The Way

Had some time last week to sit down and watch "The Way", starring Martin Sheen.  It's the story of a father, who has a difficult relationship with his son (played by Sheen's real-life son, and the film's director, Emilio Estevez), made even more so when his son decides to chuck it all and go off hiking around the world.  Shortly after leaving, the son is killed in an accident while hiking the El Camino de Santiago in Spain.  The father goes to retrieve his son's remains, and on the spur of the moment, decides to hike the El Camino himself, in memory of his son.  Along the way, he meets an interesting cast of characters, all walking the El Camino for their own reasons.

I really loved this movie.  That said, Sheen's character is not necessarily loveable. He's angry at himself and his son, he's bitter, and he's not very nice to anyone around him. But his journey helps him to come to terms with his feelings, and ends up drawing him closer to his son, to his hiking comrades, and to his lapsed Catholic faith.  It's as if hiking "the Way" ends up helping him find his way.  

It's a terrific performance, and a thoughtful, quiet, beautiful film.  I highly recommend it.

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!

Moneyball

The other night my friend and I rented "Moneyball", starring Brad Pitt.  I had somehow missed it when it came out in the fall, but it had gotten a lot of terrific press, and a ton of Oscar nominations.  I'm also a huge baseball fan, so I was really looking forward to it.  And it did not disappoint.  Pitt plays Billy Bean, former pro ballplayer, and now General Manager of the Oakland A's baseball team.  His team has just lost the pennant, and also lost their three best players.  As a small market team, he knows they can't compete with increasing salaries, so he searches for a unique solution. He finds it in the form of Jonah Hill, who plays Assistant GM Peter Brant. He and Hill become convinced that the only way to win is to go after players who are off the radar, but have an uncanny ability to get on base.  Thus begins the ups and downs of their season, as they try to prove their new concept.

Now the above description may sound a bit dull, but I beg to differ.  It's a totally terrific movie, and definitely worth a viewing.  Pitt and Hill are both fantastic, and it also has an outstanding screenplay from Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin.  And if that doesn't grab you, then I have two words: Brad Pitt.  A buffed out Brad Pitt no less. Worth the price of admission alone.

Classic Rom-Com

Last night TCM played a classic romantic comedy from 1949 starring Cary Grant.  Since this was one I'd never seen before, it caught my attention. I mean, who doesn't love Cary Grant?  Admittedly, the title of this one was intriguing to say the least, which double caught my attention.  Now at first blush, it's going to sound like a weird one, but here goes.  The romantic comedy in question was none other than "I Was a Male War Bride".  See? The title just kind of grabs you (or not).  But it ended up being HILARIOUS and totally adorable.  Seems that Grant and Ann Sheridan are battling army officers, he a French Army captain, and she a U.S. WAC Lieutenant.  They can't stand each other, but get sent on a special mission together. Hilarity ensues, and as these things tend to go, they fall in love and decide to get married.  Challenges arise when he tries to emigrate to the U.S. as the spouse of an American army officer, and more hilarity ensues. 

I have to say, I thought this picture was awesome! It's what all romantic comedies should be, and so seldom are these days.  Cary Grant is charming and fabulous as always, and displays his great gift for physical comedy.  Ann Sheridan is a perfect comic foil for him (wish she'd made more comedies).  I literally laughed out loud, which is saying something.  I highly recommend it.

The Sherman Brothers

Here's a shout out for Robert B. Sherman, who passed away today.  You may be wondering who that is, but any true fan of classic Disney films and songs would know right away that Mr. Sherman was one half of the extremely prolific song-writing duo, the Sherman Brothers.  Along with his brother Richard M. Sherman, he was responsible for all the great Disney classics, and many more.  From "Mary Poppins", to "The Jungle Book", to "Bedknobs and Broomsticks", to the "Winnie the Pooh" movies, it's hard to name a Disney movie of the 60's and 70's that they didn't write the music for.  And not just the movies - if you've ever ridden Disneyland's "Small World" ride, you've heard his music too.

After Walt Disney's passing, the Sherman Brothers left and began freelancing, and kept on cranking out the classics, including composing music for "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang", "The Slipper and the Rose" (my fave Cinderella adaptation) and "Charlotte's Web". 

The legacy of terrific Disney movie music begun by the Sherman Brothers continues today, with the likes of Allan Mencken and Randy Newman cranking out the latest generation of classic Disney hits.  So a big thank you to the Sherman Brothers!  And I think I'll "go fly a kite"!

Top 5 Movie Canines

One of the principal actors in "The Artist" has been getting a lot of press, so much that several commentators were shocked he didn't receive an Oscar nomination.  Alas, they don't have one for his category.  If this sounds a little cryptic, I'll just have to come right and say that that cast member in question happens to be Uggie the dog.  So since Uggie has been getting so much attention, this got me to thinking about other super-star Dogs from movie history, so this addition of Top 5 is devoted to my favorite canine movie contributors.

1. Lassie - who can resist the big collie with the flowing mane?  She's loyal, and she knows where to go for help every time Timmie falls in the well.  And she always comes home.  (And yes, "she" is played by a boy pooch.)

2. Asta - This pooch was a huge star in the 30's and 40's, in the popular "Thin Man" series.  Not only did he get to hang out with William Powell and Myrna Loy, but he was often smarter, and more sober than his owner.

3. Toto - Admittedly, I'm not a fan of "The Wizard of Oz".  But not only does this classic pooch have to follow the yellow brick road with a bunch of weirdly dressed folks, he has to do it while stuffed in a basket. And he has to take on flying monkeys.  Poor thing deserves a nod just for not having to go into therapy afterwards.

4. Hachi - This dog takes the award for loyalty, and does it in both Japanese and English. No matter which version of the movie you're watching, who doesn't dissolve into tears every time they see Hachi the Akita waiting every day at the train station for his deceased owner.  I hope someone or some pooch remembers me like that after I'm gone.

5. Skip - This little guy gets additional votes just for being in Mississippi.  He and Frankie Muniz grow up together in the small-town South, and Skip can now be used as a link in "Six Degrees to Kevin Bacon". Priceless.

Honorable Mention: Hooch, from "Turner and Hooch".  Best use of canine saliva in a motion picture.