goddess of clarity: a blog about politics, culture, and serenity

More Capsule Movie Reviews

The Bank Job

Pittsford Plaza 03.22.08

God, have I REALLY not been to a movie in over a month! I don't know why it is that the British are the only ones making heist movies anymore, but they sure are good at it. This one required a good two cups of coffee at the local coffee shop afterwards to wrangle out all the various plot points, but it didn't feel that confusing at the time. Just a good old fashioned, fast-placed blag.

Sweeney Todd

The Cinema 02.14.08

Loved it! Loved it! Everything about it! The singing! The acting! The costumes and sets! The blood spurting and skulls cracking against the barber shop floor! Brilliant!

No Country for Old Men

Pittsford Plaza 02.08.08

Sorry Coen brothers, but this one went well over my head. It was full of a bunch of people acting like nobody ever acts. And the ending -- sorry if I'm being very limited about this -- but it was deeply disatisfying. Beautiful scenery, though.

Juno

Pittsford Plaza 02.03.08

I usually hate movies that are quirky for quirkiness sake. But this one is so disarming after the initial "home skillet" annoyingness, that it wins you over. I love how none of the characters are what you think they will be, how each goes off in a very non-movie-specific direction. The distant stepmother is actually loving and courageous. The hip young dad is actually an immature jerk. The uptight yuppie mom-wannabe is actually strong and adventurous. All this plus a fresh, funny, smart, leading lady.

Beowulf

The Cinema 01.15.08

Do not see this movie if you can't see it in 3-D. There really is no point.

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

The Cinema 01.15.08

Rochester's Own Phillip Seymour Hoffman is in 30 percent of the movies currently in the theaters. This one is a nice, tight thriller about a scheme between two brothers that goes horribly wrong, and it is Ethan Hawke -- playing the hapless younger brother -- who delivers the best performance.

Charlie Wilson's War

Pittsford Plaza 01.07.08

Now I know why god invented movie stars. Sometimes a movie just needs some good ol' fashioned movie stars, and Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts certainly are that. And Rochester's Own Phillip Seymour Hoffman may not be a movie star, but he does steal every scene he's in.

Atonement

Pittsford Plaza 01.06.08

A very sentimental and sad love story starring two very beautiful people. I can watch the light bounce off of James McAvoy for two hours any time. Plus, I think Keira Knightly's green dress deserves some kind of honorary Academy Award--like the one Shirley Temple got, but for sex.

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The goddess is seeing...

Renaissance Faire

London Vacation

Mt. Cascade and Mt. Porter

Fallingwater

Lilac Festival 2005

Snowshoeing in the Adirondacks

'Lost' photos from Baby Brownie camera

James and Julie's wedding

The goddess is reading...

The World Without Us by Alan Weisman
What would happen if human beings disappeared from the planet tomorrow? That's the thought experiment behind this facsinating book. Did you know that the New York City subways would flood within three months, and your house would start to fall apart--starting around the roof and gutters--after about ten years?

Dead Certain by Robert Draper
This was an illuminating political biography of President George W. Bush. The central thesis of Draper's account is found in the title: that it is Bush's unwavering certainty that is his biggest asset and his ultimate downfall. My favorite anecdote involved the final days before the New Hampshire primary. Bush's staff see a group of school kids sledding on a hill and think this will be a great photo op. The governor enthusiastically joins in, beating all the little kids, and then insisting on a second run, as his cringing handlers instantly regret their decision.

Beowulf translation by Seamus Heaney
I read this in high school of course, but I wanted to read it again to see just how much the movie would veer away from the original text. The answer: a lot. Beowulf and Grendl's mother are the parents of the dragon? Whatever you say, Neil Gaiman.

More books...