I rented Total Eclipse last night, a biographical account of one part of Arthur Rimbaud's life. I don't know if I will see it again for another 10 years, but I am pretty sure I am glad I've seen it once. http://us.imdb.com/M/title-exact?Total%20Eclipse%20%281995%29

Amy, you've been busy here all the while I've been viewing this conference. Now I know why things kept changing. :-) Now, I have recently seen, Persuasion (again), Shine, Romeo + Juliet and GP and JN's Emma. :-)

I just got home from seeing Shine and liked it very much. Some wonderful performances there and fabulous music. I loved the whole Rach 3 sequence, starting from when he was working on it with his teacher (great job here by John Gielgud) and the concert itself was amazing! But I must disagree with my friend (and little brother) Ian and say that Geoffrey Rush does not deserve the Oscar. It was a good performance but he was only in half of the movie! Now if they could split it between him and Noah Taylor (the adolescent David) I might go for it. ;-) But that will never happen, so I continue to believe that Ralph Feinnes (*sigh*) will win the Oscar.

What have I seen lately---hmmmmm All of the Oscar contenders, except for Breaking the Waves. Portrait of a Lady, Hamlet, Everyone Says I Love You. I really loved Hamlet and Everyone....Both really entertaining, and worth the money.

i've been on a HUGE movie-kick this past week; seeing films for the second time, renting a film though i'd seen it twice before... trainspotting (rented) life is sweet (rented; seen it twice before) the english patient (my 2nd viewing) secrets & lies (my 2nd viewing) hamlet (that's this afternoon--my first time) and of course...P&P2 gets popped into the VCR (i watch it as i fall asleep occasionally)

Hi, Luisa here.Back again! Recently I saw films I don`t think I will forget that soon. Breaking the Waves is one of the most moving and interesting love stories I have seen in years. Well, apart from ours truly P&P2...Very different altogether. This one was about immortal and all-consuming love with a huge tenderness and spiritualtity. Loved it! I also saw Secrets and Lies. Made me laugh, cringe with embarassment and gasp. Well the normal stuff that makes a movie exciting, I guess. Brenda Blethyn is very, very good. Shine was wonderful and I have to agree that the younger, adolescent actor deserved some recognition for his touching portrayal. Geoffrey Rush was good, but the movie is not all about him. The Mirror has two faces is one movie I would advise as a great comedy about love and hazzard. Left me in a jolly great mood. :-)

I just saw "Fools Rush In" this weekend. I really like it. Matthew Perry & Selma Hayek have a good chemistry together. And it was very funny. Star Wars--special edition--Still great after all these years and the new special effects just enhance the story, and don't distract from it.

Instantly forgettable: VACATION IN VEGAS. Save your money! I highly recommend: THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD with Rene Zellwegger & Vince D'Onofrio. Awesome! A powerful romance that is the story of Robert E. Howard, the man who created CONAN. Saw SHINE this weekend. Was not blown away. The lesson: playing piano drives you to madness?? (Cheryl?)

Amy2: Saw SHINE this weekend. Was not blown away. The lesson: playing piano drives you to madness?? (Cheryl?) Now, now Amy, this is the conclusion you came to from seeing the film? ;-) Replace "playing piano" to "living with a controlling, manipulative father" and I'll agree with you! For the record: Learning to play the piano does not drive one to insanity. There, I feel better having defended my beloved piano.

"living with a controlling, manipulative father" Good for you Cheryl. That's what I got out of "Shine" too, it was the father not the piano playing that did the harm. Still liked the movie, though, even though the father was such a monster, albeit a believable one considering everything he'd been through.

I just saw Primal Fear which was excellent, I think Edward Norton deserves the oscar for Supporting Actor. A Time to Kill, Matthew McConaughey (gorgeous) and I just saw Trainspotting, Ewan McGregor is to die for, drop-deap gorgeous, the best scottish actor of his age group. Oh and I just saw A very Brady Sequel.

I am of course being facetious. But you have to admit that having young David actually HIT THE FLOOR after playing the Rach III kind of conveys the impression that this piece can drive you to madness. I saw the film with my sister & brother-in-law, two accomplished pianists, and they agreed. I didn't like the "Hollywood" version of having David go mad right at the pivotal moment. If this actually happened in real life, I will eat Cheryl's Steinway!

I saw Shine and Sling Blade recently. Well written, well acted but very hard to sit through. Just kept shaking my head. Boy, have I had an easy life. The Whole Wide World is also very good. Take a hanky. Looking for time to go see Hamlet Got to see some good stuff at the Sundance Film Festival (aka: The Wear Black and Use Your Cellular Film Festival). Best of show: House of Yes I think Miramax bought it so look for it this Summer.

Amy2: If this actually happened in real life, I will eat Cheryl's Steinway! According to my Australian source, Ian, and every newspaper article printed in the country about the movie that he has read, it is TRUE!!! Amy, I do not happen to own a Steinway at the moment, but I do have a fine Yamaha. While I shall mourn its loss, it may be worth it to see you eat it...would you like some catsup or perhaps a fine dijon to accompany it? ;-)

Oh, Cheryl & Amy2 -- please do not start this fine repast until we can all be present to watch. And what wine goes best with a Yamaha piano, pray tell? :P

maybe saki instead of wine

and teriyaki sauce ;)

Served over some nice white steamed rice.

hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee ;-)

Everyone says I love you, HAmlet(why didn't KB get nominated???), the Crucible, Evita, and Portrait of a LAdy. I also should confess that my friend(she's a major TIm Dalton fan-he's her one and only JAmes Bond) dragged me kicking and screaming to the Beautician and the Beast. If you're ever suffering from insomnia, watch/rent that one! What happened to Dalton-Scarlett was bad enough, but this one? A few weeks ago, Wuthering Heights was on TV and he was so wonderful in that-dark, brooding... Oh and if there is any justice in the world, Ralph Fiennes will win the Oscar for the English Patient. Besides EMMA2 and my first viewing of Casablanca, seeing TEP was the only time I ever cried in a movie theatre. The tissues were flying. The woman next to me could barely stand up after it was over. The cave scene-I will come back. I'll never leave you. oOOH BABY!

I'm sure you have all seen Barry Lyndon long ago but I rented it today. It is so great. Everything was so authenic from the Georgian period. I didn't remember that it was an Acadamy Award winner in 1975. Also heard Restoration was from the periods we are interested in. I don't know a thing about it. Anyone know anything about it? Will see The Madness of King George for the second time tomorrow.

] Restoration Haven't seen it, but its from the 1670s (ie the Restoration of the British monarchy after the civil war), and about 140 years before our period.

I just got home from seeing The Empire Strikes Back. My whole family went, four die hard fans and my sister-in-law who has never seen these movies before! (too young, it seems...;-p) Well, afterwards she said "Oh no! Darth Vader is Luke's father? And poor Han Solo! And who is "the other?" And now I have to wait three weeks to find out what happens next?" I said, "Oh honey! We had to wait two years!" It's fun seeing these movies in the theater again, and Empire has always been my favorite of the three. I may have to go see it again! ;-)

Cheryl I went on Saturday too. Every one went crazy when Yoda said "No there is another" In fact everyone went crazy every time some key line was said, or some key character appeared. (Han, R2D2 and Yoda got the biggest cheers) The best bit was just before Han was about to kiss Leia for the first time some guy yelled out "DO IT Han!" It brought the house down...

I saw Cold Comfort Farm this weekend. In the wake of Emma3, it was really interesting - there are quite a few parallels between KB's characters in these 2 films. And, The Madness of King George! Watched that for the first time 2 weeks ago, and was totally bowled over! It really should have won Best Picture when it was nominated; what beat it? Forrest Gump?

Forrest Gump also beat Shawshank Redemption which was clearly the best picture of that year. I was very depressed that oscar-night.

I was so angry that S&S was beaten by Braveheart last year. ALthough it was a good film, S&S was much better.

and Braveheart won for makeup, too "let's see is that blue on the left and red on the right, or red on the left and blue on the right?"

But Braveheart was a fine movie.

Ann: Forrest Gump also beat Shawshank Redemption which was clearly the best picture of that year. I was very depressed that oscar-night. Ann, I felt the same way! Shawshank REdemption was a remarkable movie, riveting, very moving...definately the best movie of the year!

I stayed up 'till 2 am last Friday watching Shawshank Redemption on Flix and I agree - what a great film! By the way, have you ever read the Stephen King story it's based on, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption? A really good piece of writing, and translated into film very well, just like his short story The Body, which became Stand By Me (love that movie!)

Stand By Me is wonderful.

Did anyone else find the Ken Burn's film on Jefferson a disapointment? It showed on most PBS stations last week. It didn't seem so compelling as Civil War or even Baseball and I love Jefferson. Maybe there are not enough colorful and knowledgable people to talk interview -- no Shelby Foote. Is Dumas Malone dead now? He is or was probably boring. Horrible generalization I know, I hope I am wrong.

Speaking of the Regency period I rented Princess Carabou last night. A wonderful story and strong cast, including Kevin Kline, Stephen Rea, Wendy Hughes and John Lithgow---I recommend it. Also Anna Chancellor is in it!

Is there anybody out there at all familiar with the work of Dennis Potter? 'The singing detective' and 'Pennies from Heaven' ? Now they(Swedish TV2) have sent 'Karaoke', a very fine and heart-tearing piece staring Albert Finney and in a smaller part Anna Chancellor; they are both very good. And it is now followed by the last film he wrote before he died, 'Cold Lazarus' about how the author from Karaoke has been frozen for hundreds of years and scientists in the future are getting into his memory. One scientist played by Ciaran Hinds !

Those of us who are in the thralls of a new Star Wars addiction may enjoy this David Letterman, Top Ten signs that you are obsessing over Star Wars: 10. Your poodles are named "C," "3," "P" and "O" 9. You won't sleep with your wife unless she says, "Help me, Obi Wan, you're my only hope" 8. You spent $10,000 trying to Rogaine yourself into Chewbacca 7. You're continually stunned when the President makes major decisions without consulting Mark Hamill 6. Your favorite pickup line: "Would you like to handle my light saber?" 5. You keep referring to your lawn mower as "that crazy droid" 4. You spend most of your days trying to use "the Force" to open a can of pears 3. You once saw an eggplant that looked kind of like Darth Vader and almost had a heart attack 2. Your sex life is strictly "Han Solo," if you know what I mean 1. You like Yoda so much, you voted for Ross Perot

#33 Amy, I taped Burns's Jefferson, but haven't watched it yet. I'll let you know what I think when I do. TJ is by far my most favorite historical character. There's an excellent biography out on him by Fern something (can't remember her last name) -- it's huge, but reads like a novel. I recommend it highly. #36 Cheryl, those are great. Even though I've watched Star Wars enough that I don't need to see it again, I can still remember enough to appreciate the humor. Thanks for sharing!

#33 Amy, I watched Burn's Jefferson, and was disappointed also. Our local station was able air an interview with Ken Burns after the first episode. I do not know if it was available to other PBS stations. PS--I did get kind of choked up during the Tristam Shandy quote piece.

I liked hearing about his ideas for the university. I'd like to read more about that.

I started to watch Jefferson, but I too found it extremely boring. I really do prefer A&E's Biography specials. Speaking of what we have been watching. Last nite on one of our PBS stations in Boston, they repeated Prime Suspect 3. And who was in it but Ciaran Hinds and Mark Strong. I personally liked MS in this, he is much balder as he has a very close haircut and well CH really did nothing for me. I have seen this series before but watching it again is great fun. Oh yeah, David Thewlis is also in his one and he totally reminds me of Rod Stewart.

Speaking of the makeup in BRAVEHEART -- I didn't see the film, so can someone please explain to me why a Scotsman is wearing the blue makeup of A PICT? Thank you.

It is "war paint" Amy. It does have a lot of unexpected violence that I really didn't want to see.

Where would they have gotten the blue pigment? It is fairly rare in nature.

From their local face paint store of course.

Kate -- I believe you must be right! And most likely this store had a sale on blue face paint. :-)

indigo-(natural source-anil) a plant that yeilds blue dyestuff.:-)

Ha anyone read why Hamlet received so little attention from the Oscar nominations? I thougt K. Branagh was a favorite of theirs.

Elaine I have searched hi and lo looking for why it was snubbed. but to no avail. For anyone who has seen it, it is the most glorious adapations of a Shakespeare play. Filmed in Blenheim Castle and part of Denmark, it is visually stunning. Branagh just looks amazing. I would see this movie again and again and again and again and again. Wait until you see the costumes which did indeed get a nomination, they are so beautiful.

My husband and I are going to see it this Saturday night. I do have one slightly "unelevated" question, though: is there an intermission, or does the RFF (Rear fatigue factor) become an obstacle to enjoying the film?

at the 2:30 hour mark there is a 10 minute break, just enought time to use the ladies and gents and get a drink. I advise not to get a drink for the first half as you will probably have to use the loo during that time.

I know that Picts used blue body makeup, but the Scots? This doesn't seem historically accurate to me. Anyone?

Maybe the cold made them blue!! It's bitter up in the north! Just being facetious - don't know the answer!;-)

I believe Russians used blue war paint as well.

Ha anyone read why Hamlet received so little attention from the Oscar nominations? I haven't seen Hamlet yet, but heard that Branagh was considered to have been hamming it up quite a bit and that it was WWWWAAAAAYYYYY too long.

The industry was surprised at the snub to Branagh and HAMLET too. Don't know why they chose to totally overlook this -- maybe they found their Academy "epic" in THE ENGLISH PATIENT, and didnt' need to look any further. . .

A MAJOR oversight from the Academy, utterly vexing, this production is of epic proportion the like we haven't see in a very long time. Worth every minute and every penny. Riveting and many more superlatives...

Claudia - A little late but.... Restoration is about an English physician (Robert "Dope head" Downey Jr.) who is asked to the Palace to help the King with some "healing", because it seems he has quite and knack is a dedicated Dr.. He is asked to stay and be the King's physician. He lives at the palace and becomes quite decadent. The King asks him to marry his mistress and they go live in Surrey off the Thames. He falls in love with her, but she loves only the King. The King finds out and our boy is banished. Thus, the beginning of his Restoration. Great costumes (last year an Oscar?) and sets. I saw Sling Blade this past week. I thought Shine was hard to sit through....The violence is not really seen and Dwight Yokam's character has a potty mouth, but Billy Bob Thornton's acting is incredible!!!! I think he deserves the Oscar (though sentimentally I want Ralph to win and realistically Jeffery Rush will win it). I say GO SEE IT!!!!

Dina and Kate, thanks so much for your comments on Restoration. Ann, re your #53 - are you into Russian History? Comment sounded like you were. Pre 1917 Russian history is my passion and has been for many years. Cheryl, your comments are always SO witty. Enjoy them and ROTFL. Forgot to say that Anthony Calf (our own dear Col. Fitzwilliam) was in Madness of King George. He was rather nondescript and sullen. Not at all agreeable as our Col. was.

No, I'm not into history, but I have a mind like a steel trap when it comes to trivia.

Ann2, I consider 'The Singing Detective' one of TV's finest programs. I only saw a little of "Karaoke', but did catch 'Cold Lazarus' and thought it interesting and good. Did you ever see the interview with Dennis Potter shortly before he died? Now that was one of TV's finest interviews.

I'm glad Hilary to share this experience with one friend from Pemb! Interview with Dennis Potter no I have not heard anything about that but shall keep my eyes open as they have sent Karaoke recently and directly followed by "Cold Lazarus".You would have liked Karaoke, Hil.It was sad and funny and Albert Finney did this great love scene. Did you see that; in the hospital!? And did you not love when he said goodbye to his old agent friend:' I'll even cake tare '.?

NO, I must have missed that part. What a pity. The interview was extraordinary apart from what he said with regard to his work, because it was basically en-edited: therefore long, rambly, and included him smoking like a train, asking for medication, talking about death approaching. Very unusual.

Hil I taped this interview yesterday comming back from a journey and just happened to catch sight of it's being aired in the paper...Looking forward to it

hi all... just came back from catching an evening feature of 'smilla's sense of snow.' it was pretty good-- nothing spectacular. gabriel byrne and julia ormond were cast appropriately, and you can see the chemistry definitely kicking in in some scenes. they've been going out in real life since then, and so there you have it. one thing that i wnated to share with you all was the trailer for 'paradise road', movie set during WWII. IT FEATURES JENNIFER EHLE! I was pretty proud when they announced her name along with Glenn Close, frances McDormand and Julianna Marguiles. That says a lot about the exposure she's gotten since P&P2. anyway, the movie i think is about a large group of women (allied--US, Brit, etc) who are taken into an internment camp by the Japanese. Kinda like a female version of empire of the sun, i'm guessing. anyway, they start up a choir during their time in internment, and learn about life, each other, etc... comes out this spring. (anyone in the l.a. area want to catch it sometime?)

Winter I saw this trailer ages ago and couldn't remember what the film was called. It does look really good. Also reminiscent of "ATown Like Alice", which will be very familiar to the Aussies, but perhaps not everyone else.

Kate, I love "A Town Like Alice" - read the book first and later saw the movie. Of course, Nevil Shute is also one of my favorite authors!! "Paradise Road" also reminds me of the TV series "Tenko". Did anyone see that?

"A Town Like Alice" was a wonderful movie. It was my introduction to Bryan Brown, and I found him quite attractive. And a good actor, besides! I ought to read the novel sometime, but I seem to have a list of books longer than the number of days in a year. Maybe in my next lifetime!

Tenko liked that on very much,but this reminds me of "Playing for Time" with Venessa Redgrave,watched both seires and movie when aired. Tenko hasn't been on A&E for a while.

the movie i think is about a large group of women (allied--US, Brit, etc) who are taken into an internment camp by the Japanese. Kinda like a female version of empire of the sun, i'm guessing. anyway, they start up a choir during their time in internment, and learn about life, each other, etc... The plot is based - very loosely, I'm afraid - it's been pointed out that it's a dramatization, not a documentary, on something that actually did happen during WWI. 600 Dutch, Australian, and British women and children were interned for 3 1/2 years by the Japanese in a series of prison camps on Sumatra. Thirty-seven percent did not survive. During their internment, as a way to rise above their inhumane conditions and dehumanizing experiences, a group of the women formed what became known as a vocal orchestra. Two of the women wrote down from memory classical orchestral works and arranged them for womens' voices which became the instruments, singing on a series of neutral syllables. The concerts given by this "orchestra" was instrumental in maintaining morale among the internees. The concerts ceased when 19 of the 30 singers had died. One of the survivors and singers in the vocal orchestra later attended Stanford University, and 40 years later decided to donate her copy of the music to the University's music library. The archivist of the library was interested in having some record of how the music would have sounded, and approached the director of our local women's chorus about preparing a few sample pieces to be recorded for their archives. The chorus agreed to do this, and thus began a project that took over our lives for the next 4 years. In the process we sang the music of the vocal orchestra for the first time since it was sung on Sumatra in a concert which was attended by the original conductor and 8 of the original singers who were still surviving and came from their current homes in England, Australia, Indonesia, the Netherlands, and the United States. The original concert led to a series of concerts, recordings and a documentary film which was shown on PBS. Some of the survivors have also had books published about thier experience. Many of us who were a part of re-creating this moving real-life experience have very mixed feelings about what "dramatic license" will have been taken with the story when it reaches the movie theatres in the name of making it a "commercial" success.

Oh, Joan, is this when you cam eto San Antonio? I am awed.

Many of us who were a part of re-creating this moving real-life experience have very mixed feelings about what "dramatic license" will have been taken with the story when it reaches the movie theatres I can understand that. This must have been a very revolting experience for your choir and you were able to transfer some hints of it in this account ,Joan.

is this when you came to San Antonio? Right. :-) And also to honor composer Kirke Mechem with a program of his works for women's chorus. This must have been a very revolting experience for your choir Really, the best word for it was "inspiring"- what those women were able to accomplish though starving, ill and malnourished and living in subhuman conditions, yet maintaining their connection with "civilization" and rising above all of the squalor in this way. The name of the PBS film was "Song of Survival." I find it difficult to imagine how they settled on a title like "Paradise Road" for such an experience!

Joan, this topic interests me greatly because my father was a Japanese POW for 44 months. How people can rise above such things is a source of endless astonishment and admiration! What an honor for you and your choir! I can't wait to see this movie.

Kathleen's copy of A Fatal Inversion is going around this group like it's a disease. If you like Jeremy Northam, or if you're just into really twisted mysteries, I suggest you get your hands on a copy. Those of us who've seen it agree that it's REALLY worth it...;)

Has anyone seen The Crucible or Portrait of a Lady who is willing to share their opinion? I am interested in both, but have not heard first-person accounts of either.

I saw the world premiere Saturday night of "Still Breathing" which is one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. The audience was held spellbound by this remarkable love story. It starred Brendan (Encino Man) Fraser and the lovely Joanna Going (both of who I get to meet in person). It took place in San Antonio and LA and had some really cool twists and turns and emotional moments. Since, this was the world premiere, everyone in the theater a free CD with the entire soundtrack of the movie. The only pressing there will ever be of this CD. The movie had a remarkable soundtrack, specifically the "Berceuse" by Chopin, which was the soul of the film, as well as Verdi's "La Traviata" and the Jim Cullum Jazz Band playing Louis Armstrong. I met Paul Mills along with the cast and production company at a fabulous party after the movie that went into the wee hours, it was quite an experience. Highly recommended. I predict good things for this movie.

Terry, I didn't know you were part of the arty scene in Austin! Sounds like fun, and I'll look out for the movie. Now I'll tell you about the premiere party I went to last week. I was in a fantastic modern hotel in Munich with my boss, on a business trip of course.. The huge atrium of the hotel had been decorated in white with black spots. Turned out to be the German premiere of "101 Dalmatiner". Not a kid in sight, just lots of cool looking Germans dressed in black (with a little white and red visi le) smoking cigarettes like crazy. Claudia Schleiffler (sp?), the supermodel, was the MC. I usually don't go to parties that I have not been invited to, especially when everyone is speaking a language I don't understand, but my boss really wanted to wander in so we did. I did not eat or drink anything, however, out of respect for the hosts and my questionable status. There was a really wacky fantasy fashion show with dalmation-inspired clothes worn by very gorgeous giant models. The grand door prize as a white Macintosh with black spots, of course. I can't believe that I just confessed to my Austen friends to crashing a party---not even Wickham would go to a party without a proper invitation.

Claudia Schieffer! We'll have to move this discussion to celebrity lusts in 'drool'. If Claudia Schieffer was there, it was worth crashing. Good work.

hey! i just caught "cinema paradisio" on bravo tonight. i had seen this so many times before, but this was when Colin Firth was not part of my vocabulary. so... imagine my surprise when i see this again, and the actor (don't know his name) who plays the old salvatore/"toto" (the main character) is the spitting image of colin firth!!! older, but just as dreamy!! a colin clone who speaks italian! i'm sure livia would just love that!

Susan: Has anyone seen The Crucible or Portrait of a Lady who is willing to share their opinion? I am interested in both, but have not heard first-person accounts of either. I saw The Crucible last week and was very disappointed. I thought that both Arthur Miller and Nicholas Hytner blew the opportunity to make a really gripping film. As I remember it, the play was a tense human drama, but Miller sabotaged his own work by opening it up for the screen--the addition of so many new characters and scenes detracted from the central moral dilemma of the hero. And Hytner, who is primarily a stage director, still has a lot to learn about film directing (although I like his irst movie, The Madness of King George). It makes me nervous because Hytner's next project is a film version of a novel I absolutely adore, The Object of My Affection by Stephen McCauley, and I'd hate to see him mess it up.

I quite enjoyed the Crucible, but as I have said before, I was in a production of it at school, and I was really interested in what they had done to it. Portrait of a Lady. Don't bother. I found it long, dull, and depressing. She should have KNOWN that any character played by John Malkovich was going to be trouble. There is supposed to be all this sexual tension, and I just didn't get it at all. Very disappointing, because I really like Jane Campion. But I went last night to see HAMLET. It's fantastic. I cried (even though I knew what was going to happen) The incredible depth of the ideas expressed, which came across so clearly. Branagh really made Hamlet a real and believable person, caught up in complex events beyond his control, frustrated by his own fears and doubts. It also made the Ophelia/Hamlet relationship make sense to me in a way it hadn't before - when he realises she's dead and cries "I loved Ophelia" you can really believe it, even though he treated her so badly. Go and see this film. But make sure you're in a comfortable seat. The first half is 2 1/2 hours, the second half 1 1/2 hours. And Derek Jacobi was great too. Jack Lemmon was awful, but he's only on the screen for about 15 minutes.

Yes, I didn't like Portrait of a Lady or the Crucible. What talent, and completely wasted. DDL is nowhere near droolable in this one! Kate, JM gives me the willies too! And Hamlet is one of the most exciting films I've seen in years. Everyone-go see it! And add Sling Blade to your list--it didn't hit me till after I left the theatre. There are so very few films that stay with you, and this movie certainly does.

saw "marvin's room" this afternoon. it was good. i really didn't think too much of it-- i mean, no one stood out, no spectacular performances. but perhaps, because of the mood of the film, no one was supposed to have stood out. leonardo di caprio was a little TOO attractive, to play his character-- his looks definitely were a distraction. but i'm not complaining!

Winter, besides the helicopters, what is Oscar week like? See anyone? Who are they predicting will win?

Kate, you must join us over at the Kenneth Branagh topic at Drool...we are all agog over Hamlet, have tons of pictures, but not the elusive undershirt pic yet...:-(

oscar week is like living in the middle of an obstacle course. they have to set up scaffolds for the press, bleachers for the fans (you can sit on them, but get there on saturday or sunday if you want a seat), they've got people with walkie talkies all around looking like the secret service, catering trucks, satellite trucks vying for spaces on the parking lot, and those big gold statuettes get hauled in. all this, and i'm trying to just drive into my garage without getting into an accident or being block d. it's exciting, because you feel the 'electriciyt' of it all, because 364 days a year, the shrine is a real dump. you'd be surprised at how unglamorous it looks in real life. but also local residents get to short end of the stick because getting in and out of your street becomes a 10 miniute nightmare. everyone's hidden in their limos, so i never see people, but i always hang about for a half hour or so, just in case i get lucky. as for winners, i predict a sweep for the english patient (but ralph fiennes won't even be there :( )

Some people say that he will be at the Oscars. The play he is in must have given him time off.

I thought I had the undershirt one. Well anyway, I saw SHINE, didn't like it. But I have been watching a movie my aunt videotaped THE FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX with James Stewart, Ernest Borgnine, Dan Duryea, Ian Bannen, Sir Richard Attenborough. Its about 2:45 mins long, but I only have seen 1:30 of it will finish tonite. Was very good. Beginning reminded me of TEP.

I love that movie, Laura. Have you reached the part yet where they all learn what the designer really designs?

Model Airplanes!!!! But he got it to fly. I figured he must have been a genious. I felt bad because Ian Bannen's character who was jewish kept giving Dorfman a horrible time. I thought the movie was wonderful. I kept getting very thirsty.

I just watched Babette's Feast. I loved it. It is about gratitude,faith,love,scarfices,commitment and choices you name it is there.

I kept getting very thirsty. __ LOL, Laura. Those cracked lips. Made you want to rush up to the screen with pitchers of water.

Not just cracked lips but skin, oh god they looked like there were melting. I don't know when you saw it last but the beginning is just like THE ENGLISH PATIENT.

I saw Secrets and Lies last weekend and liked it very much. It was overflowing with emotion and had some marvelous performances. Wasn't brother Maurice Rosencrantz in Hamlet? (Or was that Guilderstern?!)

Just watched Spellbound last night after a lapse of many years. The attrraction between Ingrid Bergman and Gregory Peck is ... well, spellbinding. If I ever take my friends advice, I would only have my head examined by the likes of an Ingrid Bergman. Very good tense story line with some dream sequences by Salvidor Dali.

Cheryl, yep, maurice was Rosencrantz.... or possibly Guildenstern ;-)

don't remember which one maurice was, but he was BRILLIANT!!! i know i keep mentioning it, but "life is sweet" , another mike leigh flick, has got him as a real slime ball sleaze, who makes a pass at alison steadman (mrs. bennet from P&P2). really hilarious. please rent it if you haven't already seen it.. it's just one of those movies that constantly get overlooked. i'm getting dragged to see 'private parts' tomorrow. it's part of a deal. wish me luck. anyone seen it?

Winter - haven't seen "Private Parts" yet and really don't desire to, but I too agreed to see it as part of a "deal." My husband accompanied me to TEP which he moderately enjoyed, so I told him I would go to PP. The reviews have been great but I'm not much of a Howard Stern fan.

On Thursday, I saw The English Patient. Man, what a truly marvellous film! I cried, laughed at some point, and for the rest of the time, was completely enraptured with the photography, the music, the actors,sp.Juliette Binoche and Kristin Scott Thomas, and small poetic details, like the seduction scene with the candles in the courtyard, the murals in the church, etc. I just loved it, it left me with a deep feeling of peace, though it`s so sad in a way. Poor Colin Firth, I felt so sorry for his character. Such a nice guy, didn�t deserve to be cheated on...oh well... :-)

Last night I saw The Truman Show. Everything you may have heard or read about this film is true. You will never think of Jim Carrey the same again. I have never liked Carrey, and studiously avoid his films, but on the other hand, I will pay to see anything directed by Peter Weir, so I went last night. I want to see it again. It was enchanting. Carrey blew me away. And the music was spellbinding. I can't wait to buy the soundtrack! Go see it. Tell me what you think.