Oh -- coincidentally, it was Spring Break and Petite was able to partake of the movies as well. So we've got up to four thumbs between us for the ratings. :)
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio
Four thumbs enthusiastically up.I, personally, would never would have picked this up off of the shelf at the video store, but it was recommended to Petite by colleagues turned out to be fantastic.
Based on a true story as recorded by one of the main character's children, the story takes us back to the 1950s. A housewife supports a family of ten kids and an irresponsible, alcoholic husband with her indefatigable spirit and a knack for writing jingles. Apparently it was common back then for large companies to sponsor contests to promote their products -- contests that involved more cleverness and wit than the "blind luck" of most promotional contests/sweepstakes these days. (A change which some characters in the story lamented as they saw it changing.) Any time the family needed something, this woman would enter a contest to win it. For example, her son wrecked his bike; she entered a contest offering a bike as a prize. It so happened in this case, it came with $5,000 and a washer and drier as well; which was fortunate because when the prize was announced, the family was being evicted from their apartment and were now able to buy a house.
The way she kept the family afloat and looked for the best in things in spite of difficult circumstances and the nonsensical mores of the times was inspiring.
Amazing Grace
Four thumbs way up (and Mari's big toes, too).Still in theaters, this is the first movie we've gone out to since Casino Royale last November. Well worth the price of admission.
It tells the story of the hard-fought but ultimately peaceful abolition of slavery in England. Inspired by pastor John Newton (writer of the hymn "Amazing Grace") to oppose slavery, William Wilberforce introduced a bill to Parliament every year, and every year it was defeated for nearly a decade. This movie chronicles the political challenges he overcame to finally pass the bill to end the slave trade in England. The quality of both the story and the film-making surpassed our expectations. Albert Finney (of "Daddy Warbucks" fame in "Annie") was great as Newton; most of the rest of the cast was unfamiliar but quite good.
Yesterday
Four thumbs up.A beautiful independent movie, in Zulu with English subtitles.
This is the story of a woman "Yesterday" living in a small village in South Africa with her daughter "Beauty", while her husband works far from home, under ground, in the mines of Johannesburg. The story begins with Yesterday's efforts to simply see a doctor in a clinic several hours' walk from home; after weeks of trying to get in -- and being turned away because the line was too long -- she is diagnosed with HIV.
In order not to reveal any "spoilers", we'll not say much more except that Yesterday's quiet determination and dedication to her daughter's future makes the story heartwarming despite the tragedy that surrounds her.
Casino Royale
Three thumbs up (of four)
The 21st James Bond adventure is now out on DVD. It is grittier (à la "From Russia with Love") and may be the most realistic that the series has been. On first watching, it is very suspenseful. Being based (fairly closely, they claim) on the first Bond novel by Ian Fleming, it shows 007 earning his "00" and gives some insight into what makes the character the way he is.
One Night with the King -- Two thumbs up (of four)
Based on the Biblical story of Esther, this movie either involved quite a bit of research into the historical story that's not in the Bible, or took some liberties. (We're guessing the latter.) Brings life to some subtler elements of the story, perhaps, but doesn't do the story justice.
If anyone would like to borrow any of these, especially if you can't find them at the library or the video store, we have the DVDs available for loan. Except "Amazing Grace" which is still in theaters, but give us about four months. ;)
6 comments:
heh, heh - sorry, mari. glad that everything's okie dokie, though.
thanks for the movie reviews. i had seen a preview for amazing grace. i guess i'll have to check it out.
and i have seen casino royale twice. it had to be pretty good for me to see it a second time, since it was dubbed in french! (no dubbing for me, thanks - i have a strong preference for subtitles) i am curious to see what is said in english!
i loved casino royale... amante, not so much. thought the torture scene was too over the top.
i am glad to have some new titles with good reviews to add to my viewing. i just finished "bella martha", "amelie" (no i had never seen it. you can berate me later, petite!), and "monsoon wedding"... now i have to see all these. where oh where will i get the time!!!??!!?!??
Yeah, Mari & the other guy with us flinched terribly when watching that scene in the theatre...poor things.
Sparrow, if you want more recommendations of foreign and/or independent films, you've come to the right place! ^. -
Amélie... what an all-time great movie. :)
Haven't seen Bella Martha. Is it the one about the chef that's a.k.a. "Mostly Martha"? Hadn't heard of it before, but it looks good!
The Casino Royal torture scene was disquieting... one sympathizes. But the end was the most unsettling part for me.
Beth, when you get back to the States you can come over for a Casino Royale-in-English-as-it-was-meant-to-be party. ;)
yea!!! thanks dude. yeah, the torture scene was not cool. but it seems that french people are quite inexpressive when watching films. i usually am, unless it's a comedy, or a really painful scene like this one. anyway, i might have heard someone make a noise, but i winced on behalf of them. gee wiz.
more movies...yum! yeah, bella martha is the "mostly martha" chef one from belgium... or germany? i am not sure, but the original language is german. my problem is that monsoon wedding was about as much subtitle as amante can handle... so that means that i watch the long fully titled ones myself... oh well!
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