It is that time of year. I closed out 2015 with a flourish, seeing 17 movies and ending with 144 for the year - or a dirty dozen per month on average. Below the list of my December movie reviews you will find the ones I liked best in 2015. The movies marked with an asterisk were ones I had not seen previously, and numbering picks up from previous months. As always, they are rated on a scale of 1-5 cans of tuna. And if it seems like a 1, I usually just turn it off and don't bother to review it. Wishing you all a very happy new year and new movies for us all.
128. The Martian* (2015) – Those of us who failed to take science and math seriously in school would be doomed to a sure death if left stranded on another planet (as if they could get me to wear one of those astronaut suits…), which is the predicament faced by Mark Watney (Matt Damon) in this gripping movie. When a sudden storm strikes the crew doing research on Mars, Watney is struck by debris and separated from his fellow astronauts, who assume he is dead and quickly blast off the planet. When he comes to after the storm, he discovers that the bus has left the station, and he is on his own. Using his imagination and smarts, Watney, a botanist by background, figures out how to grow food, generate water and use his wits to survive until a rescue mission can come and get him. The movie has its share of suspense as well as humor, and it reminded me of both “Castaway” and “Apollo 13,” two of my favorite movies, as the hero has to rely on ingenuity to concoct a solution to every problem. The fact that the music played as I was exiting the theater was Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” only made me like this movie more. 4 cans.
129. Crossing Delancy (1988) – When I think of Peter Reigert, my mind immediately turns to Boone, his role as a reprobate frat boy in “Animal House,” one of my favorites. Here he plays Sam, a nice guy who sells pickles on the Lower East Side, and who has been enamored with Isabel (Amy Irving, with a memorable head of hair) for some time. But Izzy fancies herself above the likes of a pickle man. She works for an independent bookstore, working with authors on book readings and she thinks of herself as having left the LES to become an Uptown Girl. The idea of dating the Pickle Man that her Bubbie had a yenta (Sylvia Miles) pick out for her represents everything she is trying to leave behind. She even sets Sam up with one of her friends. But he is a good guy, patient and tolerant and clearly right for her. Has she crossed Delancy permanently? Will she end up with the Pickle Man? As the yenta says, “You look, you meet, you try, you see. Sometimes it fits, sometimes it don’t.” This fits. 3½ cans.
130. Apollo 13 (1995) – Having just seen “The Martian,” I couldn’t resist making the head-to-head comparison about two lost-in-space astronaut movies, but I cannot imagine anything of this genre topping Apollo 13. I have reviewed this movie previously, so I’ll just urge you to see it if you haven’t already. Ron Howard has made many excellent movies, but this one is truly captivating. 5 cans.
131. Trumbo* (2015) – Dalton Trumbo was a successful and rich Hollywood screenwriter until his card-carrying Communism got him placed on the “Black List” in the 1940s. With the end of WWII and the Cold War, patriotism took hold in the US and anyone suspected of “un-American activities” faced the threat or the reality of losing jobs, homes and families. So much for free speech in this country. Bryan Cranston probably won himself at least an Oscar nomination for the principled Trumbo, who stares down Congress and gets hauled off to prison along with other members of the Hollywood 10. When he emerges, he is unemployable, so he writes screenplays for schlocky producers (John Goodman) under aliases. Two of his screenplays (for “The Brave One” and “Roman Holiday”) won Oscars – and Trumbo and his family watched the ceremonies on their couch in their pajamas since he received no credit. The age of McCarthyism took place during my lifetime, but I was too young to know anything about it. Zealots like gossip columnist Hedda Hopper (Helen Mirren), John Wayne and others felt a need to rid the industry of people they felt were threats to America, and they and other Hollywood types had no compunction about naming names and ruining lives. The fact that this movie is being released just as we are facing similar political threats about immigrants to this country -- which was founded by immigrants, let’s remember – did not escape my attention. One of my favorite actresses, Diane Lane, is Trumbo’s wife in a small supporting role. 4 cans.
132. Bridge of Spies* (2015) – What I usually say about Meryl Streep applies to Tom Hanks as well, since Tom never disappoints (OK, we’re not going to mention “Bachelor Party” with Adrian Zmed…). Here he is James B. Donovan, a Brooklyn lawyer in a big law firm. Donovan is drafted by the U.S. government to defend a suspected Soviet spy (Mark Rylance) during the Cold War between the US and Russia in those suspicious post-World War II days when the Soviet Union was no longer an ally of the U.S. Donovan’s responsibility is to provide the best possible defense for his client, who is reviled and presumed guilty. When the case is adjudicated and the Russian found guilty, Donovan thinks his job is done – until he is drafted to negotiate a swap of the Russian spy Rudolf Abel for American pilot Francis Gary Powers, shot down while flying at 70,000 feet to get photographs of military installations in Russia. Can the American attorney, thrust into the negotiator role with minimal direction and support, successfully swap prisoners? And he has his own demand – he wants to include a young American PhD student arrested in the emerging East German Republic as the Berlin Wall is being constructed. This suspenseful dramatization of real life events was surprisingly written by the usually oddball Coen Brothers and was tautly directed by Steven Spielberg, a frequent collaborator of Hanks. I recommend you cross that bridge to see this fine film. 4 cans.
133. Spotlight* (2015) – This look at the heinous actions of priests in Boston is one of the best movies I have seen this year, despite its disturbing content. The story follows the dogged “Spotlight” investigative team of the Boston Globe as they delve into misconduct by priests and the cover-up that followed, allowing thousands of young children to be molested. I don’t know much about Boston, but the city comes across here as very provincial and closely tied to the church. No one wants to call out the church and the powerful Cardinal (what did he know and when did he know it?), so the crimes are handled outside the usual justice system, settled privately and allowing the criminals to continue preying on new victims as they move from parish to parish. All of this story is, sadly, true. The heroes here are the reporters and editors of the Globe, led by Michal Keaton and including Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams and Brian Darcy James. Liev Schreiber shows up early as the new editor of the paper, an outsider not established in the culture of Boston, who encourages his “Spotlight” team to take on the story they have overlooked in the past. This is the best inside look at the mechanics of reporting since Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford took on the Nixon Administration in “All the President’s Men.” A common tie is Ben Bradlee, whose son Ben Bradlee Jr. (John Slattery) shows up here as an editor of the Globe. Eventually, the team identified not only numerous Boston-area priests whose crimes went largely unpunished, but also the denial and dismissal of the culture that allowed priests worldwide to ruin the lives of young people as the church stubbornly refused to acknowledge and deal with the epidemic. The reporters seem a bit too heroic here, except for the fact that much of the information they eventually uncovered had been available to them years earlier, and they didn’t understand the significance of the story or, as Boston natives, didn’t want to cast aspersions on the church (in fairness, they didn’t know the extent of the problem until they started a deep investigation into the priests and their victims). But there are no real winners in a story where lives have come undone. 4½ cans.
134. The Wiz* (2015) – It was a brand new day for NBC, as the network overcame the debacle of last year’s live airing of the musical “Peter Pan” (I bailed after the first number, by the wooden Allison Williams) with a spirited version of the all-black musical. Drafting heavyweight performers for the key roles made the musical far more compelling to watch, even amid a myriad of commercial breaks (the best of which was seeing Rihanna and Stevie Wonder team up for a Christmas song, sponsored by Apple). Newcomer Shanice Williams was much more credible in the role of young Dorothy than the much-older Diana Ross, who originated the role in the movie version. Williams teams up with the surprisingly good David Alan Grier as the Cowardly Lion in easing on down the road to find the Wiz – Queen Latifah herself, complete with tons of ‘tude. Mary J. Blige is fierce as Wicked Witch Evillene, the original Broadway Dorothy, Stephanie Mills, plays Auntie Em, and contemporary performers Common, Neo and Uzo Aduba have a chance to show their stage chops. I can’t help comparing this colorful, exciting production with the pallid “The Sound of Music” from 2013 and last year’s “Peter Pan,” both of which seemed staged in an empty theater. By comparison, this live telecast was bursting with energy, well directed and performed with vigor and fun. Aside from young Williams, most of the featured players had a single moment to shine, and they did. As a kid, I would be so excited about the annual airing of “The Wizard of Oz,” even though the Emerald City was black and white on our TV. I hope NBC will continue to ease on down the road to bring musical theater into our homes every year. 3½ cans.
135. Creed* (2015) – You have to hand it to Sylvester Stallone. He created his iconic “Rocky” character nearly 40 years ago and the loveable lug is still paying dividends. Let’s face it, until he or the writers kill off Rocky, or until Stallone himself leaves this world, Rocky will be part of the fabric of our lives. In this film, I see a new franchise being born. Now Rocky is alone and lost without his beloved wife Adrian, running a restaurant named for her in Philadelphia. He lives modestly and has no regrets. Then the son of Apollo Creed – first his nemesis and then his friend, and also deceased – tracks him down and asks him for help in his aspiring career as a boxer. Young Creed goes by the name Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan, looking extremely buff and handsome) because his father was only in his life briefly and he doesn’t want to capitalize on this name. Rocky reluctantly agrees to train the boxer, and the two quickly develop the same relationship that existed between Rocky and his trainer, Mickey (but without Rocky being gruff). How can a novice rise through the ranks to fight for a championship? Rocky’s been there, done that. The two men have a genuine, caring relationship that will prove essential in helping both of them overcome adversity. The fight scenes are typically Rockyesque, full of violence, blood and sweat flying all around the ring. No, Rocky doesn’t fight anymore, but he still comes out as a champ. Can you say SEQUEL? 4 cans.
136. Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman* (2105) – Paul Newman, known for deadly blue eyes, an Oscar-winning actor, acclaimed director and beloved philanthropist, was also a talented race car driver. When Newman starred with Robert Wagner in the story about two auto racing rivals (“Winning” from 1969), his love for the sport was born. For the next 35 years, Newman led a double life as an actor and as an award-winning race car driver. He was dedicated to the sport, not just a dilettante who dabbled, but as a serious racer devoted to perfecting his driving and his cars. He passed along his passion to his co-star in “For Love or Money,” Tom Cruise, who had a brief career on the track. Although he drove until he was 85, Newman in later years transitioned successfully to being co-owner of Newman-Hass Racing, a team that feature such accomplished drivers as Mario and Michael Andretti. I’ve never been a fan of a sport where cars drive in circles around a track, but I am a fan of Newman’s, whose poster once adorned my teenaged walls. Producer-director Adam Carolla provides a winning portrait of Newman, whose passion for life went far beyond racing and acting and included establishing his “Hole in the Wall” camps for sick children and his salad dressing/food empire, the profits from which were all donated to charity. Naturally, there is plenty of racing in this movie, but despite that, I enjoyed seeing Newman in a role so important to him. 3½ cans.
137. Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of the World* (1982) – I started watching this movie only because of my abiding respect for Eleanor Roosevelt and continued even though it was not the documentary I thought it would be. “All In the Family’s” Jean Stapleton plays the former First Lady post-FDR, when she is appointed to a commission on the formation of the United Nations. She is shunted aside by Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, but Eleanor is not one to go quietly into that good night, and her dedication and hard work in human rights prove to be essential for the nascent organization. Not a great move by any means, but just another reason to give props to someone whom my mother held in the highest regard. 2½ cans.
138. Youth* (2015) – Fred and Mick (Michael Caine, Harvey Keitel) have been friends for decades. They tell each other only the good things, compare prostate problems and spend time each year in a stunning Swiss resort, contemplating life. A former conductor and composer, Fred has withdrawn from performing, although music is his life. Mick is trying to get one last movie produced as director and is counting on his frequent star and muse (Jane Fonda) to play the lead to help him get it made. In between this non-action plot line, there is fantasy, an actor working on his Hitler imitation, a Miss Universe showing up in their pool naked, Fred’s daughter/manager (Rachel Weisz) and a young prostitute. I know that youth is supposedly wasted on the young, but in this case it was wasted on me, too. A bit too bizarre for my taste, though rapturously filmed and well-acted. 2½ cans.
139. A Christmas Story (1988) – No Christmas would be complete for me without this remembrance by clever monologist/writer Jean Shepherd. You can have “It’s a Wonderful Life.” I’ll take Ralphie shooting his eye out by his Red Ryder Rifle any day. There are so many funny lines, crazy scenes and warm memories. I know this is not everyone’s favorite, but I look forward to seeing it every year. 4 cans.
140. Joy* (2015) – The holidays are supposed to be about Joy, right? This year’s family Christmas movie had to be more cheery than last year’s unrelentingly sober “Unbroken.” Joy is based on the story of entrepreneur Joy Mangano, she of the Huggable Hangar (see my closet), the Miracle Mop and countless other products we didn’t even know we needed until she came on the shopping networks and told us about them. But Joy stated out living with her parents and grandparents (and ex-husband) in a lower middle class home. She was a tough cookie, and when she invented the mop that would prove to be a miracle seller on a TV shopping network, she was in serious debt. I now know more about how to make a mop than I ever needed to know. Frankly, without the presence of Jennifer Lawrence in the title role (accompanied by Robert DeNiro, Diane Ladd and Bradley Cooper), the movie would be bereft of any joy. 3½ cans.
141. Carol* (2015) – Carol (Cate Blanchett) is a wealthy, married woman whose marriage is falling apart because of her infidelity -- she has affairs with other women. Shopping in a department store, she is instantly attracted to a waif-like clerk (Mara Rooney, looking like a young Audrey Hepburn), and they strike up a relationship that her husband (Kyle Chandler) will use to seek custody of her daughter. This Todd Haynes movie is not nearly as good as his previous foray into similar territory, “Far From Heaven,” but the dynamic performance of Blanchett as a woman who dominates every situation she is in elevates it. However, aside from the physical attraction between the two women, there is little dialog between them that would indicate the basis for a relationship that was anything more than lust. Expect Blanchett to win an Oscar nomination for Carol. 3½ cans.
142. Pal Joey (1957) – The 100th birthday of Old Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra, was inspiration for me to revisit this classic about a crooner/cad with an eye for the ladies. Joey Evans is perpetually broke, living above his means and looking for an angle – or a benefactor. Here she is Mrs. Vera Prentice-Simpson (whenever a character has a name like that she is a very rich woman; if a man has three names, he is an assassin), played as the older woman by the ravishing Rita Hayworth. She doesn’t need Joey or his attention, but she can buy him off with a promise to fund a “Chez Joey” nightclub that he can run and where he can perform. One complication: the “mouse” in the chorus, a very fetching Kim Novak, captures his imagination almost as much as Mrs. Prentice-Simpson’s bank account. Swinging Sinatra croons “The Lady is a Tramp,” among other songs by Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart. Only when Kim Novak sings does the ship sink just a little, but overall, a good story, memorable music, and Sinatra. I could write a book. 3 ½ cans.
143. Brooklyn* (2015) – Saorise Ronan is Eilis Lacey, a young woman living in Ireland who knows she must leave her small town to have a life. She goes to the US, sponsored by a priest to live and work in Brooklyn (as if you couldn’t have figured that one out…) where she pines for her widowed mother and elder sister, until she meets a kind and sweet Italian man. She blossoms and becomes a woman, changes her wardrobe and comes out of her shell. This sweet, gentle movie is the anti-Star Wars. There are no explosions, no big action scenes, just heartfelt emotion and rich depiction of life among the immigrants in Brooklyn in the early 1950s. Ronan is outstanding as the serious, determined and very shy young lady just trying to find herself in a new world. 4 cans.
144. Iris* (2015) -- Nonagenarian Iris Apfeld is a phenomenon. The quirky, stylist/artist/educator/interior designer is known for her love of big, bold patterns and layering of colorful accessories. This documentary explores her life and her flamboyant style, which is much-sought after by younger designers and fashion mavens. Her gift for composing a “look” has been celebrated by important museums. She rocks some big-ass Mr. Magoo glasses and her inbred sense of cool gives her leeway to get away with looks that most of us couldn’t compose or carry out. I enjoyed this loving documentary by 80-something Albert Mayles about a unique talent. 3½ cans.
My Favorite Movies of 2015
Love and Mercy
Spotlight
Still Alice
The Imitation Game
Rikki and the Flash
The Hunting Ground
Trumbo
Bridge of Spies
Creed
Finding Vivian Meier
Stop At Nothing/The Armstrong Lie
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Off the Top of My Head
Please note that this blog post is NOT titled, "Off With the Top of My Head."
Don’t you hate it when you send someone a great card that they love and tell you they love it but you can’t remember which card you sent?
Dear Kohl’s – stop being so insecure. Why else would you ask me to go on-line and complete a survey EVERY TIME I BUY SOMETHING (and that’s a lot of times…)? If you are asking me if I still love you, I do, but if you keep asking, I might love you a little bit less.
Who would have thought we would have temps in the 60s in December? I’m feeling sad that I sold my convertible, because it is top-down weather, baby!
Glitter on any kind of card should be illegal. It looks nice but it gets everywhere. Just my two cents.
I don’t know much about construction, but I cannot figure out the point of a backhoe going past my house repeatedly every day, moving small amounts of dirt and seemingly accomplishing nothing. Big boys on big toys, it seems to me.
One of the chores I really hate to do is folding sheets. I’m not good at it, either. However, I will fold the pillowcases precisely, grateful that with today’s fabrics I don’t have to dampen them using a water-filled, sprinkle-topped Coke bottle and roll them up in the refrigerator until they can be ironed. Who remembers doing (or having your mother) that?
If something “goes without saying,” why does the person speaking go ahead and say it anyway?
I’ve reached the age that when my friends and I get together, no one wants to drive at night. No one sees that well anymore. And when we watch TV, everyone hits the “Back” button because we don’t catch every word of the dialog. Are they speaking too fast? Is the volume too low? My BFF has a house rule: She and her husband will replay the scene three times. If they don’t get the lines within those three chances, they simply move on.
Speaking of TV, I find that I hardly watch anything live anymore. I record programs on the DVR so I can skip commercials, or I watch them “on demand” or catch the highlights on-line. I even delay watching shows for 20-30 minutes so I can watch the recording and skip the ads or slow parts. And my DVR records programs it thinks I will want to see. This service means that I can watch stuff I missed even if I didn’t know I was missing it. Truly incredible. Gone are the days when we watched channels 2-4-5-7-9-11-13 in black and white and changed the channel with a pair of pliers!
There is a restaurant between Hillsborough and Princeton that has had multiple iterations. Most recently, it was “Tusk,” a fusion place that lasted just a few years. It has been closed now for quite some time, yet every night the sign out front is lit and there is some lighting inside. I cannot figure out 1) why this restaurant location continues to fail; and 2) who is paying the lighting bill?
I love Sinatra and I have been listening to his Sirius station more frequently of late since it is his 100th birthday. But please, with the extensive Sinatra library, can’t they play Frank actually singing rather than playing Perry Como, Nat King Cole and Tony Bennett? Not that I don’t like the other artists, but it would be like going to a Renoir museum and seeing Monet paintings. Frank is on about half the time in my unscientific survey.
As you probably know by now, I am a dedicated movie enthusiast. I have the uncanny knack of knowing in the first 30 seconds of a preview whether or not I would like a movie. Nearly anything that includes things getting blown up, people being killed or extensive running around and shooting gets an immediate thumbs down from me. And that’s why you’ll typically find me at the Old Folks Movies (Montgomery Cinema), where they play the less-commercial movies, foreign films and documentaries. Besides, I like bringing down the average age there.
Someone (thank you, Colleen) sent me an article recently about the prevalence of Yiddish words in our English/American vocabulary, and it made me realize how many of them I know and use. When I was growing up, if my parents wanted to talk about something that they did not want me to understand, they spoke Yiddish, which had been spoken in their homes when they were growing up. But I soon figured out some of the words – especially since my mother would use Yiddish expressions frequently. She used phrases like “meshugener hunt” (crazy dog), or, when she was being loving, she would call me “shana punim” (pretty face). There are a few Yiddish words that cannot be replicated in English. My sister often has a troubled look on her face that can only be described by “tsutrugen.” If you have troubles that lead to the tsutrugen face, you have “tsuris,” and when you are totally and completed lost, you are “ferblunget.” You can be all choked up, as in “farklempt.” Crappy clothes are “schmattas,” and everyone knows a “schmuck” or two. There’s “chutzpah” (nerve or gall), klutz (someone who is clumsy) and we should all aspire to be a “mensch” (genuinely good person). My mother started many conversations with her BFF with one word: “Nu?” meaning, in today’s vernacular, “Whassup?” And sometimes things just get all “fercockt,” which I’ll let you figure out.
Somehow, some way, I started getting Vanity Fair magazine again after a very long time. I swear I don’t remember subscribing, especially since I have been cancelling my magazines, but maybe, just maybe, I sent in the card because the offer was too good to pass up. All I know is that they have sent me three issues in 4 weeks, and I am starting to feel like Lucy in the candy factory. Not being able to keep up with reading all those long (and, admittedly, interesting) stories is why I discontinued the subscription in the first place. Did I forget that?
Do you ever call someone and while waiting for them to answer the phone, you forget whom you called and why?
I’ve been concerned about news reports showing robbers snatching boxes delivered to people’s porches. Even though I live in a community with a gatehouse, there are still plenty of people accessing this development who could grab something outside my front door. So today I decided to track a package containing my Christmas cards from Shutterfly. I’m sure my nephew – who works for Amazon and who majored in Supply Chain Management – could explain to me the circuitous route taken by this order. So far, it has seen the light of day in Charlotte, North Carolina; Richmond, Virginia; Laurel, Maryland; Tinton Falls, NJ, and Bound Brook, NJ, all on its way to my local (Franklin) post office. By the time the cards arrive at my house (and presuming they are not snatched off my porch), they will be too exhausted to undertake their next assignment – getting to the homes of my friends!
Recently I attended the funeral for one of our outstanding Douglass women and leaders, Evelyn Field ’49. Among the speakers was her cousin, who read a letter he had written to her when she entered hospice care. He expressed his gratitude to her for being such an outstanding role model in word and deed, for always encouraging education and for her devotion to family and community. His poignant message made me think of the many funerals and even retirement parties I have attended where people learn about the accomplishments of the deceased or the retiree in such glowing terms, and I always wonder: Did this person KNOW how his/her family/friends/co-workers felt? Were these feelings expressed during his/her lifetime/career? The letter was so moving, and I was struck by the fact that he shared his feelings with his cousin so she would know what she meant to him while it mattered to her. So today’s lesson – without getting too maudlin – is to remember to express our appreciation, admiration and adulation to those who have had a profound impact on us while we still can. A few well-chosen words of gratitude and love said TO the person is better than saying them ABOUT the person. Drops mic, leaves stage. Much love to all.
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Tina's November 2015 Movies
It was another month of few movies, but they were good ones. Numbering picks up from previous months, and movies I have not seen previously are indicated with an asterisk. Ratings are based on a scale of 1-5 cans of tuna, with 5 being the top. Hopefully, I can avail myself of the onslaught of holiday movies and get back into the groove again in December.
122. The Hoax (2006) – You have to give author Clifford Irving credit for one thing – he is a creative writer. This true story centers around Irving’s (Richard Gere) convincing McGraw-Hill to pay him for writing an “autobiography” of reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes, but he made it all up. Since Hughes had disappeared from public view years earlier, it seemed a safe bet to just fabricate interviews without fear that Hughes would come forward to deny the story. Irving sold the notion of the book to the powers that be at the publishing company, spinning fantastic tales about meetings with the notorious Hughes. Irving and his colleague Dick (Alfred Molina) did extensive research, and, somehow, managed to replicate Hughes’ handwriting and speech patterns well enough to fool the so-called experts. Does Irving really get kidnapped by Hughes’ henchmen? In the face of all evidence to the contrary, does he have the chutzpah to deny his fabrication? Yes, he surely does. And when the whole thing blows up, he still has the, ahem, nerve, to write a book called “Hoax” about what and how he did it. You can’t make this stuff up. Unless you’re Irving, that is. 3½ cans.
123. Miss You Already* (2015) – If you hated “Beaches” and “Terms of Endearment,” stay away from this chick flick about best friends, one of whom is sick. I think any BFF relationship requires strength, understanding, tolerance, commitment, compromise and love-- not to say fun times together, or why would the drama be worth it? We love our friends, we support them and occasionally we let them down. Here Drew Barrymore (Jess) and Toni Collette (Millie) are besties who met in elementary school. Millie is the wilder, more adventurous and, ultimately, needier one, while Jess subjugates her needs and news to support Millie throughout her drama-filled life. Still, there is something about girlfriends and their unshakeable bonds. We cannot live without each other – or so we swear. Collette and Barrymore are not on my list of favorite actresses, but their friendship here seems genuine. It’s hard to say you can enjoy a movie like this, but, as someone who appreciates and thrives on friendships, I did. 3½ cans.
124. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir* (1947) – It is not often that you’ll find me watching a romantic fantasy, though movies with the word “Ghost” in the title in this genre have proven to be good ones. This one is no exception, as sexy Rexy Harrison haunts the days and nights of lovely young widow Mrs. Muir (Gene Tierney). The lonely lady has rented a seaside home once occupied by the virile – though deceased – ship’s captain. Though he alarms her at first, he wins her over as they “collaborate” on a book. But when she meets another man and seems destined to marry him, the ghost takes a powder. This is a charming story, and Harrison shines through as the stalwart sailor. 3 ½ cans.
125. Learning How to Dance In Ohio* (2015) – Rites of passage like prom are difficult for most teenagers and young adults, but those with autism have special challenges because of their inability to interact with each other. This earnest documentary follows a group of young people, who, working with each other and psychologists, prepare for months on their social skills -- how to speak with another person, how to interact and, finally, how to dance. This isn’t a “feel good” movie where every problem is solved, but, rather, a realistic look at the challenges faced by these young people and their families. What can the families and the therapists do to help them become independent, functioning in the real world? The dance is just a device that enables them to find ways to participate in the world around them in anticipation of a time when they will have to make their own way. It is heartwarming and exhilarating at the same time. 3½ cans
126. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) – Yes, this movie is about a big, loud, slightly crazy Greek family, but the same story could be told about practically any ethnic group. Toula (Nia Vardalos) is a 30-something woman who works for her family businesses (a diner and travel agency), but her real purpose in life – according to Papa Gus Portokalos (Michael Constantine) – is to find a Greek husband and have babies. She bucks the trend and goes to college to learn about computers. Worse yet, she finds and falls for a very nice guy named Ian Miller (John Corbett), who is not only is NOT Greek, but he won’t even eat meat (her aunt, played by Andrea Martin, looks at him incredulously upon learning of this heresy and says, “It’s OK. I make you lamb.” Getting the family – especially Papa – to accept Ian and their love is not an easy task. This charmer is funny and romantic, as both Toula and Ian face their customs, food and culture of their respective partner’s families. And Lainie Kazan as Toula’s mother always makes me smile. Pass the Windex. Opa! 4 cans.
127. The Hunting Ground* (2015) – This disturbing documentary examines the prevalence of sexual assault and rape on college campuses, a trend that is growing. The victims of this crime are largely ignored, their stories marginalized and questioned, and their calls for action dismissed. According to the research displayed on the screen, any number of incidents go unreported while those which are reported rarely result in expulsions of those who have committed the assaults. A small number of students commit the majority of these assaults, which means they are engaged in multiple acts of violence. Athletes and fraternities are more often involved than the rest of the student population. It can take months or years before action is taken even to investigate a crime, and the victims frequently are treated as if they were responsible because of the clothing they wore or questioned about whether they fought off the perpetrator. Two college students at the University of North Carolina who were sexually assaulted pursued a different path, contacting the Department of Education and bringing up responsibilities related to Title IX, and using social media to rally other victims around the country. The universities insist they take these matters seriously, yet they are reluctant to dole out punishment to the assailants. This documentary made me fearful for the young people I know and helped me understand the prevalence of this crime. It was jarring. 4 cans.
122. The Hoax (2006) – You have to give author Clifford Irving credit for one thing – he is a creative writer. This true story centers around Irving’s (Richard Gere) convincing McGraw-Hill to pay him for writing an “autobiography” of reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes, but he made it all up. Since Hughes had disappeared from public view years earlier, it seemed a safe bet to just fabricate interviews without fear that Hughes would come forward to deny the story. Irving sold the notion of the book to the powers that be at the publishing company, spinning fantastic tales about meetings with the notorious Hughes. Irving and his colleague Dick (Alfred Molina) did extensive research, and, somehow, managed to replicate Hughes’ handwriting and speech patterns well enough to fool the so-called experts. Does Irving really get kidnapped by Hughes’ henchmen? In the face of all evidence to the contrary, does he have the chutzpah to deny his fabrication? Yes, he surely does. And when the whole thing blows up, he still has the, ahem, nerve, to write a book called “Hoax” about what and how he did it. You can’t make this stuff up. Unless you’re Irving, that is. 3½ cans.
123. Miss You Already* (2015) – If you hated “Beaches” and “Terms of Endearment,” stay away from this chick flick about best friends, one of whom is sick. I think any BFF relationship requires strength, understanding, tolerance, commitment, compromise and love-- not to say fun times together, or why would the drama be worth it? We love our friends, we support them and occasionally we let them down. Here Drew Barrymore (Jess) and Toni Collette (Millie) are besties who met in elementary school. Millie is the wilder, more adventurous and, ultimately, needier one, while Jess subjugates her needs and news to support Millie throughout her drama-filled life. Still, there is something about girlfriends and their unshakeable bonds. We cannot live without each other – or so we swear. Collette and Barrymore are not on my list of favorite actresses, but their friendship here seems genuine. It’s hard to say you can enjoy a movie like this, but, as someone who appreciates and thrives on friendships, I did. 3½ cans.
124. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir* (1947) – It is not often that you’ll find me watching a romantic fantasy, though movies with the word “Ghost” in the title in this genre have proven to be good ones. This one is no exception, as sexy Rexy Harrison haunts the days and nights of lovely young widow Mrs. Muir (Gene Tierney). The lonely lady has rented a seaside home once occupied by the virile – though deceased – ship’s captain. Though he alarms her at first, he wins her over as they “collaborate” on a book. But when she meets another man and seems destined to marry him, the ghost takes a powder. This is a charming story, and Harrison shines through as the stalwart sailor. 3 ½ cans.
125. Learning How to Dance In Ohio* (2015) – Rites of passage like prom are difficult for most teenagers and young adults, but those with autism have special challenges because of their inability to interact with each other. This earnest documentary follows a group of young people, who, working with each other and psychologists, prepare for months on their social skills -- how to speak with another person, how to interact and, finally, how to dance. This isn’t a “feel good” movie where every problem is solved, but, rather, a realistic look at the challenges faced by these young people and their families. What can the families and the therapists do to help them become independent, functioning in the real world? The dance is just a device that enables them to find ways to participate in the world around them in anticipation of a time when they will have to make their own way. It is heartwarming and exhilarating at the same time. 3½ cans
126. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) – Yes, this movie is about a big, loud, slightly crazy Greek family, but the same story could be told about practically any ethnic group. Toula (Nia Vardalos) is a 30-something woman who works for her family businesses (a diner and travel agency), but her real purpose in life – according to Papa Gus Portokalos (Michael Constantine) – is to find a Greek husband and have babies. She bucks the trend and goes to college to learn about computers. Worse yet, she finds and falls for a very nice guy named Ian Miller (John Corbett), who is not only is NOT Greek, but he won’t even eat meat (her aunt, played by Andrea Martin, looks at him incredulously upon learning of this heresy and says, “It’s OK. I make you lamb.” Getting the family – especially Papa – to accept Ian and their love is not an easy task. This charmer is funny and romantic, as both Toula and Ian face their customs, food and culture of their respective partner’s families. And Lainie Kazan as Toula’s mother always makes me smile. Pass the Windex. Opa! 4 cans.
127. The Hunting Ground* (2015) – This disturbing documentary examines the prevalence of sexual assault and rape on college campuses, a trend that is growing. The victims of this crime are largely ignored, their stories marginalized and questioned, and their calls for action dismissed. According to the research displayed on the screen, any number of incidents go unreported while those which are reported rarely result in expulsions of those who have committed the assaults. A small number of students commit the majority of these assaults, which means they are engaged in multiple acts of violence. Athletes and fraternities are more often involved than the rest of the student population. It can take months or years before action is taken even to investigate a crime, and the victims frequently are treated as if they were responsible because of the clothing they wore or questioned about whether they fought off the perpetrator. Two college students at the University of North Carolina who were sexually assaulted pursued a different path, contacting the Department of Education and bringing up responsibilities related to Title IX, and using social media to rally other victims around the country. The universities insist they take these matters seriously, yet they are reluctant to dole out punishment to the assailants. This documentary made me fearful for the young people I know and helped me understand the prevalence of this crime. It was jarring. 4 cans.
Sunday, November 15, 2015
More Random Thoughts
Why didn’t Rob Petrie (Dick Van Dyke) just move that ottoman so he wouldn’t trip over it every time he came in the door?
Is it just me, or are you seeing an upswing in the amount of SPAM mail you are getting these days? Medium Ron is all over me for seeing my future. JDate wants to fix me up, but so does Christian Mingle, so I predict a brutal competition over my single status ahead. On the same day I can receive messages regarding life insurance and burials, a sobering glimpse of reality. Yet, if I get the ace toenail fungus remover offered, maybe my health will improve, unless that nasty prostate problem fares up that someone keeps bringing to my attention. If so, maybe Medium Ron or Clairvoyant Chris can give me some insight into whether my health will improve.
I think I’d like to get into Taylor Swift’s squad. She hangs around with young models and singers and celebrities and they go to cool places and seem like they are having a blast. And, according to her song, she has a blank space, so I think she should write my name.
I’d love to get one of those cool hover boards, but I’d probably have to ride it down the hallways of the hospital, because that’s where I’d end up, trying to ride a hover board in the first place.
How to feel like an idiot: Taking your shopping cart down the wrong aisle in the parking lot and having to drag it over the median so you can get to the right row. Or parking your car in the same lot as usual at the mall and coming out of the wrong door and getting frantic because you can’t find it and you are convinced it has been stolen. Right. The only thing actually missing is my brain.
I think I just pulled a muscle watching “So You Think You Can Dance.” And, by the way, I don’t think I can dance. In fact, I’m certain about that.
I don’t want to say I have idiosyncrasies (I’ll let my BFF attest to that), but I can’t put the thermostat on an odd number. It can be on 68, but never 67. I can live with 70, but 71 is unacceptable.
Last month I confessed to not being able to identify which Olsen twin is which. Now I will own up to not remembering the difference between Jason Segal, Will Farrell, Zach Galafal… and Vince Vaughn. I think I can identify Vince the best. But the others? I remain confused, and I don’t really care.
I watch so much HGTV that unless news that the world ended is on “House Hunters” or “Property Brothers,” I probably won’t know.
On the (long) list of “Things That Annoy Me” is when someone leaves an “Out of Office” message on their voice or e-mail that you hear or see days/weeks after they were supposed to return. The Tax office in town has a message on its machine saying that tax bills are payable August 1. Hello, it is November.
Another of my pet peeves is finding other people’s garbage in (the only available) shopping cart. Please, people, don’t leave your drink cup, your dirty tissues and your shopping list behind. There are garbage cans all over: Use them!
I am now the owner of a smart TV. The non-smart ones were already surpassing my technological capabilities, but this one may truly exceed my reach. It can do everything, so if I really want to see Facebook in a 60” format, I can. But do I? And, in doing research on what TV to buy, I learned one important thing: Last year’s top-of-line-line models are perfectly fine for this year. You do not need to be on the leading edge to get a really great TV. And it is cheaper NOT to go with the latest bells and whistles when last year’s model will suffice.
What’s more unsettling than hearing the repair man or installer start to sigh, swear and breathe heavily, showing frustration or being perplexed by the issue at hand? Then you know this problem is going to be yours, and it won’t be cheap to resolve.
What exactly is an “occasional table?” Are there times when it becomes something other than a table? Or is it for use only for special occasions?
Is every day a special day? I fully support the salutes to Breast Cancer Awareness and to honoring our veterans. But National Handbag Day? National Ice Cream Day? Who decides these things? Who gets petitioned for the declaration? Or do Hallmark and the purveyors of these goods and services simply capitalize on our gullibility? And why is there no Tina Gordon Day? On the other hand, I could be persuaded to celebrate National Chocolate Day, which takes place on my birthday (October 28). I just think it should be renamed.
Why are yawns contagious? If you yawn, chances are that I will, too. And if I sneeze once, I will most likely sneeze again.
I’ll take the category of Most Futile Jobs in America for $200. The answer is the poor guy who valiantly drives the Zamboni-like street sweeper around my Canal Walk neighborhood. This place is a war zone – I mean, construction site – so trying to eradicate the dirt and mud is impossible. Hey, they are paying the guy whether the streets end up clean or not, so drive on, brother.
Why do we pronounce the word VINE with a long “I” but add YARD and it becomes VIN?
I’m watching my umpteenth season of TV’s “Survivor” and it occurs to me that I don’t like many of the people, appreciate but don’t like the strategy and backstabbing and I would not last one minute as a competitor on that show. One glimpse of bats or being asking to eat a pig snout would drive me right off that island, and so would having to be on camera for 39 days wearing a bathing suit. Thankfully, no one is recruiting me to be on the show.
I’m in the midst of a “Gilmore Girls” marathon, thanks to my young alumnae friends who thrive on the series (seven seasons, 154 episodes, and I’m only on episode 11 of season 2) and encouraged me (insisted, really) to watch it. The premise is the relationship between quirky mother and daughter Lorelai and Rory, who are best friends and who share quips and obscure references. Lorelai just noted that her estranged mother might be responsible for Lily Tomlin’s making “that movie with John Travolta,” which I immediately identified as the truly awful “Moment By Moment.” (Travolta plays a young drifter, Tomlin is an older woman and they look like brother and sister, so the sex scenes are not only hard to fathom but disturbing, to say the least.) So now Lorelai is my new hero (or, more accurately, the writers are) for knowing “that movie.” And Gilmore Girls is ascending the list of TV shows I love.
The letters on my keyboard are too close together, which means that when I type the letter “a,” I also (accidentally, because of the proximity) hit the CAPS LOCK, and, before I realize it, I’m typing in all CAPS, WHICH IS THE EQUIVALENT OF SHOUTING. DAMN IT.
Among the many things I like about my new house is that my master bath is so much closer to the water heater than in my old house that I get hot water in the sink almost instantaneously. In the previous abode, I could turn on the water and let it run while I brushed my teeth and it would just start getting warm when I was done. This situation is so much better and I don’t feel guilty for wasting water.
Moment of sheer panic: Bed, Bath & Beyond has announced it will scale back its distribution of those ubiquitous blue coupons – you know, the coupons as large as a hand towel in some cases. They have been around forever and never expire, so some of us have stockpiled them. I can easily use seven at a time, and, with a new house, I have done that on several occasions. It’s a good thing I still have a stash!
Whenever I see an e-mail about an on-line sale or coupon at Kohl’s or Shutterfly that I have to hurry up and use before it expires: “Hurry – Last day!” – I have to tell myself to chill, because another sale or coupon will be available within two days. I’m not sure it is possible to buy anything at so-called full price at Kohl’s. And why would I?
Doesn’t it drive you crazy when you can hear one big crumb rattling around in the toaster but no amount of shaking the toaster can coax it out? Or is that just me?
I was in New York the other day and the weather was colder than I expected, so I got off the train, walked into Macy’s and bought a new coat. The funny thing is that this is not the first time I have done this. But both times the coats were on sale, I had a coupon, and I found something that fit me perfectly. It was meant to be. Then there was that time I was getting out of the car at Macy’s and a button popped off my coat. I went inside and bought a new one. I never could sew.
Seriously, what is better than Amazon (and not just because my nephew manages the night shift at one of their distribution centers in Chicago)? If you need or want practically anything, you can find it and buy it on Amazon via computer, phone or tablet. And if you have Amazon Prime (for an annual fee), they will ship it to you free and you will get it in two days. This week I needed printer ink. I found an old order, replicated it and they promised to donate money to the Associate Alumnae of Douglass College to thank me through the Smile.Amazon.com program. Two days later – as promised – it arrived. And though there was no mail today (Veterans Day), I got a message that the package had been delivered. I can walk from my home office to the door in a few steps. Unless I happen to be at Staples anyway and happen to remember that I might need ink, there is no way buying some could be easier. Thanks, Amazon. You make me smile.
Finally, I have had a very busy few months, devoting considerable time to the Associate Alumnae of Douglass College and to my move to my new home. But now trying to see me just got even tougher, as the new season of Rutgers Women’s Basketball tipped off on Friday the 13th (with a win). See you in April.
Monday, November 2, 2015
Tina's October 2015 Movies
Sorry to disappoint, but October was another skimpy movie month, mainly due to the many chores associated with my move to my new home. At least every movie I saw this month was new to me. I hope to increase the number in November. As always, movies are rated on a scale of 1-5 cans of tuna, with 5 being the top rating. Movies marked with an asterisk are ones not seen previously, and numbering picks up from the previous months.
116. The Wrecking Crew* (2008) – This documentary is Denny Tedesco’s tribute to his father, a guitarist who, along with a talented group of session musicians in Southern California, provided the beat and the rhythms of most of the popular music of the 1960s and 70s. Their respective genius enabled them to understand almost immediately the complexities of a Brian Wilson song and to largely supplant the rest of the band members. But they didn’t just play the music as written, they contributed their own special chops and some riffs that define the songs themselves. Session musicians don’t travel; these guys would go to multiple recording sessions in a day, while the actual band members learned the music well enough to fool the public into thinking they were the force behind the sound. From the Mamas and Papas and the Beach Boys (whose members did play on actual records but were supplemented by the Wrecking Crew) to the Monkees, who understood their limitations, to Sonny and Cher to the legendary Phil Spector, these musicians appeared on nearly every major record of the time. Spector used them to create his iconic “Wall of Sound,” and most of the producers and artists would only record if the Crew could be part of the session. If you liked “Standing in the Shadows of Motown” or “20 Feet from Stardom,” this is the kind of movie that will appeal to you. I loved it. 4 cans.
117. And the Oscar Goes to…* (2014) – How could I pass up a documentary on the history of the Oscars, filled with interviews from famous winners and losers and capturing those magic moments when the Oscar is awarded? Douglass Fairbanks and Mary Pickford were responsible for Hollywood’s annual awards, which, oddly enough, have bypassed such exceptional performers as Kirk Douglas, Charles Chaplin and others (who later were awarded honorary statues to make up for the glaring omissions). Jane Fonda picks up her father’s Oscar, Ron Howard says his mother predicted he would win (which, he reveals, she did with each movie he made) and Sacheen Littlefeather gets greeted with a barrage of boos when accepting Marlon Brando’s award for “The Godfather.” In between, we learn about sound effects, editing, screenwriting and the blacklisting of writers, directors, actors and others who were called out by the House Un-American Committee (Joseph McCarthy) and banned from receiving awards. Hosts from Hope to Carson to Crystal are highlighted in this fun (if somewhat disjointed) look at everything Oscar. And the Oscar goes to: 3½ cans.
118. The Armstrong Lie* (2014) – Filmmaker Alex Gibney started out making a documentary on the extraordinary comeback of renowned cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong, who, having won seven times in the Tour de France, decided to give it one more go in 2009. The ending of the movie was not what Gibney expected, however, as Armstrong, long accused of using performance enhancing drugs to improve his incredible results on the road, finally finds himself forced to own up to the truth. He reveals to Oprah that he used all kinds of substances to improve his performance, that he repeatedly lied about it when confronted with rumors or facts, and that his adamant defense injured not only his reputation but those of his accusers, a number of whom he took to court and won. If you say something enough times and make the statement vehemently enough, maybe you start to believe it yourself. Gibney, caught in the midst of trying to finish the documentary, insists that Armstrong answer his questions directly, taking the final film in an entirely different direction than he expected. Armstrong’s fall from grace was shattering. His cancer foundation was devastated, his sponsors abandoned him and he was banned from competing in any sport governed by the US Anti-Doping Agency. His friends and foes are on hand as Gibney traces the story through Armstrong’s early success through his battle with life-threatening testicular cancer that had spread to his brain. He covers Armstrong’s remarkable comeback in cycling and the rumors that dogged him until his final admission. I had been trying to find this movie since it was first released and found it to be a compelling look at a man whose athletic prowess and hubris are on par with each other. 4 cans.
119. The Intern* (2015) – Let’s step away from the documentaries for a moment to enjoy this Robert DeNiro comedy about a widower who gets a position as a “senior intern” for a rising on-line clothing company. Anne Hathaway is Jules, the driven head of About the Fit, a company she conceived and runs, and although she doesn’t feel she needs help, her partner does. So, enter DeNiro as Ben Whittaker, long-retired with a successful business background but also with the gentility to not force his opinions and will on the young executive. He graciously stands in the background and assists as needed. Before long, Jules and her family become dependent on him. Ben is old school, wearing a suit to work every day, carrying a classic briefcase, and mentoring the young people in the office – including Jules. The movie has its amusing moments and overall is quite charming, but I question its look at Jules as dependent on other people for success when she is a highly capable woman (as Ben points out to her). Her vulnerability becomes a bone of contention with me because it depicts women not as decisive, successful people, but as being influenced by culture and emotional fragility. Hathaway goes from steely resolve and scary smart to leaning on Ben in too many ways. 3½ cans.
120. The Walk* (2015) – Before the iconic Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were even open to the public in 1974, French wire walker Philippe Petit pulled of one of the most athletic, artistic and audacious stunts ever conceived and executed when he and a team of cohorts strung a wire between the buildings that Petit crossed – several times. Joseph Gordon-Levitt does a masterful job playing the daredevil Petit, masterminding a complex “coup” to figure out not just the walk itself, but how to get the wire strung between the two buildings without the interference of authorities. Very detailed planning was required to provide him the thrill of a lifetime – which, as we now know, can never be duplicated. When Petit lies down on the wire between the two towers, I was glad I wasn’t watching this movie in 3D, or I might have freaked out. Gordon-Levitt is competent as a Frenchman and as a wire walker, encouraged by mentor Papa Rudy (Ben Kingsley as a veteran high wire artist). I had already seen the documentary “Man on a Wire” about this feat. Now I’d like to see a documentary on the making of “The Walk.” Seriously, how did director Robert Zemekis do that? 3½ cans.
121. Freeheld* (2015) – Laurel Hester is a tough-as-nails, dedicated police officer in Ocean County, NJ. She plays by the book, and she keeps her private life private because she is sure that being a lesbian will hold her back in a male-dominated environment. Laurel (Juliane Moore) doesn’t even share that part of her life with her trusted partner Dale (Michael Shannon). But when she finds out she has terminal cancer, all she wants to do is leave her pension benefits to her domestic partner, Stacie (Ellen Page), so she can stay in the house they lovingly renovated and shared. The Ocean County Freeholders don’t want to defy the state ban on gay marriage, even though they could easily choose to vote in her favor. Spurred by the head of Garden State Equality (played by Steve Carell) and supported by Dale, fellow officers and friends rally to force the politicians to grant Laurel her dying wish. Moore, coming off an Oscar win for “Still Alice,” plays the role with an understated dignity, refusing to become the poster child for gay marriage. Page looks pained throughout most of the movie, but Shannon, who is typically intense, and Carell, who brings levity, are superb. True story, and thanks a bunch, New Jersey, for making it difficult for people to live their lives. 3½ cans.
116. The Wrecking Crew* (2008) – This documentary is Denny Tedesco’s tribute to his father, a guitarist who, along with a talented group of session musicians in Southern California, provided the beat and the rhythms of most of the popular music of the 1960s and 70s. Their respective genius enabled them to understand almost immediately the complexities of a Brian Wilson song and to largely supplant the rest of the band members. But they didn’t just play the music as written, they contributed their own special chops and some riffs that define the songs themselves. Session musicians don’t travel; these guys would go to multiple recording sessions in a day, while the actual band members learned the music well enough to fool the public into thinking they were the force behind the sound. From the Mamas and Papas and the Beach Boys (whose members did play on actual records but were supplemented by the Wrecking Crew) to the Monkees, who understood their limitations, to Sonny and Cher to the legendary Phil Spector, these musicians appeared on nearly every major record of the time. Spector used them to create his iconic “Wall of Sound,” and most of the producers and artists would only record if the Crew could be part of the session. If you liked “Standing in the Shadows of Motown” or “20 Feet from Stardom,” this is the kind of movie that will appeal to you. I loved it. 4 cans.
117. And the Oscar Goes to…* (2014) – How could I pass up a documentary on the history of the Oscars, filled with interviews from famous winners and losers and capturing those magic moments when the Oscar is awarded? Douglass Fairbanks and Mary Pickford were responsible for Hollywood’s annual awards, which, oddly enough, have bypassed such exceptional performers as Kirk Douglas, Charles Chaplin and others (who later were awarded honorary statues to make up for the glaring omissions). Jane Fonda picks up her father’s Oscar, Ron Howard says his mother predicted he would win (which, he reveals, she did with each movie he made) and Sacheen Littlefeather gets greeted with a barrage of boos when accepting Marlon Brando’s award for “The Godfather.” In between, we learn about sound effects, editing, screenwriting and the blacklisting of writers, directors, actors and others who were called out by the House Un-American Committee (Joseph McCarthy) and banned from receiving awards. Hosts from Hope to Carson to Crystal are highlighted in this fun (if somewhat disjointed) look at everything Oscar. And the Oscar goes to: 3½ cans.
118. The Armstrong Lie* (2014) – Filmmaker Alex Gibney started out making a documentary on the extraordinary comeback of renowned cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong, who, having won seven times in the Tour de France, decided to give it one more go in 2009. The ending of the movie was not what Gibney expected, however, as Armstrong, long accused of using performance enhancing drugs to improve his incredible results on the road, finally finds himself forced to own up to the truth. He reveals to Oprah that he used all kinds of substances to improve his performance, that he repeatedly lied about it when confronted with rumors or facts, and that his adamant defense injured not only his reputation but those of his accusers, a number of whom he took to court and won. If you say something enough times and make the statement vehemently enough, maybe you start to believe it yourself. Gibney, caught in the midst of trying to finish the documentary, insists that Armstrong answer his questions directly, taking the final film in an entirely different direction than he expected. Armstrong’s fall from grace was shattering. His cancer foundation was devastated, his sponsors abandoned him and he was banned from competing in any sport governed by the US Anti-Doping Agency. His friends and foes are on hand as Gibney traces the story through Armstrong’s early success through his battle with life-threatening testicular cancer that had spread to his brain. He covers Armstrong’s remarkable comeback in cycling and the rumors that dogged him until his final admission. I had been trying to find this movie since it was first released and found it to be a compelling look at a man whose athletic prowess and hubris are on par with each other. 4 cans.
119. The Intern* (2015) – Let’s step away from the documentaries for a moment to enjoy this Robert DeNiro comedy about a widower who gets a position as a “senior intern” for a rising on-line clothing company. Anne Hathaway is Jules, the driven head of About the Fit, a company she conceived and runs, and although she doesn’t feel she needs help, her partner does. So, enter DeNiro as Ben Whittaker, long-retired with a successful business background but also with the gentility to not force his opinions and will on the young executive. He graciously stands in the background and assists as needed. Before long, Jules and her family become dependent on him. Ben is old school, wearing a suit to work every day, carrying a classic briefcase, and mentoring the young people in the office – including Jules. The movie has its amusing moments and overall is quite charming, but I question its look at Jules as dependent on other people for success when she is a highly capable woman (as Ben points out to her). Her vulnerability becomes a bone of contention with me because it depicts women not as decisive, successful people, but as being influenced by culture and emotional fragility. Hathaway goes from steely resolve and scary smart to leaning on Ben in too many ways. 3½ cans.
120. The Walk* (2015) – Before the iconic Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were even open to the public in 1974, French wire walker Philippe Petit pulled of one of the most athletic, artistic and audacious stunts ever conceived and executed when he and a team of cohorts strung a wire between the buildings that Petit crossed – several times. Joseph Gordon-Levitt does a masterful job playing the daredevil Petit, masterminding a complex “coup” to figure out not just the walk itself, but how to get the wire strung between the two buildings without the interference of authorities. Very detailed planning was required to provide him the thrill of a lifetime – which, as we now know, can never be duplicated. When Petit lies down on the wire between the two towers, I was glad I wasn’t watching this movie in 3D, or I might have freaked out. Gordon-Levitt is competent as a Frenchman and as a wire walker, encouraged by mentor Papa Rudy (Ben Kingsley as a veteran high wire artist). I had already seen the documentary “Man on a Wire” about this feat. Now I’d like to see a documentary on the making of “The Walk.” Seriously, how did director Robert Zemekis do that? 3½ cans.
121. Freeheld* (2015) – Laurel Hester is a tough-as-nails, dedicated police officer in Ocean County, NJ. She plays by the book, and she keeps her private life private because she is sure that being a lesbian will hold her back in a male-dominated environment. Laurel (Juliane Moore) doesn’t even share that part of her life with her trusted partner Dale (Michael Shannon). But when she finds out she has terminal cancer, all she wants to do is leave her pension benefits to her domestic partner, Stacie (Ellen Page), so she can stay in the house they lovingly renovated and shared. The Ocean County Freeholders don’t want to defy the state ban on gay marriage, even though they could easily choose to vote in her favor. Spurred by the head of Garden State Equality (played by Steve Carell) and supported by Dale, fellow officers and friends rally to force the politicians to grant Laurel her dying wish. Moore, coming off an Oscar win for “Still Alice,” plays the role with an understated dignity, refusing to become the poster child for gay marriage. Page looks pained throughout most of the movie, but Shannon, who is typically intense, and Carell, who brings levity, are superb. True story, and thanks a bunch, New Jersey, for making it difficult for people to live their lives. 3½ cans.
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