There are a few things that I have retained since retirement. I still have many of my old suits, though I either can’t or don’t wear them. I have my old go-to-work jewelry – things like pins for my lapels – that sit in the drawer, unworn and forgotten.
And I still retain the tile of “Comma Queen.”
It’s not a title I mind, and it is certainly one that I earned over many years of whipping out the red pen and marking up all sorts of documents. One of my old bosses, Jim Murray, theorized that man’s basic needs were food, water, shelter and editing someone else’s copy. I have to agree.
The joke at the office was always, “Put a comma in, take a comma out.” I’d try to soften the blow of all that red ink on the paper by explaining that I had a comma quota and my compensation was tied to how many errant ones I found.
My comma queendom represents more than the mere comma. It encompasses all grammar, punctuation and spelling, and it is a responsibility that I take to heart – maybe too much to heart. Recently I was at the Met with my dear friend Katherine. I was reading dutifully (note that the adverb “dutifully” appears after the verb “was reading”) all the plaques explaining the paintings on the wall when I found one where a line of text was indented by a single extra character. Did no one else spot this egregious error? Why is this travesty allowed to endure? Did it ruin my day? Well, not exactly, but I’m still thinking about it, aren’t I?
In fact, I am still thinking of the typos I found in on the plaques in Monument Park at the old Yankee Stadium many years ago. I wrote to George Steinbrenner himself to let him know that there were spelling errors on the plaques of Elston Howard (called a “genteleman”) and the “courageaous” Roger Maris. Several years later I saw an item in Sports Illustrated noting the same mistakes, about which the Yankees claimed they never knew. Hmmm, I thought. Did George not even read my letter? Did the erroneous plaques make the trip across the street to the new Yankee Stadium? One of these days I’ll go to a game and visit Monument Park to see for myself.
Even now, I still get calls from people who have a grammar question or who need help with a little piece of text. As I revise the website for the Community Visiting Nurse Association as part of my volunteer work, I correct text and punctuation all the time. The nurses are amazed at the breadth of knowledge I possess on this somewhat arcane subject, while I am equally impressed with their expertise in caring for people. I think they win that contest, since I doubt a comma ever saved someone’s life.
My sister already has volunteered me to review college essays for friends of my nephew. Wait until next year, when he and the majority of his friends begin the dreaded application process. I might as well hang out a shingle, because I can see a line of teenagers accustomed to communicating only via text message vying for much-needed help. I can imagine their college interviews, picturing them whipping out their cell phones to text responses to questions from the interviewer right in front of them.
My grammar expertise no longer includes the ability to diagram a sentence (although listening to Rutgers Coach C. Vivian Stringer’s endless sentences, I am tempted to try), but just coming across a dangling participle makes my day. (For those of you wondering, here is a dangling participle, where the noun and verb do not match properly: “Walking down the street, my eyeballs spotted the red car.” Your eyeballs cannot walk down the street.) I delight in putting a possessive before a gerund, as in: Tina’s knowing the rules of grammar is a good thing.
And it is a good thing, except that I cannot read a newspaper or magazine without finding errors. Books? Don’t even get me started on the typos I find in nearly every book I read.
These days I am on a mission to stamp out the misuse of the single quote. Unless the quote is within a quote, you always must use a double quote. This abomination is my latest pet peeve, as I see it proliferating. A related issue is putting the punctuation inside the quotes, where it belongs, a practice that has been abandoned by many writers. The third pet in the pet peeve triumvirate is the possessive vs. contraction or plural debate, as in “It’s a nice day” and “Its wingspan is 25 feet.”
Yes, I occasionally end a sentence with a preposition, as in: What’s up? And my self-diagnosed finger dyslexia means that I make more typos than I should. I’ll even confess to occasionally splitting an infinitive. Oh, the horror! But, thankfully, I’ve never accepted any sentence that ends with multiple exclamation points, dammit!!!
Heavy is the head that wears the crown, but, for the most part, I wear it with pride. It’s good to be Queen.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
Tina's March Movies
Despite an abundance of basketball during March Madness, I managed to watch quite a few movies. The best ones of the month were two I have seen previously – "Gran Torino" and "Apollo 13" – and the documentary "The Art of the Steal." I am way ahead of schedule to meet my 100 movie quota this year and am still mad about the movies. Here's what I saw in March (numbering picks up from previous months):
32. The Blind Side (in Hartford with Rose and Sally) – Although I saw this movie last year, I took two older women who hadn’t seen it to see it, so it was a movie and a mitzvah. Besides, who could resist seeing Sandra Bullock’s performance the day after she won her Oscar? The ladies loved it, and even the second time I enjoyed it, too. A heartwarming, true story, appealing cast and sports? How could I pass it up? 4 cans.
33. Mr. Mom (TV) – Why didn’t Michael Keaton have more of a career? Was it that he turned away from lighthearted movies like this one to seek more serious roles? For whatever reason, it is too bad he didn’t make more movies like Mr. Mom, which is funny, timely in its day (the scene where stay-at-home father Jack plays cards with the neighborhood ladies using coupons and rebates is hilarious) and very watchable. It also reminds me of how much I like Teri Garr and how Martin Mull always plays the same guy. 3½ cans.
34. All the President’s Men (TCM) – Time and technology have changed the newspaper business tremendously since the ‘70s, but newspapers had considerable clout back then and the work of Woodward and Bernstein at The Washington Post as they unraveled the story of Watergate helped lead to the downfall of President Richard Nixon. Dogged and somewhat unconventional reporting by low-level reporters, played by Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman, revealed dirty deeds that preceded Watergate and included a cover-up at the highest levels of government. With the appearance of “Deep Throat” and countless twists and turns, this movie plays more like a mystery than a depiction of actual events, but I commend a movie that is suspenseful even when I already know the ending. 4½ cans.
35. Tootsie (TCM) – It appears I am having my own Dustin Hoffman and Teri Garr film festivals this year (see #24, 33 and 34 above). Although it is difficult for me to suspend my sense of reality for practically anything (including “Some Like It Hot,” with Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon as women), even I can’t resist impossible actor Michael Dorsey as he becomes successful actress and person Dorothy Michaels. Michael admits he was a better man as a woman than he was as a man. Confusing but true. I love the scenes when Hoffman and pal Bill Murrary debate what Dorothy should wear. She sure is not “Pretty Woman.” 4 cans.
36. Fried Green Tomatoes (TV) – Funny woman turned author Fannie Flagg creates memorable characters in this look back at growing up in the South. The Idgie, Ruth and co. stories are told by Jessica Tandy to Kathy Bates. The acting is superb throughout this tale and you feel like you know these people by the time the story ends. Or do you? All I know is that fried green tomatoes look pretty tasty, but, if the secret is in the sauce, I’ll skip it. 4 cans.
37. Nothing In Common (TV) – Before he turned serious and started doing projects about the earth, space and war, a very young Tom Hanks starred in this comedy/drama as David Basner, dedicated ad man and skirt chaser. Separated from his newly-separated parents, David is drawn into their increasingly needy lives, but as they depend on him more, he begins to understand them and himself much better. There is a lot of charm in this movie, which includes one of my favorite movies scenes early on as David briskly walks through the office and has something for everyone he encounters. 4 cans.
38. The Vanishing (TV) –I couldn’t resist watching this movie because of its Oscar-winning cast: Sandra Bullock and Jeff Bridges. Bullock is Keifer Sutherland’s girlfriend, and when she is abducted by a very strange man played by Bridges, Keifer is obsessed with knowing what happened to her. He’s also dumb enough to get into a car with the man he knows kidnapped her. All I know is that the movie couldn’t vanish fast enough. 2 cans.
39. Apollo 13 (HBO) – Ron Howard has made a lot of terrific films, but none better than this account of the ill-fated flight of Apollo 13. Even though we know the ending, Howard manages to keep the suspense level high. Tom Hanks is outstanding as Commander Jim Lovell, as we see the egos, the home life and the routine chores that take place in the space program until a malfunction threatens the lives of the three would-be moon men. I still hold my breath until the parachutes are visible as the capsule splashes down. 5 cans.
40. Vantage Point (TV) – I really wanted this movie to be better than it was, having seen the previews long ago. I’m not much for action-adventure films, and this one reminded me why – too much suspense and blood, ridiculous car chases (why do people in movies always seem to know where they are going even in a strange city?), bad guys (and girls) and unlikely heroes. Dennis Quaid looked intense enough to burst into flames and Matthew Fox seemed a miscast turncoat. 3 cans.
41. Gran Torino (HBO) – I’ve never been much of a Clint Eastwood fan, but this movie (as well as “The Bridges of Madison County”) is enough to change my views on the taciturn Mr. Eastwood. Here he is a tough old bird whose wife has recently died. Having no real relationship with his grown sons and their families, he is content to sit on the front porch of his well-maintained home and glare at the changing community around him. He develops an unlikely friendship with the Hmong family next door whose son tried to steal his beloved Gran Torino as his initiation into a gang. He becomes a reluctant mentor and protector of the son and daughter next door and even learns to tolerate the young priest his late wife urged to keep an eye on him. Eastwood directed the movie and even co-wrote the “Gran Torino” title track that plays over the credits, and he should get plenty of credit for his achievements here. I first saw this movie last year and enjoyed it yet again. 4½ cans.
42. The Art of the Steal (TV on demand) – Dr. Albert Barnes was strictly an outsider to the Philadelphia establishment and art community that once scorned his collection of post-Impressionist and Modern art on display at the Barnes Foundation he built outside the city. The animosity was so real that Barnes stipulated in his will that the experience of seeing these masterpieces be done only in the building he built and designed for that purpose. Following his death and realizing the value of the collection – today estimated to be more than $25 billion – the power brokers tried for years to pry the collection away from its home and bring it downtown, where it could boost tourism and the coffers of the city. This enthralling tale is the best documentary I have seen since “The Rape of Europa,” an account of how the Nazis stole art from private collections and museums during World War II. The movies have a lot in common, except I think the Nazis actually appreciated the art in much the way Barnes did. 4½ cans.
32. The Blind Side (in Hartford with Rose and Sally) – Although I saw this movie last year, I took two older women who hadn’t seen it to see it, so it was a movie and a mitzvah. Besides, who could resist seeing Sandra Bullock’s performance the day after she won her Oscar? The ladies loved it, and even the second time I enjoyed it, too. A heartwarming, true story, appealing cast and sports? How could I pass it up? 4 cans.
33. Mr. Mom (TV) – Why didn’t Michael Keaton have more of a career? Was it that he turned away from lighthearted movies like this one to seek more serious roles? For whatever reason, it is too bad he didn’t make more movies like Mr. Mom, which is funny, timely in its day (the scene where stay-at-home father Jack plays cards with the neighborhood ladies using coupons and rebates is hilarious) and very watchable. It also reminds me of how much I like Teri Garr and how Martin Mull always plays the same guy. 3½ cans.
34. All the President’s Men (TCM) – Time and technology have changed the newspaper business tremendously since the ‘70s, but newspapers had considerable clout back then and the work of Woodward and Bernstein at The Washington Post as they unraveled the story of Watergate helped lead to the downfall of President Richard Nixon. Dogged and somewhat unconventional reporting by low-level reporters, played by Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman, revealed dirty deeds that preceded Watergate and included a cover-up at the highest levels of government. With the appearance of “Deep Throat” and countless twists and turns, this movie plays more like a mystery than a depiction of actual events, but I commend a movie that is suspenseful even when I already know the ending. 4½ cans.
35. Tootsie (TCM) – It appears I am having my own Dustin Hoffman and Teri Garr film festivals this year (see #24, 33 and 34 above). Although it is difficult for me to suspend my sense of reality for practically anything (including “Some Like It Hot,” with Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon as women), even I can’t resist impossible actor Michael Dorsey as he becomes successful actress and person Dorothy Michaels. Michael admits he was a better man as a woman than he was as a man. Confusing but true. I love the scenes when Hoffman and pal Bill Murrary debate what Dorothy should wear. She sure is not “Pretty Woman.” 4 cans.
36. Fried Green Tomatoes (TV) – Funny woman turned author Fannie Flagg creates memorable characters in this look back at growing up in the South. The Idgie, Ruth and co. stories are told by Jessica Tandy to Kathy Bates. The acting is superb throughout this tale and you feel like you know these people by the time the story ends. Or do you? All I know is that fried green tomatoes look pretty tasty, but, if the secret is in the sauce, I’ll skip it. 4 cans.
37. Nothing In Common (TV) – Before he turned serious and started doing projects about the earth, space and war, a very young Tom Hanks starred in this comedy/drama as David Basner, dedicated ad man and skirt chaser. Separated from his newly-separated parents, David is drawn into their increasingly needy lives, but as they depend on him more, he begins to understand them and himself much better. There is a lot of charm in this movie, which includes one of my favorite movies scenes early on as David briskly walks through the office and has something for everyone he encounters. 4 cans.
38. The Vanishing (TV) –I couldn’t resist watching this movie because of its Oscar-winning cast: Sandra Bullock and Jeff Bridges. Bullock is Keifer Sutherland’s girlfriend, and when she is abducted by a very strange man played by Bridges, Keifer is obsessed with knowing what happened to her. He’s also dumb enough to get into a car with the man he knows kidnapped her. All I know is that the movie couldn’t vanish fast enough. 2 cans.
39. Apollo 13 (HBO) – Ron Howard has made a lot of terrific films, but none better than this account of the ill-fated flight of Apollo 13. Even though we know the ending, Howard manages to keep the suspense level high. Tom Hanks is outstanding as Commander Jim Lovell, as we see the egos, the home life and the routine chores that take place in the space program until a malfunction threatens the lives of the three would-be moon men. I still hold my breath until the parachutes are visible as the capsule splashes down. 5 cans.
40. Vantage Point (TV) – I really wanted this movie to be better than it was, having seen the previews long ago. I’m not much for action-adventure films, and this one reminded me why – too much suspense and blood, ridiculous car chases (why do people in movies always seem to know where they are going even in a strange city?), bad guys (and girls) and unlikely heroes. Dennis Quaid looked intense enough to burst into flames and Matthew Fox seemed a miscast turncoat. 3 cans.
41. Gran Torino (HBO) – I’ve never been much of a Clint Eastwood fan, but this movie (as well as “The Bridges of Madison County”) is enough to change my views on the taciturn Mr. Eastwood. Here he is a tough old bird whose wife has recently died. Having no real relationship with his grown sons and their families, he is content to sit on the front porch of his well-maintained home and glare at the changing community around him. He develops an unlikely friendship with the Hmong family next door whose son tried to steal his beloved Gran Torino as his initiation into a gang. He becomes a reluctant mentor and protector of the son and daughter next door and even learns to tolerate the young priest his late wife urged to keep an eye on him. Eastwood directed the movie and even co-wrote the “Gran Torino” title track that plays over the credits, and he should get plenty of credit for his achievements here. I first saw this movie last year and enjoyed it yet again. 4½ cans.
42. The Art of the Steal (TV on demand) – Dr. Albert Barnes was strictly an outsider to the Philadelphia establishment and art community that once scorned his collection of post-Impressionist and Modern art on display at the Barnes Foundation he built outside the city. The animosity was so real that Barnes stipulated in his will that the experience of seeing these masterpieces be done only in the building he built and designed for that purpose. Following his death and realizing the value of the collection – today estimated to be more than $25 billion – the power brokers tried for years to pry the collection away from its home and bring it downtown, where it could boost tourism and the coffers of the city. This enthralling tale is the best documentary I have seen since “The Rape of Europa,” an account of how the Nazis stole art from private collections and museums during World War II. The movies have a lot in common, except I think the Nazis actually appreciated the art in much the way Barnes did. 4½ cans.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Noises Off - March 2010
As I watched “The Odd Couple” recently, I laughed out loud at the cacophony of sounds emanating from Felix Unger as he attempted to clear his ever-clogged sinuses, much to the annoyance/amazement of his roommate, Oscar Madison.
And then I realized that, except for the roommate, I could be Felix Unger.
It starts in the morning, when the sludge from my sinuses makes its way down my throat and I find myself coughing or clearing my throat continuously. The concerto in sinus major is accompanied by sniffing and a runny nose after I eat. I’ve never been tested for allergies, though the doctor has recently been treating me with various drugs that would indicate that I have some now. When I recently had my nearly three-week bout with bronchitis (which I negotiated down from the initial diagnosis of pneumonia), I realized I was sick when a noise kept waking me up. It was me – wheezing. I tried the usual remedies – drink water, sleep more upright (in my case, in the recliner in my room) – until the doctor put me on a breathing machine and medication that made me hyper. Eventually, the antibiotic – or the passage of time – knocked out the infection, but the concert continues.
When I swim or fly, my ears clog up. That’s when I really sound like Felix Unger, with the sound accompanied by strange faces as I open and close my mouth, pinch my nose while trying to blow out the ears, and, in the case of clogging my ear in the pool, I hop on one leg with my head tilted while I slap the opposite side of the head in an effort to drive the water out of my ear. This must be quite the sight to see.
It’s not just the coughing and throat-clearing that makes thing here pretty darn noisy. I find myself making noises while doing absolutely normal things – getting out of a chair, lifting heavy objects (that would include getting myself out of the chair), bending over and picking something up. I find myself channeling my father when I catch myself saying, “Oy,” as I do something strenuous. Out of shape? Maybe just a little.
When you live alone you have full license to be as noisy as you wish. While some people elect to stifle a sneeze, I celebrate one, sneezing heartily. If the sneeze is part of a cold, I will blow my nose loud and long. There is coughing, clearing my throat, blowing my nose, sniffing, snorting, wheezing and sneezing – and I’ll admit that I occasionally have been awakened by snoring (my own, of course). And then there is the groaning, which occasionally takes place when I turn over in bed and is audible in the next room (as reported by a friend).
Let’s not forget the intentional noises. There is cheering, which takes place when my team hits a three-pointer, scores a touchdown or hits a homerun, or the yelling, which occurs after the ump or the ref has blown the call. I watch a lot of sports, so cheering loudly in this house is a frequent occurrence. Add the exclamations of any physical exertion and top it off with talking to myself or, worse yet, singing out loud, and it makes you realize how truly noisy it is here – with just one person responsible for the symphony of sound.
I urge you to remember all of this if you ever are considering rooming with me at the old folks home. It might be fun, but it won’t be quiet. You’ve been warned.
And then I realized that, except for the roommate, I could be Felix Unger.
It starts in the morning, when the sludge from my sinuses makes its way down my throat and I find myself coughing or clearing my throat continuously. The concerto in sinus major is accompanied by sniffing and a runny nose after I eat. I’ve never been tested for allergies, though the doctor has recently been treating me with various drugs that would indicate that I have some now. When I recently had my nearly three-week bout with bronchitis (which I negotiated down from the initial diagnosis of pneumonia), I realized I was sick when a noise kept waking me up. It was me – wheezing. I tried the usual remedies – drink water, sleep more upright (in my case, in the recliner in my room) – until the doctor put me on a breathing machine and medication that made me hyper. Eventually, the antibiotic – or the passage of time – knocked out the infection, but the concert continues.
When I swim or fly, my ears clog up. That’s when I really sound like Felix Unger, with the sound accompanied by strange faces as I open and close my mouth, pinch my nose while trying to blow out the ears, and, in the case of clogging my ear in the pool, I hop on one leg with my head tilted while I slap the opposite side of the head in an effort to drive the water out of my ear. This must be quite the sight to see.
It’s not just the coughing and throat-clearing that makes thing here pretty darn noisy. I find myself making noises while doing absolutely normal things – getting out of a chair, lifting heavy objects (that would include getting myself out of the chair), bending over and picking something up. I find myself channeling my father when I catch myself saying, “Oy,” as I do something strenuous. Out of shape? Maybe just a little.
When you live alone you have full license to be as noisy as you wish. While some people elect to stifle a sneeze, I celebrate one, sneezing heartily. If the sneeze is part of a cold, I will blow my nose loud and long. There is coughing, clearing my throat, blowing my nose, sniffing, snorting, wheezing and sneezing – and I’ll admit that I occasionally have been awakened by snoring (my own, of course). And then there is the groaning, which occasionally takes place when I turn over in bed and is audible in the next room (as reported by a friend).
Let’s not forget the intentional noises. There is cheering, which takes place when my team hits a three-pointer, scores a touchdown or hits a homerun, or the yelling, which occurs after the ump or the ref has blown the call. I watch a lot of sports, so cheering loudly in this house is a frequent occurrence. Add the exclamations of any physical exertion and top it off with talking to myself or, worse yet, singing out loud, and it makes you realize how truly noisy it is here – with just one person responsible for the symphony of sound.
I urge you to remember all of this if you ever are considering rooming with me at the old folks home. It might be fun, but it won’t be quiet. You’ve been warned.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Tina's February Movies
February was the perfect storm of movies for me. It was Oscar month on TCM and I was housebound because of a bout of bronchitis and several snowstorms, which meant extra time spent watching great movies. There are only three movies this month that I had never seen before, but I sure enjoyed seeing some old favorites again. Numbering picks up from last month so I can keep track of the total this year.
15. Mister Roberts (TCM) – War is hell and boring, despite the antics of the men aboard a cargo ship under Captain James Cagney and the title character, Henry Fonda’s Mister Roberts. Mister Roberts is great in a job he hates while yearning to be part of the real action as WWII winds down. Jack Lemmon, in an early role, stands out as the inept but well-meaning Ensign Pulver. I always thought of Mister Roberts as a role model when I had people reporting to me. I love this movie and recommend it highly. 5 cans.
16. They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (TCM) – Desperate times call for desperate measures in this depiction of a 1200+ hour dance marathon during the Depression. I think Jane Fonda’s fitness workouts started with her dragging Michael Saracen around the dance floor in this film. A little too bleak for me. 3½ cans.
17. 21 (TV) – Not quite the kind of coming-of-age story its title suggests, this movie is about a group of MIT students who form a team under the direction of Professor Kevin Spacey to count cards and win big playing blackjack in Vegas. Perfect student Ben compromises his values as he accumulates the money he needs for Harvard Medical School, but soon learns life lessons he would never have learned at Harvard. Quite interesting, even if I couldn’t keep up with the math. 3½ cans.
18. The Eddie Duchin Story (TCM) – Tyrone Power and Kim Novak in a quintessential ‘50s melodrama about the society pianist and orchestra leader whose happy life is twice interrupted by tragedy. My heart must not be as soft as it used to be, because I didn’t cry out loud over this one like I would have 20 years ago. Still, 3½ cans.
19. Private Benjamin (TV) –Goldie Hawn was never more ditsy and endearing than in her portrayal of Jewish American Princess turned Army Private Judy Benjamin. When her husband dies on their wedding night, the inept Judy joins an Army far different than what the recruiter described. By the time she survives basic training and eventually prepares to marry Jewish French gynecologist Armand Assante, Judy is a new woman. Great lines throughout the movie and the scene with Judy and the troop dancing to “We Are Family” in the barracks is one of my all-time favorites. 5 cans.
20. Standing in the Shadows of Motown (TV) – If Motown is the soundtrack of your youth, you’ve heard all the great musicians featured in this wonderful documentary about the Funk Brothers, the men behind the familiar hits by the Temptations, Four Tops, Martha Reeves, Stevie Wonder and many more. Largely unknown beyond the studios of Detroit, these mostly jazz musicians contributed the funk and the groove that was Motown in its heyday. Just think of the distinctive guitar riff that opens “My Girl” and you will recognize their work immediately. My first documentary of the year, and a terrific one at that. 4½ cans.
21. A Place in the Sun (TCM) – It’s hard to believe that either Elizabeth Taylor or Shelley Winters could fall in love with dull and quiet George Eastman (Montgomery Clift) in this screen version of Theodore Dreiser’s compelling book, “An American Tragedy.” A story of class differences, ambition, a failure to use birth control and the importance of learning how to swim, this classic is not something I need to see every time it is on TV, but I am glad I caught it again after many years. 4 cans.
22. The Odd Couple (TCM) – Can two divorced men share an apartment without driving each other crazy? Not according to Neil Simon, whose slob Oscar Madison and neat freak Felix Unger are truly an odd couple. Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon could not have been better in these roles. I still laugh when Oscar flings the spaghetti/linguine onto the kitchen wall and when Felix begins each day with a cacophony of sinus sounds, some of which I catch my self making on occasion. It took me three days to figure out that “FU” meant Felix Unger. 4 cans.
23. Crazy Heart (Montgomery theater with Dee) – It was good to get out of the house following my bout with bronchitis to see Jeff Bridges as aptly named Bad Blake in this film about a has-been country singer. A cross between “Tender Mercies” and “The Wrestler” (no Mickey Rourke here but Robert Duvall has a role), Crazy Heart isn’t afraid to show Bad Blake at his worst – an alcoholic whose creative streak dries up and whose bad habits nearly kill him. Oh, but for the love of a good woman, right? The bonus here is Bridges, who plays the part with no shame and plays the guitar with considerable skill. 4 cans.
24. Kramer vs. Kramer (TCM) – It is Oscar month on TCM, and both Dustin Hoffman and a very young and beautiful Meryl Streep were honored for their work in this 1979 Oscar winning movie. Dustin Hoffman is a self-absorbed ad man whose wife’s sudden departure means he has to assume responsibility for their 7-year old son, a role he is ill-prepared to take. The growth of their relationship is best depicted in two scenes where they make French toast together. Meanwhile, Meryl Streep sets herself up for numerous Oscar nods with this role as the guilt-ridden mom who leaves her men behind in an attempt to find herself. Wow, that woman cries with the best of them, and she is stunning. Beautifully written, played and scored, and Justin Henry was one adorable kid. 4½ cans.
25. Moonstruck (TCM) – It is hard to believe that it has been 23 years since Cher won her Oscar for playing Loretta Castorini, an unlucky-in-love woman who falls for her fiancée’s younger brother. Any movie that starts with Dean Martin crooning “That’s Amore” is going to capture my attention, and this exploration of relationships between men and women and families does so with words here, a gesture there, and a canoli full of charm. 4½ cans.
26. Calendar Girls (TCM) – Helen Mirren is the ringleader of a group of middle-aged women who pose nude for a calendar to raise money to buy a new couch for the waiting room in the hospital where Julie Walters’ husband has died. The costumes may be lacking, but the endearing film makes us consider the meaning of being a woman and of beauty at any stage of life. 4½ cans.
27. Dave (TV) – The premise may be a bit outlandish – Kevin Kline as a look-alike “drafted” to fill in for the President after he suffers a stroke – but the underworked actor brings humanity to the office and great warmth to his role. Sure, no one – except conspiracy lover Oliver Stone in a smart little cameo – notices that “Dave” isn’t really President Bill Mitchell. Kevin Kline makes politics a little more palatable. Dave gets my vote. 4 cans.
28. The Goodbye Girl (TCM) – Marsha Mason is a dancer and recent dumpee whose ex makes things even worse by subletting their apartment to actor Richard Dreyfus. Energetic and full of himself, Dreyfus’ Elliot Garfield and Mason’s Paula McFadden can’t stand each other, which means their eventual coupling is inevitable. Quinn Cummings as Mason’s 10-year old daughter almost steals the show, as does Dreyfus’ portrayal of a fey Richard III. Though Elliot and Paula are like oil and water, once mixed well, they become a pretty tasty dressing. 4 cans.
29. On Golden Pond (TV) – From the beautiful shots of the aptly named Golden Pond to the wonderful score and set decoration, this poignant movie gets every detail right. Elderly couple Norman and Ethel Thayer (Henry Fonda and Katherine Hepburn) are still very much in love, despite the fact that he is “an old poop,” in Ethel’s words. Norman’s prickly relationship with daughter Chelsea (Jane Fonda) is mediated by Ethel but remains uncomfortable for father and daughter. When Billy, the son of Chelsea’s boyfriend, is left with the old folks for a month, they grudgingly develop a rapport that Norman and Chelsea have never achieved. I love the relationship between the old man and the kid as they begin to respect and love each other. Katherine Hepburn and Henry Fonda had never acted together, but her nurturing portrayal of Fonda’s wife seems so real, as does the awkwardness of father and daughter Fonda. 5 cans.
30. Ordinary People (TCM) – Mary Tyler Moore’s not exactly tossing her hat in the air in this movie, and you wonder at the end if she’s “gonna make it after all.” She and Donald Sutherland are the devastated parents of an older son who died in a boating accident and a guilt-ridden younger son (Timothy Hutton in an Oscar-winning role) whose suicide attempt just scratches the surface of his pain. Everything here is on the surface, from the mother’s seemingly friendly chit chat with friends to her perfect clothes, hair and home. She can’t reach out to help the son she resents, and her husband can only stand by helplessly and watch as the family disintegrates. This isn’t a fun film to watch, but Robert Redford’s directorial debut is well worth seeing. 4½ cans.
31. When Harry Met Sally (TV) – Ah, the movie that brought us “high maintenance women,” karaoke machines and the music of Harry Connick, Jr. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan could not be cuter or, seemingly, more mismatched, but the audience knows before they do that they are made for each other. Great lines, great casting and great memories. I’ll have what she’s having. 5 cans.
15. Mister Roberts (TCM) – War is hell and boring, despite the antics of the men aboard a cargo ship under Captain James Cagney and the title character, Henry Fonda’s Mister Roberts. Mister Roberts is great in a job he hates while yearning to be part of the real action as WWII winds down. Jack Lemmon, in an early role, stands out as the inept but well-meaning Ensign Pulver. I always thought of Mister Roberts as a role model when I had people reporting to me. I love this movie and recommend it highly. 5 cans.
16. They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (TCM) – Desperate times call for desperate measures in this depiction of a 1200+ hour dance marathon during the Depression. I think Jane Fonda’s fitness workouts started with her dragging Michael Saracen around the dance floor in this film. A little too bleak for me. 3½ cans.
17. 21 (TV) – Not quite the kind of coming-of-age story its title suggests, this movie is about a group of MIT students who form a team under the direction of Professor Kevin Spacey to count cards and win big playing blackjack in Vegas. Perfect student Ben compromises his values as he accumulates the money he needs for Harvard Medical School, but soon learns life lessons he would never have learned at Harvard. Quite interesting, even if I couldn’t keep up with the math. 3½ cans.
18. The Eddie Duchin Story (TCM) – Tyrone Power and Kim Novak in a quintessential ‘50s melodrama about the society pianist and orchestra leader whose happy life is twice interrupted by tragedy. My heart must not be as soft as it used to be, because I didn’t cry out loud over this one like I would have 20 years ago. Still, 3½ cans.
19. Private Benjamin (TV) –Goldie Hawn was never more ditsy and endearing than in her portrayal of Jewish American Princess turned Army Private Judy Benjamin. When her husband dies on their wedding night, the inept Judy joins an Army far different than what the recruiter described. By the time she survives basic training and eventually prepares to marry Jewish French gynecologist Armand Assante, Judy is a new woman. Great lines throughout the movie and the scene with Judy and the troop dancing to “We Are Family” in the barracks is one of my all-time favorites. 5 cans.
20. Standing in the Shadows of Motown (TV) – If Motown is the soundtrack of your youth, you’ve heard all the great musicians featured in this wonderful documentary about the Funk Brothers, the men behind the familiar hits by the Temptations, Four Tops, Martha Reeves, Stevie Wonder and many more. Largely unknown beyond the studios of Detroit, these mostly jazz musicians contributed the funk and the groove that was Motown in its heyday. Just think of the distinctive guitar riff that opens “My Girl” and you will recognize their work immediately. My first documentary of the year, and a terrific one at that. 4½ cans.
21. A Place in the Sun (TCM) – It’s hard to believe that either Elizabeth Taylor or Shelley Winters could fall in love with dull and quiet George Eastman (Montgomery Clift) in this screen version of Theodore Dreiser’s compelling book, “An American Tragedy.” A story of class differences, ambition, a failure to use birth control and the importance of learning how to swim, this classic is not something I need to see every time it is on TV, but I am glad I caught it again after many years. 4 cans.
22. The Odd Couple (TCM) – Can two divorced men share an apartment without driving each other crazy? Not according to Neil Simon, whose slob Oscar Madison and neat freak Felix Unger are truly an odd couple. Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon could not have been better in these roles. I still laugh when Oscar flings the spaghetti/linguine onto the kitchen wall and when Felix begins each day with a cacophony of sinus sounds, some of which I catch my self making on occasion. It took me three days to figure out that “FU” meant Felix Unger. 4 cans.
23. Crazy Heart (Montgomery theater with Dee) – It was good to get out of the house following my bout with bronchitis to see Jeff Bridges as aptly named Bad Blake in this film about a has-been country singer. A cross between “Tender Mercies” and “The Wrestler” (no Mickey Rourke here but Robert Duvall has a role), Crazy Heart isn’t afraid to show Bad Blake at his worst – an alcoholic whose creative streak dries up and whose bad habits nearly kill him. Oh, but for the love of a good woman, right? The bonus here is Bridges, who plays the part with no shame and plays the guitar with considerable skill. 4 cans.
24. Kramer vs. Kramer (TCM) – It is Oscar month on TCM, and both Dustin Hoffman and a very young and beautiful Meryl Streep were honored for their work in this 1979 Oscar winning movie. Dustin Hoffman is a self-absorbed ad man whose wife’s sudden departure means he has to assume responsibility for their 7-year old son, a role he is ill-prepared to take. The growth of their relationship is best depicted in two scenes where they make French toast together. Meanwhile, Meryl Streep sets herself up for numerous Oscar nods with this role as the guilt-ridden mom who leaves her men behind in an attempt to find herself. Wow, that woman cries with the best of them, and she is stunning. Beautifully written, played and scored, and Justin Henry was one adorable kid. 4½ cans.
25. Moonstruck (TCM) – It is hard to believe that it has been 23 years since Cher won her Oscar for playing Loretta Castorini, an unlucky-in-love woman who falls for her fiancée’s younger brother. Any movie that starts with Dean Martin crooning “That’s Amore” is going to capture my attention, and this exploration of relationships between men and women and families does so with words here, a gesture there, and a canoli full of charm. 4½ cans.
26. Calendar Girls (TCM) – Helen Mirren is the ringleader of a group of middle-aged women who pose nude for a calendar to raise money to buy a new couch for the waiting room in the hospital where Julie Walters’ husband has died. The costumes may be lacking, but the endearing film makes us consider the meaning of being a woman and of beauty at any stage of life. 4½ cans.
27. Dave (TV) – The premise may be a bit outlandish – Kevin Kline as a look-alike “drafted” to fill in for the President after he suffers a stroke – but the underworked actor brings humanity to the office and great warmth to his role. Sure, no one – except conspiracy lover Oliver Stone in a smart little cameo – notices that “Dave” isn’t really President Bill Mitchell. Kevin Kline makes politics a little more palatable. Dave gets my vote. 4 cans.
28. The Goodbye Girl (TCM) – Marsha Mason is a dancer and recent dumpee whose ex makes things even worse by subletting their apartment to actor Richard Dreyfus. Energetic and full of himself, Dreyfus’ Elliot Garfield and Mason’s Paula McFadden can’t stand each other, which means their eventual coupling is inevitable. Quinn Cummings as Mason’s 10-year old daughter almost steals the show, as does Dreyfus’ portrayal of a fey Richard III. Though Elliot and Paula are like oil and water, once mixed well, they become a pretty tasty dressing. 4 cans.
29. On Golden Pond (TV) – From the beautiful shots of the aptly named Golden Pond to the wonderful score and set decoration, this poignant movie gets every detail right. Elderly couple Norman and Ethel Thayer (Henry Fonda and Katherine Hepburn) are still very much in love, despite the fact that he is “an old poop,” in Ethel’s words. Norman’s prickly relationship with daughter Chelsea (Jane Fonda) is mediated by Ethel but remains uncomfortable for father and daughter. When Billy, the son of Chelsea’s boyfriend, is left with the old folks for a month, they grudgingly develop a rapport that Norman and Chelsea have never achieved. I love the relationship between the old man and the kid as they begin to respect and love each other. Katherine Hepburn and Henry Fonda had never acted together, but her nurturing portrayal of Fonda’s wife seems so real, as does the awkwardness of father and daughter Fonda. 5 cans.
30. Ordinary People (TCM) – Mary Tyler Moore’s not exactly tossing her hat in the air in this movie, and you wonder at the end if she’s “gonna make it after all.” She and Donald Sutherland are the devastated parents of an older son who died in a boating accident and a guilt-ridden younger son (Timothy Hutton in an Oscar-winning role) whose suicide attempt just scratches the surface of his pain. Everything here is on the surface, from the mother’s seemingly friendly chit chat with friends to her perfect clothes, hair and home. She can’t reach out to help the son she resents, and her husband can only stand by helplessly and watch as the family disintegrates. This isn’t a fun film to watch, but Robert Redford’s directorial debut is well worth seeing. 4½ cans.
31. When Harry Met Sally (TV) – Ah, the movie that brought us “high maintenance women,” karaoke machines and the music of Harry Connick, Jr. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan could not be cuter or, seemingly, more mismatched, but the audience knows before they do that they are made for each other. Great lines, great casting and great memories. I’ll have what she’s having. 5 cans.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Well Worn - February 2010
I have never been to the University of Michigan. I don’t know anyone – with the exception of the daughter (whom I have never met) of a friend I rarely see – who attended the University of Michigan. I’ve never even been to the state of Michigan. So why am I so attached to my old, blue University of Michigan sweatshirt?
It started in 1967. That summer I went looking at colleges. No, I didn’t go to Michigan or even consider it. But we did take a family trip to Massachusetts, where I looked at several colleges, including the University of Massachusetts. I bought the requisite sweatshirt, put in an application – and was rejected. Apparently, I bore no grudge, because I wore that UMass sweatshirt until – and beyond when – it was threadbare, sleeping in it for years. It was comfy and I felt cozy wearing it. Finally, deterioration set in, and I cycled in a different sweatshirt – my New York Yankee sweatshirt– for nocturnal duty. My BFF had bought that one for me and I loved it. Loved it so much, in fact, that I asked for another one – same brand, please – as an eventual replacement when the armholes ripped, the collar portion frayed and it was impossible to wash without risk of complete deterioration in the washing machine. I didn’t care about the affiliation. Hence the arrival of the University of Michigan sweatshirt.
That’s right, in 40+ years, I have nursed three – count ‘em, three – sweatshirts through countless washes in many washing machines as I have slept in them (the shirts, not the washing machines). First they see the light of day, but eventually they are turned into nighttime apparel, you see. I like a loyal garment, one that has stuck with me through thick and thin – and I’ve been both, believe me. (Let me clarify for those of you wondering that I do, in fact, wear other garments to bed. The sweatshirts are my favorites for late fall and winter only, since they are too hot to wear when the temperature is high. Now, don’t you feel better knowing that?)
You shouldn’t make fun of me. You undoubtedly have worn something that caused your significant other to roll his/her eyes and perhaps even say, “You’re not wearing THAT again, are you?” I know many people who have old, old clothing in their closets, clothing that the Salvation Army would reject. Maybe they just wear these items and don’t talk about them (and I can kind of see why). My favorite sister had an old bathrobe that was so thin and ratty that my mother and I kidnapped it one day and threw it out. She eventually got over it – or at least I think so.
I have been to J.C. Penney’s, where it was purchased, to try to find a shirt similar to the University of Michigan shirt, but to no avail. I got a new blue University of Massachusetts sweatshirt as a gift from a friend a few years ago, but it is not the same. I’ve worn it, but never to bed. I’m trying to keep life in the old University of Michigan model, treating it gingerly, taking it off gently, never pulling the area around the neck. I put it only briefly in the dryer, trying to preserve its structural integrity.
So what will I do when this one wears out?
A few years ago, friend Carol B. gave me a sweater/sweatshirt unlike anything already in my closet. It is gray, with a Henley style neck, and it says “Jersey Girl” on the front. It is thick and soft, and it looks more sweater than sweatshirt, but it isn’t itchy inside. Already, I consider it my comfort item, donning it for daytime wear at the first sign of frost and feeling all warm and cozy in it. After wearing it during the day, I might just sleep in it that night. I think it is safe to deem it the replacement shirt, as Jersey Girl eventually takes over the role of Michigan in my nighttime wardrobe. (I liked the shirt so much that Carol bought me a second one, this time in a teal color. But the fabric wasn’t the same and, though I wear it during the day, I don’t see it assuming a place in my nighttime attire.)
But when Jersey Girl wears out? Well, judging by the longevity of my sweatshirts, I might be all worn out myself by then.
It started in 1967. That summer I went looking at colleges. No, I didn’t go to Michigan or even consider it. But we did take a family trip to Massachusetts, where I looked at several colleges, including the University of Massachusetts. I bought the requisite sweatshirt, put in an application – and was rejected. Apparently, I bore no grudge, because I wore that UMass sweatshirt until – and beyond when – it was threadbare, sleeping in it for years. It was comfy and I felt cozy wearing it. Finally, deterioration set in, and I cycled in a different sweatshirt – my New York Yankee sweatshirt– for nocturnal duty. My BFF had bought that one for me and I loved it. Loved it so much, in fact, that I asked for another one – same brand, please – as an eventual replacement when the armholes ripped, the collar portion frayed and it was impossible to wash without risk of complete deterioration in the washing machine. I didn’t care about the affiliation. Hence the arrival of the University of Michigan sweatshirt.
That’s right, in 40+ years, I have nursed three – count ‘em, three – sweatshirts through countless washes in many washing machines as I have slept in them (the shirts, not the washing machines). First they see the light of day, but eventually they are turned into nighttime apparel, you see. I like a loyal garment, one that has stuck with me through thick and thin – and I’ve been both, believe me. (Let me clarify for those of you wondering that I do, in fact, wear other garments to bed. The sweatshirts are my favorites for late fall and winter only, since they are too hot to wear when the temperature is high. Now, don’t you feel better knowing that?)
You shouldn’t make fun of me. You undoubtedly have worn something that caused your significant other to roll his/her eyes and perhaps even say, “You’re not wearing THAT again, are you?” I know many people who have old, old clothing in their closets, clothing that the Salvation Army would reject. Maybe they just wear these items and don’t talk about them (and I can kind of see why). My favorite sister had an old bathrobe that was so thin and ratty that my mother and I kidnapped it one day and threw it out. She eventually got over it – or at least I think so.
I have been to J.C. Penney’s, where it was purchased, to try to find a shirt similar to the University of Michigan shirt, but to no avail. I got a new blue University of Massachusetts sweatshirt as a gift from a friend a few years ago, but it is not the same. I’ve worn it, but never to bed. I’m trying to keep life in the old University of Michigan model, treating it gingerly, taking it off gently, never pulling the area around the neck. I put it only briefly in the dryer, trying to preserve its structural integrity.
So what will I do when this one wears out?
A few years ago, friend Carol B. gave me a sweater/sweatshirt unlike anything already in my closet. It is gray, with a Henley style neck, and it says “Jersey Girl” on the front. It is thick and soft, and it looks more sweater than sweatshirt, but it isn’t itchy inside. Already, I consider it my comfort item, donning it for daytime wear at the first sign of frost and feeling all warm and cozy in it. After wearing it during the day, I might just sleep in it that night. I think it is safe to deem it the replacement shirt, as Jersey Girl eventually takes over the role of Michigan in my nighttime wardrobe. (I liked the shirt so much that Carol bought me a second one, this time in a teal color. But the fabric wasn’t the same and, though I wear it during the day, I don’t see it assuming a place in my nighttime attire.)
But when Jersey Girl wears out? Well, judging by the longevity of my sweatshirts, I might be all worn out myself by then.
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