by Sandy | Jun 25, 2010 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Creativity, dvd, music
“This Is It” is the DVD documentary that captured the final days of the “King of Pop” as he prepared for a concert tour in 2009. I’ll be honest, I began to watch with some hesitation – Is this going to be a sad, tragic documentary about a frail former super star? (I didn’t really want to see that.) But happily, no worries. 
“This Is It” is a joyous celebration of the pop entertainer’s talent and hard work. This compilation of rehearsal footage includes a lot of the songs and dance moves we all know and love and as the show is rehearsed and shaped, we also get to see the attention to detail, the professionalism that was Michael Jackson. He was totally present and engaged. Nothing was too small to go over until it was right. He loved it all.
It becomes obvious why MJ was not “famous” just for wearing gem encrusted gloves – his fans loved him because he so obviously cared about them. He wanted his audience to be entertained. He wanted them to say “Wow” and they did.
Michael Jackson * star ( Don’t believe it has been a year – R.I.P.)
by Bob Martin | Feb 23, 2010 | Art, dvd, Film, Movies
Paris I love You
This kind of compilation has always been for me difficult to watch. This movie worked I think because each (18) story is about the same length as a short info commercial, with each segment acted, produced and directed as if it was the only story being told. There is a lot of leeway with a title of “Paris, I love you”. My favorite segments are 1) “Parc Monceau” with Nick Nolte, 2) “Quais de Seine” 3) “Bastille” & 4)”Tour Eiffel”. There are many more bright spots and is worth a second look.
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by Sandy | Jan 23, 2010 | Artist, Blogroll, Directors, dvd, Film, Movies
Italian Neorealist Director Roberto Rossellini, (1906-1977), made a series of films just after World War II labeled the “War Trilogy”. They have been issued as a DVD box set :
“Rome Open City, (1945)” “Paisan” (1946) and “Germany Year Zero” (1948)
Acclaimed by French directors François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard, their articles appeared in the film magazine, “Cahiers du Cinema” declaring Rosselini “the father of the French New Wave”. His use of non-actors, his focus on little human interest stories and his use of the Italian street as back drop gave Rossellini ‘s films a grittiness and realism rarely seen in Europe before the war.
Roberto Rossellini’s “War Trilogy”
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by Sandy | Dec 8, 2009 | Actors, Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, dvd, Film, Movies
Directed by Sam Mendes, “Road to Perdition”, 2002, is based on the novel “Perdition” by Max Allan Collins. This excellent movie takes place in violent, 1930’s Chicago– “man on the run” story turns into a father & son bonding adventure- full of anger, blood, and revenge, but also humor and sweetness. There is the discovery that a son can be the mirror of his father, but still choose a different life path.
The actors are terrific, especially Tom Hanks as the father who mastered the art of being a “hitman” at an early age and Tyler Hoechlin as his son. Paul Newman is wonderful as the organized crime boss, outward paternal goodness covering a ruthless core. The beautiful Jude Law has an ugly and deadly role as a crime scene photographer with a sideline. Daniel Craig, before he became “007”, is easy to hate as the weasel that starts all the mess in motion.
A beautiful looking film, the cinematographer was Conrad Hall, full of shadows and weather- scenes shot in rain and snow, and then changes to beach and sun as the drama itself starts to clear.
“Road to Perdition” – outstanding!
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by Sandy | Nov 21, 2009 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, dvd, Film, Movies
17 DVDs/13 films, along with an illustrated coffee-table book, has been as a celebration of this actors work.
Some of the films included in the box set:
The Long, Hot Summer (1958
From the Terrace (1960)
Exodus (1960)
The Hustler (1961)
Hombre (1967)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Quintet (1979)
The Verdict (1982
Unfortunately, some of my favorites, The Sting, The Hustler, Road to Perdition, Hud, are not included in this tribute – but they are available on separate DVDs.
Paul Newman passed away in September, 2008 at age 83. A good actor and humanitarian, he had a long, full and varied life. He entertained us and he contributed to us.
“Paul Newman: The Tribute Collection”
by Sandy | Oct 22, 2009 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Books, dvd
“Precious Ramotswe“ is Botswana‘s only female private investigator – the main character of the HBO series, now on DVD. Directed by the late Anthony Minghella, “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency “, was produced for the BBC in 2008 and then shown in the U.S. in 2009. It is based on the popular book series by Alexander McCall Smith.
“Precious” is played by Grammy winner Jill Scott. Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose and Idris Elba from “The Wire” are also part of the great cast. As in the books, our bush tea drinking, lady sleuth tracks down wayward husbands, missing children and solves village mysteries all the while keeping to the traditions of her culture and maintaining the standards of both Queen Elizabeth and Nelson Mandela (she admires both).
There are 3 DVDs in the set and I enjoyed them all.“The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency“ has charm and heart. Great fun.
BTW: I noticed a few years back that Ms Ramotswe and the author’s name were listed week after week on the SF & Bay area California paper back bestseller list. I discovered that the Botswana detective has a worldwide cult following.
Books in the series:
* 1998 .The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency
* 2000 .Tears Of The Giraffe
* 2001 .Morality for Beautiful Girls
* 2002 .The Kalahari Typing School for Men
* 2004 .The Full Cupboard of Life
* 2004 .In the Company of Cheerful Ladies
* 2006 .Blue Shoes and Happiness
* 2007 .The Good Husband of Zebra Drive
