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1. I'm back from vacation - have two days to re-acclimate myself to New York City, before I go back to work. This basically entails, unpacking, cleaning, grocery shopping, errand running. Since one of these two day's is New Years - most of the errand running will have to be tomorrow. Also it's going to be bitterly cold, so...there's that.

For some bizarre reason earthlink is rejecting email notifications from lj. I've no clue why.
And can't figure out how to fix it. Am highly annoyed by it at any rate. It has happened before, but that time it merely involved jumping into email settings. Now, not quite that simple.

Finally got it fixed. Damn thing wouldn't let me post until it was validated.

2. January Talking Meme is up and running. If you always wanted me to discuss a specific topic (it really can be just about anything) - well now is your chance to get me to do it. Pick one of the available dates...and throw a topic at me. (This takes the whole on-demand blogging to a whole new level, doesn't it? But still, a rather clever meme.)

3. Book Bites.
( Read more... )

Movie Reviews: American Hustle, Nine, and Gaslight

Saw three movies over the weekend with my folks. The first of the three was in the movie theater, and the movie theater was an experience in of itself. Never in my life have I had that comfortable a movie-going experience. If I'd known how comfortable that movie theater was - I'd have insisted on seeing more movies, particularly the Hobbit. But oh well. Walking on the beach with my Dad, shopping at the outlets, and enjoying the lovely lagoon was probably a better expenditure of my time.

The movie seats in this quaint and rather small movie theater in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, which is located in a strip mall of all things, are recliners. They are comfortable, reclining armchairs, complete with foot rests, and lit cup holders. Plus enough leg room between rows to allow people to walk unencumbered in front of your recliner to get to their seat. Only draw-back was the lit cup containers on the arms, which have these annoying little blue lights that you can't turn off and I found distracting. Well, that and the fact that my 71 year old mother had troubles getting out of the recliner after the movie was over - I had to help her.

Anyhow, movie reviews:

1. American Hustle by David O. Russell, which has already made most critics end of year best lists. There's a reason for that, it's brilliant. And possibly amongst the best films I've seen in a while. (Granted I haven't seen that many good films. The last one in a theater was Man of Steel, which unless you have a thing for Henry Cavill, isn't exactly all that interesting. Plus, while that theater was mildly comfortable - it didn't come close to the one in Hilton Head.)

The story, in case you aren't into reading critical movie reviews like I am, is based rather loosely on real events. In fact, the movie starts with the disclaimer: "And some of these events actually happened". (Which should give you an idea of the tongue firmly in cheek tone). And in some respects is this year's Argo, although I actually think it may be a much better movie than Argo. It's about the ABSCAM Scandal. In 1978, the FBI hired a convicted con artist named Irving Rosenfield, played by an almost unrecognizable Christian Bale in the film, to fabricate a sting or scam to catch a bunch of politicians.
( spoilers if you don't remember ABSCAM Scandal and vague spoilers on the movie )

Russell plays homage to and pokes fun at the films, political scandals, and styles of the 1970s. While at the same time, managing to tell a gripping, often funny, and ultimately touching human story about a pair of con artists stuck in a government scam gone awry.

Overall rating? A+

2. Nine - directed by Rob Marshall. How's this for a movie adaptation? In 1982, Arthur Kopit and Maury Yeston wrote the musical "Nine" based on Federico Fellini's famous semi-autobiographical film 8 1/2 which was released in 1963. The movie "Nine" is an adaptation of the stage musical.

8 1/2 refers to the number of films Federico Fellini had made up to that point.His previous directorial work consisted of six features, two short segments, and a collaboration with another director, Alberto Lattuada, the latter three productions accounting for a "half" film each.

Guido Anselmi (Marcello Mastroianni), a famous Italian film director, is suffering from "director's block". Stalled on his new science fiction film that includes veiled autobiographical references, he has lost interest amid artistic and marital difficulties. As Guido struggles half-heartedly to work on the film, a series of flashbacks and dreams delve into his memories and fantasies; they are frequently interwoven with reality.

That's 8 1/2.

Nine is more or less the same story, except the film is called Italia and Guido is based closer on Fellini. Also the emphasis is on the women in his life or his relationships with each of them and what they mean to him.( Read more... )

3. Gaslight - this is the famous film noir by George Cukor, starring Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman, (a 19 year old Angela Langsbury) and Joseph Cotton. Oddly, only Ingrid Bergman and the art direction won oscars, even though it received nominations for best picture and best actor.

The film is amongst the few that resulted in a word being added to our lexicon. "Gaslighting" - came directly from the film's title and did not exist prior to it.
( spoilers )

Many television series, books and films have long since copied the trope...but here is the original idea. It's a good film, but knowing the story sort of hampered my enjoyment. I can't help but wonder what I'd have thought of it - if I'd seen it blind or without any knowledge of the plot or themes?