On New Year's Eve, Julie and I rented the film "Once," a handmade musical set on the streets of Dublin. It is hands down the most wonderful film I've seen since I can't remember when, and I can't urge you strongly enough to rent it (it's extremely popular in our part of town; we barely got our hands on a copy the other day). This story about a Dublin busker and the immigrant woman who befriends him is about romantic yearning, purity of heart, and the ragged nobility of hope. I tell you, you just can't get over how endearing and inspiring this little movie is. It reminded me of what movies can do, and where they can take you. The music is fantastic too. In his review of the film (behind the Weekly Standard's subscriber firewall, alas), John Podhoretz made this incisive, deeply true observation about "Once":
There's really nothing more touching in cinema than watching honorable people behave honorably, and being treated honorably in return. Once overflows with these grace notes.
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I saw "Once" last summer, and it was charming, Rod. Good soundtrack, too.
billh, I saw "The Savages" on New Year's Day. My brother and I are taking care of our aging mother, though, thank God, she is not dying, nor in a nursing home, but I could definitely relate to the sad and funny story.
I also recommend "Juno," which is written by a former stripper. It may not be the "Little Miss Sunshine" of 2007, but it is close.
I used to get "The Weekly Standard," because a conservative friend got me a subscription. There were some great articles, but the ideological slant became tedious after a while. However, someone needs to stand up for Israel's right to exist, since virtually everyone to the left of center has jumped on the ridiculous anti-Israel bandwagon.
Alicia, re: the Savages, I loved the line by the son character about why they were caring for their dad despite the fact he'd be a pretty big louse as a father, "We're doing the right thing and taking better care of him than he ever did of us." This is going to be a very important character test of us baby boomers. I commend you and your brother for taking good care of your mom.
Thanks, billh. I also loved the lack of sentimentality of the story. Don't want to say too much, for those who haven't seen it, but there were also some very funny moments. If you haven't seen it, "Away from Her" starring Julie Christie, is also excellent.
I saw it when it was in the cinema but do not remember many occurrences of the f word. Maybe I'll watch the copy I bought my mum for Christmas before I head home from my break and see if my sensitivity is any higher.
O.k it in my queue now, it looks sappy, is this a chick flick?
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