Weblog 264
March 6, 2011~ 12:00 am
I was lucky enough to have a Saturday early evening filled with pleasure, simply because I was fortunate to have watched 'The King's Speech'....it's one of those films you're certain deserved every award it received. Colin Firth is amazing.
It's a role that could have been 'over done' in another actor's hands, but Firth is as fragile and understated in his performance as possible-- and it's all in the liquid vulnerability of his warm, brown eyes which look quietly tortured much of the time --and that hurt makes it a moving face to watch.
The movie tells the story of 'Bertie', who will become King George VI when his brother, the Duke of Wales, abdicates in order to marry Wallace Simpson, and it's England on the brink of war with Germany. It's the story of a stammerer so uncertain of himself, he's sure he's unfit to lead his people. Onto the scene steps a unconventional speech therapist in the person of the incomparable Geoffrey Rush
who teaches from pure instinct and an uncanny empathy for the suffering of others, and he's absolutely PERFECT in this role. (Although I haven't seen 'The Fighter' as yet and therefore have not yet seen Christian Bales in his supporting role, I dearly would have loved to have seen Rush grab best supporting actor for this movie, but with so many fine performances this year, it had to have been something of an 'eenie meanie minie moe' decision.) But I adore Rush. He was magnificent in 'Shine' and in 'Quills', where he played the Marquis De Sade-- the man can do anything (except appear handsome.) He's got a face like a wrinkled well-worn suit, yet it works for him because he's got OODLES of intelligence and charm.
In 'The King's Speech' he sees right through to the fear and the repressed anger in his royal student, and is convinced His Royal Majesty is going to have to come to grips with that in order to overcome his stammer. Rush's character of Lionel Logue helps the king most of all by not being cowed by his student's station in life, and always being a listening, caring friend first and foremost.
Films that depict deep, deep male friendships affect me the most, and I think it's because intimacy between women seems sort of second nature, almost effortless, but a trusting and heartfelt bond between males is a rarer commodity.
When it works on the screen, it's dyamite... and it did just that in this film for sure.
Every member of the supporting cast 'worked'. (I was so PLEASED I picked out Claire Bloom as the queen mother! I hadn't heard of her having a part in this film, but she's chilly and regal and formidable in her role.)
I was blown away by the film's GORGEOUS cinematography, which captured the hollow HUGENESS of the royal living quarters, the stony severity of its lofting halls and staircases-- and even the London fog itself served to lend a feeling of isolation to a man with so much riding on one set of very human shoulders, despite his title and birthright.
Everything in this film is impeccable. It deserved best picture of the year and Firth, the Oscar.
Another fine thing I wanted to share with you is a photography site by a brilliant photographer who captures the broken down sadness of old homesteads throughout Georgia. (Is there anything so evocative of better times, of life gone to seed, as the look of a dilapidated homestead or an old shack?)
(That picture isn't his.... it's from the Wisconsin library site, because the photographer's site has a very strict posting about copyright.) If you've a hankering to look through his lens at traces of the South's former agrarian glory and a way of life long past, please do visit Brian Brown's Vanishing South Georgia, to recall a slower way of life and a time that still echoes through every crumbling board and chipped column.
One other thing I wanted to post- and forgot to include last week, is a picture of an impromptu gift from my daughter, who snatched it up for me because it reminded her of the Scatcat character in my ongoing children's stories online. May I present to you......
"Scatcat" and company! LOL!!! Little teeth with EXPRESSIONS on 'em. The happiest guy has no decay, the one in the middle, a little bit, and the poor fella on the far right has a whole crownful. (Oh, how that delighted me when she happily handed it over last week.) "Just Because" gifts are some of life's surprising treasures. (And if you haven't read any of the Witch/Tooth/Dragon saga, click the link in the left-hand column. It's for 'kids'... but honestly, who isn't?) Adults appreciate slipping into the fantastical as well. We ALL need to feed that kid inside, because he/she never grows up. Not completely.) Have a great week!
March 8, 2011~ 7:30 pm
Today started out gray and clouded over-- my mood as well. (I find it astonishing how much weather really does affect me, because no sooner had the sun burst through in the late afternoon hours, than my spirits soared with it.) Everything seemed brighter to me. So changed was my attitude, I had to wonder how much I'm actually mistress of myself? How VISCERALLY events external to myself place either a heavy BOOT on my back or lift me up. I am a MARIONETTE!
Something's pulling my strings, that's for sure, and I think it's the teasing tide of spring lapping at my toes that's bewitched me utterly.
This has been such a looooooong, looooooong winter, it's worn at my resilience so that the smallest hint of a change has been a real boon to me. I feel positively......
ROBUST. LOL!!! That's a lovely painting by COWAN DOBSON, Scottish painter (1893-1980)- what a gal!
(Of course...... yes, the weatherman has predicted a day of 'rain and snow mixed' on Friday, but for right now I'll take any ray of sunshine I can get.) I can appreciate why those robins have been tuning up and going crazy. They had a hard time of it as well, and those guys know when the sun is returning to us... greening of the grass and leafing out of the trees.... and longer days. I feel positively PAGAN. I'm a druid! A happy druid!
March 9, 2011~ 5:15 pm
The weather didn't cooperate today. It rained and blew the whole day through with promises of worse.....
That's from the national weather service for Thursday evening through Friday evening. LOL!!! March has been cruel so far.
Since there was no sun, I decided to grab its closest substitute.....
KAY! 5 years old and all dressed up to accompany her other grandma, Grandma Lindy, to 'Disney Princesses On Ice'- where the little gal audience come dressed as Disney princesses. (I say if the sun won't shine......
then KAY WILL!) What a vision. I don't believe I've ever seen her happier. (Thanks, Kay... you warmed my day quite nicely. :)
***
(Return To Weekly Archives)
I was lucky enough to have a Saturday early evening filled with pleasure, simply because I was fortunate to have watched 'The King's Speech'....it's one of those films you're certain deserved every award it received. Colin Firth is amazing.
It's a role that could have been 'over done' in another actor's hands, but Firth is as fragile and understated in his performance as possible-- and it's all in the liquid vulnerability of his warm, brown eyes which look quietly tortured much of the time --and that hurt makes it a moving face to watch.
The movie tells the story of 'Bertie', who will become King George VI when his brother, the Duke of Wales, abdicates in order to marry Wallace Simpson, and it's England on the brink of war with Germany. It's the story of a stammerer so uncertain of himself, he's sure he's unfit to lead his people. Onto the scene steps a unconventional speech therapist in the person of the incomparable Geoffrey Rush
who teaches from pure instinct and an uncanny empathy for the suffering of others, and he's absolutely PERFECT in this role. (Although I haven't seen 'The Fighter' as yet and therefore have not yet seen Christian Bales in his supporting role, I dearly would have loved to have seen Rush grab best supporting actor for this movie, but with so many fine performances this year, it had to have been something of an 'eenie meanie minie moe' decision.) But I adore Rush. He was magnificent in 'Shine' and in 'Quills', where he played the Marquis De Sade-- the man can do anything (except appear handsome.) He's got a face like a wrinkled well-worn suit, yet it works for him because he's got OODLES of intelligence and charm.
In 'The King's Speech' he sees right through to the fear and the repressed anger in his royal student, and is convinced His Royal Majesty is going to have to come to grips with that in order to overcome his stammer. Rush's character of Lionel Logue helps the king most of all by not being cowed by his student's station in life, and always being a listening, caring friend first and foremost.
Films that depict deep, deep male friendships affect me the most, and I think it's because intimacy between women seems sort of second nature, almost effortless, but a trusting and heartfelt bond between males is a rarer commodity.
When it works on the screen, it's dyamite... and it did just that in this film for sure.
Every member of the supporting cast 'worked'. (I was so PLEASED I picked out Claire Bloom as the queen mother! I hadn't heard of her having a part in this film, but she's chilly and regal and formidable in her role.)
I was blown away by the film's GORGEOUS cinematography, which captured the hollow HUGENESS of the royal living quarters, the stony severity of its lofting halls and staircases-- and even the London fog itself served to lend a feeling of isolation to a man with so much riding on one set of very human shoulders, despite his title and birthright.
Everything in this film is impeccable. It deserved best picture of the year and Firth, the Oscar.
Another fine thing I wanted to share with you is a photography site by a brilliant photographer who captures the broken down sadness of old homesteads throughout Georgia. (Is there anything so evocative of better times, of life gone to seed, as the look of a dilapidated homestead or an old shack?)
(That picture isn't his.... it's from the Wisconsin library site, because the photographer's site has a very strict posting about copyright.) If you've a hankering to look through his lens at traces of the South's former agrarian glory and a way of life long past, please do visit Brian Brown's Vanishing South Georgia, to recall a slower way of life and a time that still echoes through every crumbling board and chipped column.
One other thing I wanted to post- and forgot to include last week, is a picture of an impromptu gift from my daughter, who snatched it up for me because it reminded her of the Scatcat character in my ongoing children's stories online. May I present to you......
"Scatcat" and company! LOL!!! Little teeth with EXPRESSIONS on 'em. The happiest guy has no decay, the one in the middle, a little bit, and the poor fella on the far right has a whole crownful. (Oh, how that delighted me when she happily handed it over last week.) "Just Because" gifts are some of life's surprising treasures. (And if you haven't read any of the Witch/Tooth/Dragon saga, click the link in the left-hand column. It's for 'kids'... but honestly, who isn't?) Adults appreciate slipping into the fantastical as well. We ALL need to feed that kid inside, because he/she never grows up. Not completely.) Have a great week!
March 8, 2011~ 7:30 pm
Today started out gray and clouded over-- my mood as well. (I find it astonishing how much weather really does affect me, because no sooner had the sun burst through in the late afternoon hours, than my spirits soared with it.) Everything seemed brighter to me. So changed was my attitude, I had to wonder how much I'm actually mistress of myself? How VISCERALLY events external to myself place either a heavy BOOT on my back or lift me up. I am a MARIONETTE!
Something's pulling my strings, that's for sure, and I think it's the teasing tide of spring lapping at my toes that's bewitched me utterly.
This has been such a looooooong, looooooong winter, it's worn at my resilience so that the smallest hint of a change has been a real boon to me. I feel positively......
ROBUST. LOL!!! That's a lovely painting by COWAN DOBSON, Scottish painter (1893-1980)- what a gal!
(Of course...... yes, the weatherman has predicted a day of 'rain and snow mixed' on Friday, but for right now I'll take any ray of sunshine I can get.) I can appreciate why those robins have been tuning up and going crazy. They had a hard time of it as well, and those guys know when the sun is returning to us... greening of the grass and leafing out of the trees.... and longer days. I feel positively PAGAN. I'm a druid! A happy druid!
March 9, 2011~ 5:15 pm
The weather didn't cooperate today. It rained and blew the whole day through with promises of worse.....
Six inches or more of snow is possible during that time, along with wind gusts up to 25 mph... it will be the type of wet, heavy snow that can cause power outages and the winds will create blowing and drifting that will restrict visibility, the weather service said in a statement this afternoon.
That's from the national weather service for Thursday evening through Friday evening. LOL!!! March has been cruel so far.
Since there was no sun, I decided to grab its closest substitute.....
KAY! 5 years old and all dressed up to accompany her other grandma, Grandma Lindy, to 'Disney Princesses On Ice'- where the little gal audience come dressed as Disney princesses. (I say if the sun won't shine......
then KAY WILL!) What a vision. I don't believe I've ever seen her happier. (Thanks, Kay... you warmed my day quite nicely. :)
(Return To Weekly Archives)
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