Rent (Fox Live)

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a 100% true blue Rent Head! I know this version of the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning musical has gotten a lot of criticism because, due to the actor portraying Mark, breaking his foot during the dress rehearsal Saturday night, they had to air that rehearsal and was only able to air the finale of the show "Live." I say, "Get over yourselves!" The show must go on! I personally feel the entire cast did a great job and were passionate about what they were doing and gave fantastic performances all around! I loved the unique staging before a live audience on that beautiful large sound stage and it opened up the show wide and gave it a freedom that was incredible to watch!

The entire cast worked together beautifully as an ensemble and I was completely moved to tears at many moments throughout the evening! Particularly, the wonderful actor playing Tom Collins, broke my heart! He was so moving in his portrayal of this wonderful character! I think I personally connect with this character and have ever since I saw the original Broadway production!

Kudos to everyone involved for a job well done, despite the circumstances! A whole new generation can enjoy this wonderful musical!

The Wife

Glenn Close gives the performance of her career in this gut wrenching and heartbreaking drama about a wife who is a brilliant writer in her own right who takes a back seat to her husband. On the surface that is what this film is about, the patriarchal society of the 60's but there is so much more there that only by watching this film for yourself can you unlock those secrets!

This film is so timely and so needed at this time and place in our culture. Women are still shoved to the back and finally, particularly in the arts, are coming in to their own and are finally being given the opportunity to have their voices heard! It's about damn time I say!!!! This film is a giant leap forward!

Jonathan Pryce and Glenn Close play Joseph and Joan Castleman who are traveling to Stockholm when Joseph is awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. A lifetime of lies, deceit and marital issues come to a head while they are there and thanks to a rival author played wonderfully by Christian Slater, Joan comes to terms with her life and all the mistakes she has made in it!

I highly recommend this film for it's great character study and its incredible performances by all! I was left stunned and heartbroken by the film's end and that is what I love about good film making! Glenn Close richly deserved the Golden Globe she won for this fantastic performance!

Doctor Zhivago

Okay, I admit that I have never seen this magnificent film before now! I am so far behind the times.

This is truly one of David Lean's masterpieces! Omar Sharif broke my heart into a million pieces in this film! What a tragic but beautiful look into the human heart and all of it's frailties. Set amongst the horrifying backdrop of World War I Russia and the aftermath of the October Revolution which led to the beginnings of Communism.

Julie Christie and Geraldine Chaplin give magnificent supporting performances as the two loves of Doctor Zhivago's tragic life.

I have never been moved before as  I was sitting in my recliner watching this beautifully done epic! David Lean was truly a master at his craft and knew how to tell a story! I can't believe as a film lover I have waited so long to sit down and watch this beautiful film! I highly recommend it!

Tea With The Dames

Ever since I heard this was coming out last summer but had to unfortunately wait until it hit video, I've been so excited to see this documentary. What an incredible piece of film making!

These four incredible ladies of the British theater are just as charming off screen as they are on. It was wonderful to see these dynamic talents as they really are, human! From everything to co-stars, theater in general, men, children, aging, women's issues, etc. It's all here.

I can't say I have ever enjoyed 90 minutes more! I highly recommend this very laid back and raw insight into four of the greatest actresses to have ever graced our small screens, the big screen and the live stage! Don't miss the opportunity to sit down for a while and have "Tea with the Dames!"

A Prairie Home Companion

This was the final film I re-watched over the weekend and I had forgotten what a charming and heartwarming little film this was! It premiered in theater's back on the 9th of June in 2006. I remember watching this film with my dear late mother in the theater's and we both loved every single minute of it!

The jist of the plot is that the the famed "Prairie Home Companion" and it's home have been bought out by a corporate buyer and being shut down. The film takes place on closing night. This is a great character study of the archetypes that have played in these type of radio shows for decades and it is a sweet and touching tribute to a bygone era!

With a plethora of big name stars alongside Garrison Keilllor the famous host of this long-time radio show, you can't go wrong with this film. Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, Kevin Kline, Tommy Lee Jones, Woody Harelson, Lindsay Lohan, Virginia Madsen, John C. Reilly, Maya Rudolph, Tim Russel, amongst the staples of the real "Prairie Home Companion" radio show, bring to life this wonderful tribute to a bygone era to the big screen!

Don't miss the opportunity to see this film! You won't regret it! You will laugh, cry and be touched deeply by the personal stories of these characters and the art that was radio!

Primary Colors

This is the second movie I watched this past weekend that I hadn't seen in such a long time. What an incredible film!

The parallels between the Clinton presidency and this story are undeniable, particularly since the author of the novel this film is based on is "Anonymous," but the character study of American politics is so superbly portrayed in this film, that this is a must see!

This film premiered in theater's on the 20th of March 1998. A young idealist, Henry Burton, played by the wonderful Adrian Lester, joins the presidential campaign of a southern governor by the name of Jack Stanton, played brilliantly by John Travolta and throughout the course of the campaign, Henry learns more about human nature and politics than he probably would ever care to. The supporting cast: Emma Thompson as the future first lady, Susan Stanton, gives one of the best performances of her career, as the long-suffering wife of a good but flawed man; Kathy Bates gives a spellbinding and heartbreaking performance as Jack & Susan's lifelong friend and confidant, Libby Holden; along with fellow campaign advisers, Daisy Green (Maura Tierney) and Richard Jemmons (Billy Bob Thornton), all take a journey of self-discovery all the way to the Oval Office.

This is one of my all-time favorite films and I highly recommend it to everyone!

Postcards From The Edge

Over the weekend I've been watching some old movies that I haven't seen in a very long time and I stumbled upon this wonderful gem.

This wonderful film premiered in theater's on September 14, 1990. This was based on Carrie Fisher's semi-autobiographical novel about the stormy relationship between herself and her famous mother, Debbie Reynolds and both their struggles with substance abuse, particularly Carrie's and how it nearly destroyed her career.

Shirley Maclaine and Meryl Streep light up the screen in this witty comedy/drama about mother/daughter relationships in Hollywood. Meryl gives one of her strongest performances in her early career in this motion picture classic alongside the incomparable Shirley Maclaine.

This film I could relate to on a very personal level, not that I have struggled with substance addiction myself, but the parent/child relationship I could and Meryl's character, Suzanne's life I could relate to as far as relationships and personal struggles go.

This film moved me to tears many times and I was truly touched by this wonderful and lovely story! I highly recommend this film to everyone!

Christopher Robin

I am such a huge fan of Ewen McGregor's and when I saw the trailer for this eagerly anticipated film from the Disney Studio's I couldn't wait to see this film. Unfortunately I missed it on the big screen but I was completely entranced by this beautiful film from beginning to end.

In a nutshell, the adult Christopher Robin has been lost to the hustle and bustle of the busy business world of London in post World War II London and his wonderful friends from the 100 Acre Wood come to his rescue to save him from himself and losing the one precious thing in his life, his beautiful wife and daughter.

Ewen McGregor gives a beautiful performance as Christopher Robin and he is truly the character that A.A. Milne created when he wrote the books the Disney films, including this wonderful new one, are based off of. The voice talents of Jim Cummings (Pooh & Tigger), Brad Garrett (Eeyore), Nick Mohammed (Piglet), Peter Capaldi (Rabbit), Sophie Okonedo (Janga), Sara Sheen (Roo), Toby Jones (Owl), alongside Hayley Atwill as Christopher's wife, Evelyn & Bronte Carmichael as Christopher's daughter, Madeline, round out the wonderful supporting cast in a heartwarming tribute to family, love and what is truly important in life!

Don't miss this film! Disney Studios did a fine job of this one!