Timing is everything. I watched this movie entitled appropriately…..About Time.
It’s been out for a few years but that’s okay because a few years is nothing when it comes to time travel. It’s about going back in time to try and correct whatever you feel needs to be corrected. For some reason this movie struck a chord. Did you already guess that?
I mean who wouldn’t want to have the opportunity to right your wrongs (providing you have any) – or change the future as tempting as that sounds?
Anyway, I had a really well deserved lazy evening recently where I scrolled through a long list of movies and this light Rom-Com is the one that appealed to me. It was exactly what the evening called for.
So if you loved “The Notebook”, “Four Weddings and a Funeral”, “Notting Hill” and “Bridget Jones’ Diary” my guess is that you’ll love this too.
It’s about a 21 year old young man who finds out from his father that the men in his family have always had the ability to travel through time. He can’t change history, but he can change what happens and has happened in his own life-so he decides to make his world a better place…by getting a girlfriend. Sadly, that turns out not to be as easy as you might think.
Moving from the Cornwall coast to London to train as a lawyer, Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) finally meets the beautiful but insecure Mary (Rachel McAdams). They fall in love, then an unfortunate time-travel incident means he’s never met her at all. So they meet for the first time again-and again-but finally, after a lot of cunning time-traveling, he wins her heart. Tim then uses his power to create the perfect romantic proposal, to save his wedding from the worst best-man speeches, to save his best friend from professional disaster and to get his pregnant wife to the hospital in time for the birth of their daughter, despite a nasty traffic jam outside Abbey Road. But as his unusual life progresses, Tim finds out that his unique gift can’t save him from the sorrows and ups and downs that affect all families, everywhere. There are great limits to what time travel can achieve.
So is it best to leave everything up to fate..or tamper with it if you could?Hmmmm………
EACH YEAR it’s the same story; I plan on watching ALL of the OSCAR Nominees up for Top Picture (at the very least)…but that only happened once. Before this year that is.
Tom Hardy in Mad Max Fury Road
I can’t believe I watched ALL the contenders in the top five categories. It’s not that I had nothing else to do in my life okay, I had nothing else to doit’s just that this time I was determined and it became my mission. I think the academy should make me an honorary member of the board if only because I sat through some movies I otherwise would not have desired to watch and that’s putting it kindly. Even though they were all amazingly well done. Have a little sympathy, all this watching is time consuming guys!
It was hard to keep my eyes glued to Mad Max, The Revenant, The Hateful Eight and some scenes in Creed. It’s not that I didn’t appreciate the astounding special effects of Mad Max and the astonishing scenery surrounding The Revenant and seeing Sylvester Stallone again after all these years, it’s just that I don’t like gratuitous violence, crazy non-stop action with mostly (except for one) raggedly looking ugly men and seeing someone eat a raw liver when I can’t even stomach cooked liver (apparently Leonardo DiCaprio did this). He deserves the Oscar for this alone. So yes, they should make me a certified member.
The Martian – not a comedy but Matt Damon is funny considering his circumstances
This year they were all really remarkable pictures. Mostlyhuman interest, real life stories or stories based on factual incidences. And they were heavy...the financial housing crash, a spy capture during the cold war, accusations of communism among the entertainment industry, a sex change, a deranged kidnapping, child molestations within the catholic church, an irish immigrant in the 50’s, a lesbian relationship in the 50’s, an inventor & technological wizard, a girl who founds a family dynasty, a secret that unfolds on a 45th wedding anniversary, a trek through cold uncharted wilderness, a mission to Mars gone wrong, *post civil-war bounty hunters and a man claiming to be sheriff and the collapse of civilization with the craziness surrounding that. I took a break in between to watch Train Wreck out of lightness & curiosity.
It would put me in a very awkward position to have to make choices for “best” this and that from what I’ve witnessed. There are not many years where so many movies are this great. I didn’t say enjoyable, I said great. And there were a few surprises. There was a common theme: Compelling, All Absorbing, Angry, Unbelievable and Shockingly Sad. And beautiful! Every single actor was just….perfect in their role. It’s so unfair that only one of them gets to take home the golden statue when they’re all winners.
Here is WHAT picture and WHO I think deserves to win out of the BIG FIVE (and then be able to negotiate more $$$$ for their next picture).
Here Goes:
Best Picture: On all accounts “The Revenant” will probably win an Oscar (they were filming in extreme weather conditions and I hated Tom Hardy’s character so much). Cinematography should go to The Revenant, but my personal choice for best picture (and cast ensemble along with The Big Short) is “Spotlight” because it’s just unbelievable how a small group of special reporters took chances to take on such a powerful deity as the Catholic Church and not let up. They were passionate and successful in uncovering a time bomb. Empowering!
Best Actor in a Leading Role:
Here’s where it gets dicey but Eddie Redmayne did a believably beautiful job in The Danish Girl. But he’s up against Leonardo DeCaprio who’s always amazing and hasn’t won yet and has deserved to win in the past (can’t they tie for this one?). Oh but; Eddie it is! Powerful!
Best Actress in a Leading Role:
OMG please don’t make me choose. I love them all. Okay, Brie Larson for Room. No, no, it’s going to be the Irish Girl Saoirse Ronan for Brooklyn because (light shades of Bridges of Madison County) it really makes you question or consider the decisions you make in your life. Bittersweet!
Best Actor in a Supporting Role:
Just by the fact that I could have killed Tom Hardy’s character myself in The Revenant, it should go to him. But I feel Sylvester Stallone for Creed deserves it for sentimental reasons and the fact that even though watching guys beating up on other guys is not on my high list, his boxing movies are sheer entertainment. This one was more enjoyable than I imagined and well Rocky Balboa; he’s just a likeable guy.
Best Actress in a Supporting Role:
This one is easy (even among the other talented nominees) – Alicia Vikander for The Danish Girl. Sheer Raw depth and Emotion – Loved her!
We’ll see how I make out with the predictions on Sunday, April 28.
*I have a question for Quentin Tarantino re The Hateful Eight. How come the stagecoach road in a movie set in the 1800’s was constantly plowed? How was it plowed? This is important. Did anyone else notice?
I want to start a category for best dressed at the OSCARS and also one for sheer entertainment (not acting, not directing, just an all around FUN movie). What do you think?
Any thoughts? I can’t wait to watch something stupid. SISTERS & Zoolander next!
IT’S A BIRD, IT’S A BUG, IT’S A PLANE, it’s a drone…all super drones
all part of a new military spy thriller (and at times, a black comedy) called “Eye in the Sky” starring three of my favourites, Helen Mirren, Alan Rickman and Aaron Paul (of breaking bad fame). I decided that even if the movie wasn’t up to par I would still enjoy watching these superb actors in their respective roles. But the movie was more than up to par – it was thought provoking and provocative. It is the ounce of truth.
This film, which was featured the other night as part of the Palm SpringsInternational Film Festival (PSIFF) brings to the forefront what is now part of and becoming more a part of our culture, good and bad. It’s a fictional movie based on fact. In short it’s about a military officer (played by Mirren) in command of a drone operation to capture terrorists in Kenya. The mission escalates from “capture” to “kill” but when a nine-year old girl enters the kill zone, the priority becomes clouded.
The movie is also a conversation starter.
Director Gavin Hood who was on hand for questions and answers at the end of the screening intended it to be that way.
It’s kind of complicated. It really makes you think about the decisions that go into a “kill” operation on all levels. It emphasizes the buck passing on who takes responsibility for the final decision and the consequences that arise out of that. Frightening, sad, heroic and timely.
Google “the trolley experiment” to go more in depth about this subject (which Hood spoke about) to find out about the ethical and philosophical values of “making a big decision”. A “what would you do?” in that situation. Interesting when the tables are turned….sometimes you just don’t know what you are capable of. I find it fascinating and scary.
The drone part is something we’ll have to get used to. You can now be the literal “fly on the wall.” It made me want a personal one of my own (to use only when necessary). They’re sold online but the problem is the authenticity. I would want one that resembles a realfly. Just kidding (sort of).
The movie is due out in theatres in March.
WATCH the trailer:
Hood co-wrote and directed a movie I loved and which has resonated with me since having seen it called “Tsotsie” – about a young small-time street thug from South Africa during the turbulent years before and after the fall of apartheid. Things turn around when he steals a car and finds a baby in the back seat. The film won the 2006 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and was nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film in 2006. It was an outstanding film. One I highly recommend watching.
Anyone familiar with bestselling author and Academy Award winning actress Shirley MacLaine knows that she’s lived a journey of many lifetimes.
On May 26th, Shirley MacLaine will be gracing the stage of the Vancouver Orpheum not to sing, dance, act or read an excerpt from one of her many intriguing books – but to share in stories about her own life experiences with trademark wit and candour to a captivated audience as part of the intimate “unique lives” series.
I’ll be one of those people engrossed in hearing whatever she has to say. Because let’s face it, even if you’re not a fan you cannot deny that it has been a life (including past lives) well lived.
With credits too numerous to mention on a blog, let’s take a little peek into the world of this living legend:
The daughter of a drama teacher, she started out as a dancer. She will take you down memory lane with movie and television clips from her illustrious career starting in 1955 with her first movie, Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Trouble with Harry“.
With a film career too long to mention – you’ll see clips from “Irma la Douce“, “Sweet Charity“, “Two Mules for Sister Sara“, and most recently, “Glee” and “Downton Abbey“. Not only will you hear about her award-winning film and stage career, but also her years with the “Rat-Pack“, her journey on the Camino, and her greatest passion: the spirit, mind and body.
Members of the audience will get a chance to ask Shirley questions during a question and answer session.
Five of my personal favourite films from her extraordinary career:
The Turning Point(1977), she stars as a former dancer who gave up her career to have a family. Her daughter follows in her footsteps, and MacLaine’s character is forced to confront her old dance rival (Anne Bancroft).
In 1983, MacLaine finally claimed her Oscar statue forTerms of Endearment. She plays Aurora Greenway, a woman with a troubled relationship with her daughter, in the film. Debra Winger stars as her daughter and Jack Nicholson as her love interest in this popular tearjerker. In her acceptance speech at the Academy Awards, MacLaine said “I have wondered for 26 years what this would feel like,”according to the Hollywood Reporter. Vanity Fair also notes that she added “I deserve this.”
Steel Magnolias with Olympia Dukakis, Sally Field, Dolly Parton and Julia Roberts. The quip that stands out: “I’m not as sweet as I used to be.” Set in Louisiana, she plays Ouiser Boudreaux, a woman who through years of turmoil and heartbreak, becomes more cynical, hardened and wiseass. But you can’t help but love her. She embodies wisdom, cynicism, sarcasm, and snarky humor…all mixed into one fabulous southern lady…how can you ask for more.
She tackled the role of one of her real-life contemporaries. In Postcards from the Edge, based on Carrie Fisher’s memoir, MacLaine plays actress Debbie Reynolds. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Reynolds gave MacLaine at least one critique of her performance. “She didn’t think I should have put vodka in the smoothie,” MacLaine said.
In 1960, MacLaine delivered one of her best performances in The Apartment. She co-starred with Jack Lemmon in this Billy Wilder classic, playing a young elevator operator named Fran Kubelik who has an affair with the company’s big boss, but later falls for Lemmon’s character.
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