It is amazing that we are still here.
Those of us of a certain age (ahem) managed to survive a childhood without seatbelts or car seats, warnings on drug packages and, for the most part, air conditioning. If you had questions about your health, you asked the kindly doctor or looked up your presumed malady in the 50s version of the Internet, the Encyclopedia Britannica (available at your local library). We didn’t exercise beyond the requirements of gym class, which was more focused on making sure we had washed and ironed our “gym suits” than on our health or well-being. We didn’t know about healthy eating. Even Weight Watchers didn’t start until I was a teenager.
Today things are vastly different. People ride all around the parking lot looking for a good spot outside the gym so they can go inside and ride a bike, lift weights or swim. Outside, in all kinds of weather, you’ll find people walking or running their way to good health.
There are all kinds of rules and regulations that are supposed to keep us safe and healthy. If you have, suspect or merely dread a disease or condition, you can look it up on the internet and get a ton of sometimes useful information that may either help or lead you to a self-diagnosis that is way off-base. You can read the symptoms of something and decide you have it even when that is impossible (check out the symptoms of prostate problems sometime, ladies).
Despite this abundance of information, it is still best to go to the doctor for preventive maintenance or to “rule out” what you think may be malaria, whooping cough or something that may require the use of leeches.
Now my health insurer, United Health Care, even offers an incentive to be checked. I had my regular eye doctor appointment and they sent me a $25 gift card for Amazon (which I promptly spent by buying a new water filter for my refrigerator; how exciting is that?). When I go to see the gynecologist, I get another $25, and my physical earned me 50 bucks.
Given what I had to do to get my physical, it was money well earned.
I have been going to the same primary care physician for years. I’m sure they have a full set of my health records in their computer system. In fact, when I checked in, the person at the desk retrieved a file that was larger than the Manhattan phone book. Nevertheless, I was required to stop at the office in advance to pick up forms to complete and return on the day of my physical.
First, could the spacing be ANY smaller on the form? Do you know how hard it is to write “right hemicolectomy” in that tiny space?
Second, the questions they ask – which should be in my file already – were tougher than the SATs.
How am I supposed to know how old I was when I had the measles? I’m 67 now, and I know it wasn’t recent. What if I say I was 6? Can anyone corroborate that? What happens if I was really 8? Who would know? Does it matter? Couldn’t a simple YES or NO have been checked off?
Do I have spots in front of my eyes? Well, I have wet macular degeneration, but there is no box to check off for that, so I did say I see spots before my eyes. Besides, I couldn’t figure out where to write that in. Is it a disease or a condition? What, am I supposed to be a doctor to define it?
Do I have trouble sleeping? Everyone my age has trouble sleeping. We wake up to use the bathroom and can’t get back to sleep. Oops, that’s a different question: “Night time urination? How often?”
Do I snore (which is listed under the “Illnesses” section)? Well, I live alone, so that’s a tough one. The last time I had to fill out this form, I did a test. I was staying with friends and kept the bedroom door open all night. When they got up to use the bathroom (see above question on nighttime urination), they stood outside my bedroom door and listened. How creepy does THAT sound? Apparently I don’t snore, or at least I didn’t that night.
Do I have pains in my joints, my back, my head? Of course! Sometimes I’m out for a walk and suddenly my ankle hurts for no reason. I walk it off and then I’m fine. Raise your hand if this happens to you, too.
And then there are the questions about depression, crying, lack of energy (see “trouble sleeping”) decreased interest in daily activities, thoughts of suicide, etc. If you really suffer from these things, how likely is it that you will check off the tiny boxes on this form?
How about drug use? Do you want to say yes to the question, “Have you ever taken drugs for other than medicinal purposes?” And then they leave you a tiny bit of space to explain the details of your drug habit. I’m just glad they don’t ask about addictions to chocolate and other food groups!
At least I can breeze through the sections about smoking (“NEVER” I write down, proudly) and drinking (“Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?” No, they just annoy me when they are stupid.).
Are you overweight? Seriously, did you not just weigh and measure me? Come on – can’t you see that for yourself? It might be interesting to see some people’s responses to that question, but I dejectedly checked the “Yes” box.
The previous question appears in close proximity to the question about having weight loss. I’m working on that, but see previous question.
And then we get to the hospitalizations section of the questionnaire. My sister has had enough surgeries that she doesn’t have room to list them on her form. You have to fill out the form and say why you were operated on. I live in fear that someday I will forget the term “right hemicolectomy,” which is the official name for the procedure used to treat my colon cancer in 2000.
The personal section for women is always a fun exercise.
At what age was the onset of menstruation? When was your last period? At this age, memory is more of an issue than remembering the last time I needed to buy tampons, let’s face it. Is any of this going to explain why my shoulder hurts?
I used to be able to fill out these forms so fast, simply checking the “No” column for virtually every illness, disease and condition. Now, like most of us, I have to stop and think, check my files (which do not extend back to when I had the measles) and, in some cases, give it my best guess.
The diagnosis here should be “normal for a woman of her age.”
Then it is on to the doctor's office with the forms.
After going through the usual preliminaries with the nurse – height (proudly 5’1”) and weight (let’s move along here), blood pressure, temperature (I was only 98.5, which shows how cool I am, right?) – we get more serious with the EKG, where I had sticky things affixed to my body at various places and then a mass of wires hooked me up to a machine to check my heart (mine was warm and kind and beating regularly), followed by the list of shots I was missing. It was 10 years since my last tetanus shot and time for a pneumonia injection, too.
Then the doctor showed up. Assuming that I would be taken to task for a weight gain since my last physical, I was ready with a defense as well as ready to attest to my renewed dedication to Weight Watchers. I also launched a distraction by providing a list of ailments I wanted her to check (among others: The little lump on my right shin – a cyst, she said, apply warm compresses if it bothers you; it doesn’t). We discussed my aching shoulder (I will be starting my shoulder exercises any day now, I vowed) and my trigger finger (better since my last cortisone injection and not serious enough for surgery, in my own expert opinion). So my strategy worked and she bypassed my weight issue, which was a relief but nonetheless still an issue. I need to see a dermatologist for a routine exam, so she recommended a replacement for the one I was using because she retired. I'm at the age when my doctors are all younger than I am. That's not a bad thing since who wants to go to a doddering old doctor?
I got off easy. Everything checked out. I have a few follow-ups and tests to undergo, and then there is my annual gynecology appointment along with my mammogram, and she will send my bloodwork to the many medical people who are waiting eagerly for the results.
And no one ever asked me whether or when I had the measles. Phew!
Thursday, June 14, 2018
Friday, June 1, 2018
Tina's May 2018 Movies
I offer a baker's dozen this month, one of which, despite the short stature of the main character, stands head and shoulders above the rest. Movies are rated on a scale of 1-5 cans of tuna fish, with 5 being the top. Those marked with an asterisk (*) are movies I had not seen previously. Numbering picks up from previous months.
48. Tully* (2018) – Charlize Theron is Marlo, an overwhelmed mother of three in this comedy-drama (emphasis on the latter) who is “gifted” a night nanny to care for her infant son so she can sleep through the night. Enter 20-something Tully (Mackenzie Davis), who fits in immediately. She is likable, engaging, a good caretaker and a friend to Marlo. But as is usually the case, mothers get the brunt of the care responsibilities. Marlo’s loving husband Craig (Mark Duplass) means well, but as she settles down for a night bound to be interrupted by the need to breastfeed or pump (even with Tully handling the kids), he puts on his headset and plays video games. She feels bad, looks worse and is desperately combatting lack of sleep with post-partum depression or worse. To the credit of the stunning Theron, she looks awful but real (she gained 50 pounds for the part) and desperate, unable to articulate her needs or frustrations. This is surely not the feel-good movie of the year, and the trailer is much funnier than the actual movie, but it is a brave depiction of a woman on or over the verge of a breakdown, trying to cope and be a good mother while sublimating all of her needs and succumbing to what seems like post-traumatic stress syndrome. I’m certain many women will relate to this movie in ways they would like to forget. 3½ cans.
49. A League of Their Own (1992) – Women have always had to fight to be recognized in their fields, whether it is in a corporation, politics or on a baseball diamond. This ode to the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League is based on a true story. With American men off fighting World War II, some promoters thought it would be a good idea to start a league for women, and teams such as the Rockford Peaches turned out to have some pretty good players and a strong cadre of fans. The heart of the story is the relationship between sisters Dottie (Gena Davis) and Kit (Lorie Petty). Dottie has the baseball acumen and good sense, while Kit is a volatile, emotional gamer. The team is a collection of women (among them are Madonna and Rosie O’Donnell) who bond as a team and as friends. Tom Hanks is their initially disinterested manager, a boozy former player now relegated to women’s baseball and resentful about it until he sees the talent on his roster. His main contribution to this film is to utter the classic line, “There’s no crying in baseball!” One thing that always bugged me about this movie is the lack of athletes in key roles; none of these ladies look like they could throw the ball nearly well enough to be a pro player. This one will never make it to the Big Leagues, but it is a pleasant, if corny tale. 3 cans.
50. Finding Your Feet* (2018) – When wealthy, upper-crust Lady Sandra Abbott (Imelda Staunton) suddenly finds that her husband of 40 years is having an affair with her now former best friend, she immediately leaves and heads for the funky apartment of her estranged sister, Bif (Cecilia Imrie), a free-spirited woman who is nothing like her straitlaced older sibling. Bif loves to ride her bike, hoist a few at the local pub or smoke weed with her posse of likeminded friends, among them Charlie (Timothy Spall). She especially loves to dance with a group of people in her older age bracket. There’s nothing here that you cannot see coming, but it is joyful to watch as Sandra comes out of her shell and finds her footing after such a disheartening incident. I hope that when my friends and I are their age, we will enjoy life as much as Sandra and Bif. 3½ cans.
51. RBG* (2018) – Ruth Bader Ginsburg is notorious for her liberal opinions as a Justice of the Supreme Court, her work on equality and women’s rights as a lawyer who argued cases before the high court, and for her feminine collars that decorate her jurist’s robes. Supremely intelligent, a dogged worker who barely sleeps, the octogenarian does a workout with her trainer that I couldn’t do. She entered Harvard Law as one of nine women in a class of more than 600 and made the Law Review her second year. She married the love of her life, nursed him back to health and through law school when he was deathly ill, had two children, became an icon for women’s rights and handled some of the landmark decisions that have guided this country for decades. It is only May, but I am sure this movie will be the best documentary – and one of the best movies – of the year. In a movie world full of superheroes, Ruth Bader Ginsburg towers above the rest. 4½ cans.
52. Breathe* (2017) – Robin Cavendish (Andrew Garfield) and his wife Diana (Claire Foy) are active, fun, healthy and happy when he suddenly contracts polio at age 28, just as they are expecting their first child. Paralyzed, Robin doesn’t want to live, but Diana is not about to let him give up. Instead, Diana, her brothers and inventor Teddy Hall help him survive and even thrive thanks to a series of breakthrough inventions that allow him to be transported practically anywhere, with his special wheelchair/respirator breathing for him. He devotes his life to showing the world what innovation can do to inspire and assist the disabled. Based on a true story from his son, this movie is a salute to hope, love and technology. 3 cans.
53. Ladies in Lavender* (2004) – Aging siblings Janet (Maggie Smith) and Ursula (Judi Dench) live a quiet existence in an English coastal fishing village, content to garden, sip tea and listen to the radio. One morning after a big storm, they find the still-breathing body of a young man (Daniel Bruehl) washed up on shore. They summon the doctor and get him into their house, where they precede to care for him. He lies in bed, sleeping and recovering, while they spend a lot of time – particularly the never-married Ursula – staring at him. The young man does not speak English but the widowed Janet converses with him in her halting German, determining that he is from Poland. They are curiously not curious about how he came to wash up on their beach. Ursula becomes enraptured with him and, as he recovers and ventures out of the house, she goes through moments of jealously and anguish, knowing that eventually he will leave. He is a talented violinist, and he was on his way to the US to make a better life for himself than he would have in pre-World War II Poland. Will he take up with the attractive young painter in town? He’s NOT going to fall for Ursula, right? This is a gentle film about longing and loneliness. 3 cans.
54. If These Knishes Could Talk* (2014) – If knishes could talk, they would undoubtedly do so with a “New York” accent. The melting pot of Italian, Irish and Jewish people who immigrated to the US more than 100 years ago developed their own way of speaking, and this documentary looked – and listened – to all of them in concluding that New York is, shall we say, different. The common things the region shares is the inability for people to speak without using their hands, as conveyed by native New Yorker and noted attorney Alan Dershowitz. New Yorkers are a ribald group of people who swear profusely (even in sign language), who are tough-minded, quick to interrupt and quick to poke fun. The people here include everyone from a Korean man who sounds like the prototypical New “Yawker” and whose Asian background is sublimated to his accent; to Bronx native Penny Marshall, the actress and director who was told that with her accent she would have no career in Hollywood; to guys who sound like they are right out of “Goodfellas.” In fact, one protests that he and his friends already spoke that way and “Marty” (Scorsese, we assume) took the accent from him, not the other way around. There is no great meaning here, but it is fun to hear people who swear they have no accent display when everyone NOT from New York swears they certainly do. 3½ cans. PS – If you don’t have Amazon Prime Video, you can fuhgetabout seeing this movie.
55. Twice in a Lifetime (1984) – I have now seen this movie twice in my lifetime and I’m still not sure how I feel about it. As Harry (Gene Hackman) celebrates his 50th birthday with his buddies in a bar, his wife Kate (Ellyn Burstyn, who used to star in practically every movie of that era) stays home. Harry works the night shift in the local factory in Seattle, cheers for the Seahawks and generally has a very predictable life. It is fairly safe to assume that his birthday night flirting with Audrey, the attractive new barmaid at the Shamrock (Ann-Margret), is a new thing for him, but before you know it, Harry is cheating on Kate and taking up with Audrey. But the story is less about a marriage falling apart than the effect of the dissolution on his family, especially on hot-tempered daughter Sonny (Amy Madigan, at her best), a woman with marital and financial woes of her own. What always bothered me about this movie is how Harry moves so easily from his loyal, caring wife into a routine but more exciting relationship with this new woman. He doesn’t have enough guilt or regret, and he still loves wife #1. Then again, isn’t everyone entitled to their share of happiness? 3½ cans.
56. Words & Pictures* (2013) – Alcoholic English teacher Jack Marcus (Clive Owen) knows plenty about words, but although he is a published author, he is more sanctimonious than scholarly, and he hasn’t published anything lately. Artist and art teacher Dina Delsanto (Juliette Binoche) is convinced that pictures matter more than words, although her rheumatoid arthritis has greatly affected her ability to paint. The two teachers disagree with each other and set up a competition at the school to see what matters most, words or pictures. Their sparring can only lead to romance, as we know from the million movies before this feeble attempt to give us a loving couple. The school is filled with the usual clichéd students, there is a threat that Jack could lose his job, and will either Jack or Dina ever be able to again demonstrate real talent in their chosen fields? By the end, I really didn’t care. Neither evoked any sympathy or admiration from me, despite my relish for good words, well-written literature and my penchant for a punchy phrase. 2 cans.
57. Book Club* (2018) – There are perfect date movies, action movies and movies for women of a certain age, as evidenced by the groups of women who sauntered into the theater for this one. The remarkably restored Jane Fonda, the wry Candice Bergen, the quirky Diane Keaton and the youngest of the bunch, Mary Steenbergen, relish their time together, discussing books, drinking lots of wine, enjoying snacks and bonding as friends. When they decide to read the trilogy “Fifty Shades of Grey,” they all realize that their personal lives could use a little spicing up. Immediately, Keaton meets a pilot (Andy Garcia) on a flight to see her overprotective daughters, Fonda is reunited with an old flame (Don Johnson), Bergen goes online and meets a charming date (Richard Dreyfuss) and Steenbergen really, really works at bringing back the magic with her husband (Craig T. Nelson). The movie is much less silly than I anticipated and laced with humor, warmth and heart. Go read a book and see this movie. 3½ cans.
58. The Family Stone (2005) – Sarah Jessica Parker is Meredith, a buttoned-up, humorless, self-centered woman who is dragged to the home of her soon to be fiancé, Everett (Dermot Mulrooney) to meet the family at Christmas, and the tension is as tight as the hair pulled back on her head. The family is a big, laid-back group, headed by mother Sybil (Diane Keaton) and father Kelly (Craig T. Nelson). Everett’s sister Amy (Rachel McAdams) takes a quick dislike to Meredith, who is clearly the square peg here (extra points to any of you who get THAT reference), but brother Ben (Luke Wilson) wants to help her out. Complicating matters is the arrival of Meredith’s sister Julie (Clare Danes), the friendly and fun sister of the two, who hits it off bigtime with Everett. The plot doesn’t thicken as much as it slides toward the inevitable, but it is worth the ride. Parker is particularly good as the uptight guest. 4 cans.
59. Growing Up Smith* (2015) – He may be of Indian descent, but 10-year old Smith (Roni Akurati) is the all-American boy. He likes “Star Wars,” “Happy Days,” “Saturday Night Fever” and has a mad crush on his classmate and neighbor Amy (Brighton Sharbino). But his pushy papa insists on his carrying on the traditions of HIS native country. Although his son is just 10, the father has already picked out his Indian bride. Smith’s biggest problem is trying to be a good son while also trying to be an average kid. Helping him out is neighbor Bucky (Jason Lee), a motorcycle-riding guy fighting with his wife (Hilarie Burton). I was reminded of one of my favorite TV shows, “The Wonder Years,” by the theme of kids with crushes just trying to survive overbearing parents and be “normal.” And the kid who plays Smith with a wide-eyed innocence loos much like Paul Pfeiffer (Josh Saviano) on TWY. 3½ cans.
60. Hollywoodland* (2006) – The 1959 death of actor George Reeves – famous for playing Superman on TV – was ruled a suicide, but private investigator Louis Simo (Adrien Brody) doesn’t agree. He connects with the actor’s doubting mother and tries to unravel the mystery, told in flashbacks, about Reeves’ relationships with Hollywood movers and shakers as the handsome actor tries to land movie roles before being cast – and typecast – as the Man of Steel. Ben Affleck is convincing as Reeves, who is appalled with his cartoonish role, and Diane Lane – one of my favorite actresses – plays a woman having an affair with Reeves while married to a top studio exec. There’s plenty of suspense here. 3½ cans.
48. Tully* (2018) – Charlize Theron is Marlo, an overwhelmed mother of three in this comedy-drama (emphasis on the latter) who is “gifted” a night nanny to care for her infant son so she can sleep through the night. Enter 20-something Tully (Mackenzie Davis), who fits in immediately. She is likable, engaging, a good caretaker and a friend to Marlo. But as is usually the case, mothers get the brunt of the care responsibilities. Marlo’s loving husband Craig (Mark Duplass) means well, but as she settles down for a night bound to be interrupted by the need to breastfeed or pump (even with Tully handling the kids), he puts on his headset and plays video games. She feels bad, looks worse and is desperately combatting lack of sleep with post-partum depression or worse. To the credit of the stunning Theron, she looks awful but real (she gained 50 pounds for the part) and desperate, unable to articulate her needs or frustrations. This is surely not the feel-good movie of the year, and the trailer is much funnier than the actual movie, but it is a brave depiction of a woman on or over the verge of a breakdown, trying to cope and be a good mother while sublimating all of her needs and succumbing to what seems like post-traumatic stress syndrome. I’m certain many women will relate to this movie in ways they would like to forget. 3½ cans.
49. A League of Their Own (1992) – Women have always had to fight to be recognized in their fields, whether it is in a corporation, politics or on a baseball diamond. This ode to the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League is based on a true story. With American men off fighting World War II, some promoters thought it would be a good idea to start a league for women, and teams such as the Rockford Peaches turned out to have some pretty good players and a strong cadre of fans. The heart of the story is the relationship between sisters Dottie (Gena Davis) and Kit (Lorie Petty). Dottie has the baseball acumen and good sense, while Kit is a volatile, emotional gamer. The team is a collection of women (among them are Madonna and Rosie O’Donnell) who bond as a team and as friends. Tom Hanks is their initially disinterested manager, a boozy former player now relegated to women’s baseball and resentful about it until he sees the talent on his roster. His main contribution to this film is to utter the classic line, “There’s no crying in baseball!” One thing that always bugged me about this movie is the lack of athletes in key roles; none of these ladies look like they could throw the ball nearly well enough to be a pro player. This one will never make it to the Big Leagues, but it is a pleasant, if corny tale. 3 cans.
50. Finding Your Feet* (2018) – When wealthy, upper-crust Lady Sandra Abbott (Imelda Staunton) suddenly finds that her husband of 40 years is having an affair with her now former best friend, she immediately leaves and heads for the funky apartment of her estranged sister, Bif (Cecilia Imrie), a free-spirited woman who is nothing like her straitlaced older sibling. Bif loves to ride her bike, hoist a few at the local pub or smoke weed with her posse of likeminded friends, among them Charlie (Timothy Spall). She especially loves to dance with a group of people in her older age bracket. There’s nothing here that you cannot see coming, but it is joyful to watch as Sandra comes out of her shell and finds her footing after such a disheartening incident. I hope that when my friends and I are their age, we will enjoy life as much as Sandra and Bif. 3½ cans.
51. RBG* (2018) – Ruth Bader Ginsburg is notorious for her liberal opinions as a Justice of the Supreme Court, her work on equality and women’s rights as a lawyer who argued cases before the high court, and for her feminine collars that decorate her jurist’s robes. Supremely intelligent, a dogged worker who barely sleeps, the octogenarian does a workout with her trainer that I couldn’t do. She entered Harvard Law as one of nine women in a class of more than 600 and made the Law Review her second year. She married the love of her life, nursed him back to health and through law school when he was deathly ill, had two children, became an icon for women’s rights and handled some of the landmark decisions that have guided this country for decades. It is only May, but I am sure this movie will be the best documentary – and one of the best movies – of the year. In a movie world full of superheroes, Ruth Bader Ginsburg towers above the rest. 4½ cans.
52. Breathe* (2017) – Robin Cavendish (Andrew Garfield) and his wife Diana (Claire Foy) are active, fun, healthy and happy when he suddenly contracts polio at age 28, just as they are expecting their first child. Paralyzed, Robin doesn’t want to live, but Diana is not about to let him give up. Instead, Diana, her brothers and inventor Teddy Hall help him survive and even thrive thanks to a series of breakthrough inventions that allow him to be transported practically anywhere, with his special wheelchair/respirator breathing for him. He devotes his life to showing the world what innovation can do to inspire and assist the disabled. Based on a true story from his son, this movie is a salute to hope, love and technology. 3 cans.
53. Ladies in Lavender* (2004) – Aging siblings Janet (Maggie Smith) and Ursula (Judi Dench) live a quiet existence in an English coastal fishing village, content to garden, sip tea and listen to the radio. One morning after a big storm, they find the still-breathing body of a young man (Daniel Bruehl) washed up on shore. They summon the doctor and get him into their house, where they precede to care for him. He lies in bed, sleeping and recovering, while they spend a lot of time – particularly the never-married Ursula – staring at him. The young man does not speak English but the widowed Janet converses with him in her halting German, determining that he is from Poland. They are curiously not curious about how he came to wash up on their beach. Ursula becomes enraptured with him and, as he recovers and ventures out of the house, she goes through moments of jealously and anguish, knowing that eventually he will leave. He is a talented violinist, and he was on his way to the US to make a better life for himself than he would have in pre-World War II Poland. Will he take up with the attractive young painter in town? He’s NOT going to fall for Ursula, right? This is a gentle film about longing and loneliness. 3 cans.
54. If These Knishes Could Talk* (2014) – If knishes could talk, they would undoubtedly do so with a “New York” accent. The melting pot of Italian, Irish and Jewish people who immigrated to the US more than 100 years ago developed their own way of speaking, and this documentary looked – and listened – to all of them in concluding that New York is, shall we say, different. The common things the region shares is the inability for people to speak without using their hands, as conveyed by native New Yorker and noted attorney Alan Dershowitz. New Yorkers are a ribald group of people who swear profusely (even in sign language), who are tough-minded, quick to interrupt and quick to poke fun. The people here include everyone from a Korean man who sounds like the prototypical New “Yawker” and whose Asian background is sublimated to his accent; to Bronx native Penny Marshall, the actress and director who was told that with her accent she would have no career in Hollywood; to guys who sound like they are right out of “Goodfellas.” In fact, one protests that he and his friends already spoke that way and “Marty” (Scorsese, we assume) took the accent from him, not the other way around. There is no great meaning here, but it is fun to hear people who swear they have no accent display when everyone NOT from New York swears they certainly do. 3½ cans. PS – If you don’t have Amazon Prime Video, you can fuhgetabout seeing this movie.
55. Twice in a Lifetime (1984) – I have now seen this movie twice in my lifetime and I’m still not sure how I feel about it. As Harry (Gene Hackman) celebrates his 50th birthday with his buddies in a bar, his wife Kate (Ellyn Burstyn, who used to star in practically every movie of that era) stays home. Harry works the night shift in the local factory in Seattle, cheers for the Seahawks and generally has a very predictable life. It is fairly safe to assume that his birthday night flirting with Audrey, the attractive new barmaid at the Shamrock (Ann-Margret), is a new thing for him, but before you know it, Harry is cheating on Kate and taking up with Audrey. But the story is less about a marriage falling apart than the effect of the dissolution on his family, especially on hot-tempered daughter Sonny (Amy Madigan, at her best), a woman with marital and financial woes of her own. What always bothered me about this movie is how Harry moves so easily from his loyal, caring wife into a routine but more exciting relationship with this new woman. He doesn’t have enough guilt or regret, and he still loves wife #1. Then again, isn’t everyone entitled to their share of happiness? 3½ cans.
56. Words & Pictures* (2013) – Alcoholic English teacher Jack Marcus (Clive Owen) knows plenty about words, but although he is a published author, he is more sanctimonious than scholarly, and he hasn’t published anything lately. Artist and art teacher Dina Delsanto (Juliette Binoche) is convinced that pictures matter more than words, although her rheumatoid arthritis has greatly affected her ability to paint. The two teachers disagree with each other and set up a competition at the school to see what matters most, words or pictures. Their sparring can only lead to romance, as we know from the million movies before this feeble attempt to give us a loving couple. The school is filled with the usual clichéd students, there is a threat that Jack could lose his job, and will either Jack or Dina ever be able to again demonstrate real talent in their chosen fields? By the end, I really didn’t care. Neither evoked any sympathy or admiration from me, despite my relish for good words, well-written literature and my penchant for a punchy phrase. 2 cans.
57. Book Club* (2018) – There are perfect date movies, action movies and movies for women of a certain age, as evidenced by the groups of women who sauntered into the theater for this one. The remarkably restored Jane Fonda, the wry Candice Bergen, the quirky Diane Keaton and the youngest of the bunch, Mary Steenbergen, relish their time together, discussing books, drinking lots of wine, enjoying snacks and bonding as friends. When they decide to read the trilogy “Fifty Shades of Grey,” they all realize that their personal lives could use a little spicing up. Immediately, Keaton meets a pilot (Andy Garcia) on a flight to see her overprotective daughters, Fonda is reunited with an old flame (Don Johnson), Bergen goes online and meets a charming date (Richard Dreyfuss) and Steenbergen really, really works at bringing back the magic with her husband (Craig T. Nelson). The movie is much less silly than I anticipated and laced with humor, warmth and heart. Go read a book and see this movie. 3½ cans.
58. The Family Stone (2005) – Sarah Jessica Parker is Meredith, a buttoned-up, humorless, self-centered woman who is dragged to the home of her soon to be fiancé, Everett (Dermot Mulrooney) to meet the family at Christmas, and the tension is as tight as the hair pulled back on her head. The family is a big, laid-back group, headed by mother Sybil (Diane Keaton) and father Kelly (Craig T. Nelson). Everett’s sister Amy (Rachel McAdams) takes a quick dislike to Meredith, who is clearly the square peg here (extra points to any of you who get THAT reference), but brother Ben (Luke Wilson) wants to help her out. Complicating matters is the arrival of Meredith’s sister Julie (Clare Danes), the friendly and fun sister of the two, who hits it off bigtime with Everett. The plot doesn’t thicken as much as it slides toward the inevitable, but it is worth the ride. Parker is particularly good as the uptight guest. 4 cans.
59. Growing Up Smith* (2015) – He may be of Indian descent, but 10-year old Smith (Roni Akurati) is the all-American boy. He likes “Star Wars,” “Happy Days,” “Saturday Night Fever” and has a mad crush on his classmate and neighbor Amy (Brighton Sharbino). But his pushy papa insists on his carrying on the traditions of HIS native country. Although his son is just 10, the father has already picked out his Indian bride. Smith’s biggest problem is trying to be a good son while also trying to be an average kid. Helping him out is neighbor Bucky (Jason Lee), a motorcycle-riding guy fighting with his wife (Hilarie Burton). I was reminded of one of my favorite TV shows, “The Wonder Years,” by the theme of kids with crushes just trying to survive overbearing parents and be “normal.” And the kid who plays Smith with a wide-eyed innocence loos much like Paul Pfeiffer (Josh Saviano) on TWY. 3½ cans.
60. Hollywoodland* (2006) – The 1959 death of actor George Reeves – famous for playing Superman on TV – was ruled a suicide, but private investigator Louis Simo (Adrien Brody) doesn’t agree. He connects with the actor’s doubting mother and tries to unravel the mystery, told in flashbacks, about Reeves’ relationships with Hollywood movers and shakers as the handsome actor tries to land movie roles before being cast – and typecast – as the Man of Steel. Ben Affleck is convincing as Reeves, who is appalled with his cartoonish role, and Diane Lane – one of my favorite actresses – plays a woman having an affair with Reeves while married to a top studio exec. There’s plenty of suspense here. 3½ cans.
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Spring Awakenings
Phew! I ALMOST walked out of Kohl’s with nothing purchased and Kohl’s Cash burning a hole in my pocket. That would be like getting voted off Survivor while holding an Immunity Idol in my hand. Close call.
Just curious: Am I the only person who uses a tweezer to remove the residual lint from the screen in the back of the hair dryer?
One of the more annoying things I do to myself is to accidentally leave a tissue in the pocket of a sweatshirt, so when I do the laundry, the whole load is covered with little fragments of lint. If only I had checked…
It would be so much more convenient if society used one standard of temperature. Why do we need Fahrenheit and Celsius? I’m confused enough about time zones!
Why are rest rooms called rest rooms? Who would want to take a rest in a noisy, smelly, unsanitary place where the hand dryers sound like jet engines? Maybe this practice goes back to when women were considered fragile and needed to rest, but today’s public ladies rooms are hardly conducive to resting. I think they need a new name. If you want to class them up, call them the “Ladies Lavatory” or the ladies room. Trust me, we will know what that is for.
I have a new obsession: I am recording and watching episodes of “Hill Street Blues” and “NYPD Blues,” both Steven Bochco police dramas that aired nearly 20 years ago. Two episodes each of these shows are broadcast on the “Heroes and Icons” network every day, and I faithfully watch them, often in the middle of the night when I can’t sleep anyway. Hill and Renko, Sipowicz and Simone, Furillo and Davenport, and who can forget Mick Belker? It is like having old friends come to visit. So if my movie list looks a little sparse these days, consider how many more I could watch if I were not dedicating hours to these old classics. Hey, let’s be careful out there!
Amazon’s Alexa has a new skill to help you remember things. I would use it if I could remember how to access it.
I’m glad we are finally moving out of the cold weather season and into warmth again, which means sandals season is upon us. But I confess that while sandals themselves are fine, I detest that “clacking” sound you hear as the bottom of the shoe hits my heel. That is the price of warm weather, I guess.
If not for nail and hair salons and doctors’ offices, would there even be a magazine industry. I see magazines sitting there as my nails dry at the salon, but I don’t dare open one or turn a page for fear of ruining my manicure!
I take my car to two different car washes. One is strictly exterior and done with hoses in a parking lot. The other one offers not only exterior/interior cleaning and sprucing up the tires (and vacuuming), but also some of the nicest greeting cards around. Recently, I spent $34 getting my car washed and buying things. I really can find ways to spend my money!
Don’t you think your car runs better when it has been washed? I know mine does. I guess it is like taking a shower. You feel so good and refreshed afterwards. The car must feel that way, too.
Why are we always surprised when the weather gets warm? Sure, the timing may vary from year to year, but we all act like the change of seasons has never happened before. I will agree that is strange to wear a winter coat on a Sunday and wear shorts four days later!
Here is a pet peeve: All products which contain expiration dates should be clearly marked. The dates are sometimes impossible to find or you need a translator to decipher the code!
Here’s another pet peeve: All houses should be marked by easily readable numbers. My house not only has a number right next to the garage, but there is also a reflective number on the mailbox at the end of the driveway, so you can identify my house in the dark. This is so important in case of emergencies – or guests!
Thank God that no one can look at the little cloud above my head that is full of snarky comments, which happens when I am at an event and the speaker drones on FOREVA or during conversations I wish I wasn’t having with people I don’t want to talk to. I only hope other people don’t have those same snarky thoughts about me! (They don’t, do they?)
Do you ever have to buy paperclips? I think I have been recycling the same paperclips for at least 20 years now. I save the ones from documents I no longer need and reuse them. So far, I have yet to run out of my stash.
Here is a job I wouldn’t want to have (any job, really…): I would not want to be the poor soul who is stuck listening to those calls they tell you MAY be monitored. You know, when you call the bank or Comcast or whomever for customer service. Who would want to listed to those calls and grade the performance of the rep? Or is the whole thing a ruse to make you think someone is paying attention?
Speaking of calls, those robocalls remain annoyingly confounding. The number emulates a local number so you pick up, just in case it actually is someone you know whose number you don’t recognize, and you find it is someone trying to sell you a security system or give you a “free” vacation. The caller sounds so friendly that you might not initially realize it is a recording. The last one I got told me that time was running out on this particular offer, so I better hurry up and buy, subscribe or take some action. OK, let the time run out so you WON’T call me again! A live person called me recently about solar panels. I told him to do himself a favor and take me off his list because I wasn’t buying solar panels for my new house. His retort was, “Oh, so you don’t want to save money?” The next time he calls, I am going to tell him that I am buying solar panels, but not from his company because I don’t like his approach to sales. Or, that I just declared bankruptcy.
Maybe the cultural phenomenon of book clubs is a direct effect of the cultural phenomenon that is Oprah Winfrey, who may have started the trend on her former TV show when she established “Oprah’s Book Club.” Millions of people started reading again and gathering to discuss books. Or not discussing the books, which also happens in book clubs – especially those where wine is involved. I know of book clubs that are difficult to get in – you have to be invited – where the women don’t even attempt to discuss the book, which, to me, defeats the whole purpose of a book club. Most of my friends enjoy reading books or listening to the audio version as they commute via bus or train or drive. The public library has a whole collection of books specifically designated for book clubs and allows members to borrow 10 copies at a time for members to read and discuss. There is even an official bag to transport them, and they come with questions to get the conversation going. Some of us download books on our Kindles or via the library’s “cloud” application) for convenient and portable reading. Many people I know enjoy recommending books for me to read so we can discuss them later. My neighbors formed a book club last year, and we have met monthly ever since, with a break in December for the busy holiday season. I find that most members read the books, but some – if they don’t like the choice – will stop reading and go to Book Club anyway. Some members are really there to discuss the book, while others show up just to talk, to catch up with each other or to enjoy the snacks that are served. Some people are in several book clubs, just for the joy or reading and having someone with whom they can talk about the book. Some of us have trouble remembering which books we have read, so I’m now inserting the name of the book on my calendar when I mark the date for our gatherings. It doesn’t matter, really. One of my favorite things to do as a child was to go to the library with my mother. She was a voracious reader (side note: The word “voracious” seems to always accompany the word “reader”) who knew all of the librarians at the Somerville Free Public Library. She would recommend books for them to read, and somehow, she managed to read several books at the same time. When I picture her bedroom, I see a stack of books on the nightstand that she was working her way through. She was at the library so often that she gave gifts to the librarians each year at the holidays, and I think they would put aside books she wanted. She would take me in the family car after dinner, when my father was home from work, and the librarians would let me into the children’s library downstairs even though it was closed in the evenings (just one of the benefits of being the daughter of the late, great Sylvia Gordon). My quest to watch as many movies as I can during the year had diminished my interest in reading for a while, but by dropping magazine subscriptions and relying on Book Club or recommendations, I’m back in the game again. Just don’t ask me the names of the books I have read. Between lists of books and movies, it is hard to keep it all straight! Happy reading, everyone.
Just curious: Am I the only person who uses a tweezer to remove the residual lint from the screen in the back of the hair dryer?
One of the more annoying things I do to myself is to accidentally leave a tissue in the pocket of a sweatshirt, so when I do the laundry, the whole load is covered with little fragments of lint. If only I had checked…
It would be so much more convenient if society used one standard of temperature. Why do we need Fahrenheit and Celsius? I’m confused enough about time zones!
Why are rest rooms called rest rooms? Who would want to take a rest in a noisy, smelly, unsanitary place where the hand dryers sound like jet engines? Maybe this practice goes back to when women were considered fragile and needed to rest, but today’s public ladies rooms are hardly conducive to resting. I think they need a new name. If you want to class them up, call them the “Ladies Lavatory” or the ladies room. Trust me, we will know what that is for.
I have a new obsession: I am recording and watching episodes of “Hill Street Blues” and “NYPD Blues,” both Steven Bochco police dramas that aired nearly 20 years ago. Two episodes each of these shows are broadcast on the “Heroes and Icons” network every day, and I faithfully watch them, often in the middle of the night when I can’t sleep anyway. Hill and Renko, Sipowicz and Simone, Furillo and Davenport, and who can forget Mick Belker? It is like having old friends come to visit. So if my movie list looks a little sparse these days, consider how many more I could watch if I were not dedicating hours to these old classics. Hey, let’s be careful out there!
Amazon’s Alexa has a new skill to help you remember things. I would use it if I could remember how to access it.
I’m glad we are finally moving out of the cold weather season and into warmth again, which means sandals season is upon us. But I confess that while sandals themselves are fine, I detest that “clacking” sound you hear as the bottom of the shoe hits my heel. That is the price of warm weather, I guess.
If not for nail and hair salons and doctors’ offices, would there even be a magazine industry. I see magazines sitting there as my nails dry at the salon, but I don’t dare open one or turn a page for fear of ruining my manicure!
I take my car to two different car washes. One is strictly exterior and done with hoses in a parking lot. The other one offers not only exterior/interior cleaning and sprucing up the tires (and vacuuming), but also some of the nicest greeting cards around. Recently, I spent $34 getting my car washed and buying things. I really can find ways to spend my money!
Don’t you think your car runs better when it has been washed? I know mine does. I guess it is like taking a shower. You feel so good and refreshed afterwards. The car must feel that way, too.
Why are we always surprised when the weather gets warm? Sure, the timing may vary from year to year, but we all act like the change of seasons has never happened before. I will agree that is strange to wear a winter coat on a Sunday and wear shorts four days later!
Here is a pet peeve: All products which contain expiration dates should be clearly marked. The dates are sometimes impossible to find or you need a translator to decipher the code!
Here’s another pet peeve: All houses should be marked by easily readable numbers. My house not only has a number right next to the garage, but there is also a reflective number on the mailbox at the end of the driveway, so you can identify my house in the dark. This is so important in case of emergencies – or guests!
Thank God that no one can look at the little cloud above my head that is full of snarky comments, which happens when I am at an event and the speaker drones on FOREVA or during conversations I wish I wasn’t having with people I don’t want to talk to. I only hope other people don’t have those same snarky thoughts about me! (They don’t, do they?)
Do you ever have to buy paperclips? I think I have been recycling the same paperclips for at least 20 years now. I save the ones from documents I no longer need and reuse them. So far, I have yet to run out of my stash.
Here is a job I wouldn’t want to have (any job, really…): I would not want to be the poor soul who is stuck listening to those calls they tell you MAY be monitored. You know, when you call the bank or Comcast or whomever for customer service. Who would want to listed to those calls and grade the performance of the rep? Or is the whole thing a ruse to make you think someone is paying attention?
Speaking of calls, those robocalls remain annoyingly confounding. The number emulates a local number so you pick up, just in case it actually is someone you know whose number you don’t recognize, and you find it is someone trying to sell you a security system or give you a “free” vacation. The caller sounds so friendly that you might not initially realize it is a recording. The last one I got told me that time was running out on this particular offer, so I better hurry up and buy, subscribe or take some action. OK, let the time run out so you WON’T call me again! A live person called me recently about solar panels. I told him to do himself a favor and take me off his list because I wasn’t buying solar panels for my new house. His retort was, “Oh, so you don’t want to save money?” The next time he calls, I am going to tell him that I am buying solar panels, but not from his company because I don’t like his approach to sales. Or, that I just declared bankruptcy.
Maybe the cultural phenomenon of book clubs is a direct effect of the cultural phenomenon that is Oprah Winfrey, who may have started the trend on her former TV show when she established “Oprah’s Book Club.” Millions of people started reading again and gathering to discuss books. Or not discussing the books, which also happens in book clubs – especially those where wine is involved. I know of book clubs that are difficult to get in – you have to be invited – where the women don’t even attempt to discuss the book, which, to me, defeats the whole purpose of a book club. Most of my friends enjoy reading books or listening to the audio version as they commute via bus or train or drive. The public library has a whole collection of books specifically designated for book clubs and allows members to borrow 10 copies at a time for members to read and discuss. There is even an official bag to transport them, and they come with questions to get the conversation going. Some of us download books on our Kindles or via the library’s “cloud” application) for convenient and portable reading. Many people I know enjoy recommending books for me to read so we can discuss them later. My neighbors formed a book club last year, and we have met monthly ever since, with a break in December for the busy holiday season. I find that most members read the books, but some – if they don’t like the choice – will stop reading and go to Book Club anyway. Some members are really there to discuss the book, while others show up just to talk, to catch up with each other or to enjoy the snacks that are served. Some people are in several book clubs, just for the joy or reading and having someone with whom they can talk about the book. Some of us have trouble remembering which books we have read, so I’m now inserting the name of the book on my calendar when I mark the date for our gatherings. It doesn’t matter, really. One of my favorite things to do as a child was to go to the library with my mother. She was a voracious reader (side note: The word “voracious” seems to always accompany the word “reader”) who knew all of the librarians at the Somerville Free Public Library. She would recommend books for them to read, and somehow, she managed to read several books at the same time. When I picture her bedroom, I see a stack of books on the nightstand that she was working her way through. She was at the library so often that she gave gifts to the librarians each year at the holidays, and I think they would put aside books she wanted. She would take me in the family car after dinner, when my father was home from work, and the librarians would let me into the children’s library downstairs even though it was closed in the evenings (just one of the benefits of being the daughter of the late, great Sylvia Gordon). My quest to watch as many movies as I can during the year had diminished my interest in reading for a while, but by dropping magazine subscriptions and relying on Book Club or recommendations, I’m back in the game again. Just don’t ask me the names of the books I have read. Between lists of books and movies, it is hard to keep it all straight! Happy reading, everyone.
Tuesday, May 1, 2018
Tina's April 2018 Movies
With a week away on vacation and an especially busy month otherwise, I'm amazed that I managed to see 10 movies, only one of which was a repeat for me. Movies are rated on a scale of 1-5 cans of tuna fish, with 5 being the top. Those marked with an asterisk (*) are movies I had not seen previously. Numbering picks up from previous months.
38. Girls Trip* (2017) – This girls-just-wanna-have-fun romp is nasty, raunchy and hilarious. The dialog makes “Bridesmaids” seem like “The Remains of the Day” in comparison. A group of college buddies have drifted apart but still maintain that bond of friendship that women cherish, so they gather in New Orleans to have some big fun despite their different lives and careers. Since this movie isn’t exactly plot-driven, I will spare you the details and just tell you that I always love Queen Latifah and I want to hang out with the outrageous Tiffany Haddish. Regina Hall and Jada Pinkett Smith complete the ensemble. Full disclosure: if swearing and sexual references are NOT your thing, you will think this movie is embarrassingly offensive and you should avoid it at all costs. In truth, it isn’t good beyond shock value, but I did have more than a few laughs. In the beginning of the movie, Haddish’s character gets fired from her job, and she doesn’t even understand that she has been let go. That part alone – not at all raunchy – cracked me up. This is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea. 2 cans.
39. Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool* (2017) – Annette Bening plays real life movie star Gloria Grahame, who takes on a much younger lover/caretaker, Peter (Jamie Bell, years removed from the dancing kid in “Billy Elliott”), an aspiring actor who worships and adores her. She is at the end of her career, frail and sick and refusing to treat her dying movie star condition. Despite the age difference (she is easily old enough to be his mother), the two have a genuine connection, and she builds a relationship with both Peter and his supportive family. Bening’s character reminded me of Blanche DuBois in “A Streetcar Named Desire,” all diaphanous and fragile and desperate for loving care despite wanting to dictate the terms of the relationship. He feels obligated to protect her and genuinely cares for her. 3 cans.
40. Novitiate* (2017) –If having an actual life and feelings for anyone in it other than God is NOT for you, stay away from the nunnery. Here the strict Mother Superior (Melissa Leo) bristles against the loosening of regulations under the Vatican 2 rulings in the early 1960s. She prefers her young nuns in training to maintain frequent silences, to walk on their knees around the chapel when they commit a transgression and to advance in their training so someday they can be worthy of being nuns. This life is not for everyone, and although there are occasional glimpses of these young women displaying personalities, it is best for them to all look and act alike to carry on the traditions. Mother Very Superior is determined to avoid any reformation of the church and anyone questioning her power. This movie reminded me of the tough love training of “An Officer and a Gentleman,” except this was harder in many ways, and I’m not sure the MS loved the girls since here, only the love of God counts. After the reforms on Vatican 2 were enacted, droves of women in training to be nuns left the church. I can see why. 2 cans.
41. Paterno* (2018) – This HBO docudrama is about the fallout of the Jerry Sandusky child sexual assault cases that took place in the area of Penn State over a period of several decades. It covers just one week and how Penn State’s revered football coach, Joe Paterno (Al Pacino) slid from acclaimed coach to a man who protected a sexual predator in the eyes of the public. All Paterno wants to do is coach, not deal with the walls closing in. He underestimates the grand jury’s actions and the indictments that follow. The story is uncovered by a young reporter, Sara Ganim (Riley Keough), whose dogged research of the cases eventually earned her a Pulitzer Prize. This program focuses on the demise of the JoePa era, following a career that yielded 409 football victories. What did Paterno know and when did he know it? Was strictly following protocol and reporting the story of Sandusky in the shower that was told to him by PSU assistant coach Mike McQueary enough? Did Paterno, a god-like figure at the university whose power at the university was vast and whose generosity in helping young men develop and get an education have a moral responsibility to the victims? Of course he did, and no matter how befuddled he seems here (he doesn’t really understand the description of the shower incident reported to him), he glossed over it because Sandusky was known to have kids around him all the time. Everyone knew of allegations about Sandusky, but no one alerted authorities. When one of the victims did, the case was buried. Pacino shows Paterno’s familiar shuffle, hunched shoulders and a good degree of confusion – though the coach is sharp enough to call football plays. Moral obligations go unmet, and more victims of Sandusky result. There is plenty of blame to go around here, and the exemplary life of an otherwise good man comes apart in a way he never could have imagined, losing his job as head coach after 46 years via a phone call from a member of the PSU Board even as the University President and other officials scramble to keep theirs. If you see something, say something. No question. 3½ cans.
42. The Kennedy Dynasty* (2018) – CNN has broadcast some interesting documentaries in recent years, and this look at the dynastic Kennedys is one of the best. We all know the story of Patriarch Joseph P. Kennedy and his wife Rose, his ill-fated sons (who include President John F. Kennedy and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, both assassinated) and more tragedy than you could possibly imagine. There are deaths, botched operations, great success and huge challenges. This multi-part documentary, benefitting from tons of available footage, shows the highs and lows of being a Kennedy or a Kennedy spouse, and it doesn’t gloss over the womanizing and health issues of JFK. It is a fascinating study of generations of Kennedys, with real promise, hopes and disappointments. 4 cans, because I find this subject engrossing.
43. My Cousin Rachel* (2017) – Philip Ashley (Sam Claflin) is the heir to the estate of his late cousin, who took him in when he was orphaned as a child. Cousin Ambrose had married a captivating young woman, Rachel (Rachel Weisz), and shortly thereafter began suffering from various ailments. When Philip goes to his cousin’s estate to sort things out, he meets the beautiful and mysterious widow – who has no legitimate claim on the wealthy man’s estate – and it is his turn to fall for her. Does she feel the same way, or is she in it for the money, which Philip is about to inherit as he turns 25? Soon strapping young Philip is also falling ill, too. Coincidence? Scheme? Scandal? This is no “My Cousin Vinny,” but there are plenty of legal issues and a love story to keep the tension high. 3½ cans.
44. At All Costs* (2017) – The world of “amateur” basketball has long been criticized for taking advantage of the young (high school and younger) athletes. This movie reveals the extreme pressure placed on high school students by the system and by the parents to secure a high rating and a college scholarships. High school basketball has been supplanted in many cases by elite AAU teams who compete for players and the prestige of appearing in showcases run around the country by the shoe companies (Nike, Adidas and Under Armour). The men who run those teams are competing for lucrative contracts from the shoe companies, courting young kids and their parents and pushing them to the limit. This documentary follows Parker Jackson-Cartwright and his LaVarr Ball-like father, who pushes his son, determined to make the 5’8” high school junior into a superstar point guard. He is obnoxious, overbearing and foul-mouthed. It doesn’t matter that at age 16 Parker already is tired of the travel required (AAU concentrates on summer tournaments, but there are elite camps to attend and special training sessions and plenty of year-round basketball for the highly-rated prospects), practice sessions and injuries. This is a JOB, folks, not just a game played in the driveway. And other than acknowledging that the kid attends high school, there is never a mention of scholastic requirements. A special committee chaired by Condoleezza Rice just last month released a report on the current state of men’s college basketball in the wake of reports of illegal payments, unfair recruiting and other issues with coaches, players, agents and shoe companies. I know this system affords some kids a chance to attend college and get support from their AAU coaches that would otherwise be impossible, but at what cost? 3 basketballs.
45. The Beach House* (2018) – In general, I avoid all of those treacly, clichéd Hallmark movies, but since this one was a Hallmark Hall of Fame production, I thought I would give it a try. It was far from the kind of high quality that used to be associated with the Hall of Fame imprimatur, but, with an enormously attractive cast (Andie McDowell, Minka Kelly and Chad Michael Murray), it was easy on the eyes and no mental challenge was required. Kelly’s Cara has moved away from her South Carolina roots to Chicago, barely staying in touch with her mother Lovie (McDowell) and staying away from former boyfriend Brett (Murray, who is too cute and NICE to ever dump). She loses her bigshot advertising job and returns home without revealing the reason for her sudden visit. Lovie has a secret of her own. There is resentment between nearly every twosome, including Cara’s brother Parker and Cara, and secrets are not making things better. And then there are turtles hatching on the beach, much to Lovie’s delight. The scenes along the coast are beautiful, the cast is competent and at least it didn’t “star” some of the routine performers generally found in these Hallmark productions. It was a soft, gentle change of pace for me, though I in no way consider it a cinematic triumph. 2½ cans.
46. Kodachrome* (2018) – Ben (Ed Harris) is an irascible, annoying man who is dying. He is a professional photographer whose last wish – a demand, really – is that his son Matt (Jason Sudekis) drive him to Kansas so he can have some long-held Kodachrome slide film developed in the last remaining Kodachrome-processing lab, one that is closing forever. His nurse Zooey (Elizabeth Olson) is along for the ride as Matt, a failing music promoter, reluctantly agrees to drive the father he rarely sees. It is a race against the clock: They need to get to the photo lab in Kansas before it closes or Ben succumbs to his cancer. This is not your typical road/buddy movie. You can find it only on Netflix. 3½ cans.
47. The Terminal (2004) – This movie offers further evidence about why you should never travel with Tom Hanks. Here he plays Viktor Navorski, a man from a country in Eastern Europe who is stranded at a New York airport when his country revolts and he becomes a man without a country. No valid passport = no entry into the US. The airport security manager, played by Stanley Tucci, confines him to the International terminal, where Viktor, who speaks practically no English, is left to fend for himself among the kiosks, stores and food court. He is stranded for months, dealing with US bureaucracy, making friends among the staff there, learning English by looking at books at Borders, getting a construction job at the airport and falling in love with a flight attendant (Catherine Zeta-Jones). Hanks is resourceful and persistent in an engaging performance. 4 cans.
38. Girls Trip* (2017) – This girls-just-wanna-have-fun romp is nasty, raunchy and hilarious. The dialog makes “Bridesmaids” seem like “The Remains of the Day” in comparison. A group of college buddies have drifted apart but still maintain that bond of friendship that women cherish, so they gather in New Orleans to have some big fun despite their different lives and careers. Since this movie isn’t exactly plot-driven, I will spare you the details and just tell you that I always love Queen Latifah and I want to hang out with the outrageous Tiffany Haddish. Regina Hall and Jada Pinkett Smith complete the ensemble. Full disclosure: if swearing and sexual references are NOT your thing, you will think this movie is embarrassingly offensive and you should avoid it at all costs. In truth, it isn’t good beyond shock value, but I did have more than a few laughs. In the beginning of the movie, Haddish’s character gets fired from her job, and she doesn’t even understand that she has been let go. That part alone – not at all raunchy – cracked me up. This is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea. 2 cans.
39. Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool* (2017) – Annette Bening plays real life movie star Gloria Grahame, who takes on a much younger lover/caretaker, Peter (Jamie Bell, years removed from the dancing kid in “Billy Elliott”), an aspiring actor who worships and adores her. She is at the end of her career, frail and sick and refusing to treat her dying movie star condition. Despite the age difference (she is easily old enough to be his mother), the two have a genuine connection, and she builds a relationship with both Peter and his supportive family. Bening’s character reminded me of Blanche DuBois in “A Streetcar Named Desire,” all diaphanous and fragile and desperate for loving care despite wanting to dictate the terms of the relationship. He feels obligated to protect her and genuinely cares for her. 3 cans.
40. Novitiate* (2017) –If having an actual life and feelings for anyone in it other than God is NOT for you, stay away from the nunnery. Here the strict Mother Superior (Melissa Leo) bristles against the loosening of regulations under the Vatican 2 rulings in the early 1960s. She prefers her young nuns in training to maintain frequent silences, to walk on their knees around the chapel when they commit a transgression and to advance in their training so someday they can be worthy of being nuns. This life is not for everyone, and although there are occasional glimpses of these young women displaying personalities, it is best for them to all look and act alike to carry on the traditions. Mother Very Superior is determined to avoid any reformation of the church and anyone questioning her power. This movie reminded me of the tough love training of “An Officer and a Gentleman,” except this was harder in many ways, and I’m not sure the MS loved the girls since here, only the love of God counts. After the reforms on Vatican 2 were enacted, droves of women in training to be nuns left the church. I can see why. 2 cans.
41. Paterno* (2018) – This HBO docudrama is about the fallout of the Jerry Sandusky child sexual assault cases that took place in the area of Penn State over a period of several decades. It covers just one week and how Penn State’s revered football coach, Joe Paterno (Al Pacino) slid from acclaimed coach to a man who protected a sexual predator in the eyes of the public. All Paterno wants to do is coach, not deal with the walls closing in. He underestimates the grand jury’s actions and the indictments that follow. The story is uncovered by a young reporter, Sara Ganim (Riley Keough), whose dogged research of the cases eventually earned her a Pulitzer Prize. This program focuses on the demise of the JoePa era, following a career that yielded 409 football victories. What did Paterno know and when did he know it? Was strictly following protocol and reporting the story of Sandusky in the shower that was told to him by PSU assistant coach Mike McQueary enough? Did Paterno, a god-like figure at the university whose power at the university was vast and whose generosity in helping young men develop and get an education have a moral responsibility to the victims? Of course he did, and no matter how befuddled he seems here (he doesn’t really understand the description of the shower incident reported to him), he glossed over it because Sandusky was known to have kids around him all the time. Everyone knew of allegations about Sandusky, but no one alerted authorities. When one of the victims did, the case was buried. Pacino shows Paterno’s familiar shuffle, hunched shoulders and a good degree of confusion – though the coach is sharp enough to call football plays. Moral obligations go unmet, and more victims of Sandusky result. There is plenty of blame to go around here, and the exemplary life of an otherwise good man comes apart in a way he never could have imagined, losing his job as head coach after 46 years via a phone call from a member of the PSU Board even as the University President and other officials scramble to keep theirs. If you see something, say something. No question. 3½ cans.
42. The Kennedy Dynasty* (2018) – CNN has broadcast some interesting documentaries in recent years, and this look at the dynastic Kennedys is one of the best. We all know the story of Patriarch Joseph P. Kennedy and his wife Rose, his ill-fated sons (who include President John F. Kennedy and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, both assassinated) and more tragedy than you could possibly imagine. There are deaths, botched operations, great success and huge challenges. This multi-part documentary, benefitting from tons of available footage, shows the highs and lows of being a Kennedy or a Kennedy spouse, and it doesn’t gloss over the womanizing and health issues of JFK. It is a fascinating study of generations of Kennedys, with real promise, hopes and disappointments. 4 cans, because I find this subject engrossing.
43. My Cousin Rachel* (2017) – Philip Ashley (Sam Claflin) is the heir to the estate of his late cousin, who took him in when he was orphaned as a child. Cousin Ambrose had married a captivating young woman, Rachel (Rachel Weisz), and shortly thereafter began suffering from various ailments. When Philip goes to his cousin’s estate to sort things out, he meets the beautiful and mysterious widow – who has no legitimate claim on the wealthy man’s estate – and it is his turn to fall for her. Does she feel the same way, or is she in it for the money, which Philip is about to inherit as he turns 25? Soon strapping young Philip is also falling ill, too. Coincidence? Scheme? Scandal? This is no “My Cousin Vinny,” but there are plenty of legal issues and a love story to keep the tension high. 3½ cans.
44. At All Costs* (2017) – The world of “amateur” basketball has long been criticized for taking advantage of the young (high school and younger) athletes. This movie reveals the extreme pressure placed on high school students by the system and by the parents to secure a high rating and a college scholarships. High school basketball has been supplanted in many cases by elite AAU teams who compete for players and the prestige of appearing in showcases run around the country by the shoe companies (Nike, Adidas and Under Armour). The men who run those teams are competing for lucrative contracts from the shoe companies, courting young kids and their parents and pushing them to the limit. This documentary follows Parker Jackson-Cartwright and his LaVarr Ball-like father, who pushes his son, determined to make the 5’8” high school junior into a superstar point guard. He is obnoxious, overbearing and foul-mouthed. It doesn’t matter that at age 16 Parker already is tired of the travel required (AAU concentrates on summer tournaments, but there are elite camps to attend and special training sessions and plenty of year-round basketball for the highly-rated prospects), practice sessions and injuries. This is a JOB, folks, not just a game played in the driveway. And other than acknowledging that the kid attends high school, there is never a mention of scholastic requirements. A special committee chaired by Condoleezza Rice just last month released a report on the current state of men’s college basketball in the wake of reports of illegal payments, unfair recruiting and other issues with coaches, players, agents and shoe companies. I know this system affords some kids a chance to attend college and get support from their AAU coaches that would otherwise be impossible, but at what cost? 3 basketballs.
45. The Beach House* (2018) – In general, I avoid all of those treacly, clichéd Hallmark movies, but since this one was a Hallmark Hall of Fame production, I thought I would give it a try. It was far from the kind of high quality that used to be associated with the Hall of Fame imprimatur, but, with an enormously attractive cast (Andie McDowell, Minka Kelly and Chad Michael Murray), it was easy on the eyes and no mental challenge was required. Kelly’s Cara has moved away from her South Carolina roots to Chicago, barely staying in touch with her mother Lovie (McDowell) and staying away from former boyfriend Brett (Murray, who is too cute and NICE to ever dump). She loses her bigshot advertising job and returns home without revealing the reason for her sudden visit. Lovie has a secret of her own. There is resentment between nearly every twosome, including Cara’s brother Parker and Cara, and secrets are not making things better. And then there are turtles hatching on the beach, much to Lovie’s delight. The scenes along the coast are beautiful, the cast is competent and at least it didn’t “star” some of the routine performers generally found in these Hallmark productions. It was a soft, gentle change of pace for me, though I in no way consider it a cinematic triumph. 2½ cans.
46. Kodachrome* (2018) – Ben (Ed Harris) is an irascible, annoying man who is dying. He is a professional photographer whose last wish – a demand, really – is that his son Matt (Jason Sudekis) drive him to Kansas so he can have some long-held Kodachrome slide film developed in the last remaining Kodachrome-processing lab, one that is closing forever. His nurse Zooey (Elizabeth Olson) is along for the ride as Matt, a failing music promoter, reluctantly agrees to drive the father he rarely sees. It is a race against the clock: They need to get to the photo lab in Kansas before it closes or Ben succumbs to his cancer. This is not your typical road/buddy movie. You can find it only on Netflix. 3½ cans.
47. The Terminal (2004) – This movie offers further evidence about why you should never travel with Tom Hanks. Here he plays Viktor Navorski, a man from a country in Eastern Europe who is stranded at a New York airport when his country revolts and he becomes a man without a country. No valid passport = no entry into the US. The airport security manager, played by Stanley Tucci, confines him to the International terminal, where Viktor, who speaks practically no English, is left to fend for himself among the kiosks, stores and food court. He is stranded for months, dealing with US bureaucracy, making friends among the staff there, learning English by looking at books at Borders, getting a construction job at the airport and falling in love with a flight attendant (Catherine Zeta-Jones). Hanks is resourceful and persistent in an engaging performance. 4 cans.
Thursday, April 19, 2018
All Over the Place
Does jumping to conclusions count as exercise?
Sometimes I think Marie Antoinette was talking to me when she declared, “Let them eat cake!”
Speaking of cake, can anyone explain who left that cake out in the rain in the song “MacArthur Park?” Look, I wouldn’t want to pass up cake in any form, but a waterlogged one would never be acceptable. What is that song about anyway?
There was a very spirited conversation going on at the nail salon today between the owner, Kim, and one of the technicians. I wish I knew what they were discussing, but since it was entirely in Korean, I didn’t have a clue. I’m guessing they weren’t saying that my nails looked fabulous or that I was one of their favorite customers, but that would have been nice!
I could have a free dinner at a nice restaurant about once a week if I were willing to suffer through a seminar on retirement. Really, I could GIVE a seminar on retirement, but I wouldn’t serve food.
Have you ever noticed that the word “egret” is only one letter different that “regret?” Not that I would get them mixed up in a sentence, but just one of those quirky English language things.
Why is it that I always forget to put a new bar of soap in the shower until I am in the shower? I know, I know, that is the most obvious time.
I am now using Informed Delivery, a service of the post office, to see what mail is delivered each day (I covered this last month). The only problem is that the daily email I received showing me scans of the actual mail also tells me to let them know what is missing. How would I know what is missing? I don’t know what mail is coming. If I get 8 birthday cards and figured I would get 10, should I tell the post office? I’m not sure they thought that one through.
When my house phone rings now, I get 6 alert rings on my cell phone to let me know I have a call at home. How this happened puzzles me. I have Comcast phone service at the house but my cell phone is through Verizon and there are two different numbers with two different area codes. I didn’t get an offer to enroll in this kind of service, and I didn’t link the 2 numbers together. Now my home voice mail started not only being available for listening on my cell phone, but there is also visual voicemail, which I also didn’t order. Maybe it is a trial offer and will go away. These processes just seemed to start on their own. Ironically, if I had seen them offered and signed up, they probably wouldn’t work!
Speaking of ringing phones, I have reached the point in life that when I hear a phone ring on TV I think it is actually my phone, just like my father did.
I must admit that when my printer randomly makes noise – as if it is about to print something I did not request – it freaks me out just a little bit.
Recently, I was on the phone in my office when I heard very loud music coming from the family room. Apparently Alexa was craving Laura Nyro and just started randomly playing “Stoned Soul Picnic” without any outside suggestion (I wasn’t in the room and the TV was off). The mystery was solved to some extent when I checked my Alexa history. She decided on her own to “suggest” that Laura Nyro had some music I might like (and I did), so she played it. I’m just glad she didn’t decide to “surprise” me at 3 AM.
I don't get the concept of Snapchat filters. What’s so exciting/entertaining about putting funny ears, flowers or whiskers on your head? I must be too old to appreciate this craze.
Do you forget the names of the books you read? I’m in a book club in my community, and thankfully, someone is now keeping a list. I’ll go one step further and include the name of the book on my calendar with the meeting, so I know when we read each book. That’s what started my movie blog – I couldn’t remember all the movies I had seen so I started writing them down with a synopsis of the plot not only for myself, but for people who asked me for movie recommendations. Please don’t expect the same treatment for books!
I am nothing if not consistent in my typing errors. I always seem to make typos on the words “business,” and “Chicago,” for example, and the errors are always the same – Bsuiness and Chciago. Every time.
Just wondering: Why DID Billy Joe MacAllister jump off the Tallahatchie Bridge?
Remember when you were a kid and you went somewhere with your family and your mother always had hard candy to suck on? And tissues, which sometimes stuck to the hard candies. I miss those hard candies. And Mom. I miss her more than the hard candies.
Did you know that Dominos offers pizza insurance? That way, if you have an accident and ruin your pizza before you get it home, Dominos will give you a new pizza. I wonder if you have to call a claims adjuster or take pictures of the pizza to put in your claim.
It was probably not a good idea to attend my photography club meeting while suffering from jetlag, particularly since the meeting mostly takes place in a darkened room!
And speaking of jetlag, the reason for mine is that I recently went on a river cruise to Holland and Belgium. This was my first river cruise after having taken a number of cruises on much larger ships, and I would highly recommend it. I went with two friends on the Ama Waterways line, on a brand new ship that was comfortable, very clean and well thought out. We had an interesting itinerary and great tour guides. I learned that the entire area relies on careful management of water – hence locks on the rivers/canals and plenty of reclaimed land where new structures exist in places where canals once were located. You have to be a real expert navigator to get a boat through a luck with only 4 inches clearance on each side! You take your life in your hands in Amsterdam, where the entire city Amsterdam is filled with people riding bikes for transportation (gas is pricey and traffic is everywhere). You have to carefully look both ways before crossing a street, but the bikes seems to peacefully coexist with buses, cars and trams. And there are plenty of canals for those who prefer small boats to get around. Good chocolate is easily found (yum), along with Belgian waffles (which are nothing like those found at IHOP here) and, since we intentionally went during tulip season, we saw gorgeous fields of tulips that made for colorful and impressive pictures. We went to a tulip processing farm, where the flowers are stripped and each bulb is x-rayed for the record because the real money is in creating and selling bulbs, especially new varieties. The trip home included a 10-hour delay because of malfunctioning toilets on our plane from Amsterdam, which was diverted to London for repair. The plumbers were unable to “rectify” the situation, which meant we had to rebook onto another flight after sitting on the tarmac at Heathrow for three hours. I probably don’t even have to tell you the flights were on United Airlines, which has a justifiably bad reputation all around, although they were helpful and polite (and the passengers were cooperative) during the ordeal. The happy ending was that we made it home that day, tired and cranky but with lots of memories of a great week.
Sometimes I think Marie Antoinette was talking to me when she declared, “Let them eat cake!”
Speaking of cake, can anyone explain who left that cake out in the rain in the song “MacArthur Park?” Look, I wouldn’t want to pass up cake in any form, but a waterlogged one would never be acceptable. What is that song about anyway?
There was a very spirited conversation going on at the nail salon today between the owner, Kim, and one of the technicians. I wish I knew what they were discussing, but since it was entirely in Korean, I didn’t have a clue. I’m guessing they weren’t saying that my nails looked fabulous or that I was one of their favorite customers, but that would have been nice!
I could have a free dinner at a nice restaurant about once a week if I were willing to suffer through a seminar on retirement. Really, I could GIVE a seminar on retirement, but I wouldn’t serve food.
Have you ever noticed that the word “egret” is only one letter different that “regret?” Not that I would get them mixed up in a sentence, but just one of those quirky English language things.
Why is it that I always forget to put a new bar of soap in the shower until I am in the shower? I know, I know, that is the most obvious time.
I am now using Informed Delivery, a service of the post office, to see what mail is delivered each day (I covered this last month). The only problem is that the daily email I received showing me scans of the actual mail also tells me to let them know what is missing. How would I know what is missing? I don’t know what mail is coming. If I get 8 birthday cards and figured I would get 10, should I tell the post office? I’m not sure they thought that one through.
When my house phone rings now, I get 6 alert rings on my cell phone to let me know I have a call at home. How this happened puzzles me. I have Comcast phone service at the house but my cell phone is through Verizon and there are two different numbers with two different area codes. I didn’t get an offer to enroll in this kind of service, and I didn’t link the 2 numbers together. Now my home voice mail started not only being available for listening on my cell phone, but there is also visual voicemail, which I also didn’t order. Maybe it is a trial offer and will go away. These processes just seemed to start on their own. Ironically, if I had seen them offered and signed up, they probably wouldn’t work!
Speaking of ringing phones, I have reached the point in life that when I hear a phone ring on TV I think it is actually my phone, just like my father did.
I must admit that when my printer randomly makes noise – as if it is about to print something I did not request – it freaks me out just a little bit.
Recently, I was on the phone in my office when I heard very loud music coming from the family room. Apparently Alexa was craving Laura Nyro and just started randomly playing “Stoned Soul Picnic” without any outside suggestion (I wasn’t in the room and the TV was off). The mystery was solved to some extent when I checked my Alexa history. She decided on her own to “suggest” that Laura Nyro had some music I might like (and I did), so she played it. I’m just glad she didn’t decide to “surprise” me at 3 AM.
I don't get the concept of Snapchat filters. What’s so exciting/entertaining about putting funny ears, flowers or whiskers on your head? I must be too old to appreciate this craze.
Do you forget the names of the books you read? I’m in a book club in my community, and thankfully, someone is now keeping a list. I’ll go one step further and include the name of the book on my calendar with the meeting, so I know when we read each book. That’s what started my movie blog – I couldn’t remember all the movies I had seen so I started writing them down with a synopsis of the plot not only for myself, but for people who asked me for movie recommendations. Please don’t expect the same treatment for books!
I am nothing if not consistent in my typing errors. I always seem to make typos on the words “business,” and “Chicago,” for example, and the errors are always the same – Bsuiness and Chciago. Every time.
Just wondering: Why DID Billy Joe MacAllister jump off the Tallahatchie Bridge?
Remember when you were a kid and you went somewhere with your family and your mother always had hard candy to suck on? And tissues, which sometimes stuck to the hard candies. I miss those hard candies. And Mom. I miss her more than the hard candies.
Did you know that Dominos offers pizza insurance? That way, if you have an accident and ruin your pizza before you get it home, Dominos will give you a new pizza. I wonder if you have to call a claims adjuster or take pictures of the pizza to put in your claim.
It was probably not a good idea to attend my photography club meeting while suffering from jetlag, particularly since the meeting mostly takes place in a darkened room!
And speaking of jetlag, the reason for mine is that I recently went on a river cruise to Holland and Belgium. This was my first river cruise after having taken a number of cruises on much larger ships, and I would highly recommend it. I went with two friends on the Ama Waterways line, on a brand new ship that was comfortable, very clean and well thought out. We had an interesting itinerary and great tour guides. I learned that the entire area relies on careful management of water – hence locks on the rivers/canals and plenty of reclaimed land where new structures exist in places where canals once were located. You have to be a real expert navigator to get a boat through a luck with only 4 inches clearance on each side! You take your life in your hands in Amsterdam, where the entire city Amsterdam is filled with people riding bikes for transportation (gas is pricey and traffic is everywhere). You have to carefully look both ways before crossing a street, but the bikes seems to peacefully coexist with buses, cars and trams. And there are plenty of canals for those who prefer small boats to get around. Good chocolate is easily found (yum), along with Belgian waffles (which are nothing like those found at IHOP here) and, since we intentionally went during tulip season, we saw gorgeous fields of tulips that made for colorful and impressive pictures. We went to a tulip processing farm, where the flowers are stripped and each bulb is x-rayed for the record because the real money is in creating and selling bulbs, especially new varieties. The trip home included a 10-hour delay because of malfunctioning toilets on our plane from Amsterdam, which was diverted to London for repair. The plumbers were unable to “rectify” the situation, which meant we had to rebook onto another flight after sitting on the tarmac at Heathrow for three hours. I probably don’t even have to tell you the flights were on United Airlines, which has a justifiably bad reputation all around, although they were helpful and polite (and the passengers were cooperative) during the ordeal. The happy ending was that we made it home that day, tired and cranky but with lots of memories of a great week.
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