancy Meyer's the writer/director is known for. Maybe you remember a few of her others: Father of the Bride, Something's Gotta Give or What Woman Want.
Alec Baldwin plays the part of a hurt, needy ex-husband to a tee. Meryl Streep has got her act together as a divorcee, but then as the trailer clearly tells you somehow these two end up together once again and quickly Meryl finds herself right back in a chaotic relationship. Then you throw the great Steve Martin into the mix and you have good comedy.
I can't see any reason not to give this 5 out of 5 stars.
Alec Baldwin plays the part of a hurt, needy ex-husband to a tee. Meryl Streep has got her act together as a divorcee, but then as the trailer clearly tells you somehow these two end up together once again and quickly Meryl finds herself right back in a chaotic relationship. Then you throw the great Steve Martin into the mix and you have good comedy.
I can't see any reason not to give this 5 out of 5 stars.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Movie frenzy-"The Hurt Locker"
The Golden Globes are tomorrow and I was seriously contemplating going to a matinee or two today to catch up on some of the nominees I've missed. I talked myself out of the anxiety and almost convinced myself that it's okay if I haven't seen them ALL! I know your laughing, but this has been a annual thing with me to see all the movies before the Oscar awards and with the Golden Globe being similar I was feeling the pressure today.
Fortunately, I did watch a nominated movie last night called "The Hurt Locker." This is a good movie that depicts the life of a soldier on the EOD squad. These brave (somewhat adrenaline junkies) look for and disarm roadside bombs or IED's which evidently account for 50% of the loss of life in Iraq. The movie will have you tense as a tight wire. Each scene is anew with another touchy bomb. It doesn't take long to see why a soldier would be trigger happy or hyper-sensitive to everything and everyone around them. The actors each do a great job a defining their role and personalities. Bravo to the director: Katherine Bigelow, also up for a GG. Watch this one and you will see why it has received numerous award nominations.
Fortunately, I did watch a nominated movie last night called "The Hurt Locker." This is a good movie that depicts the life of a soldier on the EOD squad. These brave (somewhat adrenaline junkies) look for and disarm roadside bombs or IED's which evidently account for 50% of the loss of life in Iraq. The movie will have you tense as a tight wire. Each scene is anew with another touchy bomb. It doesn't take long to see why a soldier would be trigger happy or hyper-sensitive to everything and everyone around them. The actors each do a great job a defining their role and personalities. Bravo to the director: Katherine Bigelow, also up for a GG. Watch this one and you will see why it has received numerous award nominations.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Weekend Movie Review
Crazy Heart
Redemption: atonement for guilt; salvation; an act of redeeming. All definitions of what this movie ends up being about. "Bad" Blake is a washed up country singer desperate for fulfillment from any source, fortunately for him he.........Oh,can't tell you any more; don't want to ruin the movie for you.
I loved Jeff Bridges portrayal and the co-stars Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall & Colin Farrell round out this movie with some great characters. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
Enjoy the movie!
This movie makes me want to read some of the works from Thomas Cobb; the author of the book made into the same named movie. In fact when I checked out his other works I found a book (Shavetail) set in Arizona back in the late 1800's. I'm definitely going to check it out since I'm a sucker for a good historical fiction.
Happy reading!
Redemption: atonement for guilt; salvation; an act of redeeming. All definitions of what this movie ends up being about. "Bad" Blake is a washed up country singer desperate for fulfillment from any source, fortunately for him he.........Oh,can't tell you any more; don't want to ruin the movie for you.
I loved Jeff Bridges portrayal and the co-stars Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall & Colin Farrell round out this movie with some great characters. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
Enjoy the movie!
This movie makes me want to read some of the works from Thomas Cobb; the author of the book made into the same named movie. In fact when I checked out his other works I found a book (Shavetail) set in Arizona back in the late 1800's. I'm definitely going to check it out since I'm a sucker for a good historical fiction.
Happy reading!
Friday, January 8, 2010
To or not to.....resolutions, intentions, goals.
I'll admit I don't care for the word resolution, to me it sounds too concrete. If I don't accomplish a "resolution" I'm surely a failure. My husband threw at me "intentions." I'm not sure that sounds concrete enough. Coming from years in big corporate America I prefer goals. This I can comfortably write down (very important for accountability) and say it is my goal to do this or that better or to start doing something and yes I start my goals in January and the goal is to accomplish it within the next 12 months or to start immediately and carry through the next 12 months and beyond.
I shake my head at how each year I seem to have the same "goals" listed. I hope this is the same with others and that I'm not alone in my quest to actually reach the goal and maintain it.
First, in all fairness I have to look over last years goals and see how I did....fair, not great.
Secondly, I compare my new list to last years and again shake my head.
I still have the whole "reduce debt" listed, write more and now I've added time management, Ugh. That is just another way of saying, do what I initially intended to do more and spend less time reading e-mails and vegging in front of the TV, which takes up far too many hours!
This year I have pared down the list and I like the way that looks.
1) Time management
a. Unsubscribe to the gazillion e-mails I get from retailers.
b. Put one hour aside a day for writing.
2) Reduce debt
a. This may require cutting up credit card.....will advise.
Please feel free to share how you handle the New Year intentions, goals or resolutions.
Happy New Year to all!
I shake my head at how each year I seem to have the same "goals" listed. I hope this is the same with others and that I'm not alone in my quest to actually reach the goal and maintain it.
First, in all fairness I have to look over last years goals and see how I did....fair, not great.
Secondly, I compare my new list to last years and again shake my head.
I still have the whole "reduce debt" listed, write more and now I've added time management, Ugh. That is just another way of saying, do what I initially intended to do more and spend less time reading e-mails and vegging in front of the TV, which takes up far too many hours!
This year I have pared down the list and I like the way that looks.
1) Time management
a. Unsubscribe to the gazillion e-mails I get from retailers.
b. Put one hour aside a day for writing.
2) Reduce debt
a. This may require cutting up credit card.....will advise.
Please feel free to share how you handle the New Year intentions, goals or resolutions.
Happy New Year to all!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
2 new movie reviews:
Up in the Air with George Clooney and 2 great actresses that carried this movie to a 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. I can't say I loved this movie, I found myself yawning in the middle of it and can't really tell you how it ended because they leave it so obscure. It had it's high points though. The young trainee George reluctantly takes under his wing is very good at playing the green newbie on the block and George's fling plays a great part. I know this is up for several Golden Globes so if your like me you'll see it just for comparison.
Movie #2 is out on DVD already, but deserves a review:
The Soloist with Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. Both these actors did a fabulous job with a well written script. Robert Downey Jr. plays a LA Times reporter in search for a story, enter Jamie Foxx as a mentally ill homeless man that plays a violin out on the streets. Downey turns this into several human interest articles and a full time counseling job. More importantly this movie does a beautiful job of showing us the life of the homeless and the inability of our current system to help these people. Make sure you see this one!
Up in the Air with George Clooney and 2 great actresses that carried this movie to a 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. I can't say I loved this movie, I found myself yawning in the middle of it and can't really tell you how it ended because they leave it so obscure. It had it's high points though. The young trainee George reluctantly takes under his wing is very good at playing the green newbie on the block and George's fling plays a great part. I know this is up for several Golden Globes so if your like me you'll see it just for comparison.
Movie #2 is out on DVD already, but deserves a review:
The Soloist with Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. Both these actors did a fabulous job with a well written script. Robert Downey Jr. plays a LA Times reporter in search for a story, enter Jamie Foxx as a mentally ill homeless man that plays a violin out on the streets. Downey turns this into several human interest articles and a full time counseling job. More importantly this movie does a beautiful job of showing us the life of the homeless and the inability of our current system to help these people. Make sure you see this one!
Monday, December 28, 2009
I'M BACK! It's been a busy Holiday season and I have lots to update you on.
Great new movies: Brothers & Blind Side! Both powerful and great acting from all parties. I can't say enough about these must see movies.
Currently reading an old book by a newly discovered author: Barbara Kingsolver. The Poisonwood Bible which explores missionary work through the eyes of the wife and daughters of a minister. So far Barbara is able to give great individual voice to each of the 6 characters speaking and spoke of. She interjects great humor into what seems to be a very bleak situation for these young ladies.
Blessings to all in 2010!
Great new movies: Brothers & Blind Side! Both powerful and great acting from all parties. I can't say enough about these must see movies.
Currently reading an old book by a newly discovered author: Barbara Kingsolver. The Poisonwood Bible which explores missionary work through the eyes of the wife and daughters of a minister. So far Barbara is able to give great individual voice to each of the 6 characters speaking and spoke of. She interjects great humor into what seems to be a very bleak situation for these young ladies.
Blessings to all in 2010!
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