Flounder Four Ways – “Immediate Cuisine”

31 Wednesday Oct 2012

Posted by Richard in Escapes and Pleasures

Tags

Astrid & Gaston, Best Restaurants, Cebiche, Central Ristorante, Ceviche, Chexz Wong, Javier Wong, Lima

The main reason I can think of to recommend a few days in Lima, Peru (other than if one’s spouse has a speaking engagement there) is to enjoy the marvelous food ‘revolution’ that has taken over that city.

Ask a dozen individuals who either live in Lima or know it well for the name of their favorite restaurant, and I bet you’ll get 12 different recommendations, or at least 10 different ones.

We had three outstanding meals and two other good ones over a period of four days.

Put these three restaurants on a list for when you find yourself in Lima: Central (beware the Pisco Sours – they’re strong and two will loosen your tongue, etc.), Astrid & Gaston (try the tasting menu), and Chez Wong (see below). You will be stunned by the presentations and even more by the tastes of what you are served. You can’t go wrong with any of these three expensive but memorable restaurants.

One of the three, however, is so unusual and so outstanding that if you are in Lima and do not go there, consider yourself to have made an horrendous mistake.

Essay: Seers of Sandy’s Eye

30 Tuesday Oct 2012

Posted by Richard in Articles of Interest, Family and Friends

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

David P. Stang, Hurricane Sandy

(Tues., Oct. 30, 12:30 PM – The post below was written and sent to me just now by David P. Stang, long-time friend and faithful MillersTime reader.)

That malefic millibar drop spooked the cats. Their eyes rolled around without focus. The hair stood up on their backs. They’d suddenly hiss and leap into the air then run crazily. Bounce off walls. Climb under quilts. Curl into fetal shape and quiver.

In cat consciousness the careening millibars portended Armageddon. This was before any local precipitation. Before rising winds. Before the sky darkened. In fact, two days before disaster descended they saw Sandy’s eye.

They must have foreseen life support systems shutting down. Hospitalized geriatrics choking to death. Subways, tunnels and roads flooding. Sewers barfing out millions of drowned rats. Megatons of trees down. Bridges closed. Thousands of automobiles underwater. Public transport shut down. Transformer stations blown up in explosions of blue light. Millions of residences and businesses without electric power. Communication systems destroyed. Even the New York Stock Exchange became a battle casualty. Governors and mayors dishing out situation reports while Presidential candidates disciplined themselves not to exploit Sandy’s gift. Still fear and panic reigned.

The cats saw it coming. Feline foreknowledge was spot on.

Whistling winds, crashing down cloud bursts wailed like banshees all night long. Sandy’s eye, however, passed over like the locusts did in Ancient Egypt. Who survived? Who thrived? And how?

The survivors did so with reliable shelter by merely eating, drinking, defecating, sitting, standing, sleeping, bathing and dressing.

The survivors who lived on to thrive did so with education, training, skills, courage, vision, discipline , tenacity and some luck.

But of all the thrivers and survivors who ended up living meaningful, joyous lives? Those receptive to insight. Those with compassionate and loving hearts. Those who prefer giving to taking. Those whose mainstay is gratitude.

Yet in fairness, all these good results require higher millibars. Accordingly, without drooping millibars cats can’t help you as portenders. Their foreknowledge runs only on low millibars. Only then do they roll their eyes, let their hair stand up, make hissing noises, run crazily, bounce off walls, climb under quilts and go totally fetal.

The Real Mike O’Brien (Revisiting “The Sessions”)

29 Monday Oct 2012

Posted by Richard in Escapes and Pleasures

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Best Documentary, Breathing Lessons, Mike O'Brien, The Sessions

Often when I see a film that is either called a ‘documentary’ or based on ‘a true story,’ I find myself wanting to know how true the film really is. The question that repeatedly comes to my mind is “am I being manipulated/mislead by the film?” I want to know the ‘truth.’

And then the next question arises, “Does it really matter if the film departs from the reality, from the facts?

In a film I recently saw and recommend, The Sessions, I again experienced those questions.

If you have seen the film, then here is an article written by Mike O’Brien and an interview with him you may find of interest. Together, they add to The Sessions and raise questions about the film.

On Seeing a Sex Surrogate, Mike O’Brien, The Sun Magazine, May, 1990. This article served as the basis for The Sessions and goes a bit beyond the film

Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien, by Jessica Yu, a 35-minute documentary that is largely an interview with Mike O’Brien in 1994. It won an Oscar in 1966 for Best Documentary Short Subject. (There are three 15-second ads that interrupt the video, but stick with it. It’s worth it.)

Your thoughts?

“The Last Days of September”

28 Sunday Oct 2012

Posted by Richard in Go Sox

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baseball, End of the Season, poetry

(The author of the poem below is Troy Lovett, a retired high school math teacher living in Louisville. The poem came to me through a long time Kentucky friend who regularly sends baseball and other good, current writing, and I think received a copy of the poem in a recent email.)

The Last Days of September

The last days
of September carry with them a sense
of change; a longing for what is
fleeting; a remembrance of what is no more;
and an awareness of approaching winter.
Days are filled with a little of all that–warm afternoons, chilly nights, bluer skies,
less daylight, and warm cider.

There is urgency in the precious last days
of autumn. Squirrels and birds scurry to beat the night’s cold and we
unpack winter sweaters and knitted scarves and brace for change.

The greatest game
follows its inevitable path toward conclusion with
athletes playing through the wear and tear of a long season, trying to
find the resources to make one final push
for glory. For some it is the morning of a promising career; for others
the evening of a journey through paradise passing far too soon.

For the players, and for us,
we sense, as at no other time,
that the game goes on and we are fleeting;
that what is real is much more than what is seen;
that life is a prelude to a greater glory;
that we have been blessed in incalculable ways
to have played another season; and that life
and the game are gifts from a Father’s love.

There are lessons to be learned from
late September days.

Sleep warm, my dear friend.

Ellen Miller’s Peruvian Amazon Pix

28 Sunday Oct 2012

Posted by Richard in Escapes and Pleasures

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Amazon, Aqau Expeditions, Peru, Photos by Ellen Miller

My wife Ellen and I returned recently from a four night-five day trip to the Peruvian Amazon.

We flew from Lima to Iquitos where we were met by a guide from Aqua Expeditions. We then drove to board their 12-cabin, 24 passenger boat where we had wonderful food, air conditioning, hot showers, and stayed in a cabin with windows that allowed us to look out on the rain forest as the boat traversed the river for a total of 450 miles (round trip).

During the day we would venture out on small skiffs with one of three wonderful guides, sometimes walking in the rain forest for two or three hours, other times just exploring small tributaries and observing both wild life and human life along the way.

Most of our fellow travelers were ‘bird folks,’ and they were delighted with every flapping and every sighting. We mostly just enjoyed being in a very different environment and learning about a world we did not know.

Here are 16 of Ellen’s pictures:

One Downside to Our ‘Smart Phones,’ iPads, etc.

26 Friday Oct 2012

Posted by Richard in Escapes and Pleasures

≈ 10 Comments

I enjoy all three of my Apple devices and use them all everyday: my iPhone for texting, for being in touch with my family, and even for the occasional phone call; my iPad for reading, watching baseball, checking email, staying up to date on what’s happening in the world, and for its mobility, and my laptop for working on MillersTime or writing more than 140 characters or short emails.

But there’s a price (beyond money) for all this connectedness and ability to be in touch.

I’ve always felt there are three ways to enjoy something, three ways to experience an event, an activity, or what we do: looking forward to it, enjoying it while it’s happening, reflecting on it after it’s over.

Most people, myself included, seem to be better at the first and third of these than at the second. At least that’s been my working assumption for years.

With the added reality of our new technologies, I think there is a further diminishing of our ability to fully engage in something while it’s happening because we also often have our eyes on our ‘smart’ phones, tablets, etc. We are so constantly connected and checking them that I think our attention is diluted from what we are engaged in at any given moment.

Pick almost any activity – parents in the park with their kids, people driving, fans watching a sporting event, diners at a restaurant, people walking along the street, folks traveling, etc. – and there’s a good chance some of them/us are also checking our phones for messages, texts, pictures, info, etc.

Or what about the intrusion to reading? When I’m reading on my iPad, I find myself at the end of every few chapters, checking my email or a baseball score, or for some other piece of information that takes me away from what I’ve been reading.

I’ve noticed over the years that when some new technology captures our attention, whether it’s the TV, tape recording, pagers (remember those?), desk top computers (remember those?), music players, cell phones, etc., the tendency is initially to over use them before we learn to control our use.

But I sense something different is happening with the smart phones and our ability to be always ‘connected.’ Whether it’s an addiction or not, I’m not sure, but I think they are more than just a distraction.

For all the benefits they bring, I think they also interfere significantly with our attention to events and experiences while they’re happening.

Am I just getting older and a bit fuddy-duddy, or do others see what I see?

So Many Films, So Little Time?

23 Tuesday Oct 2012

Posted by Richard in Escapes and Pleasures

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Argo, Christopher Waken, Colin Farrell, Films, Helen Hunt, John Hawkes, Sam Rockwell, Seven Psychopaths, The Sessions, William Macy, Woody Harrwlson

I’ve seen two films in the past few days, neither of which I would have gone to if I had read the reviews. The first one (below) I saw because of a recommendation by a friend (ML) who knows film and theater and is a pretty reliable judge of what’s worthy. The second one appeared in our Sunday morning Cinema Club where we don’t know ahead of time what we’re going to see.

Both films are good; the second one is excellent. I’m not sure how to review them as neither of them ‘sound’ enticing. I kind of just want to suggest you put them on a ‘to see’ list, after noting the two titles.

But I’ll take a shot at saying something about each one for those of you who need to know more.

Seven Psychopaths ****

Psychopaths as comedians? Yup.

Well I’m not sure they see themselves that way, and the story is a bit convoluted and sometimes not easy to follow but has to do with a guy who is writing a script for a film which he has tentatively titled “Seven Psychopaths,” tho he has no idea of anything beyond the title.

I won’t try to tell you what happens, but there are terrific performances by an outstanding cast, particularly Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Christopher Walken, and Sam Rockewell. Michael Pitt, Michael Stuhlberg and Abbie Cornish round out the cast of weirdos in this comedy/drama written and directed by Martin McDonagh.

There is a lot of violence and other unpleasantness, but somehow it all works, and as I left the theater, I found myself muttering, “It’s brilliant, I think.”

(Seven Psychopaths is in theaters now, at least in DC).

The Sessions *****

The one page handout we received walking into the Avalon Theatre Sunday morning told us the following:

“Based on on the poignantly optimistic autobiographical writings of California-based journalist and poet Mark O’Brien, The Sessions tells the story of a man confined to an iron lung who is determined – at age 38 – to lose his virginity. With the help of his therapists and the guidance of his priest, he sets out to make his dream a reality.”

We all raised our eyebrows upon reading that and wondered what was wrong with the folks who chose this film.

Ninety-Five minutes later we knew the choice was a terrific one, and although the explicit sexual scenes were a bit strong for a Sunday morning, the film was wonderful.

John Hawkes as Mark will no doubt be on everyone’s list for awards this year, and Helen Hunt and William Macy are good too. Writer and Director Ben Lewin also deserves to be amongst those nominated for awards.

You’re gonna have to take my word on this one.

(The Sessions opens nationwide on Friday, and in the DC area will be at Landmark’s Bethesda Row and E Street Cinemas.)

PS-Has anyone see Argo, and if so, is it as good as the ‘hype’ seems to indicate?

An Evening of & with Janis Joplin

22 Monday Oct 2012

Posted by Richard in Escapes and Pleasures

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

A Night with Janis Joplin, Arena Stage, Janis Jo[plin

Mary Bridget Davies as Janis Joplin and Sabrina Elayne Carten as Blues Singer in the Cleveland Play House production of One Night with Janis Joplin. (Pix by Janet Macoska/Arena Stage)

If you know and enjoyed Janis Joplin in the late 60s, early 70s, then you have just until Nov.4 to see DC’s Arena Stage’s production One Night with Janis Joplin.

It’s a good evening at the theater.

Actually, it’s largely a concert where Mary Bridget Davies sings many of Joplin’s best known songs, mixed with some of Joplin’s words and views on herself and life. Davies is energetic and recreates what Joplin presented in her very short lifetime.

In addition, Sabrina Elayne Carten plays the role of various blues singers and with her wonderful voice adds immeasurably to an understanding of what influenced Joplin as well as provides simply wonderful music.

The audience the night we were at Arena Stage (actually in their Kreeger Theater) joined in with Davies and with Carten, and at times it felt as if we were at a live concert (albeit with half the audience being middle age).

Randy Johnson, the writer-director, had the cooperation of the Joplin family and access to a great deal of material about Janis. Perhaps it is quarreling a bit, but what he chooses to present and to portray leaves out some of the more difficult and tragic parts of her life, but I guess that would have been a drama and not a concert.

Nonetheless, One Night with Janis Joplin is well worth the effort to see it.

(One Night with Janis Joplin premiered at Portland, Oregon’s Center Stage and is now on a national tour, which began at Cleveland’s Playhouse and will continue across the US and into Canada through 2014. So for those of you who live outside the DC Beltway and think MillersTime is only for DC folks, keep your eyes open for Janis/Davies in your area.)

I Voted Today, Oct. 23, 2012

22 Monday Oct 2012

Posted by Richard in The Outer Loop

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

2012 Elections, DC Elections, Early Voting, Voting for Obama

Time Photo

I voted today in DC*

Readers of MillersTime will not be surprised by my vote to re-elect President Obama and Vice President Biden.

Although I am not blind to the Obama’s administrations failures to deliver on all of his promises, it seems clear to me, as The New Yorker points out this morning, that this election presents two significantly different approaches to governing:

For me, Romney, at best, represents a future that we have already seen. – one that failed in the last Bush administration.

For me, Obama represents a future in which I believe – one that strives for tolerance, fairness, and equality.

Both candidates are reasonable men, intelligent and devoted to our country.

However, Romney’s move to the right and move away from the more moderate positions he has held most of his life is of significant concern.

Obama, while less progressive than I would prefer, has shown a willingness to consider not only his ‘base’ but also what is fair for all.

(* There are three ways to vote in DC: Absentee Ballot, Early Voting, or Election Day Voting. Check out the DC Board of Elections Voter Guide to see your options and all of the candidates and issues on the 2012 DC ballot.)

Tent of Nations: “We Refuse to be Enemies”

20 Saturday Oct 2012

Posted by Richard in Escapes and Pleasures, The Outer Loop

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Dahler's Vineyard, Daoud Nasser, Nasser Speaking Tour, Tent of Nations

Two long-time friends (from the mid 60s), both teachers and former Peace Corp volunteers, have been involved with a project for a number of years called “Tent of Nations,” (TON). Kay and Bill Plitt have talked with me about Daoud Nasser, his family farm outside of Bethlehem, and the impact their involvement with Daoud and TON has had on their lives.

Tent of Nations is the story of the lives and struggles of the Nassar family who live on a farm and peace center just outside of Bethlehem and whose motto is “We Refuse to be Enemies.” The Nasser family bought this 100-acres almost a 100 years ago (1916), then registered it and have been living on it and farming it since the Ottoman Occupation.

For most of these 100 years, Jews and Arabs lived side by side and were able to get along reasonably well together. With the various outbreaks of war between the Arabs and the Israelis from 1948 on, and with the expansions of Israeli settlements, the Nasser farm has increasingly been the focus of dispute and tension.

Now the farm, Dahler’s Vineyard, is led by the grandson of the man who purchased the land in 1916. He, Daoud Nasser, a Palestinean Christian, has struggled to make this plot of land support his family and also serve as a peace center and educational project for “People from different countries to come together and build bridges of trust and hope.”

Daoud Nasser will be in Washington, speaking about his grandfather’s dream, his father’s vision, and his own struggle to find a way of peace in a land filled with conflict.

Thursday, Nov. 1, at 7 PM Daoud will speak at The National Cathedral on Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington, DC in the Perry Auditorium, (take tower elevators to the 7^th floor).

Some links to further info:

About Tent of Nations

About Daoud’s Washington appearance

Bill Plitt’s blog “Peace with Justice,” includes posts on his various trips to Tent of Nations

2012 Conference on Israel & Palestine, NYC, Nov. 10 - “Education: How Can We Embrace Our Common Humanity?”

Other Daoud Naser speaking appearances around the US

Two New Films – “Must Sees,” sez Ellen Miller

19 Friday Oct 2012

Posted by Richard in Escapes and Pleasures

≈ Leave a Comment

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" "Detropia", " "Queen of Versailles, "A Royal Affair", "Oranges", Films, Movies, Searching for Sugar Man

For reasons I can no longer remember, I missed the first two of our movie club offerings this fall, but my trusty partner Ellen went and offers the following:

The DC Cinema Club has not disappointed in its first two offerings this fall.

The Oranges – a film about two families who’ve been closest of friends for years – is one of the best written, laugh-out-loud comedies I’ve seen in years. The premise of the film – the prodigal daughter of one family, falls into a ‘relationship” with the father of the other – is a bit unlikely and unseemly, but the hilarity that ensues between spouses and siblings and the realizations by all brings this unpredictable film to a very entertaining and satisfying viewing. In the days of “I can hardly remember the last film that I saw,” this one is memorable. You won’t get it mixed up with anything else you’re going to see this fall. Must see.

The Oranges, ATO Pictures. In English

(Our Cinema Club gave The Oranges a 79.2% positive rating – Excellent or Good.)

A Royal Affair – the second film offering this fall – was a stunning “period” piece that takes place mostly in the early 1800’s. It tells the true story of Denmark under the reign of the mad king Christian VII. Guided by his personal physician and his Queen, both of whom are entranced by the new ideas of the Enlightenment, the story of political change in a backward country couldn’t be more stunningly told. Overlay that with the intensity of a forbidden affair that ends in banishment and execution, and you have a real winner. Costumes, direction and production are all superb. Another must see.

A Royal Affair, Magnolia Pictures. In Danish, English and German with English subtitles

(Our Cinema Club gave A Royal Affair a 92.1% positive vote – Excellent or Good.)

Ed. Notes – Oranges is playing in the DC area at Landmark’s Bethesda Row Cinema, as is Searching for Sugar Man, if you haven’t seen that good one. A Royal Affair is coming to the DC area Nov. 9, tho I’m not sure at which theater(s).

Also, if you enjoy talking about movies and eating good food, the Millers have room at their table for two more folks to join in on a discussion of some recently seen movies, particularly Queen of Versailles but also Searching for Sugarman, Detropia, The Master, and whatever else you’ve seen in the last few months that is worthy of discussion. We’ll have a Sunday supper and discussion starting at 6 PM at our house in DC on Nov. 11. Let me know if you’re interested in joining us (Samesty84@gmail.com).

Vote for the 2012 Best Prediction in the MillersTime Baseball Contest

18 Thursday Oct 2012

Posted by Richard in Go Sox

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

baseball, Best Baseball Predictions of 2012, MillersTime Baseball Contest

Eleven predictions came true (either exactly or close enough to be declared finalists) for Contest #1: Make a Prediction about the 2012 Baseball Season.

Now it’s up to you folks to decide which one should be declared the winner:

A few ‘rules’:

*Deadline to send in your selection is Oct. 31 at midnight.

*You can send your choice to me by email (Samesty84@gmail.com) or simply put it in the Comment section below.

*Consider adding an explanatory sentence or two when you vote, especially if you want others to be influenced by your wisdom, insight, or because you want them to vote with you. (If you send your vote by email, let me know if I can post it in the Comment section).

*You have to be on the MillersTime email list or you must have made a submission to at least one of the MillersTime Baseball Contests over the past three years.

Here are this years finalists. Vote for the one you think is the Best Prediction, however you want to define “Best.” Remember, all of these predictions were made before Opening Day 2012.

Cards Make Playoff
Red Sox rebuilding, Not close to playoffs
Phillies greatest decline in W-L (actually they tied with Red Sox, 21 fewer wins)
Strasburg voted to All-Star game
Astros worst team in the Majors
Cards better offense without Pujois (true in Hits, Runs, RBIs, but three less HRs, .002 in BA)
Nats make playoffs
Rafael Soriano performs for the Yanks
Angels not win their Division
O’s not last in AL East
Papelbon stellar Year. Sox will miss him.

PS – I’ll be interested if the Yankees can make up for their worst choke ever (2004 AL Playoffs when they blew a 3-0 game lead to the mighty Sox and lost 4-3, before the Sox went on to win the WS). Whaddayathink? Just wondering…

Studio Theatre’s Current Production of “Invisible Man”

08 Monday Oct 2012

Posted by Richard in Escapes and Pleasures

≈ 1 Comment

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"Invisible Man", Ralph Ellison, Studio Theatre

Astrid Riecken/For The Studio Theatre – Teagle F. Bougere in The Studio Theatre production of “Invisible Man.”

Bravo to The Studio Theater for bringing this production to DC.

About 50 years ago, Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man was part of my awakening to the realities of racism in this country.

In 1963, not long after reading it, I went to East Africa for a summer, and my understanding about racism was further enhanced by working with a multiracial group of American and Tanganyikan teenagers — all this in the larger context of East Africa. On returning to the US, the civil right movement was in full bloom: the March on Washington occurred the day I arrived back in the US.

But it was Ellison’s book with its powerful opening sentence, “I am an invisible man,” that truly began my awareness of what I had not seen nor understood when I grew up in Florida — a state as much a part of the South as Mississippi or Alabama.

I have since forgotten most of the details of Ellison’s book, but thanks to the invitation of a friend, we just saw a stage presentation of it at DC’s Studio Theater.

In Oren Jacoby’s adaptation of the book, every word of this production is Ellison’s as his ‘Invisible Man’ takes the audience on his journey from being a young man in the south to and through his true eduction in the north, largely in Harlem.

Not as powerful for me as the book, nonetheless this staging of Invisible Man is another way to understand what it is to be invisible and to understand what it is like to grow up being black in America. Presented in a multi-media format, the ten actors and actresses (most playing more than one role) bring the book to life. Some scenes are very powerful; some are good; and some fall flat and seem unnecessary.

The first two acts are better than the third (which could use a bit of pruning), but even though this production is three hours long (with two intermissions) and is heavy on the dialogue and monologue, the audience seems to stay with it through the evening. That is in part because of the creative staging and the good use of music, lightening, set design, and video. It is also because the story is so nuanced, so layered, that each incident reveals another aspect about the black struggle to be visible.

Some of the acting is simply terrific. Teagle F. Bourgere, as the ‘Invisible Man,’ has the most demanding role as he’s on stage for the entire three hours. Whether it is because of how the role was constructed or because of his acting, I found myself wishing for a more powerful performance from him. Not so, tho, from the strong supporting cast. They are terrific.

Try to see it if you can. It’s a production you will remember.

Studio Theatre’s Invisible Man will be here for just another couple of weeks, ending with an afternoon performance on Oct.21. For tickets, check out the theatre’s website.

Winners and Losers in the MillersTime 2012 Baseball Contests

08 Monday Oct 2012

Posted by Richard in Go Sox

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

a poem, baseball, MillersTime Contests, The Last Days of September

Overall, I’d say it was a mixed season for this group of prognosticators:

In Contest # 1 – About one-third of the specific predictions folks made actually came true.

In Contest #2 – Most predicted the Nats would do better, but the closest anyone got to their 97-65 record was 93-69.

In Contest #3 – No one got close to getting all six of the Division leaders at the All Star break. The best anyone could do was only three out of the six.

In Contest #4 – Most thought the Yanks (94-68) would do better than the Sox (69-93), which they did, but no one foresaw the huge slide for the Sox (nor the Phillies, 81-81, for that matter).

In Contest #5 – A majority of you thought the Yanks would beat the Sox in the 12 games they played after the All-Star break, but only two of you called it exactly (8-4).

In Contest # 6 – Most predicted the Angels and Phillies would be in the WS. Not happening. Not even close.

Now for the specifics and the winners for the contests that are final.

Two Films to Consider

06 Saturday Oct 2012

Posted by Richard in Escapes and Pleasures

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Amy Adams, Clint Eastwood, Films, Joaquin Phoenix, Movies, Philip Seyomour Hoffmans, The Master, Trouble With the Curve

Generally I post about small, independent movies, often ones that are not always easy to find but are usually worth the effort. Today I post mini-reviews of two films that are easily found.

The Master ***1/2

The main reason to see this film is for the performances of Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Tho the title of the movie refers to Hoffman’s role as the charismatic leader of what is really a cult, it’s Phoenix’s portrayal of a lost soul, a drifter, the alienated alcoholic Freddy that makes The Master worth seeing.

The film follows Hoffman, Lancaster Dodd, as he tries to convert and give meaning to Freddy’s life and at the same time make sense of his own journey to lead the movement known as “The Cause.” Amy Adams, as his wife Peggy, also gives a strong performance as she seeks to support Dodd and convert Freddy.

For some reason The Master is not an easy movie to “get,” to know what the story and performances want you to learn or to take from it. Some say it’s an indictment of Scientology and it’s founder L. Ron Hubbard, but I didn’t know that until I read about the film after seeing it. I suspect it’s about more than that.

I just don’t know exactly what that ‘more’ is.

Trouble With the Curve ***1/2

If you like baseball and don’t mind a somewhat predictable, mawkish story, then I think you’ll enjoy Clint Eastwood and Amy Adams in this film.

It’s a father-daughter story that held me throughout, even tho I could see what was coming, for the most part. Eastwood gives a solid performance as a crabby, aging scout (Gus Lobel) for the Atlanta Braves, and Adams, as his stubborn, ambitious, hurt daughter (Mickey), keeps up with Eastwood.

Trouble With the Curve has some similarities to Moneyball, but it departs from that good film as we get involved with the lives and struggles of Gus and Mickey.

Maybe this movie doesn’t have the subtleties and artfulness of many of the independent films I usually enjoy, but I liked it.