browser life

I'm back to copying medical records yet AGAIN, so I'm gonna sneak in some time to review the movies I've rented since mid-March. After I'm done scanning the records, I'll be going back to unpacking and thus will have limited blogging time again. I have FINALLY finished unpacking the upstairs, believe it or not, YAYYYYYY, and will tackle organizing my vast music collection and photo gallery downstairs next.

Dan and I watched "World Trade Center" about a month ago. It stars Nicolas Cage (although for most of the movie you just see his face in silhouette) and was directed by Oliver Stone. I had opted to skip it in the theatre because I didn't know how graphic or melodramatic it might be. I am pleased to report that for this film, Stone wisely held back, knowing that the subject matter itself was dramatic enough. So rather than extensive footage of people jumping from the towers and hitting the pavement (although it was implied), the focus was the point of view of a crew of transit authority workers who were attempting a rescue when the World Trade Center collapsed upon them. This was based on a true story, which adds quite a bit to the OMG factor. Stone also spent quite a bit of time showing the reaction of the families, friends and co-workers. He captured their fear, confusion and anger quite well. The movie was much better than I was expecting, and a fitting tribute to those who serve and protect as well as those who love them.

Next, I got into Jane Austen mode with "Pride and Prejudice". This came out in 2005 and stars Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet, a girl of marriage age who usually has her nose in a book. She is smart and outspoken and stands in stark contrast to her giggly fashionista younger sisters and shy but lovely older sister. When Elizabeth sees gorgeous Mr. Darcy at a society function, she is attracted but also repulsed by his cold, no-nonsense manner. As Elizabeth has no male siblings and the family is not rich, the business of getting five girls to marry well is of utmost importance to the quality of their future. Elizabeth receives a proposal from a parson who could provide a modest but stable future, but she does the unthinkable by turning him down because she does not love him, and her mother comes unglued. After several misunderstandings and a great deal of misery on the part of both Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, they finally both swallow their pride and admit they love each other. Ms. Knightley really shines in this movie, and the humor of the book is not neglected, so this is quite a pleasure to watch. If you like period pieces, or even if you think you hate them but love a good story, I highly recommend this one.

For variety, my next DVD was stand-up comedy, "Wanda Sykes: Sick and Tired", which came out last year and was taped in Seattle, I think. For some reason, Wanda Sykes isn't half as funny on TV as she is live, so this was a real treat. Her style isn't for everyone, but she's not vulgar for shock value, she's just really honest. She can take just about any subject, like, say, the outrageous cost of prescription drugs for the elderly, and make it so funny that tears will be coming out my eyes. My favorite routine of hers is about how convenient it would be if a certain female body part were detachable. While not as controversial as the Carlos Mencia or Eddie Izzard DVD's I've seen so far, Wanda Sykes is the most hilarious.

After my laugh fest, I returned to Jane Austen-ville with "Emma". This 1996 gem stars Gwenyth Paltrow as the title character, a busybody matchmaker who can't spot her own perfect match even though it's right under her nose. If this sounds vaguely familiar, "Clueless" was a version of this set in present day. Paltrow's Emma has it all: wealth, social standing, artistic talent, charm. But she mainly uses these qualities to get eligible men interested in her friends and is baffled when her plans backfire. While doing so, she constantly squabbles with her not-quite brother and doesn't realize that she has fallen in love with him until it's almost too late. My favorite scene is when Emma becomes unnerved during archery and misses the target completely, which mirrors her efforts as Cupid. This movie is funny and clever and extremely well-done, and I would watch it again many times over. Even better than "Pride and Prejudice".

Finally, on Tuesday, I watched "High Fidelity". How on earth did I miss this movie when it was released in 2000? John Cusak and a mostly-star cast address breakups, make ups, and tunes for all occasions. Cusak is the owner of a Chicago used vinyl record store whose life is comprised of top five lists and failed romances. When he is dumped by the latest girlfriend because he has no ambition, he does some awkward, hilarious and somewhat self-serving soul searching in an attempt to find out what when wrong with his previous relationships. He looks up some of his exes, wanting to know why they broke up with him, only to find out that time has colored his memory, causing him to forget that he was actually the culprit in some cases. One ex is happily married, one is lonely and regrets having cheated on Cusak, and one is exasperated that he even wants to bring up the past. Fortunately, Cusak's is not the most immature character in the film; his two record shop employees are. Jack Black plays a music snob who bullies uneducated customers and insists that he's gonna get his own band someday. The other guy is a socially awkward music geek who loves to correct Black when he gets something wrong. The funniest part is when Cusak confronts his most recent ex's new lover, played by Tim Robbins, and envisions all sorts of violent revenge that of course never happens. I also enjoyed when Bruce Springsteen appears in a daydream to dispense advice. This movie was based on a book set in London, but the switch to Chicago is surprisingly successful. Awesome screenplay, hilarious pandering to the camera, and it almost goes without saying that it has a great soundtrack. Definitely in my top five John Cusak movies of all time, heh heh.

I'm caught up for now. I should be getting "Mrs. Henderson Presents" tomorrow. At least I'm not stuck in a one-genre rut, heh heh.