Saturday, February 15, 2020
February 2020 Message from Tina - Just Wondering
I’m pretty sure that yesterday was National Slow Shoppers Day at ShopRite, with people just strolling along leisurely with their carts. That’s surprising, since snow is predicted for tomorrow evening (Note: at the time this was originally written, that was the case), and that usually means the store will be stripped of milk, eggs, water, etc., in anticipation that everyone will be housebound until spring. My sister always says that there should be a cash register designated for “People doing their regular shopping” to avoid the survivalists who don’t expect to leave the house for months.
Last week it was National Talk on Your Phone While You Shop Day, with almost everyone in the store yammering away. I wonder if any of them were talking to each other. I’m too busy using my phone to check my shopping list on Alexa, so I can’t talk.
Why is it that we cannot be stitious but we can be superstitious?
Sometimes I wish life was like my TV remote, where I could tap the button and get a brief rewind. Miss something in a movie? Press that rewind. What were the specials in the restaurant? Tap that remote. What on earth was she talking about? One more time, please.
Have you ever noticed that the term “pay per view” sounds just like “paper view?”
I don’t understand how someone can survive without a DVR. I automatically record a ton of programs so I can watch them later and skip the commercials. Even if I am home, I don’t watch "Jeopardy" live. I can see it in 20 minutes on the DVR. Often, I will start watching the recording of a show while it is still on so I can skip the commercials and finish watching just as the live show ends. The DVR is invaluable for awards shows, but I’m always too eager to know who won so I have to watch live. I even record basketball games I have attended so I can rewatch the parts where I think the ref made a bad call or when there is an amazing play I want to see again. I’d be lost without my DVR.
My secret fantasy is to go into everyone’s house in this community and open their refrigerator to see how they have it organized. I don’t have nearly as much stuff crammed into mine as most people, but I know I could better organize what is there.
Don’t you think it would be helpful if books came with “org charts” to show the names and relationships between characters? You’re welcome.
Here is the problem with being in a book club: We have read so many books that when we go to select a new one, no one remembers what we have already read. And our group keeps a list! It is worse on the Kindle, where you don't have a book cover to remind you of the name of the book. If someone asks what I am reading, I have to go look it up!
I have always been curious about how medical records are kept. As you sign in to the doctor’s office, you see shelves stuffed with folders with letters and color codes. I have always wondered what that means. Are they alphabetical? Or do they mark the really bad patients with red on the folder? Just wondering.
I am the perfect audience for any book, play or movie “whodunit.” I am easily led to where the author leads, I fall for every red herring (and why are false clues called red herrings?), certain I’m heading in the right direction, and I smack myself in the head when I realize what I have done wrong. The last thing I got right in a murder mystery was when it turned out to actually be Professor Plum in the conservatory with the lead pipe.
I was very upset about something the other day and decided to throw caution to the wind and do something daring. So, I bought a grapefruit! I take Lipitor for high cholesterol, and I’m not supposed to eat grapefruit, which apparently gets in the way of the medication working. At age 69, buying and eating a grapefruit is my version of YOLO (you only live once).
Every time I see a report that Bed Bath and Beyond is closing stores, I begin to panic. I don’t want to buy towels from a catalog or on-line, even from my beloved Amazon. I want to feel them for softness, examine the colors and hold them in my hands. Sure, I buy bags for my Simple Human garbage can online, but I want to wander through the store, sniffing the Yankee candles, looking at the placemats I don’t need and thinking about whether it is time for a new comforter set. I remember going to a girls’ weekend with my friends and one brought a big container of margarita mix that she said she had bought at BB&B. I guess it came from the “Beyond” aisle! And those coupons! I have enough to last the rest of my life. Not toting them around with me would seem so unnatural! Please don’t close any of the stores near me, BB&B!
I know nothing about lacrosse. I’m not even sure they played it in my high school. But whenever I see lacrosse highlights on TV, I never can follow the action. The ball goes into that tiny little net so fast that I have never seen it cross the goal line (if that is even the right jargon). I know more about hockey, but I can’t see the puck go into the net there, either.
Speaking of sports, I have a guilty sports pleasure: I watch “American Ninja Warrior” on TV. These people look almost like regular folks. They don’t have uniforms. Some even wear jeans or cotton pants as they navigate a crazy course with all kinds of impossible looking obstacles. They climb, jump and seemingly fly through the course as if it were normal to maneuver through a glass tunnel by pressing your hands and feet on the glass walls, and they do this with speed and fearlessness (although it’s not like alligators are in the water below). Some of the competitors have opened training facilities to practice the course and its obstacles, and since they are constantly changing, I don’t know how they keep up. These athletes are not huge and highly muscled. Many were gymnasts and are remarkably fit. I don’t know what attracts me to this competition, but I’m glued to the TV watching it. Who would have thought?
Have you noticed how many insurance companies do commercials with “characters?” Aside from Flo from Progressive, there is the ubiquitous gecko from Geico (along with as many characters in total as there were actors in Ben Hur) the “General” from General, and Limu the Emu and his human sidekick, Doug. There is the annoying Pinocchio character (a Geico one, again) and how many more to sell insurance? State Farm has its agents hanging out with celebrity customers like Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes. I do admit that I like the State Farm commercial where “Sheryl” is upset because her “she-shed” burned down but she is assured it will be replaced. Bear in mind that none of this stuff would happen in your favor if YOUR she-shed burned down.
I love Amazon! Aside from my endless appreciation that the company hired my nephew right out of college (even though they are working him to death), Amazon provides goods and services we didn’t even know we needed. When I was looking for a case for my new phone, I found just what I wanted and had it on the phone 24 hours later. When the cord for the phone charger I bought on Amazon was too short to fit my needs, I initiated the online return and dropped it off at Kohl’s, where I bought something with the coupon Kohl’s gave me for letting them handle my transaction. No repacking the item and hauling it to the UPS store with a label; Kohl’s handles that part. They can track your delivery; today I got a message saying that mine had 7 more stops before it would arrive. When my package arrived here, my Alexa – also courtesy of Amazon – notified me and sent me a message on my phone with a picture of the package on my door mat. I download the books my book club reads onto my Kindle so I can take along something to read while I am in the waiting room at the doctor’s office or the car dealership. And I take advantage of Amazon Prime Video by enjoying “The Marvelous Mrs. Mazel” and other series and movies. I feel torn by the fact that the retail industry is suffering at the hands of this behemoth, and I would still rather go to a store and feel the quality of towels or try on clothes, but the convenience of finding and purchasing so many things I’d never find in a bricks and mortar location just can’t be beat. And to top it off, when I buy something on Amazon Smile, the company gives a very modest contribution to my Alumnae Association or virtually any charity of your choice. And my nephew will celebrate his 5th year of employment this summer. Thanks, Amazon!
Saturday, February 1, 2020
Tina's January 2020 Movies and More
It is off to the movies (and more) for another year. Movies not seen previously are noted with an asterisk, and the rating system goes from 1 (the worst) to 5 cans of tuna fish.
1. Uncut Gems* (2019) – Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) is a jeweler and a gambler. He bets that he can get $1 million from the sale of a rare opal, which he really needs to pay off his bookie and plenty of other people to whom he owes money. The man has more get-rich-quick schemes than Ralph Cramden, and the stakes keep getting higher. And every time he takes a licking and keeps on ticking, his wounds are self-inflicted, as he uses money he doesn’t have to cover the bad bets he made. Even the bookies in NY don’t want to take his action. His life is complicated; he’s juggling the rock to be auctioned off, basketball star Kevin Garnett (in a tight and terrific performance), a wife (Idina Menzel) and kids, an apartment in the city where he houses his girlfriend, and plenty of bad guys and debts all over town. This is an intense movie, one that I surely could not sleep through (and didn’t). Sandler’s Howard dominates the screen, trying to be charming and authoritative, but always forced into compromise, making bad decisions and getting his back against the wall. The action is frenetic but perfectly realistic for this character. I’m not sure I liked the movie, but it is a gem. 4 cans.
2. Only the Lonely (1991) – This charming film is about Danny, a loveable but lonely Chicago cop (John Candy) who lives with and takes care of his mother (Maureen O’Hara). When he falls for an equally lonely mortician (Ally Sheedy), his widowed mother discourages the relationship, which will take Danny away from her. He seems destined to be denied his own happiness, unless he stands up to the demanding widow and sticks with the woman he loves. 3½ cans.
3. Sleeping with the Enemy (1991) – Julia Roberts is Laura, the beautiful young wife of Martin (Patrick Bergin), a tall, dark and very rich man who adores her – and adores controlling her – almost as much as he adores running his gorgeous home like a military base. The towels are precisely hung and all of the canned goods are stored in the pantry with labels out, like obedient little soldiers. And he doesn’t seem to mind encouraging his wife to serve him in every way, beating her physically and abusing her mentally until she honors his demands. She makes a daring escape, but we all know the movie can’t be over at that point. Can he track her down? How? Where? This suspenseful movie decries domestic violence, and Laura lives in a constant state of fear. We know that he won’t give up easily. PS – I see nothing wrong with having towels hung neatly and pantry goods properly aligned – just not with Martin’s penalties. 3½ cans.
4. Saturday Night Fever (1977) – This sensational movie is so much more than a look at kids from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, with disco fever. It is a gritty look at barely-educated young men in their early 20s having fun, with some not yet realizing that their insular world is not enough to bring them long-term purpose and joy. They have few aspirations, but most any would seem impossible to achieve. There is an plenty of misogyny, racial prejudice and abusive relationships within families and among the young men and the women they use as playthings. The bridge from Bay Ridge to Manhattan, where dreams can come true, seems too wide to cross. Tony Manero (a transcendent John Travolta in the role that made him a superstar), lives at home with his disapproving parents and works at a dead-end job in a paint store. The only thing that brings him a feeling of being alive is going to the disco on Saturday nights with his buddies. Travolta owns the dance floor, capturing the attention of everyone at the club when he starts to dance. Meeting disco dancing Stephanie (a miscast Karen Lynn Gorney), a slightly older and sarcastic woman who works in “the city,” gives him a view beyond Bay Ridge. This is a film about hopes and dreams, about expanding your world when you don’t know how to go about it. You can find humor, pathos and broken hearts amid the pulsing music of the BeeGees and that ubiquitous white suit. And the dancing is truly memorable. 4 cans.
5. Just Mercy* (2020) – Brian Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) goes from a small, rural town in Delaware to Harvard and law school, and then makes his way to rural Alabama to fight for justice and equality for death row prisoners. Working within a system that could best be described as unfair at a minimum (one of his clients was put on death row BEFORE his trial) he realizes he is fighting an uphill battle, but he is determined to reexamine the records of each inmate he takes on to see if the evidence merits a new trail. Convincing the judicial system is a challenge, but he must also convince the inmates that he wants to help them. Johnny D. (a superb Jamie Foxx) isn’t interested in hearing from another lawyer promising help. He has been convicted of a murder on the basis of the testimony of one man whose own sentence was reduced after he testified. The case files are thin, but Brian and his sole colleague (Brie Larson) start digging. This true story is an indictment of racial prejudice and injustice. It is a powerful story, well cast and acted, that had me on the verge of tears more than once. I can’t disclose more of the plot, but if you see the importance of fair and equal treatment, see this movie. If you don’t feel that way, see it anyway, because it might open your eyes. 4 cans.
6. The Aftermath* (2019) – Keira Knightly plays Rachel Morgan, the wife of a British Army officer (Jason Clarke) assigned to Hamburg after the end of World War II. The Brits have commandeered the homes of locals to house their officers, and Morgan decides to allow the German homeowner Stefan (Alexander Skarsgard), a widower, to remain there with his daughter. Rachel is uncomfortable with this arrangement, although there is no love lost between the young wife and her husband since the death of their son. She is no longer in love with him, is unhappy with her life, and shares a house that is not her own with a very handsome man. I’ll let you figure out the rest. 3 cans.
7. Knives Out* (2020) – This clever murder mystery is a true whodunit. Even though rich author Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) clearly has committed suicide, that does not stop the authorities plus a private detective (Daniel Craig) from investigating the who, what, where, when, why and how of the case. Thrombey’s scheming family is top of the list, each with a bona fide reason to come under suspicion. And then there Marta (Ana de Armas), the devoted nurse who cares for Harlan and seems to be the last person to see him alive. Lots of motives, suspects, intrigue and a sly dose of humor make this movie a real treat. 3½ cans.
8. 1917* (2020) – Do you ever have a dream where you have to get somewhere and a bunch of obstacles get in your way? At least you wake up. In this movie, two young British corporals are given the nearly impossible task of crossing into enemy territory to stop the commander of another battalion of soldiers from attacking the Germans and standing down or risk losing everyone – including the brother of one of the messengers – or risk great casualties. This harrowing movie was perfectly shot and directed, and one I typically would not watch, but I had to see what all the buzz was about. Glad I saw it. War is hell. 4 cans.
9. Betty White: A Lifetime in Television* – I caught this one on Netflix. It is a recounting of the remarkable career of TV legend Betty White, whose first TV show aired in 1939! They actually had TV then, I guess! The story of her career doesn’t contain the usual rise-and-fall. She’s just been around forever, playing funny, amiable and memorable roles. She is adored by her friends and co-stars from her decades of playing characters like the lusty Sue Ann Nivens, the Happy Homemaker maneater on the venerable “Mary Tyler Moore” show, and Rose Niland, the wide-eyed innocent from St. Olaf on “The Golden Girls” and many more parts. There’s nothing earthshaking here, but with Betty White still around and performing at 98, there is so much to admire. Betty White is a national treasure. 3 cans.
10. Ford vs. Ferrari* (2019) – This action-packed movie should have been titled “Ford vs. Its Own Racing Team,” because most of the plot involves Ford’s development of a stunning new race car designed to beat the Ferrari line – despite considerable interference from “the suits” that ran Ford. Ford hired legendary drive and designer Carroll Shelby to create a car to compete with the legendary Italian cars – and then would not let him use his genius friend/mechanic/driver Ken Myles, to bring it home. Myles has an innate feeling for the car and can give Shelby the feedback he needs to make it ready to win the iconic 24-hour race at Le Mans, but Myles is no favorite of the Ford folks. This movie is as close as I ever want to get to riding at 225-miles per hour in a car. How these drivers can operate such an advanced vehicle at high speeds, in bad conditions and over a 24-hour period is nothing short of miraculous. But the movie is about more than just racing. It highlights the friendship and trust between Shelby (Matt Damon) and Myles (Christian Bale) that can survive disagreements and squabbling to achieve a shared goal. 3½ cans.
11. Enough (2002) – Jennifer Lopez is Slim, a waitress who meets Mitch (Billy Campbell), a very rich and handsome man, in the diner where she works. The attractive couple gets married, has a daughter, and lives in a beautiful home. But things are rarely as idyllic as they appear. When Slim finds out Mitch is cheating on her (and seriously, who in his right mind would cheat on JLo?), she confronts him, never expecting him to lash out physically. He is mean, abusive and seemingly invulnerable, and she needs to find a way to survive. “Sleeping With the Enemy” (see number 3 above) is in the same genre of domestic violence and both movies feature women who seem to have no chance with their dangerous, smug, resourceful and stronger partners – but somehow manage to outfox them and survive. 3 cans.
12. Unbelievable* (2019) – This is not a movie but an 8-part series on Netflix, and I’m including it because it is unbelievably good. The series is about a rapist who is very careful not to leave any evidence behind, which makes the case difficult for the cops to solve. When two detectives in separate locations realize they have victims who tell nearly the same exact same story, they suspect there is a serial rapist and they start the process of tracking down similar cases and any and every detail to catch the perpetrator. It takes dogged determination and a little luck to make anything happen. Meanwhile, the first victim has recanted her story and is pursued by the police for fabricating the rape. The victims of these crimes go through enormous pain and aftereffects. Toni Collette and Merit Weaver play the main police detectives, who take their jobs and the victims very seriously. Absorbing. 4 cans.
13. Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez* (2020) – Aaron Hernandez was a talented football player who starred in high school, at the University of Florida and as a pro player with the New England Patriots. He was young and immature when he signed a $40 million contract with the Pats. And then he was arrested and convicted of shooting and killing a friend in cold blood. And then he was tried and acquitted of randomly killing two strangers he ran into in a bar. Was it from the effects of repeated blows to the head as a result of his playing career? Was it his constant use of marijuana, his violent abuse at the hands of his father as a young boy? Was it running with a pack of the wrong guys? Was it his confusion over his sexuality? Was it all of the above? You cannot dismiss the fact that young people with lots of money have lots of temptations, but his behavior started before the flow of money did. Convicted of killing his friend, he faced a life sentence, and he hung himself in his jail cell. This 3-part Netflix documentary examines all of the possibilities and lets you draw your own conclusion. 3½ cans.
14. Brittany Runs a Marathon* (2019) – Brittany‘s life is a mess. She parties too much, drinks too much, and has too many hangovers. Her job is going nowhere and her roommate is too perfect. Then she sees a doctor who tells her she needs to lose 50 or 60 pounds or risk dying young from high blood pressure and a host of other ailments. And she actually realizes that she can do something about it, so she puts on sweats and goes out for a run. Just one block, she tells herself, but it isn’t long before she can go further, making running friends and getting ready to enter the NY Marathon. That could never happen in real life, right? Only it did! The writer-director (Paul Downs Calaizzo) has a friend named Brittany who did just that. If you have ever been overweight or heard the doctor recite all of the above, you know how tough it is to get started, so credit to the real Brittany and the actress who plays her, Jillian Bell, for working out and getting healthy and grabbing hold of her own life. This movie has bits of comedy to help us like this 27-year old New Yorker with a growing list of problems. Many of us have been there, but not everyone puts down the chips and takes up running. 3 cans.
1. Uncut Gems* (2019) – Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) is a jeweler and a gambler. He bets that he can get $1 million from the sale of a rare opal, which he really needs to pay off his bookie and plenty of other people to whom he owes money. The man has more get-rich-quick schemes than Ralph Cramden, and the stakes keep getting higher. And every time he takes a licking and keeps on ticking, his wounds are self-inflicted, as he uses money he doesn’t have to cover the bad bets he made. Even the bookies in NY don’t want to take his action. His life is complicated; he’s juggling the rock to be auctioned off, basketball star Kevin Garnett (in a tight and terrific performance), a wife (Idina Menzel) and kids, an apartment in the city where he houses his girlfriend, and plenty of bad guys and debts all over town. This is an intense movie, one that I surely could not sleep through (and didn’t). Sandler’s Howard dominates the screen, trying to be charming and authoritative, but always forced into compromise, making bad decisions and getting his back against the wall. The action is frenetic but perfectly realistic for this character. I’m not sure I liked the movie, but it is a gem. 4 cans.
2. Only the Lonely (1991) – This charming film is about Danny, a loveable but lonely Chicago cop (John Candy) who lives with and takes care of his mother (Maureen O’Hara). When he falls for an equally lonely mortician (Ally Sheedy), his widowed mother discourages the relationship, which will take Danny away from her. He seems destined to be denied his own happiness, unless he stands up to the demanding widow and sticks with the woman he loves. 3½ cans.
3. Sleeping with the Enemy (1991) – Julia Roberts is Laura, the beautiful young wife of Martin (Patrick Bergin), a tall, dark and very rich man who adores her – and adores controlling her – almost as much as he adores running his gorgeous home like a military base. The towels are precisely hung and all of the canned goods are stored in the pantry with labels out, like obedient little soldiers. And he doesn’t seem to mind encouraging his wife to serve him in every way, beating her physically and abusing her mentally until she honors his demands. She makes a daring escape, but we all know the movie can’t be over at that point. Can he track her down? How? Where? This suspenseful movie decries domestic violence, and Laura lives in a constant state of fear. We know that he won’t give up easily. PS – I see nothing wrong with having towels hung neatly and pantry goods properly aligned – just not with Martin’s penalties. 3½ cans.
4. Saturday Night Fever (1977) – This sensational movie is so much more than a look at kids from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, with disco fever. It is a gritty look at barely-educated young men in their early 20s having fun, with some not yet realizing that their insular world is not enough to bring them long-term purpose and joy. They have few aspirations, but most any would seem impossible to achieve. There is an plenty of misogyny, racial prejudice and abusive relationships within families and among the young men and the women they use as playthings. The bridge from Bay Ridge to Manhattan, where dreams can come true, seems too wide to cross. Tony Manero (a transcendent John Travolta in the role that made him a superstar), lives at home with his disapproving parents and works at a dead-end job in a paint store. The only thing that brings him a feeling of being alive is going to the disco on Saturday nights with his buddies. Travolta owns the dance floor, capturing the attention of everyone at the club when he starts to dance. Meeting disco dancing Stephanie (a miscast Karen Lynn Gorney), a slightly older and sarcastic woman who works in “the city,” gives him a view beyond Bay Ridge. This is a film about hopes and dreams, about expanding your world when you don’t know how to go about it. You can find humor, pathos and broken hearts amid the pulsing music of the BeeGees and that ubiquitous white suit. And the dancing is truly memorable. 4 cans.
5. Just Mercy* (2020) – Brian Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) goes from a small, rural town in Delaware to Harvard and law school, and then makes his way to rural Alabama to fight for justice and equality for death row prisoners. Working within a system that could best be described as unfair at a minimum (one of his clients was put on death row BEFORE his trial) he realizes he is fighting an uphill battle, but he is determined to reexamine the records of each inmate he takes on to see if the evidence merits a new trail. Convincing the judicial system is a challenge, but he must also convince the inmates that he wants to help them. Johnny D. (a superb Jamie Foxx) isn’t interested in hearing from another lawyer promising help. He has been convicted of a murder on the basis of the testimony of one man whose own sentence was reduced after he testified. The case files are thin, but Brian and his sole colleague (Brie Larson) start digging. This true story is an indictment of racial prejudice and injustice. It is a powerful story, well cast and acted, that had me on the verge of tears more than once. I can’t disclose more of the plot, but if you see the importance of fair and equal treatment, see this movie. If you don’t feel that way, see it anyway, because it might open your eyes. 4 cans.
6. The Aftermath* (2019) – Keira Knightly plays Rachel Morgan, the wife of a British Army officer (Jason Clarke) assigned to Hamburg after the end of World War II. The Brits have commandeered the homes of locals to house their officers, and Morgan decides to allow the German homeowner Stefan (Alexander Skarsgard), a widower, to remain there with his daughter. Rachel is uncomfortable with this arrangement, although there is no love lost between the young wife and her husband since the death of their son. She is no longer in love with him, is unhappy with her life, and shares a house that is not her own with a very handsome man. I’ll let you figure out the rest. 3 cans.
7. Knives Out* (2020) – This clever murder mystery is a true whodunit. Even though rich author Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) clearly has committed suicide, that does not stop the authorities plus a private detective (Daniel Craig) from investigating the who, what, where, when, why and how of the case. Thrombey’s scheming family is top of the list, each with a bona fide reason to come under suspicion. And then there Marta (Ana de Armas), the devoted nurse who cares for Harlan and seems to be the last person to see him alive. Lots of motives, suspects, intrigue and a sly dose of humor make this movie a real treat. 3½ cans.
8. 1917* (2020) – Do you ever have a dream where you have to get somewhere and a bunch of obstacles get in your way? At least you wake up. In this movie, two young British corporals are given the nearly impossible task of crossing into enemy territory to stop the commander of another battalion of soldiers from attacking the Germans and standing down or risk losing everyone – including the brother of one of the messengers – or risk great casualties. This harrowing movie was perfectly shot and directed, and one I typically would not watch, but I had to see what all the buzz was about. Glad I saw it. War is hell. 4 cans.
9. Betty White: A Lifetime in Television* – I caught this one on Netflix. It is a recounting of the remarkable career of TV legend Betty White, whose first TV show aired in 1939! They actually had TV then, I guess! The story of her career doesn’t contain the usual rise-and-fall. She’s just been around forever, playing funny, amiable and memorable roles. She is adored by her friends and co-stars from her decades of playing characters like the lusty Sue Ann Nivens, the Happy Homemaker maneater on the venerable “Mary Tyler Moore” show, and Rose Niland, the wide-eyed innocent from St. Olaf on “The Golden Girls” and many more parts. There’s nothing earthshaking here, but with Betty White still around and performing at 98, there is so much to admire. Betty White is a national treasure. 3 cans.
10. Ford vs. Ferrari* (2019) – This action-packed movie should have been titled “Ford vs. Its Own Racing Team,” because most of the plot involves Ford’s development of a stunning new race car designed to beat the Ferrari line – despite considerable interference from “the suits” that ran Ford. Ford hired legendary drive and designer Carroll Shelby to create a car to compete with the legendary Italian cars – and then would not let him use his genius friend/mechanic/driver Ken Myles, to bring it home. Myles has an innate feeling for the car and can give Shelby the feedback he needs to make it ready to win the iconic 24-hour race at Le Mans, but Myles is no favorite of the Ford folks. This movie is as close as I ever want to get to riding at 225-miles per hour in a car. How these drivers can operate such an advanced vehicle at high speeds, in bad conditions and over a 24-hour period is nothing short of miraculous. But the movie is about more than just racing. It highlights the friendship and trust between Shelby (Matt Damon) and Myles (Christian Bale) that can survive disagreements and squabbling to achieve a shared goal. 3½ cans.
11. Enough (2002) – Jennifer Lopez is Slim, a waitress who meets Mitch (Billy Campbell), a very rich and handsome man, in the diner where she works. The attractive couple gets married, has a daughter, and lives in a beautiful home. But things are rarely as idyllic as they appear. When Slim finds out Mitch is cheating on her (and seriously, who in his right mind would cheat on JLo?), she confronts him, never expecting him to lash out physically. He is mean, abusive and seemingly invulnerable, and she needs to find a way to survive. “Sleeping With the Enemy” (see number 3 above) is in the same genre of domestic violence and both movies feature women who seem to have no chance with their dangerous, smug, resourceful and stronger partners – but somehow manage to outfox them and survive. 3 cans.
12. Unbelievable* (2019) – This is not a movie but an 8-part series on Netflix, and I’m including it because it is unbelievably good. The series is about a rapist who is very careful not to leave any evidence behind, which makes the case difficult for the cops to solve. When two detectives in separate locations realize they have victims who tell nearly the same exact same story, they suspect there is a serial rapist and they start the process of tracking down similar cases and any and every detail to catch the perpetrator. It takes dogged determination and a little luck to make anything happen. Meanwhile, the first victim has recanted her story and is pursued by the police for fabricating the rape. The victims of these crimes go through enormous pain and aftereffects. Toni Collette and Merit Weaver play the main police detectives, who take their jobs and the victims very seriously. Absorbing. 4 cans.
13. Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez* (2020) – Aaron Hernandez was a talented football player who starred in high school, at the University of Florida and as a pro player with the New England Patriots. He was young and immature when he signed a $40 million contract with the Pats. And then he was arrested and convicted of shooting and killing a friend in cold blood. And then he was tried and acquitted of randomly killing two strangers he ran into in a bar. Was it from the effects of repeated blows to the head as a result of his playing career? Was it his constant use of marijuana, his violent abuse at the hands of his father as a young boy? Was it running with a pack of the wrong guys? Was it his confusion over his sexuality? Was it all of the above? You cannot dismiss the fact that young people with lots of money have lots of temptations, but his behavior started before the flow of money did. Convicted of killing his friend, he faced a life sentence, and he hung himself in his jail cell. This 3-part Netflix documentary examines all of the possibilities and lets you draw your own conclusion. 3½ cans.
14. Brittany Runs a Marathon* (2019) – Brittany‘s life is a mess. She parties too much, drinks too much, and has too many hangovers. Her job is going nowhere and her roommate is too perfect. Then she sees a doctor who tells her she needs to lose 50 or 60 pounds or risk dying young from high blood pressure and a host of other ailments. And she actually realizes that she can do something about it, so she puts on sweats and goes out for a run. Just one block, she tells herself, but it isn’t long before she can go further, making running friends and getting ready to enter the NY Marathon. That could never happen in real life, right? Only it did! The writer-director (Paul Downs Calaizzo) has a friend named Brittany who did just that. If you have ever been overweight or heard the doctor recite all of the above, you know how tough it is to get started, so credit to the real Brittany and the actress who plays her, Jillian Bell, for working out and getting healthy and grabbing hold of her own life. This movie has bits of comedy to help us like this 27-year old New Yorker with a growing list of problems. Many of us have been there, but not everyone puts down the chips and takes up running. 3 cans.
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
New Year, New Blog Post
If I say I am listless, why does that not mean that I am without a list? Or is it rather that I have lost my mojo? I think I need a shot of Vitameatavegamin because I am tired, rundown and listless, and I poop out at parties. I just hope I’m not unpopular.
No matter what kind of illness you have – a cold, respiratory infection, a stomach bug or anything else – if you mention it, inevitably someone will tell you they either have it, too, or “There is a lot of that going around.” Try it if you don’t believe me.
It seems that getting a flu shot does not guarantee you immunity from the flu, because look what I have!
Doesn’t it kill you to walk around with Kohl’s cash in your wallet, a 30% coupon in your hand, sales on practically everything – and find nothing to buy at Kohls? Come on, folks, we can do it!
I just got an ad in my email for Kotex products. I think something has gone wrong with the algorithm.
On the first day or the new year/decade, I received an ad promoting bail bonds. Really? I was home before midnight on New Year’s Eve, so I don’t need bail bonds!
The people at ABC must be thrilled when they announce the opening of “20/20” and they get to say, “THIS is 2020.”
Despite the fact that this year is my 14th year of retirement, I still have dreams that I go into the office and am finally told it is time for me to retire. And in the dream, I realize that I have the gargantuan task of sorting out the stuff in my desk, or they are going to expect me to do some actual work. But I am retired! I can’t tell you how many times I have had this mini-nightmare. Sometimes I am lucky that I don’t sleep all that well…
I was so bored one morning that I found myself watching an old episode of the TV sitcom "Alice." And it wasn’t even the original, good ones with Flo telling Mel to “Kiss my grits.” It was one where Flo has been replaced by Jolene. There must be something better than this to watch!
If I were a carpenter and you were a lady, you’d probably have to take me to the hospital when I drive a nail through my thumb by mistake.
My sister said she was so bored at work on the week between Christmas and New Year’s that she actually spent time cleaning out her hole punch. Damn, I used to love to do that. She had to apologize to the cleaning staff for the errant dots on the floor. Maybe they thought she was preparing for a New Year’s Eve party!
I must have been bored, too. I sealed my granite countertops and removed the lint from my hair dryer. Someone had to do it!
I hope no one needs a good set of my fingerprints right now, because, despite diligently applying lotion to my hands every time I wash them, my thumb has its usual dry skin crack.
There are some strange similarities between the nail salon and the dentist’s office. First, there’s that noise, the drilling or mechanical noise you get from similar instruments used, like drilling and smoothing. And then there’s the fact that my dentist and the nail techs both tell me to relax. Relax? I cannot control the position of my tongue or my tense hands while either my teeth or my hands are being treated.
I am reading a book on my Kindle for my next Book Club meeting and I have found enough errors and grammatical differences with how I would construct or punctuate a sentence that I am distracted and find it hard to read. Is it just me, or do you have that issue, too?
I hope I live long enough to read all of the books on my Kindle. I had better stop downloading them soon or mathematically this will be impossible!
I think I have established that I am a chocolate lover. But please stop violating my chocolate by putting it on stuff (like pretzels) or having stuff in it. As much as I love strawberries, I really DON’T want to have them coated with chocolate. That’s even too sweet for a confirmed chocoholic like me. I am the human version of a “No Nut Zone,” though if you know me well, you might not characterize me that way!
Not only are robocalls a pain in the butt, but when they leave you a voicemail message, it is always cut off. I can’t tell whether the call is about lowering my credit card rate, telling me I won a dream vacation, solar panels or how to pay off my college loan (from 1972, no less; trust me, that is long since done!).
One sure sign of the new year: The Can Can sale is going on at ShopRite.
I watched “The Pioneer Woman” cook one morning on the Food Network. She was making something with custard, which she described as “simple.” When the first step had 4 or 5 different actions, I tuned out. Exactly what is the definition of simple? And I’m sure it doesn’t include tempering eggs.
As I get older, I feel a growing kinship with Sophia Petrillo from “The Golden Girls.” I have run out of patience and small talk and just want to cut the conversation down to the bare essentials, like “How are you?” and “See you soon.” Plus, my filter for making snide comments is missing in action.
Can you remember a January day that was 70 degrees in NJ? I’m so confused, and you know this was a 24-hour special. Can snow and ice be far behind?
My interest payment on my bank account just arrived. What should I do with that 15 cents? And how much does it cost the bank to process that amount?
I am getting a physical in February, so the doctor’s office has given me the paperwork to fill out and bring in for the appointment. First of all, don’t they have my records in the computer system? After all, this form is exactly what I have filled out for every previous physical I have had. Second, do you really recall how old you were when you had measles? I was a kid, maybe 5 or 6, but what happens if I am a year off? Who’s going to know? And third, could the line spacing on that form be any tighter? Back in the days when I could breeze through the questionnaire with a simple “NO” checked off for most things, I didn’t need space to include things like “right hemicolectomy” on the form, but now? I could use extra pages (I dread the day when I can no longer summon up the “right hemicolectomy” nomenclature). How am I supposed to define “pain elsewhere?” I am thinking of purchasing a t-shirt that reads, “If I woke up in the morning and nothing hurt, I would think I was dead.” The good thing is that I was reminded by my sister last time to make a copy of the completed form I submitted for my last physical, so that will make things easier and more consistent as I try to recall my medical history. You should do this, too!
No matter what kind of illness you have – a cold, respiratory infection, a stomach bug or anything else – if you mention it, inevitably someone will tell you they either have it, too, or “There is a lot of that going around.” Try it if you don’t believe me.
It seems that getting a flu shot does not guarantee you immunity from the flu, because look what I have!
Doesn’t it kill you to walk around with Kohl’s cash in your wallet, a 30% coupon in your hand, sales on practically everything – and find nothing to buy at Kohls? Come on, folks, we can do it!
I just got an ad in my email for Kotex products. I think something has gone wrong with the algorithm.
On the first day or the new year/decade, I received an ad promoting bail bonds. Really? I was home before midnight on New Year’s Eve, so I don’t need bail bonds!
The people at ABC must be thrilled when they announce the opening of “20/20” and they get to say, “THIS is 2020.”
Despite the fact that this year is my 14th year of retirement, I still have dreams that I go into the office and am finally told it is time for me to retire. And in the dream, I realize that I have the gargantuan task of sorting out the stuff in my desk, or they are going to expect me to do some actual work. But I am retired! I can’t tell you how many times I have had this mini-nightmare. Sometimes I am lucky that I don’t sleep all that well…
I was so bored one morning that I found myself watching an old episode of the TV sitcom "Alice." And it wasn’t even the original, good ones with Flo telling Mel to “Kiss my grits.” It was one where Flo has been replaced by Jolene. There must be something better than this to watch!
If I were a carpenter and you were a lady, you’d probably have to take me to the hospital when I drive a nail through my thumb by mistake.
My sister said she was so bored at work on the week between Christmas and New Year’s that she actually spent time cleaning out her hole punch. Damn, I used to love to do that. She had to apologize to the cleaning staff for the errant dots on the floor. Maybe they thought she was preparing for a New Year’s Eve party!
I must have been bored, too. I sealed my granite countertops and removed the lint from my hair dryer. Someone had to do it!
I hope no one needs a good set of my fingerprints right now, because, despite diligently applying lotion to my hands every time I wash them, my thumb has its usual dry skin crack.
There are some strange similarities between the nail salon and the dentist’s office. First, there’s that noise, the drilling or mechanical noise you get from similar instruments used, like drilling and smoothing. And then there’s the fact that my dentist and the nail techs both tell me to relax. Relax? I cannot control the position of my tongue or my tense hands while either my teeth or my hands are being treated.
I am reading a book on my Kindle for my next Book Club meeting and I have found enough errors and grammatical differences with how I would construct or punctuate a sentence that I am distracted and find it hard to read. Is it just me, or do you have that issue, too?
I hope I live long enough to read all of the books on my Kindle. I had better stop downloading them soon or mathematically this will be impossible!
I think I have established that I am a chocolate lover. But please stop violating my chocolate by putting it on stuff (like pretzels) or having stuff in it. As much as I love strawberries, I really DON’T want to have them coated with chocolate. That’s even too sweet for a confirmed chocoholic like me. I am the human version of a “No Nut Zone,” though if you know me well, you might not characterize me that way!
Not only are robocalls a pain in the butt, but when they leave you a voicemail message, it is always cut off. I can’t tell whether the call is about lowering my credit card rate, telling me I won a dream vacation, solar panels or how to pay off my college loan (from 1972, no less; trust me, that is long since done!).
One sure sign of the new year: The Can Can sale is going on at ShopRite.
I watched “The Pioneer Woman” cook one morning on the Food Network. She was making something with custard, which she described as “simple.” When the first step had 4 or 5 different actions, I tuned out. Exactly what is the definition of simple? And I’m sure it doesn’t include tempering eggs.
As I get older, I feel a growing kinship with Sophia Petrillo from “The Golden Girls.” I have run out of patience and small talk and just want to cut the conversation down to the bare essentials, like “How are you?” and “See you soon.” Plus, my filter for making snide comments is missing in action.
Can you remember a January day that was 70 degrees in NJ? I’m so confused, and you know this was a 24-hour special. Can snow and ice be far behind?
My interest payment on my bank account just arrived. What should I do with that 15 cents? And how much does it cost the bank to process that amount?
I am getting a physical in February, so the doctor’s office has given me the paperwork to fill out and bring in for the appointment. First of all, don’t they have my records in the computer system? After all, this form is exactly what I have filled out for every previous physical I have had. Second, do you really recall how old you were when you had measles? I was a kid, maybe 5 or 6, but what happens if I am a year off? Who’s going to know? And third, could the line spacing on that form be any tighter? Back in the days when I could breeze through the questionnaire with a simple “NO” checked off for most things, I didn’t need space to include things like “right hemicolectomy” on the form, but now? I could use extra pages (I dread the day when I can no longer summon up the “right hemicolectomy” nomenclature). How am I supposed to define “pain elsewhere?” I am thinking of purchasing a t-shirt that reads, “If I woke up in the morning and nothing hurt, I would think I was dead.” The good thing is that I was reminded by my sister last time to make a copy of the completed form I submitted for my last physical, so that will make things easier and more consistent as I try to recall my medical history. You should do this, too!
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
Tina's December 2019 Movies and Year's Best
Following the reviews of my December movies below, you will find a list of my favorite/best movies of 2019. New movies not seen previously are marked with an asterisk. All are rated on a scale of 1-5 cans of tuna, with 5 being the best. Numbering picks up from previous months. Here's to great movies in 2020.
151. Dark Waters* (2019) – Mark Ruffalo stars here as Rob Billot, a corporate lawyer who is approached by a farmer in West Virginia whose livestock are dying from drinking polluted water. As Rob delves into the case, he finds that DuPont, a key employer in the area, has been dumping chemicals in the local streams, and the people and babies living in the region have all suffered serious medical problems. He and his wife have ties to the area and he feels he needs to pursue this issue to protect the citizens. The case turns into a lengthy one and could result in adverse consequences for Rob and his wife (Anne Hathaway). Ruffalo underplays the character as a dour, humorless but dedicated man trying to do what’s right in the face of immense pressure, capturing data, assessing scientific evidence and going up against a giant corporation. This movie is highly detailed (there are segments when Rob sits on the floor trying to read cartons and cartons of files pertinent to the case; I have never seen so many binder clips in my life) and there is not much action. Some of the people he is trying to protect oppose his approach and favor DuPont because they trust the company. Bottom line – DON’T EVER USE ANYTHING WITH TEFLON COATING! 4 cans but not much fun.
152. Marriage Story* (2019 – Netflix) – Nicole and Charlie Barber (Scarlet Johanssen and Adam Driver) are clearly meant for each other. She is an actress and he is a director of avant garde theater, based in New York and determined to stay there despite her desire to move back to California and pursue movies and TV projects. As in all relationships, there is always the push and pull of who is entitled to what and who will win out. By the time we meet them, they have already decided to divorce and are working with a mediator, writing letters about each other that express true admiration and affection in hopes of creating a fair and friendly end to their marriage and setting up successful co-parenting their 8-year-old son, Henry. But relationships are never easy and ending one is complicated, as the former couple team up with their respective lawyers and begin to use custody as a cudgel against each other. She feels he has dominated their lives while she has made all of the compromises. The problem with this film is that it is so talky – tons of dialog is emitted from each actor in outstanding performances by Johanssen and Driver. But when ADam Driver sings "Being Alive," I was enthralled completely! 4 cans, even though I sometimes felt I was suffering along with them.
153. The Report* (2019) – This movie reveals the torture techniques adopted by the US government following the 9/11 tragedy to further their investigation into suspected Middle East terrorists. Senate staffer Daniel Jones (a rock-solid Adam Driver) is tasked with reviewing millions of documents relating to the “enhanced interrogation techniques” employed by CIA operatives, and what he finds is truly disturbing. You can’t turn away from this movie, even if you want to. The level of inhumanity in the treatment of prisoners is staggering. Jones worked on his report on the situation for about 8 years, never knowing whether it would be published or taken seriously and not knowing his own degree of accountability. Annette Bening plays Jones’ boss, Senator Diane Feinstein. 3½ cans.
154. Irreconcilable Differences (1985) – Precocious 9-year-old Casey Brodsky (Drew Barrymore) is fed up with her self-centered Hollywood parents and takes them to court, seeking her freedom. Not that the divorced duo would notice, as the feuding couple is more concerned with their personal fortunes than with their only child. Ryan O’Neal is a screenwriter and director of what is called the worst movie of all time (starring Blake Chandler, played by Sharon Stone), a musical version of the sequel to “Gone With the Wind.” His wife/ex-wife is Lucy (Shelley Long), herself a screenwriter – if uncredited on his biggest hit – who hits deep levels of despair before bouncing back with a hilarious novel based on their marriage. I never hear anyone mention this movie as a top comedy, and while it isn’t on a list that would include contemporary comedies such as “Trading Places” or “Animal House,” I have loved it since I first saw it with a friend with whom I still share some of the lines (when Lucy’s career brings her to the top again, she tells her entourage that she is “hot as a pistol and free as a bird”). I had not seen it in many years but still appreciated the humor. 3½ cans.
155. The Irishman* (2019) – Whether his protagonists are Irish or Italian (“Goodfellas”), director Martin Scorsese certainly knows how to deliver gangster movies. Robert DeNiro is Frank Sheeran, a Philadelphia truckdriver who is the strong silent guy who gets involved with Russell Buffalino (Joe Pesci), who is tied into the illegal activities of real-life Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino, another Scorsese vet). I couldn’t tell whether Frank’s best quality was following orders (often to kill people) or whether he actually understood the orders he was carrying out. Since all of the leads are fairly aged by now, they spoke more quietly, making parts of the 3½ hour epic very poignant and sad. Scorsese conducts a master class in the craft of filmmaking, using special creative techniques to “de-age” the actors in some of the scenes, but couldn’t he have done it in 2½ hours? I was glad I chose watching it on Netflix, since I fell asleep and had to rewind almost an hour to get caught up again. Still, 4 cans.
156. The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984) – Cousins Charlie (Mickey Rourke) and Paulie (Eric Roberts) aren’t exactly criminals, but neither are they upstanding citizens. Paulie is the schemer with no qualms about making a big score as long as it doesn’t really hurt anyone. “It’s only money,” he pleads to Charlie. Charlie is the dreamer who looks forward to scraping together enough money to run his own restaurant, but who can’t keep up with the demands of his ex-wife and the bills for his expensive suits and shoes. Paulie is certain they can pull off a heist that will benefit them both, but the twitchy would-be mini-mobster can’t get out of his own way. This movie depicts the streets of New York, the cops, the crooks and the schemers with great verve. It’s hard to look at today’s Mickey Rourke and remember him as this street-smart guy with all that swagger and appeal. And the Sinatra song “Summer Wind” only enhances it all. 4 cans.
157. Little* (2019) – I had to see this movie because it was co-written and directed by my namesake, Tina Gordon. The premise here is not an original one: Characters who have switched ages or identities can be found in “The Parent Trap,” “13 Going on 30,” “Big,” and other films. But this one has a nice twist. Driven and successful businesswoman Jordan Sanders (Regina Hall) hasn’t achieved her stature by making friends, just by influencing people. She mistreats her faithful assistant April (Issa Ray) and refuses to listen to April’s ideas. But when she has a spell cast on her, adult Jordan becomes teenaged Jordan (played by co-executive producer Marsai Martin), with the same adult characteristics but housed in the body of a pre-teen. She is forced to turn the reigns of the company over to April and enroll in school. The school is dominated by mean girls, and young Jordan is forced to hang out with the non-popular outcasts. Martin is captivating as young Jordan, bringing plenty of spice to the young girl as a developing difficult woman, and April is forced to handle her employer as a kid AND as an adult. This is not a great movie by any means, and it is derogatory in many ways about strong women in general, but the performances were worth seeing. 3 cans.
158. Undefeated* (2011) – I think my regular readers know how much I like sports AND movies, so it figures I would have a special fondness for sports movies. This documentary tells the story of Manassas High School, a dinky outpost in an impoverished area near Knoxville, Tennessee, that not only wasn’t undefeated, but which had never made an appearance in the state or district playoffs – in its more than 100 years of existence. For six years, volunteer Coach Bill Courtney has led the team to losing seasons, sometimes with no wins at all. But this year is different. Armed with some athletes good enough to play on the college level, Courtney has to convince them that they are good enough, and that if they show their character and get along with each other, they can all be winners. Most of these kids come from broken homes where college is just a dream, but why not dream big? This movie has the usual sports clichés and stereotypes, but it is solid when it comes to inspiration. 3½ cans.
159. 12 Angry Men* (1997) – This worthy remake of the classic drama about a jury trying to decide the fate a young man who allegedly killed his father takes few liberties with the original movie of Reginald Rose’s classic story. The weather is stifling hot and a bunch of men are cooped up in a sweaty jury room to decide whether a young Hispanic guy committed the crime. 11 of the jurors are ready to convict him, but one (Jack Lemmon) feels that the group owes the man at least a real discussion of the case. As they plow through the evidence, the obvious conclusion becomes less obvious, and the jurors reconsider their original guilty votes. How much is the decision based on personal bias and how much is due to the evidence presented in court? Just as in the prior version of this play, this version has a stellar cast (Lemmon, George C. Scott, Tony Danza, Edward James Olmos and more) who bring the drama to life. Highly recommended. 4 cans.
160. The Two Popes* (2019) – What does a Jewish girl know about popes? A puff of white smoke from the Vatican means there is a new one, right? In this account of the relationship/friendship between Pope Benedict (Anthony Hopkins) and Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce), the humanity of both men is on full display. Bergoglio doesn’t want to continue serving as a Cardinal, but Benedict will not let him resign. In fact, Benedict himself is ready to call it quits and he wants Bergoglio to succeed him. These are real people, full of beliefs, acknowledging their shortcomings, and building a relationship based on mutual faith and respect. And though Benedict would rather eat alone, Cardinal Bergoglio can get him to share a good Italian pizza. Despite his reluctance to serve, Bergoglio eventually gave in, was elected pope and became Pope Francis, where he has brought his modest but progressive ways to the church. You don’t see many movies about Popes, especially not a buddy picture! 4 cans and a puff of white smoke. Available on Netflix.
161. Moonstruck (1987) – The widowed (and only 37-year old) Loretta Castorini (Cher) accepts the marriage proposal of her long-time boyfriend Johnny Cammerari (the late, great Danny Aiello) but doesn’t really love him. She’s just tired and bored with her life, living with her parents (Vincent Gardenia and Olympia Dukakis), so she agrees to the marriage as Johnny heads to Palermo to see his dying mother. He begs her to invite his estranged younger brother Ronnie (Nicholas Cage) to the wedding. That doesn’t turn out at all the way Johnny expected. This is a beautiful pastiche of the charms of life, the relationships between men and women with an Oscar-winning performance by Cher and all the comforts of home. Let them all bask in the moonlight. 4½ cans.
162. The Big Chill (1987) – College friends now in their 30s gather for the funeral of one of their own and face their insecurities, thwarted ambitions, triumphs and failures. Great cast (Kevin Kline, Glenn Close, JoBeth Williams, William Hurt, Mary Kay Place, Jeff Goldbloom, Tom Berenger and Meg Tilly) and a memorable soundtrack. Love this movie for its content and for the memories it evokes. 4 cans.
163. Bombshell* (2019) – If you wanted a career in broadcast news as a woman – at least at Fox News – your best bet was to hike up your tight dress, wear high heels and prove your “loyalty” to the boss, Roger Ailes, a lunatic with a famous record of dealing with presidents and their ilk. He built Fox News into an enormous money-making organization. He also used his power to dominate the women in his employ and to subject them to sexually harassment. But because the women he hired and promoted valued and needed their jobs, they rarely reported his disgusting behavior. In this account of the dirty doings at Fox News, former anchor Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman) gets demoted and eventually fired from the anchor desk and decides to sue Ailes (John Lithgow) personally. But like most other charges of this type, believing just one woman doesn’t seem like enough. So, will star performer Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron) be willing to admit that she, too, was a victim of Ailes’ harassment? The parade of Fox women is like watching a collection of Barbie dolls on display. They may well be qualified for their positions, as Kelly surely was, but they were forced to have a certain look and go along with systemic harassment and the demeaning objectification required to keep their jobs. One key fictional character here is played by Margot Robbie, as an avowed conservative who sees herself as the perfect person to convey the values espoused by Fox News. Her humiliating “audition” by Ailes is hard to watch, as Ailes tells her that TV is a visual medium and her needs to see more and more of her legs. All of the “action” here takes place against the background of the 2016 Presidential nomination process, as Kelly asks presumptive Republican candidate Donald Trump about his publicly disdainful attitude toward women, stirring up a Twitter frenzy by Trump that only proves Kelly’s point. I hate the subject matter and seeing what women have felt it necessary to do to get ahead, but it is impossible to deny the truth. 4 cans.
164. Heartburn (1986) – Jack Nicholson marries Meryl Streep and cheats on her in this movie written by the wonderful Nora Ephron, based on her marriage to Carl Bernstein, the Washington Post reporter. Marriage here just seems like the accepted next step, and Streep’s Rachel is willing to give up her work as a writer in New York to make it work with hubby Mark in DC. But in the gossipy, incestuous capitol, Rachel hears about a well-known woman who is having an affair. Everyone wants to know with whom, but Rachel when finds out, she drags her kids back to NYC and swears she’s done with Mark. I had not seen this movie in years, but I do remember it dragging a bit. However, it IS Meryl, and she can play anything (including looking unkempt) with aplomb. Jack Nicholson gets by with charm and only a modicum of commitment. 3 cans.
165. A Christmas Story (1983) – Clever and warm, chock full of reminiscing, this classic is one I eagerly watch every Christmas Eve. Ralphie wants a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas, but he’ll shoot his eye out, warns every adult in his life. There’s the scene with the hideous lamp, the kid who gets his tongue frozen to the lamppost, Ralphie getting his mouth washed out with a bar of soap (he prefers Lux) for using the ultimate bad word, the turkey going to the dogs and the scene in the Chinese restaurant. I no longer laugh out loud, but each year I marvel at the wit and wisdom of the writer, Jean Shepherd, in providing this view of growing up in a small town in the “good old” days. 4 cans.
166. Slap Shot (1977) – The Charlestown Chiefs, headed by aging player-coach Reg Dunlop (Paul Newman!), are a minor league hockey team circling the drain, better as a tax write-off for their mysterious owner than a bona fide sports franchise. The New England town is laying off steel workers, and the team will probably fold. Reggie lobbies for a sale and move to Florida but needs an attraction to create excitement about the team, so he calls up the Hansen brothers, three-dimwitted brothers who love to fight, poke, prod and create mayhem on the ice. And the crowd loves it. But will it be enough to get the team a “fighting chance?” This is lightweight but fun entertainment, a guilty pleasure for me. And there’s Paul Newman, so what could be bad? 3½ cans.
167. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Season 3 (2019) – Rachel Brosnahan is back as Midge, less a fledging comic now and established enough to be the opening act for a successful soul singer named Shy. The season takes us on her tour with Shy, and both Mrs. Maisel and her brash and inexperienced but caring manager Susie (Alex Borstein) start to really understand their jobs better. Susie is asked to take on managing a somewhat faded and enormously demanding comedian played by Jane Lynch. They make money, they lose money, paralleling the life of Midge’s increasingly annoying parents (Tony Shaloub and Marin Hinckle), who move in with former husband Joel’s even more strident parents when they lose their apartment. Though I enjoyed season 3 more than season 2, I still prefer that glorious first season when we met Midge and Co. She’s still a brilliant comic, and who makes a better brisket? The sights and sound of the early 60s add authenticity to the look and reality of this show. 3½ cans.
168. Little Women* (2019) – After countless productions, this classic from Louisa May Alcott gets a fresh take from writer/director Greta Gerwig. The March sisters are all present and accounted for: the eldest, Meg (Emma Watson) is a would-be performer turned wife and other; Jo (Saoirse Ronan) is an independent young woman who loves to write and knows it can be her livelihood; sickly Beth (Eliza Scanlen) is adored by the family; and artistic but scheming Amy (Florence Pugh) is on the prowl for a husband. Tart-tongued Aunt March (Meryl Streep), issues equal parts advice and orders and matriarch Marmie (Laura Dern) loves her girls fiercely. This version shakes up the chronological order of events (sometimes confusingly, it my opinion) but we watch as Jo grows ever more independent and self-assured as the loving leader of the pack. They all share a fun and loving relationship with Laurie, the rich boy next door (Timothee Chalamet). The warm and loving relationship between the family members bring pathos and humor to the script and makes this new version of an old classic well worth viewing. 4 cans.
169. Richard Jewell* (2019) – When a bomb goes off in Atlanta’s Centennial Park during the 1996 Olympic Games, security officer Richard Jewell, who spotted the suspicious duffle bag containing the device, is hailed as a hero for his quick action in clearing the area and preventing more deaths and injuries. But Jewell (Paul Walter Houser) soon becomes a suspect in the eyes of the FBI (John Hamm plays the investigator in charge of the case) because his background fits the profile of a bomber: unmarried white male gun owner who fancies himself to be a law enforcement official. When Atlanta Journal Constitution reporter Kathy Scruggs (Olivia Wilde) coerces his name from the FBI, it sets off a media frenzy. Desperate for legal help, Jewell calls the only lawyer he knows, (Sam Rockwell), who must counsel the innocent Jewell not to be quite so chatty with the authorities. Jewel’s life and that of his mother (Kathy Bates) come under extreme scrutiny, with the FBI confiscating their belongings as part of the investigation – everything from the Tupperware to Mrs. Jewell’s underwear must be tested. Jewel may have been overly zealous in wanting to be in law enforcement and perhaps had too much respect for the authorities, but that doesn’t make him guilty. Directed by Clint Eastwood. 4 cans.
My Favorite/Best Movies of 2019 - In no particular order:
1. Motherless Brooklyn – Kudos to Edward Norton, who wrote, directed and starred in this 1950s film noire.
2. Bombshell – More examples from the #MeToo movement.
3. Little Women – Greta Gerwig gives a new treatment to the old classic.
4. Harriet – Cynthia Erivo with an Oscar-worthy performance as Harriet Tubman, conductor of the Underground Railroad.
5. Echoes in the Canyon – California dreamin’ music.
6. Amazing Grace – Aretha, the Queen of Soul, does gospel music as only she can.
7. Linda Ronstadt – The Sound of My Voice – So much great music from a velvet-voiced master of all genres.
8. Yesterday – Suppose no one ever heard of the Beatles, except the star of this film?
9. Rocket Man – Elton John gets the Bohemian Rhapsody treatment.
10. Roma – Last year’s Oscar winner, in black and white, with subtitles about life in Mexico sounds dull but was brilliantly put together.
11. The Upside – Not a great movie, but one of the few I saw that made me laugh, thanks to great chemistry between co-stars Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston.
12. The Inventor – Fascinating documentary on the rise and fall of would-be tycoon Elizabeth Homes, inventor of a machine that uses just a drop of blood to do hundreds of diagnostic tests. Only it didn’t work.
13. American Son – No better example of race issues in this country but on a very personal basis.
14. The Irishman – Martin Scorsese and friends go from Italian to Irish stereotypes.
15. The Two Popes – More than just a puff of smoke.
16. Pavarotti – When Pavarotti sings here with Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras, they make my heart soar.
151. Dark Waters* (2019) – Mark Ruffalo stars here as Rob Billot, a corporate lawyer who is approached by a farmer in West Virginia whose livestock are dying from drinking polluted water. As Rob delves into the case, he finds that DuPont, a key employer in the area, has been dumping chemicals in the local streams, and the people and babies living in the region have all suffered serious medical problems. He and his wife have ties to the area and he feels he needs to pursue this issue to protect the citizens. The case turns into a lengthy one and could result in adverse consequences for Rob and his wife (Anne Hathaway). Ruffalo underplays the character as a dour, humorless but dedicated man trying to do what’s right in the face of immense pressure, capturing data, assessing scientific evidence and going up against a giant corporation. This movie is highly detailed (there are segments when Rob sits on the floor trying to read cartons and cartons of files pertinent to the case; I have never seen so many binder clips in my life) and there is not much action. Some of the people he is trying to protect oppose his approach and favor DuPont because they trust the company. Bottom line – DON’T EVER USE ANYTHING WITH TEFLON COATING! 4 cans but not much fun.
152. Marriage Story* (2019 – Netflix) – Nicole and Charlie Barber (Scarlet Johanssen and Adam Driver) are clearly meant for each other. She is an actress and he is a director of avant garde theater, based in New York and determined to stay there despite her desire to move back to California and pursue movies and TV projects. As in all relationships, there is always the push and pull of who is entitled to what and who will win out. By the time we meet them, they have already decided to divorce and are working with a mediator, writing letters about each other that express true admiration and affection in hopes of creating a fair and friendly end to their marriage and setting up successful co-parenting their 8-year-old son, Henry. But relationships are never easy and ending one is complicated, as the former couple team up with their respective lawyers and begin to use custody as a cudgel against each other. She feels he has dominated their lives while she has made all of the compromises. The problem with this film is that it is so talky – tons of dialog is emitted from each actor in outstanding performances by Johanssen and Driver. But when ADam Driver sings "Being Alive," I was enthralled completely! 4 cans, even though I sometimes felt I was suffering along with them.
153. The Report* (2019) – This movie reveals the torture techniques adopted by the US government following the 9/11 tragedy to further their investigation into suspected Middle East terrorists. Senate staffer Daniel Jones (a rock-solid Adam Driver) is tasked with reviewing millions of documents relating to the “enhanced interrogation techniques” employed by CIA operatives, and what he finds is truly disturbing. You can’t turn away from this movie, even if you want to. The level of inhumanity in the treatment of prisoners is staggering. Jones worked on his report on the situation for about 8 years, never knowing whether it would be published or taken seriously and not knowing his own degree of accountability. Annette Bening plays Jones’ boss, Senator Diane Feinstein. 3½ cans.
154. Irreconcilable Differences (1985) – Precocious 9-year-old Casey Brodsky (Drew Barrymore) is fed up with her self-centered Hollywood parents and takes them to court, seeking her freedom. Not that the divorced duo would notice, as the feuding couple is more concerned with their personal fortunes than with their only child. Ryan O’Neal is a screenwriter and director of what is called the worst movie of all time (starring Blake Chandler, played by Sharon Stone), a musical version of the sequel to “Gone With the Wind.” His wife/ex-wife is Lucy (Shelley Long), herself a screenwriter – if uncredited on his biggest hit – who hits deep levels of despair before bouncing back with a hilarious novel based on their marriage. I never hear anyone mention this movie as a top comedy, and while it isn’t on a list that would include contemporary comedies such as “Trading Places” or “Animal House,” I have loved it since I first saw it with a friend with whom I still share some of the lines (when Lucy’s career brings her to the top again, she tells her entourage that she is “hot as a pistol and free as a bird”). I had not seen it in many years but still appreciated the humor. 3½ cans.
155. The Irishman* (2019) – Whether his protagonists are Irish or Italian (“Goodfellas”), director Martin Scorsese certainly knows how to deliver gangster movies. Robert DeNiro is Frank Sheeran, a Philadelphia truckdriver who is the strong silent guy who gets involved with Russell Buffalino (Joe Pesci), who is tied into the illegal activities of real-life Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino, another Scorsese vet). I couldn’t tell whether Frank’s best quality was following orders (often to kill people) or whether he actually understood the orders he was carrying out. Since all of the leads are fairly aged by now, they spoke more quietly, making parts of the 3½ hour epic very poignant and sad. Scorsese conducts a master class in the craft of filmmaking, using special creative techniques to “de-age” the actors in some of the scenes, but couldn’t he have done it in 2½ hours? I was glad I chose watching it on Netflix, since I fell asleep and had to rewind almost an hour to get caught up again. Still, 4 cans.
156. The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984) – Cousins Charlie (Mickey Rourke) and Paulie (Eric Roberts) aren’t exactly criminals, but neither are they upstanding citizens. Paulie is the schemer with no qualms about making a big score as long as it doesn’t really hurt anyone. “It’s only money,” he pleads to Charlie. Charlie is the dreamer who looks forward to scraping together enough money to run his own restaurant, but who can’t keep up with the demands of his ex-wife and the bills for his expensive suits and shoes. Paulie is certain they can pull off a heist that will benefit them both, but the twitchy would-be mini-mobster can’t get out of his own way. This movie depicts the streets of New York, the cops, the crooks and the schemers with great verve. It’s hard to look at today’s Mickey Rourke and remember him as this street-smart guy with all that swagger and appeal. And the Sinatra song “Summer Wind” only enhances it all. 4 cans.
157. Little* (2019) – I had to see this movie because it was co-written and directed by my namesake, Tina Gordon. The premise here is not an original one: Characters who have switched ages or identities can be found in “The Parent Trap,” “13 Going on 30,” “Big,” and other films. But this one has a nice twist. Driven and successful businesswoman Jordan Sanders (Regina Hall) hasn’t achieved her stature by making friends, just by influencing people. She mistreats her faithful assistant April (Issa Ray) and refuses to listen to April’s ideas. But when she has a spell cast on her, adult Jordan becomes teenaged Jordan (played by co-executive producer Marsai Martin), with the same adult characteristics but housed in the body of a pre-teen. She is forced to turn the reigns of the company over to April and enroll in school. The school is dominated by mean girls, and young Jordan is forced to hang out with the non-popular outcasts. Martin is captivating as young Jordan, bringing plenty of spice to the young girl as a developing difficult woman, and April is forced to handle her employer as a kid AND as an adult. This is not a great movie by any means, and it is derogatory in many ways about strong women in general, but the performances were worth seeing. 3 cans.
158. Undefeated* (2011) – I think my regular readers know how much I like sports AND movies, so it figures I would have a special fondness for sports movies. This documentary tells the story of Manassas High School, a dinky outpost in an impoverished area near Knoxville, Tennessee, that not only wasn’t undefeated, but which had never made an appearance in the state or district playoffs – in its more than 100 years of existence. For six years, volunteer Coach Bill Courtney has led the team to losing seasons, sometimes with no wins at all. But this year is different. Armed with some athletes good enough to play on the college level, Courtney has to convince them that they are good enough, and that if they show their character and get along with each other, they can all be winners. Most of these kids come from broken homes where college is just a dream, but why not dream big? This movie has the usual sports clichés and stereotypes, but it is solid when it comes to inspiration. 3½ cans.
159. 12 Angry Men* (1997) – This worthy remake of the classic drama about a jury trying to decide the fate a young man who allegedly killed his father takes few liberties with the original movie of Reginald Rose’s classic story. The weather is stifling hot and a bunch of men are cooped up in a sweaty jury room to decide whether a young Hispanic guy committed the crime. 11 of the jurors are ready to convict him, but one (Jack Lemmon) feels that the group owes the man at least a real discussion of the case. As they plow through the evidence, the obvious conclusion becomes less obvious, and the jurors reconsider their original guilty votes. How much is the decision based on personal bias and how much is due to the evidence presented in court? Just as in the prior version of this play, this version has a stellar cast (Lemmon, George C. Scott, Tony Danza, Edward James Olmos and more) who bring the drama to life. Highly recommended. 4 cans.
160. The Two Popes* (2019) – What does a Jewish girl know about popes? A puff of white smoke from the Vatican means there is a new one, right? In this account of the relationship/friendship between Pope Benedict (Anthony Hopkins) and Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce), the humanity of both men is on full display. Bergoglio doesn’t want to continue serving as a Cardinal, but Benedict will not let him resign. In fact, Benedict himself is ready to call it quits and he wants Bergoglio to succeed him. These are real people, full of beliefs, acknowledging their shortcomings, and building a relationship based on mutual faith and respect. And though Benedict would rather eat alone, Cardinal Bergoglio can get him to share a good Italian pizza. Despite his reluctance to serve, Bergoglio eventually gave in, was elected pope and became Pope Francis, where he has brought his modest but progressive ways to the church. You don’t see many movies about Popes, especially not a buddy picture! 4 cans and a puff of white smoke. Available on Netflix.
161. Moonstruck (1987) – The widowed (and only 37-year old) Loretta Castorini (Cher) accepts the marriage proposal of her long-time boyfriend Johnny Cammerari (the late, great Danny Aiello) but doesn’t really love him. She’s just tired and bored with her life, living with her parents (Vincent Gardenia and Olympia Dukakis), so she agrees to the marriage as Johnny heads to Palermo to see his dying mother. He begs her to invite his estranged younger brother Ronnie (Nicholas Cage) to the wedding. That doesn’t turn out at all the way Johnny expected. This is a beautiful pastiche of the charms of life, the relationships between men and women with an Oscar-winning performance by Cher and all the comforts of home. Let them all bask in the moonlight. 4½ cans.
162. The Big Chill (1987) – College friends now in their 30s gather for the funeral of one of their own and face their insecurities, thwarted ambitions, triumphs and failures. Great cast (Kevin Kline, Glenn Close, JoBeth Williams, William Hurt, Mary Kay Place, Jeff Goldbloom, Tom Berenger and Meg Tilly) and a memorable soundtrack. Love this movie for its content and for the memories it evokes. 4 cans.
163. Bombshell* (2019) – If you wanted a career in broadcast news as a woman – at least at Fox News – your best bet was to hike up your tight dress, wear high heels and prove your “loyalty” to the boss, Roger Ailes, a lunatic with a famous record of dealing with presidents and their ilk. He built Fox News into an enormous money-making organization. He also used his power to dominate the women in his employ and to subject them to sexually harassment. But because the women he hired and promoted valued and needed their jobs, they rarely reported his disgusting behavior. In this account of the dirty doings at Fox News, former anchor Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman) gets demoted and eventually fired from the anchor desk and decides to sue Ailes (John Lithgow) personally. But like most other charges of this type, believing just one woman doesn’t seem like enough. So, will star performer Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron) be willing to admit that she, too, was a victim of Ailes’ harassment? The parade of Fox women is like watching a collection of Barbie dolls on display. They may well be qualified for their positions, as Kelly surely was, but they were forced to have a certain look and go along with systemic harassment and the demeaning objectification required to keep their jobs. One key fictional character here is played by Margot Robbie, as an avowed conservative who sees herself as the perfect person to convey the values espoused by Fox News. Her humiliating “audition” by Ailes is hard to watch, as Ailes tells her that TV is a visual medium and her needs to see more and more of her legs. All of the “action” here takes place against the background of the 2016 Presidential nomination process, as Kelly asks presumptive Republican candidate Donald Trump about his publicly disdainful attitude toward women, stirring up a Twitter frenzy by Trump that only proves Kelly’s point. I hate the subject matter and seeing what women have felt it necessary to do to get ahead, but it is impossible to deny the truth. 4 cans.
164. Heartburn (1986) – Jack Nicholson marries Meryl Streep and cheats on her in this movie written by the wonderful Nora Ephron, based on her marriage to Carl Bernstein, the Washington Post reporter. Marriage here just seems like the accepted next step, and Streep’s Rachel is willing to give up her work as a writer in New York to make it work with hubby Mark in DC. But in the gossipy, incestuous capitol, Rachel hears about a well-known woman who is having an affair. Everyone wants to know with whom, but Rachel when finds out, she drags her kids back to NYC and swears she’s done with Mark. I had not seen this movie in years, but I do remember it dragging a bit. However, it IS Meryl, and she can play anything (including looking unkempt) with aplomb. Jack Nicholson gets by with charm and only a modicum of commitment. 3 cans.
165. A Christmas Story (1983) – Clever and warm, chock full of reminiscing, this classic is one I eagerly watch every Christmas Eve. Ralphie wants a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas, but he’ll shoot his eye out, warns every adult in his life. There’s the scene with the hideous lamp, the kid who gets his tongue frozen to the lamppost, Ralphie getting his mouth washed out with a bar of soap (he prefers Lux) for using the ultimate bad word, the turkey going to the dogs and the scene in the Chinese restaurant. I no longer laugh out loud, but each year I marvel at the wit and wisdom of the writer, Jean Shepherd, in providing this view of growing up in a small town in the “good old” days. 4 cans.
166. Slap Shot (1977) – The Charlestown Chiefs, headed by aging player-coach Reg Dunlop (Paul Newman!), are a minor league hockey team circling the drain, better as a tax write-off for their mysterious owner than a bona fide sports franchise. The New England town is laying off steel workers, and the team will probably fold. Reggie lobbies for a sale and move to Florida but needs an attraction to create excitement about the team, so he calls up the Hansen brothers, three-dimwitted brothers who love to fight, poke, prod and create mayhem on the ice. And the crowd loves it. But will it be enough to get the team a “fighting chance?” This is lightweight but fun entertainment, a guilty pleasure for me. And there’s Paul Newman, so what could be bad? 3½ cans.
167. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Season 3 (2019) – Rachel Brosnahan is back as Midge, less a fledging comic now and established enough to be the opening act for a successful soul singer named Shy. The season takes us on her tour with Shy, and both Mrs. Maisel and her brash and inexperienced but caring manager Susie (Alex Borstein) start to really understand their jobs better. Susie is asked to take on managing a somewhat faded and enormously demanding comedian played by Jane Lynch. They make money, they lose money, paralleling the life of Midge’s increasingly annoying parents (Tony Shaloub and Marin Hinckle), who move in with former husband Joel’s even more strident parents when they lose their apartment. Though I enjoyed season 3 more than season 2, I still prefer that glorious first season when we met Midge and Co. She’s still a brilliant comic, and who makes a better brisket? The sights and sound of the early 60s add authenticity to the look and reality of this show. 3½ cans.
168. Little Women* (2019) – After countless productions, this classic from Louisa May Alcott gets a fresh take from writer/director Greta Gerwig. The March sisters are all present and accounted for: the eldest, Meg (Emma Watson) is a would-be performer turned wife and other; Jo (Saoirse Ronan) is an independent young woman who loves to write and knows it can be her livelihood; sickly Beth (Eliza Scanlen) is adored by the family; and artistic but scheming Amy (Florence Pugh) is on the prowl for a husband. Tart-tongued Aunt March (Meryl Streep), issues equal parts advice and orders and matriarch Marmie (Laura Dern) loves her girls fiercely. This version shakes up the chronological order of events (sometimes confusingly, it my opinion) but we watch as Jo grows ever more independent and self-assured as the loving leader of the pack. They all share a fun and loving relationship with Laurie, the rich boy next door (Timothee Chalamet). The warm and loving relationship between the family members bring pathos and humor to the script and makes this new version of an old classic well worth viewing. 4 cans.
169. Richard Jewell* (2019) – When a bomb goes off in Atlanta’s Centennial Park during the 1996 Olympic Games, security officer Richard Jewell, who spotted the suspicious duffle bag containing the device, is hailed as a hero for his quick action in clearing the area and preventing more deaths and injuries. But Jewell (Paul Walter Houser) soon becomes a suspect in the eyes of the FBI (John Hamm plays the investigator in charge of the case) because his background fits the profile of a bomber: unmarried white male gun owner who fancies himself to be a law enforcement official. When Atlanta Journal Constitution reporter Kathy Scruggs (Olivia Wilde) coerces his name from the FBI, it sets off a media frenzy. Desperate for legal help, Jewell calls the only lawyer he knows, (Sam Rockwell), who must counsel the innocent Jewell not to be quite so chatty with the authorities. Jewel’s life and that of his mother (Kathy Bates) come under extreme scrutiny, with the FBI confiscating their belongings as part of the investigation – everything from the Tupperware to Mrs. Jewell’s underwear must be tested. Jewel may have been overly zealous in wanting to be in law enforcement and perhaps had too much respect for the authorities, but that doesn’t make him guilty. Directed by Clint Eastwood. 4 cans.
My Favorite/Best Movies of 2019 - In no particular order:
1. Motherless Brooklyn – Kudos to Edward Norton, who wrote, directed and starred in this 1950s film noire.
2. Bombshell – More examples from the #MeToo movement.
3. Little Women – Greta Gerwig gives a new treatment to the old classic.
4. Harriet – Cynthia Erivo with an Oscar-worthy performance as Harriet Tubman, conductor of the Underground Railroad.
5. Echoes in the Canyon – California dreamin’ music.
6. Amazing Grace – Aretha, the Queen of Soul, does gospel music as only she can.
7. Linda Ronstadt – The Sound of My Voice – So much great music from a velvet-voiced master of all genres.
8. Yesterday – Suppose no one ever heard of the Beatles, except the star of this film?
9. Rocket Man – Elton John gets the Bohemian Rhapsody treatment.
10. Roma – Last year’s Oscar winner, in black and white, with subtitles about life in Mexico sounds dull but was brilliantly put together.
11. The Upside – Not a great movie, but one of the few I saw that made me laugh, thanks to great chemistry between co-stars Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston.
12. The Inventor – Fascinating documentary on the rise and fall of would-be tycoon Elizabeth Homes, inventor of a machine that uses just a drop of blood to do hundreds of diagnostic tests. Only it didn’t work.
13. American Son – No better example of race issues in this country but on a very personal basis.
14. The Irishman – Martin Scorsese and friends go from Italian to Irish stereotypes.
15. The Two Popes – More than just a puff of smoke.
16. Pavarotti – When Pavarotti sings here with Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras, they make my heart soar.
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Random Thoughts - Holiday Edition
Here is how I can tell that it is really winter (no matter what the calendar says): The ice cream stand on Hamilton street is boarded up, I’m turning on the seat heater in the car to toast my tush, I have plugged in and filled my humidifier and I’m heating my towels in my towel warmer.
There must be scientific evidence that the colder it is outside, the greater chance you have of seeing some brave (translation: stupid) person wearing shorts outside. Mostly guys. Why? Why?
I like to think of myself as having a considerable knowledge of popular music, so it pains me to admit that while I like the music of the Doobie Brothers, I have never understood one word of the lyrics as sung by Michael McDonald. Is it just me?
That’s it! I have had enough of socks trying to escape from the dryer! From now on, they will be held captive in my new $2, perfectly-sized mesh bag from Walmart, where they will remain until they can be washed AND dried and returned back to the drawers where they belong without incident. I got you now, you sneaky socks!
And speaking of socks, I don’t want to say that I am indecisive, but there are some days when it takes me 10 minutes to figure out which socks to wear. Today I went through my four (that’s right, 4) sock drawers to resort the collection. What nearly 70-year-old woman owns this many socks? No wonder I can’t decide. I might be better off having a full collection of exactly the same socks so there would be no decision to make.
I find that my clothes dryer buzzes at me in a very belligerent tone. I may be taking it a bit too personally, but it is so persistent that I feel it is accusing me of neglect if I don’t extricate the load immediately.
Speaking of dryers, I recently saw an ad for a Dyson hair dryer that cost $399.99. Four hundred dollars to dry my hair? For that money, I want a professional hairdresser to come to my house with the dryer and style my hair so I look $400 better than if I did it myself!
Can you believe it has been 20 years since we were all in a panic, worried about the impending doom that we faced with Y2K? OMG, such hype! Luckily, nothing came of it besides endless meetings to discuss how all computer systems would crash and burn. 20 years!
Who decided how we are supposed to capitalize titles? Why use upper case in “Gone” but not in “with the?” Why not just initial cap each word and make it easier for everyone? Oh, right, this is English, and we never make anything nice and easy.
With all of the technological advancements we have seen in our time, including streaming video, why can’t SOMEONE invent a better way to search on Netflix? We need a way to replace the little arrow that we have to use to point at letters that are too small to see on the TV, one letter at a time. And even if we can say (shouting and enunciating like mad) the name of the program we are looking for, chances are that what we say won’t be understood. Who’s our best person to work on this issue?
The other day I woke up nauseous, dizzy, sleepy, dopey and grumpy. I’m just a few dwarfs short of a full set.
Have you ever noticed how many times a book is described as a “page turner?” If I were an author, I think I would publish under the pseudonym Page Turner.
I heard recently that Bumble Bee Tuna has filed for bankruptcy. Trust me, I have consumed enough of their tuna to keep them afloat for the last nearly 70 years. If Bumble Bee Solid White Fancy is no longer available, I will never eat tuna again! Meanwhile, I will be binge-buying and hoarding.
Speaking of which, how did I let my current stash get down to only ONE package? I refuse to buy it at ShopRite when Walmart sells exactly the same brand in the same size for 50 cents less than other stores. So, off to Walmart I go to restock! (PS – I bought a dozen packages this weekend.)
Living vicariously is so much easier than having your own life. No plane tickets to order, no packing, no waiting in the airport and you can just enjoy someone else’s pictures without having to go and take them yourself.
It amazes me how I can look for something and be absolutely sure I know where to find it and it is simply not there. And then I go back and check again and there it is, right where it was supposed to be. How does it disappear and then reappear when I go back? Magic?
I hate to admit it, but I missed my Alexa when I was away recently. No one to talk to about the weather or the correct time, no one to give me sports scores. I’m pretty sure she missed me, too.
Of all the things that have come and gone in my life, I have to say that those plastic 4- packs of Del Monte cling peaches in light syrup and Finesse Volumizing Shampoo are at the top of my list. I have had to order the shampoo online lately, but my last experience was a failure since the 3rd party supplier shipped me two huge bottles of Suave Softening Shampoo instead. I had to call to find out this company doesn’t carry my preferred Finesse and maybe should have let me know instead of arbitrarily deciding that Suave was the same. I also wanted to return the Suave but was told to keep it. Look for it at the local food bank.
I love a diner. Huge menu, plenty of choices, enormous servings, and, while I rarely succumb, they offer chocolate cream pie. But a small, local diner is especially good. As I sat at mine recently, I watched “the regulars” come in and the waitresses immediately show up with coffee. The place is so small and yet so busy that the wait staff, bus boys and cooks are all in a space about half the size of my office. Service is fast and turnover is frequent. Good food, good people. You get what you expect with the local diner.
I don’t understand how the Dollar Store can sell Hallmark cards for $1. Sometimes they are two for $1. They are still Hallmark cards. Is the paper thinner, are the designs less colorful? What makes them such a bargain? Not that I mind NOT spending close to $5 on a birthday card, but I just don’t get it.
At this time 13 years ago, I was preparing to retire from J&J after 34 years spent in Corporate Communications. I can’t believe 13 years has passed by so quickly. I also can’t believe that a few Johnson & Johnson pens that managed to leave the office along with me are still in working order. They took a licking and kept on ticking! And so did I!
There must be scientific evidence that the colder it is outside, the greater chance you have of seeing some brave (translation: stupid) person wearing shorts outside. Mostly guys. Why? Why?
I like to think of myself as having a considerable knowledge of popular music, so it pains me to admit that while I like the music of the Doobie Brothers, I have never understood one word of the lyrics as sung by Michael McDonald. Is it just me?
That’s it! I have had enough of socks trying to escape from the dryer! From now on, they will be held captive in my new $2, perfectly-sized mesh bag from Walmart, where they will remain until they can be washed AND dried and returned back to the drawers where they belong without incident. I got you now, you sneaky socks!
And speaking of socks, I don’t want to say that I am indecisive, but there are some days when it takes me 10 minutes to figure out which socks to wear. Today I went through my four (that’s right, 4) sock drawers to resort the collection. What nearly 70-year-old woman owns this many socks? No wonder I can’t decide. I might be better off having a full collection of exactly the same socks so there would be no decision to make.
I find that my clothes dryer buzzes at me in a very belligerent tone. I may be taking it a bit too personally, but it is so persistent that I feel it is accusing me of neglect if I don’t extricate the load immediately.
Speaking of dryers, I recently saw an ad for a Dyson hair dryer that cost $399.99. Four hundred dollars to dry my hair? For that money, I want a professional hairdresser to come to my house with the dryer and style my hair so I look $400 better than if I did it myself!
Can you believe it has been 20 years since we were all in a panic, worried about the impending doom that we faced with Y2K? OMG, such hype! Luckily, nothing came of it besides endless meetings to discuss how all computer systems would crash and burn. 20 years!
Who decided how we are supposed to capitalize titles? Why use upper case in “Gone” but not in “with the?” Why not just initial cap each word and make it easier for everyone? Oh, right, this is English, and we never make anything nice and easy.
With all of the technological advancements we have seen in our time, including streaming video, why can’t SOMEONE invent a better way to search on Netflix? We need a way to replace the little arrow that we have to use to point at letters that are too small to see on the TV, one letter at a time. And even if we can say (shouting and enunciating like mad) the name of the program we are looking for, chances are that what we say won’t be understood. Who’s our best person to work on this issue?
The other day I woke up nauseous, dizzy, sleepy, dopey and grumpy. I’m just a few dwarfs short of a full set.
Have you ever noticed how many times a book is described as a “page turner?” If I were an author, I think I would publish under the pseudonym Page Turner.
I heard recently that Bumble Bee Tuna has filed for bankruptcy. Trust me, I have consumed enough of their tuna to keep them afloat for the last nearly 70 years. If Bumble Bee Solid White Fancy is no longer available, I will never eat tuna again! Meanwhile, I will be binge-buying and hoarding.
Speaking of which, how did I let my current stash get down to only ONE package? I refuse to buy it at ShopRite when Walmart sells exactly the same brand in the same size for 50 cents less than other stores. So, off to Walmart I go to restock! (PS – I bought a dozen packages this weekend.)
Living vicariously is so much easier than having your own life. No plane tickets to order, no packing, no waiting in the airport and you can just enjoy someone else’s pictures without having to go and take them yourself.
It amazes me how I can look for something and be absolutely sure I know where to find it and it is simply not there. And then I go back and check again and there it is, right where it was supposed to be. How does it disappear and then reappear when I go back? Magic?
I hate to admit it, but I missed my Alexa when I was away recently. No one to talk to about the weather or the correct time, no one to give me sports scores. I’m pretty sure she missed me, too.
Of all the things that have come and gone in my life, I have to say that those plastic 4- packs of Del Monte cling peaches in light syrup and Finesse Volumizing Shampoo are at the top of my list. I have had to order the shampoo online lately, but my last experience was a failure since the 3rd party supplier shipped me two huge bottles of Suave Softening Shampoo instead. I had to call to find out this company doesn’t carry my preferred Finesse and maybe should have let me know instead of arbitrarily deciding that Suave was the same. I also wanted to return the Suave but was told to keep it. Look for it at the local food bank.
I love a diner. Huge menu, plenty of choices, enormous servings, and, while I rarely succumb, they offer chocolate cream pie. But a small, local diner is especially good. As I sat at mine recently, I watched “the regulars” come in and the waitresses immediately show up with coffee. The place is so small and yet so busy that the wait staff, bus boys and cooks are all in a space about half the size of my office. Service is fast and turnover is frequent. Good food, good people. You get what you expect with the local diner.
I don’t understand how the Dollar Store can sell Hallmark cards for $1. Sometimes they are two for $1. They are still Hallmark cards. Is the paper thinner, are the designs less colorful? What makes them such a bargain? Not that I mind NOT spending close to $5 on a birthday card, but I just don’t get it.
At this time 13 years ago, I was preparing to retire from J&J after 34 years spent in Corporate Communications. I can’t believe 13 years has passed by so quickly. I also can’t believe that a few Johnson & Johnson pens that managed to leave the office along with me are still in working order. They took a licking and kept on ticking! And so did I!
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