Movies, Mom & Me

• Who's watched:  M & G, many times
• Mentions:  *1* *2* *3* *4* *5* *6* *7* *8* *9* *10*
• 
  Commentary:  We both remain fascinated with this show and continue to watch it, and discuss it while watching it, regularly. As you can read in the mentions, we have eccentric opinions about and reactions to this show.
  Update 11/17/2021:  This post was originally published February 6, 2005. It was one of the accidental deletions that occurred, which is covered in this post.
  Update 5/18/2022:  Yes, I continue to watch this show. I am, in fact, working my way through, oh, I don't know, my 678th viewing? I can't explain why. I think, partly, it's that the episodes are a half hour and a great way to unwind right after I've tucked myself in, before I go to sleep. The acting is good. The cast is always varied. The story lines meander from dead (literally) serious to hilarious. The characterizations are on point. It's not a show to learn from, but it is a show that provides relaxation with a light touch. These people, all of them, actors, writers and crew, knew what they were doing.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Sarah Jessica Parker	Carrie Bradshaw	Kim Cattrall	Samantha Jones	Kristin Davis	Charlotte York	Cynthia Nixon	Miranda Hobbes
  Willie Garson	Stanford Blatch	Lynn Cohen	Magda	Chris Noth	Mr. Big	Frances Sternhagen	Bunny MacDougal
  Kyle MacLachlan	Trey MacDougal	Anne Meara	Mary Brady	Mikhail Baryshnikov	Aleksandr Petrovsky	Bridget Moynahan	Natasha

  
    I have two copies of Season 3.
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1998-2004
    Episodes directed by several people. Lots of female directors in the first seasons although not approaching half; less and less as the seasons progressed.

Labels: cynthia-nixon, dramedy2, erotic, female-director2, popcorn-and-soda6, shared-favorite, TV3, women's-movie1

# posted by gail @ 15:41    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Noémie Merlant	Marianne	Adèle Haenel	Héloïse	Luàna Bajrami	Sophie	Valeria Golino	The Countess

  
    Here is the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
    Release Date: 2019
    Directed by Céline Sciamma.

Labels: §1, Criterion2, dramaD, female-director2, historical4, period6, romance4

# posted by gail @ 16:53    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    Once again, a loaded list over at RogerEbert.com when pulling a search on this movie, including an interview with Greta Gerwig.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Saoirse Ronan	Christine MacPherson	Laurie Metcalf	Marion MacPherson	Tracy Letts	Larry MacPherson	Lucas Hedges	Daniel O'Neill
  Timothée Chalamet	Kyle Scheible	Beanie Feldstein	Julianne Steffans	Lois Smith	Sister Sarah Joan	Stephen McKinley Henderson	Father Leviatch
  Odeya Rush	Jenna Walton	Jordan Rodrigues	Miguel MacPherson	Marielle Scott	Shelly Yuhan	Jake McDorman	Mr. Bruno

  
    Here is the Wikipedia write-up on this movie.
    Release Date: 2017
    Directed by Greta Gerwig.

Labels: §2, A24, coming-of-age1, dramedy1, female-director2, greta-gerwig, laurie-metcalf, lois-smith, saoirse-ronan

# posted by gail @ 14:01    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under Construction.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Anaïs Reboux	Anaïs Pingot	Roxane Mesquida	Elena Pingot	Libero De Rienzo	Fernando	Arsinée Khanjian	Mrs. Pingot
  Romain Goupil	François Pingot	Laura Betti	Fernando's Mother	Albert Goldberg	The Killer	Claude Sésé	Police Officer

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
    Release Date: 2001
    Directed by Catherine Breillat.

Labels: §, coming-of-age1, Criterion1, drama1, female-director2, sexual

# posted by gail @ 19:20    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Brady Jandreau	Brady Blackburn	Tim Jandreau	Wayne Blackburn	Lilly Jandreau	Lily Blackburn	Cat Clifford	Cat Clifford
  Terri Dawn Pourier	Terri Dawn Pourier	Lane Scott	Lane Scott	Tanner Langdeau	Tanner Langdeau	James Calhoon	James Calhoon

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of this movie.
    Release Date: 2017
    Directed by Chloé Zhao.

Labels: §1, female-director2, western

# posted by gail @ 15:07    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    Roger Ebert wrote two reviews of this film two days apart, so impressed was he with it. His first is linked in the title of this post. This first post notes, at the end, that it was revised on 7/11/09, a day after his second review. Here is his second review. The end of this review contains lots of dead links to supplemental material Ebert considered important. Most (if not all, by now) of them are dead, so, I am going to attempt to ressurect them. If my attempts succeed, hopefully, they'll be around for awhile.
  Article Links in Context:
    1) "My headline is from Brian Turner's poem, 'The Hurt Locker'."
    2) "James Cameron discusses "The Hurt Locker" with David Poland"
    3) "How 'The Hurt Locker' opens"
    4) "My (Roger Ebert's) review of Kathryn Bigelow's great 1995 sci-fi thriller: 'Strange Days'"
    5) "The opening scene of 'Strange Days.'. (NSFW; f-bombs)" - Sorry, dear reader, couldn't find a video of the full opening scene, unless it was attached to the full movie, and you know how fast movies disappear on free streaming services. Oh well. Four out of five ain't bad. Chances are, some, if not all, of the links above will break in a short period of time, anyway. It was fun to try.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Jeremy Renner	Sgt. 1st Cl. William James	Anthony Mackie	Sgt. J. T. Sanborn	Brian Geraghty	Spec. Owen Eldridge	Guy Pearce	Stf. Sgt. Matthew Thompson
  Christian Camargo	Lt. Cl. John Cambridge	David Morse	Cl. Reed	Ralph Fiennes	Private Military Leader	Evangeline Lilly	Connie James
  Christopher Sayegh	Beckham	Malcolm Barrett	Sgt. Foster	Sam Spruell	Contractor Charlie	Suhail Dabbach	Suicide Bomber

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up on this movie.
    Release Date: 2008
    Directed by Kathryn Bigelow.

Labels: §2, david-morse, female-director2, guy-pearce, war2

# posted by gail @ 15:04    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  None
• 
  Commentary:  Yes, this is yet another jesus dvd that is a Jesus movie. We rented it first. For some unknown reason, I had the idea that maybe we had enough Jesus movies for Mom and she'd consider this one overkill, but I was wrong, which is why I purchased it for her. We've watched it several times.
    I appreciate it for the explanation it contains of certain cultural customs to which members of "The Holy Family" would have been obligated, but, more than this, some of the oblique symbology of the birth of Jesus is explained, such as the signficance of the gifts received from "the wise men". There is strong enough emphasis on the importance of the visiting of the shepherds that I finally understood this aspect of the Jesus Nativity Story. And, the parallel story of Elizabeth and Zechariah is well woven into the presentation.
    My mother, of course, is enthralled with the movie. The more apparently realistic Bible movies are, the more she likes them. This one rang a bell for her. She even enjoyed the offhand comic relief of the three wise men.
    I may have mentioned this before: I'm not Christian, never have been, actually, even though I was raised in what would be considered a typical Christian household of the 50's and 60's, which is to say, only mildly religious but with a strong emphasis on morality and ethics, not necessarily connected to but often echoing Christianity in particular. Because my mother is deeply spiritual, though, and uses Christianity as her spiritual touchstone (and, for a few other reasons, as well), I spent a fair amount of time (still do, in fact) investigating and thinking about Christianity. I've been at the point, for some years, where I firmly doubt the existence of the historical Jesus as presented in Christianity (even the Christian gospels hint that the Jesus they present never existed) but, because much of the symbology and beliefs are ubiquitous in many theistic and nontheistic religious doctrines and practice, the entire area of spirituality bounded by religion fascinates me and Christianity, being the first religion to which I was introduced, thus the one with which I am most familiar, is a good jumping off point for me. This movie, in particular, is a succinct reminder of the power of the Jesus story, Jesus mythology and Christian dedication. As well, while I was absorbing Elizabeth's story alongside Mary's, I was suddenly struck by the importance of the mothers of gods, in stories such as these, always being in some way barren, or, in the case of the births of great leaders of a theistic religion, the birth itself or the baby being threatened, thus the birth of the god or the leader is usually (except, for instance, in the case of Abram/Abraham), somehow miraculous. I don't know why I never before paid attention to this.
    Soon after we watched this movie a few times and had some stimulating conversations about Christianity in particular and spirituality in general, I decided to rent The God Who Wasn't There so Mom could get a better idea of why Christianity interests me but doesn't cause me to "fall on [my] knees". No, this isn't a movie we'll be purchasing. I was familiar with most of the stuff in it when I originally saw it and don't need it as a resource. But, Mom found this movie interesting and worthy of discussion, although it didn't sway her belief in her religion. I didn't expect this. Even those of us who aren't swayed by beliefs in gods and the ritual detail of god centered religions often have belief systems that make no rational sense but hold sway over us, anyway. At any rate, something I realized when we discussed spirituality and religion from the point of view of The God Who Wasn't There is that Mom is firmly centered in life-here-and-now rather than death-in-the-sweet-by-and-by. This, I think, is the important difference between her spirituality and that of many people who consider and call themselves Christians.
    The Nativity Story is not nearly as spiritually powerful for me as, say, The Little Buddha, for instance, but it's provocative, nonetheless, and I can count on it to trigger interesting discussions about religion and spirituality between my mother and me.
    Well, well, well. I found loads of Christian reviewers covering this movie, usually positively (if there was any negativity at all in these reviews, it was a minor haggle over biblical representation of the story vs. this movie's representation), but I was able to find only two secular critics weighing in. Of those, I chose the, well, the longest, to connect to the title of this post. It was also the better of the two I found, and the kinder. I think what most secular critics wanted was more of a The Last Temptation of the Christ presentation. Although I'm a secularist, myself, I notice that most secularists who go to the movies are allergic to any religious presentation even when it is sincere and subtle. Guys, this story is well acted by some extraordinary actors, well directed, well filmed and well told. It's not trying to convert you. It's just telling an old, old story. Relax. It's not going to jump into the theater (or your living room) and strangle you until you become Christian.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Keisha Castle-Hughes	Mary	Oscar Isaac	Joseph	Hiam Abbass	Anna	Shaun Toub	Joachim
  Shohreh Aghdashloo	Elizabeth	Stanley Townsend	Zechariah	Ciarán Hinds	Herod the Great	Alexander Siddig	Angel Gabriel

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2006
    Directed by Catherine Hardwicke.

Labels: bible-movies1, Christmas, drama7, female-director2, jesus-dvds, mom-favorite1, oscar-isaac, period3, religion1, spiritual1

# posted by gail @ 12:28    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  None
• 
  Commentary:  I rented this movie for us out of curiosity. We both we so charmed by it that we decided, after watching the rental a second time in as many days, to purchase it. I was surprised at how much Mom enjoyed it. From the little I knew about it I thought I would love it and Mom would find it boring, so her interest in the movie surprised me. It's one of those movies I consider completely perfect and, of course, it features Toni Colette. It's easy for me to like movies in which she's featured. Even if the movie is a bomb (and, I have yet to consider one of the movies in which she's featured a bomb, although there are some that I wouldn't add to our collection, like In Her Shoes, which is pleasant enough but not something I'd seek to watch again), I always enjoy her performances.
    Mom was, by the way, astonished at the girls' beauty pageant. "Something's not right about that," she said. I was pleased that she was struck by this.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Greg Kinnear	Richard Hoover	Steve Carell	Dr. Frank Ginsberg	Toni Collette	Sheryl Hoover	Paul Dano	Dwayne Hoover
  Abigail Breslin	Olive Hoover	Alan Arkin	Edwin Hoover	Bryan Cranston	Stan Grossman	Dean Norris	State Trooper McCleary

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2006
    Directed by Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris.

Labels: female-director2, road-movie, satire1, shared-favorite, toni-collette

# posted by gail @ 12:38    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  None
• 
  Commentary:  This is the season that contains one of my favorite story-in-a-stories, "The Warrior and the Stallion" told in the episode "A Bolt from the Blue", episode #14 in this season, to which I've linked the title, above. The story is contained in a blog post online.
    For a table of recurring actors/characters, see this post.
    Here is the list of episodes for the 5th season.
    Release Date: 1993-1994
    Directed by several people, including one woman who directed one episode.

Labels: dramedy2, female-director2, shared-favorite, TV2

# posted by gail @ 11:40    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  None
• 
  Commentary:  This is strictly a "Mom" movie. She saw a couple of ads on TV after the video was released and was mesmerized by the dance sequence used, in which Antonio Bandaras demonstrates what an impeccable dance relationship can be by doing a sizzling tango with a professional dancer. So, when I saw the movie for sale, I got it. Mom loves it, and, as is typical for her, she's especially fond of the dance class venue, a high school detention class full of unruly kids. I like watching some of the dance sequences but, for the most part, this is a forgettable dance movie for me, which is unusual because I usually love dance movies of all kinds. We'll keep it, though, as it speaks to Mom on a couple of levels. It has become one of those "Now, what?" movies, useful when I am having trouble keeping Mom from sneaking in for a nap.
  Update 7/31/21:  Almost needless to say, Mom's dead and I no longer have this movie.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Antonio Banderas	Pierre Dulaine	Alfre Woodard	Augustine James	John Ortiz	Joseph Temple	Many Young Actors	Playing Student Dancers

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2006
    Directed by Liz Friedlander.

Labels: dance, drama8, female-director2, mom-favorite1

# posted by gail @ 13:28    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• 
  Mentions:  *1*
• Commentary:  The above comment in the "Mentions" pretty much says it all, from which I'll take the liberty of quoting:  Last night, Mom rearose as I was about 10 minutes into watching Japanese Story. This is one of those movies I rented, when it first came out on DVD, strictly on the strength of Toni Collette being in the cast. I fell so in love with the movie that I have continued to think of it since. Mom didn't watch it at that time. When I ran across a barely used (probably only watched once), cheap copy of it some days ago when turning in movies for credit at my favorite get-rid-of-DVDs-you-don't-want place, I snatched it using some of my accumulated credit. When Mom joined me last night, I told her what I was doing and restarted the movie. Although she expressed interest, I expected that at a point after about 15 minutes of watching the movie she'd become bored and I'd stop it for viewing at another alone-time. I was wrong. She was riveted, too. When the movie ended, she surprised me by saying, as the credits rolled, "I really enjoyed that! Let's buy that movie. I'd like to see it again."
    We discussed it, mostly the landscape, about which Mom commented, more than a few times during the movie, "Where is this? Australia? We should move to Australia," despite me reminding her that we probably couldn't live in the environments shown in the movie with which she particularly fell in love [You can take the woman out of the desert, I guess, but you can't take the desert out of the woman]; and about the subtle appreciation that grew between the main characters (the wife of the businessman included, even though she appears only in the last quarter of the movie), despite their extreme cultural differences.
    At one point I mentioned something about my reaction when I first saw the movie.
    "You've seen this movie? Why don't I remember seeing it?"
    "You didn't see it the first time, Mom. I wasn't sure you'd like it."
    "Well, from now on, check with me before you decide what you think I'd like."
    Yes m'am!
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Toni Collette	Sandy Edwards	Gotaro Tsunashima	Hiromitsu Tachibana	Matthew Dyktynski	Bill Baird	Lynette Curran	Mum
  Yumiko Tanaka	Yukiko Tachibana	Kate Atkinson	Jackie	Bill Young	Jimmy Smithers	Reg Evans	Bloke in a Boat

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2003
    Directed by Sue Brooks.

Labels: drama9, dream1, female-director2, me-favorite2, toni-collette

# posted by gail @ 13:19    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  None
• 
  Commentary:  I bought this movie on a hunch. I'd seen it a couple of times on PBS. The second time, I insisted my mother watch it. Unfortunately, both times it was shown without closed captioning and the New Zealand accents threw her for a loop. I thought, though, if she could see it with captioning she'd really enjoy it, so, when I noticed a copy of it for sale, I bought it. I was right. She not only enjoyed the movie but was interested in the special features, as well, even though they didn't have closed captioning. This is a strangely dreamy movie, while appearing to be firmly set in reality. It's one of the most unusual coming-of-age movies I've ever seen. I'm sure we'll be watching this again.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Keisha Castle-Hughes	Paikea Apirana	Rawiri Paratene	Koro	Vicky Haughton	Nanny Flowers	Cliff Curtis	Porourangi
  Grant Roa	Uncle Rawiri	Mana Taumaunu	Hemi	Rachel House	Shilo	Taungaroa Emile	Willie

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2002
    Directed by Niki Caro.

Labels: coming-of-age1, drama9, dream1, fantasy3, female-director2, shared-favorite, sport1

# posted by gail @ 22:41    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  *1*
• 
  Commentary:  This was yet another movie that I never thought I'd like and avoided with a passion. I never read the book but from what I'd heard from other "little women" about their favorite characters, I just knew, well, it wasn't for me. Then, one evening, Mom noticed it on one of those cable channels and decided she wanted to watch it. I watched most of it and was surprised at how interested I became in it, although, now, I think my interest had to do with actually being able to watch something on TV while my mother was up and about. I purchased it because, after that fateful watching, Mom said, "If you ever see that, get it. I'd like to see that again." So, I did. She watched it at least twice. I liked Wynona Ryder's performance; it's a little hammy but she's got the goods. Too damned bad she doesn't act much, anymore. Too damned bad she was in this movie.
    When I looked up this film on Roger Ebert's website, I noticed that since this version of Little Women was released, two more have come out! Ye gods! I have no desire to see any of them, including the one with which Greta Gerwig is involved, despite my enjoyment of her work. People, can we get over this story? According to Wikipedia, seven versions of this film have been made since the first silent in 1917, followed a year later by a second silent, on and on and on ... people, GET OVER THIS STORY! IT'S A NOTHING STORY AND THESE "LITTLE" WOMEN DID NOT LEAD EXCITING, OR EVEN PARTICULARLY MEANINGFUL LIVES! THEY DIDN'T EVEN LIVE IN AN EXCITING PLACE OR AN EXCITING TIME! AS A SOCIETY, WE NEED TO FORGET ABOUT THIS STORY! I THINK IT MAY BE HOLDING US BACK!!!
  Update 7/31/21:  Once Mom died, I never watched this movie again and knew I never would, despite my appreciation for Wynona Ryder's performance and considering my life-long indifference to the story. So, to the library it went.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Winona Ryder	Jo March	Gabriel Byrne	Friedrich Bhaer	Trini Alvarado	Meg March	Kirsten Dunst	Amy March
  Claire Danes	Beth March	Christian Bale	Theodore "Laurie" Laurence	Eric Stoltz	John Brooke	John Neville	James Laurence
  Mary Wickes	Aunt Josephine March	Susan Sarandon	Marmee March	Matthew Walker	Robert March	Janne Mortil	Sally Moffat

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1994
    Directed by: Gillian Armstrong.

Labels: christian-bale, drama9, female-director2, kirsten-dunst, period4, romance2

# posted by gail @ 22:29    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  *1* *2*
• 
  Commentary:  It took me a long time to decide to buy this series. When we watched it first run on TV I was never sure that Mom liked it. Finally, when the price dropped drastically and even more so at Costco, I picked up these seasons. To my surprise Mom was as fascinated with it in arrears as I am. We will probably and eventually purchase all the seasons, even the much maligned fifth and certainly the last season. Mom especially enjoys watching the episodes with the good subtitles and has mentioned that she "understands it a lot better" now that we can "rewind" when she doesn't catch something. When we watch this I am reminded how Mom still enjoys following politics even though she can't remember who the current president is and doesn't anymore care who it is.
    I asked her, after we watched the first season on DVD, why she liked the show.
    "It's like bartering in shops in Mexico," she said.
  12/24/06 Update:  You'll notice the designation has changed to "The Entire Series", rather than just seasons 1 & 2. I received the series this year as a surprise gift from a long time friend. It was an extreme surprise because he and I have never been known to exchange gifts, we rarely see each other, we don't email each other, we talk on the phone infrequently, and yet we remain bonded. He is one of the few people I know who is aware of my ambivalent interest in politics and my "secret" desire to become President of the United States. Truth is, I only vaguely remember talking to him about the series once, soon after it started, when Mom and I still lived part of the year in Mesa and, him living in Scottsdale, we spoke more frequently and occasionally visited one another. I do remember I was pretty excited about it, at the time we talked about it. So was he. He was recording the episodes. I wasn't, though. Funny thing, when I noticed that the entire series was available of a piece, I thought about buying it but since I already had the first two seasons and Mom and I hadn't watched it in awhile, I figured, well, maybe I should try it out on her again and see if I should collect the other seasons separately. I couldn't see spending the amount of money involved in purchasing the entire series when it would be cheaper for me to fill in the seasons. So, this was like one of those magical gift moments that blew me away!
    Needless to say, I'll be turning the first two seasons in for credit at my usual search-for-bargains video store.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Martin Sheen	Josiah Bartlet	John Spencer	Leo McGarry	Bradley Whitford	Josh Lyman	Richard Schiff	Toby Ziegler
  Allison Janney	C.J. Cregg	Janel Moloney	Donna Moss	Stockard Channing	Abbey Bartlet	Moira Kelly	Mandy Hampton
  Joshua Malina	Will Bailey	Mary McCormack	Kate Harper	Alan Alda	Arnold Vinick	Jimmy Smits	Matt Santos
  Rob Lowe	Sam Seaborn	Dulé Hill	Charlie Young	Kristin Chenoweth	Annabeth Schott	Lily Tomlin	Deborah Fiderer

  
  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the series.
    Release Date: 1999-2006
    Directed by, as usual, very few women, scattered throughout all seasons, mostly men.

Labels: aaron-sorkin, dramaA, dylan-baker, edward-james-olmos, female-director2, political4, presidential, TV2, william-devane, željko-ivanek

# posted by gail @ 16:58    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  *1*
• 
  Commentary:  Although the story is pleasant enough and I enjoy the romantic comedy no matter how many times I see it, this movie is a hallmark for me because I lived in Seattle when it was being filmed, saw it during its first run in Seattle and watch it more for its ability to transport me back to Seattle than anything else. Mom enjoys the story.
  Update: 5/14/2022:  Just want to mention, after all these years, since I first saw this movie, in Seattle, where I was living during its initial release, I not only haven't grown tired of it, I watch it regularly, yearn for it, even, at least once or twice a year. When I learned one of my nephews was relocating to Seattle, I immediately made space in my day to watch this film. It's not the story, although that's entertaining. It's Seattle, the star of this movie, for me. As I watch I rewalk the streets and even mentally insert scenarios that are pertinent to me, and only to me. The story? Eh. The setting? Ahh!!
    One final observation. In reading (long after I saw the movie several times) the critical rundown in Wikipedia on this movie, I realized they all missed the subtle satire undergirding the movie, which is what actually lifts it out of the category of "maudlin". Maybe you have to live in Seattle to catch this.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Tom Hanks	Sam Baldwin	Meg Ryan	Annie Reed	Bill Pullman	Walter Jackson	Ross Malinger	Jonah Baldwin
  Rob Reiner	Jay Matthews	Rosie O'Donnell	Becky	Gaby Hoffmann	Jessica	Victor Garber	Role Name
  Actor Name	Greg	Rita Wilson	Suzy	David Hyde Pierce	Dennis Reed	Caroline Aaron	Dr. Marcia Fieldstone

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1993
    Directed by Nora Ephron.

Labels: 20th-century-chick-flicks1, comedy1, female-director2, me-favorite3, meg-ryan, romance3, tom-hanks

# posted by gail @ 16:57    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  *1* *2* *3*
• 
  Commentary:  This is one of both of our's long time favorites. Even with the series at hand, if we're channel surfing and discover an episode we watch it. We will definitely be collecting all the seasons, even the much maligned (and much deserving of being maligned) last season.
    As far as post title reviews are concerned, I decided to link the first part of the title up through "1st" to a review that was enthusiastic. I linked "2nd Seasons" to a less enthusiastic but nonetheless informative review. Considering that I've never expanded my collection of this show's dvds, I think that's a fair representation of where I am on the subject of this show.
  Update 2/9/18:  Well, we didn't collect all the seasons and I'm not sure that I will. My love for this show hasn't evaporated but I haven't, since my mother's death, watched what I have so I'm not sure I'd watch any of the other seasons. I did, take note, watch the syndicated reruns on television, as long as I had a cable subscription. That's over now, though. Perhaps I have a strong enough memory of the series that I don't need to rewatch it, anymore. However, I continue to hang onto it through multiple library dumps of other movies and shows. And, I have fond memories of certain specific scenes in these two seasons, and a few other seasons.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Roseanne Barr	Roseanne Conner	John Goodman	Dan Conner	Laurie Metcalf	Jackie Harris	Michael Fishman	D.J. Conner
  Sara Gilbert	Darlene Conner	Lecy Goranson	Becky Conner	Estelle Parsons	Beverly Harris	Natalie West	Crystal Anderson-Conner
  George Clooney	Booker Brooks	Fred Thompson	Keith Faber	Ned Beatty	Ed Conner	Jared Rushton	Chip

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1988-1990
    Directed by: Most of the episodes in Season 1 are directed by a woman. All of the episodes in Season 2 are directed by a man.

Labels: comedy1, female-director2, laurie-metcalf, ned-beatty, satire2, shared-favorite, TV2

# posted by gail @ 02:27    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  none, yet
• 
  Commentary:  We've only watched this season informally in TV reruns. It's just one of our "must haves". I know we will watch it, probably in a marathon.
    For a list of recurring actors/characters, see this post.
    Here is the Wikipedia write-up for the fourth season.
    Release Date: 1992-1993
    Directed by various people, one woman.

Labels: bibi-besch, dramedy2, dylan-baker, female-director2, shared-favorite, TV2

# posted by gail @ 07:26    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  *1*
• 
  Commentary:  We've only just received and begun to watch this season. I think this is the one where they do lots more dream work. I'm hoping this is the season when they produced the episode with Maggie and the bear.
  Update: 9/23/21 Yes, this is the season in which Maggie receives a visit from a bear; a cool, sweet, mythological episode in which a lot happens to the other residents, as well. The episode is called Wake-up Call. I've linked to a complete rundown of the episode, although I don't know how long the link will exist. I hope I remember to check back, every once is awhile. Perhaps I'll need a wake-up call ...
    For a list of recurring actors/characters, see this post.
    Here is the Wikipedia write-up for the third season.
    Release Date: 1991-1992
    Directed by various people, one woman.

Labels: bibi-besch, dramedy2, female-director2, shared-favorite, TV2

# posted by gail @ 07:25    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  None
• 
  Commentary:  This movie is seductively misleading. Many of the ideas are tantalizing to contemplate, but there are inconsistencies and contradictions that show that this movie is more a travelogue for New Age Meta-Physics. It is colorful, though, and provocative to watch. Much less so, though, than, say, Cosmos.
    The most glaring problem is that the movie doesn't live up to its hype and does not fulfill even the blurb promises. I bought it sight unseen (stupid move, always) on the recommendation of someone whose knowledge of me and opinion, especially in these matters, I value. Unfortunately, it is one of those recommendations that casts an uneasy light on the value of the recommender's opinions.
    The second problem lies in its hazy way of sometimes including what we think of as the inanimate world in on the "you create your own reality" scenario, then explicitly excluding it. Example: The narrative cites the experiment done in Japan that involved an experimenter writing descriptions of feelings on pieces of paper, using them to label jars of water, then doing what I imagine is a combination EEC/MRI on the cells of the water; the water, of course, mirrors the state written on its label. This experiment begs several questions, not the least important of which is, what about the reality of the water?
    This movie is not going to change anyone's life, I don't think, not directly, anyway, but it's fun to watch. I haven't decided, yet, whether I'm going to keep it or eventually trade it in.
    The third is that, in the end, the movie is a promo for a movement. Makes the viewer wonder about the involvement of each of the cast members. Always a bad idea, except in historical perspective.
    Mom enjoyed it, especially the sessions with the 35,000 year old basketball hustler.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Marlee Matlin	Amanda	Elaine Hendrix	Jennifer	Barry Newman	Frank	Robert Bailey Jr.	Reggie
  John Ross Bowie	Elliot	Armin Shimerman	Man	Robert Blanche	Bob	Larry Brandenburg	Bruno

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2004
    Directed by William Arntz, Betsy Chasse & Mark Vicente.

Labels: fantasy3, female-director2, science, spiritual1

# posted by gail @ 07:21    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  *1*
• 
  Commentary:  This show has "an incident" to recommend it: See the one "Mention". I have to admit, there is something addictive about this show. And, despite the active argument in which several critics are indulging, this show wasn't so innocent as all that. It still isn't. I'm pissed that they recorded a new cover of the theme. I miss the brightness of the old arrangement and the final chord.
    We'll probably collect more of this show's seasons.
    This is kind of an update, but I don't want to call it that. Suffice it to say, I'm writing it on 8/15/21. It's often hard to find legitimate reviews of television shows, and this has proved true for this show. I did, however, find reasonable rundowns of the four seasons we own: season one, season two, season three and season four. Be forewarned, about the only reviewy writing I could find is a short article linked to the title of this post. That'll have to do. Or, perhaps, the fact that I have never purchased any more seasons of this show is a review, in itself.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Mary Tyler Moore	Mary Richards	Ed Asner	Lou Grant	Gavin MacLeod	Murray Slaughter	Ted Knight	Ted Baxter
  Valerie Harper	Rhoda Morgenstern	Cloris Leachman	Phyllis Lindstrom	Georgia Engel	Georgette Franklin Baxter	Betty White	Sue Ann Nivens

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1970-1974
    Directed by several men and one woman for two episodes in Season 4. "That's all, folks."

Labels: buddy, comedy2, female-director2, henry-jones, mom-favorite2, TV2

# posted by gail @ 07:20    0 comments    email......this post