No real news here except that I have been watching quite a few films... I would say it has been a marathon of watching and it is still not over....I am trying to see everything I can so I can vote on the SAG Awards..."THE KING'S SPEECH", (above) is a true treasure of a film....All the performances are stellar....! It is moving and inspiring and a wonderfully entertaining film, too. Colin Firth gives an extraordinary performance and one that is memorable in every way....An Academy Award should be coming his way this year.....In fact, ALL the performances are really quite spectacular---Goeffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter are both really perfect, in this true story. A "do not miss" film in every way......I watched it twice and could watch it again, and no doubt will.......!
"THE SOCIAL NETWORK"....a terrific film! Fascinating in every way and a film that is so very well done. Great Screenplay by the Oh So Talented Aaron Sorkin....Directed by David Fincher, it has a cast that shines....! You don't have to be on 'Facebook' to understand and truly appreciate this wonderful film....! Another "don't miss".....! And lots of awards are coming to this film, also, and rightfully so.....!
"TRUE GRIT".....I'm not a huge 'western' fan, but I really liked this film, a lot! Besides having the special and most talented Jeff Bridges playing 'Rooster', there is the very talented Matt Damon and a young teenager named Hailiee Steinfeld who is pretty fabulous....I'm not a big fan of the Coen Brothers usually, but they did a masterful job with this very wonderful film.....And Jeff B. is perfect as the alcoholic U. S. Marshall, adding yet another unforgettable performance to his amazing body of work.....This is, in my opinion, another 'do not miss' film.......
"BlACK SWAN"....Well, I may be in the minority here, but I really did not like this film at all....! Too many things about this film left me not really caring about the people or understanding who they were or what they were doing and why they were doing what they were doing. I found it manipulative and did not think it a good film, at all.....! I felt sorry for many of the actors having to create characters out of nothing. How do you do that? You don't. And, if I don't care about anyone in the film--well then, what's the point?
"HEREAFTER"......A very very interesting film in every way---the first 15 to 20 minutes of this film are incredibly startling and great film-making....You feel it is happening to you. Clint Eastwood directed this film and he always surprises in his choice of material.....The actors are all quite wonderful and you are interested and care about the people a great deal. It is a flawed film, but so worth seeing......I knew very little about it so it was all new to me and it held me right to the last frame......
I really liked "SECRETARIET" very very much. It probably won't win anything but it is a wonderful film about the greatest racehorse of the 20th Century....! I lived through the amazingly exciting times of this fantastic Horse, but knew very little about the background of this Triple Crown Winner and his owner.....A really good film that your whole family can go and see and be inspired by.....! And again, the actors are all wonderful--Particularly Diane Lane and John Malkovitch. I still have a number of films I need to watch before the weekend is out, so.....I will write about those films next time........
More To Come.......
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ohh how grand that you get to see all the movies! When you do this post each year I miss the movies DeForest Kelley would give me that they sent him. We would discuss them afterwards..and of course the award shows meant so much more having seen all the movies involved. The studios always sent DeForest all the movies they did each year, and so there were many that I had never heard of..and strangely enough I found some of them more enjoyable then the ones up for nomination!
Enjoy the rest of the movies!!!- Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 3:36:00 AM PST
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Naomi,
I agree with you about "Black Swan." My friend thought it was great, but I fell asleep. At $13 a ticket I felt a little guilty, but I just wasn't that interested. However, the new seats were very comfortable and I slept like a baby.- Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 7:14:00 AM PST
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How wonderful that these movies are delivered to your door. What a treat.
I am quite a distance from any theater so I must wait on Netflix. I always trust your reviews and have most of those saved for when they are released on DVD.
Tough job you have Naomi.- Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 7:53:00 AM PST
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I'm behind on my movies with the exception of True Grit. This may be heresy, but I enjoyed this version, especially Jeff Bridges' performance more than John Wayne's earlier take. Wayne was good, but that movie was almost cartoonish compared to the Coen brothers' effort. It seemed the 2010 version was more grittier and real. I just wish they'd kept Rooster's cat, "Sterling Price," named for a former Missouri governor and rebel general with whom my great, great grandfather had an acquaintance.
BTW, my wife is dragging me to Black Swan this weekend, punishment for taking her to True Grit.- Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 10:26:00 AM PST
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Agree, these are great movies.
Maybe I'll think the first one is the best, but hard to judge...
btw. we will be in CA sometimes between July 14 and 24....
Keep you informed- Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 2:49:00 PM PST
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I enjoyed watching the Golden Globes in which Colin Firth won best actor! I was surprised that The Social Network won best picture because I just didn't think it looked that interesting from the clips, but I can see from the win and your review that I should and will see it. I might skip the Black Swan.
It's that time of year again!- Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 7:20:00 PM PST
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Well you are ahead of me. I sent you an email to tell you how much I enjoyed The King Speech before I read your post – and you talked about it. I also saw True Grit, mostly because of my husband and enjoyed it a lot too. It seems that there is a nice crop of good and interesting movies right now. It’s a pleasure to read your description of them.
- Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 8:24:00 PM PST
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I liked 'The Social Network' too and thought the lead actor gave a terrific performance and made you interested in what happened to this character that you start off not liking very much, and even feeling sorry for him in a way.
I very much want to see The Kings Speech and am going to see Black Swan tonight so I will see what I make of it. I also want to see True Grit. The trailer looks great which is interesting as I really didn't want to see this film until I saw it as I'm not a fan of Westerns either and did not like John Wayne as an actor.
Hope you and Sweetie are both well and sending hgugs to you and purrs to Sweetie from the boys.- Friday, January 21, 2011 at 5:44:00 AM PST
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I wish I had access to these movies as you do, Naomi!! I want to see all of them. My friend said she took her mom and 3 other 85 year-old women to see the Black Swan, and she got very embarrassed at some of the scenes.
LOL- Friday, January 21, 2011 at 5:47:00 AM PST
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I'm not much of a movie watcher---I don't seem to find the time. I did hear an interview with the grandson of the speech therapist who worked with the king. It was on NPR---fascinating stuff.
- Friday, January 21, 2011 at 10:28:00 AM PST
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Well for a change I saw all these films except Secretariat. I plan to put that on Netflix. As for your reviews I agree with King's Speech and True Grit. The Swan, I'm not so sure I agree. It was a manipulative film, but I was engaged in it the whole time. It was not what I expected, but I enjoyed it anyway. The other film, Hereafter, I absolutely hated. That's a strong word for me because I can usually find something to like in any movie, well except Pokemon the Movie and the last Highlander movie, both big stinkers. I was so mad when I came out of the theatre after this movie was over. I was like, "really, is that the best you could do with this topic?" I really thought they could have done so much more with the film, plus it just dragged on without really going anywhere for me. Lastly was the Facebook movie. I also liked that film and agreed with your review. What really stood out for me in this film was the main character and the actor in that role. When we came out of the movie, M commented that she didn't like the main character. I said, then they did their job. You disliked him like his surrounding characters disliked him. I on the other hand didn't so much dislike him as I think I understood him. I think he was being true to character. He couldn't be a good friend, that was not in his personality. He behaved true to form. Not with malicious intent, just in a self-serving fashion as was his character. I can't wait for the Oscars.
- Friday, January 21, 2011 at 11:12:00 AM PST
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Would you believe that I haven't seen even one of these?! And we have Netflix!! Thanks for the list! I'll add 'em to our cue as they're available! :)
- Friday, January 21, 2011 at 2:04:00 PM PST
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We saw "The King's Speech" at the TIFF and loved it!
- Friday, January 21, 2011 at 4:58:00 PM PST
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Was Justin Timberlake in "The Social Network" ?
Colin Firth is a great great actor.
I haven't seen any of these films though!- Friday, January 21, 2011 at 5:05:00 PM PST
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I am really looking forward to see the King's Speech, just to see Colin Firth again in action.
For me he is such an attractive actor...- Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 11:40:00 AM PST
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I'm looking forward to watch King's Speech because I'm a fan of Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter. I heard a lot of buzz about the Black Swan, which really piqued my interest.
- Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 1:40:00 PM PST
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Courtney went to see True Grit, and she really liked it. I've been wanting to see The King's Speech. I love it when you do reviews of movies!!
I read your final post about the New Year's Eve party. What fun gifts! The Butt Bank might be crude, but it's funny. I'm sure you all had lots of laughs that night.
Tomorrow, we fly to London with Taylor's band. I am so excited!! I've never been to England, and I'm looking forward to it. We will be there at least five weeks.- Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 11:28:00 PM PST
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That was very useful Naomi - many thanks. I love Jeff Bridges - I used to watch his Dad in his wet suit, with my sons on TV many years ago.
I probably shan't bother with Black Swan - my movie going is so limited I can't afford a possible dud. Wasn't she the actress in 'Leon' as a child. She was excellent in that.
Clint is always good value as a director and I like watching Mat Damon - the doppelganger of my step-grandson.
I can't count the number of friends who have eulogised 'The King's Speech' to me. I long to see it because Lionel Logue had a special connection to our family, and I'm not going to write about it until I've seen the film. I hoped to see it when the family were here but they had seen it already and I couldn't make them take the 60 mile round trip to see it again. If all else fails I'll get the DVD but it's not the same as going to the cinema.
I agree with the other commenters that one of your blessings - and you so deserve them - is to get the films delivered.- Sunday, January 23, 2011 at 3:59:00 AM PST
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The one film that I'd really like to see from your list is "The King's Speech". But unfortunatley I don't go to the movies very often.... my ususal connection to the movies is to babysit while YoungerSon and the Bride go out for the evening!!
- Sunday, January 23, 2011 at 6:31:00 AM PST
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By the time the Oscars come out I usually have not yet seen the films. But I read about them and can't WAIT to see them. I just asked a friend about The BS (Black Swan) yesterday and she said what you said. I was surprised, all I had read was how fabulous it was--now I REALLY can't wait to see it. I love to see films where one person HATES it and the next LOVES it. Seems a film couldn't do that, but like art, it says much about the viewer. I took my friend's take on the film to show her lack of understanding about acting/writing/film maling, but NOW I must considr YOUR knowledge of all those things and great experience (my friend is 30, from a small town)---Oh, I can't WAIT!!
- Sunday, January 23, 2011 at 7:39:00 AM PST
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I thought that might be what you're up to... :)
I loved The Social Network. I love your movie reviews, by the way, don't know if I've ever told you that. :)- Sunday, January 23, 2011 at 10:09:00 AM PST
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Hello Naomi, I just popped by to say 'hi' when I found that you are a friend of Vagabonde's as well as Pat's - the coincidence of two unconnected (I think) bloggers has prompted me, after all this time. I've bookmarked you now, and will be back!
- Sunday, January 23, 2011 at 2:45:00 PM PST
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I'm so glad I stopped in! I had forgotten about Hereafter and just added it to my Netflix queue (although it's not available yet). We just saw The Black Swan today and in fact I'm going to do a post about it tonight. I really loved True Grit! I thought it was great. Some of my Canadian readers said they had a hard time understanding all of the dialogue. I guess all these years in Texas gave me an advantage! And I can't wait to see The King's Speech. I love British royalty movies. We watched The Other Boleyn Girl last weekend. Enjoy the rest of your movies and I can't wait to see your opinions.
- Sunday, January 23, 2011 at 10:22:00 PM PST
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I haven't been to the cinema in months, but you've pretty much mentioned every film that I'd like to go and see! :)
- Monday, January 24, 2011 at 2:26:00 PM PST
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Thank you for the reviews! My husband prefers to watch the movies at home - however you have affirmed my suspicions- looks like there are several worth nudging him out of his easy chair for "real" dates!
- Monday, January 24, 2011 at 4:58:00 PM PST
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Oh I love reading what you have to say about the movies up for the awards. You are always so spot on too. I havent seen any of them yet although they are all out but I have plans in the next few weeks to do just that. I think you will have lots more to watch given the Oscars are coming up. Did you ever see the one with Nicole Kidman in it - Rabbit Hole. I just wondered what it might be like. I dont like her as an actress as much as I do Cate Blanchett but she is meant to be very good in this. Take Care xx
- Monday, January 24, 2011 at 10:02:00 PM PST
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Oh, lucky you! I can't wait to see The King's Speech - I'm a huge Colin and Helena fan, and my sisters who have seen it have absolutely adored it.
Your analyses of these films are so good, dear Naomi. They should just take your word for it and forgo all the complications!- Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at 8:09:00 PM PST
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Just great, Naomi, that all these movies are delivered to your house! I would love to see the talented Jeff Bridges.
Enjoy, my dear Naomi!- Thursday, January 27, 2011 at 4:26:00 AM PST
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You're the second person I know who has seen True Grit and you're also the second person who has said that it's good. I guess I'll put aside my general disdain for when good movies are remade and watch it. I'm going to try really hard to not see John Wayne on the screen!
- Thursday, January 27, 2011 at 7:27:00 AM PST
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Glad to read your take on these films. FWIW in "The King's Speech" the Speech Therapist actions accurately represented the state of the science/art at the time. I, too, enjoyed the movie -- a classic British approach to story-telling, but then it was about the British, wasn't it.
Liked "Social Network" too. Haven't seen "Secretariat."- Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at 2:46:00 AM PST
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