Miscellany

{anything goes}

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008)

“Every woman will have her day”

Genre:  Comedy-Romance

The gist:  Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is the story of a day in the life of Guinevere Pettigrew (Frances McDormand) – a dowdy, down-on-her-luck governess.  The daughter of a minister, Miss Pettigrew feels it her duty to speak her mind about her employee’s indiscretions, attempting to get them on the straight and narrow.  Needless to say, such “helpfulness” is not-so-very appreciated; when she is fired from her third assignment, the employment agency refuses to be of further service.  So she steals an assignment – becoming social secretary to Delysia Lafosse, an American actress.  Suddenly her life is anything but boring.  But it is her truthfulness and concerned meddling – the very things that got her in trouble in the first place – that will ultimately save the day. 

My take:  I LOVED this movie.  To anyone who has called me a throw-back … or even thought it … this will come as no surprise.  Set at the dawn of WWII England, I loved the setting, the styles, and the music.  That much is given.  But it’s so much more.  The story (based on the novel by Winifred Watson) is heartfelt; the screenplay (written by David Magee and Simon Beaufoy) simply charming.  Bharat Nalluri’s direction depicts life on the verge of WWII like a symphony; and the actors bring a hint of magic as witnessed in films of the golden era.  But that which holds it all together is the chemistry between Frances McDormand (Miss Pettrigrew) and Amy Adams (Delysia Lafosse).  Given the nature of the two parts, lesser actresses would have been little more than annoying.  Instead we are granted a rare glimpse at two opposing worlds – the carefree innocence of youth and the reserved wisdom of maturity.  And oh that we should be so lucky to have our own Miss Pettigrew touch our lives.        

An aside:  Yes, this movie is a chick-flick.  We had a pair of couples sitting behind us.  As we were leaving the theatre the “boys” were bemoaning the fact that they had to endure such agony.  The “girls” were of course trying to appease said boys by promising to go to 88 minutes on the next go around.  Of course, most of the comments from the peanut gallery came from the guys behind us.  And they were not snide remarks, I might add.  So whether they would ever – in a MILLION years – admit it, they too were engrossed in the film. 

Historical significance

According to www.on-this-day.com it’s important to note, on this day in history, nineteen-hundred-ninety-nine, Fabio was hit in the face by a bird during a promotional ride of a new roller coaster at the Busch Gardens theme park in Williamsburg, VA. Fabio received a one-inch cut across his nose. I kid you not. This is actually listed alongside the Eiffel Tower opening, Ford debuting its V-8 engine, and Germany beginning its counter-offensive in North Africa.

So here’s my question: What the?!!!

It’s not like comacazi fowl are unusual. Please. And theme parks?! Dangerous ground my friend, dangerous ground. I remember going to The Lagoon when I was young. There I was … sitting on a park bench with a friend … enjoying a snack or two … when I felt something plop-a-top my head. At first I thought it was a bird with gastric distress. But then I looked up. There they were.  Two boys.  Hovering well above my head they were laughing and pointing.  They thought they were hysterical–as boys so often do when they do something unbecoming, like spit on a girls head!  

Of course, as said girl, I can tell you boy spit was ten-times worse than bird poop could EVER be. I was ruined. Ruined.

Guess I should just be thankful that particular low-point did not make it on a list of historical events–at least none that I’m aware of …

‘allo?

March 10, 1876 the first words were transmitted via electric waves. In other words, it was the first telephone convo. Alexander Graham Bell spoke, “Watson, come here; I want you” and Watson heard the call. A momentous occasion for sure and yet I chuckle. Seriously. Of all the things he could have said; yet he chose to go with “Watson, come here; I want you.”

Kinda reminds me of the time my mom went to call in a prescription. The Pharmacist answered the phone with, “Such-n-Such Pharmacy, can I hold you?!”

But I digress …

So let’s take a bit of time to be thankful for that great invention of Alexander Graham Bell–for all the serious and not-so-serious words it has conveyed. For all the ways it has brought us together in joy and sorrow–in hilarity too!  

Be Kind Rewind (2008)

A movie about the magic that is the movies…

The genre: Comedy/Drama

The gist: Mike (Mos Def) works for Mr. Fletcher (Danny Glover) at the Be Kind Rewind movie rental store – where you can rent a VHS for one day, for one dollar.  When Mr. Fletcher leaves town to research ways he might revitalize his failing business, he puts Mike in charge.  And he leaves instructions not to let Mike’s conspiracy-theorist friend Jerry (Jack Black) in the building.  But Jerry does enter the building.  Magnetized.  And he erases every movie in the store.  In an attempt to stay out of trouble – and keep what little business they have – Mike and Jerry decide to re-films the movies themselves.  With the help of Jerry’s mechanic, Wilson (Irv Gooch), and Alma (Melonie Diaz), a young girl from the local dry-cleaners, they make short clips of our most beloved movies.  In the end they become not only the stars of the shows, but their whole neighborhood as well. 

My take:  The first part of the movie was so slow it was almost painful.  As I was sitting there – trying to make sense of it all – the thought did cross my mind that I could easily excuse myself and never return.  And that’s a pity.  Because the mid to end of the movie proved it could have been a classic film.  Of course, the fun begins once Jerry and Mike decide to “swede” – or film their own version of – the movies that have been erased.  Not only do the remakes provide a sense of nostalgia for anyone familiar with the movies being made, but anyone in the film business is sure to be reminded of his/her first attempt at making a film on a non-existent budget.  Needless to say, there are plenty of laughs in the middle of the movie.  But in the end, it’s all about the heart.  Though Michel Gondry (Writer/Director) could have given us a stronger opening, he still manages to give us a great movie about movies – reminding us that movies bring us together, and for a few brief moments, allow us to forget the disappointment that may be lingering right outside the door …

My brother

Twenty-nine years ago today my baby brother was born.  And I was mortified.  At five years of age, I had pretty much everything figured out.  I knew what I wanted.  And what I wanted was a baby sister.  I had specifically requested such.  But what did I get?  A BROTHER!  For the love of God and all that is holy, how could that be?

Yeah, I couldn’t imagine either; but it seemed MOST unfortunate.  Especially when he lopped Barbie’s head off, scribbled black permanent marker all over Chatty Cathy’s face, and claimed MY little green army men as his own.

me_josh_seattle

Then there were our different ideas of fun.  For instance, I thought playing school was a splendid idea.  I, of course, would the teacher while wee boys of the family (I was WOEFULLY outnumbered mind you) would be my pupils.  What’s not to love about that?  They, however, had other ideas.  While I was painstakingly assigning MOUNDS of homework, they were lassoing my legs and performing run-by-shootings (little did I know, some day that would be school).     

On and on it goes …

But a funny thing happens the older you get.  Suddenly you realize maybe you didn’t have it all figured after all. 

I can’t tell you when exactly it happened.  All I know is one day I looked at my brotherme_josh_party and realized his smile could light up a room.  I saw his talent for computers and drafting, storytelling and photography and realized he could succeed at anything he put his hand to.  I sensed his humor and realized together we could, quite possibly, be the most hilarious people around!  I realized that of all the people in the world, I’d rather be with my “little” brother than just about anyone.

Don’t get me wrong.  I still whine.  Quite often actually.  Only today my whining consists not of having a brother – but that he lives clear across the ocean.  I bemoan – not because I have to spend time with him – but because I must rely upon IM, or email, or the tele to do so. 

me_josh_grad Life has a funny way of turning things around.  Twenty-nine years ago, what I thought to be – quite possibly – God’s first mistake, proved to be God’s most precious gift of all.  For not only did I receive a sibling, but a friend as well. 

AND, for the record, I did receive my sister.  Just not as I had imagined.  My brother married a wonderful European girl who understands my need for candles and coffee and tea.  She’s BEAUTIFUL, smart, funny, kind-hearted, and stronger than she knows.  And we love her.  Sigh.   

You might say I ended up with a two-for-one deal.  And that makes me the least bit unfortunate; that makes me the luckiest girl in the world.