My All Time Favorite -- Stage Play

 The first time I saw LES MISERABLES on stage was in 

San Francisco, perhaps 25 years ago.

I was there on vacation and just happened upon

the theater where it was being performed.

A spur of the moment decision resulted in

excellent seats for that day's matinee.

Chatting with a stranger sitting beside me,

I learned he had seen the show many times 

and he assured me, it would be "life changing."

He was right.

I have seen lots and lots of stage shows.

They are a passion of mine.

But, I have never been touched by a show

in the same way I have been by LES MISERABLES.

I've had the pleasure of seeing it performed

three times over the years.

So, you can imagine my excitement about

this holiday season's  movie.

The movie did not disappoint.

(I have seen it twice, 

so you know I'm serious about Les Mis.)

I love the music and lyrics of this show.
It's my favorite thing about the show.
One difference between seeing the stage show

and the movie is that  

the lyrics are much more easily 

understood in the movie.

The songs performed in the movie do not have

the refinement you hear from the stage.

But it's much more intimate.

You are right there with the characters.

Songs in the movie were performed 

while filmed, rather than dubbed in later.

This made them much more emotional for me.

There are lines in this show  

that truly touch my soul.

"...days of endless wonder..."

"I know a place where no one's lost..."

"I was borned to be with you..."

"...there's a grief that can't be spoken,

there's a pain that goes on and on..."

and

"...to love another person,

is to see the face of God..."

LES MIS is several stories.

First is the  story of redemption.

It is a touching love story.

It is the story of a student rebellion.

Seeing the student's barricade

 on stage that first time,

with the smoke, the lighting and that red flag waving,

I realized what the "magic" of theater is.

There's also plenty of comic relief in 

Monsieur and Madam Thenardier.

I have never been a fan of Sacha Baron Cohen,

but he is perfect here.

So, I won't say this is my all time favorite movie,

although I liked it a lot.

But, it surely is a wonderful production of 

my all time favorite stage show.

From My Book Shelf--ONE DAY

I have just finished ONE DAY by David Nicholls.

It seemed to take me for...ev...er...to get through this book.

Normally, this is the type book I would love.

It's a "relationship" story of

Emma and Dexter,

who have a one night stand on the

night of their graduation from university.

From there the book proceeds through the next

twenty years of their lives as they go their separate ways,

always to reconnect again, at least once a year.

I found these two characters extremely irritating.

Emma has a mundane start with

lowly, boring jobs, boyfriends, etc.

However, her aspirations to write are eventually fulfilled.

Dexter on the other hand, starts on a high plane.

He's the one who always falls into the right spot

and success.

However, as Emma's life improves, Dexter's

spirals down due to drugs and alcohol.

Despite all this, they have a sincere attraction,

and always maintain their friendship/relationship.

The twenty year span of the novel was a l...o...n...g time

for these two characters to maintain this reader's interest.

Neither is very likable, both are whiny.

I'm going to be blasphemous and recommend you

see the movie, rather than read the book.



I actually saw the movie a few months ago,

and did not realize the book was

same story until I got started with it. (Duh...)

I liked the movie and let's face it,

you can't go wrong with much

in which Anne Hathaway stars.

Guilty Pleasures

Did you hear about the $42 million dollars this movie earned this past weekend?

$15.00 of it was my money.

My daughter Kate was home for the Thanksgiving weekend

and like many other Americans, we went to the movies.

I'm afraid we both enjoy deriding the TWILIGHT SAGA,

(books and movies),

but we were right there with everyone else

to see the latest installment.

I only made it through the first book, but Kate has

read them all and enjoys telling me the many ways

the books fail as well written books.

She scoffs at the movies and

takes the attitude she's only seeing them

to give her poor old Mom someone to go with.

I myself have enjoyed the movies.

They are what they are.

Pure entertainment and fantasy.

Since I haven't read past the first book,

it's all an unfolding story to me.

And, if nothing else,

sitting and watching such pretty people,

vampires and werewolves not withstanding,

is a fun way to spend a couple of hours. 

Coming Attractions!

Yesterday, for the first time,

 I saw a trailer for the upcoming movie,

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO.

I'm looking forward to it!

One of the things that slightly annoyed me about the book

was how every woman in it was

falling all over herself to get into bed with

the lead character, Mikael Blomkvist.

With Daniel Craig playing the part,

I'm pretty much over being annoyed.

From my Book Shelf - IN THE GARDEN OF BEASTS

IN THE GARDEN OF BEASTS

by Erik Larson

is a non-fiction that reads like a thriller.

One of the author's aim in writing the book was

to give a sense of what daily life was like

in Berlin just after Hitler's assumption of power.

In 1933, William Dodd, a history professor at

the University of Chicago,

was interested in a government position

which would give him time for writing.

President Roosevelt was having a difficult time filling

the position of ambassardor to Germany.

Others were hesitant to take the position because

Hitler was somewhat of an unknown entity,

the "Jewish question" in Germany was just rearing its head,

and most powers in the U.S. were more concerned with

Germany's debt than current politics.

So, although not Roosevelt's first choice,

Dodd became the unlikely statesman.

Viewing the job as a big adventure,

Dodd goes to Berlin with his wife and

two grown children in tow.

The book is Dodd and daughter, Martha's story.

Martha, an aspiring writer, but better

suited as a party girl, was soon caught up in 

Berlin's social scene.

Early on she is quite enamored with the Nazis.

However, as more and more laws are passed

restricting the freedoms of Jews,

the true stituation slowly becomes evident.

I have always questioned in my mind,

"How did normal German people let this happen?"

Although I wholeheartedly recommend this book,

it really didn't fullly answer the question for me.

Somewhat in the same vein, (except Paris rather than Berlin)

I want to mention SARA'S KEY by Tatiana de Rosnay.

I read this book a couple of years ago, but I just saw

a movie trailer for it this past weekend.

I didn't even know it was being made into a movie.

This is such an engrossing story that I still think about it.

It is NOT an easy, light or "beach read,"

but well worth the effort.

And finally, (my mind is really working in circles tonight),

if you're one of the two or three people who haven't yet

read THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett, (a first novel!!!)

GO GET IT!!!

It's a wonderful read, and

the movie is just about to come out for it too.

Saturday - Movie Night!

A friend on FACEBOOK threw out a request for

followers to name their favorite movies this morning.

I've been mulling it over a good part of the day.

I'd have to say my all time favorite movie is

OUT OF AFRICA.

The sweeping landscapes of Africa,

the music, the costumes,

all make this movie

an epic.

Can't you just hear Meryl Streep's opening line

"...I had a farm in Africa..."

This is an oldie I've heard about all my life,

but only saw it for the first time about

six months ago.

What a movie!

Some interesting moral questions and

"doing the right thing."

Add a young Gregory Peck...

to die for...

Another BIG movie.

I literally fell in love with

F. Murray Abraham

in this movie.

He also won an Oscar for it.

Ahhh, Woody Allen, before all the

yuckiness.

Love him and Diane Keaton together.

I also love the clothes in this movie.

Messy relationships, but the

characters are so REAL

and it's SO New York.

The next few are classic chick flicks,

but SO good....

I think this is the first time I saw

Julia Roberts. Love her.

Add Richard Gere and how can you loose?

Maybe the only thing better than

Julia Roberts and Richard Gere is

Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. Love him.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this one.

Meryl Streep can do anything!

The clothes alone make it fun to watch.

Met another of my "dream men,"

Simon Baker, in this movie.

God, he's beautiful.

THE HOLIDAY is a fun little movie where

Jack Black shows he can really act!

The "feel good" ending is great.


The litmus test for a favorite movie for me is

if I catch it when I'm channel flipping,

and I stay and watch it again...it's a keeper.

I would watch this movie, anytime, anywhere.

(This does not hold true of the second one.)





I've enjoyed all the Jane Austin movies,

but SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

is my favorite.

"The Colonel"...need I say more?



LITTLE WOMEN with Wynona Ryder

is a great one to watch at holiday time.

Again, that ending alone makes it re-watchable.

Heath Ledger will break your heart in this one.



And finally, a newer one, BURLESQUE.

I didn't want this one to end.

Christina Aguilera's voice will take your breath away.

(All images are from Google.)

Are you up for a movie tonight?

What's your pick?

INCEPTION

Finally saw INCEPTION this afternoon. The plot is very complex--layers and layers of story. I know I probably missed a lot of the nuances in this movie, but the acting was first rate. Every character was believable. This movie reminded me a lot of THE MATRIX. It's a bit long, two hours and forty five minutes, but it keeps you involved the whole time. INCEPTION is a good way to spend a hot August afternoon!

Picture from GOOGLE IMAGES