Movies, Mom & Me

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  *1*
3. Commentary:  This is the second movie I've bought since Mom died, strictly in memory of Mom, this time. This was one of her favorites. Although it didn't play on the cable channels often, I doubt that we ever missed a showing of it. There are many reasons she liked it: Its portrayal of a bright, gutsy young woman refusing to give up her dreams and desires in the face of a woman-stifling culture; its periodicity; its intriguing presentation of a woman who is so successful at masquerading as a man that she marries a woman who thinks she's an exceptional (because she's a woman) man (Mom has always loved gender-benders); the very messy, thus very realistic resolution. Although its not one of my favorites, I have to say that certain scenes have the power to mesmerize me, despite the outlandishness of the story. The movie wasn't released on video until this year, some months after Mom died. When I saw it at Costco I knew it was necessary for me to purchase it. And watch it, multiple times, I'm sure. In honor of Mom...and Momandme.

Labels: buddy, drama, fantasy, gender-bender, mom-favorite, period, political, romance

# posted by gail @ 18:44    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  *1*
3. Commentary:  My reaction to this movie is complicated.
   • I'm sure you've heard the following: "If you love the series, you'll love the movie." Not so. I agree that in order to become involved in the movie one has to be familiar with the series, but I love the series and the movie was a disappointment. I can see how my mother liked the movie. Aside from her reaction noted above, it was so colorful and splashed so broadly on such a huge canvas that it was kind of like watching a cartoon.
   • That having been said, I was deeply affected, after my mother's death, by the scenes involving Carrie's mourning of what she assumed to be the definitive death of her relationship with Mr. Big. These scenes tugged mercilessly at my heart. At one point, the week after the first group of visitors left, I would watch the series of scenes, from her phone dropping at the wedding site when she hears that John has decided not to come to the wedding, straight through to her finally arising from an emotionally drugged three day sleeping binge in Mexico and joining the rest of her friends, endlessly. I would weep uncontrollably throughout...then continue my own mourning, which while it didn't include constant sleep, did include loss of appetite, drawing of all drapes, extinguishing of all sources of light and a strict isolation from everything that implies the continuation of life. That part of the movie continues to tug at my heart. On bad days, I make it a point to watch that series of scenes, yet again.
   • I was completely disappointed in something about the movie, but I couldn't place my finger on what until MCS and MCNC came to visit in early spring and we watched the movie (they hadn't seen it). When MCS pronounced it, after having watched about a half hour of it, as "a bunch of privileged women buying things", I realized what bothered me about the movie: The hard-driven focus on fashion, which is so relentless that the story lines get lost in the shuffle. Although the series has a decent fashion thrust, it isn't relentless; nor does it obscure story lines and ideas. The movie, unfortunately, took the fashion/money thrust to the limit and, in doing so, limited the ability of the story lines to come through.
     I'll keep the movie, though, as a part of my SATC collection. I hope the company doesn't plan to do another, though. My hope is that they consider all loose ends tied up tight. Enough is, as this movie proves, more than enough.

Labels: buddy, dramedy, romance

# posted by gail @ 15:39    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  *1*
3. Commentary:  Well, I wrote such a dissertation on the movie at the site of the one "mention" that I think I pretty much said it all.

Labels: adventure, buddy, caregiver, road-movie, shared-favorite

# posted by gail @ 12:37    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  Both, partially
2. Mentions:  None
3. Commentary:  Yes, although we haven't completely watched it, we own it. This is the movie that MCF tried to get Mom and me to watch over Christmas. Mom fell asleep on the couch. I saw parts of it and began to understand why they raved about it. I think we will enjoy this movie, too, and watch it again. From what I saw, it reminds me a little of Holes in structure, but I may be mistaken about that. Hmmm...today seems like I good day to watch this for the first time. If anything else strikes me about this movie and/or Mom's reaction to it, I'll be back. Please note, the labeling is pre-viewing.

Labels: adventure, buddy, dramedy, period, road-movie

# posted by gail @ 10:55    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  None
3. Commentary:  I used to be a Shakespeare snob. Up until the late 70's when I took a college course in Shakespeare I just didn't get what was interesting or important about Shakespeare's plays despite the fact that I'd studied two of them in high school. The course I took finally opened up the language and the structure for me. The class took place as these BBC plays were being broadcast on PBS and was recommended by the instructor. I bought a television just to see them. I get it, now. Although I have some other favorite productions of some of these plays: Laurence Fishburne's portrayal of Othello, for instance, and my favorite version of Hamlet is the production starring Richard Burton and Hume Cronyn, the vocals for which I have on record album, these BBC productions are excellent and do not disappoint. I hope to obtain the entire collection, since I've seen the entire collection.
     When I queue up these plays Mom tries her best but I think she's where I was before I took that course and, as well, she has trouble with British accents. It's easy for her to get bored and switch to her tabloids or take a nap.

Labels: buddy, drama, haunting, me-favorite, period, romance, royals, tragedy, TV, violence

# posted by gail @ 17:08    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  G
2. Mentions:  None
3. Commentary:  What can I say? The Coen Brothers. Jeff Bridges. John Goodman. John Turturro. Steve Buscemi. The characterizations are over-the-top excellent. The humor is right up my alley. I can watch this one in whole or in part and never get tired of it. This is my definitive Up in Smoke movie.

Labels: buddy, me-favorite, satire

# posted by gail @ 17:01    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  None
3. Commentary:  MS introduced both of us to this movie. Since knowing it was one of MS's favorites it has become a favorite of Mom's although sometimes, now, it moves a little fast for her. I've always enjoyed this movie. It's like riding on a carousel.

Labels: action, adventure, buddy, mom-favorite, mystery, period

# posted by gail @ 02:29    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  *1*
3. Commentary:  This show has "an incident" to recommend it: See the one "Mention". I have to admit, there is something addictive about this show. And, despite the active argument in which several critics are indulging, this show wasn't so innocent as all that. It still isn't. I'm pissed that they recorded a new cover of the theme. I miss the brightness of the old arrangement and the final chord.
     We'll probably collect more of this show's seasons.

Labels: buddy, comedy, mom-favorite, TV

# posted by gail @ 07:20    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  *1*
3. Commentary:  This is one of my all time favorite movies. I treated MCS to this movie (showing at the Valley Art in Tempe, AZ) and dinner, I think, when the movie first came out in 1981. We were both mesmerized by it. I have seen it several times since and never fail to fall under the spell of these two guys sitting at dinner and talking. The waiter is magical, although I didn't really appreciate his performance and character until my second viewing. I searched for this movie for a long time in widescreen format DVD and have as yet been unsuccessful in locating it. In the meantime, I have this version, the only version fit for U.S. consumption of which I know.
     Mom was enchanted by this movie, as well, the first time she saw it, even though it has no captioning. When I purchased it (I got a deal) a couple of weeks ago, she had trouble with it, primarily because of the lack of captions. Could be she needs an ear cleaning, again.

Labels: buddy, drama, film-art, haunting, shared-favorite

# posted by gail @ 07:17    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  *1*
3. Commentary:  When we are in the mood to be perfectly delighted, we watch this movie. I've even gone out of my way to rent it when I think we need a shot of what it offers. It worked for us last night when we watched it.

Labels: buddy, comedy, romance, shared-favorite

# posted by gail @ 10:36    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  None
3. Commentary:  Here's another one where I'm stunned I've never mentioned it in this journal. We've been regular renters of this movie since one of my nieces introduced us to it when it first came out on video. We don't quote dialog from it, yet, but, there is that danger.

Labels: buddy, shared-favorite

# posted by gail @ 10:33    0 comments    email......this post