A joke, a bore and a pleasant surprise

I spent the entire weekend at the movies. And not just any movies… but action packed, gun wielding films featuring some pretty hot guys.

The Death and Life of Bobby Z

I love Paul Walker. I also love Joaquim de Almeida and Laurence Fishburne. Which is how I ended up watching this travesty. The predictable plot, the over choreographed fight scenes, the implausible shoot outs, and all’s-well-that-ends-well ending only gave me a greater appreciation for Shoot `Em Up.

3:10 to Yuma

Though I’m generally not a huge fan of westerns, my favorite two are Blazing Saddles and Young Guns. That said — Yuma was filled with so much drama. So. Much. Drama. The shoot out at the end was ridiculous. And Ben Foster delivered an annoying, one note performance as psycho Charlie. I was praying someone would put me out of my misery and just kill him.

Shoot `Em Up

From the opening tight shot of Clive Owen’s eyes to the credits — this is one of the funniest films I’ve seen in a long while. Apparently the critics don’t share my sense of humor. Or that of last night’s audience who laughed throughout most of the action. One guy belly laughed through entire scenes, egging the rest of us on. Owen should win a prize for his delivery of truly absurd and clichéd zingers with a straight face. If you have not already seen this — go. If you weren’t planning to see it because of the bad reviews — go. It’s bloody hysterical!

Shoot ~Em Up was the perfect remedy to the all-too-serious gun fights of last night’s Yuma and Friday’s Bobby Z.

What films do you recommend? Or not? And what did you do this weekend?

Filed under: moving pictures

Reflections

There’s something about the naked potential of a day off… a free day… a holiday.

Though I toyed with the idea of doing some work, checking email, reading a report — before the temptation could seduce me — I grabbed my Shuffle, shoved my house keys in a pocket, slung a camera around my neck and headed out into a glorious day.

And I was struck by reflections. On Connecticut Avenue, the Mayflower Hotel reflected off of the curved windows of the office building across the street. The Sumner School reflected off the National Geographic Explorer’s Hall (above). The University Club reflected back from the original National Geographic building. The Smithsonian Castle reflected off of the tranquil pools of the Moongate Garden.

Everywhere I looked, something else reflected back.

I wrapped up the day with an evening showing of the 11th Hour. Though I felt the movie dragged a little and the message got a little convoluted in the end, it did get me thinking about the disposable society we live in and my contributions to waste. It’s actually been on my mind for a while now.

While I’ve made some lifestyle changes, I’m still not doing nearly enough. As Michael Jackson so eloquently put it, “If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself, and then make a change.”

So how did you spend your Labor Day?

Filed under: Around Town, inspiration point, moving pictures

The Grid

I thought this was an interesting mini-series… better than a lot of the other terrorism programs that have cranked out recently.

One point struck me. There are two female lead characters — Maren in the US and Emily for the UK — who rely on the advice of a “mentor.” The American lead confides in a powerful shadowy male named Jay. Her British counterpart consults with the female head of MI-6.

Why is the UK more accepting of a powerful female politician?  I think it’s because of those long years of rule by the monarchy.  Margaret Thatcher ruled Britain for 11 years as the first female Prime Minister.

In portrayals of an ambitious American female, she is always advised by a powerful man. I’d like to see a film or program where a woman is supported by another woman.

Filed under: eye opener, moving pictures