Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Saw a preview for this movie several months ago, and the girlfriend's and I have been anxiously awaiting it ever since.  It finally arrived in Salt Lake this week, so off we went last evening to see it.  And thankfully it did no disappoint.  But really, considering the cast, how could it?  I mean, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton - some of my absolute favorite actors, all in the same picture.  Of course it's going to be brilliant!

It's about a group of retirees from the UK, who see advertised online the "Best Exotic Marigold Hotel". It's a hotel in India, specifically geared to Seniors. Of course, they each decide to de-camp to begin life anew in India, and arrive to find the hotel to be not quite as billed.  But being British, they decide to make the best of it, and each of them end up being changed in some way or other by the experience.

It's funny, touching, and yes, exotic.  We laughed out loud, we cried, and at the end, there was a big ovation. We even walked out quoting lines from it.  Who knows, I may have to de-camp to India myself one day.

West Side Story

"West Side Story" was on the other night.  As many times as I've seen it, I can't NOT watch it when it comes on.  In my opinion, it's got the finest music score for a Broadway show ever written - Leonard Bernstein could have retired on that score alone.  In one brilliant, original stroke, it's as if musicals all of a sudden grew up.

And the dancing!  For me, there are really only two great dance movies, "West Side Story" and "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" (yes, I'm purposely leaving out Gene Kelly, who was always too full of himself).  The power and athleticism of the dancing is just brilliant (there's that word again).

So there I am the other night - blinds closed (good thing), and singing and dancing around the living room with utter abandon.  Not a pretty sight I'm sure. I laughed, I cried, I got mad and wanted to rumble. I'm sure I did permanent damage to my knees and back, and I'm lucky I didn't break any of the furniture.

Yes, I know it's got a sad ending, and it's violent and all about juvenile dilinquents, etc., etc. But from the opening overhead shot of Manhattan, and the whistle calling all the Jets, it grabs you and doesn't let you go.  I don't even care that Natalie Wood didn't do her own singing.  It's awesome. And totally brilliant!