Tag: movies

Best & Worst of Juliette Binoche

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The beautiful French actress Juliette Binoche turns 48 today.  How is it that these actresses stay looking so young?  I LOVED her in the movie Chocolat (2000).  I loved Vianne’s spirit, her shop with delicious looking chocolate and her good taste in men (Johnny Depp never looked sexier).  I thought she was luminous and magical.  I HATED everything about The English Patient (1996) so I can’t really blame her completely, but I made myself and Jason suffer through the movie and I celebrated when it was finished.  I’m obviously in the minority here since she did take home an Oscar for Supporting Actress.

So, I’d like to take a poll – What’s your favorite and/or least favorite Juliette Binoche film?  Complete list here.

FAVORITE

4 for Chocolat (Beth, Nise, Stephanie, Stacy)

(Yes, this idea probably came to me because of Alyce’s Best & Worst author series)

February’s 5 Word Movie Reviews – Join in & win $ for charity

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Every time you add 5 words of your own to one of my reviews then you donate $1 to charity.  What charity, you ask?  The charity is chosen by the person who has the most reviews once we reach 100. (Last charity here)  PLEASE leave a clear 5 word comment so I can give credit for it. 

You can add reviews to any of my past movie posts AND see who is in the contributing lead here.

The Descendants, 2011 (Cast-George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Matthew Lillard, Judy Greer)    Grade B++

Don’t See When Depressed. Worthwhile.

Emotionally draining.  Acting is superb. (Kathy)

Heartwrenching loss yet uplifting drama. (Stephanie)

Sad. George runs super silly. (Jenners)

 

Jane Eyre, 2011 (Cast-Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Judi Dench)   Grade B

Maybe my favorite casting ever.

The most gothic, emotional rendition. (Heather)

Deliciously Gothic, beautiful and emotional. (Jenny)

 

Babies, 2010 (Cast- Ponijao, Baya, Mari, Hattie)  Grade B-

Fun look at first year.

Cute kiddos worldwide, highly recommended (Kay)

So sweet and so funny. (Margot)

A blast from the past…see what I said about The Road (2009) and add your review.

Book vs. Movie – Under the Tuscan Sun

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When I posted last week about one of my favorite movies, Under the Tuscan Sun, I was surprised by how many of you hadn’t seen the movie.  I read the book in 2010 (here) and watched the movie, again, last week (here) so I can easily compare the two, and it’s made easier considering that the two are so completely different.

The Story/Plot  The book is a travel memoir of a San Fransisco couple that buys and restores a house in Tuscany, on a part-time basis.  It is very detailed, includes recipes and makes you feel like you are in Italy.  The movie is about a San Fransisco woman who has been jilted by her husband and goes to Italy on vacation but stays because she has nowhere to go.  She finds the life she always wanted while immersing herself in another culture.  I did not think there was much of a story in the book, but the movie had a great story of discovery.  Thumbs Up- Movie

The Visual  No description can compare to the beauty of Italy.  The movie did an excellent job of showcasing Italy while still telling a story.  Thumbs Up- Movie

Characters vs. Actors  Frances Mayes seems like a fine person, but trying to compare to Diane Lane is tough.  Frances’s boyfriend was nowhere to be found in the movie, but again hard to compare with Diane’s first Italian boyfriend…

The secondary characters in each were completely different too.  Thumbs Up- Movie

The Ending  In the book Frances and her boyfriend go back and forth between Italy and California and in the movie Frances finds a home and new life in Italy.  Again, nothing wrong with the book, just a preference for the movie.  Thumbs Up- Movie

And the winner is… Obviously, I think the movie was a runaway winner.  Just goes to prove that the book isn’t always better.

Now it’s your turn to vote

Other book vs. movie polls you can still vote on: (It Ends With Us) (Perfume: The Story of a Murderer) (The Sun is Also a Star) (We Have Always Lived in the Castle) (Good Morning, Midnight/The Midnight Sky) (Before I Go To Sleep) (The Little Prince) (Charlie St. Cloud) (Far From the Madding Crowd) (The Girl on the Train) (Tuck Everlasting)  (Northanger Abbey) (Me Before You) (And Then There Were None) (Still Alice) (The Blind Side) (The Fault in Our Stars) (The Hound of the Baskervilles) (Gone Girl) (Jack Reacher) (Ender’s Game) (Carrie, the original) (Under the Tuscan Sun) (The Secret Life of Bees) (The Shining, the original)

Fave Film #17 – Under the Tuscan Sun

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Under the Tuscan Sun2003

Cast- Diane Lane, Sandra Oh, Lindsay Duncan

Frances finds out her husband is cheating and to cheer her up her two friends offer her a 10 day vacation in Tuscany traveling with a gay bus tour.  Frances goes and falls in love with the house Bramosole which she impulsively buys and plans to restore, leaving her life in San Fransisco behind.  She throws herself into the renovation, making friends as a way to heal her broken heart.

Why I love it – This is a story one woman’s heartbreak and the strength that led her to healing.  I love Diane Lane, she can do little wrong in my eyes and this is one of my favorites.  She shows Frances’s emotions in a way that we can all recognize.  She was mad, hurt, sad, funny, endearing, and full of life.

Who hasn’t imagined (even just for a second) leaving everything behind to start over somewhere new?  And what better place to do this but in Italy?  I love the boldness of her decision, egged on by the exuberant Catherine who encouraged her growth at every turn.  It was the eagerness to live the life she always imagined that had me rooting for her happy ending.

I saw this after it first came out and liked it, but after our 2008 trip to Italy I saw it again and fell in love.  I don’t know if it was the beauty of the movie that took me back to the beauty of the country or if it was the few years of perspective that enabled me to see her choices as beautiful.  Either way, the scenery is breathtaking.

Loved the cast surrounding Diane.  Sandra Oh was perfect as her best friend and I loved Lindsay Duncan as Catherine and Vincent Riotta as the ever faithful Martini.  This was a true adventure story full of possibility.

I would normally show a clip of the movie, but instead here are pictures from our trip that I posted back in 2008.  Venice Florence Rome Parking in Rome (by far my most viewed older post) And if for some reason you want to scroll through my Italy posts as I was here you can do it here.  Since my blog was only a few months old I used it as a way to keep all of my family and friends up to date with our daily schedule.  It’s actually funny to go back and read it now (at least for me :))

January’s 5 Word Movie Reviews – Join in and win $ for charity

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It was a slow movie month for me, but I’m guessing most of you have seen at least one of these.

Every time you add 5 words of your own to one of these reviews then you donate $1 to charity.  What charity, you ask?  The charity is chosen by the person who has the most reviews once we reach 100.  (Last charity here)

We’re starting with a clean slate this week.  You can add reviews to any of my past movie posts here.

(2008. Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Paul Bettany, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo)                     Grade A-

Broken girl finds loving Queen.

Great casting does book justice. (Kathy)

Amazing group of talented women. (Kay)

Movie great, book even better. (Heather)

Touching, amazing with perfect cast. (Marce)

Excellent movie and fave book. (Staci)

(2003.  Renee Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, David Hyde Pierce, Sarah Paulson)   Grade B-

Fun throwback with weird twist.

Doris and Rock modernized tribute! (Stephanie)

(2012. Katherine Heigl, Jason O’Mara, Daniel Sunjata, Sherri Shepherd, Debbie Reynolds)   Grade C+

Passable but missing series oomph.

Grandma, Ranger casting was wrong. (Margot)

Book vs. Movie – The Secret Life of Bees

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Last time I compared The Shining (post and the still open poll here) and this time I am comparing one of my favorite books and a new movie favorite.  My Secret Life of Bees review from 2009 is here. This is going to be a close call.

The Story/Plot  This is really a coming of age story for Lily, who has the burden of her mother’s death on her shoulders as well as feeling unloved by her father.  Both the movie and the book portrayed that.  They were so close in storytelling that the few differences from the two, Lily and Zach at the movies and the Sunday church services at the pink house, were not enough to make me choose either one.  Tie

The Visual  I thought the movie brought this story to life beautifully.  I loved seeing the richness of the south and especially liked seeing the beekeeping on screen.  I only wish there had been more of it.  Thumbs up-Movie

Characters vs. Actors  I love Queen Latifah and thought she was a great choice for August.  Actually all of the actresses were great.  The only one that didn’t really match my mind’s view was Rosaleen but the actress was fine.  Withe that being said, I loved the characters in the book and felt a much deeper connection with Lily in the book.  Tie

The Ending  The movie had a hollywood ending.  It was fine, but I prefer the slight messiness of the book.  Thumbs Up-Book

And the winner is…I’m giving a very slight edge to the book, but I think both were excellent.

Now it’s your turn to vote

Other book vs. movie polls you can still vote on: (It Ends With Us) (Perfume: The Story of a Murderer) (The Sun is Also a Star) (We Have Always Lived in the Castle) (Good Morning, Midnight/The Midnight Sky) (Before I Go To Sleep) (The Little Prince) (Charlie St. Cloud) (Far From the Madding Crowd) (The Girl on the Train) (Tuck Everlasting)  (Northanger Abbey) (Me Before You) (And Then There Were None) (Still Alice) (The Blind Side) (The Fault in Our Stars) (The Hound of the Baskervilles) (Gone Girl) (Jack Reacher) (Ender’s Game) (Carrie, the original) (Under the Tuscan Sun) (The Secret Life of Bees) (The Shining, the original)

My 2011 Book and Movie Favorites

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I read 76 books this year and these are my favorites (only 2 of them were published this year)…

Cover ImageGood Grief by Lolly WinstonCover ImageRoots by Alex Hailey

The Chosen OneThe Chosen One by Carol Lynch WilliamsBig Stone GapBig Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani

Husband and WifeHusband and Wife by Leah StewartLive Wire (Myron Bolitar Series #10) by Harlan Coben: Book CoverLive Wire by Harlan Coben

The Missing Ink (Tattoo Shop Series #1)The Missing Ink by Karen OlsonBuried Prey (Lucas Davenport Series #21)Buried Prey by John Sandford

A Room with a View and Howards EndA Room With a View by EM ForsterHeartsick (Gretchen Lowell Series #1) by Chelsea Cain: Book CoverHeart Sick by Chelsea Cain

 

I watched 44 movies this year and these are the ones I feel good about recommending…

Bridesmaids (2011) A

The Help (2011) A

Sherlock Holmes:A Game of Shadows (2011) A-

Horrible Bosses (2011) B+

Gidget (1959) B+

Inside Man (2006) B+

Holes (2003) B+

Definitely, Maybe (2008) B+

Desk Set (1957) B+

Strangers on a Train (1951) B+

The Kids Are All Right (2010) B+

In April I asked that you all participate in my 5 word reviews by adding 5 words of your own.  For each review posted I would contribute $1 to charity.  When we reach $100 the person who contributed the most reviews would get to choose the charity.  Well, we are up to $99 and I’d like to get that check out!  So, please contribute your reviews (list here).  Since I’ve still got the holiday spirit I’ll keep contributing $1 for a week, even if we go over $100.

December’s 5 Word Movie Reviews – Join In

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Once a month I feature the movies I’ve seen for the first time with a 5 word ‘review’.  Only it’s not really a review.  For that I need your help.  I hope that you’ll add your 5 words to my 5 words and that someone else will add their 5 words and so on until we have a a fun hodgepodge of words that make up a ‘review’.

This month you can give money to charity by contributing your 5 words (Details here).  Please join the fun :)  Past 5 Word Reviews here.  We’re up to $99.

(2011. Cast-Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Noomi Rapace)   Grade A-

Smartly done period dramedy. Fun.

Even better than the first. (Michelle)

Downey, still my fave Sherlock.  (Heather)

(2011. Cast-Ed Helms, John C. Reilley, Anne Heche, Sigourney Weaver)       Grade B

Earnest Insurance Hijinks.  No, really.

(2010. Cast-Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel)                            Grade B

Totally unrealistic but cute romance.

Surprisingly cute but overly predictable.  (Heather)

November’s 5 Word Movie Reviews & $ for Charity

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Once a month I feature the movies I’ve seen for the first time with a 5 word ‘review’.  Only it’s not really a review.  For that I need your help.  I hope that you’ll add your 5 words to my 5 words and that someone else will add their 5 words and so on until we have a a fun hodgepodge of words to describe the movie.

This month you can give money to charity by contributing your 5 words (Details here).  Please join the fun :)  Past 5 Word Reviews here.  We’re up to $94.

Kids are all right poster.jpg(2010. Cast-Annette Bening, Juliane Moore, Mark Ruffalo)   Grade B+

All families are amazingly complicated.

Kids with moms find dad (Amy)

Beautiful and touching. Highly recommended. (Heather)

2011.Cast-Leonardo DiCaprio, Naomi Watts, Judi Dench, Armie Hammer) Grade B-

Somewhat slow but historically interesting.

(2007. Cast-Jim Carrey, Virginia Madsen)           Grade D+

23 never looked so melodramatic.

Jim Carrey: his own warm-up act.  (Tony)

(2009. Cast-Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, Frank Langella) Grade D+

Millionaire or killer?  Tough choice 😉

 It sure was a letdown! (Jo-Jo)

“The Box” sucks. Enough Said.  (Nicole)

Fave Movie #5- Planes, Trains, & Automobiles

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Planes, Trains and Automobiles1987

Cast- Steve Martin, John Candy

Written & Directed by John Hughes

Ad exec Neal is anxious to get home to his family for Thanksgiving, but luck is not his side.  He loses his cab to get him to the airport on time and then his flight is delayed and he is stuck in coach next to annoyingly cheerful shower ring salesman, Del.  Once the plane is diverted the unlikely pair is thrown together on a quest to get Del home for the holidays.

Why I Love It- Steve Martin and John Candy are at their finest in this comedy.  Steve Martin’s formal and snobby Neal and John Candy’s loveable buffoon, Del, played off each other perfectly and I wish they’d done more movies together. They can both make me laugh with just a look and in this one there was lots of laughing.

I loved all of the bad stuff that happened to them.  Is that wrong?  Watching them foiled at every turn provided fun for all.  If not for the hysterical f’n car rental scene this would be a great family film.  For me it was this scene and everything after that was laugh out loud funny.  Seriously, this burned out car is my favorite car ever.  There are more one-liners from this movie than I can list, but IMBD has listed a few.  One of my favorites from the car…

Del (Candy) to Neal: “Was that seat hot or what? I feel like a  Whopper. Turn me over, I’m done on this side! I’m afraid to look at my  ass—there’ll be grill marks.

While this film was laugh out loud funny it was also heartwarming a perfect movie to watch at Thanksgiving.  It will remind you to be thankful and to appreciate all that you have, especially if you have a friend like Del.  Why not invite him over for dinner?

John Hughes is responsible for some of my favorite films and this one at the top of the list.

The most swearing in two minutes of film, maybe?  Turn your volume down 🙂

The rest of my 100 favorite movies here.