Sorry so sporadic...

Hey all! We are on holiday vacation at my parent's house, where I am not blogging as regularly, but I am, of course, seeing lots of fantastic movies!!! I just had to let you know about the very great movie that I watched with my dad yesterday:)

*The Good German (2006), directed by Steven Soderbergh, and starring George Clooney and Cate Blanchett (who is the best actress of her generation, and can do anything, in my humble opinion:). For any of you readers that know me personally, you realize that I love all things Deutsch (this means German, for the illiterate masses:). This film is a total homage to the film noir pics of a finer age of film, and while the black-and-white, old-timey special effects and very Bogey-and-Bacall dialogue are glaringly obvious, the film is a real masterpiece, and raises the standard for actors and film-makers everywhere. Finally, two actors who can master a modern foreign language (Clooney had passable Deutsch, but Cate Blanchett speaks German like a native, much to my enormous pleasure!). The story is also set in the WWII era of German history, embroiled in political scandal and conspiracy. Casablanca references and imitations run rampant, and the only modern twists are some foul language and references to prostitution and rape, which could also be attributed to the seedier side of society that the film follows. All-in-all, a fantastic movie that many would adore, especially if you like old war dramas, or tragic romances of a bygone-movie era! Happy holidays!

Watching right now...

"I made my family disappear:)"

We are watching Home Alone on TV right now!  This one is such a classic, and I especially love the part when Culkin is watching "Angels With Filthy Souls" (you know... "keep the change, you filthy animal!"), and calls out for his mom to stop him, because he is eating junk and watching rubbish!  Precocious little ankle-biter:)  This movie also has the best holiday soundtrack ever, in case you need to get into the mood...

Hope you are all watching fun holiday movies this week! 

Get ready!

Good Hair Day

Hey all!  I just watched a very entertaining, if somewhat surprising, film from the 1970's.  The film was described as a comedy, but I actually found it to be a little depressing.  I reckon that I should chat about this new flick, and also mention another fabulous hair- themed film that is a favorite of mine, just in case you find yourself in the mood for a new 'do.  I am constantly changing mine, much to my own dismay, so let's see what you think:

Tonight's pick:

*Shampoo (1975), written, produced, and starring Warren Beatty, alongside Goldie Hawn, Julie Christie, and a very young Carrie Fisher (only in a small role, but still very sassy:).  This movie follows the shenanigans of the James Bond of hair-stylists... Beatty is a very talented hairdo artist in Cali, and his girlfriend is completely unsuspecting of his scandalous secret lifestyle.  Not only does he do everybody's hair in town, but he also does something else with everybody in town (wink, wink, nudge, nudge:).  Frankly, I don't see the attraction.  His hair was totally crazy in the movie, and I have never understood men's fashion from the 1970's.  The women, on the other hand, looked great, and I feel the need to completely re-think my holiday style with a more groovy theme:)  There is poetic justice for our hero in the end, and he has to sleep in the bed that he has made, but the women really get off scott-free.  I am just not sure how I feel about this one, but if you want to see one of the AFI's 100 funniest movies, then check it out.

Suzy's Favorite Hair-Themed Film:

*Blow Dry (2001), directed by Paddy Breathnach, and starring the amazing Alan Rickman (whom I have loved dearly since early adolescence:), Billy Nighy, and Natasha Richardson (also has Rachel Griffiths, Rachael Leigh Cook, Josh Hartnett and Heidi Klum... you can't beat the cast with a stick:).  This film covers the competitive world of hair-styling in Great Britain, and the lengths that the fellas involved go to in order to win fame and fortune:)  It is hilarious!  The real bad-ass is Rickman (of course), the former champion, who has ceased competition after a bad break-up, but who could cut hair like nobody's business (he even sports a tattoo on his foot of some golden scissors with a lightening bolt!  So hot right now...).  I love this movie so much, and I often enjoy it while my son takes his afternoon nap.  It makes me all excited to fix my hair, and strut around my crappy neighborhood:)  This is a real winner, and one that I know you will get a lot of laughs out of:)  

P.S.  Just one suggestion... completely  disregard Josh Hartnett in the film... his fake british accent is painful, and should not be endured or tolerated!

Good book= Good movie

I seem to have rented several flicks this weekend that star the practically-perfect-in-every-way Alexis Bledel, which is lovely, because I think that she is about the best looking female in the world, but it was a coincidence, I swear.  I am not stalking:)  I re-read the book that this film is based on over the summer, and found that I enjoyed it even more than when I first read it.  Tuck Everlasting (first published in 1975), by Natalie Babbitt, is a wonderful book, and I really believe that Stephanie Meyer took more than a little bit of inspiration for her Twilight series from this story.  It is perfect (both the story and writing are brilliant), and reminded me so much of being 13, and on the cusp of major changes, and having a wonderful summer.  I hope that you all seek this Disney movie out, and don't forget the book!

*Tuck Everlasting (2002), directed by Jay Russell, and starring Alexis Bledel, Sissy Spacek, William Hurt, and Sir. Ben Kingsley!  The cast was amazing, and this movie fully realized the magic of the story, far better than the Twilight film fared, I'm afraid.  The story centers on a stifled, privileged young lady who runs away from the confines of her home, only to encounter a mysterious, beautiful boy in the woods of her family's estate.  He is Jesse Tuck, one of the Tuck family, who have been blessed/cursed to live forever, after drinking from a spring in those woods.  Of course, the family doesn't want their secret exposed, and the story continues along that vein.  The romance is sweet and innocent, and maybe appeals so much to me because I fell for my husband when we were about this age, but it really has an idealistic appeal:)  William Hurt also does a commendable Scottish accent.

An unexpected surprise from the film: Sissy Spacek and Amy Irving both star as the respective mothers in the film, and were last seen together as Carrie and Sue in the Stephen King cult classic, Carrie.  I wonder if they are BFFs?  Hah.  

Anywho, check it out if you want to view a Romeo and Juliet/ Twilight type story, but not quite as played out:)

Chickie-Flickie!

Here is one for all of you ladies out there... not that my husband didn't enjoy this one, also.  Perhaps for different reasons than me?  Oh, well.  My hubs and I both enjoyed the first and second installment of this series, and I hope that you check it out, but only if in desperate need of an estrogen fix:

*The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants II (2008), directed by Sanaa Hamri, and starring Alexis Bledel (Gilmore Girls), Amber Tamblin, Blake Lively (of Gossip Girl fame:), and America Ferrera (Ugly Betty).  These movies follow the very mushy friendship of four young ladies, and their shared international exploits through one pair of magical jeans.  It is pretty magical that one pair of jeans would fit all four of these very differently-built chicas, but I guess that is their mystical power, and perhaps some kind of metaphor for common feeling and experience?  Who knows.  The girls are all very attractive, and kiss some fellas, and find themselves, and all of that jazz, which is very entertaining to watch:)  We enjoyed them both, and I am sure that if you can look past the teenage shenanigans and dramatic arguments, you will find a very sweet movie about 4 friends, and it doesn't reach the scandalous levels of Sex and the City, so it is good for the young people hanging around:)  Not that I didn't enjoy SATC while still in high school:)  I did.

Family Movies for Dummies

I have started to add a bunch of movies to our home collection, now that my son shows enthusiasm for watching movies with us!!  Hooray!!  I am so glad that he is turning 2!

These are a few of the films that I have recently purchased for the upcoming holidays, and I wanted to share them as ideas for your family, as well:)  As you all may know, from previous blog posts, I am not interested in watching Barney or the Wiggles.  I do not have the patience for that.  That being said, sometimes it is hard to see past the new releases in theatres, or past the cheesy, not-so-adult-friendly kid movies at the store.  I hope that these classics are enjoyable for mom and dad, as well as for kiddos!

1) Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971), directed by Robert Stevenson, and starring the incomparable Angela Lansbury (she rocks, and I love Murder, She Wrote!).  This flick has it all!  Sassy children with cockney accents, Angela Lansbury riding a broom, and inanimate objects battling Nazi invaders!!!  I mean, if you love the British (who doesn't?), and hate Nazis (let's unite!), this one is for you.  It is awesome, and has some cartoon elements, and has a lot of singing, in case that is what gets you going:)  My number one pick for our 2008 Holiday Season!

2) Mary Poppins (1964), also directed by Robert Stevenson, and starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, of course.  First of all, what nanny hasn't wished that she were Mary Poppins?  Or what mother, for that matter (or that she could at least hire Mary Poppins!)?  I know that you have all seen and loved this film, and that I don't have to remind you of the fact, so I will just gently recommend that you go out and purchase the recently released DVD for your kids, or for kids that you know, or for kids that are strangers to you, but that look like they could use some magic in their lives (just don't talk about magic to kids that you don't know, OK?:)  I just hope that a new generation will appreciate the enormous talent of Julie Andrews, as compared to Miley Cyrus... very disturbing.

3) Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), directed by Ken Hughes, screen-written by Roald Dahl (wow!), and starring the wacky Dick Van Dyke (I am noticing a pattern in my holiday choices:).  This one is another great musical, full of magical realism and fairy tale romance:)  Very sweet and silly.  The romantic heroine is named Truly Scrumptious, which sounds like a child-friendly Bond-girl.  I love it!

4) The Incredibles (2004), written and directed by Brad Bird, and voiced by too many talents to list:).  This film is certainly a new classic, and one of the best animated films ever, if I do say so myself (shout out to Doruk, I know you agree with me on this one!).  I imagine that everyone watching this movie relates to both the super-heroism and the vulnerability that goes along with parenting.  So many kids view their parents as super-human, and yet, incredibly uncool at the same time!  Conversely, every parent thinks that their kids are the most charming, the most talented, and the most incredible of all children (I know that I am like this, but how disgusting is the whole I-am-overly-charmed-by-my-own-kid-thing?  Shout out to you, Asif.  I know this annoys you, too:).  This movie is the perfect combination of modern animation style, 1960's spy-movie intrigue, music, and atmosphere, and awesome super-hero daring-do.  I may not be that incredible, but I love movies that are!!!

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like...

We have already started to get our holiday movie picks in the mail (I figured that they would start rolling on in around Thanksgiving... I am a master of Netflix queue timing:).  Tonight, we watched a decidedly religious Christmas movie, directed by Catherine Hardwicke, who also directed the current teen-favorite, Twilight.  Here is my review:

*The Nativity Story (2006), directed by Catherine Hardwicke, and starring Keisha Castle-Hughes (who starred in the amazing movie, Whale Rider, which everyone should see) and Oscar Isaac (as a very romantic Joseph!).  We all really enjoyed this version of the classic nativity story (even my son!), and I especially appreciated the sets, costumes, and casting, which felt very authentic to the time and location.  It is always a little silly when films about the life of Jesus have a lot of blue-eyed blondes, fresh out of Hollywood (maybe those actors could have been used in Twilight?  They needed a few natural blondes...).  These actors were perfect, and the story was very captivating, especially as it focused on the innocent romance between Mary and Joseph.  Very sweet.  Anywho, this one shouldn't bother too many people (not too many controversial changes to the regular Christmas-pageant tale:), and it might become a nice family tradition over the holidays, so I would recommend it to anybody who enjoys this type of film:)  It brought me back to the my days of playing Mary in the Christmas pageant... glory days.  Oh, to be 12 again!!  Hope you are all having fun gearing up for the season!!