Movie Review: The Last Station February 5, 2010
Posted by judylobo in Film Awards, Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer.Tags: Christopher Plummer, Helen Mirran, Movie Review: The Last Station
add a comment
Movie Review: The Last Station
Alternate Title: Practice What You Preach Story: Can I still give a film a rotten review even if I liked the subject matter? If you agree I can, then here is a rotten review of a film that could have been much better. It is 1911 Russia. The last year of superstar Leo Tolstoy’s life. His writings (War and Peace and Anna Karenina) are known the world over and he has accumulated fame and vast wealth. There is even a movement named after him called ‘Tolstoyian.’ We enter Tolstoy’s world as the leader of the Tolstoyian movement is feverishly working on Tolstoy to change his will to give the copyright on his work to ‘the people.’ Tolstoy’s wife, Sofya, is super pissed by the idea that her family would be disinherited. The good news is that the film is visually nice to watch and you do get a sense of being in 1911 Russia. The bad news is there are too many undeveloped characters and a story with no clear direction. The meandering is confusing and the film takes it for granted that the viewer is intimately aware of Tolstoy’s life and times. Not true. I even leaned over to my Wednesday movie buddy and asked him if he thought the film was true. It turns out, essentially it was based on true events. It was written and directed by Michael Hoffman and based on the book The Last Station by Jay Parini. It was contradictory to watch the Tolstoyian’s preach about ‘the people’ and the redistribution of wealth when these on-screen characters enjoyed such opulence. Fast forward a few years (not depicted on screen ) and we get the Russian Revolution. Anyone want to see ‘Reds?’
Acting: Helen Mirren does some serious scene chewing as the Countess Sofya Tolstoy. Christopher Plummer as Leo Tolstoy matches her scene for scene in the chewing department. Paul Giamatti as the wicked-ish Vladimir Chertkov was somewhat a caricature. Anne-Marie Duff as Sasha Tolstoy was undeveloped. Kerry Condon as free love activist, Masha was fine and James McAvoy as secretary, Valentin Bulgakov was adequate but nothing to write home about. Trivia: To read more about the life of Tolstoy check out this site. Director Michael Hoffman was a former Rhodes scholar. Paul Giammati’s father, A. Bartlett Giamatti, was a professor of Renaissance Literature at Yale University, and went on to become the university’s youngest president. (In 1986, Bart Giamatti was appointed president of baseball’s National League. He became Commissioner of Baseball on April 1, 1989 and served for five months until his untimely death on September 1, 1989. He was commissioner at the time Pete Rose was banned from the game.) Predilection: I like to see films that have Oscar nominations. This one has two (see category below). Critters: Horses, goats and chickens and mosquito’s. Food: Sumptuous tables with plenty of food. Sex Spectrum: Yes, young Valentin loses his virginity to the wild and wacky Masha. Soundtrack: Soaring and a bit much at times. Opening Titles: I cannot remember. However, during the end credits there are some vintage reels of the real Tostoy. Visual Art: It is a pretty film. Theater Audience: About 15 other Bolsheviks. Weather: Russia wa lovely in the summer. Sappy Factor: 0 Quirky Meter: 0 Squirm Scale: 0 Drift Factor: I drifted a lot. Predictability Level: High Tissue Usage: 0 Oscar Worthy: Helen Mirren is nominated for Best Actress and Christopher Plummer is nominated for Best Supporting Actor. Neither is deserved and I like both of these actors. Big Screen or Rental: Rental is fine. I would see Reds before I see this one again. Length: Under two hours. LOBO HOWLS: 6
|
Movie Review: The Blind Side February 2, 2010
Posted by judylobo in Movie Review Archives, Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer, Photography.Tags: Michael Oher, Movie Review: The Blind Side, Sandra Bullock
add a comment
Movie Review: In Search of Memory February 1, 2010
Posted by judylobo in Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer, Photography.Tags: Movie Review: In Search of Memory, Nobel Prize
add a comment
Movie Review: In Search of Memory
Alternate Title: Total Recall Story: Dr. Eric Kandel won the Nobel Prize in 2000 for his work in the physiology of the brain. How the brain works. How we learn. How we remember. I will do my best to remember what this film was all about so I can recommend it to you. And I do. German film maker Petra Seeger’s documentary about this most engaging 80 year old is memorable. Really. The film presents Dr Kandel’s lifework in a very user friendly manner. We meet Kandel’s family, his co-workers and get to watch him during some of his presentations to various venues including schools, colleagues and synagogues. Kandel is charming, funny, full of life – a man anyone would want to meet. The film explores Kandel’s memory of his childhood in Vienna before his family had to leave in 1939 because of the war and his childhood in Brooklyn after they came to the US (he went to Erasmus for all of the Brooklynites reading this). Kandel admits that studying the brain and memory will no doubt bring some psychoanalysis into the picture – and that’s okay too. Thankfully we get to spend more time with the scientist than the science. Kandel maintains that our memory is the base function needed for all knowledge. Memory is the glue that holds everything together and enables us to reason, communicate and problem solve. Apparently, as a young neuroscientist says ‘he is the rock star of neuroscience’ and this film clearly shows us why.
Charlie Rose chats with Eric Kandel:
Acting: This is a documentary. This category does not apply. Trivia: For all you ever wanted to know about the Nobel Prize and its winners check out this site. Predilection: I like documentaries Critters: Lab mice and snails. Food: Lots of yummy looking pastries on their trip to Vienna and some Passover food at their Seder table. Sex Spectrum: No sex – just science. Soundtrack: I can’t remember. Opening Titles: The film jumps right into Kandel’s explanation of where memory is located in the brain. All credits, other than the title are at the end. Visual Art: We ge tot see some fine art in Vienna and the personal collection of the Kandels which is mostly German/Austrian expressionist. Theater Audience: Surprisingly packed for a Sunday morning. Squirm Scale: World War II is beyond squirmy. Drift Factor: I looked at my watch once after an hour. Tissue Usage: None Oscar Worthy: No Big Screen or Rental: While I always suggest the big screen, rental would be fine. Length: 90 minutes LOBO HOWLS: 7
|
Movie Review: Fish Tank January 29, 2010
Posted by judylobo in Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer.Tags: Movie Review: Fish Tank
add a comment
Movie Review: Antichrist January 28, 2010
Posted by judylobo in Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer.Tags: Movie Review: Antichrist
add a comment
Don’t Clap, Don’t Stand January 28, 2010
Posted by judylobo in Photography, Politics, Videos.Tags: Don't Clap, Don't Stand, Howard Zinn, Justice Alito, obama, Ship of State
2 comments
So it seems that the Ship of State needs a little tweaking, a course correction as they say, right Mr. President? When I wrote in this space the other day about President Obama, I said that ‘I was appalled, frustrated and uber-disappointed with this flailing administration and put the blame directly on the shoulders of President Obama – his an inability to get tough, make the big decisions that need to be made and slam the hammer down. He waffles, wavers, gives lovely speeches but cannot seem to rally the Dreadfulcrats in Congress or the American populace’
Last night’s first State of the Union address reminded what I liked about this President. He is smart, sincere, determined and very likable. I admit to being moved by his speech, unlike the Repugnants who had their asses Krazy-Glued to their seats. They mostly held to their mantra ‘Don’t Clap, Don’t Stand.’ AS the party of ‘no’ they are very determined to stick to their war weary policies of doing nothing and seeing how it goes.
I wish this President well and hope that the Dreadfulcrats can get their collective acts together to pass some needed legislation with their overwhelming majorities in both Houses of Congress before the midterm elections. November 2010 is a long time away and we have a good chance of righting the course, standing up tall and being proud of doing the right thing. As President Obama said last night ‘we don’t quit.’ Keep the faith.
My sitting up straight, eyes popping out of my head moment came when Justice ‘I don’t belong on the bench’ Alito fell out of the collective Supreme Court Justice coma and said “(That’s) not true” when President Obama criticized the recent Supreme Court decision permitting corporations to buy unlimited ads to influence elections.
A sad farewell to the remarkable Howard Zinn:
Watching the Train Wreck January 26, 2010
Posted by judylobo in Animal Videos, Dogs and cats, Photography, Politics, Videos.Tags: Blanche Lincoln, Jim DeMint, Keith Olberman, obama, Rachel Maddow, St. Croix
2 comments
A big sigh can be heard from Casa Lobo. Wha’ happened? I am appalled, frustrated and uber-disappointed with this flailing administration and I put the blame directly on the shoulders of President Obama. He seems to have an inability to get tough, make the big decisions that need to be made and slam the hammer down. He waffles, wavers, gives lovely speeches but cannot seem to rally the Dreadfulcrats in Congress or the American populace. The election win by Scott Brown has got the Dreadfulcrats in a tailspin. Grow a set Mr President and lead. Make the tough decisions, get the economy going and remember – it is the economy, stupid. Bob Herbert wrote another fine piece in today’s New York Times about Obama’s credibility gap.
- Listen to Rachel Maddow on this subject of President Obama’s latest ploy to win the hearts, mind and pocketbooks of the American people.
- The groundswell to kill the filibuster is growing. Raise your hand if you think this is going to go anywhere.
- And then there is the rush to the exit door. Check out this bit about Senator Blanche Lincoln:
- Jim DeMint is a tool.
- Just when you thought your could never smile again – check out this cute clip I filmed last November in St Croix:
Monday Melange January 25, 2010
Posted by judylobo in Movie Reviews, Politics, This 'n That.Tags: Andrew Cuomo, Harold Ford, Jr., Jury Duty, Kirsten Gillibrand, SAG awards
1 comment so far
NYC is quiet early on the weekends. Most everyone is sleeping in or out of town. So while walking my dog Benny to Petco around 9AM Saturday morning I spot a very handsome man exiting Zaro’s bakery. Is it Derek Jeter? Does he, like David Wright, the Mets ball player and all around cute one, live around the corner from me?
The I realized – it was Harold Ford, Jr. He’s the man that moved from Tennessee three years ago after losing his Senate race and has quietly begun to stir the pot here in the Big Apple. He appears regularly on MSNBC as a talking head. I mentioned him awhile back as the guy who has the chutzpah to challenge Kirsten Gillibrand in the upcoming Democratic primary. He was on his cellphone speaking to someone about an upcoming interview, I was going to interrupt him and tell him to ‘go for it’ but Benny had to sniff a very pungent fire hydrant and I missed my chance. Ford wrote an op/ed piece in the NY Times today. I am not sure what his real agenda is – but stay tuned – the NYC Primary is going to be very interesting. Andrew Cuomo is going to throw his big hat into the Democratic Primary for Governor this week too.
- The PS on my jury duty experience last week. I was disqualified from one jury for being too opinionated. Moi? We were all excused mid-day on the second day and thanked for our service. We were told that we would not be called for any State jury duty for the next six years. However- if the Feds call us for jury duty – well, good luck. So, it is anyone’s guess who will be called for the upcoming terrorist trials (if they ever happen). Can you imagine that jury pool?
For those that follow this stuff, here are the winners of the SAG (Screen Actors Guild) Awards:
Motion Picture:
Best Ensemble — Inglourious Basterds
Best Actress — Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Best Actor — Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
Best Supporting Actor — Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
Best Supporting Actress — Mo’Nique, Precious
Best Stunt Ensemble — Star Trek
Television:
Best Ensemble, Drama — Mad Men
Best Actress, Drama — Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Best Actor, Drama — Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Best Ensemble, Comedy — Glee
Best Actress, Comedy — Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Best Actor, Comedy — Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Best Actor, Miniseries — Kevin Bacon, Taking Chance
Best Actress, Miniseries — Drew Barrymore, Grey Gardens
Best Stunt Ensemble — 24
Movie Review: Creation January 24, 2010
Posted by judylobo in Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer, Politics, Religion, Videos, wildlife.Tags: Charles Darwin, Movie Review: Creation
add a comment
![]() Movie Review: Creation
Alternate Title: Survival of the Fittest Story: 2009 was the 150th anniversary of the publication of ‘On the Origin of Species‘ and the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth and yet this new British film about Charles Darwin has failed to land a distribution deal in the States because his theories on human evolution are too controversial for religious American audiences, according to the film’s producer. Say what? Yes, it seems that his seminal publication about evolution is still a hot potato issue in these wacky, crazy United States. That alone is reason for you to go out to see this film – if you can find it in your area. This biopic focus’ on the years immediately preceding publication of his ideas. Thoughtfully directed by Jon Amiel and written by John Collee it is based on the book “Annie’s Box: Charles Darwin, his Daughter, and Human Evolution ” by Randal Keynes, a great, great grandson of Charles Darwin. Darwin feared that the publication of his book would effectively kill God. As we all know, that did not happen, but the more Darwin came to believe his theories the more certain he was that it was of the utmost importance to share his ideas with the world. The agony of bringing his book to publication is the heart of this film. It purports to show his struggle with his faith, his marriage and the deep grief over his 10 year old daughter Annie’s death. Truth be told, I would have preferred more scenes about his voyages on the HMS Beagle, but this film is not about those travels. Much of the film is shot between two time sequences. The so-called present and the time before his daughter dies. Much of the film shows Darwin’s inner struggle to write his tome. However, there are some very cool scenes showing growth and decay in the natural world and Darwin’s belief that the natural world is cruel, harsh and constantly evolving to make way for the fittest. The film is a thoughtful homage to a great man and I recommend your seeing it -if you can somehow find it. In celebrating Darwin’s 200th birthday check out The Daily Show’s Best Evolution Moments. For those that are Darwin loyalists, the Complete Works of Charles Darwin can now be found on line. One more site all about Darwin here.
Acting: Paul Bettany as Charles Darwin is believably anguished and tortured. Jennifer Connelly as wife, Emma Darwin is just right for this role. Jeremy Northam as Reverend Innes, does an admirable job. Young Martha West as little Annie Darwin is terrific. Trivia: Paul Bettany has been married to Jennifer Connelly since 2003. They met on the set of ‘A Beautiful Mind.’ Jennifer Connelly grew up in Brooklyn Heights, just across the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan, except for the four years her family spent in Woodstock, New York. Predilection: Charles Darwin is one of my heroes. Critters: Oh my. All manner of creature from the wee maggot to the magnificent orangutan. Food: I do not recall anyone eating anything. Sex Spectrum: None Soundtrack: Dramatically appropriate. Opening Titles: A lovely sequence with Darwin telling a story of his adventures to Tierra Del Fuego to his darling daughter Annie. Visual Art: A fine depiction of 1859 England. Theater Audience: About 20 of the fittest. Weather: It is England. We get to see all kinds of weather. Sappy Factor: 0 Quirky Meter: 0 Squirm Scale: If you accept the notion that the natural world is cruel you will not squirm. Drift Factor: I paid attention throughout Predictability Level: High Tissue Usage: I cried over the cutest orangutan called Jenny. Oscar Worthy: Probably not. Soap Box: Don’t get me started on the Creationists. Big Screen or Rental: Go for the big screen. Length: Under two hours. LOBO HOWLS: 7.5
|



