March Madness began for me with a trip to Indianapolis to see my beloved Rutgers Women’s basketball team play in the BIG 10 Basketball Tournament in early March. My fellow fan friends and I saw nine games before Rutgers finally played in the quarterfinals, where they beat Purdue. Then they lost the next night to the eventual champs, Iowa, in a spirited game. In all, we saw 13 women’s games in five days, and, if that weren’t enough, about two dozen of us got tickets to see the Rutgers Men’s team play Indiana in nearby Bloomington. I’m resting up now, eagerly awaiting news of the NCAA Tournament – “The Big Dance” – and hope to follow my team as they play on. Fourteen games in five days really borders on MADNESS!
You never realize how many clocks you have in the house until you have to spring ahead or fall back!
There is nothing that makes me happier at the supermarket than getting a good parking space where I can “pull through” so I don’t have to back up the car to leave. Or when I can find one of those little carts. I don’t need a huge carriage, and besides, I can’t even reach to the bottom to grab my purchases and put them on the conveyer belt. It really is the little things.
Is it just me or has this been a long, cold, dreary winter? I can’t wait until the real spring is here and I can relish the fresh air, longer days and getting out without worrying about cold, snow and ice.
You know I love my Alexa (Amazon’s Echo device), but, considering our friendship, I think she could be a little more forthcoming. For instance, when I ask her for the weather report, she tells me the temperature and whether there will be sunshine, and she lets me know if there is a storm warning. But unless I ask, she doesn’t mention snow. Then she hesitates, informing me that there is a “possibility” of snow, really hedging her bets, and failing to forecast snowfall amounts unless I inquire. I think she should issue a warning that is more like this: “I put a list together of your staples and I’m telling you to RUN to the store and buy up all the milk and bread. It’s gonna be a bad one.” She could go a step further and offer the weather as soon as I walk in or when I am ready to walk out the door, rather than waiting until I ask – which, she should know by now, is our main topic of conversation. I get by with a little help from my friends.
Cage fighting is considered a sport. Two people beating the crap out of each other for money gets airtime on ESPN, alongside football, baseball, etc. There’s a profession no one aspired to when I was growing up.
Speaking of which, who decides at a young age to be an “influencer?” Young kids manage to acquire a big following on social media by endorsing certain brands of makeup, clothing, etc., that reflects their own lifestyle (thank you, Gwyneth Paltrow, for that one), and the companies pay them for their “influence.” On that basis, Bumble Bee owes me a fortune, because I have been buying and recommending their tuna fish for decades! I guess I’m just not influential enough.
Sure, it is WRONG for rich and famous people to commit fraud and pay bribes to get their kids into colleges, but the US has enough resources to deploy 300 FBI agents and others to investigate this scam? The rich have gotten their kids into prestigious schools for decades without meeting the necessary criteria, it seems to me. Has anyone checked out how the president ended up at Penn? How George Bush got into Yale? Yes, it is a crime and those who gamed the system should pay, but while there are more pressing problems beyond the rich being different, shouldn’t our resources be used to address mass killings, gun violence, domestic violence and other crimes where people actually die rather than fail to attend a college class or get admitted to college when they are not actually members of the crew team?
Dear Movie Pass: When I signed up, my purpose was to be able to watch an unlimited number of movies each month, which is what you advertised. Subscribe for a year and see a movie a day if you wish! But then you changed the rules. First, you limited the number, and then you selected which movies I could see. Now the application seldom works, so I cannot even get in to see the movies you are promoting. Instead, you have offered me bargains on wine and now you are pushing a meal delivery service. I predict Movie Pass will be out of business soon, since the company cannot manage to stay focused on the mission on which it was founded. Keep your wine and meals and let me see movies! I am not renewing my annual subscription. What a disappointment you are.
Everyone likes a good sale, but “buy one, get one half off” is NOT a good sale, in my opinion. If I buy one watch, why would I need another at half off? You are actually getting a 25% discount if you buy two of the same items, but if you only need one, you are paying more for something you really don’t need. Just give me the sale, not the package deal.
I get my nails done often, and while I like the way they look, going to the nail salon is not my favorite thing to do. Just selecting the color for my hands or feet is stressful. Are my nails long enough for a darker or brighter color, or should I go light? Should I try to match an outfit, a season? Gel or regular? Gel lasts MUCH longer, costs more, but it something I can’t mess up on the way home from the salon. (I can ruin a regular manicure just putting on my seatbelt.) And a regular manicure takes FOREVER to dry, where a gel manicure requires you to put your hands in and out of those ultraviolet light contraptions, the signals for which by the nail tech are just a subtle little nod of the head or wave of the hand. The last time I went for a manicure I took a picture of the polish so I could remember the name of the color and its number. This natural beauty stuff is complicated!
Friday, March 15, 2019
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Tina's February 2019 Movies
It may have been a short month, but with cold weather and assorted ailments keeping me housebound, I managed to see plenty of movies, 17 in all. Movies are rated on a scale of 1-5 cans of tuna fish, with 5 as the highest ranking. Numbering picks up from the previous month and movies I had not previously seen are marked with an asterisk. Sift through these and find a few you would like to watch.
15. Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980) – Sissy Spacek, who does her own singing, won an Oscar for this Loretta Lynn biopic, but don’t overlook the performance by Tommy Lee Jones as her husband Doo. The couple married young and poor, eventually leaving her beloved Kentucky for the Pacific Northwest. Loretta kept cranking out babies and singing around the house, which gave Doo the notion that she could be a performer. Neither of them could have imagined that she would become the Queen of Country Music, appearing at the epicenter of the genre, Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, countless times. As we know, money doesn’t always buy happiness, but despite their differences, the couple remained strong and supportive, even when fighting. I’m not a devotee of country music – at least not the Loretta Lynn “he-done-me-wrong” type – but this movie is exceptional. 4 cans.
16. Still of the Night* (1982) – This film noir stars a very young and stunning Meryl Streep as Brooke, a woman who works in an auction house. When the man she has been seeing is murdered, she visits the office of his psychiatrist, Dr. Rice (Roy Scheider), asking for his help. The police turn up, too, asking questions of the doctor to figure out who might have killed the deceased. The doctor soon finds himself falling for the beautiful and mysterious young woman, despite his suspicions that she may have been involved in the murder. This suspenseful movie reminded me of Hitchcock’s entries in this genre, a tight and twisty who-done-it. 3½ cans.
17. Night Shift (1982) – When Chuck (Henry Winkler) finds his stockbroker career too stressful, he signs on to work at the city morgue. He is organized, straight-laced and happy to do the mundane job – until wild man Bill Blazejowksi (Michael Keaton) comes along. Blaze has more money-making schemes than Ralph Kramden; he’s rowdy, completely irresponsible and the total opposite of Chuck. When Chuck’s prostitute neighbor Belinda (Shelley Long) has some work issues (like not having a proper pimp), Chuck and Blaze decide to turn the deadly quiet morgue into the love connection. The premise is cute, the boys do a good job, but eventually the whole thing gets really sloppy and silly and not nearly as funny as I remember it from my first viewing a few decades ago. 2 cans.
18. The Two Killings of Sam Cooke* (2019) – I am a big Sam Cooke fan. His voice is so silky sweet, his phrasing is so flawless, and his “Change Is Gonna Come” song gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. This documentary traces Cooke's rise from a gospel singer to a respected music icon and social activist, a man who was very influential as a leader in the Black community. His shooting death in 1964 at the young age of 33, in the midst of social and cultural change that he helped to lead, was controversial, and no one really could explain whether it was an isolated incident or the result of more powerful record company leaders or perhaps the mob gunning him down. Watch this Netflix original for the wonderful legacy of music left to us by Sam Cooke and learn even more to admire in this very special man. 4 cans.
19. The Fugitive (1993) – Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) IS the fugitive, a respected doctor who has been convicted of killing his wife but who protests his innocence. After the vehicle transporting him to prison is in an accident, Kimble escapes, and the US Marshals, led by dogged Samuel Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones) are determined to track him down. Dr. Kimble is equally determined to find the one-armed man who he insists is the real killer. This story was a very popular TV show, and, for decades, the final episode was the most watched program ever aired (I believe the finale was topped eventually by the last episode of “M*A*S*H*”). To evade the law, Kimble cuts off his beard and dyes his hair black (which, inexplicably, turns back to his original color while he sports a damn fine and not-inexpensive haircut). With shades of the original TV show and the Broadway show (based on the Victor Hugo book) “Les Miserables,” this movie is a bit of a letdown. I suspect that were it made today, Liam Neeson would be Dr. Richard Kimble. 3 cans.
20. Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011) – On Valentine’s Day (or any day, for that matter), I could not resist enjoying one of my FAVORITE movies. It was crazy and stupid and I loved it, even though I have seen it many times and I know the plot twists. An appealing cast, led by a schlubby Steve Carell, a near-perfect Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone and Julianne Moore, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon, the kid who plays Carell’s son, and the babysitter with a crush on Carell’s Cal Weaver, and you have the right people in the right parts for a comic and sweet story. It is easy to fall in love with Crazy, Stupid, Love. 4½ cans.
21. Mickey Blue Eyes (1999) – British art auctioneer Michael (Hugh Grant) is in love with Angie (Jeanne Tribblehorn), the daughter of Mafioso Frank (James Caan), who gets him involved with the Mob when Angie accidentally kills one of the gangsters. The movie is as convoluted as that description, but befuddled Michael – deemed “Little Big Mickey,” or, to distinguish him from others by similar names, better known as “Mickey Blue Eyes” – has to stage his own killing by his future father-in-law. This movie reminded me of “The In-Laws,” a far superior comedy with more slapstick (the original, with Alan Arkin and Peter Falk, not the remake), but this one has its charm, as Grant tries to adopt the Mafioso swagger, even attempting the Mob vernacular. Listen to him TRY to say “Fugettaboutit” with that British accent and just try not to smile! 3 cans.
22. Chicago (2002) – Unlikely casting in this musical of the Bob Fosse Broadway show generally succeeds, as Richard Gere plays unscrupulous lawyer Billy Flynn (and even tap dances!) along with Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger) and Velma (Catherine Zeta-Jones). Velma and Roxie are in prison, guarded by Queen Latifah, and plotting to get out and become big vaudeville stars. With songs like “All That Jazz,” the show is full of razzle-dazzle, and Zeta-Jones is drop-dead gorgeous (Gere looks pretty good, too, for that matter). The choreography is not as sharp as the stage show; Fosse used a flick of the wrist and a shrug of the shoulder to greater effect, but this is a movie. Entertaining and worth a view if you like Fosse. 3 cans.
23. Gone Baby Gone* (2007) – When 4-year old Amanda goes missing, her irresponsible mother seems less concerned about the child than her Aunt Bea (Amy Madigan) and Uncle Lionel (Titus Welliver). They are not happy with the police investigation, so Bea decides to get some publicity and brings in private detectives Patrick (Casey Affleck) and his partner/girlfriend Angie (Michelle Monaghan) to work with the cops. The police on the case (Ed Harris, John Ashton and chief of the unit Morgan Freeman) seem cooperative, but Patrick and Angie have some inside connections that help them make more progress. Just when you think the case has reached an end, you find out that it is far from over. This drama gives us the Boston suburbs full of tough-talking characters who have their own agendas. There are twists and lies and an ethical dilemma that are unexpected and engrossing. Casey’s brother Ben co-wrote and directed the movie and gave little brother a gripping part. 4 cans.
24. Only Mine* (2018) – This movie about relationship abuse looks and feels like a TV movie, and it was. It is based on a true story about Julie, a young woman who gets involved with a handsome police officer in a small town who quickly becomes obsessed with her and begins stalking and manipulating her. Is it my fault, she wonders, as he shows up in her house, menaces her with a rake, and threatens her if she won’t ride off it into the sunset with him? The cop is friends with the police chief, and he convinces the whole town she is making up the story. I’m not even going to list the members of the cast, who should not be proud of their wooden work on this tragedy of a movie. It was suspenseful but it seemed ludicrous, even though we know it is based on a true story. It reminded me of the shows on the ID channel where they recreate the crimes. My advice? Avoid this movie. 1 can.
25. Young Victoria (2009) – If you relish programs like “Victoria,” you’ll love this movie about Victoria, Queen of England. Emily Blunt plays the young woman who ascends to the throne at the tender age of 18. She not only has to grow into the role of sovereign, but she also has to contend with her domineering mother and her advisor, Lord John Conway (Mark Strong), who want to seize her authority. She has been so coddled that she is not allowed to walk down the staircase without taking her mother’s hand. Enter Prime Minister Lord Melbourne (Paul Bettany), a seemingly loyal and wise advisor. But when she meets and falls in love with Prince Albert of Germany (Rupert Freund), she begins to come into her own. “Downtown Abbey” author Julian Fellowes wrote the script. 3½ cans.
26. Au Revoir, Les Enfants* (1987) – Over the years, I have watched many movies about boys in a boarding school, growing up, going from competitors to friends, being inspired by an outstanding teacher, etc. – but none like this one. It is 1944 in Nazi-occupied France, and three new boys enter the school. Their newness makes them stand out, especially Jean Bonnet, who is reserved, smart and very quiet. He becomes friends with Julien, a smart but naïve boy who hasn’t been exposed to the realities of the world. As their friendship develops, Julien discovers out that Jean may be a Jew, and he has to ask his brother what that means. As the Nazis increasingly make their presence known, Jean’s fate may rest in Julien’s hands. This drama is brilliantly directed by Louis Malle, who based it on an incident in his own life. It lacks the intensity of “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” (which I have seen once and could never bear to view again), as you see terror that threatens these normal kids and the priests and teachers who try to help and protect them. It is a story about loyalty, friendship and growing up in a world of inexplicable cruelty. 4 cans.
27. Dominick Dunne – After the Party* (2008) – First of all, it was a hell of a party. Hollywood exec, movie and TV producer Dunne partied with the legends of Hollywood, from Bogart to Robert Evans, Truman Capote to Lana Turner, David Niven…and enjoyed every minute. After his divorce and the subsequent murder of his daughter Dominique by her ex-boyfriend at age 22, Dunne became a journalist – more of a crusading journalist, writing with a definite bias and scoping out stores about the rich and famous. He became transfixed by the OJ Simpson trial, by the murdering Menendez brothers and, much later, by the case of Phil Spector, the legendary music producer who was accused of killing an actress in his mansion. Dunne became the first big-name writer for Vanity Fair, and then started a new career as a book author. Whatever his career, Dunne keeps the viewer of this documentary engrossed as he is the on-camera host, and one not reluctant to tick off his own shortcomings. He is the kind of guy you would want at YOUR party, because he would have plenty of stories to tell. 3½ cans.
28. Sully (2016) – Ten years ago, Captain Chesley Sullenberger became famous for successfully landing a crippled airplane in the Hudson River in New York with all passengers and crew surviving. It was a feat of incredible expertise, skill and experience and something that won him high praise. But Sully (Tom Hanks, with white hair and Sully’s trademark mustache) and his co-pilot (Aaron Eckhardt) came under investigation by the FAA. They questioned his landing decision, contending that turning the plane back to LaGuardia or attempting to touch down in Newark or smaller Teterboro Airport would have been safer. Much of the story focuses on that investigation, as if just making the landing safely wasn’t enough drama. Tom is terrific, but the movie raised questions for me: Why was his wife (Laura Linney, in a part not worthy of her talents) only available by phone? Shouldn’t she have flown up to support him at the hearing? Why does the FAA seem out to get him? After all, everyone survived and Sully did a masterful job. And where did he get all the suits? Just remember: NEVER travel with Tom Hanks (“Terminal,” “Castaway,” “Apollo 13.” 3 cans.
29. Obit* (2016) – Writing obituaries must be deadly dull, right? No, not according to the many obit writers for The New York Times who were interviewed for this documentary (Amazon Prime). They don’t have much time to decide whether someone who died is “worthy” of mention in the Times, and, if that person passes muster, they have even less time to capture all the details about the deceased’s life and accomplishments, the family, education and other relevant facts, all of which must be verified. In the case of famous people who are of a certain age, there are “advance” obits written that just have to be updated. Ironically, all of these advance obits, along with literally tons of news clips about thousands of people, are stored in “the morgue.” But when someone famous dies unexpectedly, like Prince, Michael Jackson and Robin Williams, the obit department bustles with activity. I found this documentary fascinating. I don’t know how they were able to track down facts about people to write obits before the internet (they have thousands of clips, but not on EVERYBODY who is or became famous), but these dedicated, creative writers and their editors manage to meet or exceed expectations, even in a world of 24/7 news cycles. I applaud their efforts. 3½ cans.
30. Rosalind Russell: Life is a Banquet* (2009) – I cannot think of any current actress who can be considered the new Rosalind Russell. She was vibrant, intelligent and masterful in roles on Broadway and in the movies. Lauren Graham can deliver dialogue at breakneck speed, and Bette Midler has moxie to spare, but neither can command your attention in the Russell style. According to this documentary (airing on Amazon Prime Video), Russell had personality traits similar to the roles she played, though with even more warmth and compassion in real life. Her characters were not depicted just as equal to men; they dominated men. I am a huge fan of “Auntie Mame,” which starred Russell on stage and screen as a madcap, eccentric woman in the 1920s whose childcare style was totally original. She starred opposite Cary Grant in “His Girl Friday,” a movie that gave us women in the workplace outperforming men. I think we need a little Russell, right this very minute! 3½ cans.
31. Calendar Girls (2003) – A bunch of women whose club meets regularly to listen to speakers pontificate about incredibly boring topics (even to some of them) gain new life when they decide to raise money to furnish the hospital caring for the husband of one of their own by posing nude for a calendar. This cast is of the mature variety, starring every British actress this side of Dame Judi Dench, but the least likely of models become pretty enthusiastic about letting it all hang out (albeit with strategically placed blooms and watering cans) for a good cause. The stunt not only earns them money but also notoriety, which can be great for confidence boosting or disturbing when their lives are disrupted. If you want to see some major names do great work, check out Helen Mirren, Julie Walters, Celia Imrie, Penelope Wilton and a bunch of British actors who bring the characters to life in this off-beat and amusing dramatization with laughs of a true story. 3½ cans.
15. Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980) – Sissy Spacek, who does her own singing, won an Oscar for this Loretta Lynn biopic, but don’t overlook the performance by Tommy Lee Jones as her husband Doo. The couple married young and poor, eventually leaving her beloved Kentucky for the Pacific Northwest. Loretta kept cranking out babies and singing around the house, which gave Doo the notion that she could be a performer. Neither of them could have imagined that she would become the Queen of Country Music, appearing at the epicenter of the genre, Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, countless times. As we know, money doesn’t always buy happiness, but despite their differences, the couple remained strong and supportive, even when fighting. I’m not a devotee of country music – at least not the Loretta Lynn “he-done-me-wrong” type – but this movie is exceptional. 4 cans.
16. Still of the Night* (1982) – This film noir stars a very young and stunning Meryl Streep as Brooke, a woman who works in an auction house. When the man she has been seeing is murdered, she visits the office of his psychiatrist, Dr. Rice (Roy Scheider), asking for his help. The police turn up, too, asking questions of the doctor to figure out who might have killed the deceased. The doctor soon finds himself falling for the beautiful and mysterious young woman, despite his suspicions that she may have been involved in the murder. This suspenseful movie reminded me of Hitchcock’s entries in this genre, a tight and twisty who-done-it. 3½ cans.
17. Night Shift (1982) – When Chuck (Henry Winkler) finds his stockbroker career too stressful, he signs on to work at the city morgue. He is organized, straight-laced and happy to do the mundane job – until wild man Bill Blazejowksi (Michael Keaton) comes along. Blaze has more money-making schemes than Ralph Kramden; he’s rowdy, completely irresponsible and the total opposite of Chuck. When Chuck’s prostitute neighbor Belinda (Shelley Long) has some work issues (like not having a proper pimp), Chuck and Blaze decide to turn the deadly quiet morgue into the love connection. The premise is cute, the boys do a good job, but eventually the whole thing gets really sloppy and silly and not nearly as funny as I remember it from my first viewing a few decades ago. 2 cans.
18. The Two Killings of Sam Cooke* (2019) – I am a big Sam Cooke fan. His voice is so silky sweet, his phrasing is so flawless, and his “Change Is Gonna Come” song gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. This documentary traces Cooke's rise from a gospel singer to a respected music icon and social activist, a man who was very influential as a leader in the Black community. His shooting death in 1964 at the young age of 33, in the midst of social and cultural change that he helped to lead, was controversial, and no one really could explain whether it was an isolated incident or the result of more powerful record company leaders or perhaps the mob gunning him down. Watch this Netflix original for the wonderful legacy of music left to us by Sam Cooke and learn even more to admire in this very special man. 4 cans.
19. The Fugitive (1993) – Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) IS the fugitive, a respected doctor who has been convicted of killing his wife but who protests his innocence. After the vehicle transporting him to prison is in an accident, Kimble escapes, and the US Marshals, led by dogged Samuel Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones) are determined to track him down. Dr. Kimble is equally determined to find the one-armed man who he insists is the real killer. This story was a very popular TV show, and, for decades, the final episode was the most watched program ever aired (I believe the finale was topped eventually by the last episode of “M*A*S*H*”). To evade the law, Kimble cuts off his beard and dyes his hair black (which, inexplicably, turns back to his original color while he sports a damn fine and not-inexpensive haircut). With shades of the original TV show and the Broadway show (based on the Victor Hugo book) “Les Miserables,” this movie is a bit of a letdown. I suspect that were it made today, Liam Neeson would be Dr. Richard Kimble. 3 cans.
20. Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011) – On Valentine’s Day (or any day, for that matter), I could not resist enjoying one of my FAVORITE movies. It was crazy and stupid and I loved it, even though I have seen it many times and I know the plot twists. An appealing cast, led by a schlubby Steve Carell, a near-perfect Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone and Julianne Moore, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon, the kid who plays Carell’s son, and the babysitter with a crush on Carell’s Cal Weaver, and you have the right people in the right parts for a comic and sweet story. It is easy to fall in love with Crazy, Stupid, Love. 4½ cans.
21. Mickey Blue Eyes (1999) – British art auctioneer Michael (Hugh Grant) is in love with Angie (Jeanne Tribblehorn), the daughter of Mafioso Frank (James Caan), who gets him involved with the Mob when Angie accidentally kills one of the gangsters. The movie is as convoluted as that description, but befuddled Michael – deemed “Little Big Mickey,” or, to distinguish him from others by similar names, better known as “Mickey Blue Eyes” – has to stage his own killing by his future father-in-law. This movie reminded me of “The In-Laws,” a far superior comedy with more slapstick (the original, with Alan Arkin and Peter Falk, not the remake), but this one has its charm, as Grant tries to adopt the Mafioso swagger, even attempting the Mob vernacular. Listen to him TRY to say “Fugettaboutit” with that British accent and just try not to smile! 3 cans.
22. Chicago (2002) – Unlikely casting in this musical of the Bob Fosse Broadway show generally succeeds, as Richard Gere plays unscrupulous lawyer Billy Flynn (and even tap dances!) along with Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger) and Velma (Catherine Zeta-Jones). Velma and Roxie are in prison, guarded by Queen Latifah, and plotting to get out and become big vaudeville stars. With songs like “All That Jazz,” the show is full of razzle-dazzle, and Zeta-Jones is drop-dead gorgeous (Gere looks pretty good, too, for that matter). The choreography is not as sharp as the stage show; Fosse used a flick of the wrist and a shrug of the shoulder to greater effect, but this is a movie. Entertaining and worth a view if you like Fosse. 3 cans.
23. Gone Baby Gone* (2007) – When 4-year old Amanda goes missing, her irresponsible mother seems less concerned about the child than her Aunt Bea (Amy Madigan) and Uncle Lionel (Titus Welliver). They are not happy with the police investigation, so Bea decides to get some publicity and brings in private detectives Patrick (Casey Affleck) and his partner/girlfriend Angie (Michelle Monaghan) to work with the cops. The police on the case (Ed Harris, John Ashton and chief of the unit Morgan Freeman) seem cooperative, but Patrick and Angie have some inside connections that help them make more progress. Just when you think the case has reached an end, you find out that it is far from over. This drama gives us the Boston suburbs full of tough-talking characters who have their own agendas. There are twists and lies and an ethical dilemma that are unexpected and engrossing. Casey’s brother Ben co-wrote and directed the movie and gave little brother a gripping part. 4 cans.
24. Only Mine* (2018) – This movie about relationship abuse looks and feels like a TV movie, and it was. It is based on a true story about Julie, a young woman who gets involved with a handsome police officer in a small town who quickly becomes obsessed with her and begins stalking and manipulating her. Is it my fault, she wonders, as he shows up in her house, menaces her with a rake, and threatens her if she won’t ride off it into the sunset with him? The cop is friends with the police chief, and he convinces the whole town she is making up the story. I’m not even going to list the members of the cast, who should not be proud of their wooden work on this tragedy of a movie. It was suspenseful but it seemed ludicrous, even though we know it is based on a true story. It reminded me of the shows on the ID channel where they recreate the crimes. My advice? Avoid this movie. 1 can.
25. Young Victoria (2009) – If you relish programs like “Victoria,” you’ll love this movie about Victoria, Queen of England. Emily Blunt plays the young woman who ascends to the throne at the tender age of 18. She not only has to grow into the role of sovereign, but she also has to contend with her domineering mother and her advisor, Lord John Conway (Mark Strong), who want to seize her authority. She has been so coddled that she is not allowed to walk down the staircase without taking her mother’s hand. Enter Prime Minister Lord Melbourne (Paul Bettany), a seemingly loyal and wise advisor. But when she meets and falls in love with Prince Albert of Germany (Rupert Freund), she begins to come into her own. “Downtown Abbey” author Julian Fellowes wrote the script. 3½ cans.
26. Au Revoir, Les Enfants* (1987) – Over the years, I have watched many movies about boys in a boarding school, growing up, going from competitors to friends, being inspired by an outstanding teacher, etc. – but none like this one. It is 1944 in Nazi-occupied France, and three new boys enter the school. Their newness makes them stand out, especially Jean Bonnet, who is reserved, smart and very quiet. He becomes friends with Julien, a smart but naïve boy who hasn’t been exposed to the realities of the world. As their friendship develops, Julien discovers out that Jean may be a Jew, and he has to ask his brother what that means. As the Nazis increasingly make their presence known, Jean’s fate may rest in Julien’s hands. This drama is brilliantly directed by Louis Malle, who based it on an incident in his own life. It lacks the intensity of “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” (which I have seen once and could never bear to view again), as you see terror that threatens these normal kids and the priests and teachers who try to help and protect them. It is a story about loyalty, friendship and growing up in a world of inexplicable cruelty. 4 cans.
27. Dominick Dunne – After the Party* (2008) – First of all, it was a hell of a party. Hollywood exec, movie and TV producer Dunne partied with the legends of Hollywood, from Bogart to Robert Evans, Truman Capote to Lana Turner, David Niven…and enjoyed every minute. After his divorce and the subsequent murder of his daughter Dominique by her ex-boyfriend at age 22, Dunne became a journalist – more of a crusading journalist, writing with a definite bias and scoping out stores about the rich and famous. He became transfixed by the OJ Simpson trial, by the murdering Menendez brothers and, much later, by the case of Phil Spector, the legendary music producer who was accused of killing an actress in his mansion. Dunne became the first big-name writer for Vanity Fair, and then started a new career as a book author. Whatever his career, Dunne keeps the viewer of this documentary engrossed as he is the on-camera host, and one not reluctant to tick off his own shortcomings. He is the kind of guy you would want at YOUR party, because he would have plenty of stories to tell. 3½ cans.
28. Sully (2016) – Ten years ago, Captain Chesley Sullenberger became famous for successfully landing a crippled airplane in the Hudson River in New York with all passengers and crew surviving. It was a feat of incredible expertise, skill and experience and something that won him high praise. But Sully (Tom Hanks, with white hair and Sully’s trademark mustache) and his co-pilot (Aaron Eckhardt) came under investigation by the FAA. They questioned his landing decision, contending that turning the plane back to LaGuardia or attempting to touch down in Newark or smaller Teterboro Airport would have been safer. Much of the story focuses on that investigation, as if just making the landing safely wasn’t enough drama. Tom is terrific, but the movie raised questions for me: Why was his wife (Laura Linney, in a part not worthy of her talents) only available by phone? Shouldn’t she have flown up to support him at the hearing? Why does the FAA seem out to get him? After all, everyone survived and Sully did a masterful job. And where did he get all the suits? Just remember: NEVER travel with Tom Hanks (“Terminal,” “Castaway,” “Apollo 13.” 3 cans.
29. Obit* (2016) – Writing obituaries must be deadly dull, right? No, not according to the many obit writers for The New York Times who were interviewed for this documentary (Amazon Prime). They don’t have much time to decide whether someone who died is “worthy” of mention in the Times, and, if that person passes muster, they have even less time to capture all the details about the deceased’s life and accomplishments, the family, education and other relevant facts, all of which must be verified. In the case of famous people who are of a certain age, there are “advance” obits written that just have to be updated. Ironically, all of these advance obits, along with literally tons of news clips about thousands of people, are stored in “the morgue.” But when someone famous dies unexpectedly, like Prince, Michael Jackson and Robin Williams, the obit department bustles with activity. I found this documentary fascinating. I don’t know how they were able to track down facts about people to write obits before the internet (they have thousands of clips, but not on EVERYBODY who is or became famous), but these dedicated, creative writers and their editors manage to meet or exceed expectations, even in a world of 24/7 news cycles. I applaud their efforts. 3½ cans.
30. Rosalind Russell: Life is a Banquet* (2009) – I cannot think of any current actress who can be considered the new Rosalind Russell. She was vibrant, intelligent and masterful in roles on Broadway and in the movies. Lauren Graham can deliver dialogue at breakneck speed, and Bette Midler has moxie to spare, but neither can command your attention in the Russell style. According to this documentary (airing on Amazon Prime Video), Russell had personality traits similar to the roles she played, though with even more warmth and compassion in real life. Her characters were not depicted just as equal to men; they dominated men. I am a huge fan of “Auntie Mame,” which starred Russell on stage and screen as a madcap, eccentric woman in the 1920s whose childcare style was totally original. She starred opposite Cary Grant in “His Girl Friday,” a movie that gave us women in the workplace outperforming men. I think we need a little Russell, right this very minute! 3½ cans.
31. Calendar Girls (2003) – A bunch of women whose club meets regularly to listen to speakers pontificate about incredibly boring topics (even to some of them) gain new life when they decide to raise money to furnish the hospital caring for the husband of one of their own by posing nude for a calendar. This cast is of the mature variety, starring every British actress this side of Dame Judi Dench, but the least likely of models become pretty enthusiastic about letting it all hang out (albeit with strategically placed blooms and watering cans) for a good cause. The stunt not only earns them money but also notoriety, which can be great for confidence boosting or disturbing when their lives are disrupted. If you want to see some major names do great work, check out Helen Mirren, Julie Walters, Celia Imrie, Penelope Wilton and a bunch of British actors who bring the characters to life in this off-beat and amusing dramatization with laughs of a true story. 3½ cans.
Thursday, February 14, 2019
And Another Thing...
Don’t ask me that wintertime question, “Is it cold enough for you?” It was cold enough for me when it was 50 degrees.
I think we are all so spoiled by Kohl’s coupons that when we get the 30% one, we practically race to the store to use it, but when it is only a 15% coupon, we can’t be bothered wasting our time and resent it.
Come on, Oreos. It was hard enough to resist the Double Stuf (sic) variety, and then you give us the “Most Stuf” variety, and you advertise it as a limited edition, implying that we had better stock up on these before they disappear from the shelves. You’re killing me!
If you come up next to me and try to give me a hug, don’t. I have a very sore right shoulder, and the best I can offer is one of those one-armed hugs that athletes exchange. And if you do get close and wonder what that interesting new scent is that I am wearing, it is “Essence of Biofreeze,” a jaunty, menthol fragrance that not only works to relieve pain in my shoulder (at least a little), but also clears out stuffy sinuses – like Vicks VapoRub. There’s nothing like the smell of Biofreeze or BenGay to remind you that your body is decaying.
Life is a cacophony of sounds when you get older. There are the groans you make as you get up from the couch, the snap, crackle and pop of your knees and most other moving parts. This getting old is NOT for the weaklings among us!
It is tough to lose weight on a C-Food diet, when all my favorite things start with the letter C: chocolate, cake, cookies, candy, cupcakes, chips…and any carb you can name.
One of my New Year’s Resolutions for 2019 was to cut way back on the time I spend on social media. I found myself watching cat videos – and I am not a cat person at all – or reading recipes for things I shouldn’t (“the ultimate chocolate cake”) or wouldn’t make. So, if you are missing my humorous tidbits, you will have to read this blog to see what’s on my mind.
What is the purpose of the strings on a banana?
One of the great 21st century tragedies (don’t mind the hyperbole here) is that Linda Ronstadt and Julie Andrews can no longer sing. Ronstadt says she can sing in her brain, but Parkinson’s has taken away her ability to sing out loud. The voice that delivered soothing standards, rock, pop and country has been silenced. And Andrews, a huge presence on stage, screen and television, entertained us with classic musicals but she, too, can no longer perform. The absence of their presence just makes me so sad.
I have been in ShopRite so often recently that they must think people have moved in with me or that I am working for a soup kitchen, buying so much more food than usual. Actually, I HAVE been making much more soup lately…
Why do socks come on those tiny hangers? Sure, I know they help to display the socks in the store, but what can you do with that hanger when you buy the socks and take them home. I just bought a second pair of Ruth Bader Ginsburg socks online, and THEY came on a hanger. I wonder if the plastic can be recycled.
I don’t want to say that I wear a lot of old clothes, but I put on a vest today (which is a rare occasion) that is from the 2006 Torino Olympics, sponsored by my former employer, Johnson & Johnson.
There are so many pictures and headlines on the cover of People magazine that block the name that someone seeing the magazine for the first time might think it was Poople magazine.
Remember when you were a kid and your mother or aunt or grandmother always carried wrapped pieces of hard candy? I miss the original roll of Lifesavers. I was the one who grabbed the green, knowing everyone else wanted the cherry. Lemon and lime were usually available. Now the green is watermelon or apple favored and I can’t find lime anywhere other than in the lollipops in the lobby at Chase Bank. Cherry is still cherry, but I’m shut out of my faves.
Why do I always say that I’m going to “hop in the shower” or “jump in the shower?” Doing either could be very dangerous, and I really don’t want to have to call an ambulance if I fall!
What happens when solar panels are covered with snow? Does that mean there is no power available from them? No light?
Every time I pass a sign that says, “Deer Crossing,” I wonder if the deer know that location is where they are supposed to cross. Can they read?
As you probably know, I often go to the movies. The cheapest movies I see now are in the morning, when the price is $8. Long gone are the days when my mother dropped me off at the Cort Theater in Somerville with a dollar in my pocket. I can remember when movies there cost 25 cents, then 35 cents, and finally 50 cents, which gave me enough money for a ticket, a 25-cent popcorn and a 10-cent soda. Or, better yet, my friends and I would stop at Wald Drugs near the theater and buy 6 different candies for 25 cents. Things like a 5-pack of lollipops or candy cigarettes were a nickel a piece, and if you bought 5, you got one for free. This experience shaped my love of movies – and my waistline – for decades to come!
I always carry gloves in the pockets of my winter coats, but I so rarely actually put them on. It has to be really, really cold for me to wear them. I am not sure why.
Half the time when I see the little red light glowing on the DVR, I have no idea what I am recording. The machine has a better memory than I do and will automatically capture programs that come on for a new season if I had recorded them prior seasons, whether I am aware of their return or not.
I have a lot of very young friends for someone of my age (thanks to my wonderful Associate Alumnae of Douglass College), and the differences in our experiences and outlooks are often much clearer to me than they are to them. So, when someone says, “This birthday will be my last one in my 20s,” I can’t help but think, “I have sweatshirts older than you are.” Since I look younger than my age (or so I am told), it might be hard for my young friends to recognize how old I really am. In many cases, I am older than their parents and old enough to be their grandmother. I love being with the younger people, sharing experiences and learning about them and from them. And if they think of me as just one of them, I’m thrilled. But let’s face it, I can remember when there were 48 states. That puts my age in context, doesn’t it?
I made my debut as a “Guest Coach” for Rutgers Women’s Basketball on Valentine’s Day. What an honor! I sat right near the bench, under the basket, with several of my invited guests and a few other “Coaches.” I walked out on the floor and received a signed basketball and warm greetings and gratitude from legendary Coach C. Vivian Stringer, had my picture on the big scoreboard and my name announced by my buddy Paul Spychala, the PA announcer, got friendly greetings from the staff, high-fived the team, stood on the floor for the National Anthem and everything was going well to make this a memorable night – until the game started. Rutgers fell behind immediately and never mounted a serious run at catching up, eventually losing to Ohio State 59-39 in our lowest scoring game of the season. Had I been the actual coach, I would have suggested that Rutgers score more points. Alas, I feel my contract for further coaching opportunities will not be renewed. I “retire” with a 0-1 record. I will continue to support my favorite team from my regular seats and hope they will shake off the loss and return to the win column soon! It was a wonderful experience but would have been so much more fun if we had won the game!
I think we are all so spoiled by Kohl’s coupons that when we get the 30% one, we practically race to the store to use it, but when it is only a 15% coupon, we can’t be bothered wasting our time and resent it.
Come on, Oreos. It was hard enough to resist the Double Stuf (sic) variety, and then you give us the “Most Stuf” variety, and you advertise it as a limited edition, implying that we had better stock up on these before they disappear from the shelves. You’re killing me!
If you come up next to me and try to give me a hug, don’t. I have a very sore right shoulder, and the best I can offer is one of those one-armed hugs that athletes exchange. And if you do get close and wonder what that interesting new scent is that I am wearing, it is “Essence of Biofreeze,” a jaunty, menthol fragrance that not only works to relieve pain in my shoulder (at least a little), but also clears out stuffy sinuses – like Vicks VapoRub. There’s nothing like the smell of Biofreeze or BenGay to remind you that your body is decaying.
Life is a cacophony of sounds when you get older. There are the groans you make as you get up from the couch, the snap, crackle and pop of your knees and most other moving parts. This getting old is NOT for the weaklings among us!
It is tough to lose weight on a C-Food diet, when all my favorite things start with the letter C: chocolate, cake, cookies, candy, cupcakes, chips…and any carb you can name.
One of my New Year’s Resolutions for 2019 was to cut way back on the time I spend on social media. I found myself watching cat videos – and I am not a cat person at all – or reading recipes for things I shouldn’t (“the ultimate chocolate cake”) or wouldn’t make. So, if you are missing my humorous tidbits, you will have to read this blog to see what’s on my mind.
What is the purpose of the strings on a banana?
One of the great 21st century tragedies (don’t mind the hyperbole here) is that Linda Ronstadt and Julie Andrews can no longer sing. Ronstadt says she can sing in her brain, but Parkinson’s has taken away her ability to sing out loud. The voice that delivered soothing standards, rock, pop and country has been silenced. And Andrews, a huge presence on stage, screen and television, entertained us with classic musicals but she, too, can no longer perform. The absence of their presence just makes me so sad.
I have been in ShopRite so often recently that they must think people have moved in with me or that I am working for a soup kitchen, buying so much more food than usual. Actually, I HAVE been making much more soup lately…
Why do socks come on those tiny hangers? Sure, I know they help to display the socks in the store, but what can you do with that hanger when you buy the socks and take them home. I just bought a second pair of Ruth Bader Ginsburg socks online, and THEY came on a hanger. I wonder if the plastic can be recycled.
I don’t want to say that I wear a lot of old clothes, but I put on a vest today (which is a rare occasion) that is from the 2006 Torino Olympics, sponsored by my former employer, Johnson & Johnson.
There are so many pictures and headlines on the cover of People magazine that block the name that someone seeing the magazine for the first time might think it was Poople magazine.
Remember when you were a kid and your mother or aunt or grandmother always carried wrapped pieces of hard candy? I miss the original roll of Lifesavers. I was the one who grabbed the green, knowing everyone else wanted the cherry. Lemon and lime were usually available. Now the green is watermelon or apple favored and I can’t find lime anywhere other than in the lollipops in the lobby at Chase Bank. Cherry is still cherry, but I’m shut out of my faves.
Why do I always say that I’m going to “hop in the shower” or “jump in the shower?” Doing either could be very dangerous, and I really don’t want to have to call an ambulance if I fall!
What happens when solar panels are covered with snow? Does that mean there is no power available from them? No light?
Every time I pass a sign that says, “Deer Crossing,” I wonder if the deer know that location is where they are supposed to cross. Can they read?
As you probably know, I often go to the movies. The cheapest movies I see now are in the morning, when the price is $8. Long gone are the days when my mother dropped me off at the Cort Theater in Somerville with a dollar in my pocket. I can remember when movies there cost 25 cents, then 35 cents, and finally 50 cents, which gave me enough money for a ticket, a 25-cent popcorn and a 10-cent soda. Or, better yet, my friends and I would stop at Wald Drugs near the theater and buy 6 different candies for 25 cents. Things like a 5-pack of lollipops or candy cigarettes were a nickel a piece, and if you bought 5, you got one for free. This experience shaped my love of movies – and my waistline – for decades to come!
I always carry gloves in the pockets of my winter coats, but I so rarely actually put them on. It has to be really, really cold for me to wear them. I am not sure why.
Half the time when I see the little red light glowing on the DVR, I have no idea what I am recording. The machine has a better memory than I do and will automatically capture programs that come on for a new season if I had recorded them prior seasons, whether I am aware of their return or not.
I have a lot of very young friends for someone of my age (thanks to my wonderful Associate Alumnae of Douglass College), and the differences in our experiences and outlooks are often much clearer to me than they are to them. So, when someone says, “This birthday will be my last one in my 20s,” I can’t help but think, “I have sweatshirts older than you are.” Since I look younger than my age (or so I am told), it might be hard for my young friends to recognize how old I really am. In many cases, I am older than their parents and old enough to be their grandmother. I love being with the younger people, sharing experiences and learning about them and from them. And if they think of me as just one of them, I’m thrilled. But let’s face it, I can remember when there were 48 states. That puts my age in context, doesn’t it?
I made my debut as a “Guest Coach” for Rutgers Women’s Basketball on Valentine’s Day. What an honor! I sat right near the bench, under the basket, with several of my invited guests and a few other “Coaches.” I walked out on the floor and received a signed basketball and warm greetings and gratitude from legendary Coach C. Vivian Stringer, had my picture on the big scoreboard and my name announced by my buddy Paul Spychala, the PA announcer, got friendly greetings from the staff, high-fived the team, stood on the floor for the National Anthem and everything was going well to make this a memorable night – until the game started. Rutgers fell behind immediately and never mounted a serious run at catching up, eventually losing to Ohio State 59-39 in our lowest scoring game of the season. Had I been the actual coach, I would have suggested that Rutgers score more points. Alas, I feel my contract for further coaching opportunities will not be renewed. I “retire” with a 0-1 record. I will continue to support my favorite team from my regular seats and hope they will shake off the loss and return to the win column soon! It was a wonderful experience but would have been so much more fun if we had won the game!
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Tina's January 2019 Movies
Happy Movie Year! We start off the new year with 14 movies, including mostly new ones and a few excellent documentaries. Movies are rated on a scale of 1-5 cans of tuna, with 5 being the best. Those entries marked with an asterisk are movies I had not seen previously. Thanks for checking in and enjoy the latest list.
1. The Blind Side (2009) – Sandra Bullock plays LeeAnn Tuohy, a determined and fierce woman whose family in Memphis takes in homeless high school student Michael Ohrer (Quinton Aaron) and changes his life. “Big Mike” has grown up in poverty and has witnessed addiction and crime, but has tried to stay away from bad influences. With the love and support of the Tuohys, he develops into an excellent football player who attends college and eventually plays in the NFL. Bullock is terrific. To me, this movie is her “Erin Brockovich.” 3½ cans.
2. On the Basis of Sex* (2018) – Who would have predicted that there would be not just one movie but two movies made about the diminutive Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg? The documentary that debuted earlier in 2018 fills in her background and career. Always academically accomplished, Ruth was top of her class at Harvard and at Columbia Law School, where she completed her studies. She nursed her husband back to health after a bout of cancer and she completed law school while helping him graduate and raising their young daughter. That documentary gives just a glimpse into the cases she handled on discrimination of women, but this one focuses a bit less on her background and more on a case where a man is discriminated against, and that case is the perfect way to proclaim that all people must be treated the same under Constitutional law, regardless of gender. Ginsburg is like the rest of women, dealing with not only societal prejudice on a high level, but the everyday variety that comes in the form of demeaning language and treatment. Felicity Jones portrays the determined jurist and impossibly handsome Armie Hammer plays her smart and supportive husband. It is hard to imagine that a case of tax fraud could make an interesting movie, but it does. Long live Justice Ginsburg, role model to women everywhere. PS – She did a stint as a professor at Rutgers Law School in the 1970s, too. 3½ cans.
3. Roma* (2018) – This acclaimed movie by Alfonso Cuaron is getting all kinds of adoration from critics. The first subtitled movie I have seen in years, the film is one of the most visually stunning films I have ever watched. The long shots are full of rich detail. Shot in black and white, the movie holds your attention not because the scenes are beautiful – no rich sunsets or meandering streams here – but because they look as authentic as I can imagine Mexico being around 1970. Yalitza Aparicio is Cleo, dedicated young maid to an adoring family, led by Marina de Tavira as Senora Sofia. Cleo works with other housekeepers for the family, and they do all of the routine things that need to be done – making beds, doing dishes, and washing the driveway where the dogs poop. There’s not a lot of action here, but the focus is on family. Cleo gets pregnant at the same time her employer’s family is falling apart as the husband leaves them. The direction of the children is especially outstanding. They seem much more like kids in real life than in a scripted movie. Cuaron will certainly be recognized with awards for his cinematography and direction. But if you crave action or reject films with subtitles, this one is not for you. 4 cans.
4. The Upside* (2019) – Kevin Hart is Dell, an ex-con desperate for a job (or at least to prove he’s looking for one), and Bryan Cranston is Philip, is a wealthy quadriplegic author living in a stunning NYC penthouse who requires extensive care. Dell takes on the assignment despite his discomfort with some of the responsibilities (inserting a catheter tops the list) so he can pay his child support and reestablish ties with his son. As can be predicted, the two men from very different backgrounds forge a bond. Dell becomes less of a wise ass and Philip, who is ready to die, becomes better at living. The secret sauce here is the chemistry between Hart and Cranston, which could bring a smile to anyone’s face. Life is not easy for either man and they both have their own handicaps. This movie may not be the best of the year, but I found it “hart”-warming. 3½ cans.
5. If Beale Street Could Talk* (2018) – This love story between 22-year old Fonny and 19-year old Tish is set against the background of racial injustice in the early 1970s. The young couple have grown up together and have just reached the point of making a commitment to each other as young adults, when Fonny (Stephan James) is accused of rape and put in jail. That is where he is when Tish (KiKi Layne) informs him they are going to have a baby, assuring him that he will be out of jail long before the birth. Her family is loving and supportive; his family blames Tish, a responsible young woman with a job. The rest of the languorous movie moves forward and back in time as Tish tells the viewer their story and her family and his father try to help him prove his innocence. All through the movie we see black people suffering from an unjust system stacked against them. But their love and commitment are the heart of this story of two gentle souls suffering wounds inflicted on them by unfair rules and economic pressures. Regina King is Tish’s mother, a pillar of strength and determination as she works diligently to prove Fonny’s innocence. I liked the movie, but it is paced ever so slowly. The characters speak slowly, drink slowly and even smoke slowly. You can relate the pace to the way society adamantly refuses to change, to treat everyone with equal fairness and to protect the innocent. 3½ cans.
6. About Time* (2013) – This sweet romantic comedy hinges around time travel, an ability that young Tim Lane (Domhnall Gleeson) inherits from all of the men in his quirky family. His father (Bill Nighy) informs him of this gift as he turns 21, and he uses it whenever he wants to improve a situation – a bad date, a bad first impression. He simply goes into a closet, clenches his fists and makes everything better with a do-over. When he meets American Mary (Rachel McAdam), his special skill comes in handy, but he can’t use it for anyone but himself. Who among us wouldn’t occasionally like to take back something we have said or done? Part of the charm of this movie is the Lane family, a close group of eccentrics that includes Tim’s purple-loving, scruffy-looking sister, Kit Kat. This film did not focus so much on science fiction that it violated my disdain for the medium, and the romance between Tim and Mary was adorable to watch. This movie doesn’t rate at the level of director Richard Curtis’ other movies that I have seen – “Love Actually” being on the top of that list – but it is worth taking some time to see. 3 cans.
7. Philadelphia (1993) – It is hard to believe it has been more than a quarter of a century since this ground-breaking drama brought the realities of AIDS to the attention of this country. Tom Hanks’ Oscar-winning performance as lawyer Andrew Beckett put a face on the disease as he plays an AIDS patient who is fired from his job. Did the firm fire him for his job performance – which had always been considered outstanding – or because he contracted the disease and didn’t inform the partners? Andrew recruits personal injury lawyer Joe Miller (Denzel Washington) to represent him in the landmark case. Everything about this movie is superlative, from the story to the direction to the performances by the leads and all of the cast. It is heart wrenching but important, especially 25 years ago, when some people were terrified of coming into contact with anyone even suspected of having this disease. 4 cans.
8. The Commuter* (2018) – Never, never, get on a train with Liam Neeson. Here he is Michael, an ordinary family man, trying to pay his bills, who is approached by a mysterious stranger (Vera Farmiga) with a proposition: Find a certain passenger on the train and plant a tracking device on him or her and you get $100,000. Since he has just lost his job selling insurance, and even though he knows it is wrong, the former cop ends up being trapped into cooperation when his family is threatened. If you like lots of action, people rolling off tracks under a train, and 60-year-olds who can fight in confined spaces, this movie is for you. I didn’t exactly follow the plot, but I wouldn’t count Neeson out, not after “Taken,” “Taken Again and again…” 3 cans and a whole lot of action.
9. Vice* (2018) – Please don’t let the current president see this movie, because he will immediately seize on the tactics former Vice President Dick Cheney used to expand the powers of the president. Except in this case, Cheney, working with the less-than-sharp President George W. Bush, used them not only to run over any Constitutional checks and balances in his way, but also to assume the powers for himself. Christian Bale does an amazing job at portraying the tough, taciturn Cheney and how he rose through positions in Washington from an innocent intern to the VP job – which he agreed to take only if he could restructure it to hold most of the power of the President. His story sets the stage for the election of the current POTUS. It is hard to overlook some of the things in Cheney’s agenda, such as voting against climate change and for the use of torture of prisoners in the Middle East. All the important players are here, and when Steve Carrell as Donald Rumsfeld laughs at the young Cheney’s question, “What do we believe in?” it is clear that this is all about politics and power. And it is an eviscerating, as well as comedic, look at the American political system and who grabs and holds power. 4 cans and a probable Oscar for Bale.
10. Quincy* (2018) – Quincy Jones, man. Nobody says no to Quincy Jones. He can call Colin Powell and Oprah and they show up for him. Today’s talents, like Kendrick Lamar, pay homage to him, along with the legends with whom he worked over his 70 years in show business. It takes a long lifetime to accomplish all he has accomplished. Musician, arranger, composer, orchestrator, TV and movie producer, magazine publisher, winner of an Oscar, Emmy, Grammys galore and a Tony – Quincy has crammed more into his 80-plus years than it seems possible to do. He worked with everyone from Dinah Washington to Lionel Hampton to Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson. He produced the best-selling album of all time (“Thriller,” by Michael Jackson) and the best-selling single (“We Are the World”). He changed music in this country. This loving documentary, put together by his daughter Rashida, tells his life story, which includes a remarkable assemblage of artists and achievements that will last forever. I loved it. 4 cans.
11. The Tree* (2017) – Driving alone from Kansas to Indiana would be a fairly arduous trip for many of us, but 88-year-old Dorothy Thorp is determined to take her 1999 Pontiac and head to Terre Haute to see her oldest friend. Flashbacks show her doing all the usual childhood things with her BFF, but she primarily remembers their special meeting place, at the base of a huge tree. So, despite the misgivings of her well-meaning neighbors – who agree NOT to tell Dorothy’s daughter in Iowa about her travel plans – Dorothy hits the highways. She’s pulled over for driving too slowly on the interstate and takes to the tree-lined back roads, sightseeing along the way and encountering people with whom she shares parts of her life story. This poignant tale is corny and saccharine – but I loved it. Actress Joicie Appell, a doppelganger for Barbara Bush (complete with large pearl earrings), has an easy charm and gentle way about her as she portrays this elderly woman staying true to herself to make one last trip. The opposite of “The Commuter,” this movie could be seen as a little too perfect, where the sun always shines and everyone Dorothy meets treats her with respect and kindness. Don’t we all wish that were always the case? So, don’t look for action and adventure here – some car trouble and a slow leak in her tire is about as exciting as it gets – but if you like heartwarming stories that leave you with a lump in your throat, find this one on Amazon Prime and relish it. I did. 3½ cans.
12. Notting Hill (1999) – This movie pairs a British travel book store owner (Hugh Grant) with an American movie superstar (Julia Roberts) who happens into his bookstore one day and changes his life. Grant’s perfect timing and penchant for self-deprecation are just right, as he falls for the actress Anna, whose life is making movies and dodging the paparazzi. Roberts’ smile dazzles as usual, and Grant is smitten even while recognizing he doesn’t belong in her world. Great cast, lovably played. 4 cans.
13. Half the Picture* (2018) – The name of this documentary doesn’t tell half the story. Of the 442 people nominated for awards as a director of a motion picture, five have been women. One has won the Oscar. Getting a chance to direct a movie, getting the money to finance it, getting to work with the people you choose, and getting a second chance even if the first movie is a success is a huge challenge for women in an extremely male-oriented industry. This documentary – made by women about women directors – interviews the women who have had chances, often after protracted negotiations and more experience than men have been required to have to get the job. They have made notable films, from “Love and Basketball” to “Selma” to “Wonder Woman,” but they have to do more than just serve as director. Many feel obligated – if allowed – to hire female directors of photography or editors, or any of the other positions that normally go to men. If you have a dream and the talent, shouldn’t you be given a chance? Thanks to the effort of some of these women and the ACLU, the EEOC filed charges against the major studios and negotiations are ongoing. Maybe someday the number will actually BE half, but there is a very long way to go. 3½ cans.
14. Breslin & Hamill: Deadline Artists* (2019) – We live in a time where the power of newspapers has been economically compromised. The Daily News, once employed 450 writers and editors, now has 45. It is an era of online news and TV news and its veracity is slandered with the term “fake news.” This is not the era of famed tough-guy journalists like Jimmy Breslin and Pete Hamill, both powerful voices whose columns covered stories from the Assassination of President John Kennedy and his brother Bobby to the Son of Sam to the World Trade Center. Both brilliant writers with the ability to capture the best and worst of society, of the common man, both feisty, connected, sought after and brave. Hard-drinking Breslin hung out with a cast of characters right out of Damon Runyon, and when he wrote about Murray the Torch, it was because there actually was such a guy. You don’t have to have shared the political views of these writers to admire their work. Hamill’s articles on 9/11 bring you right to the gray, ash-covered streets. And while dignitaries and other journalists were covering President Kennedy’s funeral, Breslin was telling the story of the man making $3 an hour who dug his grave that morning. These two newspapermen could tell a story with the best of them. 4 cans.
1. The Blind Side (2009) – Sandra Bullock plays LeeAnn Tuohy, a determined and fierce woman whose family in Memphis takes in homeless high school student Michael Ohrer (Quinton Aaron) and changes his life. “Big Mike” has grown up in poverty and has witnessed addiction and crime, but has tried to stay away from bad influences. With the love and support of the Tuohys, he develops into an excellent football player who attends college and eventually plays in the NFL. Bullock is terrific. To me, this movie is her “Erin Brockovich.” 3½ cans.
2. On the Basis of Sex* (2018) – Who would have predicted that there would be not just one movie but two movies made about the diminutive Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg? The documentary that debuted earlier in 2018 fills in her background and career. Always academically accomplished, Ruth was top of her class at Harvard and at Columbia Law School, where she completed her studies. She nursed her husband back to health after a bout of cancer and she completed law school while helping him graduate and raising their young daughter. That documentary gives just a glimpse into the cases she handled on discrimination of women, but this one focuses a bit less on her background and more on a case where a man is discriminated against, and that case is the perfect way to proclaim that all people must be treated the same under Constitutional law, regardless of gender. Ginsburg is like the rest of women, dealing with not only societal prejudice on a high level, but the everyday variety that comes in the form of demeaning language and treatment. Felicity Jones portrays the determined jurist and impossibly handsome Armie Hammer plays her smart and supportive husband. It is hard to imagine that a case of tax fraud could make an interesting movie, but it does. Long live Justice Ginsburg, role model to women everywhere. PS – She did a stint as a professor at Rutgers Law School in the 1970s, too. 3½ cans.
3. Roma* (2018) – This acclaimed movie by Alfonso Cuaron is getting all kinds of adoration from critics. The first subtitled movie I have seen in years, the film is one of the most visually stunning films I have ever watched. The long shots are full of rich detail. Shot in black and white, the movie holds your attention not because the scenes are beautiful – no rich sunsets or meandering streams here – but because they look as authentic as I can imagine Mexico being around 1970. Yalitza Aparicio is Cleo, dedicated young maid to an adoring family, led by Marina de Tavira as Senora Sofia. Cleo works with other housekeepers for the family, and they do all of the routine things that need to be done – making beds, doing dishes, and washing the driveway where the dogs poop. There’s not a lot of action here, but the focus is on family. Cleo gets pregnant at the same time her employer’s family is falling apart as the husband leaves them. The direction of the children is especially outstanding. They seem much more like kids in real life than in a scripted movie. Cuaron will certainly be recognized with awards for his cinematography and direction. But if you crave action or reject films with subtitles, this one is not for you. 4 cans.
4. The Upside* (2019) – Kevin Hart is Dell, an ex-con desperate for a job (or at least to prove he’s looking for one), and Bryan Cranston is Philip, is a wealthy quadriplegic author living in a stunning NYC penthouse who requires extensive care. Dell takes on the assignment despite his discomfort with some of the responsibilities (inserting a catheter tops the list) so he can pay his child support and reestablish ties with his son. As can be predicted, the two men from very different backgrounds forge a bond. Dell becomes less of a wise ass and Philip, who is ready to die, becomes better at living. The secret sauce here is the chemistry between Hart and Cranston, which could bring a smile to anyone’s face. Life is not easy for either man and they both have their own handicaps. This movie may not be the best of the year, but I found it “hart”-warming. 3½ cans.
5. If Beale Street Could Talk* (2018) – This love story between 22-year old Fonny and 19-year old Tish is set against the background of racial injustice in the early 1970s. The young couple have grown up together and have just reached the point of making a commitment to each other as young adults, when Fonny (Stephan James) is accused of rape and put in jail. That is where he is when Tish (KiKi Layne) informs him they are going to have a baby, assuring him that he will be out of jail long before the birth. Her family is loving and supportive; his family blames Tish, a responsible young woman with a job. The rest of the languorous movie moves forward and back in time as Tish tells the viewer their story and her family and his father try to help him prove his innocence. All through the movie we see black people suffering from an unjust system stacked against them. But their love and commitment are the heart of this story of two gentle souls suffering wounds inflicted on them by unfair rules and economic pressures. Regina King is Tish’s mother, a pillar of strength and determination as she works diligently to prove Fonny’s innocence. I liked the movie, but it is paced ever so slowly. The characters speak slowly, drink slowly and even smoke slowly. You can relate the pace to the way society adamantly refuses to change, to treat everyone with equal fairness and to protect the innocent. 3½ cans.
6. About Time* (2013) – This sweet romantic comedy hinges around time travel, an ability that young Tim Lane (Domhnall Gleeson) inherits from all of the men in his quirky family. His father (Bill Nighy) informs him of this gift as he turns 21, and he uses it whenever he wants to improve a situation – a bad date, a bad first impression. He simply goes into a closet, clenches his fists and makes everything better with a do-over. When he meets American Mary (Rachel McAdam), his special skill comes in handy, but he can’t use it for anyone but himself. Who among us wouldn’t occasionally like to take back something we have said or done? Part of the charm of this movie is the Lane family, a close group of eccentrics that includes Tim’s purple-loving, scruffy-looking sister, Kit Kat. This film did not focus so much on science fiction that it violated my disdain for the medium, and the romance between Tim and Mary was adorable to watch. This movie doesn’t rate at the level of director Richard Curtis’ other movies that I have seen – “Love Actually” being on the top of that list – but it is worth taking some time to see. 3 cans.
7. Philadelphia (1993) – It is hard to believe it has been more than a quarter of a century since this ground-breaking drama brought the realities of AIDS to the attention of this country. Tom Hanks’ Oscar-winning performance as lawyer Andrew Beckett put a face on the disease as he plays an AIDS patient who is fired from his job. Did the firm fire him for his job performance – which had always been considered outstanding – or because he contracted the disease and didn’t inform the partners? Andrew recruits personal injury lawyer Joe Miller (Denzel Washington) to represent him in the landmark case. Everything about this movie is superlative, from the story to the direction to the performances by the leads and all of the cast. It is heart wrenching but important, especially 25 years ago, when some people were terrified of coming into contact with anyone even suspected of having this disease. 4 cans.
8. The Commuter* (2018) – Never, never, get on a train with Liam Neeson. Here he is Michael, an ordinary family man, trying to pay his bills, who is approached by a mysterious stranger (Vera Farmiga) with a proposition: Find a certain passenger on the train and plant a tracking device on him or her and you get $100,000. Since he has just lost his job selling insurance, and even though he knows it is wrong, the former cop ends up being trapped into cooperation when his family is threatened. If you like lots of action, people rolling off tracks under a train, and 60-year-olds who can fight in confined spaces, this movie is for you. I didn’t exactly follow the plot, but I wouldn’t count Neeson out, not after “Taken,” “Taken Again and again…” 3 cans and a whole lot of action.
9. Vice* (2018) – Please don’t let the current president see this movie, because he will immediately seize on the tactics former Vice President Dick Cheney used to expand the powers of the president. Except in this case, Cheney, working with the less-than-sharp President George W. Bush, used them not only to run over any Constitutional checks and balances in his way, but also to assume the powers for himself. Christian Bale does an amazing job at portraying the tough, taciturn Cheney and how he rose through positions in Washington from an innocent intern to the VP job – which he agreed to take only if he could restructure it to hold most of the power of the President. His story sets the stage for the election of the current POTUS. It is hard to overlook some of the things in Cheney’s agenda, such as voting against climate change and for the use of torture of prisoners in the Middle East. All the important players are here, and when Steve Carrell as Donald Rumsfeld laughs at the young Cheney’s question, “What do we believe in?” it is clear that this is all about politics and power. And it is an eviscerating, as well as comedic, look at the American political system and who grabs and holds power. 4 cans and a probable Oscar for Bale.
10. Quincy* (2018) – Quincy Jones, man. Nobody says no to Quincy Jones. He can call Colin Powell and Oprah and they show up for him. Today’s talents, like Kendrick Lamar, pay homage to him, along with the legends with whom he worked over his 70 years in show business. It takes a long lifetime to accomplish all he has accomplished. Musician, arranger, composer, orchestrator, TV and movie producer, magazine publisher, winner of an Oscar, Emmy, Grammys galore and a Tony – Quincy has crammed more into his 80-plus years than it seems possible to do. He worked with everyone from Dinah Washington to Lionel Hampton to Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson. He produced the best-selling album of all time (“Thriller,” by Michael Jackson) and the best-selling single (“We Are the World”). He changed music in this country. This loving documentary, put together by his daughter Rashida, tells his life story, which includes a remarkable assemblage of artists and achievements that will last forever. I loved it. 4 cans.
11. The Tree* (2017) – Driving alone from Kansas to Indiana would be a fairly arduous trip for many of us, but 88-year-old Dorothy Thorp is determined to take her 1999 Pontiac and head to Terre Haute to see her oldest friend. Flashbacks show her doing all the usual childhood things with her BFF, but she primarily remembers their special meeting place, at the base of a huge tree. So, despite the misgivings of her well-meaning neighbors – who agree NOT to tell Dorothy’s daughter in Iowa about her travel plans – Dorothy hits the highways. She’s pulled over for driving too slowly on the interstate and takes to the tree-lined back roads, sightseeing along the way and encountering people with whom she shares parts of her life story. This poignant tale is corny and saccharine – but I loved it. Actress Joicie Appell, a doppelganger for Barbara Bush (complete with large pearl earrings), has an easy charm and gentle way about her as she portrays this elderly woman staying true to herself to make one last trip. The opposite of “The Commuter,” this movie could be seen as a little too perfect, where the sun always shines and everyone Dorothy meets treats her with respect and kindness. Don’t we all wish that were always the case? So, don’t look for action and adventure here – some car trouble and a slow leak in her tire is about as exciting as it gets – but if you like heartwarming stories that leave you with a lump in your throat, find this one on Amazon Prime and relish it. I did. 3½ cans.
12. Notting Hill (1999) – This movie pairs a British travel book store owner (Hugh Grant) with an American movie superstar (Julia Roberts) who happens into his bookstore one day and changes his life. Grant’s perfect timing and penchant for self-deprecation are just right, as he falls for the actress Anna, whose life is making movies and dodging the paparazzi. Roberts’ smile dazzles as usual, and Grant is smitten even while recognizing he doesn’t belong in her world. Great cast, lovably played. 4 cans.
13. Half the Picture* (2018) – The name of this documentary doesn’t tell half the story. Of the 442 people nominated for awards as a director of a motion picture, five have been women. One has won the Oscar. Getting a chance to direct a movie, getting the money to finance it, getting to work with the people you choose, and getting a second chance even if the first movie is a success is a huge challenge for women in an extremely male-oriented industry. This documentary – made by women about women directors – interviews the women who have had chances, often after protracted negotiations and more experience than men have been required to have to get the job. They have made notable films, from “Love and Basketball” to “Selma” to “Wonder Woman,” but they have to do more than just serve as director. Many feel obligated – if allowed – to hire female directors of photography or editors, or any of the other positions that normally go to men. If you have a dream and the talent, shouldn’t you be given a chance? Thanks to the effort of some of these women and the ACLU, the EEOC filed charges against the major studios and negotiations are ongoing. Maybe someday the number will actually BE half, but there is a very long way to go. 3½ cans.
14. Breslin & Hamill: Deadline Artists* (2019) – We live in a time where the power of newspapers has been economically compromised. The Daily News, once employed 450 writers and editors, now has 45. It is an era of online news and TV news and its veracity is slandered with the term “fake news.” This is not the era of famed tough-guy journalists like Jimmy Breslin and Pete Hamill, both powerful voices whose columns covered stories from the Assassination of President John Kennedy and his brother Bobby to the Son of Sam to the World Trade Center. Both brilliant writers with the ability to capture the best and worst of society, of the common man, both feisty, connected, sought after and brave. Hard-drinking Breslin hung out with a cast of characters right out of Damon Runyon, and when he wrote about Murray the Torch, it was because there actually was such a guy. You don’t have to have shared the political views of these writers to admire their work. Hamill’s articles on 9/11 bring you right to the gray, ash-covered streets. And while dignitaries and other journalists were covering President Kennedy’s funeral, Breslin was telling the story of the man making $3 an hour who dug his grave that morning. These two newspapermen could tell a story with the best of them. 4 cans.
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Happy New Year
2019! Can it be 19 years – 20, if you count prep time – since we were getting ready for the much-hyped Y2K to ruin every system? I’m glad I won’t be around for the next big waste of time.
And speaking of 2019, here we are on the 15th day of the new year, and I am still sticking to my New Year’s Resolutions. This may be a record for me. I am going to bed earlier, spending more time reading, mostly wasting less time on social media (hence the extra time for reading) and remembering to slather lotion on my dried hands by stashing tubes and pump bottles of creamy stuff in every room of the house. Hopefully, I can keep up with this new regime.
Even though I am going to bed earlier, I’m not sure I am actually sleeping more. Like almost everyone else I know, sleep doesn’t come easy. I can commiserate with friends who say, “I’ve been up since 4 a.m. I got up to go to the bathroom and I couldn’t fall back to sleep.” Yup, I get it. And that’s another reason I am reading more, since I’m up anyway.
I’m pretty sure that one of these days I will mix up the Icy Hot roll-on medication I use for my sore shoulder with my deodorant and find myself with that tingling feeling in my armpit. And it is just a matter of time until I accidentally brush my teeth with the Aspercreme that I use when I am not using the Icy Hot. Then I will be tingling all over.
Don’t get jealous, but I think I am going to reorganize my Tupperware cabinet today. Where are you, Debbie Lynch, when I need you?
Somehow I doubt that Ruth Bader Ginsburg ever thought she would be the subject of not one but two movies. In 2018 there was the engrossing RBG documentary that traced her life story, and now Felicity Jones portrays the notorious RBG in an account of the case that made her famous. All young people should aspire to achieve the heights of the diminutive Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Bread should NEVER come in a package with blue or green writing on it. It always makes the bread look moldy.
What is it about those damn infomercials that makes them so compelling? I record TV shows on the off-channels during the night, and they are selling everything from “military-grade” flashlights to those sun blockers you attach to your visor to a special nail clipper for your pets. With an attached light. I want to buy them all, despite the fact that I need none of them.
Don’t you hate it when you peel a hard-boiled egg and you missed the tiniest piece of shell and you bite into the egg and now have that tiny little piece in your mouth? Yuck.
It is true that whatever you are looking for is in the last place you look. Of course it is, because once you find it, you stop looking. But sometimes I swear what I am looking for is just not going to be found, so I buy a new one – and then the first one mysteriously shows up. Recently, I was looking for wine that I use in cooking and could not find it. The day I brought the new bottle home, the original one managed to relocate itself into its original spot in the pantry. I KNOW I looked there! That has happened with clothes, too, where they seem to go out partying and eventually wind up back in the closet. Strange.
I just finished reading the Good Housekeeping Thanksgiving issue – from 2016. I may have too many magazines here. Up next is the AAA summer issue from 2017. Well, it’s not like the shore changes that much, right?
You know what scares me? That awful sound the washing machine makes when the load is unbalanced. There is a huge banging noise and what appears to be a jet engine landing in the laundry room. You have to open the machine and rearrange the load to get it to stop from taking flight.
We signed up for alerts on traffic and weather in my area, and while I appreciate the warnings, I wonder about how the authorities determine when they are over. Why do they tell us the warning will last until 4:34 AM. 4:34? Not 4:30 or 4:35? Curious.
My friends and I are at the age where we get a sudden pain in our knees or shoulders and we are sure the next step is surgery. My BFF said one day her knee suddenly hurt and she couldn’t walk. She immediately assumed she would need a knee replacement – one twinge, and she was ready to schedule surgery! Ironically, once when she was at my house, the same thing happened to me and she had to get me the cane I keep stashed in my closet. We were both fully recovered from whatever caused the issues the next day. Recently I had a papercut. The next day it looked red, which I figured surely was an infection, which meant I probably would have to have the finger amputated. I’m not downplaying serious health issues, but maybe – just maybe – we are overreacting?
Two recent experiences with telemarketers have not gone well – for them. First, someone called about solar panels. When I reminded the caller that I had not requested information on solar panels and would report his company for violating the Do Not Call list, he unleashed a stream of obscenities. I stayed on the phone, asking him if he had to get special training for that unique sales approach that would be ever-so appealing to customers, asking if his family was proud of him for his career accomplishments and goading him with the reminder that every minute he spent on the phone with me meant he was not racking up any sales. I never raised my voice, and he finally hung up. The next call was from a place called “Shiny Home Services.” I asked the guy what they do – are they a cleaning service? I asked him where he got my name; his answer was “from the marketing department.” I also wanted to know where the marketing department got my name, but he had no idea. Then I told him that I would be recording the call for future reference. He said the company does heating and air conditioning. I asked if he was going to sell me their services and his response was, “Only if you want them.” Oh, I replied, “so you won’t force me to buy your services?” He assured me he wouldn’t try to force me to buy anything. I told him I was so relieved, because I was sure he was going to force me to buy something. He asked if I had a heating and cooling system and repeated that he couldn’t force me, and I finally told him that yes, I do have heat and air conditioning (who doesn’t have heat?), and that he had violated the Do Not Call ban, and I was going to report him, too. I would hate to have a job as a telemarketer and have to waste time on people like me.
English IS a strange language. We renovate, but we don’t novate. We recruit, but we don’t cruit. We renew, but we don’t new. Of course, we DO reorganize, reinvent and reimagine. Just to name a few…
I live in constant fear that I will lose my ShopRite card or my Douglass ring. One is easily replaced, but the ring? That is my prized possession. I would be devastated. I already know who I am leaving it to in my will!
On a more somber note, I was crushed to learn that my FAVORITE restaurant, Espos in Raritan, announced its closing at the end of December. Just two days later, I learned that the owner, Bobby Esposito, passed away after battling leukemia. The place was a tavern that served the BEST Italian food – nothing fancy or trendy, just the classics in a hearty red sauce. I just don’t know where I will ever find eggplant parm that I love as much (except for my friend Janie Paluzzi’s eggplant, which is homegrown) in a restaurant. The place was there for about 45 years and never changed. The menus were on a blackboard, the tables were so close together that it always amazed me how the substantially-sized waiters could get through them to deliver food without spilling it, and there always used to be a line out the door. You would come in, never have to leave your name, and the guys behind the bar always knew who was next for a table. I used to order take-out and pick it up for my mother, who would eat her meal for days – and she’s been gone for nearly 30 years! I never once finished my meal; I preferred eating half, knowing I could enjoy the leftovers the next day. All of the places my family and I frequented around the Somerville, NJ, area are gone now – The Newsroom, Howard Johnson’s, The Minuteman, Buxtons, Johnny’s Diner and Bucky’s (which has to be the only Chinese-Italian-American restaurant ever), and even the late and lamented Gaston Avenue Bakery (not a restaurant, but you get my drift) – and they will all remain implanted in my memory of fun times and good food. But Espos was from my young adulthood until now. Luckily, I stopped in just a few weeks ago to pick up spaghetti and one large meatball while I was in town for a haircut. I enjoyed that meal immensely, never knowing it would be my last one from Espos. If I were on my deathbed and someone asked me what I wanted for my last meal, I would have picked the Espos eggplant parm (with the 7-layer cake from Gaston Avenue Bakery for dessert). Thanks for the memories – and the eggplant – Espos.
And speaking of 2019, here we are on the 15th day of the new year, and I am still sticking to my New Year’s Resolutions. This may be a record for me. I am going to bed earlier, spending more time reading, mostly wasting less time on social media (hence the extra time for reading) and remembering to slather lotion on my dried hands by stashing tubes and pump bottles of creamy stuff in every room of the house. Hopefully, I can keep up with this new regime.
Even though I am going to bed earlier, I’m not sure I am actually sleeping more. Like almost everyone else I know, sleep doesn’t come easy. I can commiserate with friends who say, “I’ve been up since 4 a.m. I got up to go to the bathroom and I couldn’t fall back to sleep.” Yup, I get it. And that’s another reason I am reading more, since I’m up anyway.
I’m pretty sure that one of these days I will mix up the Icy Hot roll-on medication I use for my sore shoulder with my deodorant and find myself with that tingling feeling in my armpit. And it is just a matter of time until I accidentally brush my teeth with the Aspercreme that I use when I am not using the Icy Hot. Then I will be tingling all over.
Don’t get jealous, but I think I am going to reorganize my Tupperware cabinet today. Where are you, Debbie Lynch, when I need you?
Somehow I doubt that Ruth Bader Ginsburg ever thought she would be the subject of not one but two movies. In 2018 there was the engrossing RBG documentary that traced her life story, and now Felicity Jones portrays the notorious RBG in an account of the case that made her famous. All young people should aspire to achieve the heights of the diminutive Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Bread should NEVER come in a package with blue or green writing on it. It always makes the bread look moldy.
What is it about those damn infomercials that makes them so compelling? I record TV shows on the off-channels during the night, and they are selling everything from “military-grade” flashlights to those sun blockers you attach to your visor to a special nail clipper for your pets. With an attached light. I want to buy them all, despite the fact that I need none of them.
Don’t you hate it when you peel a hard-boiled egg and you missed the tiniest piece of shell and you bite into the egg and now have that tiny little piece in your mouth? Yuck.
It is true that whatever you are looking for is in the last place you look. Of course it is, because once you find it, you stop looking. But sometimes I swear what I am looking for is just not going to be found, so I buy a new one – and then the first one mysteriously shows up. Recently, I was looking for wine that I use in cooking and could not find it. The day I brought the new bottle home, the original one managed to relocate itself into its original spot in the pantry. I KNOW I looked there! That has happened with clothes, too, where they seem to go out partying and eventually wind up back in the closet. Strange.
I just finished reading the Good Housekeeping Thanksgiving issue – from 2016. I may have too many magazines here. Up next is the AAA summer issue from 2017. Well, it’s not like the shore changes that much, right?
You know what scares me? That awful sound the washing machine makes when the load is unbalanced. There is a huge banging noise and what appears to be a jet engine landing in the laundry room. You have to open the machine and rearrange the load to get it to stop from taking flight.
We signed up for alerts on traffic and weather in my area, and while I appreciate the warnings, I wonder about how the authorities determine when they are over. Why do they tell us the warning will last until 4:34 AM. 4:34? Not 4:30 or 4:35? Curious.
My friends and I are at the age where we get a sudden pain in our knees or shoulders and we are sure the next step is surgery. My BFF said one day her knee suddenly hurt and she couldn’t walk. She immediately assumed she would need a knee replacement – one twinge, and she was ready to schedule surgery! Ironically, once when she was at my house, the same thing happened to me and she had to get me the cane I keep stashed in my closet. We were both fully recovered from whatever caused the issues the next day. Recently I had a papercut. The next day it looked red, which I figured surely was an infection, which meant I probably would have to have the finger amputated. I’m not downplaying serious health issues, but maybe – just maybe – we are overreacting?
Two recent experiences with telemarketers have not gone well – for them. First, someone called about solar panels. When I reminded the caller that I had not requested information on solar panels and would report his company for violating the Do Not Call list, he unleashed a stream of obscenities. I stayed on the phone, asking him if he had to get special training for that unique sales approach that would be ever-so appealing to customers, asking if his family was proud of him for his career accomplishments and goading him with the reminder that every minute he spent on the phone with me meant he was not racking up any sales. I never raised my voice, and he finally hung up. The next call was from a place called “Shiny Home Services.” I asked the guy what they do – are they a cleaning service? I asked him where he got my name; his answer was “from the marketing department.” I also wanted to know where the marketing department got my name, but he had no idea. Then I told him that I would be recording the call for future reference. He said the company does heating and air conditioning. I asked if he was going to sell me their services and his response was, “Only if you want them.” Oh, I replied, “so you won’t force me to buy your services?” He assured me he wouldn’t try to force me to buy anything. I told him I was so relieved, because I was sure he was going to force me to buy something. He asked if I had a heating and cooling system and repeated that he couldn’t force me, and I finally told him that yes, I do have heat and air conditioning (who doesn’t have heat?), and that he had violated the Do Not Call ban, and I was going to report him, too. I would hate to have a job as a telemarketer and have to waste time on people like me.
English IS a strange language. We renovate, but we don’t novate. We recruit, but we don’t cruit. We renew, but we don’t new. Of course, we DO reorganize, reinvent and reimagine. Just to name a few…
I live in constant fear that I will lose my ShopRite card or my Douglass ring. One is easily replaced, but the ring? That is my prized possession. I would be devastated. I already know who I am leaving it to in my will!
On a more somber note, I was crushed to learn that my FAVORITE restaurant, Espos in Raritan, announced its closing at the end of December. Just two days later, I learned that the owner, Bobby Esposito, passed away after battling leukemia. The place was a tavern that served the BEST Italian food – nothing fancy or trendy, just the classics in a hearty red sauce. I just don’t know where I will ever find eggplant parm that I love as much (except for my friend Janie Paluzzi’s eggplant, which is homegrown) in a restaurant. The place was there for about 45 years and never changed. The menus were on a blackboard, the tables were so close together that it always amazed me how the substantially-sized waiters could get through them to deliver food without spilling it, and there always used to be a line out the door. You would come in, never have to leave your name, and the guys behind the bar always knew who was next for a table. I used to order take-out and pick it up for my mother, who would eat her meal for days – and she’s been gone for nearly 30 years! I never once finished my meal; I preferred eating half, knowing I could enjoy the leftovers the next day. All of the places my family and I frequented around the Somerville, NJ, area are gone now – The Newsroom, Howard Johnson’s, The Minuteman, Buxtons, Johnny’s Diner and Bucky’s (which has to be the only Chinese-Italian-American restaurant ever), and even the late and lamented Gaston Avenue Bakery (not a restaurant, but you get my drift) – and they will all remain implanted in my memory of fun times and good food. But Espos was from my young adulthood until now. Luckily, I stopped in just a few weeks ago to pick up spaghetti and one large meatball while I was in town for a haircut. I enjoyed that meal immensely, never knowing it would be my last one from Espos. If I were on my deathbed and someone asked me what I wanted for my last meal, I would have picked the Espos eggplant parm (with the 7-layer cake from Gaston Avenue Bakery for dessert). Thanks for the memories – and the eggplant – Espos.
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