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Masterpiece 
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Amazon info Have you ever heard of the "Up" documentaries? 7 Up, 14 Up, etc. all the way up to 49 UP (and the soon to be released 56 Up)? In 1964, a group of British schoolchildren were brought together and featured in a documentary. They were 7 years old. Asked about their home life and their aspirations, these 14 children from different backgrounds were featured and then followed up on every 7 years up to the present day. The 56 Up film will be shown in the UK on May 14, 21, and 28. And one of the exciting things I've learned is that 13 of the 14 are participating, something that hasn't happened since 21 Up. These films are absolutely extraordinary. Some children's lives have ended up just as they predicted they would when asked at only 7 years old! Others have been in a decidedly positive direction, while some have struggled. I watched all these films over a week period earlier this year, and I cannot wait until I see the update on their lives. I don't know when we'll be able to see it in the U.S, and I'm so jealous of those of you in the U.K. that can see 56 Up next week. Maybe they'll be leaked online, but I will anxiously await its release otherwise. Directed by Michael Apted ( Coal Miner's Daughter, Gorillas in the Mist, Nell, Voyage of the Dawn Treader ), it is also one of Roger Ebert's top 10 films of all time. I highly encourage you to view this wonderful series. Available on Netflix streaming or from Amazon . Here's a small clip of 49 Up:
My grade: A In the beginning of the movie, it is 1938, and Walter and Jettel Redlich and their young daughter Regina have fled Nazi Germany for Kenya. Adjusting to their new home is a struggle, particularly for Jettel, who yearns for her comfortable life back in Germany. It is their daughter Regina who thrives in Kenya. Her relationship with the people, especially their cook Owuor, is very special. The family still has problems, though, even in Africa, and the strain is evident in Walter and Jettel's marriage. Knowing the unthinkable has happened to their loved ones in Germany is especially difficult on both of them. After the war is over, the family must decide whether to stay in Kenya or return to Germany, or even whether or not to remain a family. The film is a realistic, astounding portrait of Jewish refugees during WWII. Seeing the film definitely made me want to read Zweig's book. There is also a sequel, Somewhere in German y, that I'd like to read as well. Highly recommended.
Four book reviews:
Also finished:
The Weird Sister
s by Eleanor Brown (
I watched and reviewed an excellent Japanese film, Departures , which won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 2009. Loved this film. Loved it. And, I participated in the Villette read-a-long and made plans to participate in the Atlas Shrugged read-a-long . I'm loving Villette so far and I'm excited for Atlas Shrugged . I'd like to finish it before the movie comes out on April 15. 
Amazon info (Caution, spoilers ahead.) I had $5 in Amazon video-on-demand promotions so I used it last night to see Never Let Me Go . First of all, I could have done without Keira Knightley in the film. I'm not a fan of hers, and the only movie I've ever liked her in was the first Pirates of the Caribbean . (And don't get me started on why the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice is infinitely better than the Knightley version.) Other than her being in it, I LOVED it. The scenery and the music were so beautiful. Carey Mulligan was fantastic. And the film affected me way more than the book did. Ishiguro is a terrific writer, but at the end of the book I really did question whether they had a soul or not. The way the characters were portrayed on film erased that question in my mind. I highly recommend this movie, but I would hope that you'd read the book first. Grade: A+
I read The Time Traveler's Wife in 2006, and though I didn't like some of the bad language in it, I absolutely LOVED the story. I think the movie was supposed to come out last fall, but it kept being pushed later and later, so I was a little worried about how it was going to turn out. But with Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana as the lead roles (two of my very favorite actors), I thought it couldn't be too awful. I really liked but didn't quite love the movie. It was very emotional for me, just as the book was. Of course they changed some elements of the story (Gomez is all good in the film), but most of the movie was as good as I expected. The problem for me was that the beginning of it didn't quite work for me. I'm not sure why, but I think they could have set up the storyline a little better than they did. Also, while Erica Bana was great ,I didn't like Rachel McAdam's acting in parts -- it was as if I could "see" her acting. I loved loved loved her in The Notebook , so I was surprised and disappointed in this. But, it was only in parts. In other sections of the movie I thought she was as fantastic as Bana. My only caution is that if you haven't read the book, it might be a little hard to follow. And if you haven't yet read the book, I highly recommend you do so! Grade: B+
Julie and Julia was a pleasant surprise for me. Of course I knew it was about Julia Child, but funnily enough, I didn't know it was also somewhat about blogging! I remember watching Julia Child on PBS when I was a kid and thought she was the funniest thing. Meryl Streep has to be one of the best (if not the best) actresses of all time. She played Julia sooooooo well. I've loved Amy Adams in other movies, but to me she was a little disappointing in this film. All in all, though, I really liked the film. I most enjoyed learning more about Julia's life -- she was quite a character. [Side note: Did you know Julia was 6'2" tall? Her husband made special kitchen counters for her!] I don't even like cooking all that much except for a few dishes that my family loves me to make, but I may just have to get Julie Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking . The recipes looked and sounded delicious! Grade: A- |
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) (I'll have that review tomorrow), and now I'm halfway through
Amsterdam
by Ian McEwan.
