The Number 23

Last night, while in the throes of my chest cold, I was desperate for something to watch. Netflix, as I have said previously has not impressed me with their ability to supply me with movies in a timely manner. Oceans 13 was still not calling to me so I sat back to see what I might find. Lo and behold, "The Number 23" was on HBO.

It took me all night to decide what I would say about this movie and even now I struggle. The movie begins with an ordinary man, Walter(Jim Carey)leading an ordinary life, working for animal control. He has a chance encounter with a dog and it sets of a life changing event. He discovers a book and as he reads he sinks into the world, one he starts to feel is his own. As it progresses his family starts to become worried and he becomes increasing paranoid. The number 23 is tied to it all, and our central character, Walter, starts to see it everywhere and in everything.

The end of the movie ties it all together, sort of, though I'm still working on it, and you are given some reason for the book and the experiences. Still after it was all over I have to say the number 23 and the whole numerology thing fascinated me more than the movie. At one point I was very tired and shut it off half way through, only to wake up later and watch the last part. I'd like to say it was a compelling moving that made me come back to it, but it was more that I needed to know how they could rescue this story.

If you have nothing better to do, you can turn this on. Mabye you will see something I didn't. It will no doubt make my list of "what was that all about?" movies.

This movie is a sensitive moving experience. It follows the last days of an ailing woman and her memories as she drifts away. Her daughters are at her bedside listening to her ramble as she drifts in and out of consciousness and they soon realize there are parts of her life that they know nothing about. It was not quite as mysterious as it was built up to be in the beginning just the power of the heart and it's hold through time. The movie reminds us that we may not always know things about those close to us and the things we hold dearest are not always what they may seem. The ending was a bit confusing as I felt the message driving throughout the movie was contradicted a bit with the a message that has been given to women, at lesat in my generation, from our childhood. Perhaps I just need more time with it and perhaps it was not meant to contradict the movie at all. It is more of a chick flick so guys you may not like it.

Well, I just finished watching this and I'm still absorbing it a bit. The movie is very interesting, Kevin Costner giving a quiet somewhat chilling performance. William Hurt as his alter ego or whatever he is supposed to be, is creepy but then isn't he almost always creepy? There are not too many things I can put here that would be spoilers as the PR for the movie did most of that prior to it's release. I suppose they had to for those who would have gone off to see their favorite star only to be a bit stunned.
It's always fascinating to see someone who has made their career out of regular guy roles and good guy roles, do something a bit different. Still even as he plays a serial killer, you find yourself identifying with him at times as he pulls you in to his world of good vs. bad. The movie also reinforces the thought that there are those lower on the scale of bad than the serial killer, and also incredibly stupid. I'll leave that alone as you need to see it for yourself.
If you are expecting Costner to run about with a maniacal laugh, you will be disappointed. The roles, all of them are quiet and downplayed, except for perhaps the last part of the movie. There are a couple of story lines going on but it weaves things a bit, keeping the movie from becoming highly predictable.
If nothing else it will leave you thinking.

Directed by Mira Nair Novel by Jhumpa Lahiri

Today this finally arrived and I had the pleasure of watching it just a few hours ago.The movie opens with a couple about to be wed, an arranged marriage. The bride moves away from her family in India to America. Their story is almost more captivating than the main story line and you find yourself drawn into the life of this new bride, in a strange country, married to a man she barely knows, lonely and without her family. You watch them grow as partners over the years as they raise a family together.

Kal Penn plays the firstborn son, Gogol, of the immigrant parents. As he grows his desire to fit in causes him to distance himself from his family. He finds himself in a relationship with girl not of his culture. She is a nice enough girl but she neither knows or attempts to learn anything about his culture. She instead draws him into her family giving him the lifestyle and culture he has always wanted. As events happen and he finds himself drawn back to his family, she is lost as to what to do. The movie tends to make her look selfish in this part but you realize she is only being the woman Penn's character had always wanted. Time goes by and Gogol(Kal Penn)goes on to do what he thinks he should, marrying a girl from his culture, taking him on a journey that leads him back to the beginning.

This is a wonderful sensitive movie, and it pulls you in from the beginning. It is filled with emotion and tenderness, and it is well worth the watch. Once again, I feel the parents are the anchor of this movie and the story circles around them from beginning to end. There story alone makes it well worth the watch.

Directed by Mira Nair Novel by Jhumpa Lahiri

Today this finally arrived and I had the pleasure of watching it just a few hours ago.The movie opens with a couple about to be wed, an arranged marriage. The bride moves away from her family in India to America. Their story is almost more captivating than the main story line and you find yourself drawn into the life of this new bride, in a strange country, married to a man she barely knows, lonely and without her family. You watch them grow as partners over the years as they raise a family together.

Kal Penn plays the firstborn son, Gogol, of the immigrant parents. As he grows his desire to fit in causes him to distance himself from his family. He finds himself in a relationship with girl not of his culture. She is a nice enough girl but she neither knows or attempts to learn anything about his culture. She instead draws him into her family giving him the lifestyle and culture he has always wanted. As events happen and he finds himself drawn back to his family, she is lost as to what to do. The movie tends to make her look selfish in this part but you realize she is only being the woman Penn's character had always wanted. Time goes by and Gogol(Kal Penn)goes on to do what he thinks he should, marrying a girl from his culture, taking him on a journey that leads him back to the beginning.

This is a wonderful sensitive movie, and it pulls you in from the beginning. It is filled with emotion and tenderness, and it is well worth the watch. Once again, I feel the parents are the anchor of this movie and the story circles around them from beginning to end. There story alone makes it well worth the watch.

Waitress

About 2 weeks ago I was having an insomniac moment and decided to rent this during the night. It was getting some Oscar buzz as many things do and I thought, "hey why not?" It turned out to be a worthwhile experience. It's a simple gentle story,oddly as some of the parts of the story are not gentle things. Still it is delivered in such a way that you can take it all in and not be excessivly disturbed. For the most part it has a light hearted feel and the performances are all great. It is not going to be Oscar fare, I assure you as the names wandering around in Oscar land are far too powerful this year. The director, also a costar was murdered not long after the movie was released, a shame as she had some obvious talent. It's a bit of a chick flick and those of us who've been in a less than palatable relationship will appreciate the performance of Jeremy Sisto. This movie evoked some powerful emotions in me and some of you may find the same thing happens to you.

My movies finally arrived yesterday, or should I say movie so I was able to give this a watch last night. My daughter is still hording The Namesake and I'm not sure she will ever get it watched. I think it will need to make its way back to the mailbox like the last one she borrowed from me.

This movie stars Russell Crowe and Christian Bale as the two central characters. There are a number of other people you will pick out as you are watching, Peter Fonda the most notable as a ruthless Pinkerton security man. As I began the movie it was filled with ruthlessness of all sorts and I wasn't sure I was in the mood for this. Don't get me wrong, after a bad day there is nothing more satisfying than a good shoot em up. This western has the bad guys and the good guys, the line pretty much blurred between them at times, both resting more toward the bad. The bad guys gang is complete, as always, with one twisted, really violent member who kills for the sheer pleasure of killing. He's not quite as bad as the young home guard member in "Cold Mountain," but nevertheless you wish him ill throughout the movie.

Christian Bale plays a down and out rancher who signs on to help escort the now captured Russell Crowe to the 3:10 train to Yuma prison. They of course get to know one another during this journey and it explores their differences and similarities. Russell Crowe does a good job as a slick cold blooded but still smooth bad guy, while Christian Bale is good as a beaten down rancher who struggles to do what is right.

It's been a long time since I've watched a western, other than Wyatt Erp, It captures the lawlessness of the old west and makes you wonder how anyone could have had the courage to "go west young man." You will find yourself torn between the characters as they unfold during the movie and you will be entertained from beginning to end.

Written by Sarah Polley and Alice Munroe and directed by Sarah Polley.

I decided to watch this movie as it was getting quite a bit of Oscar buzz. In fact it landed Julie Christie a Critics Choice Award for Best Actress last night.
The story is about a couple, married 44 years,who are impacted by the onset of Alzheimers in the wife. It follows their relationship as they decide together, the wife being more insistent, that she will go and live in the local care facility. The husband is reluctant to let her go and after watching the movie I felt his pain, knowing if it were me, I would wait until the last moment to send my spouse away.
It addresses some important things and takes a hard cold look at a healthcare system that seems determined to separate people, the worst possible thing you can do for the sense of well being. Still it does address the cruelty of this disease. As I watched I was moved by the love her husband feels for her and almost stunned at how far he will go to get her what he feels she needs.
It is a subtle quiet movie with excellent performances. Julie Christie, still amazingly beautiful, fully deserves her award. Gordon Pinsent gives an equally great performance as the heartbroken spouse. It's not a cheery movie but it is well done. I am astounded at that it was directed by a woman my own daughters age. She certainly has a great career ahead of her.

Based on the book by Ian McEwan

I had the opportunity to see this movie after Christmas. I cannot begin to tell you how incredible it was. It has all the beauty and detail that Joe Wright captured when he directed Pride and Prejudice, but as a backdrop for betrayal and the brutality of war. There were some minutes in the first part where the tension was so great I didn't know if I was going to be able to stick with it. There are wonderful preformances given, especially by James Mcavoy, and it is certainly deserving of the attention it is now receiving. I can't say much without spoiling it for those who haven't seen it. I will say the central plot revolves around the younger sister who given to flights of fancy sees something, misunderstands it and then weaves an elaborate lie impacting everyone. Atonement is one of the themes and she , I guess, tries to make atonement for what she has done. I was never convinced but I felt very hardhearted towards her. This movie is truly worthy of the nominations it has been given. If Joe Wright