Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Sorry I'm late

Buses alternate between support for our team and routes
This morning I caught this picture of two buses as I waited to catch my route home. They don't usually have anything on the front except the route information, but not this week. Seahawk fever is everywhere. I flash my Seahawk thumbnails several times a day to show my own support. By this time on Sunday, it will all be over, and I think either team could win. Let's hope for a great game!

I just got back from the movie theater, having seen the last of this year's Oscar-nominated movies: 12 Years a Slave. Yesterday Judy and I saw Wolf of Wall Street. Although both of these movies are based on memoirs, assumed to be at least somewhat factual, they could not be more different from each other. I left the theater after seeing "Wolf" feeling disgusted by the excesses portrayed, especially after I did some research online and found that the main character is still scamming people and getting away with it, after serving less than two years in prison. However, that said, Leonardo diCaprio and Jonah Hill both richly deserve their Oscar nominations.

But I am still reeling from the effect that "12 Years" had on me. Knowing that everything depicted in the movie happened, and worse, I cried for the inhumanity that slavery perpetrated on so many people. If you aren't aware of the story, Solomon Northrup was a free black man living in New York in the late nineteenth century. He was kidnapped and treated as a slave for more than a decade. The movie is based on the book Northrup wrote after he was freed. The movie was filmed in Louisiana. "To know that we were right there in the place where these things occurred was so powerful and emotional," said actor Chiwetel Ejiofor (who plays Northrup). "That feeling of dancing with ghosts—it's palpable." Both Ejiofor and the woman who plays Patsey (Lupita Nyong'o) are nominated for Oscars.

Of the nine movies nominated for Best Picture, I have read that the buzz is going between "Gravity," "12 Years," and "American Hustle." I've seen all three, and "Gravity" left me in awe at the special effects but lukewarm about the story; "Hustle" was also loosely based on reality, and the performances of Amy Adams, Christian Bale, and Jennifer Lawrence are so good that I left the theater smiling long afterwards. They are also nominated, along with Bradley Cooper.

But if I were Mistress of the Universe, Best Picture would be handed to "12 Years a Slave." An amazing piece of work, if you ask me. I'm glad I saw it, even with all the violence.
:-)

18 comments:

  1. i will catch them someday on hbo.

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  2. Those movies sound depressing. Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine DVD arrived today, so David and I will watch it tomorrow. Don't know what to expect, but I hope there is satire and humor.

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  3. I have not seen Gravity, Wolf of Wall Street, Her, Nebraska, or Captain Phillips. August: Osage county is not nominated for best picture but I thought is was the best made movie. As to Best Picture, I would give it to 12 Years a Slave of the ones I've seem.. Acting awards are going to be tough. so many good performances!

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  4. I don't watch movies and I feel guilty about it and know that I am missing things. I can't sit still long enough to watch movies. You give an excellent summary of these movies.

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  5. I saw American Hustle and Her. Both of them were pretty good, but I'm still waiting to see a best-picture-worthy movie. I look forward to seeing Blue Jasmine, Philomena and 12 Years.

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  6. I will take your word for it, last year I went to a movie with Adam we had a date and we saw Jack and The Beanstalk or some such 3D movie.
    I almost had a date with him to see Captain Phillips but he opted out so we both stayed home:)

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  7. I've heard the reviews about how good 12 years is. However, I just can't get myself to see it. I'm just not ready to see the horror I know is there.

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  8. Haven't seen you three favorites. We're going to borrow my dads DVDs and take them on the cruise. He gets copies of the movies because he votes on the Oscar...pretty cool, huh?

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  9. Seahawk fever is sweeping the state. Like you I hope it is a good game.

    I will admit I haven't seen any of the Oscar nominated movies. I will probably watch a couple of them when they are available to stream. 12 years is at the top of my list.

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  10. I just watched yesterday afternoon, all the nominated movies' previews and I picked the few I wanted to see. And the Wolf was one I didn't want to see at all. I'm happy to read your opinion on it....I felt the same way about it just watching the 2 minute trailer.

    The ones I'd like to see would be Nebraska, 12 years a Slave, Captain Phillips [that's out on DVD now so I'll probably buy it in a day or two], Philomena, and perhaps the Dallas Buyers Club.

    The rest of the nominations...blah!! Not my kind of movies.


    As for the 'Hawks fever...did you hear or read about the newborn being named 12th Mann? [her middle name?] OMGoodness

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  11. I'm looking forward to seeing all of them. After your review, I am especially waiting to see 12 Years A Slave! I knew Wolf will be disgusting, but I want to see it regardless. By the time most of them are out on DVD it is usually after the Oscars so I haven't seen many of them. In fact, the only one nominated that I've seen so far is Captain Phillips. :)

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  12. 12 years a slave rocked me...i dont know that it will get the nod though, sadly...i can hope...cant believe he got heckled...i guess some just dont want to face reality....

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  13. Thanks for the movie reviews. I get to the theatre so seldom that I probably won't get to see any of those three.

    Blessings and Bear hugs!

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  14. For anyone not knowing anything about the Movie DJan, you just gave an excellent review. I wish we could get some great movies here, but we do not have a Movie Theater and if we want to see a Movie, its off to the big city with 3 hr round trip - then we would have to go out for dinner or supper and other things to do, so I like to set time aside for a movie now and then when the roads are clear of ice and snow and it doesn't get dark till 9:30 - 10pm - I see the future as NEW, up to date great movies, rented online and watched on my future smart TV. I would also like to see photos of the game when you go - Go Hawks Go :)

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  15. Haven't seen 12 years yet but of the others I've seen I liked Philomena with Dame Judy Dench.

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  16. Of the ones you mentioned, 12 Years intrigues me the most. One of these days, I'll be all set up here and I'll look into Netflicks and catch up on all the movies I've meant to see but never have. Thanks for your reviews. :)

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  17. Interesting D-Jan. I would probably be in agreement with you on the film.
    It was nice to see the buses. There I can identify with you - on the buses I mean, not the Seahawks. I have no idea who they are! However, Larry will so let's hope they win and make you happy.

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