Savvy Thinker » Entertainment http://savvythinker.com thinking about life, playing with makeup Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:10:41 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Bride Wars http://savvythinker.com/bride-wars/ http://savvythinker.com/bride-wars/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:42:30 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=1197

I thought I was going to hate this movie, but I went along just because.

It turned out to be better than I had hoped.

I like both the actresses in it. Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway -- what's not to like!

Toss in Candice Bergen in the sort of roles she is getting as a mature woman. She brings some authority to the role.

Chris Pratt plays a character you wish were different. My companion picked up on his character's negatives right away.

All's well that end's well. I'm glad there was a denouement. And neither Kate nor Anne was too over the top in this one, to the point where I had feared before I went to see it.

Karin

Originally posted 2009-02-25 12:18:18.

Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/bride-wars/feed/ 0 Review: Whip It http://savvythinker.com/review-whip-it/ http://savvythinker.com/review-whip-it/#comments Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:53:22 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=5013

Whip It is about girls' Roller Derby, directed by Drew Barrymore. She is also the executive producer and plays the part of Smashley Simpson. Whip It refers to a move whereby one of the teammates swings the skater farther and faster by whipping or flinging them out with their arm to a farther position.

If you want a mostly fun, feel good movie, go see it. It is both believable and a fairy tale. It has elements of beauty and of discomfort (literally.) There is romance and disappointment in love. A strong, domineering mother makes some of the other events almost seem a given.

Lots of action; lots of skating; lots of body hits...the typical (or not so typical) difficulties in separating into adulthood by the two young girls. All the Roller Derby women, while playing rough, seem to respect each other's abilities.

Ellen Page (Juno) plays Bliss Cavendar whose mother (Marcia Gay Harden) wants her to do pageants. She, OTOH, leans towards Indie musicians. Her bff Pash (Alia Shawkat) is her cohort in crime.

Both desire to get away from their small town. Bliss doesn't have any direction (pageants don't count as they seem so anachronistic.) Pash has applied to Ivy Leagues. They push the limits of what they can get away with, while being good kids. On one of their exploits, Bliss becomes enamored with Roller Derby. Later she lies about her age when she auditions and becomes her alter-ego Babe Ruthless.

All this without telling her parents.

She is able to get to practice and the games by riding the Bingo bus into Austin.

Both girls work in a restaurant after school. Carlo Alban plays Birdman, one of their friends, who now has a responsible position at the restaurant. He offers some surprises.

Bliss' father (Daniel Stern) is one of those movie fathers you just have to love. I rank him right up there with Bella's father in Twilight. Neither dad has a clue about what their daughters are into, but both clearly love their daughters and want the best for them. Bliss' dad toes the line around his wife, but secretly watches football. He's living the life of a turtle.

The relationship between Bliss' father and mother is cute and sexy in a humorous way.

The action all comes to a head when the championship Roller Derby event takes place the night of the pageant. How it all works out is part of the movie. It doesn't happen as I thought it might.

There is a beautifully filmed scene in the pool. While this was beautiful, it also made me uncomfortable. All I could think of was the possibility of tragedy (which thankfully didn't come) like Bella ends up in the hospital.

Juliette Lewis plays Iron Maven -- and she is a sight to behold.

I'm ready for a rematch.

Have you seen it?
Before we went in, the girl who took our tickets said she just loved it.

Karin
www.savvythinker.com
please don't take my entire posts

Originally posted 2009-10-08 20:21:34.

Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/review-whip-it/feed/ 1 Kings of Convenience, I’d rather dance http://savvythinker.com/kings-of-convenience-id-rather-dance/ http://savvythinker.com/kings-of-convenience-id-rather-dance/#comments Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:30:27 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/2007/02/08/kings-of-convenience-id-rather-dance/

This is a favorite of mine from the Norwegian group, and a cute video, suitable for the kiddos. This one should make you happy.

Get up and dance (even with the kiddos)!

We should all dance like Susan Sarandon in The Banger Sisters

Karin

Originally posted 2007-02-08 09:13:39.

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I was surprised to learn that in the last 10 years, the Oscar for Best Actress hasn't been awarded to any woman over 39. For the past 9 years, it was even lower, around age 35. If Judi Dench, Helen Mirren or Meryl Streep wins, she will be the most mature recipient since 1990 when Jessica Tandy, at age 80, won for Driving Miss Daisy.

A weird thing happens to male actors, especially movie stars, in my experience. Which is, they become grumpy old men. I think a young male actor feels great. All the girls want him. He's a star. As they get older, that sense of not being in control of their own destiny sort of grates on them, and they get grumpy. And they move into direction to try and feel they're in control of their own destiny...I don't feel psychologically challenged, because I'm in a collaboative situation on a set with a director...

One of the great advantages of getting older is that you can walk into a world which is more truthful and less to do with other people's fantasies. Helen Mirren

Well, who's it gonna be? Likely the decision is already made; we just don't know who it is yet.

I often think life is hardly fair. Tremendous performances can be turned in by several, but because of the thoughts-of-the-year it's a shoo in for one who might not in other years be the choice. But that's life! On to the next project! Talent wins out, Oscar or no Oscar.

When asked if they still had to audition for roles, Dame Judi said:

I think sometimes we might be without knowing it. If you're having a kind of friendly [there's that word again!] meal with somebody and you suddenly see those very beady, gimlet eyes looking at you, you might be auditioning then.

I like to see power going to older women. It makes me feel more secure.

No, seriously, I was just seeing if you were reading. I don't feel more secure, but it may move us away from the 60's kind of veneration of youth.

A well-known George Bernard Shaw quote is:

Youth is wasted on the young.

I hardly think so. But I'd like to see age like Dylan Thomas did:

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Let's go on and out with a few sparks and some Oscars.

Karin

Originally posted 2007-02-24 07:23:49.

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What's to say, except I liked this movie. It is a great franchise. Tom Cruise has redeemed himself (again.)

Simon Pegg is terrific as the sidekick with humor.

Jeremy Renner as William Brandt is perfect as the analyst who turns out to be more.

I enjoyed watching Paula Patton as Jane Carter, one of the team.

Tom Wilkinson as the IMF Secretary is, as usual, terrific.

Léa Seydoux is beautiful as the cold as nails assassin who works for diamonds.

Suffice it to say that there is action, stunts you'd never want to try (much less film), more action, interesting characters, enough suspense to keep you happy, more action...a little James Bond-ish but not so heavy on the sex.

Have you seen it?
I rate it 4 out of 4 star. It's not terribly graphic, you know the good guys will win (and survive), the filming was well done, you can't complain about the theme song, instantly recognizable... There's enough humor to act as a foil to the action...

Karin
www.savvythinker.com


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Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/review-mission-impossible-ghost-protocol/feed/ 0 Review One for the Money (movie) http://savvythinker.com/review-one-for-the-money-movie/ http://savvythinker.com/review-one-for-the-money-movie/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:54:29 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=8226

We went to see this at the midnight show of opening night. There weren't a lot of folks there, which surprised me, but it might have been because people were sure about the casting.

If you love the book, you will love the movie. I'd see it again in a minute, and I will definitely buy it when it comes out as a DVD.

What's not to love about a movie that makes you happy, where you know the main character is going to be OK, where there is a lot of humor, and it is fun to watch!

Casting:
Let's talk casting. I wasn't at all convinced until I saw the movie. It was perfect.

I liked the idea of Katherine Heigl, but I wasn't sure if I'd like her in dark hair. Not to worry. She looked great.

Debbie Reynolds as Grandma Mazur was not at all who I pictured. But she got me in the first minute of her first appearance on screen. Considering Grandma Mazur is a favorite character, that is saying something.

Lulu -- well, I had thought Queen Latifah, but she is too high class for the part. But Sherri Shepherd was perfect in the part, and her getups were just like Janet Evanovich describes her.

Vinnie (Patrick Fischler) was perfect.

Now Morelli (Jason O'Mara) turned out to be a good choice. There is a lot of magnetism between him and Stephanie.

And speaking of magnetism, Daniel Sunjata as Ranger, turned out to be perfect. Many of us had thought of the Rock in this part, but Daniel couldn't be beat.

Ana Reeder as Connie, does a good job.

I didn't have anybody in mind for her parents, so they were OK. They don't have a lot of screen time compared to some of the other characters.

If you liked the book, do yourself a favor and get on down and see the movie. You know it is a terrific franchise, and I'd like to see the other books made as movies too. This one has to sell tickets for that to happen. I'd definitely go see them.

Have you seen it?
I give it 4 stars. I liked it!

Karin
www.savvythinker.com


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Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/review-one-for-the-money-movie/feed/ 0 The Doves, There goes the fear http://savvythinker.com/the-doves-there-goes-the-fear/ http://savvythinker.com/the-doves-there-goes-the-fear/#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:27:20 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/2007/02/11/the-doves-there-goes-the-fear/

Another from Catch & Release.

Originally posted 2007-02-11 08:02:44.

Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/the-doves-there-goes-the-fear/feed/ 0 The joy of books — if you have ever wondered what your books do at night http://savvythinker.com/the-joy-of-books-if-you-have-ever-wondered-what-your-books-do-at-night/ http://savvythinker.com/the-joy-of-books-if-you-have-ever-wondered-what-your-books-do-at-night/#comments Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:27:47 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=8199

Here's another great, short video -- better keep an eye on your books at night~

This one made me happy too.

Karin
www.savvythinker.com

Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/the-joy-of-books-if-you-have-ever-wondered-what-your-books-do-at-night/feed/ 0 Organizing the bookshelves http://savvythinker.com/organizing-the-bookshelves/ http://savvythinker.com/organizing-the-bookshelves/#comments Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:22:49 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=8196

Oh my, this made me happy, not to mention the jivy music. And if you happen to be like a dear friend of mine whose new bookshelves are empty, just crying out for books and other paraphernalia, well this one's for you!

Or if you are like me and another friend of mine whose bookshelves are stocked to the hilt and then some, enjoy!

Karin
www.savvythinker.com

Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/organizing-the-bookshelves/feed/ 0 The Holiday (movie and CD) http://savvythinker.com/the-holiday-movie-and-cd/ http://savvythinker.com/the-holiday-movie-and-cd/#comments Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:07:28 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/2007/01/25/the-holiday-movie-and-cd/

This movie is really cute. I've enjoyed it a lot, and I've seen it more than once because the first time was a gift to me...and later I had a free movie pass...etc. It's surprising how fast 2 1/2 hours goes by. And it is a good DVD to watch on the holidays.

I love the music in the movie, so I went to iTunes where I could listen to a snippet of each song to decide if I wanted to just buy individual songs or the CD.

I ended up getting The Holiday at Amazon. Good thing because iTunes is not compatible with my MP3...

Even the music makes me happy. I'm only sorry it didn't include some of the other music in the movie, but I knew that when I bought it. Some were Christmas carols and another was when Kate Winslet and Jack Black sing a duet together.

I haven't figured out yet if they included the music for the awards ceremony.

Karin
www.savvythinker.com


Originally posted 2007-01-25 15:45:26.

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