A movie for St. Patrick's Day

Here's a little luck for St. Patrick's Day.  Be sure to go out and find yourself some green beer.  Oh, and here's a little movie that you should definitely seek out to enjoy some of the luck 'o the Irish.

Waking Ned Devine is a movie I'd recommend to anyone who needs something for the whole family to watch on St. Patrick's Day (or any day for that matter).  The story takes place in a small Irish village of 52 people, and starts just after one of them wins the Irish National Lottery.  Jackie O'Shea (Ian Bannen) and Michael O'Sullivan (David Kelly - both pictured above, Kelly on the left) go out to figure out which person won.   Jackie and his wife Annie (Fionnula Flanagan) plan a dinner to invite the whole town to figure out who might have won.  When no one steps up, they visit the only person who missed the dinner, Ned Devine, who they find dead from shock with a smile on his face.  Jackie has a dream that Ned wants the town to share the wealth and convinces the town that they can fool the Lotto inspector and share the prize.  Of course there's a mean woman who's the only hold out and the town tries lots of shenanigans to keep her away from the Inspector.

The movie has a lot of terrific humor - whimsy and frivolity that are borne of watching these two elderly men plot fraud.  There are subplots between lots of the townspeople - a woman who can't marry the love of her life because he always smells like pigs (he's a pig farmer and keeps trying out new soaps to find one that will take away the smell), a new, young priest trying to win over the the older parishioners, and little boys trying to make mischief.  It's a terrific film with strong writing that doesn't try to be any more than a delightful piece of entertainment, with Irish accents.   And of course, a good Irish wake is the source of the title.

Merry Christmas from Insight into Entertainment

I've been enjoying finding out about all kinds of holiday traditions and likes and dislikes from all my fellow bloggers.  And since "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear" I thought I'd spread some Christmas music.  Some of these songs made me think of you all.  Claim one if you dare, but I'm guessing people can figure them out.  Merry Christmas to all, or to quote Dylan, "Happy non-denominational winter holiday!"

Happy Halloween!

I think of this as the great gay pumpkin.  I hope you're all having a terrific Halloween. 

Happy Easter!

I was trying to think of a movie in which Easter is even mentioned, and I couldn't think of very many. I was trying to avoid many of the movies that show the sources of Easter. I'm thinking more of the chocolate bunnies and Easter eggs. The only one I could think of barely mentions Easter, but when you think about it, Easter figures prominently at least twice in Steel Magnolias. Based on a play by the same name (which I saw with Cherry Jones as Dolly Parton's character Truvy), there are 3 main acts: Getting ready for Shelby's wedding (Julia Roberts) which seems to be taking place right around Easter as Truvy has been dying eggs to send to the church get hidden. Weezer smashes them in the trunk when her dog gets scared and runs away. The second act is when Shelby has returned, and though diabetic and advised against it, has decided to have a child. The third act (spoiler, but this movie is several decades old at this point) is when Shelby dies and it's several months after the funeral we see her son playing at the Easter egg hunt with all the other main characters. I think the colors and the fact it takes place in spring always makes that last scene seem a little less sad, even though I'm usually still crying. That and Dolly Parton squealing, "I'm a chain" always makes me giggle.

Anyway, there's your Easter movie. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas from Insight into Entertainment!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I hope to see lots of movies during the next week, particularly Avatar in 3D! I hope you all get everything you're looking for this Christmas.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's a little something to enjoy for the holidays.

November 5: Happy Guy Fawkes Day!

"Remember, Remember the 5th of November, the gun-powder treason and plot. I know of no reason why the gun-powder treason should ever be forgot." Those are the opening lines of V for Vendetta, a post-apocalyptic story of how fear can drive a society to relinquish rights for security, and of course, as the saying goes, get neither. However, a vigilante called V appears on November 5th promising that in one year, he will blow up the buildings of Parliament (like Guy Fawkes hoped to do). As the year goes by he also murders several members of the ruling party for reasons that aren't revealed until the end. However, on that first night V crosses paths with Evey (Natalie Portman), a TV producer, and she becomes a somewhat willing participant, embroiled in his struggle to bring down the government. There is a police Inspector Finch (Stephen Rea) who is unraveling V's reasons for the murders and what could be behind his vendetta against the government. Finch discovers that the fear of disease and the need for quarantine and thus the strict regulations and controls by the government were in fact created by the government itself to give itself complete power. Overall, the society rallies together to fight what it begins to understand is not a benevolent governing body, and Guy Fawkes ideas are achieved.

The movie is based on a graphic novel, and thus contains quite a few scenes set up with a comic book in mind - larger than life leaders on huge screens, cartoonish costuming, and extremes in language, dialogue. People are either good or bad, black or white actions, very little middle ground. However, I don't think that's bad. It's an interesting look at what you'd do about terrorists (or vigilantes) in such a restrictive society, and how perhaps it's important to examine why such a society would spawn someone willing to risk everything to take it down. I like this movie a lot, the dialogue is creative, plays on words, examining the meaning of power, etc. The acting, particularly by Hugo Weaving as V is spectacular. He has to get across a complete character while wearing a creepy mask and wig the whole time. It's all in his voice. Natalie Portman does a good job being transformed by V and holding her personal need above the fight for national change. I recommend watching it every November!

PS - This post is part of a general Guy Fawkes Day celebration to be shown on the 5ht over at Matte Havoc. Don't forget to check it out, particularly if you like V for Vendetta.

Female Characters Good for Halloween

I'm a big fan of Halloween and trick or treating, but I do think it belongs to kids, probably under the age of 10 or 12. There are the obvious costumes like ghosts, witches, pumpkins and clowns (yes, I was all of these at one point), but there are also quite a few from movies that I've been thinking of that are also appropriate for girls rather than trashy options that seem to dominate the stores, but I'm sure there might be others. Here are 5 I'd recommend:

1. Hermione Granger - Excellent role model, magical and has great friends.














2. Mary Poppins - She can fly, sing, has a movie, a book, and a musical. Also, easy to wear a heavy coat and scarf if you're up north.




















3. Dorothy Gale/Wicked Witch - I have no problem with good or bad characters, just as long as they're fun and recognizable.






























4. Belle (or many of the Disney princesses, including the new one, Princess Tiana from The Princess and the Frog)

























5. Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl - Okay, the guys costumes from Toy Story are a lot more fun, but I think being a cowgirl is still really cool.

L.A.M.Blog_A_Thon: Volume 2 - Christmas Scenes

As I love holiday movies, I have many favorite movies, and usually a favorite scene within each movie too, so I love this month's theme for the LAMB blog-a-thon. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is a family favorite ever since my grandparents were forced to spend the night due to a blizzard on Christmas Eve. Not having any way to entertain her parents, my aunt put this movie on and the rest is history. I've even found kindred spirits by quoting the movie in front of strangers and having people respond in kind. (B-mama, I'll get you something "real nice" for the holidays). Anyway, quoting the best scene properly is something of a badge of honor in our family and usually leads to disagreements about the actual words, leading to putting the movie on and watching it all the way through as this scene is close to the end. Enjoy.

Happy Halloween!