Longitude

Longitude (Parts 1 and 2) (Charles Sturridge, 2000)

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Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Biopic, History, 18th Century, WWII, Scientific Discovery, Invention

This miniseries was interesting, informative, and well executed by seasoned actors and beautiful art direction. We follow two stories: first, the one of John Harrison, inventor of the first truly portable timepiece, and his life's mission to solve the problem of finding longitude at sea. Second, that of Rupert Gould in the 1930s who brings Harrison's inventions back to life. I enjoy a historical docu-drama from time to time (pardon the pun) and this one was one of the best I've seen in a long while. If you like history and forgotten inventors, you'll probably enjoy Longitude. 

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Jeff Who Lives At Home

Jeff Who Lives At Home (Jay and Mark Duplass, 2011)
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Rating: Q=5, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=2, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

 

Indie, Family, Philosophical, Quirky

 

"Everyone and everything is interconnected in this universe. Stay pure of heart and you will see the signs. Follow the signs, and you will uncover your destiny." -Jeff

I like this film for lots of reasons. First, Jeff reminded me of many friends I have who are perpetually struggling to figure themselves out but have hearts of gold. Second, it is a fun and subtle take on age old questions of fate and destiny. Nothing and everything seems to happen in this short tale. It is funny and poignant and seems very real.

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OSCAR DASH 2013 - The Results

And the ultimate winner is... ARGO!

It was an enjoyable Oscar celebration last night. I was especially pleased that Quentin Tarantino won for his insanely amazing screenplay and that Christoph Waltz won another Supporting Actor trophy for his superb performance. Could he be any more amazing?

I guessed right on pretty much every award, except for Mychael Danna winning for Life of Pi's score. I was sure John Williams would conquer, per usual. It was a nice surprise!

Click here for a complete list of the winners, in case you don't know. I thought the show went well--not at all a fan of Seth McFarlane but Michelle Obama's speech to close the night was pretty fantastic.

Silver Linings Playbook

Silver Linings Playbook (David O. Russell, 2012)

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Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Mental Illness, Family, Complex Relationships, Romance

Mental illness is something many films touch on but none have tackled it in quite the same way as Silver Linings Playbook. This is a film about honesty, strength, trust, and self-discipline. Plus it's very funny and leaves you feeling all warm inside. The best part of this film, by far, is the acting. Both Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Laurence master their characters--not an easy task. And Robert de Niro brought tears to my eyes as a worried father. A hopeful and refreshing drama.

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Argo

Argo (Ben Affleck, 2012)

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Rating: Q=7, P=4 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=1

Iran Hostage Crisis, Suspense, Politics, Historical

If I had to describe this film in one word: tension. Ben Affleck has created an incredibly intense by retelling an anxious and upsetting story from the not so distant past. The intensity is accentuated with fast-paced editing and cinematography. In short, I could hardly sit still in my theater seat.

It is strange to think how significant moments can fade away and become all but forgotten in time. We need films like Argo. Remembering is valuable on so many levels.

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Hamlet

Hamlet (Gregory Doran, 2009)

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Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Shakespeare, Modern Setting, Classic Tragedy, Sin

Every once and awhile I have a craving to watch Shakespeare. I found this recent version --performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company- particularly good. David Tennant is masterful in his portrayal of the prince and Patrick Stewart is so austere and creepy as Claudius.

Everyone should watch Shakespearean plays performed with the original script. It still amazes me that even if it takes me 15-20 minutes to get my brain adjusted to the atmosphere and language, the words are what keep me captivated-- these specific words. Shakespeare's phrases and rhythms drive the emotion and create the timeless narratives, even if language usage has changed. It's all quite fascinating.
 

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