Who: Bill
What: True Grit
Where: Turner Classic Movies
Why: A classic John Wayne movie
No performer defined the western film genre better than John Wayne. One of his most defining performances is the character Rooster Cogburn in 1969's True Grit, which earned Wayne his only Oscar.
When her father Frank Ross is murdered, young Mattie (Kim Darby) embarks on a search to find his killer. She is smart, tough and emboldened with, well, "true grit". On her quest, she learns of the aging, tough and gritty U.S. Marshall named Cogburn. Mattie seeks his assistance, but Cogburn has doubts. Nonetheless, Mattie's determination and stubbornness impresses Cogburn who finds that Mattie reminds him a lot about himself. Also looking for Ross's killer is a Texas Ranger named Le Boeuf (Glen Campbell), who joins Cogburn and Mattie. He also hopes to collect a reward for capturing the outlaw named Tom Chaney (Jeff Corey), who had earlier killed a Texas Senator.
John Wayne excels as Rooster Cogburn in all the character's irritable, hard-drinking, unclean, patch-wearing, anti-hero glory. You simply DON'T MESS with Cogburn. He is one tough SOB. Period. This was a tailor-made role for Wayne, then at the pinnacle of an extremely successful career. Adding credibility to their roles are Kim Darby and Glen Campbell. Darby continues to occasionally appear in movies and on television as well as teach acting classes. Campbell of course is a popular Grammy-winning country singer and its been said that Wayne personally selected him for the part of La Boeuf. He also sings the film's title song. Other performers of note include Robert Duvall as Lucky Ned Pepper, Dennis Hopper as Moon, and John Fiedler as a lawyer named Daggett, whom Mattie references throughout the story.
Wayne would return to play Cogburn in 1975's aptly titled Rooster Cogburn with Katharine Hepburn. A TV movie with Warren Oates as Cogburn titled True Grit: A Further Adventure would follow in 1978, and in 2009 it was announced that Joel and Ethan Cohen are planning a remake of the original movie which would more closely follow the novel upon which it was based.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot
Who:Bill & Melanie
What:Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot
Where:Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center
Why: Colonial Williamsburg was one of our road trip stops.
Melanie and I recently returned from a two week road trip up and down the east coast. One of our visits was to Colonial Williamsburg where we spent a leisurely afternoon walking through the restored city, which served as Virginia's capital between 1699 and 1780. Before doing so, we stopped at the visitor center. In their large theater, an orientation film has been shown several times a day continuously since 1957. Thus, Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot is the longest running motion picture in history.
The film is a dramatization of events in Williamsburg leading up to the time of American Independence. The story is told from the viewpoint of a fictional man named John Fry (played by Jack Lord), who does interact with real individuals such as Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, George Washington and others. For what is basically a introduction to Colonial Williamsburg, the movie boasts some outstanding production values starting with being filmed in and around the historical area itself. Co-produced with Paramount Pictures, the 40 minute presentation also includes full color wide-screen Vista Vision and an early use of stereo surround sound-- all very high tech for the 1950's and thanks to recent complete restoration efforts, holds up great for continued showings in the 21st century. Behind the scenes, director George Seaton won an Oscar for his work directing the original Miracle on 34th Street, and composer Bernard Herrmann worked with Alfred Hitchcock on numerous films including most famously Psycho. In front of the camera, Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot marks the first starring role for Jack Lord. In 1968, he would begin a 12-year run as detective Steve McGarrett in Hawaii Five-O.
Currently, the only ways to see this movie is by visiting the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center or to purchase the DVD from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
What:Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot
Where:Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center
Why: Colonial Williamsburg was one of our road trip stops.
Melanie and I recently returned from a two week road trip up and down the east coast. One of our visits was to Colonial Williamsburg where we spent a leisurely afternoon walking through the restored city, which served as Virginia's capital between 1699 and 1780. Before doing so, we stopped at the visitor center. In their large theater, an orientation film has been shown several times a day continuously since 1957. Thus, Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot is the longest running motion picture in history.
The film is a dramatization of events in Williamsburg leading up to the time of American Independence. The story is told from the viewpoint of a fictional man named John Fry (played by Jack Lord), who does interact with real individuals such as Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, George Washington and others. For what is basically a introduction to Colonial Williamsburg, the movie boasts some outstanding production values starting with being filmed in and around the historical area itself. Co-produced with Paramount Pictures, the 40 minute presentation also includes full color wide-screen Vista Vision and an early use of stereo surround sound-- all very high tech for the 1950's and thanks to recent complete restoration efforts, holds up great for continued showings in the 21st century. Behind the scenes, director George Seaton won an Oscar for his work directing the original Miracle on 34th Street, and composer Bernard Herrmann worked with Alfred Hitchcock on numerous films including most famously Psycho. In front of the camera, Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot marks the first starring role for Jack Lord. In 1968, he would begin a 12-year run as detective Steve McGarrett in Hawaii Five-O.
Currently, the only ways to see this movie is by visiting the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center or to purchase the DVD from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
The Soloist
Who: Liz
What: The Soloist
Where: my living room
Why: I thought it looked interesting
I found this movie to be a little slow, but a lovely story of how sometimes we try to help someone and we take it too far. Robert Downey JR plays a columnist for the LA Times who runs into a homeless man one day outside the office playing a violin. Jamie Foxx does a fabulous job portraying the homeless man who has some mental issues. He portrayed Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, and Downey, JR played Steve Lopez, I believe this is a true story.
Nathaniel grew up playing the cello and was so good, he ended up going to Julliard. He had to drop out though, due to his mental issues. The story doesn’t really go into how he became mentally challenged, but it doesn’t really matter.
Downey gets very involved with him. He writes a column about him and a woman writes in and donates her old cello to him. (The violin wasn't really his instrument of choice). But since the cello is a pretty nice instrument and valuable, Mr Lopez feels that he should not be living on the street and brings him to a homeless shelter to live. He gets a conductor to come listen to him and really goes all out for the guy. Some things happen in the relationship and in the end, he learns that he really just needs to be Nathaniel’s friend.
There was a lot of music in this movie, so if you are a fan of Beethoven and Bach, you will enjoy it. I enjoy a true story and so I would recommend this film.
What: The Soloist
Where: my living room
Why: I thought it looked interesting
I found this movie to be a little slow, but a lovely story of how sometimes we try to help someone and we take it too far. Robert Downey JR plays a columnist for the LA Times who runs into a homeless man one day outside the office playing a violin. Jamie Foxx does a fabulous job portraying the homeless man who has some mental issues. He portrayed Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, and Downey, JR played Steve Lopez, I believe this is a true story.
Nathaniel grew up playing the cello and was so good, he ended up going to Julliard. He had to drop out though, due to his mental issues. The story doesn’t really go into how he became mentally challenged, but it doesn’t really matter.
Downey gets very involved with him. He writes a column about him and a woman writes in and donates her old cello to him. (The violin wasn't really his instrument of choice). But since the cello is a pretty nice instrument and valuable, Mr Lopez feels that he should not be living on the street and brings him to a homeless shelter to live. He gets a conductor to come listen to him and really goes all out for the guy. Some things happen in the relationship and in the end, he learns that he really just needs to be Nathaniel’s friend.
There was a lot of music in this movie, so if you are a fan of Beethoven and Bach, you will enjoy it. I enjoy a true story and so I would recommend this film.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Killer View
Who: Amber
What: Killer View
Where: @ work
Why: 2nd in a sequence of books
Killer View is book number 2 in a (so far) 3 part series feauring Idaho Sherrif Walt Flemming by Ridley Pearson.
It's the middle of winter, it's ice cold, and the snow is over 6" thick in Idaho. When Walt gets a frantic 911 call in the middle of the night, he takes his Deputy (who happens to be sleeping with his ex-wife) and Randy Aker (a friend) out to the mountains to find a missing skiier. They split up, but the skiier is nowhere to be found, but his Randy turns up dead.
By morning, Randy's brother, Mark has been kidnapped.
Time is not on Mark's side. It's freezing and Mark has diabetes. Walt needs to find Mark, figure out what happend to Randy, and investigate a rape of a local woman. Then throw in an odd situation with ranchers burning most of their sheep. Is there a sheep version of Mad-Cow disease, or is there something wrong with their water source?
Of course, all 4 of these things (murder, kidnapping, rape, sheep) are related, and it's up to Walt, his deputy (who is sleeping with his ex-wife ... did I mention that already? Because Walt is thrilled with this discovery!), and the sherrif's photographer Fiona, who Walt has eyes for to figure it all out. Throw in an angry bear and you've got your self a murder/kidnapping mystery!
Now I need to head to the library to get the 3rd book in the series, which I believe is called Killer Summer.
What: Killer View
Where: @ work
Why: 2nd in a sequence of books
Killer View is book number 2 in a (so far) 3 part series feauring Idaho Sherrif Walt Flemming by Ridley Pearson.
It's the middle of winter, it's ice cold, and the snow is over 6" thick in Idaho. When Walt gets a frantic 911 call in the middle of the night, he takes his Deputy (who happens to be sleeping with his ex-wife) and Randy Aker (a friend) out to the mountains to find a missing skiier. They split up, but the skiier is nowhere to be found, but his Randy turns up dead.
By morning, Randy's brother, Mark has been kidnapped.
Time is not on Mark's side. It's freezing and Mark has diabetes. Walt needs to find Mark, figure out what happend to Randy, and investigate a rape of a local woman. Then throw in an odd situation with ranchers burning most of their sheep. Is there a sheep version of Mad-Cow disease, or is there something wrong with their water source?
Of course, all 4 of these things (murder, kidnapping, rape, sheep) are related, and it's up to Walt, his deputy (who is sleeping with his ex-wife ... did I mention that already? Because Walt is thrilled with this discovery!), and the sherrif's photographer Fiona, who Walt has eyes for to figure it all out. Throw in an angry bear and you've got your self a murder/kidnapping mystery!
Now I need to head to the library to get the 3rd book in the series, which I believe is called Killer Summer.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Killer Weekend
Who: Amber
What: Killer Weekend, by: Ridley Pearsib
Where: at work
Why: Jonathan recommended it
Killer Weekend is the first book in a semi-series by Ridley Pearson. I say "semi" series, because you don't really have to read all the books to know what is going on. All the books use the same characters, but the events of one book don't really translate to the other book.
Killer Weekend is about an Idoho sheriff named Walt. The story starts 6 years ago with Walt saving the life of a young lawyer , Liz Shatler. Flash forward 6 years, and that young lawyer is now a District Attorney, and she's planning to announce herself as a presidential candidate.
Of course, with any presidential candidate announcement party, security will be tight, and people will be out to get them. Such is the case with Liz. Somebody is out to get her, and he's a crafty dude.
It all starts with a blind man, who's just pretending to be blind. He's really a hit man, who's got the perfect alibi for the crime he's about to attempt ... he's blind! He's a master of disguise. He's got 2 separate rooms at the hotel, he's got 2 separate disguises, he's even got contacts that literally blind him, so he's not "playing" blind, he really is blind.
His plan is simple ... plant a bomb inside his seeing eye dog (which isn't really a seeing eye dog in the first place). The dog will be able to get straight thru security, and the dog won't be denied since a blind man must have his dog. Perfect plan ... right?
Not with crafty Walt Flemming putting all the pieces together. This disguise master isn't working alone. Who in the small Idaho town is helping him?
I enjoyed this book much better than it's 'sequel', Killer View. This book took place over the course of 3 short days (a weekend - hence the name!), so it was a quick moving book full of action.
What: Killer Weekend, by: Ridley Pearsib
Where: at work
Why: Jonathan recommended it
Killer Weekend is the first book in a semi-series by Ridley Pearson. I say "semi" series, because you don't really have to read all the books to know what is going on. All the books use the same characters, but the events of one book don't really translate to the other book.
Killer Weekend is about an Idoho sheriff named Walt. The story starts 6 years ago with Walt saving the life of a young lawyer , Liz Shatler. Flash forward 6 years, and that young lawyer is now a District Attorney, and she's planning to announce herself as a presidential candidate.
Of course, with any presidential candidate announcement party, security will be tight, and people will be out to get them. Such is the case with Liz. Somebody is out to get her, and he's a crafty dude.
It all starts with a blind man, who's just pretending to be blind. He's really a hit man, who's got the perfect alibi for the crime he's about to attempt ... he's blind! He's a master of disguise. He's got 2 separate rooms at the hotel, he's got 2 separate disguises, he's even got contacts that literally blind him, so he's not "playing" blind, he really is blind.
His plan is simple ... plant a bomb inside his seeing eye dog (which isn't really a seeing eye dog in the first place). The dog will be able to get straight thru security, and the dog won't be denied since a blind man must have his dog. Perfect plan ... right?
Not with crafty Walt Flemming putting all the pieces together. This disguise master isn't working alone. Who in the small Idaho town is helping him?
I enjoyed this book much better than it's 'sequel', Killer View. This book took place over the course of 3 short days (a weekend - hence the name!), so it was a quick moving book full of action.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Zathura
Who: Amber & Jonathan
What: Zathura
Where: on cable
Why: I've never seen it
I really enjoyed Zathura. It's basically the movie Jumanji, but in space, but it was still good.
The movie features 2 brothers, a 6 year old and a 10 year old. Of course, the 6 year old wants to play with the 10 year old, but the 10 year way too cool for that. He's in 4th grade and has a girlfriend for crying out loud!
As the 6 year old goes in the basement (of an old house his divorced father just bought) he finds the board game of Zathura (nobody saw that coming huh?). The tin game is obviously from the '50s or something, but everything is automatic. He presses a button to "spin", and a card shoots out of the game. "Watch out for meteors". Since the 6 year old can't really read, he asks his brother for help reading the card. All of a sudden, meteors are crashing thru the roof and falling all over the living room. The boys hide in the fireplace, and after a couple minutes, the living room is totally trashed, but the shower is over.
Well, now the 10 year old has been "forced" into the game. He reads the instructions and realizes that if they finish the game, everything will go back to normal. Thank goodness, b/c the living room is totally trashed and their dad ran out for a moment!
Crazy thing after crazy thing happens as the boys keep playing. By now their house is floating in outer space, aliens are about to board their 'house', and their older sister (the girl from Twilight) is frozen in a cryogenic state.
Thankfully, an astronaut (Dax Sheppard) shows up at their floating house to help with the alien problem. Dax the astronaut also had an alternative motive for being there. I won't ruin the surprise for you, but it didn't make a whole lot of logical sense, but it was still kind-of sweet.
Of course, they manage to get out of the game and the brother learn to work together, but how they get to the end game is pretty cool. Neat space effects! I highly recommend it!
What: Zathura
Where: on cable
Why: I've never seen it
I really enjoyed Zathura. It's basically the movie Jumanji, but in space, but it was still good.
The movie features 2 brothers, a 6 year old and a 10 year old. Of course, the 6 year old wants to play with the 10 year old, but the 10 year way too cool for that. He's in 4th grade and has a girlfriend for crying out loud!
As the 6 year old goes in the basement (of an old house his divorced father just bought) he finds the board game of Zathura (nobody saw that coming huh?). The tin game is obviously from the '50s or something, but everything is automatic. He presses a button to "spin", and a card shoots out of the game. "Watch out for meteors". Since the 6 year old can't really read, he asks his brother for help reading the card. All of a sudden, meteors are crashing thru the roof and falling all over the living room. The boys hide in the fireplace, and after a couple minutes, the living room is totally trashed, but the shower is over.
Well, now the 10 year old has been "forced" into the game. He reads the instructions and realizes that if they finish the game, everything will go back to normal. Thank goodness, b/c the living room is totally trashed and their dad ran out for a moment!
Crazy thing after crazy thing happens as the boys keep playing. By now their house is floating in outer space, aliens are about to board their 'house', and their older sister (the girl from Twilight) is frozen in a cryogenic state.
Thankfully, an astronaut (Dax Sheppard) shows up at their floating house to help with the alien problem. Dax the astronaut also had an alternative motive for being there. I won't ruin the surprise for you, but it didn't make a whole lot of logical sense, but it was still kind-of sweet.
Of course, they manage to get out of the game and the brother learn to work together, but how they get to the end game is pretty cool. Neat space effects! I highly recommend it!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj
Who: Amber & Jonathan
What: Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj
Where: on cable
Why: Kal Penn is normally funny
Oh wow - this movie was not very good. It was a cookie cutter movie you've seen 100 times. But if you enjoy British accents, that might be a good excuse to check it out.
If you remember Van Wilder, the hilarious movie staring Ryan Reynolds and Tara Reid, you might remember Van's sidekick Taj. Actually, you probably don't remember him, because he was barely in the movie at all. When Van Wilder came out, Kal Penn (probably best known for his Harold and Kumar roles) was a no-name actor. But when he became immensely popular, he decided to make this piece of junk film.
Taj is a graduate student/teacher at some English University. His father also attended this university, so he's pumped to pick up where his pimp father left off. First stop - super awesome fraternity. In cookie cutter format, the frat boys are total jerks and kick Taj and his bull dog out.
His only option is 'the barn', a building full of misfits (the nerd, the guy who doesn't talk, the hot girl (I'm not sure why she's a misfit) and a crazy Scottish soccer fan. Taj teaches the kids about self respect and standing up for yourself … blah, blah, blah. Of course, they throw a massive party and all the stuffing English people attend, which makes the snobby fraternity crazy mad!
Did I mention there is also a university wide competition to win 'The Cup"? Seriously, this movie is Revenge of the Nerds all over again.
In typical cookie cutter format, Taj steals a girl away from the snobby frat (Revenge of the Nerds again!), the frat boys play a prank on Taj to make the girl mad at him, blah, blah, blah. You've seen and heard all this before.
What: Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj
Where: on cable
Why: Kal Penn is normally funny
Oh wow - this movie was not very good. It was a cookie cutter movie you've seen 100 times. But if you enjoy British accents, that might be a good excuse to check it out.
If you remember Van Wilder, the hilarious movie staring Ryan Reynolds and Tara Reid, you might remember Van's sidekick Taj. Actually, you probably don't remember him, because he was barely in the movie at all. When Van Wilder came out, Kal Penn (probably best known for his Harold and Kumar roles) was a no-name actor. But when he became immensely popular, he decided to make this piece of junk film.
Taj is a graduate student/teacher at some English University. His father also attended this university, so he's pumped to pick up where his pimp father left off. First stop - super awesome fraternity. In cookie cutter format, the frat boys are total jerks and kick Taj and his bull dog out.
His only option is 'the barn', a building full of misfits (the nerd, the guy who doesn't talk, the hot girl (I'm not sure why she's a misfit) and a crazy Scottish soccer fan. Taj teaches the kids about self respect and standing up for yourself … blah, blah, blah. Of course, they throw a massive party and all the stuffing English people attend, which makes the snobby fraternity crazy mad!
Did I mention there is also a university wide competition to win 'The Cup"? Seriously, this movie is Revenge of the Nerds all over again.
In typical cookie cutter format, Taj steals a girl away from the snobby frat (Revenge of the Nerds again!), the frat boys play a prank on Taj to make the girl mad at him, blah, blah, blah. You've seen and heard all this before.
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