Postcards from the Edge

From the moment that Meryl Streep looked directly at the camera and said, "Fuck," I was hooked. I know its Carrie Fisher's story and that interested me, I mean she was Princess Leah after all, but its Meryl Streep's performance that makes me adore this movie. Who knew she could sing??? We know Shirley McLean can sing and we know Meryl Streep can act but the singing was a pleasant surprise. I never read Carrie Fisher's book so I'm not sure how close to the story the movie actually is.  I suspect it is not all that close but the story is of the troubled daughter of fame and from what I've read of Carrie Fisher, at least that much is true to life.

The movie is full of memorable quotes, from the life imitating art bit to Aretha saying that she was off to weave a basket and many more others that I keep dropping into conversation.  Still looking for the opportunity to use, "They're blanks, asshole," in everyday conversation but perhaps the chances are limited. I'm sure my darling husband, Paul, would prefer that I never have need to use it.

Suzanne, Meryl Streep's character, makes her way from drug addict to singing sensation and on the way repairs her relationship with her mother, has a short lived relationship with a writer who cheats on her and confronts her demons with wit and sarcasm.  The phoniness of Hollywood is on display not only in the people but also buildings move to reveal that they are nothing but sets.

As I said before, this movie makes me smile and I have watched it dozens of times. I don't know of anyone who likes it as much as I do. Most folks say it is ok, not a classic but alright.  No one ever said it would be a classic but I will still watch it and if it comes out on Blu ray, I'll be first in line!!

Thanks for listening.

My first blog

I wanted to start a blog but each time I try to do something like this I have no idea what to write about.  I was sitting in my basement looking at my DVD and Blue ray collection and I thought to myself that I would like to share my thoughts on the movies in my collection.  I have very catholic tastes when it comes to movies. Basically I like what I like. A movie will mean something to me, it will excite me, it will amaze me, it will bore the pants off me, I will hate it, I will love it, I will rave about it or I will warn people not to watch it.  I guess that is exactly what the movies makers want. A reaction. Any kind of reaction. They want to make money so they try to create something that will entertain and cause us to react. If I love a movie my first reaction will be to want to own it as soon as it comes out on DVD and more recently on Blue ray. I will want to watch it again.

So every DVD in my collection is something that I would watch more than once? Um, not quite!! I have been given some crap movies as gifts. Sorry, but Me, Myself & Irene was a gift from my then 16 year old niece and it is shit with a capital SH!! I appreciated the sentiment so I can't bring myself to get rid of it.  Then there are the movies that the critics loved and I bought without having seen them. Never do that!! It's not worth it.  Having sat through the first hour of Lost in Translation, I can honestly say that the critics have no idea what they are talking about. I mean what the fuck was that all about. Bill Murray is a comic genius but this was bad, see above re SH!!

I will mention sequels only briefly at this point. There are some amazing sequels. Godfather II to name but one. Should I even mention the third Matrix movie? I don't own that one, I wouldn't have it on my shelf, it would tarnish the others next to it.

I am not a writer, I'm a media junkie. My grammar sucks and I quote and usually misquote movies whenever I can. I don't want life to imitate art, I want it to be art. Name the movie!! No, can't get it, well it's Postcards from the Edge and will be the first movie that I review. It's not a classic, it's not my favourite movie, but I like it, it makes me smile.