About Me

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Recent retiree--35 year's experience teaching reading, English, adult basic education and volunteer leadership skills. Started this blog to exchange ideas and commentary with friends and others having an interest in joining the discussions. Greatest life accomplishments include: 1.organized my 3rd grade class to check out library books for me to get around librarian's weekly limit--Amazon.com, the Mullins Elementary 3rd Grade Class of 1956 is still waiting for "thank you" notes; 2. volunteered in the Peace Corps, island of St. Kitts, West Indies; 3.taught adults to read, earn their GEDs., and speak English as a second language; 4. bought a border collie puppy for $6, got evicted rather than give him up, and began a life-long love affair with all things "Dog"; 5. joined a physical fitness boot camp in my mid-50s--don't mess with someone who's been doing regulation pushups in wet grass at 5:30 a.m.; 6. walked across Northern England with best friend Sally--over 80 miles from the Irish to North Seas; and 7. travelled to many foreign countries for pleasure and work.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Fun Monday at the Movies


Our host for this week's Fun Monday is Gattina and her assignment is to share our favorite Christmas ornament. I fear I must bend the rules this week Gattina, because the only sign of Christmas in my home is a lovely stack of Christmas cards and greetings from friends near and far. I did, however, receive an unexpected gift that is timely and most appreciated. That's this gift card from my friend S's mother--and my new BFF--to our local cinemas. Timely because many of the 2010 Oscar contenders are just now being released and most appreciated because:

I LOVE MOVIES!

As you can see from this 2009 ticket stub collage, I get excited about going to the movies. I want to see all the films that have been nominated for Golden Globe, Film Critics, and Academy Awards. There's Milk , The Reader, Frost/Nixon, Australia, Doubt, and Rachel Getting Married which earned Academy Awards in March 2009.

After the March Academy Awards this year, I started seeing the contenders for Oscars in March 2010. There's my favorite so far, An Education which is the 1960s tale of an Oxford-bound young girl who get entangled with an older man. Then there's the comedy Julie and Julia about a young blogger's mission to cook herself through Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking. And let's not forget director Jane Campion's artful English drama, Bright Star, which was a fascinating love story of the frail, penniless poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne, his 1800s Project Runway wanna-be.

So, some time before the March Academy Awards show I'll take this gift card and my retired self to several matinees to see these films, either because of the actors or the subject matter:

Up in the Air -- George Clooney in a "serious" comedy, 'nuf said

Inglorious Basterds -- just to hear Brad Pitt say "Yes, Yes, Yes" to Hitler's "Nein, Nein, Nein"

A Single Man --Colin Firth as a serious, conflicted college professor with Elvis Costello glasses

The Young Victoria --love, love, love British romantic dramas

The Last Station -- Helen Mirren as Leo Tolstoy's unbalanced wife--fabulous!

The Hurt Locker, The Messenger, and Brothers -- we must not forget about the human costs of war

Invictus -- the great Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela

It's Complicated --Meryl Streep as middle-aged comedian caught in a love triangle with Alec Baldwin, and Steve Martin. I hope I can get the image of a naked Alec Baldwin hiding behind a Mac laptop out of my head. . .

Crazy Heart -- it's been too long since Robert Duvall's role of a down and out country singer in Tender Mercies

Throughout the year I'll be on the look out for other films that are just plain enjoyable or challenging, even though they didn't create that much awards' buzz. In 2009 I'd put the following films in this category: Amelia, Angels and Demons, Wendy and Lucy, Soloist, Easy Virtue.
And, I've decided I need this handy Ticket Stub Diary to hold all my 2010 movie stubs and a one sentence review of the film. Unfortunately it's on back order until Valentine's Day. Hint, hint. . .
Now before all the holiday decorations get packed away, head over to Gattina's place to check out the favorites of Fun Monday players.

Happy New Year and I'll see you at the movies!

9 comments:

Mariposa said...

Oh my, you are like the IT Guy! So now I know where to ask for that list of movies to watch for the long holidays. :)

Wish you a wonderful 2010!

Sayre said...

I'm dying to see "It's Complicated." I just saw the Biography of Meryl Streep and I think I might just want to see a bunch of her movies now that I missed when they first came out.

Should have known you would go for a Colin Firth movie...;)

I just got my newsletter from my English family - and my uncle Kollyn is in the Sherlock Holmes movie! He's an extra in some fighting scene (I haven't seen it yet), but I'm going to go and see if I can spot him!

Jan n Jer said...

Wow Faye...you could make a living being a movie critic. I really want to see "Its Complicated" I think this movie appeals to our age group. I did not sign up for FM this week...been so busy trying to pack up Christmas and get ready for our transition to Brunswick Ga. for the winter.

Jan n Jer said...

I forgot to wish you a Healthy Happy New Year Faye.

Living Life said...

HI Faye! You and my daughter share the same passion. She is CRAZY about movies and she has quite a collection.

Another great movie you don't want to miss is The Blind Side with Sandra Bullock. I just saw it this weekend.

Best wishes to you for a Happy New Year!

Gattina said...

I am afraid, there I can't follow you, I don't go to the movies often. One I regret I missed (have to wait for the DVD) is Julie and Julia, but I will go and see "It's complicated". Last time I was in the cinema was for "Mamma Mia" !

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

What a lovely idea for a gift, I'm sure we don't have those over here.

I loved Australia and Frost/Nixon, and I'm sure you'll enjoy The Young Victoria, I thought it was splendid.

Faye said...

mariposa--IT Guy probably wants to---or has--see Avatar for all its special effects? Not for me.

sayre--who knew Meryl Streep had the comedic touch? I first remember her from Sophie's Choice. Tell us a bit more about where Uncle Kollyn appears in the Sherlock Holmes movie--will look for him.

jan & jer--I see enough movies to be a critic, but I'm actually not that hard on them. I love the serious stuff that's all about human nature and conflict. Not much for fantasy or special effects. Keep thinking I should see at least one of the Twilight movies just to understand what the fascination is all about.

Safe travels on your trip to wintering hole in the warm south.

church lady--do you allow your daughter to see the Twilight movies? And I'll check out Blind Side. It's already played in local theaters but can catch on Netflix.

gattina--thanks to Netflix and DVDs don't have to leave home to see good films. Only problem for me is that I have to watch them on computer. Not quite the same as big screen. M. Streep was grand in Momma Mia--wanted to dance in the theater aisles!

debs--were you surprised that Sarah Ferguson took on directing for The Young Victoria? I've seen the previews and that seems quite ambituous for her. Re gift cards--always love getting them for bookstores, but this cinema variety was a nice surprise.

gracie said...

I would like to watch "Its Complicated too" Sounds interesting