Sometimes I think we have it pretty rough in the present day what with Covid and all . But I’m glad I’m not living in 1883. Rudimentary birth control- Rampant disease – The role of women was much more limited – travel across country was on horse or wagon train – Bandits and Native Americans after those who had a lot to deal with just to cross a river safely. Sam Elliot is very very good as the melancholic wagon train master – I also like Tim McGraw and Faith Hill and Isabel May. Isabel does a very good job of showing a budding woman with a mind of her own who can wrangle cattle with the best of them.
Question- What makes her think she can write film reviews?? A pretty long time ago I was a theatre major at the University of Minnesota. and managed to graduate Magna Cum Laude. I took course work in acting, directing , scene design, tv acting, and visual arts. I had an English minor. I guess if I had to do it again I would have worked to get a masters of fine arts in theatre and minor in studio art. I also would have taken more acting and directing classes. In Minneapolis I designed sets for a redesigned bicycle shop- little theater – the Typist and the Tiger; Fortune and Men’s Eyes, and Loot. There was a lot of painting of walls on the set – small as the stage was. The theatre was called The Cricket Theatre.
If there’s one thing I know – I am versed in theatre history- thanks to Dr. Arthur Ballet- and his Theater Backgrounds class – a class for graduate students. My moniker for this class was Ballet’s Read ‘Em Quick- starting with the Greeks and ending with the present day. 5 plays had to be read every week and a quick analysis handed in every week. I was still an undergrad. Graduate students had more time for that.
Other professors of note – H Wesley Balk for Direction-Wendel Josal for Scene Design.
As you can probably tell – these memories are precious to me.
I haven’t done much in theatre in recent years, but I have explored graphic design and glass bead making and jewelry design.
My criteria for what I will review is:
1.The film/series must move me.
2.The film/series must have characters that involve me and grow.
Kenneth Branagh is a brilliant director. And as I’ve said before, he’s a welcome visitor in my teepee. (Old Ladies Joke). He has done so much – acting, directing, Shakespeare that communicates. Evidentally he appears to have grown up in Belfast , Northern Ireland in the time of the “Troubles”. But this is not all violence and gore. There is definitely some of that. .But there is plenty of comic relief. It comes across as real life. Judi Dench is incredibly good as Grandma. And Grandpa was also very warmly portrayed.
And I must say I love the Irish brogue – wee this and wee that. Isn’t anything large? Well I was hugely entertained – it’s in black and white but it didn’t seem to be wrong. See it!
The young actor who portrays him growing up is also brilliant. This movie just rings true. Even in the worst of times there are times of relief with humor and high jinks.
I thought the acting in “scenes from a marriage” was almost too painful to watch -but I must say the last 2 episodes of the “Morning Show” were definitely of that character. It hit really close to home. The death of the past announcer felt like a death in the family. Jennifer Aniston is very skilled at drawing the viewer in to her problems and I mean the last episode with Aniston’s character talking directly to the audience roasting from a fever that was Covid 19 – well, it left me speechless. Not too many shows are focusing on the Pandemic – but this one really dealt with it most effectively.
I love Billy Crystal…. But we all are getting on in years. There are lots of laugh out loud moments in this film about the memory loss of a comedy writer. Tiffany Haddish deserves a shout out as the person who agrees to be his caregiver and she is a breath of fresh air. Tune in , you will be glad you did.
It’s getting to be that time of year again. The medallion is my design and is bead woven. There is a number of Swarovski crystals in this piece.16 inch choker with sterling silver toggle clasp . The medallion loosely reminds me of mistletoe . Not a flashy piece , but a simply elegant one
Mistletoe choker
beadwoven medalliion choker with Swarovski crystals and vintage beads in the strap
For the horsewoman/cowgirl. There is nice turquoise and pipestone in the strap- 22 inches. $40.00 + shipping. People outside of the US – check with me on shipping cost.
Jake Gyllenhaal – part of a gifted acting family – deserves an Oscar nomination for this performance. There are many twists and turns in this script and a growing crescendo of angst. He is definitely up to the task. Fasten your seat belts! He plays a cop who answers 911 calls and gets really caught up in one call that takes place during an LA fire emergency.
The first thing that comes to mind is that this is extremely well acted and directed. It is so much “all there” that it is almost too painful to watch. I’m sure that it was exhausting for the actors to make. It is refreshing to see work like this that captures the elements of the original version that sheds glimmers of new light on the piece. I must say that I felt more removed from the first version – sort of like a train wreck that you’re not on. This version involves you more.
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