Saving Mr. Banks
{5/5} “I know what he’s going to do to her. She’ll be cavorting, and twinkling, careening towards a happy ending like a kamikaze.” In 1961 Pamela is running out of money — she’s known as P. L. Travers to her fans, as author of several books about Mary Poppins. She reluctantly agrees to go to […]
The Company Men
{4.5/5} “I can’t have you challenging me in front of senior staff. They respect you. Question my judgement, you undermine my authority. I need to know, can I count on your full support? Good.” Bobby goes to work one day and is shocked to find that the company is getting rid of hundreds of workers […]
Enough Said
{4.5/5} “Yes, yes, the Container Store. The store that sells crap so you can put your crap in so you can go out and buy some more crap.” Eva is a masseuse, she’s divorced, and her daughter’s about to head off to college. At a party she meets Albert who works at a library of […]
The Italian Job
{5/5} “There are two kinds of thieves in this world. The ones who steal to enrich their lives, and the ones who steal to define their lives. Don’t be the latter. Makes you miss out on what’s really important in this life.” A team of thieves pull off a brilliant heist in Venice — $35 […]
Hearts in Atlantis
{4.5/5} “It will be the kiss by which all others in your life will be judged… and found wanting.” When Bobby was 11 he wanted a bike for his birthday. His mom couldn’t afford it — as she reminded him, his dad left them with too many debts when he died. But Bobby has fun playing […]
16 Blocks
{4.5/5} “I believe life’s too long and guys like you make it even longer.” Detective Jack Mosley is tired after working all night. His lieutenant gives him one last task — take a witness from jail over to the courthouse. It’s only 16 blocks — what could go wrong? The witness is Eddie, who’s very […]
The Captains
{4.5/5} “The deep strains of love — it’s the only mystery that is infinitely important.” — Kate Mulgrew The Captains was released in 2011. It’s a documentary about the captains from the various Star Trek series. William Shatner had previously worked with Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: Generations but he didn’t know much about the […]
In a World…
{5/5} “I just want to give you my card. I’m not a vocal coach anymore, but I would make an exception for you because you sound like a squeaky toy. And I don’t mean that in a bad way.” Carol works freelance as a voice coach and lives with her father, Sam, who does voiceovers. […]
DaCapo Chamber Choir’s “Journey Into Night”
I attended the DaCapo Chamber Choir’s concert “Journey Into Night.” The centrepiece of the concert was the 14-minute “When David Heard” by Eric Whitacre. It’s filled with despair, based on the Bible text that starts “When David heard that Absalom was slain he went up into his chamber over the gate and wept.” As for […]
The Spectacular Now
{4.5/5} “I like to think there’s more to a person than just one thing.” Sutter is a partier whose last girlfriend broke up with him over a misunderstanding. He’s been hanging out with Amiee, a nice girl whom he’s grown to like a lot. They’re about to graduate high school, and he doesn’t think their […]