SEEDIQ BALE and Chale's Notes

Last night we headed up to Alamo Village where AFS shows their weekly Essential Cinemas now that Alamo S. Lamar is being renovated.  Yeah, plenty of traffic and a 40 minute drive but so well worth it.  A Taiwanese film about the 1930 up-rising of aborigine tribes (Wushe Incident)  facing the heavily armed Japanese to preserve their land, their culture, their honor and  their ancestry.  The director, Wei Te-sheng, read about the incident in a history book and it stuck with him.  The courage of 300 natives facing off against a powerful army for 50 days is a story waiting to be told on screen.  And thankfully this filmmaker told it with the use of aboriginal descendants and the exquisite terrain of Taiwan.  A shout out to Chale Nafus, Program Director who provided us with 5 pages of historical background and filmmaking process.  Why wasn't Chale my H.S. history teacher?  He tells a story about people that I've never known anything about and keeps you awake at the same time!

ZERO DARK THIRTY

Jessica Chastain and Kathryn Bigelow elevate the role of women in cinema to the the highest level imaginable in their work in this film.  This film is purely about the search for Osama Bin Laden by one agent analyst and her persistence to find him and kill him.  The character, Maya, is comfortable using "fuck"  in her communications with all levels of government and makes her intentions known to all who will listen.  She is a beauty who never uses her femininity to get her way.  She uses strength, intelligence, persistent courage and endless, endless hard work.  I loved this character and loved the film.  Kathryn Bigelow is a fabulous story teller and the screenplay by Mark Boal is so authentic.  There is no posturing in this film.  Just a story told about how a group of people went courageously into the night to kill an evil man.  And the woman who would not give up until her task was completed.  Jessica Chastain's acceptance speech this evening at the Golden Globes exemplified the serious, hard working actor she is.  She deserves every accolade coming her way.

DOWNTON ABBEY

GORGEOUS!  Sets, costumes, characters, acting, and class distinction in your face!  Thank-you Chris Humphrey for announcing your addiction....this is a great find!

THE IMPOSSIBLE at the Violet Crown

A true story of a family's survival of the tsunami that hit South East Asia in 2003.  While Abe played tennis and watched football I soloed this.  And I am thankful I did.  This is a heart wrenching frightening film about the unexpected that challenges you like the biblical Job was challenged.  A story about a family's fear of loss and separation.  And the unbelievable physical challenges they face...and the separations!  OMG.  No one around me wasn't crying.  Naomi Watts, Ewan Mc Gregor and the three young child actors deliver performances that are breathtaking in their truth and honesty.  What can I say?  Do you want to sit at the edge of your seat with your heart hurting?  Then by all means see this film.  Meanwhile I will not let Abe see this film if I can help it.  He wouldn't step out of the house!  Shhhh...don't tell him I said that but it's true.

The Hobbitt

What do you do on a cold rainy day in Austin?  Why of course you go see this magnificent fantasy of a film with gorgeous special effects, unbelievable characters, costume and make-up and Sir Ian McKellen as a wizard! That's what you do with your husband of 30 years who was tickled to get a free popcorn as well!

John Ramsey/Cap City Comedy Club

I recently read a piece about John Ramsey, an attorney, speaks Swahili, spent a year in Kenya, and who actually did stand-up in Kenya while working as a lawyer.  He was also voted Austin's funniest comic one year. Saw a 5 minute u-tube clip (his performance in Kenya) and thought he was really talented.  So last night we headed up to Cap City Comedy Club with Liz to catch his show.  The emcee and starting comic were really talented and it set the stage for JR.  He was very very funny and his humor is intelligent.  The food was good bar food and being from NYC this was a really inexpensive evening.  Reviews on Yelp cry about 2 drink/food minimum and my response is "support the arts and their venues." Tickets were extremely reasonable.

LES MISERABLES

SCHMALTZ!  Schmaltz with fabulous music, exquisite voices and acting (sans Russel Crowe) and a testament to the power of self sacrifice to grab audiences and make them cry.  What a huge cinematic endeavor.  Tom Hooper has grabbed us with this extraordinary film with extraordinary talent and beautiful images.  Alas, it's a musical and not my favorite genre.  But on New Years Day at the beautiful Violet Crown where I ran into the young woman who helped me with Josh's move here and hugged me and shared how she thought Abe and I were such good parents made this a very special day.  A beautiful experience.  Abe recommends it.