Ramana's Movie Picks

RAMANA’S MOVIE PICKS

Preamble: Now that you know my blog is somewhat like an ‘everything bagel’ from my last post, I feel free to go in an even different direction and write about movies, revealing my picks for great flicks. So, here goes ……..

I grew up with the movies. As a kid, a usual Saturday event was to take the bus downtown, usually with a friend(s), plop down 25 cents at one of the local movie house box offices, buy candy or popcorn, and prepare to spend the afternoon watching: 2 feature films, a cartoon or two, newsreel and sometimes a March of Time extra. Quite a bargain, yes? This was followed up later with the purchase of movie magazines, coloring books and other paraphernalia, where I chose my favorite movie stars and wondered about their lives. Not at all like today, where every movie star of note is assiduously followed by the press with intimate details of their lives revealed ad nauseum!

The love of movies has been with me since then. From 1997 to 2008, I lived in Mexico and had a somewhat limited exposure to films. The village we lived in did build a lovely movie theater but did not always show current features. Guadalajara, the next largest city, had better selections but was almost an hour’s drive so not a frequent choice for movie outings. There were local video stores but, there again, selection was limited, videos were literally dusty and, of course, we got used to seeing either Spanish subtitles or dubbing.

So, when we moved back to the states in early 2008, we were eager to sign up for Netflix, a heaven for movie goers. With an on-line account and inexpensive rates we can peruse multiple DVD titles, select  those of interest, receive them  in the mail, watch in the privacy and ease of our living room, keep for as long as needed (without penalty), rate them on our account and return via pre paid mail when ready. Additionally, Netflix then makes suggestions for future flicks based on your ratings. Movie Heaven and most user friendly!

After three years of playing ‘catch up’ with movies, I’d like to share ten of my favorites, with brief descriptions and in no particular order. I rated these all 4 or 5 stars out of 5:

1. Let It Rain  French comedy: subtle, understated, and witty.
Small but humorous happenings in the lives of the characters:
a feminist politician, two hapless documentary film makers,
sister, family and lover of the politician.It is a charming romp
where we witness the characters stumble and bumble their
way through the events in their lives.
Acting, cinematography and direction all high quality.

3. The Kids Are All Right  Modern, hip, comedy/drama
(takes place in California) and involves a lesbian couple
with two teenagers, experiencing the usual, everyday
issues of family life. the (boy and girl) teens decide they
want to meet their sperm donor (male parent), locate and
meet him, after which he meets their mothers. All actors
are excellent: the bread winning, type A mom (Annette
Benning), the laid back, free spirit mom (Julianne Moore),
the sperm donor (Mark Ruffalo) the daughter (Mia
Wasikowska) and the son (Josh Hutcherson). As the plot
unfolds, Ruffalo becomes more involved with the family
leading to some interesting and, in some ways, predictable
circumstances. The resolution leads to some dramatic
moments.

4. Everybody’s Fine  Another family film; one that deals
with an aging father of grown children who is now alone
after his wife’s death. When all three adult children cancel
visiting the father (Robert De Niro), he embarks on a
journey to surprise each of them. Even though the movie
can be emotional and sentimental at times, one feels the
deep truths of these emotions as experienced by the
characters, especially De Niro. Adult children are acted by
Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell and Drew Barrymore.
De Niro must not only come to terms with his own health
issues but with his style of child rearing (viewed in
flashbacks) and the ultimate realization that the most
important gifts a parent can give to a child (small or grown)
is love and acceptance.

5. Death At A Funeral (English version) Here’s another
family movie but one so funny I nearly fell out of my chair
laughing! Netflix describes it as goofy (it is), dark humor
comedy (which it also is but I’d put more emphasis on the
comedy than the dark). The British have such a bizarre
and quirky sense of humor that, rather than needing to do
a deep analysis, it’s better to just go with the flow, enjoy it
and feel good afterwards. Plot revolves around the funeral
of the patriarch of a wealthy but eccentric British clan which
is turned upside down when a stranger appears, claiming to
be the dead man’s gay lover. The film gets even wackier
when the deceased’s sons attempt to keep this stranger
from letting the other guests know of this revelation. I would
definitely watch this again.

6. Charlie St. Cloud This film has many elements that I
like: heartfelt emotions, beautiful scenery, sailing scenes,
spiritual and other-worldly elements and lack of violence.
Might be called sentimental by some but I liked its clean,
honest feel. I try to seek movies that help to combat the
negative, network news and this qualifies. Story of two
brothers, the younger one dies and the effect it has on the
surviving older brother. I think that many who have lost a
loved one can relate. And, even though the subject matter
deals with death, it does so in an uplifting and positive way.

7. The Ghost Writer I don’t usually watch or enjoy political
thrillers but this film is an exception. Directed by Roman
Polanski, it is tightly crafted, suspenseful and engaging.
Ewan McGregor as the writer, Pierce Brosnan as the former
British Prime Minister and Olivia Williams as the politician’s
wife all turn in convincing performances. The setting of a
Boston coastal area and mood are all conducive to a subtle,
finely woven plot, acting and direction without the usual
bombastic, explosive elements so often seen in this genre.
The plot involves the writer who stumbles upon a long hidden
secret when he agrees to help the former British PM complete
his memoirs on a remote island after the politicians’ assistant
drowns in a mysterious accident. The writer realizes his
discovery threatens some very powerful people who want
none of this revealed. The movie will keep you in suspense
without causing cardiac arrest.

8. The Blind Side This 2009 movie with Sandra Bullock
and Quinton Aaron (playing NFL Baltimore Ravens’ rookie,
Michael Oher) is a winner on all levels. Appeals to every age
and features‘feel good’ themes such as compassion, humor,
courage, true grit and love within seemingly unlikely relation-
ships. Bullock plays a southern, Christian mother and wife
who gives depth and meaning to the term, ‘steel magnolia’
when she takes in an oversize, African American teenage
boy from a broken home, befriends him (as do her family
members), sends him to a private, Christian Academy and
eventually helps to engineer his entrance to the NFL.
Excellent acting by all, fine directing and pacing and an all
around, inspirational movie. Don’t miss it if you haven’t seen
it.

9. The Pursuit of Happyness  Another feel good and
inspiring movie starring Will Smith as a single parent to his
(real-life) son, Jaden. The film follows his struggles as a
salesman whose job barely pays the bills through his entry
into the investment field as a stock broker trainee, with an
initial, unpaid internship. As he slowly works his way up the
ladder, the audience shares his trials and challenges.
I found myself cheering Smith and his son on in this
interesting film, based on the real life tale of investment broker
success story, Chris Gardner.

10. Julie and Julia Another truth-inspired movie about Julie
Powell, a young woman, who decides to spend one whole
year cooking all 524 recipes from Julia Child’s,
Mastering The Art of French Cooking and writing a blog
about her culinaryadventures. Director, Nora Ephron,
manages to weave the lives of these two women (living in
different decades for the most part) seamlessly and in a way
 that keeps the viewer engaged (especially if you enjoy cook-
ing and good eating). Meryl Streep, as Julia Child, once again
displays her talent and versatility playing an uncanny likeness
of the famous chef, while Amy Adams hits just the right note
as the younger, aspiring chef/writer, embarking on this
ambitious project. This film is witty, well done
(no pun intended), heartfelt and fun to watch.

So there you have my picks. If you have seen any movies
not mentioned here, please write about them in the
comments space below so that others can benefit from
your suggestions,
………..until next time………….