First of all, I understand the Provincial NDP's move to alleviate poverty by lowering the gas tax and as a means of wooing voters for the fall election, but from an environmental perspective and from a socialist perspective, it's a bad move. Or at the very least, it's not a direction one would expect from the NDP. It just gives opponents ammo when they insist the NDP policies will never work.
Secondly, I managed some serious escapist marathon movie-watching to mark the end of school. I'm hand-sewing cushions which I thought I could do in front of a few movies, but I foolishly chose several sub-titled ones which made it difficult to look anywhere other than the screen. Here's a summary of the best and worst of what I watched last night (and into the wee hours this morning):
Don't Bother With...
Cry-Baby - With Johnny Depp, how could you go wrong? This is how. Directed by John Waters of Hairspray fame, I couldn't make it through more than twenty minutes. Breaking Upwards - A very realistic portrayal of a couple in crisis, but I find it hard to sit through all the angst. I made it about 3/4 the way through. What is it about Annie Hall that I can watch that break-up over and over, but most movies like this are just grating? I think it's often all the petty arguing that, instead of getting just a taste, just the idea of how they bicker, we have to sit through entire episodes. I hate it in real life; why would I want to watch other people do it?
Adventureland - Teen angst and drama without anything new to the story. Plus, I'm really tired of Kristen Stewart.
I Admit I Kinda Liked...
Knight and Day. I've still got a soft-spot for Tom Cruise and action flicks that don't really make sense. The best part is the car chase when Diaz has to steer a car with a dead man's foot flooring the gas pedal, and Cruise blocks her vision with his body across the windshield while making quips to calm her down, and, despite swerving insanely on the freeway, she hits nothing - of course. Sorry if I gave that away for anybody.
Middle Men - It's a telling of how one man can get sucked into some nasty stuff trying to make money off porn. It's Goodfellas-lite. Good to sew pillows to.
Definitely Check Out....
Volver - Gorgeous film. Breaks the barrier between the living and dead, but not in a Ghost kind of way. At all.
The Bothersome Man - A man gets dropped off in this weird town where everything is simply pleasant. There are endless dinner parties and mindless conversation particularly about home renovations! There are no children - children are chaotic and cause upheaval. Nor is there any delectable food. It's all pretty bland, but everyone is really happy with this version of perfection - except for him of course. We need a bit of chaos, something to spice things up, for better and worse. Some of us do, anyway.
And then I watched So I Married An Axe-Murderer for maybe the fourth time. "Piper down" still slays me.
Here's more must sees....
Terribly Happy - Corrupt cop trying to do good, but just can't get a break. Loved it!
Buddy - A cute movie that could be used to look at if the ends can justify the means. Also a good look at friendship and love. Thoroughly enjoyable, and good for the whole family - well, my family.
Barney's Version - Fantastic film about a guy and his love of a good woman. I question the analysis that she's a saint - a bit of a doormat if you ask me. But lovely nonetheless. He loves her, but what's the difference between love and need? He can't cope without her, even for a few days, but he gives nothing back to her, ignoring her accomplishments completely. Personally, I don't think that's love. Also, the wife is lovely, but I thought her acting a bit stilted and, well, monotone. It reminded me of the girl in High Fidelity - who almost ruined that movie for me.
The Station Agent - Loved it! A train-nut inherits a station in the middle of nowhere. And he's a dwarf (the word he uses in the film). An excellent look at friendship and coping and such.
Win Win - Liked it a lot - mainly the ending. A nice, but mildly corrupt lawyer neglects an elderly client for cash and ends up developing a sweet relationship with the grandson. A bit contrived (he's a wrestling coach and the grandson's a ringer), but I liked the refreshing view of an ethical conundrum - i.e. he actually does the right thing.
Death at a Funeral - Very funny. And a good bit about the nature of love also. A good blow-off line to an obsessive guy about the nature of love.
Bridesmaids - Hilarious. And the love interest is one of my favourite characters from Pirate Radio - one of my favourite movies. The ending is likely intentionally reminiscent of another favourite movie, but I won't spoil it by saying which one. "What kind of name is Stove anyway?"
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