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 initial interest in this movie was that Robert Downey, Jr., plays the title character. I've never been disappointed with his work, even loved and admired some of it, and I couldn't imagine him playing a super hero. "Must really need the money," I thought, but I went for it, anyway. Perfect casting, I decided, just perfect, and good super hero story, too, good enough for me to want to own it after having rented it (and, I don't have a yen to own many super hero movies, although I try to watch as many as possible). Even though I purchased this movie some weeks before Mom's death and we both watched it (she wasn't thrilled with it), after Mom's death I found myself watching this movie several times...introducing it to relatives then watching it more on my own. I can't explain why, but it has provided me with inexplicable comfort since my mother's death. And, LOVE the suit...

Labels: action, adventure, drama, fantasy, me-favorite, science-fiction, suspense, violence

# posted by gail @ 16:00    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G, ad infinitum
2. Mentions:  *1* *2* *3* *4* *5* *6* *7*
3. Commentary:  For the most complete coverage of this series in our lives, best for you to click into the first Mention, above. Otherwise, suffice it to say that, as of this date, I still haven't been able to watch any of the episodes of this series (as I haven't since my mother's death), but refuse to pass these DVDs on to someone else.

Labels: drama, fantasy, mom-favorite, spiritual, TV

# posted by gail @ 13:31    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  *1*
3. Commentary:  Yes, Mom and I watched this movie a long time ago, when it first came out in video. Remembering how Mom enjoyed it (whether or not she believed in angels, I never asked her this, despite her interest in this movie and the Touched by an Angel series), when I noticed it on TV during our channel surfing episodes, if nothing else looked more interesting to her, I'd click into it. I watched the entire movie once. Although I was (an remain) impressed with the visualization of how the angels in the movie exist on earth, since I'd seen Wings of Desire long prior to watching this movie, became interested in this movie because I enjoyed the former and was sorely disappointed that the remake was sooooo much different than the movie upon which it was based, after my first watching, I subsequently paid little attention to it, except, I must mention, the panoramic shots of angels, which I continued to admire.
       Then, Mom died, and, well, the rest of the story of my relationship to this movie and why I decided to purchase a copy of it is contained in the link up there in the Mentions section. And, yes, I'm still embarrassed by my late-realized attraction to certain scenes in this movie. It is, for instance, with some chagrin that I'm labeling (below) this movie in the "spiritual" category. Objectively, it's not, really, but I have to say, reluctantly, that the effect of the angel-vision scenes on me after my mother's death is emotional-spiritual (probably the "emotional" aspect is more important than the "spiritual" aspect).

Labels: drama, fantasy, haunting, me-favorite, romance, spiritual

# posted by gail @ 12:24    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  None specific to this season
3. Commentary:  We now have completed our collection of Northern Exposure seasons. This last season was, for many people, the most confusing. It's definitely the season I love the most, because of the many, many dream and fantasy sequences. I remember when this season first aired. Lots of people were put off by the appearance of the new doctor and his wife. The show stayed on its wide, every winding track, though, and the final episode was a credit to the entire series.
       This is not Mom's favorite season, because she has trouble following all the dream and fantasy sequences. She watched it through like the moose-trooper she is, though, and I'm sure we'll watch all these episodes again and again.

Labels: dramedy, dream, fantasy, haunting, TV

# posted by gail @ 02:09    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  *1*
3. Commentary:  I was surprised to see that I mentioned this movie in my journals, albeit some time ago. I'd forgotten about it until some cable channel showed it not too long ago, I clicked into it and Mom was not only thoroughly entertained by it but enjoyed the idea that time can collapse forward as well as backward. It's very dated, true, and the singing is not well woven into the movie, but Streisand's performance, especially as her re- and pre-incarnated personalities, is riveting. Jack Nicholson has a forgotten part in this movie, as well, which renders it fun to watch, simply because he participated in this movie long before he became known for his portrayals of ticklish, "Nicholsonian" characters.

Labels: dramedy, fantasy, period

# posted by gail @ 18:24    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  *1* *2*
3. Commentary:  Again, another movie in which the "mentions" say it all; except for an update: We've watched this movie a couple more times since I purchased it. Each time, I question Mom on her one preferred memory. Each time, she comes up with a variety of memories but still can't decide which she'd keep and which she'd allow to be blocked.
     One other thing: I noticed, when I received our purchased copy, which came in a DVD case with, you know, the usual info sleeve, that my interpretation of the movie, that one relives their chosen memory for eternity, is exactly the way the sellers of the movie to the U.S. interpret it. Here is the specific part of the cover blurb: "With the help of dedicated caseworkers, each soul is given three days to choose one cherished memory from their life that they will relive for eternity." Interesting that the English subtitles for the movie don't exactly explain this. Makes me wish I was fluent in Japanese, so I could tell if the original script for the movie suggests this. I wonder if this interpretation is strictly a U.S. cultural interpretation or if the movie is meant to communicate this and does so in the Japanese dialogue. Comments from anyone who is fluent in both Japanese and English in regard to this mystery would be welcome.

Labels: drama, dream, fantasy, film-art, haunting, shared-favorite, spiritual

# posted by gail @ 18:10    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  only G
2. Mentions:  *1*
3. Commentary:  I don't know whether my mother will ever see this movie. I saw it in the theater when it first came out. It was a case of 12 Monkeys all over again. Lots of hype and lots of delivery but no delivery that matched the hype.
     I picked up a cheap copy when I turned some videos in because I wanted to see it again, now, some years later, for reasons I explain in the "Mentions" link above. I was surprised that I found myself liking individual achievements spectacularly well: Macy's performance, his character: Exquisite. The Cruise vignettes: Amazing. So, I decided to keep it.
     Why is it possible that Mom won't see this movie? It think it would bore her and she would wonder, outloud, why it is considered to be "apocalyptic". Which, actually, I also wonder.
     I also, by the way, consider this the third in my category of "caregiver" movies. If you've seen it, you'll know why.

Labels: caregiver, drama, fantasy

# posted by gail @ 10:38    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  *1* *2* *3*
3. Commentary:  I noticed, in the mentions, one of them states that Mom always thinks she wants to see this movie, then she gets bored with it. This is no longer true. It is now one that she asked after the last time we did a "jesus movie" festival, so, this year, I purchased it.
     For me, as well, the more I watch the movie, the more I like it. I tend, now, to ignore the discontinuities, like yet another Nordic Jesus, Harvey Keitel as a red-headed Judas and Barbara Hershey's bee-stung lips. Especially since I've read the book, I tend to appreciate the story more for what it symbolizes rather than what it portrays.
     I think what Mom likes about it is the gritty realism and the startling detail, like how the crosses are made. We watched this movie again, recently, right after I ordered it and just after a couple of other Jesus movies. It seems that each movie has its own version of how crucifixion crosses are constructed, which mom noticed this time around, which led to yet another Jesus movie festival.
     The only disappointing aspect of this movie was that it promised subtitles and they may exist but they aren't listed in any of the menus so I'm not sure if listing this as a feature was an error or if there is an Easter Egg technique to cuing them. I need to check this out. It does not feature Closed Captioning. I was afraid this would be a problem for Mom but the first time we watched it after receiving it, Mom had no problem with it. This is, at any rate, primarily a visual feast for her, so I guess that's why it doesn't matter. As well, the dialogue is not mumbled or distorted by other sound tracks.

Labels: bible movies, drama, fantasy, haunting, jesus-dvds, period, shared-favorite, spiritual

# posted by gail @ 12:24    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  *1*
3. Commentary:  This is not my favorite movie of the series but Mom seems to like it more than the original, so I purchased a copy for our Christmas sub-collection. I think what she likes is the focus on Mrs. Clause. If it had been possible, she probably would have married Santa Claus, back when she was a fertile, marriage-inclined woman.

Labels: Christmas, comedy, fantasy, kids, mom-favorite

# posted by gail @ 12:15    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  *1*
3. Commentary:  We first saw this some years ago. Both of us were charmed by it, so it has become one of those movies that I search for on television every year around Christmas time. I finally decided, this year, it was time to add it to our collection.

Labels: Christmas, comedy, fantasy, kids, mom-favorite

# posted by gail @ 12:09    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  None
3. Commentary:  The first time my mother watched this she said, enthusiastically, that she enjoyed it. The second time I watched it in her presence, she paid no attention to it. The third time, not too long ago, she stared at the screen in a daze but insisted on sticking with it, then announced at the end that "...it doesn't seem to have much of a point." In some ways, I consider this movie a barometer of my mother's mental acuity on the day she happens to see it.
       This is, by the way, one of my favorite Weir movies.

Labels: drama, fantasy, me-favorite, satire, weir

# posted by gail @ 13:00    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  *1*
3. Commentary:  I've assiduously avoided owning this movie for a long time, thus, although I was mesmerized by it when I saw it in the theater (not so much by the story, but the technique, the acting, and the interplay between the characters) and my intrigue about M. Night Shyamalan began with this movie, I just never thought I'd own it. Then, Mom expressed interest in it once when it was on cable and she was fascinated with it. Soon after, someone had it on deep sale, so I picked it up. Shyamalan has made enough movies now, so that my initial intrigue with his career has cooled considerably, starting with Signs. Although I am devoted to Unbreakable, I don't know, I was expecting something, hmmm...more, I guess, from him, and he hasn't delivered for me for a long time. I tried The Village, too, and it did nothing for me.
     So, here I am, supposedly writing about The Sixth Sense, but saying absolutely nothing about it. I love Bruce Willis' performance. I love Toni Collette's performance. I love the way it's framed. I love what it promised about Shyamalan. I like the solution to the young medium's problem. Mom and I have watched it twice since I bought it and both watchings have been satisfying. When I watch it, though, I mourn my expectations of Shyamalan that this movie provoked and Unbreakable seemed to underline. Maybe he has more in him. I hope so.

Labels: drama, fantasy, suspense

# posted by gail @ 13:25    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  None
3. Commentary:  We're both enchanted by this film, more for the relationship between the sisters, the portrayal of the neighbor boy (which is delightfully right on) and the wonderful father, who straddles both his own and his children's worlds with extraordinary dexterity. Some of Miyazaki's films are more spectacular, but this movie, quietly and deftly, vindicates and celebrates everyone's childhood.

Labels: animated, fantasy, kids

# posted by gail @ 09:01    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  None
3. Commentary:  I bought this movie on a hunch. I'd seen it a couple of times on PBS. The second time, I insisted my mother watch it. Unfortunately, both times it was shown without closed captioning and the New Zealand accents threw her for a loop. I thought, though, if she could see it with captioning she'd really enjoy it, so, when I noticed a copy of it for sale, I bought it. I was right. She not only enjoyed the movie but was interested in the special features, as well, even though they didn't have closed captioning. This is a strangely dreamy movie, while appearing to be firmly set in reality. It's one of the most unusual coming-of-age movies I've ever seen. I'm sure we'll be watching this again.

Labels: drama, fantasy, shared-favorite

# posted by gail @ 22:41    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G, several times
2. Mentions:  None
3. Commentary:  This is one of those movies that's guaranteed to please, in one way or another, both of us. Since we watch parts of it every time it appears on television, when I noticed a cheap, widescreen copy of it for sale I snatched it. We watched it that night. Much better to have constant favorites on DVD, since it's easy enough to pause them or watch only the parts we happen to be thinking about at any time.
       The truth is, I'm not a fan of the after-death philosophy behind the movie, although it's pretty enough and certainly makes for a unique thriller. The famous love scene is nice but give me Diane Lane's first fuck with her extra-marital lover in Unfaithful over wet pottery clay and "Unchained Melody" any day. I especially love, though, Whoopi Goldberg's performance as Oda Mae (this character deserves mention in some tome of memorable, perfectly played movie characters) and Tony Goldwyn's as Carl Bruner. I read someplace that Tony Goldwyn's preference is not for acting, which is too bad. I've seen him in lots of bit parts and his performances are always memorable and enlightening.

Labels: dramedy, fantasy, mystery, suspense

# posted by gail @ 22:28    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  None
3. Commentary:  I'm not surprised this movie hasn't been mentioned in my journals. When I bought it I thought I remembered that Mom liked it. She may have, but had little patience for it this time around. I thought I had found it interesting. I did, but immediately after watching it for the first time in a long time, I decided it would be one I'd never enter in here and would sell back as soon as I had a few other movies to turn in. Then, I found myself going back to the movie, replaying particular scenes, looking forward to the well planned music score, watching Gary Sinese closely...and decided, hmmm, I'd better keep this one. It does remain one of the strangest movies ever made. Being a movie maven, this is a good enough reason for me to keep it. Who knows. The next time I play it "in front of" Mom, she might like it again.

Labels: biography, dramedy, fantasy, period, satire

# posted by gail @ 22:27    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  *1* *2*
3. Commentary:  This is not an often watched movie of ours. Sometimes my mother can stand it, sometimes she can't. Same with me. We both have a little bit of a problem with the dancing couple, although they add outrageous comic relief. We both agree there are a few offensively cliched depictions of the elderly but, overall it's clean. Mom's favorite relationship is the one between the couple whose wife has advanced dementia. Mine is the relationship between Jessica Tandy's and Hume Cronyn's characters.

Labels: dramedy, fantasy

# posted by gail @ 22:25    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  *1* *2* *3*
3. Commentary:  Mom and I were both excited about finding this at Costco. Alas, the series, for us, anyway, is much better in memory than in reality. We have no quarrel with its reputation, its place as a cultural icon, its historical significance as literature and television and we concede intellectually that it was a groundbreaking series. But we couldn't help but laugh through several of the episodes. We're keeping this season but I don't think we'll be purchasing anymore. We both, by the way, continue to love Rod Serling's voice during his introductions.

Labels: drama, fantasy, mystery, suspense, TV

# posted by gail @ 17:10    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  *1* *2*
3. Commentary:  This movie has an hypnotic effect on me. Aside from enjoying the super hero theory postulated in the movie and loving the way the father/son relationship is portrayed, I have a strong response to its technique, including the choice of shots, film editing, the way the story unfolds, the direction of the understated performances...every time I watch it I discover something new. It is, so far, my favorite Shyamalan movie. Mom likes its atmosphere but finds the story disturbing although she sticks with it when I watch it.

Labels: drama, fantasy, haunting, me-favorite, mystery, suspense, violence

# posted by gail @ 17:04    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  None
3. Commentary:  This is one of my favorites. I think we originally watched it without Closed Captioning. Mom isn't as familiar with Shakespeare and 17th century English as I am but I think she'll like this story. I love it. To me it's an overview of much of the best of Shakespeare.

Labels: dramedy, fantasy, historical, romance

# posted by gail @ 02:28    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  None
3. Commentary:  Mom has to be in the right mood for this movie. Watching the movie always puts me in the right mood. Penny Marshall is a sentimental genius.

Labels: comedy, fantasy

# posted by gail @ 02:16    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  G
2. Mentions:  *1* *2*
3. Commentary:  Now, this is my idea of a comedy! I laughed and laughed all the way through this thing, and then was stunned at the end! I never think to watch this movie when Mom's awake. I don't know if she'd like it or not. She surprised me with her devotion to My Dinner with Andre so, you never know. If she ever sees it, I'll be sure to report.

Labels: animated, dream, fantasy, film-art, me-favorite, satire

# posted by gail @ 07:22    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  None
3. Commentary:  This movie is seductively misleading. Many of the ideas are tantalizing to contemplate, but there are inconsistencies and contradictioins that show that this movie is more a travelogue for New Age Meta-Physics. It is colorful, though, and provocative to watch. Much less so, though, than, say, Cosmos.
     The most glaring problem is that the movie doesn't live up to its hype and does not fulfill even the blurb promises. I bought it sight unseen (stupid move, always) on the recommendation of someone whose knowledge of me and opinion, especially in these matters, I value. Unfortunately, it is one of those recommendations that casts an uneasy light on the value of the recommender's opinions.
     The second problem lies in its hazy way of some times including what we think of as the inanimate world in on the "you create your own reality" scenario, then explicitly excludes it. Example: The narrative cites the experiment done in Japan that involved an experimenter writing descriptions of feelings on pieces of paper, using them to label jars of water, then doing what I imagine is a combination EEC/MRI on the cells of the water; the water, of course, mirrors the state written on its label. This experiment begs several questions, not the least important of which is, what about the reality of the water?
     This movie is not going to change anyone's life, I don't think, not directly, anyway, but it's fun to watch. I haven't decided, yet, whether I'm going to keep it or eventually trade it in.
       The third is that, in the end, the movie is a promo for a movement. Makes the viewer wonder about the involvement of each of the cast members. Always a bad idea, except in historical perspective.
     Mom enjoyed it, especially the sessions with the 35,000 year old basketball hustler.

Labels: fantasy, science, spiritual

# posted by gail @ 07:21    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  None
3. Commentary:  I have fond memories of Mom and me watching this movie. Mom does not. That's okay, though. Despite her lack of time acuity, she has a peculiar ability to grasp this movie and delight in it's circularity. But, she never remembers seeing it. Which, I suppose, is a plus.

Labels: comedy, fantasy, mystery

# posted by gail @ 22:56    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  None
3. Commentary:  This movie was recommended to me by another customer looking for movies as Valentine's Day gifts. She and I explained to one another what we were looking for. I had a list...she did not. But, she suggested this movie, and another, which I'm going to return as, after I came home I remembered Mom and I had 'tried' the movie on cable and couldn't get into it. Not even with Gena Rowlands, who we'll usually watch in anything.
       Anyway, I remember being suspicious of this movie when it first came out, around the time that John Edwards became very popular. Not that I didn't find him fascinating, too, for awhile, and my mother was hooked on his shows, but, for some reason that I can't remember, I dismissed the movie without seeing it.
       So, neither of us has seen it, it should be interesting, and I don't know if we'll be keeping it or passing it on to someone else.
       2/14/05: We watched this movie last night. We both found the special effects fascinating, although we made the mistake of watching the movie mid-late afternoon and we definitely have a sun and glare problem in our living/dining area.
       Mom had trouble keeping in her head that most of the movie was taking place in "heaven" and most of the people were dead. First, too, when she oriented herself, she thought Cuba Gooding, Jr. was god, then Max von Sydow (who played Jesus in one of her beloved Bible Movies). She also noticed that Robin Williams mugs his way through the emotional scenes in serious pictures. I'd never noticed this, but she's right. He does. He has an "emotional scenes mask" that is clearly detectable. I remember it, some, from a very obscure picture her made: Being Human; less so, interestingly, in Good Morning, Vietnam.
       She also has her own very specific and very liberal ideas of "heaven"; some of which dovetail with some of the ideas in the movie...some of which don't.
       I found the theology/spirituality interesting, considering that it is being put forth before the public (which wasn't all that risky in 1998; I don't think this is why the movie didn't do all that well), but not as daring as my own. Truth is, I'm not sure whether we'll watch this one again.

Labels: drama, fantasy, romance, spiritual

# posted by gail @ 10:32    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  M & G
2. Mentions:  *1*
3. Commentary:  This movie has haunted me since I saw it when it was first released. My mother has watched it a couple of times with me. She likes the background digideroo music, the otherworldliness of the movie...but she's not interested in trying to make sense of it. Neither am I, so we just watch it in awe on a fairly frequent basis.

Labels: drama, dream, fantasy, haunting, me-favorite, mystery, weir

# posted by gail @ 20:34    0 comments    email......this post

1. Who's watched:  G
2. Mentions:  None
3. Commentary:  This is a recent purchase, and I haven't watched it, yet, since it arrived. Mom has not seen it and probably would find it boring, distracting, and distract me.
       This movie is one of my Haunting Movies. I was bound to own it at some point. I continue to focus on the scene in which the character played by Danny Aeillo quotes, damn, someone, about the nature of angels.

Labels: drama, fantasy, haunting, me-favorite, suspense

# posted by gail @ 08:37    0 comments    email......this post