Sometimes I wear my hair up in a clip. Sometimes when I’m driving with the sunroof open, my hair comes flying out of the clip. So I take the clip out, clip it to my shirt front, fix my hair, and put the clip back.
Except I was wearing a low-cut shirt. And clipped the hair-clip to my chest.
Not a good idea.
I got a kitten.
Okay, so the Gang of Two is now a Gang of One. Mingo has run off. I still hope he returns, but it’s been three bleak months of Mingolessness. Fanty is lonely. I’m lonely. Arthur has moved in with his dad, and a single woman with just one cat, who happens to be an annoying and no-fun cat, is just not working for me.
So on Saturday Fanty had her annual checkup, and there was a big crate o’ kittens. Six in total, four of whom were solid black. Solid black=very appealing to Witches, but I finally got smart and chose based on personality rather than looks. My little one-eye is funny looking but the only calm, sweet, social one in the bunch, the only one who wanted to cuddle. As Roberta said, “In a crate of kittens, the one-eyed kitten is king.”
Inception (2010) 7/10
Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) leads a team of dream extractors, who use cutting edge medical technology to manipulate shared dreams. The team is hired to attempt “inception”—creating, rather than extracting, an idea. But Cobb is haunted in dreams by the presence of his late wife (Marion Cotillard), endangering the team. Written & directed by Christopher Nolan.
There is no question that Inception is a would-have-could-have-should-have movie. It screams from unrealized potential. At the same time, it’s smart, beautiful, and enjoyable. Arthur and I have been talking about it for a week, and that’s a lot of engagement for one movie.
What Inception does right is commit fully to its concept. Yes, it’s exposition-heavy, but it grips its dream reality with two hands and doesn’t let go. This is a smart, well-made movie by a master of movie logistics. It doesn’t falter in its delivery of Chris Nolan’s theme, the theme of all of his films: A haunted man struggling with the unreality of a life transfixed by grief. Whether that haunted man is struggling with memory loss or insomnia, whether he’s Batman or a magician, Nolan’s motif is pretty clear, if not always successful.
» Read more..
In both the original and the remake, a master thief is killed, and his final plan carried out. In both cases, and famously, the final caper involves Mini-Coopers going up and down stairs, through tunnels, and other places where only Mini-Coopers can go. Surely the remake was inspired by the re-introduction of the car in question.
The Italian Job (1969) 6/10
Charlie (Michael Caine) was in prison when the failed job took place, leading to the death of his mentor. He is financed through a crime lord, Bridger, who is not at all slowed down by being in prison.
This is a very weird movie. » Read more..
I’m going to be doing some shorter reviews of multiple movies to get myself caught up here; it’s been a long time.
Breaker Morant (1980) 9/10
Harry “Breaker” Morant and two other Australian officers are court-marshaled in an act of scapegoating during the Boer War.
This true story of honorable behavior in insane circumstances is told without sentiment; harsh, rough, and compelling. If you know Edward Woodward best as the weaselly cop from The Wicker Man, his dignity and strength here may surprise you.
The Hill (1965) 8/10
During World War II, a military prison is run with the harshest possible discipline and sadistic punishment.
An early Sean Connery attempt to break free of James Bond typecasting, this is a difficult movie to be with. Evil Prison Guard is as macho a story as can be told, so in that way, it’s still an expected Connery movie, but his Joe Roberts is no 007. Director Sidney Lumet does a remarkable job of portraying heat, exhaustion, and the physical effects of abuse.
Apache Trail (1942) 6/10
An Arizona outpost throws people together when the Apaches are on the way.
This is the Stagecoach model of Western—a bunch of people, some good, some bad, some destined for romance, are stuck together because of Indian attack. It’s Western as Lord of the Flies, with everyone revealing themselves as the plot unfolds, and it’s the revelation, not the plot, that’s the point.
It’s a middling movie but entertaining.
Turns out bathing suits have a lifespan. Who knew? I took my favorite out of the drawer and the elastic made a crackling sound. So, off to the mall, which is the point of this story.
So, I’m walking in the mall with my new, highly overpriced bathing suit, and I see these two identically-dressed men. One of them appeared to be about 50, and white. The other appeared to be mid-30s, and Asian. The white guy had a child with him. The two men were just far enough apart that one could not tell for sure whether they were together or just walking down the same hall at the same time.
Except they were identical. Both short-ish (5’6″ I guess), they were wearing seafoam green polo shirts. White guy was wearing beige shorts. Asian guy was wearing washed-out desert camo shorts that gave the impression of being the same beige. Both were carrying Target bags.
It wasn’t the strangest thing I’ve seen at the mall. But it was odd.
:::happy dance:::
I hope that Monday Movie Reviews and other posting will resume apace. YAY!
Just for laughs, I updated my Events Calendar. I mean finally. As you can see, I have some travel coming up. Fun!
Today’s Tuesday Trivia is posted by Evn. In addition to being a horror movie buff and a regular commentator here at Property of a Lady, Evn has an intermittently-active blog (Lover of Strife) on being Pagan, gay, fabulous, and sarcastic. Not necessarily in that order.
I’m going out of town tomorrow afternoon until Sunday night and am not sure of my Internet access. Tom, as usual, will be guest-blogging, but so will Evn, especially in the trivia department.
So be nice to him and have fun with the horror movies. I peeked at his quiz. I don’t know any of them.
P.S. “Admin” is me, Deborah.
