It is time to catch up with our recent movie outings for
those of you who enjoy living vicariously, either because you live in places
with few theaters that screen independent or small films or because you are
busy with children and work and real life that keeps you out of the theaters. I
am happy to play this role.
We went first to see “Wild” because it had been playing the
longest and we were afraid it might close. The movie centers on a young woman
named Cheryl, played by Reese Witherspoon. This serious role was rather
different than the movies for which Ms. Witherspoon has become known over the
past ten to fifteen years, romantic comedies such as “Legally Blonde” and “Sweet
Home Alabama,” which I must admit I have never had much interest in seeing.
The death of Cheryl’s mother, with whom she was close, sends
her into a tailspin of self-destructive behavior, ruining her marriage and
threatening her own life with overuse of illicit drugs. To heal herself she
decides, with no experience, to hike the 1000+ miles of the challenging and
mostly desolate Pacific Coast Trail. She takes off alone with an enormous
backpack, and is quickly confronted with obstacles, such as failure to purchase
the correct fuel for the small burner on which she intends to cook and shoes
that do not fit properly. But she is determined to continue. At times it is a
bit difficult to watch, but knowing that it is ultimately a “feel-good” movie
was helpful. We were glad we saw it.
Our second selection was “Selma,” which received a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes! I am not an expert in 20th century American history but I have the impression that the story told here is a fairly accurate portrayal of the months leading to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which ensured that all Americans would have the right to vote. I had read that the Director of the movie was not able to gain permission to use the text of Dr. King’s speeches in the film, so it is a bit odd that the words “I have a dream” are not said. But this passes because the actors portraying Dr. King (David Oyelowo) and of President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) truly inhabited these roles. The movie has a PG-13 rating (a bit of language and quite a bit of violence in reenacting the marches) but is definitely appropriate for older children. Another movie we heartily recommend.
The third movie is a bit more obscure, another piece based on a true story called “Big Eyes.” Although it did not receive consistently glowing reviews (Rotten Tomatoes only had a 70), A.O. Scott seemed to like it and it sounded interesting. We are big fans of Amy Adams, so this newest effort looked worth a try.
The film is based on the true story, one which is almost unbelievable, of
Walter Keane (Christoph Waltz), who became one of the most successful painters of the 1950s and early 1960s with his collection of children with large, sad eyes. But eventually the art world learned the truth that moviegoers know nearly from the start: the work attributed to Keane was actually not created by him at all, but by his wife, Margaret (Amy Adams). Why and how this occurred and how Margaret finally confronted it is the story the movie tells.
The Keanes, it seemed, had been living a lie that had grown to gigantic proportions. “Big Eyes” centers on Margaret's awakening as an artist, the phenomenal success of her paintings, and her tumultuous relationship with her husband, who was catapulted to international fame while taking credit for her work. The children in Margaret’s paintings had big eyes, but it took a long time for Margaret to see things clearly.
In response to yesterday’s post, two friends have written me about “The Imitation Game.” That is now on the list!
The temperature is dropping throughout much of the United States. Stay warm!
Love,
Rebecca
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