What does it mean to be human?
Andrew is an android who like Pinocchio, became a "real boy"; he has a personality, emotions and the the capacity to expand both. The movie is the story of his growth toward being human and his struggle to be acknowledged as "human".
Stars: Robin Williams as Andrew Martin and Embeth Davidtz as Little Miss Amanda Martin and as Portia Charney.
"One is glad to be of service" Andrew always said when given a task.
When Andrew's ability to sculpt and create were discovered the question of who would profit from his creations came up too.
Sir Richard Martin played by Sam Neill, declared Andrew to be "a form of property, not a person".
This set Andrew on one of many quests: "how does one obtain freedom to no longer be property?"
His ultimate quest is to be "acknowledged and recognized for who and what I am". This movie provides many ideas and themes for exploring the question of what it means to be liberated. Maybe the answer to that rests on first answering: what does it mean to be human?
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
The Accidental Tourist, 1988
Stars: William Hurt as Macon Leary, Geena Davis as Muriel Pritchett and Kathleen Turner as Sarah Leary, wife of William.
Macon and Sarah are struggling to rebuild their lives after the loss of their son; shot and killed by a mass murderer.
Macon attempts to cope by creating and maintaining a sense of routine and predictability.
But to cope Sarah needs change. This leaves her at odds with Macon and she decides to divorce him and live on her own.
Macon writes travel books filled with advice on how to avoid experiencing the strange and new while traveling.
Into Macon's safe, circumscribed world comes Murial Pritchett.
Murial is a single mom who faces much financial hardship with somewhat unfounded optimism.
She has left no stone unturned in her struggle to stay afloat financially: dog boarding, grooming, training... whatever is needed and she can do.
And she is determined to find a man to be in her son's life.
When Macon enters her dog grooming business in "desperate" need of dog boarding, she notes he is single and launches an immediate, obvious and aggressive campaign for Macon.
Though Murial and Macon have almost nothing in common Macon is drawn to Murial.
Macon uses Murial and her son's great and very real need as his rationalization for this attraction. They bring a purpose and shape to his life.
Is Macon's need for a safe routine in which to live his life simply greater than his aversion to Murial?
In a subplot Macon's sister and Julian, his publisher have a similar, parallel romance. That romance too is based on needs.
Macon feared change. Murial faced serious circumstantial limitations. But how many of our needs can we reasonably expect others to fill? And at what cost? At the end of the movie I feel they have all lost something more than their way home.
Macon and Sarah are struggling to rebuild their lives after the loss of their son; shot and killed by a mass murderer.
Macon attempts to cope by creating and maintaining a sense of routine and predictability.
But to cope Sarah needs change. This leaves her at odds with Macon and she decides to divorce him and live on her own.
Macon writes travel books filled with advice on how to avoid experiencing the strange and new while traveling.
Into Macon's safe, circumscribed world comes Murial Pritchett.
Murial is a single mom who faces much financial hardship with somewhat unfounded optimism.
She has left no stone unturned in her struggle to stay afloat financially: dog boarding, grooming, training... whatever is needed and she can do.
And she is determined to find a man to be in her son's life.
When Macon enters her dog grooming business in "desperate" need of dog boarding, she notes he is single and launches an immediate, obvious and aggressive campaign for Macon.
Though Murial and Macon have almost nothing in common Macon is drawn to Murial.
Macon uses Murial and her son's great and very real need as his rationalization for this attraction. They bring a purpose and shape to his life.
Is Macon's need for a safe routine in which to live his life simply greater than his aversion to Murial?
In a subplot Macon's sister and Julian, his publisher have a similar, parallel romance. That romance too is based on needs.
Macon feared change. Murial faced serious circumstantial limitations. But how many of our needs can we reasonably expect others to fill? And at what cost? At the end of the movie I feel they have all lost something more than their way home.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Blast From the Past, 1999
"One from the vaults" Dr. Frank N. Furter
In Blast From the Past Brendan Fraser and Alicia Silverstone were adorable as "Adam and Eve".
Adam has spent the entire 35 years of his life living under the city of Los Angeles in a fallout shelter. Adam's father, Christopher Walken, sealed himself and his pregnant (with Adam) wife, Sissy Spacek as Helen, into the shelter during the Cuban missile crisis.
After 35 years the little family has run out of supplies. Adam volunteers to go "up to the surface" and gather supplies to replenish their vault dwelling.
The family has many fears based on assumptions that the world they knew endured a nuclear war. Adam's assumptions lead him into several amusing situations.
While searching for supplies Adam has great hopes of meeting a potential mate, preferably not a mutant.
On the surface Adam meets Eve, a street smart lady with a well developed sense of morality, you know, what is right and wrong. Adam employs Eve to help him gather supplies.
Will the cynical but charming Eve fall for the naive but charming Adam? Watching their situation unfold is thoroughly enjoyable.
The soundtrack has some gems. For one, I have "Hell" by the Squirrel Nut Zippers stuck in my head now.
In Blast From the Past Brendan Fraser and Alicia Silverstone were adorable as "Adam and Eve".
Adam has spent the entire 35 years of his life living under the city of Los Angeles in a fallout shelter. Adam's father, Christopher Walken, sealed himself and his pregnant (with Adam) wife, Sissy Spacek as Helen, into the shelter during the Cuban missile crisis.
After 35 years the little family has run out of supplies. Adam volunteers to go "up to the surface" and gather supplies to replenish their vault dwelling.
The family has many fears based on assumptions that the world they knew endured a nuclear war. Adam's assumptions lead him into several amusing situations.
While searching for supplies Adam has great hopes of meeting a potential mate, preferably not a mutant.
On the surface Adam meets Eve, a street smart lady with a well developed sense of morality, you know, what is right and wrong. Adam employs Eve to help him gather supplies.
Will the cynical but charming Eve fall for the naive but charming Adam? Watching their situation unfold is thoroughly enjoyable.
The soundtrack has some gems. For one, I have "Hell" by the Squirrel Nut Zippers stuck in my head now.
Friday, March 27, 2009
"Easter Parade", 1948
I have been humming the title song to this Irving Berlin musical for weeks. To me the song is tremendously positive, optimistic and hopeful. What woman wouldn't want to "walk down the avenue" arms linked with a "swell" who sees not a myriad of imperfections and failings but "the grandest lady" when he looks at her? Wow!
Judy Garland plays Hanna Brown. Hanna is a dancer in a small chorus line.
Fred Astaire plays Don Hewes, a dancer who has achieved a degree of fame and fortune.
Nadine Hale played by Ann Miller is Don's dancing partner. When Nadine informs Don that she has quit their team in order to strike out on her own Don is greatly disappointed. Don's career is now on the line. He must replace Nadine and as he is miffed at her, decides to do it Pygmalion style, by choosing the first dancer he sees. Of course he sees Hanna.
The story takes place within the space of one year, from one Easter to the next.
When Don and Hanna pass Nadine the first Easter Hanna is intimidated. Don assures Hanna that the next Easter she will be as confident and successful as Nadine.
Besides Irving Berlin's songs, (IMDb lists 18 in this movie!) there are wild, brightly colored costumes and wonderful dancing. Ann Miller was elegant and graceful, I thought, a treat. If you don't mind getting a song or two stuck in your head, dust off "Easter Parade".
Judy Garland plays Hanna Brown. Hanna is a dancer in a small chorus line.
Fred Astaire plays Don Hewes, a dancer who has achieved a degree of fame and fortune.
Nadine Hale played by Ann Miller is Don's dancing partner. When Nadine informs Don that she has quit their team in order to strike out on her own Don is greatly disappointed. Don's career is now on the line. He must replace Nadine and as he is miffed at her, decides to do it Pygmalion style, by choosing the first dancer he sees. Of course he sees Hanna.
The story takes place within the space of one year, from one Easter to the next.
When Don and Hanna pass Nadine the first Easter Hanna is intimidated. Don assures Hanna that the next Easter she will be as confident and successful as Nadine.
Besides Irving Berlin's songs, (IMDb lists 18 in this movie!) there are wild, brightly colored costumes and wonderful dancing. Ann Miller was elegant and graceful, I thought, a treat. If you don't mind getting a song or two stuck in your head, dust off "Easter Parade".
Saturday, February 14, 2009
The Odd Couple, 1968
Oscar Madison:
I can't take it anymore, Felix, I'm cracking up. Everything you do irritates me. And when you're not here, the things I know you're gonna do when you come in irritate me. You leave me little notes on my pillow. Told you 158 times I can't stand little notes on my pillow. "We're all out of cornflakes. F.U." Took me three hours to figure out F.U. was Felix Ungar!
Valentine's Day is a good day to make a pot of spaghetti (or was that linguine?) and spend time with my favorite couple; The Odd Couple.
This is my absolute favorite, warm fuzzy, feel good movie.
Jack Lemmon plays Felix Ungar and Walter Matthau plays Oscar Maddison
Oscar is a simple man with a big heart and some great friends to go with it. Unfortunately Oscar's marriage failed. Divorced, Oscar rambles around in a big apartment full of things left by the wife and child.
Felix is a complicated man with some great friends and many emotional and physical difficulties.
The movie begins on the night Felix's wife asks for a divorce. After tinkering with suicide a distraught Felix eventually arrives at Oscar's door and into the care of friends. As the friends go home Oscar takes up suicide watch on his own.
Oscar's house is too big for him and he is not interested in cleaning it. His kitchen is a bio hazard.
Felix is now homeless is a cleaning fanatic. Sharing a home seemed like a good idea at the time.
But Oscar's casual approach to housekeeping and life quickly clash with Felix's agonizingly picky standards. Another blowup was inevitable for him.
My grandmother used to say you could tell a lot about people if you knew what made them laugh. This movie makes me laugh and I have no idea what that says about me.
I can't take it anymore, Felix, I'm cracking up. Everything you do irritates me. And when you're not here, the things I know you're gonna do when you come in irritate me. You leave me little notes on my pillow. Told you 158 times I can't stand little notes on my pillow. "We're all out of cornflakes. F.U." Took me three hours to figure out F.U. was Felix Ungar!
Valentine's Day is a good day to make a pot of spaghetti (or was that linguine?) and spend time with my favorite couple; The Odd Couple.
This is my absolute favorite, warm fuzzy, feel good movie.
Jack Lemmon plays Felix Ungar and Walter Matthau plays Oscar Maddison
Oscar is a simple man with a big heart and some great friends to go with it. Unfortunately Oscar's marriage failed. Divorced, Oscar rambles around in a big apartment full of things left by the wife and child.
Felix is a complicated man with some great friends and many emotional and physical difficulties.
The movie begins on the night Felix's wife asks for a divorce. After tinkering with suicide a distraught Felix eventually arrives at Oscar's door and into the care of friends. As the friends go home Oscar takes up suicide watch on his own.
Oscar's house is too big for him and he is not interested in cleaning it. His kitchen is a bio hazard.
Felix is now homeless is a cleaning fanatic. Sharing a home seemed like a good idea at the time.
But Oscar's casual approach to housekeeping and life quickly clash with Felix's agonizingly picky standards. Another blowup was inevitable for him.
My grandmother used to say you could tell a lot about people if you knew what made them laugh. This movie makes me laugh and I have no idea what that says about me.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Pat and Mike, 1952
Spencer Tracy stars as sports promoter Mike Conovan and Katharine Hepburn as Pat Pemberton, a diversely talented athlete..
William Ching plays Collier Weld, the man Pat is engaged to marry.
A college administrator, Collier has big plans for his future. Collier hopes to finagle a large donation for the college from a wealthy couple during a game of golf. The talented Pat is to partner with the wife assuring her of a win. The wealthy couple will then presumably be in a generous mood.
But Collier has no confidence in Pat’s talent. He dogged her around the course pressing her to “do better”. . To make things worse, the wealthy wife gave Pat non-stop pointers and free advice. As people tend to do under that kind of pressure, Pat preforms poorly and disappoints Collier’s ambitions.
Pat is at a crossroads. She fancies having a “50-50" partnership with her man. Her self respect and confidence hinges on her athletic ability. But she cant preform well when Collier is around. Pat decides to prove to herself that she has what it takes to preform (and hold up her end?)
Here comes Mike Conovan, sports promoter. Recognizing Pats ability he takes her on as a client. Both Mike and Collier intend to profit from Pat’s ability. But Mike truly believes in her. Where Collier would say: “don’t screw up”, Mike says “well done”. Not hard to see where this is going.
But what about Pat’s goal of a 50-50 partnership? In one scene Pat saves Mike from a young Charles Bronson and a couple of other tough guy types. Mike was none too happy about being protected by a woman and brooded about it.
I wonder, is 50-50 really achievable? In any partnership one will always be the smarter, stronger, kinder and so on. The balance is always shifting. If you cant shift with it you end up brooding or worse.
William Ching plays Collier Weld, the man Pat is engaged to marry.
A college administrator, Collier has big plans for his future. Collier hopes to finagle a large donation for the college from a wealthy couple during a game of golf. The talented Pat is to partner with the wife assuring her of a win. The wealthy couple will then presumably be in a generous mood.
But Collier has no confidence in Pat’s talent. He dogged her around the course pressing her to “do better”. . To make things worse, the wealthy wife gave Pat non-stop pointers and free advice. As people tend to do under that kind of pressure, Pat preforms poorly and disappoints Collier’s ambitions.
Pat is at a crossroads. She fancies having a “50-50" partnership with her man. Her self respect and confidence hinges on her athletic ability. But she cant preform well when Collier is around. Pat decides to prove to herself that she has what it takes to preform (and hold up her end?)
Here comes Mike Conovan, sports promoter. Recognizing Pats ability he takes her on as a client. Both Mike and Collier intend to profit from Pat’s ability. But Mike truly believes in her. Where Collier would say: “don’t screw up”, Mike says “well done”. Not hard to see where this is going.
But what about Pat’s goal of a 50-50 partnership? In one scene Pat saves Mike from a young Charles Bronson and a couple of other tough guy types. Mike was none too happy about being protected by a woman and brooded about it.
I wonder, is 50-50 really achievable? In any partnership one will always be the smarter, stronger, kinder and so on. The balance is always shifting. If you cant shift with it you end up brooding or worse.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
The Egg and I, 1947
The Egg and I was the first of the Ma and Pa Kettle movies and in this movie, Ma and Pa are supporting characters.
The stars: Claudette Colbert as Betty MacDonald, Fred Macmurray as Bob MacDonald, Marjorie Main as Ma Kettle and Percy Kilbride as Pa Kettle.
Eugene, Michael and Eileen Irwin, 1947
"The Egg and I" has many beginnings. The post WWII world picks its self up and dusts its self off, to renew the business of living. Newly weds Betty and Bob are beginning their life together. They learn and begin a new occupation; chicken ranching. They move to a new home where they meet new neighbors. In due time, in all this newness they begin their family.
There are plenty of hardships and disappointments along the way, the same sort endured in the real world. But Betty and Bob overcome or find their way around the obstacles.
As this new year begins "The Egg and I" is a pleasent reminder that hope and courage are alive and well. Out in the "real" world there will always be brave souls beginning new jobs, lives and any number of things. Hopefully they are having an occasional laugh along the way.
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