Unconventional Christmas Tunes

Wonderful soundtrack. Not so great movie from what I hear.

Christmas Films

Over this break I have had the opportunity to see several films, and I thought I would post a two to three sentence review of each film I've seen. Here they are in no particular order:

With three powerfully honest performances at the heart of this independent gem, Beginners is one of the better independent films in the last few years. Christopher Plummer deserves the awards he will likely receive for his performance, and Ewan McGregor gives his most nuanced performance to date. The quirky feel brings out the character in writer/director Mike Mills, and I certainly look forward to his next film.

The Descendants, a unique and surprising study of grief, is a courageous glimpse into the slow reconstruction of a family after the husband (Clooney) discovers that his wife, comatose and soon to die from a boating accident, has had an affair. There were times when watching this film that I wasn't sure whether to laugh, cry or be outraged - I think this is the films greatest draw and, perhaps, draw back. With one of Clooney's best performances (I'm still partial to Michael Clayton), and a strong addition to Sideways for Payne, Descendants is sure to be a strong contender for best picture.

Given that I am a big Mission Impossible fan, I can say that Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol hit every mark as far as I'm concerned: beautiful locations, ferocious action, familiar theme music, cool gagets, humor, and Tom Cruise being his usual self with bravado to spare. Brad Bird, of Pixar fame, does a fine job directing this big budget installment into the franchise, and I think it's fair to say the Mission Impossible world is safe in the hands of Jeremy Renner.

Martin Scorcese, with his first family friendly film, delivers a magical story of a young boy's search for a message from his father, which unfolds into a small piece of Cinema history in Hugo. Scorcese blends childlike adventure and history together beautifully, helped as per usual by perhaps the greatest living editor, Thelma Schoonmaker. Hugo is certainly the must-see family movie of the break.

Well...I could spend a long time on this one. If you haven't seen it yet, do. I'd be happy to talk about it with you!

Wow. One of the most unique films I have seen. Painter turned filmmaker Steve McQueen is adept at building and releasing tension, almost effortlessly. Hunger felt like a dance, and that is saying quite a lot for a film about prison inmates organizing a hunger strike. Very dark, very graphic, yet nothing here feels gratuitous. Also, keep an eye on Michael Fassbender - he is slowly becoming one of the best actors in film today. His performance here is arresting.

With Midnight in Paris, Woody Allen has crafted his most crowd-pleasing film of recent years (as the numbers would indicate). From the fairly straight forward but interesting plot, to the game of spot the reference/historical character, this film has something for everyone.

OK, so I saw this one last break, but I just had to finish off the list with The Muppets! Very funny and very fun, this one is definitely worth a (very pricy) night at the cinema.

The Newest Addition to My Room

The Thames at Westminster, Claude Monet

Ponder Anew

Yesterday, as I was reading a book of poetry outside the library, a friend of mine walked by and asked in jest, "Are you pondering anew what the Almighty can do?" I laughed at his joke and kept on reading. Today, though, as I was reading another book outside and gazing at the grand tree that was providing shade for me I began to really think about that old hymn and verse. This week has been fast paced and rather stressful at times; lots of new faces and names and very little time for rest. But today I sat back and practiced that age old and often forgotten Christian virtue: rest (well...perhaps its not a virtue, but certainly a worthwhile practice). Today I rested and pondered anew what the Almighty can do.

Shark Week!

That's right, folks. Tomorrow begins an all new shark week. Get ready to have your minds blown.

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/shark-week/

And on a completely unrelated note, check out Wade Robson being his usual crazy self:

Novelties

Five opening sentences from novels yet to be (or never to be) written:

1. Sarah was crying again, but something was peculiar about these tears: they moved in the reverse fashion, rising from her lap, gathering along her cheek, and inserting themselves into her eyes; everyone was taken aback, but this soon faded as each couple filed their way out of the house backwards and in reverse order of their arriving, and Samuel was left to wonder what on earth that gypsy had slipped into his drink at lunch.

2. The blood was draining quickly, but he had just enough time to drag his near corpse of a body from the dining room to the front door to write a message in his own blood, "Joseph Carpe" but his hand slipped for the last time and rendered the message unreadable.

**Has anyone written a novel where the murderer is known to the reader but not the victim? I'm sure its been done, but for some reason I can't think of by whom at the moment. I think that would be a fun one.**

3. It wouldn't be until years later, in a conversation with Jim Needham on the event, that Jonathan would truly realize the gravity of his mistake in asking Mother Martha if her nonexistent baby was to be a boy or a girl.

4. Charles had always been fond of children, but this was simply too much for even him to handle, he thought as he attempted to forcibly walk out of the walk-in pantry in which he was currently imprisoned.

5. Jack had never given the idea of a twin brother any thought, but now it dominated his mind as the only explanation for this imposter who stood before him in poor dress, and with unmistakably familiar features, who had apparently been responding to the name Jack for weeks, giving the real owner of that name quite a bad reputation for slovenliness.

This is what happens when my job requires me to fold brochures for several hours...

Some Days I Feel Just Like Charlie Brown

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find the two songs I wanted to put from the super fun musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. But! I did find two great ones from it. This is one of those musicals I really wish I could have seen with the original revival cast. Enjoy!

A Summer List

Things I Am Fond Of (In No Particular Order)

• People who say "mobile" instead of cellphone
• Pure laughter
• The London Eye
• An honest acting performance (not an oxymoron)
• Listening to a beautiful piece of music for the first time
• Reading a wonderful book for the first time
• Reading a wonderful book for the second time
• Reading a wonderful book for the third time
• etc.
• Beautiful cinematography
• Trees
• Pasta
• Reading poetry aloud
• Long discussions with good friends
• Good friends
• Dressing up to go to the movie theater
• Going to live theater in general
• The beautiful homeland, Texas
• Family
• Praying for friends
• Exploring
• Long movies
• Doctor Who
• People who wave when you let their car in front of yours
• People who are respectful of others in any kind of theater or museum
• Animals
• Things that take a long time
• Education (when done properly)
• Irish accents
• Mountains
• The ocean
• Sharing a favorite movie or book with others
• Going to art museums
• Writing letters
• Learning new things
• The smell of old books
• People who love things that others wont
• Holding warm clothes just out of the dryer

Things I Am Not So Fond Of

• Heights
• 300 meter hurdles
• Airplanes
• Nesquick Chocolate Milk...long story