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November 6
Today for the November gratitude alphabet, F is for Films - good movies entertain, inspire, challenge, and teach through their characters and events. They can take you to places in the world you may never see for real and visually amaze. Every year I try to see the important films when they are released in the theaters. And I enjoy "helping" choose the winners for important awards like the Academy and Golden Globes. This year hasn't been a great year for movie going for many reasons, but the ones above I've seen and loved for different reasons. Well, except for Anna Karenina, which totally irritated me because it was almost like a comic opera.
Second--or maybe first--way I watch films that I've missed on the big screen is to rent from Netflix and watch on computer in the hidey hole/den. This is my favorite place in the house, especially with the owner of those little black--or white speckled now--legs to keep me company:
Here's a sampling of Netflix viewing this year:
In films my taste runs to history and politics in troubled parts of the world--Of Gods and Men, A Woman in Berlin, Salmon Fishing in Yemen. I watched In the Land of Blood and Honey because it's about the Bosnian-Serb war in the late 1990s and I hope to visit Bosnia in 2014. If you love photography, highly recommend Everlasting Moments, the story of a Swedish woman who escapes a brutal and impoverished marriage by learning to take pictures. Just as with books, like British police procedurals--Vera, Foyle's War, Rebus, Endeavour Morse, DCI Banks. And just for the heck of it, throw in Jane Campion's Top of the World set in New Zealand. Annika Bingtzon gave me a little Swedish crime. And In Treatment gave me Gabriel Brynne as a troubled therapist--yumo! And finally, do I even need to mention BBC Masterpiece Theater period dramas like Downton Abbey and The Paradise. Of course, loved them.
It's a good thing that this project is falling in November. I'm one of those year in review people, taking stock of the past year and figuring out what's ahead for 2014. By the time I finish this gratitude alphabet won't have anything to do for December and January!
Linking to November Blog a Day at Myanderings .
Everlasting Moments was one of my all time favorite movies. I don't like to think about all the movies that might be like this one that we miss, just because they are not publicized or being foreign we are just not aware of them.
ReplyDeleteAnother movie lover,
Jo
Thank you for F for Films. Always good to get your take on the cinema. Still haven't seen Les Mis or Life of Pi which I hope to get around to, but one that I had on my radar that I let slip by was Angelina J's directorial debut In the Land of Blood and Honey. Not that I'm going to Bosnia any time soon (which BTW sounds like an excellent catalyst for seeing this film), but I'm interested in your opinion of AJ and her work. Locally, in a rather lean season for me, I would recommend Greta Gerwig in Frances Ha and Cate Blanchett's role in Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine. Upcoming EVENT (note caps...somewhat kiddingly :)), Catching Fire with Louisville's own what's-her-name.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this, Faye. I must confess that Anna Karenina is the ONE book that I have started and never finished. I have started it several times and not finished it several times. I was going to see if the movie was any more interesting to me, but now I shall watch Downton Abbey instead. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteGosh, I don't know if I could a sensible number of films. Sometimes I think I won't like something and end up thinking it was wonderful. I am thankful they can 'take me away' but I find myself often wondering if the background is real or not. Special effects are so beyond the imagination these days.
ReplyDeleteI think I'll check out Everlasting Moments for the photography angle. I smiled at 'hidey hole'. :)