Review of "Cheri" for Netflix

I enjoyed this tremendously and Sal found it disturbing and somewhat boring. What can I say? I was madly in love with Colette and all her novels and writings as a teenager -- especially Cheri and the Last of Cheri. I felt Michelle Pfeiffer was a little too much the modern idea of a beautiful woman. I imagined Lea as a plush, comfortable woman (like Polly Walker from the series "Rome") who dealt with the loss of Cheri with more equanimity - as a woman ready to give up all the work of being constantly attractive to a man, letting herself go. Anyhow, the basic premise is fascinating -- a totally babied and cosseted young man is totally unprepared for life and cannot and will not face it. It is supposed to be a sad story. I thought Rupert Fried was perfect for the role. In fact, none of the reviews prepared me for the fact I did indeed very much enjoy this film though it could have been better.

Review of movie "Gone Baby Gone"

We watched this tonight while channel surfing. This was our second viewing of the movie and if possible, was even more engrossing because now we knew the ending, we could re-evaluate the whole story. This was a great movie! Casey Affleck was so good as the young, sure-of-himself young man, Amy Ryan perfection as the airhead, druggy mother. This was good casting for so many actors, Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman, and so much fun to see Michael K. Williams in another role after playing Omar in The Wire. The setting of Boston was a great realistic backdrop for the story. The basic conundrum of the story makes you feel sad for a long time. OCT09

Colds and Flu

THIS IS A KEEPER TO REFER TO

H1N1 flu is about to be upon us and we need to be on top of information regarding it. Here is a comparison to the normal cold symptoms that was sent to me. I'm not sure how accurate it is.

Know the Difference between Cold and H1N1 Flu Symptoms

Fever -- Fever is rare with a cold. Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu.

Coughing -- A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold. A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).

Aches -- Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold. Severe aches and pains are common with the flu.

Stuffy Nose -- Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week. Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu.

Chills -- Chills are uncommon with a cold. 60% of people who have the flu experience chills.

Tiredness -- Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold. Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu.

Sneezing -- Sneezing is commonly present with a cold. Sneezing is not common with the flu.

Sudden Symptoms -- Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days. The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.

Headache -- A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold. A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases.

Sore Throat -- Sore throat is commonly present with a cold. Sore throat is not commonly present with the flu.

Chest Discomfort -- Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold. Chest discomfort is often severe with the flu.

Cooking

I'm a lousy cook. Any recipe with more than 3 ingredients and over a paragraph of description and it becomes science fiction reading for me. My friend Dolores will often find an EXTREMELY simple recipe and give it to me. I love her pastina soup -- broth, pastina or orzo rice, shredded fresh zucchini -- boil a little, sprinkle on some parmesan. Heaven! I do love simple vegetable recipes (that's my assignment, along with cleanup). Sal usually decides what he'd like and cooks it and I always love it.

"Lean on Me" Twenty Years Later - Netflix Review

We saw this last night while channel surfing. It is hard to believe it's been twenty years since Morgan Freeman made this film. It is a rah-rah approach to the problems of the inner city schools, though, and time has proved the problem is more complicated, but Freeman is a joy to watch. His great sense of warmth and dignity may well be the reason we (some of us) feel comfortable with a black President. The story seems a little simplistic now -- for a real depiction of the problem of the decaying inner city school and the hapless students and teachers, you have to see "The Wire" -- season Four I think. Still, we enjoyed every minute of "Lean on Me" last night. The subject was discipline, not actual learning, but we are always suckers for this kind of story. OCT09

"Capitalism: A Love Story"

We fully support Michael Moore and always wish his films could be more successful. We came out of the theater yesterday feeling depressed. It is a sad situation -- the continuing and growing gap in this country between the very rich and the poor -- and the puzzling fact that the poor support the policies that are absolutely grinding them down and keeping them there. Moore genuinely cares that people should be given safeguards for their health, jobs and homes. But we felt he is making a weaker case for his views with each film he makes. We wanted so much for "Sicko" to have been a better film for instance. "Capitalism" misses the mark somehow. Despite his valiant efforts, I can't see the very people he is trying to help abandoning Fox News, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, Lou Dobbs, Pat Buchanan, Sarah Palin. These people have a firm grip on the psyche of people who want to blame their problems on immigrants, "welfare cheats", people who are pro-choice, Hollywood degeneration of morals and god knows what else rather than see that they are being manipulated. Still, he keeps trying. We can only hope he doesn't give up. But the subject here, especially the specifics of the Bailout/Goldman Sachs, etc. seems too big, too global. Moore is hoping that people wake up, take control, stay in their homes, fight the system. He interviews several churchmen who discuss how greed and the tenets of Christianity don't mix. We need Michael Moore. I wish more people had been in the theater yesterday when we saw the movie.

Tosca Simulcast - with touches of Eurotrash

First I have to say we thought Saturday's (October 10) simulcast of Tosca at the Hayward Theater (I hope not too many more people will discover this wonderful place to see Opera) was the most exciting, emotional and physical production of Tosca we have ever seen! After reading the Tommasini (New York Times) and Ross (New Yorker) reviews we thought we were going to hate it.


ACT ONE: Too dark, but Karita Mattila and Marcelo Alvarez just tore up the stage with their passionate singing -- you could believe these were two mature lovers who adored each other. It was annoying that the painting Cavaradossi was working on, a Madonna, had one bare breast, nipple obvious. Well, you try to ignore it -- the singing is so good. When Gagnidze comes on as Scarpia, he is gangbusters!!!! A large figure at the head of the stairs with touches of Javert and Mussolini! Great presence, great voice (remember we are talking movie theater here). The Te Deum a bit of a downer with too many people squeezed into a little space. Did Scarpia have to kiss the black Madonna? Oh well, try to ignore that.

ACT TWO: Scarpia is terrific,but do they have to show him dallying with prostitutes? His great aria is sung with one blond lady obviously giving him a blow job. Worst thing in the opera to me. Totally distracting and annoying. Tosca/Mattila is wonderful. The death scene is OK. Wouldn't want to see it that way again, though. And Alex Ross is right, after the murder she just dithers around. Downer.

ACT Three -- kind of a downer watching the soldiers march around pointing their rifles. I liked the productions that show morning sun coming up over the ramparts of the Castel Sant'Angelo -- and it makes the shepherd's song more moving. Again, Mattila and Alvarez tear up the stage, though it somehow deflates his last arias with stage business. The ending is weird with Tosca stuck in mid-air. I'm glad Ross warned us about this. Also, Ross was right that she can't attack the blood-curdling verbal thrusts such as, "Davanti a lui tremava tutta Roma" (I love that Steve Dimick uses this line to prove that Scarpia's first name is Louie). Anyhow, her softer diction slurs over these -- but that's OK, she is a wonderful Tosca. We used to have (probably still do, somewhere in the garage) several old 33 1/3 recordings of Tosca and Leontyne Price won the prize for her shriek of "Mario, Mario" when she discovers he is dead.

Ah, we Tosca nuts are legion.

The intermission interviews were just wonderful too. Loved Susan Graham. Loved that she pointed out that Mattila was wearing brown contact lenses over her blue eyes to make Tosca a latin beauty.

The whole experience restores your faith in art and life.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter - Netflix Review

We got really misty-eyed. This movie (made for TV) might be manipulative and sentimental but it hits a strong chord. Dermot Mulroney gives up his Downs Syndrome baby because he had a tragedy in his past with a baby sister who had it. Emily Watson plays a woman who keeps and raises the baby.  The baby  brings her great happiness (and difficulties too). Mulroney's wife is gradually distanced from her miserable, conflicted husband. Their son grows up confused by the problems in his parents' lives. I haven't read the book, probably won't. But this is a powerful and satisfying movie. What's the moral? Maybe that being open with your closest loved ones and sharing the decisions is not always easy to do. OCT09